March 2008 Wines of the Month

Tier One

White:

Chateau Grande Cassagne Cassanus Costieres de Nimes 2006 (France) $13.99 - This is a wonderful white blend from one of my favorite importers, Bobby Kacher. Even with the dollar getting just killed by the Euro, Southern France is still home to many great values.....especially if you step away from pricier areas such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage and Cote Rotie......the Costieres de Nimes is one such place on the western edge of the Rhone Valley.

Blend of 60% Roussanne and 40% Marsanne. 80% is stainless steel fermented and 20% is done in French oak barriques (small barrels). This gives the wine a tingle of oak that is definitely a backdrop to the bright floral (lavendar and white flowers) aromas, the citrus and green Provencal olive aromas with hints of honey. This is crisp AND rich! This wine SPEAKS of the South of France! Flavors of tart and sweet green apples, lemons, plenty of minerals and notes of herbs. Nice balance to the acidity and fruit. Nice finish. This may be my summer wine!

Chateau Grande Cassagne is a small estate run by the Dardé brothers, whose first vintage was in 1988. They ripped out the cheap table wine vines planted on the family estate (80 acres) and replanted with traditional Rhone Valley varietals, including Roussanne and Marsanne. The property is near the village of Saint-Gilles, where the land rises to expose a boulder-riddled plateau much like the one at Chateauneuf-du-Pape. They produce wonderful Rhone-style wines at great prices! Hand-made, hand-farmed, organically-grown.

Food pairing - Great as an apéritif and accompanying simple fish and chicken dishes with herb seasonings. Drinks well without food. Wonderful wine for a party!

Red:

Bonny Doon Vineyard Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato D.O.C. (Piedmont, Italy) Reg. $18.99 Sale $9.99 - This is an EXCELLENT wine from a truly OBSCURE grape – Ruché (I‘d never heard of the grape as of February). It's at this great price because no one knows what Ruché is and that makes it a tough sell at nearly $20/bottle!

This is what I call a "TWO PERSON" bottle of wine! What I mean by that is this wine will really evolve and change over a couple of hours.....so you want to drink this slowly and enjoy it! Less than 100 acres of Ruché are planted in Piedmont (this is the only place it is grown).....this makes it one of Italy's smallest produced grape varietals. Some same Ruché vines were imported from France 100 years ago; others say it is indigenous to the Monferrato hills around the city of Asti.... I don't have a clue! It's only been produced commercially for a few decades and less than 10,000 cases are made from the entire area (about 35 different producers).

This wine starts with nice rose petal aromas….then, it really evolves over the next 90 minutes plus – that’s one of the things we really like about this! Medium-bodied. Distinct notes of pepper and wild berries. Soft tannins and nice acidity. I really like this A LOT! Jessica liked it enough to take home 6 bottles. Food pairing - Goes well with beef, lamb, grilled meats, truffles or mushrooms and cheeses such as Piave Vecchio or Gorgonzola.

Tier Two

White:

Spann Vineyards Betsy's Backacher "Bottle Blond" 2006 (California) $17.99 - I love the Spann wines! Mo Zin is one of my favorite reds! This is one of my favorite whites! Blend of 67% Chardonnay, 22% Semillon and 11% Viognier. Spann farms organically. Peter and Betsy Spann just represent what a "family-owned" winery should be!

Aromas of crisp, ripe apples and anise. The flavors are creamy, soft and rich with no one varietal dominating the others. The Semillon and the malolactic fermentation help create the rich, soft, lush texture. Flavors of apricots, green apples and anise. This has such a rich and pleasing textural quality to it. Nice length on the finish.

The Chardonnay is from the Yorkville Highlands in Mendocino County. The Semillon and Viognier are from Dry Creek Valley. 75% of each varietal is barrel-fermented in French oak and 25% in stainless steel. 50% of the Chardonnay and all of the Viognier and Semillon complete malolactic fermentation. Each varietal is aged in neutral French oak barrels for 6 months. 448 cases made. Food pairing - lighter seafood or poultry dishes. Drinks great without food as well!

Red:

Potel-Aviron Côte de Brouilly Vielles Vignes Cru Beaujolais 2004 (France) Reg. $16.99 Sale $13.99 - I'm a little under the price threshhold for Tier 2 for this month - the distributor had a deal on this wine and I had to take it! Like most of the big distributors in Maine, this one just doesn't sell "Cru Beaujolais" well - most of their sales reps don't know what it is.....I do....and I appreciate their value, their flavors and their aromas!

I LOVE "Cru Beaujolais." It's one of the truly undervalued areas in the world. People hear "Beaujolais" and immediately think, "Beaujolais Nouveau." This couldn't be even compared to Beaujolais Nouveau. This is much more like a Burgundy than it is the candied fruit of Nouveau. Cote de Brouilly is predominantly granite soil. Up on the hill of Mont de Brouilly you can kneel down and pray at Notre Dame du Raisin ("Our Lady of the Grape"). "Cru Beaujolais" designates the 10 villages in Northearn Beaujolais that comprise the best growing areas - Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Saint-Amour, Chenas, Morgon, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent, Julienas and the "new kid on the block," Regnie. These areas are hillier than the rest of Beaujolais and have much rockier soils.

I love this wine! This is not like a “fruity” Beaujolais Nouveau – this is much more like a good Pinot Noir! Great fruit, great flavor, loads of black cherries, violets, and dark fruit in the nose and mouth. Notes of chocolate throughout. Nice, long, rich finish. This is not quite medium-bodied, but it has a depth and elegance and length that make for an impressively rich wine!

Cote de Brouilly has distinctive "blue-hued" stones in its soil. Only about 80 producers. Potel-Aviron farms organically. What sets Potel-Aviron apart from most Beaujolais producers is that they DON"T use carbonic maceration - carbonic maceration means the grapes are tossed into the vats in whole clusters and not crushed....the weight of the grapes starts to crush them....this gives Beaujolais a unique flavor (candied fruit). Potel-Aviron applies Burgundy production standards (they crush, manual harvest, oak barrels for up to 10+ months - 6 months longer than most, but they never use more than 20% new oak).

Food pairing - Outstanding wine for Thanksgiving Dinner type meals, with roasted poultry, pork and similar meals. More Burgundy/Pinot Noir-like than Beaujolais (Gamay).

Tier Three

White:

Richard Partridge Chardonnay 2005 (California) $48.99 - This is a big, rich and elegant California Chardonnay that is mind-bogglingly good! Beautiful golden color. This is a complex, layered wine with lots going on....while it has "big" flavors and aromas, it is also elegant and refined. This has floral and tropical fruit flavors and aromas and a hint of minerals. Additional aromas of honeysuckle, baking spices, lemons and oranges. Flavors of pineapples, lemons, stone fruits, green apples and melons with nice minerality and spices.

This is a small winery - focusing on only Chardonnay and Cabernet. They make less than 1,000 cases of wine each year. The winemaker, Jeff Fontanella, has worked at such major California "cult" wineries as Opus One, ZD and Saddleback Cellars. At Saddleback, Jeff work under the tutelage of Nils Venge, whom Robert Parker called "one of the 20 most influential winemakers in the world." Jeff knows his way around both the vineyard and the winery!

All of the 2005 Chardonnay grapes come from the State Lane Vineyards in the Yountville District of Napa Valley. Barrel fermented in new and one-year Allier oak. Aged "sur lees" for six months. Uses a Burgundian yeast. 286 cases made. This is only sold in 20 states! Food pairing - duck, chicken, salmon.....keep it good and simple.....I wouldn't do wild, spicy sauces with this wine....let its elegance and complexity help your good, simple food really shine!

Red:

Tir na N'og (Land of Youth) Old Vines Grenache 2005 (Australia ) $26.99 - Doug from SOPO brought this around and I knew I'd found the wine of the month for Tier 3!

This is big and deep, dark purple! Aromas of spices, black cherries, dark berries and dark chocolate. It's ripe, lush and full-bodied in the mouth! Velvety texture. Lots of layers and complexity to this. Notes of strawberries and raspberries in the flavors with dark chocolate. This has a silky finish to it with notes of black pepper and dark chocolate. This should age well for at least 10 years, but it is drinking darn good right now! This wine comes with a wonderful Gaelic legend - Oisin. The wine's name is a tribute to importer John Larchet's Irish/Gaelic heritage! Tir na N'og (Tier nah Nohg) is Gaelic for "Land of the Youth." Irish legends and myths tell of a land where mortal time was suspended and everyone was young and beautiful. Aged 18 months in oak barrels. 20% new and 80% old French oak barrels....so the oak doesn't dominate the wine. Food pairing – grilled meat, mushroom dishes, etc. Sitting in a nice room with a good friend would work as well! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91 points; Wine Spectator, 91 points; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 91 points

The Other

Dutschke Old Codger Fine Old Tawny Port (Australia) $19.99 - This is a blend of wines from a slew of grapes from Langhorne Creek and the Barossa Valley. The wines average age is 8 years. This shows wonderful depth and complexity. It has butterscotch flavors with hints of molasses and red berry (strawberry & raspberry) that makes this uniquely different from many tawny ports. This is delicious and a GREAT value at $20! Made using a Solera system, this results in consistent quality from year-to-year. Blend of Verdelho, Grenache, Shiraz, Palomino, Frontignac and Muscadelle.

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!

January Wines We Love!!!

January Wines We Love!!!

This month we feature wines from Jack Sculley of Easterly Wines. Jack is the "patron saint" of the independent, niche distributors in Maine. Jack pioneered the road that has seen SOPO, Wicked, Devenish, DaVine and Mariner join the field in the last 3 years.

Ask any wine sales rep (we're talking about reps from competing distributors) in Maine about Jack's portfolio of wines....each rep will say, "Jack's got some GOOD wines!"

Jack's wines definitively come from smaller, lesser-knownn producers. Jack has a superb palate - you can be assured that everything with the "Easterly" redemption sticker on it is a good version of what it is! Jack's wines are all over the wine lists at leading Maine restuarants such as Fore Street, Hugo's, Primo's, Street & Co. and more. Because Jack deals with such small producers, quite often these wines are not reviewed by publications such as Wine Spectator, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, etc. This helps keep a lid on the prices of many of these wines!

The Wines!!!

Sparking

DeFaveri Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut $24.99 - this is definitely the best Prosecco in Maine and the best I have ever had! It comes in a fabulous, distinctive black bottle!

Lucio De Faveri produces elegant wines from the highest quality grapes! Aromas and flavors of green apples, white peaches, pears, white flowers and hazelnuts. This has a mouth-filling texture. Piercing, vibrant acidity. Nice length on the finish.

White Wines

Domaine Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet 2006 (France) $11.99 - This is one of our favorite white wines! Has HUGE wow factor for a $12 wine! Refreshing! Floral & fruity nose…if you didn’t know any better, you might think this is a sweet wine. My Mom won’t go near a sweet wine - she loved this one – it’s dry and fruity. Melon, lemon, & grapefruit flavors. Food pairing - Terrific drinking on its own! All shellfish & seafood – from simple steamed mussels to a tomato-infused fish stew, plus flavorful white-meat dishes, cheeses & cured meats. One of the best values in the store! The name is poetic – “Picpoul de Pinet.”

AIA dei Colombi Falanghina 2006 (Italy) $17.99 - We just love this wine! It has great pear, peach & pineapple aromas and flavors with a hint of green apple. Juicy & round in the mouth. Medium bodied. Well-balanced acidity. Wonderful mouth feel – crisp and soft.
Long, smooth & soft finish. Dry. 100% Falanghina. No oak. The winery is run by 2 brothers. From the Sannio region of Campania, north of Naples. Ancient winemaking region – it’s favorbably mention in the works of Pliny, Cato and Horace. Food pairing - seafood and lighter dishes, fried clams or fried fish.

Warwick Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (S. Africa) $18.99 - This is just a wonderful wine! Pale, light color. Aromas of pear, lime, gooseberry and herbs. Dense and rich in the mouth. Dry. Flavors of pink grapefruit, lime and spices. Done entirely in stainless steel, the wine is clean, crisp and fresh. Finishes crisply with nice mineral notes. Warwick is a fabulous winery - we've sold their "Three Cape Ladies" since we opened. Food pairing - Great with fresh goat cheeses, salads made with goat cheese, grilled fish, shellfish and lobster.

Reds

Bodegas Aragonesas Campo de Borja Coto de Hayas Tinto 2006 (Spain) $9.99 - This is a wonderful wine - a great choice if you are on "Wine Probation" following the holidays (Wine Probation is a spending restriction after the holidays). Aromas and flavors of cherries, plums, chocolate and baking spices. A little pepper spice as well! Soft, rich texture. Tannins are soft and light. Nice acidity. Pretty finish. Blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Campo de Borja is just south of Rioja, in the Cordillero Iberico foothills (this area is near the Pyrenees Mountains). The altitude is about 1,500 feet. Wine Spectator, "Best Buy"

Easton Amador County Zinfandel 2006 (California) $17.99 - This is the perfect mouthful of Zinfandel - we love it! Aromas of stewed dark and red berries & spices. This has a big, rich feel in the mouth! It's juicy. Has a creamy texture due to 10 months aging in French oak barrels. Well-balanced. Easton is a tiny family owned winery - Hugh Johnson & the Wine Spectator's James Laube rate it the best winery in the Sierra Foothills! Sustainable agricultural practices. Solar-powered winery. This is drinking well now and you can also age it for a couple of years. It'll add complexity as it ages. Food pairing - grilled meats, foods with blue cheese, roasted meats, really good pizza. Drinks great on its own!

Cascina Ballarin Cino Langhe Rosso 2004 (Piedmont, Italy) $15.99 - This is a blend of Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera. This is medium-bodied and delicious. Brilliant ruby color. Aromas of ripe raspberries, cherries, plums, fresh herbs and flowers. This has rich flavors and smooth, lush texture. Flavors that are similar to the aromas. This has nice length on the finish. Ballarin is a specialty producer who works its vineyards by hand - from the pruning to the "green harvest" to the harvest. Stainless steel fermentation (6 months) and bottle aged for 6 months. The vineyards are mostly in the villages of La Morra and Monforte d'Alba. Food pairing - chicken, poultry, lamb, mushroom dishes. etc.

Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah "Les Cotes de L'Ouest" 2006 (California) $18.99 - This may be the best California Syrah under $20! This is a Northern Rhone style Syrah - St. Joseph-like. Deep, dark, inky color. Loaded with raspberry, pepper, gamey, baking spices, smoke and Provencal herbs in the aromas and flavors. The texture is soft and smooth. This drinks well young and will age for a few years. Easton is a tiny family owned winery - Hugh Johnson & the Wine Spectator's James Laube rate it the best winery in the Sierra Foothills! Sustainable agricultural practices. Solar-powered winery. Terre Rouge means "Red Earth" - the soil here in these Amador County foothills is quite red in color - lots of iron in this volcanic soil - this adds minerality and depth to the wine. Food pairing - Drinks great on its own without food! Pair this with hearty meals - pasta, steak, lamb, grilled meats, mushroom dishes, etc.

Dessert

Quinta do Crasto Late Bottle Vintage Port $26.99 - we'll also have this available in half-bottles for $14.99! This Port is a treasure! Beautiful wine! Great gift - even if for yourself! Aromas of ripe plums and dark fruit. Flavors of dark chocolate, hints of spice, pleasant herbs, hint of licorice (and, yes, I don't like licorice, but in this wine it's nice!). Long, elegant finish. Quinto do Crasto is probably the best winemaker in the Douro Valley. Made from hand-picked grapes from 45-65 year-old vines. This wine will improve with age, but it is drinking well now! Food pairing - great either on its own or paired with strong cheese, almonds & dried fruit.

February 2008 Wines of the Month

February 2008 Wines of the Month

Tier One

White:

Colterenzio – Schreckbichl Alto Adige Pinot Grigio 2006 (Italy) $14.99 - This is a delicious wine! Crisp, clean, fresh. Dry. Good fruit on the nose and palette. Aromas and flavors of minerals, pears and lemons. Lots of minerals in the aromas and flavors. Round, soft texture at the start and crisp finish. Medium-bodied. Refreshing acidity. Clean finish. This is SERIOUS wine.....this is not a light and fruity Pinot Grigio. Given the limestone base that is the Dolomites, this wine is GEOLOGY in a GLASS! Food pairing - Great as an apéritif and accompanying chicken dishes, other poultry, seafood and rich cheese. Pick up some Raclette, Appenzeller or even Alsatian Meunster (if you like pungent cheese) and pair it with this wine for a special treat!

Italy's northern province of Alto Adige (Südtirol) has been part of many different countries dating back to the Romans....Alto Adige is squeezed up near Austria and Switzerland. It's been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.....part of Austria, part of Italy....back-and-forth....it's part-German, part-Italian....unique! Sometimes, you'll see both Denominazione di Origine Controllata (D.O.C.) and Qualitatswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete on labels to classify wines. This is one of Europe's oldest winemaking areas, dating to 15 B.C. as a winemaking center. This area is so mountainous, that only 15% of the land is cultivated.

In 1960, a group of 28 vineyards, winemakers and estates in the Uberetsch wine area (South of Bolzano) pooled their resources to create the Colterenzio - Schreckbichl Winegrowers Cooperative. They've combined their 320+ hectares of top-notch vineyards and are sharing the production costs (which helps make this and their other wines great values). Their motto is, "United, we are strong." Their vineyard locations are in a unique place combining warmth from the Mediterranean and crisp, cool air from the Alps.

Organic farming. Temperature-controlled fermentation. Gambero Rosso, the classic reference for Italian wines, calls Alto Adige one of the Top 5 winemaking areas in Italy....and Gambero Rosso says about Colterenzio, "Their entire line has few competitors in any part of Italy, and their whites are among the very best of their area."

Red:

Caves Velhas Romeira Palmela D.O.C. 2004 (Portugal) Reg. $13.99 Sale $9.99 - This is a wonderful wine for a cool night and hearty food! This was one of the wines at a wine tasting I did for the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society on Friday night – it was a big hit and just delicious! I bought the last 5 cases the Wicked Wines boys had and they gave me a great price - so, I am passing it on to you!

Medium-to-full body. Aromas and flavors of red and dark fruit, a little smoke and earth, ….notes of oak in the aromas and flavors…similar in style to wines from the Southern Rhone valley in France. 100% Castelao (an indigenous grape in Portugal; also known as Periquita). The wine is aged in 3 different types of oak and then the different barrels are blended to make the wine.

This area (Palmela) is in southern Portugal near the Atlantic coast - near Setubal, a little south of Lisbon. The area is bordered by the Tagus and Sado Rivers. The alluvial soil created by these ancient rivers is perfect for this grape. Food pairing – lamb, steak, stews, mushroom dishes, etc.

Tier Two

You've probably seen Concha y Toro's "value" line in many places....this is one of their single vineyard tiers of wines. I just tasted them at the end of January and really liked them.....plus, the wines were on sale in January....and they took a $3-4 increase in February that is likely permanent given the value of the dollar and energy costs.

This is a family-controlled winery and it's been run by the same family since 1883. Wine Enthusiast magazine named it their "2004 Winery of the Year."

White:

Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay D.O. Pirquie 2006 (Chile) Reg. $21.99 Sale $17.99 - Single vineyard wine from the Santa Isabel Vineyard in the Maipo Valley. 100% Chardonnay. Hand-harvested grapes. Fermented in new and used French Burgundian oak barriques. Aged "sur lie" in the same barrels for 11 months. Aged another 4 months in the bottle before the winery releases the wine.

Aromas of peaches, tropical fruit (mango, pineapple) and nuts. Creamy feel. Medium-bodied. Flavors of peaches, papayas & .subtle oak. Crisp, vibrant acidity. Long, big, pleasing finish.
Food pairing - seafood (see below for a recipe), poultry, cream-based or olive oil-based pasta dishes. Many cheeses, especially Taleggio, Delice de Bourgogne and Pierre Robert (this is from one of France's true GIANTS in terms of double and triple creme cheeses).

Red:

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon D.O. Puente Alto 2005 (Chile) Reg. $21.99 Sale $17.99 - This is a big, rich, lush Cabernet. Velvety feel. Tastes great! Aromas and flavors of cherries, red and dark fruit, dark chocolate, and smoke. Silky texture. Full-bodied. This wine packs a lot of flavor into the bottle at this price!

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hand-harvested. Aged 18 months in new (35%) and used (65%) French oak barriques (small barrels). Aged 2 months in the bottle before the winery releases the wine. Single vineyard, Puente Alto in the Maipe Valley. Food pairing - pair with steak, lamb, hearty meals and cheeses such as Piave Vecchio, Aged Gorgonzola and Manchego.

Tier Three:

I want to head to Burgundy for Tier Three because I've found a couple of winners that are real "steals" - I know, it's hard to call a $35-40 bottle a "steal," but Burgundy has gotten pricier and pricier.

White:

Jean-Marie Guffens founded his own negociant business in 1990 after 5 years as a wine broker. He then sought out the best small growers he could find and worked with them to improve growing practices. All of his grapes are hand-harvested. He treats his grapes gently and focuses on making wines that reflect his vineyards and the climate. He doesn't "manipulate" his wines.

Verget Pouilly-Fuisse “Terroir de Solutré” La Mûre 2005 (Bourgogne) $38.99 - Jean-Marie Guffens made a GREAT, GREAT wine! 2005 is a GREAT year for Burgundy! One of the best EVER! Aromas and flavors of lemons, wet stones and honey. Rich. Creamy with notes of vanilla and crème brulee and lemon butter. Medium-bodied. Velvety. Smooth. Excellent minerality. Crisp. Well-balanced acidity. 60-year-old vines. 100 cases made. High altitude vineyard above Vergisson. Partially barrel-fermented. Food pairing - Great wine with lobster and baked chicken; cheeses such as Reblochon, Taleggio, Pierre Robert Triple Cream, etc.

Red:

Cote Chalonnaise is just south of the more soft-after Cote de Beaune region of the Cote d'Or (about 10 miles south of Beaune. Mercurey is a part of the Chalonaise, and it produces almost as much wine as its neighbors Givry, Rully and Montagny together. Many critics call Mercurey the best part of the Chalonaise. A premier cru from anywhere in the Cote d'Or will cost a great deal more than $30-40, so the wines from Mercurey, while getting more expensive, represent some of the best values from Burgundy!

Francois Raquillet Mercurey 1er Cru Les Vasees 2005 (Bourgogne) $39.99 - An outstanding Burgundy! This is beautiful Pinot Noir! GREAT year for Burgundy! One of the best vintages EVER! Aromas and flavors of black cherries, red cherries, ripe strawberries & baking spices. The flavors also show nice stony mineral and notes of meat/game. Silky texture. Rich and nice feel to this wine! I’d age this a few years – at least 2-3 and you’ll have a GREAT, GREAT wine! Food pairing – pan-seared meat, mushroom dishes, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

The Others:

Terre Rouge Muscat a Petits Grains 2004 (California) $18.99 - This is a Beaumes de Venise style dessert wine. This is not overly sweet. Aromas and flavors of flowers, honey, coconut and white stone fruits. This will make a great ending to a memorable meal!

The Muscat grape has many different "clones." Muscat a Petits Grains is the world's finest Muscat grape. Aged 9 months in neutral oak barrels. Fortified with high-proof Muscat brandy (the brandy is made from Muscat grapes from the same vineyard) to stop fermentation. The winery is one that we showcased at our January tasting (Easton Zinfandel and Easton's Terre Rouge Syrah). I really like Bill Easton's wines! He farms organically and practices sustainable agricultre. Food pairing - pear tart, fruit desserts, creme brulee.

Wines of the Month - what it means and involves

"Wines of the Month"

Being a member of our "Wines of the Month" program earns:

1. you get a 10% discount on all wine purchases (if you are not a member, you still get a 10% discount on case purchases) - come in and buy one bottle and if you are a member of the "Wines of the Month," you get 10% off the purchase!
2. 10% off ALL cheese purchases - this is a new benefit!
3. "Wines of the Month" members also get a 15% discount when buying a complete case (12 bottles of the same wine) - except where I note "no additional discount - I've done this with one wine in over 2 years.
4. "Wines of the Month" members also get a 15% discount when buying one of our "12-pack" mixed cases rather than the standard 10% discount on the case
5. "Wines of the Month" members also get a 10% discount when buying one of our "6-pack" mixes rather than no discount.

Here's the "Wines of the Month" Program:

"WINES of the Month" Club

Freeport Cheese & Wine

178 Lower Main Street (Rte. 1), Freeport, ME 04032 (207) 869-4048

efullagar@gmail.com

Why should you join? 3 reasons…

1. Selection. We carefully select distinctive, unusual and hard-to-find wines.
2. Education. Wine is as complicated as you want to make it. We want to make it simpler. It’s also a fun topic to study – I love the history and culture of wine areas. Being a part of our wine club will let you learn about wine gradually by trying different wines. The best way to learn is to taste different things. We’ll also include background information about the winery and area.
3. Support Small Family Wineries…the wines we pick will come from small, family-owned and operated wineries that practice sustainable agriculture. Taste is most important – with the wealth of wines out there, it’s also nice to support small producers who are doing it the right way!

We will pick two wines for you – 1 white & 1 red. Some months, we'll offer an optional bottle (say a dessert wine or a sparkling wine or a dry rosé or a truly GREAT, unusual wine).

We have Three Tiers for our Wines of the Month Club (you may sign-up for one, two or all three). The cost each month will fall roughly in the middle of each tier (for example, Tier 1 will have an average cost/bottle at about $12-13).

• Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle
• Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle
• Tier 3 - $25-35/bottle

You may choose any Tier. You may choose to mix Tiers. You may choose to just get the white or red from a single Tier. Whatever you want to do, we’ll make it work!

This is a great way for you to try something new. This also makes a great gift - either for a wine lover or someone new to wine (the gift can be for a month, 2 or 3 months, a year, you decide).

How do you pay? Join the club and we will charge your credit card the Sunday evening AFTER we send out the e-mail describing the “Wines of the Month.” The wines will be available within the 1st 7 days of each month; and, we will hold them in the store for you until you can pick them up. You will receive an e-mail describing the wines.

Alas, Maine law forbids us from shipping - but, we can hold the wines for you indefinitely!

January 2008 Wines of the Month

We're into a New Year...and one of my first goals in 2008 is to be more prompt with the "Wines of the Month" than I have been!

So....without further ado....here are the wines for January 2008!

Oh...if you want to know what this "Wines of the Month" thing is....look above!

If you want any wines, and are not yet a member of our "Wines of the Month" club, please e-mail or call and let me know what you want. With a credit card payment over the phone, I can hold the wines indefinitely!

Tier One

White:

Elvira Verdejo 2006 (Rueda, Spain) $13.99 - Delicious! This is a perfectly bright, fresh and crisp wine. Great value! Aromas of grapefruit and herbs such as chives and freshly mown grass. Flavors of tangerines & tropical fruits. Well-balanced & integrated acidity. Finishes crisp, clean & dry.

Bodegas Escudero is a family-owned, multi-generational winery in Rueda. This is from my favorite importer of Spanish wines, Aurelio Cabestrero's "Grapes of Spain."

Rueda is best known for producing dry wines from the Verdejo grape. "Fuente Elvira" is a single vineyard with vines that average 40 years. The grapes are gently crushed and cool-fermented at about 60 degrees F for 28 days. The wine is left in contact with its lees for 28 days, adding weight and richness to the texture. Lightly filtered.

Unfortunately, this wine will see a price jump when we next order it - it's going up a buck - another casualty of the dollar vs. Euro and rising gas prices.

Food pairing – oysters, sharp goat cheeses, green olives, lighter poultry dishes, smoked fish, etc. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 89 points

Red:

Razor's Edge Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (McClaren Vale, Australia) $11.99 - I thought I was getting the 2005 vintage, but, it is gone. So, I'm tasting the 2006 right now. This is juicy and full of dark, dark fruit. Aromas of mint and eucalyptus (lots of eucalyptus trees in South Australia and the oil from the leaves sticks to the grapes). Aromas and flavors of dark berries, mocha, peppery spice and cassis. Fine-grained tannins late in the taste and at the finish. Hints of mint and eucalyptus and a touch of oak on the finish. Nice length on the finish.

This is really good!

The Razor's Edge wines are a proprietary label of a top importer of Australia wines, Joshua Tree Imports. Joshua Tree also imports Rolf Binder, Chapel Hill, Dutschke, Kilikanoon and more!

Food pairing - grilled meats, roasted meats, pizza, mushrooms. Drinks well on its own! Wine Enthusiast, "Best Buy," 89 points

Tier Two

White:

Jean-Marc Brocard "Chardonnay En Sol Kimmeridgien" 2006 (Burgundy, France) $17.99 - It's hard to find a better white wine than this wine at this price! This is a steely, minerally-driven Chardonnay - the minerals show more than the fruit. Dry white wine with mostly apple, pear and yellow plum aromas and flavors. Aromas of white flowers. On the finish, this reminds me more of a Sauvignon Blanc than most Chardonnays - that's due to the crisp acidity and the minerals in the flavors and aromas.

This wine's quality is possibly because of Jean-Marc Brocard's belief and faith that the best wines are made in the vineyard....and the best vineyards are well-placed and well-planted! Jean-Marc's website has a great photo or diagram of the soil and root system of a vine....this wine is part of Martine's Wines Importers....it's hard to find better wines than she imports!

Kimmeridgien refers to the soil - it's alternating layers of dense chalk and softer, permeable clay, encrusted with marine fossils. Brocard's vineyards are located in the south of Chablis, close to the village of Saint-Cyr les Colons. What does this mean in terms of the wine? The soil adds a strong mineral component to the wine - which is typical of Chablis. Chablis is also "unoaked" - it never sees an oak barrel - so the flavors are not dominated by oak (vanilla, toast, etc.).

Jean-Marc began life as a farmer's son....he wasn't even the son of a humble vigneron. He married his childhood sweetheart, Claudine, a vigneron's daughter from the village of St-Bris-le-Vineux in the valley of Yonne. Starting with a hectare (2.58 acres) of vines from his father-in-law, Emile Petit, Jean-Marc has created an estate of some 180 hectares vineyards in Chablis and Burgundy.

Jean-Marc says, "The truth of wine lies in the soil where it has grown. The technique is an important factor in the wine growing, but it is only an aid, the wine is essentially the product of its soil."

Jean-Marc and his family farm organically and practice sustainable agriculture.

Food pairing - seafood - oysters, lobster, fish, etc. Poultry. Guide Hachette, 1 Star, 2007

Red:

Rolf Binder "Halliwell" Grenach Shiraz 2005 (Barossa Valley, Australia) $21.99 - This is awesome! This is purposefully a "juicier" style of red wine - Rolf selects grapes that will give this wine it's juicy texture! Aromas and flavors of blueberries, raspberries, earth, spice, red cherries, a little chocolate and a touch of oak. Full-bodied. Soft tannins and a soft, smooth finish.

60% Shiraz and 40% Grenache. Some barrel aging to this. Drink this over the next 5-7 years.

Rolf Binder was the "Barons of Barossa" Winemaker of the Year in 2005. In 3 of the last 8 years, Rolf Binder Veritas Winery has been named the "Best Small Producer" at the Barossa Wine Show. His wines are big, powerful, elegant and complex.

Food pairing - steak, grilled meats, roasted meats, etc. Drinks well with or without food! Perfect wine for in front of a warm fire! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92 points; "One of my favorite Australian wineries;" Robert Parker

Tier Three:

White:

Domaine Jayer-Gilles Aligote 2005 (Burgundy, France) $28.99 - This is a beautifully elegant wine! This has distinct and pronounced mineral aromas and flavors. Aromas and flavors of pears, apples, yellow plums and baking spices. Hints of soft, silky oak. Great length on the crisp, soft finish.

Total amount of this wine in the USA is about 350 cases. Gilles takes the same care with his Aligote as he does for his more famous appellations - Grand Cru and 1er Cru vineyards in Echezeaux and Nuits St. Georges. Most growers of Aligote produce 3 tons per acre. Gilles so severely prunes his vines that he never harvests more than 2.2 tons per acre. The quality of grapes he produces for Aligote is unusual and exemplifies the extent this producer goes to make good wine!

Aligote is the 4th most planted grape varietal in the world. It's the 2nd most popular white grape grown in Burgundy, although it trails a long way behind Chardonnay. It's used to make a sparkling wine in Burgundy, Cremant de Bourgogne. It's also been the traditional wine to make the cocktail, kir (adding cassis to the wine). It has its own appellation in Burgundy, Bourgogne Aligote. It is widely planted in Eastern Europe and Russia - Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldavia and along the Black Sea in Russia. In cooler areas, it is prized because it is resistant to cold weather. It's used to make sparkling wine in Russia. The grape is also known as Blanc de Troyes, Vert Blanc, Chaudenet Gris and Plant Gris.

Food pairing - pair this with food you'd pair Chardonnay - poultry, tuna, lobster, salmon, etc!

Red:

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 2003 (Tuscany, Italy) $28.99 - WOW!!! WOW!!! Doug from SOPO brought this by on Thursday.....WOW! This is GOOD! Real GOOD! Okay....it's STINKIN' GREAT!

Felsina makes deep, dark and powerful wines that have the classic Tuscan notes of soil, earth, subtle oak and Tuscan spices and herbs. This is all of the above! Plus it has dark cherry and dark berry fruit underlying the aromas and flavors. It has nice tannins that are well-integrated into the wine. Finishes with nice minerals that just add to the whole effort. Great wine!

Traditional wine-making - Felsina is not trying to produce "New World" wines. This estate was NOTHING in 1961, when Domenico Poggiali acquired the buildings and the 57 hectares of vineyards.....today...this is one of the best wineries in Chianti Classico! They farm organically. The average age of the Sangiovese vines at Felsina are 30 years for their "normal" Chianti Classico; for this Riserva, the vines average 50 years in age. This is a cellar-worthy wine - it'll age 10-15 years!

This is drinking beautifully right now - this is delicious. I can see it becoming rounder and more velvety as the years pass! This is a classic, great Tuscan red!

This property has an ancient history - that dates to the 1100's!. It was once a roadside hospital manned by Benedictine monks....the monks worked in association with the staff at the Santa Meria della Scala hospital in Siena, opposite the Duomo, Siena's cathedral. This estate is in the most southeastern part of the Chianti Classico zone - just up the road from Castelnuovo Berardenga and just a stone's throw from Siena. You can easily see the Medieval towers of Siena from the Felsina vineyards.

Food pairing - Most any food you'd call Tuscan or Provencal! Lamb, steak, mushrooms, mushroom lasagna, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91 points

The Others

Perazzeta

Alessandro Bocci is the winemaker/owner at Perazzeta. It's located in the Montecucco area of Maremma (south of Montalcino in Tuscany near the coast). 7 hectares of vineyards. Alessandro loves where he works and farms and makes wine. Most of the year, he's a nearly a one-man outfit working the vineyards and olive trees alone - with the help of 15 friends and family at harvest, he makes great wine and olive oil. Alessandro says he throws away twice as many grapes as he ferments!

Perazzeta Syrah 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $44.99 - 100% Syrah. This is a big, bold rich wine! Never more than 100 cases made in a year. The grapes are hand-sorted multiple times to find only the best grapes. Fermented in open barriques for 15 days and hand-punched down. Aged in oak barriques for 12 months. Bottle aged for 12 months. 80 (that's eighty!) cases made.

Terre del Marchesato

Located near the famous Tuscan town of Bolgheri - GROUND ZERO for famous Super Tuscans such as Sassicaia (if you can even find Sassicaia, it's over $100 - often a lot over!) This estate borders the famed Sassicaia estate - in fact, just after World War II, after leaving the Marche looking for land less ravaged by the war, Emilio Fuselli bought 10 hectares of land from the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who would go on to found Sassicaia! No one at the time knew how valuable and esteemed this land would become!

Maurizio Fuselli (Emilio's grandson) named their first wine after Emilio - "Emilio Primo." Until 3 years ago, this winery never bottled their wine - they sold it to local restaurants who came in buy wine in small casks. They farm sustainably - to the point that they grow and produce their own food.

Maurizio worked at another legendary Super Tuscan producer - Antinori Guado al Tasso for 10 years. Then he quit and built the cellar and winery at his own estate.

Terre del Marchesato 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $28.99 - If you've ever wanted to try a legendary Super Tuscan, but the Sassicaia prices have scared you off, try this! This has the "sweet tannins" typical of this wine and the Super Tuscans from Bolgheri - "sweet tannins" have nothing to do with sweetness and more to do with the soft mouthfeel of the wine. Aromas and flavors of dark fruit, cooked fruit, plums and more. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Syrah. Aged and fermented in French oak for 10 months. 2,500 cases made. Aged in 2nd and 3rd use French oak barrels. Food pairing - Great with game. Most any meat dishes and big mushroom dishes!

Italian Wine Tasting, Small Vineyards, Dec. 19th, 2007

Small Vineyards Imports
Italian Wine Tasting
Featuring winemaker, Lorenzo Gatteschi
Wednesday, Dec. 19th
5:30 - 8:00pm

Remember, this is not a seminar. You may come at any time between 5:30 and 8:00pm.

We've carried Lorenzo's wines since the Spring and we've had him here before.....but, this is a shot to taste some wines BRAND-NEW to Maine! Wines that are made in extremely small amounts.

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.

The Wines!

Whites

Trevisol Prosecco $17.99 - Paolo Trevisol is the winemaker at this 4th or 5th generation Prosecco producer. He's dramatically reduced production so that he only produces the best wine! Aromas of flowers, minerals and peaches. Flavors of peaches and soft minerals. Much lighter of a sparkling wine than Champagne (not doughy or yeasty). Stainless steel fermentation. Sees no oak. Bottle aged for 9 months. 2,500 cases made. Food pairing - Perfect wine to start a party!

Marchetti Verdicchio dei Castello di Jesi 2006 $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!

Tre Donne Roero Arneis 2006 (Piedmont, Italy) $19.99 - "Il Barolo Bianco!" The White Barolo. Tre Donne means "Three Women" - the winery is run by three sisters (there's a funny story here - their father, Alessandro, did not think women could successfully run a winery - they've proven him wrong!). Arneis is a rare grape that almost disappeared 30 years ago. Nice weight and texture to this wine! It's full and rich! Aromas & flavors of flowers, freshly mown grass and ripe pears. Much of the flavor is driven by this cool wet minerality halfway through. Well balanced acidity. Stainless steel fermentation. 2,500 cases made. Food pairing - Great as an aperitif or cocktail wine. Perfect with cold salads, especially seafood or chicken salad. Has enough depth to hold up to salamis and other typical Italian antipasta foods.

Reds

Terre del Marchesato

Located near the famous Tuscan town of Bolgheri - GROUND ZERO for famous Super Tuscans such as Sassicaia (if you can even find Sassicaia, it's over $100 - often a lot over!) This estate borders the famed Sassicaia estate - in fact, just after World War II, after leaving the Marche looking for land less ravaged by the war, Emilio Fuselli bought 10 hectares of land from the Marquis Incisa della Rocchetta who would go on to found Sassicaia! No one at the time knew how valuable and esteemed this land would become!

Maurizio named their first wine after Emilio - "Emilio Primo." Until 3 years ago, this winery never bottled their wine - they sold it to local restaurants who came in buy wine in small casks. They farm sustainably - to the point that they grow and produce their own food.

Maurizio worked at another legendary Super Tuscan producer - Antinori Guado al Tasso for 10 years. Then he quit and rebuilt the cellar at his own estate.

Terre del Marchesato 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $28.99 - If you've ever wanted to try a legendary Super Tuscan, but the Sassicaia prices have scared you off, try this! This has the "sweet tannins" typical of this wine and the Super Tuscans from Bolgheri - "sweet tannins" have nothing to do with sweetness and more to do with the soft mouthfeel of the wine. Aromas and flavors of dark fruit, cooked fruit, plums and more. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Syrah. 2,500 cases made. Aged in 2nd and 3rd use French oak barrels. Food pairing - Great with game. Most any meat dishes and big mushroom dishes!

Perazzeta

Alessandro Bocci is the winemaker/owner at Perazzeta. It's located in the Montecucco area of Maremma (south of Montalcino in Tuscany near the coast). 7 hectares of vineyards. Alessandro loves where he works and farms and makes wine. Most of the year, he's a nearly a one-man outfit working the vineyards and olive trees alone - with the help of 15 friends and family at harvest, he makes great wine and olive oil. Alessandro says he throws away twice as many grapes as he ferments!

Perazzeta Rita Sangiovese 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $21.99 - Some of Italy's biggest and boldest wines come this this part of Tuscany! 100% Sangiovese. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in oak barriques for 12 months. Bottle aged for 6 months. Named Rita because those are the names of both his wife and his mother! 800 cases made. Food pairing - most any meat dishes and big mushroom dishes!

Perazzeta Syrah 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $44.99 - 100% Syrah. This is a big, bold rich wine! Never more than 100 cases made in a year. The grapes are hand-sorted multiple times to find only the best grapes. Fermented in open barriques for 15 days and hand-punched down. Aged in oak barriques for 12 months. Bottle aged for 12 months. 80 (that's eighty!) cases made.

Podere Ciona (Proprieta Gatteschi)

Lorenzo will autograph any bottles you want signed!

Lorenzo Gattschi makes 800 cases of wine a year. They farm 4 hectares of vines on their property, Podere Ciona. They make 2 wines - a Chianti Classico Riserva (which is BRAND NEW in Maine) and a "Super Tuscan" - this would really be a Chianti Classico, but the vines are too young! Their vineyards are among the highest elevations in Chianti Classico in the hills of Montegrossi near Gaiole.

Podere Ciona Sangioves Montegrossoli 2004 (Tuscany, Italy) $16.99 - we first tasted this at a small tasting with Lorenzo in September. The wine just arrived in Maine this month! This is a wonderful wine and a great value. Food pairing - meats, roasts, mushrooms, pasta dishes.

Podere Ciona Chianti Classico Riserva 2003 (Tuscany, Italy) $29.99 - This is an AWESOME Chianti Classico Reserva. This tiny, MICRO-producer makes excellent wine! Aromas and flavors of dark fruit (black cherries), pepper and a little vanilla from the French oak barrels. 350 cases made. Aged 12 months in French oak - both new and old barrels. Aged 10 months in the bottle. Food pairing - meats, roasts, mushrooms, pasta dishes..

I was at a tasting with Lorenzo in May & September. 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 (ALL of the REDS are!)!