Three wines to sip all summer!

Le Petit Balthazar 2023 Viognier / Sauvignon Blanc Blend – South of France

What a fun summer blend of 50% Viognier and 50% Sauvignon Blanc! Your palate will find stone fruits and citrus with a clean, fresh finish and a bright texture! Yes, it really is only $11.99!

Le Petit Balthazar 2023 Cinsault Rose – South of France

This dry rose is made from 100% Cinsault, and according to the importer’s label contains only 78 calories per 5oz glass – that is dry! Find red berries and watermelon with a zippy and mineral driven finish. Yes, this too is only $11.99!

Banner Day 2021 Carmenere – Valle Central, Chile

Made from 100% Carmenere this bold red offers dark and red fruits, cinnamon, spices, peppercorns, a whiff of coffee beans, and fresh tannins. This medium-full bodied wine with wonderful complexity goes with almost any food pairing, seriously! Being offered at only $12.99 for a limited time.

More Cool Wines…

Crosarola 2021 Classico Superiore – Valpolicella, Italy

Located just outside of Venice this wine is made mostly from Corvina, and a small percentage of the grapes are harvested late. This makes the fruit even more pronounced front and mid-palate, while still giving a dry and silky finish. Classic for Corvina find strawberries and rhubarb with light Spring floral tones… further complexity yields blood orange, light balsamic, and a touch of earth and cocoa.

Maison Ventenac 2022 L’Intrus – Southern France

Made from 100% Cabernet Franc and growing in a sunny and hot place pushes the boundaries this varietal can take… the verdict, incredible! Take what you know about Cabernet Franc and make it bolder, denser, heavier, and of course retains that wonderful spicy earth tone on the finish. All natural, using indigenous yeasts, no sulphites added – fermented and aged in concrete tanks for 3 months. C’est tres bon!

Abelis Carthago 2020 Crianza – Toro, Spain

Known as Tinto de Toro in Toro, Spain, the wine is 100% Tempranillo! These wines are always big, and this one certainly does not disappoint – those bulls on the label are foreboding… It is dark, spicy, full of black fruit, anise, pepper, and coffee. Don’t forget the healthy dose of 15+ months oak aging, and 15% alcohol, and there you have it, a bull of a wine – Toro! Toro!

Rock Ferry “3^rd Rock” 2021 Pinot Gris – Marlborough, New Zealand

What if the winemaking style of Alsace, France were to be practiced in say… New Zealand? Obviously, we get the best of both worlds and have a new wine to drink! This Pinot Gris is creamy, rich, smooth, suave, and shouts intense citrus with melon and floral tones throughout. The lush Alsatian textures collide with the earth of Marlborough and become authentically New Zealand.

Santola Vinho Verde is back in stock.. it’s so lemony!!

Only $12.99

Chimay Ales are here!

Chimay Brewery (Brasserie de Chimay) is a brewery at Scourmont Abbey, a Trappist monastery in Chimay, Hainaut, Belgium, one of the thirteen breweries worldwide that produce Trappist beer.

The other cool deal with these ales, they age very well. The ales of Chimay were thought of and designed long before modern conveniences – 1850 to be exact. The ales were meant to keep and take on evolving characteristics thru the years… unfined, unfiltered, and never pasteurized! Best enjoyed slightly chilled, and pairs well with strong cheeses!

Cinq Cents

Triple blond ale – fruity and spicy balanced with bitterness of hops

Cent Cinquante

Strong blond ale – dried fruits, rich, full, light spices and floral tones

Premiere

Brown ale – copper color, generous fruit, toast, sweet caramel

Grand Reserve

Strong dark brown ale – Big, bold, full-bodied, fruity cocoa and spices

More cool wines….

Chateau Senejac, 2020 Haut-Medoc – Bordeaux, France

Have a crowd to feed for Easter? You are in luck! Check out Chateau Senejac, 2020 Haut-Medoc. It is a 3L bottle, enclosed with a cork then dipped in wax. Open and decant, or age for up to 20 years. The bottle comes in a wooden box and is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petite Verdot. James Suckling Wine Ratings has it rated at 93 points. Upon opening and decanting, find black currants, blackberries, coffee, autumn forest, cola, toasted baking spices, and an opulently smooth and lingering finish. Oak aging was 15 months, 30% new oak, and 70% second use oak – maintaining a balance of elegance and body to create a smooth but full texture. Pair with any lamb, beef, ham, and of course veggies & Mediterranean dishes.

Domaine de la Denante 2022 Macon – Bourgogne, France

Made from 100% Chardonnay and as only Macon can do… that woven integration of fruit with minerality, rich and creamy texture, all while maintaining a firm and refined finish. Oak aging is 3-6 months depending on vintage. Find aromas and flavors of pear, melon, hits of apples and pineapple, and a slight mineral tone. Pairs well with any domestic or game bird, ham, lemon cream-based sauces, and as an aperitif with aged meats and strong cheeses.

Chateau Fage 2022 Graves de Vayres – Bordeaux, France

Old school Bordeaux Blanc made from 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. The Semillon really bumps up the body and gives that heavy citrus tone with a touch of spice. The texture is almost viscous or oily, and the finish seems to go forever. Truly a white wine to go up against anything, to include ham, bird, and heavy fish.

Giles Copiret 2020 Fleurie Les Roches – Beaujolais, France

Made from 100% Gamay grapes growing on 65+ year old vines. A liftedwine showing big, lush black cherries, black currants, and hints of earth, stones, and spice in every sip. Overall, rich and smooth, complemented by a long silky finish. This beautiful wine is rated 94 points by James Suckling Wine Ratings.

Condado de Haza 2020 Crianza – Ribera del Duero, Spain

Dense black fruit comes on fast followed by anise, black olive, white pepper, smoky coffee beans, cocoa nibs, and just the right touch of creamy vanilla oak. Being a Crianza, this wine did see one year in new French oak. Best when decanted for an hour or two… the finish is lengthy, and the complexity continues to change well after each sip. Wines of this stature lend themselves to go with a broad array of culinary delights… so, be creative, even to include a chocolatey dessert. The Wine Enthusiast rates this wine 93 Points!

Clos Henri 2020 Waimaunga Vineyard Pinot Noir –Marlborough, New Zealand

From the Waimaunga Vineyard, known as the “Windblown Clays” comes this heavyweight Pinot Noir. Loaded with dark fruits up front and changing over to more nuance… find tea, plum, black pepper, earth, clay, chalk, oak, and dusty tannins! The finish is big and long lasting, and pairs with any great dish! Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gives this Pinot Noir 94 points, and the Wine Enthusiast also rates at 94 points!

New Wines You Should Try…

William Ridge Cellars 2022 Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Oregon

Our newest addition to the Oregon section, this Pinot Noir is very light and quite tasty. Pairs well with good company and fun occasions. It has that classic Willamette profile and makes for a delicious easy Pinotquaffer.

Consentido 2020 Monastrell Barrica – Yecla, Spain

This is just too good, from the expressive label to the wine, and the great value price!  Juicy blackberries with some black pepper and spice tones. Medium bodied, smooth, easy-drinking, and just plain fun! James Suckling rates it 91 points.

Pazos de Eguren 2021 Tempranillo – Castilla, Spain

Another fun wine from Spain, 100% Tempranillo… it’s juicy and fruit forward with cherry, plum, and black fruit… has a long finish and is very well priced! Try it with some pork BBQ!

Coteaux Bourguignons 2020 Les Sarments – Bourgogne, France

This wine is a blend of 80% Gamay & 20% Pinot Noir. A light and pretty red, easy to sip or pair with lighter fare. It shows strawberry and raspberry fruit mixed with forest notes, a touch of cinnamon spice, and smooth tannins.

Alvarez de Toledo 2022 Godello – Castilla y Leon, Spain

Made from 100% Godello, the wine is very smooth, no oak, and shows offmelon, pear, guave, passion fruit, and some floral notes. The Wine Enthusiast rating is 92 points.

Bargain Wines

John’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc $11.99

Citrusy and crisp

Redwick Estate Vintner’s Blend $12.99 Malbec, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc

Juicy and spicy Malbec blend

Grilos Red Blend Reserve $11.99

Portuguese blend similar to Pinot Noir with more spice and acidity, very dry

91 points Wine Spectator