Holiday Market
SILVER WINE CLUB WHITE ONLY
MARCH 2023 WINES
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Fattoria San Felo Viognier
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Bodegas Altanza Sauvignon Blanc
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Moulin de Gassac Chardonnay
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Vidal + Vidal Cépas Muy Viejas Verdejo
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Bodegas Y Viñedos Tabernero Vittoria Chardonnay
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Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc
Fattoria San Felo Viognier
2018 | $12.99
DESCRIPTION
Fattoria San Felo was created in 2001 by the Vanni family fueled by their passion for viticulture, their attachment to the farming traditions of the area and their desire to promote the Maremma viticultural appellation. Fattoria San Felo is located in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma area on the slopes of Mount Amiata between the hills of Uccellina Park and Costa D’Argento.
The vineyards consist of sandstone soils rich in schist. The Mediterranean climate is influenced by sea breezes, sun-filled days and cool nights. The sea has an important impact on the local microclimate with temperature variations that are never too extreme. The grapes ripen slowly, leading to fresh and elegant wines rich in taste and minerality.
Winemaker Fabrizio Moltard has worked with some of the most prestigious wineries in Italy and is described in the wine world as possessing great professionalism, sensory capabilities and profound experience. He shows enormous respect for terroir and has an extraordinary ability to translate this reverence into the unique identities that he creates for each wine. Decanter Magazine called Fabrizio “the secret ingredient in many top Maremma wineries.”
Fattoria San Felo Viognier 2018
Viognier (vee-aa-nyay) is a white wine grape variety and the only variety permitted to be used in the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone Valley. Like chardonnay, viognier has the potential to produce full-bodied wines with a lush, soft character. In contrast to chardonnay, the viognier varietal has more natural aromatics that include notes of peach, pears, violets and minerality. The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown; it is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia (present day Croatia) and then brought to the Rhône by the Romans.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of yellow peach, citrus and a whiff of almond.
PALATE: An intense taste, full and round with a bright finish.
PAIRING: The highly aromatic and fruit forward nature of the grape allows viognier to pair well with spicy foods such as Thai cuisine. Other great pairings include fish-based main dishes, fish-based pasta or rice dishes, main dishes featuring white meats and sushi.
Bodegas Altanza Sauvignon Blanc
2020 | $12.99
DESCRIPTION
Altanza winery is in the most prestigious region of Rioja, Rioja Alta in Spain. The winery cultivates just two grape varieties sauvignon blanc and tempranillo and practices organic farming methods.
Altanza was founded by a group of friends who shared the dream of making classic timeless Riojas, with a modern touch and a lot of authenticity. They built a state-of-the-art winery based on 3 pillars: their own Estate vineyard, Tempranillo grapes and French oak.
Bodegas Altanza Sauvignon Blanc 2020
An aromatic, balanced, fresh and full-flavored wine that shows the great potential for this variety in DOCa Rioja. The must slowly ferments in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature for 20 to 25 days, to maintain the characteristic freshness and lightness of this variety.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Tropical, ripe passion fruit; pineapple, apricot, peach, grapefruit, and mango with soft floral tones.
PALATE: Light bodied, dry, crisp, with racy acidity and notes of lemon zest.
PAIRING: Vegetarian dishes, shellfish, light flaky fish, salad, and goat cheese.
Moulin de Gassac Chardonnay
2021 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
For nearly five decades, the Guibert family has watched over and tended to the vines with unfailing dedication. The story began with Véronique and Aimé and continues today with the second generation at the helm. To one day be followed by a third…
May 2016, the founding father Aimé Guibert passed away, but his wines live on. Here is a look back over a story that began in 1971 in the Gassac valley, near Aniane.
In 1971, ethnologist and Ireland specialist Véronique Guibert de la Vaissière and her husband Aimé, a tanner and glove manufacturer in Millau, fell in love with an old, abandoned farmhouse in the unspoilt rural setting of the Gassac valley near the ancient abbey of Aniane.
In 1972, on the recommendation of their Aveyron friend, Professor Henri Enjalbert, a geologist specializing in the relationship between soils and grapes, they planted 17,000 non-cloned Cabernet-Sauvignon grafts sourced from top Bordeaux properties. An underground cellar was built on the site of the former Gallo-Roman watermill adjacent to the farmhouse, over the cold spring water from the river Gassac.
In 1978, oenologist Emile Peynaud, a consultant to Châteaux Margaux, Haut-Brion, La Mission Haut-Brion and La Lagune, followed progress at a distance and gave winemaking advice for the first vintage. Bottled in 1980 under the ‘Vin de Table’ label, the 1978 vintage was blended from 80% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 20% Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot and Tannat. Using a technique unheard of that time in the region, half of the 17,866 bottles produced that year were offered for sale to family, friends, and a handful of restaurateurs. The future of the primeur system was thus born and is still used today.
The 1982 vintage marked the first media endorsement of Mas de Daumas Gassac red wines, hailed by the magazine Gault&Millau as ‘Languedoc’s Château Lafite’. In 1986, white Mas de Daumas Gassac, a uniquely crafted wine showing huge aromatic complexity, made its debut. This consummate wine, designed to fully preserve fruit aromas, is primarily a blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Chenin Blanc, fused with around fifteen other grape varieties from Old Europe which include Neherleschol from Israel, Khodorni from Lebanon, and Tchila from Armenia.
In 1990, the arrival of rosé Frizant completed the estate’s range of wines, which even today still numbers three – a red, a white and a rosé. In 1991, the Guilhem and Figaro labels made their debut, ushering in the Moulin de Gassac selection which currently totals 2.2 million bottles.
Since 2000, four of Véronique and Aimé Guibert’s five sons – Samuel, Gaël, Roman and Basile – have worked at the property and since 2009, these close-knit siblings have taken over estate management.
Moulin de Gassac Chardonnay 2021
This wine is produced in the Pay d’Oc region of Languedoc, France. It is made of 100% chardonnay grapes. The grapes come from vines grown in clay and limestone terroir close to the Thau Lagoon. The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated with the skin for 3 hours. Then, it is aged 5-6 months in stainless-steel tank.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Hints of citrus and wildflowers.
PALATE: Opens with fruity notes with a hint of honey and displays a full-bodied, long, buttery finish.
PAIRING: A wine that will really enhance white meat and Mediterranean shellfish.
Vidal + Vidal Cépas Muy Viejas Verdejo
2019 | $17.99
DESCRIPTION
Vidal is a family name shared by the producer and the importer of this wine. It means Life or to Live. We chose Cépas muy viejas (Very old vines) from a single vineyard to express this distant family connection. It is the perfect model for what the Verdejo grape can produce in ideal soil and in the hands of a sensitive winemaker.
Vidal + Vidal Cépas Muy Viejas Verdejo 2019
This wine is made with 100% verdejo grapes from the Finca El Alto vineyard in La Seca. The vineyard is an ancient and arid, stone strewn river bed of 21 acres. The soil is sandy with fist sized alluvial stones. The vines grow at an elevation of 2300 feet. Yields of the 80-year-old vines are low, at only 3 kilograms per plant. The wine is fermented in small stainless-steel tanks and aged for 6 months.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Filled with fruit and floral tones.
PALATE: Soft and big, with good balance displaying notes of grapefruit and bitter almond finish.
PAIRING: Vegetarian, pork, shellfish, and seafood.
FUN FACT: Light, vivid yellow. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying Meyer lemon and pear qualities and a hint of succulent herbs. Silky and focused on the palate, offering lemon curd and pear flavors that pick up a floral nuance on the back half. Clings with good tenacity on the finish, which leaves a hint of honeysuckle behind. Vinous Magazine- 90 Points
Bodegas Y Viñedos Tabernero Vittoria Chardonnay
2020 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Bodegas y Viñedos Tabernero, was founded in 1897, in the Chincha Valley, south of Lima, Peru. It is a privately held wine company. At present, it has 300 hectares of vineyards and a wedding venue.
Thanks to a careful selection of its grapes, continuous investment in state-of-the-art European technology, highly trained human resources and a marked customer service orientation, Tabernero produces high quality wines.
Bodegas Y Vinedos Tabernero Vittoria Chardonnay 2020
A very ripe Chardonnay will have flavors more towards tropical fruits like pineapple, guava, and mango. A barely ripe Chardonnay will have green apple and lemon flavors. The average temperature in Peru is 85- 90 degrees.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Strong fragrance of pineapple, apricot, white peach, and citrus.
PALATE: Crisp and balanced with notes of minerality.
PAIRING: Soft- semi-soft cow’s milk and goat cheese, salads, vegetarian dishes, and white meats.
Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc
2018 | $16.99
DESCRIPTION
Airfield Estates has a deeply rooted history that traces back to 1907 when our founder and great-grandfather, H. Lloyd Miller, pioneered to the northwest settling in Sunnyside, Washington. As an entrepreneur and successful real estate man, H. Lloyd was largely engaged in the buying and selling of farm properties.
By 1920, H. Lloyd had acquired the site where our estate vineyard is located today. At that time, the property did not have access to irrigation water. Over time, H. Lloyd became instrumental in bringing irrigation water to the higher regions of the Yakima Valley. He met directly with President Roosevelt and acquired the political support necessary to get the Roza Canal Project funded.
In 1941, H. Lloyd leased a portion of our family property to the Olympia Air Transport Corporation, which constructed a flight school for hundreds of Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. The buildings erected on the site included a 70-foot water tower, several airplane hangars, a mess hall, barracks, and several smaller storage buildings. Three dirt runways were also formed, each of which was over a half mile long.
The airbase closed in 1944, and in 1946, the buildings were auctioned off to H. Lloyd Miller for $1. This marked the beginning of Airport Ranch. H. Lloyd converted the site of the airbase into his farm headquarters. Shortly thereafter, our property gained access to irrigation water. And Airport Ranch became quite diversified with cattle, hogs, alfalfa, asparagus, potatoes, onions, and oats.
The beginning stages of our estate vineyard took shape when our grandfather, Don Miller, became interested in growing wine grapes. In 1967, Don purchased 3 different varietals, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon. He planted them the following spring to see what would grow best with the ranch’s climate and soil. The year after that, Don partnered with a local nursery planting 20 different wine grape varietals in greenhouses for propagation. By 1971, our first commercial planting was established.
Our father, Mike Miller, joined the family farm in 1974. He became highly involved in wine grape production and transitioned our farm into what it is today – 830 acres of wine grapes and 350 acres of Concord juice grapes. We sold our wine grapes exclusively to other wineries until 2005 when Mike founded Airfield Estates Winery.
Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2018
This wine is 100% Estate Grown sauvignon blanc. We’ve been growing Sauvignon Blanc on our estate vineyard in the Yakima Valley for over 40 years. The sites where we grow Sauvignon Blanc are perfectly suited for this grape varietal. Managing our canopies and exposing the grapes at just the right time in the growing season are also critical elements in creating this wine.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Displays bright aromatics of papaya, grapefruit, and pineapple with notes of lemongrass and hints of minerality.
PALATE: The wine opens with fresh tropical fruit flavors followed by a compelling element of cashew dust and lemon zest. The wine exits the palate with a crisp, refreshing acidity and a long, clean, balanced finish.
PAIRING: Summer salads, gazpacho, calamari with garlic and pea, grilled vegetable pasta with cumin, bucheron or sharp cheddar.
APRIL 2023 WINES
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Atance Winery Cuvee No. 1 Blanco
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Dunham Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
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Modales Winery OOBA Chardonnay NV
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Agriverde Piane di Maggio Trebbiano
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Enoport Wines Faisao Vinho Verde NV
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Fattoria il Muro Lama Chardonnay 2021
Atance Winery Cuvee No. 1 Blanco
2019 | $13.99
DESCRIPTION
Atance is a venture from Bodegas Mustiguillo as they step outside of their small Vino de Pago of El Terrerazo and into the broader D.O. of Valencia. The commitment to quality remains the same as Bodegas Mustiguillo, offering remarkable value. In the late 1990’s, Toni Sarrion began a one-man crusade to save the indigenous variety Bobal and coax it from obscurity and rusticity to the forefront of truly world class wines. ATANCE is an acronym for Acidity, Tannin, and Chalk - these are words that Toni uses to describe different potentials of individual plots. The Vino de Pago El Terrerazo lies within the D.O. Valencia, vines for Atance are primarily from in and around the town of Requena. This area is characterized by higher elevation vineyards, up to 700 meters on primarily limestone and sandy soils. The climate is Mediterranean with a strong continental influence with drastic diurnal shifts in temperature and contrasting winds from the sea to the east and hot La Mancha to the west.
Atance Winery Cuvee No.1 Blanco 2019
Atance "Cuvée No 1" is a white blend of 70% merseguera and 30% malvasía grapes from an estate vineyard in Venta del Moro. This location sits at about 2000 feet of altitude and the soils have high limestone content. The wine is fermented on indigenous yeasts and vinified in stainless steel. Organic viticulture and hand-picked these grapes are from bush vines in Requena, specifically the Conejeros farm.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE:Aromas of white flower with notes of tropical fruit.
PALATE:Nicely balanced freshness with melon, apricot, and pear.
PAIRING: There is a prickly quality from the mineral acidity that makes this a fun pairing with a variety of dishes from salty tapas to heartier pastas.
WINERY WEBSITE:
Valkyrie Selections
D.O. Valcencia, Spain
DUNHAM CELLARS SAUVIGNON BLANC
2019 | $24.99
DESCRIPTION
Founding winemaker Eric Dunham discovered his passion for wine at an early age. As a teenager in the early 1980's, he enjoyed helping himself to his parents' international wine collection. Even with those precious bottles safely tucked away in a locked wine cellar, Eric learned how to pick the lock. When the lock was upgraded, he discovered he could remove the hinges from the cellar door. Mike and Joanne never quite figured out how to keep Eric from his cellar sampling, and during his Navy years stationed at Moffett Field in Santa Clara County, Eric continued to pursue his passion by enjoying many trips to the Napa Valley. With a keen palate and admiration for the art of crafting the perfect bottle, Eric returned home for a father-son fishing trip with Mike. When his dad asked him what he wanted to do with his life, Eric had a clear vision: "I want to make wine."
Following this declaration, Eric landed a 6-month internship at Hogue Cellars in Prosser, Washington, after which he was hired as Assistant Winemaker at L'Ecole No. 41 in the Walla Walla Valley. With winemaker Marty Clubb's blessing, Eric began making small lots of Dunham wine at L'Ecole, the first bottling being the 1995 Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon. After the first few vintages of Dunham's eponymous wine were released to great acclaim, the aspiring young winemaker found warehouse space in an old WWII airplane hangar in Walla Walla and was able to convince his parents to help him launch Dunham Cellars. A couple of years later, David and Cheryll Blair were introduced to the Dunhams. They subsequently joined the Dunhams in pursuit of their collective dream of making and pairing great wine with wonderful hospitality.
Dunham Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2019
This wine is 100% sauvignon blanc grapes that are hand harvested from the Gamache Vineyard in Columbia Valley, Washington. After fermentation, it is aged in 60% stainless steel, 23% experienced oak, 7% new French oak, and 10% concrete egg.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: This vintage opens with aromas of fresh pineapple, Bosc pear, citrus zest, and white flowers.
PALATE:Flavors of gooseberries, melon and white peach intermingles with a layer of creaminess on the richly textured palate. This wine is beautifully balanced with a bright, refreshing acidity that leads to a crisp and clean finish.
PAIRING: One of the most classic sauvignon blanc food pairings is goat cheese. There are many other kinds of cheese that you can pair with sauvignon blanc, such as fontina, brie, swiss, feta, gouda, and gruyère. Also because of the vegetal pyrazines in sauvignon blanc wine, it pairs exceptionally well with veggie-heavy dishes, particularly when spring vegetables are involved. If your recipe contains dill, zucchini, fennel, artichoke, asparagus, or peas, it’ll be a great pairing option.
Great basic pairings are shellfish, sushi, whitefish, fresh salads with tangy vinaigrette, Thai food and traditional Greek dishes.
WINERY WEBSITE:
Dunham Cellars
Columbia Valley A.V.A., Washington State
MODALES WINERY OOBA CHARDONNAY NV
???? | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Built over a century ago, the house sitting on their vineyard was home to one of the earliest families established here. These pioneers filled the land with peach and cherry orchards, and over the years, nearly 26 acres of grape vines were planted.
In 2014, Jim and Carol Gonzalez purchased the vineyard, partnered with viticulturist Todd Robbins and winemaker Andrew Backlin, and set out to create serious wines in the footsteps of generations of Michigan fruit-growers.
Many of Modales customers have insisted that Michigan cannot create a stand-out red wine. By the end of their experience in our tasting room, they are carting out bottles of reds and whites to share.
The selection of dry, concentrated wines, elegant, sweet wines and their off-dry Riesling tell truth: Without cheap tricks or heavy cellar intervention, ultra-premium wine comes from a deep respect for the fruit. It comes from paying close attention, taking artistic risks, practicing patience, and having faith.
Glacial sandy soil, climate, and time capture the stories of their historic vineyard with each vintage. They treat every grapevine as an individual and take pride in the sense of place that their small-batch Fennville wines express.
Located in the heart of the Fennville American Viticulture Area (A.V.A.) in Michigan, Modales offers estate-grown bottles of elegant red and white wines.
Modales Winery OOBA Chardonnay NV
OOBA is 100% un-oaked chardonnay grapes. What is the taste difference between oaked and un-oaked Chardonnay? The difference between oaked and un-oaked chardonnay is that oaked chardonnay is aged in new oak barrels, while un-oaked is not. When chardonnay spends time in oak barrels instead of stainless steel, or concrete eggs the oak imparts flavors into the wine that resemble sweet vanilla, caramel, and butter.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of pear, apple, and peach.
PALATE: Un-oaked Chardonnay is closer in style to Sauvignon Blanc than oaked chardonnay, though Chardonnay has fewer “green flavors.” Un-oaked Chardonnay typically has more distinct apple flavors and a crisp minerality with flavors of apples and lemons shining through.
PAIRING: Un-oaked chardonnays have a lean, crisp feel that pairs beautifully with mild, semi-soft cheeses like Gouda or a mild blue. Other great pairing options: grilled seafood, salads, fish, poultry, and pork.
WINERY WEBSITE: Modales Wines in Fennville, Michigan
Fennville A.V.A., Michigan
Agriverde Piane di Maggio Trebbiano
2018 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Near the ancient village of Caldari, land of Abruzzo, the magic of organic Agriverde Cellars was born.
The cellar is immersed in a very particular ecosystem, which breathes and speaks, impregnated witha glow and an underground current that crosses the ground and reaches man through the product of the earth. Grapes, but not only, Agriverde feeds on landscape and nature, from the green belt of the hills up to the coastal park of Punta Aderci, overlooking the Adriatic Sea, constant presence on the horizon, but the only blue accent in a landscape also dominated by two basic colors: green and rust, which surrounds the cellar, rust instead the color of the cellar itself.
In the 80s, a fundamental stage in their history, production was converted to organic methods and Agriverde obtained certification from ICEA (Institute of Environmental Ethical Certification), in conjunction with the promulgation of the first European regulation on organic farming Agriverde is one of the first organic wineries in Italy.
Agriverde Piane di Maggio Trebbiano 2018
A warm, Mediterranean vine-growing paradise, in Abruzzo, the distance from mountains to seaside is relatively short. The Apenniness, which run through the center of Italy, rise on its western side while the Adriatic Sea defines its eastern border.
Wine composition tends to two varieties: Abruzzo’s red grape, Montepulciano and its white, Trebbiano. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo can come in a quaffable, rustic, and fruity style that generally drinks best young. It is also capable of making a more serious style, where oak aging tames its purely wild fruit.
Trebbiano in Abruzzo also comes in a couple of varieties. Trebbiano Toscana makes a simple and fruity white. However, when meticulously tended, the specific Trebbiano d’Abruzzo based white wines can be complex and long-lived.
In the region’s efforts to focus on better sites and lower yields, vine acreage has decreased in recent years while quality has increased.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Light and fragrant herbaceous notes of jasmine and broom.
PALATE: It is fresh and enveloping, with white peach and citrus flavors.
PAIRING: Ideal for aperitifs, vegetarian dishes, fish dishes, cooked or raw, and soft or semi-mature cheeses.
WINERY WEBSITE:
Agriverde
Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo D.O.C., Italy
Enoport Wines Faisao Vinho Verde
NV | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
ENOPORT Wines is a family-owned company in its 3rd generation of ownership, headquartered in Rio Maier. The group unified some of the most well-known and historic wineries, the oldest Adegas Camillo Alves that dates to 1881. Enoport owns seven estates, distributed throughout various wine-growing regions of Portugal, with 400 hectares of land and four vinification centers.
The wine portfolio exhibits multiple regions, each with distinct characteristics, providing unique wines for every occasion.
The vines planted in each estate grow in an integrated production system, prioritizing ecological and certified growing methods, soil conservation, and biodiversity maintenance. They minimize the harmful side effects and the use of agrochemicals to protect the environment, wildlife, and human health for generations to come.
Enoport Winery Faisao Vinho Verde NV
The vast majority of Vinho Verde wines are white. Six grapes (you’ve never heard of) dominate the regional blend: Alvarinho, Arinto, Azal, Avesso, Loureiro, and Trajadura. Vinho Verde wines range slightly in style, but most are a touch fizzy, mostly dry, and have green fruit notes.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE:A beautiful bouquet aroma of ripe pear, apple, and ocean freshness.
PALATE: Bright and balanced with stone fruit and apple notes.
PAIRING:Typically paired with seafood (especially grilled and slightly spicy), ceviche, chorizo, paella, sushi, and ideal match for raw shellfish.
WINERY WEBSITE:
Enoport Wines - A handful of history
Vinho Verde D.O.C., Portugal
Fattoria il Muro Lama Chardonnay
2021 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
The Fattoria il Muro estate has been owned and tended by the Pancaro family for over 200 years, and in that time, they have dedicated themselves to making fine wine with great respect to their land and the environment. In addition to growing grapes, which thrive in the Tuscan soil, the estate also raises hens and pigs that help take care of the vineyards!
The name Lama comes from the name of a close “podere”, in which the family of a farmer used to live during the old times of “mezzadria”. “Mezzadria” was an old way to conduct the farm which envisaged the division of land into small lots (podere) inhabited and cultivated by peasants who paid the estate owners with half the product of their land.
Fattoria il Muro Lama Chardonnay 2021
The ‘Lama’ Chardonnay is hand harvested from the vineyard of the same name. “Lama” vineyard is 1.20hectares and was planted in 1994. Afterward, the grapes go through a long fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature and a short maturation that takes place in 40% used barrique and 60% stainless steel tanks.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Lovely mineral aromas and just a hint of green, floral scents and hints of elderflowers.
PALATE: The palate is soft and fruit-forward, well balanced with a crisp, delicate acidity on the finish.
PAIRING:This Chardonnay pairs well with sushi and shellfish, like langoustines, clams, and mussels. It is also ideal with flaky white fish. Examples: brown sugar & Dijon glazed salmon, traditional antipasto, chicken fettuccine alfredo, ricotta & spinach tart.
WINERY WEBSITE:
Fattoria Il Muro
Chardonnay di Toscana I.G.T., Olio a Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
MAY 2023 WINES
Vintage Longbottom H Sauvignon Blanc
2018 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
Kim Longbottom has built her wine business around the core message that family comes first.
Twenty years after releasing her first wave of classic red wines with husband Mark from the Limestone Coast’s famed Padthaway region, a new chapter in the Vintage Longbottom story has begun with the arrival of daughter Margo into the company. Their family story continues and now includes the next generation.
Margo brings with her a family-instilled passion for wine as well as a vibrant new outlook stemming from her studies in fashion, digital marketing, and business.
Surrounded by wines and vines all her life, she freely admits she loves the lifestyle that comes with the business as well as the demanding work, from getting her hands dirty during vintage to the essential sharing of the admin load and vital new community connections via social media.
Hailing from New Zealand’s famous Marlborough region, wine has been one of Kim’s life-long passions – and one she shared with her late husband Mark, a third-generation pastoralist with a natural affinity for the land.
Together they planted their Padthaway property with vines in the early 1990s, releasing their first Henry’s Drive wines in 1998, the same year their daughter Margo was born.
Sadly, Mark passed away in 2008, remembered lovingly as a loyal and honest man with a wry sense of humor.
Committed to continuing their business and honoring his memory, Kim has built the company to be a successful export and domestic producer with an eye for classic Australian wine styles.
Now joined by Margo in the next chapter of their family story – Vintage Longbottom – this inspiring mother and daughter enterprise has shifted focus to the premium South Australian regions of McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.
The wine operation established by Kim and Mark Longbottom, Henry’s Drive Vignerons, paid direct homage to the history of their property where a horse-drawn mail and passenger coach service, run by Henry John Hill, operated in the 19th century.
Like the coach drivers of that era, who earned the much-admired respect of locals for their enduring energy and devotion to duty, Kim and Mark became leading family wine producers connected deeply to the Padthaway region in south-east South Australia, now part of the larger zone known as the Limestone Coast.
The Longbottoms set up a range of highly regarded wine brands marking the property’s history: Henry’s Drive, The Postmistress, The Scarlet Letter and Morse Code.
After Mark’s death in 2008, Kim continued the business with the same commitment and devotion, and with Margo now on board the time came to continue the family story with a fresh start as mother and daughter in new surroundings.
Vintage Longbottom H Sauvignon Blanc 2018
The fruit for this wine is sourced from Lenswood Vineyard in Adelaide Hills. Approximately 45% of the free run portion of the juice was sent to barrel for fermentation and gentle lees stirring for 7 months in 20% new French puncheons and the remaining 80% in one and two-year-old puncheons.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: The 2018 H Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of nettle, lime zest and papaya.
PALATE: The palate is medium bodied with flavors of preserved lemon, nectarine, and cantaloupe melon, made complex by subtle French oak nuances. The wine finishes fresh with a balanced texture and acidity.
PAIRING: As a medium bodied wine with aromatic flavors, Sauvignon Blanc is the ideal white wine for your wine-food pairings. The wine's distinct green vegetal and herbaceous taste is like the flavors in your foods, and its tartness lightens the weight of your dishes while enhancing the flavors at the same time. For example, vegetarian dishes, summer salads, seafood, fresh fish, poultry, and sushi.
CHEESE PAIRING: Goat cheese, Brie, Gouda, Swiss, Gruyère, and Cheddar. Due to Sauvignon Blanc's acidity, tropical flavors, and herbaceous aromas, we highly recommend choosing goat cheese.
FUN FACTS: Pale gold in color, this Sauvignon Blanc from the recently relocated Henry's Drive team, is a shining example of the Adelaide Hills' ability to make world class Sauvignon Blanc. The nose is a perfumed fruit bowl of pineapples, apples, limes, and orange peel with touches of honeysuckle. It is medium in weight, with slippery texture and fantastically crunchy acidity with a copper-penny-like tang. Food-friendly, this would make an excellent bottle to bring to a summertime dinner party. Editors' Choice. Wine Enthusiast Magazine- 91 Points
Light straw yellow. Displays musky lemon pith and pear skin scents and suggestions of succulent herbs and jasmine. Chewy and focused on the palate, bitter citrus rind and dried peach flavors open slowly on the back half. This has weight as well as liveliness. Closes long and nervy, with the pear and herb notes repeating. Raised in French oak barrels of varying size, 20% of them new. Vinous Magazine- 91 Points
WINERY WEBSITE: Vintage Longbottom
Adelaide Hills, Southern Wales, Australia
Viña Cousiño-Macul Chardonnay
2021 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1856, Cousiño-Macul is the only 19th century winery in Chile that remains in the hands of the original founding family. All Cousiño-Macul reserve wines are estate grown, vinted and bottled. After seven generations and 167 years, Cousiño-Macul’s mission rings clear — to produce world-class wines that are unmistakably Chilean, carrying the distinctive character of the Maipo Valley.
In 1994, the capital city of Santiago had expanded to the point of surrounding the original Macul estate in the southeast of the city, so the search for an additional single estate vineyard location began. In May 1996, the Cousiño family bought 750 acres of land in Buin, an agriculturally rich sub-region of the Maipo Valley, about 20 miles southeast of Santiago. The Buin estate met the Cousiños’ ambitious criteria of soil composition, climate, and proximity to the Andes Mountains. Few wine producers could make a completely fresh start, incorporating the best of their age-old experience and the most contemporary technology available. As technology continues to advance in the vineyards and wineries around the world, Cousiño- Macul has seized this opportunity to innovate while staying true to the most important part of their long history. All Cousiño-Macul wines are made entirely with grapes sourced from its two estates located in the Maipo Valley. Both the Macul estate in the southeast of Santiago and the estate in Buin are part of the sub-region known as Alto Maipo. The Alto Maipo is appropriately named due to high altitude orientation at the foot of the Andes Mountains. As the snow melts in the spring and summer, the Andes provide an ample source of pure, fresh water for vineyard irrigation. The soil is especially suited to produce high-quality grapes: shallow, sandy-silky topsoil with rough stone below. All vines are planted on original root systems. Vines for new plantations come from massal selections conducted in the nurseries at Macul over a period of 10 years. This selection has allowed the preservation of genetic material of excellent value, originally brought to Chile by Luis Cousiño in 1860 from France, including Cabernet and Merlot varieties from Pauillac in Haut-Medoc, and Sauvignon Gris from Martillac in Graves.
Today the company is in the hands of the sixth generation of the Cousiño family, while the seventh is already working in the family business; a proof of the authentic passion for wine that unites and guarantees that in each generational change the wine tradition and quality that characterize the winery remain intact.
To guarantee quality and excellence, the team in charge of managing the vineyards takes care of every detail to obtain first class grapes, the cornerstone on which the business is based. At this stage, experience and knowledge are essential to properly conduct the specific technical procedures according to the time of year. In addition, at Cousiño- Macul winemakers work hand in hand with the concepts of sustainable agriculture and minimal intervention management, which allows them to reduce the use of agrochemicals, to protect the nobility of the land and wines.
Viña Cousiño-Macul Chardonnay 2021
Cousino-Macul was one of the first Chilean vineyards to produce Chardonnay. The vines were originally established in Maipo valley, with cuttings brought from the region of Burgundy in France at the end of the nineteenth century.
The Chardonnay grapes are harvested from two different sites, the Buin and Macul Vineyards. The Buin vineyard is 2000 hectares and the Macul vineyard is 920 hectares at an elevation of 1320-1890 feet above sea level. The soil of both vineyards is a mix of calcareous soil, sand, and rough stone.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: It has a clear expression of orange peel, mandarin, and apple aromas with a tropical note of mango. In the background, there are notes of jasmine and honeysuckle.
PALATE: This is medium bodied, crisp, and round with juicy flavors of lemon, mandarins, and limes. It is balanced, very vibrant, and silky.
PAIRING: This wine is excellent served alone as an aperitif or matches well with salmon ceviche, Caesar salad and pasta with pesto sauce.
WINERY WEBSITE: Cousiño-Macul | Winebow
Maipo Valley, Chile
Chateau Montguéret ‘Le Petit Saint Louis’ Rosé d’ Anjou
2021 | $14.99
DESCRIPTION
Baron Francois is a premier wine and spirits importer and distributor based in New York City, New York, and servicing bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the East Coast. They specialize in partnering with sustainable and family-owned producers to share only the finest wines and spirits from around the world.
They believe in sustainability, both in their products and in their relationships. Baron Francois partners with some of the oldest multigenerational wineries and distilleries in France and around the globe. As such, they value the techniques they have been practicing in harmony with nature for centuries. Their wines are true to tradition and grown primarily on single-vineyard estates. Their people-driven approach emphasizes the terroirs of the producers and the relationship between the growing region and the growers, and they partner with only a select number of vineyards in each appellation to ensure close relationships. Collaborating directly with producers gives them an intimate understanding of their processes, and their 40 years of expertise selling to the East Coast market ensures lasting relationships from vineyard to table.
Baron Francois Ltd was founded in 1982 by Adrien Baron, a native of southwest France, during a time when American wines and liquors dominated the New York market. Undeterred, Adrien sought to bring the fine wines of his homeland to the New York dining and retail scenes. His family-owned company rapidly became well-known as a key supplier of fine wines to the finest wine shops, hotels, and restaurants across the city, eventually selling to surrounding states as well.
Since 2000, Baron Francois has been operated by the Lesgourgues family, who have a long history of winemaking themselves. They currently manage production at their own French estates, including the acclaimed Château de Laubade Bas-Armagnac and the rising star of Graves, Château Haut Selve.
Baron Francois’ portfolio emphasizes the terroir of wine regions and the techniques of artisan families to deliver clients well-rounded and insightful options. With a detailed focus on producers’ histories and environments, they seek to tell the full story of each wine, from growing to bottling.
Chateau Montguéret ‘Le Petit Saint Louis’ Rosé d’ Anjou 2021
This Rosé d’ Anjou is made with Grolleau grapes from the Val de Loire, Anjou region in France. The grapes receive direct pressing, fermentation at low temperatures, and maximum attention to protect the wine from oxidation after harvesting. The grapes come from a 120-hectare estate in the commune of Nueil-sur-Layon whose vines are spread over four communes in southern Saumurois, producing the AOCs Saumur, Anjou and Coteaux de Layon.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Brilliant pink color with ruby highlights. Powerful and elegant with floral notes developing into red fruits with a hint of grenadine.
PALATE: Soft, fresh, and well-balanced on the palate, fruit laden, smooth, and pleasant finish.
PAIRING: Light dry rosés - e.g., Most Provençal rosés, Pinot Noir based rosés from Burgundy and the Loire, and Italian Bardolino Chiaretto.
The nearest equivalent to this style of rosé is crisp dry white wines such as Pinot Grigio and they will go with similar food: principally light salads, light pasta, and rice dishes, especially with seafood, raw and lightly cooked shellfish and grilled fish and goats’ cheeses. Perfect hot weather drinking.
Light off-dry rosés e.g., other Loire and traditional Portuguese rosés with a touch of sweetness such as Rosé d’Anjou and Mateus Rosé.
Partly a question of taste. If you prefer this style to the one above, you can drink it with similar foods though it will be more successful with salads than with raw fish. It also can be useful with mildly spiced curries and rice dishes.
WINERY WEBSITE: Château de Montguéret - Baron Francois
Mary Taylor Olivier Gessler Cotes de Gascogne Blanc
2020 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
The first thing you are bound to notice when you pick up a bottle of Mary Taylor Wine is the lack of a familiar grape on the label. No Pinot Noir or Cabernet, no Chardonnay or Merlot.
That is because they, the team of lifelong wine lovers who make up the Mary Taylor company, think about wine differently than the usual brands lining the shelves of your local supermarket or big box store. To them, the name of the grape only tells part of the story of what wine is supposed to be. The missing key, which the great winemakers of Europe have known for centuries, is “place.”
When Mary first fell in love with wine in the early 1990’s, it was the European classics that truly spoke to her and stole her heart. As a young professional selling French and Italian wine, first in the New York wine auctions and then as a merchant, she quickly learned to appreciate wine in the “Old World” way— not as a luxury good reserved for special occasions, but a living agricultural product that belongs to everyday life.
This awakening eventually led her to move to the storied region of Burgundy. There, deep in the heart of rural French wine country, her experiences living and drinking among the area’s independent artisan growers cemented her understanding of wine as a form of liquid culture, reflecting the people and places where it has been crafted for generations.
A specific French term exists for this romantic notion that, in addition to tasting delicious, wine should tell us something about the area from which it came. Although impossible to translate, this concept of “terroir” has sometimes been described as a “sense of place,” or “somewhere-ness.” It explains why the Pinot Noir from one village in Burgundy will taste noticeably different from the same grape grown in the next town, or even the next vineyard over.
It is also the reason most European wine regions label their wines not according to the grape variety, but the “place name,” or “appellation” where it was grown. Whether known in French as appellation d’origine protégée, in Spanish as denominación de origen, or in Italian as denominazione di origine controllata, the basic idea is the same: each designated area imparts its own special identity, no two expressions alike.
After many years working with the wines of Europe, Mary arrived at an important insight. Left in the dark by decades of simplistic marketing efforts that placed grape above geography, American consumers needed a brand they could trust to decipher the complex notion of terroir in a clear and straightforward way. Out of this realization, our elegant “White Label” was born.
Today, it is their mission to unlock the world of European “appellation” wines by collaborating with individual growers in multiple villages— from Bordeaux to Nîmes to Valençay— who produce exceptional, regionally-distinctive wines at extremely accessible prices.
In the traditional spirit of the “Old World,” each Mary Taylor Wine has been selected as a faithful ambassador of its geographical origin, true to local traditions and the vision of the individual farmer who bottled it. Mary Taylor are proud to offer affordable wines of genuine quality and integrity (no shortcuts) that will bring the magic of their “terroirs” to life wherever you choose to enjoy them: at a dinner party, next to the grill, or even just on a quiet night at home.
Having immigrated from Switzerland, the Gessler family settled Gascogny in 1928. They are now on the fourth generation – a robust family business operating with twenty full time employees. This is one of the more thoughtfully farmed properties – registered HVE 3 and in organic conversion. They tend to indigenous varietals with which dry white and red wines along with Armagnac are produced.
Gascogny is a beautiful part of the French Southwest – speckled with medieval hilltop towns. Gascogny once had 100,000 hectares of vines and now has just 15,000 hectares. Bordering the enormous Landes pine forest and wedged between the Atlantic and the Pyreneés, the vines breathe pure air and oceanic winds mixed with a warm foehn wind from the Saharan Desert. IGP Côtes de Gascogne shares the same land surface as Armagnac. Of the three subzones, their domaine is deeply in the Bas-Armagnac.
Mary Taylor Olivier Gessler Cotes de Gascogne Blanc 2020
This wine is a blend of 50% Colombard, 20% Ugni Blanc, 20% Gros Manseng, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc from 25-year-old vines. It is aged in stainless steel tanks. The soils here are clay and sand, more specifically red sable, and alluvial subsoil.
WINERY WEBSITE: Côtes de Gascogne (mt.wine)
Cotes du Gascogne I.G.P., France
Bellacana Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc
2018 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
Bellacana Vineyards is a beautiful 138-acre vineyard located in the heart of Southern Alexander Valley, Sonoma County. Established in the 1980s, Bellacana Vineyards has since become one of the most prominent vineyards in the region.
The vineyard is ideally located, with the Russian River running alongside it, providing a perfect climate for growing grapes. The vineyard is certified as sustainably farmed, and the Dry Creek Rancheria Pomo Tribe have made significant efforts to ensure their farming practices are environmentally responsible. The Dry Creek Rancheria Pomo Tribe first purchased 310 acres of Vineyards in the Alexander Valley in 2012.
In 2023 the tribe has committed to farming organically with a pilot program in place. The plan is to farm 100% organically and 100% electrically by 2025.
A variety of grapes are planted at Bellacana Vineyards, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque, and Cabernet Sauvignon. These varieties have been carefully selected and nurtured to produce exceptional, balanced, elegant wines.
Bellacana Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine that owes much of its popularity to winemakers in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley in France. The Sauvignon Blanc taste is quite different from other white wines, like Chardonnay because of its green and herbaceous flavors. The name Sauvignon Blanc means “Wild White” and the grape is related to Traminer with origins in the South of France. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most widely planted wine grapes in the world and because of this it has a wide range of styles and flavors.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Typical aromas associated with Sauvignon Blanc are gooseberry, elderflower, freshly cut grass, lime, and passion fruit.
PALATE: The primary fruit flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are lime, green apple, passion fruit and white peach. Depending on how ripe the grapes are when the wine is made, the flavor will range from zesty lime to flowery peach.
What makes Sauvignon Blanc unique from other white wines are its other herbaceous flavors like bell pepper, jalapeño, gooseberry, and grass. These flavors come from aromatic compounds called pyrazines and are the secret to Sauvignon Blanc’s taste.
PAIRING: Sauvignon Blanc with its herbaceous notes’ pairs well with similar green herbs. If it has parsley, rosemary, basil, cilantro or mint, chances are Sauvignon Blanc will make a great pairing.
Have it with white meats including Chicken, Pork Chop and Turkey. Fish include Tilapia, Sea Bass, Perch, Sole, Haddock, Trout, Cod, Redfish, Halibut, Snapper, Mussels, Crab, Lobster, and Clams.
Look for softer, brinier, and sour cheeses like Goat’s milk cheese, Yogurt, and Crème fraiche.
Sauté green veggies or mix vegetables in more fatty vegetarian dishes so that the acidity of the wine shines through. Here are some example dishes for inspiration: Asparagus quiche, cucumber dill yogurt salad, green hummus, white bean casserole with zucchini and white lasagna.
FUN FACTS: There is also one classic pairing of Sauvignon Blanc that started in the Loire Valley. Close to Sancerre there is a goat cheese produced called Crottin de Chavignol and it has an international reputation as an outstanding stinky-creamy cheese. A bite of Crottin with a splash of Sauvignon Blanc is considered a classic perfect pairing.
WINERY WEBSITE: Bellacana Vineyards – Bellacana Vineyards
Sonoma County A.V.A., California
Tutela Pinot Grigio
2020 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
The origins of this grape can be traced back to France and Germany, where it is cultivated with success in Alsace, Burgundy, and Champagne, which are cool climate zones.
It was imported into Italy by general Sambuy, a native of Turin, during the first half of the 19th century, the period of the wars for independence, wars which led to the unification of Italy.
This variety then reached the territory of the former Most Serene Republic and here, in the Lison Pramaggiore zone and in the Piave river valleys, found ideal conditions for expressing all its personality. The Pinot Grigio, already known and prized by the Venetians entered in this way into the viticulture of this area. It is in the territory of the Venezia DOC appellation that 40% of Italy’s Pinot Grigio – which has become one of the world’s major wines – is cultivated.
Tutela Pinot Grigio 2020
This wine is 100% Pinot Grigio grapes. It has been soft pressed with temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Delicious fruit aromas of pears with hints of mature chamomile.
PALATE: It has a light body with flavors of lemon, pear, and green apple, and a hint of minerality. The finish is crisp and clean with a pleasant acidity.
PAIRING: Pairs well with light seafood dishes, salads, appetizers, and white meats. Enjoy Tutela Pinot Grigio chilled for the best experience.
WINERY WEBSITE: www.tri-vin.com
Venezie D.O.C., Italy
FEBRUARY 2023 WINES
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Chateau Vrai Caillou Bordeaux Blanc
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San Cassiano Soave
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Vintage Longbottom H Chardonnay
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Buonamco Etichetta Bianca
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Terrapura Chardonnay Reserva
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Les Vignobles Foncalieu Ensedune Muscat Sec
Chateau Vrai Caillou Bordeaux Blanc
white bordeaux | 2018 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
The Domaine Vrai Caillou now has 90 hectares of vineyards: 65 in red vines (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) and 25 in white vines (Sauvignon blanc, Semillon). The estate is owned by Christel and Philippe de Meillac two people passionate about the profession and their team, putting their hearts into their wines to develop a wine of excellence. The Vrai Caillou estate has been in the Pommier family since 1863. It has passed down through the generations, first from father to son and then from father to daughter. Vrai Caillou wines are the result of a long family tradition which has developed alongside the estate's endless rows of vines.
The story of Chateau Vrai Caillou, an old family estate, with an exceptional geographical situation for the sector: it is in one block, on a high point of the Gironde River, dominating the valleys. Since its creation, the estate has never stopped growing. Christel and Philippe de Meillac put the environment and innovation at the heart of their 90 hectares of vines, to produce Bordeaux and Entre du Mers appelations.
Chateau Vrai Caillou Bordeaux Blanc 2018
This bordeaux blanc is a beautiful blend of 50% semilion, 25% sauvignon blanc and 25% sauvignon gris. The chateau is organically farmed and the age of the vines is between 30-50 years old. The chateau sits on a composition of clay-limestone rich soil.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Exotic fruits.
PALATE: Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit flavors with attractive acidity. This wine is crisp and fruity.
PAIRING: This quaffable wine pairs beautifully with appetizers, lean fish, poultry, pork, and vegetarian dishes.
San Cassiano Soave
garganega | 2018 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
In 1964 Albino Sella procured a few hectares of vines with his job as a tenant farmer. From the 1980s, the estate has expanded and in 2000 it reached three thousand olive trees and four hectares of vineyards with the entry of Albino's grandson Mirko Sella.
In 2004 Mirko founded Azienda Agricola San Cassiano including an oil mill, cellar, fourteen more hectares of vineyards and seven more olive trees.
“The wines and olive oils, they are a snapshot of our origins and our passions. We try to respect the environment as much as possible, in order to sustain the sense of place and to keep typical notes of our terrior in our wine and in our olive oil.”-
Mirko Sella
San Cassiano Soave 2018
Soave is made with 100% Garganega grapes from old vines grown on limestone soil. The grapes harvested in the beginning of September are dried for a couple weeks and fermented at low temperature.
The Soave wine region is situated in the eastern part of the hills in the province of Verona, Italy. This wine appellation got DOC status in 1968, and since then, its popularity has grown. Soave produces only white wines, in which a minimum of 70% is the Garganega grape variety.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE:A beautiful aroma of stone fruits and citrus.
PALATE:The wine is round on the palate with notes of peach, pear and lemon zest with a crisp mineral edge.
PAIRING: Shellfish, vegetarian, appetizers and lean fish.
Vintage Longbottom H Chardonnay
chardonnay | 2018 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is vinified.
Vintage Longbottom is a mother and daughter wine company, handcrafting wines from McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills in Australia, celebrating the regions in which the wines are grown, and the passing of the seasons in which they are made.
A narrow band of hills and valleys east of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills region is a diverse landscape featuring a variety of microclimates. In general, it is moderate with high-altitude areas cooler and wetter compared to its warmer, lower areas. Piccadilly Valley, the part of Adelaide Hills closest to the city, was first staked out by a grower named Brian Croser, in the 1970s for a cool spot to grow Chardonnay.
Twenty years after releasing her first wave of classic red wines with husband Mark from the Limestone Coast’s famed Padthaway region, a new chapter in the Vintage Longbottom story has begun with the arrival of daughter Margo into the company after the passing of Kim’s husband.
The H range was always been made to be a little outside the square in Padthaway terms, and a move to the Adelaide Hills for fruit sourcing makes these wines even more exciting with their elegant, leaner and edgier characters front of mind.
The H range now consists of a sauvignon blanc and chardonnay sourced from one of the most distinctive, older and higher-altitude vineyards in the Lenswood district.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of pink grapefruit, orange blossom, and brioche.
PALATE: This wine is medium-bodied with flavors of lemon zest, white peach, and spicy nutmeg. It displays a creamy and buttery mouthfeel with notes of peach and lemon curd.
PAIRING: Mild buttery or creamy dishes, meaty fish, shellfish, poultry, and pork.
FUN FACTS: Limpid yellow. Mineral- and lees-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas show fine definition and hints of honeysuckle and sweet butter. Displays a deeper pit fruit quality on the palate, offering juicy nectarine and pear flavors that show firm back-end tension. The mineral quality repeats on the persistent finish, which leaves behind Meyer lemon and floral notes. Barrel-fermented and aged in French oak puncheons, 25% of them new.
-Vinous Magazine- 92 Points
Radiant gold in color, this classy Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is polished, bright and food friendly. It takes a few minutes to open in glass, and shouldn't be sipped too cold, but at its best it offers ripe lemons and oranges, white spice, honeysuckle, some seashell reduction and some vanilla oak notes. The mouthfeel is buttery in texture, supported by spicy oak, buoyed by bright acidity and with a long finish like the salted rim of a citrusy cocktail. Drink with a wide range of dishes.
-Wine Enthusiast Magazine- 90 Points
Buonamico Etichetta Bianca
White blend | 2018 | $16.99
DESCRIPTION
The winery was founded by renowned restaurateurs from Turin in the early 1960s, with the purpose of furnishing their restaurant with Monte Carlo wines. Today the Estate, owned by the Fontana Family, has expanded in terms of both vineyards and wine cellar. While preserving the essential characteristics of a traditional winemaking style, “Buonamico” has now become one of the Monte Carlo’s leading wine producers.
Buonamico Etichetta Bianca 2018
This wine is a blend of Trebbiano Toscano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia, and Semillon. They are vinified and fermented separately in stainless-steel in a controlled temperature. Afterward, they are aged in stainless-steel.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Intense, fresh and floral smell with nice white fruit notes and orange flowers.
PALATE: Fresh, fruity and crisp, intense on the palate and pleasantly balanced.
PAIRING: It is an ideal with seafood and vegetable appetizers, shellfish or cold cuts.
FUN FACTS: A white that shows dried honeysuckle, beeswax and lemon curd. Full-bodied and fleshy, but with just the right addition of acidity.
-James Suckling- 91 pts.
TerraPura Chardonnay Reserva
chardonnay | 2019 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
TerraPura was formed in 2005, when a group of Chilean entrepreneurs decided to unite their passion for the land and love for wine. Today TerraPura is led by the Matetic family, characterized by a long tradition of working the land and commitment in making quality wines.
TerraPura Chardonnay Reserva 2019
This wine is 100% chardonnay grapes from a single vineyard in the Molina area, close to the Andes Mountains in the Curico Valley in Chile. Curico Valley is one of the coolest sectors in the valley. The grapes are hand-picked at the end of March, crushed, and undergo two hours of cold maceration at 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit. After, fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks for 25 days.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE:Delicate aromas of tropical fruits such as pineapple with notes of mandarin orange and honey.
PALATE:The palate is fresh and well-rounded.
PAIRING:This wine is perfect to accompany salads, mild cheeses, and fatty fish.
LES VIGNOBLES FONCALIEU ENSEDUNE MUSCAT SEC
muscat petits grains | 2016 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
At the edge of the Mediterranean sea, the Oppidum Romain d’Ensérune dominates the terroir of the Ensédune wines. It is characterized by one of the warmest and dryest climates of France located at the west of Béziers. Proud of a thousand-year-old tradition, the Ensérune winegrowers were keen to develop their vineyards by acclimatizing grape varieties from various horizons. Created by teamwork, the Ensédune range is the product of generations of collaboration by winegrowers and presents unusual grape varieties for monovarietal wines.
Muscat Petits Grains is a late-maturing variety that we harvest before it is fully ripe to give it more of a citrus fruit profile rather than the standard muscat aromas.
Foncalieu Ensedune Muscat Sec 2016
This wine is 100% Muscat Petits Grains. It is a late-maturing variety that we harvest before it is fully ripe to give it more of a citrus fruit profile rather than the standard muscat aromas. The grapes are harvested slightly under-ripe for a significant increase in aromatic thiolated precursors (citrus and exotic fruits, etc). Pneumatic pressing, followed by the optimized extraction of these precursors by maceration with must in a reducing atmosphere for 5 to 6 days to prevent any oxidation of the must. Cold settling of must and alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a moderate temperature and good turbidity. Matured for 4 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks with weekly stirring of the lees.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE:The nose is dominated by bergamot and lemon, lime, floral, and citrus notes, with a hint of spiciness and vanilla.
PALATE:Fresh, elegant, and delicious on the palate. Complex and diverse finish of candied citrus fruits, peony, eucalyptus, and lilac.
PAIRING:This wine is perfect to accompany salads, mild cheeses, and fatty fish.
CONTACT OUR WINE DEPARTMENT