This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely French wines.

2010 Routas Wild Boar                        $10
64% Viognier, 36% Chardonnay
Straight from our Coteaux Varois estate vineyards of clay and limestone soils. And named for the wild boars residing in the enormous forests of Aleppo pine and oak that bracket our Routas vineyards. A crisp and fruity, summery white.

2011 Château La Croix du Duc Bordeaux            $10
80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
A nice minerally entry Bordeaux, this is a fruity, supple and soft wine with nice red fruit aromas intertwined with light toasted notes and soft tannins. Drink with red meats and cheese. 12.5% alcohol per volume.

This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely French wines from Château De Flaugergues. The Château is situated in one of the twelve terroirs found in the Côteaux du Languedoc known as ‘La Mejanelle’.

The Romans cultivated vines and olives here over 2000 years ago. The monks of Grand Mont maintained this tradition, and after them the ancestors of the current owners have continued to do so from 1696 until today.

This exceptional terroir is made up of rounded pebbles calles ‘les Grés’ (from deposits in the Rhone delta) and thrives in the area’s Mediterranean climate with its strong maritime influence.

The 75 acre vineyard is dominated by early-ripening grapes; it is the harmonious combination of different vines which allows for the creation of such a rich range of fine aromatic wines.

2012 Château De Flaugergues Les Comtes Rosé    ($14)
60% Grencache, 40% Syrah
Languedoc
A dry and herbal Rosé from the the Languedoc.

2011 Château De Flaugergues Les Comtes        ($14)
50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
Languedoc
A dark and spicy Southern French with lots of spice and fruit. Very nice rich and complex nose with notes of spices and red berries.

This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely Italians.

2010 Tola Catarratto            ($13)
A Sicilian white grape that has a big round mouthfeel, with flavors of grapefruit and apricot.

2011 Corbanelli Rosso Toscana    ($9)
90% Sangiovese, 10% Trebbiano
An old school style Tuscan red where they blend a bit of white grapes (trebbiano) in with the Sangiovese. A lighter body, nice fresh fruit, summery red.

This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely Spanish wines.

2011 Viña Vilano Verdejo    ($10)
Bodegas Viña Vilano is located in the village of Pedrosa de Duero, province of Burgos, internationally regarded as the most privileged wine-growing region within the Designation of Origin of Ribera del Duero, with 300 hectares of vineyards dating back to its foundation in 1957. A tasty Verdejo with a good mix of tropical fruits and herbal notes. Quaffable.

2007 El Quintanal Joven    ($10)
Tempranillo
Ribera Del Duero
A ripe and fruity old vine Tempranillo was once young but now has a good bit of bottle age on it after 3 months in oak. Still robust. Excellent for appetizers, pastas and red meats.
Was $12 now $10

This Sunday we are celebrating the National French Holiday with a rosé and a red. It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. Festivities and official ceremonies are held all over France. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, French officials and foreign guests.

Come toast the Revolution!

2011 Coer Estérelle    Provence Rosé ($11)
A nice Provence Rosé at a good price. Aromas of rose petal, strawberry, fresh herbs are followed by light peach, apricot and tangerine peel flavors. Was $16 now $11

2010 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Côtes du Rhône
($15)
Vieilles Vignes
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Domaine Oliver Hilaire is a small 23 acre estate in France’s southern Rhône Valley just across the Rhône River from Châteaunuef du Pape. Their CDR shows an intense nose of garrigue, blackberries and anise. Medium-to-full-bodied, with low acidity, medium sweet tannins, and a touch of earthiness. Was $18 now $15

This Sunday we are featuring the wines from the House of
Independent Producers which is the pet project of Christophe Hedges of Hedges Family Estate. The back label sports a compelling mission statement: To capture terroir in its most raw form and to preserve the integrity of the wine world by rebelling against the 100 point rating system. A wine of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming. No advertising.

Come taste for yourself.

2011 Independent Producers La Bourgeoisie    ($13)
Chardonnay
Dionysus Vineyard
The Independent Producers Chardonnay is as close to a Chablis style white as you can find on the west coast. The wine sees no oak, and is a true definition of terroir winemaking, highlighting the beautiful vineyards of Sagemoor Farms, specifically the Dionysus Vineyard. Crisp and refreshing and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sustainable.

2011 Independent Producers La Bourgeoisie    ($13)
Merlot
Bacchus Vineyard
With minimal winemaking intervention, Merlots ability to display grace, some say better than that of Pinot Noir, is unmatched. This single vineyard unoaked Merlot is soft and full and comes with a font library and a Manifesto. Sustainable.