The wines of Austria are perfect for summer weather. The varietals have a personality all their own. The whites are crisp and lively and the reds fresh with clean pure fruit. This Saturday we’ll have a cross section of these wines (along with a fine Riesling from Alsace) open to taste. They’ll make you want to Yodel.

2011 Der Pollerhof, Gruner Veltliner 1 ltr $14
Erwin Poller, the current wine maker from this long standing Austrian wine making family is completely hands-on and involved in every aspect of the winemaking, to assure the purity and terroir driven quality of his wines. He uses sustainable methods in the vineyards and hand harvests. In the Cellar the grapes are hand selected three times before being gently pressed. Erwin has created his own yeast culture for use in his wines. The result is a refreshing, crisp and dry wine with wonderful aromas of apples and citrus fruit.

2011 Chateau D’Orschwihr, Riesling Bollenberg $16
Château d’Orschwihr dates back to 1049, but the current owners the Hartmann family didn’t acquire the Château until 1854. Their estate Riesling is a highly aromatic wine, grown on thin limestone soil on the Bollenberg in Alsace. 2011 was a vintage of high fruit and nice concentration. The bouquet is expressive with aromas of lime and grapefruit. On the palate it is well structured with an elegant backbone of ripe acidity and an almost luscious after taste.

2010 Andau, Zweiglet $16
Andau is a winery making wines from the town with the same name. Andau has more sunny days and warmer temperatures than anywhere else in Austria. Located on the Hungarian border, the climate is perfect for making very ripe and bold red and dessert wines. The Zweigelt is aged 12 months in used oak casks and is full-bodied, with hints of dark cherries, spice and chocolate.

2010 Weninger, Franz $17
Blaufranckisch /Merlot
The Weninger family owns vineyards in and around Horitschon in the Mittelburgenland, as well as two estates in Hungary. Since taking over the family estate in 1982, Franz Weninger has been a shining star among Austrian red wine producers. The vineyards are certified organic with an average of 40 year old vines, and are made bio-dynamically without modern oenological intervention. The wine has intense fruit aromas, of ripe red berries, and cherry along with a juicy body and an elegant, structured finish.

2008 Meinhard Forstreiter, St Laurent $27
The Forstreiter family has been making wine since 1868, but it has been the current owner and winemaker, Meinhard Forstreiter, who has brought the vineyard to a new level of quality and reputation. The vineyard is situated in Krems-Hollenburg in the Kremstal, along the right bank of the Danube River, across from the Wachau. There has been wine production in and around Hollenburg since the Roman Empire. The St Laurent is from 50 year old vines. The wine has aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate, herbs with coffee roast aromas. Its body is well rounded with soft tannins, ripe fruit and beautifully balanced acidity.

The diversity and variety of Italian wine is almost limitless. Its indigenous varietals that grow only in small pockets produce fantastic wines that are unique to place if only it’s the only place they grow. This Saturday we have a fine line up of delights and surprises form these little gems that most of the world ignores. Come discover them for yourself.

2010 Vili Ligi, Birrarelle, Bianchello del Metauro $11
Biancame
Vili Ligi is a family run estate that helped rescue indigenous varietals of the Marche area. The wine is made from 45 year old vines of Biancame (Bianchello). Its particular aroma combination and the fresh notes together with its sapidity and smoothness make this wine a perfect choice for pasta and risotto dishes based on fish, and also with grilled and fried fish and seafood.

2010 Pietratorcia Vigne del Cuotto, Ischia Bianco $16
45% Biancolella, 45% Forastera, 5% Uva Rilla, 5% San Leonardo
Ischia is an island off the coast of Naples. The Pietratorcia vineyards lie just 50 meters from the Mediterranean, and 400 meters above the sea, providing a unique micro-climate that is both temperate and windy. The wine has intense floral aromas and a full body that is fresh on the palate with notes of apples, nectarines and almonds

2008 Palmoletino Scarafone, Rosso di Montecucco DOC $13
90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Montecucco is a Tuscan appellation that begins on the slopes of Monte Amiata (the volcano facing Montalcino) and extends almost all the way to the coast. The Scarafone has notes of violets, strawberry and cherry fruit followed by smooth light tannins.

2011 La Kiuva, Arnad Montjovet $22
75% Nebbiolo plus Gros Vien, Neyret, Cornalin and Fumin.
The DOC of Arnad-Montjovet is named for two small villages in the Vallee d’Aoste up in the Tyrolean Alps where the main grape grown is Picatendro, the local clone of Nebbiolo. La Kiuva is a tiny co-op of just 60 growers comprising 25 hectares of vines mostly organic. The high altitude and the addition of the other indigenous varietals make for a very pretty and elegant Nebbiolo with lilting cherry fruit, some spiciness and a smoky nuance.

2011 Caldaro Kaltern Lagrein $20
The Caldaro (Kellerei Kaltern) cooperative winery in the Alto Adige has 410 members, which own over 290 hectares of vineyards. Here Lagrein tends to produce full-bodied, purple-colored, boisterously fruity wine. After a gentle malo-lactic fermentation, the wines age for 12 months in barriques The wine is full and rich with notes of violets, blackberry, and mountain herbs along with mineraly tannins.

Round two our Sunday Sippers Series. An excuse to stop by and taste some new and interesting wines. Each Sunday we will have both a red and a white open. This Sunday we are starting with the:

2011 Esporao Alandra    $8
Antão Vaz, Perrum and Arinto
Fragrant and elegant with floral as well as lime and other citrus aromas and full dry fruit. A lovely little wine from Portugal.

2010 Cà Montebello Custiò    $15
Barbera and Croatina (Bonarda)
Floral and spicy notes, along with black cherry and plum set off this dry and highly structured red from Lombardy.

Greece use to be noted only for its rustic country wines and resiny Retsina. But Greek wine has undergone a renaissance, blending new wine techniques with their traditional practices. Dijon-trained winemaker George Skouras started his winery in 1986 in Pyrgela, Argos, a quaint village nestled in the Nemea region of the Peloponnese, where he became a leader in the modern Greek wine revolution. Working with both indigenous and international varieties, Skouras started producing very high quality Greek wines. Wineries like Sigalas and Alpha Estate weren’t long to follow suit.

2012 Domaine Skouras Zoe White $12
Roditis 70%, Moscofilero 30%
From 25 year old vines at 3400 feet elevation, this white blend of two indigenous varietals is fermented in stainless steel with a short ageing over fine lees. The Zoe white has a fresh, crisp acidity, lively and aromatic, with aromas of fresh flowers, hints of squash blossoms, avocado, orange, lemon blossom and touches of jasmine and mint.

2012 Domaine Sigalas Santorini $19
Assyrtiko 75%, Athiri 25%
On the island of Santorini, Domaine Sigalas tends 50 year old vines of Assyrtiko and Athiri. It is fermented in stainless steel, and has a nose of ripe citrus fruit and earthy and savory flavors with a lip-smacking texture. The wine was featured in this week’s NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/dining/reviews/white-wines-as-greek-as-the-sea.html?ref=dining&_r=0

2011 Domaine Skouras Zoe Red $12
70% Agiorgitiko, 30% Moscofilero
Skouras boasts one of the highest red wine vineyards in all of Europe, The Zoe Red comes from 22 year old vines in high elevation vineyards (2000 to 2,100 ft).It has vibrant aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries with hints of sweet spices and rose petal. The wine is medium bodied with moderate high acidity and the slightest hint of very ripe tannins.

2010 Domaine Skouras, Nemea, St. George $16
80% Aghiorgitiko (St. George), 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Skouras’ St. George ages for 18 months in French oak. The nose reveals aromas of blackberries, black raspberries and ripe strawberries with just a touch of anise and spices such as clove and cinnamon. The finish is moderately long, full of red fruits with a touch of sweet vanilla, black pepper and elegant tannins.

2008 Alpha Estate, Axia Red $20
Xinomavro 80%, Syrah 20%
Alpha Estate is located in the Amyndeon plateau at 2000 ft elevation. The winery is set up for gravity transfer. The Axia Red ages ”sur lie” for seven months with regular stirring, nine months barrel, and fifteen months in bottle. It has spicy bouquet (vanilla, pepper, clove), and ripe blackberry. The wine has a big mouthfeel with rounded tannins, balanced acidity and a long aftertaste.

Erste + Neue, a co-operative winery in the Alps of Alto Adige, has been a large part of the Kaltern wine trade for over 100 years. The 1986 merger of the Erste (“first”) wine co-operative (founded in 1900) with the Neue (“new”) wine co-operative (founded in 1925) formed a South Tyrolean winery rich with tradition. 430 dedicated grape growers bring their harvests to the winery each year. The terraced vineyards of the co-operative’s members are picturesquely situated around Lake Kaltern and on the plateau at the foot of the Mendel mountains.

2011 MullerThurgau $13
The cool nights of the alps are perfect for growing this dry white grape. The Muller has a soft bouquet of nuts and muscat with fresh dry pleasant fruitiness. It is great with oysters and other fish.

2011 Chardonnay “Salt” $17
This single vineyard Chardonnay has subdued fragrances of exotic fruits a balanced acidity with a touch of brininess and a long lingering aftertaste.

2011 Edelvernatch $11
Edelvernatsch (Schiava Gentile) is the indigenous grape found in the Kaltern, It makes a lighter bodied red with a fruity bouquet and light almond tones. Its lighter body makes it a very versatile food match.

2011 Kaltereresee “Leuchtenburg” $13
This is a single vineyard wine made from Venatsch (Schiava) the smaller berried cousin to the Edelvenatch. It is a medium bodied red that expresses the grapes unique character. Lots of cherry notes, full fruit and mild tannins.

2009 Pinot Nero “Mezzan” $20
A single vineyard Pinot Noir, Mazzon is the name of the south-facing moraine located between Mitterberg and Kaltern. This winegrowing area enjoys the most hours of sunshine per day and thus produces the best Pinot Nero for the “Mezzan” wine. They also benefit from the “Ora” from Lake Garda, a breeze that blows from the south up the valley from noon until sunset. The wine has spicy aromas of black cherry, sour cherry cake and a touch of vanilla.

Starting May 26^th we will be kicking off our Sunday Sippers Series. An excuse to stop by and taste some new and interesting wines. Each Sunday we will have both a red and a white open. This Sunday we are starting with the:

2011 Moser Grüner Veltliner ($10)
This wine is 100% Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s most widely cultivated varietal. It is a young light wine with a fresh and spicy nose. The palate is spicy with a fruity body featuring notes of mineral and pear. Comes in a 1 liter bottle, perfect for 4 people on a weeknight dinner.

2010 Tikves Vranec ($10)
An unusual red variteal from Macedonia, This Vranec is deep and rich like full bodied Zin, but with more tannins and chewiness. Fun and interesting.

The wine business is built on notoriety with producers desperately seek reviews, ratings and name recognition. New upstarts struggle to gain a reputation while the old guard rests on their laurels. But then there are other winemakers who either by lack of resources or personality go about making their wine with little fanfare. This Saturday we’ll be pouring some very tasty examples of these little known wines that go largely unnoticed in the press. Come discover them for yourself.

Cavas del l’Emporda, Blanc Pescador, Vino de Aguja $9
Macabeo 50-60%, Parellada 20-25%, Xarel-lo 20-25%. 
A non-cava Spanish white from Catalonia in northern Spain. It is lower alcohol at 11.5% and slightly frizzante like Portugal’s Vinho Verde. The “white fish” has good crisp lemon-lime flavors and a lively refreshing finish.

2010 LaRochette Bourgogne Blanc $11
A Chardonnay from the Macon from Olivier LaRochette a winemaker from a long Burgundian lineage. The Bourgogne Blanc is unoaked and has notes of apple blossoms, white peach, lime zest and a mellony fullness with more fruit than mineral.

2010 Sainte Elisabeth, Costières de Nîmes $9
Grenache
Located in the village of Garons, in the centre of Costieres-de-Nimes vineyards, Chateau Sainte-Elisabeth is an independent family run estate focusing on the quality of the fruits for producing their wines Predominantly Grenache, this southern French red has a jammy quality with rich aromas of red and black fruits, spice, and mineral. –12.5% by volume

2010 Le Jas des Papes, Châteauneuf du Pape, le Secret du Jas $28
70% Syrah, 30% Grenache
A 5th generation small estate which makes this reverse blend from your typical CNdP. Their website features pictures of a very clean but plain looking winery more concerned with function rather than charm. The Secret is from 80 year old vines and ages for 12 months in new barriques. It has pleasing aromas of red berries, cherries and blackcurrant and a generous and robust structure.

2005 Château Marsau, Côtes de Francs $18
Merlot
An exception to the rule, Château Marsau gets regular reviews from the press. It is a big workhorse of a Bordeaux with a full rich body, dark ripe fruit and spicy tannins. There is not much of the 2005 vintage (a great year for Bordeaux) left around so it is great to have this one at hand. The wine is coming into its own and drinking well.

Sunday Sippers
All Day
11 to 5

Starting May 26^th we will be kicking off our Sunday Sippers Series. An
excuse to stop by and taste some new and interesting wines. Each Sunday we will
have both a red and a white open. This Sunday we’ll be pouring:

2011 Moser Grüner Veltliner $10

2010 Tikves, Vranec $10

It’s Mayfair in Madrona this Saturday, a day of events and activities in the neighborhood. To celebrate we’re starting our tasting an hour earlier. We’ll be pouring a lovely line up of French lovelies suited for a spring day, along with some extra special snacks and some general good humor. Sometime around 3:30, Orb will win the Preakness and knock off the second leg of the Triple Crown. Stop by while you are out and about and join us.

2010 Domaine de la Croix Ronde, Haut Valle de L’orb, Cuvée Jade Chardonnay $12
This unoaked Chardonnay is from a remote valley leading towards the Massif Central in France’s Languedoc region. Not to be confused with Burgundy at all, this warmer climate Chard has rich flavors of limey citrus and slatey minerals.

2010 Damaine Michel Fronné, Alsace Pinot Blanc $14
This Pinot Blanc is a well-rounded yet delicate wine that combines all the freshness and softness characteristic of this grape varietal. The Alsatian summers are notably warm for this far north but have cool evenings. This fluctuation builds the perfect acid levels in the final wine balancing the wines natural sugars with complex flavors.

2011 Domiane Aimé, Pays d’ Oc Cabernet Franc $11 
Behind this wine’s beautiful ruby-red velvet color is an attractive, fresh and aromatic nose with all the green pepper and cedar of a good cabernet franc. On the palette it is pretty and packed with mature red fruits, yet has all the full ripeness of a southern French red. Organic.

2009 Château Chênaie, Faugères, Cuvée Conviction Rouge $16
35% Grenache Noir, 25% Carignan, 25% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre
From a 5^th generation family farm in Faugères, the Conviction has a complex nose with aromas of undergrowth, wild fruit (fresh strawberry), and hints of freshly roasted coffee, chocolate, and gingerbread. The mouth feel is elegant and very supple, with fine coated tannins.