3 Red Wines!

I have 3 great deals on red wines!

Quantities are limited.

I won't have the Hartwell in the store until Friday.

Please e-mail or call if you want any of these and we will set them aside for you. If you won't be in until after Sunday, please call with a credit card (we pay COD for wine).

If you want a case (it can be mixed) of these wines, take 10% off the sale price!

Stanley Lambert "Thoroughbred" Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Australia) Reg. $28.99, Sale $19.99 - A wine Lindsay loves to make is Cabernet Sauvignon - his is about elegance rather than power! Aromas and flavors of black currants and plums & vanilla. Fine-grained tannins and a rich finish. This will age well for a number of years. Aged in French and American oak casks for 30 months! This was the first wine Lindsay Stanley made under his own label in 1991 & walked away with the "Top Prize" at the Barossa Wine Show. Food pairing - steak, lamb, grilled meats.....drinks well without food. 37 bottles. Wine Enthusiast, 90 points, "Best Buy"

Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Eloge Napa Valley 2000 (California) Reg. $79.99, Sale $29.99 - You've read the price correctly! Excellent....no...SUPERB blend from one of Napa's "cult" wineries. Aromas of rich new saddle leather, black & red currants, mint & baking spices. Full-bodied. Really big middle. Flavors of dark chocolate, bing cherries, baking spices and subtle oak. Well-integrated tannins. Medium length on the finish! 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot & 3% Petite Verdot. Aged 21 months in French oak barriques. 800 cases made. When to drink - now - 2012. Food pairing - Drinks well without food. Pair with a steak, lamb, beef, etc. Robert Parker, 89 points

Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Miste Hill Stag's Leap Napa 2005 (California) Reg. $59.99, Sale $43.99 - This is a big, rich Cabernet! Loaded with layers and complexity. Doug from SOPO brought this to our monthly poker game. It's a great wine! Mouth-coating. Aromas and flavors of ripe currants, blackberries, plums and black cherries with toasty, spicy oak. Long finish. This has some sediment in the bottle. You'll want to decant it anyway to open up the flavors and aromas. Age through 2013. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak for 20 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. Wine Spectator, 93 points

August Wine Tasting

August Wine AND Cheese Tasting

Freeport Cheese & Wine

Friday, Aug. 21st

3:30-7:30pm

178 Lower Main Street, Rte. 1

Freeport, ME 04032

10% off tasting wines - when you buy less than a dozen bottles; bigger discount on some when you buy a dozen or more!

The Wines:

These 3 wines we tasted with Randy from Wicked Wines on day early in July. They really impressed us....the Chardonnay was a major WOW! We're generally not fans of many Chardonnays (too oaky, too overblown, too flabby). We are fans of this!

The winery is located in Navarra in the northeastern corner of Spain - right up against the Atlantic to the north and France and the Pyrenees to the east. The area is semi-arid.

Mix-and-Match a case of the Enanzo wines and take 15% off!

Enanzo Chardonnay 2008 (Navarra, Spain) Reg. $11.99 Sale $10.99 - lush & silky. This shows lots of tropical fruit. It feels viscous and rich. It's aged on lees in new oak barrels for 3 months, but this isn't "oaky" in that heavy "oaky" way. It picks up subtle toasted notes, but they are nicely balanced with the fruit. The wine is just delicious!

Enanzo Rosado 2008 (Navarra, Spain) Reg. $11.99 Sale $10.99 - Grenache-based rose! A little darker than most French roses b/c the juice is left in longer skin contact. This is bright, fresh and has nice acidity. It's smooth and tasty!

Enanzo Tempranillo 2007 (Navarra, Spain) Reg. $11.99 Sale $10.99 - tastes like cherries plucked from the tree. The flavors and aromas are really concentrated in this little winner from Spain! A little smokiness to the wine. The tannins have nice "grip." This is clean, juicy, refreshing and delicious!

90 Plus Cellars Wine Company Wines

I tasted these wines with Randy from Wicked 2-3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, they had sold out. Now they have more. I knew exactly what one of these wines is the moment I tasted it. We've stocked this wine continuously since we opened.

These are the real deal!

This is what 90 Plus Cellars does:

1. They contact wineries that make highly rated wines;
2. They offer to buy the exact wine that was highly rated;
3. They keep the winery's name secret;
4. They buy and sell the wine at a much lower price;
5. They pay cash on the barrelhead upfront.

Why would a winery sell off a 90+ rated wine cheaply?

1. Even in the best of times, not all wine sells;
2. In this economy, lots of wineries are seeing slower and lower sales;
3. The winery isn't going to bottle wine that likely won't sell;
4. This helps clear inventory and brings in cash - letting the winery focus on newer vintages.

90+ Cellars refers to its wines as lots....when a wine is sold out, the Lot # is retired. These wines are in limited supply!

The Wines:

Mix-and-match a case of the "90 Points Cellars" wines and take 15% off!

Lot #2, Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) 2008 Reg. $19.99, Sale 12.99 - this is the wine I know! One of the best New Zealand wines! Big, pleasing, aromatic nose - lime, tropical fruit, grass, limestone, hot pepper & mint. Great grapefruit, pear and tropical fruit flavors. Long, full finish with a touch of minerals and fruit. Crisp, bracing acidity. Certified sustainable and organic. Biodynamic farming. Stainless steel fermentation. 4 months on lees. Food pairing - Great with seafood, shellfish, lighter meats, etc!

Lot #6, Chardonnay (Barossa Valley, Australia) 2007 Reg. $24.99, Sale 13.99 - this is one of the best and priciest un-oaked Chardonnays in the market. This winemaker has been making this wine for over 20 years. Consistently, year-after-year, this wine is superb! This vintage is no different! The wine shows tropical and stone fruit aromas. Flavors show peaches, pears, a little orange....The wine has gone through some degree of malolactic fermentation - that's what makes the wine buttery and creamy. The creaminess is subtle and complex. That's what I like about this wine - lots of subtle, complex layers. Nice acidity. Good length on the finish.

Lot #7, Malbec Reserva (Mendoza, Argentina) 2007 Reg. 29.99, Sale $14.99 - Big, rich Malbec blend! Deep red color. Aromas of dark berries and black cherries, white pepper and baking spices. Meaty and velvety in terms of texture. Flavors of dark fruit, vanilla and toast. Organic farming. Hand-picked grapes. Vines are 90-to-150 year old vines from France. Aged 15 months in French oak. Blend of 85% Malbec, 8% Tannat, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Syrah.

Lot# 1, Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale, Australia) 2007 Reg. $23.99, Sale $14.99 - This winery vineyard and winery were created in 1975 and has been producing excellent wines for years. This Cabernet has tons of aromas - black currants, blackberries, plums, leather, cedar and baking spices. Medium-bodied. Nice savory fruit in the flavors with baking spices, dark cherries, dark chocolate and a little pepper. Finer tannins. Nice long finish. This will probably be peaking around 2012-2018. Aged in French and American oak (a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4-year old oak). The grapes are grown in 4 vineyards.

This last wine is not part of the 90 Plus Cellars Wines....it's just really, really good!

Tenuta Sant' Antonio Monta Garbi Valpolicella Superior DOC Ripasso 2006 (Italy) $22.99 - The grapes for this Ripasso are crushed immediately after harvesting and undergo a 2nd fermentation on the Amarone skins in January. This adds Amarone-like notes and richness to the wine. It is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The "Slow Food" Italian publication raves over this wine and rates it a great value! Ruby red color. Aromas of red berries and red cherries. Texture is soft and smooth. Spicy finish. Food pairing - pastas with meat sauces, grilled poultry, roasted meats and aged cheeses.

The vines are pruned early in the growing season - reducing the yield and exposing the grape clusters to greater sunshine. The grapes are hand-picked from early Sept. - latter October. Vineyard is at about 1,000 feet. Vines are 20 years old.

Blend of 70% Corvina/Corvinone, 20% Rondinella and 10% Croatina/Oseleta. The wine is stirred in the barrels for the first 9 months - this adds richness and texture to the wine. 15-16 months in 500-litre tonneaux barrels - 30% new and 70% 1 or 2 years old. 12,500 cases made. This will age for 10 years.

The Castagnedi brothers (4 of them) run this winery. Quality is their priority. In the 1980's, the family bought more vineyards (about doubling in size) and dramatically changed its vineyard practices - opting for much higher quality and lower quantity of grapes. The neighboring height is Monta Garbi, which is also the name of this wine and the cellars. In 2001, they poured out their Amarone - it wasn't the quality they demand.

The Cheeses:

Roquefort Crusted Chevre - blue on the outside, but not on the inside. This is a really great summertime cheese! It's fresh, light and delicious! From a goat farm in the Berkshires.

Southcoast Farms Fresh Farmer's Cheese - aka Queso Fresco - think of this as a Buffalo Mozzarella....from cow's milk.

Kilchurn Estate Cave-Aged Cheddar - straight from England! This has a crunchy texture and is sharp and rich and buttery! Hope to see you on Friday!

Hello,

I just came across a Super Tuscan that is at a great discount!

This is a wine for your cellar!

Tolaini Toscana Tenuta S. Giovanni Valdisanti 2004, Wine Spectator, 91 points

Robert Parker's site has this at $36, Wine Spectator has it at $35 and Wine Access.com has it priced at $36.99 and up (average price of $40.32). We're selling it for $23.99!

If you buy a case, it'll be $19.99 a bottle! So, that's nearly half off the regular price. No discount from the $19.99 a bottle - that's already 16-17% off the $23.99!

Tolaini Toscana Tenuta S. Giovanni Valdisanti "Super Tuscan" 2004 (Italy) Reg. $36, Sale $23.99....buy a case and it's $19.99/bottle

Right now....today, the wine is still a little young and tight. If you insist on drinking soon, please decant it and let it breath. This will benefit from aging for another 2-3 years and then it should be in its prime!

This is rich and concentrated! It's definitely a "New World" style Super Tuscan from this winery near Siena.

This has aromas and flavors of dark berries - blackberries, black currants, toasted oak, vanilla and flowers. Full-bodied and big. The tannins are silky and smooth. The wine has a long, long finish.

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 500 cases made. Aged in French oak barriques. Yields are limited to one kilo per vine. All the grapes are hand-harvested. All grapes are hand-sorted twice to make sure only the best are used.

Famed winemaker Michel Rolland of France helps make this wine. The winery is in the prestigious Castelnuovo Berardenga zone of Chianti Classico.

Pierluigi Tolaini left Tuscany as a young man at age 19 - vowing never to be poor again. He worked as a roughneck in Western Canada and started TransX, a huge trucking company that he owns. In the '90's, he returned to Tuscany a wealthy man and bought this estate. He's set out to make the best wine in Italy!

If you are interested in any of this wine, please let me know via phone or e-mail! Quantities are limited!

DEALS! DEALS! DEALS!

Deals!

Deals! Deals! Deals!

One of the distributors dropped its pants on some wines and we pounced.

The next 3 wines are all from one of Alsace’s greatest wineries and one of the greatest ANYWHERE in the world! Domaine Zind Humbrecht! A friend who knows his way around the wine world (and especially Alsace and Germany), calls Zind Humbrecht the “Lafite of Alsace!”

Domaine Zind Humbrecht Riesling 2006 (Alsace, France) Reg. $41.99, Sale $22.99 - This is a dry Riesling. Lots of aromas and flavors – orange, honey, tart fruit, minerals and more! It will evolve and change in the glass over an evening. It has nice acidity that makes the wine refreshingly crisp! 1,000 cases made. This will age well through 2020. 28 bottles. Wine Spectator, 91 points, #72 on the Top 100 List in 2008, “Smart Buy.” We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Wintzenheim (Alsace, France) Reg. $42.99, Sale $22.99 – Dry white wine! Big flavors and aromas.! Aromas and flavors of white pepper, spices, toast, lychee and peaches. It has a smokiness to the minerals in the flavors. The color of the wine indicates the ripeness of the grapes and the presence of botrytis on the grapes at harvest. 850 cases made. Drink now through 2013. Food pairing – Asian food. Smoked fish. 25 bottles. Wine Spectator, 88 points. We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Domaine Zind Humbrecht Zind 2006 (Alsace, France) Reg. $35.99, Sale $17.99 – A wine that has a lot going on and it goes down easy! Complex and fun! This is a bit lighter than the 2003/2005 versions of the wine – but, that’s due to the weather in those years. 65% Chardonnay and 35% Auxerrois. All are from Clos Windsbuhl – which has a definitive calcareous make-up to its soil. The aromas show the minerality of the soil. The aromas are more about minerals than fruit. The wine is aged on lees (the residue in the barrel). The vines were planted in 1988. Auxerrois is a grape native to Lorraine and it is a close sibling to Chardonnay. 26 bottles.

Silverado Vineyards "Vineburg" Carneros Chardonnay 2005 (California) Reg. $31.99, Sale $18.99 - This is a really nice Chardonnay. It’s seen time in oak barrels (59% in French oak barrels, but only 13% are new; the rest is fermented in stainless steel barrels), but is not “oaky.” Aromas of flowers with subtle vanilla and baking spice notes. Also green apple and some citrus. The flavors echo the aromas with the addition of nice minerals. It’s silky smooth! Only 25% goes through malolactic fermentation (that’s what makes Chardonnay buttery and creamy). Single Vineyard wine. 30 bottles. Wine Spectator, 87 points. We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Girlan Gewurztraminer Aimé 2005 (Alto Adige, Italy) Reg. $24.99, Sale $12.99 – This has a deep, golden color. Aromas of flowers, honey and lychee nuts. The wine is soft and smooth in the glass – really viscous. Medium-bodied. It’s spicy – anise and pepper. Tropical fruit and stone fruit flavors. It needs to breathe a bit after opening. 11 bottles. Wine Enthusiast, 87 points

Falesco Ferentano 2006 (Lazio, Italy) Reg. $29.99, Sale $17.99 - A great, unusual white wine! Aromas and flavors of lemons, dried apples, fresh herbs, vanilla, hazelnuts, minerals & more. Rich & full-bodied. Long finish that is just complex as can be! From a rare grape unique to Umbria - 100% estate-grown Roscetto, a red grape that makes a full-bodied white wine. Aged 3 months in 2-year-old French oak barriques. Bottled unfined & unfiltered. Aged 1 month in the bottle before release. 3,000 cases made. Food pairing - This white wine screams for "big" meats dishes. Definitely a "red wine lover's" white wine! Drink from 2009-2011. 24 bottles. Stephen Tanzer, IWC, 92 points; Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points. We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Adelsheim Pinot Blanc 2005 (Willamette Valley, Oregon) Reg. $18.99, Sale $9.99 – This is a smooth, juicy wine. Loaded with melon, nectarine and baking spice aromas and flavors. Has that nice minerality that is a hallmark of Pinot Blanc. 579 cases made. 15 bottles. Wine Spectator, 88 points. We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Sineann Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Columbia Valley) $21.99, Sale $14.99 – Crisp, nice white that is great for summer drinking! A little more weighty than many Sauvignon Blancs. Not citrusy – more to the tropical fruit side along with stone fruits. Winemaker Peter Rosback is passionate about making good wine – and he goes to great length and effort to source the best grapes possible! Food pairing – Asian food. 12 bottles.

Jean-Marc Bouley Meursault 2006 (Burgundy, France) $55.99, Sale $39.99 – we tasted this Thursday. It’s delicious! And amazing! So much going on in the glass. Rich and soft and smooth Chardonnay. It smells like buttered popcorn at the beginning with notes of caramel and buttered toast and hazelnuts coming on. Fruit such as baked pears and apples. This is SERIOUS Chardonnay! Nice acidity and minerals to the wine. Food pairing – salmon, duck. 9 bottles. We bought all of this – you won’t find it at this price in another store!

Reds:

Haras El Pirque Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Maipo, Chile) Reg. $11.99, Sale $6.99 – full bodied red! Excellent Wednesday night Cabernet! Aromas and flavors of stewed dark fruit, smoke, wet, dark earth and herbs. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Carmenère.
Made from approximately 90% Cabernet and 10% Carmenère. 36 bottles.

Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz 2004 (Australia) Reg. $11.99, Sale $6.99 – excellent value at $12…..quite the bargain at $7! Aromas of plums, blackberries and spices. A little toast and vanilla. Lots of plums, cherries and dark fruit in this full-bodied red! Notes of mocha and dark chocolate. Soft and smooth. Lingers on the finish. 31 bottles.

Stanley Lambert “Thoroughbred” Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Australia) Reg. $28.99, Sale $19.99 - A wine Lindsay loves to make is Cabernet Sauvignon – his is about elegance rather than power! Aromas and flavors of blackcurrants and plums & vanilla. Fine-grained tannins and a rich finish. This will age well for a number of years. Aged in French and American oak casks for 30 months! This was the first wine Lindsay Stanley made under his own label in 1991 & walked away with the "Top Prize" at the Barossa Wine Show. Food pairing - steak, lamb, grilled meats.....drinks well without food. 23 bottles. Wine Enthusiast, 90 points, "Best Buy"

R. Stuart "Autograph" Pinot Noir 2006 - Great Deal!

R. Stuart & Company

"Autograph"

Pinot Noir 2006

We just learned about a great new price on one of our favorite Oregon Pinot Noirs, R. Stuart & Company "Autograph" Pinot Noir 2006!

When this first hit Maine, the price was $35-40 a bottle. Then, it came down to $31.99 and then $29.99. Now, it is $17.99!

Why?

The slow economy.

Wine above $30 is barely selling anywhere in the world. And, wine above $20 is moving much more slowly than in previous years. Wineries need the cashflow, so they are dropping prices as the new vintages come to market and the older vintage is still in the warehouse. And, this vintage (2006) is still young - the one waiting in the warehouse is the 2007 and it's still a baby....not even close to being ready to drink. The '06 is just coming into its own!

Rob Stuart was here in late January and we did a tasting with him at the Hilton Garden Inn. He's as nice a guy as you'd ever want to meet and as engaging & unprententious as can be! And passionate about making fabulous, hand-crafted wines!

Rob, a longtime veteran of the Oregon wine world, was formerly the winemaker at Erath Vineyards. He started his own winery in early 2002. Rob has a degree in biochemistry from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in New York. He worked in chemistry briefly and then started in the wine industry at Hans Kornell (one of the California pioneer winemakers) in Napa valley. Then he joined Valley View Vineyards (Southern Oregon's original winery in the 1850's) and after that on to Staton Hills in Yakima, Washington where he made wine for ten years. Finally, Rob returned to Oregon in 1994 as the winemaker at Erath Vineyards - working for and with Oregon legend AND PIONEER Dick Erath. Now, he makes the wines he loves: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and sparkling wine! We're thrilled to be able to sell this to you at such a great price!

R. Stuart & Co. Autograph Pinot Noir 2006 (Oregon) Reg. $39.99 Sale $17.99 - The wine Rob Stuart calls his best! Intensely flavored and yet, still restrained. Aromas & flavors of black cherry, chocolate, dusty earth, violets, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, lavender, ginger & baking spices. Grapes blended from 5 vineyards - Daffodil Hill, Temperance Hill, Elkhorn Ridge, Goldschmidt and Weber. Unfiltered and unfined. Aged 10 months in new to 5th use oak barrels. When to drink - now through 2012. Food pairing - salmon, duck, tuna, lamb, beef, etc. Decant for an hour.

August 6-pack/12-pack

The 6-pack:

Reg. $75.94.....Sale $66.94....take 5% off and it's $63.59!

The Whites:

Domaine Esperance Soleil et Colombard 2008 (France) $9.99 - Refreshing, bright and clean summer white! And, SUMMER is finally here! Easy drinking for a warm day! Great fun label! 100% Colombard. Stainless steel fermentation. Jean-Louis and Claire de Montesquiou bought this porperty in 1990. Previously, it had been left to run wild. It had been one of the Grand Crus of Bas-Armagnac. They also make Armagnac at this winery (France's oldest distilled spirit). Gold Medal D'Or, Paris 2008

Giocato Pinot Grigio 2008 (Slovenia) Reg. $12.99 Sale $9.99 - In Italian, "Giocare" means to play, to gamble, to trick, to deceive. We love this! Fresh, bright, lively and fun to drink! This is crisp & fresh with beautiful tropical fruit. Great for summer days! Made by Aleks Simcic, perhaps Eastern Europe's most celebrated winemaker! Food pairing - salads, lighter chicken dishes, seafood. The Reds: Lost Block Pinot Noir 2005 (Australia) Reg. $12.99 Sale $8.99 - Delicious Pinot Noir! Great for a party at this price! Smooth and easy summer sipping! Nice soft cherry fruit. Bright, fresh flavors and aromas. Clean tasting. Not tannic. Smooth! Food pairing - grilled chicken or pork tenderloin. Salmon. Sipping in the garden.

Sacred Stone Master's Red Blend Cask #4 (California) $10.99 - Delicious! Runaway hit at our December tasting! Smooth! Rich! Soft! Juicy! Loads of ripe plums and cherries. Dark and lush! Crisp acidity and a rich, soft finish! Blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Dolcetto. 18,088 cases made. 24 months in French and American oak. Food pairing - great wine for a party - your guests will thank you for serving this! Drinks well with or without food. Grilled foods! Barbecue. Pizza. Pasta. Poultry. Mushrooms. Etc.

Maestre de Campo Malbec 2005 (Argentina) $14.99 - Huge hit at a recent tasting! We love this! Well-balanced wine with real nice tannins (they've smoothed out) and dark fruit with notes of mocha and chocolate. This is smooth and rich with bold flavors while still be smooth! 100% Malbec. Aged 12 months in French and American oak barrels. One characteristic of this winery is that they hold wine at the winery until it is ready to drink - so you can pull the cork on this and be confident is has sufficient barrel/tank and bottle aging! Food pairing - steak, beef, lamb, pasta dishes, lasagna, etc.

X Winery Red X 2006 (California) Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99 - This is a tasty red blend from a wonderful small winery! Dark purple color. Aromas of roses, plums, blackberries, cherries and raspberries. Flavors of same berries, a touch of peppery spice and toasty oak. Nice acidity. Blend of Syrah (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%), Malbec (15%), Merlot (11%) and Petite Sirah (8%). Fruit is from Paso Robles, Napa and Mendocino. 7,200 cases made. Food pairing - Great with grilled meats, roasted meats, spicy veggie stir-fries, mushroom dishes, pizza, lasagna...

The 12-pack:

Reg. $173.88 Sale $153.88....take 10% off and the price is $138.49

The Whites:

Solecico Monastrell Blanc 2008 (Spain) Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99 - Yes....this is a white wine made from the Monastrell grape! The grapes are crushed and the grape juice is immediately moved off the skins. This is a lot like an Albarino - steely, flinty....with a great oily texture to the wine! The flavors are minerals with tart lime/lemon citrus. Lots of acidity - this has a crisp, crisp finish! Food pairing - shellfish, lobster, salads.

Vina San Esteban Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Chile) $9.99 - Lots of lemon/lime aromas and flavors in this smooth, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Very different from a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc if that's what you often drink. This winery farms sustainably in the Aconcagua Valley in central Chile. Organic farming. Food pairing - shellfish, seafood, lobster. Drinks well without food!

The Reds:

Antonio Sanguineti Chianti 2007 (Italy) Reg. $16.99 Sale $13.99 - Known as "Il Maestro" in Tuscany for both his winemaking skills and his driving passion! Antonio makes great wine at modest prices! This has that classic Tuscan dustiness with great cherry and raspberry fruit. This is smooth with well-balanced tannins. Organic farming. Food pairing - grab a steak or pork tenderloin or chicken and light the grill! Great with rich pasta dishes.

Trinitas Old Vine Mataro 2004 (California) Reg. $23.99 Sale $17.99 - It's big, rich and dark! Lots of dark fruit aromas and flavors, mocha, chocolate and more! Robust! Runaway hit at our April tasting! Mataro is Mourvèdre, a grape from the Rhone Valley in France that is used to make Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Bandol wines. These are ancient vines (100+ years). At this age, they produce little fruit - but the fruit is great quality. Aged 14 months in 40% new American and French oak. It's overwhelmingly Mataro with a little Petite Sirah and Black Malvoisie. This should age well until about 2014 or so. Food pairing - big red wine, big red meat!

Thunder Stone Zinfandel 2005 (California) $14.99 - Made in California by and for a Mainer! This is a ripe and spicy Zinfandel! Lots of dark fruit and peppery spice. Shows some vanilla and toast from the oak aging. Food pairing - when you're grilling, this should be your wine!

Domaine de la Citadelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (France) $17.99 - I've had customers go GA-GA over this wine because they've been to the winery and are shocked I could get this! They should be GA-GA - it's delicious! The wine sees no oak, so it is bright and fresh. Drink it now! Cabernet is an unusual grape from this area; so this is not an AOC wine....it can't be! The growing area is cool at night and hot during the day. Yves Rousset-Rouard resurrected this estate and turned it into one of the best in the Côtes du Luberon! Deux Etoiles dans le Guide Hachette 2007 (2 Stars)

August Wines of the Month

August Wines of the Month

Tier 1

We’re headed to Southern France for a couple of grapes better known from Burgundy – Aligote for the white and Pinot Noir for the red.

This estate, Domaine de Régusse, was founded in 1970. It's in the Haute Provence, at the foot of the Luberon mountain at about 1,500 feet. The farm covers about 750 acres, with 640 in vineyard. They grow 20 different grape varieties. In 2004, the estate obtained the certification "Viticulture Raisonnee Controlee." This process aims to (1) improve the wine by improving the grapes; (2) guarantee quality products and food safety to the consumer; (3) respect the environment, the terroir, the heritage and the traditions.

Domaine de Régusse is imported by Fran Kysela. Fran flat out has one of the best noses for outstanding wines. This estate produces rock-solid wines at great prices!

White

Domaine de Régusse Aligoté 2008 (France) $13.99 – This really impressed us a couple of weeks ago when we tasted it with David from Davine Wines. Excellent wine from an obscure grape from Burgundy! This is refreshing and crisp! It has great acidity (typical for this grape). Flavors and aromas of green apples, lemons and minerals. Food pairing – lobster! Shellfish. Grilled chicken. Salads.

This Vin de Pays de Mediterranée is aged in stainless steel on its lees for 6 months. The lees are the residue in the vat or barrel – leaving the wine in contact with the lees adds richness to the wine.

Aligoté is used to make a dry white wine in Burgundy (specifically in Bourgogne Aligoté AOC). Along with Chardonnay, it’s also used in making Crémant de Bourgogne, Burgundy’s sparkling wine and a great alternative to pricier Champagne! Traditionally, the cocktail Kir is made by adding cassis to an Aligoté white wine. The grape is grown in Bulgaria, Russia, Ukrainia and Moldova – it’s prized for its acidity and ability to withstand cold temperatures.

Red

Domaine de Regussé Pinot Noir 2008 (France) $13.99 – This is not Burgundy, but it is real nice Pinot Noir! Flavors and aromas of cherries, currents, cranberries, baking spices and cedar. Aromas of leather and earth. A rich and darker Pinot Noir that’s meant to be drunk young!

100% Pinot Noir. Barrel aged. A Vin de Pays des Alpes de Haute Provence. Long-winded way of saying this is a wine from the northern part of Southern France. Food pairing – mushroom and meat dishes, grilled or roasted meats. Dishes with Provencal herbs.

Tier 2 and Tier 3

The wines are from two of my favorite little wineries in Italy – Alois Lageder and Tenuta Sant’ Antonio. Both are in Northeastern Italy – the Alto Adige and Veneto areas.

Justin from Wicked Wines goes to Vin Italy - the biggest wine show in Italy each year. He also pokes around at smaller shows while he is there. It was here that he discovered these wineries. Then he showed them to me!

Alois Lageder

http://www.aloislageder.eu/eng/home.php

This northeastern part of Italy, the Alto Adige, has varied and complex weather conditions. The valleys are surrounded by the huge Dolomite Mountains (which are a former seabed, so the soil is chock full of limestone, sandstone, chalk and minerals – which makes the wines more minerally in their flavors and aromas).

The winery earned Demeter biodynamic certification in 2007. All the vineyards are biologically and sustainably farmed and have been since 2004 (as Lageder says, “We don’t use biodynamics as commercial or marketing, we do it because it has to be done.”). They built a new winery, using all natural materials. The vineyards and winery have produced 0% emissions from fossil fuels since the 1990’s (they use solar power for 60% of their electricity needs).

They farm 125 acres of vineyards and these are home to 15 grape varietals – many indigenous to Italy.

The Lageder family has been making wine for over 150 years. Alois Lageder’s great-grandfather founded the winery in Bolzano in 1855. In 1934, the family acquired the Löwengang estate in Magrè. In following years, the family continued to purchase vineyards in Alto Adige.

The vineyards here are planted on steep slopes between 750 feet and 3,200 feet in elevation. The vineyards face south, east and west to get as much sun as possible. The area’s soil is loaded with limestone, sandstone, chalk, etc. Precisely the best soil to make the best grapes!

Tier 2

White

Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco Dolomiti 2007 (Italy) $15.99 – The grapes for this wine are grown at an altitude of 980-1,650 feet. The nights are quite cool with large swings in temperature from night to day. The vines are 5-30 years old. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees (the residue in the vat from the fermentation) for 3 months. Aging on lees adds richness and complexity to the wines. This is drinking beautifully right now and will aged well for 2-4 years.

Aromas of honey, green apples & peaches. Flavors of tart green apples, white grapefruit, and crisp pears. Dry, crisp and great minerals in the flavors. Medium-bodied and mouth-filling. Refreshing. Nice length on the finish. Zippy, tangy acidity. Food pairing – salads, asparagus, seafood of all kinds, pasta dishes. Wine Spectator, 88 points

Red

Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Monta Garbi Valpolicella Superior DOC Ripasso 2006 (Italy) $22.99 – The grapes for this Ripasso are crushed immediately after harvesting and undergo a 2nd fermentation on the Amarone skins in January. This adds Amarone-like notes and richness to the wine. It is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The “Slow Food” Italian publication raves over this wine and rates it a great value!

Ruby red color. Aromas of red berries and red cherries. Texture is soft and smooth. Spicy finish. Food pairing – pastas with meat sauces, grilled poultry, roasted meats and aged cheeses.

The vines are pruned early in the growing season – reducing the yield and exposing the grape clusters to greater sunshine. The grapes are hand-picked from early Sept. – latter October.

Vineyard is at about 1,000 feet. Vines are 20 years old. Blend of 70% Corvina/Corvinone, 20% Rondinella and 10% Croatina/Oseleta. The wine is stirred in the barrels for the first 9 months – this adds richness and texture to the wine. 15-16 months in 500-litre tonneaux barrels – 30% new and 70% 1 or 2 years old. 12,500 cases made. This will age for 10 years.

The Castagnedi brothers (4 of them) run this winery. Quality is their priority. In the 1980’s, the family bought more vineyards (about doubling in size) and dramatically changed its vineyard practices – opting for much higher quality and lower quantity of grapes. The neighboring height is Monta Garbi, which is also the name of this wine and the cellars. In 2001, they poured out their Amarone – it wasn’t the quality they demand.

As the French saying goes, good wine is obtained in proportion to one vine to one bottle – at Tenuta Sant’ Antonio, it’s 2 vines per bottle!

Tier 3

White

Alois Lageder Vogelmaier Moscato Giallo 2007 (Italy) $25.99 – This is one of the best dry Muscats made anywhere! From the Vogelmaier vineyard on the northwest side of Lake Caldaro (880 foot altitude).

Fresh, clean aromas with distinct floral notes, tropical fruit, white pepper, coriander, honey and beeswax. Medium-bodied. Dry. Flavors of grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruit and honey. Good “zip” to this wine because of the acidity. Great length on the finish – which has a lot of minerals. 100% Yellow Muscat. Single vineyard from the Vogelmaier vineyard on the northwest side of Lake Caldaro at an altitude of 880 feet. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged on the lees for 4 months (this adds richness and texture to the wine). 1,775 cases made. This will age well for 3-5 years. Food pairing – sausages, patés, grilled fish, Asian food, cheeses.

Red

Alois Lageder Cor Römigberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (Italy) $39.99 - Deep, dark color. Aromas of cherries, blackcurrants, mint, tobacco (this is a good aroma – we’re talking curing tobacco, not cigarette smoke), some meatiness and oaky spice. Powerful wine. Rich and big, but also elegant. Lots of dark fruit and spice in the flavors. Big, bold finish. Silkier than most Bordeaux. This doesn’t whimper into the night! Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. From the Römigberg estate vineyard on Lake Caldaro at about 800 feet. The vineyard was planted in 1986. Fermented in stainless steel for 17 days and then aged in French oak (Alliers and Nevers), of which 2/3 is new. 920 cases made. Food pairing – red meat, lamb, venison, aged cheeses.

The Other!

Chateau de Trinquvedel Tavel Rosé 2008 (France) $22.99 - hey....that's a lotta money for a rosé! Well....this is a WHOLE LOTTA WINE! It's a nice rich salmon color. Aromas of red berries, flowers, minerals, anise, smoke, tea and tobacco (this is a GOOD aroma - it's the smell of curing tobacco, not stale cigarette smoke!). Flavors of cherries, raspberries, spices, dried herbs and anise. Finishes strong and with a bit of a slight bitter tartness - this is not a fruity pink wine! Blend of 44% Grenache, 28% Cinsault, 15% Clairette and small amounts of Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Bourboulenc. Food pairing - robust dishes with garlic, Provencal herbs and black olives!

The name of the chateau comes from the Provencal words "tranca" (cut) and "vedel" (calf). Methinks a calf met his/her demise there! Today, the 4th generation of the family is running the winery. Tavel is in the Southern Rhône - it's just to the northwest of Avignon. It's unusual in that it's the only area in France that only permits rosés to be made and named after the appellation. 1,500 cases imported. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 90 points

Habitat for Humanity Chocolate, Brownie and Wine Tasting

Habitat for Humanity

Freeport House Fundraiser

(the event is FREE! 10% of your purchases will go to support Habitat for Humanity's Freeport House!)

Chocolate, Brownie and Wine Tasting

Monday, Aug. 3rd

5:00-7:00pm

Where:

Wilbur's Chocolates & Simply Divine Brownies

174 Lower Main Street, Rt. 1

Freeport, ME

(they are in the big orange house across the street from the purple building - the Pet Pantry)

Whites

Domaine Esperance Soleil et Colombard 2008 (France) $9.99 – Refreshing, bright and clean summer white! And, SUMMER is finally here! Easy drinking for a warm day! Great fun label! 100% Colombard. Stainless steel fermentation. Jean-Louis and Claire de Montesquiou bought this porperty in 1990. Previously, it had been left to run wild. It had been one of the Grand Crus of Bas-Armagnac. They also make Armagnac at this winery (France's oldest distilled spirit). Gold Medal D’Or, Paris 2008.

Vina San Esteban Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Chile) $9.99 – Lots of lemon/lime aromas and flavors in this smooth, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Very different from a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc if that’s what you often drink. This winery farms sustainably in the Aconcagua Valley in central Chile. Food pairing – shellfish, seafood, lobster. Drinks well without food!

Reds

Pietra Santa Winery Sacred Stone Master’s Red Blend Cask #4 (California) $10.99 - Delicious! Runaway hit at our December tasting! Smooth! Rich! Soft! Juicy! Loads of ripe plums and cherries. Dark and lush! Crisp acidity and a rich, soft finish! Blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Dolcetto. 18,088 cases made. 24 months in French and American oak. Food pairing – great wine for a party – your guests will thank you for serving this! Drinks well with or without food. Grilled foods! Barbecue. Pizza. Pasta. Poultry. Mushrooms. Etc.

Maestre de Campo Malbec 2005 (Argentina) $14.99 - Huge hit at a recent tasting! We love this! Well-balanced wine with real nice tannins (they've smoothed out) and dark fruit with notes of mocha and chocolate. This is smooth and rich with bold flavors while still be smooth! 100% Malbec. Aged 12 months in French and American oak barrels. One characteristic of this winery is that they hold wine at the winery until it is ready to drink - so you can pull the cork on this and be confident is has sufficient barrel/tank and bottle aging! Food pairing - steak, beef, lamb, pasta dishes, lasagna, etc.

Thunder Stone Zinfandel 2005 (California) $14.99 – Made in California by and for a Mainer! This is a ripe and spicy Zinfandel! Lots of dark fruit and peppery spice. Shows some vanilla and toast from the oak aging. Food pairing – when you’re grilling, this should be your wine!

Dessert Wines

Quinta de la Rosa Port Finest Reserve Port Reg. $21.99 Sale $19.99 - more of a tawny Port than a Ruby. By that I mean the wine has spent more time aging in barrels, so it shows more nutty/caramelly notes in the wine than it does berry fruit - that's your basic difference between Tawny Port {nutty, caramelly} and Ruby Port {berry flavors}.

Small, family-owned winery right on the Douro River! Since 1906, it has belonged to a Swedish family, the Bergqvists. Claire Feuerheerd grandmother gave it to her as a christening present! Under her leadership, between 1931 and 1986, the wines were sold to several famous houses in the Douro such as Delaforce and Sandeman. With the innovative spirit of Sophia Bergqvists and her father, Tim Bergqvist, what started as a family port shipping company, slowly transformed into an internationally renowned port and red wine company in 1988.

Great photos in this article!

Trentadue Alexander Valley Chocolate Amore Port (California) $26.99 - If you are looking for a wonderful dessert wine, try this! This is like drinking a dark chocolate-covered cherry! This is a well-balanced wine....it's not syrupy (nice acidity balancing the sweetness). 100% Geyserville grapes. Merlot-based, Port-styled dessert wine with natural chocolate. Food pairing - drinks great on its own! Pour it over vanilla ice cream! Makes a killer martini (equal parts Chocolate Amore & Vodka, 1/2 a jigger of fresh orange juice & Cointreau)!