Small Vineyards, Italian Wine Tasting

Small Vineyards Imports

Italian Wine Tasting

Featuring winemaker, Lorenzo Gatteschi

Thursday, Sept. 6th
5:30 - 7:00pm
Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport

$10/person to taste a flight of these wonderful wines
Please call the store (865-3993) to register and reserve a place!

Remember, this is not a seminar. You may come at any time between 5:30 and 7:00pm.

Small Vineyards is an importer that specializes in Italian wines. They only import Italian wines and they only work with small producers who own their own farms and wineries. Most of these wineries produce less than 8,000 cases in total each year.

One of the winemakers, Lorenzo Gatteschi, will be here. His family makes wine in Tuscany - both Chianti Classico Riserva and a Super Tuscan. Lorenzo is also the "public face" of Small Vineyards in the USA - he travels around and talks about the wines and tastes people on them. He's both passionate and knows his wines! Lorenzo is 38-years old and he's the first generation to leave this family town and work much of the year away from it.

I was at a tasting with Lorenzo in May. He puts on a good show. He speaks English extremely well - with a great Italian accent! He knows his stuff and he loves sharing his wines and the wines in the Small Vineyards portfolio with others!

Small Vineyards' philosophy is a simple one - and it is one we wholeheartedly embrace! The best wines come from producers who care deeply about the wine and the vineyards. They employ a cork-to-cork method - they are involved with the wine from before it goes into the bottle and until you open it - hence Tappo a Tappo (cork-to-cork).

These wines are brought to Maine by Mariner Beverages! Several of these wines are BRAND NEW to MAINE!

The Wines!

Whites - we'll taste more than 2 whites. I don't know everything Lorenzo is bringing with him.

These are the ones I KNOW we are tasting; Lorenzo will have some wines with him that are brand-new to Maine

Marchetti Verdicchio dei Castello di Jesi 2005 (Marche, Italy) $13.99 - This is one of the best Mediterranean whites under $15 I've ever tasted! Wonderful citrus and mineral flavors and aromas. This also has notes of green apples and tropical fruits. Vibrant acidity and loads of minerality throughout the wine. Picks up a little nuttiness (almonds?) on the finish. Long, crisp finish! Maurizio Marchetti is the winemaker - he's a passionate artist when it comes to wine and painting. His wife is a top-notch cardiologist, so Maurizio likes to say that she brings home the "pancetta" (bacon), which frees him to make wine and paint! In reality, Maurizio's great, great-grandfather was a highly successful spice trader years ago, buying all the land that Maurizio uses to farm. The good news is Maurizio feels little-to-no financial pressure when it comes to his wines - so, he only uses the best grapes (most years he gets no more than 1/2 a bottle from a single vine). From "first-run" juice. The grapes are not "crushed" for this wine - the juice runs freely. 250-year-old estate. Bottled in the classic "amphora" shape that Verdicchio has made famous (oddly, this packaging is a modern invention). 2,100 cases made. Food pairing - seafood, shellfish, swordfish, etc. Great with poultry. Drinks well on its own, but this is really a food wine!

Le Rote Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $16.99 - One of the best Vernaccias I have tasted! Aromas and flavors of flowers, minerals, spice and citrus. This wine is big and lush. Most definitely, not a wimpy, watery white - this has some backbone to it! It's bright, fresh and vibrant....and it packs a little punch! Michelangelo once said of Vernaccia, it "tickles, licks, bites and stings." Vernaccia is THE classic white wine of Tuscany! It's the 1st wine in Italy to earn DOC status! Husband-and-wife team that produces a tiny amount of wine from 35-year-old vines. Fermented and aged in stainless steel.. Aged 3 months in the bottle. 1,000 cases made (the winery only makes 2,500 cases total). Food pairing - white fish, shellfish, salads. Definitely a perfect summer food wine!

Reds - we'll taste more than 4 reds. I don't know everything Lorenzo is bringing with him.

These are the ones I KNOW we are tasting; Lorenzo will have some wines with him that are brand-new to Maine

Martorana* Contrada Ragabo Nero d'Avola 2005 (Sicily, Italy) $9.99 - This is simply delicious, fun-to-drink and a great value! This just rips with aromas and flavors of fresh, ripe blueberries, black plums, black cherries and almonds. You also pick up a hint of rhubarb. Soft tannins. Well-balanced acidity. Dry finish that just smacks of dark berry fruit! This is one of the few small, family-owned wineries in Sicily that bottles its own wine. It's in SW Sicily, near Agrigento. Giuseppe Martorana is the winemaker. Contrada Ragabo is a bright, bold Nero d'Avola from a man who only makes Nero d'Avola (the king of red wine grapes in Sicily). When asked to describe his wine, Giuseppe said he wanted a wine that is easy to drink, that "when you are finished eating with your family, you notice 3 or 4 empty bottles on the table." Giuseppe's father has never left Sicily. Giuseppe spent 15 years with the Italian police - mostly in Florence protecting a famous judge during the Mafia trials - he witnessed firsthand the wine renaissance in Tuscany. He knew Sicily had the same potential - so he returned home to make wine. His father told him no one would ever care about his "modern" techniques...that this was just Sicilian wine....the day he told his father their wine was going to America, his father cried (tears of joy and respect for his son). Made from 70-year-old vines. Stainless steel fermentation and aging. Aged 4 months in the bottle. "Green-harvesting" to lower the yield and improve the grapes. High-density planting in the vineyards to stress the vines and improve the grapes. 4,166 cases made. Food pairing - this is a perfect summer red! Great for grilling! Great for drinking on the deck or patio with friends!

Giuseppe Lonardi

This is a tiny winery in a village close to Verona, in the gorgeous hills of Valpolicella. The winery only makes 4,000 cases each year. We are tasting 3 of its wines.

Giuseppe Lonardi (Bepi to his wife) is a 4th generation winemaker. His wife, Marilena, runs a small bistro near the wine cellars. She makes a wonderful Amarone-infused risotto according to Lorenzo.

Bepi has a great toast, "Peccato gravissimo ē quello di stare senza vino e senza amante." Translation: "It is a grave mistake to live without wine and a lover."

His friends says the 3 most important things in Giuseppe's life are food, wine and his wife. He laughs and says, "Not necessarily in that order!"

Giuseppe Lonardi Valpolicella Classico 2005 (Veneto, Italy) $14.99 - The classic red wine for everyday drinking in the Veneto. Aromas and flavors of "dusty" red berries, dark berries, herbs and spice. Moderately tannic with nice acidity. 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. No barrel aging or fermentation. 1,100 cases made (the winery only makes 4,000 cases). Food pairing - Wonderful with chicken, duck, pork, spicy foods, tuna, salmon and more!

Giuseppe Lonardi Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2003 (Veneto, Italy) $26.99 - One of the best Ripassos I've tasted! Wonderful focused aromas of blackberries, flowers and herbs. Flavors of bright, fresh dark berries, herbs, violets, and dark cherries. Great length on the finish. Fine-grained tannins. 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Aged 6-10 months in Slavonian barriques and 3-6 months in the bottle. 1,800 cases made (the winery only makes 4,000 cases). Food pairing - Drink with a rich meal or just enjoy!

Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone 2001 (Veneto, Italy) $69.99 - This is one big, bold, powerful wine! Aromas and flavors dried dark fruit, chocolate, cedar and baking spices. Huge and voluptuous in the mouth. Just a massive mouthful of wine! As big as it is, this is well-balanced! Giuseppe Lonardi is a tiny winemaker. He and his wife own an inn and farm in the Veneto. And, he makes some of the best wine in the world! 100% Valpolicella (75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella & 5% Molinara). The grapes are dried for 100 days (losing 30-40% of their liquid). Aged 24 months in 100% 2nd use oak barrels (50% barrique and 50% tonneaux). Aged 6-10 months in the bottle. 750 cases made. This will age for 30 years! Food pairing - lamb or steak. This is one wine that I'd rather have after dinner with a couple of friends and just linger over!

Podere Ciona (Tuscany, Italy) - Lorenzo Gatteschi makes 2 wines - a Chianti Classico and a Super Tuscan. I don't know which ones he is bringing to taste! We'll see. The family makes less than 1,000 cases each year. Their vineyards are among the highest elevations in Chianti Classico in the hills of Montegrossi near Gaiole.

Hedges and Step Rd Special!

Hello,

Two of our distributors have some great savings going on 3 wonderful wines - so, we bought some and are passing on the savings to you!

Buy any case combination (that's 12 bottles) of these wines (you decide - you can do 4-4-4 or 10-1-1 or 12 of one or 3-3-6 - it's your choice) and get

a price of $10/bottle**

• that's more than the case price savings of 10%!!!
• That's more than 15% off the sale price!!!
• In the case of the Hedges, you are saving nearly 30%!
  

The wines:

• Hedges Family Estate CMS White 2006 (Washington) Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99
• Hedges Family Estate CMS Red 2005 (Washington) Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99
• Step Rd Black Wing Shiraz 2005 (Australia) Reg. $12.99 Sale $11.99 (Robert Parker, 90 points)
  

All of these are in stock right now!

Time for my comments on these great values!

Hedges Family Estate

Hedges Family Estate is a wonderful, family-owned winery in the Red Mountain area of Washington State. The Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area) is the best grape-growing area in Washington State. The areas warm days and cool nights help the grapes fully ripen with the acidity they need to produce full, complete wines!

They make Bordeaux-style blends - although, with a little bit of "New World" license when it comes to the grapes!

Hedges is in the process of undergoing the 3-year process to earn biodynamic certification from the Demeter Organization. Think of biodynamic agriculture as being organic on steroids. Okay, steroids is not the right word. Biodynamics is organic wrapped up in sustainable, wholistic agriculture. Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner first postulated biodynamics.

Hedges CMS White 2006 Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99

This is wonderfully crisp, bright and fresh.

Each year, the Hedges CMS White is just a great value! The 2006 vintage just arrived in Maine! It's a crystal clear, pale straw color.

The blend of grapes provides a wealth of aromas - pears, freshly mown grass, apples, citrus, honey, figs, minerals, hints of green bananas. Spend a little time with this wine - let it warm up a little - if it is at fridge temperature.

Flavors of ripe pears, green apples, lemon grass and minerals. Hints of a little white pepper and white peaches. This has a really nice texture and feel - it's starts soft and round, then finishes crisp and clean. Long pleasant finish.

Approximately 16,000 cases made. 64% Sauvignon Blanc, 33% Chardonnay and 3% Marsanne. Winemaker - Pete Hedges. 100% stainless steel fermentation.

Food pairing - great with seafood and shellfish. Drinks well without food, but this really shines with food. This is a wonderful choice as a house white!

Each year, this wine gets good reviews - the 2006 is so new that it hasn't been reviewed by a major publication. You've just read my review and I stand by it!

Hedges CMS Red 2005 Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99

This is really good wine! I love the Hedges CMS Red!

An old-style Claret - blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah (in the old, old days before France was unified under one of the Louis's, the British controlled the Bordeaux wine region and often Syrah was added to many of the Bordeaux blends).

This is fantastic and just a great deal!

Aromas of dark berries, black plums, black cherries, baking spices, licorice, mocha, vanilla and toasty oak. Flavors of dark berries, cassis, vanilla, baking spices with hints of toast and black pepper. This is medium-bodied. Well-balanced acidity. Great length on the finish. The tannins are there, but not overpowering.

49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 4% Syrah. Winemaker - Pete Hedges. 90% French oak and 10% American oak. Some lots of the wine spend up to a year in barrels. This wine will age well for 2-6 years. 31,893 cases made.

Food pairing - great with a steak or lamb. Harder cheeses such as Piave Vecchio.

Step Rd Black Wing Shiraz 2005 (Australia) Reg. $12.99 Sale $11.99

This is a "knock-dead," powerhouse of an Aussie Shiraz!

Wonderful Shiraz and a great value!

Step Road is a fantastic winery from Australia! It hails from the Langhorne Creek area, one of Australia's best-kept secrets in winemaking and home to some of its oldest vineyards and wineries.

The name, Black Wing, comes from their attracting hawks to the area to chase away the small birds that feast on the grapes. They attract hawks by placing offal in the vineyard area during the ripening season. The offal attracts a family of hawks (the Black Wing). The hawks "shadowy" presence chases off the smaller birds and preserves the grapes.

This is quintessential, modern Aussie Shiraz at its best - loads of fruit, some pepper, easy-to-drink, just fun!

It's medium-bodied. Aromas of ripe berries, pepper & spice. Soft, supple, lush feel in the mouth. Flavors of dark berries and black cherries, chocolate and earth. Good balance b/t fruit, acidity and tannins. Rich and soft in the middle. Long finish. Aged 12-18 months in French & American oak. The winery attracts hawks to the area to deter the little birds that would eat all the grapes!

Food Pairing - roasted and grilled meats. Drinks well on its own!

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points
"The 2005 Shiraz Black Wing offers black cherry, chocolate, smoke, and earth characteristics in a medium-bodied, rich, intense format. Drink it over the next 2-3 years." Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 90 pts

**That's 10/bottle....I've already factored in a case discount into the price...so, it's not $10/bottle and another 10% off....it's $10/bottle when you buy a case....mixed however you want to mix it! So, a case of these wonderful wines is $120 plus tax and deposit out the door (that's $127.80).

August Wines of the Month

It's time for the August Wines of the Month....and we have some beauties!

• A wonderful Muscadet from the Loire Valley that pairs perfectly with shellfish and seafood
• A $14 Bordeaux that is on the Bordeaux Wine Bureau's list of "Top 100 Affordable, Classic Bordeaux!"
• A fabulous red and white in Tier 2 from one of my favorite all-time wineries. Spann Vineyards.
• Two wines from legendary single vineyards in Oregon for Tier 3
• If you are wondering about the details of our wine of the month club, please click to our "blog," Freeport Cheese & Wine Blog

I've just posted a description of the "Wines of the Month" program and the August wines to our blog. If you click on the "Wines of the the Month" program link, you will have to scroll down to find the particular post on our blog. It's the last at the bottom of the link.

August's Wines

We are working with Jack Sculley, owner of Easterly Wines, and Michael Saint-Lawrence, who works with Jack. Ask any of the distributors in Maine about Jack and Easterly Wines. The responses will be - (1) Jack has a great nose and great taste in wine; (2) Jack knows wine; (3) great portfolio. Jack is the guy everyone in the business respects and likes - he knows his stuff. He's quietly enthusiastic.

Jack's tell-tale phrase that he REALLY likes a wine is, "It's tastes like it is from somewhere." Jack's not into lots of descriptions. He uses "really good, "serious wine," "lots going on, serious....intense, real..." when he's excited about a wine. He lets his wines speak for themselves. And, they DO!

Jack is the "pioneering" small distributor in Maine. His portfolio of wines is tight, cohesive and all of the wines are good versions of what they are. Jack's portfolio is small enough that he has no room for a so-so wine in it - it has to perform! And, Jack only carries what he wants to carry. He has just under 350 wines in his book - and he manages to hit France, Italy, Spain, Portugal (he has the best Ports in the state), Germany, Austria, Lebanon (he carries Chateau Musar, my favorite winery in the whole world), Australia, South Africa (he has Warwick Estates, which makes Three Cape Ladies and several other wines that are my favorite South African wines), New Zealand (he has Spy Valley, my favorite New Zealand winery), Argentina (he has Weinert which Robert Parker just dubbed then best winery in the world), Chile, California (he has L'Aventure and Spann) and Oregon (St. Innocent, Benton Lane).

When Jack or Michael says he is coming by with something to taste, I perk up. I know I am going to taste something good that is exciting and that will teach me more about wine!

When you are looking for a wine and you want to try something new, look for the Maine 15 cent redemption sticker that has "EASTERLY" on it. It's a good wine. Can't guarantee you'll like that style of wine, but I will guarantee you that it is a good wine. Otherwise, Jack would not sell it!

Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle

We're off to western France this month. Both of these are wonderful, small producers making classically styled wines from their regions. These are serious, serious wines that you can easily drink and enjoy.

Bordeaux is a tough place to learn what is good and what is not. Chateau Margaux and the other "First Growths" are great, but how many can either afford a bottle that costs over $300-500 bottles or are willing to spend that amount of money?

What is hard is finding the good producers in Bordeaux who make moderately priced wine. Why is that so? Bordeaux has lots of wineries producing bad wine.

Muscadet is the classic shellfish wine from the Loire Valley. The La Louvetrie is a beautiful Muscadet!

Domaine de la Louvetrie Muscadet Sèvre & Maine 2006 (France) $14.99

This is a tasty wine – I love this with mussels and raw oysters!

Aromas of lemon, lime & minerals. More fruit & richness & fuller body than many Muscadets. Crisp, dry with nice minerality. Slightly spritzy feel.

Organic farming. “Sur Lie” means the wine is fermented on the “lees” - yeasty residue at the bottom. From the grape, “Melon de Bourgogne.”

The Melon de Bourgogne grape is grown in the Loire Valley and is best-known because it is used in Muscadet. In the 18th century, the grape was banned from Burgundy. In an overly harsh winter, many vines in the Nantes area were destroyed in 1709. The Melon grape is quite resistant to frost, so it was brought to the area. The Loire Valley is relatively far north in France. Today, the Melon grape is often called Muscadet because of its association with the wine.

Food pairing - The classic oyster wine, it also is great with other shellfish & white fish; goes well with spicy Asian food, too. “Muscadet, mussels and pomme frites” (french fries) – what a combination!

Chateau Barrail Meyney Bordeaux 2005 (France) $13.99

I love this – just tasted it in early May!

Fabulous value from the GREAT 2005 vintage!

With the weak dollar and worldwide demand for Bordeaux, it is hard to find a wine this good at this price!

Aromas and flavors of vanilla, dark fruit & plums. Excellent fruit (dark berry, black currant). Wonderful blend of spice, rich earth and oak. It’s easy-to-drink – soft & fleshy. Nice tannins and acidity. Pleasing, long finish.

Clearly dominated by Merlot (80%), with some Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) & Cabernet Franc (15%). Aged in French oak.

Food pairing - Great with roasts, steak, grilled meats or just sipping.
Top 100 Affordable Bordeaux 2007, Bordeaux Wine Bureau

http://bordeauxwinebureau.org/top_100.html

Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle

Spann Vineyards

Peter and Betsy Spann founded Spann Vineyards in 2000 after years working in the wine business all over the world – including France and California. The winery is in the beautiful Mayacamas Mountains near the Pacific Coast.

They produce intensely flavored wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese that they grow in their mountainside vineyard. They also select Zinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, Mourvedre and a few other grape varietals from special cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma County.

They focus on making hand-crafted, small production wines that are European in style – lots of Bordeaux, Rhone and Tuscan influences. We’ve carried several of their wines over the last 3 years (including their Mo Zin).

We LOVE their wines!

They farm organically. They only produce small amounts of each wine.

Spann Vineyards Chardonnay-Viognier* 2005 (California) $21.99

GREAT WINE! I love drinking this – the aromas are just beautiful!

An unusual blend of 59% Chardonnay & 41% Viognier. The 2005 has more Viognier in it than previous vintages. This wine pushes Chardonnay into the exotic without going over the top - the Chardonnay gives backbone and body, while the Viognier adds aromas of flowers, apricots and peaches, plus a round, rich feel in the mouth. Full of flavors and aromas! Subtle, proper use of oak - just a hint, a "kiss" of oak.

Aged 6 months in two and three year-old French oak barrels. Tiny winery. Organically farmed. 897 cases made.

Food pairing - Goes great with stir-fries, crab, seafood, salads and poultry.

91 points, “Best of Class - White Varietal Blends,” California State Fair (3rd year in a row this wine has won the award!)

Spann Vineyards Betsy’s Backacher* Lot #3 (California) $18.99

Wonderful blend made from grapes from different vintages and vineyards. Each year the blend is different – each year it is fantastic!

This is big and ripe and softly textured. The color is deep and dark. The aromas are filled with red cherries, black cherries, plums, a little dark chocolate, a little black licorice and more. The flavors pop with red cherries, dark berries, spice, licorice, plums and more. Nicely balanced tannins and acidity. Just well put-together!

The beauty of blends such as this is each grape adds more aromas and flavors to the wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon lengthens the finish. The Merlot adds lushness to the texture. The Syrah adds spice and plums. Cabernet Franc adds pepper. The Grenache adds red berries. The Grenache and Syrah add weight midway through.

Originally, Betsy and Peter Spann made a small amount of this wine for their friends whose aching backs proved they had helped harvest their grapes. They made it from the back acre of their property. The story goes that after giving the bottles to their helpful friends – these friends shared the bottles with others – who wanted to become the Spanns’ friends as well! So, they made some more!

The Betsy’s Backacher blend gives the Spanns the freedom to really do what they want with this wine because it is non-vintage. They can pull together juice from several years and make great wine! And, they do!

This year’s blend is 37% Syrah (2004), 25% Cabernet Sauvignon (2001), 14% Cabernet Franc (2003), 12% Merlot (2003) & 12% Grenache (2004). The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are from their own vineyards. The Cabernet Franc is from the Dry Creek Valley and the Grenache is from the Tehama Foothills.

Only 380 cases made. Open top fermentation for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Grenache and were hand punched down during fermentation. The Syrah and Cabernet Franc were fermented in stainless steel tanks. All of the wine goes through full malolactic fermentation in barrels. Aged on average 14 months in a mix of two-to-six year-old 59 gallon French oak barrels.

Food pairing – drinks well with or without food! Pair this up with any grilled or roasted meats, a great pizza, etc.

Tier 3 - $25-50/bottle

St. Innocent Winery
Willamette Valley
Salem, Oregon

St. Innocent Winery is a fabulous small winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the southeastern corner of Eola Hills.

It is named after the founder’s father, whose middle name was Innocent and Mark Vlossak’s father inspired his love for wine. Mark founded the winery in May 1988. The winery makes no more than 6,800 cases each year – that’s the capacity of its winery.

St. Innocent makes small production, handmade wines. It produces seven single vineyard Pinot Noirs and one blended Pinot Noir, two single vineyard Chardonnays from Dijon clones, two Pinot Gris and a Pinot Blanc. Mark Vlossak’s philosophy is that wine is made to compliment and enhance a meal. So, their wines tend to have higher acid levels and more complexity. They are best enjoyed with food!

St. Innocent* Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard 2005 (Oregon) $26.99

Freedom Hill Vineyard sits in the foothills of the coastal range. The Chardonnay block faces southeast. The vines are a Dijon clone, #76. This clone produces a Meursault-like Chardonnay – darker fruit with lots of minerality and soft, velvety textures in the mouth. The winemaker really believes this clone and winemaking style (sur lees in used oaky barrels) captures the “terroir” of the Freedom Hill Vineyard – showing the wines minerality and fruit without hiding it behind toasty oak.

Aromas that definitely showcase minerals….paired up with ripe pears, green apples and honeydew melons. The flavors mirror the aromas. The wine is lush in texture and feel. It’s just beautiful. You can drink this now and it tastes great, but this is a wine you should buy a few bottles and hold them for 4-6 years – it’ll gain complexity and depth (and it is already pretty complex and deep!).

The grapes are whole cluster pressed. The wine is barrel fermented in used barrels. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation (with this wine, the impact of malolactic fermentation is small, because the wine doesn’t have a lot of malic acid present at the beginning, so this is not a hugely “buttery and creamy” Chardonnay) and is aged “sur lees” for 12 months in used French oak barrels (used barrels impart little-to-no “oakiness” to the wine). The “lees” are the yeasty residue given off by fermentation that precipitates and settles on the bottom of the barrel – it adds richness and softness to the wine. 217 cases made.

Food pairing – great with rich foods – lobster, creamy sauces, duck, shellfish, many cheeses

This will age well for up to 5 years.

St. Innocent* Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard 2005 (Oregon) $43.99

This is a classic Oregon Pinot Noir!

Deep, dark color yet is still possible to see through it. Aromas of red and dark berries, flowers, baking spices and pepper. Flavors of dark cherries, raspberries, flowers, baking spices, minerals and a little earth. This really evolves in the glass – this is a wine to drink over an evening and enjoy it as it changes. Lots of layers and complexity in this wine! The crisp acidity helps carry the flavors to the finish. Ripe tannins that are mouth-coating, but not overwhelming. You should be able to age this for a decade.

Shea Vineyard produces a classic style of Pinot Noir. Everything is balanced – acidity, fruit, tannins, etc. Shea Vineyard is located in the Yamhill Foothills, southwest of Portland. Sustainable farming. Harvest time is determined by the winemaker’s mouth (tasting the grapes). Destemmed grapes. Crushed with 30-40% whole berries. The grapes are fermented in two small tanks. Punchdowns are by hand. The wine is aged for 16 months in 42% new French oak and is bottled without fining or filtration. 1,215 cases made.

Food pairing – lamb chops, filet mignon, salmon and other rich meals. Best decanted when young. This will age well for up to 10 years.

The Other:

Argiolas Isola dei Nuraghi Serra Lori 2006 (Sardinia, Italy) $16.99

Awesome rosé!

Beautiful dark salmon color. This is bright, fresh & fun to drink! Aromas & flavors that make you think you are on the Mediterranean coast! Wild berries, Provencal herbs, strawberries & nice length on the finish.

Blend of Cannonau, Monica, Carignano and Bovale Sardo. Hand-harvested grapes. Stainless steel fermentation. Less than 24 hours of skin contact. Bottle aged for 3 months before release. Only 7 cases came into Maine.

Argiolas is a GREAT winery. They are part of the Winebow portfolio (the best importer of Italian wines).

Food pairing – grilled meats, salads, tuna, salmon, etc. Great on a hot day!

July Wine Tasting

Our July wine tasting is this Friday - July 20th.

3:30 - 7:30pm

We'll be featuring wines from SOPO - one of Maine's best distributors. The owners, Cat Oster and Doug Watts will be on hand!

Wine Tasting

Friday, July 20th

3:30-7:30pm

Freeport Cheese & Wine

Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz - Parker 95 points!

I just found 3 cases of a rare wine at one of the distributors!

Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. 2005 (Australia) $49.99

Each December, a handful (a few cases of each) of these excellent and rare Mitolo wines arrive in Maine - the wines are:

• Mitolo G.A.M.
• Mitolo Savitar
• Mitolo Serpico

Looking through the distributors inventory, I noticed the Mitolo G.A.M. was still available.

Lo' and behold, it arrived after December and no one at the distributor sold much of it. Four cases came into Maine. When it is gone, we'll have to wait for the 2006 vintage to arrive late this year.

This is a classic McLaren Vale single vineyard Shiraz.

Deep, dark color (dark purple). Aromas of dark berries (especially blueberries and blackberries), dark cherries, black plums, toast, anise (licorice), pepper and subtle oak.

It's rich and full-bodied, with both elegance and boldness! Flavors of dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, baking spices, Provencal herbs and mocha. Nice tannic and acidic structure to it. This wine has layers and layers of complexity.

Family-owned and operated winery. Frank Mitolo founded the winery. This Italian-Australian has named this wine after his kids - G.A.M. = Gemma, Alexanber and Franco. "Honor nostrorum liverorum pulchrorum." "In honor of our lineage."

World-famous and respected Ben Glaetzer joined Mitolo as the winemaker in 2001, adding his legendary winemaking skills to Frank Mitolo's vineyard skills.

The grapes come from the Chinese Block vineyard in the Willunga District at the Southern End of the McLaren Vale.

All aging of the wine happens in hand-picked, fine grain French oak barrels. 70% of the wine is aged in new oak barrels in a combination of 80% French and 20% French coopered (the French cut the oak trees along a different grain than the Americans) American oak. 30% is aged in a combination of 1-2 year-old French and American oak (oak loses 80% of its chemical compounds the first time it is used). All of it is aged for 16 months in oak and then blended.

This should age well for up to 8-10 years. It's drinking well now.

Food pairing - Drinks BEAUTIFULLY without food! This also has plenty of "oomph" to stand up to a steak, beef, lamb, etc.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 95 Points

Robert Parker calls this a "Tour de Force of winemaking!"

Limited Quanities - 2 Great wines!

Hello,

I just bought the last 2 cases of one wine and one of the only 3 cases of another wine that will ever come into Maine.

2 cases left! (that's 24 bottles)

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz 2005 (Australia) $22.99 - This is a big, beautiful Barossa Shiraz!

Thorn-Clarke is a wonderful winery in Australia's Barossa Valley. Family-owned, 6 generations. Beautiful wines! Full-bodied with huge flavors & aromas & it is elegant! Huge hit at our May tasting! Aromas & flavors of plums, cinnamon, dark chocolate, spicy oak, berry fruit & more!

Just a mouthful of wine! Velvety, creamy & rich feel. Long finish. Soft, smooth tannins. Will age well for 7-10 years - and it drinks great right now! Aged 12-18 months in new & old oak barrels (40% new, French & American). Food pairing - steaks, lamb, big meals. Drinks GREAT on its own! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92 Points; Wine Spectator, 92 points, "SMART BUY"

1 case available! (that's 12 bottles)

Rosenblum Cellars Rockpile Zinfandel 2005 (California) $37.99 - Only 3 cases of this wine came into Maine. I bought one of the three.

It's a tightly allocated wine (that means each state only gets a certain amount of it) - with lots of demand for it! Each year, this wine gets great reviews from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, Stephen Tanzer and other reviewers. The 2005 hasn't been reviewed, yet. By the time it is reviewed - it will be gone.

This is from a small hillside vineyard of old vine Zinfandel in the Dry Creek Valley - the Rockpile Road Vineyard. Rosenblum Cellars is a top producer of California Zinfandel.

Aromas of rich dark fruit, black cherries, cooked dark berries, licorice, vanilla, and pepper. Flavors of blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, dark chocolate, baking spices and more. This is big and bold. Long finish with lots of depth.

4th of July 6-pack/12-pack

The 4th of July is just days away - so we've put together a wonderful summertime 6-pack and 12-pack of some new vintages of old favorites and several wines that are BRAND NEW to Maine!

The Theme - great drinking wines for getting together with friends!

ALL of these wines are in-stock TODAY! We can load you up!!!

If you want to substitute a wine, or you want to mix-and-match and put together your own assortment, just give us a call or e-mail us your list! We're happy to do as you want! Substitute freely!*

IF you only want one or 2 or any number of these wines, give us a call or e-mail back!

We're happy to do whatever you want!

The 6-pack

Regularly $70.94 Sale Price $61.94 Take 5% off the Sale Price, your price $58.84!

That's a savings of $2/bottle and brings the average cost under $10 a bottle!

The Whites:

Benoit Gautier Vouvray 2004 (Loire, France) Reg. $17.99 Sale $13.99 - Wonderful wine from the Loire Valley. Aromas of limes, lemons, minerals and almonds. Flavors of fresh lemons, quince, almonds and minerals. Dry. Light-to-medium bodied. The grapes are all hand-picked on successive passes through the vineyards to get the best grapes possible. Benoit Gautier owns 15 hectares of vineyards. Seven generations of Gautiers have made wine here - Benoit took over in 1981. The wines are fermented and aged in troglodytic caves, which were dug into the chalky limestone banks of the Loire during the mining era in the Renaissance. Grapes were first planted at the monastery at Marmoutier in 372 AD - and Chenin Blanc has been a mainstay of the Loire Valley ever since! Food pairing - seafood, pasta dishes with a lemon sauce, chicken. Drinks well on its own. Wine Spectator, 89 points

Oveja Negra Chardonnay-Viognier 2006 (Chile) Reg. $9.99 Sale $8.99 - This is YUMMY!!! Huge hit at a tasting! Bright, fresh yellow stone (peach & apricot) fruit aromas. Rich, soft & mouthfilling. Crisp, well-balanced acidity that brings this alive! Flavors of tropical fruits (melon & pineapple), peaches, Granny Smith apples. 85% Chardonnay & 15% Viognier. The Viognier & Chardonnay are fermented separately, the Viognier on lees - adding richness to the wine. Food pairing - fresh scallops, shrimp, lighter fish, mussels in Thai coconut curry sauce, ham, roasted chicken, cream soups such as potato-and-leek, crab cakes.

The Rosé:

VI Nulles Rosat 2005 (Spain) Reg. $9.99 Sale $6.99 - A huge hit at March's wine tasting. Since we sold out we bought more! Aromas of strawberries and other red berries. Not as floral as many Provencial rosés are. This is weightier, and a lot darker! Dry, but not super dry. Nice red berry flavors. Blend of 50/50 Merlot and Tempranillo (called Ull de Liebre in Tarragona). Like many Italian rosés, this Spanish rosé lasts longer than French rosés - you can safely drink 2005 Spanish rosés well into 2007 (as we are doing with this wine!). Food Pairing - traditional fare such as paella, grilled or roasted meats, salmon, etc. Pair with Fondue cheeses. Drinks nicely on its own.

The Reds:

Castano Monastrell (Yecla, Spain) $9.99 Sale $8.99 -This is a GREAT value! Deep, dark purple color. Aromas of dark berries, blueberries, stewed plums and more. Loaded with similar flavors. This is just fun to drink! This wine is from the "lost" region of Yecla, in Southwestern Spain. Old, ungrafted vines. Family-owned winery. 100% Monastrell (the grape the French call Mourvedre). Stainless steel and oak fermentation for 6-8 months before bottling. Food pairing - grilled meats, lamb, beef, steak, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 Points

Thorn-Clarke Milton Park Shiraz 2006 (Barossa Valley, Australia) $12.99 - The 2005 vintage sold-out nationally as soon as Robert Parker dropped 90 points on it! The 2006 vintage just arrived in Maine. The 2006 is every bit as good as the 2005! Loads of dark berry and black cherry fruit with hints of licorice and oak in the aromas and flavors...these are rich, lush, full-bodied wines that should be drunk now. It's a blend of 86.5% Shiraz, 6% Nebbiolo, 4.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Food pairing - great for a day grilling! Drinks well on its own!

Oveja Negra Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2005 (Central Valley, Chile) $9.99- We love this little "Black Sheep!" Aromas of dark berries, plums, vanilla and toasty oak. Flavors of dark fruit, black cherries, smoky meat and toasty oak. Round and smooth in the mouth. Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Syrah. Hand-picked grapes. Grapes are destemmed before fermenting. Food pairing - hearty meals, roasted or grilled meats, sausages, etc. Great sipping on its own!.

The 12-pack

Add the 6-pack Reg. Price of $70.94 to these 6 bottles & the Reg. Price is $153.88. The sale price is $137.88. With the 10% case discount, your price is $124.09!

Just barely over $10 a bottle - what a value! These are wonderful wines!

The Whites:

Pierre-Luc Bouchaud Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2005 (Loire, France) Reg. $12.99 Sale $10.99 - Fabulous wine! We had this with a crabmeat quiche and it just rocked! From one of our favorite importers, Steven Berardi! Dry, crisp wine - perfect shellfish wine - oysters, mussels, etc. Has wonderful minerals on the finish. Also blessed with nice citrus and tropical fruit halfway through your mouth. Finishes with crisp acidity that balances the brininess of a lot of shellfish. Food pairing - "Muscadet, mussels and fries!" Shellfish. Lobster.

Domaine des Vercheres Macon-Villages 2005 (Burgundy, France) Reg. $16.99 Sale $13.99 - It's rare to find a Burgundy this good at this price - This is a perfect all-purpose white wine. It's "Beautiful!" Wonderful aromas of green apples, freesia & minerals. Mineral & green apple flavors! Crisp, bright & fresh finish. Aged in neutral oak barrels for softness & complexity - but ZERO woodiness. 100% Chardonnay. Food pairing - roasted poultry, baked trout, salmon, tuna, crab cakes, etc. London's Times calls this a "show stopping Burgundy producer!"

Aresti Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Chile) Reg. $9.99 Sale $8.99 - . A good, tasty wine and a great value! Intense aromas of lemon, grapefruit, Provencal herbs and grass. Flavors of pineapple, mango and grapefruit. Light-to-medium bodied. This is bright and fresh with zingy acidity. Well-balanced fruit and acidity. Nice, long finish. Hand-harvested grapes. Hand-sorted grapes. Free-run juice. Food pairing - drinks well without food! Great with seafood, shellfish and chicken. Also with lighter pasta dishes.

The Reds:

Maipe Malbec 2005 (Mendoza, Argentina) $12.99 - Excellent wine & a great value! Aromas and flavors of flowers, ripe figs, dark berry fruit and more! Soft, integrated tannins. Nice length on the finish! Brand new to Maine! I've tasted this fresh after opening it and a day or two later - it's been good both ways - in fact, drinking it a day or so after opening shows that decanting will open up the flavors & aromas! Food pairing - drinks well on its own. Great with roasted & grilled meats, rich pasta dishes, etc. Wine Spectator, "Best Value, 87 points

Talley Family Vineyards Bishop's Peak Rock Solid Red 2004 (Paso Robles, California) $14.99 - This is one stinking good wine from a great family-owned winery! Wonderful dark berry fruit aromas and flavors. Fresh and lively. Peppery. Not too heavy - not too light. Talley Vineyards is one of the true stars in the Central Coast. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Aged in French and American oak. Food pairing - grilled meats, pizza and tomato sauce pasta dishes. Drinks well without food.

Jelu Pinot Noir 2005 (Patagonia, Argentina) Reg. $14.99 Sale $13.99 - We just love this winery and this Pinot Noir is awesome! Aromas of dark berries (blueberries, dark plums and blackberries) with some hints of Provencal herbs. Flavors of juicy red and dark berries, plums and hints of earth and minerals. Medium-bodied. Easy to drink! Brand-new to Maine! Food pairing - Excellent choice with roasted or grilled meats, rich vegetarian dishes, and other flavorful food. Great with salmon. Drinks well on its own!

That's the selection!

Enjoy!

We sure are!