No Tricks- Just Treats!

Notes From the Cellar….. Not a lot of tricks around here- just treats to warm all you grown up kids out there after an evening of chasing around miniature ghosts and goblins! Stop by this weekend from 3-6 to sample a couple of great wines for the fall weather as well as new beer to the store- Nightshift Brewing from Everett! Don’t forget about our freshly stocked selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- locally produced NE Charcuterie salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork! This weekend’s wines: ’13 Evolúció, Tokaj Furmint, Hungary- Famed for its long lived sweet wines- Royal Tokaj, the Furmint grape nonetheless is capable of creating fresh and lively dry wines when grown without the development of noble rot. The vines are grown on hillsides of volcanic soils that retain heat, allowing the grapes to ripen fully for a rich fruitiness balanced by fresh acidity and a remarkable mineral character. Floral with green apple fruit and a touch of honey this wine is a tremendous value and with black birds on the label will give you a touch of trepidation when paired with the surrounding darkness of night! ’15 Celler Comunica “La Comedia”, Montsant, Spain- Surrounding the famed Catalan region of Priorat, Monstant lays at higher elevations with many of the most notable bodegas concentrated around a one-horse town named Falset that is the gateway to Priorat. Here the soils are mostly granite based typical of Monstant and perfect for ripening Garnacha. This blend of Garnacha, Carignan & Syrah come from 30 year old vines fermented & aged without the use of oak. Rich, with lively red fruit, this is an easily enjoyed wine that still maintains a depth of character and a soft lingering finish. A serious wine without any pretense, it is just the thing to uncork and have a laugh with friends! As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Mikkeller, Nightshift, Mayflower Thanksgiving, Down the Road, Maine Brewing, SoMe, Rhinegeist, Modern Times, Mystic, Singlecut & Avery.

Cheers!

Italian Wines for Your Table!

Notes From the Cellar….. It’s been an interesting week of beautiful weather with the leaves changing and beginning to fall- giving us one more round of yard work and soon, evenings by a warm fire. This weekend we will be sampling a couple of delicious wines from Italy that are easily enjoyed and pair nicely with many weeknight meals. Join us Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample these versatile Italian sippers as well as a great new fall Oktoberfest from Down the Road Brewing that is an easy drinking German style Festbier- perfect for game day! Don’t forget about our freshly restocked selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie (Moody's Deli) salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s wines: ’15 Conti di Buscareto Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Marche, IT- The Verdicchio grape has been widely planted in the Marche region of central Italy towards the eastern coast since the 14th century. Generally a pale straw colored wine with naturally high acidity, overall quality has improved as producers have begun to limit yields to produce fuller flavored grapes that balance out the higher acidity. This 100% Verdicchio from the heart of the Castelli di Jesi region is lightly colored with floral notes, lemon and green apple flavors a hint of almond and a fresh palate driven by its citrusy acidity. Pair with a variety of foods including white meat, fish, soups and risotto dishes. $14.99 ’11 Azienda Agricola Platinetti Guido, Barbera, Piedmont, IT- While Piedmont is famed for its tannic Nebbiolo grape from Barolo and Barbaresco that require long aging, Barbera is the region’s second most fashionable grape with bold flavors and deep purple color that generally sees some oak aging and can be enjoyed young. This small, family-run business in the wine region of Colline Novaresi follows Organic farming practices and a traditional winemaking philosophy with an eye to modern technology. Hand picked and aged in Slovenian oak barrels for a minimum of 15 months with another 6 months in bottle before release, this Barbera is full of rose petal & dry cherry aromas, earthy red cherry flavors that shows subtle spice from the oak treatment and as with all Barberas- lively acidity and softer tannins that make this an ideal wine to be enjoyed with the cuisine of Italy. $19.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Stone, Maine Brewing, SoMe, Finback, Rhinegeist, Modern Times, Mystic, Weyerbacher, Singlecut, Avery, Stone & Great Divide.

Cheers!

Delicious Wines for Your Table!

Notes From the Cellar….. Autumn is here in its golden glory along with fall harvests and fresh cooking. This weekend we will be sampling two wines from Burgundy, both excellent examples of grapes displaying the character of their place of origin, though one comes with a twist! Both are easily enjoyed on their own but make excellent pairings with meals of the season! Please join us Friday from 4-7 and Saturday as we sample these wines as well as Modern Times Hoppy Amber from San Diego! Don’t forget about our freshly restocked selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie (Moody's Deli) salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s selections: ’15 Sylvaine & Alain Normand Mâcon La Roche Vineuse Chardonnay, Burgundy, FR- Located just to the north of the famed region of Pouilly-Fuisse is located the village of La Roche Vineuse known for its rocky, limestone-rich soils that are responsible for the lively fresh acidity of the Chardonnay grapes grown there. The Mâcon is slightly warmer than the northern regions of Pinot fame and is definitely white wine country, able to ripen the grapes a little more to produce Chardonnays of greater richness and texture while maintaining zesty acidity. As with most Chardonnays of the Mâcon, this is aged without the use of oak but undergoes long fermentation on its lees giving it increased richness on the palate. With an intense, rich nose of white flower and white fleshed fruit balanced by crisp acidity, it is a wonderful complement to many dishes including poultry & fish, rich sauces and mushrooms or root vegetables. $19.99 ’13 Maison Guillot-Broux, Mâcon Rouge Gamay, Burgundy, FR- Gamay is generally known to be produced in the far southern end of Burgundy in the region of Beaujolais The soils of Beaujolais are granite heavy and produce wines of a more vivid, fruity character. When grown further north in the Mâcon with its soils of clay and limestone, the wines take on greater depth of fruit and a more rustic edge. Grown Organically from older vines, this Gamay shows violet aromas, darker red fruit & spice followed by light touch of oak and backed by Gamay’s fresh acidity and low tannin. Generally under-appreciated, Gamay is one of the more enjoyable wines to drink and are wonderful accompaniments to virtually any dish. $19.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Maine Brewing, SoMe, Finback, Rhinegeist, Modern Times, Mystic, Weyerbacher, Singlecut, Avery, Stone & Great Divide.

Cheers!

Wines for a Sports Weekend!

Notes From the Cellar….. It’s a big weekend for sports around here with the Sox back where they belong in the playoffs and something else happening Sunday…. oh ya- Brady’s back and his vengeance will be swift and wondrous! This weekend we thought we’d open a couple wines from smaller producers who pride themselves in the art of their winemaking craft and are not afraid to push the boundaries of the traditional. Join us this Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample a little greatness in a glass to take home and sit back and enjoy the fun! Don’t forget about our freshly restocked selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie (Moody's Deli) salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s line-up: ’15 Ottella RoseRoses Rosato IGT, Lombardy, IT- With a beautiful, sunny weekend on hand we thought a rosé from Italy would be appropriate as that was the last place Brady was cited enjoying his last week of exile contemplating all manners of retribution. With warm days complementing the warm thoughts of revenge he was likely sipping some soft, quenching Italian Rosato to sooth and calm his spirit. A blend of the grapes of Valpolicella, this is a light pink rosé with flavors of white peach, mineral sensations on the palate and fine acidity. $14.99 ’15 Luigi Baudana, “Dragon” Langhe Bianco, Piedmonte, IT- Luigi Baudana is one of the last garagiste estates in Langhe now under the direction G.D. Vajra. With just 4 quality hectares, they are located in some of the most prestigious Barolo crus. Sustainable and dry farmed, the Dragon is a blend of mostly Chardonnay & some Sauvignon with a touch of Riesling and Nascetta from cooler sites more suitable for growing white grapes on 14 million year old Helvation soils. Round on the palate from the Chardonnay, this displays all the tropical fruit of the Sauvignon with a touch of the peach & flowers of Riesling and crisp acidity to keep the wine lean & fresh. $19.99 ’13 Groundwork Grenache by Sans Liege, Central Coast, CA- Curt Schalchlin is every bit the cult wine maker of California who discovered wine after college and abandoned his background to immerse himself in the world of winemaking. The wines of the Rhone are what he became fascinated with, but developed a philosophy of expressing the heritage of the Rhone while embracing the freedom of the New World to create wines that did not need to follow rules to be expressive- hence the name “Sans Leige”- “without allegiance”. The Groundwork Grenache is a single varietal expression that is both dark and juicy while maintaining a textured depth of character- ripe strawberry & blackberry backed by liquorice, cocoa & savory spice with a long dry finish. $24.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Rhinegeist, Modern Times, Mystic, Weyerbacher, Innis & Gunn, Fullers, Dogfish, Singlecut, Avery, Stone & Great Divide.

Cheers!

Wines to Warm the Soul!

Notes From the Cellar….. With the cooler days of fall setting in we’ve decided to open a few wines that will keep you warm and complement heartier dishes with the flavors of the fresh harvests. Join us this Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample these wines with elegance and body. Don’t forget about our freshly restocked selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s line-up: ’14 Mossback Chardonnay Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA-From family owned vineyards in the cool climate of the Russian River Valley where the long growing season allows for the slow ripening of fruit while balancing acidity is able to be maintained. Cool fermented and aged in Hungarian oak that imparts subtle hints of vanilla and spice. Fresh with bright tropical fruit character and crisp acidity, it maintains a full body and a long finish. $17.99 ’07 Amisfield Pinot Noir, Central Otago, NZ- Amisfield Wine Company’s Estate Vineyard is situated slightly north of the 45th Parallel at the foot of the Pisa mountain range of Central Otago. Central Otago is growing in recognition for lively, bright fruited Pinot Noirs due to the exceptionally sunny, hot days at high elevation. With cold nights that help to build acidity, the resulting wines are remarkably balanced with layered fruit profiles. Full of dark red berries and dark cocao and earthy undertones it maintains a rich palate and fresh acidity. $19.99 NV Mouton Noir, Horseshoes & Handgrenades Red, USA- Sourced from vineyards across the Southern Oregon and Washington State’s Red Mountains, Mouton Noir is a Garage Winemaking project of sommelier Andre Hueston Mack who left his career in restaurants to make fun, accessible wines from grapes sourced from a reliable set of vineyards. A rich, fruit driven blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot, this is a full bodied wine that maintains complexity while embracing the winemaker’s fun loving sense of humor! $24.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Innis & Gunn, Fullers, Harpoon, Dogfish, Singlecut, Maine Beer Mo, Avery, Stone, Aeronaut, Mayflower & Great Divide.

Cheers!

Post Equinox Wines!

Notes From the Cellar….. With fall officially on hand and the seasons slowly changing over, we are in the process of hunting (i.e. tasting lots and lots of wine!) for new and exciting offerings to take us into the holidays and cozier months. This weekend we will be sampling a textured and balanced Pinot Gris from Oregon, a smooth, easy-drinking red blend and of course, Rosé from Provence! Stop by Friday from 3-6 and Saturday to sample these wines and see what’s new! Don’t forget about our great selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s line-up: '15 Domaine de la Chapelle St. Victor Rosé, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France- Family owned since the 1940's by the Breban family who started making sparkling wines in their garage, this organically farmed blend of Grenache, Cincault & Syrah is a classically styled Provence rosé- pale pink with sweet berry fruits, rose petals and refreshing acidity. $14.99 ’14 Portlandia Pinot Gris, Oregon- Hand-selected wine lots predominantly from Larkin Vineyard (between Amity and Dallas, Oregon). The Van Duzer Corridor allows this site to get cool breezes from the Pacific during the hot summer months. This allows for a longer hang-time in the vineyard to fully ripen the grapes while maintaining balanced acidity. With aromas and flavors of green apple, pear and citrus, it is medium bodied and warmly textured with fresh acidity that quenches the palate. $19.99 ’12 Domaine Magellan Pezenas Rouge, Languedoc-Roussillon, France- One of the more inventive vintners in the Languedoc is former Burgundy winemaker Bruno Lafon, who moved to the Languedoc in 1998 to start his own winery. Lafon, whose brother Dominique oversees the famed Burgundian estate of Comtes Lafon shies away from the use of new oak barrels because he values the pure fruit flavors that his grapes provide. A 50/50 blend of sustainably farmed Grenache and Syrah this has bright red raspberry and dark berry fruit with hints of rose petal and black pepper, a silky texture and a long smooth finish with fine tanning structure. $19.99 As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Innis & Gunn, Fullers, Harpoon, Dogfish, Singlecut, Maine Beer Mo, Avery, Stone, Aeronaut, Mayflower & Great Divide.

Cheers!

Wines for Cooler Days!

Notes From the Cellar….. We have a beautiful weekend in store with delightful days and cool nights to enjoy the changing of the seasons. Fall beers are out and we are in harvest time which calls for heartier meals to keep warm with. Join us this Friday from 3-6 and Saturday as we sample a fuller-bodied Chardonnay from Napa and a rich, silky Cabernet from Chile as well as one of our favorite rosés of the season from Austria- that’s right, it's still rosé season! You heard it here first- drink rosé until Thanksgiving!! Don’t forget about our great selection of artisan cheeses and charcuterie- new to the store are locally produced NE Charcuterie salamis made from Massachusetts Heritage Pork. This weekend’s selections: ’15 Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Cistercien Rosé, Kamptal, Austria- The name may be a mouthful, but this rosé is nothing but lean and elegant with fragrant roses and fresh berry and cherry fruit. With long vibrant fruit and refreshing acidity, its fantastic food companion that will keep you thinking of eternal summer! ’13 Cultivar Chardonnay, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, California- From the winemaking team of Caspar wines of Rutherford (Allocation list only) comes their Cultivar lines of wines sourced from some of Napa’s best sub-AVAs. Oak Knoll being one of the cooler climates in Napa lends itself to Chardonnay, producing a wine with baked apple and melons, balanced acidity and a restrained sense of oak from the use of predominately used French Oak. ’11 Haras de Pirque Hussonet Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile- In the heart of the Maipo Valley, the Haras estate is a partnership between the Antinori family of Tuscany and the Matte family of Chile. All estate fruit, the grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted prior to crush. Deep purple with an aromatic nose, natural herbs and spiciness dominate the fresh flavor of this wine. Typical notes of Maipo are present with its dark fruit, tobacco, earthiness and mineral notes. Elegant and long lasting in the palate with fine, grainy tannins. As always take 10% off any 3 wines we are tasting. On the beer front we have newer arrivals from Singlecut, Maine Beer Mo, Avery, Stone, Aeronaut, Mayflower, Dogfish 120min & Great Divide.

Cheers!