This Saturday we’ll be Fizzing, Frothing and Effervescing with an array of sparkling wines from the Languedoc, Veneto, Traisental, the Loire and of course Champagne.  You don’t have to wait for New Years, bubbles are great for parties, with dinner, with breakfast.  In fact they may be the most versatile type of wine there is.  Add a little sparkle to the weekend. The corks come off at two.

Le Cris des Roches Blanc de Blanc Brut $12
This Cry of the Rocks in made from Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and a little Chardonnay from the southwest and Languedoc.  Secondary fermentation is done in closed vat.  This was created specifically for the local importer so it comes in at a good price. 

LaJara Prosecco Frizante Rosé $12
La Jara means” Pebbles” which cover the vineyards in abundance.  The property has belonged to the Marion family since 1891.  Although certified organic, increasingly biodynamic practices have been taken up, whilst the winery is a spotless cathedral of tiles, tanks and beams. The wine has fine and persistent bubbles with a beautiful smell of white flowers and an intense taste of fresh fruits.

Hurber Hugo Rosé  $18
Pinot Noir and Zweigelt
At the tender age of twenty-three, Markus Huber took over the task of making wine at his family’s winery in the Traisental region of Austria. The Huber family has been making wine from their land for five generations.   His Rosé has aromas of wild cherries, grapefruit, white pepper & roses.

Domaine de Pré Baron, Cremant de Loire Brut $18
Chardonnay, Orbois, Pinot Noir
Guy and Jean-Luc Mardon, a father and son team, have 35  hectares of vineyards in Oisly in the Loire.  The father works the vineyards, while the son has taken over the vinification.  Their Cemant is hand picked, uses the Champagne method of pressing, and is kept on its lees for more than one year. It’s a lively wine with delicate fragrance.

Zoémie de Sousa, Cuvée Brut Merveille $45
50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier.  
The grapes for the Zoémie come from De Sousa’s 9.5 hectares estate which they farm organically. The Merveille is a blend of the three main Champagne grapes; Chardonnay imparts finesse and elegance, Pinot Noir provides structure and intensity and Pinot Meunier adds fruitiness. It ages on its lees for two years before disgorging.  It has a high degree of brilliance and a host of dainty bubbles.  It exudes aromas of stone fruits, that develop into candied and dried fruits flavors that are suave and ample on the palate, with notes of citrus and mineral overtones.

Ports for the Holidays

Sunday, December 8th, 1-3pm

Ports are diverse and delicious.  And as the cold weather hits they keep the chill away.  Stop by on Sunday to sip some of these tasty delights from two old Port houses Kopke and Rocha.  Local Port expert Sarah Timbrook-Nugent will be with us to talk about different styles of Port and the history of these venerable producers.

Sunday after Thanksgiving is all about left overs. And to go along with Turkey sandwiches or Turkey soup we’ll be pouring a couple of leftovers from the warehouse that are marked down while they last.

2011 Domaine Sainte Rose Le Marin Blanc $11
Marsanne Rousanne
White melon, pear drops and sweet vanilla. Good acidity and balance up front followed by rich, caramel flavors and a glycerol-smooth finish. Was $16 now $11

2008 Botromagno Nero di Troia             $12
Fruity aromas of bottled cherries, and spicy notes of vanilla and cinnamon, sage and mint, and tobacco leaf. Velvet smooth and full-flavored, with generous tannins. Was $20 now $12

In addition to these two dessert wines, we also have a selection of splits in red, white and bubbles to complete that stocking.

Recover from the stress of Black Friday, avoid the eye strain and carpal tunnel of Cyber Monday.  Come get some retail therapy that will do you good.  Saturday we are pouring some beautiful wines to take the stress out of the holidays.  We have some big, beautiful Bordeaux and some bright, bustling bubbles. Come find a wine that will make your season bright.

Paul Louis Martin, Champagne, Bouzy, Brut $32
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Louis Martin is a small family grower Champagne producer in Montagne de Reims with 10 Hectares of vineyards.  The brute has a buttery aroma and grilled notes, chalky citrus flavors and a good balance between power and freshness.

2011 Domaine le Portail, Cheverny Blanc  $11
80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay 
Niether bubbles or Bordeaux this white comes from the Loire Valley but it is such an excellent value we had to throw it in.  The Chardonnay gives elevated fruit components and texture, while the Sauvignon lend terrific minerality and a clean citrusy finish.

2007 Chateau Marsau Côtes de Francs  $11
Merlot
Owner Jean-Marie Chadronnier is a firm believer in the pure expression of terroir. Situated on the highest slopes of the Cotes de Francs, Chateau Marsau enjoys a limestone-clay soil perfectly suited to Merlot which comprises 100% of the vineyard planting.  The 2007 vintage of Marsau is not a ripe as the 2005, but the structure is still there and the fruit is tasty if not massive.  An unbelievable deal at this price.

2010 Châteu Beaumont Haut Médoc  $21 
53% Cabernet, 46% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Positioned on the left bank of the Garonne, between Saint-Julien and Margaux, Château Beaumont draws its finesse and delicate qualities from the deep gravel of the best soils in the Haut-Médoc. A nice full Cab heavy Bordeaux that is rich and weighty with serious fruit and tannins.  Drink now or put down and watch it develop.

2009 Château La Tour de Mons Margaux  $32
34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
Château La Tour de Mons is a single block vineyard in the northern part of the Margaux near the banks of the Garonne.  The wine is a big, full, classic Margaux.  The wine displays a great aromatic complexity on the nose with red fruits, blueberries, and delicate oaky notes. It offers on the palate the generosity, the opulence, the power and the density of this exceptional vintage. It is an elegant and distinguished wine with a long finish showing a rare aromatic complexity. 

While not Kosher wines, these two affordable Thanksgivukkah go equally as well with Latkes as Turkey. Come taste for yourselves.

2012 Saint Roch Les Vignes Rosé    ($15)
50% Cinsault, 50% Grenache
A lovely dry Provence Rosé with lots of peach and necterine notes. 13% alcohol by volume

2012 Lorelle Pinot Noir    ($15)
Willamette Valley
From renowned Oregon winemaker J. Albin, this lighter Oregon Pinot has fresh clean fruit flavors. Priced to go with the salmon burgers, not just the line caught King. 12.9% alcohol by volume

France has always made great food wines, so it is natural when we come up to the holiday that is centered around food that some French wines leap to mind. This Saturday we’ll be tasting a few that match a wide range of Thanksgiving treats.  Come try these great food wines and find something to put on the table come Turkey day.

2011 Clos de Nouys, Vouvray, demi-sec  $14
Chenin Blanc
Clos de Nouys is a 25 acre estate in Vouvray in the Loire Valley with 35 years old vines.  The wine has aromas of white flowers and quince, with a full mouthfeel, crisp structure and an aromatic finish.  Its balancing act between fresh acidity and rich flavor is lipsmacking.

2012 Marion Pral Beaujolais Rouge $13
Gamay Noir
Pral is a 50 acre family run, organic estate, located in the heart of Beaujolais. The Rouge is loaded with sweetly-ripe blackberry and peach fruit, its tang and brightness of tart fruit skin and saline mineral notes give this insistency on the palate.  Its vibrancy can wash down even the lumpiest gravy.

2011 Le Hospices, Sancerre Rouge $20
Pinot Noir
Sancerre is known for its Sauvignon Blanc, but the region also grows some fine Pinot Noir as well.  The Hospices is a light bodied, aromatic wine with cherry and berry flavors, fresh acidity and a round finish.  It cuts through the stuffing without stuffing you.

2010 Clos Cristal $22
Cabernet Franc 
Clos Cristal is 10 hectares biodynamical farmed vineyards which contain 2 miles of walls along which, and through which, the Cab Franc vines grow. Close to the walls, the vine takes advantage of the heat accumulated by the stone, which enables a greater ripeness. The Cristal is a concentrated and expressive wine with dark, black fruit aromas held in a firmly tannic grip. It is big enough to slap any menu around, but elegant enough to complement the food while doing it.

2009 Antonine Moueix, Fleur Renaissance Sauternes $33 full bottle  $16 half bottle
70% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc
During harvest the fog from the Garonne River covers the fields causing the grapes to develop the noble rot, botrytis, which concentrates the sugars and gives the wine its distinct flavors.  The grapes for the Renaissance are hand-picked in five passes selecting for optimal ripeness.  The wine is full and complex fruit flavors of apricot, peach, pear and honey along with a signature botrytis note. The perfect finish for any meal.