Food Friendly Wines for Dinner!

Notes From the Cellar….. February is mercifully coming to an end and we're that much closer to spring! On the table this Friday & Saturday from 3-6 we will be featuring a couple new wines just in- a lively Chardonnay from Santa Barbara Country as well as a rich Barbera d'Asti from Piedmont that is a great complement to many meals. On the beer front, we have new offerings from Lagunitas, Firestone Walker as well as recent additions from SixPoint, Brewmaster Jack, Lost Abbey, Otter Creek, Long Trail, Dogfish and the Stone "Enjoy By" is back! . Our "bar" is always open to sample our craft spirits as well. If you're heading North to ski country, don't forget to stop in first for your favorite craft wine, beer & spirits that aren't always readily available in the mountains. As always, take 10% a purchase of 3 bottles of wine from our tasting table. '09 Falcone Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, CA- The Falcone family started their own farm and winery in 2002 after a couple decades of winemaking in the Napa Valley. Their small 8 acre farm produces Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah, while they source the Chardonnay grapes from the Santa Maria Valley- a remarkably cool climate but with a long growing season that allows flavors to develop while maintaining bright acidity. Their Chardonnay spends 9 months in mostly old French oak barrels which impart a slight hint of vanilla and caramel without the oak overwhelming the fruit. Ripe orchard fruits of peach and apple are well balanced by lemon citrus notes and a refreshing minerality- all with a bright acidity that lingers on the palate and keeps this full bodied wine bright and lively. A great restaurant wine, this pairs well with risotto and other rich sauces, Asian dishes and creamy cheeses. $19.99 '12 Vietti Barbera d'Asti "Tre Vigne" DOCG, Piedmont, Italy- The Vietti family traces its winemaking history back to the 19th century in the Barolo commune of Castiglione Falletto renowned for its powerful and long lived Barolos. The town of Asti is located just to the northeast and has established itself as a premier region for the very food friendly Barbera grape. Grapes are sourced from their old vine "La Crena" single vineyard as well as other adjacent vineyards. The wine sees 14 months in either French oak barrels or Slovenian oak casks which add a little gripping tannin to a normally low tannin grape. Richly colored with aromas of red cherry, blackberry and a touch of vanilla, it is medium bodied, dry and balanced by Barbera's trademark acidity. Pairs effortlessly with Italian dishes, grilled vegetables and chicken, pork and veal. $19.99

Cheers!

Champagne & Oysters for Valentine's Day!

Notes From the Cellar….. Champagne & Oysters... just one of those matches made in heaven. Swing by Valentine's Day (Saturday) from 3-6 to sample some delicious local oysters provided by Sweet Sound Oysters, wash them down with some with some wonderful grower champagnes & bring a bottle home to enjoy with that special someone! Valentine's Days Special- take 10% off any sparkling wine! Come on in and stock up for a few days off as we kick off the President's Week and (I hate to say it) prepare for what looks like another possible Nor'easter coming in Saturday night into Sunday. The tasting plan for Friday and Saturday: Friday 3-6: Wines of Willamette Valley '13 Kings Ridge Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley– As with most Oregon Pinot Gris, this offering is made from the Alsatian style clones, as opposed to the Italian clones (known as Pinot Grigio), resulting in a medium bodied white with aromas of ripe pear, nectarine, and melon. The wine shows a rich palate with great intensity and a long, lingering finish. This is great wine to serve with mild, soft cheeses and many fish dishes. $15.99 '13 Sass Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley- This Pinot Noir comes from a small family operation that makes 1500 cases of Pinot Noir from vineyards and practices organic farming. The Pinot vines are all French clones planted in volcanic and sedimentary soils. This Pinot shows aromas of blackberry and dark raspberry typical of the region with some earthy tones and balanced with fresh acidity. Tannins are smooth and accented by a peppery bite. This is a versatile wine that can pair with chicken, pork and meaty fish like salmon or tuna. $24.99 Saturday- Valentine's Day 3-6 Oysters from Sweet Sound Oysters & Champagne! NV Moutard Père et Fils Champagne Blanc de Noirs Grand Cuvée, Côte des Bar, Champagne, France- The Moutard Diligent Family has been growing grapes in the clay and Kimmeridgian limestone soil of Buxeuil since 1642. In 1927, Francois Diligent began producing Champagne and that production has continued to this day with grandchildren Agnes, Veronique, and Francois Moutard. The 100% Pinot Noir grapes are hand harvested, sorted, and cool fermented in steel. Aged 3 years on its lees. A fine, rich, fresh nose shows aromas of berries, butter, almond and brioche with an elegant, balanced and generous palate. $36.99 NV Godmé Père et Fils Premier Cru Brut-Réserve, Reims, Champagne, France- 5th generation winemakers & growers. Vineyards are farmed organically/biodynamically & display great expressions of terroir and complexity. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meaner, this is a refined wine full of rich aromas of fruitcake, lemon & smokey mineral with bright citrus acidity framed by a lithe & bright finish with a hint of spice. $52-full/$29.99-half (Discounts do not combine with any other promotion)

Cheers!

New Snow, New Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. The snow doesn't seem to want to give us a break around here, but at least the mountains are benefiting from the non-stop snow and cold! For what looks like another few days of hanging around the house we've added a couple new wines to sample in addition to our old favorites. This Friday & Saturday from 3-6 stop by to sample a delicious new Godello- a white wine from Spain as well as another powerful Southern Rhone red from the village of Rasteau! For new beers we have offerings from Green Flash, Jack's Abby and Lagunitas; also our "bar" is always open to sample craft spirits! If you're heading North to ski country, don't forget to stop in first for your favorite craft wine, beer & spirits that aren't always readily available in the mountains. As always, take 10% a purchase of 3 bottles of wine from our tasting table. '12 Adrás Godello, Ribeira Sacra, Spain- Ribeira Sacra is an inland region in Galicia of Northwest Spain where the Romans originally began winemaking; the name "Sacra" comes from its long history of winemaking in its many monasteries. The native Godello grape is making a revival at the hands of winemakers eager to get the most out of this varietal. Here the 40 year old vines are planted on steep hills of silica-rich sand & decomposed granite; yields purposely kept low for concentration of flavor. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and then spending 3 months on its lees adds texture to this otherwise clean, crisp wine. Aromas of orchard fruits, citrus and floral notes are complemented by flavors of peach & lemon with intense minerality and fresh acidity. Pairs with Mediterranean seafood dishes, shellfish or semi-hard cheeses. $17.99 '11 Domaine des Escaravailles "La Ponce" Rasteau, France- While the Southern Rhone is mostly famous for the full bodied, but elegant wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, it continues to produce excellent reds from the surrounding communes of Rateau, Vacqueyras & Cairanne to name a few. In this case, the Ferran family has tended to the higher elevation, hillside vineyards since the 1950's using sustainable farming practices and harvest their grapes by hand. This single vineyard red is made up of a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, with vine ages of 40-50 and 30-35 years, respectively. The "La Ponce" is a powerful, heady wine with characteristic blackberry, cocoa, Provence herbs and inky licorice, balanced by fresh acidity and meaty tannins. Pair with roasted meats, especially more gamey ones like lamb. $25.99

Cheers!