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July Taster's Advantage
2 Bottles of red wine (tax & shipping not included) Ground Effect 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Variety: 95 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot Origin: Santa Ynez, California Located at the far East end of Santa Ynez Valley, the Happy Canyon vineyard is perhaps a bit like the fabled city of El Dorado when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon. But instead of a city of gold, we have rich soils of clay and loam, providing for smaller vines and more complex fruit-- making it a stellar location to grow warmth-loving grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. The brilliance of the Cabs we’ve tried from Happy Canyon, in general, and this Ground Effect, in particular, make for an easy call when it comes to 'winning the gold' as our July Wine of the Month! The scents are rife with classic Cabernet cherries, joined by notes of blueberries, strawberries and rhubarb. Add a touch of white pepper, incense and cedar, brightened by a waft of rose garden air, and it makes for quite the pleasurable palette for the nose. Pavlovian response noted. In the mouth, the fruits are reiterated from the nose (more cherries, raspberries and cassis) while kept fresh and uplifted by excellent streaks of acidity and light tannins. The palate is wonderfully viscous and adds hints of fruit leather, black tea and cacao toward the mid-palate and finish. Dark chocolate, toffee and blackberries make for a lovely curtain call as the finish lasts and lasts. Drink now and enjoy for years to come. Geek out note: Happy Canyon is a special and young AVA (2001). It sits at the collision of 2 ranges (Santa Ynez, San Rafael), protecting and regulating the climate. Wine Tip: Californian cabernet sauvignon can be delicious and affordable. Enjoy this gem slightly chilled with a barbecue with friends. Virgen de la Serra OGV 2018 Old Vines Garnacha Grape Variety: 100% Garnacha Origin: Calatayud, Spain While we are never surprised tasting great Spanish wines, as their history, traditions and culinary lineage are the perfect setup for a country to generate great juice, it’s when we find such high quality in the bottle for such a fair price that sets off fireworks in both our wallets and palates. With 91 Points from Wine Advocate, this one’s at the top of the charts as one of the best Spanish wines we've ever seen for such a banging deal! (Mic drop). Beautiful berry fruits fill the nose, with strawberry and cherry in the fore, as notes of white pepper, scrub brush and background florals lend depth and diversity. The bright berry fruits continue on the palate, with red plum and black raspberry taking the lead as notes of orange peel, orange pekoe tea and mixed dark spices fill in the gaps. Vivid acidity and light tannins keep the wine grounded and even-keeled. We love a good Garnacha anytime-- but especially when it’s at such a wallet-friendly price! Enjoy with grilled octopus, Manchego cheese, roasted chicken, steak, filet mignon, or on its own. WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The young 2018 OGV Old Garnacha Vine has a mealy nose with notes of cereals and ripe berry fruit. It's a collaboration with the family and Alonso López and sold through Mesa Imports in the US (a different importer). It's nicely crafted, varietal and ripe without excess, juicy and keeping the balance and freshness. 32,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020." Wine Tip: Calatayud is a protected designation of origin in the region of Saragosse in the northern part of Spain. The vines are located at a high altitude (between 2600 and 3300 feet). What an impressive bargain.
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1 Bottles of red wine and 1 bottle of white wine (tax & shipping not included) Ground Effect 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot Origin: Santa Ynez, California Located at the far East end of Santa Ynez Valley, the Happy Canyon vineyard is perhaps a bit like the fabled city of El Dorado when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon. But instead of a city of gold, we have rich soils of clay and loam, providing for smaller vines and more complex fruit-- making it a stellar location to grow warmth-loving grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. The brilliance of the Cabs we’ve tried from Happy Canyon, in general, and this Ground Effect, in particular, make for an easy call when it comes to 'winning the gold' as our July Wine of the Month! The scents are rife with classic Cabernet cherries, joined by notes of blueberries, strawberries and rhubarb. Add a touch of white pepper, incense and cedar, brightened by a waft of rose garden air, and it makes for quite the pleasurable palette for the nose. Pavlovian response noted. In the mouth, the fruits are reiterated from the nose (more cherries, raspberries and cassis) while kept fresh and uplifted by excellent streaks of acidity and light tannins. The palate is wonderfully viscous and adds hints of fruit leather, black tea and cacao toward the mid-palate and finish. Dark chocolate, toffee and blackberries make for a lovely curtain call as the finish lasts and lasts. Drink now and enjoy for years to come. Geek out note: Happy Canyon is a special and young AVA (2001). It sits at the collision of 2 ranges (Santa Ynez, San Rafael), protecting and regulating the climate. Wine Tip: Californian cabernet sauvignon can be delicious and affordable. Enjoy this gem slightly chilled with a barbecue with friends. Arca Nova Vinho Verde 2017 Grape Variety: 50% Loureiro, 40% Arinto, 10% Trexadura Origin: Vinho Verde, Portugal Arca Nova Vino Verde is made by Quinta das Arcas, a small estate owned and operated by the Monteiro family. All of their grapes are estate grown between their 4 estates in the Vinho Verde and Alentejo regions. Their vines are trellised so the clusters are growing about 6 feet above the ground to allow the wind to remove the humidity. Vinho Verde means ‘Green Wine’ and is both the name of the wine and the name of the region. Stylistically, all Vinho Verdes are light, clean, fresh, and citrusy. Effervescence is added to Vinho Verde wines to increase their shelf life. The U.S. is currently the world’s largest importing country for Vinho Verde wines. Arca Nova Vinho Verde is a crisp, dry, slightly effervescent, light bodied white wine with a pale yellow color and youthful, floral, citrus aromas that are reminiscent of freshly cut grass. Moderately intense on the palate with lemon, green apple, and peach flavors and a medium finish. This wine is made from 50% Loureiro, 40% Arinto and 10% Treixadura using sustainable farming of vineyards ranging from 6 to 30 years old at elevations from 300 to 1000 feet. Residual Sugar: 6.0 grams per liter. Alcohol: 10.5% Enjoy Arca Nova Vinho Verde as the perfect summer apéritif wine and with oysters, filet of sole, grilled shrimp, sushi, and summer salads. Wine Tip: This wine is an homage to drinkability. Perfectly light, fresh and very easy to drink. Thanks to its low alcohol this is the best wine for a warm afternoon. |
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2 Bottles of red wine (tax & shipping not included) Sottimano 2018 "Matte" Brachetto Grape Variety: 100% Brachetto Origin: Neive, Piedmonte, Italy The Maté is a small vineyard of Brachetto in the zone of Neive. The fermentation and the maceration on the skins normally takes about 7-8 days. Natural Yeasts are used. The malolactical fermentation is completed in stainless steel, where the wine remains for approximately 8 months. There is no filtering and no fining prior to bottling. The Maté has a very intense color, an elegant nose of spices and rose and a fresh and refined taste. The acidity is well balanced by the good concentration of this vintage. Wine Tip: I am extremely proud to share this wine with you. It has been for many years my ultimate favorite summer light red. You probably won’t find scores about this wine. We are talking about a very small lot of 3 acres in Neive planted with Brachetto (a grape variety mostly known for sweet lightly fizzy wines – Brachetto d’acqui). Obviously today’s wine is not sweet but perfectly dry. This is a very delicate wine, loads of roses and bright fruit on the nose. Amazing freshness on the palate, the palate showcases a red berry fruit salad drizzled with rose water and lemon. On top of that the finish is really long. Open a little bit before drinking and enjoy it in the mid 50’s Fahrenheit. Casa Lapostolle 2015 Le Rouge Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Syrah Origin: Valle del Rapel, Chile Red wine in the summer? You bet! This beautiful blend from Lapostolle (22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Carmenere, 23% Merlot, 30% Syrah) is big enough for just about any carnivorous delight from the grill while maintaining impeccable balance, body and a flavor profile that won’t drag you down in the warming weather. That it's on sale and featured as our Wine of the Month 2 is icing on the wine-dark cake! Nose: Spicy earth and red plum, incense, old growth forest floor, blackberry, mixed fruit leather. Lapostolle is one of the most dynamic and influential producers of wines in Chile. Founded in 1994 in the Apalta Valley, this family business was created by the French Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, members of the family who have been recognized for the production of wines and fine liqueurs for generations in the world. Today it is Charles de Bournet Marnier-Lapostolle, seventh generation of the family, who holds the reins of the Winery. Together with him is Andrea León, Technical Director & Winemaker, under the advice of the famous winemaker Michel Rolland, who is personally involved in the whole production of the premium and icon wines. At Lapostolle, the goal is as simple as it is ambitious: to create world-class wines using French winemaking philosophy and the superb terroirs of Chile. The founders chose Apalta in the Colchagua Valley, because weather and geographical conditions are perfect for producing high quality red wines and they also found blocks of unique vineyards. Clearly, they are doing it well! JAMES SUCKLING 92 POINTS - "Dark plums, licorice, creme de cassis, citrus, baking spices and roasted herbs. Medium-to-full body, lots of grainy tannins, a pretty thread of acidity and a savory, chewy finish. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, carmenere, merlot and syrah. Drink in 2020." Wine Tip: Another one of Rolland’s creation that will please your palate. When Chilean Terroir and French savoir-faire meet each other, the result is remarkable. |
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1 Bottle of red wine and 1 bottle of white wine (tax & shipping not included) Sottimano 2018 "Matte" Brachetto Grape Variety: 100% Brachetto Origin: Neive, Piedmonte, Italy The Maté is a small vineyard of Brachetto in the zone of Neive. The fermentation and the maceration on the skins normally takes about 7-8 days. Natural Yeasts are used. The malolactical fermentation is completed in stainless steel, where the wine remains for approximately 8 months. There is no filtering and no fining prior to bottling. The Maté has a very intense color, an elegant nose of spices and rose and a fresh and refined taste. The acidity is well balanced by the good concentration of this vintage. Wine Tip: I am extremely proud to share this wine with you. It has been for many years my ultimate favorite summer light red. You probably won’t find scores about this wine. We are talking about a very small lot of 3 acres in Neive planted with Brachetto (a grape variety mostly known for sweet lightly fizzy wines – Brachetto d’acqui). Obviously today’s wine is not sweet but perfectly dry. This is a very delicate wine, loads of roses and bright fruit on the nose. Amazing freshness on the palate, the palate showcases a red berry fruit salad drizzled with rose water and lemon. On top of that the finish is really long. Open a little bit before drinking and enjoy it in the mid 50’s Fahrenheit. J.Mourat Chenin de Jardin 2019 Grape Variety: 100% Chenin blanc Origin: Loire, France NATURAL WINE The Chenin du Jardin Naturiste is 100% Chenin blanc, aged for six months in steel. He (the garden gnome on the front), bares his butt, because he is all natural. The wine has zero Sulphur added and certified organic farming. Bright, crisp, dry, mineral driven – green apple, lots of citrus notes, lime zest and lemon with some pineapple fruit in the finish. Wine Tip: Many customers are looking for "natural" wines. This became a really popular mention but very few have a precisely know the meaning. This is a definition from jenny and francois importer: "natural wines are wines made with the least possible use of chemicals, additives and overly technological procedures" So pretty much as low intervention and pesticides as can be. The name of this wine if word play with "nain de Jardin", garden gnome in English. |
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2 Bottles of white wine (tax & shipping not included) J.Mourat Chenin de Jardin 2019 Grape Variety: 100% Chenin blanc Origin: Loire, France NATURAL WINE The Chenin du Jardin Naturiste is 100% Chenin blanc, aged for six months in steel. He (the garden gnome on the front), bares his butt, because he is all natural. The wine has zero Sulphur added and certified organic farming. Bright, crisp, dry, mineral driven – green apple, lots of citrus notes, lime zest and lemon with some pineapple fruit in the finish. Wine Tip: Many customers are looking for "natural" wines. This became a really popular mention but very few have a precisely know the meaning. This is a definition from jenny and francois importer: "natural wines are wines made with the least possible use of chemicals, additives and overly technological procedures" So pretty much as low intervention and pesticides as can be. The name of this wine if word play with "nain de Jardin", garden gnome in English. Montbourgeau 2017 Chardonnay "Ouille" Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay Origin: Jura, France Domaine de Montbourgeau has produced traditional Jura wines since Victor Gros, the grandfather of current Vigneronne, Nicole Deriaux, first planted the estate’s vineyards in 1920.The domaine’s nine hectares are devoted mostly to Chardonnay with Savagnin sited in 1.7 of those hectares; some Trousseau and Poulsard round out the plantings. The viticulture is organic and the vinification is strictly traditional respecting, in all aspects, the ancient practices of this region. Nicole Deriaux’s natural approach to every step of the process captures the true essence of the Etoile appellation in each of the separate bottlings done at the domaine.The white wines are aged in barrel; they are never racked; they are not topped off. The very special nature of the appellation of L’Etoile produces white wines of exceptional finesse and complexity. Wine Tip: Most of you had in their life a good amount of Chardonnay But you probably never tried a wine from Jura in France. This high-altitude cold-weather region will show you that Chardonnay can be extremely versatile and produce wines definitely way different from what you can find in California or Burgundy for example. |
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1 Bottle of Champagne (tax & shipping not included) Vincent Couche "Elegance" Extra Brut Origin: Cote des Bar, Aube, Grape Variety: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay Disgorgement Date: NA Dosage : Extra brut Biodynamic 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay. (Demeter Certified Biodynamic) Vincent Couche is one of the stars of the grower Champagne movement. Located in the Cotes des Bar, Vincent is also fully Biodynamic, a rarity not just in this region, but in all Champagne. His Champagnes are especially complex due to extended lees aging. Aged five years on the lees and bottled with no dosage, this Champagne is creamy, yeasty and complex, with focused minerality and lots of length. Terrific! Wine Tip: An other rare biodynamic champagne winemaker this month. From the underrated Cote des Bar and dominantly Pinot Noir. An authentic biodynamic wine, fresh, mineral and balanced. |
