Terrazas de los Andes – Mendoza
The Terrazas de los Andes winery is located in the Lujan de Cuyó region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley in Argentina. Their vineyards are located in the foothills of the Andes, making it the highest estate in the Mendoza region, with altitudes varying between 3,214 ft. and 5,315 ft. They cover over 525 hectares, which when put in perspective is about the size of Lower Manhattan. Las Compuertas is their oldest vineyard, planted to Malbec in 1929. All of the fruit is hand harvested, and the diurnal shift, the difference between day and night temperatures, helps preserve acidity, taming the rich tannins of the region’s fruit. You can sample these wines on Saturday, September 28th at both shops.
2017 Terrazas de los Andes Torrontes Mendoza 20.00 16.60VS
2017 Altos la Plata Malbec Mendoza 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Altos la Plata Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Reserva Mendoza 23.00 19.09VS
2014 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Single Vineyard ‘Las Compuertas’ 35.00 29.05VS
Taste these wines on Saturday,
September 28th at both shops from 11AM-5PM
2017 Ontañón Viura ‘Akemi’
Famous chef Felix Jimenez works with Bodegas Ontañón to produce a white Rioja, made from the indigenous Viura grape, from vineyards located on the high slopes of the Sierra de Yerga mountains in Rioja Baja. This wine is designed for sushi, with hints of grapefruit and white pepper.
2017 Bodegas Ontañón Viura ‘Akemi’ Rioja 15.00 12.45VS
Saturday September 21st 11AM-5PM free
G.D. Vajra — Piemonte
Francesca Vaira will be at the Ravenna shop from 11:30AM-2:00PM
and at the Queen Anne shop from 2:30PM-5PM
Saturday September 28th 11AM-5PM free
Terrazas de Los Andes
Jacky Blot, the proprietor of Domaine de la Taille aux Loups and Domaine de la Butte in the Loire Valley has been called the ‘Maestro of Monlouis’. His viticulture is organic-—he hand harvests, uses only wild yeasts, long open air maceration, barrel fermentations, and no malolactic conversions—he just doesn’t make a big deal about it! The wines are stunning, rich with complex fruit flavors—white peach, apricot, and honeydew melon for the whites, and a Bourgeuil Rouge that is all about red and black fruits fresh off their canes. Before buying his properties, he was a wine broker, and you can see his palate in the wines he crafts.
2017 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis ‘Remus’ 40.00 33.20VS
2017 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis ‘Clos de Mosny Monopole’ 50.00 41.50VS
2018 Domaine de la Butte Bourgeuil ‘La Pied de la Butte’ 32.00 26.56VS
The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is made with Sangiovese from the Tignanello estate, with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Antonio Galloni states it perfectly, “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, mint, and sweet spice infuse a superb, beautifully layered Chianti Classico loaded with personality and character.” The 2015 Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione is produced exclusively from the finest Sangiovese grapes from the namesake vineyard in the Chianti Classico region. The wine shows ripe red fruits, supple berry flavor, and velvety tannins. The 2016 Tenuta Guado al Tasso ‘Il Bruciato’ (meaning burned) is a blend 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 15% Syrah from a wooded portion of the 2,500 acre estate that experienced a major fire in the 1900’s. It has an aroma of ripe red fruits, spices, and a hint of mint. On the palate, the Cabernet Sauvignon adds power, and the Syrah, a note of game.
2015 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello 46.00 38.18VS
2015 Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 60.00 49.80VS
2016 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso ‘Il Bruciato’ Bolgheri 30.00 24.90VS
Located in the foothills of the Alps, Vin de Savoie AOC has three distinct areas-— the south shore of Lake Geneva, the hill country around the north end of Lac de Bourget, and the densely planted area south of Chambéry. Vines are planted on steep slopes, and while their elevation makes one think cool, most vineyards enjoy a perfectly warm microclimate. A few miles from Chambéry, the famous villages of Cruet, Arbin, Montmelian, Chignin, and Apremont line the banks of the Isère River. On the south-facing hillsides (between 820 feet above sea level to 1804 feet above sea level), some of Savoie’s finest wines are made. The racy acidity gives the white wines a flavor one could say is mountain fresh, or alpine clean, with a honeydew melon note that matches the local Raclette cheese.
2018 Domaine de l’Idylle Cruet Vin de Savoie 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Domaine Labbé Abymes Vin de Savoie 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Domaine Ravier Abymes Vin de Savoie 15.00 12.45VS
2017 13 Lunes Apremont Vin de Savoie 20.00 16.60VS
2017 Les Rocailles Apremont Vin de Savoie 15.00 12.45VS
2017 Domaine Jean Vullien Roussette (Altesse) Vin de Savoie 18.00 14.94VS
2018 Domaine Jean Charles Girard Madoux Chignin Vin de Savoie 17.00 14.11VS
The 2016 vintage was the third consecutive season of warm, dry growing conditions in the Willamette Valley. A cooler September produced wines with rich flavors and layers of complexity. The 2016 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir has an aroma of dark cherries and plums, with violet scents and a classic Drouhin Pinot Noir texture-—silky.
2016 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 42.00 34.86VS
2017 Kevin White Reds
Kevin White crafts great value reds from fruit sourced in the Yakima Valley. The 2017 Kevin White Red ‘La Fraternité’ is a blend of 67% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, and 8% Syrah from Upland, Boushey, and Olsen Vineyards that shows spicy berry fruit aromas with hints of game and minerals. The 2017 Kevin White Syrah ‘En Hommage’ is 100% Syrah from Olsen and Boushey Vineyards. It has a pretty bouquet with violets and black currants, and shows blue fruit flavors of black plums and blueberies on the palate. Taste these wine on Saturday, September 14th at both shops.
2017 Kevin White Red ‘La Fraternité’ Yakima Valley 30.00 24.90VS
2017 Kevin White Syrah ‘En Hommage’ Yakima Valley (Limited) 30.00 24.90VS
2018 Andrew Will Whites
We tend to think of luscious red wines when the name Andrew Will comes up, but the Camarda’s have small quantities of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon growing in their Two Blondes Vineyard in Yakima Valley. In 2018, Chris and Will have crafted two tasty whites in very limited quantities. Seeking lower alcohol levels and softer textures, these are two fine wines for local seafoods. Taste these wines on Saturday, September 14th at both shops.
2018 Andrew Will Sauvignon ‘Cuvée Lucia’ ‘Two Blondes Vineyard’ 26.00 21.58VS
2018 Andrew Will Semillon ‘Cuvée Lucia’ ‘Two Blondes Vineyard’ 26.00 21.58VS
2018 Two Vintners ‘O.G.’
They are many reasons not to like the color orange, and many revolve around weird wines. When we first tried the Two Vintners Dry Gewürztraminer ‘O.G.’ we were skeptical, but now in its six vintage, we are coming around. Only 85 cases of this strikingly pretty wine are made each year. The fruit is from Olsen Vineyard in Yakima Valley and sees extended maceration for 55 days. It is fully dry and perfect for serving with Thai food, especially spicey shrimps.
2018 Two Vintners Dry Gewürztraminer ‘O.G.’ ‘Olsen Vineyard’ 29.00 24.07VS
2018 Régis Minet Pouilly-Fumé
Régis Minet’s vineyards are located 750 feet above sea level in the hills on the east side of the Loire River. The soils are limestone and Kimmeridgian, imparting the wines with a distinctive character, quite different than Sancerre. The 2018 Régis Minet Pouilly-Fumé, with flinty, saline notes and racy acidity, is a zesty seafood wine, perfect for oysters.
2018 Régis Minet Pouilly-Fumé Vieilles Vignes 27.00 22.41VS
2018 Comte Lafon Mâcon-Villages
The entry-level wine for Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon is their Mâcon-Villages, which incorporates fruit from each appellation where the domaine has vines—Uchizy, Viré, Chardonnay, and Bussières.
2018 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Villages 28.00 23.24VS
2018 Hippolyte Reverdy
A perennial favorite, the 2018 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre has arrived and it is classic. As Kermit Lynch appropriately states, “the palate is expansive, then the nervosity makes its appearance, and the finish is dry and lipsmackingly good.”
2018 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Verdigny 30.00 24.90VS
2018 Le Calcinaie Vernacchia
Tenuta Le Calcinaie is a small estate located three kilometers outside of the hilltop village of San Gimignano. The estate is named for the ‘calce’ or limestone soils on the property which give the 2018 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia its mineral rich flavor and crisp acidity.
2018 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernacchia ‘San Gimignano 18.00 14.94VS
Frédéric Chaudière, one of the two brothers who own and run Château Pesquié visited the shops to discuss the family’s dedication to the Ventoux region. The terroir of Château Pesquié is one of the coolest microclimates in the southern Rhône Valley, having great mineral diversity from the mainly limestone soils. Located on the east side of the Rhône Valley, around the villages of Gigondas and Vacqueyras, Frédéric likes to say his wines are a blend of the Southern and Northern Rhône styles. The wines represent exceptional value when compared to neighboring appellations. If you like Gigondas and Vacqueyras, be sure to give these a try.
2016 Château Pesquié Blanc ‘Terrasses’ Vin de France 14.00 11.62VS
2016 Château Pesquié Rouge ‘Terrasses’ Ventoux 14.00 11.62VS
2016 Château Pesquié Rouge ‘Quintessence’ Ventoux 22.00 18.26VS
2014 Château Pesquié Rouge ‘Artemia’ Ventoux 40.00 33.20VS