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La Lisse
Chenin Blanc 2019
Reg. Price $16.99
Sale Price: $9.99
White Wine of the Month
I figured we would start off the year with an affordable favorite from southern France. The La Lisse Chenin Blanc debuted in my November 2019 newsletter and it has continued to be one of my best selling French white wines. While Chenin Blanc’s home is generally in the Loire Valley in north western France it also thrives in the Haute Vallée de L’Aude near Limoux. The vineyards for La Lisse are planted on clay and limestone at slightly higher elevations to keep the vineyards cool and preserve the elegant acidity that Chenin Blanc is known for. Since the vineyards stay cooler at elevation the vineyards are among the last to be harvested so the grapes have intense complexity and texture with racy acidity. The fleshy texture is complimented by some vinification and aging in a combination of new and used French oak barrels that bring out rich, golden apple and honeysuckle notes. Lime zest and saline minerality cut through the decadence to create a perfectly balanced, show stopping wine that will pair with just about anything you would drink with white wine.
Poggiotondo
Biologico Red 2019
Reg. Price $14.99
Sale Price: $8.99
Red Wine of the Month
It’s still surprisingly difficult to find yeast at the supermarket but we have been making a lot of homemade pizza when I can get my hands on it. This fantastic Tuscan blend is a no brainer for pizza, pasta, light stews and roasted vegetables and it’s organic. Poggiotondo is a family run estate that was founded by Alberto Antonini in 1968 and is located in the heart of Tuscany. Alberto has attended the University of Florence, the University of Bordeaux and the University of California Davis for winemaking as well as working at Antinori and Frescobaldi in Tuscany. He has a consulting company now that takes him to vineyards across the globe but nothing is as dear to him as Tuscany. Poggiotondo has about 120 acres of vineyards and about 2,000 olive trees that are farmed organically to showcase the terroir as best as possible. Minimal oak is used at the winery and this red blend only sees stainless steel to be light on its feet and approachable. It is a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Canaiolo that is bursting with notes of sour cherry and dried flowers. I don’t think you can do much better for a pair with anything red wine.
Antonio Caggiano
Bechar Fiano 2018
Reg. Price $24.99
Sale Price: $13.99
Oh Italy, the land that keeps on giving. Just when you think you have explored every type of wine they have to offer another one pops up. Italy grows about 350 different types of grapes over 20 different wine regions and while not every type will make it over here there are enough to keep you busy for a while. I got a great deal on this Fiano at the end of last year so I stocked up and if you like dry, mineral driven white wine this is for you. It comes to us from Campania in southern Italy right by Naples and is one of Italy’s oldest wine regions. The area is steeped in tradition and an almost holy reverence for viticulture and it was here that famous photographer Antonio Caggiano wanted to make his wine. He acquired the winery in 1990 and while he loves the red Taurasi wines he gives the same care to his white wines. The Bechar Fiano is 100% Fiano that is cared for meticulously in the vineyard and is planted on clay and limestone. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged briefly in bottle and the finished wine is delicate with a slightly nutty nose, briny minerality and focused acidity that make this perfect for seafood or appetizers.
Mula Velha
Lisboa Reserve Red 2018
Reg. Price $13.99
Sale Price: $9.99
It’s been a while since I featured a Portuguese wine and this red is the perfect bottle to dive back in with. While the Poggiotondo is lighter and more delicate the Mula Velha has darker fruit notes, more body and a substantial touch of oak. Portuguese wines are often overlooked in lieu of red wine from California, Spain or Argentina while reds from Portugal can stand up to any competitors at half the price. My hypothesis has always been that Americans get spooked by the weird grape names that we are so unfamiliar with but give them a shot because it’s hard to find wine of this quality for this price! Mula Velha is made by Quinta do Gradil from the Lisboa wine region that starts at the coast of Portugal and stretches inland. Lisboa produces a lot of Portugal’s wine and has nine sub regions, the most of any region in Portugal. The coastal areas stay cooler due to the sea breezes and inland is drier, windier and hot so the area can grow a wide range of grapes. The Mula Velha red is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Syrah that is bursting with notes of dark cherry, candied blackberry, clove and cacao nibs. Enjoy this with roasts, stews and burgers or just in front of a fire!
Bengula Cove
Backbone Rosé 2020
Reg. Price $14.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Just as we finally said goodbye to 2020 forever the 2020 rosé has started to arrive but unlike the year it’s not total garbage. The majority of rosé will be arriving in April or so but southern hemisphere rosé is here and ready to go! Benguela Cove is one of the newer South African wineries to be in the state but I have loved everything I have tried from big bold reds to this weird rosé. While most rosé is made from primarily red grapes that are taken off the skins quickly the Backbone is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah that are co fermented. That means that instead of fully making the wines and blending the finished products together all of the grapes are thrown in the vat to ferment at once. That leads to increased complexity and compatibility that can’t be attained by simply blending finished wines. The wine is 100% estate grown, 70% Syrah and 30% Sauvignon Blanc that are whole cluster pressed to draw out the least bit of tannins and the delicate pink color before fermentation. While I never thought that these two grapes could play nicely together this rosé has proved me wrong. Notes of watermelon, raspberry and bing cherry are jolted awake by lime zest, saline minerality and racy acid that I attribute to the Sauvignon Blanc.
Las Moradas
Senda Garnacha 2015
Reg. Price $18.99
Sale Price: $14.99
The Tres Picos Garnacha did quite well last month and I decided to follow it up with this Garnacha from Las Moradas in Madrid. The winery was started in 1999 and they reclaimed some historic Garnacha vineyards with some vines up to 100 years old. The winery is focused on showing off their special terroir as much as possible and that includes farming the vineyards organically with biodynamic practices. The vineyards are planted on granitic, sandy soils and are dry farmed and the vines are trained into a gobelet shape or bush vine as opposed to being trellised. That is how to Romans trained vines and a lot of wineries focused on quality continue to do it because the fruit ripens more evenly, the vines are more drought resistant and it makes manual harvesting a must. All the grapes are harvested by hand at Las Moradas and the fruit for the Senda is destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts before ten months of aging in French oak barrels. The finished wine is classically Garnacha with notes of candied cherries, raspberry, plum, dried flowers and kitchen spice cabinets spices. Balanced tannins and oak pair perfectly with the pronounced acidity. Have this with paella, roasted meats, stuffed mushrooms or hearty pasta dishes.
I can’t wait to explore these wines and more with you!
Pop into the store for all of your beverage needs and don’t forget about our in store tastings!
Beer Tasting Thursday 5 pm to 7 pm *On hold for Covid*
Wine Tasting Friday 4 pm to 7 pm *On hold for Covid*
