Louis Latour
“Ardeche” Chardonnay 2018
Reg. Price $14.99
Sale Price: $9.99
White Wine of the Month
I have been on a bit of a Chardonnay kick lately but they have all been such different styles, proving that Chardonnay is the ultimate chameleon. In October it was a lean, crisp, unoaked chard from southern France and last month was a richer, creamier style from California. This month we split the difference stylistically with a wine from none other than Burgundy power house Louis Latour. The history of Louis Latour starts in the Cote de Beaune region of Burgundy in 1731 when the first vineyards were secured by Denis Latour. It wasn’t until 1768 that Jean Latour really settled into the area and moved to Aloxe-Corton where he set up his own cooperage and began accumulating more land holdings. Since then the family has bought up some of the most sought after land in Burgundy including multiple Grand Cru sites but as land prices rose more and more in Burgundy Louis Latour was on the hunt for a region to expand to. Like many others they looked south and settled on the little region of Ardeche in the southern Rhone Valley. The Ardeche Chardonnay seriously over delivers for the money and will pair well with just about anything you throw at it. The wine is aged in stainless steel but does undergo malolactic fermentation so it has a rich, creamy texture but no butter. Notes of green apple, subtle tropical notes and honeydew make this the perfect Chardonnay after a long day.
Aviva Vino
“Bula” Montsant Red 2018
Reg. Price $18.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Red Wine of the Month
The weather should finally be getting cold enough for the Spanish power house reds that I have this month. Spain represents great values across the board but that is my go to country for full bodied red wines when people are looking for gifts for Cab lovers. Napa and Sonoma have gotten so expensive over the years and Spain delivers so much more bang for the buck. Bula comes to us from the region of Montsant, an area on Spain’s north west coast that surrounds Priorat. While Montsant lacks the black slate that Priorat is known for it also lacks the price tags which makes it an ideal region to shop. The main red grapes grown in the area are Carinyena (which is the same as Carignan and Manzuelo), Garnacha, Syrah and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Bula red is a blend of 50% Manzuelo, 25% Garnacha and 25% Syrah that comes from a 30 year old vineyard and is hand harvested. The wine is fermented for 15 days in stainless steel before it is aged in a combination of French and American oak for about four months. The finished wine is deep and rich bursting with notes of black cherry, black currant and licorice with a subtle peppery finish and chewy tannins. Enjoy this with braised meats, stews or anything off the grill. Splash some of this in your favorite comfort food recipe to add depth and pour yourself a glass while you cook!
Ronco delle Betulle
Friulano 2018
Reg. Price $24.99
Sale Price: $16.99
I have carried and featured several wines from Ronco delle Betulle because everything they make is phenomenal. They are my favorite producer in Friuli but you don’t just have to take my word, the professional wine writers love them too! They have been recognized and awarded by many different wine publications and organizations worldwide including Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate, Veronelli and Gambero Rosso, the preeminent Italian wine publication. Ronco delle Betulle was founded in 1967 by Giovanbattista Adami in the eastern hills of Friuli in what is now the Rosazzo DOCG, one of only three DOCGs in the region. The winery is run by the third generation with Simone Adami at the wheel although his mother Ivana is still very present. They share in the goal of being stewards to the land and farm their 17 hectares organically and only vinify estate grown fruit so the entire production in just shy of 6,000 cases. The Friulano is one of the best expressions of the Rosazzo DOCG with its deeply textural, full bodied wine with lower acidity. After hand harvesting the grapes the wine is aged on the lees for 5 to 6 months to accentuate the creaminess of this grape. Enjoy notes of subtle white flower, ripe pear and golden apple along with bitter almond and subtle minerality. This wine is seductive, understated and delicious.
Bodegas Borsao
Tres Picos Garnacha 2018
Reg. Price $22.99
Sale Price: $17.99
Bodegas Borsao is almost synonymous with Garnacha and they have been championing the grape since their inception in 1958. Bodegas Borsao is located in the Campo de Borja DO which was recognized in 1980 and sits just southeast of Rioja. Garnacha is the main grape grown but Tempranillo, Syrah, Cab and Merlot are also grown in the area as well as some white grapes. Most vines in the region are between 30 and 50 years old which produce fruit that is dense and complex although there is less of it. Bodegas Borsao has planted most of their vineyards to an indigenous clone of Garnacha that thrives in the windy, dry area that they train to be bush vines with no trellising or irrigation. After harvest the grapes are kept cool to retain their balance and acidity and they have a light hand with oak barrel aging so they don’t overpower the fruit. The Tres Picos only sees five months of new French oak after fermentation in stainless steel so you get complimentary notes of vanilla, clove and leather. The wine itself is dark and bold but surprisingly light on its feet with ripe raspberry, cherry, blackberry and plum with balanced acidity and moderate tannins. Enjoy this with any grilled red meat, stews, roasted veggies or stuffed mushrooms. This will warm you up on these cold winter nights!
Avinyó
Cava Reserva 2018
Reg. Price $25.99
Sale Price: $16.99
There are so many types of sparkling wine out there that it can be intimidating trying to pick something that is good, affordable and well made. Cava comes from the Penedes region of Spain and uses the same method for making sparkling wine as Champagne does but for a fraction of the price. Avinyó cava is the work of many generations of the Esteve family from Penedès, Spain. The Esteve family originally farmed an array of legumes, cereal crops and grapes until phylloxera hit. In addition to totally wiping out the family’s vineyards, the large bank in the area that housed the family’s savings declared bankruptcy. Faced with the hardships, Joan Esteve Marcé decided to head to France and find grapes with rootstocks that were immune to phylloxera. His efforts saved his family estate as well as helping the entire region. Years later another family member, Joan Esteve Nadal continued pushing the winery forward by bringing the first tractor to the region and expanding the family’s vineyard holdings. He replanted the vineyards with the indigenous Xarel-lo, Macabeu and Paralleda and today Avinyó is one of the few estates that farm only estate owned vineyards. The Avinyó Brut Reserva is a blend of all three indigenous grapes and is aged for at least 18 months before being disgorged. Avinyó Brut Reserva is a very textural, decadent Cava. Notes of green apple mingle with brioche and pronounced minerality. Enjoy this with oysters or on its own!
Domaine Boutet Saulnier
Sparkling Vouvray
Reg. Price $21.99
Sale Price: $16.99
I know, I know, what am I doing? Two different sparkling wines for exactly the same price, what’s with the redundancy? It sort of happened this way by accident but I seriously love both these wines and yet they are totally different. While the Avinyó is made using the same method as this Vouvray the Avinyó in creamy, leesy, bready, rich and delicious while the Vouvray is brighter, lighter on its feet and crisper. The yin and yang of sparkling wine styles. Domaine Boutet Saulnier comes from the Loire Valley where Chenin Blanc is king and the winery’s history starts just after World War II when the patriarch of the family bought the estate. He passed it down through the family and it is currently on its third generation and consists of about 12 hectares of vines that are sustainably farmed. Christophe Boutet and his wife farm the estate now and have farmed it sustainably for about 20 years and they are introducing organic and biodynamic practices. They want to showcase the terroir as best as they can so they have started farming organically on some of their best sites with the intent to move to full organic in the future. The sparkling Vouvray is 100% Chenin Blanc that uses the same method as Champagne for delicate, long lasting bubbles, depth and complexity. The finished wine is dry with notes of golden apple, candied almonds, citrus peel and intense minerality. Enjoy this on its own or with appetizers.
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*
