Dibon Cava Brut Reserve NV
Origin: Catalonia, Spain
Retail: $13.95 | Sale: $12.56
Bodegas Pinord (the name means “Pine from the North”) has over a hundred years of winemaking experience in the Penedès region of north-eastern Spain. Combining traditional methods inherited from their ancestors and state-of-the-art technology, the Tetas family produces wines and cavas that are recognized for their quality. They own 60 hectares of vineyards in Penedès, and also buy grapes from their cousins. During the last few years, they started to make wines in other appellations of Spain. Intense aromas of fresh baking arise from the second fermentation in the bottle, giving it a character of its own. Smooth and silky, its carbonic release gives it freshness and vivacity, resulting in a long finish. Field blend of Paralleda, Xarel-lo, and Macabeu
G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2022
Origin: Piemonte, Italy
Retail: $17.95 | Sale: $16.16
The Vajra family has farmed Bricco delle Viole, the highest cru in Comune di Barolo, since the 1880s. At the young age of fifteen, Aldo Vajra embraced the dream to revive his family legacy. Displaying a vision and commitment belying his young age, he took over the estate in 1968, turning a new page. High elevation vineyards are a unique factor to Vajra wines, allowing them to express finesse and remarkable complexity over simple power. Attention to detail and humility toward nature, uncompromised efforts and humanity, these are the ideals of the Vajra family: Aldo and Milena, now joined by their children Giuseppe, Francesca and Isidoro, and by an amazing team of young professionals. G.D. Vajra is an independent winery, entirely family-owned. Intense and rich on the nose, it is both concentrated and harmonious: flowers and fruits to give way to hay, tobacco, and spices. Bright summer berries on the palate with graphite veins. Field blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto
Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Origin: Colombia 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
El Enemigo Bonarda 2018
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
El Enemigo is the passion project of Alejandro Vigil. Alejandro was named Winemaking Director of Bodegas Nicolas Catena in July 2007. A naturally restless person, Alejandro strives to channel his creative energy into pushing the limits of conventional viticulture and winemaking wisdom. Together with historian Adrianna Catena, they created the wines of El Enemigo, which are a tribute to those internal battles that make us who we are. The pair use the wine to harken back to a time when European immigrants first settled in Argentina. These settlers sought to make wines as fine, and finer, than those of their old homeland. Bonarda is one of the ‘native ‘ grapes of Argentina originally brought over from the Savoie in France. It is also known as douce noir and charbono in California. Big, rich and well-spiced, with structured dark fruit flavors that feature dried savory spice accents. Underbrush notes line the minerally finish. 100% Bonarda