STAFF WINE PICKS
What we're busy drinking this week.
2018 Chateau Yvonne, 'La Folie', Cabernet Franc, Saumur-Champigny- $34.99
This delicious Cabernet Franc shows black raspberry and black cherry fruit on the palate. It's bright acidity is well balanced with the fruit. There are also notes of dried herbs, smokiness, and mineral. For Loire Cab Franc it is pretty accessible and not as austere as many can be. This rich Cabernet Franc has incredible food potential. Think mushroom dishes, lamb chops, and duck.
-Rob
2017 A Tribute To Grace, Grenache, Santa Barbara County - $32.99
Angela Osborne packed up and made the move from NZ to California literally just to make grenache. She launched this label in 2007, named for her grandmother Grace. Her take on grenache is memorable - pure red fruit, beautifully structured, floral with a touch of spice. I'd also highly recommend trying out her new project under the Land of Saints label (look for the pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay).
-Madison
2017, Pahlmeyer, Chardonnay, Napa Valley - $94.99
It is not often that a Chardonnay this rich and luscious grabs me and pulls at my heart strings. I often tend towards wines that are more temperate and lean. This gorgeously plush chardonnay is one not to miss. Pahlmeyer is an icon in the Napa Valley. Jason Pahlmeyer's partner smuggled "suitcase clones" in 1981 through Canada to the U.S. and a legend was born. This wine unfolds like a Shakespearean Love Sonnet. Flowers, custard, honey and subtle almond.
-Mary
2017 Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Australia -$21.99
From a part of the world once very isolated and an unlikely area to grow Bordeaux varietals: the extreme Southwest corner of Australia. The Margaret River area is ideal terroir for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,and Cabernet Franc. If you are expanding your taste for Australian reds beyond Shiraz or exploring other expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon outside of California or France, Ringbolt, from Margaret River, is a great place to start. Intense layers of ripe forest berries, with hints of tobacco leaf, cedar, and cassis on the nose. Medium bodied palate of bright berries and spice, and a hint of woodsy structure.Enjoy now with a juicy rib-eye and root vegetables or cellar for another 8 to 10 years. Influential wine critic, James Suckling, scored this 2017 vintage 93 points. Impressive for a wine under $22!
-Patrick
Lillet R
os
é Aperitif
- $19.99
Lillet Rose is a wine-based aperitif, made from the Grand Cru Bordeaux grapes used for Lillet’s white and red versions, and then combined with fruit liqueurs. As a result it’s bright and fruit-forward but not overly sweet. Juicy peach nectar and wild strawberry meet vibrant acidity and a floral flicker on the exit.
A pleasure to sip on its own with a little ice and a lemon peel, it's rosy hue is also calling out for mixing with bubbles or gin.
-Chris
