Cider

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2017 Haykin Family “Esopus Spitzenburg” Cider (375mL) $17

We recently had a staff training and in-store tasting of the Haykin ciders, and we cannot sing their praises loudly enough. These are truly wine-drinkers' ciders! Daniel and Talia Haykin started Haykin Family Cider as hobbyists. Inspired by their love of Sparkling wine, they sought to make a similar beverage out of apples. Now, their ciders- with tiny bubbles and locally-sourced apples- are award-winning crowd pleasers. They are based out of Aurora, Colorado, and know their apple growers, press their own fruit and bottle in-house to create their “effervescent apple wine.”

 

Esopus Spitzenburg is one of America's most important heirloom apples. It was one of Thomas Jefferson's favorites, which he grew at Monticello. This cider is bursting with papaya, pineapple, starfruit, and grape flavors and aromas. It is spicy, zingy, sweet, and refreshing. Think of it as a sparkling off-dry Riesling or Gewurtztraminer, and you'll forget you're drinking a beverage made from apples!

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Bubbly

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2015 Alta Alella Mirgin Cava, Catalunya, Spain $39

We were fortunate to host an in-store tasting several months ago with Alta Alella Mirgin from the little-known region, Alta Alella, just outside Barcelona. We were impressed by the unique expression of eah of their wines, and so wanted to share this little gem with Meadow Lark guests! Since Roman times, as early as the 3rd century BC, Alella has had a long tradition of winemaking. In the late 19th century up until the mid 20th century, the wines of Alella became the preferred still and sparkling wines of Barcelona upper classes and were widely exported to the Americas. However, in the late 19th century this period of splendor and expansion was interrupted by the spread of phylloxera. Alta Alella is the culmination of a family business project that started in the early 1990’s. Wine entrepreneur and enologist Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and his wife Cristina Guillén enthusiastically began this winemaking adventure after purchasing the art-deco Can Genis Estate, located in the agricultural part of Serralada de Marina Natural Park between the towns of Alella and Tiana. Since the undertaking the entire production of Alta Alella has been based on certified organic farming because they are conscious of preserving the biodiversity of the surrounding Natural Park.

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The next generation of Alta Alella is insured by the founders’ two daughters: Mireia, Biologist, Master’s degree in Organic Agriculture and Sommelier, and Georgina, Pharmacist and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Public Health. Their Cava, made in the traditional method, is bright and fresh with refreshing complexity and an enjoyable mousse. It's a perfect aperitif or pairing with seafood and traditional Spanish fare.

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Rosé

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2017 Il Poggione, 'Brancato’ Rosato, Tuscany, Italy $26

One of the original three Italian wine producers of Brunello di Montalcino, Tenuta Il Poggione was founded in the late 1800’s by Lavinio Franceschi, a man whose dedication to the land and the Sangiovese grape is still admired today.  One of Montalcino’s largest wineries, Tenuta Il Poggione covers an area of 600 hectares, 125 planted under vine, 70 planted to olive trees and the rest open space and woods. ‘Brancato’ Rosato (Rosé in Italian) is one of the newest wines from Il Poggione crafted from 100% Sangiovese. It is crisp and fresh on the palate with a pleasant roundness that pairs perfectly with fresh produce.  A delicate floral and red berry bouquet brings you to a palate full of red cherry, citrus, raspberry, strawberry and spice.

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White

 

2017 Ferdinand Albarino Luna Vista Vineyard, Borden Ranch AVA, Lodi, California (375ml can) $12

Ferdinand Albarino is sourced solely from the the Vista Luna Vineyard, owned by Markus Bokisch.  Markus, probably the foremost authority on growing Spanish varieties in California, decided to plant the vineyard after beginning his career carefully farming some of the best vines in Napa. Markus, whose family is from Spain, looked to those roots when he decided to plant Albariño, Tempranillo, Garnacha Blanca, Verdelho, and Graciano (he even smuggled in a special massale selection of Albariño from its native Galicia, Spain.) Vista Luna's site, far to the north-east of Lodi, is in the rolling bench-land at the edge of the Sierra foothills. What makes it really unique is its cobbled, rocky soil and the cooling breezes which blow from the Delta to the Sierras.

A light gold color, balanced and attractively fragrant, this wine is savory and floral with orange peel, lime zest, lemongrass, quince and grapefruit aromas and flavors. Lees aging in neutral oak gives the wine finesse, sophistication, and a hint of nuttiness – a pleasing complement to the variety’s balance of natural acidity, slight bitterness, and salty finish. The 375ml can is perfect to split between two people and will be one of the best wines you've ever tasted coming out of a can. 

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2015 Greywacke 'Wild' Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $41

Forget everything you know about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and from behind your newly discovered veil of ignorance taste something like you've never tasted before! Overly dramatic? Perhaps. But this wine really does break the mold of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Ironically Greywacke is owned by Kevin Judd, the man who created one of the most notorious NZ Sauvignon Blancs over 25 years ago - Cloudy Bay. One can assume that after so many years making wines that don't express much along the way of terroir or nuance, Judd's pendulum swung the other way entirely. Greywacke is named after the river stones in the soil, and all the vines are mature in age and pruned to reduce yields. The grapes are then left to ferment with natural yeast for an extended period of time in old French barrique, after which the wine ages on it's lees for another six months. What is left is a wine that balances a sense of place with refined winemaking, leaving flavors of brioche, homemade apricot jam and lemon curd, nectarine and  yellow peach, with herbal nuances of tarragon and thyme.
 

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Red

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2016 Luberri ‘Orlegi’ Rioja, Spain $25

Owned by Florentino Martínez Monje, Luberri is located in Elciego in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Florentino farms 35 hectares of old vines located principally between the villages of Elciego and Laguardia. A farmer at heart, Florentino has a passion for working in the vineyard. All the plots are farmed with minimal treatment of the soils and Florentino keeps his yields low. He made a name for himself by resurrecting the traditional style of semi-carbonic Rioja, and the Orlegi is a return to the traditional light, fruit-forward wines of Rioja Alavesa. Utilizing whole-cluster fermentation for some of the grapes and indigenous yeasts, this is a classic, young Tempranillo from Rioja for everyday drinking. The carbonic maceration technique leads to a bright, berry-fruited profile that many don’t necessarily associate with Rioja, but makes this wine dangerously drinkable. Insanely food-friendly, this lighter example of Rioja can pair with anything from vegetable dishes, pasta with red sauce, and savory meats like lamb and pork.

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2016 Curii “Una Noche y Un Dia” Giro (Garnacha), Alicante, Spain $29

Alicante is home to one of the most diverse and breathtakingly beautiful terruños in all of Spain. Mountains hover in close-proximity to the Mediterranean ocean with old bush vines planted on rocky, calcareous soils, and the ever-present sun giving energy to these vineyards. For Alberto Redrado and Violeta Gutiérrez de la Vega it is the ideal environment to produce profoundly Mediterranean wines that show the tensions between the sun and soil, scrub brush and sea salt. In 2016 the couple moved their winemaking out of Violeta’s family winery and into their own space in the village of Xaló. Now they have more space to focus on producing wines that are true to their Mediterranean roots, yet unique in expressing their passion for their native Alicante. The results are some of the most aromatically compelling and authentic wines we have tasted from southeastern Spain.

"Una Noche y Un Día" is comprised of 15 to 60-year-old organically-farmed Giró (the Alicante clone of Garnacha) grown on calcareous soils at 350 meters elevation in the Valle de Xaló, Alicante. The grapes were harvested by hand, partially de-stemmed and foot-trodden in open vats. It is a fresh and vibrant vino tinto, true to its Mediterranean roots, with soil-driven and uplifted aromatics of citrus flowers, scrub brush, anise, blue and red fruits; the palate is medium-bodied and elegant in structure with a chalky sensation, spice, and aromatic fruit in the finish. Serve cool and perfect to pair with the local Paellas of the region, pasta with tomato sauce and herbs, stewed meats, and dishes with saffron.

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2017 Scar of the Sea Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, California $43

Scar of the Sea was started by Mikey Giugni and Michael Brughelli, two friends that met while studying winemaking at Cal Poly. They had a shared interest in making wines with a sense of place, with the sea being the central focus. As winemakers the sea is important in Santa Barbara  because it provides the fog that moderates the temperature and allows the area to be perfect for wine grapes. As Central Californians the sea is a central part of their lives, and everyone's life, providing the background for all of life's activities. So when Mikey was was studying winemaking in Tasmania and saw an old church sign that said "Scar of the Sea" he knew he had found the perfect name for his winery. Nevermind the sign actually said "Star of the Sea", a brand was born, and they have been making phenomenal wines ever since. It also doesn't hurt that they are two of the nicest guys in the wine industry. And although they regularly are awarded huge scores in all the major wine publications, they remain humble and gracious. Just good people making good wines. This wine is a blend from a few different vineyards in the Santa Barbara area and shows beautiful flavors of cherry, mint, rose petals and spice. 
 

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