Alain de la Treille Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Origin: Loire, France
Retail: $12.95 | Sale: $11.65
Still the owner today, Noël Bougrier created 3 cellars, widening the wine growing area of the estate to the entire Loire Valley, from Sancerre to the Pays Nantais. He was joined by his son Nicolas in 2015, and the 2 generations work together to carry out their only goal of revealing the best expression of the Loire Valley. Daughter Sophie represents the family both in France and abroad. The vineyards cover 100 hectares (247 acres), with vines averaging 25 years old. The winery is quite modern, with thermoregulated stainless steel tanks. A blend of juice from direct press and juice that spent 12 hours with skin contact maceration. Aged on the lees for 6 months; slightly filtered before bottling. Sauvignon Blanc from the Touraine AOP; the great passion of Alain de la Treille. This wine is crisp and refreshing, with ripe lime and grapefruit aromas. Great elegance with mineral style.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Laird Cold Creek Chardonnay 2017
Origin: Carneros, California
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.95
After 30 years of growing grapes for other wineries, Ken and Gail Laird established Laird Family Estate in 1999. Located in Napa Valley near the Oak Knoll District, the winery’s beginnings stem from the Laird family’s tradition of farming. Today Laird’s vineyards have grown into the largest vineyard holding in the Napa Valley spread out over 42 vineyards. Laird’s custom crush operation provides grapes for 62 boutique brands. Laird Family Estate wines are selected from their favorite 3% of estate vineyard sites. Ken’s daughter Rebecca is General Manager and his son Justin manages the vineyards. Laird's Cold Creek Chardonnay is grown in the slightly cooler microclimate of the Sonoma side of the Los Carneros district to the west, where thick fog and cool marine winds protect its tender skins. Indigenous to the Burgundy region of France, Clones 15 and 95 at a 50:50 ratio exhibit an approachable style and luminous, golden color. The translucent golden hue leads you to an aromatic journey with hints of jasmine, white peach and juicy honeydew. The wine has flavors of honeysuckle and pineapple that are complemented by a creamy mouthfeel and an enticing hint of lemon custard. The lingering finish leaves a refreshing reminder of Summer and welcomes in the Autumn leaves ahead.
100% Chardonnay
Valle del Cua Bierzo Mencia 2019
Origin: Bierzo, Spain
Retail: $13.95 | Sale: $12.55
Valle del Cúa is produced by Bodegas Peique in Bierzo. The Peique family is from Valtuille de Abajo, a winemaking village of less than 100. Grandfather Ramon Valle took meticulous care of his vines and trained his family to do the same. The first vintage was in 1999, with 10,000 bottles made in the cellars of friends. Now almost 20 years later, the family has its own facility & maintains the same enthusiasm for winemaking that they were raised with. They learned early that in an area of small farms, where parcels were so similar, the distinction must be made in the treatment of the vineyard and in the winemaking process. Experimentation and research are fundamental concepts in the definition of each product. A black cherry color with intense violet hues. Aromas are dominated by ripe red fruits, minerals and blue flowers. Fine, concentrated and exquisite on the palate, it is fleshy, fragrant, and full bodied.
100% Mencia
Bodegas Vinsacro Dioro Rioja 2015
Origin: Rioja, Spain
Retail: $21.95 | Sale: $19.75
The Escudero family has been making wine and growing grapes, for four generations, in the rugged, semi-desert foothills around Grávalos in the southwestern corner of the Rioja Baja region. Over the past few decades, the 4th generation of Escudero siblings - led by Bordeaux-trained winemaker Amador - have transformed the small family "bodega" into a major Rioja wine producer. Operating from the small Grávalos facility, Amador realized that some of his vineyards offered the potential to do something better (and different). These old vineyards, some over 100 years planted in the old fashioned "vidau" style offered the kind of raw material needed to make a modern-style premium wine - a Rioja with a difference. The fermentation is carried out with autochthonous yeasts and the must macerated for 34 days, then transferred to the barrel barrel where the malolactic fermentation took place. The wine remained in French Allier oak for 17 months and was bottled after a light filtration. Intense dark cherry color. Very expressive aromas showing good maturity, balsamic and mineral notes of leather and with a nice vanilla background. Tasty with a lot of body and structure, with ripe and round tannins, which leaves you with the feeling of having another glass.
95% Tempranillo | 5% Garnacha
Weingut Gessinger Riesling Auslese Zeltinger Sonnenuhr 2017
Origin: Mosel, Germany
Retail: $32.95 | Sale: $29.65
The Gessinger family has been making wine in the Mosel since 1680. Current owner & winemaker is Albert Gessinger, with involvement from his daughter, Sarah. The family is originally from Trentino-Alto Adige. Their vineyards are located in the famous Zeltinger region, the longest continuous south-facing slope on the Mosel. They have three vineyards: Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Schlossberg and Zeltinger Himmelreich regions. The Zeltinger Sonnenuhr vineyard is further divided into two subunits –“Caldo Infernale” (hot cauldron) and Josefsberg (‘Joseph’s hill’ in old vines). Gessinger’s production is quite small, at less than 2,000 cases. Weingut Gessinger joined the Bernkasteler Ring in 1899. All of their white wines are 100% Riesling planted on Devon Slate. Typical Devonian slate Riesling with fruity elegance and great durability. Big and rich wine with ripe peach and pear on the nose, honeyed, citrus and mineral aromas. Clean and pure, distinctive character. Very long finish. This is a beautiful and lithe riesling and the sweetness fades into a lovely memory on the palate.
100% Riesling