March 2020 Newsletter
March Tasting Events
Join us on Saturday, March 7th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
as we welcome
Karl Gumpold
from CASTEL SALLEGG
Unique wines from Italy’s Alto Adige.
Discounts on all Castel Sallegg wines during the tasting.
The Last Saturday Wine School THEME: Shiraz vs Syrah- 3 wines, no time limit
United States, Australia, France – the differences and similarities.
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, 3/28.
WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY 2:00pm-6:00pm
‘Whatever we feel like openingâ€
March “SHORT SIPS†CLASS – California Chardonnay - an AVA primer.
There are several unique growing areas for Chardonnay in California. We’ll taste a few from specific AVA’s (American Viticultural Area) and discuss the differences.
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 March – FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 20th and 21st from 6:00 to 7:00 pm ––There is a $10 per person class fee and availability is on a first come first serve basis but you can call & reserve spaces at any time. (A great idea for your group as a prelude to dinner.)
MARCH SPECIAL OFFERS: - Wines from a place and we’re going OLD SCHOOL
What distinguishes wine from other fermented beverages is PLACE. There is no recipe in great wine; only grapes from distinct terroir, and very little “makingâ€, 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: We’re taking it back to the old school days of big Australian Shiraz and the William Randell Range has always been one of our favorites. They honor a family ancestor, the Australian pioneer and politician, William Richard Randell (1824 - 1911). The wines are sourced solely from grapes grown on estate vineyards (St Kitts & Milton Park for the ‘16 vintage) and are only made in exceptional vintages.
2016 Thorn-Clarke “William Randell†Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia – “Stereotypical Oz Shiraz to some extent, the 2016 is big, ripe and heavily accented by American oak. Cedar and vanilla notes blend with rich, plummy fruit, those sweet notes brought together and balanced by savory dry tannins. It’s a big-a** steak wine, one that will be appreciated by consumers at steakhouses around the world.†(WA 238) Reg. price: $44.99, On sale in March: $37.99
A SPECIAL OFFER: Randell Grahm, was an early champion of Rhone varietals in Ca. and an original “Rhone Ranger†Farming bio-dynamically since 2004, he was the first to put ingredients on the label (and still one of the few!). He championed screw top enclosures for premium wines and his playful pun and cartoon wine labels are legendary. He sold his winery in 1/20 and this may be the last you will see of this very special reserve – different from the regular in the blend and in its use of 5 gallon glass demijohns for aging.
2014 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Beeswax Vineyard Réserve, Arroyo Seco, California- “Light vivid yellow. Pungent Meyer lemon pear and tangerine aromas show very good clarity and complicating hints of toasted nuts fennel and smoky lees. Minerally and seamless on the palate offering plush orchard fruit and orange marmalade flavors and deeper suggestions of honey and buttered toast. Shows noteworthy vibrancy for its heft and finishes chewy and very long with a suave floral note hanging on.†(Vinous 10/18)
Reg. price: $54.99, On sale in March: $44.99
NEW ARRIVALS – Arnot-Roberts wines
The coolest wines that nobody buys.
2017 Arnot-Roberts “Watson Ranch” Napa Valley Chardonnay, California – Flinty and only 12% alcohol it reminds me of Stoney Hill. $47.99
2018 Arnot-Roberts Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, California – A tightly wound Pinot from a high altitude, old school vineyard that’s “Burgundian†in style. $74.99
NEW ARRIVALS – Rhone
Syrah from the North and Grenache blends from Lirac in the south. Wines from two of my favorite places! 2016 Réserve Saint Dominique Lirac, Rhone Valley, France - “The full-bodied, supple 2016 Lirac delivers ripe, rich notes of mocha and plum, plus lovely hints of garrigue & licorice on the long, silky finish. This is a négoce wine from Eric Bonnet, of Domaine la Bastide St. Dominique in Courthézon.†(WA 11/18) $23.99
2015 Dom. des Pierres Seches Saint-Joseph Saint-Épine, Rhone Valley, France- “Opaque ruby. Blackberry, boysenberry, violet, olive and licorice on the deeply perfumed, textbook Syrah nose. Delivers a suave blend of power and vivacity, offering appealingly sweet dark berry liqueur and spicecake flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that builds steadily as the wine opens up. Supple tannins lend gentle grip to a spicy, focused, impressively long finish that leaves behind sweet dark fruit liqueur & all spice notes.†(Vinous 4/18) $44.99
2015 Dom. des Pierres Seches Saint-Joseph Saint-Épine, Rhone Valley, France- “Opaque ruby. Blackberry, boysenberry, violet, olive and licorice on the deeply perfumed, textbook Syrah nose. Delivers a suave blend of power and vivacity, offering appealingly sweet dark berry liqueur and spicecake flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that builds steadily as the wine opens up. Supple tannins lend gentle grip to a spicy, focused, impressively long finish that leaves behind sweet dark fruit liqueur & all spice notes.†(Vinous 4/18) $44.99
NEW ARRIVALS – Italy: do opposites attract?
2015 Gaja Ca’Marcanda ‘Camarcanda’ Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy- “The 2015 Ca’ Marcanda is one of the most polished, sensual wines I have tasted from the Gaja family’s Ca’ Marcanda estate. Beautifully layered and silky on the palate, with striking aromatic nuance, the 2015 is super-impressive. Cedar, tobacco, crushed flowers and herbs are some of the many notes that open up in this undeniably appealing mid-weight wine. (Vinous, Antonio Galloni, 4/18) $149.00 129.99 in march
2010 Cantina Terre del Barolo ‘Vinum Vita Est’ Barolo Riserva DOCG, Piedmont, Italy – From a large co-operative winery based in Castiglione Falletto that often struggles, this Riserva hits the mark and is perfect for Barolo beginners. With good aromatics, it hits all the right notes with dried cherries, mushrooms and tar and the tannins are moderate and resolved. With a brief decant you can enjoy this wine tonight. $32.99
MONTHLY SPECIALS
Mar 2020 | Usual | Case (cs.btl cost) |
|
---|---|---|---|
*2018 Bosinakis Moschofilero "Anastasia," Arcadia, Greece | $ 8.99 | $10.99 | $ 96 ( $8.00) |
*2018 J. Portugal Ramos Rose, Vinho Verde, Portugal | $ 8.99 | $11.99 | $ 96 ( $8.00) |
*2018 Ch. Saint Nazaire St.-Chinian "Cuvee Gr. Reserve", Languedoc, Fr. | $ 9.99 | $12.99 | $108 ( $9.00) |
*2018 Passionate Wine del Mono Malbec-Syrah, Tupungato, Argentina | $10.99 | $12.99 | $120 ($10.00) |
2018 Bouza do Rei Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain | $11.99 | $17.99 | $132 ($11.00) |
2016 Podere Canneta "Fiore Rosso," Tuscany, Italy | $12.99 | $14.99 | $144 ($12.00) |
2013 Experience Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California | $13.99 | $25.99 | $156 ($13.00) |
2017 Chalk Hill Chardonnay, Russian River, Sonoma, California | $14.99 | $24.99 | $168 ($14.00) |
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