3/24/17 SPRING BREAK/MARCH MADNESS FRIDAY SIPS


FRIDAY SIPS
Spring Break March Madness
Today March 24 from 1:30 - 6:30
It’s the start of Spring Break as well as Day Two for the Sweet 16 of March Madness. What this all means is that we are uncorking some kickass juice for Today’s Friday Sips. School’s out we got Bs and Cs on our wine report card, which are always good marks. Costanti, Burgundy, Cava and whatever else may be uncorked. So if you are in town, stop by to sample wines that we normally don’t uncork for Friday tastings. We will also be showing the NCAA games on the TV for those who have betting or bracket interest.


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2012 Conti Costanti
Rosso di Montalcino
Special - $26.99 btl./$323.88 case

The Costanti family has been part of Montalcino since 1555. Montalcino residents are a tightly knit community, with a strong sense of identity and deep love for their territory. After all, they are producing the purest and most profound expression of Sangiovese in the world. Andrea Costanti is one of the ambassadors of this great Tuscan appellation and after meeting him for the first time ever a few weeks back, I came away even more impressed after finding out that he has always resisted the urge to expand beyond his 5000 cases. The reason being, he has never wanted to have land that isn’t around his winery.

With one taste of Andrea's wine, it is clear that he is rooted in great local traditions yet he is receptive to what is going on in the international wine community. The Costanti vineyards are located in the Matrichese cru, the central area and the heart of Montalcino, a territory that produces wines of the greatest complexity and elegance. The biggest thing he explained about this wine is that 2012 is a 5-star vintage for Montalcino. This awesome Rosso is luscious and ripe with red berry fruit, roasted sage, and violet and rich earth notes. There is a beautiful note of purity once this wine hits the mouth, with a core of ripe cherry, Tuscan roasted herbs and fine tannins that are both ripe and yet add a beautiful frame for the rich and decadent fruit to be at the forefront. This is a wine that to be consumed with a fine meal, especially roasted meat dishes, pasta with sage and butter preparations and it would make a mushroom dish sing. This is a Rosso really wanting to be a Brunello and often outdoes many of its more famous Brunello brethren. Drink over the next decade.



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2014 Pillot Beaune Boucherottes
Premier Cru
$39.99 btl./$479.88 case

Through marriage, Laurent Pillot scored red wine vineyards from several grand villages within the Cotes-de-Beaune. Boucherottes is a Premier Cru vineyard in southern portion of the Beaune appellation and a stone’s throw from Pommard. This beautiful parcel planted between 1966 and 1996 presents a terroir that is warm and plush, on a slightly stony, brown limestone soil adjacent to the Pommard 'Boucherottes' Premier Cru. Laurent has a mere 1.13 acres of this Cru and usually about 200 cases are ever produced.

A 100% different profile in comparison to the red Chassagne that we poured last week. Licorice, quite botanical and floral with underlying red and black raspberry. Cinnamon and cocoa arrive. Excellent depth and prominent spice as is usually the case on this wine. Classy on the finish. While there is always excellent aging potential to this Beaune Premier Cru, this wine always provides early enjoyment and can be had with a Sunday roast. Drink through 2026.



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2011 Agusti Torello Mata Cava
Brut Gran Reserva
$23.99 btl./$143.94 - six pack

It has been quite a long time since we have been able to feature the bubbly wines from Agusti Torello Mata. Often times Cava can be stereotyped and referred to as being industrial. While this region South of Barcelona certainly has refinery producers like Frexinet and Segura Viudas, there is a thriving scene of growers producing great sparkling wines that are more than just eye opening. One of the greatest sparkling wine producers outside of France, Augsti Torello is the renowned godfather of the grower Cava producers. What makes it so special? Agustí Torelló makes small quantities of hand crafted sparkling wines based around the areas indigenous varietals of Parellada, Macabeo, and Xarel-lo and this cuvee was disgorged in early January so a good 5+ years on the lees.

Refined aromas of lemon, biscuit, and mineral entice on the nose. Tightly focused and very elegant flavors of hazelnut, lemon, and spice. This has some very serious high-class mousse. No comparisons here to Champagne, as this wine is special in itself. Lovely on its own, it does work very well at the table with shellfish, fish, and poultry. If you love bubbly, do not miss this! We also hate to remind you, but Mother’s Day, Easter and Summer will be here soon enough, and there is an excellent chance that this wine will be gone by the time they roll around, so stock up now!

These 3 selections...and whatever other surprises may be opened. Come on by today, March 24!