Rumor has it that Spring has arrived.  Depending on the day you may or may not believe it.  But just as sure as sprouts are coming up in the garden, so our mouth waters for some Springtime sippers.  Here are some fresh wines that floated in with the breeze.

Poderi Morini Morosé Spumante Brut Rosè  $14
Centesimino (aka Sauvignon Rosso)
From Emilia-Romagna, this textured and creamy rose is made from an all but lost grape varietal.  Lots of fruit and herbal elements–red berries–from raspberry to cherry as well as something like a fennel or tarragon herbalness here.

Andreola 26o Primo Prosecco DOCG  $19
Glera
Racy and elegant, this radiant sparkler offers aromas of honeysuckle, citrus and autumn orchard fruit. The dry, fruity palate is both smooth and crisp, featuring creamy white peach, ripe yellow pear and lemon zest alongside a polished perlage.

Olivier Morin Tentation Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé  $22
Pinot Noir
A cheerful, sparkling rendition of Pinot Noir grown in Chablis. Crisp and fresh but with a underlying complex notes of wild sour cherries, floral, earthy, and dark, earthy Pinot notes.

Vale d ‘Este Vinho Verde Branco  $10
Aromatic and refreshing Vinho Verde with classic fruity aromas,  lifted acidity and lingering fruit notes.

Vale d ‘Este Vinho Verde Rosado  $10
A porch pounders delight. Slightly spritzy  with raspberry, gooseberry and strawberry notes. Refreshing, soft, young and light.

Castillo Perelada Pescador Blanc  $11
60% Macabeo, 20% Xarello, 20% Parellada
Bassically a still Cave, but there is nothering wrong with that.This wine isn’t about complexity; it’s about chuggability. Both the nose and palate are dominated by bright, zippy lemon citrus and rocky minerality, like lemon water filtered through a rock garden and spritzed by salty sea breezes.

2020 Ot De Vins El Cep  $12
100% Estate Xarello
Dry Cava!! Fresh pear and honeydew melon on the fragrant nose, along with a subtle floral nuance. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth and a touch of waxiness to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. The melon note comes back on a smooth, persistent finish that features a refreshing bitter orange zest flourish.  Vegan, Organic

2021 Gönc Cuvee Anna Rosé  $18
50% Žametna Črnina, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Grigio, 10% Blaufränkisch
Slovenia
An Unusual and delicious 4Rosé from Slovenia.  Aromas of wild berries, strawberries, melon, and peaches conspiring to take over the orchard.  The palate has a nice sting of a slap bracelet wrapped around your tongue with bright fruit and a refreshing mineral zap.   Vegan

2019 Casale del Giglio, Cesanese  $15
A tasty indigenous grape from Lazio.  Intense aromas of marasca cherry, followed by spicy notes of white pepper, black pepper and violet. The mouthfeel is soft, with persistent tannins and pronounced acidity,

2019 Domaine Philémon,  Croix de la Bouscarié Gaillac Rouge $14
Duras
This 100% Duras shows off notes of  violets, Mediterranean herbs like sage and fennel, robust berry fruit and a peppery finish.  All with a crown cap.  Organic

Wednesday-Friday, 12-6PM

In theory we are supposed to see some warmer temperatures this weekend.  If that prediction holds (it is still Spring and this is still Seattle) we’ll be breaking out the coals, firing up the barbeque,  and popping one or more of these full bodied wines from California.  Have a great weekend.

2020 Silverado Vineyards, Miller Ranch Sauvignon Blanc  $20  — 1 liter
Blended with 7% Sémillon and stainless-steel fermented, this is a sleek, acid-driven white. It offers a tart layer of grapefruit that builds to a richer core of pear and vanilla candy. Cohesive and complex, it is an enjoyable wine.  A deal 1 liter for $20

2019 Robert Biale Vineyards, Party Line Zinfandel  $24
Layered with aromatics of dusty strawberries, red licorice, black cherries and raspberry taffy. The entry is soft and weighty with succulent mid palate tannins that make for a long and juicy finish.

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard, Heritage Vines Zinfandel  $21
77% Zinfandel, 22% Petit Sirah, 1% Carignane
Appealingly old-school, with zesty and briary raspberry, grilled anise and white pepper flavors that finish on a lively note.

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard, The Mariner  $70  1.5 liters
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc
Dry Creeks big red blend.  A seamless, full-bodied experience of dark chocolate, crushed rock and crisp berry fruit. Oak and tannin remain well-behaved and integrated, with lasting hits of cinnamon and clove that mark the close.  Was $100 Now $70
1 bottle available.

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

Been there Doon that!

Randall Graham started Bonny Doon, a very French inspired winery, in Central Coast California in 1984.  We soon became fans of the wines and Randall’s iconoclastic take on the wine industry.  Thirty some years later we are still amused.  Two new Doon projects recently floated in through our doors.  They are distinct and quirky as the founder himself.  And there is something about alien visitations above the vineyards.  After all it is California.

2021 Bonny Doon, Central Coast Picpoul  $15
90% Picpoul, 10% Grenache Blanc
“Picpoul” translates to “lip stinger.” It is a high acid, savory, white, rustic grape variety, especially well-suited for seafood. This wine shines with aromas and flavors of dried savory spices, earth, and tart fruit. 11% alcohol by volume

2021 Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Orange $15
80% Grenache Blanc, 10% Grenache, 10% Orange Muscat
Doon’s long skin contact “Orange Wine”.  Aromas of fresh peaches, citrus, bergamot.  It has a textured and vibrant palate with peach, apricot and citrus peel. 10.5% alcohol by volume

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

We posed the question to our panel of Somms and they offered up a few choices from the Mediterranean.  Then we stumped them when we inquired about hard-boiled eggs.  Whatever is on your menu we hope you have a great weekend. And if you need a good bottle of wine to go with it, we’ll be happy to help.

2020 Moraitis Malagousia  $22
100% Malagousia from the Aegean Islands. Intense peach aromas with a lovely purity of fruit that flow onto the palate. Crisp acidity and fresh with a lasting finish.  Organic

2019 Damiano Ciolli Silene Olevano Romano  $20
Cesanese
A Roman Red from Lazio, the Silene is aged in concrete for a year and conveys more delicate qualities of the Cesanese red grape. It also comes from nearly 100 year old vines.  A rush of floral aromatics lead for a palate of dusty earth, spring violets and sour blackberry. A long, peppery finish to leave on a memorable note.  Biodynamic

2019 Bodega del Palacio, Frontaura y Victoria, Toro  $16
Kosher Tempranillo.  Notes of red fruits, blackberry, currant, strawberry, raspberry. . In the mouth it is fresh, leaving an unmistakable memory. Round, silky, with sweet and polished tannins.  Kosher

Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-6PM

Our distributors have been shuffling the stock in the warehouse again and we went all in on some great discounts.  No need to up the ante, just double down, stock up and cash in.

Italy
2012 Seghesio Ars Vivendi Langhe Rosso  $16
50% Nebbiolo, 50% Barbera
A great rosso that has developed nice complexity from its 10 years of age.  Starts a bit rustic, but opens up with layered notes of rose, tar, cherry and chewy fruit.
Was $23   Now $16

2015 De Vescovi Ulzbach Teroldego Rotaliano  $15
Coming from 50-70 year old vines, and aged for 10 months in French oak vats, Teroldego is a native grape of Trentino.  It is related to Syrah, Lagrein, and Pinot Noir The wine displays concentrated aromas of juicy dark currants, violets, graphite, and stony minerals on the finish.
Was $22 Now $15

France
2020 Château Terrebonne Côtes de Provence Rosé  $13
25% Cinsault , 15 % Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Ugni Blanc, 10% Vermentino
A crisp Provence Rosé Intense nose of fresh strawberry, small red fruits and white peach. Round on the palate, this rose is well balanced thanks to its pleasant acidity.
Was $16, Now $13

2016 Veema Languedoc Rouge  $13
45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre
Leather and smoked meat give a brawny edge to a nose of pure, fragrant black fruit, brown spice, vanilla, and violets. A crack of grip braces one for the rush of robust plum and saturated boysenberry that courses across the palate, gaining power and peppery depth on the way to a long, savory finish laced with anise, espresso, and a bloody tang of iron.
Was $18 Now $13

2017 Chanson Pere & Fils Bourgogne Rouge  $15
Pinot Noir
Super “everyday” Burgundy   Aromas of ripe berries (raspberries and cherries) mixed with licorice. Well-structured. Deep and tight texture. Well-integrated tannins.
Was $22 Now $15

Spain
2014 Vina Herminia Rioja Reserva  $15
85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 5% Graciano
Unmistakably Rioja, with an excellent balance between blackcurrant and oak aromas. The palate shows a velvety texture which flows wonderfully, with a round and lingering finish.
Was $20 Now $15

Washington State
2017 Ashton Troy, Cabernet Sauvignon  $18
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley AVA is rich and full-bodied, with an elegant tannin structure. It opens with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and ripe plum and is followed by hints of spiciness and minerality.
Was $30 Now $18

2017 Double Canyon, Double Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon  $30
Horse Heaven Hills
From Double Canyon’s Estate Vineyard comes their flagship wine.  It opens with black cherry and lifted sweet caramel on the nose. The palate is plush, with elegant integrated tannins and balanced acidity. The flavors are reminiscent of tart cherry, cassis, plum and spice—characteristics typically shown from their estate fruit.
Was $60 Now $30

Wednesday to Sunday, Noon to 6PM

We recently picked up a bunch of new wines from Burgundy running the gamut from entry level to high toned.  Scan through the list and find the one that suits you, or skip right to the end and check out our latest Bargaindy. 
 
2018 Mancey, Macon  $13
Chardonnay
Sourced from limestone soil slopes around Mancey.  UnOaked and lees aged. The wine is fresh and lively on entry to the palate, and then shows a sensation of softness and roundness.

2019 Buisson Battault, Meursault  Vielles Vignes  $80
Chardonnay
An elegant and full-bodied wine with delicate buttery, brioche notes and saline on the end palate. The wine is aged on its lees for 12 months in oak barrels (20% new oak).

2019 Chateau de Juliénas, Juliénas  $20
Gamay
The estate has quite the long history with origins in the 13th century. Today 40 hectares are farmed, most of which fall in the Juliénas appellation. From vines nearly 100 years old and at 1100 feet in elevation, wines from this terroir show the spicy, floral flair Juliénas is known for.

2020 Jaques Girardin, Bourgogne Rouge Vieilles Vignes  $28
Pinot Noir
From Santenay commune.  Fresh and elegant nose with dark fruit aromas – black and red currants, blackberries, plums. Supple wine, lightly structured, fruity and fresh. Classic Pinot Noir with a touch of Burgundian earthiness in the elegant finish.

2018 Chanson Pere & Fils, Givry  $30
Pinot Noir
A Cotes du Beaune bastion at a good price.  Fragrances of violet mixed with refreshing notes of ripe red berries (cherry) on a hint of licorice and a bit of smoke. W. Very pure fruit combination. Tight texture and well-crafted tannins. Persistent and refreshing aftertaste.

2014 Agnes Paquet, Auxey Duresses  $34
Pinot Noir
Aromas of small red berry fruits explode from the glass mingled with subtle notes of earth and underbrush. On the palate the wine is fresh, vibrant and juicy with lively acidity and compact, integrated tannis. Flavors of alpine strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate cascade across your mouth in a long, concentrated wave that flow into a long, subtle finish.

2018 Louis Latour, Marsannay  $36
Pinot Noir
Flinty aroma followed by a bright, juicy red-cherry tone. The palate also has that appetizing flintiness surrounding ripe, almost fleshy cherry that sits around a core of freshness. Subtle, juicy tannins appear on the appealing finish

2014 Bouchard Père & Fils, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Cailles 1er cru  $126
Pinot Noir
Located in the South of Nuits-Saint-Georges, wines from Les Cailles differ from those in neighboring vineyards due to their elegance and femininity.  Exquisite fruit and spice aromas on the nose. On the palate, perfect harmony between structure and elegance: rich, complex and voluptuous.

Bargaindy
 
2017 Chanson Pere & Fils, Bourgogne Rouge  $15
Pinot Noir
Super “everyday” Burgundy   Aromas of ripe berries (raspberries and cherries) mixed with liquorice. Well-structured. Deep and tight texture. Well-integrated tannins.
Was $22 Now $15

Wednesday-Sunday 12-6PM

Come take a little hike this weekend through the vineyards of Italy.  We have some new arrivals in the shop that are panoramic in flavor.  Stop by this weekend at do a bit of sightseeing.

Veneto
2020 Musio Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie  $12
The Mussio stands out above a lot of insipid PG that kind of floods the market.  Fruity, balanced, hints of nuts and toasted bread.  Vegan

Piedmont
NV Mario Molino Dimartina Vino Rosso  $15
40% Barbera, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet and 10% Nebbiolo
An unusual Piedmontese blend.  Ready to go, the wine reveals cherry fruit with delicate contours of rose hip, dried blueberries and blue flowers. There are subtle touches of spice and sweet almond.

2019 Ettore Germano Langhe Chardonnay  $22
The wine is kept in contact with the lees for six months, with half undergoing a malolactic fermentation. Germano’s Chardonnay has wonderful orchard fruit aromas, a creamy texture that remains fresh as a result of a harmonious acidity, and a robust finish.

2019 Boschis Francesco, Grignolino  $20
A lighter Piedmontese red from a well known Dolcettlo producer.  Light ruby. Pepper, geranium, mown grass. Medium structure with evident tannins and good length.

2017 Monsecco, Colline Novaesi Pratogrande  $27
Nebbiolo
The Pratogrande is sourced from hillside vineyards that skirt the famed Gattinara and Ghemme DOCGs. Notes of  dried cherry, rose petal, blood orange peel, tobacco, leather, tar, underbrush, and lots more. It is medium-bodied and bright, with the gentlest nip of tannin lending backbone and a recognizable array of “secondary” aromas/flavors beginning to creep into the mix.

Tuscany
2019 Villa Pillo Cingalino  $15
65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc,
A fresh and easy Bordeaux blend that is more Tuscan than varietally dominated.

2016 Castello di Bibbione, Chianti Classico Reserva  $18
Sangiovese
A delightful wine that shows classic aromas of sour cherry, cedar bark, dried fern, and forest floor. The palate has chewy tannins deftly balanced by ripe berry fruit and a cleansing streak of acidity.

Lazio
2019 Damiano Ciolli Silene, Olevano Romano, CesaneseSuperiore  $20
Lazio
A Roman Red, the Silene is aged in concrete for a year and conveys more delicate qualities of the Cesanese red grape. It also comes from nearly 100 year old vines.  A rush of floral aromatics lead for a palate of dusty earth, spring violets and sour blackberry. A long, peppery finish to leave on a memorable note.  Biodynamic

Sicily
2016 Gurrieri, Cerasuolo di Vittoria  $21
60% Nero d’Avola, 40% Frappato
Sicily
Very aromatic on the nose, there is a bright red fruit quality that accompanies a pretty, floral note, yet a core of dark fruit and damp earth rings through as well. On the palate, there is a wonderful combination of body, freshness, fruit character, and earthy drive, counterbalanced on the palate with soft but noticeable tannins.  Organic.

Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6PM

López de Heredia is known for aging their wines more than most wineries would ever consider.  The new shipment recently landed in Seattle and we picked up our share.

2013 López de Heredia Viña Cubillo  $27
65% Tempranillo, 25% Granacha, 10% Graciano and Mazuelo
Rioja
The new vintage of the “young wine” Crainza from Heredia.  Fresh and slight aroma to licorice with consistent texture and persistent aroma. Smooth, fresh and persistent.

2010 López de Heredia Viño Bosconia  $43
80% Temperanillo, 15% Grancho, 5% Graciano and Mazuelo
Bosconia is always been more rustic and powerful and Tondonia all about finesse and nuance. The 2010 is no exception. There are dark plums and baking spices, a touch of singed leather, the fruit very strong to counterbalance the ageing in barrel.  A rich powerfull wine.

2008 Lopez d’ Heredia Tondonia Reserva $63
75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazeulo
A remarkable red from a Rioja icon, López de Heredia. There’s no concession to modernity, with fermentation in 140-year-old wooden vats plus six years’ ageing in oak casks, the rest in bottle.  Spices, leather, cherries, balsamic and cigar box.  Very complex spice and berry fruit, with a long savoy finish.

We also received our miniscule allocation of their white wines.  We have 2 bottles of 2013 Vina Gravonia $40/b and 1 bottle of 2010 Vina Tondonia Reserva $63.  If you buy a bottle of Bosconia or Tondonia Red and you can purchase one bottle of the whites, first come first served, no reservations.

Updated Weekend Hours this week (yet again)
Saturday,  Noon to 6pm
Sunday, Noon to 4pm