Newsletter
January 18, 2022 – February 17, 2022
Sangiovese-Sagrantino
2017 Montefalco Rosso (Perticaia)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Cabernet Francisco
2019 Cabernet Franc Reserva (Garzón)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Tempranillo & Co.
2017 Rioja Crianza (Viña Real)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Cabernet Franc
2020 Chinon ‘Messanges Rouge’ (Domaine de Pallus) Sale Price $16.99 – $173.30 case of twelve
Since offering the 2018 vintage of this Cabernet Franc in our newsletter a year ago, this biodynamic Chinon has become a mainstay on our shelves. The 2020 is just as fresh and silky (if a bit juicier) than its predecessor. Aromas of wet stone and iron play an intriguing foil to its black cherry and pomegranate fruit. For anyone not yet initiated, this is an enviable introduction to Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. At an increasingly rare 12.5% alcohol, it’s a red that never tires the palate and is this month’s choice to have with roast chicken or seared duck breast.
Hedgehog
2018 Amyndeon Xinomavro 'Hedgehog' (Alpha Estate)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Amyndeon in northern Macedonia is the protected designation of origin for Alpha Estate's pure Xinomavro. Also protected is the hedgehog, who nest in the area and give Alpha Estate's best vineyard its name. This is a top quality, authentically Greek red. The high elevation, cool and windy vineyard faces north and has a long growing season. This results in a sappy, deep red with a long, earthy, dry finish. A fine red to have with a roast leg of lamb.
Old Vine Cairanne
2018 Cairanne ‘Vieilles Vignes’ (Domaine Alary)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Listed prices are honored through February 17th, 2022. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 46, No. 2
Rosé in winter? For an increasing number of customers, rosé is a four-season wine. So why not try it with a beefy, ageable Bandol rosé? La Bastide Blanche has always produced a sturdy yet elegant rosé. The Mourvèdre grape delivers enough tannic structure to keep it dry and focused. Try this 2020 with a seafood cassoulet or a steaming cauldron of Bouillabaisse.
2020 Soave Classico (Balestri Valda) 
Liters of German Riesling and Austrian Grüner are steady sellers. A little extra wine helps with the cooking and then stays on the table deeper into the meal. Darting’s 2020 Kabinett is not sweet, but has crunchy orchard fruit and balancing crisp acidity. A very nice match with multiple dumplings and stir-fried bok choy.
Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc lovers, take note: Scheurebe is an intriguing, aromatic white grape you should know. The result of an early-20th century experimental cross between Riesling and a wild vine, its popularity never took off and plantings are now in steady decline, perhaps due to its reputation for producing fruity, uncomplicated wines. Fortunately, Scheurebe has enjoyed new interest thanks to a few German producers exploring its potential for dry wines. With this organic wine, considered one of the best examples in the world, Müller-Catoir proves that Scheurebe can compete with Riesling in expressiveness, complexity, and charm. Thrilling aromas of citrus and ripe peach give way to a lengthy, dry finish of honey and sage, tied together with perfect grapefruit pith bitterness and a dash of salinity. It’s so refreshing you’ll wonder where the wine in your glass went, and it will make a great foil for spicy Szechuan shrimp. 
Wintertime is when we like our white wines with a bit more body and weight. A delicious example is this succulent blend from Costières de Nîmes, the southernmost outpost of the Rhône wine region. In lieu of oak to increase texture, this blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Viognier received a brief period of skin contact. It’s a wine that is pleasurable on its own, thanks to its fragrant white peach flavors buttressed by an undercurrent of lemony pith. But it’s also delicious with a cheesy baked potato as well as with any kind of seafood, from a citrusy ceviche to a broiled bluefish. 
We lost touch with Pesquera for a few years when they changed importers. This venerable old house produces some of Ribera del Duero’s best wines that drink well upon release. The 2018 is a smooth and saturated Tempranillo that clearly benefitted from its 18 months aging in toasty oak. The plummy fruit is balanced by an elegant, smooth finish. Great with a rack of lamb along with rosemary roasted potatoes. 
Pleasant Ridge Reserve holds the distinction of being the most awarded cheese in American history. This alpine-style cheese has won the American Cheese Society’s Best of Show three times, the only cheese with that honor. In keeping with the tradition of the alpine cheeses after which it is modeled, it is only made in the summer months while the herd is grazing on pastures. The flavor is incredibly balanced—fruity, nutty, and grassy nuances are all tied together by umami richness—and it carries a long, lingering finish.
2019 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Gran Sasso) 
