May 2023 Newsletter

May Tasting events

ON SUNDAY, MAY 21st anytime between 1:30pm to 4:30pm you will be attending OUR 14th annual ROSÉ-A-PALOOZA an often imitated, but never equaled, event with food & all the great pink wines plus discounts.Thank you.

                            Please join us on Monday May 15th from 5:30-7:00pm as we welcome
                                                          Mike Honig
                                                  HONIG Vineyard & Winery
                                    Family Owned, Certified Sustainable, Napa Valley Wines.

MAY SPECIAL OFFER – Terre Rouge Tête-à-Tête (no further discounts)

Here is a wonderful offer on our “go to” California Rhone blend!

2015 Terre Rouge Tête-à-Tête, Sierra Foothills, California.-  (39% Grenache, 39% Mourvèdre & 22% Syrah) From one of our favorite California winemakers, Bill Easton, Terre Rouge (Red Earth) is the label he uses for his Rhone bottlings from the red granite and volcanic soils of the Sierra Foothills. There are aromas of blackberries and boysenberries with some smoky, meaty, gamey notes on the palate, a spicy mouth filling texture & refined tannins. Rhone meets Cali in the best way! Reg. price: $25.99, On sale in MAY: $19.99

MAY SPECIAL OFFERS

Prager is an outstanding Austrian estate known for Grüner Veltliner and distinctive dry Riesling!
2020 Weingut Prager Steinriegl Riesling Federspiel, Wachau, Austria – “From marble and calcareous soils on west-facing terraces in a coolish side valley, the 2020 Ried Steinriegl Riesling Federspiel opens coolish, clear and chalky on the very elegant and refined nose. Medium-bodied, refined and lemon-fresh on the palate, this is a round, refined and salty, highly stimulating but also complex Federspiel with great terroir expression. Highly stimulating. A fantastic, distinctive wine! 14% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in June 2021.” (WA 12/21)      Regular price: $44.99, On sale in MAY: $27.99

Sourced from two vineyards Coste di Vergne and Fossati, both in the town of Barolo.
2021 G.D. Vajra Coste & Fossati Dolcetto d’Alba Piedmont, Italy - “The 2021 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati is laced with dark cherry, plum, spice, leather and tobacco. Long ferments, with submerged cap and aging in cask yields a Dolcetto of uncommon complexity and nuance. The Coste & Fossati is usually on the richer side but the 2021 is decidedly restrained.” (Vinous 11/22)  Reg. price: $27.99, On sale in MAY: $21.99

From vineyards around the hilltop Tuscan town of Montepulciano showcasing the distinctive Sangiovese clone, Prugnolo Gentile. If Brunello is the King of Tuscan wines, Vino Nobile is the elegant Prince!
2019 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Tuscany, Italy – (85% Prugnolo Gentile, 15% Colorino, Canaiolo, Merlot) “A darkly elegant mix of cloves, sweet smoke, sugar-dusted plums and violette pastille wafts up from the 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This is delicate on the palate, silky in feel yet lifted with a savory mix of black fruit and inner herbal tones. The 2019 finishes a bit shorter than I’d like, yet cleans up nicely leaving gently gripping tannins and the mouth watering for some more.”  (Vinous 10/22)      Regular price: $35.99, On sale in MAY: $26.99

NEW ARRIVAL – From the cellar: Red Burgundy

2009 Domaine Jean-Michel Guillon & Fils Gevrey Chambertin “Les Crais” Cote de Nuits, France – From the beautiful 2009 vintage, sourced from 4 stony (“Les Crais”) Lieux-dits outside the village. This is an opulent, aromatic, silky textured expression of Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Well over a decade of aging has only benefited this elegant and harmonious red wine. An excellent “deal” for: $99.99

NEW ARRIVALS – BURGUNDY

From the iconic & laconic Sébastien Dauvissat with reviews from Allen Meadows at Burghound!
2018 Domaine Jean Dauvissat Pere & Fils Vaillons Chablis Premier Cru, France - “There is better typicity to the white orchard fruit, smoky mineral reduction and sea breeze-inflected nose. There is also better volume and richness to the delicious and caressing medium-bodied flavors that terminate in a sappy if slightly warm finale. This understated effort should also drink well on the younger side.(BH 76) $52.99
2018 Jean et Sebastien Dauvissat Les Preuses Chablis Grand Cru, France – “There is very good Chablis character to the notably ripe aromas of petrol, quinine, tidal pool and various white-fleshed fruit scents that are trimmed in noticeable if discreet wood toast. The attractively textured medium weight flavors are not nearly as concentrated as those of its 2019 counterpart though there is better refinement and finesse. Moreover, there is certainly enough stuffing to suggest that this will require most of a decade to arrive at its full maturity.” (BH 80) $99.99
Allocated red Burgundy from Simon Rollin who has now replaced his ‘officially retired’ father Rémi.
2020 Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses Cote de Beaune, France –“Tasting note: A ripe and agreeably fresh nose combines notes of distinctly earthy aromas of plum, dark cherry and a hint of violet. There is again very good vibrancy to the more mineral driven middle weight flavors that exhibit fine length and surprisingly good power on the chalky and lightly rustic finale.” (BH 86) $56.99
2020 Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune Burgundy, France -“Earth and anise wisps can be found on the ripe red and dark berry fruit aromas. There is both very good vibrancy and detail to the delicious flavors that conclude in a bitter pit fruit-inflected finale. This easy to like effort should benefit from 1 to 3 years of keeping.” (BH 86) $39.99

NEW ARRIVALS from Arianna Occhipinti and we only get a few bottles!

2018 Arianna Occhipinti ‘Grotte Alte’ Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Italy - (50% Frappato/50% Nero d’Avola.) Arianna’s only DOCG wine, named for the limestone ridges on which the Occhipinti estate lies. Fresh and lean with red berries, herbs and a touch of rusty nails on a silky finish. $99.99
2020 Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily, Italy - “Aromas of suede, dried rose and dried strawberry. Medium-bodied with slightly firm tannins. Linear on the palate and rather pretty, fresh and long. Drink or hold.” (JS 8/17/22) $59.99
2020 Arianna Occhipinti ‘Siccagno’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT- This is an open and minerally driven wine with bright red fruit and spice, slight notes of smoky earth finishing with dusty tannins. $59.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS