Easter Weekend Wine Tasting!!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Easter Weekend! It’s that time for the family to enjoy egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and delicious meals. This weekend we are pouring a few selections that we think work perfectly with the more traditional Easter dinners and, as always, we are more than happy to suggest something tasty for whatever your needs may be. Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample some wines and stock up for the holiday weekend! Please note that we will be closed Easter Sunday. This weekend we’ll be pouring: ’14 Aix-en-Provence Rosé, Provence, France- A fresh, pale pink rosé from Provence that is refreshing with underlying minerality and lush berry and orange fruit flavors- a perfect wine to enjoy during the day before your meals, with appetizers and as a great pairing with a glazed ham! ’14 Vouvray, Champalou, Loire Valley, France- Vouvray is home to some of the greatest Chenin Blanc’s in the world- wines of finesse and texture, and able to develop with time. This dry styled Chenin made by Catherine & Didier Champalou is classic in its expression with notes of raw honey and green apple, fresh acidity and a lingering hint of sweetness on the finish that makes it a great pairing with seafood as well as Easter ham! Lamb, Roasts…rich, velvety Rhônes and Bordeaux... What else is there really to say? ’14 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, J.P. Boisson Vielles Vignes, Rhône Valley, France ’09 Lussac St. Émillion, Château Haut-Piquat, Bordeaux, France On the beer front we have new in- a collaboration between Maine Beer & Heavy Seas, Evil Twin Hipster Ale, Falco IPA and Molotov Lite IIPA, Cambridge BRewing, Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker As always take 10% of any 3 wines we are tasting. Closed Easter Sunday

Cheers!

Weekend Wines!!

Notes From the Cellar….. Spring is in the air! No..wait..it’s actually a snowstorm! Ah, New England… but we’ll get there soon enough and be able to enjoy the sunshine while sipping on some seasonable wines. Stop by this weekend to stock up for what could be a well-deserved long weekend inside and taste a couple new wines we will be pouring. This Friday from 3-6 and Saturday we have a full bodied Italian white from Lugana and a smooth, dark fruited Mencia from Spain! '15 Lugana, Ottella, Lombardy, Italy- Located at the southern end of Lake Garda, on the border between the regions of Lombardia and Veneto the vineyard is owned and run by the Montresor family- winegrowers for many generations. The grapes are all hand harvested and come from their estate- with vineyard soils composed of cancerous sediment and white clay. Made from 100% Trebbiano, it is rich and round in the mouth, reflecting the wonderful growing season. Fresh with ample acidity and an elegant minerality, it is expressive in its ripe tropical fruits and citrus. A tasty, easy-drinking wine, it pairs nicely with all sorts of fish dishes, pasta dishes and poultry. $15.99 '11 Vinos de Arganza Mencia "Premium", Bierzo, Spain- From Spain's hilly Northwest in the region of Bierzo, the local Mencía grape shines in this cooler climate where vineyards are planted on rocky hillsides and the region traces its wine winemaking history back to Roman times. The vineyards trace their origins to the same family of nobility since the 15th century and remain a family owned and operated affair. A dark, ripe wine, this 100% Mencia sees 18 months in American oak, showing dark berries and dried fruit character, rich cocoa and a distinct vanilla and cedar quality from the oak aging. Medium bodied it maintains well balanced acidity and a grainy tannic finish. Pairs with pork, veal, pizza & pasta dishes. $10.99 On the beer front we have Cambridge Brewing Flower Child IPA, Von Trapp Helles Lager, Long Trail Smash Project, Wormtown Pale Ale & Pilsner, Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA, Houblon Chouffe and a few Mayflower Alden Double IPAs left. As always take 10% of any 3 wines we are tasting. Now open Sundays 12:00- 5:00!

Cheers!

Anyday Wines for Your Table!

Notes From the Cellar….. We’re keeping the hopeful outlook that spring is coming to us early and soon the trees will be budding and plants sprouting! We have wines open this weekend that offer incredible value and are great go-to wines for any evening with friends and can stand up to many meals. Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample these and see what’s new! ’14 Willm Pinot Blanc Réserve, Alsace, France – Here is a beautifully balanced off-dry Alsatian Pinot Blanc at a very reasonable price. As is common in Alsace, Jean-Luc Ostertag practices integrated and sustainable farming resulting in a wine that is fresh, fruity, yet subtle and balanced. Aromas of lemon, grapefruit and stone fruits give way to a medium bodied mouthfeel with good structure and acidity. This is a great accompaniment to shellfish, white met, roasted poultry and quiche. $13.99 ’14 Marchigue Cabernet Sauvignon Mapa Gran Reserva, Colchagua Valley, Chile- The wine regions of Chile have one of the great distinctions of the wine world in having been free from the phylloxera louse as it is protected on all sides by the Andes Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Atacama Desert and the wastes of the Antarctic. Here vines can be safely planted without the time and expense of grafting resistant rootstock. The fashionable Colchagua Valley lies to the south of Santiago at higher elevations with excellent day/night temperature variations. This Gran Reserva Cabernet is aged for 12 months in French oak and displays all the rich, velvety blackberry and cassis fruit that is the hallmark of the varietal, balanced by fresh acidity and a strong tannic backbone. Pairs with meat dishes, grilled or roasted vegetables and hard cheese. $12.99 This weekend we are featuring the Long Trail Smash Project #3- limited batch ale brewed with a single malt and a single hop to showcase the characteristics of each ingredient. Munich Malt reveals a deep amber hue and distinct toasted bread and biscuit flavors. Equinox Hops- a complex American hop, features a multitude of citrus, herbal and floral notes. Dark amber in color with a manageable 6.8% alcohol and lower bitterness. Get them while they last! On the beer front we have Wormtown Pale Ale & Pilsner, Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA, Houblon Chouffe and a few Mayflower Alden Double IPAs left. As always take 10% of any 3 wines from our tasting table. Now open Sundays 12:00- 5:00!

Cheers!

This Weekend in Wine

Notes From the Cellar….. With what seems like winter's final gasp, we have the early signs of spring- the rosés starting to pop out! Join us this weekend from 3-6 as we sample a delicious but often under-appreciated white Côtes du Rhone as well as a perfumed Chianti Classico from a wonderful little Organic producer on the slopes of Lamole. '14 Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Les Silenes, Le Plan des Moines, France- This is a three person winemaking project where the vinification is led by Claude Serra, professor of oenology at Montpelier. All wines are from single source, long term leased vineyards. The aim is for elegant, balanced wines with minimal intervention. The cépage is 90% Marsanne and 10% Clairette and the wine sees eight months in concrete tank. The fruit is bright and focused; the wine has good weight and concentration of flavor while still maintaining freshness and clarity of flavor. Pairs well with Asian food, fish stews or roasted chicken. $13.99 '13 Lamole Chianti Classico 2013, I Fabbri, Italy- The vineyards in Lamole are some of the highest in elevation in the Classico zone. All wines and olive oil from I Fabbri are certified organic. The wine is from a vineyard that slopes above 600 meters, is made from 100% Sangiovese, and is aged in steel tank. This is a very traditional Chianti, with a structure that is more acid based than tannin, creating a wine of great versatility, pairing well with a broad range of dishes. Aromas and flavors of cherry and soft red fruits are framed by firm acidity; the wine is remarkably delicate and finely grained. Pairs with lean meat like tenderloin beef or pork as well as pasta dishes and ragu sauces. $19.99 Featured Spirit: Koval Organic Dry Gin, Chicago, IL- Something new to the shop that we have available to sample. All organically grown, local grains mashed and distilled in-house using only the 'heart' of the distillate. Juniper and wildflowers on the nose, while the taste is dry, clean and nuanced by golden citrus and white pepper with a round, floral body. On the beer front we have Wormtown Pale Ale & Pilsner, Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA, Houblon Chouffe and a few Mayflower Alden Double IPAs left. 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!