We search the world to fine great wines at good prices!! Well no, actually we search our distributor’s catalogs to find delicious little beauties. This Saturday we’ll be pouring a lineup of just such things. None are from here. All are from there (Veneto) and there (Mendoza), and there (Marche) and there (Gascony). It’s a bit short on theme, but long on flavor. Come join us.
 
2010 Tenuta Santa Maria Alla Pieve Soave Lepia        $15
Garganega
Tenuta Santa Maria is Bertani ‘s (of Amarone fame) private project. The Lepia is full and rich with flavors and aromas of pears and peaches with a hint of almond and nice minerality.
 
2005 Cantina Valdadige, Terra Dei Forti, Enantio        $13
Terra dei forti DOC is a small area between Veneto and Trenton, in a valley shaped by the glaciers of the Quaternary and carved by the river Adige. Enantio is an indigenous grape that was found growing abandoned in the forests of Veneto, then recued and replanted in the sandy soils of the local vineyards where Philoxera doesn’t affect the vines. The grapes are picked at a level of slight super-maturation and left on the skins for an extended period and then left to age in barrels for 15 to 18 months. The wine is ripe, dark and complex with wild berry flavors and a noted spiciness and a smoky note.

2010 Plaimont La coURtine Côtes de Gascogne        $10
60% Tannat, 40% Merlot
From a cooperative in the Southwest of France that has a very odd idea of what makes an attractive label. But inside the bottle is a dark and leathery wine with the Merlot smoothing out the edges of the Tannat.

2009 Melipal, Malbec                           $13
Melipal is a modern family run winery in Argentina producing high quality wines. Their Malbec comes from a blend of their estate organic vineyards and Las Nazarenas a vineyard with 80 year old vines. All the grapes are sustainably farmed and fermented with natural yeasts. The Melipal has lots of dark fruit and spiciness and stands out above others at this price.
Was $16, Now $13

2010 Marotti Campi Rubico Lacrima di Morro d’Alba     $20
Lacrima is a little known red variety frown in the Marche on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Morro d’Alba is the name of the village which grows the approximately 150 acres of the grape. The wine is very floral with rose and violet notes along with its bright fruit. The palate is a smooth, velvety, dry and pleasantly tannic.

Witness Tree Vineyard is a 100-acre estate in the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley named for an ancient oak which towers over the vineyard. Steven Westby is the winemaker and vineyard manager for Witness Tree and can often be found on a tractor or out walking the vineyard, checking on the crop. His use of low yields in the vineyard and minimal handling in the winery create wines of depth, elegance, concentration, and character. This Saturday we’ll be tasting the wines from Witness Tree along with one from Steve’s own label Elemental Cellars. Come give them a sip.
 
2010 Witness Tree Pinot Blanc $16
Pinot Blanc is grown in very small quantities in the Willamette Valley. Witness tree has two and a half acres in production. This limited bottling offers delightful fruit flavors reminiscent of apple and pear, balanced beautifully by a crisp refreshing acidity.
 
2010 Witness Tree Chardonnay $15
The Witness Tree Chardonnay is a blend of estate-grown Davis 108 clone, coupled with a bit of Dijon clone fruit farmed at the Stand Sure Vineyard. Upon opening the wine brings intense aromas of pineapples, mangos and other juicy tropical fruits. As it is a cooler vintage, the acidity is a bit higher-toned, yet in complete balance with fruit and alcohol content. In the mouth the wine shows exceedingly vibrant acidity balanced by a rich, very full mouth-feel of more tropical fruit, butterscotch and a kiss of toasted French oak
 
2010 Witness Tree Chainsaw Pinot Noir $20
The 2010 Chainsaw presents aromas of fresh berries, dried herbs and barnyard. It maintains a pure, clean mouth feel with a core of fresh red fruits. Ripe strawberries, Bing and black cherries, along with subtle notes of currant are accentuated by more herbal nuances such as thyme, savory and sweet marjoram.
 
2009 Witness Tree Dolcetto Remari $20
The Dolcetto comes from a 1.6 acre site exhibiting big grapey, sassy flavors! Its considerable “slurpy factor” makes it a wonderful cocktail wine, while its natural acidity gives it the power to pair exceptionally well with all kinds of cuisine. It is an interesting twist on the Piedmonte varietal.
 
2006 Elemental Cellars, Deux Vert Vineyard Syrah $20
This wine from Elemental Cellars comes from old vine Syrah (for Oregon –planted in 1995) by Deux Vert Vineyard owners Mike and Patty Green in the middle of Pinot Noir country. The wine is co-fermented with Viognier. It has fascinating, deeply complex Syrah notes of smoky violets and bacon, mineral, coffee and leather notes with vibrant berry fruit.

Southard is a family owned and operated winery located a few miles north of Selah, Washington. They excel at Rhone Style Rhône cultivars from the Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Wahluke Slope AVAs. This Saturday we’ll be pouring a great line up of their wines. The wines are all boutique, hands on, small production creations. Scott Southard, the winemaker and kingpin of the operation will be here to tell you all about them. Come join us.

2010 Columbia Valley White $15
Two thirds Viognier, one third Roussanne
This humbly-labeled white is a revelation. In the mouth it has the style and sleekness of fine Burgundy, with flavors running through a spectrum of herb, citrus and tree fruits. Polished and seductive. 413 cases

2008 Elephant Mountain Vineyard Viognier $20
Citrus, orange blossom, and peach flavors predominate in this Viognier. The wine is made in a restrained style yet shows a chewy texture and long finish. 130 cases

2010 Columbia Valley Red $15
Syrah/Mouvedre
The Columbia Valley Red is a dry and mineraly blend with notes of blackberries, cherries and black pepper.
 
2010 Sugarloaf Vineyard Red Wine $20
61% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 12% Cinsault and 9% Counoise.
This bone dry, southern Rhône-style red blend has elegant and detailed flavors of light berry and Bing cherry are dusted with cocoa accents. 206 cases

2009 Lawrence Vineyard Syrah $25
The star of the show. You can pay four times as much for comparable Royal Slope projects, or grab this jewel. Dark and bloody, this fascinating Syrah masterfully mixes layer upon layer of detail. Red meat, black olive, cassis and earth roll across the tongue, while hints of floral scents and chocolate linger in the nose. 337 cases