Thursday May 20, 2021
.. the lunar landscape where grapes grow. See Claire's review below.
This Week: You knew it was coming. It happens every year on a regular basis. The weather warms up. We start thinking about warm weather drinks. And then we get on our soap box about CHILLABLE REDS. This year, Nick takes the mic with a thorough explanation of why you should indeed chill that light bodied, low tannin juice.

Importantly, we're on the last few days of the wine sale. Ends Monday! Stock up on your old and new favorites at discount while you still can.

In other news, Jason has dropped a new Somm kit featuring aromatic whites. The tagline "smell the joy" is incredibly appropriate and we are so here for it. Order to pickup here at the shop. See here for more. And.. you heard it here first: he'll be dropping a new rosé kit as well as a feature on Spain and the Miner family wines.

Finally, we're thrilled with the prospect of no longer having to talk about COVID precautions here. So, keep being safe and don't get too complacent. Masks might be off SOON but not yet.. so be safe and be aware that not everyone is vaccinated yet. And now.. back to our usual wine + booze talk.

Cheers,
The Team at NL Wine & Spirits
To Chill or Not To Chill.
That is the question.
Let's paint a story, it's late May in Minnesota, the weather is finally holding up and will be 88 degrees Saturday (WHAT!?), you're freshly vaxed, more relaxed and ready to chillax. Your best friend calls "Hey, were going on the BOAT!! and afterwards were grilling, bring some wine!"

You're pumped you've spent the last year in a dark secluded room forgetting any and all social skills you once had, you're not even sure if you remember your own name. Then it dawns on you.. wait, what wine do I bring?! Fear not my newly social butterflies we at North Loop have the answer.. CHILLABLE REDS!! (crowd cheers in distance).

 You might be screaming to yourself "THE AUDACITY!?" Yes, you're finally liberated from the oppression of room temperature red wine. No longer must you hide your deep dark desire to taste the forebode cold red juice.

When you're looking for a red to be served cold, there are four important characteristics to look out for. 1: low alcohol. 2: high acidity. 3: low tannin. 4: bright fruit. 5: rudimentary math knowledge.. Keeping these in mind will help to choose the proper red to chug (Not Napa Cab!). 

 These are some grapes to look out for: Gamay, Pais, Sangiovese, Txaokoli, Trousseau, Carignan, Counoise, Pinot Noir and Mencia. Although the grape can become a less important factor if they are using certain winemaking techniques. The most common of which would be carbonic maceraction which is often associated with the French wine region of Beaujolais, in which whole grapes are fermented in a carbon dioxide rich environment before crushing, this leads to a soft and fruity style of wine that almost feels prickly at times. 

You will also see whole cluster fermentation (Think Pinot Noir!) which like its name would lead you to believe is when The whole grape cluster is harvested off the vine and then crushed and fermented, stems and all. This also leads to a lighter brighter style.

Last but not least you will see red and white grapes being co-fermented (Often seen in the Rhone Valley) which depending on the varietal and percentage used this can open up a vast array of styles and combinations.

Chillable Reds have become a more prevalent sub category in the past few years with the driving force of its popularity mostly stemming from the Natural Wine community.. but it has been around long before the "alt" thing to do was cool and it will hopefully become more readily available (Sorry Hipsters), and a favored style for those looking for something fun and new.

Here is a smaller sample of the Chillable Reds we offer:

Bulli Cor - Vino Rosso $19.99
Domaine Rolet - Arbois Poulsard $26.99
Terres Dores - L'ancien Beaujolais $21.99
Ampelia - Unlitro Rosso $21.99
Praja - Monica $23.99
Ryme - Sangiovese / Friulano $27.99
J Brix - Counoise $28.99
Onward - Nouveau Zinfandel $21.99
Ruth Lewandowski - Feints $27.99
-Nick
Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink.

2020 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Txakoli D.O. - $22.99
In the Basque country of Northern Spain lies the vineyards of the Ameztoi family.
High above the Bay of Biscay, on seaside cliffs, the fifth generation of the Ameztoi family maintains their vineyards in the traditional manner of the region. Only the indigenous grape of Hondarrabi Zuri is used, cultivated organically, on the family's estate. Cold fermented in stainless steel (to preserve the fruits freshness) with native yeasts, the tanks are closed to retain the famous light spritz that is a big characteristic of Txakolina.
This resultant vintage is fresh, crisp, and racy. Beautifully typical. White flower aromatics lead to a palate of the sea air, with bracing acidity and minerality. Apple and white pear flavour notes tame the raciness just enough, without compromising the liveliness of this wine. It positively dances on the tongue. This is a great party or dinner starter, as it awakens the senses and says, "hello, happy to meet you!". For a food pairing, it's oysters or shrimp on a sunny patio, hopefully overlooking the ocean....or you can at least imagine it so!
-Patrick

2016 Sandhi Pinot Noir - $49.99 / 2018 Chardonnay - $29.99
Rajat Parr was one of the biggest faces in American Restauranteering. He has such an elevated knowledge of the vast world of wine that few could compare. Raj has been making wine for over a decade now, thus replacing the title of superstar restaurateur to the humble winemaker. Sandhi is Raj's baby; his first winemaking endeavor partnered with renowned winemaker Sashi Moorman. Initially they focused on trying to make Burgundian wines based out of California. After some realizations/epiphanies, they now focus on portraying their unique terroir of Santa Barbara County, CA. If you see Sandhi wines anywhere, seek them out; and be sure to crush them with anyone and everyone!  
 -Samuel

2019 Bermejo Listan Negro Rosado Lanzarote - $28.99
Someday, humans will probably figure out how to grow grapes on the moon. Until then, we can look to winemakers on the Canary Islands for insight into one of the world's most extreme grape-growing climes. The Canary Islands were created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Bodega Los Bermejos is located on Lanzarote, the easternmost island in the Canary chain, and throughout the 18th and 19th Lanzarote was covered in up to 5 meters of volcanic ash. In areas where the ash is deepest, vines are planted in crater-like holes called hoyos and surrounded by stone walls, both to gain access to nutrient rich soil but also to protect the vines from extreme winds. This particular vineyard layout necessitates hand-harvesting with occasional help from everyone's favorite dromedary: CAMELS! Listan Negro is hardly grown anywhere but the Canary Islands, but is closely related to the Mission grape, grown in California, and Pais, grown in Chile. This particular wine is a dark orange-pink color, with notes of orange oil, macerated strawberries, mint, smoke, sultanas and a briny minerality. Don't drink this one too cold- treat it more like a red wine. 
-Claire

2018 M & C Lapierre Morgon Beaujolais - $49.99
Once again I am writing about Beaujolais, quelle surprise! It's one of my very favorite regions and since we are focusing on chillable reds, I figured why not get a little geeky on you? Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine in 1973 and soon became a legend along with Jean Foillard, Jean-Paul Thevenet and Guy Breton, dubbed the Gang of Four by Kermit Lynch, who followed the "back-to-nature" movement started by Jules Chauvet. The Gang called for a return to the old practices of viticulture and vinification using organic and biodynamic farming methods. Marcel's last vintage was in 2010 and now his children, Mathieu and Camille continue his legacy as a pioneer of natural winemaking. This is not your mass-produced Beaujolais Nouveau, but rather a very serious bottle of Gamay from the cru of Morgon (one of the ten crus of Beaujolais). The 2018 vintage of this classic cuvee shows flavors of red berries, rose petals and wet stones. Silky tannins and mouth-watering acidity, this baby is all finesse and seductiveness in the glass. Serve with a slight chill and pair with charcuterie, chicken or pork on the grill. C'est Magnifique!
-Angie

2019 The Fableist: The Bee & Jupiter Chardonnay Central Coast CA - $18.99
The Fableist is a collaboration between winemakers Curt Schalchlin and Andrew Jones. Curt, owner and vintner of the heralded winery, Sans Liege. Andrew is the driving force of Field Recordings. The 2019 Chard has soft and accessible fruit with fresh tropical notes and wonderful balance. This medium-bodied Chard is ripe, round and creamy with a silky texture and a lovely finish that is not showing too much oak.
-Nick Z.

Pares Balta Blanc du Pacs Penedes Spain - $14.99
Pares Balta has a rich 200 plus year history in Penedes, the heart of Spain's sparkling wine production. After taking over the winery in the late seventies, the current proprietors began developing table wines from Penedes various calcarous and well draining soils. The first wine released in the 1980's was the Blanc du Pacs. The grape blend is essentially a table version of a typical Cava yielding a remarkably versatile wine that allows the individual grapes to show their personalities. The resulting wine has mid palate richness, incredible floral lift and a zesty mineral driven finish.
-David

Maker's Mark 101 - $42.99
Yes, I am recommending a whiskey during the first really hot weekend of the summer. Hear me out. Maker's Mark 101 was originally only available in travel retail, then 2020 happened. This bourbon will delight fans of Maker's Mark, offering a slightly more robust experience of the familiar flavor profile. Caramel, toffee, and butterscotch notes provide a traditional bourbon flavor. The wheated mashbill of Maker's Mark provides an approachable sipper for both new whiskey fans and experienced connoisseurs. The proof point is in the sweet spot for Maker's, low enough to enjoy neat and high enough to stand up in a cocktail. Sip this neat or make it your base in a whiskey highball.
-Todd 
Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits