July/August Case Of The Month - $115
COM = a mixed case with one bottle each of these winners
– or you can buy them individually as well.
Magellan Le Fruit Défendu 2016
The varietal Cinsault may not be the “forbidden fruit” (fruit defendu) but it is rarely bottled on its own which makes this an interesting treat. Prized for its wild aromatics and lightness (for a red), it is mostly seen in small percentages in southern French red blends or as a dominant player in rosé. This bottling offers a lovely perfume of violet, geranium, anise and a dusty earthiness. On the palate the fruit is medium-weight and bouncy, a mix of just-ripe blackberry and Italian plum, while a bite of pepper lingers on the finish. $11.99
Palamà Verdeca Salento Bianco 2016
Verdeca is a rarely seen southern Italian white varietal and Palama, one of our favorite SV winemakers. Found mostly in blends, it is prized for maintaining lively acidity in the sunbaked terroir, while conveying fine minerality. Aromatically effusive, fresh mint and lemon verbena roll into notes of dried apricot and guava. The texture is soft and full-bodied while not being heavy. This gentle richness is balanced by zesty lime while ripe melon and bread dough notes ride out the finish. Snappy, salty, fleshy and cool, this is fun. $10.99
Cavatappi Sangiovese Columbia Valley 2016
Popular last summer, this new vintage is medium-bodied, mouth-filling and soft with smoky cherry fruit and an appealing lemon iced tea note. Supple overall, there’s enough structure and grip to pair nicely with a variety of dishes. A nice NW summer option when you want something richer than Pinot Noir but not quite Cab or Syrah. $11.99
Florensac Picpoul du Pinet 2017
Offering an outsized personality given its limited geographical range along the Languedoc Mediterranean, Picpoul’s name is thought to mean lip-stinger, a reference to its bracing acidity and citrus zest bite. This one isn’t all sting however; here the refreshing limey edge is wrapped in a baby fat fleshiness of guava and white peach, flavors that race smoothly across the palate ending with a final burst of grapefruit. Hot summer nights? Bring ‘em on! $9.99
L'Isola Dei Profumi Nero d'Avola- Perricone 2016
Medium-weight and supple, this makes for good warm weather drinking, no surprise, coming from a Mediterranean island. The aromatics are pretty and high-toned, gentle strawberry and raspberry notes laced with dried thyme. The Nero brings a darker dustier fruit edge but the Perricone fights back with a low-voltage thrum of acidity, keeping it fresh, punchy and clean. $9.99
Edetària Via Terra Garnatxa Blanco 2016
If you love the bold flavors and clean refreshing taste of Albariño, then you’ll enjoy this separated-at-birth sibling from Spain’s eastern coast. Made of 100% Garnatxa Blaco from Catalunya’s Terre Alta region southwest of Barcelona, this also reflects cooling oceanic and river influences (the Mediterranean and Ebro River in this case) to keep things zesty and bright. Pear and peach blossom aromatics spill from the glass, a sip delivers flavors of fresh grapes, melon, white peach and lemon zest intertwined with tarragon and mint. A full-bodied weightiness and smoothness combine with crunchy acidity and a long dry finish to create a wine that’s irresistibly complex and a blast to drink – perfect for the season. $9.99
Three Rivers Winery Rivers Red 2015
This Columbia Valley red is not the typical Cab-dominated blend but a tasty combo thanks to Malbec, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah and Cab Sauv/Franc. Soft and juicy with solid backbone, the generous blackberry and dark red plum fruit gets a kick from a hint of spice and subtle carmel-ly bourbon oak notes. A perfect summer-weight red blend you can drink by itself or pair with anything. $9.99
Domaine le Couroulu Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge 2013
Although not permitted in the southern Rhône appellation wines, Merlot has been grown in the region for years where it is used in simple vin de pays. I’ll admit to not usually liking Merlot in my Rhône reds (it’s like…why?) but this one really works. Couroulu is a highly regarded Vacqueyras producer and here they nicely balance the meaty denseness of Syrah with the brighter softer notes of Merlot. This has a country peasant wine feel to it (which is what it is) yet is juicy and smooth enough to be versatile, especially around summer BBQ season. Saturated flavors of dark berries, red cherry and cured black olive roll across the palate backed by a haze of floral herbes de Provence-tinged, countryside funk. $9.99
Teso La Monja Romanico Toro 2015
Toro is a small appellation not too far southwest of Rioja and although 100% Tempranillo (which they call Tinta de Toro), the style is quite different. Compared to Rioja they are almost always darker, more powerful and one could say more “modern”. Toro offers few bargains (this is normally $17) so this summer sale deal is a nice opportunity to explore the region. This wine is all about bass: muddled blackberry and plum fruit accented by notes of pencil lead, cumin, cinnamon, dark chocolate and espresso. French oak lends a creamy, softer edge but the grippy, fruit-encased tannins cry out for grilled meats. $11.99
Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Showing classic Chilean Cab Sauv flavors, theis tastes new world with many hints of the old, even tasting downright Bordeaux-like on the finish. The big black cherry and currant fruit flavors have a brambly dusty edge, soft and savory, all encircled by a halo of tobacco and cedary spice aromas. $11.99
Quinta da Raza Vinho Verde Rosé 2017 After gorging ourselves on the initial wave of Provencal and other French roses, mid-summer always provides a perfect interlude to enjoy a Spanish or Portugese version with a new set of flavors. The Raza hails from Portugal’s Duoro region and brings a joyful mélange of bright red plum, bing cherry, raspberry and juicy watermelon delivered with a touch of Vinho Verde spritzy effervescence to keep this full-bodied wine lively yet deep. Chill it for a great match with a burger or grilled chicken, perfect with charcuterie and cheese. $9.50
Lovo Blossom Rosso Veneto 2017
A surprise Small Vineyards hit last summer from the outskirts of Venice, we like the 2017 even more with its increased complexity, richness and depth This year, the mix is 45% each Cab Sauv and Cab Franc, plus a game-changing addition: 10% Carmenère. The aromatics are still jazzy with violets, dried sage and brown sugar notes, and the fruit is fresh and vibrant, a wave of ripe black cherry and blackberry that reminded us of a good Cru Beaujolais. Mid-palate though, the texture shifts to get denser and more layered as pops of peppery spice and meaty tobacco notes perfume the lightly chewy finish. $11.99
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