Holiday Market Wine
THE SILVER CLUB
MARCH 2023 WINES
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VINTAGE LONGBOTTOM H CHARDONNAY
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KWV CLASSIC COLLECTION PINOTAGE
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DREI DONà LE VIE NUOVE SANGIOVESE
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FATTORIA SAN FELO VIOGNIER
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BODEGAS SAN GREGORIO ANCIANO OLD VINE GARNACHA
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SUSANA BALBO CRIOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
VINTAGE LONGBOTTOM H 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 vanillin 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
KWV CLASSIC COLLECTION PINOTAGE
2019 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
KWV is a pioneering cellar in Paarl, South Africa and actively involved in the farming and vineyard practices of 54 farms across various regions in the Western Cape.
KWV’s cellar facilities are situated in Paarl in the Cape Winelands and cover approximately 32 hectares. Its impressive Cathedral Cellar built in 1930 remains the heart of its wine production activities. KWV’s flexibility and ability to source the building blocks for its wines from various vineyard sites is a key KWV strength and competitive advantage: due to its ability to source from diverse geographic regions its cellars produce wine that consistently delivers on quality.
This legacy has its roots in a history dating back to 1918, when KWV was founded by a group of South African wine farmers who were driven to secure a successful and profitable future for the country’s grape growers. Its viticulture team oversees the planting, planning and vineyard managing of approximately 420 different vineyards, equating to 1200 hectares of vines.
Pinotage is South Africa's very own grape and a must-try for anyone looking to expand their viticultural horizons. The grape is a genetic cross between picky Pinot Noir and prolific Cinsault, aka Hermitage. It was created by scientist Abraham Perold in 1925 at Stellenbosch University, Pinotage was made by and for South Africa. These small, thick-skinned grapes create deep, inky wines with distinct, bold flavors.
KWV Classic Collection Pinotage 2019
This wine is 100% Pinotage grapes. It was aged in oak for eight to ten months.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of blackcurrant, vanilla, plums and wild berries.
PALATE: Black and purple fruit notes like blackberry, plum, blackcurrant, figs, maybe even a slight touch of banana. A bottle of Pinotage can be drunk young but becomes especially good with a bit of age as the flavors soften and deepen. Aged Pinotage displays hints of smoke, hoisin sauce, tobacco, bacon, and grilled meats mingled with dark fruit notes.
PAIRING: This is a wine that goes great with the charred smokiness of a summer BBQ. Pinotage loves grilled lamb and veggies, a burger, beef, creamy risotto, or a creamy plate of vegetarian dhaal.
DREI DONà LE VIE NUOVE SANGIOVESE
2018 | $15.99
DESCRIPTION
The Drei Donà estate is located on the ancient Romagna hills between the towns of Forlì, Castrocaro and Predappio. The ‘La Palazza’ farmhouse was built around a watchtower constructed by Caterina Sforza in 1481 -- in a strategic position on the gentle slopes of Massa di Vecchiazzano to defend her lands.
The property has been in the hands of the Drei Donà family since the last century, and although it has always been dedicated to producing sangiovese grapes, it has undergone a radical transformation under the present owner, Count Claudio Drei Donà.
After acquiring a law degree and working in the insurance industry, Count Drei Donà, together with his son Enrico, has dedicated his efforts solely to the property, decisively guiding its activities towards increasingly high objectives.
Most of the 23 hectares of vineyards are planted with sangiovese grapes, which were indigenous to the property. These old vines have been studied, selected and propagated to maintain La Palazza’s original clones.
The Drei Donà philosophy is based upon the belief that wines must be the most faithful expression of the terroir they come from and thus the respect for the estate’s unique terroir guides all aspects of the production.
The winery's working philosophy is extremely strict: the wines that Drei Donà produces are the result of exacting standards first in the vineyard, and then in the cellar. In this way, the winery starts with the highest quality grapes, and ferments and ages them in modern cellars to produce a wine that is a true expression of the Massa di Vecchiazzano Romagnan terroir. The winery also produces two aged grappas and an extra-virgin olive oil.
Drei Donà is universally recognized as a reference for sangiovese, which finds its most typical expression here. Their selection of sangiovese comes from careful research and restoration of the historical sangiovese clones.
Drei Donà Le Vie Nuove Sangiovese 2018
This wine is a blend of 90% sangiovese and 10% indigenous red grape varieties. It goes through alcoholic fermentation in stainless-steel tanks for 7-10 days and subsequently malolactic fermentation. After the end of fermentation, Le Vie Nuove Sangiovese remains on the lees for 48 months. Lees aging is the process of letting wines mature and age on top of spent yeast.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Fruit and floral bouquet with aromas of rose, cherry, violet, raspberry and light notes of spices and herbs.
PALATE: Notes of sour cherry, blackcurrant, and raspberry with a fruity texture and young pleasant tannins.
PAIRING: Beef, pasta, lamb, game, and a great partner for BBQ.
FUN FACT: Just a note to explain the names of the wines: they all come from the names of the horses that the Drei Donà family also breeds on the farm.
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.”
Fabrizio Moltard graduated from the Facoltà di Agraria in Florence in 1987. He has worked for the Marchesi Frescobaldi family, Angelo Gaja in Montalcino and Bolgheri, Planeta in Sicily, Agostina Pieri in Brunello di Montalcino, Azienda Agricola Montauto in Manciaco in the Maremma and Montepeloso on the Tuscan Coast. Fabrizio Moltard has been with Fattoria San Felo since their beginning.
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 SAN GREGORIO ANCIANO OLD VINE GARNACHA
2016 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Bodega San Gregorio was founded in 1965 by a group of about 30 winegrowers in Cervera de la Cañada and belongs to the Calatayud Denomination of Origin (the governing organization overseeing wine production in Spain). In this territory, located in the foothills of the Iberian System, is where they select the best grapes from the Ribota and Manubles valleys, the westernmost area of the denomination. They have 700 hectares of crops located in the surroundings of Cervera, surrounding the Sierra de Armantes ridge.
Their average production is around two million kilos of grapes. In red grapes, the Garnacha variety predominates, along with Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In white grapes the Macabeo. They export a good part of our production to the most demanding markets.
The cultivation of the vine in the area dates back to at least the second century BC, documented after the discovery of a winery in the Celtiberian site of Segeda, located between the municipalities of Belmonte de Gracián and Mara, just 20 km from Cervera. The first written reference to the high quality of the wines of the area dates back to the first century.
Bodegas San Gregorio Anciano Old Vine Garnacha 2016
If you like your wines big, bold and full of flavor then look no further! This wine comes from the collaboration of World class winemakers and local knowledge to produce a fruit driven wine typical of the Calatayud area, which encapsulates all the ruggedness, concentration, and character of the old vine fruit.
This wine is 100% garnacha grapes from vines with an average age of over 35 years are grown on chalk and clay soils at analtitude of 2000-3000 feet. The combination of free draining soils, minimal rainfall and unique microclimate all add to the excellent color and distinctive varietal aromas. The grapes are hand harvested, crushed and destemmed. Temperature controlled fermentation takes place for 7 days followed by a short maceration. 15% of the wine is matured in American and French oak for 4 months before bottling.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Pronounced intense aromas of fresh raspberry and cherry, combine with more complex aromas of prune, earthy notes, and sweet spice.
PALATE: Full bodied on the palate with flavors of soft raspberry and wild berries that lead to a long spicy finish
PAIRING: Drink with Tapas, barbequed foods, lamb and duck.
FUN FACTS: Decanter World Wine Awards ~ 90 Points
Gilbert & Gaillard ~ 91 Points
SUSANA BALBO CRIOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2020 | $15.99
DESCRIPTION
Born into a traditional family, Susana’s inquiring spirit and strong beliefs led her to choose an unconventional career for a woman of her time. In 1981, she graduated cum laude and became the first female enologist of Argentina.
At the beginning of her career, she faced some difficulties finding a job in Mendoza. Nevertheless, her will and determination took her to Cafayate, Salta, where she was hired to run the Sucesión Michel Torino winery, a huge, defying task for a young, single female winemaker in an industry that was run by men at the time. There, she took on the challenge of redefining Torrontes and turning it into a classy, elegant wine. Her innovative work and progress, as well as the quality of the wines she produced during that time, earned her a nickname, “Queen of Torrontes”, that she proudly carries until today.
After a few years serving as a consultant and working for some other important wineries such as Martins and Catena Zapata, in 1999, Susana decided to take a leap of faith and founded her own winery, thus achieving her lifelong dream of creating her own wines according to her vision and perspective.
CRIOS was born out of Susana Balbo’s love for her children and desire to forge a legacy for her family, helping them navigate their own life journeys with lessons learned from a lifetime of trailblazing entrepreneurship. The iconic handprint logo on each CRIOS bottle symbolizes the family bond and illustrates hands as powerful tools for mothers, allowing them to hold, to provide warmth, to nourish, and to comfort, as well as to teach the next generation the skills and wisdom achieved.
Susana Balbo CRIOS Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
CRIOS cabernet is hand harvested, macerated for 25 days, and experiences pump-overs in several stages of fermentation, as well as delestage. It is aged seven months in third to fifth-use French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of ripe plum, currant, fresh cherries, espresso and mocha tinged with spice, herbal notes, and smoke.
PALATE: Black fruits, especially blueberries, as well as black pepper stand out harmoniously. The ripe and vibrant tannins provide an elegant structure and a long and persistent finish.
PAIRING: Roasted or grilled meats, empanadas, and chili.
FUN FACTS: Wine Advocate Magazine ~ 90 Points
April 2023 WINES
VINTAGE LONGBOTTOM H 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 vanillin 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
KWV CLASSIC COLLECTION PINOTAGE
2019 | $11.99
DESCRIPTION
KWV is a pioneering cellar in Paarl, South Africa and actively involved in the farming and vineyard practices of 54 farms across various regions in the Western Cape.
KWV’s cellar facilities are situated in Paarl in the Cape Winelands and cover approximately 32 hectares. Its impressive Cathedral Cellar built in 1930 remains the heart of its wine production activities. KWV’s flexibility and ability to source the building blocks for its wines from various vineyard sites is a key KWV strength and competitive advantage: due to its ability to source from diverse geographic regions its cellars produce wine that consistently delivers on quality.
This legacy has its roots in a history dating back to 1918, when KWV was founded by a group of South African wine farmers who were driven to secure a successful and profitable future for the country’s grape growers. Its viticulture team oversees the planting, planning and vineyard managing of approximately 420 different vineyards, equating to 1200 hectares of vines.
Pinotage is South Africa's very own grape and a must-try for anyone looking to expand their viticultural horizons. The grape is a genetic cross between picky Pinot Noir and prolific Cinsault, aka Hermitage. It was created by scientist Abraham Perold in 1925 at Stellenbosch University, Pinotage was made by and for South Africa. These small, thick-skinned grapes create deep, inky wines with distinct, bold flavors.
KWV Classic Collection Pinotage 2019
This wine is 100% Pinotage grapes. It was aged in oak for eight to ten months.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of blackcurrant, vanilla, plums and wild berries.
PALATE: Black and purple fruit notes like blackberry, plum, blackcurrant, figs, maybe even a slight touch of banana. A bottle of Pinotage can be drunk young but becomes especially good with a bit of age as the flavors soften and deepen. Aged Pinotage displays hints of smoke, hoisin sauce, tobacco, bacon, and grilled meats mingled with dark fruit notes.
PAIRING: This is a wine that goes great with the charred smokiness of a summer BBQ. Pinotage loves grilled lamb and veggies, a burger, beef, creamy risotto, or a creamy plate of vegetarian dhaal.
DREI DONà LE VIE NUOVE SANGIOVESE
2018 | $15.99
DESCRIPTION
The Drei Donà estate is located on the ancient Romagna hills between the towns of Forlì, Castrocaro and Predappio. The ‘La Palazza’ farmhouse was built around a watchtower constructed by Caterina Sforza in 1481 -- in a strategic position on the gentle slopes of Massa di Vecchiazzano to defend her lands.
The property has been in the hands of the Drei Donà family since the last century, and although it has always been dedicated to producing sangiovese grapes, it has undergone a radical transformation under the present owner, Count Claudio Drei Donà.
After acquiring a law degree and working in the insurance industry, Count Drei Donà, together with his son Enrico, has dedicated his efforts solely to the property, decisively guiding its activities towards increasingly high objectives.
Most of the 23 hectares of vineyards are planted with sangiovese grapes, which were indigenous to the property. These old vines have been studied, selected and propagated to maintain La Palazza’s original clones.
The Drei Donà philosophy is based upon the belief that wines must be the most faithful expression of the terroir they come from and thus the respect for the estate’s unique terroir guides all aspects of the production.
The winery's working philosophy is extremely strict: the wines that Drei Donà produces are the result of exacting standards first in the vineyard, and then in the cellar. In this way, the winery starts with the highest quality grapes, and ferments and ages them in modern cellars to produce a wine that is a true expression of the Massa di Vecchiazzano Romagnan terroir. The winery also produces two aged grappas and an extra-virgin olive oil.
Drei Donà is universally recognized as a reference for sangiovese, which finds its most typical expression here. Their selection of sangiovese comes from careful research and restoration of the historical sangiovese clones.
Drei Donà Le Vie Nuove Sangiovese 2018
This wine is a blend of 90% sangiovese and 10% indigenous red grape varieties. It goes through alcoholic fermentation in stainless-steel tanks for 7-10 days and subsequently malolactic fermentation. After the end of fermentation, Le Vie Nuove Sangiovese remains on the lees for 48 months. Lees aging is the process of letting wines mature and age on top of spent yeast.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Fruit and floral bouquet with aromas of rose, cherry, violet, raspberry and light notes of spices and herbs.
PALATE: Notes of sour cherry, blackcurrant, and raspberry with a fruity texture and young pleasant tannins.
PAIRING: Beef, pasta, lamb, game, and a great partner for BBQ.
FUN FACT: Just a note to explain the names of the wines: they all come from the names of the horses that the Drei Donà family also breeds on the farm.
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.”
Fabrizio Moltard graduated from the Facoltà di Agraria in Florence in 1987. He has worked for the Marchesi Frescobaldi family, Angelo Gaja in Montalcino and Bolgheri, Planeta in Sicily, Agostina Pieri in Brunello di Montalcino, Azienda Agricola Montauto in Manciaco in the Maremma and Montepeloso on the Tuscan Coast. Fabrizio Moltard has been with Fattoria San Felo since their beginning.
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 SAN GREGORIO ANCIANO OLD VINE GARNACHA
2016 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Bodega San Gregorio was founded in 1965 by a group of about 30 winegrowers in Cervera de la Cañada and belongs to the Calatayud Denomination of Origin (the governing organization overseeing wine production in Spain). In this territory, located in the foothills of the Iberian System, is where they select the best grapes from the Ribota and Manubles valleys, the westernmost area of the denomination. They have 700 hectares of crops located in the surroundings of Cervera, surrounding the Sierra de Armantes ridge.
Their average production is around two million kilos of grapes. In red grapes, the Garnacha variety predominates, along with Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In white grapes the Macabeo. They export a good part of our production to the most demanding markets.
The cultivation of the vine in the area dates back to at least the second century BC, documented after the discovery of a winery in the Celtiberian site of Segeda, located between the municipalities of Belmonte de Gracián and Mara, just 20 km from Cervera. The first written reference to the high quality of the wines of the area dates back to the first century.
Bodegas San Gregorio Anciano Old Vine Garnacha 2016
If you like your wines big, bold and full of flavor then look no further! This wine comes from the collaboration of World class winemakers and local knowledge to produce a fruit driven wine typical of the Calatayud area, which encapsulates all the ruggedness, concentration, and character of the old vine fruit.
This wine is 100% garnacha grapes from vines with an average age of over 35 years are grown on chalk and clay soils at analtitude of 2000-3000 feet. The combination of free draining soils, minimal rainfall and unique microclimate all add to the excellent color and distinctive varietal aromas. The grapes are hand harvested, crushed and destemmed. Temperature controlled fermentation takes place for 7 days followed by a short maceration. 15% of the wine is matured in American and French oak for 4 months before bottling.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Pronounced intense aromas of fresh raspberry and cherry, combine with more complex aromas of prune, earthy notes, and sweet spice.
PALATE: Full bodied on the palate with flavors of soft raspberry and wild berries that lead to a long spicy finish
PAIRING: Drink with Tapas, barbequed foods, lamb and duck.
FUN FACTS: Decanter World Wine Awards ~ 90 Points
Gilbert & Gaillard ~ 91 Points
SUSANA BALBO CRIOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2020 | $15.99
DESCRIPTION
Born into a traditional family, Susana’s inquiring spirit and strong beliefs led her to choose an unconventional career for a woman of her time. In 1981, she graduated cum laude and became the first female enologist of Argentina.
At the beginning of her career, she faced some difficulties finding a job in Mendoza. Nevertheless, her will and determination took her to Cafayate, Salta, where she was hired to run the Sucesión Michel Torino winery, a huge, defying task for a young, single female winemaker in an industry that was run by men at the time. There, she took on the challenge of redefining Torrontes and turning it into a classy, elegant wine. Her innovative work and progress, as well as the quality of the wines she produced during that time, earned her a nickname, “Queen of Torrontes”, that she proudly carries until today.
After a few years serving as a consultant and working for some other important wineries such as Martins and Catena Zapata, in 1999, Susana decided to take a leap of faith and founded her own winery, thus achieving her lifelong dream of creating her own wines according to her vision and perspective.
CRIOS was born out of Susana Balbo’s love for her children and desire to forge a legacy for her family, helping them navigate their own life journeys with lessons learned from a lifetime of trailblazing entrepreneurship. The iconic handprint logo on each CRIOS bottle symbolizes the family bond and illustrates hands as powerful tools for mothers, allowing them to hold, to provide warmth, to nourish, and to comfort, as well as to teach the next generation the skills and wisdom achieved.
Susana Balbo CRIOS Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
CRIOS cabernet is hand harvested, macerated for 25 days, and experiences pump-overs in several stages of fermentation, as well as delestage. It is aged seven months in third to fifth-use French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of ripe plum, currant, fresh cherries, espresso and mocha tinged with spice, herbal notes, and smoke.
PALATE: Black fruits, especially blueberries, as well as black pepper stand out harmoniously. The ripe and vibrant tannins provide an elegant structure and a long and persistent finish.
PAIRING: Roasted or grilled meats, empanadas, and chili.
FUN FACTS: Wine Advocate Magazine ~ 90 Points
FEBRUARY 2023 WINES
-
ECHEVERRIA GRAN RESERVA CABERNET
-
BEL VENTO PINOT GRIGIO
-
BLACK CABRA MALBEC
-
COPPOLA MAMMARELLA RED BLEND
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BODEGAS VOLVER "TARIMA" MONASTRELL
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DOMAINE DE MILLET COLOMBARD
Echeverria Gran Reserva Cabernet
Cabernet | 2018 | $10.99
DESCRIPTION
The vineyards at Vina Echeverria are in the Curicó Valley and the rows are planted in an east-westerly direction to potentiate the sun’s exposure. They work with a model of micro viticulture, which means that each plot, no more than half a hectare, is identified according to its terroir and microclimate and planted, pruned, irrigated, and harvested accordingly, resulting in grapes of optimum quality and flavor.
The Echeverria family came to Chile in the 1750s, from a little town called Amezqueta in the Basque region of Spain. They established agricultural properties in the north of Santiago, where they planted vineyards, among other crops. Some 200 years later in 1930, Roger Piffre de Vauban, a French engineer from Montpellier, and Roberto Echeverria’s maternal grandfather, traveled to Chile and hence to Chile’s Curicó Valley some 200 meters south of the capital Santiago. Here he planted ungrafted vines from pre-phylloxera French origin on an expanse of land called La Estancia, in a little town called Molina. At the time he established what was a frontier technology winery with French equipment and machinery brought directly from France. Its aim was to supply high quality wines for the domestic market.
Today Vina Echeverria is still a family-owned and managed estate winery with Roberto Echeverria as President, and its vineyards and house occupy the same location as they did nearly 100 years ago. The 65 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards in Chile’s Central Valley are planted, tended, and harvested by the Echeverria family.
Echeverria Gran Reserva Cabernet 2018
The Gran Reserva cabernet is a dark and dusty garnet color made from 100% cabernet grapes from select vineyards that were hand-harvested and aged in French oak barrels between 10 and 12 months.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Intense aromas of red cherries and black pepper with a smoky, earthy background.
PALATE: In the mouth this wine is medium-bodied with fresh, mellow tannins, notes of black cassis, black cherry, and eucalyptus with a long and elegant finish.
PAIRING: Pot roast, steak and potatoes, and beef stew.
FUN FACTS: Vegetarian & Vegan
Tim Atkins Chilean Wines Report UK 90 Points – Echeverria Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Wine & Spirits Magazine- 90 Points – Echeverria Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Bel Vento Pinot Grigio
PINOT GRIGIO | 2019 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Pinot Gris is the French name for the grape that also goes under the Italian name: Pinot Grigio. The names are often used interchangeably, but the wines differ in style and character, like most grapes that are so widely planted.
Pinot Gris usually indicates wines that are richer and fuller. In Alsace, where it is the third most planted grape after Riesling, the wines tend to be full-bodied with moderate acidity and a luscious fruitiness reminiscent of ripe pear and apricot. Generally speaking the wines are often rich, lightly perfumed and more colorful than other whites.
In comparison Pinot Grigio often suggests wines that are dry with medium acidity and melon, peach, and citrus flavors as well as aromas. It’s also under the name of Pinot Grigio that this grape has received its international fame.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia reigns supreme as Italy’s economic center, and premier producer of world-class white wines. Situated in the northeastern corner of Italy, this region boasts an extensive cultural, historic, artisan, and culinary wealth. Bordered by Austria and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the ultimate travel destination spot. From sandy coastal beaches in the south, to skiing the famed Dolomites in the north, the diversity of this beautiful landscape is truly awe inspiring. When many people think “Italian White Wine” Pinot Grigio is the first that comes to mind and with good reason! Pinot Grigio is the most imported variety of wine in America.
Winemaking in the region dates back to ancient Roman times, and today is represented with four DOC, and ten DOCG appellations—most notably Colli Orientali del Friuli and Collio Goriziano, two regions producing superior wines. Although the variety is indigenous to Burgundy in France, it is now grown in many wine regions all over the world. It is perhaps most commonly associated as coming from Italy, where it is produced in large quantities.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of granny smith apples, yellow pears, and lemon zest.
PALATE: Bel Vento is crisp and dry with lovely notes of citrus, pear, melon, and peach.
PAIRING: Aperitif, shellfish, vegetarian, and mushrooms.
Black Cabra Malbec
Malbec | 2020 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
The Black Cabra (goat) is a common sight in the Argentine Andes where our winery and vineyards are located. These wines are produced from our estate vineyards and crafted in our state-of-the-art winery, Bodega Zolo, by winemaker Fabian Valenzuela and vineyard manager Carlos Correas. The President and Owner is Patricia Ortiz. Our wines are 100% Sustainably Farmed. By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza is divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, and is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
Black Cabra Malbec 2020
This wine is 100% malbec grape that comes from 11-year-old vines that are hand-harvested. A cold pre-maceration takes place for 3 days to extract color and aromas. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks for approximately 10-14 days in contact with French innerstaves. Then, it is bottled and aged for 6-8 months in oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of black cherry, blueberry and plum with hints of leather, cedar and smoke.
PALATE: Lush flavors of plums, strawberries, cherries and a hint of vanilla with a fresh and balanced mouthfeel.
PAIRING: This wine will pair nicely with steak game, pork, and lamb as well as fattier fish like salmon.
FUN FACTS: James Suckling- 91 Points. Lots of rich, ripe fruit, but in a balanced and serious way. Full-bodied with medium, round, and savory tannins and a delicious, juicy finish. Serious value. Drink or hold. Best Buy, Wine & Spirits (’20)
Coppola Mammarella Red Blend
Red blend | 2018 | $12.99
DESCRIPTION
Francis Ford Coppola Winery was a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of Sonoma County, the birthplace of the California wine industry. Situated in Alexander Valley, an appellation known for producing superior zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon, Francis Ford Coppola Winery produces more than forty wines and entertains visitors in an inspiring vineyard setting. In August 2021 the Delicato Family Vineyards announced the acquisition of the Francis Ford Coppola wine portfolio and two facilities anchored in Sonoma County, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Virginia Dare Winery located in Geyserville.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Aromas of bright fruit jam, violets, and spice notes.
PALATE: This wine is soft and round with integrated tannins, juicy, fruit-forward and full of black cherries, red currants, strawberry jam, and plum with a hint of mocha.
PAIRING: Beef, lamb, and veal.
Bodegas Volver ‘Tarima’ Monastrell
MONASTRELL | 2020 | $12.99
DESCRIPTION
The project of Bodegas Volver was founded in 2004 by Rafael Canizares, enologist through studies and viticulturist through his family tradition of four generations of winemaking. Their most prized assets are vines between 30 and 90 years old, and indigenous varieties cultivated in a sustainable way with minimal intervention.
Bodegas Volver ‘Tarima’ Monastrell 2020
This wine is 100% Monastrell grape. The grape is also known as Mourvèdre or Mataro in other parts of the world. It is a prominent component of France’s Rhone blends called GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) Monastrell, according to wine expert Jancis Robinson, often have wild game or earthy notes with soft red fruit.
The grapes for ‘Tarima’ Monastrell are sorted meticulously at the winery, and fermented in stainless steel tanks by indigenous yeast. Malolactic occurs in the tank, and the wine is transferred to second vintage French oak barrels for aging. In this case, the used barrels from the making of the previous year’s Tarima Hill wine. Then, it is aged for 6 months in second vintage French oak Bordelaise and Burgundy barrels. Tarima is aged in the barrels used for the previous vintage’s Tarima Hill.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Red raspberries, cooked cherries plums, and mulberries show on the nose.
PALATE: The wine is a mix of black and red fruit wrapped in herbs, chocolate, and spice.
PAIRING: This medium to full-bodied wine has high tannins. It naturally pairs well with hearty and meaty dishes. For example: hamburgers, pizza, short ribs, veal, pork, lamb, sausage, game, and grilled meats. It would be perfect for a barbecue.
FUN FACTS: James Suckling- 90 Points
Domaine de Millet Colombard
Colombard | 2020 | $9.99
DESCRIPTION
Château de Millet is in Eauze, in the Gers, in Gascony and in the heart of Armagnac. Initially devoted to mixed farming and Armagnac production, the estate now reserves 80 hectares of vines to produce Côtes de Gascogne "Domaine de Millet" wines. Francis and Lydie Dèche, owners, follow in the footsteps of the previous five generations by committing themselves to a policy of quality: traditional grape varieties, rational cultivation of the vineyard and constant evolution in the methods and means of vinification.
The green hills of this part of Gascony are traditionally the domain of white wine grapes making up 80% of production. Colombard, ugni-blanc, Gros-Manseng, chardonnay, sauvignon, the wines of the Domaine de Millet celebrate the alliance of traditional and famous grape varieties. The production of these wines skillfully combines ancestral wine-making know-how and modern technology: cold stall of grape musts, fermentation at controlled temperature, and aging on lees.
With the diversity of terroirs that is offered to it and the richness of the soil, in Gascony, the Millet vineyard has given way, over the years, a little room to red grape varieties known from our Southwest: Merlot, Cabernet, Tannat, and Egiodola.
Domaine de Millet Colombard 2020
Domaine de Millet is made of 50% colombard and 50% ugni-blanc grapes. Harvested and destalked at the same time, the grapes are drained into tanks that are hermetically protected from the harmful effects of oxygen. The fresh grape must is stabilized in cold temperatures for 6 days which allows the aromas in the grapes to fully express themselves whilst in turn slightly reducing the acidity. The fermentation takes place under strict temperature control over 2 weeks. The two varieties are vinified separately before being blended and the wine is bottled early, as soon as it displays its full potential of freshness and elegance.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Intense nose with lots of freshness that is complex and refined. Dominated by floral notes and fruits like acacia and white peach.
PALATE: In the mouth the attack is full, complex, and invigorating with a long citrus finish.
PAIRING: It is a perfect match for starters, goats cheese, asparagus, fish, and shellfish.
CONTACT HOLIDAY MARKET WINE DEPARTMENT