May 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.
Domaine des Geais 2020 Côtes du Marmandais • South West France • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
Marmandais is an appellation that borders Bordeaux to the southeast (pink on the map). This wine features the local grape Arbouriou which grows in clay & limestone hillsides and is then aged for a month in an amphora (pictured above with owner/winemaker Pascal Boissonneau), an ancient clay vessel used in winemaking and being revived today for the production of natural wines as it encourages minimal intervention.
Local blend = Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Syrah 24%, Arbouriou 15%, Merlot 5%. Certified organic & biodynamic. Color is dark, especially for 13% alcohol. Nose is herbal, earthy with intense dark fruit. Fuller-bodied. Blue- and blackberries on the palate. Fresh acidity. Finish is dry as a bone! (If you're curious what that means? This is your wine!) A European jewel — made for dinner: lamb, beef, aged cheeses.
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 May Picks — made with longer days and warmer weather in mind.
Château Tour Chaigneau 2022 Lalande-de-Pomerol • Bordeaux, France • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
92% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Pressac. Beautiful nose of lavender, violets, blueberries, blackberries. Palate changes to red & black plums, blackberries, herbal notes. Good acidity, fine tannins. Long, pleasant, earthy finish.
Castello di Bibbione 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
90% Sangiovese-10% Merlot. Super inviting nose!! Earth, leather, sun-drenched cherries. Soft acidity. Red cherries, black cherries, dark plums, leather, earth. Smooth but with good acidity. Great combo. Wonderful wine. Absolutely delicious from a famous producer. They earned their name legit!!
Hubert Brochard 2023 Sancerre • Loire Valley, France • Reg $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Chalky, minerally, seashells on the nose. Palate is super well-balanced. Orchard fruit with citrus, grapefruit. Fine acidity going through the finish. Fun, delicious wine.
Photo: Estate vineyards in May(!)
Vignerons de Jurançon 2023 Yura Sec • South West France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Local Jurançon (circled green on the map) blend of 60% Gros Manseng, 40% Petit Manseng. Chamomile, floral with some earthy notes (clay, dirt that has been warmed by the sun), white peach (big-time), green apple. Palate adds in limestone and citrus. Medium-bodied. Long, soft, pleasant, acidity on the finish. We love this wine! Decanter 97pts.
Photo credit: Pierre Carton Photographe
Fratelli Cozza Prosecco Rosé • Veneto, Italy • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
Blend of Glera & Pinot Nero with a perfect balance of elegance and zest. Beautiful pale pink hue with delicate bubbles. On the nose: fresh strawberries, raspberries, and hints of citrus zest. On the palate, it is crisp and refreshing, with a smooth, round mouthfeel and a lively acidity. The finish is clean and dry, leaving behind a hint of red berries. –importer notes.
Darby 2022 The Dark Side Syrah • Columbia Valley, Washington • Reg $41.99 | Mixed Case $33.59
100% Syrah aged 14 months in neutral French oak. "A stunner withdarkfruit notes of blueberry, blackberry, plum sauce and bramble leading into subtle notes of tobacco, chocolate, olive and sage. A nice acidity makes this a very food friendly wine!" –winemaker notes.
Winemaker Darby English pictured.
Bodegas Norton 2021 Privada Family Blend • Mendoza, Argentina • Reg $28.99 | Mixed Case $23.19
Malbec-Merlot-Cab. Killer nose: blueberries, blackberries, earthy, almost chalky, rocky, gravel-soil. Super-balanced. Great acidity. Minerality on the finish with gravel & orange rind acidity until the end. Incredible. Salmon to steaks. This wine would be delicious!
Ancient Peaks 2021 Zinfandel • Paso Robles, California • Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
Nose of bramble, boysenberries, raspberries, huckleberries, berries, berries, berries. The nose is super inviting. When you smell it, you think it's going to be full of fruit, and then the palate is subdued. Dark raspberries, blackberries, marionberries. Medium-bodied. Fine acidity (which makes this wine). For a Zinfandel, super elegant. Soft. Long-finish.
Simonsig 2024 Starting Block Chenin Blanc • Stellenbosch, South Africa • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
100% Chenin Blanc. Fresh nose! Green apples and perfectly-ready-to-eat fresh peach. Complex. Lovely acidity. Flavors of Golden Delicious apples, pears, note of pineapple & honey. (But this wine is not sweet!!) Citrusy, pleasantly dry finish. Great wine!
La Manarine 2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
This wine was on my dad’s table in Munich in the mid- to late 80’s. Loved it then, love it now. Dark raspberries, forest strawberries, purple plums + spices (juniper berries)… I mean this is a triple sexy wine!! Blackberry acidity on the finish. Fresh. Spicy. Great.
Photo: estate harvest with Antoine Gasc, son of owner Gilles Gasq
Cascina del Pozzo 2024 Roero Arneis • Piedmont, Italy • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
100% Arneis from Roero. Wet stone on the nose with some orchard fruit. Flavors of apples, crisp pears and some citrus. More body and more flavor than the last vintage. And the minerality really shines through. Perfect spring white!