Friday Sips
BRING YOUR FRIENDS TO FRIDAY SIPS
DAY
Better than "Take Your Kid To Work Day", this week we're all about "Bring Your Friends To Friday Sips Day"
Here's how it works:
1.) Those who are already on our e-mail distribution list: He or she who arrives with the friend(s) who get on to our email distribution list will receive a special gift from us. These will need to be good wine drinking folks, not some "new wine aficionado friends" that you may have rustled up under the Burnside Bridge or along the Springwater Corridor.
2.) For the newbies who will come: Those who sign up for our e-mail distribution list will go into a drawing for a magnum of Col D’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino
3.) The Actual Tasting: 4 delightful choices spanning Italy, France and Spain
1.) Those who are already on our e-mail distribution list: He or she who arrives with the friend(s) who get on to our email distribution list will receive a special gift from us. These will need to be good wine drinking folks, not some "new wine aficionado friends" that you may have rustled up under the Burnside Bridge or along the Springwater Corridor.
2.) For the newbies who will come: Those who sign up for our e-mail distribution list will go into a drawing for a magnum of Col D’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino
3.) The Actual Tasting: 4 delightful choices spanning Italy, France and Spain
2014 LIQUIERE FAUGERES
VIEILLES VIGNES
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE
VIEILLES VIGNES
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE
We all need a summer grilling red! Chateau la Liquiere is one of the longest established and most significant estates, not only in Faugeres but in the entire Languedoc region. It was all started two generations ago by the Vidal family, and remains in family ownership to this day. The estate possesses sixty hectares under vine mostly in a red, stony schist, perfect terroir for both red and white varieties. This family will always tell you that the vineyard is the superstar and what goes into the bottle is a direct reflection. These wines are so vastly underappreciated that if they were in a more famed region such as Cote-Rotie or Chateauneuf-du-Pape, their smooth, silky, complex aspects would cause them to be considerably more expensive than what is being presented from the humble Faugères appellation.
The specialty of the house, old vines really means something here. 45% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre from vines averaging 50 years. Prominent schist soils, this wine is ruggedly handsome, revealing a combination of strawberry, balsamic, violet and Thai spices leading into a texture that is hearty, soulful and well-nuanced. The follow-through on this is magnificent, vibrant and really shows the promise of the entire Languedoc region. A great pairing with grilled sausages, pork chops or hangar steak. Drink over the next 6-8 years.
The specialty of the house, old vines really means something here. 45% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre from vines averaging 50 years. Prominent schist soils, this wine is ruggedly handsome, revealing a combination of strawberry, balsamic, violet and Thai spices leading into a texture that is hearty, soulful and well-nuanced. The follow-through on this is magnificent, vibrant and really shows the promise of the entire Languedoc region. A great pairing with grilled sausages, pork chops or hangar steak. Drink over the next 6-8 years.
2009 HERMANOS PECINA
RIOJA RESERVA
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
RIOJA RESERVA
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
Given the sheer cost of doing such a venture, Hermanos Pecina is something that is virtually unheard of; a relatively new estate (founded 1992) in Rioja that is all about traditional techniques. These days there are only about a dozen producers who truly reach back to the old school that is based around long aging in neutral oak barrels and then following it up with the required time of bottle age before release. Pedro Pecina worked for 20 years at La Rioja Alta so it is a no brainer that these wines would be made in this fashion and would be this damn good to boot.
In case you were wondering, 2009 is the current release and it also has a fat review from Vinous: ‘Ruby with a bright rim. Lively, expansive aromas of red berry preserves, floral pastilles and vanilla, with a smoky mineral overtone. Seamless and sweet on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors sharpened by juicy acidity and a hint of white pepper. Finishes sappy, precise and very long, with smooth, harmonious tannins. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in used American oak for three years. – 93 POINTS, VINOUS.’ Drink this old school Rioja through 2025 and probably beyond.
In case you were wondering, 2009 is the current release and it also has a fat review from Vinous: ‘Ruby with a bright rim. Lively, expansive aromas of red berry preserves, floral pastilles and vanilla, with a smoky mineral overtone. Seamless and sweet on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors sharpened by juicy acidity and a hint of white pepper. Finishes sappy, precise and very long, with smooth, harmonious tannins. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in used American oak for three years. – 93 POINTS, VINOUS.’ Drink this old school Rioja through 2025 and probably beyond.
2011 CAVALLOTTO BARBERA D'ALBA
'VIGNA DEL CUCOLA'
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE
'VIGNA DEL CUCOLA'
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE
An esteemed producer and one of the early small bottlers (1948) of Barolo Castiglione Falletto based Cavallotto is one of the leading producers of Barolo and makes exquisite wines from the top Cru of Bricco Boschis. As one might expect, their Barbera is outstanding and its pedigree is due to the site. Vigna Del Cucola is a single Cru within the Bricco Boschis single Cru and the resulting wine is aged in large Slavonian oak casks for 15-18 months.
At age 5, this Barbera is starting to become operatic. Aromas that speak more of Piemonte than grape varietal swirl from the glass, with violet, dried rose pedal, dark chocolate, mushroom cap, anise and smoked earth. Rich red fruits smoothly coat the mouth with cardamom and roasted espresso bean following on a vibrant and really persistent finish. The intense complexity that this wine is noted for is just beginning to peak out right now. A Barbera that doesn’t mess around, drink this stunner over the next 4-5 years with mushroom risotto or any pocket pasta stuffed with braised meat, preferably agnolotti.
At age 5, this Barbera is starting to become operatic. Aromas that speak more of Piemonte than grape varietal swirl from the glass, with violet, dried rose pedal, dark chocolate, mushroom cap, anise and smoked earth. Rich red fruits smoothly coat the mouth with cardamom and roasted espresso bean following on a vibrant and really persistent finish. The intense complexity that this wine is noted for is just beginning to peak out right now. A Barbera that doesn’t mess around, drink this stunner over the next 4-5 years with mushroom risotto or any pocket pasta stuffed with braised meat, preferably agnolotti.
2015 GAROFOLI LE MARCHES ROSE
'KOMOROS'
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
'KOMOROS'
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
Head east of Tuscany in the direction towards the Adriatic Coast and you will come into one of the most exciting and picturesque wine regions in all of Italy, Le Marches. Wines are produced here are some of Italy's finest values including this dry pink wine.
The proximity of the ocean as well as the super-minerally, sandy soils are the true backbone of this delicious rose. The grape is 100% Montepulciano and its color is coral pink. Lovely to look at, but even better, it's lovely to drink. Pronounced cherry tones are reminiscent of those just around the pit. More and more floral tones unfold as the wine is swirled in the glass. In the mouth, there is lovely, thirst-quenching red fruit that is bright and vivid. There is plenty of personality here to have this wine go with an array of dishes from grilled snapper to baked lasagna.
The proximity of the ocean as well as the super-minerally, sandy soils are the true backbone of this delicious rose. The grape is 100% Montepulciano and its color is coral pink. Lovely to look at, but even better, it's lovely to drink. Pronounced cherry tones are reminiscent of those just around the pit. More and more floral tones unfold as the wine is swirled in the glass. In the mouth, there is lovely, thirst-quenching red fruit that is bright and vivid. There is plenty of personality here to have this wine go with an array of dishes from grilled snapper to baked lasagna.
