October 2021 Newsletter

October Tasting Events

                Peter’s Portugal Tasting
          THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 5:30 to 7:30
Taste and visit Portugal with our own, recently returned, Peter Neff.
      Discounts on ALL Portuguese wines during the event.

WINE TASTING EVERY SATURDAY   2:00pm-6:00pm
            “Whatever we feel like opening”
                      EXCEPT
  Saturday, October 23rd - It’s VIRGINA Wine Month
and we will be tasting our favorite VA wines from 2:00 to 6:00pm.

OCTOBER SPECIAL OFFERS

Segries looks exactly like my idea of a Rhone estate, kind of out of the way with an old small rundown castle with kids toys and located right next to their Lirac vineyards..
2018 Chateau de Segries Lirac Cuvee Reserve Rhone, France –“The cement-aged 2018 Lirac Cuvee Reservee is 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% each Carignan and Cinsault (the identical proportions as used in this estate’s Côtes du Rhône). Slightly deeper, darker and richer, it’s still a very approachable effort, loaded with black cherries and some resinous herbal notes. Medium to full-bodied, with a soft, velvety mouthfeel and a plush finish, it’s a delicious wine to drink over the near term.” (WA 7/21)
Reg. price $22.99 / On Sale in October: $17.49
Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range at the bottom of Africa in the Greyton area, Californian Samantha O’Keefe found paradise and the perfect terroir for sustainable framing practices.
2016 Lismore Syrah Greyton, South Africa – “Made with 40% whole cluster, the 2016 Syrah opens with a beautiful floral and red fruit expression of Syrah, with dark cherry skin, ripe and juicy plum, pomegranate, soft potpourri spices, subtle oak tones and nuances of red spiced tea and peppercorn. Subtly savory with energetic acidity, the medium-bodied wine expresses elegance with tart, lively red fruit and spices that sway across the mid-palate with a vibrant and food-friendly sensation. It ends with flavors of lavender, red currants & dark cherry skin on the long, lingering finish - another stellar bottling from Samantha O’Keefe.” (WA 2/21)                                                              Reg. price $48.99 / On Sale in October: $38.99

OCTOBER “From the Cellar” SPECIAL OFFERS (no further discounts) – Quantities ARE limited!

Interesting bottle conditioned wines at prices too good to pass up!

GSM blends are a staple of Barossa winemakers and this is Melton’s homage to Chateauneuf du Pape. 2002 was spectacular year and 1999 was OK. These wines routinely sell for an average of $60-80/btl (including older vintages) but here is a great opportunity to try these wines at a much different price. The ‘02 still has some primary fruits while the ’99 shows more tertiary notes.
2002 Charles Melton Wines Nine Popes Barossa Valley- “Dark red. Vibrant, lively and assertive on the nose, with aromas of plum, redcurrant, cherry, espresso and potpourri. Supple, suave and concentrated, with dark berry, chocolate, tarragon and oak spice flavors perked up by a hint of dill. Finishes a bit wound-up, flavor-wise, but with lush, supple tannins.”(Vinous 05)        Reg. price $69.99 / On Sale in October: $27.99
1999 Charles Melton Wines Nine Popes Barossa Valley- “ the superb 1999 Nine Popes (a blend of 54% Grenache, 44% Shiraz, and the rest Mourvedre), boasts a big, peppery, spicy perfume revealing scents of new saddle leather, blackberries, and cherries. Dense, full-bodied, and loaded, with no hard edges, but more structure than the Grenache, it will drink beautifully for 7-8 years.” (WA143)
                                                                    Reg. price $69.99 / On Sale in October: $22.99
BUT A NINE POPE TWO PACK FOR $39.99 ! (24- 2 packs are available)

2004 Domaine Chauvenet-Chopin Cote de Nuits-Village Burgundy, France- Created in 1985 the estate currently has around 14.50 hectares in 14 appellations. Côte de Nuits Villages is a general, higher quality, appellation for wines from five of the smaller communes: Fixin and Brochon in the north, Comblanchien, Corgoloin and Prissey to the south. We have been enjoying the 04’s, a tough vintage due to hail, but one that has aged nicely. We opened two random bottles and found good consistency with a deep garnet to light tan color. It is in a tertiary phase with aromas of dried cherries and desiccated fruits with forest floor and peppery notes. The finish is nicely balanced with good acidity.        Reg. price $39.99 / On Sale in October: $26.99

2007 Albert Morot Les Cents Vignes Beaune Premier Cru, France- So here is the original review from Vinous with our notes: “Medium red. Smoky red fruits and underbrush on the very ripe nose. Silky and fat, offering a more harmonious texture than the Savigny. With its ripe red fruit flavors and suave tannins, this seems practically ready to drink.” Today, the color has moved to deep garnet but the “smoky red fruit and underbrush” still applies. The wine retains good acid and some light tannins on a long finish.   
                                                                    Reg. price $59.99 / On Sale in October: $36.99

NEW ARRIVALS and Returning Favorites!

2019 Cora Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy – Sustainably farmed, carbon neutral and vegan, this proprietary wine from David Bowler is supple and delicious with ripe red fruits and refined tannins. $12.99

We have carried Philemon organic wines for years!
2019 Domaine Philemon Croix d’AzalGaillac, France - produced from a one-hectare parcel of Braucol planted by in 2003. Braucol is the name used in Gaillac for the Fer Servadou grape. This cuvée is a wonderful expression of Braucol showing its typical woodsy floral aromas and spiciness. The word “braucol” derives from the root “brau” which in Girondin patois signifies taureau, the bull. The Croix d’Azal is no raging bull but one who lives peacefully in the pasture content to smell the flowers.  $13.99
2019 Domaine Philemon Croix de la Bouscarie Gaillac, France - (100% Duras) Duras has a long history in the Tarn region and is certainly one of the pillars of Gaillac’s red wine production. Domaine Philemon has two hectares of Duras, one parcel planted in 1990 and another in 2003. The Duras is typically the first of the red varieties to be harvested at Philemon. As a result severe pruning the low yielding vines produce a wine that is very dark with purple hues. The wine exhibits the region’s typically savory & spicy flavors which flow through the palate without any discernible tannins.  $13.99
2018 Brandborg Vineyard ‘Bench Lands’ Pinot Noir Umpqua Valley, USA – Our favorite value priced Oregon Pinot has returned. Red berries and a touch of spice in a lighter style from left handed, red head Sue Brandborg! $19.99

MONTHLY SPECIALS