Let Summer Begin!

Notes From the Cellar….. The kids are finally done paying for all this winter's snow, so summer can really being for families! Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 to sample some great new wines that are perfect for the summer months! Special Event- Saturday 4:30-6:00- Sweet Sound Oysters will be here sucking some delicious, fresh Duxbury Oysters to go with some extra wines we will crack for the evening! ’14 Domaine de la Fouquette Cuvée Rosée d’Aurore, Côtes de Provence, FR- (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 vibrant, fruity and intense nose with luscious flavors of mandarin orange, red and black berries, followed by a vibrant grapefruit finish. $19.99 '12 Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, NZ- The Awatere Valley is a sub-appellation of Marlborough with low fertile soils of stones & pebbles created by ancient glaciers compacting in the valley. The Vavasour family traces it heritage back to the Norman invasion of England, settling in New Zealand in 1890 and pioneering vineyards in Awatere a century later. Winemaking follows sustainable practices and grapes are harvested at night to preserve flavor and freshness of the wine. Fragrant and aromatic, it shows layered expressions of the tropical fruits- grapefruit, melon & citrus, backed up with the mouthwatering acidity one expects from a quality New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. $15.99 ’12 Bodegas Volver Single Vineyard Tempranillo, La Mancha, ESP- From the wide open expanses of La Mancha, south of Madrid comes this 100% old vine Tempranillo grown at high elevations in soils primarily of limestone. With 18 months in new French oak, this is an intense wine with dark fruit, cigar tobacco & licorice notes. Medium bodied with ripe tannins and fresh acidity this is a big drinking wine that delivers with a long, dry finish. Another one of Jorge Ordoñez's collaborations in Spain that offers great quality! $19.99 Andegavia Boxed Wines- Russian River Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Merlot! Boxed wines are continuing to increase in quality and here is another great example with well made wines that will last up to a month in the high quality & fully recyclable packaging. $54 (equivalent of 4 bottles) And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Stone, Firestone Walker, Dark Horse,Cambridge Brewing, Rogue & Avery. Also new in are Fishers Island Spiked Lemonade and a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA!

Cheers!

Wines for the Weekend!

Notes From the Cellar…..

Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 to sample some great new wines that may surprise!

Picture yourself on a beautiful summer afternoon on the Mediterranean in the south of France, sitting at a sidewalk café in St. Tropez relaxing after a day on Pampelonne Beach. The beautiful blue waters frame the small sailboats; you people watch as you wait for your meals and sip delicious rosé... this is what you were drinking! '14 Mas de Pampelonne, Côtes de Provence, France $21.99

Pinot Grigio! No, not that fruity, watery stuff- this is wine with character grown in the far northeast region of Italy by the Slovenian border in Fruili, specifically Collio which has a long standing tradition of producing excellent whites. With a small amount of this Pinot Grigio seeing some oak, it exudes texture & nuance- orchard fruits, citrus, walnuts & hay. '13 Branko Pinot Grigio, Collio, Italy $23.99

Like a dense Spanish red full of rich, intense fruit? Of course you do- who doesn't have a soft spot for lavishly rich wines? :) This Garnacha is from just south of Rioja in Calatayud, grown in high elevations vineyards of 60+ year old gnarled vine and spends close to 2 years in old French oak casks. It's got it all- rich, concentrated dark fruit, inky licorice and peppery spice; with the acidity and chalky tannins to balance it all out. See you at the table! '11 Bodegas Breca Old Vine Garnacha $19.99

Cheers!

Hot Weekend- Refreshing Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. It looks like the seasonable weather is back and we can all settle into a well deserved summer! Perfect for the season are a few new wines that we are pouring Fri & Sat from 3-6 that are great matches for backyard entertaining. On the beer front we have recent additions from Cambridge Brewing, Rogue, Avery, Cisco, Jack’s Abby, Two Roads, Weyerbacher and Great Divide. Also new in are Fishers Island Spiked Lemonade and a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA! And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. ’14 Union Wine Co., Underwood Rosé, OR- The winemakers at the Union Wine Company's goal is to create easily approachable, handmade wines that showcase the vineyards of Willamette Valley and Oregon. Makers of the fantastic King’s Ridge Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir that we have shown some time, their latest release comes with the Underwood Rosé- a juicy & enjoyable blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir & Syrah. Unpretentious and easy drinking, this rosé is full of strawberry, melon, peaches and lip smacking acidity. This wine is perfect for enjoying in the sun before dinner or with your appetizers. $14.99 ’14 Adegas Gran Vinum Nessa Albariño, Rías Baixas, SP- In the northwestern corner of Spain, Rías Baixas is located along the Atlantic coast with its many inlets (‘rías’) that characterize the landscape. Here where rainfall and fog is frequent, the Atlantic Ocean plays a major role in influencing the climate and moderating temperatures. The Albariño grape is particularly suited to these cool, wet conditions that play a key part in the wines developing their crisp, mouthwatering acidity; the Nessa Albariño comes from the sub-region of Val do Salnes- the coolest & wettest of the 5 zones known for producing some of the finest Albariños of the region. With floral aromatics & ripe orchard fruits like apricot and green apple, the Nessa shows great fruit presence, citrus and the trademark salinity of these grapes grown on vineyards so close to the ocean. Dry with bright acidity it has a lingering, mouthwatering finish. An excellent aperitif, it pairs perfectly with a variety of seafood dishes including raw shellfish, summer salads and creamy cheese. $17.99 ’13 Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County, CA- Located in the northern end of Sonoma County, Dry Creek Vineyards is one of the original vineyards of the region, started in the 1970’s by local MIT product David Stare, whose family still runs the winery. The upper hills of the valley attracted 19th century Italian settlers to plant the rot-prone Zinfandel above the fog lines and farm them without irrigation, earning the region a reputation for producing some of the finest examples of the grape. The Heritage Zin is a rich blend of Zinfandel and 21% Petit Syrah; full of ripe fruits of black raspberry, black cherry and the added density of cocoa and licorice. This is a dense, juicy wine with pepper and spices; ripe, gritty tannins and lively acidity to maintain its balance and drinkability. Pairs wonderfully with savory pork dishes, Asian food and barbecue. $19.99

Cheers!

Graduation Weekend Winetasting!

Notes From the Cellar….. Congratulations to all the graduates and their families! While this weekend is a bit of a reset of the recent summer temperatures, it still makes for great conditions to get out side and celebrate with family & friends. Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample a few exciting wines! This weekend one of our favorite rosés from Provence, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley and a rich, textured Pinot Noir from Patagonia. On the beer front we have recent additions from Avery, Cisco, Jack’s Abby, Two Roads, Weyerbacher, Great Divide and Coronado. Also new in are Fishers Island Spiked Lemonade! And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. '14 Domaine La Blaque Perrevert Rosé, Provence, France- Located in the small AOC of Coteaux de Pierrevery in north-western Provence, Domaine la Blaque is one of a handful of growers in the high altitude hills of the region that benefit from ample sunshine as well as wide day/night temperature variations. Vineyards are composed of limestone & clay, harvest by hand and certified organic. A blend of Cinsault-direct pressing, Grenache, Syrah & Vermentino, this lovely pale rose colored rosé displays soft aromatics of roses, melon and cherries with a palate that remains delicate & full of watermelon, apricots and lively acidity. Drinks perfectly on its own as an apéritif or with a range of dishes from summer salads and shellfish to lighter grilled meats. $16.99 '14 Justin Monmousseau Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, France- The Touraine AOC covers the central part of the Loire Valley and is primarily known for its Chenin Blancs of Vouvray and Cabernet Franc of Chinon & Bourgueil. Widely planted and producing wines of great quality and value is Sauvignon Blanc as well. These grapes are sourced from vineyards of clay, chalk & flint which impart lively acidity and minerality. Light straw in color, this Sauvignon shows the aromas and flavors of grapefruit, pineapple and citrus without the strong grassiness common with New Zealand offerings. With a touch of smoke and mouthwatering acidity and a lip-smacking finish, it is a great summer wine that pairs with seafood- fried or seared, shellfish and goat cheese salads. $13.99 '14 Familia Schroeder Alpataco Pinot Noir, Patagonia, Argentina- In the far south of Argentina, Patagonia offers wonderful conditions for growing wine with rocky soils, plentiful sunshine & ice melt coupled with a rigorous Artic-influenced environment that keep temperatures down and harsh winds that keep vine disease at bay. The wines of this region have their own character of bright, intense fruit and chewy texture. Aged in oak for 6 months, this Pinot Noir has deeply perfumed aromas with floral notes, black cherry and redcurrant fruit. With additional flavors of cocoa and touch of spice, it has a silky texture, soft tannins and balanced acidity. Pairs with BBQ pork, and leaner cuts of meat. $16.99

Cheers!