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Birichino Monterey Malvasia Bianca "Petulant Naturel" 2020
Origin: Santa Cruz, California
Retail: $27.95 | Sale: $25.15
Alex Krause and John Locke founded Birichino in Santa Cruz in 2008 drawing on a combined four decades making wine in California, France, Italy, and beyond, they are focused on attaining the perfect balance of perfume, poise and puckishness. Their preference is for minimal intervention, most often favoring native fermentations, employing stainless or neutral barrels, minimal racking and fining, and avoiding filtration altogether when possible. But most critically, their aim is to make delicious wines that give pleasure, revitalize and revive. From a vineyard planted just shy of 3 decades ago up against the Santa Lucias of the Salinas Valley, the 2020 is 100% Malvasia Bianca with just a touch of malvasia juice that was added while it was actively fermenting. The result is something lightly pétulant- subtly refreshing, soft and fragrant. Each bottle is hand filled and capped, and still has the fine lees contained within, much like bottle conditioned craft beers. Each bottle is a variation on a theme of floral flashes of frangipani, honeysuckle, and nectarine blossom. Supremely brunch-worthy. Snap some up.
100% Malvasia Bianca
Strauss Ried Gamlitzberg Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Origin: Steinbach, Styria
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.95
The Strauss wine estate, whose high-quality products are already well known and widely appreciated beyond the region’s borders, is located in Steinbach, near Gamlitz. The enormous Gamlitzberg is the largest single winegrowing area in southern Styria. The Strauss vineyards are located on ideal south-facing slopes with perfect climatic conditions and optimum soil properties, producing grapes of the highest quality. The Gamlitzberg is the largest single vineyard located in the cadastral community Steinbach and the most is cultivated by winery Strauss. Due to the hilly landscape, hot days and cool nights in combination with slight winds blowing from the Koralpen mountain range, the substance of the Sauvignons and Chardonnays grown on this southeast site, are enormously challenging wines. The soil is very deep (up to 15m) predominantly composed of sand, clay and shell lime inclusion. Very intensive and complex aromas. Elegant spiciness, expressive gooseberries, yellow pepper, citrus over a profound minerality. Clear and intensive fruit on the palate, with elegant aromas of green pepper and a touch of elderflower. Very long finish with Mineral expressions. Hand harvest and single berry selection Aged for 6 month in a large oak barrels.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Keermont White Blend Terrasse 2018
Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Retail: $25.95 | Sale: $23.35
In 2001, the Wraith family moved to the Western Cape from Gauteng and in 2003 bought two adjacent farms which today make up Keermont Vineyards. A tight knit team of 15 people work at Keermont, from tending the vines to packaging the bottles for final release, all work is carried out by this team to ensure that the same attention to detail is followed throughout the wines’ production. A polished light-yellow gold colour, this wine has a complex bouquet of prominent citrus and stone fruit with notes of vanilla, freshly green cut apple, Frangipane flowers, and a hint of cut grass and earthiness. The wine has a soft juicy palate. Subtle fruit flavours of peach, litchi and apricot are complimented by hints of sweet spice, vanilla, and a notable richness from the lees contact. There is good weight on the mid-palate and a light texture. A limey acidity holds the wine together into a lingering, succulent finish. Terrasse is our barrel fermented white blend which derives its name from the terraced vineyards leading up the mountains on the estate. Small batches of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. White wines are fermented by indigenous yeast in seasoned French oak barrels and then spend a further 12 months maturing on the lees.
61% Chenin Blanc | 13% Sauvignon Blanc | 23% Chardonnay | 3% Viognier
Evening Land Seven Springs Pinot Noir 2019
Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Retail: $42.95 | Sale: $38.65
The 2019 Seven Springs Pinot Noir comes primarily from our oldest own-rooted block of Pinot Noir at the vineyard. Originally planted in 1982, these Pommard clones thrive in iron-rich, volcanic Jory soils. These 36-year-old dry-farmed vines are harvested by hand, the grapes are hand-sorted, and roughly 90% of the fruit was destemmed. A combination of gentle punch downs and pumpovers were employed throughout the fermentation to encourage a soft extraction of tannin and the wine was aged in neutral French oak for 14 months. Sashi’s holistic vineyard views were shared by Raj Parr, and upon meeting, the pair blossomed a tight friendship over a number of years. Compelled by their dedication to these values, Sashi and Raj founded Sandhi in 2011, followed by Domaine de la Côte in 2013. Today, the duo owns vineyards and produces wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley at Evening Land Vineyards.
TASTING NOTE Our 2019 Seven Springs Pinot Noir typifies the cool, even vintage. It leads with a bright aromatics of fresh red fruits, black tea, and a subtle undercurrent of forest floor. On the palate the wine is exquisitely pure and brilliant with a lively mid-palate and a focused finish.
100% Pinot Noir
J Dusi Model M. 2017
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Retail: $18.95 | Sale: $17.05
Female owned and operated, J Dusi Wines is guided by its head winemaker and owner Janell Dusi. Janell was born and raised on the Dusi Vineyard where her grandfather Dante taught her the old world Italian style of winemaking. The Dusi family’s heritage and history in Paso Robles Wine Country dates back to the early 1920’s, where grape growing has been a craft that has deep roots in the Dusi family. The Model M tractor was the first tractor purchased by the Dusi family back in the early 1900’s, when their business demanded advanced tools to help facilitate the growth of their business. Naming the J Dusi red wine blend Model M, was inspired by the tool which helped the family forge on in the wine business in their early days. This red wine blend has a deep ruby color and its alluring nose draws you for a sip. It opens up with bright cranberry and ripe strawberry, leading into punches of black cherry on the mid-palate.. Its approachable tannins are soft and silky accompanied by hints of pipe tobacco and a caramel toffee finish.
43% Petite Sirah | 32% Cabernet Sauvignon | 21% Zinfandel | 4% Other