Tag Archives: buy now

Wine of the Day: Crowley Rose of Pinot Noir 2015 6-4-16

Crowley Rose of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $18 special

Welcome summer with the first ever release of Crowley Rose! This wine shows poise, balance and thought. It opens with a bright, fresh nose of white cranberries and dried ginger. On the palate is again a lovely red berry note with touches of fresh milk and black tea.

This rose is from the coolest single block in the Four Wines Vineyard. It was whole cluster pressed and underwent a slow malolactic fermentation (finishing at 13.68% alcohol and 3.4-3.5 pH for those inquiring minds).

The Four Winds Vineyard is within the McMinnville Coast Range. Planted in 1990 to 100% Pommard clone, the vines are all own-rooted. The soil is Jory-Nekiah (uplifted marine sedimentary loam and silts with alluvial overlays – an ideal soil type for Oregon Pinot Noir). The vineyard, as with all vineyards Crowley Winery works with, is dry-farmed (not irrigated).

Winemaker Tyson Crowley is the current president of the Deep Roots Coalition or ‘drc:’ The drc was formed around the idea that irrigation is unnecessary to successful (and classic) grape growing and negatively impacts resulting wines (pumping up alcohol and watering down the essence of the terroir, pun intended). The drc takes the firm stance for dry-farmed (non-irrigated vines). These vines are forced to dig their roots deep to search for water, thus delving into the truer terroir of the region while being less prone to the vagaries of day to day weather. As water scarcity across the West Coast grows in urgency, this mission of sustainability is becoming increasingly important. We are proud to carry the wines from many members, including (but not limited to): Ayres, Belle Pente, Brick House, Cameron, Crowley, Matello/Goodfellow and Westrey. -Suzanne

Wine of the Day: Johan Vineyards Pet-Nat Pinot Noir 2014 6-3-16

Johan Vineyards Petillant Naturel Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

Spicy and yeasty, this Pet Nat from Johan spins your expectations for Oregon Pinot on its head. Sure, there are some classic red berry notes, a touch of tarragon and a nice body, but this bottling highlights the funky side of Pinot. Decidedly bubbly, enjoy with just about any food – cheeses, chicken, or even burgers and fries. –Suzanne

“Vinopolis, an endless holy temple of wine, is home to one of Portland’s best selections of peasant fizz. The shop stocks a regular supply of Johan Vineyards’ pét-nat of pinot noir ($21.90), a wine that defies any preconceived notions you might have about what Oregon pinot can be. Effervescent, unctuous, peppery, glowing sunset orange in color and deceptively easy to drink, this wine is both a conversation piece for your next hang and an everyday chill–out drinker. Accessible, agreeable, perfect for beer geeks—Johan’s is not the only great Oregon pét-nat, but it is my favorite. This is another great wine for farmhouse beer fans, with layered flavors like peach, white pepper and red fruits balanced by intriguing, fermenty funk.” –Jordan Michelman: Willamette Week

Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Deep, lurid pink. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes medicinal red fruits, blood orange, potpourri and quinine, with a zesty white pepper overtone; smells exactly like a Negroni. The palate offers incisive redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and a jolt of orange pith, along with a hint of candied ginger. Dry and minerally on the long, precise finish, which shows resonating spice and floral notes. The Brooklyn and Portland crowd will especially go nuts for this but I suspect that plenty of un-hip wine lovers will as well; I did and I’m an old suburban guy.” JR

Wine of the Day: Txakoli from Ameztoi 6-2-16

Txakoli, Txakoli, Txakoli!

Txakoli (cha-kol-E) comes straight off the Atlantic coast like a refreshing rain shower in summer. Produced exclusively in Spain’s Basque Country, Txakoli matches the Basque flair for seafood and pintxos (tapas), thanks to its palette of citrus fruits, its minerality, and its crisp acidity. Vineyards of Hondarribi Zuri (white) and and Hondarribi Beltza (red) sprawl across the rugged, verdant Basque coastal hills, particularly around Getaria: This little fishing village is also home to Elcano, who finished Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. It’s no coincidence that Txakoli offers hints of a fresh ocean breeze.

Every bar and restaurant in every Spanish Basque town serves Txakoli. They carefully pour it from several feet above a straight-walled, stemless glass, to enliven the wine with some effervescence, like the sea after a wave rolls through. Since the wine tastes its most crisp and fresh with this aeration, it is best to pour only a few gulps of Txakoli at a time. But don’t worry: low in alcohol, you can drink lots!

Producers of note include Ameztoi, who makes not only a classic Txakoli, but also a rosé, Rubentis, and a red, Stimatum. Treat your senses to a Basque Coast holiday this summer. Gora txakoli!

– Daniel

Ameztoi Wines Available Here Now:

Ameztoi Stimatum, Getariako Txakolina 2013 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(100% hondarribi beltza): Pale, bright violet. Vibrant redcurrant and cherry scents are complemented by a sexy floral quality and a hint of white pepper. Dry, nervy and precise, offering bitter cherry and blood orange flavors that pick up a subtle sweetness with air. Clean, nervy and focused on the finish, which lingers with excellent spicy intensity. Wild stuff: this would be fantastic with young cheeses, from any mammal.” JR

Ameztoi Primus Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special
Winery note: More intense and structured than the regular Txakoli, in part due to moderate skin contact prior to fermentation. Pale white with a touch of green with bright tone and light, spritely bubbles. Fine and sophisticated aromas reminiscent of green apples and grapes, with a minty note. Dry-tasting in the beginning, with a wide and aromatic finish.

Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Light yellow. High-pitched aromas of lime zest, jasmine, chalky minerals and green tea, with a hint of pear in the background. Fresh and sharply focused on the palate, offering bitter citrus pith and green apple flavors that spread out slowly on the back half. Shows excellent focus and lift on a long, incisive finish that emphatically echoes the lime and floral notes. I’d love to have a few bottles of this with a bunch of raw shellfish and crab.” JR

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $20.90 special
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbon to give it a light spritz. Fermented in stainless steel. Tasting Notes: Candied red fruits combine with a lime infused edge makes this a wildly intriguing rosé.”

Wine of the Day: Wind Gap Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 5-27-16

Wind Gap Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California 2014 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special

Wind Gap provides a crucial new perspective on Californian Pinot Noir. With the ’14 Sonoma Coast, a fantastic concoction of wild flowers, savory herbs, and a gentle spread of red fruit make for a hyper-balanced wine of great complexity and character.

Their website likely says it best: “Wind Gap is not about making the “perfect wine” it is about making honest, authentic and compelling wine from special vineyard sites.”

As with other recent releases, the Wind Gap wines are truly special wines, brimming with energy and character. A must-try.

– Tyler

Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is deep, pliant and incredibly inviting, with a fabulous combination of pliant fruit, expressive aromatics and superb persistence. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and game add the closing shades of inflection. There is something (a lot) to be said for the wisdom of blending fruit from different sites to make a complete, balanced wine. Wine Gap’s appellation-level wines often prove that point eloquently, as is very much the case here.”

Wine of the Day: Stanislao Radikon Pinot Grigio 2013 5-26-16

Stanislao Radikon Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2013 750ML ($47.95) Buy Now: $41.90 special

Well, this ain’t your momma’s Pinot Grigio. Nor is it all that similar to any other Pinot Grigio you’ve likely ever had! The Radikon wines enjoy a cult-like following and have long attracted those who seek unique, palate-expanding, paradoxical wine experiences.

Tucked into one of the most north-eastern portions of Italy – a mere 400 or so meters from Slovenia – the estate neighbors the equally unique and esteemed wine house of Josko Gravner. At Radikon, all grapes are estate-grown and hand harvested; horse manure is used as fertilizer and no synthetic chemicals are employed in the vineyard or cellar. Vine plantings are extremely dense but pruned vigorously in order to produce smaller volumes of higher-quality grapes.

The ‘S’ Pinot Grigio is a fascinatingly rusty apricot color in the glass, changing hues as the light hits it similar to that of a marble. Wild flowers and stony elements emerge aromatically, while bright red cherry fruit, heaps of minerals, and dried pit fruits dominate the palate. As an orange wine, it’s fascinate to consider how tannin and body can emerge from a typically lean and easygoing ‘white varietal.’ ‘S’ Pinot Grigio sees two weeks of skin maceration before aging in neutral barrel for a year and resting in-bottle.

This wine is nothing short of brilliant and, believe it or not, is far less whacky than it sounds. Don’t serve it ice cold, and decant if possible – it’d be a stupendous pairing for more adventurous fish dishes or, otherwise, a simple plate with gamier, rustic elements. Very worth exploring! – Tyler