February 2024 Newsletter

February Tasting Events

Join us for a tasting on
Sat. 2/10 – 2:00-5:00 pm
Staff Picks for February!

    Join us on Wed. 2/28
    From 5:30pm -7:00pm
        as we welcome
  Carole Champion
          of
  Champagne Roland Champion

  WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY   2:00pm-5:00pm
      ‘Whatever we feel like opening”
                And
          2/24 2:00 to 5:00pm
LAST SATURDAY WINE SCHOOL - “TANNINS”

FEBRUARY SPECIAL OFFERS – FROM THE CELLAR (no further discounts)

This is a great value and it has a rose on the label – perfect for Valentine’s Day!
2009 La Rose Pourpre Pauillac, Bordeaux, France – (65% Petit Verdot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet franc) A great vintage from one of the most famous AOC’s of Bordeaux (think Mouton and Laffite Rothschild) but this wine is an anomaly as it is majority Petit Verdot! Very aromatic with notes of dusted cherries, black currant and hints of toasted fennel seeds. A vivacious, savory and slightly meaty wine with surprisingly youthful but refined tannins.  Reg. price: $64.99, On sale in Feb.: $29.99 (limit 2 per Customer)

Here is a wonderful opportunity to explore, in a very good vintage, bottle aged Nebbiolo from the Piedmont DOCG of Roero, across the river from Barolo. There are two reviews, the first from when the wine was released and the second from 2020.
2005 Malvira Trinita Riserva Roero DOCG, Piedmonte, Italy - “The 2005 Roero Riserva Trinitá is a gorgeous wine redolent of perfumed raspberries, cherries, flowers and sweet spices. Today the tannins are somewhat unresolved, but with some patience the wines should turn into a gem. The integrity and the purity of the fruit – not to mention the wine’s balance – are all first class” (Galloni, Vinous 10/09)
Now a review from 2020: I am very grateful that Malvirà decided to send me this back vintage, made 15 years ago, because understanding the aging trajectory of these samples is not easy. The 2005 Roero Riserva Trinità—preciously sent to me with plastic wrap to protect its label—shows us the potential of aged Roero. I am impressed. The wine is not totally linear, and in fact, it offers some disjointed tones along the way; but there is a lot of personality with dried blackberry, aniseed, cola, licorice, dried herb and almond. I also get rusty nail and ferrous earth. The tannins are gritty and textured. Tasting this wine was indeed a very special experience.” (WA 20)   Regular price: $41.99, On sale in February: $21.99

FEBRUARY SPECIAL OFFERS

One of our favorite Tavel Rosés and these serious wines are always better with a little bit of age!
2021 Château de Ségriès Tavel Rosé, Rhone, France- “One year older than most of the wines in this report, Ségriès’s 2021 Tavel is still a nice deep ruby hue and still nicely floral on the nose, with hints of garrigue and violets accenting cherries and red berries. Full-bodied, round and expansive on the palate, it retains some zestiness as well, with notes of brine and citrus on the lingering finish. It’s a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 10% each Clairette and Syrah.” (WA 5/23)
Regular price: $21.99, On sale in February: $call (no further discounts.)
Almost forgotten, Freisa is one of the closest relatives to the Nebbiolo grape and Kyé means ‘who is?’: an expression of surprise for this “lost” varietal.
2019 G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso Piedmont, Italy –“The 2019 Langhe Freisa Kye is a gorgeous, exquisite wine. Picking a bit earlier has resulted in a Freisa that emphasizes energy over the more dense style that was in place here prior to 2015. Orange zest, raspberry, mint, sage and dried herbs. The style is more Nebbiolo-like than the more deep, concentrated and at times rustic Freisas of the past.” (Galloni, Vinous11/22)                      Regular price: $46.99, On sale in February: $31.99 (no further discounts.)
2022 Domaine Lelievre Auxerrois Blanc Cotes de Toul, France -  (100% Auxerrois)- Try something different! The Cotes de Toul is a lonely Lorraine AOC that grows Auxerrois, a common variety for the area. A fresh, zippy and aromatic wine with white flowers, lime zest, orange blossoms and alpine herbs. Pair with fish or a variety of goat cheeses!  Regular price: $21.99, On sale in February: $16.99 (no further discounts.)

VALENTINE’s Day is a Wednesday– A half bottle perhaps?

We carry a fairly good selection of half bottles and with Valentine’s Day falling on a Wednesday perhaps a half bottle is the perfect choice! Here are two that are on sale this month:
N/V Jean Vesselle Brut Reserve Champagne, France-“…the latest rendition of Vesselle’s NV Brut Réserve is showing nicely, offering up aromas of pear, honeycomb, freshly baked bread and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and precise, its nicely concentrated core of fruit is girdled by bright acids and complemented by a pinpoint mousse.” (WA)  Reg. price: $35.99, On sale in Feb.: $29.99 (no further discounts.)
2021 Benjamin Laroche ‘La Manufacture’ Chablis Burgundy, France- A native of Chablis, the Laroche family have had vineyards in the Chablis area since 1663. This classic, fresh, medium bodied Chablis with citrus notes is the perfect foil for any seafood or chicken dish.  Reg. price: $24.99, On sale in Feb.: $14.99

STAFF SELECTIONS!

AMANDA -
2019 Le due Terre ‘Sacrisassi’ Rosso Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy – (50% Schioppotino/50% Refosco.) Fermented in cement & aged in used barriques. Native yeasts & no fining/filtering. Lighter, savory style Italian red. Great for simple pasta preparations or pizza with sausage and peppers. Such a great opportunity to try some high quality Friulian wines from a great couple! Le Due Terre was founded in 1984 by Silvana Forte and Flavio Basilicata in Prepotto, on the eastern hills of Friuli. $41.99
2019 Le due Terre ‘Sacrisassi’ Bianco Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy- (30% Ribolla Gialla, 70% Fruilano) 21 months in used French oak. Native yeast, unfined/unfiltered. A rich, expressive aromatic style of white with great texture, high acidity and great minerality. Refreshing. $41.99

PETER -
  2020 Domaine Rimbert Saint-Chinian Les Travers de Marceau, Languedoc-Roussillon, France- Hailing from the Languedoc and made from a classic local blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, this certified organic red wine offers impressions of blueberry jam, currants, black pepper with a hint of licorice and chichory-blended coffee. Dusty and clean finish. Supple tannins and framework. I love the sense of balance and richness despite the welterweight 12.5% alcohol. I enjoyed this with a plate of NC pork BBQ takeout from Virginia Barbecue in Lakeside and the Rimbert served on the cool side was a beautiful accompaniment to the pork, collards, etc.  $21.9

MONTHLY SPECIALS