November Wine Club

Both levels choose between the following as good matches for Thanksgiving fare:

Gran Passione RossoGran Passione Rosso, Veneto, Italy

This unique Italian blend of Merlot and Corvina has been a customer favorite for weeks along with our other Gran Passione wines. This rare Merlot forward blend is made using an old Veneto technique called “Appassimento” where harvested grapes are left to partially dry on straw mats in the sun or in temperature-controlled chambers. This step is similar to what gives Amarone its lushness and depth, and, although this Rosso isn’t an Amarone, it delivers a lot of bang for your buck.

Lush in the nose and on the palate, dark fruits and cocoa follow through with earthy tannins and a burst of brightness from the Corvina. This is a big but soft red and will be great with Thanksgiving dinner, kinda similar to a red Zinfandel. It will also pair well with game meats, lamb, goose or sausage.

Biohof Pratsch RoseBiohof Pratsch Rosé 2013, Weinviertel, Austria

This rosé will stand up to the cold weather, we promise! A unique blend of Saint Laurent, Blauburger, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir and a certified biodynamic and organic wine.

Dark fruit aromas dominate the nose, and there’s also a pleasant forest note. Medium-bodied with ripe berries and a pleasant brightness, the lingering river-rock minerality makes this a great wine for fish and fowl or with antipasto. Rosé always make a great Turkey day wine!

$25 Level Main Selection:

Cantele Salice SalentinoCantele Salice Salentino, Puglia, Italy

Another longtime customer favorite and former case stacker is the Cantele Salice Salentino. The price went up so we haven’t carried it for awhile, but, based on Laura’s recommendation after tasting it recently, we are reintroducing it via Wine Club. The Cantele family has been in the wine industry for three generations. Today, this family-run winery produces significant amounts of wine that feature indigenous Pugliese varietals like Primitivo and Negroamaro as well as international varietals such as Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. This bottle is a great example of the expressiveness of Negroamaro. Tanzer gave it 90 points and describes it as a ruby red, good bodied wine with aromas of dark cherry and graphite and a wonderful spiciness. I have always enjoyed wines from Salice Salentino… there’s enough body and yet softness to go with a variety of foods, especially spicy sausage.

Here’s a link to an article in a recent issue of Wine & Food about this winery.

$35 Level Main Selection:

Mountain CuveeGundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvée, Sonoma County, California

This red blend may be from California, but it’s restrained and elegant in homage to classic French claret. It’s a symphony of varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec. A lush wine with a complex nose of currant, ripe cherry, cocoa, smoke and black tea. The complexity follows through on the palate with generous fruit and a lingering mocha on the finish. A great balance between old and new world styles, this is another great wine for the upcoming Turkey Feast. It will also pair well with steak or game.

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