Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff wants you to drink.
2019 Martha Stoumen 'Honeymoon' White Blend Mendocino - $39.99
Martha Stoumen is a Northern California winemaker that is just as comfortable tending vines as she is making wine. She has studied winemaking all over the world and received her Master's at UC Davis. This white blend consists of 75% Colombard that was planted in 1948 and lends a Chenin-like complexity and 25% Chardonnay from barrels that were not topped off during aging to lend a nutty, oxidative quality and a deeper golden color. Honeyed aromas and crispy acidity give a luscious texture. 256 cases produced
-Angie
2020 Vina Maitia 'Aupa Pipeno' Maule Valley, Chile - $14.99
This refreshing red blend comes from dry-farmed 125 old vines in the Maule Valley of Chile. The hot inland valley is cooled off by the Humboldt Current of the Pacific Ocean, stirring up cold air from Antartica. The Pais (known also as Mission) makes up 80% of this blend. This was the first grape planted in the Americas, by the Spanish in the late 16th century. The grapes are hand destemmed, pressed, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in concrete in the traditional regional method called, Pipeno. The result is a bright, juicy wine redolent of rose petals, strawberry, cherries and spice. The finish is succulent and lifted. With a light chill on this wine, it is wonderful with grilled chicken breast brushed with a tangy barbeque sauce.
-Patrick
2018 Jolie Laide Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard Trousseau Gris RRV - $32.99
In French, the rough translation of Jolie Laide is "ugly beautiful". I wouldn't describe anything about this Trousseau Gris as ugly, but it does have a diverse range of qualities that you don't often find in the same wine. It has pretty stone fruit, melon, and citrus notes, as well as minerality and tannin. There's an earthiness that reminds me of rooibos tea and a floral quality that makes me think of oolong or white tea. Together these qualities create a wine that can match bolder and heavier dishes like curries or ferments and a wide range of proteins from beef to fish. Much of this complexity can be attributed to skin contact. Technically, this is an orange wine- a wine made from a white or grey grape vinified in the way red wine would be- with a prolonged maceration on the skins and seeds. To me, this is a great summer cookout or potluck wine- it can pair well with lots of different dishes spanning all sorts of flavors and keep everyone happy. Enjoy!
-Claire
2018 Don Juan José 'Anfora' Carignan Casablanca Chile- $26.99
The Don Juan Carignan is picked from over 135+ years old vines grown in granite soil located in San Javier, Chile. This Carignan is a spontaneously fermented wine which has not been fined or filtered and is aged for 15 months in amphorae and used French oak barrels. This bottle has a beautiful rusticity throughout the palate, showing characteristics of dehydrated red fruit, dried violet, pomegranate seeds and subtle baked spices in the backend. This is a medium-bodied wine with chalky tannins. Look to pair this with some tapas or grilled meats and you'll keep going back for more!
-Nick Z.
Suntory Roku Gin - $32.99
The Suntory distillery may be mainly famous for their sought-after whiskies, but they also boast a portfolio of excellent & unique clear spirits as well. Their gin is an intriguing example of the distillery's approach to spirits writ large - taking the standard styles of these spirits in Europe & the U.S., refining them, and then finally adapting them to Japanese terroir. In addition to a pretty standard array of botanicals, Suntory adds on two types of green tea, sakura flowers & leaves, yuzu, and sansho pepper. This results in a uniquely herbal & floral gin with a very dry palate and a light citrus backbone. It evolves significantly after it's poured so give it a shot at drinking neat. If you plan on mixing it, go for a citrus-forward tonic like Fever Tree or focus on stirred cocktails such as a classic Martini (I recommend 2oz Roku to 1oz of Dolin dry vermouth, with a couple dashes of orange bitters) or a Negroni for aperitivo season.
-Nick S.
Talley Estate Bottled Chardonnay $21.99/Pinot Noir $27.99
Brian Talley is a third generation farmer from the Arroyo Grande Valley in California. His focus has been on traditional Burgundian varietals, those being chardonnay and pinot noir. Many domestic chards and pinots happen to be overdone and overpowered, but Talley's shows a great sense of balance. We have Talley's Chardonnay as well as their Pinot Noir (both estate bottled), and they are both drinking very nicely right now. Please find one of our helpful employees to find the right wine for your needs!
-Samuel P.
2015 Domaine Costal "Les Truffieres" Chablis - $32.99
Domaine Costal is a side project of Domaine Jean Collet, a winery in Chablis that has been passed on from generation to generation since 1792. The 2015 "Les Truffieres" exhibits everything you want from this great vintage in Chablis. The warm, early vintage can be remembered through notes of ripe tropical fruits balanced by ample minerality. It is unfined, unfiltered, and aged in stainless steel. This side project is priced at a fraction of Domaine Jean Collet Chablis, so go ahead and enjoy this value white Burgundy any day of the week!
-Katrina
