August Wines of the Month

August Wines of the Month

The focus this month is on wines that are perfect for the summer!

Tier One

($8-$15/bottle)

The White

La Salette Côtes de Gascogne 2010 (France) $11.99 – A perfect summertime white from Gascony! The aromas and flavors are lemon zest, grapefruit and herbs. It’s crisp and clean. Well-balanced acidity. Medium-bodied. We are in Gascony, so the grape varietals are going to be ones that are not grown in many other places. 80% Colombard, 10% Ugni Blanc and 10% Gros Manseng. Stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing – seafood, salads, shellfish, goat cheese, grilled fish.

The Red

Perazzeta Sangiovese Sara 2009 (Italy) Reg. $15.99, Sale $12.99 - This just pops with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries. It’s delicious! Big hit at a recent tasting. Blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Ciliegiolo. Ciliegiolo is a close relative of Sangiovese. It means “cherry.” Stainless steel fermentation. This winery is in Maremma in southwestern Tuscany. Alessandro Bocci is the winemaker. Recently, his daughter joined him in working at the winery. Organic & Sustainable Farming. Food pairing - poultry, grilled meats, duck.

Tier Two

($15-$25/bottle)

The White

Argyros Atlantis White 2010 (Greece) $16.99 - This is a great-tasting, beautiful wine! Wonderful aromas and flavors of honeysuckle and lemon/lime citrus and minerals. The relatively high acidity of the Assyrtiko grape gives this its crisp freshness. Long finish. 90% Assyrtiko, 5% Athiri and 5% Aidani. Santorini is a volcanic island with incredibly minerally soil and it is very dry. Assyrtiko is a grape that has the ability to age well. To see how the vines are cultivated on the island of Santorini, please click here. Third generation winemaker. Yiannis Argyros is widely considered Greece’s best white wine vintner. Stainless steel fermentation and aging. 3,300 cases made. Food pairing – seafood, grilled fish, lighter poultry dishes, Thai food. Wine & Spirits, World’s Top 100 Wineries, 2005 & 2006

The Red

Tre Donne "d'Arc Rosso" 2008 (Piedmont, Italy) Reg. $24.99, Sale $21.99 – Truly one of the best wines I’ve had at this price! Antonella, Rosanna and Daniela Lequio are 3 sisters who run this wonderful Piedmontese winery. They took over the running of the winery from their somewhat chauvinistic father who wasn't that sure about women as winemakers and he had no son! Turns out the 3 sisters are great at this! This is a great blend from Piedmont that definitely expresses the phrase, "the sum is greater than the parts," and the parts are pretty darn good! It's a blend of mostly Barbera and Pinot Noir with 20% Dolcetto with 10% Friesa, a native Langhe white wine. The Friesa adds freshness and a zippy acidity as well as nice floral aromas (frequently, Chateauneuf-du-Pape producers add white wine to the red blends). The tannins are soft and the blend adds a lot of complexity to the wine! Aromas and flavors of dark cherries, baking spices, roses, peaches, almonds and more. It has a really smooth and soft texture. Notes of mocha on the finish. Food pairing – grilled and roasted meats, mushrooms, truffle dishes.

Tier Three

($25-$50/bottle)

Mollydooker Wines are in Maine!

Sparky and Sarah Marquis have a mission statement that says, “We make wines that make people go WOW!”

They were the founders of the famed Marquis Phillips wines from Australia. The importer did something rude and wrong and appropriated the name several years ago.

Sparky and Sarah had the vineyards, the contracts for “sourced” grapes and the winemaking know-how and expertise. So, they started making wines under a new name – Mollydooker. These wines are superb!

People have been asking me for these for a long while and they are now in Maine!

The White

Mollydooker “The Violinist” Verdelho 2010 (Australia) $25.99 – This is a BIG white wine! Rich, ripe and full! Aromas of lemons, white pepper, cilantro and white grapefruit. Spicy citrus flavors with apples and pears showing on the finish. Blend of grapes from McClaren Vale (2/3) and Adelaide Hills (1/3). About 1/3 of this wine ages in oak barrels, but it isn’t oaky. The aging on lees in the barrels adds a creaminess to the wine. Drink now through 2013. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

The Red

Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2009 (Australia) $49.99 – This is a deep, dark purple. Glass-coating. Big, rich, ripe aromas of blueberries, black cherries with hints of dark chocolate, eucalyptus, mint and dark earth. Full-bodied. Ripe, RIPE fruit flavors. Firm tannins and good acidity. Long, lingering finish. Blend of 80% McLaren Vale and 20% Langhorne Creek. Aged in 71% new and 29% used American oak. Drink now through 2017+. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92 points