Rhône Wine Tasting

Join us Friday & Saturday March 21/22 from 3-6 as we sample three wines from the famous Rhône region in southern France. The Rhône is typically divided into the north and south. The large expanse of the south is famous for its blends with the principal grapes being Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Grenache Blanc, Rousanne, and Clairette (as well as many other grapes in small quantities), perhaps the most familiar appellation is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The upper, or northern, Rhône is where the greatest Syrah in the world is produced, notably from the vineyards of Côte Rôtie and Hermitage. The whites in the north are limited to Marsanne, Rousanne, and Viognier, with the most exceptional being from Château Grillet, Condrieu, and Hermitage.

As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off.

2012 Côtes du Rhône, Château du Trignon – This wine is 100% Viognier, displaying complex aromas of flowers, peach and apricot/mango, giving way to a fleshy medium to full bodied mouthfeel, framed by balanced acidity on the finish. Viognier is best paired with a variety of fish preparations. $14.99

2012 Sablet Côtes du Rhône Villages, Domaine de Piaugier – Sablet is a small commune in southern Rhône, classified as a Villages wine. The blend is 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, producing a smooth medium bodied red, with aromas of red fruit, clay and a hint of smoke and earth. The fine tannins are well integrated into the smoothly textured, structured finish. This is simply one of the greatest values on the shelf. Pair this wine with rich lamb or beef dishes. $16.99

2009 Crozes-Hermitage, E. Guigal – Guigal is a luminary in the Rhône, producing a full range of wines from all the major areas including some highly sought after vineyards in Côte Rôtie. This Syrah is made from 35 year old vines resulting in a structured, tannic wine displaying aromas of cherry, red fruit and delicate oak, finishing fresh and silky. These wines are a perfect match for red meat, game, and cheeses. $24.99

American Beauties Wine Tasting

American Beauties – Join us Friday & Saturday March 14 & 15 from 3-6 as we taste three American wines from three distinct regions and producers.

’12 Red Newt Cellars ‘Circle’ Riesling, Finger Lakes, NY – The Finger Lakes region produces world class wines largely due to the influence of German immigrants realizing the potential of the region.  The

Circle Riesling is a blended from a number of Red Newt’s single vineyards, displaying aromas of tangerine, apricot, citrus, and honeysuckle.  The palate is crisp and slightly sweet, finishing with a balanced acidity.  This Riesling pairs well with a variety of cheeses and shellfish.  $12.99

’11 Lioco ‘NoCo’ Chardonnay, North Coast, CA – Lioco specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from California’s coastal regions, practicing organic and sustainable viticulture.  NoCo is sourced from vineyards throughout the north coast regions and aged in stainless steel.  The wine shows aromas of lime, mineral, and river stone, giving way to flavors of lemon-lime, jasmine, and medium-full richness on the finish.  This is an excellent pairing with sweet shellfish and light pastas.  $15.99

’12 Peirano Estate “the Immortal Zin’ Zinfandel, Lodi, CA – California’s central valley is well suited for some Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, providing ideal conditions rivaling the far pricier wines of Napa and Sonoma.  The Immortal Zin is made from 100 year vines, producing intense berries showing a true sense of place.  The nose is of red and black cherry, rhubarb, and spice, giving way to flavors of strawberry, sweet cherry, and cocoa, with dusty tannins and a long finish.  An excellent pairing with ribs and barbecue.  $15

Italian Reds – Join us Friday and Saturday March 7-8 as we explore some of the unique and great red wines from 3 distinct regions of Italy.

’12 Zabù Nero d’Avola, Sicilia – Once associated with bulk wine and Marsala, Sicily has emerged with world class table wines from the volcanic soils of the hills.  The Nero d’Avola grape has led the way in the hands of quality minded producers such as this offering, displaying aromas of violets, black pepper, graphite and hints of blackberry fruit.  The palate is soft, fruity, and balanced, making it a good pairing with beef, lamb, and spicy preparations.  $12.50

‘09 Chianti Classico, Lanciola “Le Masse di Greve,” Toscana – The red wines of Tuscany are legendary, led by one of the great Italian varietals, Sangiovese.  Named after the Greve area in the Chianti Classico region, this wine is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo, showing a bouquet of cherry, vanilla, and a hint of spice.  On the palate, there is a medium tannic structure accompanied by a luscious red fruit flavor, giving way to balanced acidty and a long, pleasant fruit finish.  Tuscan Sangiovese based wines are ideal pairngs with steak.  $19.99

’12 Langhe Nebbiolo, Burlotto, Piemonte – The red wines of Piedmont rank among the top in the world, known for their complexity, displaying both subtlety and power, as well as great longevity.  The most notable of these are the wines from the communes of Barolo and Barbaresco, produced from the beautiful Nebbiolo grape.  This offering, from the Langhe hills, displays some of the complexities of a Barolo at a down to earth value.  Aromas of black cherry, tea, hints of cedar and tar, give way to a medium to full palate with fine, gritty tannins and dark fruit flavor.  Great Nebbiolo is best enjoyed with roasted meats and a variety of cheeses, particularly those with a saltier finish.  $24.99

Tastes from Bordeaux

Join us Friday & Saturday from 3-6pm as we taste some delicious new selections from Bordeaux! As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off. 2012 Château Graville-Lacoste, Graves – The dry white wines of Bordeaux, often overshadowed by the famous reds, are particularly noteworthy from the Graves region. Graville-Lacoste is a premier producer, only concentrating on dry and sweet white wine. The 2012 graves is blended from 75% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle grapes creating a medium to medium-full bodied wine with hints of citrus, pear, and apple on the nose. The palate has vibrant acidity from the sauvignon and richness from the Semillon. These wines are fantastic with most fish, poultry, and curried dishes. $19.99 2010 Château Andron, Médoc – The large expanse of the Médoc contains the most highly regarded appellations on the left bank –Pauillac, St. Estephe, St. Julien, Margaux, including 4 of the 5 First Growth Châteaux. This wine is blended from 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, slightly unusual as Cabernet Sauvignon is usually king here. The 2010 displays aromas of violet, dark plum, and hints of cedar, giving way to a nice texture with fine tannins. As with most red Bordeaux, the classic pairing is rack of lamb. $13.99 2009 Château Lyonnat, Lussac-St. Émilion – Lussac is near the great right bank appellation of St. Émilion, known for the greatest Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the world, notably Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone. The 2009 is 85% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc producing aromas of dark fruit and leather, with an aggressive palate full of cassis and blackberry followed by gritty tannins. $23.99 2010 Château Bel Air, Sainte Croix-du-Mont – Located next to the esteemed region of Sauternes, Sainte Croix-du-Mont produces seductive sweet wine from the botrytis method, at a much more down to earth price. The wine is 100% Semillon from 30-40 year old vines displaying aromas of nectarine, beeswax, and toast. The rich palate explodes with honey and spice, finishing with clean acidity. The sweet wines of Bordeaux are a classic accompaniment to foie gras, white cheeses, or dessert. $14.99/375ml

Cheers!

Flavors of Oregon

Join us Friday & Saturday from 3-6pm as we taste some delicious new selections from Oregon! As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off. 2012 Kings Ridge Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley– As with most Oregon Pinot Gris, this offering is made from the Alsatian style clones, as opposed to the Italian clones (known as Pinot Grigio), resulting in a medium bodied white with aromas of ripe pear, nectarine, and melon. The wine shows a rich palate with great intensity and a long, lingering finish. This is great wine to serve with mild, soft cheeses and many fish dishes. $14.99 2012 Brooks Riesling, Willamette Valley – A dry Riesling produced from sustainably farmed grapes displaying aromas of stone fruit, white flowers and wet stone. The palate shows hints of tart lemon and grapefruit with a dry, chalky finish. This is a great wine to pair with sushi and raw shellfish. $19.99 2012 Kings Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley – Another fine small production selection from Kings Ridge, the ’12 Pinot Noir is aged for 10 months partially in steel and partially in neutral oak barrels. Aromas of fresh blackberry, cherry, and hints of chocolate, give way to full berry flavors with a balanced acidity and fine tannins. Try this with seared salmon or even barbecued pork ribs. $19.99

Cheers!

Great Iberian Tastes

Join us Friday & Saturday from 3-6pm as we explore wines from Spain and Portugal. Over the last decade these two countries have reinvented their wine industries with exciting and innovative top quality wines, establishing the best overall value in the world. As always purchases of 3 Bottles from the Tasting Table get 10% off. NV El Xamfra Cava Brut, Penedes, Spain - Cava doesn’t always get its due as a world class sparkling wine made using the laborious Champagne method. Blended from Macabeo, Xarello, and Parellada grapes, this Cava displays a warm nose and bright palate with smooth mousse and big body. This is a wonderful wine to drink on its own or paired with a variety of cheeses, appetizers, and fish dishes. $9.99 ’10 Montebuena ‘Cuvée KPF’ Rioja, Spain – A fantastic medium bodied Rioja made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. The wine is spicy, earthy, and dry with a bright underlying fruit on the nose. This is a great wine with roasted meats such as pork tenderloin. $9.99 ’10 Kopke Vinho Tinto, Douro, Portugal – While Douro has always been the heart of the port industry, it also produces world class dry table wines. This wine blends the local port grapes Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Rouriz, and Tinto Cão to produce a complex aroma of wild berry, cocoa and spice. The finish is balanced with fine tannins. Drink this with games dishes and roasted fish. $15.99 Please note that we will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday of Presidents week to do some hard earned skiing :)

Cheers!

Friday & Saturday Feb 7 & 8 from 3-6pm. Please join us as we try lesser known varietals and regions. NV Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco, Vechia Modena, Emilia-Romania, IT - This frizzante (slightly fizzy) wine is made from 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara grapes and displays a bright, focused red berry nose. On the palate it shows fresh mineral notes and a smooth, velvety finish. This Lambrusco is a dry wine with a deep pink color, though others can range to dark purple and be slightly sweet. It is a perfect aperitif wine, tough it also pairs well with pastas and cured meats. $14.99 '12 Hermann Moser Muskateller, Krems Valley, Austria - This Gelber Muskateller grape, which goes by many other names by region, has a clear, vibrant nose of flower, herb, and lemongrass, giving way to a palate of vivid acidity and dry spiciness. This wine is perfectly suited to accompany oysters and a variety of appetizers. $21 '10 Inama Carmenere, Veneto, IT - Carmenere, one of the classic Bordeaux grapes, has gained a strong foothold in Chile, but also excels in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy. This wine from Inama is blended with 30% Merlot and displays a pleasant nose of blackberry, black cherry, cocoa, and violet. The finish shows firm tannins and a hint of oak, flint, and fresh acidity. $19.99 Purchase of 3 of any of the tasting wines is discounted 10%.