LOW ROAD WHITE

2016 Nuraghe crabioni vermentino di sardegna $14.79

Island- Sardegna, Italy
Favorite wine alert... Vermentino from Sardenga. We miiiiight be a little biased since we honeymooned here. This particular winery is named for the amazing stone towers built all over the Island. There are thousands still standing from 1900-800 BC. Distinctly Sardegna and distinctly island, this is the original inspiration for the Island shipment.

2015 antichi vinai etna bianco petra lava $18

Amazing deal alert... The active volcano Mount Etna, which erupted just a few months ago, characterizes the distinct soil for which Island wines are often famous. The soil is extremely fertile, rich in minerals and gives it's wines a smoky flavor – yes really. Taste it. Not everyone is a fan of that style (ahem, Sarah) but this one is mild enough to still be distinct, but more of a crowd pleaser. Although the minerality is there, the fruit and body help appeal to a wider audience. Other shops sell this for $25, but hey, we want you to be a fan.

LOW ROAD RED

HIGH ROAD WHITE

HIGH ROAD RED

2014 tascante "ghaia nera" $16.25

Nerello Mascalese is the grape, Tascante Estate is the winery.  Nerello DNA testing says it’s a cross between Sangiovese and another grape, but like all of the Island wines, expect a different slant on a familiar fruit.  The name of the wine "Ghiaia Nera" (Black Gravel) is a not-so-subtle preview of what to
expect.  The tannins have been softened so you can drink it now, but it will sit for a while if you're into that.  We tried it at our nephew Danny's 1st Birthday party and it got thumbs up from the Low Road and High Road Club crews. Danny abstained.

2012 binigrau obac $20.33

Amazing deal alert, part two... This wine probably has a better home in the High Road, but we felt so strongly about it, we lowered the price for this must-try (think $30 elsewhere). It is a Red Blend of local Spanish grapes and traditional Bordeaux varietals.  Cab drinkers will love it.  Try it now and reorder
before we readjust the price.

2014 binigrau nounat $22.50

Presnal is a local Mallorcan grape that is perfect for the warm, island climate. Teamed with Chardonnay, this wine has many layers and ages well (hence the 2014.)  The Presnal spends time in stainless steel and concrete egg, while the Chardonnay sees some French Oak. If you like it, get more while it is affordable, it has gained the attention of Robert Parker (he gave the last vintage 95 pts.)  Salud.

2015 jean-baptise arena "grotte di sole" $36.66

Corsica (France) is less than seven miles from Sardegna (Italy,) so it stands to reason that Vermentinu (same as Vermentino) also does well there. But as we found with all of the Island wines, being an Island castaway over time has given it a highly distinct flavor. We tasted a few Vermentinu from the legendary
Corsican wine making family Arena and this was our fav. Plus, we just found out that Sarah’s great-grandmother was born on Corsica – must be in our blood.

2013 moorooduc estate pinot noir $28.75

Hey Siri, is Australia an Island? We don't allow snobbery in our wine club, and that includes the geographical kind. So twist off the top (yes, it still twists in the same direction) and enjoy that we’re calling this an Island. The winery Moorooduc – “moo,” “roo,” “duc,” is named for the animals on the land – that’s how they roll down under. And for the record, we also think Pluto is a planet.

2014 yves leccia patrimonio e croce $29.85

Niellucciu is the grape, Patrimonio is the region, E Croce is the vineyard. And although the grape is genetically identical to Sangiovese, it tastes nothing like Chianti. Although local producers are making reds and whites, they haven’t quite gained traction in the United States. Corsica is most notable for their
Rose, which accounts for nearly 80% of their exported wine. Shout out to Kermit Lynch in Berkeley, he has been importing non-rose Corsican wines since the 1980s. Fun fact: Yves Leccia’s name means "Oak" in Corsican, but he never lets his wines touch any wood barrels.