LOW ROAD WHITE

2017 Macchialupa Greco di Tufo, $15.63

We just got back from trip to Italy and it was HOT HOT HOT. In Campania, that means drinking the famous white varietals Falanghina (for lunch) and Fiano or Greco di Tufo for dinner. Think a beautiful mixture of fruit and acid, suitable for sipping or pairing with summer foods. You had me at Low Road Greco di Tufo. (Psst… we also stumbled across a fourth regional white called Coda di Volpe and a few cases fell in our suitcase. At $12.50, let us know if you’re interested.) 

2017 Vidal + Vidal Verdejo “La Seca”, $14.69

Have I seen you here before? You may recognize the orange label from our August Club parties, school fundraisers, and summer happy hours. This Spanish Verdejo comes from old vines on an 80-year old, dry farmed vineyard in the town of La Seca (meaning… wait for it, “the dry.”) It’s crisp, unique, and better yet, affordable. Nice to meet you. And… the importer recommends pairing it with Crayfish, which we love.

LOW ROAD RED

HIGH ROAD WHITE

HIGH ROAD RED

Il Molina di Grace Chianti Classico DOCG, $17.86

So, Club member Rick introduces me to a childhood friend of his who runs a family winery in Panzano in Chianti. And now, he’s a friend of ours, so we stopped for a visit. Look for the little black chicken sticker representing the Chianti Classico DOCG. That chicken has been a thing for 300 years and this land has been a vineyard for longer than that. Lacopo, the managing director, told us about dry farming, being certified organic and about their pristine respect for the traditions of the area. Enter their return to producing a Classico that is 100% Sangiovese, instead of the formerly trendy 20% blending grapes. High Road, All Red members will be also be getting the Gran Selezione (the new classification above Riserva) for $37.50. FOMO? We’ll have a few bottles if you want to try that too. It’s good to know a guy. 

2016 August Kesseler, The Daily August, Pinot Noir, $17.50

Winery: August Kesseler. Wine: The Daily August. Shipment: August. It was in the cards. 
Kesseler specializes in gorgeous Rieslings and Pinots (which might land him in future High Road fame,) but to wind down summer, we chose this screw top, 100% Pinot, deck drinker. Gulp. Yes, Sarah says add a chill. I even agree a little. If you want something for dinner, check out the German Pinot in the High Road.

2017 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis, $25.31

Picture it. A Chardonnay-style scale of 1-10 with California butter bombs (think Rombauer) as the 10 and Chablis (think drinking a glass of rocks) as the 1. And now call this wine a 3. It has a medium body, an acidity (pucker!) and the unique flinty-ness of a typical Chablis. It is an impressive white that we think is perfect for a high-end lunch or a summer dinner outside.

2017 Suavia Monte Carbonare SOave Classico DOC, $24.38

Garganega is the grape, Monte Carbonare is the hill. Named “coal” for the black, volcanic soil (not Carbonara of bacon and egg fame). Made in 100% stainless steel to keep the representation pure, the family calls this wine “earth in a glass.” Plus, we think the squatty black bottle is cool. Drink with fish, mushroom dishes, or (perche no?), bacon and egg pasta.

2016 Weingut Wittmann Rotwein Trocken Spatburgunder, $23.63

For the non-German speakers in da’haus. Weingut = winery, Wittmann = producer, Rotwein = Red Wine, Trocken = Dry, and Spatburgunder = Pinot Noir from Germany. Only France and the United States outproduce Germany in Pinot, so it is fitting that we introduce it to the club with both Low Road and High Road. The Wittmann family has been making wine for 15 generations and 350 years. The recent generations have been pioneers in organic and biodynamic farming.

2015 Podere San Cristoforo Petite Verdot Super Tuscan, $37.50

It’s baaaack. We had the 2103 waaay back in our first delivery and this 2015 as a fill-in for some of you “red only” members. Now the whole club gets it. Maremma, the region, is a coastal climate that makes the Sangiovese very distinct when compared to Chianti or Montalcino – think Sonoma Coast versus Sonoma Valley. It also makes a 100% Petite Verdot possible (usually it’s a blending grape). We visited the winemaker, Nicolo, for a tour and tasting this month and tasted future vintages. This is one of our favorite wines in the world, you may see it again someday.