Hey everyone
Aaron and Jesse Inman are two brothers making wine in Sonoma, CA.
Let's call them second generation, their uncle taught them the craft; he's the winemaker of August Briggs winery and Castle Rock.
Their wines are now available in SC.
First up is the Romililly label, there is a Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay, both made from Russian River fruit. They have excellent relationships with growers are able to source the best fruit. The Pinot received a 92 upon its release in Wine and Spirits magazine.
Next is their value label, the Pinot Patch. We have both the Pinot Noir and the Pinot Grigio. The wines sell for $15 and are great buys ! We'll be having these on our tasting bar for the next little while, and Aaron will be visiting with us on March 19, Wednesday, at our shop.
Did we mention he's married to our daughter?
That's a plus; and probably the reason he decided to offer the wines for sale here in SC. Cheers !
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Other Info About our place You Might Not Know !
Hello Everyone
First, in addition to coming in and having some cheese/charcuterie to go with your vino, we sell retail. We will gladly chase down any wine you ask us to, and find it at the best price in the area. Guaranteed.
You can also buy cheese by the quarter, half or full pound. Nice, huh?
Secondly, our space is available for private functions. Whether it be a birthday party, a business meeting, a private wine tasting for you and your pals or your club, whatever, you can have your event here in a private setting at a very reasonable price.
At said event, we can arrange live music for you as well.
Drop by and enjoy a glass with us soon.
As we type this, new in the shop this month is La Cana Albarino, a fab white from Spain, and a very interesting red, Schiava, which comes from the Alto Adige region, and may be the lightest red wine you ever drink. But it's packed with FLAVOR. Both $18 a bottle. Cheers!
First, in addition to coming in and having some cheese/charcuterie to go with your vino, we sell retail. We will gladly chase down any wine you ask us to, and find it at the best price in the area. Guaranteed.
You can also buy cheese by the quarter, half or full pound. Nice, huh?
Secondly, our space is available for private functions. Whether it be a birthday party, a business meeting, a private wine tasting for you and your pals or your club, whatever, you can have your event here in a private setting at a very reasonable price.
At said event, we can arrange live music for you as well.
Drop by and enjoy a glass with us soon.
As we type this, new in the shop this month is La Cana Albarino, a fab white from Spain, and a very interesting red, Schiava, which comes from the Alto Adige region, and may be the lightest red wine you ever drink. But it's packed with FLAVOR. Both $18 a bottle. Cheers!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Welcome to 2014, y'all !
So it's winter in the Pee Dee. We were lucky nuf to get us a little White Christmas up in PA this year, and also to escape just before the current mess that's going on across the NE.
But you want to know what's going on at the shop, not how cold it is. You can find out which puddle froze last night by watching tv news.
In December we had our first jazz artists play; the first since we embarked on this "comeback". We're planning on having Thomas and Kevin back in soon.
On to some wine - we have a nice supply of the 2007 Vina Mayor Reserva. This is a 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero in Spain. A lot of young tempranillo is like amped up pinot noir. When a good vintage is aged in barrel for a year, and then 3 years in bottle before release, (and the producer is competent) the reward is pretty nice.
This wine is deep, dark cherry red. It has intense ripe dark fruit and fine oak character. It's full bodied and well structured, with a long, complex finish.
The only place we could find selling this wine on wine-searcher was a shop in LA, for $34. We are offering this wine for $22 this month.
It's a beautiful winter red.
Drop by and say hello soon!
But you want to know what's going on at the shop, not how cold it is. You can find out which puddle froze last night by watching tv news.
In December we had our first jazz artists play; the first since we embarked on this "comeback". We're planning on having Thomas and Kevin back in soon.
On to some wine - we have a nice supply of the 2007 Vina Mayor Reserva. This is a 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero in Spain. A lot of young tempranillo is like amped up pinot noir. When a good vintage is aged in barrel for a year, and then 3 years in bottle before release, (and the producer is competent) the reward is pretty nice.
This wine is deep, dark cherry red. It has intense ripe dark fruit and fine oak character. It's full bodied and well structured, with a long, complex finish.
The only place we could find selling this wine on wine-searcher was a shop in LA, for $34. We are offering this wine for $22 this month.
It's a beautiful winter red.
Drop by and say hello soon!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Relaxing for the Rest of the Summer
So when the dog days of summer arrive, we like to keep a cool head and just relax.
We will reopen Grotto Fine Wine on Wednesday, September 11.
Thanks for supporting our new venture. We didn't know what to expect, and lots of people told us Florence would never support our place as we described it to them. No worries.
That negativity never really existed. We've had positive vibes from day one.
We're very pleased with our first year results, but the best part is, we've had a blast and met a bunch of awesome individuals!
So thank you again, and we'll see you in Sept.
We will reopen Grotto Fine Wine on Wednesday, September 11.
Thanks for supporting our new venture. We didn't know what to expect, and lots of people told us Florence would never support our place as we described it to them. No worries.
That negativity never really existed. We've had positive vibes from day one.
We're very pleased with our first year results, but the best part is, we've had a blast and met a bunch of awesome individuals!
So thank you again, and we'll see you in Sept.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
July Wine Sale
Hey everyone
What say we save you some cash on a 3 bottle purchase.
First up, Manifesto Chardonnay; unoaked, but not undelicious! Fat in the middle, with some honey notes.
Next, Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc, a nice white from Washington; mouth-watering acidity on this one, with some intense citrus.
Last, but certainly not least, the Copain Rose' of Pinot Noir.
Copain has the reputation of making some of the finest Pinot and Syrah in the Russian River. Winemaker Wells Guthrie spent time at Chapoutier and crafts intense wines in a Burgundian style. This Rose' is one of their "fun" wines (under $35) and is excellent.
Regular price of these three $52; through July, $42 incl tax!
Stop by soon!
What say we save you some cash on a 3 bottle purchase.
First up, Manifesto Chardonnay; unoaked, but not undelicious! Fat in the middle, with some honey notes.
Next, Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc, a nice white from Washington; mouth-watering acidity on this one, with some intense citrus.
Last, but certainly not least, the Copain Rose' of Pinot Noir.
Copain has the reputation of making some of the finest Pinot and Syrah in the Russian River. Winemaker Wells Guthrie spent time at Chapoutier and crafts intense wines in a Burgundian style. This Rose' is one of their "fun" wines (under $35) and is excellent.
Regular price of these three $52; through July, $42 incl tax!
Stop by soon!
Friday, June 7, 2013
The June Wine Club Wines
Hello everyone
Here is some more information on the wines we've chosen for June.
First up is the 2011 Chablis from Joseph Drouhin. Chablis is the northernmost area in Burgundy. In the Sixties, much of the region was abandoned; a century before phylloxera had ravaged the area. The Drouhin family was a pioneer in revitalizing Chablis around that time.
The soil is here is Kimmeridgian limestone which contains millions of tiny marine fossils imbedded in a chalky mortar; this is what give Chablis its unique flavor.
This wine was aged in vats for 8 months, and is a beautiful pale gold color. The nose is vivid with hints of lime and mint. It is dry and fruity in your mouth, with mineral notes. The finish is long and pleasant.
Drink this elegant wine between 50 and 55 degrees; 15 minutes out of the fridge before serving should be just right. Perfect complement to shellfish dishes.
The wine can be cellared up to 5 years.
Next is the 2009 Three Saints Santa Barbara Cabernet Sauvignon. This is one of the wines from the Dierberg family, who in the late Nineties elevated Santa Barbera winemaking up to the premium level. With vineyards in Santa Ynez, Santa Maria and Santa Rita Hills vallies, they produce wines with the Dierberg label, Star Lane and Three Saints. The AVA for this wine is the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. Nice!
The grapes for this wine were grown on mountainous, steeply sloped vineyards, and the blend is 77 % Cab Sauv, 16 % Cab Franc, some merlot and petit verdot. Aged 18 months in barrel, the wine was lightly fined and bottled unfiltered.
The rich nose of this wine has dark fruit, with notes of cedar and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine has opulent fresh blackberry flavors. It has a supple finish with cocoa notes.
This Cabernet will make a very nice wine for a special occasion when hearty foods are served.
Cellar up to 8 years.
Here is some more information on the wines we've chosen for June.
First up is the 2011 Chablis from Joseph Drouhin. Chablis is the northernmost area in Burgundy. In the Sixties, much of the region was abandoned; a century before phylloxera had ravaged the area. The Drouhin family was a pioneer in revitalizing Chablis around that time.
The soil is here is Kimmeridgian limestone which contains millions of tiny marine fossils imbedded in a chalky mortar; this is what give Chablis its unique flavor.
This wine was aged in vats for 8 months, and is a beautiful pale gold color. The nose is vivid with hints of lime and mint. It is dry and fruity in your mouth, with mineral notes. The finish is long and pleasant.
Drink this elegant wine between 50 and 55 degrees; 15 minutes out of the fridge before serving should be just right. Perfect complement to shellfish dishes.
The wine can be cellared up to 5 years.
Next is the 2009 Three Saints Santa Barbara Cabernet Sauvignon. This is one of the wines from the Dierberg family, who in the late Nineties elevated Santa Barbera winemaking up to the premium level. With vineyards in Santa Ynez, Santa Maria and Santa Rita Hills vallies, they produce wines with the Dierberg label, Star Lane and Three Saints. The AVA for this wine is the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. Nice!
The grapes for this wine were grown on mountainous, steeply sloped vineyards, and the blend is 77 % Cab Sauv, 16 % Cab Franc, some merlot and petit verdot. Aged 18 months in barrel, the wine was lightly fined and bottled unfiltered.
The rich nose of this wine has dark fruit, with notes of cedar and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine has opulent fresh blackberry flavors. It has a supple finish with cocoa notes.
This Cabernet will make a very nice wine for a special occasion when hearty foods are served.
Cellar up to 8 years.
Friday, May 31, 2013
JOIN THE WINE CLUB AT THE GROTTO
Here are the nuts and bolts:
It opens for joining on June 6.
Join for 6 months or one year (get a free bottle of wine at the end if you join for a year)
You will receive 2 wines each month, on the first Thursday of the month, a white and a red, that meet our criteria, which are, (a) we've tasted it, and (b) it's awesome and has a high QPR, and (c) we're sure you'll agree with (b)!
You also get a free tasting at the shop each month, a $7 value.
We will bill your credit card when you pick up your wine at the shop on the first Thursday of each month.
Cost: $49 per month
Here are the picks for June:
2010 Joseph Drouhin Chablis Vaudon (France)
(we drank this at Solstice last week-excellent white burgundy)
and
2009 Three Saints Cabernet 2009 (you may have tasted their pinot noir at our shop - it's awesome)
Join Soon!
It opens for joining on June 6.
Join for 6 months or one year (get a free bottle of wine at the end if you join for a year)
You will receive 2 wines each month, on the first Thursday of the month, a white and a red, that meet our criteria, which are, (a) we've tasted it, and (b) it's awesome and has a high QPR, and (c) we're sure you'll agree with (b)!
You also get a free tasting at the shop each month, a $7 value.
We will bill your credit card when you pick up your wine at the shop on the first Thursday of each month.
Cost: $49 per month
Here are the picks for June:
2010 Joseph Drouhin Chablis Vaudon (France)
(we drank this at Solstice last week-excellent white burgundy)
and
2009 Three Saints Cabernet 2009 (you may have tasted their pinot noir at our shop - it's awesome)
Join Soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)