Piedmont is best known for the stellar regions of Barolo and Barbaresco and rightfully so. But travel to the northeast of there and you can find some great DOCs that have a different approach to Nebbiolo. This Saturday we’ll be tasting wines from Lessona, Bramaterra and Gattinara — lesser known regions but with great character just waiting to be discovered. Escape Black Friday and Holiday Craziness and taste the wines of Tenuta Sella and their 350 years of tradition.
 
2010 Nervi, Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG $17
Nervi is a long running winery in Gattinara that was recently revamped by one of the owners of Isole e Olena.   Their Erbaluce is a distinct crisp white with a lot of character.
 
2011 Il Chiosso, Rossomarconi, Vino di Travolta $10
100% Nebbiolo
Il Chiosso is run by a young winemaking duo who tapped their families’ vineyards in Gattinara, Ghemme and Fara to provide the backbone to their start up endeavor. There non-DOC Nebbiolo just shows off the fruit. Light and easy with lots of rose petal, light cherry and a little snap.
 
2011 Cà Montebello, Custiò $15
Barbera, Croatina (Bonarda)
A little to the east of Piedmonte, just over the border in Lombardy, is Oltrepo Pavese where ‘Cà Montebello stretches across the lower hills with its flourishing vineyards on an imposing landscape. Their single vineyard Custiò is a unique blend of Barbera and Croatina. Its floral and spicy notes, along with black cherry and plum set off its dry and full structure.

2007 Tenuta Sella, Bramaterra DOC $30
70% Nebbiolo, 20% Croatina (Bonarda), 10% Vespolina
The Sella family has had vineyards in Lessona since 1671. Their Bramaterra is youngster of the family which they have only been making for a mere century. This unique blend expresses the full-flavored mineral quality of the porphyry where it grows. It is aged for 28 months in large barrel before release. The Bramaterra has a full big structure with layers of minerals and dried cherry.
 
2006 Tenuta Sella, Lessona DOC $35
80% Nebbiolo, 20% Vespolina
Tenuta Sella has been making this wine for more than three centuries. The ancient marine sand of Lessona and the floral Vespolina enriches the noble Nebbiolo. The wine ages for 24 months in large Slavonia oak casks. The lesson is smooth and voluptuous, with a layer of jammy silk over its serious structure.

Thanksgiving dinner is a wonderful meal filled with a whole cornucopia of flavors. And each year it raises the question of what to drink with it. This Saturday we have lined up a number of answers, some classic like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and others a bit more unexpected like Washington Tempranillo, all of them guaranteed to enliven the big meal. We’ve stuck close to home as all the wines are from the Northwest. Come see what suits your dinner. If you’ve already got the wine for the big day figured out, come anyway. These wines are good year round.
 
2011 Tori Mor, Pinot Gris $14
From Dundee, Oregon this lower alcohol Pinot Gris has a forward aroma of succulent peaches, licorice, and flowers. Its crisp acidity nicely accents hints of green apple and lush blossoms emphasizing a distinct mineral quality. The finish is long and lean, with spiciness throughout. It should cut the cranberries quite nicely.
 
2010 Forgeron, Chardonnay $25
96% Chardonnay, 4% Grenache Blanc
From her winery in Walla Walla, imported winemaker Marie-Eve turns out this tasty Columbia Valley Chardonnay. Peach and pear take center stage with gentle hints of oak, caramel apple, and floral perfume, it is balanced with the pretty acids of apricot, star fruit and ruby red grapefruit flavors. Its richness is balanced by good acidity and light minerality and can stand up to the stuffing and gravy.
 
2010 Cristom, Mt. Jefferson Cuvée, Pinot Noir $30
Outside of Salem Oregon, Cristom turns out some classic Pinots that get rave reviews. “Light, bright red. Red berry and floral scents are complemented by cinnamon and black tea. Racy and light on its feet, offering vibrant redcurrant and strawberry flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. Finishes tangy and lucid, leaving spice and floral notes behind.” –Steven Tanzer
 
2010 Idillico, Tempranillo $20
Idillico is Spanish Native and Washington resident Javier Alfonso’s lable that focuses of Spanish varrietals. Washington may be Tempranillo’s home away from home. The wine shows dark fruits, herbs and soy followed by a long and smooth pass over the tounge. Only 120 cases produced, but that should last through dinner.
 
2008 Forgeron, Merlot $30
86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon
A rich meal deserves a rich wine. The Forgeron Merlot has abundant aromas of clove, boysenberry, lilac & brown sugar. It has an amazing mix of concentrated ripe fruit, spicy notes of mineral & earth combined with lively acids. Forgeron only made 122 cases of the Merlot. Pass the gravy.

Stop by the shop after work Thursday for a special tasting of wines from the south of France. These delicious and diverse wines are a match for any meal and are a great start to the holiday season. We’ll have a few snacks to go with the wines, stop on by for a little appetizer to your evening.
 
Dubard, Crémant Brut $18
70% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon, 15% Muscadelle
Dubard’s Crémant de Bordeaux comes from a small vineyard in Côtes-de-Francs. The winemaking follows the Traditional Method, done in caves dating back to the Middle Ages. The wine has intense notes of white peach, pear, a warm toasty brioche and a pleasantly lingering richness.
 
2011 Domaine Galtier, Languedoc Tradition Blanc $12
30% Roussanne, 50% Grenache Blanc, 10% Rolle, 10% Viognier
Domaine Galtier is a typical mas (farm) surrounded by garrigue (scrubland) with its square tower built in the middle of the 17th century under the reign of Louis XIV. Its owners Lise & Jean Carbonne are both from wine-growing families. They farm by lutte raisonnée, a form of sustainable viticulture that practices organic methods. The Blanc has a warm bouquet with floral perfumes (honeysuckle, eucalyptus) and candied citrus fruit peel (citron and orange) that is rich, balanced and expressive.
 
2009 Château Galtier, St. Chinian L’Obstinée Rouge $15
60% Syrah & 40% Grenache. 30 to 35 years old vines.
Gautier’s estate St Chinian has a generous, soft nose with complex aromas of ripe blackcurrant, cherry and white pepper followed by a creamy palate with plenty of body, fine tannins with a spicy finish.
 
2008 Domaine Aime, Minervois La Livinière, Cuvée Au Gré du Vent Rouge, $22
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Domaine Aime is run by a 4^th generation wine-growing family in Minervois La Livinière, a small AOC is nestled in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. The Cuvée Au Gré has powerful, complex aromas packed with red and black fruits, the mouth feel is silky and round, and the tannins are melted imparting the wine with a delicate, refined (lace like) finish lingering with fruity notes.
 
2010 Domaine Labranche Laffont, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh $23 – 500ml
100% Petit Manseng
Labranche Laffont, at northern limit of Madiran, is run by Christine Dupuy who combines innovative techniques in the cellar with sustainable vinicultural practices. His Vic-Bilh has concentrated aromas are reminiscent of confectionary, fruits (oven baked apple, pear, and apricot) and honey with notes of vanilla and praline. The wine is supple, and round on the palate. The aromas grow even more distinct as one savors the wine. It has a long, harmonious finish with an added note of yellow fruits.

Saturday we will be pouring a great line up of French wines guaranteed to tickle the palate. Gathered from the very diverse regions of cool Loire, the warmer southern Rhône, and the sunny Languedoc, the flavors flow together to make a very tasty tasting. Stop by and savor.
 
Chateau Moncontour, Cremant de Loire Brut Rosé $20
98% Cabernet Franc, 2% Chenin Blanc
Located in Vouvray, Château Moncontour is one of the oldest wineries in the Loire Valley. A traditional method Sparkler from the Loire, the Moncoutour Rosé ages 12 months before disgorgement and release. The wine is fresh and crisp with red fruit and citrus aromas.
 
2010 Chateau Moncontour, Jovly Vouvray $14
One of Moncontours still wines, the Jovly is an off dry Chenin blended from 3 different vineyards. Its floral bouquet has notes of honey and acacia that are more flavorful than sweet.
 
2010 Domaine Des Homs, La Tersande $10
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Domaine des Homs occupies the site of a roman farm where vines and olive trees were cultivated. The 20 hectare domaine in Minervois, has been owned by the de Crozals family for three generations which they farm all organically. The Grenache for the Tersande undergoes carbonic maceration giving it silky tannins and full fruit.
 
2010 Andrieux & Fils, Vacqueras, Cuvee André $22
75% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah
A small family owned Negociant Eleveur, Andrieux makes an array of wines from the major regions in Rhone Valley. From older vines, the Vacqueras has violet, plum and mineral aromas followed by chewy cherry, black current, pepper and sandalwood notes.
 
2007 Andrieux & Fils, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise $18 — 375ml
At 15% this lighter desert wine has fresh aromas of pears and grapefruit with a touch of honey. The flavors open up into apricot and pear with a long and lingering finish. It’s a tasty way to end any evening.

Come by this Saturday and check out a great line up of wines from Tuscany, where Sangiovese is King and they have been making it into classic wine for generation on generation. The wines we’ll be tasting are fantastically delicious but don’t cost a fortune. The kind of wines we like to drink on a regular basis. Come join us.

2011 Antonio Sanguineti Vermentino $13
Antonio Sanguineti, known for racing European cars, and listening to opera as he zooms down the autostrada, also makes some fine wine. “A truly great wine slows life down just a bit and allows us to enjoy it more.” His Vermentino is a classic Tuscan white wine that is zesty, clean, and aromatic.

2009 Selvapiana Chianti Rufina $17
95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo
Selvapiana is a 5th generation wine making estate on the Rufina making traditional styled Chianti that can age beautifully. After blending, the wine is refined in French oak casks for 10 months, followed by an additional 3 months in bottle before release. “This wine is bright and juicy, redolent of black cherries, sweet spices and earth”.

2009 Selvapiana, Petrognano, Pomino Rosso $20
60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. 
Selvapiana’s Super-Tuscan ages for 18 months; the Sangiovese in large 20hl-casks, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in 5hl-barrels, then bottle-aged for 6 months. The Petrogano has aromas of dark cherries and herbs (from the Sangiovese) and rich fruit and dark chocolate notes (from the cabernet) through the finish, with steely tannins, solid structure and ageability.

2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $28
85% Prugnolo Gentile(Sangiovesse) 15% Colorino, Canaiolo and Merlot 
Each region of Tuscany has its own expression of Sangiovesse. This Montepulciano from Poliziano is faithfully expressive of its deep Tuscan roots. Aromas of berries and cherries combine with leather and tobacco notes followed by full and chewy tannins.

Cleto Chiarli, Lambrusco di Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Centenario Amabile $12
We are going to end with a classic Italian red bubbly from just north of Tuscany. Chiarli is the oldest wine producer in Emilia-Romagna and a pioneer in the making of Lambrusco. The wine is made from ancient Lambrusco Grasparossa vines cultivated on the hills surrounding the village of Castelvetro. The wine is a deep ruby red with a thick froth, fruity flavors and a pleasing bitter note.