January Featured Wines – Mary Taylor, Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) & Mary Taylor, Sophie Siadou Valençay (2020)

Mary Taylor seeks wine producers who have not been discovered by the import market. She seeks sustainable wines that speak of the region. Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) is 100% Chenin Blanc grown in Anjou region where a chalky limestone gives a lighter expression for Chenin Blanc. Sophie Siadou Valencay (2020) is a blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Côt (or a French Malbec grape.) Valencay is a region known for its goat cheese so Ron has included a delicious salmon stuffed with goat cheese in his wine notes.

Mary Taylor, Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc (2020) $15

This a lovely young example of Chenin Blanc. The bouquet is bright and nicely high-toned in personality out of the blocks, wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, sweet quince, chalky soil tones, a touch of bee pollen and a top note of white lilies. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and cut, zesty acids and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish.  Alcohol: 12%

Mary Taylor, Sophie Siadou Valençay (2020) $17

This blend is 30% Pinot Noir, 35% Côt (Malbec), 35% Gamay. Expressing all the lightness and elegance of its high percentage of Pinot Noir, plus a wonderful floral quality, it also reveals its leaner, more structured “Malbec” side, expressed through a sturdy wash of tannins that balance its succulent flavors of raspberries, blackcurrant, and spice. A must to drink with wonderful Valencay goat cheese. Alcohol: 13.5%

November Featured Wines – Chateau La Freynelle & Chateau La Grange Clinet, Bordeaux, France

Our November wines are from Bordeaux, France. Both wines have been on our shelf for awhile but have not been introduced to the wine club. Bordeaux wines – both wine and red – are mostly blends of 2 to 3 grapes. The white grapes used are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with other grapes added in small percentages. These grapes offer a full range of dry and sweet wines. 90% of red Bordeaux blends are various combinations of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot are often used in small amounts. The quality of wines from Bordeaux make it one of the world’s most important wine regions.

2020 Chateau La Freynelle, Bordeaux, France $14

This blend has a lovely fruity nose of white peaches, citrus fruits, and beeswax. Elegant, charming palate with good fruit flavors and a smooth buttery finish. Serve chilled with seafood, pasta, chicken, veal, and pork. It is great to pair with oysters. Alcohol: 13.0%

2018 Chateau La Grange Clinet, Bordeaux, France $18

With its rich and jammy black-fruited Merlot, this wine, from a vineyard just outside the city of Bordeaux, is generous. Young, dense tannins complement the full, black fruits. It has firm tannins and fine acidity. It’s developing into a warm, ripe wine. Alcohol: 14.5%

October Featured Wines – 2020 Blue Quail Chardonnay, Mendocino, CA & 2019 Tassajara Pinot Noir, Monterey, CA

This is a full-flavored Chardonnay, the hallmark of cool weather climates. It has a bouquet of apple and pear with a long mineral finish. This is not a buttery, oaky Chardonnay. The nose is fresh and bright with orchard fruit aromas and a touch of smoke and flint. Lush notes of ripe pear and apple blend with mouthwatering acidity to give backbone. This is fruit forward and built for food. Alcohol: 13.5%

This Pinot Noir is a food-friendly and sustainably grown with rich black cherry flavors and a smooth silky finish. There’s a touch of game on the nose of this affordable and complex wine, which also shows aromas of smoked berry, clove and garam masala. Roasted strawberry and red plum meet with game, orange rind, herbs and cracked pepper on the well-seasoned palate. Alcohol: 13.5%

September Featured Wines – 2020 Bodegas LAN Rioja Blanco & 2015 Bodegas LAN Rioja Estate Reserve, Rioja, Spain

September’s wines are from the Rioja region in North Central Spain. Rioja wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of La Rioja and Navarre, and the Basque province of Álava. Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Oriental and Rioja Alavesa.

The selected wines are from Bodegas LAN. The name LAN is an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the three Rioja zones: Logroño (currently part of La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. The varietals produced in this region are Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Manzuela and Graciano. Bodegas LAN, Rioja Blanco (2020) is Viura and Bodegas LAN, Rioja Estate Bottled Reserva (2015) is a blend of Tempranillo and Manzuela. Both wines will be nice for the change of season.

Bodegas LAN, Rioja Blanco (2020) Spain $11

This Virua is straw yellow with green hues denoting its youth, LAN Blanco exhibits on the nose the herbal aromas characteristic of the grape variety, with hints of fresh fruit (apple, pear, lime). Medium bodied and round, the lemon zest and orange peel that prevail on the palate are a taste preview of its crisp finish. LAN Blanco pairs nicely with all kinds of hors d’oeuvres, pasta, mussels, shrimp and fish. Alcohol: 12.5%

Bodegas LAN, Rioja Estate Bottled Reserva, Spain (2015) $19

This wine is 92% Tempranillo and 8% Manzuela. It is an intense garnet color. It has aromas of red fruits, cherry, blackberry, blended with the notes of vanilla and spice from oak casks. The silky, well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity support the full body. Structured, fleshy, filling. Elegant, balanced and harmonious. Long aftertaste. A great wine for roasted meats and cheeses. Alcohol: 14.5%

August Featured Wines – 2020 Zolo Sauvignon Blanc Estate Grown, Mendoza & 2018 Lamadrid Single Vineyard Malbec Agrelo (2018)

2020 Zolo Sauvignon Blanc Estate Grown $13

This zesty Sauvignon Blanc from high-elevation vineyards has aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit, herbs, spice and orange blossom notes that persist through the finish. This is a refreshing wine for summer seafood. Alcohol: 13.5%

2018 Lamadrid, Single Vineyard Malbec Agrelo (2018) $16

Like all of Lamadrid’s wines, this Malbec is a 100% estate single vineyard wine. It has indigenous yeasts, and is unfiltered and unfined. The delicious flavors are plums, black pepper, and berries. This is a nice wine for grilled red meat. Alcohol: 13.6%

July Featured Wines – Bulletin Place Unoaked Chardonnay (2019) & Bulletin Place Merlot (2019), South East Australia

Our July wines come from Australia where it is winter just as we pass the Summer Solstice. The wines are from South East Australia. This area encompasses all of the state of Victoria and parts of South Australia and New South Wales. The South Eastern Australia wine region is the engine that drives the Australian wine industry. 

Evans Wine Company, was established by Len Evans to export Australian wines around the world. The principal export label, Bulletin Place, was named for Evans’ famous club and shop in Sydney. After Evans’ death in 2007, Bill Calabria, owner of Calabria Family Wines, took over the Bulletin Place label. Calabria Family Wines is a dynamic family-owned company that was established in 1945 in the Riverina region. They are committed to producing outstanding premium wines and are proud to carry on Len Evans’ great tradition through the Bulletin Place brand. 

July’s wines are Bulletin Place Unoaked Chardonnay (2019) and Bulletin Place Merlot (2019). Many of our customers enjoy unoaked Chardonnay and this one has received good reviews. Also many of our customers do not ask for Merlots so I am hoping this selection will introduce a Merlot that changes minds. During First Friday July 2 we will be tasting these wines and a Chardonnay and Shiraz from Margaret River in Western Australia.

2019 Bulletin Place Unoaked Chardonnay, South East Australia $10

This unoaked Chardonnay is clean and crisp with tart citrus and apple flavors similar to Chablis. Juicy, brambly berry flavors offer a healthy dose of toasted herb and cedar notes on an easy-drinking frame. A touch of tahini mingles with pear, apple and citrus… Drink now.  Alcohol: 13.%

2019 Bulletin Place Merlot, South East Australia $10

Fresh and crisp, with candied cherry, strawberry and dried herb notes that show touches of spice and cedar on the smooth finish. this wine This Merlot has an intense bouquet of ripe cherry, plums, and dried herbs. A flavorsome palate of sweet overtones. Drink now. Alcohol: 13.5%

Featured Wine for June – 2018 Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc & 2018 Hedges Family Estate CMS Red, Washington

2018 Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc, Washington $16

This Sauvignon Blanc is light straw in color and brilliantly clear. Peach, gooseberry, lemon curd, citrus blossom and just a tinge of orange marmalade hit the nose. On the palate are flavors of just ripe lemon, peach and a tasty touch of fresh biscuits So much about this wine is drinkable. It’s light, but not insignificant. It’s refreshing, thoughtful like a breezy summer day Absolutely enjoyable.  Alcohol: 13.5% This blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah has black cherry, raspberry, warm mulling spices with a bit of cocoa, vanilla and anise on the nose. The palate is very soft up front, has a nice creamy center and while it does pack a slight punch, it lingers into a finessed finish. With flavors of chocolate, sarsaparilla, raspberry candy, clove and cinnamon, this wine is delicious, well rounded and sure to be a crowd pleaser. Alcohol: 14%

2018 Hedges Family Estate CMS Red, Washington $16

This blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah has black cherry, raspberry, warm mulling spices with a bit of cocoa, vanilla and anise on the nose. The palate is very soft up front, has a nice creamy center and while it does pack a slight punch, it lingers into a finessed finish. With flavors of chocolate, sarsaparilla, raspberry candy, clove and cinnamon, this wine is delicious, well rounded and sure to be a crowd pleaser. Alcohol: 14%

Featured Wines for December – Jean-Louis Cuvée Brut Blanc de Blancs, Burgundy, France & Henry Fessy, Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais, France

Jean-Louis Cuvée Brut Blanc de Blancs, Burgundy, France $11

This sparkling wine is pale golden in color with delicate bubbles. It has a white fresh fruit bouquet of pear and apple. On the palette it has a clean, fresh attack on your mouth. This has a pleasant taste thanks to being a well-balanced. Enjoy the lovely small bubbles. Celebrate an occasion or just enjoy this festive sparkler. Alcohol: 11.5%

Henry Fessy, Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau, Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais, France $14

Beaujolais nouveau is a purple-pink wine reflecting its youth. The method of production means that there is a higher acidity and very little tannin. Nouveau will have very bright, fresh, red fruit flavors, such as cherry, strawberry, and raspberry, along with fruity flavors of banana, grape, fig and pear drop. The wine is recommended to be slightly chilled to 55 °F. Alcohol: 14.5%

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Featured Wines for November – Vina Falernia – Pedro Ximinex & Pinot Noir Reserva, Equi Valley Chile

Vina Falernia Pedro Ximinex $11

This wine is pale straw yellow in color. It has a brilliant, very attractive nose with floral and tropical fruit flavors. This is a nice medium body with balance of acidity and an attractive minerality, coupled with a long, crisp and refreshing finish. Enjoy chilled as an aperitif and with appetizers, salads, white meats and seafood. Alcohol: 13%

Vina Falernia Pinot Noir Reserva $13

The wine has a delicate aroma of black cherry, raspberry and strawberry, with well integrated French oak. This is a medium bodied wine with elegant and silky tannins on the palate. It pairs well with grilled river fish, spiced duck, light pizza or even most roasted vegetable dishes. This is a very versatile wine. Alcohol: 14%