Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink.
2019 Idlewild, Flora & Fauna Red Blend, Mendocino - $21.99
Idlewild wines are the creation of Sam Bilbro, Who is the Son of Chris Bilbro, the founder and vintner of the historic Marietta winery in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California. His brother Scott is now the owner and winemaker of Marietta and his other brother Jake is the owner and winemaker of Limerick Lane in the Russian River Valley, California. So it's easy to say that winemaking is in his blood. Sam focuses on small production, natural hands-off winemaking of Northern Italian grapes. The Flora & Fauna Red Blend comprises 53% Dolcetto, 44% Barbera, and 3% Nebbiolo.The fruit mostly comes from Fox Hill Vineyard and Lost Hills Ranch in Mendocino, California. This red is supposed to be an homage to the light, bright table reds of Piedmonte that are perfect for any meal. Showing flavors and aromas of tart black cherry, iron, dried herbs, violets, and graphite. This is a light to medium-bodied blend with firm acidic lift and dusty tannins which lead to a wonderfully balanced finish.
-Nick Z
2020 Tessier, Femme Fatale Rosé of Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley - $33.99
Kristie Tacey, winemaker and founder of Tessier Winery, is a scientist turned winemaker. A former published research scientist who studied protein pathways, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from her native Michigan to pursue a career in biotechnology, which included working on the Human Genome Project. Kristie soon realized that winemaking was her true calling after working as assistant winemaker at an award-winning East Bay winery, she started Tessier in 2009. This 100% Pinot Noir rosé is sourced from the biodynamically farmed Filigreen Farm Vineyard in Anderson Valley. Pale salmon pink in color with notes of white peach, strawberries and tangerine zest. With only 150 cases produced, don't leave this badass beauty behind. Do it for science!
-Angie
Casalpriore Stiolorosso 'Puro Vino Vivente' (NV) - $47.99
'Pure Living Wine'. Here's a wild one to get the juices flowing. This wine has depth and grace and mystery that will take you elsewhere. For the record, this is dry Lambrusco wine created from 60 year old organic vines by Gabriele Ronzoni, who passed in 2014. His premier wine is being continued by Gianluca Bergianti, a young and ambitious natural winemaker in Emilia Romagna. The wine is lively and fresh with dark berry fruit, earth and woody spices. It's a joy and a trip and is lovely with cured meat. Perfect wine for taking a vacation in your neighborhood or adding a Michelin star to your camping meal.
-Dave
Aviation Gin (750ml) - $19.99
Aviation gin is well known largely due to the fact that it is owned by Ryan Reynolds and he has done some creative promotions for the product. Don't be dismissive of the celebrity connection though! It is indeed a very good gin. Using a blend of cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel this American style gin provides a more floral experience rather than a juniper forward one. Great in a gin and tonic or an Aviation cocktail. You can't go wrong with this bottle in the height of summer.
-Todd
Villa One Silver Tequila (750ml) - $48.99
This new arrival to North Loop is the brainchild of Nick Jonas and John Varvatos. A very approachable tequila is perfect for sipping or throwing in a margarita. The nose offers up aromas of agave, fresh herbs, and a hint of floral notes. At first sip, you will get the expected flavors of agave accompanied by hints of dried pineapple and roasted nuts. Though it seems every celebrity has a tequila brand these days, this one is definitely worth a try.
-Todd (again)
