Post Thanksgiving Wine Tasting

Notes From the Cellar….. We hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! With Thanksgiving behind us we are officially in the holiday season with dinners and parties with friends and family, so this weekend we selected a couple great wines that are versatile and a great value. Join us Fri. & Sat. from 3-6 as we sample one of our old favorites, a Picpoul de Pinet from France that matches perfectly with oysters and a young Rioja from organically grown and hand harvested estate grapes. ’13 Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France- The Jourdan family has been growing wine in Languedoc for several generation & purchased these vineyards in 1983; they are located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea which moderates temperatures in the vineyards and impart a touch of salinity to the wines. The mother & daughter team farm the three vineyard sites with different soils of clay, limestone, and sandstone which contribute different aspects of their terroir to this wine giving it wonderful nuances. This 100% Picpoul is fermented in stainless steel tanks and sits on its lees for 3 months before bottling. It is fresh and clean with notes of melon and lemon and great minerality. It is a great light wine that pairs perfectly with oysters as well as other shellfish, salads & lighter fish dishes. $11.99 ’13 Señorío de P. Peciña Cosecha Rioja, Spain- Bodegas Hermanos Peciña is located in the heart of the Upper Rioja, or Rioja Alta. All grapes are estate grown; the bodega practices organic farming and harvests the grapes by hand. This is their young wine, with vines being an average age of 25 years old and is a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha. Fermentation occurs naturally with wild yeasts on the skin and is aged for 3 months in stainless steel to highlight its soft fruit. This is a fruit driven wine with notes of blackberry, red cherries and hints of balsamic. A soft, juicy wine with great acidity and soft tannins, it is great both with or without food. This is a versatile wine that pairs well with pasta, grilled meat or spicy dishes. $11.99

Cheers!

Thanksgiving Wine Tasting!

Notes From the Cellar…..

November marks our first year anniversary! We are proud to be a part of the Duxbury community and greatly appreciate your support!

This weekend from 3-6 we will be sampling wines that match with Thanksgiving fare. Thanksgiving typically consists of a large array of food dominated by turkey, gravy, stuffing and seasonal accompaniments such as squash, cranberry and mushrooms. It is usually best to serve a selection of wines with the feast, not only to appeal to personal preferences, but also to offer ideal pairings with the dishes. Chardonnay is ideally suited due to its rich texture, balanced with bright acidity. Perhaps the most ideal red is a grape called Gamay, best known as the grape of Beaujolais. Unfortunately, Beaujolais has become most associated with the Beaujolais Nouveau, young wine from the current harvest and typically of dubious quality, released more as a marketing ploy than as serious wine. We are offering two top quality Gamay based wines for you to taste. Another often overlooked wine to serve, due to its food matching versatility, is a nice dry rosé, so be sure to peruse our selection of rosé wines from Spain, France, Italy, and California.

New beer selections have arrived from Maine Beer Company, Troegs, Long Trail, and Mayflower Brewing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

’12 Waterstone Chardonnay, Carneros, California – Carneros offers a slightly cooler climate than the Napa benchland making it more suitable for growing Chardonnay grapes. 2012 provided optimum ripeness giving an aroma of citrus, pear, green apple, nectarine and a hint of oak. The palate is long and lingering with good structure and the potential to improve with age. A nice Chardonnay matches well with many of accompaniments on the Thanksgiving table as well as the main course- perfect with squash. $19.99

’12 Coteaux Bourguignons, Dominique Piron, Burgundy, France – This is 100% Gamay from a 14th generation winemaker from the Beaujolais region, though the Coteaux Bourguignons appellation, or Burgundian Hills, falls outside of Beaujolais. This sustainably farmed gamay is an easy drinking, everyday wine from selected vineyards giving a deep purple hue with aromas of blueberry, bramble, bay leaf and cinnamon, finishing with very soft, light tannins. As with most Gamay, this is a perfect match for turkey and gravy. $15.99 (1 Liter)

’12 Chénas, Pascal Aufranc, Beaujolais, France – Chénas is one of the ten cru Beaujolais designates, which are the very best sites in the region, producing wines that are age-worthy, fuller bodied, and have more concentrated flavors than Beaujolais-Villages and barely resemble the well-known Beaujolais Nouveau wine. This wine is made from 80 year old organically farmed vines, producing a aromas of spice, red fruit, and some floral hints. Not only is this a perfect wine for Thanksgiving, but it is also great with ham or roasted meats. $17.99

’11 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Réserve, Philippine de Saint-Cyrille, Rhône, France - Châteauneuf-du-Pape is perhaps the most familiar region in southern Rhône producing wines blended from up to 13 different grape varietals in a broad range of styles due to the varied terrain. This blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre displays aromas plum, cherry, cocoa, and espresso with blackberry, cherry, and fig coming through on the palate, finishing with grainy tannins and a hint of toffee. The rich fruit component of this wine will not overpower turkey with gravy, but will go best with those who add other roasted meats to the table. $29.99

New Wines for Tasting Nov 14&15

Notes From the Cellar….. Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we prepare for the rapidly approaching winter season! This weekend we have a pair of new wine selections available for tasting. Just in this week is a lively Chardonnay from France and an amazing Spanish blend from one of the top producers in Priorat. We are happy to have brought in some new local spirits from Dirty Water Distillery from Plymouth – ‘What Knot’ White Rum and ‘Velnias’ Honey Liqueur, a traditional Lithuanian Krupnikas, perfect for warming the mood during the cold months; as well as Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Gin- distilled in Hardwick, Vermont with juniper berries and their own raw honey added post distillation. We are now open Sundays for the holidays from 10-6 and will be open the Monday of Thanksgiving week. As always take 10% off purchase of 3 wines from our tasting table. ’12 Saint-Véran, Albert Bichot, Burgundy, France - Saint-Véran is in the Mâconnais region located in the southern part of Burgundy, perhaps best known for the neighboring Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. As with most chardonnay from the region, this wine is aged in stainless steel resulting in aromas of ripe fruit, light smoke, fern and floral fragrances followed by a pleasant round mouthfeel adding notes of citrus, vanilla, and hazelnut. The finish is well balanced and generous with underlying mineral tones. Try this versatile wine with monkfish, mushrooms, prawns, crab, or grilled poultry. $16.99 ’13 Camins del Priorat, Alvaro Palacios, Priorat, Spain – Alvaro Palacios is regarded as one of the top producers in the modern era of Spanish wine due to his acclaimed flagship wine, L’Ermita. The Camins del Priorat is a sustainably farmed bend of Garnacha, Samso, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, aged in barrel for 8 months. The deep ruby colored wine has raspberry and floral aromas with a hint of spice, followed by tangy red berry flavors, finishing with sweet cherry and even tannins. Pair this wine with roasted game. $22.99 Special arrival! We were lucky enough to secure a few bottles of the '12 Beaux Frères 'Zena Crown' Pinot Noir, Eola/Amity, OR. Also in is The Prisoner Wine Company's signature "The Prisoner" Napa Red Blend.

Cheers!

Wines for the Holidays

Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample a pair of wonderful new wines on this fall weekend. This weekend we have an amazing organic Sancerre and bold Rioja Reserva. Also, be sure to check out new beers from Backlash Beer Company, Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Tröegs Brewery, Notch, and Shipyard. We are pleased to offer new small batch Bourbons from Garrison Brothers and Bib and Tucker. Special arrival! We were lucky enough to secure a few bottles of the '12 Beaux Frères 'Zena Crown' Pinot Noir, Eola/Amity, OR. We are now open Sundays for the holidays from 10-6 and will be open the Monday of Thanksgiving week. As always take 10% off purchase of 3 wines from our tasting table. ’11 Sancerre ‘Cuvée C. M.’ Jean-Max Roger, Loire, France – The three villages of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Menetou-Salon produce some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc in the world along the Loire River. This offering is sourced from two distinctly different vineyard parcels resulting in floral and fruity notes framed by a light and fresh palate with perfectly balanced acidity. This wine is best enjoyed with seafood ranging from crustaceans to raw or cooked fish. $29.99 ’06 Rioja Reserva, Bodegas Viña Herminia, Rioja, Spain – Blended from Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano, aged in oak barrels for 18 months, this classic Rioja displays hearty aromas of oak and fresh, ripe cherries, followed by round, rich flavor with an intense, fleshy finish. Pair this with roasts, game and red meat. $22

Cheers!