AUGUST Monthly Newsletter

NO OPEN IN STORE TASTINGS or CLASSES IN AUGUST.

The Store will be open and maintain normal hours and we offer curbside and delivery service.

THE DOG DAYS DYNAMIC DUO VIRTUAL RECORDED TASTING
Visit our SPOTLIGHT section to watch a backstage account of how we review and write notes for a Sancerre like Sauvignon Blanc and a Fresh Pinot Noir
2017 Domaine Jaeger-Defaix Rully, Cote Chalonnaise, France (Rouge/Pinot Noir)
2018 Domaine Bernard Defaix Saint-Bris, Burgundy, France (Blanc/ Sauvignon Blanc)
A perfect Combo for August!
ON sale separately (see newsletter) but buy the “Dog Days Duo” pair (1 each)
and save an additional 10%!
 

AUGUST SPECIAL OFFERS

ON SALE: 2010 Finca Sandoval Signo Bobal, Manchuela, Spain - Expand your wine horizons and try this perfectly aged Bobal (the second most common red grape variety in Spain!) from the D.O. Manchuela due east of Valencia. Here is a review from Vinous 9/13: “(90% bobal and 10% syrah; aged in used French and American oak barrels): Bright ruby. Wild, assertive aromas of dark berries, new leather and smoky minerals. Sweet red and dark berry flavors show impressive power and clarity and pick up spiciness with aeration. Closes sappy and long, with slowly building tannins and a touch of candied flowers.” (Vinous)
Reg. price: $29.99 - On Sale in AUGUST: $19.99 (while supplies last/ no further discounts)
ON SALE: 2018 Maurice Ecard Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France- Here is a great, pre –tariff price on a Bourgogne Blanc made from grapes grown right outside of the Savigny-les-Beaune appellation. The domaine is cultivated through organic methods and produces wines that purely and distinctly reflect the terroir. It is a straight forward Chardonnay with floral, ripe pear, and citrus fruit aromas and hints of crispy apple on the palate. An elegant wine with a smooth finish aged 6 months in old Oak.
Reg. price: $19.99 - On Sale in AUGUST: $15.99 (while supplies last/ no further discounts)

ON SALE: THE DOG DAYS DYNAMIC DUO.

Sancerre like Sauvignon Blanc and a Fresh Pinot Noir - A perfect Combo for August!

So, Bernard Defaix started with 2 ha in Chablis in 1959 and now his two sons Sylvain and Didier manage the Domaine which is still primarily known for its fine Chablis. They also have vineyards in Saint Bris (located in the region of Auxerre 15 km from Chablis) which is the only appellation in all of Burgundy that allows, and in fact requires you to grow exclusively the Sauvignon grape which makes this appellation an exception in all of Burgundy.  The Jaeger Defaix vineyards in Rully belonged to a great aunt who, until Defaix took over, sold the production as grapes. The fruit is presently vinified in Chablis, which makes for a roughly two hour drive though plans are now in place to build local facilities.

2017 Domaine Jaeger-Defaix Rully, Cote Chalonnaise, France (Rouge/Pinot Noir) - Translucent, light ruby to garnet in color. A softly fruity nose reflects notes of ripe raspberries and strawberry preserves, with hints of earth and spice. The racy palate has notes of sour cherries and this lighter weight pinot finishes with juicy acidity and mild tannins. A perfect foil for grilled tuna or chicken thighs.  Reg. price: $34.99 - On Sale in AUG.: $22.99 (while supplies last/ no further discounts)
2018 Domaine Bernard Defaix Saint-Bris, Burgundy, France (Blanc/ Sauvignon Blanc) – Aromas of fresh cut grass and lemons with a touch of ivy and herbs. There is a richness on the palate of this mid weight wine and a lingering, laser like minerality on the persistent, long finish. The chalky soil explains why this is so much like a fine Sancerre. Reg. price: $26.99 - On Sale in AUGUST: $16.99 (while supplies last/ no further discounts)

NEW ARRIVALS

An article in the NYT reminded us of this lesser known DOC.
2016 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica, Marche, Italy - “Pale straw-yellow. Steely, juicy, minty citrus and apple fruit aromas and flavors are very typical of Verdicchio di Matelica in general, and Bisci’s wine is almost always one of the steelier of the lot. Finishes with hints of ripe pomaceous fruit and minty herbs. About 60,000 bottles a year are made.” (Vinous 2/18)  $16.99
This is quickly becoming one of our bestselling Rosé wines – but is it a rosé?
2019 Château La Bourée, AOC Bordeaux Clairet, France -  Clairet, a term originally associated with the weak-colored, red wine, comprising of a combination of red and white grapes, made famous in the Middle Ages, following the wedding of Eleanor d ‘Aquitaine and Henry, a future English king. It is now an official Bordeaux AOC and this Clairet is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, and as opposed to harvesting early for a Rosé wine, the grapes for the Clairet are picked at the same time as those for the La Bourrée red wine. The grapes are put in a tank for 12 to 24 hours at which point the free run juice is drawn off to a separate tank where the juice is allowed to settle and clarify before fermentation begins at a low temperature. The wine rests on its fine lees for a month and a half before it is lightly filtered and bottled. It’s somewhere between a light red & a deep rosé. Fresh & crisp with medium tannins & a touch of spice. $13.99
A perfect gift for a special birthday or just because…
2017 Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, California-“The 2017 Dominus is one of the truly epic, grand wines of the vintage. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous concentration and sheer power, the 2017 Dominus captures all the personality of this site along with the natural opulence of the year. Inky dark fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, plum, gravel and a host of dark spice notes infuse the 2017 with seemingly endless layers of nuance. Over the last two years I have tasted several hundred Napa Valley Cabernets, both from barrel and bottle. There is no question that Dominus belongs among the elite in 2017; it is simply a breathtaking wine. Certainly readers looking for a Napa Valley Cabernet to cellar should put Dominus at the top of their lists.’ (Antonio Galloni, Vinous 1/20) $219.99
The wine that transformed Tuscany.
2017 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy -“…a wild, exotic beauty. Sumptuous and flamboyantly ripe, the 2017 captures all the personality of the year in spades. Super-ripe red cherry, pomegranate & spice notes all flesh out in this curvy, racy beauty from Tenuta San Guido.” (Vinous 1/20) $249.99
One of France’s few single-estate appellations, the legendary Grillet is the epicenter & definition of Viognier.
2015 Chateau-Grillet, AOC Chateau Grillet, Rhone, Fr. –“Coming from mature vines located higher on the property’s slopes, the 15 Chateau Grillet is a rich, intense, full-bodied wine of uncommon grace elegance. It delivers some of Viognier’s hallmark floral-spicy-apricot notes but is actually more about textural richness & silk, balanced by hints of citrus zest & a briny character that lingers effortlessly on the finish.” $449.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS