Tastes from the Windor House Wine Dinner

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Friday! February is on its way out and we can see the ground- good for us at home but bad for us skiers! :( We had a fantastic night at the Winsor House last night for our Tour de France wine dinner and thought we would pour a couple of the wines for those that missed out! Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample a lively Pouilly-Fuissé and a rich, smoothly textured Rhone blend from Lirac! ’14 Pouilly-Fuissé, Maison Louis Latour, Burgundy, France- The Latour family has been in the négociant and winemaking business since the 1700’s and remains well-respected for producing many great Domaine wines from their own vineyards as well as well from their Maison négociant-éléveur business focused in Burgundy- both Pinot Noir as well as Chardonnay. From the village of Pouilly-Fuissé we have a traditionally styled Chardonnay fermented in stainless steel with complete malolactic fermentation. With aromas of white flowers and white fruits and notes of almond, it maintains an elegant texture while showcasing its lively fruit character and underlying minerality. Pairs well with shellfish- scallops in our case, white fish, mushrooms and soft cheeses. $25.99 ’13 Lirac, Plateau des Chênes Cuvée Spéciale, Rhône, France- Located on the opposite bank of the Rhône River from the esteemed Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s vineyards, the village of Lirac represents one of the 13 crus of the Rhône Valley. Though not one of the more well-known appellations, wine has been made in Lirac since the Roman times and was served in the royal courts of the day. In fact barrels from Lirac were branded as Côte du Rhône to certify its contents, making it the original appellation designate. The Brechet family farms their vineyards in red clay and limestone and harvests by hand. A blend of Syrah and Grenache, the Cuvée Spéciale is darkly colored, showing the characteristic red and black berries, savory spice and a hint of smoke. Rich in body, it adds a bit of cocoa to the dark fruit; with smooth tannins and a lingering finish. A great pairing for roasted meats- red as well as game poultry and root vegetables. $23.99 Cheers!

Vacation Week Wines

Notes From the Cellar….. President’s vacation week is wrapping up and for those who got away, we hope it was a well enjoyed break. Come join us us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample a balanced and buttery Chardonnay from the Mâcon and a tasty, medium bodied red blend from Southern France! As a reminder, we are collaborating with the Winsor House for a French inspired wine dinner Thursdays Feb. 25. Details below and please mention the store if you decide to make reservations! ’13 Mâcon-Péronne, Domaine de la Condemine “Tradition” Chardonnay, Burgundy, France- A mix of vines 35-100 years old, this sustainably farmed and hand harvested, unoaked Chardonnay shows lovely floral aromas and a bright fruit character balanced by fresh acidity. Rich and amazingly buttery you’d swear this was aged in oak! Pairs with fishes, as well as white meat and creamy sauces. ’13 Puydeval Rouge, Pays d’Oc, France- An interesting blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot from winemaker Jeff Carrel, the Puydeval Rouge is a ripe fruited wine that is rich and concentrated, showing aromas of dark berries and black cherry with a hint of a mushroom and liquorice. Ripe and well balanced it pairs well with many meals from pork to steak tips as well as grilled vegetable or even a great option for pizza night. $17.99 On the Beer front we were lucky enough to get a case of Foley Brother's Fair Maiden! (1 per customer) as well as newer offerings from Shed, Newburyport, Long Trail, Shipyard, Two Roads, Jack's Abby, Baxter & Avery! As always take 10% of any 3 wines from our tasting table. Winter Hours: Now open Sundays 12:00- 5:00! Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-7:00

Cheers!

Valentine's Day Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Valentine’s weekend! As it looks like we will be heading into some frigid weather for the weekend, we thought that we would pair up two things everyone loves that are perfect for Valentine’s Day ideas and keeping warm- Chocolates and Red Wine! Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample two big reds with locally made, Organic Taza Chocolates and as an added treat- chocolate covered strawberries with a Brachetto d’Acqui! '14 Owen Roe Abbot's Table Field Blend, Columbia Valley, WA- From one of our favorite winemakers in Washington State is the Abbot’s Table Field Blend- mostly Zinfandel with Sangiovese, Blaufrankish and Malbec blended in lesser degrees; it pays homage to the simple act of sharing a meal and wine with guests. An ever-changing blend, the Abbot’s Table shows big, ripe dark fruits- plums, dark cherries and baking spice. Balanced with fresh acidity and smooth tannins, this can handle spicy dishes, grilled or BBQ meats and Valentine's Day chocolates! $26.99 ’12 Hardin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA- The Hardin Cabernet is a fantastic expression of Napa Valley Cabernet and one that we have carried at the store since we opened as it provides tremendous value for its quality. Sourced from a number of great Napa vineyards, it delivers with rich cassis and dark fruit, with layers of tobacco leaf and cocoa and minerality. Powerful and concentrated, it maintains balancing acidity and firm, mouth coating tannins on its long finish. Pairs with lamb, steak, grilled veggies and aged cheese along with concentrated dark chocolate. $36.99 ’12 Brachetto d’Acqui, “Pineto” Marenco, Piedmont, Italy- Made from the Brachetto grapes that have been around the Acqui region since Roman times. Most notably produced as a sweet, lightly sparkling wine known as “frizzante”, the Pineto is delicate ruby red in color with an aromatic nose of raspberry, strawberry and rose petal. With its fine bead, bright acidity and soft palate, it is delicious and quenching as an aperitif or as a natural dessert pairing for strawberries and other red berry fruits. $16.50/375ml $24/750ml On the Beer front we were lucky enough to get a case of Foley Brother's Fair Maiden! (1 per customer) as well as newer offerings from Shed, Newburyport, Long Trail, Shipyard, Two Roads, Jack's Abby, Baxter & Avery! As always take 10% of any 3 wines from our tasting table. Short President's Week Vacation: We will be closed Tues 2/16- Thurs 2/18 for some R&R on the slopes (and Vermont beer hunting)! Winter Hours: Now open Sundays 12:00- 5:00! Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-7:00

Cheers!

Snow Day Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. Well here's some snow finally- just in time to make a nice long weekend of snowmen and snow angels…and maybe a few well-aimed snowballs! With a nice wintery weekend ahead capped off by the Super Bowl for those still interested, we are highlighting a couple of reds that are great for a laid back evening with food and game time snacks! This weekend an easy-drinking Valpolicella that can handle pretty much any food thrown its way as well as a rich, darkly fruited Negroamaro from Southern Italy- perfect for burgers, chili and those who love to fire up the grill on a snowy day! We’ll be pouring Friday from 3-6 and Saturday, and as always, we have a great selection of craft beer & spirits for game night. 2014 Valpolicella Classico, Giuseppe Lonardi, Veneto, Italy- Valpolicella is a delicious style of wine often referred to as “baby Amarone,” a reference to the famous great wine of the region. These are younger wines that don’t go through the extended aging processes of Amarone. In a little village not far from Verona, you will find the estate of one of the best Amarone producers in Italy–Giuseppe Lonardi, a fourth generation winemaker. A blend of Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara, this wine is ruby red in color with a soft, fruity bouquet of red cherry and wild berry followed by a fresh and velvety palate, balanced acidity and a soft tannic finish. Pairs well with a variety of foods including pasta dishes, lasagna and grilled fish- as well as game time snacks like nachos, wings and even chili! $15.99 2013 Luccarelli Negroamaro, Puglia, Italy- From Puglia- or the "heel" of Italy's boot comes this deeply colored wine from the Negroamaro grape which has thrived for centuries in the hot, dry summer conditions. The old vines average 80 years and have the incredibly extensive root structures necessary to find water and contribute to producing grapes of low yields and great concentration of fruit. Farmed sustainably and harvested by hand, this wine is extremely dark colored and shows off its ripe fruits of black currant, dark cherry and black pepper spice. With added richness of bittersweet chocolate and a little savory herbs, it maintains fresh acidity, gritty tannins and a medium-full body. This will stand up to most meats- great with burgers, BBQ & chili. $11.99 On the Beer front we have new offerings from Shed, Newburyport, Long Trail, Shipyard, Two Roads, Jack's Abby, Baxter & Avery! As always take 10% of any 3 wines from our tasting table. Winter Hours: Now open Sundays 12:00- 5:00! Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-7:00

Cheers!