April Wine Club Selections

2017 FRITZ WIENINGER ”WIENER GEMISCHTER SATZ” - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Grüner Veltliner, Weissburgunder, Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sylvaner, Traminer, Neuberger

Winemaking details: Gemischter Satz translates to field blend, and this style of wine has a deep history in Austria. The grapes are co-planted in the vineyard, harvested all together, and see five hours of skin contact before being pressed and co-fermented at cool temperatures. Malolactic fermentation and ageing occur in stainless steel tank.

Color: Pale gold with bright green highlights

Bouquet: A complex mix of floral, citrus, tropical, and spicy aromas.

Palate: A medium-plus body wine with an oily texture balanced by high acidity. Fresh lemon, honeysuckle, white pepper, and pineapple show through, with even more flavors surprising the palate. Constantly evolving, this wine is an experience in itself and pairs great with a wide variety of food.

Enjoy now or wait up for 3-5 years for the wine to evolve.

Further information can be found here: https://www.winebow.com/our-brands/weingut-wieninger/wiener-gemischter-satz-dac/

2017 AMIRAN VEPKHYADZE - IMERERI, GEORGIA

Otskhanuri Sapere

Winemaking details: This grape is indigenous to the country of Georgia and makes one of the inkiest wines out there. Fermented naturally without any additives in Qvervi, which are large terracotta amphora built into the ground. Ageing also occurs in Quervi, and the wine is not fined or filtered before bottling.

Color: Deep purple

Bouquet: Blue fruits, violets, and an array of earth tones.

Palate: Bright acid and strong tannin with dark berries, black cherry, and leather. This heavy body and low alcohol wine finishes long with cured meat and cranberry.  Please give this wine at least 20 minutes to breathe before enjoying.

Further information can be found here: https://www.bluedanubewine.com/blog/2016/03/winewednesday-spotlight-19-amirans-otskhanuri-sapere/

March Wine Club Selections

2017 CHÂTEAU DU HUREAU “ARGILE” - LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

Chenin Blanc

Winemaking details: The grapes for this wine come from four different vineyards parcels in Saumur, with deep clay topsoil and limestone bedrock. After pressing, the juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeast then aged in neutral oak barrels for nine months prior to bottling.

Color: Straw Yellow

Bouquet: Lively with white flowers, citrus zest, green apple and wet chalk.

Palate: The fresh lemon and yellow stone fruit complement the racy acidity and salty minerality. This medium body white finishes long and creamy with notes of honeysuckle.

This wine can be had now or rested for 2-5 years.

Further information can be found here: https://chateauduhureau.com/en/our-wines/saumur-blanc/argile/

2017 HARRINGTON CHOCK ROCK VINEYARD - MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

Pinot Noir

Winemaking details: The Chock Rock Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Mountains is rugged and rich with limestone. The grapes are destemmed and fermented by native yeasts, after which the wine is aged in neutral oak barrels for nine months, with no temperature manipulations, fining, or filtering ever. A small amount of sulfur is added before bottling. Only 90 cases were produced.

Color: Pale Ruby

Bouquet: Dried cherry and fresh strawberries explore from this glass, along with a dusting of dried tea leaves and tobacco.

Palate: With vibrant acidity, velvety tannins, a concoction of red fruit and subtle earth tones, this medium bodied Pinot Noir is fresh and supple.  

Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years.

Further information can be found here: http://www.harringtonwine.com/

February Wine Club Selections

2017 LA DISTESA “TERRE SILVATE” - MARCHE, ITALY

Verdicchio, Trebbiano, Malvasia

Winemaking details: In the iconic villages of Castelli di Jesi, the grapes for this wine are harvested early in the morning to preserve freshness. Once pressed, the blend dominated by Verdicchio undergoes a native yeast fermentation in a combination of stainless steel and cement vessels. It is aged on lees for six months before bottling. 

Color: Light gold

Bouquet: Green apple, wet hay, with herbal notes of thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Palate: Medium acidity and mid body, with a long mineral mouth feel and rich mid-palate.

Drink now or within the next three years.

Further information can be found here: http://www.ladistesa.com/our-wines.html

2016 LA OSA “TRATSO” - TIERRA DE LEON, SPAIN

Prieto Picuda

Winemaking details: Prieto Picudo is a native Spanish varietal, and the vines for this “Tratso” Tinto have been growing in the Alluvial clay soils of Tierra de Leon for 25 years. After harvest, a 20% whole cluster fermentation by native yeasts took place in large open top neutral oak Foudre with daily gentle pumpovers. Once dry, the wine was pressed to rest in neutral oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.

Color: Garnet, with a bright colored rim

Bouquet: Fresh red fruits are met with a hint of violets and earth. 

Palate: Bright acidity and firm but soft tannin welcome the notes of sour cherry, redcurrant and blackberry. The back palate comes through with flint, iron, a touch of meatiness, and a long pleasant finish.  

This delicious, juicy wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 10 years.

Further information can be found here: https://www.laosavinos.com/our-wines/

January Wine Club Selections

2016 ALBERT MANN PINOT GRIS - ALSACE, FRANCE

Pinot Gris

Color: Pale yellow

Bouquet: Very aromatic, with notes of citrus, orchard fruits, white flowers, limestone.

Palate: Medium-bodied, with a round mid-palate, and balanced acidity. Dry, with a long finish.

We suggest enjoying this wine now, or within the next five years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: http://www.albertmann.com/site/Home_page-79.html

2016 LE PIANE “MAGGIORINA” VINO ROSSO - BOCA, ITALY

Nebbiolo, Croatina, Vespolina

Color: Light strawberry red

Bouquet: Soft, light red fruit, layers of thyme and sage, with intriguing earth notes.

Palate: Wine is light in body with nice, soft acidity rolling into easy tannins. Fresh fruit flavors with a soft mouth feel. 

This wine is meant to be enjoyed young, we suggest opening it within the next year or two.

Further information on this wine can be found here: http://www.vinitywinecompany.com/wine/la-maggiorina/

December Wine Club Selections

NV CATHERINE & PIERRE BRETON “LA DILETTANTE” VOUVRAY BRUT - LOIRE, FRANCE

Chenin Blanc

Color: Golden, with frothy bubbles

Bouquet: Light, not overly aromatic, but notes of white florals, wet stone, orchard fruits, lemon zest, and honey are detectable.

Palate: Bone-dry, stony, with a coursing minerality and persistent acidity. Flavors of tangy citrus, orchard fruits, honey. Delicate and frothy mousse.

We suggest enjoying this wine now, or within the next three years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: https://domainebreton.net

2015 DOMAINE DU JONCIER “LE CLASSIQUE” - SOUTHERN RHÔNE, FRANCE

Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, & Carignan

Color: Deep purple-ruby

Bouquet: Soft blue fruit with lots of earth. Wine is layered with herbal notes of rosemary and thyme.

Palate: Intense, with chewy tannins, dark fruits, pepper, and spice. This wine has a long, lip-smacking finish.

This wine is to be enjoyed now, or within the next five years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: https://www.kermitlynch.com/our-wines/domaine-de-marquiliani/

November Wine Club Selections

2017 NIEPOORT REDOMA BRANCO - DOURO, PORTUGAL

Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Viosinho, Donzelinho and Gouveio.

Color: Golden, with a slight green tinge to the hue.

Bouquet: This wine’s aromas are still relatively shy, with hints of stone, smoky notes, as well as a citrusy and floral character reminiscent of orange blossoms.

Palate:  A light creaminess with fantastic acidity; a well-balanced, firm and persistent wine. The mineral and saline characteristics of the wine culminate into a long and compelling finish. 

We suggest enjoying this wine now, or within the next three years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: https://www.niepoort-vinhos.com/en/

2017 DOMAINE DE MARQUILIANI I.G.P. ÎLE DE BEAUTÈ ROUGE - CORSICA, FRANCE

Syrah, Sciaccarellu and Grenache

Color: Ruby red 

Bouquet: Soft blue fruit with lots of earth. Wine is layered with herbal notes of rosemary and thyme

Palate: Wine is soft and forward, showing pretty plum fruit, pleasant mid body weight, and soft yet firm tannins. 

Wine is to be had now or can stored for five years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: https://www.kermitlynch.com/our-wines/domaine-de-marquiliani/

October Wine Club Selections

2015 TENUTA DI FIORANO “FIORANELLO” - LAZIO, ITALY

Grecchetto and Viognier

Color: Straw yellow and golden

Bouquet: Intense and elegant ranging from floral to tropical, with notes of golden delicious apples

Palate: Big and rich, well balanced with soft wood notes

Drink now or within the next three years

2016 WEINGUT DAUTEL SPÄTBURGUNDER - MOSEL, GERMANY

Pinot Noir

Color : Light rose petal

Bouquet: Soft red fruits with light earth tones. Hints of fresh herbs and wild strawberries. 

Palate: Light, tight, and bright. Classic cool climate Pinot Noir. Soft pretty red fruit, light tannins, with a long finish. Very food friendly. 

Drink now or within the next five years

September Wine Club Selections

2017 Mustiguillo "Mestizaje" Blanco - Valencia, Spain

Grape Blend: 75% Merseguera, 20% Viognier, 5% Malvasia

Color: Light gold
Nose: This wine is very aromatic, with layers of white floral and complex citrus notes. Although the Viognier and the Malvasia only make up 25% of the wine’s blend, they contribute heavily to its powerful aromatic structure. The wine does not see any time in oak barrels, however the use of long lees contact during the wine-making process can be detected on the nose.
Mouth: The wine has a rich mouth feel, with the acidity well hidden in the mid-palate, and a slightly dry finish.
Food pairing: The wine is pretty versatile with food, and can easily pair with both late summer and early fall flavors. We suggest a rich, seafood dish, such as scallops.
Ageing: We suggest opening this wine now, however it will continue to drink just well for a few more years.

Further information on this wine can be found here: http://www.bodegamustiguillo.com/en/winery

2015 Pecchenino "Bricco Ravera" Langhe Nebbiolo - Piedmont, Italy

Color: Brick
Nose: Bright cherry fruit notes, lingering earth tones, with a touch of leather and suede.
Mouth: This wine is high in acidity, with firm tannins supporting it.
Food pairing: Again, this wine has a wide breadth of foods that it would be suitable to pair with. Several options that come to mind are: braised duck, mushroom risotto, or a nice charcuterie board.
Ageing: This wine is young and in need of some more time in bottle. While the label states that it is a Langhe Nebbiolo, the wine is actually a declassified single-vineyard Barolo, and has great aging potential. Because it lacked a year of age in the barrel, requisite to be a Barolo, its structure is a little bit softer and more like Barbaresco. This is a delicious wine that may be enjoyed today, but will only continue to improve with another 5 or 6 years in the cellar.  If you just can’t wait to open it, we strongly suggest that you open the wine and decant it for several hours before serving.

Further information on this wine can be found here: http://www.pecchenino.com/en/index.php