Wines for Hot Days!

Notes From the Cellar….. The summer heat has definitely set in and that calls for something refreshing to help stay cool. Join us from 3-6 Fri & Sat (anytime) to sample another fantastically quenching rosé, a crisp Chablis (Duxbury Oysters anyone?!) and a light bodied red grown on the side of Sicily's active volcano- Mt. Etna! '14 Domaine St. Anthelme Rosé Vin du Pays de Gard, France- Domaine Genestiere has holdings in Côtes du Rhone, Lirac & Tavel where they produce wonderful reds and rosé wines, particularly Tavel which only produces dry rosés of greater structure than most- therefore able to stand up to some aging. This Pays du Gard comes from their holdings on the outskirts of Tavel & Provence- creating a rosé of exceptional value in the style of Tavel. A blend of Syrah & Grenache, it is fresh with white fruit- peach & citrus with some rose petal aromas. With a little spice, it has more body but remains dry and refreshing. $13.99 '14 Domaine Gueguen Chablis, France- Chablis produces Chardonnays like nowhere else in the world. Its vineyards were under the ocean in prehistoric times and therefore its soils are rich in limestone and marine fossils which impart the most distinct sense of terroir into its wines in the world. Frédéric Gueguen & his wife Céline farm several parcels of old vine Chardonnay in and around Chablis including a couple 1er cru vineyards; they practice organic farming and harvest all their grapes by hand. Aged in stainless steel only and undergoing full malolactic fermentation, their wines are wonderful expressions of Chablis’ limestone-driven minerality. Showing an lively nose of white fruits and flowers, it displays intense aromatics while remaining fresh, mineral driven and well balanced. $21.99 '11 Murgo Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy- Once the largest producer in Italy with an output greater than California’s, the realities of 21st century EU wine production have forced Sicily to become more efficient and of higher quality. Arguably the center of concentrated quality is Mount Etna, where some 50 producers of, um, dubious sanity work vineyards that wind three quarters of the way around the active volcano; where the Murgo family has been making wine since 1860. A blend of the indigenous Nerello Mascalese & Nerello Cappuccio (90%/10%) de-stemmed and aged in a combination of steel and ultra rare chestnut barrels, this is a lively wine that is fresh and perfumed. Lightly textured, showing soft red fruits and minerality from the volcanic soils, it possesses refreshing acidity to maintain its simple elegance. $14.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Jack's Abby & Otter Creek, SixPoint, Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

The 3 R's of Wine!

Notes From the Cellar….. This weekend's tasting is going to be an exploration of the 3 R's- that's Rosé, Riesling and Ruché! Never had a rosé from Minervois? Been generally unimpressed with Riesling? Never even heard of Ruché? Well that's why we're here. Come on by Friday from 3-6 and Saturday anytime and sample these delicious wines that are sure to impress. '14 Chateau St. Eulalie Minervois "Printemps d'Eulalie", Languedoc, France- The estate’s vineyards are located on the terraced hills in the appellation of Minervois in the Languedoc. Since its purchase in 1996 the vineyards have been farmed organically- currently certified sustainable. A blend of syrah, cinsault, carignan & grenache, it is medium pink in color with tart strawberry & raspberry flavors, refreshing acidity and a dry finish. Perfect for sunny afternoons, shellfish and salads. $15.99 ’13 Von Winning Riesling, Pfalz, Germany- Probably one of the biggest rising star estates of Germany right now, Von Winning has been turning out exquisite wines with texture and character under the watchful direction of Stefan Attmann. From their entry Rieslings through their Grand Crus, Attmann keeps fanatic focus on creating great wines that can stand up with any across Europe. Organically farmed (transitioning to biodynamic), raising the wine in traditional, huge oak casks and using only natural, ambient yeasts, he is committed to creating wines of substance naturally. Displaying melon fruits, citrus and markedly floral aromas with just a tiny bit of sweetness that helps to create wonderful balance on the palate with its lip smacking acidity, this Riesling is of amazing quality at the “basic” echelon. Pair with shellfish, sushi, roasted pork and soft cheeses. $23.99 ’11 La Mondianese Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy- So this is one of those grapes that you may not have heard of before but is definitely worth giving a try. It is a relatively scarcely grown grape in the hills north of Asti in Piedmont- completely overshadowed by the region's more well known varietals. Made from 100% Ruché that is fermented in stainless steel before spending 5 months in old oak barriques, this is an approachable medium bodied wine that displays floral and dark berry aromas and a bit of black pepper. Very smooth textured with fresh acidity and soft tannins, it pairs well with Italian dishes, salami, roasted white meats and hard cheeses. $22.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from SixPoint, Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

Wines for the Patio!

Notes From the Cellar….. With another beautiful weekend on hand we've decided to open a few bottles perfect for sipping on these sunny days outside- whether grilling meat or maybe steaming up some lobsters! This weekend a soft rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir, a vibrant unoaked Chardonnay from Southern Burgundy and a rich, ripe Spanish red. We'll be pouring Fri. from 3-6 and Sat. from... well anytime you want! '14 Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Rosé, Loire, FR- Domaine Bourgeois covers 72 hectares of the esteemed Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations on some of the most rugged hillside terrains in the Loire Valley. The family maintains extremely strict methods to ensure wines of the utmost quality- using only organic fertilizers, maintaining meticulous control of the vines & hand harvesting the grapes. Delightfully fresh & food-friendly, this "baby Sancerre" rosé shows mouth-watering strawberry and cherry fruit, refreshingly acidity and a dry finish. A simple, easy drinking rosé that pairs nicely salads, Asian food, pizza/pasta & shellfish. $14.99 '13 Verget Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, FR- Jean- Marie Guffens contracts with selected growers for only ideally situated, low-yielding vines, and his own teams pick when and where he dictates, thus controlling vinification from the outset. This lovely expression of Burgundian Chardonnay hails from 20 years old vines in calcareous clay soil. Aged for 6 months in stainless steel with some stirring of its fine lees, the wine has fruity aromas of peach, lychee and citrus fruits. Full-bodied with a buttery texture, it still maintains vibrant fruit and quenching acidity. $18.99 ’11 Borsao Berola, Campo de Borja, ESP- Located just southeast of Rioja along Ebro River, the vineyards of Bodegas Borsao are located at high elevations of over 1300ft. The climate is continental, with hot, dry summers and very cold winters that promote the ripening of grapes while preserving acid levels. A blend of 70% old vine Garnacha, 20% Syrah & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 10 months in French & American oak, plus another 14 months in bottle before release, it shows lots of ripe black fruits, with hints cassis & black pepper, along with barrel-derived vanilla and spices. A well structured wine with a medium-full body, it has lingering, chalky tannins and well balanced acidity to match. $17.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack, Stone, & Anderson Valley. Also a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA!

Cheers!

Wines of the Week!

Notes From the Cellar….. We've got another beautiful weekend on tap, and some great new wines to taste out! Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample a couple fun wines from the Languedoc in the south of France and a delicious side project red blend from one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's top producers! ’14 Château Viranel Cuvée Tradition, Languedoc, FR- Château Viranel has been in the Bergasse family since the 16th century and are now in the hands of two brothers- Nicholas & Arnaud. This vibrant rosé is a blend of Syrah, Grenache & direct press Cinsault from older vines (30-60yr) planted in limestone soils that pass on wonderful mineral qualities and fresh acidity. A more deeply colored pink, this rosé boasts vivid red berry fruits, blood orange and fresh flowers. Richly fruited and with refreshing acidity, it leaves a full bodied & lingering finish on the palate. It great enjoyed on its own, but is also able to stand up to many dishes including Asian foods, BBQ & fish dishes. $16.99 ’12 Sieur D’Arques Toques & Clochers Haute Vallée Limoux, Langeudoc, FR- Limoux is located in the southern part of France in the Languedoc at the eastern foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains and is broken into 4 subregions that display distinct terroirs due to Mediterranean & Atlantic influences that moderate temperature. This 100% Chardonnay comes from Haut Vallée- the highest, coolest limestone vineyards in Limoux, and are very floral and mineral, with a beautiful harmony between roundness and acidity. Aged for 9 months in a mixture of new and used oak barrels, it maintains an open bouquet of white flowers, orchard fruits and a hint of almond. Rich on the palate and balanced by quenching acidity, this is a wonderful example of Chardonnay from outside of Burgundy. $16.99 ’12 Pierre Usseglio & Fils Panorama Vin de France- Highly regarded as superstar producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing some of the most consistently sought after wines from the region, brothers Jean-Pierre & Thierry are fanatics for the quality of their vines, including those outside of the appellation. The Panorama is more of a bistro style wine made of a blend of organically farmed Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot fermented in concrete tanks. Fantastically rich and lively red fruits of raspberry and red cherry are accented by garrigue; with supple tannins and fresh acidity to make this a wonderfully enjoyable wine with or without food. $20.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Stone, Firestone Walker, Shipyard, Cambridge Brewing, Rogue & Avery. Also a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA!

Cheers!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy July 4th weekend! The weather looks great for our celebrations and the parade! We are stocked with the best in wine, beer & spirits for the weekends festivities as well as ice and mixers for great summer cocktails! Special note- we will be opening bright and early on Saturday the 4th at 8:00am for your convenience. For this weekends' wine tasting we thought we'd be a little more casual and open a handful of great summer selections that will pair nicely with warm afternoons & evenings in the backyard with the barbecues going. We'll have some tasty reds, whites & rosés to keep everyone covered. Special cocktail cocktail tasting- Triple 8 Blueberry Vodka and Lemonade! Delicious and refreshing!

Cheers!