Friday Sips
TURKEY WINE FRIDAY SIPS
Today November 13 from 1:00 - 6:30
Today November 13 from 1:00 - 6:30
Turkey time is fast approaching and Bryan, Karen, Sahar & Bricco are once again thankful for many things. Most of them involve alcohol but we digress. In all seriousness, we are thankful for the great support of all our customers and we wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving by uncorking three wines to go with the big bird as well as our grand-scale holiday Champagne special. Drop by today to taste ‘em all!
2013 DOMAINE DES CHERS SAINT-AMOUR
VIEILLES VIGNES
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
VIEILLES VIGNES
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Even though it’s Thanksgiving time, St-Amour is the Cru Beaujolais of love. Wilt Chamberlain, Lemmy and Prince, whatever galaxy they may be inhabiting, they would all agree that this charming wine is great for enticing any palate and especially goes very well with the big bird.
St-Amour is the northernmost Cru of Beaujolais, just across the bridge from the Macon region and Domaine des Chers takes their versions very seriously. Lamentably, with the love promotion, many wines from this Cru can be more about quantity than about quality, but not Arnaud Briday’s version. Made from 50-year-old vines and in a traditional manner, one can really see why Gamay is such a wonderful choice with turkey. Sensual hedonism at its best, this dramatic offering delivers a luminous presence of crème de framboise, smoked violet, anise, warm granite and undertones of strawberry and cinnamon-stick. Resoundingly vivacious, this gem is a total eruption of flavors that cascade through the mouth. Finishes lengthy and full of spice, but fills in beautifully with sultry fruit that coats the throat as it goes down. An undoubted miracle in the mouth! The classic pairing would be roasted chicken with mushrooms and of course, the holiday bird. We also recommend going outside the borders and having it with Indian or Moroccan cuisine as well as grilled fish.
St-Amour is the northernmost Cru of Beaujolais, just across the bridge from the Macon region and Domaine des Chers takes their versions very seriously. Lamentably, with the love promotion, many wines from this Cru can be more about quantity than about quality, but not Arnaud Briday’s version. Made from 50-year-old vines and in a traditional manner, one can really see why Gamay is such a wonderful choice with turkey. Sensual hedonism at its best, this dramatic offering delivers a luminous presence of crème de framboise, smoked violet, anise, warm granite and undertones of strawberry and cinnamon-stick. Resoundingly vivacious, this gem is a total eruption of flavors that cascade through the mouth. Finishes lengthy and full of spice, but fills in beautifully with sultry fruit that coats the throat as it goes down. An undoubted miracle in the mouth! The classic pairing would be roasted chicken with mushrooms and of course, the holiday bird. We also recommend going outside the borders and having it with Indian or Moroccan cuisine as well as grilled fish.
2012 MATELLO PINOT NOIR 'HOMAGE'
$24.99 BTL./$299.88 CASE
$24.99 BTL./$299.88 CASE
We know that many of our friends will have out of town guests arriving so what better to do than to show off some of our best producers and their wines. Matello is the brainchild of Marcus Goodfellow and since 2002, he has been putting forth exquisite Pinots that are all about poise, depth and detail of origin.
The 2012 Hommage is one of the great values in Oregon Pinot Noir. From 4 excellent vineyard sources (Durant, Whistling Ridge, Bishop Creek & Hoffarth), this 2012 totally follows the patterns of the vintage's generosity and totally delivers the goods. Sensuous, refined aromas of blackberry, strawberry and soft, slightly elusive herbs and spices careen from the glass. An underlay of earth and red-hot candy pepper tones build and build as the wine unfolds in the glass. Texturally, it's silky and seductive with clarity and exquisite finesse along with ultra-fine depth and tannins. All of the spices that are on the nose are present on the drawn-out finish. As opposed to 15 months ago when we first featured this offering, it is now starting to unfold exquisitely and will surely impress at the holiday table.
The 2012 Hommage is one of the great values in Oregon Pinot Noir. From 4 excellent vineyard sources (Durant, Whistling Ridge, Bishop Creek & Hoffarth), this 2012 totally follows the patterns of the vintage's generosity and totally delivers the goods. Sensuous, refined aromas of blackberry, strawberry and soft, slightly elusive herbs and spices careen from the glass. An underlay of earth and red-hot candy pepper tones build and build as the wine unfolds in the glass. Texturally, it's silky and seductive with clarity and exquisite finesse along with ultra-fine depth and tannins. All of the spices that are on the nose are present on the drawn-out finish. As opposed to 15 months ago when we first featured this offering, it is now starting to unfold exquisitely and will surely impress at the holiday table.
2014 BREZZA LANGHE
NEBBIOLO ROSE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
NEBBIOLO ROSE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
It is time to toss aside the archaic thought of solely drinking Rosé wine in summer. In all honesty, many pink wines show even better after summer and into the following year. If after tasting this and your mentality hasn't changed then I recommend that you go home, kick your furnace up to 84 degrees and uncork some bottles of this stellar dry pink wine to get you in the November spirit!
There are summer slamming type rose wines and then there are more serious versions such as this one from a superb Barolo producer. There is something enchanting about pairing a substantial Rose with holiday fare. 100% Nebbiolo, it is a real reflection not only of the grapes but its sand/silt/clay soils. Aromatically expressive, illuminating and glowing from the glass, there is an abundance of strawberry, mineral and savory fennel notes. In the mouth, it is intense, elevated, super-succulent and inviting from start to finish. No doubt that this will drink well into next year.
There are summer slamming type rose wines and then there are more serious versions such as this one from a superb Barolo producer. There is something enchanting about pairing a substantial Rose with holiday fare. 100% Nebbiolo, it is a real reflection not only of the grapes but its sand/silt/clay soils. Aromatically expressive, illuminating and glowing from the glass, there is an abundance of strawberry, mineral and savory fennel notes. In the mouth, it is intense, elevated, super-succulent and inviting from start to finish. No doubt that this will drink well into next year.
CHAMPAGNE AYALA BRUT MAJEUR
[reg. $54.99]
SPECIAL! - $39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
[reg. $54.99]
SPECIAL! - $39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
Our holiday 40 buck Champagne special this year is Ayala and it is well worth coming in to try today (11-13-15). We will soon be announcing our annual Bubblebath but this will have to hold you until then!
Owned by famed Champagne house Bollinger since 2005, one could refer to Ayala as a sibling house, however, the resulting bubblies differ in extreme fashion. Having been in existence since 1860, this Grandes Marques producer has gone through many periods of peaks and valleys but these days they are, as the French may say, en feu! Unlike Bollinger, Ayala utilizes less reserve wine in their blends (only up to 20%) as well as performing minimal dosage. These functions are meant to preserve the ultimate pristine quality of both the fruit and especially the minerality.
Brut Majeur is one of Ayala’s flagship cuvees. A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, this is a Champagne of significance, finesse and is utterly pristine. Beautiful qualities of seductive, elevated, green apple, melon-marmalade fruit to shine on the nose. In the mouth, the bubbles are creamy and refined and show tightly focused breadth of flavor as well as having slow-building expansion and tense minerality. The finish is long, drawn out and calls you back for another glass! Great for a pre-dinner toast as well as for pairing with a shellfish platter.
Owned by famed Champagne house Bollinger since 2005, one could refer to Ayala as a sibling house, however, the resulting bubblies differ in extreme fashion. Having been in existence since 1860, this Grandes Marques producer has gone through many periods of peaks and valleys but these days they are, as the French may say, en feu! Unlike Bollinger, Ayala utilizes less reserve wine in their blends (only up to 20%) as well as performing minimal dosage. These functions are meant to preserve the ultimate pristine quality of both the fruit and especially the minerality.
Brut Majeur is one of Ayala’s flagship cuvees. A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, this is a Champagne of significance, finesse and is utterly pristine. Beautiful qualities of seductive, elevated, green apple, melon-marmalade fruit to shine on the nose. In the mouth, the bubbles are creamy and refined and show tightly focused breadth of flavor as well as having slow-building expansion and tense minerality. The finish is long, drawn out and calls you back for another glass! Great for a pre-dinner toast as well as for pairing with a shellfish platter.
