Thursday, August 9, 2018

August Everyday Wine Club Selections

Everyday Wine Club - August 2018

Wholly Cow, it's August 9 and we haven't put out the list yet.  The dawg days of summer have arrived for sure.  So let's get to it.  This month we are offering the usual over-performing selections in the $15 and under price category.  We'll also throw in a few from the previous months' selections that stood out.  Still get inquiries about how to join the club, and we might start calling it a co-op.  And then maybe charge to join!  Just kiddin.  If you're reading this and want to join, there is no joining, no fee, no monthly cc charge or shipments.  Just send us which wines you want to procure and we will procure them.  Pickup this month will be Thursday, August 16.  We will be available to meet you at any time that day, but we will open up the shop and have glasses and good times available beginning at 4:30 pm. 

All prices include SC tax.

Elizabeth Spencer, Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc (2017) $ 15

Elizabeth & Spencer share a love and respect for wine. Their Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshing version that everyone loves, it has lovely peach aromas and flavors, along with the usual lime, but maybe some ginger as well?  Good minerality and acidity.  With food or not.  From certified organic vineyards.  Stainless steel fermentation.  Yummy.


Heritage Altes, Terra Alta Garnaxta Blanca (2017) $ 12


How's your Espanol?  No worries, this is White Grenache from Spain, which is light and dry, fermented 4 months, so it has a wonderful freshness, they stirred it during fermentation to add some weight, it's a wonderful alternative white to Pinot Grigio or the aforementioned SB.  Imported by European Cellars in Charlotte, whose portfolio of wines is nothing short of amazing.


Simonet Blanc de Blancs Brut $ 11 


This is champagne for a beer budget. It’s made the same way champagne is, but can’t be labeled as such. Those French! Hints of smoke and crystallized honey accenting flavors of white peach, marzipan and a touch of bread dough. Expressive, with bright, mouthwatering acidity and refined texture, this is 100% chardonnay and quite delicious. 

Raats Family Wines, Chenin Blanc Original Stellenbosch (2018) $ 15


Our first wine to taste with this year's date on it.  (It's from South Africa.) Here is the winery boasting a little, but they deserve to.  Original Chenin is crafted without the use of any oak in order to preserve the wine’s “original,” vibrant fresh fruit character. Now in its 18th year of production, it boasts an unquestionable consistency in quality and style. The Original Chenin Blanc 2018 is a classic example of old vine Chenin Blanc grown in very specific soil types. Bursting with fresh fruit flavors, this lively wine shows a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine displays zesty citrus flavors and a long mineral finish.  

Domaine Tournon, Mathilda White $ 13 

This wine is made of Viognier and Marsanne, by Michel Chapoutier, legendary French winemaker, from his Australian vineyards.  It has a big body, and abundant stone fruit flavors.  It will be gold in your glass, and have a big bouquet as well.  It's fresh and supple, with good minerality.  This is a cool alternative white wine that we love, you may have had it in the shop before, it's on our list by request this month.  Yeah, we do that.  Cheers!

Domaine Tournon, Shiraz Mathilda (2017) $ 14


Guess what?  Michel also makes a great Shiraz!  Might as well try this one, too.  Too many underwhelming Aussie reds are everywhere you look and there's wine for sale.  That's just the way it goes.  But Michel is French, and a well-regarded producer from the Rhone, so he knows what to do with Syrah or Shiraz.  Same grape.  This one is not oaked, but it's pretty big nonetheless.  The black fruit flavors burst out of the glass, and the tannins are silky.  Way to go, amigo.

Viña Bujanda, Crianza (2014) $ 14


Aromas of blackberry with spicy tones (clove and cinnamon) from American oak, mild tobacco and light balsamic notes. The Tempranillo variety showing its typical elegance and complexity. Fresh and silky tannins, developing a great volume and structure. Long and tasty ending. First class Rioja at a bargain price.  This is one of those re-dos from the May list.

Chateau Fontenille, Bordeaux (2015) $ 14



Let's have a red Bordeaux this month.  This wine has the lowest Bordeaux labeling you can get, but that should not steer you away.  It's mostly Merlot, some Cabernet, and it has good structure and is full bodied.  There's some oak present for you, the mouthfeel is round and elegant.  There's a nice lingering finish on this wine. 




Terra de Falanis, Montsant Llenca Plana (2016) $15


Terra de Falanis is a new winemaking project with the vinification overseen by Pere Obrador and Miguelàngel Cerdà from the highly regarded Anima Negra winery (Mallorca) whose wines have gained both national and international acclaim. This is a blend of Carignane and Grenache, it’s full bodied and savory, and the fruit is a bit crunchy, typical of Montsant reds. 90 points easy, this wine is fabulous. You will not be disappointed here.  Yes, this is a redo from the May list as well.






Monday, May 7, 2018

May Wine Club Selections

Everyday Wine Club - May 2018

No joining, no fees, no worries. Just great wines!  Order whatever you'd like and we shall bring it to Florence.

This month we feature mostly white but throw in a few reds as well.

Just a head’s up, there won’t be a June offering; back again in July.

Please order by noon on Tuesday May 8, and pickup will be Friday afternoon from 4 to 7 PM on May 11, just in time for Mother’s Day!

All prices include SC tax.

Cheers !

Simonet Blanc de Blancs Brut $11



This is champagne for a beer budget. It’s made the same way champagne is, but can’t be labeled as such. Those French! Hints of smoke and crystallized honey accenting flavors of white peach, marzipan and a touch of bread dough. Expressive, with bright, mouthwatering acidity and refined texture, this is 100% chardonnay and quite delicious.

Lagar de Fornelos, Rías Baixas Lagar de Cervera Albariño (2016) $15



Enjoying a unique microclimate, the Galician winery, Lagar de Cervera, lies at the heart of the Rías Baixas, on the Atlantic coast. Albariño is a grape of extraordinary quality used to make the single-varietal Lagar de Cervera. This is so pure, pretty and bright. It has a lively citrus core (lemons and tangerines) with a hint of tropical fruit (passionfruit and pineapple), but never so much that it intrudes on the freshness. The acidity is quite lively, and it combines on the finish with a mouthwatering saline character. This winery is owned by La Rioja Alta, a premier Spanish red producer. They don’t mess around; this is Benchmark Albarino.

Casa Ferreirinha, Planalto White Reserva (2016) $13



Founded in 1751, Casa Ferreirinha is known for still wines from the Douro Valley in Portugal. Dona Antonia Adelaide was born in the city of Peso da Regua in 1811 and belonged to the 4th generation of this distinguished Port producing family. Over her lifetime, she invested much of her considerable fortune in planting and improving the estate. Following her death in 1896, the business became a limited company and began a new phase building on the legacy of its Douro estates. This complex white has five grapes in its blend, and is full bodied, with lively acidity alongside floral notes. The finish is a real grand finale!

Excelsior, Chardonnay Robertson (2017) $12




Western Cape, South Africa. This crisp, mouthwatering bottling is a blend of Excelsior’s three best Chardonnay blocks. It displays lively flavors of green apple, citrus, and pineapple on a full, creamy palate. Traces of peach, orange blossom and delicate toasty notes combine with a mineral edge to round out this versatile everyday sipper, a consistent crowd pleaser.

Domaine Hubert Brochard, Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc Les Carisannes (2016) $14



We like to call this Baby Sancerre. Domaine Hubert Brochard produces classically styled Sancerre blanc, rosé, and rouge from their family-owned winery in Chavignol. Aimée Brochard inherited her father’s vines in the early 1900s, growing grapes and raising goats to produce cheese with the help of her husband Hubert. The domaine is now run by the fifth and sixth generation of Brochards with 152 acres under vine in Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Vin de Pays du Val de Loire. This Sauvignon Blanc shows classic aromas and flavors of citrus, fresh herbs, and minerals. This Vin de Pays du Val de Loire is lighter in weight and texture than Sancerre but its fresh and fruity character make it a delicious wine.

Viña Bujanda, Crianza (2014) $14



Aromas of blackberry with spicy tones (clove and cinnamon) from American oak, mild tobacco and light balsamic notes. The Tempranillo variety showing its typical elegance and complexity. Fresh and silky tannins, developing a great volume and structure. Long and tasty ending. First class Rioja at a bargain price.

Terra de Falanis, Montsant Llenca Plana (2016) $15



Terra de Falanis is a new winemaking project with the vinification overseen by Pere Obrador and Miguelàngel Cerdà from the highly regarded Anima Negra winery (Mallorca) whose wines have gained both national and international acclaim. This is a blend of Carignane and Grenache, it’s full bodied and savory, and the fruit is a bit crunchy, typical of Montsant reds. 90 points easy, this wine is fabulous. You will not be disappointed here.

Excelsior, Cabernet Sauvignon Robertson (2016) $12

We have become big fans of this producer in South Africa. This delicious, crowd pleasing Cabernet – consistently named a Wine Enthusiast “Best Buy” – delivers serious bang for the buck! It exhibits ripe blackcurrant and dried herb characters on the nose, which are backed up with some spicy oak notes. The palate is smooth and soft, with beautiful ripe tannins and a long finish.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

April Wine Club Selections



Villa Wolf, Pfalz Pinot Gris (2017) $12
Founded in 1756, in the Pfalz region of Germany, the J.L. Wolf estate (now called Villa Wolf) was a successful and highly regarded winery for more than two centuries. It entered an especially glamorous era with the construction of its Italianate estate house and villa in 1843.
In the latter years of the 20th century, however, the estate languished, lacking a firm hand to guide its wine production. Ernst Loosen, of the Dr. Loosen estate, took over the vineyards in 1996, launching a dramatic turnaround in the estate’s quality and reputation.
Since 2011, the estate has been managed by a talented and dedicated young couple who met while working at Dr. Loosen. Patrick Moellendorf and Sumi Gebauer have brought renewed energy and focus to the viticulture and winemaking at Villa Wolf.
Zesty lemon and grapefruit aromas awaken the senses in this sunny, dry-style Pinot Gris. Plump and pleasantly clingy on the palate, it's balanced with crisp, tangerine acidity and a bite of astringency on the finish.
Georg Albrecht Schneider, Niersteiner Paterberg Riesling Kabinett (2016) $12
Farmers of first-class ranked vineyards in the village of Nierstein on the Rhein River, now in their seventh generation.
This wine has white peach, melon and basil notes. Off-dry (or a bit sweet). A perfect match for strong Indian and Asian spiced dishes. Also fantastic with a spiced duck leg, dishes with acidic sauces, roasted vegetables, and soft cheeses.
Indaba, Chenin Blanc (2017) $10
Grapes were sourced from select vineyard sites in Swartland, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Durbanville, Robertson and McGregor, characterized by soils of Table Mountain sandstone, decomposed Dolomite granite, shale and red Karoo clay. The vines range in age from 5 to 35+ years old, and more than half are low-yielding dry farmed bush vines.
2017 was an exceptional vintage. Chenin Blanc is South Africa’s most widely planted varietal and the Cape’s signature white. This fresh, easydrinking version offers vibrant flavors of honeyed pear, golden delicious apple and luscious tropical fruit.
De Wetshof Estate, Robertson Chardonnay Limestone Hill (2017) $14
The De Wet family history can be traced back to 1694 when the first De Wets landed on the Cape of South Africa. By the early 1800's, the De Wets owed vineyards in the Robertson area and in 1972, De Wetshof became the first registered estate winery in the valley. The estate is owned by winemaker Danie de Wet, a graduate of Geisenheim, the wine institute in Germany. While he was a student in Europe, the wines of Burgundy captured his imagination, especially Chardonnay. After returning home Danie did exhaustive tests before planting carefully selected Chardonnay clones and rootstocks, becoming one of the first wineries in South Africa to do so.
Here’s what wine critic R. Parker says: “This wine ever sees oak, and offers impeccably pure, refreshing apple, peach and lemon fruit, a lovely leesy richness of texture, and a nutty, chalky, fruit-filled finish of imposing length. Understated and less tropical than some of the better un-oaked Chardonnays, this wine possesses far better balance and sheer drinkability – not to mention more finesse – than 99% of the world’s Chardonnay I’ve experienced.”
LOLA Wines, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (2016) $17
Winemaker Seth Cripe, taking the founding philosophy of LOLA to heart, has balanced the age-old techniques and finesse of winemaking with his straightforward and honest approach, to produce naturally elegant and affordable wines. Trained in the Napa Valley tradition he credits Clarke Swanson, Marco Cappelli and Chuck Wagner as his mentors in wine and Robert Mondavi as his inspiration to build LOLA into an international wine brand that represent the natural beauty of California wines at affordable prices. Seth has worked in all facets of winemaking, from farming to research, at some of the most renown wineries in the world before he set out to create his version of great Coastal wines in 2008 when he established LOLA .
LOLA Chardonnay is pale gold in color with aromas of tropical fruits, citrus and a hint of oak rounding out a balanced nose. Full of fruit but balanced with bright acidity and a touch of oak, it is a great wine to have with rich seafood.
LOLA Wines, North Coast Pinot Noir (2016) $17
LOLA North Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of unique vineyards from Mendocino, Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast. 2016 was a great vintage for North Coast Pinot Noir vineyards and the wine reflects that balance in nature itself throughout the year. The wine is medium, preserving the dark berry fruit, cola and redwood forest aromas of Northern California grown Pinot Noir while maintaining bright acidity, lower alcohol and a soft, supple, delicate tannin structure.
Bodegas Breca, Calatayud Garnacha De Fuego Old Vines (2016) $12
It wouldn’t be a great list if we didn’t have a red wine from Spain!
Calatayud is an arid and mountainous region three hours to the northeast of Madrid. Bodegas Breca is located on the outskirts of the town Munebrega, which for many centuries was a Celt-Iberian city that resisted Roman occupation for decades until the arrival of Scipio Africanus on the Iberian Peninsula. Viticulture flourished under the Romans, but in the 20th century, cooperatives dominated the winemaking scene in Calatayud. Jorge Ordóñez, founder of Bodegas Breca, was the first person to introduce D.O. Calatayud into the United States.
Fruity and easy to drink, yet it has some good power and will stand up to hearty dishes.
Venica & Venica, Collio Merlot (2015) $15
This grape arrived in Friuli with the French noble Teodoro de La Tour in 1869 and become suddenly one the most popular and common red grape. How many times have you heard folks say, in Italy they pour you house wine and it’s fantastic (just like in the USA, right?) When you ask in old Osteria a glass of white indeed you receive a Tocai Friulano and when you ask for a red you drink Merlot. It is also very common that Friuli older people think that Merlot is an indigenous grape and the typical pronunciation includes the final T.
Gotta love that! We are big fans of this Merlot, mostly because it’s nothing like the stuff made by the factories in the USA. If you blind taste this wine, no way you’d guess Merlot.
This is a perfect example of Collio Merlot, plummy and fruity, yet distinctly Italian, with spice and herbs on the nose. Soft, yet plush, with juicy fruit and hints of cocoa on the finish. If you are like many others with a preconceived notion about what Merlot tastes like, this is a must try.
Duorum, Tons de Duorum (2015) $12
There are a couple of reds from the Douro Valley of Portugal that defy logic, and offer incredible quality for $15 and under. If you haven't been to the Douro, get yourself there. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to some of the most stunningly beautiful and treacherous vineyards known to man. Red field blends are the norm in the Douro Valley, and Tons de Duorum is a blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional and 20% Tinto Roriz all planted in the classic schist soil of the region. The 2015 Tons de Duorum Tinto doesn't disappoint. Lots of brambly black and red fruit, wild spice notes, and a long juicy finish keep you coming back for another glass. Maybe the weather will cooperate and you can get back on that grill and pair with some grilled lamb chops coated in garlic and rosemary.
Trentadue Winery, La Storia Alexander Valley Petite Sirah (2015) $24
We are going to print a bit more than we usually do right here, because we spend a lot of time in Sonoma County, and we are big fans of this winery’s offerings.
The Trentadue family arrived in Sonoma County long before the region gained a reputation as the Wine Country. Life-long, hands-on agriculturists, Evelyn and Leo Trentadue contributed significantly to the advancement of their region over the years. In 1959, the Trentadues decided to flee the developers encroaching on their apricot and cherry orchards in Sunnyvale, the area known today around the world as Silicon Valley. To preserve their way of life, these hard-working Italian ranchers purchased 208 acres of land in Sonoma County's then remote Alexander Valley.
There was little market for the region's dry-farmed apples, prunes, pears, and grapes in the late 1950s, so land was cheap and plentiful. Scores of ranches were for sale but, because it was blessed with an excellent combination of climate, soil, and water, Leo settled on a special piece of property in the heart of the Alexander Valley. Little did he know what this ranch had once been, much less what it was to become.
The piece of land, which is now home to Trentadue Winery, has a remarkable history. In 1868, a French botanist named Andrew Bouton established Heart's Desire Nursery on this excellent site east of the railroad tracks. With a passion for breeding new and improved strains of fruit trees, Bouton devoted himself to plant propagation, becoming a major supplier of young tree stock to orchardists throughout the western United States. His reputation attracted the attention of a young man named Luther Burbank who visited Bouton frequently. Influenced by Bouton, Burbank conducted his own work in nearby Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.
This winery's story cannot be told without mention of the Trentadues' remarkable long-term relationship with Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards. Their personal history began in 1952 when the Trentadues became Paul's neighbor in Santa Clara, after buying an old abandoned wine estate at the end of Montebello Road. Paul began buying fruit from their ancient vines, striking up a friendship which continues to this day.
Both Draper and the Trentadues know a good thing when they see it. Draper was quick to benefit from the Trentadues' aptitude for viticulture. The Trentadues have similarly benefited from Draper's wine business savvy. Indeed, it is Draper who encouraged the family to take advantage of their location and establish an estate winery.
The list of mutual benefits derived from the Trentadue and Ridge association is extensive: Fruit from the Trentadues' Geyserville estate has been sold to Ridge Vineyards every vintage since 1967. In 1974, Ridge Vineyard acquired the Trentadues' mountaintop winery and vineyard today known as Montebello. Victor Trentadue manages not only 99 plus acres of his family's estate-owned fruit contracted to Ridge, but is also entrusted to manage 188 additional acres of Dry Creek Valley grapes under contract nearby to Draper.
The 2015 Petite Sirah has a very dark, opaque color, beautiful nose of concentrated blue berries and blackberries that leads to a full body mouth feel with engagingly soft tannins. After short aeration the nose opens up with the addition of cocoa, slight earthiness followed by brown sugar and a touch of vanilla-contribution of the new oak barrels. Overall the romas are of fresh dark fruit and very attractive. This wine will definitely age well and if stored properly it will give you the most enjoyment in 5-8 years.
Blend: 90% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 4% Zinfandel

Friday, March 2, 2018

March 2018 Every Day Wine Club


Everyday Wine Club - March 2018
You are already a member. Order what you’d like from our hand-picked selections and we will get it for you. No recurring monthly credit card charges, and no blah vino!
All wines $16 and under this month, all prices include 8% SC Tax.
This month’s selections, three whites and three reds.
Ken Forrester, Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc Reserve (2016) $15
Golden hued and full bodied, with melon and spicy baked apple aromas. Layered,with mineral notes enhanced by honeycomb and caramel flavors from lees contact. This wine is a great example of the harmonious balance which can be achieved between fruit and delicate oak/vanilla flavors, as they combine to form complex, soft flavors with sufficient body to enhance even spicy and full flavored meals.” Rated 91 Points-Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Blanck, Alsace Pinot Blanc (2016) $14
Intense straw yellow. The nose begins with scents of lemon but with time in the glass the aromas of flowers, peach and apricot pits, and grapefruit skin dominate. Medium-dry, this beautiful wine is young and juicy with a palate that’s fresh and well balanced. A lively, approachable Pinot Blanc that’s enjoyable from the first sip to the last. Excellent along with your favorite seafood, light-flavored meats, light-medium sauces and mild-flavored cheeses. This is on the Town Hall wine list.
Hobo Wine Co., Folk Machine White Light (2017) $15
The 2017 White Light is 30% Tocai Friulano from Mendocino, 40% Riesling from Arroyo Seco, and 11% Verdelho from Suisun Valley, 11% Sauvignon Blanc from Potter Valley, and 8% Muscat from Suisun Valley. Everything was picked at the beginning of the season with brix numbers ranging from 19˚ to 21˚. The final wine is 12.0% alcohol. Each variety was fermented individually in stainless steel tanks without commercial yeast and kept at a cool fermentation temperature. When the fermentation was complete, we filtered the wine and left it in stainless steel until it was bottled in January of 2018.
White Light was inspired by a trip to the vortexes of Sedona, Arizona, but maybe a little Velvet Underground or Wilco too. I’m not that much into New Age thinking, but tell me something will feel good and I’m a believer. Certainly ready and fun to drink now, but may gain some complexity with time. KL
Bodini Malbec (2016) $13
Juicy and delicious red with dark berries and chocolate. Medium body and lovely density and richness. Screw cap. Wonderful value. (James Suckling gives it 90 points)
Carlos Serres, Rioja Crianza (2013) $14
The average vine age for this wine is 10-20 years as this is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha. The 2013 ‘Crianza’ by Carlos Serres opens with a bright bouquet of red cherry, red raspberry, thyme and hints of wild blackberry. The texture is lovely as is the red fruit flavors and suggestions of pipe tobacco. The long finish impresses. Best 2017-2022. 94 points from V&M.
Marietta Cellars, Old Vine Red Lot 66 $16
Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine made to replicate the field blends of many of the old vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Predominantly comprised of Zinfandel, Old Vine Red combines pure fruit, a supple mouth feel and a rich, solid structure. A groundbreaking combination of varietals and multiple vintages first produced in 1982, this wine has blazed the path for red blends for decades. With a historic underground following, it is one of the longest lasting and best known red blends produced today. Mariettas flagship NV Old Vine Red Lot Number 67 is a combination of wine from the 2016, 2015, and 2014 vintages. 60% aged in neutral barrels and 40% aged in stainless steel. Dry, fruit-forward, rich, supple.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Here are the selections for the Everyday Wine Club in January 2018

This month all the wines are RED !! All prices include 8% Tax.

****** Spain - Herencia Altes Garnacha 2015    $11  ********  

This is the wine with which the other wines from Spain on the list will be compared and distinguished. Frankly, you won't find many other Garnachas or Grenache from France that  are as enjoyable as this wine.  Solid case purchase of this wine gets 10% off.

While Terra Alta is not yet a well-known region - tucked away in the south eastern corner of Catalonia it borders Aragon and Valencia- it is one of the largest areas in Catalunya under vine. 
The color is intense and lively with a core of garnet with a bright ruby rim. Stony minerality overlay black fruits and spice on the nose. On the palate, the wine is full bodied with luscious sweet fruit and soft tannins. Fresh berry fruit and toasty notes enrich the structure and natural complexity of the old vines. “A full and round sensation, to be enjoyed with grilled meat of all sorts”


*** Spain - Sierra Cantabria Rioja 2015  $13

Founded in 1957 by Guillermo Eguren, Sierra Cantabria is nestled in the heart of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a town of great winemaking tradition, situated in a unique location between the River Ebro and the Sierra Cantabria mountain range.
The Sierra Cantabria mountain range (1,200 m. of altitude) and the river Ebro (350 m.), create a special microclimate with Mediterranean and Continental characteristics -providing mild winters and gentle summers- unique for vine cultivation.
This wine is Tempranillo, and it is lighter than the Herencia.  Still, it's first class Rioja showing off.

*** Spain - Codice Tinto 2015  $11 
Ownership under the Eguren family. Vineyards are located on the northeast edge of the D.O. La Mancha. The grapes come from vineyards that are 2,700 ft. in elevation. The climate is continental climate with high daytime temperatures during the growing season moderated by cool nights. 
The wine was aged for six months in 1-3-year-old American oak barrels. Alluring aromas of cherry, berry and vanilla follow through on the palate of this lively red. Firm tannins add backbone. A distinctive wine with a jaunty character, also lighter than the Herencia.

*** Spain - Tarima Monastrell, Bodegas Volver 2016   $11
Founded in 2003, Bodegas Volver is a joint venture between Jorge Ordoñez and Rafael Cañizares, who is the winemaker. 
Tarima is a fresh, fruit forward, young expression of the most authentic clones of Monastrell (mourvedre) in the Alicante region of Spain.  This wine is pure and delicioso!

*** Spain - Bodegas Abanico Hazana Rioja 2015   $14.
Bodegas Abanico is a project developed by Rafael De Haan and Nuria Altes. This wine is 85% Tempranillo and 15 % Graciano, the vines are between 30 & 50 years old.  The wine is made in the classical style of Rioja, aged 10 months in French and American oak.  The wine is medium, with great intensity and is an excellent companion to a roast leg of lamb.

*** Sicily - Colosi Sicilia Rosso 2015   $12
This farm covers ten hectares in Salina (a small island in the Eolian Archipelago), all planted with vines, located at Gramignazzi in the Borough of Malfa. This area is recognized as one of the best in the island both for its exposure and for the physical- chemical nature of the soil which being of volcanic origin is particularly suitable for vine cultivation. The new wine-making cellar, surrounded by the Malvasia vineyards was finished in 2004. It is underground, to respect the strict rules for the preservation of the Eolian archipelago, and to have a constant temperature for the optimum care of the product.
This red wine made of Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese is fresh, dry and full bodied, with soft tannins and a long, savory finish.  Top Notch !