We are getting the week rolling with this tasty little Grenache blend from a Châteauneuf du Pape winery. It is their Vin de France not the Châteauneuf (come on, it is only Tuesday).
2021 Domaine Pères de L’église, Le Espirit de Pères $14
80% Grencahe, 20% Cinsault
Vin de France
This unoaked, fresh, yet substantial red feels like something you might be served in a carafe at a patio restaurant in Avignon – brimming with vibrant black fruit and bursting with delicately spicy, typically Rhône Valley herbaceousness.
Biodynamic
The kids may be back in school, but they don’t drink wine anyway. It is still time to enjoy some fresh rosé and crisp whites. Stop by the shop and have a sip. We’ll wrap up the week with a Chianti Reserva, because, well, why not?
Thursday 2021 Château de Montfaucon, Lirac Rosé $15
30% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 25% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan, 10% Clairette
A punchy, “intense” rosé, whose beguiling nose evokes grenadine and English candy. A round attack, just the right amount of sweetness, a fine zesty tension and a long persistence on the tangy red fruits. Was $20, Now $15
Friday 2022 Paşaeli, Yapincak Dry White $18
100% Yapincak (pronounced Yap-in-jack)
This native grape is grown exclusively on the European side of Turkey, called Thrace, near coastal villages. The nose is aromatic with rich notes of lemon, quince and linden. Lovely citrus on the palate–bright and crisp and full in the mouth with a pleasant acidity and minerality.
12.5% alcohol by volume
Saturday 2019 San Felice, “Il Grigio” Chianti Classico Reserva $25
100% Sangiovese
This Reserva is flush with savory black licorice, fresh leather, and kirsch. It has impeccable balance and length between its concentrated core of sweet fruit, with ripe tannins, warming spice, and notes of blood orange, cherry compote, and cedar.
Labor Day is over. It is time to get back to tasting some hard working wines. Stop by the shop today as we’ll be pouring Le Bétoulin Gascogne Rouge . A blue collar wine if there ever was one.
2020 Domaine de Pajot, Le Bétoulin Gascogne Rouge $13
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
This ain’t Bordeaux. This Côte de Gascogne is light and fruity with floral aromas, dark fruits and spicy notes. Soft mouthfeel with flavors of crushed red fruits and spice with freshness and elegant tannins. Organic
It is a long weekend as we change gears from August to September. Over the next few days, we’ll be pouring some good value wines to reward all your labors. We will also be open this Sunday to make sure your thirst is quenched. We will be closed Monday the 4th.
Friday — A great deal on French Rosé 2021 Domaine de la Jousselinière, Loire Rosé $10
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau, & Gamay
With three centuries of winegrowing tradition, the Chon family has been active in Loire, and oversee over 60 hectares of vines. This rosé is from estate-grown grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks. Fresh, tangy, dry and light, with loads of red fruits and crisp acidity. Was $14 Now $10
Saturday – Two Basque Deals 2022 Gañeta Getariako, Txakolina $16
75% Hondarrabi Zuri and 25% Hondarrabi Beltza
Slightly effervescent, briny, incredibly dry and lively this crisp Basque white gives aromas of ginger and limes. The palate delivers more limes, grapefruit and mint with excellent balance. Was $20 Now $16
2020 Celler Piñol, Raig de Raïm Garnatxa Negra $14
75% Garnacha, 15% Cariñena, 10% Syrah
A fruity wine with intense aroma of red fruits with fine toasted oak notes, a touch of jam and balsamic herbs. In the mouth it is tasty, honeyed, with a certain meatiness, fruit and oak very well melted, spicy and with a balsamic background and black licorice. Was $18 Now $14
Sunday – Lovely Bubbles Je T’Aime, Cremant de Limoux Brut $15
65% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 15% Pinot Noir
aromas of fresh and vivid mixed with white flowers, peach, green apple and citrus fruits. Was $20 Now $15
LABOR DAY WEEKEND HOURS
FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY – YES, SUNDAY
12-6PM
Montepulciano d’Abruzzois a standard staple with a slice. But this one from Passomadama goes way beyond that. It is a fresh, fruity, versitle wine that would go with a number of weeknight dishes. Or you might want to just have a glass or two by itself. We’ll be pouring it today. Stop in and have a sip.
2019 Passomadama, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $13
A juicy pulciano! It has an aroma of red berry fruits with a structured, full and soft taste with sweet and velvety tannins.
Alight: Painted portraits of small song birds
By Suzanne Brooker
The artist’s reception is Saturday from 2 to 4 pm.
To get in the spirit, we’ll be pouring wines all day with birds on the labels.
Flock to the shop and check out the show.
Artist Statement:
When I began work on this series I didn’t realize how compelling painting birds would become. Everything about them is precise, from the shape and length of the beck to the complex layered pattern of their feathers. In contrast, a bird’s photograph will often show the background as vaguely blurred foliage that needed imaginative invention to succeed as a painted image. How could I keep the painting from becoming stiff and lifeless even if it meant losing some precision? I eventually settled on using smooth gesso boards which could hold all the finest details as the transparent layers of oil paint created a surface much like watercolor or egg tempera.
Stop by the shop today as we’ll be tasting a great everyday drinking wine from Bordeaux. Better yet, it has a bit of age on it to integrate the flavors. And better still we bought up the last of it while it was on sale.
2015 Château Val Beylie, Plaisir Bordeaux $15
75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organically grown grapes from estate vineyards just outside of St Emillion make up this unoaked Bordeaux. Deep purple color with clean, fruit forward nose, smooth in the mouth with red berry candied fruit with hints of smoke and good acidity, nice and balanced on the finish. Was $17 Now $15
We’re taking a break from the heat and chilled rosé to taste a two very different Pinot Noir. Come with us as we wander away from the Willamette for a weekend.
Friday
2021 Vallepicciola, Pievasciata Pinot Nero $20
Pinot Noir
Tuscany
The expressive aroma of the wine reveals hints of ripe cherries, raspberries, blackberries, spices, black pepper and herbs. Its taste is warm, enveloping, soft, and pleasant, with characteristic fruity-spicy accents, rounded tannins, fresh acidity and a long aftertaste.
Saturday
2022 Giraudon, Bougogne Chitry $22
Pinot Noir
Bargain Burgundy. This lovely Pinot Noir is wonderfully aromatic, fruity and refreshing, year after year. We get red and dark berry fruits like currant, cranberry, and cherry, with earthy spice, lean acidity, and chalky tannins on the finish.
It might be kind of toasty here this week. Be prepared and stock up on lots of Rosé. To help you start today we will be pouring Vera. Come have a sip and chill out.
2021 Vera, Vinho Verde Rose $11
80% Rabo-de-Anho , 20% Vinhao
Vinhão is tinturier (red pulp grape) hence the dark color. Rabo de Anho adds lightness and freshness to the blend. Floral, crisp, fresh strawberry and watermelon. Tastes like a summer Friday afternoon.
12% alcohol by volume
Nothing is better than a few Tapas and some sherry on a summer afternoon in the garden. Stop by the shop this Friday and Saturday as we’ll be tasting three dry sherries to tempt your palate. Bring your own olives and sardines.
Bodegas Dios Baco, Manzanilla $14
100% Palomino
Aged for approximately 3 years in the traditional system of soleras and criaderas, this Manzanilla is bone dry, light and fresh, clean and crisp, with a delicate and refreshing acidity with hints of apple and straw and a nutty finish. 500ml
Marques del Real Tesoro, Del Príncipe Amontillado $20
It is aged as a Fino for about 8 years, then further fortified and put into the Amontillado solera. It is released at around 16 – 18 years old. The Marques Amontillado del Principe is highly complex, with notes of hazelnut and walnut.
Marques del Real Tesoro, Almirante Oloroso $20
A round, silky Oloroso aged for 15 years. Classic aromas of hazelnuts and walnut cake, fruit pastry with prunes and dried pears, as well as cinnamon, toffee and candied orange peel. The palate is dry but it feels nicely glyceric with an (imaginary) hint of sweetness. Raisins, red berry jam, figs, dates and toffee.
To ensure that we can provide you with the specific wine that you are looking for, please call or email us with your request. It’s important to note that the vintage and availability of wines can vary from year to year.
