For a printable PDF of this weekend’s notes, click here!
Mas Olivier Faugeres Blanc
Origin: Languedoc, France
Retail: $21.95 | Sale: $19.76
Facing the Mediterranean sea but located at an altitude of 300 meters, Faugères region benefits from the Mediterranean climate with high temperatures, long sunny periods in summer, heavy rains and a temperature cooler than anywhere else in Languedoc during spring and autumn. Our vineyards are planted on sandstone schist stemming from the crushing of clays in the primary era. Those soils are very filtering and allow heavy rains to drain off and keep a little dampness. They are also very acid and not very fertile, ideal for the cultivation of a vineyard. As a matter of fact, schist stores up the heat during the day and releases it at night, thus favoring the ripening of grapes. It gives our wines their roundness and subtlety as well as mineral, floral and fruity notes.
Marsanne is the emblematic "white" variety of the Faugères area that offers great freshness and expresses best the minerality of the soil it is grown on. A beautiful pale golden color with green tints, it expresses orange zest and toffee aromas on the nose. In the mouth, pleasant flavors of orange blossoms are accompanied by a wonderful minerality coming from our terroir of Schistes. The lingering finish is fresh, juicy and soft, an elegant balance of structure and intensity with well blended oak.
60% Marsanne & 40% Roussanne
House of Brown Rosé 2021
Origin: California
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.46
Brown Estate Vineyards is the first and only Black-owned estate winery in California's Napa Valley, and is best known as one of that region's most well-regarded zinfandel producers. In addition to zinfandel, Brown Estate produces cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and petite sirah. In 1980, parents Bassett Brown (originally from Jamaica) and Marcela Abrahams Brown (originally from Panama) acquired 450 acres in the Chiles Valley AVA. Brown Estate was officially established in 1996 following the purchase and rehabilitation of an abandoned ranch in the eastern hills of Napa Valley. Currently run by “the kids”, House of Brown exemplifies the ethos of “come one, come all”. While Brown Estate specializes in red wines, House of Brown offers both a chardonnay and this rose.
A woman-run and vegan winery. A rose that highlights red fruit exuberance, crystalline watermelon, strawberry and red currant bloom out of the glass and are followed by those same flavors in the first sip.
75% Zinfandel , 20% Muscat Canelli & 5% Viognier
Alcesti Isola dei Profumi Nero d’Avola 2019
Origin: Terre Siciliane, Italy
Retail: $9.95 | Sale: $8.95
Gianfranco Palladino and family are making honest, pure wines from local grapes in the Marsala region of Sicily. Certified organic farming and hand- harvesting in a region and price-point that isn’t always the norm. The isole dei Profumi is their idea of a fresh, ready to drink summer red priced for the everyday. The grapes are harvested by hand, macerated and then fermented and aged in stainless steel. It is a young and balanced wine. A deep violet color and intense and lively red fruit aromas and beautifully balanced. We recommend pairings of grilled meats and soft cheeses.
100% Nero d’Avola