LOW ROAD WHITE

2016 Torre Dei Beati Pecorino $15.75

Yes, it is a wine AND a cheese. The cheese is named for the sheep, “Pecora.” The wine is named for the sheep that eat the grapes. On our trip to Rome last year, Sarah’s Aunt Lia (not a drinker) asked a wine-drinking friend what she should serve to her wine-loving, American family. Her recommendation? A €3 Pecorino. We were shocked at how much we liked it. We spent the rest of our time trying to drink all the Pecorino in Italy. Plus, we have Wine Club members named Pecorella, or “little sheep.” It’s a sign.

2016 Sainte Fleur Viognier $13.50

You won’t be seeing any Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) in Santa Ray Wine Club (and certainly not the Low Road) but when Aubert de Villaine (co-owner of DRC) gets bored with selling the world’s best and most expensive Pinot, he teams up with Burgundy legend Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, to make wine at Triennes.  Who doesn’t love a side project? This Viognier is versatile.  It can be an Indian Summer food wine, or Winter White to drink next to the fire.
 

LOW ROAD RED

HIGH ROAD WHITE

HIGH ROAD RED

2014 Morra Barbera d'alba $15.63

In Piedmont, the Nebbiolo grape (Barolo and Barbareso) gets most of the attention. But Barbera is the most widely grown grape in the region.  When it was brought to California by Italian immigrants, it was grown in hot areas and used for "Dago Red" jug wine, but Alba makes the best in the world and they are always affordable.  Have a glass while you prep your Holiday meal, then use the rest of the bottle for the extra wine that you will inevitably need after your family gulps down your High Road Barolo (add it.)  
 

2014 maison rouche de bellene boUrgogne rougE $15

A Négociant is a winemaker that sources his grapes from growers.  Generally the grapes they buy will make or break the wines.  To get a mutually-beneficial vineyard relationship, Nicolas Potel’s philosophy is to get drunk with the grower one night, and only negotiate the vineyard contract after waking up on their couch the next morning.  The emphasis at Roche de Bellene is on individual terroirs from vieilles vignes (old vines — 40 years or older) that are farmed responsibly.  Easy Thanksgiving Pinot.
 

2016 BLACKBIRd vineyards Dissonance $25

It’s rare that we do a Napa Valley Wine, but since we all know someone affected by the fires last month, we would like to support the place where most of us started our wine drinking careers.  Of course, offering this wine is hardly charity (93 pt.)    It is the 11% Semillion (to add some subtlety and softness to the Sauvignon) that got our attention and reminds us of a Bordeaux Blanc.  We recommend serving it a little warmer than your usual white.  Shout out to my brother Tim for helping choose this while wine tasting at the Owners Club at a 49er game.  Blackbird’s President was pouring the wine and when I mentioned that I liked the taste, he handed me a full bottle.  Then we drank it with octopus and oysters while the Niners got their butts kicked.  

2013 Buchegger Moosburgerin Reisling $30.62

Austrian Riesling is super dry. But, the trick with this one is the soil.  Reisling is typically grown in slate and gravel, but this soil is limestone and lots of loess (wind-blown silt.) -- the soil that Gruner Veltliner thrives in.  Sarah says "blah, blah," nobody knows what that means.   The bottom line is, that it shouldn't work in this soil, but it does, and, it is all the rage with Sommeliers.  This is what the wine pros are drinking when us civilians aren't around. 

2015 Domaine la bouissiere Vacqueyras $27.94

I joined Club Members Clark and Kevin for a blind tasting of 2015 Southern Rhônes.  We tasted 8,  and this Vacqueras was the winner.  Definitely cellar-able, but let this be your opportunity to sample it first.  Clark likes to open it and pour one glass (to create bottle space,) then leave it for 90 minutes and pour the glass back in the bottle (if it lasted that long.)  Try it now, and decide if you want a couple extra to put under the house (Clark and I are doing just that.) 42% Grenache, 50% Syrah, and 8% Mourvèdre

2013 Andrea Oberto Barolo $39.16

Turkey Barolo!! Barolo has the prestige to command high prices all over the world, higher than we generally sell in the club shipments.  The good news is that there are still a few $40 Barolo that can be enjoyed with a meal and don’t need to spend 10 more years in the cellar.  Treat it like a Pinot, let it breath, enjoy it, and then order more.  You just found your $40 Barolo.  Or if you are a guest for the Holidays, hand this to the host when you walk through the door, and tell them they should let it breath (that way they open it.)