Saturday, March 11th, 2pm
March 11 is deep in the Pisces. Neptune is all over that day so we are hitting the beaches and tasting an array of old world costal climes. Come coast along with us and see how the salt sea can influence a wine as well as the imbiber.
Digby Fine English NV Brut $46
40% Pinot Noir – 35% Chardonnay – 25% Pinot Meunier
In West Sussex “the sunniest spot in the U K” where coastal temperatures are moderated by cooler sea breezes, Digby’s vineyards are a blend of chalky and sandstone sites. The Bruts’s 12 grams dosage, is balanced by its 10 gram tartaric acid. The wine is toasty, spicy with aromas of Rainier cherries and lemon verbena. The palate adds honeyed almond and not quite baked apple pie flavors. It is fine and elegant with an incredible amount of finesse and charm.
2015 La Canna Albariño $16
Rías Baixas is on the northeastern Spanish coast just above the Portuguese border where the Atlantic Ocean cools the vineyards. This pure, chiseled Albariño has lime and stone aromas. Crisp yet comfortable, the palate delivers nectarine, apple and white-fruit flavors. It has a stony finish with crisp acidity and a leesy accent is lasting and attractive.
2015 Bargemone, Rose $16
Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Created by Knights Templar in the 13th century, the Bargemone estate now consists of 160 acres of sustainably farmed vines in Coteaux d’Aix, on the coast of the Mediterranean. A benchmark, dry rosé for which Provence is famous, the Bargemone offers classic aromas of wild strawberries and red currants, with a light, floral character and a crisp, bone-dry palate, This wine has a strong sense of structure, with a zesty tang as well as tannins that enhance the fruitiness of this intense and juicy wine.
2014 Mas de Gourgonnier, les Baux de Provence, Rouge $22
The Cartier family’s estate in Provence has 47 hectares of vines and 20 hectares of olive trees. Far from any pollution and having the advantage of a very hot, dry and windy climate, the Mas of Gourgonnier uses biological farming methods, following the “Nature and Progress ” laws which forbid any use of chemical fertilizer, weed killer and insecticide. The wines aromas suggest lavender, thyme and rosemary, with plums and black raspberries enlivened with a pinch of white pepper. The mouth delivers spiced cherries and plums, with hints of ginger and bass notes of dark chocolate.
2014 Caravaglio, Rosso di Munti, Isola di Salina, Sicily $25
100% Corinto Nero
The Caravagio family started making wine on the island of Lipardi off the coast of Sicily more than 500 years ago. Grapes on these wind-swept hills have always been cared for naturally, cleansed by the sea-salty air of the Mediterranean and protected from Phylloxera by the island’s mineral soils. Caravaglio’s Corinto Nero comes from these pre-phylloxera vines, many of which are more than 150 years old. This red grape is an ancient And somewhat forgotten variety. Today Caravaglio is the sole winery to make a pure Corinto Nero. The wine’s aromas of black and red raspberry, mulberry, and currants mingle with scents of roasted bread, wild sage, fennel, mint, and a kind of smoky, humid, turned-earth quality. The palate is ripe, lush, warm without feeling any excess alcohol heat or jamminess. Its herbal, scrub-brushy notes give it a ‘Mediterranean’ personality. Biodynamic and organic.