Welcome to Summer!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Memorial Day and Opening of the Bay weekend! The sun is smiling on us and it is beautiful out and hot! It’s the perfect weekend to get out on the beach or boat or just plain get outside and soak up some of that vitamin D! With that in mind we’ll keep it short and sweet; warm, sunny days by the ocean, relaxing and sipping wine brings one thing to mind (well lot’s of things but I said I’d keep this short)- the Mediterranean, where this is a way of life! So where else to turn to than Provence for rosé and Piedmonte, Italy for a classic warm weather white, Gavi, and a charming red table blend from one of Barolo’s most prolific estates! Cheese, charcuterie, a multitude of rosé, plenty of canned beer and ice to keep everything cold- we’ve got you covered this weekend! Don’t forget the remnants of our Puritanical rules- we’re closed Monday so stock up early! (Don’t worry- we’re sure nothing will go to waste) '15 La Vidaubanaise, Côtes de Provence Rosé Le Provençal, Provence, FR '14 Gavi di Gavi, Guido Matteo La Smilla, Piedmonte, IT '14 Paolo Scavino Vino Rosso, Piedmonte, IT As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Von Trapp, Oskar Blues, Mayflower, Evil Twin, Castle Island (Duxbury kid!), and Sixpoint.

Cheers!

This Weekend in Wine!

Notes From the Cellar….. After the long wait for spring to come May has flown by and it's almost Memorial Day- graduation celebrations are starting and soon enough it’ll be beach time! This weekend we will be tasting a few new wines that are everything-friendly from BBQs and fresh fish to afternoons on the deck or on the beach! Stop by Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to see what’s new and check out our cheese & charcuterie selection. This weekend we have a Provence rosé, a white Rhone styled blend and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington. For cheese this week we will be sampling a delicious Double Gloucester. Beer lovers don’t need to feel left out on this one- this is a great offering to snack on while sipping some cold suds! ’15 Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé, Les Baux de Provence, France- The Cartier family has been farming organically for over thirty years, and the property, devoted to the production of both wine and olive oil. All wines are made with a minimal use of sulfites, often falling below threshold which wines are required to be labeled as containing sulfites. The wine is more deeply colored than is typically found in Provence, due to the use of cabernet and a somewhat longer skin contact. ’14 Domaine Guffens-Heynen, Grande Trilogie Bien Entendu Indeed, Vin de Pays du Vaucluse, France- Maine and Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen gave up their backgrounds in the arts & architecture in the 1970’s and moved to Burgundy to follow their passion for wine. The “Grande Trilogie” is a blend of 50% Roussanne 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Viognier from 1st press juice. With a wonderfully textured mouthfeel, pear and mandarin fruits and quenching acidity this is a delicious sipper and a versatile food wine. ’14 For a Song Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington- A winemaker for over 10 years at Château St. Michelle and the Olsen Estates in Washington State, Kyle Johnson started For a Song with his partners, making wine from select vineyard sites in Washington and Oregon. This Cabernet is sourced from 3 vineyards, including one of our favorites in the store, Jones of Washington. Aged in French oak, it is full bodied with luscious dark fruit, fine tannins and balanced acidity. A great quality Cab that you can have….For a Song! (Sorry, couldn’t resist) Ford Farms Double Gloucester- A traditional, full-fat cheese that is apricot in color with a smooth, buttery texture and a mellow, nutty flavor. As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Oskar Blues, Mayflower, Evil Twin, Lost Nation, Castle Island (Duxbury kid!), and Sixpoint.

Cheers!

Spring Is In The Air!

Notes From the Cellar….. Welcome back warm days and sunny (mostly) skies- how we have missed you! This weekend we will be tasting more seasonable wines great for warm evenings on the porch with the grill fired up and maybe some fresh local fish! Stop by Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample these new selections as well as something from our cheese case! That’s right, we now offer a great selection of artisan cheeses, charcuterie and crackers, excellent for appetizers or picnics on the beach! This weekend’s selections: ’15 Château de la Selve Maguelonne Rosé, Coteaux de l’Ardeche, France- Biodynamically produced in the south of Ardèche- known for its hot days, chilly nights, wild landscapes and the smells of Provence. The nutrient-poor clay soil here results in naturally low yields giving this blend of cinsault, grenache and syrah aromas that are bright and vivacious with dried strawberry notes. $13.99 ’14 Château Rives-Blanques Dédicace Chenin Blanc, Limoux, France- AOP Limoux is the only white wine appellation in France requiring some fermentation in oak barrels and that the grapes must be picked by hand. Dédicace, winner of the gold medal of the Grands Vins de France comes from uncloned 40 year-old vines. This Chenin is very pure and crisp, with bright acidity and strong green apple and citrus, minus the heavy honey of a Vouvray. $18.99 ’13 Azienda Agricola Gillo, Cabernet Franc, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Italy- Colli Orientali is one of the great sub-regions of Friuli located in the hills just south of Slovenia. Primarily known for lighter, crisp white wines, an increasing percentage of farmers are planting international red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This 100% Cabernet Franc comes from vines averaging 30 years and are hand harvested. Dry and full bodied, showing dark berries and violet notes, it is well balanced with grainy tannins on the finish. $16.99 Shelburne Farms 2 Year Aged Cheddar- From their sustainably farmed lands, this Vermont farmhouse cheddar uses only the raw milk from their grass-based dairy herd of purebred Brown Swiss cows. Matured for two years, this extra sharp cheddar has a rich, creamy texture and savory flavors. As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Lost Nation, Castle Island (Duxbury kid!), Von Trapp, Allagash, Boulevard, Citizen Cider, Brewmaster Jack, and Berkshire!

Cheers!

Celebrating Moms!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Mother's Day weekend! We hope that everyone has something special planned to show the moms in our lives how special they are! Our featured wines this weekend are in honor of Mom, perfect for celebrating family and loved ones. We are open Sunday's 12-5 for any last minute needs! '14 Sancerre, Domaine Thomas & Fils Rosé, Loire Valley, France- Winemakers in Sancerre since 1670, the Thomas family is now on their 9th & 10th generation of family winemaking. With vineyards of all soil types- flint, Kimmeridgian limestone and gravel, their style is not lean; the 100% Pinot Noir rosé is bursting with fruit, with great texture and a dry, lingering finish. '14 Sancerre, Gérard Boulay à Chavignol, Loire Valley, France- The Boulay family’s domaine in Chavignol traces its history back to 1380 (making them the winner of “who’s family has been making wine the longest”). The vines are an average of 45 years old and are planted on Kimmeridgian soils- similar to those found in Chablis that produce gorgeous, mineral wines. Lean and precise, Boulay's wines are incredible expressions of Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre. '14 Commando G, La Bruja de Rozas Garnacha, Madrid, Spain- The Commando G project was started in 2010 by 3 young star winemakers who met while studying viticulture; naming themselves after a Japanese cartoon popular with Spanish children in the 1980s- in this case they are Commando Garnacha, with the mission of making the best Garnacha in the world. Grown at elevations over 3000ft in the remote hills of Sierra de Gredos with old vines between 50-80 years old, their wines are all about focusing on the terroir of their various vineyard sites. Elegant and complex with notes of violets, this is has quickly become one of our favorite finds! As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Castle Island (Duxbury kid!), Boulevard, Citizen Cider, Brewmaster Jack, and Berkshire!

Cheers!