Beer

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Brasserie Dupont Foret Saison (750mL) $14.98

 

Brewed by Brasserie Dupont (one of the oldest breweries in Belgium), the Foret Saison was the first 100% certified organic beer to be produced in Belgium. The beer is crafted with organically cultivated hops and barley as well as filtered artisan well water, providing the beer with a distinct and unique mineral quality. A light bodied, refreshingly smooth beer with a bold malt flavor, Foret Saison has distinct aromas of bread, clove and pepper, finishing with a dry herbal note and complex fresh citrus flavor.

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Rosé

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2014 Domaine Comte Abbatucci "Faustine" Vieilles Vignes Rose, Corsica $56.98

 

In the colorful, picturesque city of Ajaccio, capital of Corsica, you can’t get very far without seeing the name Abbatucci. There are streets, monuments and plazas that carry the name, which is normal given that General Jean-Charles Abbatucci from Ajaccio was a hero of the French Revolution and comrade in arms of another local hero, Napoléon Bonaparte. Step into a wine bar or a restaurant there, chances are these days they’ll pour you a glass of Domaine Abbatucci. The domaine is run by Jean-Charles Abbatucci, a direct descendant of the General, who has now become a local hero of another kind—for providing the local populace with its most sought-after libation.

 

Farmed Biodynamically, Cuvee Faustine Rose is made from 100% Sciaccarello, a grape native to Tuscany and known there as Mammolo.  18 hectares with an average age of 20 year old vines, the grapes are lightly pressed, vinified in stainless steel, and aged for 6 months on its lees.  Red fruits and rose petals waft from the glass with fresh notes of peach, apricot and white flower on the palate. 

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White

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2015 Columna, Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain $27.98

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A superb wine made from estate owned grapes in the most southern and inland subzone of Rias Baixas, Columna Albarino is crafted from vines planted in 1978 grown on granite and slate soil. Due to this estates southern and interior location, Columna produces a unique expression of Albarino that is bright, floral, and minerally while still maintaining a rich smooth texture. Fresh melon and pear with floral and herbal qualities leads you to a palate with vibrant orchard and pit flavors along with hints of fennel and honeysuckle.  

 

2015 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini, Greece $38.98

 

Paris Sigalas began Domaine Sigalas out of his home in 1991. Widely considered to be the top producer in Santorini, Sigalas masterfully crafts wines that are bewitching in their expression of terroir and minerality.  Furthermore, Sigalas is a pioneer in organic viticulture and universally praised for his skill with Assyrtiko, a white varietal indigenous to Santorini.

 

The island of Santorini has one of the most unique terroirs in the world formed in part by one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in human history. Around 1600 BC, a massive volcanic eruption took place on the island creating a tidal wave of magma claiming the lives of millions around the Mediterranean crescent. Thought to be the most powerful volcanic event in the last 10,000 years, the eruption is estimated to have been fifty thousand times as powerful as the Hiroshima bomb. As a result, the soil of Santorini, known as aspa, is comprised of pumice stone, volcanic ash, lava rocks, and sand. The high content of sand found in the soil makes Santorini one of the rare winemaking areas in the world not attacked by phylloxera allowing the vines to retain their original rootstock.  Strong winds and persistent sun are another characteristic of the terroir of Santorini and in order to protect the grapes, vines are trained in low basket shapes called “ampelies” locally forming a unique pruning system.

 

Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko is straw blond in color with light shades of green and a delicate nose bursting with citrus fruit and white blossoms. Excellent depth of flavor and acidity, the wine is fresh and light with high mineral tones characteristic of grape and place.

 

2014 François Chidaine Montlouis sur Loire "Les Choisilles", Loire Valley, France $46.98

 

François Chidaine is one of the most talented young vignerons working in France today. He started in the family domaine in Montlouis-sur-Loire, on the south side of the Loire River from Vouvray. For years he made the wines of the Vouvray estate of Prince Poniatowski, and upon the retirement of the owner he was offered the chance to purchase the estate. He did so, and has been making spectacular, focused Chenin Blanc ever since on both sides of the river.

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Les Choisilles is not from a specific vineyard plot, but is, rather, an estate blend of bunches left to hang longer on the vine to attain higher levels of ripeness; that said, it's nonetheless always made dry.  Look for a floral nose of elderflower, followed by a palate of chalk, grilled citrus, peach, and crushed oyster shell. A bone dry Chenin Blanc with great complexity, lip smacking acidity, depth, and a long finish.

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Red

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2014 Camino de Navaherreros, Old Vine Garnacha, Vinos de Madrid, Spain $28.98

 

A tiny winery located on the far western edge of the Vinos de Madrid DO, Bodega Bernabeleva or ‘bear’s forest’ was founded in 1923.  Due to the Spanish Civil War in 1936 that devastated the country, it was not until 2006 that the founder’s great-grandchildren revived their ancestor’s dreams. The Garnacha vines, farmed biodynamically more than half mile above sea level on poor sandy soils, are now more than 80 years old.  A vibrant, brilliant ruby, Camino de Navaherreros has beautiful rose petal, spicy raspberry and cherry aromatics with intense black raspberry, lavender and racy red fruit, sharpened by white pepper and mineral tones on the palate. This is a Pinot Noir drinker’s Garnacha!  

 

2015 Domaine des Roches Neuves, Saumur Champigny, Loire Valley, France $36.98

 

Owned by Thierry Germain, Domaine des Roches Neuves, is a benchmark producer in the tiny winemaking region of Saumur-Champigny.  Situated on the left bank of the Loire, between Angers and Tours, Saumur is a historic city dominated by one of the most famous castles in France.  The castle, like many of the great Chateaux of the Loire Valley, is built with the same tuffeau limestone that underlies the great vineyards of the region. 

 

Trained originally in Bordeaux, Thierry has brought his knowledge and familiarity with Cabernet Franc to what is arguably some of the most suitable terroir in the world for this delicious grape. The special combination of clay, limestone, flint, and alluvial soils in Saumur Champigny helps to produce wines with power, elegance and purity.  Vineyards are farmed 100% biodynamically and the wine is produced from 4 to 70 year old vines.  The wine is 100% destemmed, fermentation occurs using indigenous yeasts and it is aged in stainless steel and wood tanks on its lees with no sulphur additions for 3 to 4 months.  

 

2013 Proprieta Sperino, Uvaggio, Piedmont, Italy $54.98

 

Historically one of Italy’s most famous regions for fine, elegant, high-quality wines, Northern Piedmont has a centuries-old tradition of wine growing.  Paolo De Marchi, founder of the wine producing estate Isole & Olena, which played a leading role in the rebirth of Chianti Classico, followed his roots home in 1999 and took the reins of his family estate, Proprieta Sperino.  Proprieta Sperino lies in the village of Lessona among the foothills of the North Piedmont Alps.  The vineyards, comprised of marine sands mixed with glacial sediment, are planted to Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina.  Uvvagio is a blend of all three varietals, 80%, 15%, and 5% respectively. The wine is fermented with natural yeasts in open top wooden fermenters and remains sur lie for 10 months.  The wine is then aged in barrique and barrel for 22 months.  A graceful wine overflowing with bright red fruits and hints of herb and earthy underbrush, Uvvagio is an excellent food pairing wine with smooth tannins, superb texture and bright acidity.