LOW ROAD WHITE

2015 Primosic Malvasia Istriana $14.62

The family winery goes back to the late 1800s. Situated on the border of Italy and Slovenia, the property was on the front lines of both World Wars. The family had to flee and the vineyards were destroyed - twice. After WWII, the family came back, cleaned up and replanted. Jeff had lunch with the grandson of the founder, Marko Primosic while he was in town launching his wines into California. You can drink it as a summer white, but it has a nice body that elevates it above your typical day drinker. The price makes this one - great value. *We also have their Orange Wine, which is so unique, if you're up for trying the opposite of rose, let us know.*

2013 Silver Horse Cuatro Blanc $17.50

California Wine?  Sure, we love it, but it doesn't typically make the cut as a Club wine. We spring breaked in Avila Beach, where we stumbled on a historic school house on the highway. Silver Horse is pretty much a one man show, specializing in Spanish and Portuguese varietals grown in and around Paso Robles. Club members Kevin, Meredith, Jen and Jake agreed that we loved his Albariños, but we couldn't agree on the vintage, but everybody agreed on the Cuatro Blanc. The blend is Albariño, Garnacha Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Viognier, and amazingly, you can really taste the different grapes and the complexity of the blend as the wine changes temperature. If you're up for an exercise in patience, try it. Chill it for refreshing, crisp, lunch wine or let it warm up for dinner and enjoy the length

LOW ROAD RED

HIGH ROAD WHITE

HIGH ROAD RED

2013 R.O.Q Corp R-OH $16.25

Manuel Cerdes was a sheep herder and aspiring winemaker in Mallorca. He would always take his wine for the top chef at a fancy restaurant in Mallorca to try. The chef would shoo him away and say, "Get out of here you stinky sheep herder!"  Eventually, the Chef agreed to try the stinky sheep herder's wine, loved it and began pouring the wine at his restaurant. As the sheep herder became more successful in his local island home, he decided to pursue his dream of producing a high altitude wine in continental Spain.  Here he works with tiny parcels, each less than an acre in size and 50 + year old bush vines of Garnacha and Carignan. This was the hit of this year's TASTE! Party. The High Roaders love it and the Low Roaders love the price, too. 

2013 Tommasi Rafael Valpolicella $14.63

In Venice, in the heat of June, when all Marco wanted to do was play with the pigeons in Piazza San Marco, Sarah and I bought a bottle of chilled Valpolicella for $6 and drank it from plastic cups in the shade.  We found this one at the James Suckling Great Wines of Italy event.  This party pleasing, summer red pairs great with any meal. No need to chill.

2015 Nals Margreid "Sirmian" Pinot Bianco $25.83

Full bodied, silky smooth on the palate and beautifully colored, damn, this is good wine. We found the Pinot Bianco at the James Suckling Great Wines of Italy event (93 points btw, if you're into that.) Club members Aileen and Clark were at the event and fell hard for it, too. We immediately ordered the last cases in California. Quick - take it! We can't keep our hands off of it.

2015 Domaine Barat Chablis Premier Cru "Cote de Lechet" $27.50

Chablis is the wine, so Chardonnay is the grape. Excellent fruit, full, complex body with a minerality that's going to make you Chardonnay haters change your mind. We tasted two vintages with Club members Toff and Kristen and 2015 was the clear winner. And once you pop this open, you're the winner.

2013 Aia Vecchio "Sor Ugo" $32.35

Our High Road Reds tend to be French and Italian, but this Super Tuscan meets you in the middle.  It is a classic Bordeaux blend (Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot), but distinctly Italian in flavor. 

2009 Senorio de Cuzcurrita Rioja Alta Reserva $29.25

Don't be scared by the age, 2009 is the current vintage for Rioja. This 100% Tempranillo was the clear winner at our school fundraiser two years running. Plus, it'sa gateway drug to the High Road. When our Low Road members have tasted it, they upgrade their order. Lay it down if you want, but it's ready to drink now.