These Wines Will Keep You Warm!

Notes From the Cellar….. Looks like the winter weather is having a tough time saying goodbye, but no worries- spring will come one way or another! In the meantime we have a couple new wines to taste that should take the edge off this weekend. Just in we have a Pinot Gris from Alsace for the white wine drinkers and a big, chewy Bordeaux for the hearty red lover. Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample these new additions. On the beer front, we have new additions from Founders, Two Roads, Boulevard & Leffe, as well as recent ones from SixPoint, Victory, Lagunitas, Firestone Walker, Brewmaster Jack & Lost Abbey. Our "bar" is always open to sample our craft spirits as well- newly added is a great Rye Whiskey from Mad River Distillers in Vermont; all New England farmed and distilled! As always, take 10% a purchase of 3 bottles of wine from our tasting table. '13 Willm Pinot Gris Réserve, Alsace, France- Pinot Gris, one of the four noble grapes of Alsace, gets it name for its gray/blue skins- though it produces a fuller white wine. In Alsace, the grapes benefit from a long, cool growing season that allow the grapes to ripen and fully develop their flavors. The wines produced here are markedly different in style than the Italian clone- pinot grigio, that are usually picked earlier so as to produce a lighter, more acidic wine. These vineyards of granite and calcareous clay are located in the northern region of Barr. The Réserve Pinot Gris is fermented in stainless steel and sees 3 months on its lees before spending another 8-10 months in tank before bottling. The wine displays rich orchard fruit aromas of apricot and peach as well as a honeyed sweetness that is well balanced by its acidity, giving the wine a medium to full body and round texture in the mouth. Pairs with a richer fish, white meats and mushroom risotto. Also stands up quite well to spicy foods. $14.99 '10 Château les Grandes Mottes, Blaye- Côtes de Bordeaux, France- The village of Blaye is located on the right side of the Gironde River- the same side as the renowned communes of Saint- ´Emillion and Pomerol. One of 8 appellations grouped under the Côte de Bordeaux sub-region, its hilly vineyards are usually clay over limestone and produce a Merlot-heavy blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in this case. 2010 was another great year for Bordeaux following the perfectly ripened 2009 vintage. This vintage had periods of high heat and drought that built sugars and then a cooler fall that built higher acidity into the grapes. This wine is certainly robust with strong, chewy tannins and high acidity. Rich with flavors of black currant, dark cherry and plum, the Grande Mottes has a perfumed scent, a subtle earthy character and a touch of spice. Pairs with lamb and fatty cuts of beef. $14.99

Cheers!