Weekend Wine Picks

Notes From the Cellar….. Summer may be winding down but we still have plenty of great weather ahead perfect for enjoying with friends! Join us this Fri. from 3-6 and Sat. anytime to sample a few new selections we're really excited about! One of our favorite rosés of the year from Provence, a light crisp Cheverny from the Loire Valley and an exceptional, rich Aglianico from Italy! '14 Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard, Loire, France – Cheverny is an often overlooked commune in the Loire Valley, producing lively Sauvignon Blanc. This offering is grown in sustainably farmed chalk, limestone, and sandy soiled vineyards in the northeastern part of Touraine, blending 15% Chardonnay with the Sauvignon. The wine is fresh, lively, and fragrant with aromas of citrus and hay, followed by green orchard fruit, lemon/lime, and bright minerality on the palate, finishing dry yet expansive with a round mouthfeel. This is a great wine to enjoy with mussels, steamers, or oysters. $16.99 '14 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. While Chateau de Roquefort does make a range of red, white, and rose, they place equal pride on all their efforts through organic farming and detailed winemaking. The Corail is blended from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Vermentino, and Clairette grapes from vineyards at over 1200 feet elevation. The resulting wine has a delicate spicy nose of citrus fruits followed by white fruits, citrus , and a hint of fennel 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 ’11 Aglianico del Vulture, Grifalco, Basilicata, Italy – Aglianico del Vulture produces some of the most underrated wines in Italy, capable of complexity and richness found in in many of the world's greatest wines. Aglianico refers to the local grape varietal and Vulture refers to nearby Mount Vulture, where the vineyards derive their volcanic soil. This is a small production offering from sustainable vineyards then aged in stainless steel and small to medium sized oak barrels. It is of medium body with aromas of blueberry, chocolate, garrigue, and a hint of cherry, which comes through stronger on the palate. The tannins are present, but not overly firm, with a lingering finish. Aglianico matches well with a variety of red meats and medium to hard cheeses. $16.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. For spirits, we have a limited amount of Balcones Single Malt & Baby Blue in stock! On the beer front we have new seasonal offerings from Long Trail Pumpkin, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, Jack's Abby Copper Legend Oktoberfest, and Shipyard Pumpkin

Cheers!

Summer Treats!

Notes From the Cellar…..

Notes From the Cellar….. We have a couple great new wines to try out this weekend to go with one of our favorite rosés of the year! Join us this Friday from 3-6 and Saturday anytime to sample these tasty treats from Provence & Alsace, France & Puglia, Italy! '14 Domaine La Blaque Perrevert Rosé, Provence, France- Located in the small AOC of Coteaux de Pierrevery in north-western Provence, Domaine la Blaque is one of a handful of growers in the high altitude hills of the region that benefit from ample sunshine as well as wide day/night temperature variations. Vineyards are composed of limestone & clay, harvest by hand and certified organic. A blend of Cinsault-direct pressing, Grenache, Syrah & Vermentino, this lovely pale rose colored rosé displays soft aromatics of roses, melon and cherries with a palate that remains delicate & full of watermelon, apricots and lively acidity. Drinks perfectly on its own as an apéritif or with a range of dishes from summer salads and shellfish to lighter grilled meats. $16.99 ’13 Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc “Tradition”, Alsace, France- Founded in 1580, this Domaine represents 14 generations of winegrowing around the village of Eguisheim, in the heart of Alsace. Currently Christian Beyer runs the vineyard following his training in Burgundy, Sauternes, and the Rheingau which instilled an appreciation for creating world class wines. To that end he uses traditional and modern methods; farming follows organic practices, the grapes are hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel. The resulting wines are a pure expression of Alsatian terroir with a purity of fruit, floral notes and a mineral, wet stone texture that is lean and vibrant with refreshing acidity and a dry finish. Pair with seafood, cream sauces and curry dishes. $17.99 ’13 Botromagno Nero di Troia, Puglia, Italy- Nero di Troia, known locally as Uva di Troia is an ancient grape variety of nebulous origins, though many believe that the variety originated in Asia Minor (and named after the mythical city of Troy) and was brought to Italy by the Greeks when they first colonized southern Italy. Historically a tough, tannic grape, modern growing & winemaking practices have managed to fashion softer, more aromatic wines. Under the tight control of the D’Agostino family that oversees the cooperative of farmers, the wines spend 20 months in stainless steel before another 6 months of bottle aging. Deeply colored with aromas of dark cherries, dark fruit and a hint of violet, it shows savory spice and cinnamon that accents its fruit character. With a slightly rustic edge to it, it maintains smooth tannins, fresh acidity and a lingering finish. Pairs with hearty pasta dishes, grilled meats and aged cheeses. $19.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. For spirits, we have a limited amount of Balcones Single Malt & Baby Blue in stock! On the beer front we have recent additions from SixPoint, Belhaven, Longtrail, Victory, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

Hand Made Wines for You

Notes From the Cellar….. With summer in full swing and beautiful days all around we have a few of our favorite wines out on the table perfect for lazy afternoons and backyard BBQs! Join us Fri. from 3-6 and Sat. anytime to sample another lovely rosé, a light, aromatic Albariño and a rich, full bodied Cabernet! ’14 Chinon ‘Messanges Rosé’, Domaine de Pallus, Loire Valley, France - Another stunning 2014 rosé selection made from 100% organically farmed Cabernet Franc in the Chinon appellation. Winemaker Bertrand Sourdais was trained at the University of Bordeaux and then served as an understudy at Mouton-Rothchild and Alvaro Palacios in Priorat before retuning home to Chinon in the early 2000’s to take over the family’s vineyards. The wine is wonderfully aromatic, with tart fruit elements balanced with mineral and stone fruit tones; finishing clean with 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. $15.99 '13 Bodegas La Val Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain- Among one of the finest Albariños we have tasted, the Bodegas La Val is located in the warmest subzone of Condado de Tea within the northwest corner of Spain- Rías Baixas. Grown in granite & slate soils that contribute to an excellent mineral base, it is aged for 6 months on its lees in stainless steel tanks. A very bright wine with a silky texture and full of aromas of white orchard fruits, pear and citrus and lively on the palate with a chalky minerality it is dry wine with a lingering finish. A versatile wine, it pairs well with most seafood, including grilled. $15.99 ’12 Tapiz Cabernet Sauvignon Alta Collection, Mendoza, Argentina- South of the city of Mendoza, the Uco Valley is generally recognized as the top wine growing region of Mendoza due to its higher elevations, excellent climate, soils & natural source of irrigation from the Andes Mountains. Serving as winemaking consultant to Tapiz is the world renowned Jean Claude Berrouet- the retired winemaker from the revered Petrus winery in Bordeaux. Following sustainable farming practices and hand harvested, it spends 10 months in a mixture of mostly new French oak. Full bodied with big flavors of blackberry, cassis, mocha & liquorice, its is smooth on the palate with ripe tannins, balanced acidity and a lingering finish of sweet cassis & vanilla. Pair with steaks, roasts and aged cheddar cheese. $19.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. For spirits, we have a limited amount of Balcones Single Malt & Baby Blue in stock! On the beer front we have recent additions from Jack's Abby & Otter Creek, Victory, SixPoint, Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

Wines for Hot Days!

Notes From the Cellar….. The summer heat has definitely set in and that calls for something refreshing to help stay cool. Join us from 3-6 Fri & Sat (anytime) to sample another fantastically quenching rosé, a crisp Chablis (Duxbury Oysters anyone?!) and a light bodied red grown on the side of Sicily's active volcano- Mt. Etna! '14 Domaine St. Anthelme Rosé Vin du Pays de Gard, France- Domaine Genestiere has holdings in Côtes du Rhone, Lirac & Tavel where they produce wonderful reds and rosé wines, particularly Tavel which only produces dry rosés of greater structure than most- therefore able to stand up to some aging. This Pays du Gard comes from their holdings on the outskirts of Tavel & Provence- creating a rosé of exceptional value in the style of Tavel. A blend of Syrah & Grenache, it is fresh with white fruit- peach & citrus with some rose petal aromas. With a little spice, it has more body but remains dry and refreshing. $13.99 '14 Domaine Gueguen Chablis, France- Chablis produces Chardonnays like nowhere else in the world. Its vineyards were under the ocean in prehistoric times and therefore its soils are rich in limestone and marine fossils which impart the most distinct sense of terroir into its wines in the world. Frédéric Gueguen & his wife Céline farm several parcels of old vine Chardonnay in and around Chablis including a couple 1er cru vineyards; they practice organic farming and harvest all their grapes by hand. Aged in stainless steel only and undergoing full malolactic fermentation, their wines are wonderful expressions of Chablis’ limestone-driven minerality. Showing an lively nose of white fruits and flowers, it displays intense aromatics while remaining fresh, mineral driven and well balanced. $21.99 '11 Murgo Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy- Once the largest producer in Italy with an output greater than California’s, the realities of 21st century EU wine production have forced Sicily to become more efficient and of higher quality. Arguably the 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 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Jack's Abby & Otter Creek, SixPoint, Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

The 3 R's of Wine!

Notes From the Cellar….. This weekend's tasting is going to be an exploration of the 3 R's- that's Rosé, Riesling and Ruché! Never had a rosé from Minervois? Been generally unimpressed with Riesling? Never even heard of Ruché? Well that's why we're here. Come on by Friday from 3-6 and Saturday anytime and sample these delicious wines that are sure to impress. '14 Chateau St. Eulalie Minervois "Printemps d'Eulalie", Languedoc, France- The estate’s vineyards are located on the terraced hills in the appellation of Minervois in the Languedoc. Since its purchase in 1996 the vineyards have been farmed organically- currently certified sustainable. A blend of syrah, cinsault, carignan & grenache, it is medium pink in color with tart strawberry & raspberry flavors, refreshing acidity and a dry finish. Perfect for sunny afternoons, shellfish and salads. $15.99 ’13 Von Winning Riesling, Pfalz, Germany- Probably one of the biggest rising star estates of Germany right now, Von Winning has been turning out exquisite wines with texture and character under the watchful direction of Stefan Attmann. From their entry Rieslings through their Grand Crus, Attmann keeps fanatic focus on creating great wines that can stand up with any across Europe. Organically farmed (transitioning to biodynamic), raising the wine in traditional, huge oak casks and using only natural, ambient yeasts, he is committed to creating wines of substance naturally. Displaying melon fruits, citrus and markedly floral aromas with just a tiny bit of sweetness that helps to create wonderful balance on the palate with its lip smacking acidity, this Riesling is of amazing quality at the “basic” echelon. Pair with shellfish, sushi, roasted pork and soft cheeses. $23.99 ’11 La Mondianese Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy- So this is one of those grapes that you may not have heard of before but is definitely worth giving a try. It is a relatively scarcely grown grape in the hills north of Asti in Piedmont- completely overshadowed by the region's more well known varietals. Made from 100% Ruché that is fermented in stainless steel before spending 5 months in old oak barriques, this is an approachable medium bodied wine that displays floral and dark berry aromas and a bit of black pepper. Very smooth textured with fresh acidity and soft tannins, it pairs well with Italian dishes, salami, roasted white meats and hard cheeses. $22.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from SixPoint, Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack & Anderson Valley.

Cheers!

Wines for the Patio!

Notes From the Cellar….. With another beautiful weekend on hand we've decided to open a few bottles perfect for sipping on these sunny days outside- whether grilling meat or maybe steaming up some lobsters! This weekend a soft rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir, a vibrant unoaked Chardonnay from Southern Burgundy and a rich, ripe Spanish red. We'll be pouring Fri. from 3-6 and Sat. from... well anytime you want! '14 Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Rosé, Loire, FR- Domaine Bourgeois covers 72 hectares of the esteemed Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations on some of the most rugged hillside terrains in the Loire Valley. The family maintains extremely strict methods to ensure wines of the utmost quality- using only organic fertilizers, maintaining meticulous control of the vines & hand harvesting the grapes. Delightfully fresh & food-friendly, this "baby Sancerre" rosé shows mouth-watering strawberry and cherry fruit, refreshingly acidity and a dry finish. A simple, easy drinking rosé that pairs nicely salads, Asian food, pizza/pasta & shellfish. $14.99 '13 Verget Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, FR- Jean- Marie Guffens contracts with selected growers for only ideally situated, low-yielding vines, and his own teams pick when and where he dictates, thus controlling vinification from the outset. This lovely expression of Burgundian Chardonnay hails from 20 years old vines in calcareous clay soil. Aged for 6 months in stainless steel with some stirring of its fine lees, the wine has fruity aromas of peach, lychee and citrus fruits. Full-bodied with a buttery texture, it still maintains vibrant fruit and quenching acidity. $18.99 ’11 Borsao Berola, Campo de Borja, ESP- Located just southeast of Rioja along Ebro River, the vineyards of Bodegas Borsao are located at high elevations of over 1300ft. The climate is continental, with hot, dry summers and very cold winters that promote the ripening of grapes while preserving acid levels. A blend of 70% old vine Garnacha, 20% Syrah & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 10 months in French & American oak, plus another 14 months in bottle before release, it shows lots of ripe black fruits, with hints cassis & black pepper, along with barrel-derived vanilla and spices. A well structured wine with a medium-full body, it has lingering, chalky tannins and well balanced acidity to match. $17.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Founders, Ommegang, Brewmaster Jack, Stone, & Anderson Valley. Also a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA!

Cheers!

Wines of the Week!

Notes From the Cellar….. We've got another beautiful weekend on tap, and some great new wines to taste out! Join us Fri & Sat from 3-6 as we sample a couple fun wines from the Languedoc in the south of France and a delicious side project red blend from one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's top producers! ’14 Château Viranel Cuvée Tradition, Languedoc, FR- Château Viranel has been in the Bergasse family since the 16th century and are now in the hands of two brothers- Nicholas & Arnaud. This vibrant rosé is a blend of Syrah, Grenache & direct press Cinsault from older vines (30-60yr) planted in limestone soils that pass on wonderful mineral qualities and fresh acidity. A more deeply colored pink, this rosé boasts vivid red berry fruits, blood orange and fresh flowers. Richly fruited and with refreshing acidity, it leaves a full bodied & lingering finish on the palate. It great enjoyed on its own, but is also able to stand up to many dishes including Asian foods, BBQ & fish dishes. $16.99 ’12 Sieur D’Arques Toques & Clochers Haute Vallée Limoux, Langeudoc, FR- Limoux is located in the southern part of France in the Languedoc at the eastern foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains and is broken into 4 subregions that display distinct terroirs due to Mediterranean & Atlantic influences that moderate temperature. This 100% Chardonnay comes from Haut Vallée- the highest, coolest limestone vineyards in Limoux, and are very floral and mineral, with a beautiful harmony between roundness and acidity. Aged for 9 months in a mixture of new and used oak barrels, it maintains an open bouquet of white flowers, orchard fruits and a hint of almond. Rich on the palate and balanced by quenching acidity, this is a wonderful example of Chardonnay from outside of Burgundy. $16.99 ’12 Pierre Usseglio & Fils Panorama Vin de France- Highly regarded as superstar producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing some of the most consistently sought after wines from the region, brothers Jean-Pierre & Thierry are fanatics for the quality of their vines, including those outside of the appellation. The Panorama is more of a bistro style wine made of a blend of organically farmed Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot fermented in concrete tanks. Fantastically rich and lively red fruits of raspberry and red cherry are accented by garrigue; with supple tannins and fresh acidity to make this a wonderfully enjoyable wine with or without food. $20.99 And as always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have recent additions from Stone, Firestone Walker, Shipyard, Cambridge Brewing, Rogue & Avery. Also a limited Gin release from Privateer Distillers of Ipswich, MA!

Cheers!