August COM
Happy August! We’ve selected twelve bottles to complement hot days, cool nights and backyard barbecues. A mix of imported and local favorites, our Case of the Month is our way to introduce you to new bottles at a great value. Cheers!
Château Brézé Clos de Midi Chenin Blanc $19
Chenin, chenin, chenin. My instagram feed is full of chenin blanc posts by Pascaline Lepeltier, former wine director at Rouge Tomate Chelsea. A lesser known grape, Lepeltier has been advocating wine drinkers to give Vouvray, Savenniéres and Steen a chance. Formerly by the glass at PBS, the new vintage by Château Brézé has shed its winter coat in favor of a lighter, refreshing style perfect for the hot summer months.
Quivira Zinfandel $15
Classic Sonoma County Zinfandel. Juicy raspberry, blackberry are complemented by a peppery finish. Quivira is known for making lower alcohol zinfandels, balancing fruit and acid. This bottle is just begging for ribs on the smoker.
Domaine Fontsainte Gris de Gris Rosé $16
Vin gris translates to grey wine and describes the process of treating red grapes like white grapes to craft a wine more concentrated in flavor, yet light in color. Domaine Fontsainte is a perennial favorite and lovely with fresh picked strawberries.
Timothy Malone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $25.50
Tim cut his teeth at Flowers and Cameron before going out on his own in 2012. We love his Riesling (it’s dry!) The tang of cranberry, plum, black tea coupled with subtle tannins make this Willamette Valley Pinot Noir a staff favorite.
Tyrus Evans Claret $18
A great bargain from a local wine superstar and all around good guy Ken Wright, this Ciel de Cheval Vineyard blend is predominantly Merlot. Here at PBS we like to advocate for our friend, the noble Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon plays a supporting role, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot round out the bunch. Bold yet structured, fruit and acid, this wine has it all.
Valentina Montepulciano D’Abruzzo $15
The ultimate pizza wine, Montepulciano is solid. Flavors of cherry red plum and oregano are plentiful in this Goldilocks style of wine. Not too heavy or tannic, tomato season is here. Montepulciano’s high acid loves a good sauce.
Miali Verdeca $13.50
Verdeca? Verdec-who? Winemakers in Puglia have revitalized an Italian white grape almost lost forever, and we are the better for it in the summertime. On the nose honeysuckle dominates but on first sip acidity and minerality dominate.
Jacky Marteau Sauvignon Blanc $13
The Loire Valley, how I love you, because underneath your topsoil lies two giant limestone deposits, known as the Kimmeridgian and Portlandian. Arguably one of the best soils in the world, rocks and dirt play a vital role in winemaking, lending freshness and mineral character. Ideal for grassy, citrus, mineral driven Sauvignon Blancs that are oh so refreshing in the summer.
Clothilde Davenne Bourgogne Blanc $20
Chardonnay in Chablis means NO OAK yet rich, sumptuous wine with loads of minerals and a crisp finish. Davenne’s declassified Chablis is loads of wine for not a ton of money. Stunning!
Bodegas Pinord +&+ Cava $12
Light, easy festive. A bottle of Spanish cava can transform an ordinary dinner into a celebration.
Ca’Montebello Pinot Nero Bianco $16
Ca’Montebello borrows from neighboring region, Emilia Romagna’s tradition of lambrusco by placing the wine in pressurized vats to undergo a natural, secondary fermentation just before bottling. The result? A lemon-lime, adult Sprite.
Domaine Fenouillet Vin de Pays de Vaucluse $12
Probably the best value in the Rosenthal imports portfolio, known for a killer selection of French and Italian wines. A blend of Marsellan (a hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache) and Merlot this bistro style has everything you need: fruit, tannin, acid.
