Back to (wine) school…
VARIETAL OBSCURITIES & OTHER FUN FACTS.
WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON GLASS POUR IN PARIS?
…at least when I was there in 2017: Brouilly, an AOC in Beaujolais. And I'd venture to say, most wine drinkers in Seattle have never heard of it!100% Gamay. Medium in body. Pleasant, tart plums from volcanic soils. Complex. Silky smooth. Great food wine!
Robert Perroud 2016 Brouilly La Fournaise
Beaujolais, France // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
ALBARIÑO FROM OREGON?
Yep! Bigger, rounder than Spanish Albariño. Less acid, but still refreshing. Crunchy white peach. Tropical fruit flavors. Lush.
Note: Abacela = first estate to grow Albariño in the PNW!
Abacela 2021 Albariño
Umpqua Valley, Oregon // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
PORTUGAL & BLUE ART TILES
Did you know that Portuguese buildings are covered in blue art tiles depicting historical figures, scenes or just lovely patterns? This wine’s label will take you there.... photo credit: Jenny & Mike Lust (Portalis customers) who were recently there!
100% Alvarinho (= Albariño in Portuguese). Similar to the better known Spanish version -- citrusy, crunchy stone fruit, great minerality -- but a little fuller in body!
Nortico 2020 Alvarinho
Minho, Portugal // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
LOWEST ALCOHOL RED IN THE SHOP AT 12.5%
And with global warming this is no small feat! More than that, though, it's a delicious, everyday red from Puglia. Blackberries & earth on the nose. Good acidity. Pomegranate, black currant, blackberries on a medium-bodied palate.
Colle Petrito 2019 Nero di Troia
Puglia, Italy // Reg $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
WACKY WASHINGTON BLENDS
Increasingly, Washington winemakers are putting together these Wacky Washington Blends, that is... grape combinations that are not traditionally what grow together or are blended together. But tah-dah! They taste great. This wine is a combo of Cab, Malbec & Grenache. Smooth easy-drinking. And a great price for WA State.
Kind Stranger 2019 Alter Red Blend
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
Note: We have other nutty WA State grape combos in stock: Guardian Cellars 2020 Chalk Line (Cab, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot) • Upsidedown 2018 Method Red (Nebbiolo, Cab, Malbec) • Tamarack Cellars 2019 Firehouse Red (Cab, Syrah, Merlot, Cab France, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Counoise, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Nebbiolo) & more!
WINE FROM A FRENCH LAGOON?
Yep. AOC Picpoul de Pinet vineyards are located on the northwest shore of the Étang de Thau (aka the Thau Lagoon). Oysters thrive in the lagoon = match made in heaven with 100% Picpoul. Light, citrus minerality. Fresh. Delicious.
Pomerols 2020 Picpoul de Pinet
Languedoc, France // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
FYI: Oxford University Press says that in North America, a lagoon is "a small freshwater lake near a larger lake or river", but in Europe, it's a "stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef." Per the map, that would be the Étang de Thau.
MEET GAGLIOPPO!
The "g" is silent like with Pagliacci! Organic. Natural yeasts. Stainless steel tanks = no oak. Just the pure fruit from this indigenous Calabrian grape! Red cherries, red currants, red berries. Medium-bodied. Pleasantly dry. So fun!
Santa Venere 2018 Ciro Rosso
Calabria, Italy // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
SANCERRE THAT TASTES LIKE HIGH-END CHENIN BLANC?
Yep. Due to the small micro-climate where this Sancerre is grown, it doesn't have the classic acidity & licking-a-rock minerality you think of with Sancerre. It's fuller-bodied, richer in style.
Philippe Raimbault 2020 Sancerre
Loire Valley, France // Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
CANNONAU = GRENACHE FROM SARDINIA
Red berries. A little herbal note. Red & black raspberries, cherries. A vibrant wine! Acidity is there. Made for food: meatloaf, pizza, burgers, roasted chicken, pork chops... whatever you wish. So pleasant!
Surrau Naracu 2019 Cannonau di Sardegna
Sardinia, Italy // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
CARIGNAN FROM CHILE?
Originally from Spain, but most commonly found as a blending grape in France’s Languedoc-Roussillon. 20 months in oak, but not oaky. Smells like earthy green pepper, then red fruit. Flavors of raspberries & red cherries covered with earthy goodness & minerality.
Paola Poblete 2015 BluHands Carignan
Maipo Valley, Chile // Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
PINOTAGE = SOUTH AFRICA’S SIGNATURE GRAPE
A cross between Pinot Noir & Cinsault (aka Hermitage), thus the name. And let us just say: 1 + 1 = 3+!! It's fuller-bodied than the original grapes and is known for having figgy red & black fruit flavors with a note of smoky bacon. Yes, smoky bacon!
Btw, this winery is named after the Southern Right Whales that "frequent the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, 3 kilometres from the vineyards." --winery notes
Southern Right 2020 Pinotage
Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa // Reg $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79
GRÜNER VELTLINER FROM NEW ZEALAND?
Yep. Fuller-bodied. Still crisp. Notes of oranges, ripe stone fruit, white pepper. Great with spicy dishes.
Misty Cove 2020 Grüner Veltliner
Marlborough, New Zealand // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
WHAT’S MORE OBSURE?
Umbria, the land-locked region of central Italy next to Tuscany? Or the grape Trebbiano Spoletino? 2 birds with 1 stone. Try it! White grape indigenous to Umbria. Citrus, peach, pine & spice. Fresh & flavorful with a note of salinity on the finish. Yum!
Bocale 2020 Spoletino
Umbria, Italy // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
CESANESE?
Native grape from vineyards outside of Rome! Small, red berries. A little spice, earth & cranberry on the nose. Flavors of red berries, blue- & blackberries, pomegranate. Spice & tannins on the finish. Medium- to fuller-bodied. Pizza, pasta, olives. So fun!
Casale del Giglio 2019 Cesanese
Lazio, Italy // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Estate grapes pictured.
A RED WINE FROM ROMANIA?
Yep. Grape = Feteasca Neagra. 30-year old vines. 5 months in Romanian oak. Ripe cherries, plums & black forest fruits. Well-rounded. Fuller-bodied, with velvety tannins.
Budureasca 2016 Feteasca Neagra
Dealu Mare, Romania // Reg $18.99 | INSIDER $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
MOURVÈDRE FROM BANDOL?
Bandol normally = high-end Provençal rosé. But they make fancy reds there, too, using the Mourvèdre grape, which is the “M” in GSM, a blending grape in the Southern Rhône. Amazing wine! Fuller-bodied. Violets, raspberry, mulberry, truffle, undergrowth. Do not miss!!
Domaine de Frégate 2015 Bandol Rouge
Provence, France // Reg $32.99 | Mixed Case $26.39
STAY TUNED!
More to come…