March 15, 2015 – April 14, 2015

Strong Dollar ⁄ Better Euro Values

This is shaping up as a very good year to buy European wines. The strengthening dollar is lowering prices all over the Eurozone. Here are some thoroughly delicious reds.

Minervois
Massiac Minervois Sentinelle 2013 Minervois ‘Sentinelle’ (Massiac)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Most Minervois is dominated by the Carignan grape, but producers are finding that Syrah has great potential there. Sentinelle de Massiac is two-thirds Syrah and one-third Carignan. This delivers a spicy, rich red with an earthy, dry finish.

Tinto Fino
2011 Ribera del Duero (Emilio Moro)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Ribera del Duero has emerged as a world-class wine region, with prices to match. Emilio Moro makes some great wines with great price tags, but we think the sweet spot for their wines is this Crianza. The vines are sufficiently old, they gently extract the juice over a 23-day maceration without cold treatments (which can over-extract), and the wine spends 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. The result in 2011 is a deep and elegant red that incorporates the structure of the Tempranillo, the flavors of the oak, and the ripeness of the fruit. This big, balanced red is perfect for a rack of lamb along with roasted rosemary and garlic potatoes.

Biodynamic Rhône
2012 Côtes du Rhône (Montirius)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Montirius Côtes du Rhône The 2012 Montirius is a graceful mix of Grenache (65%) and Syrah with round, pleasing fruit. By no means is this a heavyweight red, rather it is perfectly balanced for a roast chicken dish or a tomato-based fish stew.

Il Frappato
2013 Vittoria Frappato (Valle dell’Acate)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Valle dell'Acate Vittoria Frappato Modern Sicilian wine has come a long way, and to our tastes Frappato has been the wine we can’t get enough of and Valle dell’Acate the winery that delivers it at an outstanding value. The 2013 is bright and fresh with amazingly ripe and delicate fruit. The palate is soft and mellow, the finish firm and dry. This is a versatile red that will pair equally well with salmon or with a pasta bolognese.

Chianti
2010 Chianti Classico ‘Argenina’ (Podere Il Palazzino)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Podere Il Palazzino Argenina Chianti Classico Podere Il Palazzino, located in the township of Gaiole, produces some of the richest, most fragrant Chianti Classicos. The 2010 Argenina is packed with raspberry fruit and scents of iris and violet. The ruby color is itself amazing, as is the depth of flavor on the palate. Open the bottle for an hour before drinking and serve with a beautiful Porterhouse steak rubbed with garlic and drizzled with olive oil.

Sunny Garnacha
Cellers Baronia del Montsant Flor d’Englora Montsant 2011 Montsant ‘Flor d’Englora’ (Cellers Baronia del Montsant)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Montsant is a young Catalan denominacio carved out of the Tarragona zone and en-circling Priorat. Flor d’Englora is a great-value, sunny straightforward Mediterranean Garnacha. This deep red bursts with ripe red fruits and smoky, tangy spice. Try this with a pork chop Cajun-style resting alongside some grilled eggplant.

Listed prices are honored through April 14th, 2015. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 39, No. 4

First Rosé of Spring
2014 Pays d’Oc Rosé ‘Bila-Haut’ (Chapoutier)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Chapoutier Bila-Haut Pays d’Oc Rosé The Chapoutier property in Roussillon is making some amazing value wines. The Rosé is a good place to start. The 2014 is crisp and dry with a zesty citrus-rind flavor along with a hint of peach. Great with chicken wings à la Buffalo.

Les Pouches
2014 Saumur Blanc ‘Les Pouches’ (Cave de Saumur)
Sale Price $10.99 – $112.10 case of twelve
Cave de Saumur Les Pouches Saumur Blanc Chenin Blanc is a beguiling grape. It can make wines that range from dry to sweet and from still to petillant to very bubbly. The 2014 Saumur ‘Les Pouches’ amazes with its strength of concentration, totally dry character, and long, lean finish. All this at 11.5% alcohol. This weightless yet strong dry white will pair well with spicy fish dishes.

Super Cool Soave
2013 Soave Classico (Inama)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Cave de Saumur Les Pouches Saumur Blanc Believe it or not Soave is capable of making great white wine. The original Classico zone, with its restricted yields and reliance on the high quality Garganega grape, produces a more concentrated wine. The 2013 Inama is a case in point. This has ample concentration of aromas and flavors of ripe hay and pears with exceptional balance of fruity and dry. Plus a very impressive finish. It’s really amazing for the price.

Granbazan Ambar Rias Baixas Albariño With Crabs
2013 Rias Baixas Albariño ‘Ambar’ (Granbazan)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Spain’s northwest province of Galicia is seafood country, and with this bounty comes Albariño, a great seafood wine. The 2013 Ambar from Granbazan is an aromatic, rich, flowing white with gorgeous peach fruit along with aromas of spring blossoms and a hint of salty sea air. Try this with crab of any preparation.

Sonoma Fumé
Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc 2013 Fumé Blanc (Ferrari-Carano)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Ferrari-Carano makes their Sauvignon Blanc is an unabashedly pure California style. By using a combination of wine aged in oak and in stainless steel they craft a Fumé Blanc that is moderate in oak and copious in fruit and body. This is a fine white for seafood and vegetable curries.

AVV CAB
2012 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
(Alexander Valley Vineyards)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon For fifty years strong the Wetzel family has been growing grapes in the Alexander Valley. This Cabernet Sauvignon originated in 1975 and it’s a healthy grown-up Meritage wine now with the inclusion of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The 2012 is a generous wine with graceful tannins, mellow dark fruit, and subtle oak. At $17.99 this is a great buy for an estate-grown stylish California Cabernet Sauvignon. Get that grill ready and grab some prime beef.

One Big Beer
Founders Blushing Monk Belgian Style Ale 2015 Belgian Style Ale ‘Blushing Monk’ (Founders)
Sale Price $15.99 per 750 ml – $172.70 of twelve
Founders Brewery out of Grand Rapids, Michigan has made a Belgian Style Ale that is a perfect dose of springtime. The Blushing Monk is a full-flavored, raspberry-infused ale that has a beautiful light red color, great aromas of fruit and hops, and a nice sour finish. This is definitely a ‘food’ beer, meaning you can and should try it with all kinds of cuisine or have it with your Easter dinner.

The Very Classy
2013 Viré-Clessé ‘Vieilles Vignes’ (Pascal Bonhomme)
Sale Price $24.99 – $254.90 case of twelve
Pascal Bonhomme Vieilles Vignes Viré-Clessé The finest white Burgundies are conventionally identified with fine dining. Think Montrachet.
Fortunately there are other not-so-expensive fine white Burgundies that appeal to hearty foods. The Viré-Clessé from Pascal Bonhomme has become a favorite for its rich concentration of fruit, its taut acidity, and its crisp, minerally finish. The 2013 is superb.

Karthäuserhof Ruwer Trocken
2012 Riesling Trocken (Karthäuserhof)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
Karthäuserhof Ruwer Riesling Trocken There are so many wines from great Riesling vineyards along German rivers that it’s difficult to have a favorite, but this dry version from Karthäuserhof is our favorite in store. While it may appear expensive, it is rather cheap when compared to wines from other more famous houses. Its real strength is at the table, where it shines with all kinds of food, from sweet, salty, spicy Thai to simple fish dishes and mixed salads.

Specialty Foods

Ashleigh $15.99 per lb.
(Regular price $17.99)
From Spring Brook Farm in Reading, Vermont, the Ashleigh
is a tribute to the well-known French cheese Morbier, made from unpasteurized cow’s milk with the signature streak of vegetable ash through the center, semi-firm, and slightly pungent. It’s interesting to compare with Secret De Scey, a pasteurized French version of Morbier. Another notable and new-to-us cheese from Spring Brook Farm is the Windsor Tomme, which with its dusty gray rind and yellow eye-laden paste resembles a Tomme de Savoie.

Nettle Meadow Chèvre $5.99 per five oz cup
(Regular price $6.99)
Nettle Meadow Chèvre cheese Here’s a light and slightly crumbly hand-packed chèvre in a variety of interesting and versatile flavors. Nettle Meadow Farm suggests using the Garlic and Oil Chèvre on a pizza or as an alternative to ricotta in Lasagna; and serving the Honey Lavender with fresh fruit or in crepes. However they stand alone and are perhaps best enjoyed with a fresh baguette and glass of white wine. Nettle Meadow Farm is a goat and sheep dairy and artisan cheese company in Thurman, NY. They use natural and organic ingredients in their products and are invested in the well-being of their 300 goats, dozens of sheep, and a variety of farm sanctuary animals.

Robiola Bosina $17.99 per lb.
(Regular price $19.99)
Caseificio dell’Alta Langa Robiola Bosina cheese A very approachable and versatile two-milk robiola produced by the Caseificio dell’Alta Langa dairy in Piedmont. Made from
pasteurized cow’s and sheep’s milk in a square format with a bloomy white rind and creamy, delicately flavored paste, this has delicious richness owing to its higher fat content (57% compared to 45% for a typical brie).

Point Reyes Toma $16.99 per lb.
(Regular price $18.99)
Point Reyes Toma cheese A farmstead cheese from Point Reyes, California. Mild and semi-hard, made from pasteurized cow’s milk with vegetarian rennet, it has a creamy, buttery flavor with a grassy finish. A perfect table cheese loved by children and adults alike, this pairs well with both sweet and savory foods: fig jam, honey, balsamic syrup; hop-heavy beers, pinot noir, even scotch.

Wines of the Month — March 15, 2015 through April 14, 2015

2011 Marche Rosso ‘Catò’ (Fontezoppa)
Sale Price $7.99 – $86.29 case of twelve
Catò is a blend of Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Merlot. Aged in barrel for one year it shows rich, red fruits and a smooth long finish.

2013 Picpoul de Pinet (Domaine Félines Jourdan)
Sale Price $8.99 – $97.09 case of twelve
This full-flavored dry French white is perfect for simple fish dishes or chicken stew with leeks and root vegetables.

Di Filippo Colli Martani Grechetto 2014 Colli Martani Grechetto (Di Filippo)
Sale Price $9.99 – $107.89 case of twelve
This flinty, bone-dry Umbrian white will match well with
seafood pasta dishes.

Vignerons de Caractere A l’Ombre des Fontaines Côtes du Rhône 2013 Côtes du Rhône ‘A l’Ombre des Fontaines’ (Vignerons de Caractere)
Sale Price $9.99 – $107.89 case of twelve
This earthy, dry mix of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan will match well with a shepherd’s pie – or with spicy Indian food.

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Wines of the Month — March 15, 2015 through April 14, 2015