Notes From the Cellar…..

ROSÉ MADNESS!  With blues skies and warmer (sort of) weather, summer is around the corner and the 2013 rosé wines are here.  Join us Fri. & Sat. May 30, 31 as we taste seven of our selections from France, US and Italy.  These wines are all versatile food wines, especially with oysters, charcuterie, smoked salmon and grilled fish.

Domaine de la Fouquette ‘Cuvée Rosée d’Aurore,’ Côtes de Provence, France – (Grenche, Cinsault, Rolle) Provence has become synonymous with great rosé, and does indeed produce consistently outstanding rosé.  This pale colored organically farmed wine has a fruity and intense nose with flavors of mandarin orange, red and black berries, followed by a vibrant finish.  $18.99

Domaine de Vaccelli ‘Juste Ciel!,’ Ile de Beauté, Corsica, France – (100% Grenache) Translating to “Good Heavens!” this wine may be just that.  Organically grown, with a copper hue, this wine shows aromas of peach and mineral, adding grapefruit, brine, and light spice to the palate, with a lingering, fresh and pleasant finish.  $17.99

Domaine de Fontsainte ‘Gris de Gris,’ Corbières, Languedoc, France – (Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault) Consistently one of the best rosés on the planet, the 2013 continues to deliver.  This wine is blended from old vine grapes resulting in a luscious, medium weight rosé with aromas and flavors of red berry, light pepper, and a touch of mineral/clay. $19.99

Fleur Pinot Noir Rosé, North Coast, California – (100% Pinot Noir) California’s North Coast is ideally suited for cultivating Pinot, with the ocean moderating the temperature and providing mist that lingers late into the morning. This perfectly balanced offering displays aromas of fresh strawberry and honeysuckle, with a mouthwatering finish and bright acidity.  $15.99

Gérard Boulay Sancerre, Loire, France – (100% Pinot Noir) Sancerre is noted for having great Sauvignon Blanc, but often overlooked is the red, which can be delicious in a good vintage.  Produced from 40 year old vines, Boulay harvests his Pinot Noir to specifically produce rosé, resulting in a wine with a bright fruit nose of strawberry, bramble fruit and a hint of orange peel, following by a nicely balanced and luscious finish.  $24.99

Cantina Santa Maria la Palma ‘Aragosta,’ Sardinia, Italy – This wine is made from Cannonau, known as Grenache in France, The wine picks up a deep color from extended contact with the grape skins resulting in aromas of rose petals and wild berry, followed by a big mouthfeel of red fruit and a hint of tannins on the finish.  $11.99

Proprietà Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa.’ Piedmont, Italy – (Nebbiolo,  Vespolina) Here we have a rosé wine made from Piedmont’s great Nebbiolo grape, used to make Barolo and Barbaresco.  The wine is full and fresh with mineral tones and red plum and raspberry aroma.  The finish is clean with a hint of tannins and citrus peel.  $17.99

Cheers!

Memorial Day Weekend Tasting

Notes From the Cellar….. 
We've gotten ourselves all stocked up for summer- Summer beers, 30 packs, cocktail fixings, and of course, a great selection of summer wines- including a huge selection of rosé!

Join us Fri & Sat May 23 & 24 from 3-6 as we sample a few highlights.

As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off.

Cider Creek Farmhouse Cider from the Finger Lakes region of New York. This delicious handmade unfiltered cider is pressed from local apples, resulting in a crisp effervescence, and a perfect balance between sweet and dry. $14.99

’11 Mâcon Villages ‘Loumont,’ Pierre Janny, Burgundy, France – This is a wonderfully complex single vineyard Chardonnay from the Mâconnais area in southern Burgundy. The wine is aged in stainless steel resulting in pure aromas of citrus, pear, and some mineral tones, with a clean, yet luscious finish. This is a great pairing with lobster or shrimp. $13.99

’11 Foppiano Vineyards ‘Lot 96’ Petite Sirah, Sonoma County, California – This balanced Petite Sirah has explosive aromas of blackberry and cherry with hints of caramel. The palate shows flavors of plum, blackberry and supple tannins balanced by acidity and a lingering finish. Enjoy this wine with grilled meats or aged hard cheeses. $13.99

’10 Fitch Mountain Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, California – Alexander Valley is widely recognized as being the best Cabernet district in Sonoma, containing some of the region’s most renowned vineyards. This 2010 effort displays wonderful aromas of cherry, clove, cassis and cocoa followed by bright layers of fruit on the palate, finishing with fine tannins and lingering candied fruit flavors. This is another great wine to enjoy with grilled meats, as well as blue cheeses. $19.99

Tasting Selections this Week- New Summer Stock has Arrived!

It’s been a busy week at the Cellar d’Or as our shelves are full of new wines, brews and spirits which we have carefully selected this spring.  We have new wines from Provence, Languedoc, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Tuscany, Veneto, Priorat and more, including over a dozen selections of rosé wine. Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample a few highlights.

_As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off._

’13 ‘AIX’ Saint Aix Rosé, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France – A deliciously fresh Provence rosé made from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Counoise grapes.  The pale pink color displays aromas of fine herbs, red berries, mineral tones, and a touch of orange zest followed by lush flavors and a balanced, clean finish.  Try this wine with raw oysters.  $19.99  Also available in magnum for $38

’12 Reuilly ‘Les Pierres Plates,’ Domaine de Reuilly, Loire, France – Denis Jamain is committed to sustainability and producing wines with a distinct sense of place and purity of flavor. Reuilly is a lesser known appellation often falling in the shadow of the more well known districts of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé.   This wine is made from organically grown Sauvignon Blanc grapes resulting in a subtle nose of wild rose and grapefruit followed by a rich and well-structured palate and crisp finish.  Loire Valley Sauvignon blanc is excellent with smoked salmon, goat cheese, and seafood in general.  $19.99

’11 Nita Priorat, Spain -  Priorat is largely known for dense, barrel aged reds though there has been a recent explosion of young winemaking talent producing wines in an array of styles.  Maritxell Palleja is a young third generation Priorat winemaker using biodynamic practices in her vineyard management.  The non-oak aged wine is blended from old vine Garnacha and Cariñena resulting in dense fruit aromas, a supple, medium bodied palate with a fine tannic finish.  This is a great accompaniment to cured and roasted meats.  $25.99

Cheers!

Join us Fri. & Sat. May 2nd & 3rd from 3-6 as we sample 3 delicious new selections from Spain and France.

As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off.

’12 Condes de Albarei Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain – Albariño is probably the most well known Spanish white varietal, the finest examples coming from Rias Baixas, located in the southwestern coast of the Galicia region. This light to medium bodied wine shows fruity and hints of floral aromas giving way to bright citrus fruit flavors and a strong, lingering finish. Albariño is an excellent match with most seafood, which is plentiful in Galicia. $14.99

’12 Rios de Tinta, Ribera del Duero, Spain –With a mix of traditional and modern winemaking, Ribera del Duero produces some of the finest and most highly touted wines in Spain. This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes, known locally as Tinta del Pais, displaying a lighter, fresh style with aromas of red berries, flowers, and a hint of pepper. On the palate, flavors of juicy raspberries and cherry give way to a clean finish with very slight tannins. This is a good wine with pork dishes or sausage and pasta. $14.99

’11 Chinon ‘Vieilles Vignes,’ Domaine Fabrice Gasnier, Loire, France – The Loire Valley is famous for the finest Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc in the world, often overshadowing some wonderful red wines from the region. Chinon is an appellation known for its great Cabernet Franc. This wine is produced from vines planted in 1935 resulting in intensity and subtle layers of aromas and texture. The perfume is of violets, raspberry, and clay, followed by flavors of blackberry, forest floor and chalky tannins. Loire Valley Cabernet Franc is an excellent pairing with cured meats, grilled meats, and a range of pungent, soft and semi-soft cheeses. $17.99