Sorry to be late this week; the good spring weather seduced me outside for spring cleanup!
NEW WHTES:
Smoking Loon 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay @ $9.99
very pleasing on the palate, dry and crisp with a touch of minerality
La Berriere 2011 Muscadet @ $10.99
very floral and fresh with mineral notes, from exceptional terroir
Lotosblum 2011 Riesling Spatlese @ $13.99
from Weingut Hamm in the Rheingau, rich, ripe, and honeyed
L'Idylle 2012 Cruet @ $14.99
from a family winery in the Savoie, 100% Jacquere, vivacious and elegant, with pear, citrus, and floral notes
(back) Les Grands Bois 2011 Viognier @ $14.99
a concentrated wine packed with character, sophisticated and floral, with great minerality and depth
Alois 2011 Caulino @ $15.99
100% Falanghina from Campania, full and refreshing on the palate, with slight fruity and tropical notes with mouthwatering acidity
(new vintage) Keller 2012 Riesling @ $19.99
classic Riesling from one of Germany's top producers, with delicious apple, pear, and floral notes on the nose and layers of stonefruit on the palate, with minerality and bracing acidity
Eichinger 2011 Gruner Veltliner @ $24.99
well balanced and food-friendly, refreshingly crisp, with good spice on the nose and good acidity to balance the subtle apple flavors
Smoking Loon 2011 Unoaked Chardonnay @ $9.99
very pleasing on the palate, dry and crisp with a touch of minerality
La Berriere 2011 Muscadet @ $10.99
very floral and fresh with mineral notes, from exceptional terroir
Lotosblum 2011 Riesling Spatlese @ $13.99
from Weingut Hamm in the Rheingau, rich, ripe, and honeyed
L'Idylle 2012 Cruet @ $14.99
from a family winery in the Savoie, 100% Jacquere, vivacious and elegant, with pear, citrus, and floral notes
(back) Les Grands Bois 2011 Viognier @ $14.99
a concentrated wine packed with character, sophisticated and floral, with great minerality and depth
Alois 2011 Caulino @ $15.99
100% Falanghina from Campania, full and refreshing on the palate, with slight fruity and tropical notes with mouthwatering acidity
(new vintage) Keller 2012 Riesling @ $19.99
classic Riesling from one of Germany's top producers, with delicious apple, pear, and floral notes on the nose and layers of stonefruit on the palate, with minerality and bracing acidity
Eichinger 2011 Gruner Veltliner @ $24.99
well balanced and food-friendly, refreshingly crisp, with good spice on the nose and good acidity to balance the subtle apple flavors
NEW REDS:
Pucela 2009 Tempranillo @ $7.99
a Tempranillo with 20% Cab blended in, mild, balanced, relatively lightweight, easy to drink
Libenzi 2009 Rosso Piceno @ $10.99
from Fattoria Leila in the Marche region of Italy, a classic blend of Mentepulciano and Sangiovese, dry and full-flavored with a richly fruity bouquet
Mairena 2007 Bonarda @ $11.99
deeply colored, with bold aromas and flavors of cherries, stone fruit, and forest floorfull-bodied, with smooth tannins and an elegant finish
(new vintage) Lapierre 2012 Raisins Gaulois @ $12.99
from one of the "rock star" wineries in the Beaujolais, mainly declassified grapes from the cru village of Morgon, crisp and lively with smooth freshness
Magellan 2010 Syrah/Grenache @ $14.99
a 50/50 blend, with aromas and flavors of ripe red and dark berries and hints of black pepper
Chateau Trillol 2008 Corbieres @ $13.99
from high up in the foothills of the Pyrenees, a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, fruity and spicy, ample and silky on the palate, ending on a peppery note
L'Idylle 2011 Mondeuse @ $17.99
from a family winery in the Savoie, a light but plump, cherry-filled wine with a herbal lift and a spicy kick
Gillardi 2011 Dogliani @ $20.99
Dolcetto (though not identified as such), fermented and aged in stainless steel, deep and muscular but with smooth fine tannins and a chunky texture
Bon Anno 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $21.99
a balanced, well made Cab sourced from select Napa Valley vineyards, a ripe and soft red with mixed red berries, toasty oak notes and hints of sandalwood
(new vintage) Pietranera 2011 Rosso di Montalcino @ $23.99
an elegant bouquet of violets and fresh fruit, well structured, with soft yet firm tannins
Pucela 2009 Tempranillo @ $7.99
a Tempranillo with 20% Cab blended in, mild, balanced, relatively lightweight, easy to drink
Libenzi 2009 Rosso Piceno @ $10.99
from Fattoria Leila in the Marche region of Italy, a classic blend of Mentepulciano and Sangiovese, dry and full-flavored with a richly fruity bouquet
Mairena 2007 Bonarda @ $11.99
deeply colored, with bold aromas and flavors of cherries, stone fruit, and forest floorfull-bodied, with smooth tannins and an elegant finish
(new vintage) Lapierre 2012 Raisins Gaulois @ $12.99
from one of the "rock star" wineries in the Beaujolais, mainly declassified grapes from the cru village of Morgon, crisp and lively with smooth freshness
Magellan 2010 Syrah/Grenache @ $14.99
a 50/50 blend, with aromas and flavors of ripe red and dark berries and hints of black pepper
Chateau Trillol 2008 Corbieres @ $13.99
from high up in the foothills of the Pyrenees, a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, fruity and spicy, ample and silky on the palate, ending on a peppery note
L'Idylle 2011 Mondeuse @ $17.99
from a family winery in the Savoie, a light but plump, cherry-filled wine with a herbal lift and a spicy kick
Gillardi 2011 Dogliani @ $20.99
Dolcetto (though not identified as such), fermented and aged in stainless steel, deep and muscular but with smooth fine tannins and a chunky texture
Bon Anno 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $21.99
a balanced, well made Cab sourced from select Napa Valley vineyards, a ripe and soft red with mixed red berries, toasty oak notes and hints of sandalwood
(new vintage) Pietranera 2011 Rosso di Montalcino @ $23.99
an elegant bouquet of violets and fresh fruit, well structured, with soft yet firm tannins
NEW ROSES:
Mulderbosch 2012 Rose @ $10.99
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with hints of nutmeg spice and ground black pepper, spicy fruit balanced by refreshing acidity and a softly textured mouth feel
Carrel 2012 Savoie @ $11.99
mostly Gamay with a little Pinot Noir and Mondeuse blended in, bright and delicate, with a refreshing, persistent finish
Plouzeau 2012 Chinon @ $12.99
100% Cabernet Franc from a biodynamic producer in the Loire, harmonious, full, and silky on the palate, with aromas of berries and licorice
Mulderbosch 2012 Rose @ $10.99
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with hints of nutmeg spice and ground black pepper, spicy fruit balanced by refreshing acidity and a softly textured mouth feel
Carrel 2012 Savoie @ $11.99
mostly Gamay with a little Pinot Noir and Mondeuse blended in, bright and delicate, with a refreshing, persistent finish
Plouzeau 2012 Chinon @ $12.99
100% Cabernet Franc from a biodynamic producer in the Loire, harmonious, full, and silky on the palate, with aromas of berries and licorice