9.25 & 9.26

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For a printable PDF of this weekend’s notes, click here!

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Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II 2019

Origin: Pfalz, Germany
Retail: $31.95 |Sale $28.75

Since VON WINNING Winery was founded in 1849, unique wines reflecting their vineyards in Ruppertsberg, Deidesheim, and Forst have been produced in their historic cellar. In 1907, Leopold von Winning, son-in-law of Dr. Andreas Deinhard, dedicated his life to creating top quality wines with respect to the outstanding vineyards in which he was allowed to work. As a founding member of the VDP he introduced his beliefs into the philosophy of this renowned association. This Refreshing Sancerre-like Sauvignon Blanc opens with a bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. The palate is fresh with a silky texture. This is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. This wine begs you to drink more. 

100% Sauvignon Blanc

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Valravn Chardonnay 2017

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Retail: $23.95 | Sale: $21.55

Cold climate vineyards in the Sonoma Coast provide a core of minerality, ripe peach, and apple with a touch of citrus. These fresh notes are balanced by richer flavors of toasted hazelnuts, and ripe pineapple that come from the barrel fermented Russian River component. Overall, the Valravn Chardonnay walks the delicate line between high toned freshness, and the more powerful flavors of barrel fermented Chardonnay. This is a crowd-pleasing white and a great go-to for dinner parties with family or friends! 

100% Chardonnay

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Charles Bove Sparkling Rose NV

Origin: Loire Valley, France
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.95

The firm of Charles Bove began life in the 19th century in Montrichard, in the Loire Valley. Its base of operations was, and is, an enormous rock quarry, abandoned after it had been quarried for building the Loire Chateaux (Chenonceau is just minutes away). This old quarry is composed of over 9 miles of underground cellars on three levels, with an all but steady temperature year-round of 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity inside is ideal for making and storing wines, and these days the firm keeps an average of two million bottles of sparkling wine undergoing aging at any given time. This cuvée is made according to the Méthode Traditionnelle process. The bouquet is filled with scents of cherries, fresh baked bread, chalky soil tones, dried rose petals, and a touch of spice. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, focused, and shows fine mid-palate depth. It has bracing acids of youth, frothy mousse and very good length, with grip on the complex finish. 

70% Cabernet Franc & 30% Gamay

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HRW (Hendry Ranch Wine) Zinfandel 2018

Origin: Napa, California
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.95

The Hendry family has been farming its Napa Valley ranch since 1939 and today the property encompasses 203 acres of which 114 are vineyards. HRW stands for the Hendry Ranch Wines and are declassified and young vines from their Napa Estate. One of the first established vineyards in the valley, they sit at a great intersection of Carneros, Napa Valley & Mount Veeder. While they are not organically certified, by the by, they do farm largely with organic methods and materials. Mike Hendry says that they do not spray weed killer in the vineyard rows, preferring to till the ground with a special plow for their style of grape farming. The 2018 Hendry HRW Zinfandel is a medium purple-ruby color. Cedary spice, tea leaves, briar, dark berries and pepper on the nose. Light to-medium-bodied, with a bright, fruit-driven palate. On the palate, flavors of cocoa, blackberry jam and strawberry. Easy drinking, moderately structured. Ideal for pastas, burgers, barbecue, chili or a meaty Bolognese lasagna. Good for everyday value for those who prefer fruity but not dry-not sweet-Zinfandels. 

100% Zinfandel

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Chateau Musar Hochar Pere et Fils 2017

Origin: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Retail: $35.95 | Sale: $32.35

The legendary Chateau Musar was founded in 1930 by the late Gaston Hochar and is located in an 18th Century castle in Ghazir, just fifteen miles north of Beirut, in Lebanon. The location, in the heart of a region that for many years was ravaged by civil war, placed demands on the Hochar family that most winemakers, fortunately, do not experience. The vineyards, which lie 30 miles east of Ghazir in the Bekaa Valley, were remarkably close to the frontline. Four years in the making, Hochar Père et Fils Red is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, from a single vineyard. Complex nose of red cherries, sweet smoke, and cinnamon spice. Cherry notes, subtle earthy character on the rich, concentrated palate-it is all at once fruity, fresh, and elegant. 

55% Cinsault | 35% Grenache | 10% Cabernet Sauvignon