Wines of the Month
These are wines that are hand-selected by the staff every month, typically one lighter in style and one fuller in body, that pair with the time of the year. Always outstanding, sometimes great deals, never disappointing.
Now available to taste by the glass in store!
Wine of the Month for October 2023
Obsidian Wine Company
The region surrounding our Obsidian Ridge Vineyard boasts the youngest and most diverse volcanic soils in the Mayacamas Mountains. The Kelsey Bench sits northwest of our estate, on a volcanic fan of red volcanic soils studded with obsidian rock. The Jacobsen Ranch is planted at 1,551 feet elevation on a lava flow. Our neighbor Larry Rogers is a long-time pear farmer, and personally delivers his outstanding Sauvignon Blanc grapes to us. His nineteen acres of Musque Clone Sauvignon Blanc are exposed to 10% more ultraviolet light than at sea level, and often experience 50 degree temperature swings in a single day, resulting in wines that achieve generous fruit flavors while retaining bracing acidity. This limited bottling is produced expressly for our wine club members, with limited availability to our visiting guests.
2022 Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma Valley, California
Grapes were harvested in the cool pre-dawn hours and pressed whole-cluster upon arrival at the winery. The juice was kept cold in tank throughout the fermentation process, which lasted several weeks. We bottled the wine only a few months after harvest in order to preserve the clean, bright flavors and lovely aromatics of this varietal.
There is a particularly mineral acidity to volcanic white wines that shines through this citrusy sauvignon blanc. The aroma reminds us of limes and lemongrass, the flavors fall more into the orange and lemon-lime spectrum, fresh and clean yet round and intense as well. All we need is to open a bottle of this outdoors, and magically, we’re on holiday.
ALC 14.2%
$34.99
$10/2oz pour
Wine of the Month for September 2023
Longboard Vineyards
In winemaking, as in surfing, one learns to happily surrender to Nature. Control is an illusion, just remain humble and aware and react to what is given to you by the season.
- Oded Shakked - Owner & Winegrower
Our Estate Merlot, made from vines planted in 1985 with budwood taken from the famous Three-Palms Vineyard in Napa county. This is a field blend with about 9% Malbec (grown, picked and fermented as one lot). They were never known for drawing within the lines. They started producing this wine in 2005, right when the movie "Sideways" came out and it has become a favorite to our fans. A classy wine that grows on you and will surprise you with its ageing potential.
DaKine Vineyard is their estate Merlot block. It is nestled at the bottom if an east-facing hill on Westside Road in Healdsburg. Original vines were planted in 1988 for Arrowwood Winery with budwood obtained from the famous "Three Palms" Merlot vineyard in Napa Valley. In addition, 3/4 acre of Malbec (clone 1) was established in the middle of the site. In 2005, Oded bought the property from the Mondavi family and began farming the grapes. Oded named the vineyard "DaKine" (pronounced Dah-kain), a Hawaiian-Creole English expression that could mean anything (as in watchamacallit") and can be used to describe anything, even complex concepts such as terroir.
Merlot is a Bordeaux variety with a long tradition as a wine blended in Cabernet Sauvignon but one that also produces the iconic wines of the "Right Bank". Our estate vineyard makes a wine that is balanced, naturally. It is field-blended, meaning they grow, harvest and co-ferment of 30-year-old vines and a micro-climate that is cooler than the surrounding valleys but warm enough to ripen the grapes every year work and together to create a complex wine with a sense of place.
2020 Longboard Merlot
91% Merlot & 9% Malbec
Russian River Valley, California
DaKine Merlot is lush with black currant, violet and plum aromas with that signature note of dried herbs. The generous mid-palate is full of sweet-tasting tannins, and dark chocolate flavors. As always, this is our favorite wine to pair with a rare Filet Mignon or beef carpaccio. Aged 24 months in French Oak Barrels.
Alcohol 14%
$31.99
$10/2oz pour
Wine of the Month for August 2023
Guerrieri Rizzardi Azienda Agricola
The oldest part of Guerrieri Rizzardi exists in Bardolino, Italy where the Rambaldi family (ancestors of the Guerrieri) developed an estate in the 15th century. Close by and a century later in Negrar di Valpolicella the Rizzardi family bought the estate of Pojega. These two families were later joined by marriage almost three centuries later. The third generation joined the company from the late 1990s, with Giuseppe, Orsola, Olimpia and Agostino Rizzardi.
The family’s goal is unchanged, namely the creation of ‘estate produced and bottled’ wines, retaining control of the entire production chain in-house. New vineyards have been planted with different grape varieties in accordance with the type of soil, and the system of nurturing different varieties of vine is being improved to increase the quality of the wines. In recent years Guerrieri-Rizzardi has joined the ‘Historical Wine Families’ Association and the ‘Les Hénokiens’ Association of 200-year-old family businesses. Today, Guerrieri-Rizzardi is a dynamic company, not only in the world of wine, but also in tourism and hospitality.
Their wines are the true expression of Bardolino, Soave, Valpolicella and Valdadige, their heritage and their people. They are Eco-Friendly!
2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
52% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Barbera, 10% Merlot & 8% Rondinella
Made from 100% dried grapes, raisined naturally in small boxes in the ancient drying rooms of Pojega for 3-5 months. The grapes are destemmed and crushed before a slow alcoholic fermentation of one month in stainless steel, malolactic fermentation in barriques. Matured 36 months in oak barrels followed by several months in tank to harmonize.
Set out to be one of the finest Villa Rizzardi vintages, a wine already showing a rich aroma of dark fruit & sweet spice and on the palate there’s layers of richness and intense dark berried fruit. Its depth and concentration suggest that this is destined for a long life. Works well with richer beef dishes, game too, especially if there is a sweetness to the sauce, also mature cheese: Cimbro, Pecorino vecchio.
$61.99
$10/2oz pour
Wine of the Month for July 2023
Domaine Marcel Deiss
Located in Bergheim next to Ribeauvillé, in the heart of the Grand Cru area, the Marcel Deiss estate was founded in 1947. The Deiss family is a long line of winegrowers, blacksmiths and bell founders who settled in Alsace after the Thirty Years War and the attachment of the Province to France. Currently managed by Mathieu Deiss with the help of his father Jean-Michel, the estate has fought for a more qualitative production, based on the terroir rather than on cloned grape varieties, the inclination to Biodynamics, very low yields, agroforestry and Biodynamics.
The Domaine Marcel Deiss chose more than 40 years ago to devote its efforts to the emergence of a viticulture of Lieu in Alsace when the grape variety was perceived at that time as an absolute modernity. Why did we make this choice against the tide? And what is a "Haut-lieu" wine-growing that is also called "Terroir"? It is a profoundly French concept, as subtle as our philosophy and our language are. A multifactorial concept, very complex, made of fine interactions between the place itself, in its physical and metaphysical characteristics; the winegrower's practices, his dreams and fantasies, his personality. It is by essence an object in movement, a work in progress never finished, always reinvented but yet totally functional. Pregnant for the one who plants the vine, the one who leads it, unavoidable for the one who makes wine, central for the one who tastes it.
2020 Alsace Complantation Blanc
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Muscat a petits grains, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Beurot, Muscat Blanc, Rose d'Alsace, Traminer & Chasselas Rose
Alsace, France
Pale yellow color, intense fruity nose show the blending notes of lemon, white flowers, pineapple and yellow peach. The palate is remarkably fruity and severe; a salinity grows from the freshness of a wine for your thirsty.
Vine Age: Planted 1980-2010
Vine Density: 8,000 per ha
Terroir: Multiple Bergheim vineyards with clay-limestone soil, including younger vines from 1er Cru parcels
Viticulture: Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 12 months.
Sweetness level: Dry
13.5% ABV
$32.99
$5/2oz pour
Wine of the Month for June 2023
Caparsa
Caparsa is run by Paolo Cianferoni and his large family since 1982: Gianna, the precious partner full of energy, Federico who works in the commercial part, Filippo who has just completed his studies and who helps in the cellar and in the vineyard, Fiamma student at the Agricultural Institute of Siena, Flavio and Francesco the little ones.
Caparsa was bought by Paolo's father, Prof. Reginaldo Cianferoni back in 1965 and it was he who started planting the vines. Paolo has recently completed the replanting since 1999 of all 12 hectares.
Caparsa is certified organic both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Sangiovese is the main grape variety in Caparsa, located in the municipality of Radda in Chianti, one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas in the world and one of the areas with the highest quality wines.
Caparsa wines have a unique and unmistakable note of acidity, and the aromas and tannins are expressed through their territorial authenticity. This is the reason for their longevity.
2006 Caparsa Doccio a Matteo
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino and Ancelotta
Chianti Classico DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
The Chianti Classico "Doccio a Matteo" Riserva 2006 is the expression of a balanced vintage. The selection of Sangiovese harvested in the homonymous vineyard with Colorino and Ancelotta make this wine unique.
Purple color, light but full-bodied at the same time, perfect mature crunchy, light wood but in dissolution, remarkable synthesis between tradition and modernity.
13.5% ABV
$50.99
$10/2oz pour
Wine of the Month for May 2023
La Foia Barolo DOCG
Nadia Curto is a formidable winemaker who learned her craft from her father, a grower, and her uncle Elio Altare, a legendary producer. She’s her own enologist and works every aspect of the winemaking. This cru Barolo cuts the razor’s edge between classic and modern - powerful, even a touch austere, but with undeniable finesse.
The wine is at once elegant and approachable, with flavors that are lush and enormously concentrated. Beautifully balanced layers of dark cherry, truffles, anise, earth, and even rose hips.
WINEMAKER BIOGRAPHY: To put it mildly, Nadia Curto is “all in”. Leading the charge for women winemakers in Piedmont, Nadia took her enological smarts and expanded the family’s business from grower to producer. Today, she channels all her expertise into tiers of cru Barolo that are remarkably nuanced and possess a true feminine side.
2016 Curto “La Foia” Barolo
100% Nebbiolo
Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
Color: Bright garnet red
Nose: Dark fruit and earthy spice, with hints of rose hip, licorice, leather, and truffle
Palate: Full-bodied yet velvety and elegant
Finish: Long, structured, and complex
Aged In 20-30 HL Slovenian barrels for 24 months and bottled for 12 months.
14.5% ABV
$72.99
$10/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for April 2023
Backsberg Cellars
Paarl, South Africa
Backsberg Cellars boasts 100 years of winemaking history. Fourth generation, Simone Back and his team are taking Backsberg Cellars to a new level of excellence, to further cement the existing reputation for innovative and quality set by his father.
While sipping their wines you can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they have extended their gentle approach to wine making to care for the environment and the wine you are enjoying is certified carbon neutral and certified sustainable.
2017 Backsberg Family Reserve White
58% Roussanne, 25% Sauvignon Blanc & 17% Chardonnay
A wonderful medley of coconut, peach and aniseed aromas combined with vanilla undertones on the palate and a creamy, long-lasting finish. Eight of the best French oak barrels have been assembled to achieve this deeply concentrated white blend. Pair with cheeses, full-flavored and creamy food. Particularly complements chicken and duck. This wine could make an ordinary toasted cheese sandwich look gourmet. Best enjoyed within 10 to 15 years.
$38.99
$5/2oz pour
2016 Backsberg Family Reserve Red
50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot & 17% Malbec
Concentrated flavors of black forest berries infused with spice, cedar and vanilla. Extended skin contact and aging in small French barriques contribute to its complexity. This wine is produced only in exceptional years. Pairing this wine is the perfect accompaniment to classic hearty fare such as roast beef or lamb. The connoisseur’s preferred red blend. Best enjoyed within 15 to 20 years.
$38.99
$5/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for March 2023
2020 Schlossberg Pinot Gris
100% Pinot Gris
Alsace, France
Born in Hunawihr, this Pinot Gris comes from a heavy and deep clay soil with a bit of limestone. East exposure. The clay brings softness and texture to the Pinot Gris and the deep soil provide lengths. On the nose this wine is pure, no botrytis notes, a mix of white flowers and peach, with a touch of smoke. The taste is elegant with little residual sugar (13 grams), and a welcome acidity. The length is beautiful. Traditional, Whole bunch press and natural fermentation. Lies contact during 7 months. 20% in Oak barrel, 80% in Stainless steel tanks. To drink or keep two more years. All the vineyard is grown organically without any chemical. Certified by Ecocert since 2007.
$34.99
$5/2oz pour
2018 Outerbound Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Geyserville, Alexander Valley, California
To honor the revered wine grape of Alexander Valley and the inaugural vintage of Outerbound, this wine was sourced from three select vineyards on the west side of the AVA. Their Cabernet offers notes of black fruit, gooseberry and dried herbs. Medium to full in body, this wine is filled with flavors of black currants, plums and baking spice blending seamlessly with prominent tannins that linger until the next sip. Aged in 100% French oak.
$35.99
$5/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for February 2023
2020 Jiménez-Landi Vino Naranja White
85% Garnacha Blanca & 15% Malvar
Sierra de Gredos Méntrida DO, Spain
The small estate is located in Méntrida and is in an old typical Toledana house where the oldest part, the cave, dates to the 16th century and was used by their ancestors to elaborate wine in clay vats. With romantic 16th century gardens, the estate has always been linked to the family, and the family always linked to winemaking and viticulture. This orange wine has an intense and complex nose with notes of rooibos, mandarin oranges and orange zest, candied oranges, yellow apple and hazelnuts. The palate is tart and fruity, invigorating with flavors of oranges, grapefruit, cherries, some sherry, herbs and various nuts on the finish. Goes very well with pasta with porcini mushrooms.
A “Natural” wine. Certified Organic & Biodynamic.
$31.99
$5/2oz pour
2020 Jiménez-Landi Moravia Red
50% Moravia, 20% Bobal & 20% Albillo
Sierra de Cuenca, Spain
Bodegas Jiménez-Landi is now a modern boutique-winery belonging to the Spain ́s Appellation of Origin “DOP Méntrida-Toledo”, one of the oldest in the country. The winery produces limited number of artisan wines following organic agriculture applying innovation and technology. Deep, fruit-driven and jammy. Filled with ripe, rich fruit and a plethora of spices. The wine has been aged in only lightly toasted French oak barrels to allow the full expression of the character of the grapes and terroirs. The wine was bottled unfiltered with minimal sulphur. Perfect with tapas, charcuterie, composed salads and lighter meat dishes, lamb chops, chicken or couscous dishes.
A “Natural” wine. Certified Organic & Biodynamic.
$43.99
$5/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for January 2023
2020 Domaine Marcel Deiss Ribeauville Blanc
Riesling, Sylvaner & Pinot Blanc
Alsace, France
This wine comes from the parcels of the Domaine Marcel Deiss located on the Ribeauvillé area (Gruenspiel, Hagueneau, Weinbaum). The limestone of the Muschelcalk, clays and quaternary intercalations (sandstone and gravel) deliver a tight dry wine, textured, of good thickness, mineral, initiating saliva palate but horizontal, massive and very long. The suggested colors are cold, stylized, and draw a landscape of great rigor but a deep beauty.
Pairings: Raw fish, grilled or in sauce, spring vegetables, mushrooms.
Aging Potential of 10 years. Certified Organic & Biodynamic.
$43.99
$5/2oz pour
2017 Carra Amarone Della Valpolicella
70% Corvina (of which 30% Corvinone), 20% Rondinella,
5% Oseletta & 5% Molinara
Valpolicello, Veneto, Italy
Valpolicella is called the “Valley that Flies” because every grape variety we grow in the valley carries the name of a bird: Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, Dindarella. That is why our Carra Amarone has wings to fly! Amarone is the masterpiece wine resulted from the process that takes the name of “APPASSIMENTO”. After a gentle hand pick harvest, the grapes are dried for three/four months on straw mats to let the water evaporate thus concentrate the sugar content and the aromas of the grape itself. Once pressed the juice ferments on the skins very slowly for about 40 days with frequent pump over to extract flavors and color. After fermentation the wine ages in big Slovenian oak barrels for about 2 years, then we allow the wine to rest in the bottle for another year before we release it. COLOR: Typical dark ruby-red with bright highlights NOSE: Intense, ample with scents of dry fruit, citrus zest and spices. Reveals tobacco, Mediterranean herbs. TASTE: Velvet, warm and full on the palate with soft tannins and a long memorable finish. Extreme ageability.
$34.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for November 2022
2021 Jayson Pahlmeyer Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley, California
Jayson wines are born from two of the most renowned winegrowing regions in the world – the iconic Napa Valley and the pioneering Sonoma Coast. Every vintage is meticulously made with the attention to detail for which Pahlmeyer is known and trusted, while capturing the spirit of its founder whose huge personality, humor and joy for living are an integral part of the Pahlmeyer legacy. Their Sauvignon Blanc beams with freshness and breadth, delivering voluminous layers of bright fruit and floral notes that ride on lifting acidity. Opening notes of citrus blossom, lemongrass, and Kefir lime leaf lead to gooseberry, Key lime, and lemon meringue on the juicy, well-textured mid-palate. Refreshingly crisp, the finish echoes with peach and green apple.
$36.99
$4/2oz pour
2011 Chateau Pas du Cerf Marlise
75% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre & 10% Grenache
Provence, France
Round and corpulent wine with a beautiful Marlise is a southern and heady vintage, with a pepper and mineral personality with stewed fruit flavors. This exceptional vintage, already known by our privileged clients who make it discover, is a concentrate and mix of our know how, maritime influences and our exceptional Terroir. Harvest by hand with fine grape selection. Aging in new French oak barrel for 12 months. Dark garnet color with crimson tints. An explosion of aromas! Very rich and elegant. Aromas of dried apricot, blackcurrant and blackberries with a few crushed cherries. Some notes of cumin spices, a little of vanilla and pepper, and also a little leather side and slight smoky traces, persistence. Despite this powerful wine, we still have freshness in this wine. Great generosity with a magnificent balance. This high level Marlise wine matches wonderfully with game and long cooked dishes like a saddle deer with blueberries or with a jugged hare. Temperature: 16 to 18°C. Has to be decanted 2 hours before drinking. Can age for 10 to 15 years. 14.5%
$38.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for October 2022
2020 ISLA SANCERRE
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Sancerre, France
Sancerre is a firm fixture in restaurants and wine bars around the world and a trip into its vineyards – only a couple of hours drive from Paris – offers the chance to explore one of the most welcoming regions in France for wine lovers. Sancerre itself is a grand medieval hill town, with dozens of cafes, bistrots and "caves" to taste wine in. Set off into the countryside, and every winery is open for visits: as a sizeable part of their production is sold directly at the Domaine, with loyal customers often coming back for decades. From the heart of Sancerre comes this modern expression of the historical grape variety on a chalky terroir. This wine is easy to drink, boasting a citrus and grapefruit note, with mint and peach flavors, finishing on a crisp note. Unoaked.
$32.99
$4/2oz pour
2015 PETERSON VIGNOBLES RED
67% Carignane, 50% Forchini Vineyard, 17% Bradford Mountain Estate Vnyd,
25% Petite Sirah, 8% Zinfandel
Healdsburg, California
My father first produced Vignobles in the 1990’s as a way to showcase our Petite Sirah and other Rhone varietals in a savory blend that reflects the Dry Creek Valley terroir. And, as a side note, it was one of my favorite wines to sneak tastes of as a teenager. This unique blend has so much going on—starting with intriguing aromas of dark plum and dried strawberry laced with brown baking spices, black pepper, toasted oak and traces of tarriness.
$28.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for September 2022
Château d’Arlay
Cotes du Jura, France
Selected the 'First Royal Vineyard of France' in the year 630, Château d'Arlay has remained in the Laguiche family since the 12th century. Before that time, it was owned, at different times, by the Kings of France, Spain and England. These are among a few key reasons why the Château is registered a National Monument. It isn't only the history buffs coming by every year to visit, however. The Laguiche family knows a thing or two about winemaking...(see also: Montrachet). Count Alain de Laguiche has been at the helm of Château d'Arlay since the early 1980s after taking over for his father, Count Renaud de Laguiche. Today, Alain produces a tremendous lineup of Jurassic wines from their nearly 50 acres of vineyards located just outside the château's walls. Interested in keeping things traditional, Alain has kept his lineup of wines easy to follow, even for Côte du Jura!
2017 Château d’Arlay Blanc Tradition
33% Chardonnay & 64% Savagnin
Gold in appearance. On the nose are dried apricots, caramel, crushed walnuts and a hint of vanilla. On the palate lemon, fennel, white pepper, bread dough, walnuts, nutmeg and a hint of vanilla. Medium finish. Reminiscent of a dry sherry. Pairs with poultry in sauce, hard cheese and exotic cuisine. Organic farming, certification in progress. Sustainable.
$47.99
$5/2oz pour
2017 Château d’Arlay Corail Rosé
Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard, Chardonnay, & Savagnin
This wine is created by macerating and co-fermenting all of the red (Pinot Noir, Trousseau and Poulsard) and white (Chardonnay, Savagnin) grape varieties of the Jura, which comes from a local tradition that has all but disappeared. The vineyards face due south, on a very rich soil made up of grey marl with limestone rolled stones. After vinification, the wine is aged in oak barrels for 4 years before bottling. Organic farming, certification in progress. Sustainable.
$33.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for August 2022
2019 Piano dei Daini Etna Bianco
90% Carricante, 10% Cattarato, Inzolia & Grecanico
Etna, Italy
Sofia Ponzini started Tenute Bosco in 2010 to breathe life back into two small vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna. Some of the vines are over 120 years old, and pre-phylloxera, on land recovered 300 years ago from the cooled lava flow following Etna’s last major eruption. There is more living history in the sight of the traditional ‘alberello’ method of propagation in the vineyards that leaves the vines free standing and backed by dry stone walls.
Dusty florals, crushed almonds, lemon confit and hints of yellow apple rise up from the 2019 Etna Bianco Piano dei Daini. It coats the palate in textural richness, and then washes it clean with a stimulating mix of vibrant acids, citrus and salty minerals. Tension builds through the finale, as the cheeks pucker to a sweet-and-sour display of green melon and lasting inner florals. The 2019 is beautiful already, but a year or two of cellaring will bring it fully into focus. A wonderful appetizer, but excellent with any fish that can support the zesty citrus fruit and acidity. Drinking window: 2022 – 2028. Certified Organic, Vegan Friendly and Unoaked.
$39.99
$4/2oz pour
2018 SCEG Aglianico del Vulture
100% Aglianico del Vulture
Basilicata, Italy
Intense ruby color with strong garnet reflections. Ample and complex perfume, decidedly mineral, fruity and ethereally youthful with clear spice hints. Aroma provokes strong sensation of cherry, currant, rosemary, tobacco and cinnamon. Has a dry, warm flavor, broad structure and persistent, aromatic and long finish. Wine of strong personality, representative of its territory and destined to have a great future!
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new tonneau for 12 months. Then, the wine is aged for 6 months in bottle before release. Decant for a minimum of 30 minutes.
$36.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for July 2022
2020 Domaine Dutron Pouilly Fuissé
100% Chardonnay
Pouilly Fuisse, Maconnais, Bourgogne, France
The Dutron family has been making wine at their 40-acre estate in the town of Fuissé since 1835. Today, Domaine Dutron is made by winemaker Maxime Dutron, who joined his father in the family business in 2010. The winery grows only Chardonnay, with some vines up to 70 years old.
The winery is dedicated to using sustainable farming practices.
Bright yellow gold. Highly aromatic, with complex notes of nuts, citrus, brioche and honey. Clean flavors of ripe fruits with a medium to full body, excellent balance and an elegant, long finish. Pairs well with fish, white meat and goat cheese. 13% ABV
$31.99
$4/2oz pour
2021 Domaine Bunan Moulin des Costes Rosé
100% Pinot Noir
Bandol, Provence, France
Throughout the ages, the lords of the medieval Chateau of Le Castellet kept their table supplied with wines from the same legendary terraces which are now known as Moulin des Costes, named for the 18th century Provençal manor house which still overlooks the property. In 1961, brothers Paul and Pierre Bunan purchased this vineyard in the hills above the port of Bandol.
The method for rosé is direct press. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, the final assembly in January and bottling in May.
Brilliant salmon pink color. Elegant fruity bouquet with an expressive nose. Deli-
cate aromas of fruit and mango. A pure, clean tasting, harmonious wine. Well balanced with accompanying fruit aromas. 13.5% ABV
$39.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for June 2022
2019 Domaine Servin Vieilles Vignes Chablis
100% Chardonnay
Chablis, France
On a ridge between the Premier Cru vineyards of Montmains and Vaillons in Chablis lies the Pargues vineyard, from which this wine is sourced. The 2019 Chablis Vieilles Vignes Sélection Massale is excellent, delivering aromas of orange oil, white flowers, pear and oyster shell, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated palate that's bright and chalky. It represents great value. Possesses fine quality for its level and is also worth trying. Around a third of this cuvée matures in used barrels, the rest in tank. 12.5% ABV
$32.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2017 Trione River Road Ranch Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
2017 will be remembered as the year of the fires in Sonoma County, it will also be remembered as a near perfect vintage for most winegrowers. A walk through a dense redwood forest, full of wild blackberry brambles, dappled sunlight and the occasional moss and mushroom covered stump. These are the images that come to mind when first tasting the 2017 Trione Pinot Noir. The mouthfeel is rich and silky with a long finish. This wine will age gracefully for the next 5-7 years. Salute! 14.6% ABV
$35.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for May 2022
2019 Pieropan “La Rocca” Soave Classico
100% Garganega
Soave Classico DOC, Italy
The vineyard ‘La Rocca’ is situated on the Monte Rocchetta hill, just below the mediaeval castle built by the Scaligeri family in the town of Soave. The microclimate in this vineyard produces wines with a unique perfume and distinctive taste. The grapes are picked when very ripe, often as late as the end of October, giving tremendous complexity and aromatic qualities to the wine, making it a wine of great breeding. The wine was first made under this label in 1978. Brilliant and intense yellow whit golden hints; characterful wine, reminiscent of exotic fruit and nuts on the nose; soft and persistent on the palate, with hints of spice, length and elegance. Makes an excellent partner to complex dishes, even with strong flavors particularly risottos such as porcini, or celery, squash and almond, salt cod and other fish including salmon, scallops and crab. Holistic, low environmental impact approach to pest control. 13% ABV
$40.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2018 Hightower Merlot
91% Merlot & 9% Cabernet Franc
Red Mountain District, Washington
As much as possible, they take a non-interventionist approach to winemaking. They place great emphasis on vineyard selection, picking, pressing, and blending so that Hightower wines are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. They let the powerful and concentrated fruit from Red Mountain speak for itself. The result is a collection of well-balanced, nuanced wines that reveal something new and interesting each time you open a bottle. They like to think they’re wines with character through and through — in how they were made, how they taste, and in the connections they inspire. The 2018 Merlot is by far our “biggest” most brooding Merlot. It shows lots of dark berry fruit, beautiful dark chocolate aromas, and a hint of vanilla. The tannins are nicely managed to a smooth, silky texture. Sustainable. 14.7% ABV
$33.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for April 2022
2019 Les Cormiers Saumur Chenin Blanc
100% Chenin Blanc
Loire Valley, Saumur, France
The town of Saumur, and its castle of the 11th century overlooking the left bank of the Loire River, that offers the greatest Terroir of the Anjou-Saumur region for the production of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. It is there in the small village of Souzay-Champigny, one of the 8 villages of the appellation, that Jean-Pierre Chevalier farms organically. Fully certified organic since 2012, the vines have always been farmed in respect of nature with no use a phytosanitary products. Winemaking is hands-off and happens with native yeasts and minimal addition of SO2. Long fermentation in old 500 litters French oak barrels, followed by an ageing on fine lees during 10 months in the same “Tonnes”. No “Bâtonnage” and no malolactic fermentation. Enchanting nose of citrus and white flowers. The mouth is full and ample but always stay fresh and supple. Stone fruit character dominated by white peach with subtle citrus notes. It finishes with a chalky terroir distinction. 13.5% ABV
$34.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2019 Harvey & Harriet Red
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot & 10% Malbec
San Luis Obispo County, California
Harvey and Harriet is the Bordeaux blend created by Eric Jensen of Booker Vineyard, in an attempt to make a wine that his parents would love and could afford. At first blush, an exuberant bouquet of candied blueberries, blackberries, jasmine, and orange blossoms jumps out of the glass and demands full attention. Underneath the fruits and flowers lie warm scents of brioche, cocoa, and baking spices. The taster is then rewarded with intense cherry, mixed berry and plum followed by caramel and espresso. The overall sensation is sublime bliss on the palate as the elegant finish slowly fades away.
$32.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for March 2022
2019 Reveur La Vigne en Rose
85% Gewurztraminer & 15% Riesling
Alsace, France
This is a new Alsatian brand from Mathieu Deiss, son of acclaimed vigneron Jean-Michel Deiss of Domaine Marcel Deiss. In addition to working in the vines and cellar of his family domaine, Mathieu manages this spectacular 17.3 acre property, making exclusively estate grown wines. Parcels are located mostly in the commune of Bennwihr, just outside of the Valley of Kaysersberg. The estate is certified organic by Ecocert, and biodynamic by Demeter.
Beautiful nose! It's fresh, elegant and fragrant. Notes of roses mingle with those of apricot and lychee with a hint of mirabelle plum. The palate is round and fresh, tasty and invigorating. Delightful! Certified biodynamic. Indigenous yeast. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for 12 months. 14% ABV
$29.99/btl
2016 Franzoni La Foja Botticino DOC
40% Barbera, 30% Marzemino, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Schiava Gentile
Lombardy, Italy
A vibrant ruby-red wine from Botticino hills. The notes of red berry, vanilla and tobacco can be then found in the mouth. Long finish and strong flavors for a wine that’s excellent pairing for red meat, roast and strong cheese. The ageing of this wine is carried out for more than three 3 in Slavonian casks and then it is refined for over 3 months in bottles before hitting the market.
Botticino is also called “Barolo of Lombardy” and the soil plays a big part in this. It’s made up of “marl” and characterized by its light color, very similar to the one in Piedmont area of Barolo. 14.5% ABV
$34.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for February 2022
2018 Pra ‘Monte Grande’ Soave Classico
70% Garganega & 30% Trebbiano
Soave Classico DOC, Veneto, Italy
Hand harvested. Practicing organic. Age of vines 30 to 60 years. The stems of the Garganega are snipped when the grapes are ripe and left to slightly raisinate in the vineyard for one month. The Trebbiano di Soave is harvested earlier and adds freshness to the Garganega. The 2018 Soave Classico Monte Grande is intense, wafting up masses of crushed stone and mineral tones, dusty florals and notes of green apple. The textures are enveloping, soft and smooth, supported by stimulating acidity and minerals, while ushering in orchard fruits but also a hint of tart tropical citrus, which adds an exotic note. That said, the Monte Grande is more savory than sweet, with an herbal twang through the finale, complemented by hints of raw almond.
13% ABV
$31.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2016 Peterson Winery Braford Mountain Merlot
84% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, & 8% Cabernet Franc
Dry Creek Valley AVA, Sonoma, California
Dusty oak notes swirl through aromas of blackcurrant and dark cherry with just a trace of minerality. The velvety entry reveals plush tannins with bright acidity. Juicy Bing cherry, pomegranate and mocha caress the palate, while hints of spicy cedar, fine herbs, violets, and graphite enhance the flavors. The oak structure keeps a low profile until the long finish, where it contributes to the wine’s complexity and depth. Aged 26 months in 50% 1-year-old French oak barrels;
50% 2-4 year-old French oak barrels.
15% ABV
$37.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for January 2022
2020 Von Winning ‘Winnings’ Riesling
100% Riesling
Pfalz, Germany
This wine is everything that is great about Riesling—crisp, clean, mineral-driven with ripe fruit. A winemaker from a long tradition, the vineyard is practicing organic. von Winning is unquestionably a rising star. This is his entry-level Riesling sourced from several parcels. Great value clean and fresh Riesling packed with stone fruits and flinty minerality. What is so tantalizing about this wine is it strikes a perfect balance between sweet and dry, which just keeps me coming back for another sip, and another, until the whole bottle is gone. Too crisp to be a sweet wine and too sweet and fruity to be a dry wine, this is where two things are equally true and equally good. Fermented in stainless steel and aged briefly in 10% used French & German old barrels, 500-1500L
12% ABV
$20.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2017 Ridgeback ‘His Master's Choice’ Signature C Red Blend
70% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 10% Petit Verdot
Paarl, South Africa
Classic upfront cassis, mulberry and dark plum with notes of cigar box and licorice. Firm, ripe tannin supports the rich midpalate and elegant pepper spice finish. The wine was gravity fed to 80% new, 10% second fill and 10% third fill 225-liter French oak barrels for secondary Malolactic fermentation. After 12 months of maturation the component cultivars were blended together and racked back to barrel for a further 6 months of integration. The specially selected barrels were lightly filtered prior to bottling. Certified organic.
14.5% ABV
$31.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for November 2021
Turkey Wines
2018 Au Bon Climat Hildegard White
55% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc & 5% Aligoté
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California
The wine made from this Pinot Gris was more like a Burgundian Pinot Gris or dry Alsatian Pinot Gris than a light, insipid Pinot Grigio style. This rich oily Pinot Gris, blended well with the flinty minerality of Pinot Blanc and the mouth-watering acidity from the Aligoté. These three lesser known Burgundian white grapes were aged for two years in new French oak barrels, blended and then released with the name Hildegard.
13.5% ABV
$38.99/btl
$4/2oz pour
2017 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir
Arroyo Grande AVA, San Luis Obispo, California
Aromas of cranberry, delicate oak, and raspberry on the nose complement a flavor profile of rainier cherry, juicy raspberry, and smoke. With moderate acidity and fresh red fruits on the finish, this wine is approachable and widely appealing.
Aged 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels.
13.8% ABV
$35.99
$4/2oz pour
Wines of the Month for October 2021
2017 Wonderment Wines Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Hyde Vineyard, Los Carneros AVA, Napa Valley, California
Right in step with Wonderment’s first-rate 2016 effort from the same site, this year’s version is a very well-crafted, explicitly varietal effort that brings together elements of citrus, ripe melons, peaches, fresh herbs and a deft bit of creamy oak in a deep and seamlessly married mix. It is moderately full-bodied and slightly fleshy in feel with neatly placed acidity affording it plenty of life, and, as was the case with its predecessor, it is a beautifully balanced wine that, while delicious right now, has all of the right pieces in place to guarantee a good half-decade or more of positive growth. The wine was de-stemmed and sat on skins for 6 hours before being pressed and then racked into 50% Stainless Steel Barrel and 50% Neutral Burgundian Oak fermenting in barrel. The wine was again racked after fermentation and returned to the same percentage of Stainless and Neutral Oak where it rested for 5 months before being bottled on February, 20th, 2018.
14.1% ABV | 3.41 pH
$27.99/btl
$3/2oz pour
2018 Labarge Winery Cinquin Syrah
100% Syrah
Sta. Rita Hills AVA, California
Herby and peppery aromas meet with tart berry scents on the nose of this bottling—a new, more affordable brand for Pierre LaBarge. Bay leaf and under-ripe elderberries show on the sip, which also offers purple flowers and more pepper.
14.6% ABV. Organic.
$33.99
$4/2oz pour
