Category Archives: Special Features

Jadot is Your Guide to Burgundy 1-28-24


 


Burgundy is the most complicated wine region in the entire world and attempting to understand it is a task that knows no end. The main reason for this complexity is the overwhelming number of vineyard sites with entirely unique expressions. The formation of these plots can trace their history back to the early ecclesiastical land holdings of the Catholic Church, and subsequent discovery and parcelization by monks. As these vineyard sites gained renown and increased in value, wealthy French nobles purchased vast swathes of land on which to form prestigious domaines. This was not to last though, as the French Revolution in the 18th century forced the vineyard land from the hands of the wealthy and into the possession of newer and more modest owners.

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Greatness in Gaja 1-21-24

When speaking about the wines of Gaja, one must realize they’re speaking about a man, the growth of an entire region, and the actual juice that’s in the bottle. It’s impossible to separate the three. Angelo Gaja (pictured on the right) was an individual that forever changed the perception of Piemonte and Italian wine on the global market. Largely taking over his family estate in 1961, Angelo recognized the international disinterest in fine Italian wine and he began a journey of reinventing the vinous identity of his home village of Barbaresco and the nation as a whole.

Early on, there were a few key innovations that Gaja is largely recognized as pioneering in his region. Firstly, he dramatically lowered vineyard yields across his properties to focus on developing intense concentration at the cost of of overall volume.… Read the rest

Is Cabernet Franc the Quintessential Red? 1-14-24


Cabernet Franc grapes on the vine
When choosing a red wine to drink, one is faced with a plethora of flavor profiles and stylistic differences to consider. Do I desire a wine capable of deep extraction where the fruit and texture of the wine are the focus? Do I need a red that shines through its aromatic intensity and overall approachable structure? What about reds that cut through a meal with a vein of acidity and refresh the palate? I’m here to tell you that Cabernet Franc is all of these things in a way that no other red can be. Don’t believe me? Let’s discuss.

Cabernet Franc along with Sauvignon Blanc is a genetic parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape is noticeably more thin-skinned than its offspring, and ripens earlier in the growing season which has long made it a dependable variety for the production of fine wine.

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Mark’s Top Ten Picks 1-7-24


Some wines from my wedding. Do you trust this man?
We all have different tastes and preferences when it comes to wine. This indeed is the element of the wine experience which fuels endless intrigue, novelty, and persistence to keep tasting more. Our tastes become signatures of who we are; but just like how each of us changes markedly over time as individuals, so do our tastes. A professed love of Chardonnay might evolve into a fascination with Chenin Blanc; a romance with Pinot Noir might turn to a passionate affair with Alto-Piemonte Nebbiolo. Our palates all change over time and most often that change is realized when we rediscover the wines that first moved us. Everything is fair game.

Where am I going with this?

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New Year’s Day Germany & Austria Sale Ends Tonight 1-1-24

5% off any 1-11 in-stock German/Austrian wines
10% off any 12 or more in-stock German/Austrian wines
 
Offer does not apply to case discounts (case-3, case-6, or case-12) or to pre-arrival wines.
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card.
Discount ends Monday, January 1st at 11:59 pm Pacific
The shop is closed today, but our webstore is always open:
Order online now!

Need ideas? Shop our staff picks below!

Emrich-Schonleber – Germany
 
“[Emrich-Schonleber’s] Grand Cru GGs are simply among the greatest dry Rieslings made in Germany, period” – Stephan Bitterolf, Vom Boden
 
Despite the fame and renown of the estate inside Germany, Emrich-Schonleber flies under the radar in the USA. These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe.
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