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Friday, October 31, 2008
November Selections
Three wines of outstanding quality and value, with extra savings on the triplet.
$35.58/ triplet 
2006 Zeni Costalago Rosso Veronese IGT Verona, Italy $13.99/ btl
We love the wines from Verona, and we love the reds like Amarone della Valpolicella, but sometimes they can be overkill on the palate and on the pocketbook. Zeni winery comes through with this blend of Corvina, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot that delivers both the juicy plum and chocolate aromas of Valpolicella and the graceful cassis laden power of the Super Tuscan wines. This is the affordable equivalent of the Palazzo Della Torre we know and love.
We love the wines from Verona, and we love the reds like Amarone della Valpolicella, but sometimes they can be overkill on the palate and on the pocketbook. Zeni winery comes through with this blend of Corvina, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot that delivers both the juicy plum and chocolate aromas of Valpolicella and the graceful cassis laden power of the Super Tuscan wines. This is the affordable equivalent of the Palazzo Della Torre we know and love.
2007 Chateau Laulerie Blanc Bergerac, France 
$12.99/btl
Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the source in the Bergerac region near the city of Bordeaux. Semillon adds a silky, rich quality to Sauvignon Blanc's bright citrusy character in delicious harmony with its fresh, clean aromatics of lemon and mineral. This is the white wine to start your gathering with, even before guests arrive!
$12.99/btlSemillon and Sauvignon Blanc from the source in the Bergerac region near the city of Bordeaux. Semillon adds a silky, rich quality to Sauvignon Blanc's bright citrusy character in delicious harmony with its fresh, clean aromatics of lemon and mineral. This is the white wine to start your gathering with, even before guests arrive!
2005 Vinos De Arganza Flavium Crianza Bierzo, Spain $12.99/btl
Let's say you had Thanksgiving dinner smack dab in the middle of Spain near Leon in the Bierzo region and couldn't find a good Pinot Noir. Here is what saves the meal: the Mencia grape. Light, almost crisp red berry and juicy blueberry notes make this ideal for poultry and roasts. Certainly a contender for best red grape to bring to the Holiday table. Grate some nutmeg in your pan gravy and sip a glass of this, you'll understand where we're coming from!Andrew's Corner
2007 Hugh Hamilton Verdelho "The Trickster" Mclarenvale $17.99/ btlThe Black Sheep wines as they are called occasionally, include this vinous application of the PITA grape known as Verdelho. It's origins are from Madeira, Portugal where it's almost unforgivable acidity makes it a great candidate for fortification and long term ageability- the backbone for some Madeira's longevity. Not so Down Under!
In Australia, this Verdelho can get wild on you with overly tropical mango and lychee flavors if the grower is not careful, for the acidity all but disappears when it begins to over- ripen. This little grape needs to be handled and harvested for ACID not SUGAR... get it? Indeed, this is oyster, scallop, shrimp, sharp cheese, salted nut, cut through the olive oil kind of white wine here. Racy? Snappy? This wine has the acidity to make a person drool and coo with pleasure. Think about verdant or citrusy things like lime, tarragon, chervil, meyer lemon, kiwi granita, orange, and white cranberries! More fun and refreshing than New Zealand Sauv Blanc... 'nuff said.
Ol' Faithful
Bogle Pinot Noir Russian River valley, California 2006 $18.99
It just isn't right not to include a Pinot Noir when gearing up for Thanksgiving. Few, if any, wines are so versatile when it comes to the food choices and opportunities of the Autumnal feast day. Bogle Vineyards is, as you know already, one of the most reliable and affordable wine producers around. Taking this into account, and adding beautifully balanced, cherry inflected Russian River Pinot Noir fruit to the equation, it equals your dollar well spent. Your wallet and your tummy will thank you!
Cellar Selection
Domaine La Bouissiere Gigondas 2006 $49.99/ btlOH MY GOODNESS this is as good as it gets! 100% Grenache a la Gigondas from the Southern Rhone valley of France, just near Chateauneuf Du Pape. Absolutely pure cherry liqueur, grilled herb, coffee, and exquisite berry notes define this region and the wine from it. Great Gigondas like this combines the exotic spice of the Rhone Valley, and the warm floral qualities of Provencal lavender. Our favorite cellar style... delicious now and ageable for another 10 years plus!
Holiday Turkeys and Prime Rib beware, we have found the perfect match!
Thanksgiving Gobbledygook
This is the ultimate side dish of vegetables for Turkey and everything else!
So simple:
1 pound of parsnips, cut into relatively uniform 1 inch pieces
1 pound green string beans, ends snapped and cut in half
2 heads of garlic, cloves peeled and cut in half
1/2 cup good olive oil, or walnut oil if you can find it
sea salt
fresh cracked pepper
Put all prepped ingredients into a bowl with the olive oil
and toss with sea salt and a few grinds of the pepper mill.
Put into a 375 degree oven on a baking sheet
Cook until garlic starts to brown
This provides a grateful rest from opening a can of cream
of mushroom soup and ruining the dish!
So simple:
1 pound of parsnips, cut into relatively uniform 1 inch pieces
1 pound green string beans, ends snapped and cut in half
2 heads of garlic, cloves peeled and cut in half
1/2 cup good olive oil, or walnut oil if you can find it
sea salt
fresh cracked pepper
Put all prepped ingredients into a bowl with the olive oil
and toss with sea salt and a few grinds of the pepper mill.
Put into a 375 degree oven on a baking sheet
Cook until garlic starts to brown
This provides a grateful rest from opening a can of cream
of mushroom soup and ruining the dish!
Reez!
2005 Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese Zeltinger Schlossberg $25.99/ btl
Simply put, nothing beats an amazing Riesling for November, or anytime. Something about the crisp, ripe apple characteristics and the easy drinkability of this wine just screams for a second or fourth glass. It's okay, because Rieslings from Germany typically have lower alcohol levels than other wines because not all the grape sugars ferment out during vinification. This is good, you won't notice anything missing, and there isn't a sweet syrupy taste left in your mouth because of the clean acidity.
Simply put, nothing beats an amazing Riesling for November, or anytime. Something about the crisp, ripe apple characteristics and the easy drinkability of this wine just screams for a second or fourth glass. It's okay, because Rieslings from Germany typically have lower alcohol levels than other wines because not all the grape sugars ferment out during vinification. This is good, you won't notice anything missing, and there isn't a sweet syrupy taste left in your mouth because of the clean acidity.
Ned & Henry Bring It to the Party
2006 Hewitson Shiraz Ned & Henry Barossa valley, Australia $23.99
Here is the soft and supple Shiraz you've been waiting for. Perfect just to sip by itself, due to it's lower acidity, and bright and substantial enough to serve with anything that is roasted on your holiday table. Awesome coffee, cocoa, and blackberry tones bring an extra dimension to turkey and duck as well as complimenting wild rice and caramelized onions.
Betsy's Corner
2004 Catena Alta Malbec Mendoza, Argentina
Malbec has turned into the go to, value red from Argentina for those looking for the breadth and brawn of Cabernet, and the exotic spiciness of Syrah. Most of what we see in the marketplace is absolutely delicious, but what we run across from time to time are the estate bottlings and reserve wines of already popular wineries. Well here you go! The Catena "Alta" Malbec is borderline superstar wine. We know and love the other Malbecs from Catena, but this one goes all the way to 11 on the pleasure scale. Deep, dark, and rich, with more mocha, spice, and black cherry than we could imagine stuffed into this incredible bottle of wine. For a Holiday meal, a crown rib roast paired with this Malbec would easily surpass all previous meals on the top of your list!
$53.99/ btl
Malbec has turned into the go to, value red from Argentina for those looking for the breadth and brawn of Cabernet, and the exotic spiciness of Syrah. Most of what we see in the marketplace is absolutely delicious, but what we run across from time to time are the estate bottlings and reserve wines of already popular wineries. Well here you go! The Catena "Alta" Malbec is borderline superstar wine. We know and love the other Malbecs from Catena, but this one goes all the way to 11 on the pleasure scale. Deep, dark, and rich, with more mocha, spice, and black cherry than we could imagine stuffed into this incredible bottle of wine. For a Holiday meal, a crown rib roast paired with this Malbec would easily surpass all previous meals on the top of your list!
$53.99/ btl
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Provocative Pinot!!
New and EXTREMELY allocated, shipped to ONLY 13 states and guaranteed to sell out,
2006 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon
$49.99/ btl LIMITED
Here's what the winery says about this incredible Pinot Noir:
"At J.K. Carriere we understand that distraction is the lesser part of valor and therefore try our damnedest not to be. Our focus is on high acid, smooth tannin, classically built Pinot noir and a teensy-weensy amount of mineral-oriented Chardonnay. It’s our understanding that there are only 365 opportunities to focus in any given year . . . and a few must be reserved for skis and fly-rods. Your Saturday night dinner party of eight... or two, is where the J.K. Carriere Willamette Valley Pinot Noir really shines. It is beautifully elegant and will not let you down. As a staple on your table it will consistently make you a hero. This wine is the cornerstone of our winery. If you have to lay only one of our wines in your cellar, this is it."
Friday, October 3, 2008
JUST IN!!!
2005 Bogle Phantom...
If you know it, you LOVE it. Still $19.99 and LIMITED
You know who you are, and you know how fast it sells out...
Here are the winery notes:
"bogle \bõ’g?l\ n. [Scots, perhaps from Welsh] A goblin; a specter; a phantom; a bogy, boggart or bugbear.
WINEMAKER NOTES
The time is here to start looking over your shoulder… Three unique varietals combine lush berry and fierce spice into a wine characterized by its incandescence. Brighter fruit and brighter spice highlight this vintage of the deep ruby apparition. Aromas of plums and cherries are embraced by touches of black pepper. From the deep dark depths, subtle notes of anise, juniper and vanilla emerge and compliment the concentrated fruit characters of this wine. Captured in 1, 2 and 3 year old American oak barrels, this wine showcases the best these distinct varietals have to offer. Though this wine is remarkable now, age in the bottle will only integrate the three unique varietals more. Welcome the winery ghost into your home again with this latest vintage, and enjoy with full-flavored and hearty meals…before it vanishes again.
Petite Sirah 55% - Zinfandel 42% - Mourvèdre 3%
The time is here to start looking over your shoulder… Three unique varietals combine lush berry and fierce spice into a wine characterized by its incandescence. Brighter fruit and brighter spice highlight this vintage of the deep ruby apparition. Aromas of plums and cherries are embraced by touches of black pepper. From the deep dark depths, subtle notes of anise, juniper and vanilla emerge and compliment the concentrated fruit characters of this wine. Captured in 1, 2 and 3 year old American oak barrels, this wine showcases the best these distinct varietals have to offer. Though this wine is remarkable now, age in the bottle will only integrate the three unique varietals more. Welcome the winery ghost into your home again with this latest vintage, and enjoy with full-flavored and hearty meals…before it vanishes again.
Petite Sirah 55% - Zinfandel 42% - Mourvèdre 3%
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October Selections!
Three wines of outstanding quality and value, with extra savings on the trifecta.
One of each wine gets the discount... $37.74 for the 3
One of each wine gets the discount... $37.74 for the 3
2005 Marco Felluga Ribolla Gialla Collio, Italy
An unusual white grape to check out for those tiring of the insipid sea of Pinot Grigio. Ribolla Gialla has all the easy drinkability of PG, but with just a little bit more delicacy of flavor, and less of the watery edges. Pretty and very clean flavors of crisp apple and ripe ruby grapefruit, without the twang, complement the subtle aromas of herb, flowers, and citrus. Try it with the white bean and sage recipe in this issue, it's an amazing wine pairing!
Regular price $16.99 Trifecta price $14.99
2005 Cataperiero Ribatejano, Portugal
Made from the traditional Portuguese grapes Castelao and Trincadeira, with a bit of Alicante Bouchet for good measure, this red from Ribatejano in central western Portugal is as complex and mysterious as the land it comes from. Deep, dark, and rustic, this wine manages to have a polished and smooth ripe fruit quality to match it's rugged personality. Any dish with beef and mushrooms involved makes this wine evn more harmonious and delicious! Also pairs very well with duck and lamb...
Regular price $13.99 Trifecta $11.39
2007 Quinta das Touquinheiras Clemen Reserva Vinho Verde, Portugal
Vinho Verde is Portugal's "green wine" because it is the first wine of the harvest. This shining example in particular, really shows off it's freshness and just barely effervescent characteristics, as an amazing blend of Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes. Light enough for warm Autumn afternoon picnics and boat drinks, and substantial enough to pair with countless different foods when it gets chilly outside. Especially perfect with tapas! Very affordable and lighter in alcohol, here's a refreshing sip anytime, anywhere, even in vast quantities. Sunday for brunch?
Vinho Verde is Portugal's "green wine" because it is the first wine of the harvest. This shining example in particular, really shows off it's freshness and just barely effervescent characteristics, as an amazing blend of Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes. Light enough for warm Autumn afternoon picnics and boat drinks, and substantial enough to pair with countless different foods when it gets chilly outside. Especially perfect with tapas! Very affordable and lighter in alcohol, here's a refreshing sip anytime, anywhere, even in vast quantities. Sunday for brunch?
Regular price $13.99 Trifecta $11.39
Pic: Clementina Araújo
of Quinta das Touquinheiras
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