White

 

Kellerei Bolzano 2014 Müller Thurgau Eisacktaler—Last February, we hosted Klaus Sparer for an in store tasting of the wines of Cantina Bolzano, located in Alto Adige. It was fascinating to talk to him about the region, how the grapes are grown, where they are grown, local food, the cool alpine climate. The wines produced by this coop representing over 200 growers are of great quality and a great value. Müller Thurgau was developed in the Swiss Canton of Thurgau by Hermann Müller in 1882 as a crossing of Riesling and Madeleine Royale. The idea was to get the quality and aromatics of the former and the ease of growth and production of the latter. In the end, it's not quite Riesling, but a very tasty and food friendly wine. After harvest in mid September to October, the grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Aging also occurs in stainless to preserve the freshness and crispness of the wine. In the glass, look for a straw yellow color hints of green- the telltale sign of a cooler growing climate. Floral aromatics, with spice, tropical fruit, and citrus. These continue to the palate, with a dry, crisp medium body touched by minerality. All in, this is a great food friendly wine, a perfect accompaniment to vegetables and lighter fare. $25.98

Eyrie Vineyards 2013 Pinot Gris—Where would we be without Eyrie Vineyards? Founded in 1966 by David Lett and his wife, this historical Oregon winery produced their first vintage in 1970. They were the first to produce Pinot Gris in the US, and the first to plant Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley (against the advice of UC Davis' enology department). This is a luscious wine that will make you forget Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are one and the same. Aromas of pear, melon, orchard fruit, and spice burst from the glass. Look for citrus and tree fruit with a touch of minerality on the medium bodied palate. There is enough acidity retained to leave a fresh, long finish. Eyrie always strives to make a very nuanced and balanced wine and this is a perfect example of their style. $35.98

Héritiers du Comte Lafon 2014 Mâcon-Villages—Dominique Lafon is one of the finest producers in France, and leads the charge in Burgundy with his amazing Meursault and Montrachet wines. In 1999 Dominique took the opportunity to purchase 14 hectare of land in the Mâconnais. With limited access to additional vineyard land in Beaune, this project created more wine from the cellars of Lafon at a reasonable price point. These Mâcon vines have been farmed according to biodynamic principles, with low yields, dense plantings, and attention to detail. The results have been wines with great complexity, vibrant fruit, mineral character, and stunning length. The Héritiers wines get better and better every vintage and have developed into serious Chardonnay wines that demonstrate the potential of the Mâconnais region. The 2014 vintage offers outstanding quality with the White Burgundy showcasing concentration and precision. Awesome value wines! $36.98

 

 

Red

 

Ogier 2012 Syrah d'Ogier—Stephane Ogier is one of the finest producers in France right now, making wines from the Northern Rhône, and more specifically, Côte Rôtie. While this wine is not exactly Côte Rôtie, it is made with the same care and in the same facility as the top wines of this Domaine. Stephane is a young man who spends all day in the vineyards, and for those who have not visited the area we are talking about slopes that can exceed a 60% gradient. The Ogier red wines are based on the Syrah Grape, and offer amazing depth, polish, and balance. Syrah from the Northern Rhône is one of my favorite wines to suggest to customers who like Pinot Noir. These wines share a similar finesse to the wines of Burgundy and pair beautifully with grilled meats. $31.98

Il Colle 2013 Rosso di Montalcino—While many know the joys of Brunello, that most exquisite Tuscan example of the Sangiovese grape in action, many are also familiar with how pricey Brunellos often get. In many cases Brunello’s younger brother, the Rosso di Montalcino, can be a terrific and amazingly affordable stand-in. Typically the second wine from each estate is released slightly earlier, and is sometimes made from younger vines, but other than that the same expertise brought to the high-end wine is also applied lovingly to these approachable and delicious younger wines. We recently discovered this fantastically delicate example from a very small family producer. It shows notes of raspberries, plums, currants and cherries with hints of iris, lavender, violet, licorice, myrtle and rhubarb. An incredibly complex wine with all the definition of a Brunello, but for half the cost! $38.98

Flood 2013 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir Black Label—After the Burgundy Festival in 2013, our owner, Master Sommelier Brett Zimmerman, spoke with Raj Parr about the idea of helping him produce a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara.  Raj graciously helped to assemble a few barrels of Pinot Noir with the help of Sashi Moorman.  Similar in style the the  Sandhi wines, this ‘Black Label’ wine of Flood is a combination of four Sta. Rita Hills vineyard sources: Bent Rock, Rita’s Crown, Mount Carmel, and Wenzlau. The wine is fermented with 25% whole cluster for aromatics and elegance and then matured in 2-3 year old French Oak barrels for 12 months for added flavor and complexity.  Look for bright cherry, raspberry, and a touch of earth on the nose and a richer mouthfeel on the palate.  There were only 50 cases produced, so don’t miss this one! $45.98

The deadline for purchasing wine for the Aspen Moon 

Farm Dinner is
8 PM on Friday, September 18.

Beer

 

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen—It's that time of the year! Oktoberfest is a two plus week long celebration that takes place every year in Munich, Germany. It runs from mid-September until the first weekend in October. Go for the fun, the food, and the beer! Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot beer purity law of 1516 (yes, they are serious, and Germany had a law on the books about how to brew beer for 260 years before America even became a country), this is a great example of the Oktoberfest style. This is a lager, but certainly richer than your standard pils style. Look for rich aromas of malted barley, honey, and hay in the aromatics. On the palate, find a food friendly weight, rich malt, and ample carbonation. Though richer, there is still a crisp finish to the beer owing to the lagering techniques used for centuries in Germany. This is a great example of the style. Please note this is one 500mL bottle. $4.98

Rosé

 

Domaine Saint Aix 2014 'AIX' Rosé—We all buy wines by the look of the label. I am more than happy to admit that I do so, and have heard the same from many customers. This has been one of our best selling rosés three years running now! The label certainly helps it stand out on the shelf, with clean and modern graphic design, but this is one of those bottles whose contents also deliver. Upon opening, look for very pretty aromatics of strawberry, lilac, and lavender. The palate is refreshing and juicy, with a good amount of weight but a fair amount of acidity to balance. Find a touch of minerality and some ripe red cherry on the palate. This is a great summer thirst quencher that pairs well with food or nothing at all, and a great example of what Provencal rosés are all about. $23.98