December Case of the Month

This month, we feature a fun mix of Old World whites and reds that are nice to enjoy in cooler weather. Plus a handful of wines from Oregon and Washington that have become neighborhood favorites over the last year.

Of particular note is a French ‘Savagnin’ white from the Jura region that is absolutely spectacular and a surprisingly tasty Pinot Blanc from David Hill winery in Oregon. There’s a little something for all wine palettes.

Cheers!

Whites, Rosé and Sparkling

(Oregon) Planet Oregon Brut Rosé
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

Notes: A cool Soter Vineyards side project that donates a portion of their proceeds to helping sustain local forestry- and the wine is stellar too! This bottle of bubbles has a cult following. Rich berry fruit, with pleasant bubbles and a clean finish. Delish.

(Oregon) 2020 Procedo Rosé
Grapes: Blend of Sangiovese and Barbera

Notes: Procedo is a side project of celebrated local vintners, Lady Hill Vineyards. Their wines focus on Italian varieties that are grown locally. This rose is crisp, fresh, and citrusy. 

(Washington) 2020 Amavi Walla Walla Sémillon
Grapes: Sémillon

Notes: Sémillon is a typical blending grape that sits alongside Sauvignon Blanc in white wines of the Bordeaux region in France. This offering from Amavi Vineyards showcases the grape front and center. I like to think of this wine as chardonnay-like in texture but more mineral-driven with a plump yellow apple mid-palate that is cleansed in a nice acidic finish. Super tasty and very food-friendly!

(Oregon) 2020 David Hill Pinot Blanc
Grapes: 100% Pinot Blanc

Notes: Experiment winemaker, Chad Stock, has joined the ranks here, helping at David Hill Winery in Oregon. Stock is well known for using Atypical vintning methods to create super fun and unique wines. Here, he gives the pinot blanc just a couple of days of skin contact, imparting unique textures and aromas. This turns an already very good local white into something interesting and delicious. This wine is especially superb for the price.  

(Spain) 2020 Familia Torres Celeste Sur Lies Rueda
Grapes: 100% Verdejo

Notes: Nicely textured mouthfeel, yellow and green apple mid-palate, nice balanced acidity and a whisper of lime zest in the finish. 

(France) 2020 Cuvee’ Des Chamoz Cotes Du Jura Blanc Nature
Grapes: 100% Savagnin

Notes: Arguably our favorite white to hit the shelves in the last couple of months. Imagine if the best Chardonnay you’ve tasted married the best Sauvignon Blanc you’ve ever drunk, and they had a spectacular love child. This wine is rich, citrusy, clean in the finish, and smells so good. 

Reds

(Spain) 2019 Can Sumoi Tinto
Grapes: Blend of Sumoll and Garnatxa

Notes: Great new arrival from Southern Spain. Nice, lush fruit-driven red, with forest herbs and a touch of structure. 

(California) 2019 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes: The Lobo Vineyards wines have a great balance of Californian and French sensibilities. This bottle is rich and dark, with concentrated black fruit tones- but the aromas and the herbaceous finish remind me of a great ‘left bank’ Bordeaux.  

(France) 2016 Olivier Pithon ‘Mon Ptit Pithon’
Grapes: Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre

Notes: Super cool, easy-going red from the French side of the Catalanes. It’s all harvested by hand, aged in concrete barrels, and sustainably farmed. This wine has all of the back-end structure of a nice cote du rhone, with a lighter body and pleasantly fruity notes. 

(France) 2018 Benoit Daridan Cheverny Rouge
Grapes: Blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay

Notes: Light and bright. Tart, fruity, gulpable. Perfect for passed appetizers and friendly conversation. 

(Italy) 2019 Franco Serra Barbera D’Asti
Grapes: 100% Barbera

Notes: This Piedmont red has classic varietal notes and is one of our favorite value wines. Nice tart blue fruit, medium structured texture and a bright tangy and acidic finish. 

(Spain) 2018 Castilla Y Leon Tinto
Grapes: 100% Prieto

Notes: Super drinkable table wine from Southern Spain, just outside Barcelona. This red is lightly fruity, has a little structure and body and goes down easy. 

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing 4-Pack

Pick up a Thanksgiving Dinner Wine Pairing 4-Pack! We selected four wines that will pair perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner.

The 4-pack, which includes a 15% discount, includes NV Bourdy Cremante du Jura, a 2020 Patient Cottat ‘Le Gran Caillou,’ 2019 Crowley Vineyards ‘Entre Nous’ and a Kopke 10-year Tawny Port.

This set will take you through your holiday meal from start to finish. 

(France) NV Bourdy Cremante du Jura, $25
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Notes: One of our favorite French producers: the Bourdy family, has been making wine in the same chateau in Eastern France for literally 100’s of years. Their sparkling has fresh, vibrant bubbles and a nice bready mid-palate. Great for an aperitif and pairs perfectly with any type of fowl. 

(France) 2020 Patient Cottat ‘Le Gran Caillou’, $16
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Notes: Our favorite bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for under $20. This wine comes from another classic chateau. This is their entry-level offering, but it well outperforms the price. This Sauv Blanc hits all the traditional varietal notes in a pleasantly balanced way. 

(Oregon) 2019 Crowley Vineyards ‘Entre Nous’, $36
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

Notes: Crowley Vineyards has been one of our best sellers over the last few years. While their wines are always solid, this vintage is our favorite release from top to bottom. This bottle of Willamette Valley Pinot is fresh and lively, with prominent red and blueberry fruits. You want to drink this stellar release now. 

(Portugal) Kopke 10-year Tawny Port (375ml), $21
Grapes: Blend of Typical Duoro varieties

Notes: Kopke is the oldest port producer in Portugal and has made their renowned port for hundreds of years. Their 10-year Tawny is exceptional: Elegant and complex. It shows spiced caramel aromas, with subtle notes of dried fruit with a touch of wood and honey in the finish. An excellent pairing for your pumpkin pie!

Stop by and pick yours up by Wednesday, November 24!

November Case of the Month

This month, we are featuring a French forward case of autumnally inspired wines that (in our humble opinion) work well with Thanksgiving dinner and the general holiday festivities. 

This case has seven French bottles and five from other global regions. There’s a mix of new arrivals and PBS holiday fave’s, plus a broad range of crowd-pleasing styles. 

Our focus for the November case was to make every bottle both food-friendly and fun. We hope you enjoy this case with your family and friends.

Stop by and pick yours up or email us ahead of time.

Cheers!

White, Rosé and Sparkling

(France) NV Bourdy Cremante du Jura
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Notes: One of our favorite French producers: the Bourdy family, has been making wine in the same chateau in Eastern France for literally 100’s of years. Their sparkling has fresh, vibrant bubbles and a nice bready mid-palate. Great for an aperitif and pairs perfectly with any type of fowl. 

(France) 2020 Domaine de Fontsainte ‘Gris de Gris’ Rosé 
Grapes: Blend of Grenache and Syrah

Notes: Medium bodied with crisp lemon peel citrus, and tart berry fruits. Delish!

(France) 2020 Patient Cottat ‘Le Gran Caillou’
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Notes: Our favorite bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for under $20. This wine comes from another classic chateau, and this is their entry-level offering- but well outperforms the price. This Sauv Blanc hits all the traditional varietal notes in a pleasantly balanced way. 

(Oregon) 2019 Haden Fig Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Notes: Nicely textured mouthfeel, yellow and green apple mid-palate, nice balanced acidity and the faintest hint of wood on the finish. 

(France) 2020 Arnaud Lambert ‘Cyr-En-Borg’ Saumur Blanc
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc

Notes: Another stellar offering from Arnaud Lambert from the Loire valley. This bottle of white shows underripe stone fruit notes with tangy acidity and lovely floral aromas. 

Reds

(Italy) 2018 Gulfi ‘Nerojbleo’
Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola

Notes: Nice density, prominent yet approachable herbal aromas, and dark baked berry fruit notes. This bottle screams for cranberry sauce and stuffing.

(Italy) 2019 Vietti ‘Tre Vigne’
Grapes: 100% Barbera d’Asti

Notes: Another PBS house favorite. Vietti has typical Asti red notes: Nice wooded texture, bright and fruity mid-palate, and perfectly balanced acidity in the finish. Another bullseye for food pairings. 

(Oregon) 2019 Crowley Vineyards ‘Entre Nous’
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir

Notes: Crowley Vineyards has been one of our best sellers over the last few years. While their wines are always solid, this vintage is our favorite release from top to bottom. This bottle of Willamette Valley Pinot is fresh, lively, layered and rich. You want to drink this stellar release now. 

(France) 2018 Domaine des Accoles ‘Le Cab’
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes: Super cool off-the-beaten-path Cotes du Rhone. 100% Cab Sauv- 100% Natural, funky/fun aromas, medium-bodied, tart, nice balanced acidity, black pepper, black fruit- perfect for a charcuterie board!

(France) 2018 Domaine du Rin Du Bois Touraine ‘Cot’
Grapes: 100% Cot (Malbec)

Notes: Dense. Rich. Floral. Dark. Yum.

(France) 2018 Pegaz Beaujolais Villages Rouge
Grapes: 100% Gamay

Notes: This is our pick for an easy, accessible table wine for a sit-down Thanksgiving main course meal. Gamay is a traditional autumnal wine choice that is super food-friendly and pairs well with a nice variety of foods. You’ll see notes of tart dried cranberries and fresh raspberries. It has a balanced body and food-friendly acidity, with just a touch of those funky old-world aromas that we love. 

(Spain) 2018 L’Heravi Monsant Tinto
Grapes: Blend of Garnatxa and Samso

Notes: Easy going table wine from Northeast Spain, just outside of Barcelona. This red has a little fruit, structure and body and is very crowd-pleasing. 

October Case of the Month

This month we are featuring new arrivals and fun Fall wines!

Of particular note is a super tasty 'Pet Nat' sparkling rosé by Johan Vineyards out of the Willamette Valley, a unique and approachable Spanish white wine with the grape' Albarin,' and an incredible new value Cote du Rhone by Chateau de Ruth.

We hope you enjoy this outstanding mix of cool weather wines this month! Cheers!

Whites, Rosé and Sparkling

(Oregon) 2020 Johan Vineyards' Petillant Naturel' Sparkling Rosé
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir 

Notes: Standout natural sparkling rose from the Willamette Valley. Tart cranberry, a touch of brioche, pleasant effervescence. Great with autumnal foods like butternut squash and braised fowl. 

(France) 2020 Agenais Rosé
Grapes: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc 

Notes: Mary Taylor is a new American importer of stellar European wines made sustainably, express typicity of the region's terroir, and are of great value. This rosé is light-bodied with please red berry fruit, a balanced mouth texture, and nice acidity in the finish. Delish!

(Spain) 2020 Pardevalles Bianco
Grapes: 100% Albarín

Notes: Medium bodied with crisp yellow apple tones and tropical aromas. Try with roasted veggies and salty cheeses. 

(France) 2019 Les Jamelles Blanc
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc 

Notes: Classic French Sauvignon Blanc flavors at an excellent value: Medium-bodied, pronounced minerality, citrusy herbs, lush palate with a crisp finish. Boooom.

(Slovenia) 2020 Grape Abduction Company White Blend
Grapes: Blend of indigenous Slovenian grapes  

Notes: Super fun liter of Slovenian white just a hop, skip, and a jump northeast of Italy. Intense yet approachable floral aromas with a tangy and fun citrus center. Supremely gulpable and very crowd pleasing. You want to bring this to your next dinner party. 

(Italy) 2019 Pieropan Soave Bianco
Grapes: 100% Garganega 

Notes: Lean, mineral-driven Italian white from Northern Italy. Prominent aromas of limestone, bright on the palate and easy to drink. 

Reds

(France) 2020 Glou Glou Beaujolais Gamay
Grapes: 100% Gamay 

Notes: "Glou-Glou," which translates "glup-glup," is the best description of how Gamay is such an easy-drinking variety when treated the best way. Winemaker Jean-Baptiste is part of the generation of young vintners going back to the basics of winemaking. Farming organically, searching for an optimum maturity of the fruit and hands-off in the cellar. This wine is fresh, light, and zippy, with notes of raspberry and plum. 

(Spain) 2019 Fraga do Corvo Tinto
Grapes: 100% Mencía

Notes: Fraga do Corvo Mencía is a red wine from the Spanish appellation of D.O. Monterrei and is produced by Grandes Pagos Gallegos de Viticultura Tradicional. This farming coop focuses on sustainable agriculture. This bottle is fruit-driven, with deep blueberry notes and a touch of tannin + spice in the finish. Pair with a plate of roasted pork with spiced black beans and rice. 

(California) 2020 Broc Cellars 'Love Red' North Coast Red Wine
Grapes: Blend of Carignan, Zinfandel, and Grenache 

Notes: Natural, medium-bodied, tart, nice balanced acidity, black pepper- screams for a charcuterie board!

(Portugal) 2018 JMF Ripanco Tinto
Grapes: Blend of indigenous Portuguese grapes

Notes: Medium+ bodied, with forest herbs and concentrated blue fruit tones. Great burger wine. 

(Oregon) 2018 Chateau de Ruth Cotes du Rhone
Grapes: Blend of Grenache and Syrah 

Notes: Our new favorite CDR for under $20! Deep blue and black fruit, with surprisingly bright acidity and a chewy cacao finish. Superb.

(France) 2019 Les Polissons Cahors
Grapes: 100% Malbec 

Notes: This wine is soft and fruity, with only the lightest tannic touch. It is juicy, fresh with red fruits and good acidity.

Standout California Reds

We are coming back to the West Coast this week with two standout reds from California. These wines are perfect as the weather starts to cool off. Let us know what you think about these two incredible California Reds.

Cheers!

2014 Clos Saron' Stone Soup', $64
Grapes: Blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier

Tasting Notes: Way up in the northern Sierra Foothills, Gideon Beinstock and his wife, Saron Rice, produce small batches of wines unlike anything else coming out of California. As a result, this Syrah's expression is strongly individual: lighter than most in body and alcohol, it has intense color, vibrant acidity, and fresh aromas. Incredible bottle of Cali Red!

2019 Ridge 'Three Valley' Red, $36
Grapes: Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mataro, Alicante Bouschet

Tasting Notes: Iconic California producers. Deep garnet-red color. Aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry fruits, fresh mint, exotic spices, with clay-earth minerals. Beautiful fruit tones up front, medium-full body, integrated tannins, and great persistence to the finish.

New Arrivals from Austria

This week we are heading to Austria to sip some fun, unique, and surprisingly tasty wines. We don't get many wines from Austria, so we knew we had to taste them quickly when they came in the door. Read on to hear what to expect from these excellent wines. 

2017 Maria Hick Gelber Muskateller , $24
Grapes: 100% Gelber Muskateller

Tasting Notes: Persistent fresh flower aromas, touches of lemon zest, and an utterly quaffable light, dry palate. This wine is the perfect aperitif for afternoon sunshine!

2019 Meinklang Burgenland Red Blend, $20
Grapes: Blend of Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent & Zweigelt 

Tasting Notes: Meinklang is a multifaceted biodynamic farm and winery located in Austria's Neusidlersee region near Lake Neusiedl in eastern Austria. Ripe blackberry dominates the palate and nose of this uncomplicated but delicious red. Bright juiciness leads into a ripe yet electric finish.

New Arrivals from France!

This week we are keeping it simple with a white blend and a red, both new to the shop from France.

Are you ready to add a few new varieties to your weekly mix? These are the ones! Cheers!

White Blend

2019 Thierry Forestier Mont de Marie "Anatheme", $23
Grapes: Blend of Viognier and Ugni Blanc

Tasting Notes: All natural, vegan, and sustainably farmed white blend with a unique expression: the natural fermentation imparts wild and savory streaks through the center palate, but the spirit of the wine is fresh and citrusy. Superb!

Red

2019 Clos D’Audhuy ‘Les Polissons’ Cahors, $17
Grapes: 100% Malbec

Tasting Notes: Great French red for under $20! This wine is soft and fruity, with only the lightest tannic touch. It is juicy, fresh with red fruits and good acidity.

September Case of the Month

We are just on the cusp of the end of summer and the beginning of Fall.

In this month's case, we celebrate this transition with a nice mix of wines that can be enjoyed in the temperate September sunshine and the cooler evenings.

Of particular note are two stellar Willamette Pinot Noir's new to the shop, a tasty dry Lambrusco and a rustic Portuguese red made from the lesser-known grape, 'Baga.'

We hope you enjoy this wonderful mix this month! Cheers!

Whites & Rosé

(Italy) NV Paltrinieri Sant Agata Lambrusco di Sorbara

Grapes: 100% Sorbara
Notes: Tart, lively, and a touch peppery sparkling red wine from central Italy.

(Oregon) 2020 Colene Clemens Rosé

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Colene Clemens is one of our neighborhood's favorite Pinot Noir producers. This rosé has bright cherry notes and crisp acidity on the palate, with a lovely rich mouth weight. Delish!

(Spain) 2020 Azul y Garanza Rosé 1L

Grapes: 100% Garnatxa
Notes: Fruit forward and dry, fleshy textured Spanish rosé. Perfect with a spritz of bubbly and over ice with a twist of lemon. 

(Washington) 2020 Owen Roe Pinot Gris

Grapes: 100% Pinot Gris
Notes: Everything you want in a local Pinot Gris: Tangy, crisp, and just a touch aromatic.   

(France) 2019 Chateau Lestrille Bordeaux Blanc

Grapes: Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Notes: Medium body, with a perfect balance between the two grapes- the Sauv Blanc gives the wine notes of lemon peel and a nice mineral backbone. The Semillon imparts soft edges and a full finish. Great with a Nicoise Salad!

(Oregon) 2019 Red Electric' Alpine Lily'

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Notes: Harmoniously constructed Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley. Full-bodied, with crisp acidity, yellow apple fruit and a hint of neutral oak on the nose. 

(Italy) 2019 Olianas Vermentino

Grapes: 100% Vermentino
Notes: This classic Sicilian white table wine has fresh aromas of saltwater, with granite and seashell minerality and a touch of salinity on the finish. The perfect wine for a plate of Kumamoto Oysters on the half shell!

Reds

(Oregon) 2017 Resonance Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Super cool new Oregon Pinot arrival, made by famed Burgundy vintner Louis Jadot. This bottle is lean and elegant, with spice-tinged black raspberry and cherry aromas that carry a subtle floral top note. So good!

(Portugal) 2019 Filipo Pato Vinho Tinto

Grapes: 100% Baga
Notes: All natural and sustainably farmed red wine from Portugal. Light on its feet, with deep aromas of black plums, blackberries, violets, and dried herbs. This wine drinks like a Cru Beaujolais, at half the price.

(Italy) 2019 Francesco Brigatti Colline Novaresi

Grapes: 100% Vespolina
Notes: Natural, light-bodied, tart, zippy, black pepper- screams for a charcuterie board!

(Washington) 2018 Pomum Red Blend

Grapes: Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc
Notes: Full-bodied, well balanced Washington red, with prominent 'Cab Franc-y' green bell pepper aromas, and that lovely dense west coast Cab Sauv blackberry fruit. 

(Oregon) 2018 Patricia Green Cellars' Dollar Bills Only'

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Notes: Great new project from Patricia Green Cellars! Light-hearted, light on its feet and fun to drink. This is an excellent red for snacks and a game of cribbage.