$35 Level
Dandelion Shiraz Riesling Blend, McLaren Vale, Australia 2010
The main selection at the $35 level is a wowser!!! I am not usually a fan of Australian reds with their lush, jammy mouthful of cooked fruit. However, this one is different. This one dances on your tongue. It’s that 5% Riesling that makes it swing!
The Shiraz is actually fermented on Riesling skins. This unique fermentation lends the wine a delicate nose of raspberries, blueberries and violets. The wine is full-bodied and richly fruited in your mouth. This springtime red has plenty of spiced red and blackberry flavors with velvety tannins and enlivening acid to sustain the long finish. This is a perfect choice for Easter lamb.
Wine Advocate gave it 90 points, and we love it!
$35 and $25 Levels choose one of the following:
Château de Cugat Bordeaux, France 2010
Our red option is this beautiful Merlot-based Bordeaux from Entre-deux-Mers. The red wines of this strictly white-producing region are entitled to the appellation Bordeaux Contrôlée. Château de Cugat was constructed in the 1500s. Located in the small town of Blasimon, the château stands upon a hill overlooking the village. The vineyards surround the château and are comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle for white wines.
This wine has the velvety intensity of a St. Emilion. The nose is rich, round and inviting, while dense blackcurrant, vanilla, spice and smoke notes converge on the supple, full-bodied palate. The tannin is silky and well-integrated, the finish long and persuasive. This is another great choice for Easter dinner of lamb or beef.
Celler Piñol Portal, Terra Alta, Spain 2011
Portal Blanco is an estate-bottled wine made by Celler Piñol with organically grown grapes in the region of Terra Alta located south of Barcelona. To understand how Portal Blanco relates to the world of wine, it’s important to note that the birthplace of the Garnacha Blanca grape is Terra Alta. This lovely Spanish white is a blend of 80% Grenache Blanc, 10% Sauvignon Blanc and equal parts of Macabeu and Viognier make up the rest. The Grenache Blanc lends this wine some extra body, while the other varietals express fruity and herbaceous notes of pear and fresh thyme, with a clean minerality and gentle floral notes in the finish. This wine has the heft to work with the richest seafood dishes or strong cheeses. Even Easter ham would be nice.
$25 Level
Lancatay Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2013
Our main bottle at the $25 level is this fresh, young Malbec from Argentina. We are excited to have a new Malbec in the store and are favorably impressed with the balance of power and elegance in this wine. It has refreshing aromas of redcurrant, cherry and toasted pine nuts in the nose with soft tannins and red fruits following through on the palate. It is neither clarified nor filtered and is aged in older French oak. This is a great match for barbecue, kebabs and burgers. Pair it with our Ibérico cheese or serve with Easter dinner. It’s soft enough to go with just about anything.
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