Tag Archives: special

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: Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2011 5-31-16

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($37.95) Buy Now: $29 special

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2011 1.5L ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 special

Two of us from the shop opened this 2011 Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco on Thanksgiving eve, pouring little tastes as we mapped out what would become a lovely dinner with all sorts of dishes, new friends, and a wide array of wines. This one was truly one of the standouts, so much so that we had to hide the bottle so as to not drink it all before the dinner even came to fruition.

As cooking began and thirsts resurfaced, this humble bottle from the legendary Produttori estate came back to reward our efforts. Overnight, the bright strawberry fruit held strong while secondary notes of cedar, blackberry, baking spice, and mocha emerged. The spice and earth, tannin and texture intermingled in a way that was so surprising and yet familiar; a reminder as to why we spent so many hours studying and seeking out wines to begin with. There are, occasionally, wines which take us back like that – hitting the ‘reset’ button, before you’d had anything that tasted quite similar. How rare and how lovely, the catharsis of wine… – Tyler

Wine of the Day: Weninger Balf Kekburgundi, Sopron, Hungary 2011 4-29-16

Weingut Weninger Balf Kekburgundi, Sopron, Hungary 2011 750ML ($19.95) Buy Now: $16 special

Why we love it: Because as a Hungarian-American (albeit third-generation), I don’t get to recommend wine from the homeland all that much. Spicy red fruit with an edgy earth-laden quality is balanced out with nice acidity and a mellow finish. Screwtop and all, this is going to be one of my spring-summer go-to’s. – Tyler

Winery notes: “The Sopron wine region is our passion. Since 1997 we work in this area. The Sopron cuvée pays tribute to it, representing the wideness of the Little Hungarian Plane (Kisalföld) and the strength of nature in the Ferto-Hanság National Park: a fruity and vivid wine. Selective hand harvest. Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel. Natural malolactic fermentation and 12 months ageing in wooden tanks.”

Wine of the Day: A&G Natale Fantino Rosso dei Dardi Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 4-23-16

Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Rosso dei Dardi Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special

“From relatively young vines (21 years), this wine is fresh and floral, with notes of sour cherries, no gripping tannins, and nice acid. Definitely approachable now. Not your standard elevage for Nebbiolo as the wine sees no oak and spends 6 months in stainless steel before bottling.” -Troy

Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2014 Rosso dei Dardi is 100% Nebbiolo from Dardi, done in steel, with carbonic maceration. A textbook example of the vintage, the 2014 exudes class and personality. A host of dark cherry, plum, violet, spice and mint nuances open up effortlessly. The 2014 is at once translucent yet powerful as only Nebbiolo can be. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly special.” AG

Wine of the Day: Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 4-21-16

Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special

The ‘Eggo’ from Zorzal was a very pleasant surprise the first time we tasted it here at the shop. The wine had generated a fair amount of buzz and prior vintages scored quite impressively; suffice it to say that expectations were high. By all accounts, ‘Eggo’ performed well beyond our expectations. The Malbec-dominant blend presented a beautiful, balanced array of dark fruits and earth without an overabundance of showiness. We’re happy to now have the wine available for sale in addition to a few other cuvees listed below. Enjoy! -Tyler

Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Eggo Tinto de Tiza is a blend from three different vineyards in Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It’s a blend of mostly Malbec with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. As is the case with the whole Eggo range, the wine didn’t see any oak, and in this case it was matured in egg-shaped cement vats for one year. There are violets, plums, dark cherries and something earthy. This is slightly riper than the 2013. The medium-bodied palate has is fresh with a silky texture, pure flavors and a mineral-driven finish. At this price I’d buy it by the case. Super!”