February Monthly newsletter
February tasting events
This month’s Tastings involve food and wine:
Sat. Feb. 22nd, 2-5pm: All that and a Bag of Chips
Join David Witkowsky of Potomac Selections as we pair
our favorite varieties of Spanish chips with wine.
Discounts on chips and wine during the tasting.
AND - SATURDAY, FEB, 15th from 2-5 pm join
Peter Neff for a guided Charcuterie & Wine Tasting
With traditional cured meats from
Terra di Siena, Made in Virginia!
The Last Saturday Wine School THEME: Red Wines of South Africa
South Africa is a great place for red wines; including their signature Pinotage.
The last Saturday of the month changes from a “whatever we feel like drinking†tasting event to a mini wine school tasting. We’ll pick a topic, theme, etc. and taste with a purpose. This is very informal with no scheduled start or finish time. Come anytime between 2 and 5 pm on Saturday, 2/29
February “SHORT SIPS†CLASS
A Single Blind Tasting - WINTER WEIGHT RED WINES
We will discuss and taste examples of winter weight wines (Bordeaux, Rhone, Piedmont, Napa, etc.) from around the world and will attempt identify each wine by its place/grape attributes.
A one hour educational program, limited to eight people and held in our fine wine room. Because the demand has been so great we are doing the class twice in FEBRUARY – FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEB. 7th and 8th from 6:00 to 7:00pm ––There is a $12 per person class fee and availability is limited to 8 per class so call or email us ASAP to reserve space. (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner
FEBRUARY SPECIAL OFFERS: Wines from a place.
What distinguishes wine from other fermented beverages is PLACE. There is no recipe in great wine; only grapes from distinct terroir, and very little “making†as the best winemakers stay out of the way as much as possible. Our special offers are an attempt to present wines with a distinct sense of place at a great price.
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2013 Donato d’Angelo DOC Aglianico del Vulture “Calice†Basilicata Italy – Donato d’Angelo is an estate, founded in 2001 in Basilicata (the “arch†of the Italian boot) by enologist Donato d’Angelo and his wife Filomena, who is both viticulturist and enologist. The 100% Aglianico vines are located on medium-volcanic soil at about 500m a.s.l. in the towns of Ripacandida and Maschito. “Dusty spice and herb notes on the nose lead to creamy sun-dried black cherry and baked plum fruit on the palate of this elegant, medium- to full-bodied red. The grippy finish echoes a subtle accent of tarry smoke. Drink now through 2022. 6,666 cases made.†(WS 1217)Reg. price: $23.99, On sale in Feb.: $14.99 (no further discounts)
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2015 G.D. Vajra Albe Barolo DOCG, Italy- There is a soft spot in our Barolo heart for the Vajra family. Great people and a great place to visit (featured in NYT’s 36 hours in Barolo). Over Christmas we offered magnums of this beautiful wine from the sandy soils of La Morra and now we have secured enough 750’s to offer a modest discount. Here is The Wine Spectator review: “Pretty, featuring rose, cherry, raspberry and mint flavors, with a touch of mineral. Supple, harmonious and elegant, offering a long finish. The aftertaste is tinged with orange peel and tobacco notes. Best from 2021 - 2036. 4,500 cases made.†(WS 10/31) Top 100: 2019, Rank: 48 Reg. price: $44.99, On sale in Feb.: $37.99 (no further discounts)
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2016 Domaine Guillemot-Michel Viré-Clessé, Maconnais Burgundy, France
One of the founders of Viré-Clessé, this seven-hectare estate in the hamlet of Quintaine is one of the best producers in the Mâconnais and deserves to be much better known. The next vintage will see a price increase due to the tariffs. Here is the Wine Advocate review: “ Notes of Acacia honey, musky peach, beeswax, fresh apricot and dried white flowers introduce the 2016 Viré-Clessé, a silky, medium to full-bodied wine with exceptional concentration, textural elegance and length on the finish. Despite its ripeness, subtly botrytis-inflected character, it’s underpinned by tangy acids and remains beautifully balanced and integrated. This is well worth seeking out.†(WA #238) Reg. price: $29.99, On sale in February: $24.99 (no further discounts)
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2014 Donne Fittipaldi DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy- Red blends from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are what they do best in this famous, coastal Tuscan DOC. They are every bit the equal of Bordeaux and California. From the Wine Advocate: “Donne Fittipaldi’s style is always opulent and bold and this is evident in the 2014 Bolgheri Rosso. The bouquet is dark and brooding with a combination of black fruit and exotic spice that work well hand in hand. There is a touch of tannic tightness that adds strength and a firm constitution. Like many other wines from 2014, this expression seems to happily defy the difficulties of the vintage. (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc & 10% Petit Verdot, aged in oak for six months).†Reg. price: $31.99, On sale in Feb.: $25.99 (no further discounts)
A SPECIAL OFFER: 2014 Dauprat, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France – The village of Pauillac is the epicenter of Bordeaux (think Mouton and Lafite Rothschild). The gravely soils near the river Gironde is the perfect place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. Here is a review: From a very good vintage, this is a wine with aging potential that shines now with a proper 2 hour decant. Aromatic with notes of cassis, ripe black currents with a touch of graphite and cedar plank. Medium bodied but plush, it finishes balanced fine grained tannins. A good example of the appellation. Regular price: $35.99, On sale in February: $28.99 (no further discounts
NEW ARRIVALS - ?
We have a new section in the front of the store: “?â€, which has, primarily, organic, biodynamic, and/or “natural winesâ€. These wines are often without specific place designation, (i.e.: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chianti, etc.) and are labeled “Vin De France†or “Vino da Tavola Rossoâ€. As the layout of our store is place driven, a separate section with a “?â€, seemed appropriate and should lead to further discussion.
2018 Vincent Marie No Control Fusion, Vin De France, France - Gamay grown in Volvic in a non appellated area at the end of the Loire valley due west of Lyon, thus the “Vin De France†designation. Fusion represents the blending of two types of fermentation – crushing and whole cluster- and is naturally fermented with no chemical additives, no filtering, no fining and no added sulfites. The wine has barnyard and ripe black fruit aromas with mild tannins and good acidity. It drinks like a meaty, funky Cru Beaujolais. $35.99
2018 Chateau Guilhem ‘Pot de Vin’ Rouge, Vin de France, France – (100% Merlot) a simple, natural southern French wine from biodynamically grown fruit, fermented with native yeast and with a negligible dose of SO2. Fresh and smooth with notes of red fruits and plums it finishes smooth with mild tannins. $14.99
MONTHLY SPECIALS
Feb 2020 | Usual | Case (cs.btl cost) |
|
---|---|---|---|
*2017 Bodegas Naia Blanco "Las Brisas", Rueda, Spain | $ 8.99 | $11.99 | $ 96 ($8.00) |
*2018 Couly Saumur Blanc, Loire Valley, France | $ 9.99 | $16.99 | $108 ($9.00) |
*2018 Chateau Festiano Minervois, Languedoc, France | $ 9.99 | $14.99 | $108 ($9.00) |
*2017 Maison L. Tramier Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais, France | $10.99 | $12.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2017 Remhoogte Soaring Eagle Red, Stellenbosch, South Africa | $10.99 | $13.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2018 Joel Delaunay Sauvignon Blanc "TYDY", Loire Valley, Fr. | $11.99 | $13.99 | $132 ($11.00) |
2018 Taliano Roero Arneis, Piedmont, Italy | $13.99 | $16.99 | $156 ($13.00) |
2015 Colsanto Montefalco Rosso, Umbria, Italy | $13.99 | $16.99 | $156 ($13.00) |
Click for
print version
Subscribe
Archives
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019