$35 and $25 Levels choose one of the following:
Colomé Torrontés, Argentina 2013
Very pale bright yellow. Pure, delicate, high-pitched perfume of rose petal and dusty brown spices. Brisk, tactile and quite dry but with an essentially supple texture—even a slightly glyceral character—to the flavors of grapefruit pith, lemon, flowers, spices and salty minerality. This serious yet seductive example of Torrontés finishes with sneaky dusty persistence. 91 points
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar
The most popular white wine from Argentina, the Torrontés grape is a cross of Muscat of Alexandria and the Mission Grape of Galicia. Today the variety enjoys high popularity with viticulturists, wineries and consumers in Argentina and is beginning to be exported internationally, with good reason. This is a white with character and body. I once heard it described as white wine lovers’ steak wine.
La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy 2012
Our red choice at both levels is a fabulous organic gem from east-central Italy and has plenty of bottled sunshine to get us through to summer. A light-bodied, soft red, with a rich nose full of red fruits and herbs that follows through on the palate, balanced by soft, elegant tannins and a pop of bright acidity to balance things out; this will linger and unfold on the finish. Always a great choice for tomato-centric dishes and will also surprise you with roasted fowl or grilled sausage.
$35 Level
Tapiz Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina 2011
We have always loved the Malbec from this producer and are excited to introduce the Cab. This wine is an Argentinean gem and reflects the oversight of legendary Pomerol winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, with a style that bridges the old and new worlds.
Expect a range of intense aromas: black cherry, fennel and spices, chocolate and a meaty, earthy note. With its rich mouthfeel and heady dark fruit and chocolate notes on the palate, this is reminiscent of a good California Cab but finishes with elegant tobacco and soil notes that echo Bordeaux on the long, complex finish. Enjoy with game, grassfed or aged beef, or pair with our Manchego, Madaio Calcagno.
$25 Level
Root:1 Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2012
Our main wine at the $25 level is this unique Carménère. Carménère was once a common grape in Bordeaux, but was thought lost with the phylloxera blight in the mid 19th century, an event that also necessitated the grafting of old European vines onto new rootstock. Rediscovered in Chile in 1994, Carménère has become the flagship varietal of Colchagua, and this wine reflects that interesting history and celebrates the survival of the ungrafted rootstock from which it originates.
A soft red, expect notes of rosemary, thyme and redcurrant in the nose, with a faint dusty character that follows through on the palate. Soft tannins, red fruits and pleasant acidity make this a fabulous choice to pair with spicy pastas and tacos. Carménère has a wonderful ability to pair with otherwise difficult flavors and ingredients such as fresh bell peppers, garlic and fresh herbs. Elk burger anyone?
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