2015 Domaine des Ardoisieres "Silice", St. Pierre d'Albigny, Savoie, France
In the shadow of Mont Blanc is the mountainous region of the Savoie. It is famous for winter sports and cheeses (Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie), and wines that are unusually refined, perhaps owing to the dramatic landscape and weather. This wine “Silice” is produced from Jacquere, a varietal indigenous to the region, and it has a particularly distinctive quality. The area was planted during Roman times, but eventually became a wild forest, then in 1998, farmers cleared trees and replanted the steeply terraced vineyards to create Domaine des Ardoisieres. The 2015 Cuvee Silice is sourced from two single vineyards, with a purity of flavor that captures the character of stony terraces. Stone fruit and citrus aromas mingle with fresh coriander, blending with dried herbs and a freshness of palate that is precise and minerally. The food pairings with this Savoie beauty are many, but fresh pan-seared halibut and a rich, herbed, pasta would be just the thing.
2014 Fronton de Oro Tinto, Gran Canaria, Spain
Our June Wine Club red hails from the Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa and south of Madeira. Much of the Canaries are made up of dormant volcanos, and the temperate weather and mineral-rich soils have proven fertile grounds for grape growing. Antonio Ramirez purchased land for vegetables and vines for his family in the hills of La Lechuza in 1977, and since then his sons Pedro and Antonio have been increasing their vineyard output and improving their wines’ excellence. Their 2014 Tinto is 100% Listan Negro (aka Mission grape in California), and it has the quality and composition of a wine 3 times the price! Essence of black tea and raspberries develop as the wine opens, nutmeg and lavender aromas swirl with white pepper and cherries. The finish is lengthy and pronounced, and would be perfect served with BBQ and roasted vegetables.