August 2015

LOW ROAD

NV Sorelle Bronca Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Extra Dry $15.84
Neighbor Mandy loves bubbles!  Named for the sisters (sorelle) who make it, at this price point, we think an extra dry Italian prosecco is the unbeatable option.  Drink it, prosecco is better fresh.  True.

2014 Piero Mancini, Vermentino di Gallura, $13.33
We were first introduced to Vermentino on our honeymoon in Sardegna.  It's a dry and fruity wine, but its uniqueness is in its fullness, it can stand up for sipping or with food.  It's delicious and unlike anything we have locally.

2010 Monte Schiavo Verdicchio 'Pallio di San Floriano', $16.66
My stepmom requested a good Verdicchio, and this delivers.  Coincidentally, it's from the Italian region of Le Marche, about ten kilometers from where my family still lives today.

2013 Casali Maniago Sauvignon, $16.25
This is a light, dry Savignon (in many Italian regions, including the Fruili region, they leave off the "blanc," but it's the same grape.)  We tasted and immediately assumed it would find a home in the high-road case, but Blaine gave us such a good deal, you low roaders are in for a treat.

2014 Charles Bove Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, $13.33
This was the first wine we tasted for the Club.  It was a head turner.  We're not typically French wine drinkers and at the price, it's an incredibly drinkable summer wine.  Plus, it's a screw top.  We love an unpretentious find.

2014 Le Fraghe, Bardoline Chiaretto Rosato, $13.34
Chiaretto is the classic Rose from Lake Garda.  It's color is lighter than a typical rose because it's largely from the Corvina grape.  It's still warm enough to enjoy a refreshing rose, if you can't find a sunny spot, call me.

2009 Cantine Dolianova Cannonau Riserva 'Blasio', $19.17
This was another highlight of our honeymoon.  Cannonau is a big, classic Italian red, native to Sardegna. Our distributor named it as a favorite for California wine fans.  In fact, it drinks so well that we originally planned to put it in the high-road delivery, but the price was just too good.  My Dad called it the most classic Italian wine he's had in years, but give it time open up to experience it fully.

2011 Fattoria Montellori Chianti, $15.62
Two things attracted us to this wine.  First, our neighbor Kevin was looking for an affordable, classic Tuesday night Chianti that didn't come in a straw "fiasco" basket.  This is it.  Second, the soil where these vines grow was once covered in sea water.  Fast forward 15 million years and the ground looks more like a bed of rocks and fossilized sea shells than it does the rich, dark dirt you're accustomed to seeing.  We needed two cases for the Club, but we enjoyed it so much that we ordered an extra for ourselves.  Let us know if you want to do the same.

2013 Richou Anjou Rouge Les 4 Chemins, $15
This organic, "bistro-style" red (to read: affordable and good with food) is 80% cab franc and 20% cab sauvignon.  This is your everyday French red, comparable to the Italian Chianti.  We think it would be excellent with a slight chill and a side of frites.

2012 Hautes Cances Cairanne Tradition, $16.67
If the idea of a single region French wine appeals to you, this is an excellent price point for its taste.  It's an organic, Grenache based, full-bodied southern Rhone.

2012 Antugnac Limoux Blanc Terres Amoreuses, $18.33
This white found itself on the higher end of the low-road wines.  It's 85% chardonnay and 15% mauzac (we'd never heard of that one either), but apparently it's the local favorite for acidity and aroma.  It's a hand-picked, small production wine that we consider a great find.

2013 Podere San Cristoforo "Baci" Sangiovese Maremma Toscana, $12.50
This wine comes from the San Cristoforo winery, where we found our high-road Super Tuscan.  This is their recommended everyday red.  The price is right and it's named "kisses." Pucker up.

HIGH ROAD

NV Monthuys Champagne Brut Reserve, $27.50
For the high-road bubbles, nothing beats a champagne.  Wine Spectator gave it 90 points, so skip the orange juice and enjoy.

2014 Domaine de Rimauresq Cotes de Provence,  $16.25
We love the comeback of the pink wines!  There are only 12 Domaine with the Cru Classe nomination - and this is one of them.  It's also touted as one of the top French roses available in California.

2013 San Michele Appiano, Savignon 'Lahn', $22.50
We were surprised at tasting - pleasantly!  It's very polished for an Italian white, more typical of the California style that we're used to.

2011 Villa Raiano Fiano di Avellino, $20.84
This grape is grown only in Campania and Silicy, so of course, the Italians recommend you eat it with fish.  We disagreed.  We found the Fiano to be a big, full white, and a unique substitute for a high-end Chardonnay, just as our neighbor Clark requested.   Because this is an "ageable" wine, we chose a vintage that was a few years older so you get the aged quality if you drink it now.  If you're a fan and want more to keep for a while, we'd recommend trying the younger vintages.  They're equally beautiful.

2013 Merlin Cherrier Sancerre Le Chene Marchand, $27.50
This beauty is a single-vineyard sauvignon blanc, which simply means that all the grapes come from the same spot.  Proponents say this lets the grower give individual attention to a particular grape, making "single vineyard" a mark of quality. Opponents say it just makes it more expensive.  We say, try it, you'll like it.

2012 Lavernette Pouilly-Fuisse Vers Chane, $31.67
My tasting notes on this one are simply a smiley face.  This gorgeous single vineyard white burgundy has all the butter of a big white, with the perfect balance of acidity to keep it from the overly buttered California chards.  This small producer has been making wines since at least the 1600s.  Get ready to smile.

2012 Costa d'Amalfi Aliseo, $17.50
This was a last-minute replacement for a wine that got stuck at the Port!  Luckily, it's a stellar sixth man.  Only 200 cases of this wine are made per year.  We've seen this producer most recently at A16 (shh, for $40), so light up your wood-fired oven and enjoy.

2010 Carlo Giacosa Barbaresco 'Narin', $40
Nebbiolo is the grape (Jeff's favorite), but if that doesn't sell you, the Piemonte region continues to be recognized for their 2010 vintage.  We had the choice to buy this or the 2006 for $5 more.  We chose the 2010 to give you the option to drink it now or age it yourself (no rush - it's a keeper!)  If you like this and want to try the 2006, we can make it happen.  Like this and want Barolo?  Let's talk.

2012 Bachelet-Monnot Maranges Premier Cru La Frussiere Rouge, $31.67
This French Pinot Noir is a premier cru single vineyard red Burgundy.  It's a good wine for drinking now, but it's also a gem to tuck away for aging.  2012 was a great year for red Burgundy.  Wine Spectator awarded it 90 points.

2013 Pierre Jean Villa Crozes-Hermitage Accroche Couer, $28.33
This Rhone is very different from a California Syrah, but it's the same grape.  French wines are highly regionalized in their styles.  This particular wine is from the northern Rhone valley.

2012 Mathieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $34.17
This is also a Rhone, but it's a classic southern Rhone valley style, meaning it's a Grenache base, with a blend of all 13 of the region’s traditional varietals.  In this year, Wine Spectator gave southern Rhone wines 93 points.  It will drink well now, but if you're waiting for a special occasion, it also a keeper.

2012 San Cristoforo, Petit Verdot Maremma Toscana, $37.50
Super Tuscan!  From the pros of Italy, the region of Tuscany, this is 100% petit verdot (yes, in Italy.)