Notes From the Cellar……

The kids may be back in school, but summer is still here! In the spirit of this post Labor Day warm spell, we have selected some seasonal wine samples with the patio, grill and sunshine in mind. We also still have a few summer brews in stock along with a growing selection of fall offerings. Please join us Friday & Saturday from 3-6 to sample these great selections!

’12 Gavi di Gavi, La Caplana, Piedmont, Italy – Gavi is a light, crisp white made from the Cortese grape, known for retaining freshness, even when grown in hotter climates. The 2012 La Caplana has a nose of green apple and honeydew, adding some mineral and lime zest tones on the palate, and finishing crisp and clean. Try this wine with raw oysters or littlenecks. $13.99 ’13 Gérard Bertrand Gris Blanc Rosé, Southwest France – Bertrand is a large producer of value driven wines from southern France. The Gris Blanc is made from Grenache vines located in the sunny, dry terrior near the Pyrenees Mountains. This pale colored rosé displays subtle red berry aromas with a hint of wildflower followed by a crisp and clean palate with lingering fruit on the finish. This is a great accompaniment to Asian cuisine and a range of seafood dishes. $14.99 ’12 La Posta ‘Pizzella Vineyard’ Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina – The Pizzella family produces some of the finest under $20 Malbecs available sourced from high elevation vineyards resulting in balanced intensity. This offering is ripe and flashy with aromas of mocha, spice cake, raspberry, and boysenberry; with a dense but lithe palate and a creamy finish. This is a great bbq wine. $17.99 Pretty Things ‘Fieldmouse’s Farewell’ Harvest Saison, Westport, MA – This farmhouse style saison is made from all the various harvest grains resulting in a full, malty beer with aromas of pepper and citrus. $7.99/22oz

Cheers!

Labor Day Tasting

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Labor Day weekend! Before you pack away the white pants for the season, join us as we sample some new selections from Germany and France. Also, be sure to check out our growing selection of fall brews including offerings from Brooklyn Brewery, Shipyard, Ayinger, Weihenstephaner, Jack’s Abby, and Stone. ’13 ‘AIX’ Saint Aix Rosé, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France – A deliciously fresh Provence rosé made from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Counoise grapes. The pale pink color displays aromas of fine herbs, red berries, mineral tones, and a touch of orange zest followed by lush flavors and a balanced, clean finish. Try this wine with raw oysters. $19.99 Also available in magnum for $38 ’11 Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Maximin Grünhaus, Mosel, Germany – This kabinett, or regular harvest, Riesling is from the ancient Herrenberg vineyard in Germany’s Mosel region, home to many of the country’s most powerful, showy Rieslings. The 2011 is rich and full bodied with aromas of almond, white fruits, apricot and gooseberry giving way to a fruity driven texture and a hint of sweetness on the finish. This is a wine to be served with spicy cuisine such as Indian or Thai. $28.99 ’10 Crozes-Hermitage, E Guigal, Rhône, France – Crozes-Hermitage is situated in the northern Rhône, home to the greatest Syrah in the world, particularly from the famous neighboring appellations of Hermitage and Cote-Rotie. The 2010 exhibits notes of red currants, raspberries, and bay leaf with an elegant medium body, fine tannins and fruity texture. Northern Rhône reds make an excellent accompaniment to all kinds of red meat, game, and strong cheese. $24.99

Cheers!

Wine Tasting Aug 22, 23

Notes From the Cellar…..

Join us Fri & Sat Aug 22/23 from 3-6 as we sample some new selections on the last weekend before Labor Day! We are featuring new wines from Napa and one of our favorites from Madrid, Spain – the 2013 Camino de Navaherreros. The 2012 was one of our most popular wines, and the new vintage does not disappoint.

In the beer world, we have some of the first seasonal fall beers in stock – Ayinger Oktoberfest-Marzen, Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest, Shipyard Pumpkinhead, and Post Road (Brooklyn Brewery) Pumpkin.

As always, we offer 10% off 3 bottles of wine purchased from the tasting table.

’12 Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California – Whitehall Lane is a small, family owned winery located in Napa’s Rutherford district, founded in 1979. The Sauvignon Blanc has a crisp and delicate balance with flavors of grapefruit and lime essence. In the Bordeaux tradition, it is blended with a touch of Semillon grapes for added depth and 30% is aged in French oak. This is a wonderful accompaniment to shellfish and goat cheeses. $19.99

’13 Camino de Navaherreros, Bernabeleva, Madrid, Spain – Sourced from 80 year old organically cultivated Garnacha vines on the eastern edge of the Sierra de Gredos Mountains, about 75 minutes from Madrid, Bernabeleva produces meticulous wines, particularly their old vine Garnachas. The Camino is the 'baby' Navaherreros – fresh, young and very accessible, in contrast to the “black label’ which has extensive oak aging. The aroma is highly perfumed with notes of raspberry, potpourri, and Asian spice, followed by silky red fruit flavors that continue to evolve with air into a pleasantly long, lingering finish with a hint of tannins and orange peel. Pair this wine with anything from roast duck to cured or smoked meats. $15.99

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen, Bavaria, Germany – This beer pours a clear amber color with a creamy head. Aromas of light, sweet bread with a hint of caramel and balanced carbonation. $3.55/500ml

Wine Tasting Aug 15&16

Notes From the Cellar…..

Another prime summer weekend is upon us! Join us Fri & Sat 3-6 as we sample some new selections and some old favorites….

In addition to new summer beer offerings from Uinta, Thomas Hooker & Dogfish, we continue to rotate new craft offerings including: Long Trail’s wonderfully hopped Limbo IPA ($10.99/6pk), Firestone Walker ‘Opal’ a limited dry hopped saison farmhouse ale ($6.99/22oz), and Baxter Brewing’s ‘Backpack,’ a mixed 12 pack featuring their Pamola Extra Pale Ale, Stowaway IPA, Tarnation Lager, and Summer Swelter ($19.25/12pk) as well as Great Divide, SixPoint & Ballast Point!

NV Crémant d’Alsace Prestige Brut, Willm, Alsace, France – Many regions of France outside of Champagne produce incredible sparkling wines made in the Champagne method, known as crémant, often delivering tremendous value. This offering is a blend of Chardonnay (80%), Pinot Noir (15%), and Riesling (5%) resulting in a wine with a beautiful persistent mousse, bright, discreet aromas of white flowers, with hints of tropical fruit and toast on the palate. Try pairing this wine with an array of appetizers, as an aperitif or with raw shellfish. $19.99

’12 Bourgogne Rouge Réserve, Bouchard Père et Fils, Burgundy, France – While 2011 was somewhat disappointing and uneven for much of the Pinot Noir from the southern parts of Burgundy, many of the recently released 2012’s are showing strong right out of the gate. Here we have a very aromatic bouquet of small ripe red fruits, such as cherry, raspberry, and currant, while the mouthfeel is lightly fleshy, finishing with a nice balance of soft tannins and red fruit. Pair this with grilled salmon. $19.99

Also available for sampling:

Mystic Saison - This flagship offering from our friends at Mystic Brewery in Chelsea is a traditional farmhouse ale made with barley, oats, wheat and Hallertau Hops. Farmhouse ales were traditionally brewed in the winter to be consumed in the summer and are usually a very complex style. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild tartness, with spice and medium bitterness. $9.99/750ml

St. Germain Cocktail

2 parts Prosecco

1 ½ parts St-Germain elderflower liqueur

2 parts club soda

Simply pour each measure into a flute, in the order listed, add a lemon twist and enjoy!

Notes from the Cellar... Join us Aug. 8&9 from 3-6  as we sample some new French selections in each color – red, white and rosé. ’13 Chinon ‘Messanges Rosé’, Domaine de Pallus, Loire Valley, France -Made from 100% organically farmed Cabernet Franc in the Chinon appellation. The wine shows wonderful tangy, tart fruit elements, balanced with mineral and stone fruit tones. The finish is clean and crisp with subtle fruit flavor and crisp acidity. Truly a wine for all occasions – sip on its own or pair with grilled fish, raw fish and shellfish, or soft, pungent cheeses. $14.99 ’12 Saint-Veran ‘En Messie', Domaine Daniel Pollier, Burgundy, France – Saint Veran can produce some of the most stunning Chardonnay in Burgundy’s southern Mâconnais region, often overshadowed by the more well- known neighboring Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. This offering displays a subtle nose of nuts, dried fruit, with hints of pineapple and melon. The palate is lively and fresh, with good acidity and medium richness. Pair this wine with sweet shellfish such as lobster, shrimp, or crab. $15.99 ’07 Haut-Médoc, Château Larose-Trintaudon, Bordeaux, France – 60% Cabernet Sauvignon/40% Merlot. In the gravelly soils of Bordeaux’s Médoc region, 2007 was considered a very ripe year with low yields and many wines approaching early maturity. Here we have a spicy nose of black pepper and menthol framed by black currant and blackberry fruit. It is a homogenous wine showing roundness on the palate with ripe fruit and tannic structure. Try this wine with lamb shanks or a marinated flank steak. $18.99

Cheers!

Notes From the Cellar…..

Join us Fri & Sat (Aug 1&2) from 3-6 and start your weekend with a sample of some of our tasty new selections! We have a white, rosé and a red, as well as a unique cocktail featuring Privateer rums from Ipswich.

’13 Andreas Diehl Medium Dry Riesling, Pfalz, Germany – Riesling is arguably, but justifiably, considered the greatest white grape by many wine critics because of its subtle nuances and variety of expression. Unfortunately, it is very often misunderstood in part due to low quality versions, often blended with other grapes, exported from Germany in the late 20th century; and poorly made versions from regions often not well suited for Riesling cultivation. Luckily, that has changed and there are many fine selections available these days. Here we have a well-made, subtle, barely off dry Riesling from Germany’s Pfalz region. The wine has fine mineral and melon notes on the nose followed by bright, clean and light palate. Pair this wine with raw or cooked shellfish and most light, white fish such as cod or haddock. $16.99 1 Liter bottle

’13 Château Saint Baillon Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France – From the heart of Provence, nestled between the sea and mountains, Château Saint Baillon comprises about 500 acres of wooded hillsides, vineyards and orchards. This offering is blended from Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah grapes resulting in a clean and thirst quenching wine with aromas of flowers, strawberries, dried cranberries, spices and herbs leading up to a balanced palate and clean, dry finish. The wine is an excellent pairing with bbq chicken or grilled fish. $15.99

’09 Sean Minor Red Blend, Napa Valley, California – Sean Minor’s proprietary blend changes from year to year with the 2009 blended from 30% Merlot, 23% Petit Verdot, 17% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah and 4% Malbec. The result is a rich wine with aromas of blueberry, dark cherry, cassis and vanilla; leading to a palate of cherry, blueberry and hints of oak spices- finishing with soft tannins and sweet oak. Try this wine with red meats, ribs, and classic blue cheeses. $20.99

Also available for sampling, we are featuring Privateer Rums from Ipswich. Try our own take on the daiquiri:

The Punch d’Or 
3/4 oz. Privateer Silver Reserve Rum 
3/4 oz. Privateer Amber Rum 
2 oz. Ripe Lemon Sour 
2 dashes Cocktail Kingdom Falernum Bitters 
Pour ingredients into a shaker. Dry shake. Add ice. Shake again. Strain into martini glass or large cordial glass. Garnish with lemon twist. 
Another twist is to substitute Ripe Agave Punch instead of lemon sour.

Cheers!

Wine Tasting July 25 & 26

Notes From the Cellar…….

Join us Fri & Sat 7/25/26 from 3-6 as we sample more seasonably appropriate selections on another beautiful weekend in the middle of this fine summer.  We continue to offer the area’s best selection of craft summer beers, cocktail suggestions, and wines for all occasions and cuisines. 

’13 Casa do Valle Branco, Vinho Verde, Portugal – Vinho Verde encompasses a vast region in northern Portugal and can be made from a number of different grapes resulting in very uneven results and styles.  In the hands of a serious producer, sourcing the right grapes from the right locations, the results can be unique and stunning.  The Casa do Valle is sourced from estate vineyards in the Basto sub-region on slopes along the Tâmega River and protected by the Barroso and Alão mountain ranges.  Blended from Arinto, Azal, and Loureiro grapes the wine displays citrus, mineral and floral aromas followed by a slight spritz on the palate, framed by vibrant finish.  This wine is a great pairing for sushi and many spicy Asian dishes.  $11.99

’12 Willm Pinot Blanc Réserve, Alsace, France – Here is a beautifully balanced 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 and grapefruit 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.  $12.99

’12 HRW Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, California – This is a great value offering from Hendry Ranch Wines!  Much of Napa is not well suited for Pinot Noir, but these vineyard blocks are from the western side, close to Redwood Creek, moderated by morning fog and protected by hills, giving a zone similar to parts of Carneros.  Aged for 11 months in used oak barrels, the resulting wine is very light in texture with a pronounced red fruit nose, perfectly balanced acidity and smooth berry fruit finish.  This is a great wine with grilled salmon.  $19.99

Also available for sampling, we are featuring Privateer Rums from Ipswich.  Try our own take on the daiquiri:

The Punch d’Or

3/4 oz. Privateer Silver Reserve Rum

3/4 oz. Privateer Amber Rum

2 oz. Ripe Lemon Sour

2 dashes Cocktail Kingdom Falernum Bitters

Pour ingredients into a shaker.  Dry shake.  Add ice.  Shake again.  Strain into martini glass or large cordial glass.  Garnish with lemon twist.

Another twist is to substitute Ripe Agave Punch instead of lemon sour.