Saturday, April 7^th

2pm

Bodega Palacio de Los Frontaura Y Victoria is a family-owned winery located in the town of Villabuena del Puente, in the D.O. Toro in Spain. The estate specializes in Tinta de Toro, the native variety Tempranillo. They also have vineyards in Ribera del Duero. The wines are big and bold blending the tradition of the region with modern wine making techniques. This Saturday we’ll be pouring some of these full bodied wines. Lucia Ramos Pérez from the winery will be on hand to tell us more about them. Come give them a try.
 
2010 Vega Murillo, Toro Verdejo $12
Different sweet notes of ripe fruit can be distinguished of good intensity. More intense and complex notes appear which are identified with touches of papaya, cherimoya and quince pulp, lightly floral (roses). In the background, golden apple and pear. On the palate is dry but with great softness in the mouth. The finish is round and full-bodied.
 
2010 Vega Murillo, Tinto, Toro Tempranillo $12
Cherry and berry flavors are sweetened with notes of vanilla in this fresh, soft red. Light leaf and licorice flavors add interest, and crisp acidity keeps it all lively.
 
2010 Nexus Cosecha, Ribera del Duero Tempranillo $20
In appearance this wine is cherry red in color with medium high robe. On the nose the aromas are very intense, predominating aromatic qualities of balsamic and fruity notes with hints of menthol. On the palate is balanced, long and intense with pleasant and refine tannins which lend complexity to the wine. A fresh, intense and well-structured wine.
 
2007 Dominio de Valdelacasa, Toro Tempranillo $20
Intense red in color, attractive on the nose, it displays aromas of compoted fruits, fresh almonds, white flowers with mineral graphite notes. Fresh, expressive and harmonic on the palate, this wine reveals a perfectly mature and attuned tannin that reminds us of red fruits and licorice with the subtle coconut of its sojourn in the barrels.

Swing by the shop and see what we are tasting today:

2009 Château Haut-Colombier Blaye        $15
90% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc
Côtes de Bordeaux
30 year old vines aged in 1/3 new oak, all for 15 bucks. Pencil lead, leather and dark fruit. Tasting good now and should get better.

This Saturday we have a great line up of Bordeaux that should not be missed. Some are from the big and early drinking 2009 vintage and some are from earlier vintages that are starting to stretch out a bit and strut their stuff. If you are a fan of leather, black current and pencil lead you won’t want to miss it.
 
2007 Château Moulin de Mallet Bordeaux $10
80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc
Family-owned since 1898, Moulin de Mallet sits high up on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Dordogne Valley facing the slopes of Saint Émillion. The estate has been modernized and the vineyard is run by Mr. Couderc and his viticulturist and oenologist son. The Mallet is vat-aged, and displays a whole array of fresh, red and black fruit aromas of black currant, blackberry and cherry.
 
2006 Château Mayne-Vieil, Fronsac $16
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
From 40 year old vines, this Fronsac spends 3 weeks on its skins before aging in tanks for 18 months.   The Mayne-Vieil is a very concentrated wine that showcases the fruit, with lots of earthy aromas, tart red fruits flavors and riper plum with a silky tannin finish.
 
2009 Château Sorbey, Medoc $16
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot.
Chateau Sorbey is the second label of Chateau Julien of the Haut-Medoc and Chateau Cap Leon in Listrac. The Sorbey is from the same vineyards as the wines of Chateau Julien. It has a rich ruby color with notes of red and black fruits and some spice from oak aging.
 
2009 Château Cap León Veyrin, Listrac-Medoc, Cru Bourgeois $30
55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
Chateau Cap Leon Veyrin with Chateau Julien and Chateau Bibian is owned by the Meyre family who have managed the estate since 1810. Today Alain and Maryse Meyre run the Château together with their children Julien and Nathalie. The wine comes from 30 year old vines and is aged in oak barrels for 12 months. The Cap León Veyrin has aromas of red fruit, cassis and blackberries with notes of vanilla and licorice. It tastes great now but should develop over the coming years.
 
2006 Château Mangot, St Émillion Grand Cru $30
85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
The Mangot estate covers some 37 hectares in a single stretch in Saint Etienne De Lisse. Its hillside terraces face due south and are sustainably farmed. The wine is aged in separate batches for 14 months in French oak, 40% of which is new. The Mangot has full aromas of cedar, minerals, licorice and an earthy note, followed by dry tannins and lots of dark fruit flavors that are concentrated, rounded and full on the palate.

Deliciousness at a Discount

Saturday, March 17^th

2pm

Saturday we’ll be tasting a whole line up of new wines that come to us at really great prices. It makes for an odd assortment, but if you don’t mind jumping around the world a bit, you’ll find something that fits your palette. All these wines drink much better than their current prices. Come take advantage it. We’ll be pouring:

2009 West Cape Chardonnay, Styx Gully              Was $18 now $10

A cooler climate, single-vineyard Chardonnay from Western Australia, the Styx Gully is a modest 12.5% alcohol, all French oak-aged with no malolactic fermentation. It has good citrus and mineral notes. 

2008 Pascal Granger Julienas                                  Was $17 now $13

This cru Beaujolais Gamay from old vine fruit is classic in style with dry cherry fruit, a medium body and a snappy acidity.

2008 Villa Tomino, Baglio Curatolo                       Was $16 now $13

The Baglio Curatolo is a single vineyard Nero d’Avola from an old Sicilian winery. The wine has a big bouquet of blackberry and dried plums along with chocolate and leather notes.

2001 Campo Nuble, Rioja Reserva                          Was $20 now $15

Tempranillo 90% and 10% Grenache

A well-aged Rioja that is still hanging around after most 2001s are gone. The wine has spicy and toasty aromas along with full cherry fruit on the palate and smooth finish.

2000 Tilenus, Bierzo, Pagos de Posada                 Was $30 now $18

The Tilenus wines are made from Mencia an indigenous grape from Bierzo in Spain.

The Pagos de Posada is made from old vines that undergo an extremely long maceration. It is built for the long haul and is drinking great. An elegant, vibrant wine made grown in a steep vineyard planted in decomposed slate (75-100 year old vines), this is a Burgundian-styled red offering notes of blackberries, raspberries, graphite, and minerals. Elegant, precise, and fragrant with medium body as well as beautifully pure fruit, it was aged completely in French oak casks, of which 70% were new. –WA