LOW ROAD WHITE

2022 Columna Albarino $16.89

This is a no-brainer repeat wine. Previous vintages have been popular at the TASTE! Party, the blind tasting group, and it is the second time we are using it in the Low Road. Unoaked, so you can taste the granite soil and pear flavor, and 12.5% alcohol so you can have a second (bottle) with lunch. For dinner Albarino, check out the High Road.

2021 Gritsch Mauritiushof Gruner Veltiner Kirchpoint Federspiel $18.56

Mauritiushof is a building or property used as a reading room for 13th century monks. But not that type of reading room. A mauritiushof was like a cooperative winery where different grape growers would bring their fruit to be made into wine. The Gritsch family acquired it in 1799 and seven generations later, they are still making wine there. The pepper, the acidity, and a light effervescence tickle the tongue. If the super tall bottle looks familiar, we’ve had a single vineyard, High Road version before.

LOW ROAD RED

2020 Crocus Malbec L’Atelier $16.10

Paul Hobbs is famous for taking what he learned at UC Davis and elevating wine around the world, most notably Malbec in Argentina. The history of Cahors, the birthplace of Malbec, is full of wars, frost, and disease. So, Bertrand Gabriel Vigouroux’s ancestors have been planting, replanting, and perfecting Malbec in the region since 1887. This wine is the Low Road version of what happens when these two legends team up to make modern Malbec.

2021 Vannieres Heritage Rouge $14.08

This is a young, fresh red wine made of Mourvedre and Grenache by a Bandol producer, but juuuust outside the legal geographic boundary of the appellation. Serve with a slight chill (if you’re into that) and enjoy it with lunch.

HIGH ROAD WHITE

2022 Forge Riesling, Peach Orchard $23.46 

The Pace Picante Sauce commercials in the early 1990s taught me not to get my salsa from New York City (NEW YORK CITY!?!)  So it is hard for me to imagine getting wine from there. Unlessssss…. it’s a bone-dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes. If you think you don’t like Riesling, or that it is too sweet, don’t be afraid. Treat it as you would your other white wines. This is a delicious wine with good fruit, followed by great acid (think pucker), and a dry finish that makes you want to take another sip.  

2020 La Cana Navia Albarino $25.60

This is like no other Albarino that we’ve had. It shows the bright fruit and acidity that you love (and you can get in the Low Road) with age and wood (oak or chestnut), in a ridiculously heavy bottle. This is an impressive, creamy, dinner-Albarino that could be mistaken for an interesting Chardonnay. 

HIGH ROAD RED

2020 La Ca Nova Langhe Nebbiolo $24.96

Sure, you keep seeing La Ca Nova in our deliveres, but we’re not crazy. We bought this wine six months ago because it would not have been available now. The winery makes consistently delicious, organic Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto for a price that everyone in the business agrees is too low. I did a quick search and it is sold out everywhere (except one store charging 30% more.)  If you like it, order more soon, because we haven’t just been hoarding it for six months, we’ve been drinking it. Oops, we did it again.

2020 Januik Cabernet $30

For a long time, California Cabernets have been getting riper and more alcoholic with tons of new American Oak. They are world class (no doubt) and we love drinking them on holidays, but for an everyday Cabernet, it’s tough to beat Washington. The climate, soil, French oak, and blend of other grapes makes this a great middle ground between the New and Old World. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec