Christmas Favorites!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy last weekend before Christmas! With the days buzzing by before some well deserved rest and celebrations with family and friends, as well as the inevitable last-minute scramble for presents, we’ll keep it brief and to the point. Wine. Lots of delicious, robust wines that enliven the senses. Wines with lip-smacking fruit, structure, and lively acidity to quench the palate and keep us coming back for more. Every day leading up to Christmas Eve we’ll be pouring some of our favorite wines in the house with something sure to please any taste out there; all hand selected and superbly produced. (And yes there will be bubbles too!) Among the selections for the next week: Sancerre, Vouvray, Chardonnay (California & France) Grower Champagne, Cava, Barolo, Priorat, Côtes du Rhone, Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and Garnacha from Madrid. We have lots of great gift ideas available for wine, spirits and beer lovers; and there is still time to place gift box orders! Gift certificates are also available as great stocking stuffers. On the beer front we have new options from Rogue, Lord Hobo, Boulevard, Revolution, Founders, Mikkeler, 21st Amendment and Bear Republic. As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. Holiday Hours: Sunday Dec. 20 12:00-5:00 Monday Dec. 21 10:30-8:00 Tuesday Dec. 22 10:30-8:00 Wednesday Dec. 23 9:00-8:00 Open Early Thurday Dec. 24 9:00-6:00 Open/Close Early Christmas Day Closed After Christmas Closed Sundays & Mondays for the winter.

Cheers!

Holiday Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. The winter weather is setting in…sort of... and the holiday party season is upon us. We have the perfect wines for all your celebration needs including bubbles, gotta have some bubbles this time of year! Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday anytime as we sample a crisp & fruity Prosecco, a rich and aromatic white Bordeaux from the Graves region, and an intense, concentrated Super Tuscan. All are fantastically produced and downright delicious! For those hosting holiday parties, we can help to select the perfect accompaniments that are customizable for any taste and budget; allow us to help select any wine, craft beer or spirits for your holiday needs. Delivery is available to your location to help simplify matters for you. Also available are gift certificates that make great stocking stuffers and customizable gift boxes that make for great gift ideas for business associates and wine lovers! (Please allow 3 days for packaging) NV Valdo Prosecco, Veneto, Italy- Located right in the heart of the Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG production area, the Valdo Winery has been cultivating this unique area for generations. The hilly vineyards are sheltered by the Dolomite Mountains and benefit from the cooling effects of the Adriatic Sea. With a fine perlage and an aromatic fruity fragrance highlighted by golden delicious apples and white fruits, it has a well-balanced structure and the fresh acidity to be a perfect aperitif or to be paired with appetizers & seafood. Also makes a great brunch mimosa! $13.99 2014 Château Graville-Lacoste, Graves, France – 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 2014 graves is blended from 75% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle grapes creating a dry, 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 '12 Montepeloso A Quo Rosso, Tuscany, Italy- The Suvereto DOCG's challenge to Bolgheri as Tuscany’s premier source of Super Tuscans is led by 2 estates, Montepeloso being one. Climatically warmer than interior Tuscany, this locale naturally limits yields and is capable of producing wines with great concentration and perfume. Organically cultivated on a hillside of chalky gravel and clay, it is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Montepulciano, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan & 10% Alicante. Aged 4 months in used oak, it displays dark red fruits, earthiness, tobacco and smoke accented with herbal, brambly notes. The palate weight is pure Cabernet Sauvignon- balanced by its acidity and lingering tannic finish. A wonderful pairing with steaks and roasted meats or stews. $23.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. Lots of new beers in this week from Wormtown, Jack's Abby, Rogue, Bear Republic, Anderson Valley, Magic Hat, Left Hand, Founders, Evil Twin, Oskar Blues, Uinta, Great Divide & Stone! Open Sundays through Christmas

Cheers!

'Tis the Season!

Notes From the Cellar….. Happy December and the return of normal weather for these parts. With the holidays upon us and parties at home or work, let us help you find the perfect accompaniments for your festivities. Customizable for any taste and budget, allow us to help select any wine, craft beer or spirits for your holiday needs. Delivery is available to your location to help simplify matters for you. Also available are gift certificates that make great stocking stuffers and customizable gift boxes that make for great gift ideas for business associates and wine lovers! (Please allow 3-5 days for packaging) This weekend we will be featuring a few delicious, well-made wines that will help to liven up the holiday festivities and provide some needed respite from all the bustle of the season! Join Friday from 3-6 and Saturday anytime to sample these tasty selections. ’14 Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury, New Zealand- Sustainably farmed and grown on the cool, windy coast of New Zealand, this Sauvignon Blanc displays all the citrusy, tropical fruits we love from the region with a silky texture and crisp acidity that makes it food friendly and easy drinking. ’13 Mâcon-Péronne, Domaine de la Condemine “Tradition” Chardonnay, Burgundy, France- A mix of vines 35-100 years old, this sustainably farmed and hand harvested, unoaked Chardonnay shows lovely floral aromas and a bright fruit character balanced by fresh acidity. Rich and amazingly buttery you’d swear this was aged in oak! ’13 Valdibella Jaki Rosso, Sicily, Italy- A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and the local Nero d’Avola that is Organically farmed at higher elevations, it displays ripe red and black fruits characteristic of both varietals with a dark tarry, meaty edge that gives it extra body and a smooth tannic finish. Also open we have a couple reds- a hearty Priorat and Langhe Nebbiolo that make for a great pairing for those Christmas roasts! As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. Lots of new beers in this week from Wormtown, Jack's Abby, Rogue, Bear Republic, Anderson Valley, Magic Hat, Left Hand, Founders, Evil Twin, Oskar Blues, Uinta, Great Divide & Stone...whew! Open Sundays through Christmas

Cheers!

For Your Thanksgiving Table!

Notes From the Cellar….. With less than a week before Thanksgiving, we’ll be open every day and pouring lots of tasty, food-friendly French wines* great for feasting with family & friends! We have an exciting selection picked, and there will be something open every day until Thanksgiving with selections made to help wash down our hearty meals. (Holiday hours listed below) *Mostly French wines... there's a couple we had to sneak in there :) This week’s line-up will include the following: (different day- different wines) The Whites: '14 Le Plan des Moines "Les Silènes" Blanc, Côtes du Rhone, France $13.99 '13 Emile Beyer Riesling Tradition, Alsace, France $23.99 '14 Limoux, Chateau Rives-Blanques "Odyssée" Chardonnay, Languedoc, France $18.99 '14 Andreas Diehl Gewurztraminer, Pfalz, Germany $18.99 '14 Spáter-Veit "Rotschiefer" Feinherb Riesling, Mosel, Germany $16.99 The Reds: NV Dibon Cava Rosé, Spain $14.99 '13 Hautes Côtes de Nuit, Domaine Moillard Bourgogne, Burgundy, France $24 '14 Beaujolais Villages, Jean-Marc Burgaud "Les Vignes de Thulon", France $14.99 '14 Chénas, Pascal Aufranc, Cru du Beaujolais, France $17.99 '13 Brouilly, Les Frères Perroud "Amethyste" Cru du Beaujolais, France $19.99 '12 Anjou Rouge, Clos de la Cerisaie, Loire, France $18.99 '12 Mas d'Intras "Cuvée La Souche" Syrah, Ardeche, France $15.99 '13 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domain des 3 Cellier "Alchimie", Rhone, France $29.99 And don’t forget the rosé- sparkling or still is a great start to a big meal and pairs wonderfully with turkey and that cranberry sauce! As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. For beer we have a limited collaboration between Evil Twin & Two Roads as well as: Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale, Baxter, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, Cisco, Samuel Smith, Long Trail, Stillwater and Revolution. New Hours for the Holidays: Opening early Wednesday Nov. 25 at 9:00am Open Sundays 12:00-5:00 through Christmas Open Monday of Thanksgiving week and Christmas week 10:30-8:00

Cheers!

Holiday Kickoff!

Notes From the Cellar….. Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away!! I repeat, Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away!! Unbelievable as it may sound- but the days are shorter, the leaves have fallen and the holidays are upon us. We’ll do what we can to help with wines geared for cold weather and holiday cooking as well as great beer and spirit options to keep you warm and ready to celebrate. Stop by Friday 3-6 and anytime Saturday to sample some tasty wines that are sure to please while entertaining or dining. ’14 Branko Collio Friulano, Friuli, Italy- Italy’s northeastern corner is its powerhouse for sleek, modern white wine production- specifically the DOC of Collio, tucked in the hills by the Slovenian Alps. Here winemaking is dominated by family-owned producers; and besides some fantastic Pinot Grigios, the grape of choice is Friulano (previously known as Tocai Friulano until the Hungarians took umbrage to anything that sounded like their famed Tokaji, but that’s a story for another time). Showing green apple, stone fruits and a little almond, it is fresh and clean on the palate with some added texture from a small amount of oak aging. Pair with fish dishes as well as poultry and white wine reduced pasta dishes. $23.99 ’13 Sharecropper’s Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon- From star winemaker David O’Reilly of Owen Roe winery in Washington State comes a Pinot Noir under his second Sharecropper label. Due to the recession of the early 2000’s, farmers were having a tough time, so Owen Roe brought back the old practice of making wine out of the fruit, selling it and then repaying the farmers- Sharecropping. Fortunately the wines have been a success and they are now able to pay the farmers up front. Sourced from the Dundee Hills of Willamette Valley, 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, roasted fowl or pork dishes. $24.99 ’13 Cantine Valpane “Rosso Pietro” Barbera del Monferrato, Piedmonte, Italy- The vineyards of the Valpane Estate have been farmed since the 1700’s in its vineyards shaped like a perfect amphitheater to catch the sun. Since 1902 it has been in the hands of the Arditi family who make wonderfully approachable Barberas- drinkable young and able to be enjoyed with a wide variety of local cuisine. Delightfully aromatic with ripe black cherry, blackberry and violet, it is well structured with a lingering finish and that bright acidity that allows it to pair well with food. Pairs with lasagna, bolognese, roast pork or mushroom risotto. $16.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have new beers from Evil Twin, Stillwater Brewing's Cellar Door (get it :)), La Chouffe, Sam Smith, Cisco, Long Trail, Great Divide, Lord Hobo, Weyerbacher and Lagunitas!

Cheers!

Take a Break from Raking!

Notes From the Cellar….. It’s been yet another another beautiful …er November week?? here in New England with more totally normal weather that we’ve come to expect! This weekend we will be sampling a lively Chardonnay from one of the more respected winemaking families of Alto Adige as well as a delicious Cabernet from one of California’s up-and-coming winemakers that we have been fans of for years! Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample these new wines. ’14 Elena Walch Selezione Chardonnay, Alto Adige, Italy- In the far northern reaches of Italy, in the alpine regions close to the Austrian Alps, Alto Adige boasts hilly vineyards at higher elevations surrounded by the Alps. A melting pot of sorts, German is more commonly spoken than Italian and French varietals are more commonly planted. The Elena Walch estates have been family run for generations- with Elena and her 2 daughters at the helm of vineyards driving modern concepts and sustainability in the vineyards. The Chardonnay is produced to display its lively fruit quality and fresh acidity, fermented in stainless steel and spending several months on its lees for added mouthfeel. $18.99 ’13 Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA- One of the great values from California, the Foxglove wines from twin winemakers Bob & Jim Varner- who makes some stunning Chardonnays under the Varner label, is made from organically grown grapes sourced from Paso Robles. Big advocates of minimal oak aging of their wines in order to showcase the fruit character, their Cabernet Sauvignon is stainless steel fermented- displaying the dark fruit, cassis, cedar and savory herbs typical of Cabernet. The 2013 vintage benefitted from a drier growing season, giving it ripe fruit, great structure and a smooth tannic finish. $17.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have new beers from Brewmaster Jack, Innis & Gunn, Maine Beer Co. Revolution Brewing, Two Roads and Harpoon!

Cheers!

Friday Night Pick's

Notes From the Cellar….. Cooler weather, the trees changing colors and harvest time is here- it’s definitely Fall in New England! This weekend’s wines are great drinking on their own and versatile to enjoy with a variety of meals while keeping warm! Join us Friday & Saturday from 3-6 as we sample a couple of new additions to the shop. Bedrock Wines Shebang Cuvée III, North Coast, CA- Born into a winemaking family, Morgan Twain-Peterson has been working in the wineries since childhood, later purchasing the ancient vines of the Bedrock Vineyards. The Shebang Cuvée III is a blend of 78% dry farmed Sauvignon Blanc and old vine Chasselas and Muscadelle sourced from Mendocino & Sonoma. Aged in stainless steel with about 15% seeing new French oak for a little added texture, it is full of citrus, aromatic orchard fruits, and a touch of honey on the finish. With plenty of acidity, it is lively on the palate with a little weight and a dry finish. Pair with seafood, creamy dishes and poultry. $15.99 ’14 Altesino Toscana Rosso, Tuscany, Italy- Altesino is widely recognized as one of the top Brunello di Montalcino producers of the region with winemaker Claudio Basla at the helm. One of the more innovative wineries, they were the first to use limited aging of their everyday IGT wines in small French oak to not overwhelm the fruit with wood. The result is a wine with ripe red berries and red cherry fruit, plenty of acid and supple tannins on the finish. Medium bodied and soft on the palate, it has a lingering dry finish. Pairs well with rich pasta dishes with meat, roasted poultry and sausage. $19.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have plenty of seasonal offerings of pumpkin beers, domestic & German Oktoberfest styles, stouts & porters to keep you warm, Great Divide Fresh Hop! Also back in Massachusetts is Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA and the last of the Stone Enjoy By IPA- get 'em while they're still incredibly fresh! Event Notice: We are pleased to have the folks from Privateer Rum in the store Friday Oct. 30 from 4-6 to sample their rums and get some great cocktail ideas!

Cheers!