Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should consider trying!
2021 Umathum Rosa Burgenland Austria - $26.99
A serious rose from one of my absolute favorite producers using Austria's three main varieties Blaufrankisch, Sankt Laurent and Zweigelt. Mature vines (up to 45 years old) grown on gravel and schist soils in the villages of Frauenkirchen and Jois. Biodynamically farmed, hand harvested and minimal intervention in the cellar are signatures of Umathum, a solar powered winery that mixes traditional craft and modern philosophy. This saignee is aged in stainless steel tank accentuating the Rosa's wonderful raspberry and cherry fruit characteristics. Not only is this wine perfect for summertime sipping but it also ages beautifully making it a perfect fall food pairing option. Brilliant raspberry color, aromatic morello cherries and red currants, spicy, fine and smooth with a long finish.
-Angie
2020 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Kabinett Trocken Riesling, Pfalz - $25.99
Soak up the vibrant summer sun with a zippy trocken (dry) Riesling! My favorite inexpensive bottle is always one by Pfalz producer Koehler-Ruprecht. 'Kabinett' Rieslings can also be off-dry; 'Kabinett' is a metric of sugar levels in the grapes at their harvest. In this instance, those sugars have been fermented into alcohol (11.5% ABV). So if you pick up a Kabinett Riesling and it has a lesser ABV (9% or 10%), expect that wine to be slightly sweet. Aromatically, this Riesling is bursting with minerality, stone & melon fruits, with a touch of honeysuckle. On the palate, there is a surprising weight and richness balanced by a lightning bolt of acidity. The Koehler-Ruprecht Riesling is predominantly fermented in barrel and then aged in large neutral barrels to further develop its texture. As an estate, they've made trocken wines long before they were en vogue — stylistic mavericks with an 'old world' approach.
-Katrina
Domaine Alain Voge Les Bulles d'Alain St Peray - $52.99
A sparkling wine done in the traditional method (champagne method) from the Northern Rhone appellation of St Peray. St Peray has been a sparkling wine area for 300 plus years, in fact the area was renowned for it's sparkling wines up until world war 2. At that point, for whatever reason, the region switched to making mostly still wines. Sparkling or still the wine made in St Peray is primarily marsanne with this wine being 100% marsanne. Hand picked and farmed organically this has aromas of roasted lemon, apricot and herbs; mineral flavors along with pear and almonds in the mouthfeel and a lengthy dry finish. It pairs well with celebrations and seafood, particularly ceviche or grilled fish.
-Sean
Burgan's Albarino Rias Baixas - $17.99
This exporter commissioned co-op wine is a ridiculously consistent and a perennial value. Sourced from highest quality vineyards, the style is bold and seamless, focusing on the ripe, stone fruit aspects of the albarino grape. Characteristic acidity and salinity lend to an overall refreshing style that manages hgh critical praise year in and year out. File under no-brainer crowd pleaser.
-Dave
2021 Charles Joguet, Rosé, Chinon - $27.99
In the late 1950s young sculptor and painter, Charles Joguet, gave up a promising career in art to assume control of his family's vineyards in the Loire Valley Appellation of Chinon. His family's harvests were always sold on to separate wine makers before he took the galvanizing step of making their own wine, as the terroir of their vineyards were considered to be of the finest in Chinon, making their wine truly of a "place" and elevating the quality of Chinon wine overall. Hand harvested from Organically grown 30 year old Cabernet Franc vines on the fertile plain between the Vienne and Loire rivers, their Rosé is a seriously good "picnic match" and more.The wine is cold fermented in stainless steel and does not go through Malo-lactic Fermentation, so as to preserve the bright aromas and crisp dry pop of the fruit. Notes of wild raspberry and plum lead to cranberry, licorice and spice, with light stony minerality and lifted acidity that is thirst-quenching to the last drop.
Enjoy this by itself or with a refreshing fresh berry salad!
-Patrick
2021 Massimago Duca Fedele Valpolicella - $29.99
The Massimago winery was founded by Camilla Rosso Chauvenet in 2004 and converted to organic viticulture in 2014. The property had originally belonged to Camilla's mothers family going back to the late 19th Century, but had never been a working winery prior to Camilla taking it over. The name of the winery is from the Latin "Maximum Agium", maximum benefit.
This Valpoicella shows aromas of wild berries and violets, with a medium bodied palate boasting notes of cherry, strawberry, and minerality, balanced by lively acid. This fruit driven red would be great for pizza night but is very delicious on its own with a chill on a warm summer evening.
-Rob
Weingut Norbert Bauer 'SchplĂŻnk!' GrĂĽner Veltliner, Austria - $41.99
Trink Schplïnk! The Austrians have it. And we want it. This tantalizing and quaffable, 3 liter boxed Grüner Veltliner is hot-weather, camp-out and music-festival-proven to refresh your friends and attract acquaintances. Up your wine box game with this fine sipper produced by 11th generation winemaker Norbert Bauer, who gets his credentials from the winery founded in 1721 in Pulkautal, Lower Austria. My communal festie friends described it as “refreshingly chill,” “long juicy finish”and “like cold green grapes.” Its bright lemon, mineral acidity matches its futuristic electric yellow box, so you can’t miss this one on the shelves. The wine boxes and cans just keep getting better and better. So convenient. And good with just about anything.
-Karen