Our Wine Wednesdays, include one *free sample from each of our hand selected fine wine features (up to four wines). New wines are chosen each week.

Becheras Crozes-Hermitage BLANC “Le Prieuré d’Arras”
Etienne Becheras’s domaine is polycultural. It extends for 12 hectares principally within the confines of the village of Arras which borders and overlooks the Rhone River on the western side. The domaine farms organically. The five hectares situated on the flat lands along the Rhone are planted to cherry and apricot trees. Three are four hectares of vineyards which are planted on the limestone and gravel soils which mount in altitude and are on steep hillsides. The vineyards are placed on long terraces supported by hand-constructed stone walls. As a result, almost all work must be done by hand without the aid of mechanical implements. The remainder of the property is dedicated to forest where the ash and acacia trees are used as building and heating materials and offer the extra advantage of presenting ideal conditions for the growth of edible mushrooms and truffles! The Crozes-Hermitage Blanc comes from the same location as his Crozes-Hermitage Rouge: a 1.5-hectare parcel in Mercurol. It is a blend of 60% Roussane and 40% Marsanne (like his Saint Joseph Blanc) which is fermented and aged in barrel. Compared to the Saint-Joseph Blanc, the Crozes is a bit more balanced, with a brighter acidity and a slightly bitter tannic finish. Even so, the richness is evident in this wine, with warm baked-apple fruit and an underlying note of honey.

Le Calle Poggio d’Oro Montecucco DOCG Sangiovese
From a tiny, picturesque organic farm located in the hills of Poggi del Sasso (Cinigiano, Gr), in the heart of the Maremma hills. Riccardo Catocci, from Le Calle, is a historic figure in this area of Tuscany, having farmed here for decades. This is one of the greatest Sangiovese values in all of Tuscany. Wines from this area have a good bit in common with Brunello to the north. Best with age or allowed to breath, this is powerful, rich Sangiovese with minimal intervention.

Gorrondona Bizkaiko Txakolina Tinto
Doniene Gorrondona is perched on precipitous green cliffs above the Bay of Biscay in the seaside village of Bakio, near Bilbao in the Spanish Basque Country. Doniene Gorrondona was one of three original pioneers in the revival of txakolina production near Bilbao, with the creation of the Bizkaiko Txakolina DO in 1994. Prior to that, the txakolina discipline was nearly lost in the area, with many vineyards given over to the construction of seaside homes. Their goal has always been to rejuvenate the tradition of txakolina and honor its contribution to the gastronomic and cultural history of their village with the indigenous hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi beltza grapes. Doniene Gorrondona currently farms 16 hectares of vines, including a unique two-hectare parcel of pre-phylloxera hondarrabi beltza. Gorrondona Tinto is a rarity, a red Txakoli produced exclusively with the red local grape Hondarrabi Beltza that fermented with indigenous yeast and went through malolactic in vat. It has an herbal nose, not unlike other Atlantic reds from southwest France or the Loire, a bit wild with some chili pepper and floral notes. It has certain elegance, with fine grained tannins. Cab Francish, you bet!

Telmo Pegaso Zeta Garnacha
The wines from the Sierra de Gredos mountains to the west of Madrid (aka Vinos de Madrid) have finally begun to claim their rightful place alongside other top wine regions focussed on producing world-class garnacha (grenache). Writer/philosopher Miguel de Unamuno described this area as “the roof of Castile and the stone heart of Spain.” The gran cru slope of Arrebatacapas, at an elevation of over 1100m, which is the most important pizarra (slate) landscape in all of Gredos, was recovered. A rare band of brown slate is folded into the mostly granitic mountain range. The wine from this slate vineyard is called Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra. A short while later, they continued to discover other vineyards with the equally interesting, granite-laced soil making wines called Granito and most recently, Zeta, which is a blend of both soil types. Zeta is the entry-level from 890-920m at the entry into Cebreros. Produced with 100% traditional, EU organic, bush-trained garnacha vines. The slate and granite soils are blended, giving depth and fruit character to this wine. Another crazy value from one of our favorite NC importers.

 

 

 

 

*tasting free with purchase of $10 or more per guest