Easter Weekend Wine Tasting!

Notes From the Cellar….. We have a beautiful weekend ahead of us- perfect for airing out the house, getting outside and celebrating with family & friends! This weekend we will be tasting some wines new to the lineup and perfect for Easter dinner: a Riesling from the Rheingau, Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Syrah from Northern Rhone and a Bordeaux! Join us Fri. & Sat. from 3-6 as we sample out these great selections. Oh, and rosés are starting to trickle in! Currently we have one of last year's great finds- Le Poussin by Sasha Lichine as well as the Underwood from Willamette Valley! On the beer front, we have newly added brews from Maine Beer Co., 21st Amendment, Laugunitas, Mayflower and Founders. Also our 'bar' is always open to sample many of our craft spirits that might be new to you. Event Reminder- We will be taking part in the "Escape to the Tropics" event being held at the DBMS April 10th. Featuring a great summer cocktail, wine & beer tasting! Tickets available at the DBMS to support the Duxbury Sailing Team. As always take 10% off any 3 wines from our tasting table. '13 Leitz Dragonstone Riesling, Rheingau, Germany- The Leitz family can trace it winemaking roots back to the 1700's, with Johannes Leitz's grandfather rebuilding the winery after WWII bombing raids. His are vineyards located in the westernmost part of the Rheingau along the Rhein River, and with mostly grand cry vineyards and a fanatic attention to specific parcels for their distinct terrors, he has dramatically elevated the estate's standing and been recognized as winemaker of the year in 2011. The Dragonstone Vineyard- so named for the fossil impressions of dinosaur tracks found in the quartz & slate soils that make up this vineyard is an example of his attention to terroir. With a lovely perfumed nose & aromas of peaches and lemon with a touch of salinity, it possesses amazing minerality and acidity that balance out this medium sweet wine; allowing it to come off as barely off-dry! This will pair excellently with a baked ham, blue cheese or as a starter for a lamb dinner. $22.99 '11 Maison Ambroise Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy, France- The Domaine Ambroise origins go back to the 18th century in Nuits-St. Georges in the northern part of Burgundy. Bertrand & his wife (and now children) have been farming the land since 1987; organically growing both Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. With old vine vineyards that border the prestigious village of Vosne-Romanée, his Pinot Noir exhibits the richer color & earthiness typical of Nuits- St. Georges. In addition to the ripe cherry and dark raspberry fruits, it exhibits earthy notes of mushroom & violet perfumes. A richer styled pinot, it is balanced by good acidity and soft, firm tannins. Very food friendly, this can be paired both with ham as well as red meat. $24.99 '13 Vincent Paris Sélection Crozes Hermitage, France- The Northern Rhone is known for its steep, unforgiving hills of stoney granite that rise quickly from the Rhone River. Compounding this rugged terrain are the frequent strong, cold winds that help keep alcohol levels in check while preserving fresh acidity. These tough conditions impart a true sense of place into the 100% Syrah wines of Cornas, St. Joseph and Hermitage, among others, that produce these intense, often rustic, wines of power, finesse and longevity. Vincent Paris comes from a long line of winemakers and has quickly risen to stardom within the appellation. He farms his vineyards organically/biodynamically & keeps yields low to concentrate fruit. This Syrah has a very clean style with aromas of blackcurrant, dark berries & violets. Medium to full bodied, it has firm tannins balanced by fresh acidity and that tell-tale black pepper spice. This is a great pairing for roasted lamb, any grilled meat or farmhouse chedder cheese. $20.99 '09 Château la Cardonne, Médoc, France- Wine has been produced at the Château Cardonne dating back to the 17th Century, with ownership by the Lafite-Rothchilds in the 1980's before being sold to the Charloux family in the 1990's- who completely modernized the facilities. With vineyards at high elevations in the Médoc, they follow sustainable farming practices and grow almost equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with about 5% Cabernet Franc as well. Wines spend over a year in French oak before bottling. A wonderful growing season, this vintage is deeply colored and in a very fruit forward style with ripe blackcurrant, plum and tobacco leaf notes. Full bodied with chewy tannins, it is a big wine with a long finish that will definitely benefit from time to breathe. A traditional pairing of lamb as well as hard cheeses. $21.99

Cheers!