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Charles Bove Touraine Sparkling Rosé NV
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Retail: $23.95 | Sale: $21.56
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. The company specializes in sparkling wines, buying grape must or juice direct from surrounding domains. This must is then vinified, blended, and bottled at Bove. Fresh, dry, and very pleasing with lovely, broad red fruit and a soft mousse. 70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Gamay
Suavia Soave Classico 2022
Origin: Veneto, Italy
Retail: $17.95 | Sale: $16.16
The vineyards of Suavia are located in the center of Soave's Classico zone. This is the traditional, hillside terroir that has produced Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave for centuries. The Tessari family has been involved in doing so since the late 1800’s, however, it wasn’t until the early 1980’s that the family redefined what growing quality grapes could be – tying clonal selection to site-specific areas, lowering Garganega's prodigious yields, and making the wines in tune with the terroir. The name Suavia harkens back to the pre-modern day references to Soave. The Svevia – later Suavia – were a Germanic tribe that settled in this part of northeastern Italy after the fall of the western Roman Empire. Without exception, Suavia is one of the leaders in quality and terroir expression in this small, hilly zone to the east of Lake Garda. Suavia’s Soave Classico is vinified only in stainless steel tanks with several months’ lees contact before bottling. Fresh aromas of apple, pear, and almond balance clean minerality and a hint of fresh herb. 100% Garganega
Kanonkop ‘Kadette’ Pinotage Rosé 2023
Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Retail: $15.95 | Sale: $14.36
Kanonkop is a 4th generation family-owned wine estate, which has been handed down from generation to generation and is now in the hands of brothers Paul and Johann Krige. The name Kanonkop is derived from a hillock (kop) on the Simonsberg mountain above the wine estate from where, during the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon (kanon) was fired to announce the arrival of sailing ships entering Table Bay. The roar of the cannon would be the signal to local farmers, who were waiting to make the 50-kilometer journey to the harbor, to load up their wagons with fresh fruit and vegetables to barter their produce.The vineyards boast a unique climate, topography, and soil type which give the wines a consistent sense of place, or terroir. The 2023 vintage saw warmer conditions during winter, with enough rain during December to help the grapes ripen. This rosé was made in the traditional method of bleeding the juice of the Pinotage grapes after slight skin contact. Floral bouquet leads to notes of cherry and red grapefruit, with a firm succulence and racy freshness on the palate. 100% Pinotage
Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington
Retail: $19.95 | Sale: $17.96
Rob Griffin grew up in the Napa Valley knowing he wanted to be a winemaker and enrolled at UC Davis at the young age of 17. After gaining experience in Napa he moved up to the Columbia Valley, which at the time was considered to be the “wild west” of winemaking terroir. Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard’s first vintage consisted of just one truckload of fruit and a rented cellar back in 1983. Today, almost half of their production comes from their estate, Caroway Vineyard, whereas the rest is sourced from seven other vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, and Red Mountain AVAs. Barnard Griffin is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Washington and Rob has been recognized as the longest practicing winemaker in the state. His wife Deborah helps to run winery operations and they’ve recently welcomed their daughter, Megan Hughes, into the fold as Assistant Winemaker and Enologist. Alluring dark berry and cherry flavors are nicely highlighted by toasty oak, vanilla, and orange zest notes. Rich and concentrated with lots of good structural acidity. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot