August 2026
WINE OF THE MONTH
Every month we give a little spotlight time to a hidden treasure, a wine we think you should meet (and hopefully fall in love with). To encourage the introduction, we offer the wine at 25% OFF the bottle price for the given month.
Majestic Esprit 2025 Bordeaux • Blanc Bordeaux, Blanc • Reg $19.99 | 25% OFF = $14.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc (which is unusual for Bordeaux which usually features a Sauvignon-Sémillon blend). Apple, melon, citrus blossom on the nose. Flavors add in soft citrus. Acidity is pleasant. A lot of wine for the money. This is your August porch pounder!
JENS’ TOP PICKS
Every month Portalis owner Jens Strecker picks 8-12 wines that he thinks are outstanding … for any reason he chooses. Here are his August Picks — made with Seattle summer in mind!
Nieuwe Haarlem 2023 Chenin Blanc • Coastal Region, South Africa • Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
100% Chenin Blanc. Lovely, soft floral & honeysuckle notes with apples, pears. Flavors add in dried pineapple, dried apricot with a nice dry finish. Note of lime rind. Wine isn’t big and fruity, more nuanced with some earth.
Sagemoor 2021 Red Blend• Columbia Valley, Washington• Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
Merlot 92%, Cab 7%, cab franc 1%. Nose of dusty black raspberries, dark plums, herbal notes. Medium-bodied. Black & red plums, blue- and blackberries. Earthy, herbal. Acidity is good. Complexity is good. Cocoa, mocha, dark chocolate on the finish. Terrific $20 WA red!!
Châteaumar 2025 Côtes du Rhône Perle de Rosé • Southern Rhone, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Grenache/Mourvedre 90/10. Strawberries, raspberries & a little earthiness on the nose. Cantaloupe, red fruits, peach. Citrus on the finish. Medium-bodied, so a little more luscious in style. But still tongue-tingling acidity. Dry finish. Fantastic summer sipper. Wonderful wine!
Chateau Lalande 2022 Saint-Julien• Bordeaux, France• Reg $49.99 | INSIDER $39.99 | Mixed Case $31.99
Small, family-owned winery — one of the few, small, unclassified estates not to be purchased by big-name neighbors (Château Gruaud Larose, Château Talbot, Château Lagrange & Château Ducru-Beaucaillou). Cabernet Sauvignon 60% - Merlot 40%. Aged 12 months in French oak (35% new). “Elegant nose of crushed red and black berry fruit, spices and a hint of vanilla. Rich and round in the mouth with a touch of freshness. Soft well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Enjoy with steaks, pork roasts, lamb chops, barbecue and cheese.” —winery notes.
Jean Durup 2024 Petit Chablis • Burgundy, France • Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
100% unoaked Chardonnay. Clay, limestone, citrus, lime. Flavors are pretty much the same: citrus, lime, apples, limestone. Lighter in body. Vibrant wine with a fresh finish. Good sipper. (You’d be happy!!) Even better with fish dinner!
Marco Bonfante 2024 Roero Arneis • Piedmont, Italy • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
100% Arneis from Roero. White peach, nectarine, rocks on the nose. Flavors add in a floral note followed by soft, minerally citrus. A little fuller than otherArneis. Long, vibrant finish. This wine is a steal! Winery suggests mussels as a pairing.
Mulderbosch 2023 Sauvignon Blanc • Stellenbosch, South Africa • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Floral & grassy on the nose with lime & pink guava. Flavors add in white & pink grapefruit. Vibrant acidity. Fresh finish but not tart. Absolutely fun wine.
Brittan Vineyards 2023 Estate Chardonnay • Willamette Valley, Oregon • Reg $55.99 | Mixed Case $44.79
100% Chardonnay. 10 months in French oak (35% new). “Our 2023 Estate Chardonnay has remarkable clarity, verve, and precision. Golden apple, Bartlett pear, and fig notes balance the moderate oak, baking spice and citrus zest on the nose. There’s a lovely earthy minerality on the palate that beautifully complements the wine’s texture and acidity. Pair with heirloom tomato tart or creamy crab and chanterelle pasta.” —winery notes. We say: farmers market corn chowder with crab!
Platon 2023 Bordeaux Blanc • Bordeaux, France• Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Platon Blanc Lots of grapefruit on the nose. Chalky, sandy. Great acidity. Lots of lemony flavors. Earthy tones. Fresh finish. Soon moving to the 2025 vintage….
G.D. Vajra 2024 Langhe Rosso • Piedmont, Italy • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Blend of Nebbiolo- Dolcetto. Nose of rose bushes. Seriously. Take a big whiff. Plus red & black plums. Flavors of plums, raspberries, plus blood orange acidity. Fresh wine. Great with salmon!