Newsletter
April 21, 2026 – May 18, 2026
Schulthaus
2024 Weissburgunder ‘Schulthaus’ (St. Michael-Eppan)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Ok, this first one isn’t that obscure; our regular readers know Weissburgunder/Pinot Bianco as Pinot Grigio’s close relative which, while less famous, we often prefer. But we had to include this excellent single-vineyard Pinot Bianco once more before it undergoes a major price increase. Hopefully we bought enough at the old price to put that off for a few months longer. The 2024 Schulthaus delivers wonderfully concentrated orchard fruit with lively acidity and pitch-perfect balance. Have with a garlicky shrimp scampi.
Timorasso Rises
2023 Colli Tortonesi Timorasso (Cascina Penna-Currado)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
The Colli Tortonesi is located in eastern Piedmont. Here the Timorasso grape has been rediscovered and given prime vineyard land on steep hillsides. Penna-Currado is a spinoff winery from the married couple who until recently were owner-winemakers at Vietti. After a brief maceration on the skins with some additional vine stems tossed in, the juice ferments with a submerged cap to extract some tannin and as much flavor as possible. The finished wine is then aged in a combination of stainless steel, clay, and acacia vessels. This complex dry white has a deep core of minerals, peach and lime fruit, and lovely floral aromas. A great wine for swordfish with lemon and capers.
Treixadura
2023 Ribeiro Blanco (Casal de Armán)
Sale Price $22.99 – $234.50 case of twelve
Albariño from Rías Baixas dominates sales of Galician wine, but Spain’s rainy northwest is actually quite diverse. Just inland from Rías Baixas is Ribeiro, with grapes grown on terraced vineyards overlooking the rivers. Casal de Armán’s 2023 Blanco is 90% Treixadura with the rest Godello and Albariño. Vinification in stainless steel and six months on the lees delivers a fresh and elegant white with flavors and aromas of peach, white flowers, and bitter almond. A good partner for mussels in a spicy broth.
Romorantin
2023 Cour-Cheverny (Domaine le Portail)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
It’s sadly too common: a grape variety, once widespread in a region, is replaced over time by more popular varieties. The Loire’s Romorantin is one such case. Less than 200 acres remain, concentrated in the area around the commune of Cour-Cheverny. We’re glad that a few producers remain dedicated as it makes distinctive white wines both dry and sweet. Domaine le Portail’s dry version is deep and amazingly textured, with firm acidity reigning in the lush fruit. White flowers, honey, and green herbal flavors add complexity. A fine match for baked cod with sautéed spinach and roasted potatoes.
Chasselas of the Century
2025 Pouilly-sur-Loire ‘La Centenaire’ (Serge Dagueneau & Filles)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
In the 1800s growers in Pouilly-sur-Loire made a fortune shipping fresh bunches of Chasselas grapes to Paris for the table. When the market for these grapes slowed the growers of Chasselas became winemakers. Then Sauvignon Blanc arrived and the appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé became extremely marketable. Today Chasselas is a rarity bordering on extinction. The Dagueneau clan is its primary defender and best producer. Their La Centenaire cuvée comes from vines planted in 1915 and it’s a beauty. Wonderful herbal aromas and crisp pear fruit soak the palate. Have this with asparagus with sauce gribiche.
Jacquère
2025 Apremont (Les Rocailles)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Jacquère is the most important grape here in France’s mountainous Savoie region. Though not a particularly assertive grape, it makes wines of thrilling freshness and clarity in Apremont’s cool climate and rocky soils. When you hear people talk about “alpine wine” this is what they mean. The 2025 Les Rocailles is light (11.5% abv) and extremely refreshing, with layers of brisk acidity and a whisper of delicate fruit which gives way to concentrated minerality. This is a must for fondue, but also a great partner for cheese and charcuterie.
Listed prices are honored through May 18th, 2026. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 50, No. 5
2024 Jumilla (Olivares) 
2025 Navarra (Azul y Garanza) 
Herdade do Rocim leverages the mountainous terrain and cooler microclimate in their corner of the otherwise very hot Alentejo region in southern Portugal to craft a rosé of surprising freshness and delicacy. Tart red berry fruit is complemented by pretty lavender and floral aromatics in this organic blend of 60% Touriga Nacional and 40% Aragonez. A nice complement to lighter fare like fresh goat cheese and a salad.
Txakoli’s whites and rosés meet the demand for light, fresh, slightly fizzy wines that evoke the ocean and go with any type of seafood you can find. Gentle carbonation (a Txakoli signature) adds to the zippy freshness, while flavors of tart strawberry, minty herbs, and a spray of sea salt bring it home.
If this Manchuela were a white wine, it would surely have qualified for the 'Lesser-Known Delicious Euro Whites' section above. Like the grapes and/or regions featured in that section, the Bobal grape and Spanish region of Manchuela are slightly off-grid on the international wine map. Even though Bobal is the third most widely planted grape (after Tempranillo and Airén) in Spain, most of it is used for blending or exported as bulk wine. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that producers saw potential in older vines and started making monovarietal wines from it. Along with its neighbor Utiel-Requena, Manchuela produces the best examples of Bobal. Ours this month is the 2024 from Finca el Molar. Sourced from organically grown 45-year-old vines, this lithe, deep red abounds with black cherry, pomegranate, and spice, finishing off with a hint of licorice and salt. As an homage to its nearby city, enjoy with a paella Valenciana.
Like the Manchuela, this Rosso di Valtellina hails from a region with little representation in our market. The small DOC of Valtellina sits at the Italian border with Switzerland. Nebbiolo, known locally as Chiavennasca, is the star here. Compared to Nebbiolos from Piedmont, the ones from Valtellina tend to be more perfumed and delicate with less assertive tannins. Although top-tier Valtellina is certainly as ageable as Barolo, the generally softer tannins allow for earlier enjoyment and for Nebbiolo’s famous tar and rose flavors to come through. This lovely Rosso di Valtellina from the Triacca family is a delicious example, additionally providing leather, violets, and damp earth aromas and flavors. Considering that Valtellina has very small production as well as the most terraced vineyards in Italy, involving more labor and risk, this wine is generously priced and still a bargain compared to a Barolo. Have with a mushroom risotto; or, for an easy and elegant match, simply have with an alpine cheese.
Winemaker Andrew Jones started his wine journey at a vine nursery and helped plant vineyards all over California. He has kept in touch with many of these growers and thus sources grapes for his wines from all over the state. The 2024 Fiction Red is a blend of grapes from various vineyards around Paso Robles, where the Field Recordings winery is located. Ten different varieties, from Alicante Bouschet to Zinfandel, go into this California Red Blend. It is plump enough to stand up to a burger but is amiable enough for a casual hang with friends… as long as your friends like a nice plummy red wine.
The Juillot family has been one of Mercurey’s best producers for generations. This month we have a good value Pinot Noir from the hillsides around their Côte Chalonnaise winery. The 2023 Coteaux Bourguignons is an honest earthy Burgundy with dark fruit and grippy tannins. This will complement rustic French food like a chicken stew alongside some ripe runny cheeses.
While old-fashioned off-dry Rieslings will always be around, the demand for dry Riesling continues to grow. One of our favorites, the Vom Kalk from Schneider, has returned. In 2023 their ripe Riesling grown in a chalky soil was fermented totally dry producing this minerally delight. This is a fine match for a spicy shrimp dish.
2025 Pays d’Herault Rosé (Moulin de Gassac) 
2024 Rioja Blanco (El Coto) 