Santa is Coming!
We are counting the days until the fat man in the red suit slides down the chimney. While we wait, we are opening some tasty wines to help with the holiday spirit. Get your rain gear out and stop by the shop and see what’s open. We are Open both Monday and Tuesday this week ‘cuz it’s the season.
Saturday, December 21st
2014 Domain Pignan Château Neuf du Pape Blanc $30
40% Grenache Blanc, 20% Clairette, 20% Roussanne, 10% Bourboulenc, 5% Picpoul, 5% Picardan
A smart wine with an aromatic complexity. The wine has aromas of peach, white flower, pineapple and a touch of butter and toast notes as well as floral notes, including acacia and lime. Was $37, now $30
2015 Château Haute-Serre Cahors Malbec $25
90% Malbec, 10% Merlot
From Cahors, Malbec’s home on France’s beautiful Lot River, 2014 Château Lafleur de Haute-Serre Selection des Sommeliers Malbec is a brilliant dark red in the glass with fine aromas, concentrated fruit, and soft tannins on the palate. The 63 hectares of vines grow on slopes with clay limestone soil at an altitude of 300 meters–one of the highest vineyards in the appellation. Very fine nose. In mouth, it shows its soft tannins. The concentration of flavors reminds one of redcurrant jelly. Fine structure and elegance –a very feminine wine.
2016 Gaja Ca’ Marcanda Promis $52
55% Merlot, 35% Syrah, 10% Sangiovese
Aromas of dark berries, licorice and sandalwood following through to medium-to-full body with firm tannins. A juicy and delicious finish.
Sunday, December 22nd
2016 Billaud Simon, Peiti Chablis, $20
Charrdonnay
Generous nose, frank and lively. Notes of lemon and white flowers on a mineral content. The attack on the palate is young and frisky. The mellowness is slightly behind the liveliness of the fruits, lemon, apple, fern, combined with iodized mineral. Was $30 now $20
2017 Beaucastel Coudoulet Rouge $32
30% Grenache, 30% Mourvédre, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault
The vineyard for the Coudoulet lay just outside of the Châteauneuf du Pape appellation and the wine drinks much more like a Châteauneuf than a Côtes du Rhone. The nose evokes aromas of red fruit, blackberries, black cherries and licorice. In the mouth one finds hints of wild thyme and a finely structured wine that shows very good length.
Monday, December 23rd
2016 Tomas Cusine, Geol $26
60% Samsó, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
From older vines in trellised vineyard parcels with naturally low yields on stony calcerous limestone and gravel plots. Think forest fruits like mature blackberries and plum compote. Cedar, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, balsamic, licorice and black currants with elegant and sweet wood in the nose. Wide and silky entrance, with rounded tannins, powerful, structured, deep and persistent finish. Organic
2016 DeLilleCellars D2 $45
59% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon along with pinches of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Blackberry, plum seed, black raspberry, toast, graphite and licorice aromas lead to light but ripe red and black fruit flavors backed by grainy tannins.
Tuesday, December 24th
2017 Viberti Chardonnay $22
Piedmont
Tropical fruit flavors of banana and star fruit are complemented by crisp golden apple aromas, notes of acacia further enhance the bouquet. 90% stainless steel tanks, 10% new oak. Sustainable
2009 Louis Latour Château Corton Grancy Grand Cru $125
Pinot Noir
Côte de Beaune
Part of the Louis Latour empire, this Grand Cru is a beautiful red with ruby highlights. A complex nose revealing an earthy mix of red fruit, spice and licorice. Rounded in the mouth with the same juicy flavors as on the nose rounded out with hints of coffee. Harmonious with supple tannins.
We are closed Wednesday, December 25th, Merry Christmas.