February Wines We Love!!!

February Wines We Love!!!

Sparkling

Von Schleinitz Sekt 2005 (Germany) $31.99 - this is a cool, DRY sparkling riesling! Fresh baked bread, yeast, floral, hints of minerals....cool wine! We may run out of this one (only 12 bottles available)....if we do....we have another sparkling up our sleeves.

Domaine Betrand Ambroise Cremant de Bourgogne (France) $19.99 - Wonderful floral and citrus aromas. Round and soft feel. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Hand-harvested grapes. Bottle aged for 20 months before the bottles are placed head-down to gather the sediment and deposits. Bottles are uncorked and the sediment removed. Champagne-style wine from Burgundy. Food pairing - great as a cocktail or toasting wine. This will pair well with red berry desserts.

White Wines

Quinta do Alqueve Fernao Pires 2006 (Portugal) $11.99 - Bobby Kacher (the importer) - this is the ONLY non-French wine he imports; the grape is Fernao Pires. We've sold this for a while, and we are on a new vintage we love....so, we decided to do this! It's a little nutty and minerally while still having nice fruit! We love this wine! Beautiful pale straw color. Aromas of ripe apples, freshly mown grass, pears & honey. Flavors of apples & pears with hints of minerals & subtle floral notes that resemble Viognier. Crisp feeling & well-balanced acidity. Flat-out delicious. 82% Fernao Pires. 100% destemmed & fermented in stainless steel, ....then it is blended with Chardonnay....the Chard is aged & fermented in oak (this in NOT an oaky wine). Food pairing - lobster, shellfish, smoked fish, lighter poultry dishes...drinks well on its own.

Vinum Cellars "White Elephant" 2006 (California) $17.99 - only 90 cases made of this Chenin Blanc/Roussanne//Viognier blend from one of our favorite little wineries in California! The winemakers, Richard Bruno and Chris Condos, loudly and proudly exclaim that they'll "Work for Chenin!" Vinum Cellars is distinctive!

Red Wines

Sleight of Hand "Spellbinder" Red Blend (Washington) $19.99 - Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese blend from Cat's current favorite winemaker, Trey Busch. Sleight of Hand is a wonderful little winery in Walla Walla!

Avondale Unwooded Pinotage 2006 (South Africa) $11.99 - Big and dark....unique....Pinotage is a hybrid cross of Pinot Noir and Hermitage (a.k.a.; Cinsault). Avondale is a pioneer in organic and bio-diversity farming in South Africa.

X Winery Syrahtica (California) $14.99 - This is a rocking good wine! HUGE hit at a private tasting I did! Aromas and flavors of dark berries, black currants, blueberries, mocha, and a hint of licorice and black pepper. Soft, integrated tannins that fit into the wine. Just a hint oak. A unique blend of Paso Robles & Napa Valley Carneros grapes - Syrah, Petite Sirah & Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mas Carlot Les Enfants Terribles Costières de Nimes Syrah & Mourvèdre 2006 (France) $14.99 - NEW VINTAGE of an old favorite! I LOVE this! Complex, robust, tasty! Aromas & flavors of rocky, mineral soil, leather, dark berries, dark plums, black cherries, anise, earth, smoke. Layers & layers - that's probably why it speaks to me so! Everything is well-put-together. Well-balanced. Medium-to-full-bodied. This screams & defines "terroir" - that sense of place that we think wine should have! Half is aged in new oak. Will drink well thru 20011-12. Food pairing - lamb with rosemary, beef, rich mushroom dishes, etc.

Hill of Content Sparkling Shiraz (Australia) $16.99 - Doug and I were trying to think of a great tasting, fun sparkling wine to pair with chocolate on Valentine's Day! We both went, "Sparkling Shiraz!" This is a non-vintage wine made from mostly Shiraz, with a large amount of Cabernet Sauvignon added in for depth and oomph! Aromas and flavors of red and dark berries are made more "interesting" and exotic by the "sparkle." This is "zesty" because of the sparkle and adds to the festivity of any event! ....even a day when you are grilling burgers or chicken.... Pair this with marinated meatballs for a real treat! Great as a cocktail wine when your guests first arrive! Excellent with chocolate.

Dessert Wine

Elderton Botrytis Semillon 2005 (Australia) $19.99 - if the Sparkling Riesling isn't the coolest wine in this line-up, this is! This is scary good - and for all you who say, "I don't like sweet wines...." I DARE you, DOUBLE DARE you, to say that about this! Pairing for a dessert - Creme Brulee!