Wines for Cool Nights!

Notes From the Cellar….. Welcome autumn and football season! We have all the great beer and wines you need for cool evenings and lazy Sundays watching the games. Join us this Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample a couple great full bodied wines from France that will help keep warm and complement heartier meals. 10% off wines we are tasting this weekend! ’12 Verget Bourgogne Blanc -Terres de Pierres’, Burgundy, France- Verget is the name of the négoce owned and run by Jean-Marie Guffens in the Maconnais. He also has a small Macon domaine, Domaine Guffens-Heynen, which makes some of the greatest Chardonnay in the world. His conviction was and still is that the best wine is made using the best grapes. He buys only handpicked grapes. His focus is on the use of lees, on the gentlest-possible handling of the fruit and the young wine, and on barrel fermentation. The resulting wine is a minerally Chardonnay with beautifully balanced pear and apple-blossom fruit with beautiful textured richness. $19.99 ’14 Château le Bonnat Graves Rouge, Bordeaux, France- The Lesgourgues family are among the most dynamic in the French wine world; Denis make traditional wines that are the opposite of flashy that aren’t made for quick tasting at competitions. Well regarded by the locals of Graves for their great expression of the local terroir their vines average 35 years of age and are planted on the silty/clay gravel of the region. A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged for a year in oak. With a fresh fruity nose of blackberry, cassis and plum, there are hints of black cherry and baking spice on a round, balanced palate that is structured and finishes with lingering, rounded tanins. $18.99 On the beer front we have new deliveries from Aeronaut, Banded Horn, Devil's Purse, Night Shift, Kelsen, Down the Road and the Tap.

Wines for Your Labor Day Weekend!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy Labor Day weekend and by the looks of it this week, fall is here. Time to enjoy beautiful warm, sunny days and refreshing cool nights. For this long weekend’s barbecues and final get togethers to say goodby to summer, we are opening a handful of wines great for backyard enjoyment and entertaining. This weekend we will pour two great deals from Italy- light and easy drinking as well as offering spectacular value. Also this weekend is one of our favorite, crisp rosés from Corscia, a lean, mineral drinking Sauvignon Blanc from Australia and a smooth, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California. Join us this Friday from 3-7 and Saturday to sample these wines and see what other goodies we have in stock! 10% off wines we are tasting this weekend! '16 Domaine Petroni Rosé, Corsica, France- $15.99 '15 Gavi di Gavi, Picollo Ernesto "Rovereto", Piedmont, Italy- $14.99 '14 DAndelion Vineyards Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, South Australia- $18.99 '13 Castel Sallegg Pinot Nero, Alto Adige, Italy- $14.99 '14 Caparone Cabernet Sauvignon, California- $19.99 On the beer front we have new deliveries from Aeronaut, Banded Horn, Devil's Purse, Night Shift, Kelsen, Down the Road and the Tap. Please note we will be maintaining normal business hours this weekend: Tues-Sat. 10:30- 8:00 Sunday 12:00-5:00 Monday- Closed

Tastes of the Mediterranean

Notes From the Cellar…..

The summer days continue as we get ready to head into Labor Day weekend and the beautiful month of September. Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample 3 organically grown wines- a Provence rosé and two Italian wines from the center of the country. All from 3 small, family held wineries that make their wines by hand with care and love.

10% off wines we are tasting this weekend!

'15 Mas de Gourgonnier, Les Baux de Provence Rosé, Provence, France- Organically grown for over thirty years, all wines are made with a minimal use of sulfites. A blend of mostly Grenache with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault & Mourvedre. The grenache gives the wine beautiful strawberry notes while the Mourvedre lends spicy notes and adds complexity. $18.99

’14 Montenidoli Fiore Venaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy- Made from the Vernaccia grape, produced in and around the Italian hill town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. Since the Renaissance, it has been considered one of Italy's finest white wines-being the first Italian wine to be awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1966. Winemaker Elisabetta Fagiuoli is the soul of the place, in 1971 she produced her first wine, one that caught the imagination of Italy’s greatest critics & to this day she produces the very best Vernaccia di San Gimignano following strict Organic practices. Fermented in steel on its lees for added texture, her wine is crisp and dry with a round medium body that is elegant on the palate with orchard and citrus fruits. Pair with lighter dishes, white fish or white meat. $19.99

’14 Fattoria Nicodemi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Le Murate, Abruzzo, Italy- The wines from Nicodemi, a family owned winery in the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo appellation, and more specifically from a new DOCG called Colline Termane. They have 38 hectares of vineyards which are certified organic and today is run by brother and sister team Alessandro and Elena Nicodemi. The family's vineyards, at more than 900 feet above sea level in the chalky, clay-rich hills, enjoy a slow cook, with warm afternoons and cool evenings. All hand harvested, the wine is full bodied and silky on the palate with blackberry and blueberry fruits and a touch of baking spice. With mouthwatering acidity and concentrated fruit, it finishes with smooth, lingering tannins. $18.99

On the beer front we have new deliveries from Aeronaut, Night Shift, Kelsen, Down the Road and the Tap.

Summer Wines from New Zealand & Provence!

Notes From the Cellar….. Summer isn't over yet and we're still pouring the most tasty and refreshing selections from our cellar! Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample a couple of great wines from a New Zealand winemaker that practices sustainable farming methods on grapes sourced from Marlborough & the Waipara Valley just to the south. For rosé this weekend we have another crisp, refreshing selection from Provence where rosé finds some of its greatest expressions. ’16 Chateau de L’Escarelle Côteaux Varois Rosé, Provence, France- Yann Pineau owns this magnificent estate in ‘La Provence Verte’ in the hills an hour’s drive from the yachts of Saint Tropez.This is de nitely the vineyard’s oldest wine. Having received the Château owner’s stamp of approval and even sporting their signature, it’s one of the stars of the estate. These ancient vines of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah are planted in a calcareous rock soil. The best parcel are planted at mid- altitude of the Loube mountain with exceptional sunshine and warm Provencal climate. Beautiful light pink color with powerful floral aromas on the nose and fruits of melon and white peach it is lean and mineral on the palate with bright acidity. $14.99 ’16 Greenstone Point Sauvignon Blanc, Waipara Valley, New Zealand- Established in 1997, Greenstone Point constantly endeavours to offer the best of New Zealand wine by selecting only the finest fruit from the most renowned vineyard regions, such as Marlborough and Waipara- just a short drive to the south. Their wines show the extraordinary purity and intensity of flavours set around impressive aroma, distinctive fruit characteristics and appealing balanced acidity. This Sauvignon Blanc shows rich gooseberry, citrus and tropical fruit aromas with an edge of complexity. The palate is lively and refreshing with a long, lingering finish. $17.99 ’16 Greenstone Point Pinot Noir, Waipara Valley, New Zealand- Produced from selected parcels of grapes grown in in the Waipara Valley, New Zealand. Malolactic fermentation and four months oak maturation were completed prior to blending and bottling. It displays rich berry fruit aromas, violet floral notes and supported by a hint of oak. The palate is beautifully textured, rich and balanced with a rounded finish. $17.99 Store Hours: Tues-Sat. 10:30- 8:00 Sunday 12:00-5:00

Wine for Summer Days 1

Notes From the Cellar….. The beautiful summer days keep rolling along with no end in sight! This weekend, as always, we will be sampling wines ideal for lazy summer days and evenings on the beach or in the backyard. Join us Friday from 3-6 and all day Saturday to sample a crisp but spicy rosé from Corsica and two full bodied California wines. 10% off wines we are tasting this weekend! ’15 Domaine Vaccelli, Juste Ciel Ile de Beauté Rosé, Corsica, FR- Roughly translates as "Good Heavens!”, this rosé has been family farmed since the 1960’s on wheathered granite slopes with vines averaging 50 years. Farmed organically since 2008, this blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan & Sciacarello is a light salmon colored wine that displays its berry & melon fruit framed by fresh acidity and a lean, mineral mouthfeel followed by a lingering, spicy finish. Enjoy as a starter or lighter salad and vegetable dishes but also grilled white meat like chicken or pork. $17.99 ’14 L’Oliveto Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA- Sourced from old vine vineyard sites throughout the Russian River Valley, the Brack Mountain Wine Co follows strict sustainable farming practices in their vineyards as well as the growers they partner with. Fermented using indigenous yeasts followed by long malolactic fermentation and lees stirring in mostly used French oak, this chardonnay displays ripe fruits- apricots, melon, apple and lemon on a creamy, buttered toast palate and well balanced acidity. Pair with chicken or denser white fish like swordfish as well as lobster or crab. $22.99 ’15 À la Carte Winemaker’s Red Blend, CA- Another great wine from Brack Mountain Winemakers, a next generation winery focused on producing hand-crafted, premium wines with grapes sourced from two vinyards in seperate California AVA's. The Zinfandel and Carignan come from the Dommen Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, while the Montepulcinao hails from Foxhill Vineyard in Mendocino County. Aged for 6 months in neutral barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep purple in color, the nose is full of dark berry and dark cherry fruits with a rich palate that is spicy with flavors of black fruit compote, orange zest and crushed peppercorn. Balanced and well structured it is rich and round in the mouth without being jammy and finishes with soft tannins. Enjoy with grilled meats, BBQ or chili dishes and hard cheeses. $17.99 Store Hours: Tues-Sat. 10:30- 8:00 Sunday 12:00-5:00

Wines to Beat the Heat!

Notes From the Cellar….. Summer is in full swing with a week of fun in the sun and we are loving it! This weekend we will be pouring some lighter, more refreshing wines and we have a new shipment of beers from Nightshift and Down the Road! Also we will be sampling Prufrock semi-soft cow’s milk cheese from Grey Barn on Martha’s Vineyard! 10% off the wines we are tasting this weekend: Cotes de Provence Rosé 'Corail' Chateau de Roquefort, Provence, France– Provence has become synonymous with rosé wine with good reason. Many producers set out to make rose as their only wine, rather than as an afterthought. The Corail is blended from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Vermentino, and Clairette grapes from Organically grown vineyards at over 1200 feet elevation. The resulting wine has a delicate spicy nose of citrus fruits followed by white fruits, & citrus on the palate. The finish is clean and refreshing. It is an excellent match with Mediterranean style dishes, particularly with garlic and olive oil, seafood, and wood grilled meats. $18.99 Cordero di Montezemolo, Langhe Arneis, Piedmonte, IT- Grown in Piedmont since the 1400’s, Arneis shared a historical relationship with Nebbiolo, often blended in Barolo to soften its harsh tannins. With over 200 years of family winemaking in and around Barolo, the Montezemolo family has converted to Organic farming. With a highly aromatic bouquet of peaches, flowers and citrus, it is medium bodied with mouthcoating fruit and lip-smacking acidity. Excellent as an aperitif, with seafood or rich pasta dishes. $19.99 Murgo Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy- Arguably Sicily's center of concentrated quality is Mount Etna, where some 50 producers of, um, dubious sanity work vineyards that wind three quarters of the way around the active volcano; where the Murgo family has been making wine since 1860. A blend of the indigenous Nerello Mascalese & Nerello Cappuccio (90%/10%) de-stemmed and aged in a combination of steel and ultra rare chestnut barrels, this is a lively wine that is fresh and perfumed. Lightly textured, showing soft red fruits and minerality from the volcanic soils, it possesses refreshing acidity to maintain its simple elegance. $14.99 On the beer front we have brews from Down the Road, Night Shift, Lord Hobo, Aeronaut, Nightshift, SixPoint & Banded Horn.

This Week in Wine!

Notes From the Cellar….. With a break from the heat this weekend and a chance for our gardens to get some needed rain we figured we’d open a of couple hearty bottles of wine to keep warm and enjoy with a variety of meals. This weekend we will be featuring wines from Brack Mountain Wine Co. out of Sonoma County, California. Founded in 2008, they are a next generation winery focused on producing hand-crafted, premium wines sourced from great growers and follow sustainable winemaking practices both in the vineyard and in the cellar. This weekend’s wines (10% off all tasting wines): ’15 Barrique Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA- The Barrique Chardonnay is sourced from three of Sonoma County’s most prestigious growing regions: Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley. The grapes are whole cluster pressed to tank & gets full malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeast to dryness. Aged for 14 months in 50% Stainless steel and 50% barrel (30% new) to preserve the wine's bright aromatics, the wine maintains bright fruit aromas & flavors of lemon curd, green apple & orange citrus well balanced by lively acidity, a round, rich palate and a lingering finish. $18.99 ’15 Barrique Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA- The 2015 Barrique Cab is sourced from two noteworthy California AVA's: Dry Creek Valley and Knights Valley. De-stemmed before fermentation, the wine is fermented dry on indigenous yeasts and then left on its skins for an extended period to develop a deeper color, mouthfeel and structure. Aged for 14 months in French oak (some new), their Cabernet is deeply colored with classic nose of black cassis & plum with rich dark fruits on the palate complemented by hints of vanilla, toffee & some spice. With soft, dusty tannins on the finish, it is balanced and structured.. $18.99 On the beer front we have brews from Exhibit A, Dogfish, The Tap, Lord Hobo, Aeronaut, Nightshift, SixPoint & Banded Horn. Store Hours: Tues-Sat. 10:30- 8:00 Sunday 12:00-5:00