2016 BETZ FAMILY RHONE STYLE WINES
Our notes for these wines all seem to focus on wild fruit notes—huckleberries, alpine strawberries, sun warmed wild blackberries, and ripe red currants, implying a style of winemaking that is generous and free-flowing. This powerful style shows less new oak, less tannin, and more pure berry fruit flavors. Winemaker Louis Skinner is putting his mark on these wines and letting the beauty of their Washington vineyards speak clearly. The supply is very limited, so consider putting these in the cellar directly.
2016 Betz Family Red ‘Bésoleil’ Columbia Valley (2 btl limit) 50.00 41.50VS
2016 Betz Family Syrah ‘La Côte Rousse’ Yakima Valley (2 btl limit) 65.00 53.95VS
2016 Betz Family Syrah ‘La Serenne’ Yakima Valley (2 btl limit) 65.00 53.95VS
2016 ROC DE SEGUR
The 2016 Château Roc de Ségur is a blend of 70% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that features an aroma of blackberry, cassis, cedar, and clove—all scents usually associated with more expensive wines. The vineyard was replanted in 1990 and is located in the eastern portion of Entre-deux-Mers. Aged is stainless, the wine is fresh and fruity with a lovely finish.
2016 Château Roc de Ségur Bordeaux 12.00 9.96VS
Pamela Lenzi of Fattoria di Petroio will be in the shops on Saturday, September 22nd to pour her wines and discuss the harvests, the estate, and the family business. We have new vintages to sample.
2015 Fattoria di Petroio Chianti Classico Castelnuovo Berardenga 16.00 13.28VS
2013 Fattoria di Petroio Chianti Classico Riserva Castelnuovo Berardenga 35.00 29.05VS
2017 Fattoria di Petroio Rosé ‘Poco Rosso’ Castelnuovo Berardenga 14.00 11.62VS
The 2014 Querciabella Chianti Classico is made with 100% Sangiovese from four villages—Greve, Panzano, Radda, and Gaiole. These are the areas known for powerful Sangiovese, and this wine is no exception. Aging in fine grained French barriques, only 10% of which are new, gives the wine a lovely texture. In contrast, the 2013 Querciabella Rosso ‘Mongrana’ is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot aged in stainless steel vats. The fruit is grown in the Tuscan Maremma region of coastal Italy, and the wine reflects a softer expression of reds from this area.
2014 Querciabella Chianti Classico Greve in Chianti 32.00 26.56VS
2013 Querciabella Rosso ‘Mongrana’ Toscana 25.00 20.75VS
2015 was a hot vintage for Washington and yet the intense heat was offset by good vine training, allowing leaf cover to shade the fruit. For Tranche Cellars, many older estate plants offered the ability for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah to express the terroir of their Blue Mountain Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. These are defined, delicious, and deserving wines for the cellar.
2015 Tranche Cellars Cabernet Franc Estate ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ 40.00 33.20VS
2015 Tranche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Estate ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ 50.00 41.50VS
2015 Tranche Cellars Syrah Estate ‘Blue Mountain Vineyard’ 40.00 33.20VS
Located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, just north of the village of Castellina, the estate was named ‘Isole e Olena’ by the De Marchi family who purchased two adjoining properties, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’. Each property dates back hundreds of years. The 2015 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico is a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and a pinch of Syrah. Filled with dried cherry flavor and a hint of vanilla, it has lovely texture and length. First created in 1980, Cepparello is made using 100% Sangiovese that is aged in French oak barrels. The 2015 Isole e Olena Cepparello was among the original Super-Tuscans, and yet it is such pure Sangiovese, one could label it Super-Sangiovese!
2015 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Barberino Val di Elsa 25.00 20.75VS
2015 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 70.00 58.10VS
Limestone and Kimmeridgian clay give the 2017 Regis Minet Pouilly-Fumé ‘Vieilles Vignes’ its character. The aroma is freshly sliced green apple with rubbed river rock mineralty, and tart lemon scents. But it is the tension in this wine that makes it dramatic, arresting the senses and grabbing the palate. Fresh Dabob Bay oysters, Dungeness crab and avocado towers, scallops with saffron cream—all would be perfect with this wine.
2017 Regis Minet Pouilly-Fumé Vieilles Vignes 25.00 20.75VS