The Bonarda Chronicles
2012 Bonarda (Finca La Linda)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
We may or may not have two Bonardas on this page. The 2012 Finca La Linda Bonarda hails from Argentina, where Italian immigrants first planted the grape, but back in Italy there is a debate as to what constitutes true Bonarda, which is frequently blended with Nebbiolo in Northern Piedmont. Aside from its bargain price, what most attracted us to this Bonarda are its ripe fruit aromas and its mellow dusty tannins. This has the ideal weight for a chicken cacciatore or a spicy seafood stew.

A Salute to the Donkey
2010 Peljesac (Vinarija Dingac)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
This Croatian red is made from the Plavac Mali grape grown on the Peljesac peninsula where vineyards overlook the Adriatic. As the vineyards are too steep for tractors, the growers use donkeys to work and help with the harvest, hence the adorable label. Plavac Mali is a relative of Zinfandel and in this Mediterranean climate wines can reach heroic alcohol levels; but here they blend some lighter wine into wine from one of the richest, ripest plots to achieve a fine balance. Try this with a long braised lamb shank with barley risotto.

Zweigelt, the Super Austrian Red
2012 Burgenland Zweigelt (Salzl)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
When Fritz Zweigelt fused St. Laurent and Blaufrankisch back in 1922, he was most likely trying to combine the best agricultural qualities of both grapes and not realizing that he had created a delicious, supple red for all seasons. The 2012 from Salzl is an elegant red with berry fruit and peppery spice.

Bobal
2012 Utiel-Requena (Estenas)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Utiel-Requena is on the outskirts of the Eastern Spanish city of Valencia. The principle grape in the region is Bobal, which, because of its resistance to drought, has not been replaced by better-known grapes. The 2012 from Estenas is a gorgeous cherry-scented red with velvety tannins and a long mellow finish. This minimally tannic red will match well with vegetarian paella a la Valenciana.

Carménère
2011 Carménère Reserva (Chono)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Carménère, the long lost orphan grape of Bordeaux, is thriving in Chile, where in the right climate makes an earthy, minerally red stuffed with blackberry fruit. The 2011 Chono Reserva comes from the Maule Valley, saw ten months in French oak, and has ripe fruit aromas along with full body and smooth, ripe tannins. Hey Chile! Bordeaux called. It wants its Carménère back.

Uva Rara – Could it be Bonarda?
2012 Colline Novaresi ‘Valceresole’ (Francesca Castaldi)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Northern Piedmont loves its Nebbiolo, which has many local names. Growers in the Colline Novaresi grow a grape they call Uva Rara and usually blend it with Nebbiolo. This wine from Castaldi is entirely Uva Rara, which to us is a first. This spicy, minerally, tannic red has real depth and continuous flavor interest that leads to a spicy finish. We suggest this with a braised beef with mushrooms followed by a Fontina val d’Aosta and/or Taleggio. This is truly an alpine-style red.

Cru Classé Tibouren
2012 Côtes de Provence Rosé (Clos Cibonne)
Sale Price $24.99 – $254.90 case of twelve
It is too late to accuse us of pandering to Valentine’s Day by promoting a rosé in February, and anyway this is not your average Rosé. Clos Cibonne is a Cru Classé in the Côtes de Provence. Here they cultivate a rare ancient ancient grape called Tibouren, which they age in 100-year-old barrels in which a layer of yeast (á la Fino Sherry) naturally develops on the surface of the wine. This nourishes and adds complexity, which is why the wine is held back for a year before release and why its depth of flavor makes this a rosé that is not wedded to a warm weather month. It’s neither very sherry-like, nor is it like a fresh, simple southern French rosé. The lightly nutty aromas are accented by dry berry fruit and mellow barrel-aged character. This has enough going on to stand up to a bouillabaisse or a spicy ratatouille.

Almost too Drinkable
2012 Vin de France ‘Raisins Gaulois’ (M. Lapierre)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.50 case of twelve
This is a young-vine Beaujolais from M. Lapierre. Most of the grapes come from within the Morgon Cru, but some come from outside, and because there is no Vin de Pays in the Beaujolais, it must be labeled as Vin de France; hence the defiant Raisins Gaulois name. The 2012 is nice, fruity fun, but has enough sappy concentration that it will match with anything. Warning: one bottle will disappear before dinner is over. It may disappear before dinner is prepared.

Brézème
2012 Côtes du Rhône ‘Brézème’ (Eric Texier)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
While this wine carries a basic Côtes du Rhône appellation, it has a more regal history. From the 15th to the 19th century Syrah wines from Brézème rivalled those of Hermitage. Phylloxera, a couple of wars, and rural depopulation left Brézème in poor condition, but a few growers persisted. Intrigued by an article in an 1880 book about Les Grands Vins de France, Eric Texier investigated and is now working alongside the old timers to resurrect Brézème. The 2012 is young and structured with aromas of currants and black olives along with meaty tannins and lovely inner mouth perfume. Have this with a garlic and rosemary infused leg of lamb.

Specialty Foods

Alpha Tolman, $17.99 per lb. (Reg. price $19.99)
Named after a turn-of-the-century philanthropic dairy farmer from Greensboro, Alpha Tolman is a robust and meaty tribute to the traditional alpine-style cheeses of Europe. Made with raw cow’s milk and aged 7 to 11 months in the cellars at Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont, it’s equally well suited to melting or snacking.

Ewephoria, $17.99 per lb. (Reg. price $19.99)
The candy of cheese, this Gouda-style pasteurized sheep’s milk cheese is produced on a small farm in the Friesland region of Holland. Aged for at least 9 months, Ewephoria boasts a subtle sheep flavor and an intense, nutty sweetness. Pair with sherry, porter, or bourbon.

Creminelli Finocchiona Salami,
$20.99 per lb.  (Reg. price $22.99)
Creminelli Finocchiona is handmade artisanal salami flavored with fennel seeds in a natural beef casing. Not as salty as the original Tuscan version, it pairs well with strong cheeses and hearty wines. Produced in the USA by Cristiano Creminelli, whose family has been in the Italian salami business for centuries. Creminelli salamis are made of organic ingredients with heritage breeds that are humanely raised without antibiotics and with vegetarian feed.

Great Hill Blue, $14.99 per lb.
(Reg. price $16.99)
Great Hill Blue is an award-winning crumbly blue cheese with just the right amount of tang. Internally ripened and made with raw, non-homogenized cow’s milk at Great Hill Dairy in Marion, Massachusetts.

Valle D’Aosta Aged Fontina, $13.99 per lb. (Reg. price $15.99)
The true Fontina, a pungent, raw cow’s-milk cheese produced in the Italian Alps in the region of Val D’Aosta. Semi-soft, made with unpasteurized cow’s milk, and aged about 3 months, this is a savory cheese with grassy flavor, great for melting.