May 15, 2015 – June 14, 2015

The Whites of Spring

Spring has finally sprung. Floral scents abound. Asparagus is on every menu. Here are the wines (and the cider) for the deliciousness that is Spring.

Versatile Vermentino
Marco Zanatta Vermentino di Sardegna 2013 Vermentino di Sardegna (Marco Zanatta)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
This Vermentino from Sardinia opens with aromas of lavender and ripe pears and builds to a mouthfilling dry finish. Marco Zanatta’s 2013 will be a lovely match with a lemony fish risotto.

Gavi Marches with Elegance
2013 Gavi (del Comune di Gavi) (Cá da Meo)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
Cá da Meo Gavi del Comune di Gavi In the ‘60s and ‘70s Gavi rocketed to the top of the price list for Italian whites. Now other Italian wine regions produce equally fresh and lively whites and Gavi has settled into its niche as Piedmont’s ever-reliable dry white. The Cortese grape variety is well represented here by Cá da Meo, in a wine with ample body, crisp, dry fruit, and a mineral-flecked finish.

Silex
2014 Pouilly-Fumé ‘Cuvée S’ (Hubert Veneau)
Sale Price $24.99 – $254.90 case of twelve
Hubert Veneau Pouilly-Fumé ‘Cuvée S’ Growers in the Pouilly-Fumé
appellation still have to live in the very large shadow of the late, great Didier Dagenau, whose wines were as big as his personality, with prices to match. Hubert Veneau shares Dagenau’s love of Silex, the quartz soils that make racy Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. His 2014 ‘Cuvée S’ is Sauvignon Blanc grown in pure Silex. It’s a geological dream of a wine, with an underground stream of minerals and ripe, round concentration. This is a top wine from the appellation without the over-the-top price.

Touraine on Track
2014 Touraine Sauvignon (Francois Chidaine)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.50 case of twelve
Francois Chidaine Touraine Sauvignon The previous three harvests for Francois Chidaine were brutal. Finally 2014 arrived and delivered a better than average harvest of sound ripe grapes, which Francois transformed into this crisp dry Sauvignon Blanc and the lovely Rosé on the next page. This is fresh and lively, with citrus and hay flavors. Have this with a sautéed sole along with a platter of asparagus.

Muscadet à la Marc
2014 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (Domaine de la Pépière)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine When we tasted this wine with Marc Ollivier in February he seemed very happy with the 2014 harvest. Having tasted almost every vintage Domaine de la Pépière has ever produced, we had to agree. The wine is a joyous expression of the Melon de Bourgogne grape grown in granitic soils. And did you see the price? What an amazing value. Muscadet goes with everything!

North of the Line
Cidre de Thiérache (Clos de la Fontaine Hugo)
Sale Price $9.99 – $107.90 case of twelve
Clos de la Fontaine Hugo Cidre de Thiérache There is a line through France, to the south of which it is possible to grow grapes; north of the line is better to grow apples. Thiéarche is a village north of the city of Reims, near the Belgian border. Clos de la Fontaine Hugo makes a bracing Brut in unpasteurized cider here that is fizzy, full flavored, and food-friendly at only five percent alcohol. We love our local New England ciders, but this cidre Français is a completely delicious bargain.

Listed prices are honored through May 14th, 2015. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 39, No. 6

The Rosé Revolution – 8 Pinks That Rock the Spring
With only a few exceptions rosés are great bargains, and now with a stronger dollar we can offer some of our favorite rosés at even better prices.

Armas de Guerra Bierzo Rosado Bierzo
2014 Bierzo Rosado (Armas de Guerra)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
This Spanish rosado was a breakout hit last year and it’s even better this year. The Mencia grape variety is spicy and packed with minerals. The 2014 is rich and dry. Have with a plate of Jamon.

Costières de Nîmes
2014 Costières de Nîmes Rosé ‘Galets Rosés’ (Château Mourgues du Grès)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Château Mourgues du Grès Costières de Nîmes Rosé ‘Galets Rosés’ The Costières de Nîmes is as well-suited to rosé production as its neighbor to the east, Provence. The ‘Galets Rosés’ from Mourgues du Grès’ is the ‘rocky pink’ wine made mostly from Syrah from a vineyard of rocky glacial remnants. The 2014 is dry and loaded with raspberry fruit and peppery spice.

Gascogne
Domaine de Millet Côtes de Gascogne Rosé 2014 Côtes de Gascogne Rosé (Domaine de Millet)
Sale Price $8.99 – $91.70 case of twelve
Domaine de Millet’s Gasgogne rosé is a pine forest scented, substantial wine with ample spice and fruit. The blend is equal parts Egiodola (a Basque hybrid) and Syrah.

Lamé Delisle Boucard Bourgueil Rosé Bourgueil
2014 Bourgueil Rosé (Lamé Delisle Boucard)
Sale Price $9.99 – $101.90 case of twelve
Lamé Delisle Boucard is our favorite triple-decker family producer in Bourgueil. Their 2014 Cabernet Franc rosé is crisp, bone dry, and persistent.

Touraine
2014 Touraine Rosé (Francois Chidaine)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.50 case of twelve
Francois Chidaine Touraine Rosé Francois Chidaine jams a lot of flavor and body into all of his wines, and his 2014 Touraine Rosé mix of Grolleau and Pinot Noir follows suit. Have this explosively full wine with spicy Indian foods.

Vendômois
Patrice Colin Coteaux du Vendômois ‘Gris Bodin’ 2014 Coteaux du Vendômois ‘Gris Bodin’ (Patrice Colin)
Sale Price $13.99 – $142.70 case of twelve
We finally visited the Colins’ impressive carved-into-the-rock winery in February. Equally impressive was the 90-year-old Pineau d’Aunis vines they use to make their ‘Gris Bodin.’ The Colins don’t call this wine a rosé. Instead it is a ‘gris’. We don’t argue because the 2014 has special powers. Its depth and spice are incredible.

Provence
2014 Côtes de Provence ‘Corail’ (Château de Roquefort)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Château de Roquefort ‘Corail’ Côtes de Provence Provence is getting a lot of competition these days for the pink dollar, but Château de Roquefort’s ‘Corail’ is still an impressive value. This eclectic blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Vermentino, and Clairette is an enchanting daydream of Mediterranean sunshine beside a cool spring-fed river.

Sancerre
2014 Sancerre Rosé ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ (Henri Bourgeois)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Henri Bourgeois ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Sancerre Rosé This new young-vine bottling from Henri Bourgeois allows us to offer a terrific Sancerre rosé at a very fair price. This pure Pinot Noir is crisp and racy, like a rosé Champagne without the bubbles. Great with a cream-sauced seared salmon filet.

Sale Dates

Quarterly Sale #2 of 2015 begins Friday May 22nd and runs through Sunday May 31st.
Details: 10% off six bottles; 20% off twelve bottles. Wines of the Month (back page), fortified wines (Port, Sherry, Vermouth, etc.) and sparkling wines may be included for a 10% discount. Blue tagged (NET) wines and jug wines (1.5L and 3L) are excluded.

Douro
2011 Douro (Quinta do Infantado)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Quinta do Infantado Douro 2011 is a miraculous vintage in the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal. Port is the economic mainstay of the Douro, but dry wines are getting more attention
because of the high quality and incredible variety of the red grapes. The 2011 Quinta do Infantado, a foot-trodden blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinto Roriz, is an earthy, spicy dry red with a long, elegant spine of dark cherry fruit supported by firm ripe tannins.

Langhe Rosso
2013 Langhe Rosso ‘Cino’ (Cascina Ballarin)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
Cascina Ballarin ‘Cino’ Langhe Rosso This food-friendly blend of Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Dolcetto is a great introduction to Piedmontese wines. It will go well with all manner of risotto and grilled meats.

Chinon
2014 Chinon (Clos de la Lysardière)
Sale Price $11.99 – $122.30 case of twelve
By now you know that we are big fans of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. The Clos de la Lysardière Chinon has spicy raspberry fruit and a keenly structured, dry finish. This is our go-to red wine with fish suggestion. And an absolute best value.

Saint Emilion
2010 Saint Emilion (Château Haut Lavergne)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Château Haut Lavergne Saint Emilion The 2010 Château Haut-Lavergne is a remarkably solid Saint-Emilion at a throwback price. The blend of Merlot (85%) plus Cabernet(s) comes from a sand and gravel soil augmented by a little clay. This combination makes precocious Bordeaux with graceful tannins, glazed plum fruit, and an earthy, dry finish.

Klara
Dortmund Style Lager ‘Klara’ (Idle Hands)
Sale Price $4.95 per 500ml –$54.99 case of twelve
Making lagers is a little more time-consuming than producing ales, so when a great lager comes our way we take note. Idle Hands, our neighbors in Everett, produce an exceptional Dortmund-style lager called Klara. This lager takes five weeks to brew, includes three types of malt and four kinds of hops. Malt gives the opening flavors and continues throughout, while the hops add spice and dryness without taking over like a hoppy IPA. So this is bold, lightly colored, malty lager with a clean, crisp finish. Klara? Klara!.

Specialty Foods

Mystic Cheese Sea Change $6.99 per piece (Regular price $7.99)
Mystic Cheese Sea Change cheese This Italian Stracchino-style cheese from Mystic Cheese Company in Connecticut takes its name from a phrase in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. These individually wrapped four-ounce discs of yeast- ripened cow’s milk cheese are soft, buttery, and mild, with a fruity, lactic, and yeasty aroma.

La Quercia Nduja $6.99 per piece (Regular price $7.99)
Spicy spreadable salami from La Quercia in Iowa. Made from antibiotic-free, family farm raised, and vegetarian-fed stock. You will probably want to put this on everything: pasta sauce, pizza, tacos, grilled cheese – or just serve it on a baguette, it’s that good!

Taleggio Reserva $12.99 per lb.
(Regular price $15.99)
One of the world’s oldest soft cheeses, having been produced since at least the tenth century in Italy’s Lombardy region, Taleggio is a washed rind cow’s milk cheese with a strong aroma and full flavor. Buttery, sweet, and fruity, with a hint of roasted nuts, this pairs well with robust wines and makes an excellent dessert cheese.

Denmark’s Tradition Havarti cheese Denmark’s Tradition Havarti $10.99 per lb.
(Regular price $11.99)
From Denmark’s Tradition, a company established in 2010 with a focus on renewing the classic cheeses of Denmark. To make this Havarti, smear-ripened pasteurized cow’s milk is aged until a gentle nuttiness emerges. The result is semi-firm and fissure-laden, buttery and nutty, with a little funk. Well worth a try, this is far from the run-of-the-mill, mild grocery store version!

Wines of the Month — May 15, 2015 through June 14, 2015

Le Grand Saint Vincent Touraine Sauvignon 2014 Touraine Sauvignon (Le Grand St. Vincent)
Sale Price $9.99 – $107.89 case of twelve
Le Grand St. Vincent is a classic Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc with aromatic citrus fruit and a clean zesty finish. Great for seafood.

2012 Toscana Rosso ‘Carato’ (Erik Banti)
Sale Price $7.99 – $86.29 case of twelve
A couple of months ago the supply of Carato ended almost as soon as we put it on sale. So here we go again, but this time with inventory. This is our best bargain in Tuscan Sangiovese.

Cour de Rohan Gamay Rosé 2014 Gamay Rosé (Cour de Rohan)
Sale Price $7.99 – $86.29 case of twelve
Cour de Rohan’s charming 2014 Gamay Rosé is packed with strawberry fruit and a spicy dry finish. Great with salads and goat cheeses.

2013 Grenache (Le Paradou)
Sale Price $9.99 – $107.89 case of twelve
This sun-soaked Languedoc Grenache is ripe and fruity yet earthy and dry. Have this with grilled chicken and potato salad.

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Sale Dates

Specialty Foods

Wines of the Month — May 15, 2015 through June 14, 2015