“Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight.” That’s what we have for you today – An afternoon of delights for the Fourth of July.

Today we will be sampling a recent California arrival:

2011 Trim Cabernet Sauvignon ($12)
A good solid California Cabernet that delivers a lot for the money. Not Napa, but a good everyday drinker.

Today is the perfect day for Wine Club Members to pick up their July selections.

 Dragon’s Head Farm on Vashon Island is home to over 1,500 cider fruit trees and is named for the dragon who guards the apples of immortality in the Garden of Hesperides.   Each fall they harvest our apples and pears and along with others from small family orchards in Chelan, Wenatchee, Mount Vernon and Hood River They collect the juice for their ciders.  The cider press is up and running for about three months every fall with each variety pressed at the peak of ripeness.  The juice is separately collected into tanks and fermented into hard cider.  Spring brings blending.  Some apples contribute a bite of acidity, some contribute high levels of sugar, some contribute beautiful aromas, and each apple has its own unique flavor profile. The artistry of cider making is finding the perfect balance of these characteristics to create a blend, or occasionally recognize the balance of an individual apple which allows it to stand alone as a single varietal cider.  In early summer the ciders are bottled and ready to drink.  This Saturday we’ll be pouring them.  Come give them a try.
 
Pipin Cider $15  .
The Pippin Cider is from Newtown Pippin apples, one of the oldest American apple varieties.  A favorite of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, the Newtown Pippin apple has an exceptional balance of flavors to make a bright and delicious single varietal hard cider. Aromas of Green Apple, honeydew melon and clover.  Flavors of white flowers, tart green apples and lemon zest finish.
 
Wild Fermented Cider  $15 
The Wild Fermented Cider uses the natural yeasts present on the apples. The apples are Jonagold, Melrose, & Stayman Winesap. The Aromas are apple, pear, black current and a hint of banana with flavors of crisp pear, mild spice and a lingering citrus finish.
 
Manchurian Cider $15
The Manchurian Cider is made from a blend of Jonagold, Jonathan, Winter Banana, Baldwin and Spartan apples, topped by the unique characteristics of the Manchurian Crabapple. This petite yet bold apple imparts flavor and dimension to cider on a scale much larger than its size predicts.  The cider has aromas of tropical fruit, woody resins and light floral notes.  The flavors are blood orange, tangerine, tart apple and pear.  
 
Pear Cider  $18
The Pear Cider is made from a blend of very unique seedling pears found on Vashon Island and Bittersweet and Jonagold apples. Subtle sweetness meets balanced tannins in a sparkling cider perfect for celebrations. The aroma is grassy with prominent notes of pear and nutmeg.  The flavors are of dry pear, melon, kiwi and currents.  Only 90 cases made.

The classic wine regions are often predictable.  In Burgundy you know what’s in the bottle.  Bordeaux is the same.  But Italy has so much diversity in its plantings that it regularly surprises.  This Saturday will be pouring some fresh surprises that should delight any palate.  Stop by and try these uncommon wines.

2010 Colterenzio Lafóa Sauvignon Blanc $25
Colterenzio is located in a sunny position on a rounded ridge between the village of Girlan and the hamlet of Schreckbichl in Alto Adige at an altitude of 430 meters with optimum sun-exposure. The soils are sandy, with gravely mineral deposits.  Their reserve Sauvignon Blanc is only made in the best years.  It is crisp, full and has world class minerality and now a great price. Was $40, Now $25

2013 San Giovanni Il Chiaretto Valtènesi $20
Groppello, Marzemino, Barbera and Sangiovese
This unusual blend of grapes from Lombardy makes a full and lively rosé with lots of tropical floral notes, and raspberry and strawberry fruits.  It proves that world class Rosé doesn’t need to be French.

2011 Tascante Ghiaia Nera Etna Rosso $12
“From the blackened sloped of Mount Etna, the Ghiaia Nera is a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese. The Tasca family purchased vineyard land on Etna and began releasing a series of volcano-based wines about five years ago. The grape’s natural tannins have been softened and the wine shows generous fruit tones, mineral shadings, leather, tobacco and exotic spice.”  Wine Advocate – 91pts — Was $20 now $12

2009 Luigi Pira Barolo Serralunga $40
Nebbiolo
Serralunga d’Alba is a wildly beautiful and dramatic corner of the Barolo appellation. It’s the most rustic and rugged of them all, and its vineyards usually produce the boldest expressions of Nebbiolo. The Pira comes from 50 year old vines from Pira’s vineyards in the three most prestigious crus in the Serralunga “Margheria,” “Marenca,” and “Rionda.” The wine has elegant and complex aromas with notes of leather and hay, earth and spice. The flavor is persistent and supple with a good balance between tannins and acidity.

2010 Jacopo Biondi Santi Braccale $20
80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot
“Jacopo Biondi Santi comes from the famous Brunello family. A big super Tuscan with dark rich fruit and dry chewy tannins along with mineral and herb notes.  Decant before drinking and the wine really opens up.  “The 2010 Braccale is a dense and compelling expression of Sangiovese Grosso (with 20% Merlot) that shows hints of wild Mediterranean brush and herb for added elegance and class. At its core are dark fruit nuances and lingering tones of crushed mineral or dry earth. The wine drinks beautifully right now, thanks to its softly velvety tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.”—Wine Advocate

Stop by this Sunday for our Spanish Sippers from 11-5. These two guys just arrived in our shop and I’m excited to try them. Come join me.

2012 Marina Alta Bianco    ($10)
Muscat de Alexandria
A floral and fruity Spanish white that calls for a bucket of ice and a warm afternoon.Was $13 now $10
11% alcohol by volume

2012 Isidro Milagro 5 Oros Rioja    ($12)
Garnacha
From 25 to 50 year old vines in Rioja, this Grenache has bold, dark cherry flavors with spicy tannins and hints of chocolate

This Saturday we’re showing new wines from two Northwest vintners.  We’ll be pouring wines from a long time favorite of ours, Gilbert Cellars, as well as a big red from a new discovery, Pamplin Family Winery.  Stop by and get acquainted.
 
2013 Gilbert Cellars The Grower White  $15
70% Chardonnay, 30% Riesling
An unusual blend of Washington’s two premier white grapes, is made even more mysterious by the fact that there is no mention of the grapes on the label.  Instead there is the story of Curt Gilbert, a fruit grower, who started buying vineyards in 2001.  The two varietals complement each other perfectly showing off the best qualities of both grapes.
 
2013 Gilbert Cellars  Mourvèdre
Rosé  $14
This 100% Mourvèdre from the 24K Vineyard on Wahluke Slope was intentionally fermented cold in order to retain its delicate rose petal aromatics and bright fruit character.  Ripe homegrown strawberries and cream over lightly toasted angel food cake make up the core aromas as the wine is gradually revealed through a veil of lees. The palate is fresh, lean, and focused, with a current of acidity.
 
2012 Gilbert Cellars, the Pilgrim  $15
34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec, 16% Syrah, 5% Dolcetto, 3% Pinot Noir
The Pilgrim like The Grower is an unusual blend that at first glance looks like a kitchen sink blend of leftovers, but tastes like it is by design.  It is 13 months in neutral 225L French Oak barrels and tastes fresh and fruit driven.
 
2011 Gilbert Cellars Alobroges  $20
47% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 18% Mourvedre,
Gilbert’s Rhone-style blend, named for pre-Roman viniculturalists, comes from their Doc Stewart & 24K vineyards, on Wahluke Slope.  It spent 17 months in 25% new oak barrels (90% French & 10% American) and has aromas of blackberry, plum, and Bing Cherry deepen and subtle aromas of sage, smoke, and baking spice.
 
2010 Pamplin Winery JRG Red  $27
74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Named for the kids, the |R|G Red Wine is dominated by classic Cabernet Sauvignon varietal character. It exhibits a complex montage of cassis, cherry, blue fruits, earth, olive brine and sweet oak spice. On the palate, it is focused and vibrant with a burst of cherry, red raspberry and cassis that echoes through the fine grained, fully-integrated finish. It possesses mouth-coating plushness. The tannins are polished and sugary. This is an elegant wine of subtle nuance that reveals more facets as it evolves in the glass. Decanting will provide worthwhile benefits. Additional cellaring will reward those with patience and it should be in its prime from 2017 to 2025 or just drink it now.