Are you all in for a treat this qtr! Here's the case of goodies you'll be cracking open this time around.
2016 Venica & Venica 'Jersa' Pinot Grigio - Gold with copper highlights, this elegantly structured wine offers heady scents of white spring flower and orchard fruit. On the juicy, savory palate, nutmeg and mineral notes back up ripe apple, mature pear and apricot that lead to a fresh finish. $26
Jean-Paul Brun Crémant de Bourgogne NV - Brun’s non-vintage (aka NV) sparkling, the Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut “Charmes,” is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes, and is made with the same winemaking method used to produce the wines of Champagne. The wine is aged 18 months on its lees (dead yeast cells) before the wine is released, and this is only the third time that wine has ever been produced by Brun. It has a green apple and citrus character, with nuances of a chalky minerality making its presence known on the tangy, briny finish. This wine will liven up any occasion, and makes a great aperitif. Also, pair it with anything lighter, like salads and delicate seafood. $21
Chateau Moncontour Vouvray Brut NV - Chenin Blanc makes delicious when the producer tames its high acidity. This wine has a fine, fresh, gala apple flavor, crisp but not overpowering acidity, and a layer of almonds. It has fresh citrus and mineral aromas and a rich mousse with excellent acidity. This elegant sparkling wine is a great aperitif or accompaniment to caramel, cream and fruit desserts, but it can also be served with sushi and other seafood. $20
2011 Agricola Querciabella Mongrana - Fresh and clean wine with dried cherries and citrus fruit. Medium body, firm tannins and a medium finish. Needs a little more in the center palate to be outstanding. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. $25
2011 Sasa Jazz Barbaresco - Jazz Barbaresco comes from vines that are 30 years old. The color is medium red with light aromas of cherry, mint and flowers. Bright, clean and juicy followed by sweeter floral notes that develop in the glass. $27
2016 Domaine du Gros More Bandol Rosé - This rosé comes from 25% Grenache and 25% Cinsault. These grape varieties are then combined with Mourvèdre. These three grape varieties bring a large personality due to the quality of the terroir. Thanks to all these factors we can confirm this wine of Bandol is fine, delicate and has a pronounced roundness. $33
2015 Domaine Auguste Clape Vin des Amis Rouge - Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and Côtes du Rhône. A great vintage, the 2015 Le Vin des Amis should be snatched up by savvy readers. Bottled the first of September, it sports an inky color as well as classic Clape notes of violets, iron, and black and blue fruits. It comes from clay soils and is a bigger, richer and chunkier wine than the Côtes du Rhône. It is ideal for drinking over the coming 3-4 years. $28
2006 Malvira S. Guglielmo Langhe Rosso - Not even sure I can describe how this wine taste! Pretty dense ruby in color but with tons of blackberry, rich prunes and tobacco. This is a HUGE wine that needs time in the bottle. Notes of more blackberry, leather and vanilla with a super velvety finish. Why can't all wines be like this? $22
2009 Boeri 'Porlapa' Barbera d'Asti Superiore - Pörlapà presents an almost impenetrable intense ruby red color. It has persistent notes of ripe fruit with a rich body and well-balanced structure. The wine maintains a surprising freshness even after years of aging. Aged 18 months in barrels. $35
2014 Le Clos du Caillou Vieilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone Rouge - The 2014 Cotes du Rhone Le Caillou offers plenty of sweet cherry, strawberry, anise and herbes des Provence characteristics in its elegant, lightly textured and juicy style that gains more weight with aeration. This is a Grenache dominant blend including Syrah, Carignan and Mourvedre. This is essentially a de-classified Chateauneuf-du-Pape. $22
2015 Crous St. Martin Chateauneuf-du-Pape - A beautiful clean ruby color. The nose will reveal aromas of cherry, mulberry and fine spices. Sensual mouthfeel expressing depth and smoothness with aromas of kirsch, blackcurrant, followed by fine spices such as thyme, liquorice and white pepper. Tannins are present but are polished and silky. Complex wine with roundness, power and a long mouthfeel. $25
2014 Domaine des Fines Caillottes Pouilly-Fume - Blended from grapes from a range of different soils, this open, generous wine has richness and a structure that comes from the ripe apple and gooseberry fruits. The wine is textured and deserves to age. $27
