The end of August continued rather quiet, but with the advent of September the pace has picked up a bit. The listing below consolidates new arrivals of the last three weeks. September is national Bourbon Heritage month, so all our tastings this month feature America's very own; check the calendar on our web site for news of which distillery is featured when!
NEW WHITES:
Falesco 2010 Est! Est! Est! @ $9.99
a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Roscetto from selected vineyards in Lazio, fresh and structured with good acidity, floral and fruity notes
(new vintage) Hugues Beaulieu 2010 Picpoul de Pinet @ $9.99
a refreshing white from the Languedoc that offers a palate that comprises the citrus of a Sauvignon Blanc, the minerality of a Muscadet and the roundness of a Viognier
(new vintage) Grooner 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $10.99
a crisp, clean, dry version of GV made by one of Austria's top winemakers, Meinhard Forstreiter, accessible, refreshing, and easy-drinking, with hints of apple and citrus
(new vintage) Thiery-Weber 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $11.99
a bright, balanced Gruner Veltliner from the Kremstal region of Austria, with light floral aromas that are complemented by crisp white fruit on the palate before ending in a fresh, peppery finish
Ksara 2009 Blanc de Blancs @ $11.99
an elegant, subtle blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon from Lebanon
(new vintage) Massaya 2010 Blanc @ $13.99
a blend of Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and a native Lebanese grape called Obeidi, round and silky with a hint of anise that keeps the palate fresh
(new vintage) Elk Cove 2010 Pinot Gris @ $18.99
from one of Oregon's oldest and most respected wineries, a Pinot Gris that is elegant and fresh,; made very much in the Alsatian style, zippy but elegant, with a kick of lemon zest at the end
(new vintage) Freemark Abbey 2010 Chardonnay @ $19.99
a classic Chardonnay made with fruit from four vineyard sites across the Napa Valley showing concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe, lush stone fruits supported by a lovely, subtle toasty oak complexity
(new vintage) Hippolyte Reverdy 2010 Sancerre @ $25.99
from one of Sancerre's top producers, a textbook Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, with bright acidity, smoke, grassiness, and citrus, crisp and lively with good concentration and enough substance to stand up to fairly rich dishes
(new vintage) Sonoma-Cutrer 2009 Chardonnay @ $26.99
a medium-bodied, balanced, California Chardonnay with a finish that is dry and lingers nicely
Falesco 2010 Est! Est! Est! @ $9.99
a blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Roscetto from selected vineyards in Lazio, fresh and structured with good acidity, floral and fruity notes
(new vintage) Hugues Beaulieu 2010 Picpoul de Pinet @ $9.99
a refreshing white from the Languedoc that offers a palate that comprises the citrus of a Sauvignon Blanc, the minerality of a Muscadet and the roundness of a Viognier
(new vintage) Grooner 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $10.99
a crisp, clean, dry version of GV made by one of Austria's top winemakers, Meinhard Forstreiter, accessible, refreshing, and easy-drinking, with hints of apple and citrus
(new vintage) Thiery-Weber 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $11.99
a bright, balanced Gruner Veltliner from the Kremstal region of Austria, with light floral aromas that are complemented by crisp white fruit on the palate before ending in a fresh, peppery finish
Ksara 2009 Blanc de Blancs @ $11.99
an elegant, subtle blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon from Lebanon
(new vintage) Massaya 2010 Blanc @ $13.99
a blend of Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and a native Lebanese grape called Obeidi, round and silky with a hint of anise that keeps the palate fresh
(new vintage) Elk Cove 2010 Pinot Gris @ $18.99
from one of Oregon's oldest and most respected wineries, a Pinot Gris that is elegant and fresh,; made very much in the Alsatian style, zippy but elegant, with a kick of lemon zest at the end
(new vintage) Freemark Abbey 2010 Chardonnay @ $19.99
a classic Chardonnay made with fruit from four vineyard sites across the Napa Valley showing concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe, lush stone fruits supported by a lovely, subtle toasty oak complexity
(new vintage) Hippolyte Reverdy 2010 Sancerre @ $25.99
from one of Sancerre's top producers, a textbook Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, with bright acidity, smoke, grassiness, and citrus, crisp and lively with good concentration and enough substance to stand up to fairly rich dishes
(new vintage) Sonoma-Cutrer 2009 Chardonnay @ $26.99
a medium-bodied, balanced, California Chardonnay with a finish that is dry and lingers nicely
NEW REDS:
Pierola 2010 Labraz Rioja @ $11.99
a fresh, vibrant young Tempranillo, light to medium-bodied, dry yet fruit-forward, with aromas and flavors of black cherries and raspberries
Cuvee des Galets 2010 Cotes-du-Rhone @ $11.99
a baby Rhone blending Grenache, Syrah and Carignane, smoky,with dark fruits with a hint of chocolate and plum alongside a leafy herbaceous character and lots of minerality
(new vintage) Mas des Collines 2009 @ $11.99
almost entirely Grenache with classic old-vine Grenache flavors, bright berry fruit with good avidity, great balance and length
(new vintage) La Linda 2009 Malbec @ $11.99
a full and fruity Malbec featuring fresh plum and black berry aromas with additional smooth spice on the palate and ample acidity that supports the dark fruit into a long, spicy finish
Via Nova 2010 Mencia @ $12.99
a medium-bodied polished red with flavors of black cherry, cranberry and licorice, light tannins with firm acidity
Montecastillo 2006 Priorat @ $13.99
full-bodied, with flavors of vanilla, cocoa and ripe cherries, well balanced with soft tannins and a slight presence of mature oak in the finish
(new vintage) Crios 2010 Malbec @ $13.99
smooth, full and fruity, with aromas of crushed cherries and flavors of cherries and spice
(new vintage) La Cartuja 2009 Priorat @ $15.99
a blend of Grenache and Mazuelo with a little Cabernet and Syrah from an organically farmed estate, plush and concentrated with great structure and balance and bright berry flavors
(new vintage) Guillot-Broux 2009 Macon-Cruzille @ $16.99
from a certified organic vineyard in the Macon, a fruity Gamay with scents of young red berries and plums and a palate that is buoyant with fresh red fruit backed by vibrant acidity
(new vintage) Oyster Bay 2010 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
a light bodied Pinot Noir with a nose and palate that express red and dark cherry flavors, balanced by focused acidity and enjoyable oak notes
(new vintage) Luigi Bosca 2008 Malbec @ $17.99
a big bold Malbec, full-bodied and well structured, fine tannins, and a lingering herbal complexity
Pierola 2007 Rioja @ $18.99
from a small, relatively new estate, an elegant Rioja with intense aromas of red fruit and wild berries. meaty and well balanced on the palate, with a long finish and a memorable personality
Chateau Saint Ange 2009 Saint Emilion @ $22.99
from a new property of Doublet Family Vineyards, a classic right-bank blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, extremely limited production
Fenocchio 2009 Langhe Nebbiolo @ $22.99
from a fifth-generation producer in the Barolo region of Piedmont, classic Nebbiolo, unfined and unfiltered, produced from declassified single-vineyard Barolo grapes, with great floral complexity and spiciness
Dobbes Family Estate 2009 Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir @ $30.99
an Oregon Pinot with an excellent balance of fruit and acidity, all dark cherries and just-ripened blackberries, bright and sensuous, with flavors of tart cherries and a hint of red licorice
Chandon de Briailles 2008 Pernand-Vergelesse "Les Vergelesses" @ $38.99
from an estate in the same family since 1834, a refined, graceful Burgundy with sweet red fruit up front, the aroma of charred cherry wood, and the haunting flavors of Eastern spices