Wines of the Month – 2012 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc & 2011 Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir

November 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

2012 Angeline Sauvignon Blanc, Russina River Valley, California $13

Angeline 2012 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc is produced from three different Russian River Valley vineyards: Dempel, Herrick and Ricioli. The Russian River Valley is known for a coastal influence that often brings fog to the area. One vineyard is located in a slightly warmer part of the appellation which offers rich, ripe fruit character. The other vineyard is in a cooler area which brings nice acidity and a really intense varietal character to the wine. Angeline has a track record for producing savory, delicious Sauvignon Blanc at an inexpensive price. The wine is dry, but rich in honey, papaya and gooseberry flavors, brightened by brisk acidity. This wine received 89 points from Wine Enthusiast. We paired this with halibut baked with light garlic cream for a delicious combination. Alcohol: 13.9%

2011 Baileyana Firepeak Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, California $22

This is a story about how a family’s involvement in the wine industry has grown over the years. Jack Nivens founded Paragon Vineyard, the family wine business, in the 1970’s in the Edna Valley. His wife Catharine caught the bug from him, and planted a few acres in their front yard. Her project grew into what is now Baileyana Winery. Her sons bought more acreage for their Firepeak Vineyard. The wine being featured is a perfect example of Grand Firepeak Cuvee. This is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with loads of flavor with aromas of dark chocolate, raspberry, dark cherry, blueberry, root beer and a touch of anise following straight through to the palate. Hints of white pepper and spice round it out nicely. The finish is long and filled with bright red fruits. The yield for this 2011 vintage was light but the rich quality of the grapes make this a lovely wine. This is a great holiday wine since it pairs with everything – turkey, salmon, pork. Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: California, Edna Valley, Featured wine, Pinot Noir, Russian River, Sauvignon Blanc

Wines of the Month – 2012 Domaine Pichot Vouvray, Loire Valley & 2011 Terrassess du Frigoulet, Languedoc-Roussillon

October 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for October – 2012 Domaine Pichot Vouvray, Loire Valley & 2011 Terrasses du Frigoulet, Languedoc-Rousillon

2012 Domaine Pichot Vouvray, Loire Valley $17

Vouvray wines are unique and have quite unparalleled qualities. In fact, very few appellations in the world are made from a single, quite rare grape variety as is the case here with the Chenin Blanc grape also referred to as Pineau de la Loire. This 2012 Vouvray is known as Le Peu de la Moriette. This is a semi-dry wine with perfect balance between dry and sweet which makes this a perfect choice for seafood or poultry prepared with creamy or citrus sauces. It combines freshness and roundness on the palate so it works well as a appertif then carries all the way through a meal. Expect prices on Vouvray to rise due to summer storm damage in the region. Hail storms destroyed this year’s grapes and did a great deal of damage to vines.

2011 Terrasses du Frigoulet, Languedoc-Rousillon $11

Terrasses du Frigoulet is a blend made from hand harvested, de-stemmed fruit. The blend for the 2011 vintage is 35% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre from 100% estate bottled fruit. Wine Spectator gave this wine a 90 and describes it as a big powerful red with concentrated mulberry, dark plum, blackberry and baked cherry flavors. The finish offers a taste of chocolate. This is a “country style” wine that is great with stews, hearty soups and roasted meats.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Doamine Pichot, Featured wine, France, Languedoc-Rousillon, Loire Valley, Terrasses du Frigoulet, Vouvray

Wines of the Month – Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio 2011, Sicily & LeSalette Valpolicella Classico 2011, Veneto, Italy

September 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for September – 2011 Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio, Sicily & 2011 Le Salette Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy

2011 Purato Catarratto/Pinot Grigio IGT, Sicily $12

Purato Catarratto-Pinot Grigio IGT 2011 has 60% Catarratto which gives more body to the 40% Pinot Grigio. The blending of these two grapes creates an enjoyable, everyday drinking wine that offers intense aromas of both citrus, tropical fruit flavors and a hint of dried herbs. The palate is beautifully weighted with fine texture, balanced acidity and a lingering dry finish. This is perfect with seafood or as an aperitif. The packaging of this wine is interesting since the bottle is 85% recycled glass and the labels are recycled paper with vegetable ink. Even the wine cases are made with recycled cardboard. Alcohol: 13%

2011 LeSalette Valpolicella Classico DOC, Veneto, Italy $17

This is wine is produced in the viticulture zone, Valpolicella. Le Salette Valpolicella Classico DOC 2011 is 50% Corvina, 40% Rondinella and Sangiovese, 5% Molinara and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon – a classic Valpolicella blend. After decades of less than stellar wines Valpolicella has come back with more refined vintages. The color of this wine is a dark red ruby with garnet highlights. The bouquet is intense and full of dry fruit and spices. The palate is soft and balanced with a long finish very much like a Beaujolais. This is a great wine to pair with end of summer steaks on the grill. Alcohol: 12.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Catarratto, Featured wine, Italy, Le Salette, Pinot Grigio, Purato, Sicily, Valpolicella, Veneto

Wines of the Month – 2012 Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne & 2011 Tortoise Creek “Les Oliviers” Pinot Noir

June 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for June – 2012 Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne, France & 2011 Tortoise Creek “Les Oliviers” Pinot Noir, France

2012 Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne, Gascony, France $10

Mont Gravet is a delicious dry, fruit forward wine made from Colombard grapes. It has beautiful fragrant aromas of fresh pears and peaches. The wine comes from superb vineyard sites in the Gascony region, near the city of Toulouse. The name refers to the beautiful rocky hillside vineyards where the grapes are grown. Chilled to 50 degrees this wine is perfect as a summer aperitif or as a pairing with summer’s fresh seafood. Alcohol: 11.5%

2011 Tortoise Creek “Les Oliviers” Pinot Noir, Limoux, France $14

This is a charming and elegant Pinot Noir that comes from the cooler wine region of Limoux, close to the Pyrenean Mountains in southwest France. It is deep in color and soft with lovely aromas of raspberries and cherries. This is less “jammy” than its Californian cousins. It is more Burgundian and delicate and is a gorgeous food wine. Works well with roast meats, tuna, salmon and cheeses. Alcohol: 13%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Colombard, Featured wine, France, Mont Gravet, Pinot Noir, Tortoise Creek

Wines of the Month – 2011Tamellini Soave & 2010 G. D. Vajra Langhe Rosso

May 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for May – 2011 Tamellini Soave, Veneto, Italy & 2010 G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmonte, Italy

2011 Tamellini Soave, Veneto, Italy $17

Soave is the most famous white “Demominazione Di Origine Contratollato” wine in Italy. The DOC covers wines made from Garganega grapes grown on the hillsides east of Verona in the VEneto wine region. In 1998 Gaetano Tamellini felt his estate grown grapes were better than those being pooled together by the Soave Co-Op. He took the risk to join 20 other growers who have broken away and now bottle their own wines from their individual estates. Tamellini’s Soave is a great example of why he did this and has now succeeded. His wine is dry, fresh with a slight almond note at the end. The nose is fragrant, flowery and fruity. This is a great wine for warm weather entertaining and light meals on the patio. Great with mild-flavored fish and light pasta dishes. Around our area flounder and clams fit that bill. Alcohol: 12%

2010 G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont, Italy $14

Vajra Rosso is one of the gallery owner’s favorite reds. Customers who know this wine are pleased to find it on our shelves. This is a blend which for the wonderful 2010 harvest, Vajra used 80% Dolcetto, 15% Barbara and 5% blend of Freisa, Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir. This is dark ruby in color. The nose on this wine is earthy with red currants and black cherry. On the palate the cherry stands with black raspberry on first taste then the wine opens to be herbaceous. This is a wine that can be enjoyed when young yet it will hold for 5 years. The foods of the Piedmont region pair perfectly with this Rosso. Think about using this with antipasti, aged cheese and Italian salami or prosciutto. A great red meat or meat pasta wine. Alcohol: 13%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Featured wine, G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Italy, Soave, Tamellini

Wines of the Month – 2011 La Cana Albarino & 2011 Honoro Vera Monastrell

March 30, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for April – 2011 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain & 2011 Honoro Vera Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

2011 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain $20

This wine is part of the Jorge Ordoñez Selection. Ordoñez is one of the best ambassadors of Spanish wines in the world. He has developed his project of producing his own wines from different Spanish denominations of origin. They are wines of extraordinary quality and personality, particularly, Albariños from La Cana. This is a very cool white. The aromatics are white peach, pear, honey, apple and a curious ginger-like component. The mouth follows suit, with a bright citrus-lime acidity and a complex white fruit arrangement. There is good, palate-pleasing heft and weight, but it is not ponderous. Albarino is a great white when you want a switch from Sauvignon Blanc and still want complexity and depth. This is one of the better ones around. It’s from Rias Baixas in the northwest corner of Spain, north of Portugal. Use anytime you would pour a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Alcohol: 12.5%

2011 Honoro Vera Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain $11

In Spain, Mourvedre is known as Monastrell or Mataro, and it is planted heavily on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, including the appellations of Jumila and Yecla. Good examples come from Bodegas Castano and Bodegas El Nido. This Monastrell is opaque ruby in color with aromas and flavors of cherry, licorice, black tea, with spice and violet accents. It is spicy and energetic, finishing with zesty cut and good lingering sweetness. You get no heat from this appealingly open-knit wine’s alcohol; it’s an outstanding value that pairs well with rustic fare like meat-based stews and roasts. Alcohol: 15%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Featured wine, Honoro Vera Monastrell, Jorge Ordonez, Jumilla, La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain

Wines of the Month – 2011 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Vision Sauvignon Blanc & 2010 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

February 28, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for March – 2011 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc & 2010 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Colchauga Valley, Chile

2011 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Colchauga Valley, Chile $14

The strong Pacific Ocean influence and red clayish soils concur to foster this refreshing, crisp, pale yellow-green wine. In nose, very fine grapefruit, white flowers and citric hints combine with a perfect mineral character. It’s an expressive Sauvignon Blanc, with a mineral and slightly salty mouth, with great acidity and a lovely long finish.

2010 Cono Sur Vision Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Colchauga Valley, Chile $14

Fresh, elegant and aromatically intense, this Pinot Noir from Colchagua Valley is dressed in a beautiful, bright ruby red colour. Fruit notes of cherry, ripe strawberry, and raspberry combine with hints of chocolate and cacao. In mouth it is silky, full, structured, and persistent, with fruity notes and soft tannins.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Chile, Colchagua Valley, Cono Sur, Featured wine, Pinot Noir, Sauvingnon Blanc

Wines of the Month – 2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc & 2008 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

February 1, 2013 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for February – 2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, CA & 2009 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, CA

2011 Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, California $12

Dry Creek Vineyard is one of the few remaining family owned wineries left in California. With more than 40 years of grape growing and winemaking experience, the Stare family efforts continue to focus on the quality of wine in the bottle. Dry Creek’s Chenin Blanc consistently receives “best buy” and exceptional reviews. In 2012 this wine was in the Top 10 of the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition. Winemaker Comments: ” The 2011 vintage perfectly represents our love for this wonderful grape variety. Fragrant aromas of pineapple, white peach, melon and citrus leap from the glass. A few swirls reveal an underlying minerality, even some chalky notes, which are an ode to the variety’s Loire Valley roots. The palate expresses soft apple characters, zesty citrus and a wonderful sense of balance and freshness.” This is certainly a lovely crisp, dry wine for warmer weather, but I find this the perfect wine for winter’s salty seaside oysters – raw, roasted, fried or stewed. Alcohol: 12.5%

2008 Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, California $25

Dry Creek produces a Bordeaux style blend that receives solid reviews from Wine Enthusiast– the 2007 received a 90 and the 2008 a 91. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc – all produced from the Dry Creek Valley region. Winemaker Comments: “The 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon displays elegant aromas of raspberry, sage and dried flowers. On the palate, the flavors intermingle with black cherry and chocolate creating a mouthful of silky, well-integrated tannins. With some airing, the wine fleshes out even more providing dimension, depth and length. The finish lingers on for more than a minute with fine tannins that are very elegant and structured. Simply delicious!” As a Baltimore Ravens fan I hope to let this wine breathe and enjoy it on Super Bowl Sunday. This is a wine for a special winter day! Alcohol: 14.5%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyards, Featured wine, oysters, Ravens, Super Bowl

Wines of the Month – St. Kilda Chardonnay & Coriole Vineyards Sangiovese/Shiraz

December 31, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for January – 2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia & 2010 Coriole Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia

2011 St. Kilda Chardonnay, Southeast Australia $10

St Kilda Chardonnay is named after a beachside suburb of Melbourne, Australia. St Kilda’s Chardonnay is crisp and fruity. This is not a California style Chardonnay (buttery and heavy.) The St. Kilda Chardonnay drinks well above the price point. This wine is light and tangy with notes of apple, lime, and apricot. It has a nice minerality, which follows closely with the nose. The finish is long for an inexpensive wine with a nice acidity. The St. Kilda Chardonnay pairs nicely with food, particularly chicken or game birds. Alcohol: 12.5%

2010 Coriole Vineyards Sangiovese/Shiraz, McLaren Valley, Australia $14

Coriole Vineyards was established by the Lloyd Family in 1967. The earliest vineyards date from 1919, in the “Seaview” sub-region of the McLaren Vale Wine Region in South Australia. The main variety is Shiraz, followed by Sangiovese and Chenin Blanc. In this this popular blend Shiraz adds an attractive warmth and richness to the leanness of Sangiovese. Both the Sangiovese and Shiraz for this wine are sourced from Coriole’s estate vineyards. This is a wine that shows the best characteristics of both varieties. Some richness and lushness comes from the Shiraz with the Sangiovese imparting a savory, structural edge. The nose shows red currant, cherry, dark chocolate and earthiness. Hints of licorice and spice lead into a medium bodied, juicy palate that displays dark berry and red fruit. This is a great wine for hearty pastas and other rich Italian dishes. Alcohol: 14%

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Australia, Chardonnay, Coriole Vineyards, Featured wine, McLaren Valley, Sangiovese, Shiraz, St. KIlda

Wines of the Month – Dr. L Sparking Riesling & Made by G Sparkling Gamay

December 1, 2012 · by BishopsStock ·

Featured Wines for December – Dr. L Sparkling Riesling from Mosel, Germany & Made by G Sparkling Gamay, from Beaujolais, France

Dr. L Sparkling Riesling, Mosel, Germany $18

Dr. L Sparkling Riesling is 100% pure Riesling. It is made using the Charmat method, where the second fermentation is done in a pressurized tank to keep the bubbles in the wine. This method produces bright, clean sparkling wines in a more affordable way. As is usual with Riesling — especially from a cool climate like Germany’s — a juicy touch of sweetness was left in the wine to balance the naturally brisk acidity. What you end up with is a refreshing, fruit-driven sparkler that’s a pleasure to drink any time. Sparklers are always a great choice for sushi but this one is especially nice. Alcohol: 12.0%

Made by G Sparkling Gamay, Beaujolais, France $23

December’s red selection is Made by G, a sparkling Gamay from Beaujolais, France. This wine was produced from 25 year old Gamay vines. The color is very rich. While this wine is just a little off-dry, it has a natural sweetness that comes from the grapes being picked at top ripeness. There is no residual sugar. The nose is fresh and fruity with aromas of fresh grape. On the palate this sparkling bursts with startlingly bright, succulent, strawberry-like fruit. I was hesitant to select this for the wine club but after I tried it my mouth said “yes”! We served it as an aperitif at Thanksgiving and will likely serve it again at Christmas – if the supply lasts. The distributor gets an allocation of the wine so it is not always available.

Filed Under: Wine · Tagged: Beaujolais, Domaine Des Nuges, Dr. L, Featured wine, France, Germany, Made by G, Mosel, Sparkling Gamay, Sparkling Riesling