
Free Tasting with Estelle Imports
We’ll have Chris Davis of Estelle Imports in the shop featuring some “top hits” from his Italian imports. I’ll post the lineup closer to the date. 5 - 7pm free.
2024 Collestefano Marche Bianco $19
2023 Casale Marchese Frascati Superiore $17
2022 Vallevo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $14
2022 Reverdito Barbera d'Alba $19
2023 Ca La Bionda Valpolicella Classico $22

Font du Loup Tasting
On Tuesday, April 8th we'll have owner and winemaker, Anne Charlotte, from Font du Loup in the store pouring her wines. These wines are both scarce are dynamic so I'm thrilled and honored she is doing this event at Vino. PLEASE NOTE 5:30 - 7pm free.
Font du Loup Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2022 $25
Font du Loup Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2021 $20
Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape Les Demoiselles 2022 $41
Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "La Fond du Loup" 2021 $59
Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "Le Puy Rolland" 2022 $75
Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "Legend" 2022 $95

Kernside Wine Walk
Join us on Saturday, the 19th, from 1–5 PM for an afternoon of great wine, delicious bites, and local charm! Your passport unlocks a curated flight of three 1oz pours at each of five fantastic locations (Vino, Montelupo, Pairings, Providore & Parallel) along with tasty snacks and a chance to win one of three amazing prize baskets.

Friday Night Flight March 28th - Loire Valley
The Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is known as the cradle of the French language, as well as Le Jardin de la France, the Garden of France. The landscape of low hills is punctuated by grand châteaux of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, all connected by the slow-moving waterway that stretches into the heart of the country.
Two thousand years of continuous viticulture has helped forge this reputation, but so has a region-wide effort to embrace sustainable viticulture and terroir-centric winemaking. Today, 30% of the valley’s vineyards are either farmed sustainably or organically—a figure that increases each year. This forward-thinking ethos has secured acclaim for present-day vintages, but more importantly, promises a bright future for the Loire’s wine industry.
While the region is France’s third largest wine-producing region by volume (and the largest for AOC-based white wine), the Loire Valley manages to provide incredible focus, consistency, and quality. Sommeliers and wine buyers have come to depend on the region’s 51 official appellations for a variety of refreshing sparkling wines, crystalline whites, playful rosés, profound reds, and long-lived sweet wines often tinged with noble rot.
Brazilier Chenin Blanc 2023 $16 - 100% Chenin Blanc grown in the Coteaux du Venomois. Round and delicious, showing notes of white peach, almond, ripe pear.
Lame Delisle Boucard Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes 2021 $16 - Lamé-Delisle-Boucard’s “Vieilles Vignes” is pure Cabernet Franc exclusively from vines over 40 years of age in the commune of Ingrandes de Touraine—part from the sandy gravel terraces of the lieu-dit Louys, and part from hillside plantings in the clay-limestone of Mont Sigou.
Angélique Léon. Savigny-en-Véron, Chinon Rouge, AOC Chinon 2021 $19 - Angélique Leon moved to Savigny-en-Véron, in the Loire Valley, taking over her parents’ domain in 2002. She is basically a one women operation working the vines, harvesting and vinifying the wines in the cellar. The Estate is made up of 7 hectares of vines producing mainly red wines and a small quantity of rosé (5%). The single grape variety used is Cabernet Franc, average age of the vines is 30- 40 years old.
Domaine de la Pepiere "La Pepie" Cot 2023 $19 - This red country wine is produced on the slopes of the Pépière. These hillsides are exposed to the southwest on granite slopes where the rock (Clisson GRANITE) is flush in many places. 100% Côt.
Bernard Baudry, Chinon "Les Granges" 2023 $22 - From 35 to 40 year-old vines on gravel and sandy soils with a bit of clay near the Vienne river in organic agriculture. Hand harvested, fermented with wild yeasts, ages for 8 to 10 months in cement vats, minimal addition of SO2 only prior to bottling. This "basic" cuvée from Bernard and Matthieu Baudry has gotten more and more "serious" as the vines age, giving a wine that is delightful to drink young.
Bonus
Anne-Cécile Jadaud Vouvray Vouvray Sec Les Grives Soûles 2021 $27 - Anne-Cécile Jadaud and Tanguy Perrault work around eight hectares of organically-farmed vines spread across 15 small parcels near their home and winery in Chançay, in the northeastern portion of Vouvray. This dry iteration of Vouvray is named for the thrushes ('Les Grives') who get drunk ('Soûles') by eating ripe berries around harvest that have already begun to ferment slightly inside the grape.
Domaine Denizot,“Osmoze” Blanc, Sancerre 2023 $32 - In the heart of France's Loire Valley lies a lesser-known winery producing exceptional wines with a rich history and a promising future. Domaine Denizot, run by the passionate husband and wife team of Thibauld and Jennifer Denizot, has been crafting elegant and nuanced wines for six generations. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. This is one of the best Sancerres I've tasted in recent memory.
Domaine Denizot, Sancerre Rouge 2022 $39 - 100% Pinot Noir. This elegant expression of Pinot Noir showcases notes of fresh red fruit with some black pepper on the finish.

Friday Flight March 21st
Oregon Flight
Oregon Wine Country, particularly the Willamette Valley, is renowned for its unique terroir, which has been shaped by a combination of factors, including the region's cool climate, diverse soils, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The area’s terroir is particularly ideal for growing Pinot Noir, which thrives in the valley’s volcanic soils and moderate rainfall. The landscape's distinctiveness is partly due to the Missoula Floods, which occurred around 15,000 years ago. These catastrophic floods, caused by the breaching of an ice dam, inundated much of the region and left behind a complex mix of soils, from gravel to silt, which contributes to the rich diversity in Oregon wines today. The interplay of these geological and climatic influences makes Oregon Wine Country dynamic and sought-after. Every time I drive through the Gorge I try and imagine the massive floods that carved it out and deposited all that diverse soil in the Valley.
J Scott Cellars Pinot Gris 2023 $16
Autre Monde Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 $16
Scenic Valley Farms Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 $21
Carlton Cellars ‘Seven Devils' Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2023 $23
J.K. Carriere Wines 'Clarion' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 $25
Bonus Wines
Cameron Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2023 $26
Tim Malone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2023 $26
Walter Scott Pinot Noir "Combe Verte" Willamette Valley 2023 $36

Mary Taylor Wines - Free 5 - 7pm
We’ll have Berlin from Julian Sinclair pouring wines from Mary Taylor Imports 5 - 7pm. I think these wines represent some of the best values coming out of Europe today. The wines are honest and of the place they come from.
Veneto Frizzante NV $14 - A blend of 30 year old Glera and Garganega from Italy's Veneto made by Sophia Brescia. Lighty sparkling with fresh notes of white flower and lemon.
Alice Berthier Coteaux du Giennois 2022 $24 - Made from 30-year-old vines, this wine embodies the best of the Loire. Gold in color, the wine has a perfumed yet vibrant nose of pear, white blossom and forest floor with curious cedar hints. Red apple, dried grass and summer field herbs show beautifully on the palate and crescendo into a long finish.
Clara Sala Bianco Sicily 2023 $19 - This is 100% Grillo grown on a single hectare in the Gorghi Tondi and Preola Lake Nature Reserve. Citrus, brine and white flower.
Christophe Avi Agenais Rose Southwest France 2023 $15 - This rosé from Christophe Avi, our source of Buzet wines, is made from his younger Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon vines. It offers nuanced notes of minerally orange blossom, wet stone, and lime leaf, with lots of grip.
Marine Descombe Beaujolais-Village Rouge 2022 $20 - A textbook blue stone Brouilly-style Beaujolais-Villages.
Clara Sala Rosso Sicily 2023 $19 - Translucent red with bright acidity, tension, and elegant fruit made from Nero D'Avola.

Friday Flight March 14th - Southern Italy
Southern Italy
The Flight
Ipollito Ciro Blanco Mare Chiaro 2023, Calabria $16 - 100% Greco Bianco from Calabria's Ciro Marina. At 160 years old, Ipollito is Calabria's oldest winery. It has been cultivated in Calabria since ancient times and it has evidently been imported with the other “Greek” vines from Greece. It has a medium-large, truncated-conical cluster, often with two wings, of medium compactness, a medium, sub-ovoid berry of golden yellow color, thick skin and a juicy pulp of simple taste.
Marchesi del Salento Salice Salentino, Puglia 2023 $13 - 100% Negroamaro from Salice Salentino. Native to Puglia (and rarely grown elsewhere), Negroamaro is by far this region’s most dominant grape, covering roughly 12,000 hectares (29,652 acres) of land throughout the region, but it is especially widespread on the Salento Peninsula. The grape is classically blended with Malvasia Nera but can also stand on its own.
Lupo Meraviglia Tre di Tre Puglia IGT Rosso 2022 $14 - A blend of Negroamaro, Aglianico and Primitivo, whose carefully selected and treated grapes come from terroirs located in the Salento area that are particularly suited for wine.
Fuso Calx Primitivo 2023, Puglia $19 - Dark ripe berries, baked red fruit, lifted spice, rhubarb + cherry pie on nose. A soft + supple palate - red cherries and vanilla notes mingle with dried cranberries and nutmeg.
Cantine Olivella Vesuvio Rosso "Lacreminero" 2022, Campania $19 - A thrilling red blend that brings together three native grapes that thrive on southern Italy’s rich volcanic soils. Piedirosso, with its delicate floral aromas and silky body; Aglianico, with notes of smoke and licorice and muscle; and Olivella, a rare red grape with blueberry notes and tons of saturated ruby color.
Bonus Wines
Scala Ciro Marino DOC Ciró Rosso Classico, Calabria 2022 $20 - 100% Gaglioppo which a medium-sized, thick-skinned grape indigenous to Southern Italy and best known for the production of Ciro DOC. One of Italy’s oldest varieties, recent DNA studies have found that Gaglioppo is a natural crossing of Sangiovese and Mantonico.
Musto Carmelitano Aglianico del Vuture Rosso Matchitano, Basilicata 2020 $21 - 100% Aglianico from Vulture. Zesty and fruity, with tangy red berry flavors and aromas of violets, lavender and licorice. On the palate it is very rich, structured and sapid, rightly tannic and exuberant from a young age.
Maffini Kleos Paestum Cilento Aglianico DOP 2022, Campania $30 - 100% Aglianico. Roses and lavender that gives way to cloves, sweet smoke and crushed blackberries. It opens with a lovely inner sweetness, displaying vividly ripe wild berry fruits that are perfectly balanced by vibrant acidity and chalky mineral tones.
Friday Flight 4 - 8pm $12 for a taste of 5 with 3 additional pours available for purchase.

Friday Night Flight March 7th - Spain
Spain
To classify the wines of Spain under a single style or character would be impossible. This is a country of exceptional diversity, with vines planted across a huge range of climates and geographies. Vineyards stretch from the lush and rainy coasts of Green Spain to the extreme and arid plains of the Meseta, from the valleys carved by the Ebro River to the volcanic Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa.
The sheer number of grape varieties also widens the spectrum of Spanish wines. More than 200 grape varieties are grown here, from international favorites to the country’s many local specialties, like Tempranillo, Mencía, Albariño, and Verdejo. While local winemakers carry on the traditions passed down through Spain’s winemaking history, they also look to push their industry forward, experimenting with styles and increasingly focusing on organic viticulture.
As the third-largest country in Europe, Spain’s geography and climate are exceptionally diverse, comprising many distinctive regions making equally distinctive wines. It dominates the Iberian peninsula in southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, north Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains. One of the country’s most distinguishing geographical features, is the Meseta, a wide plateau that covers much of central Spain.
Cellar Jan Vidal Cava NV $14 - The Penedés Valley in Catalonia lies just east of Barcelona and is one of my favorite regions not only for Cava but the dynamic still wines being produced today. This is a classic blend of Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo aged 18 months producing a wine that's fresh and crisp on the palate, this cava is pale straw yellow in color with fine, persistent bubbles. Notes of quince, yellow apple, lime and almond.
Next we'll head south to Les Alcusses Valley located in Valencia. Pago Casa Gran is a small winery located about 500 ft in the valley growing Malvasia, Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell practicing organic viticulture. The Casa Benasal Tinto 2023 $15 is a blend of Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell.
A short drive south we arrive in Alicante we'll find Kiki & Juan in Requena. The Kiki & Juan Tinto 2023 $16 is a blend of Bobal, Tempranillo and Macabeo.
The next region, Rioja, needs no introduction, with more than 600 wineries, 14,800 winegrowers, and centuries of history. Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region. Not only was it the first Spanish region to be awarded Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1925, but it was also the first to be elevated to the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, in 1991.
Luberri Rioja 2023 "Orlegi" $17 100% Tempranillo.
The Luzador Tinto "Los Andreses" 2022 $18 is a blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Tempranillo from Navarra. Navarra is just east of Rioja and was once a part of France and mostly planted to Garnacha. The vineyards of Navarra DO are located in the southern part of the region, between Pamplona and the plains.
Bonus WinesLadeiras do Xil 2022 Branco $25 comes from Valdedoras over in Galicia. Ladeiras do Xil is named for the hillsides along the Sil River (literally “slopes of the Sil”), which, along with the Miño River, is the lifeblood of the Ourense province, including the Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra wine regions. This wine is made from 20 to 80 year old Godello vines.
Álvaro Palacios Priorat Les Camins del Priorat 2022 $26 - Back over to the east coast we'll visit Priorat. Alvaro Palacios put Priorat on the map with his bottling of L'Ermita in 1993 which goes for around $1,400 these days. Priorat's unique soil, Llicorella, is a brown slate that glimmers in the sun, The region produces powerful wines made from Carineña, Garnacha and Syrah.
Bonus Bonus
Bodegas Señorio Pecina Rioja Reserva 2016 $33. Elaborated from the finest grapes from their vineyards in San Vicente de la sonsierra, calcareous clay soil, the grapes are destemmed and crushed and fermented naturally with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks. It spends 3 years in used American oak and at least 18 months in bottle before release.
Friday Flight 4 - 8pm every Friday. $12 for a flight of 5 with an additional 3 wines for purchase.

Terrisson Wines with Emmeline 5 - 7pm Free
We’ll have Emmeline from Terrisson Wines pouring some French imports here 5 - 7pm free. I tasted through these wines recently and they are all stunning.
Fabrice Larochette, Pouilly-Fuissé Les Robées 2023 $30
Fabrice Larochette, Mâcon-Fuissé La Grande Bruyère 2022 $24
Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes du Roussillon Vin Augusta Blanc 2022 $20
Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes de Roussillon Leidoner 2022 $23
Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes du Roussillon Le Garbinet 2021 $18

Friday Flight February 28th - Abruzzo
We will be pouring 5 wines from Abruzzo 4 - 8pm for $12 a flight with 3 additional tastes for purchase.
Tucked along the eastern coast of Italy, Abruzzo is one of Europe’s greatest gems, home to breathtaking landscapes, delicious regional cuisine, and of course, characterful and stunning wines. Though Italy as a whole has long been known around the world for its winemaking prowess, it’s only in recent years that Abruzzo has captured the hearts of U.S. consumers, making it an exceptional discovery for many.
Abruzzo is a natural haven for grape growing, with over 32,000 hectares of vines planted across the region. Bright, sunny days, a large diurnal shift, and moderating influences from the Apennine Mountains to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the east make it the perfect place for grapes to thrive.
Generally, Abruzzo’s landscape is divided into two areas. The inland, mountainous land is home to a continental climate, making up more than 65 percent of the region, while the coastal area has a strip of hilly land and a milder climate. Much of Abruzzo’s vines are found in this hilly, coastal area today.
Not to be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (a Sangiovese-based wine from Tuscany), the Montepulciano grape is indigenous to Abruzzo, and is an embodiment of the region itself. In fact, about 70 percent of new vineyards have been planted to Montepulciano. Known for creating appealingly rustic, solidly built wines with supple texture and pronounced fruit, Montepulciano has become the gateway grape for many U.S. consumers to get to know Abruzzo, particularly in its key DOC: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Altavilla Pecorino IGT Abruzzo 2021 $13 Straw yellow color with green highlights. Bouquet of yellow fruits. Fresh, flinty, and elegant.
Il Nido Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2023 $13 Intense violet robe. Aromas of plum and ripe blackberry. Each sip delivers a mouthful of ripe berries, leather and black pepper with subtle hints of oregano, dried herbs and a touch of vanilla.
Umani Ronchi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Podere 2023 $14 This has been a store favorite for a while so I thought it would be fun to add. Delicate aromas of plum and Morello cherry. Robust and full-bodied in the mouth, slightly tannin-rich with a dry and flavorful finish.
Bricco Al Sole Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 $15 Intense ruby red. Nose: Intense aroma of dry fruits and flowers. Palate: Dry and savory with soft tannins.
Barone Cornacchia Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Casanova" 2021 $19 Intense and complex bouquet with hints of plum, dried flowers, cherries, sage, and tobacco. Full-bodied with savory and mineral layers framed by firm tannins. The wine exhibits excellent balance and freshness, with flavors of ripe black cherry, dried red fruit, and cherries soaked in alcohol.
Bonus
I Fauri Passerina IGT Colline Teatrine 2022 $23 Have you ever tasted a wine made from Passerina? Me Neither. Passerina is both a rare local white grape that is found in the Italian region of Marche, and a DOC for wines of the same name. Passerina produces wines with a distinctive personality. These clean, fresh wines are dry and defined by aromas of flowers and delicate herbs.
Torre de Beati Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo 2023 $25 - Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo is a DOC that was created in 1968. It's made from Montepulciano and tends to be on the darker side of rosato that I find to be more of a red. This deeply hued Cerasuolo dives into rich cherry and bramble berry tones on the nose and palate. It’s full in feel, yet well framed by teeming acidity and soft tannins.
Cornacchia Montepulciano Riserva "Vigne le Coste" 2018 $33 This exceptional Italian red wine is crafted from handpicked Montepulciano grapes, aged for 15 months in French and Slavonian oak barrels. Its intense aroma reveals hints of ripe black cherry, plum, and spice, while its full-bodied palate offers a balanced blend of rich fruit, velvety tannins, and a touch of oak complexity.

Bordeaux Part 2
We’ll be following up our Right Bank Bordeaux with some Cabernet-based wines from the Left Bank. 4 - 8pm this Friday $12.
Château de Cranne Bordeaux Blanc 2022 $19 This is based on the Sauvignon Gris grape variety that, today, is rarely even heard of in Bordeaux, although it was commonly grown generations ago. Sauvignon Gris is more about elegance and floral fruit aromas. The vines are planted in clay, gravel and chalk-based soils. The Lacoste family is in its 7th generation of winemaking in hills of Bordeaux. Bright straw yellow color. Notes of candied apricot, almond and white flowers. Rich and well balanced wine that gives a perfect mouthfeel.
Château Lacoste-Garzac 2020 Rouge $13 This is a shop favorite so I thought it would be fun to add. Enjoy notes of black currants, flowers, cedar, cigar wrapper and cassis as they play together to enlighten your senses. Full-bodied, round, concentrated, lush, sweet, juicy cassis, blackberries, ripe tannins, with an elegant finish marked by the purity in the fruit used to craft this beautiful wine. Smooth and easy from start to finish.
A family estate since 1789 and bought in 1942 by Jean Darriet, a 6th generation winemaker, Château La Maroutine has been gradually restructured. Now the 8th generation is beginning to leave their imprint. Château La Maroutine Graves Rouge $14 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are blended into this cuvee opened on intense notes of ripe fruits, violet and leaf rolling beetle. The mouth is seducing with his intense and greedy texture with almond, hazelnuts notes, fine tension and smooth tannins.
Château Capdet Listrac-Medoc $19 This former Puy de Menjon estate became Château Capdet in the early 20th century, and is an archetypal, traditional Listrac wine: strongly colored, fruity, revealing fresh tannins, a dense texture and long finish, to which it adds great ageing potential.
It also significantly bears the mark given to wines by Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the gravelly hilltops of Fonréaud.
Château Côtes Blaignan Médoc $21 Since 1870, the Francisco family has produced consistently high-quality wine at Château Côtes de Blaignan, in one of the world’s most famous red wine regions – the Medoc Peninsula and appellation. The estate is situated 60 km north of Bordeaux in the district of Ordonnac. The wine has a deep color and a very fruity nose, with pronounced notes of blackcurrants and black cherries, accompanied by a hint of spice. The palate is full-bodied, revealing good structure and silky tannins.
Château de Cranne Bordeaux Rouge 2019 $22 A deep purplish red color with flashes of plum, revealing an impressive density and depth. A finely textured nose with aromas of jammy wild fruit blackcurrant, whortleberry and blackberry), with a Mediterranean density. The amplitude of the tannins is simply astonishing.
Château Poitevin Médoc 2016 $24 Indulge your senses with the captivating aromas of blackberry, tobacco, and honey, as the intense nose of Chateau Poitevin Medoc envelops you in its complexity. Revel in the silky, round mouthfeel, complemented by velvety tannins and a perfect balance of acidity. Savor the finesse and power of this supple, fleshy wine that lingers on your palate with elegance and grace.
La Commanderie St Estephe 2019 $36 The vineyard of this estate is primarily situated on the highest ridge of Saint-Estèphe (between the vineyards of Cos d'Estournel and Chateau Lafite Rothschild), gently sloping towards the Gironde river, providing excellent exposure. This Cru Bourgeois was acquired in 1957 by Mr. Gabriel Meffre and has been managed by his son Claude since 1996, who also owns Château Plantey in Pauillac. The nose is fruity and offers power, a fine concentration. It reveals notes of cassis, wild strawberry, small notes of spices, cuben pepper, cloves, fleshy raspberry associated with fine hints of violet and liquorice. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/Acidulous frame, a good definition, suavity as well as a juicy/ripe fruit and a very fine tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe raspberry, crushed small red berries, small notes of juicy blackberry associated with touches of violet, a racy minerality as well as hints of camphor, clove, very fine hints of nutmeg and ripe almond. Tannins are very discreetly marked.

Furmint February Tasting with John Soares From Lone Wolf 5 - 7pm
During the month of February, Hungary celebrates its noble grape with a series of events. Lone Wolf Wines is bringing that celebration to Oregon with multiple events around Portland and John was kind enough to host one here at Vino.
Bodrog Bormuhely Dry Tokji 2022
Karoly Kolonics Hárslevelű Nimrod 2021
Fekete Bela Juhfark 2019
Heimann & Fiai Piros Siller 2022
Heimann Szekszard Kekfrankos 2021

Friday Flight - South Africa
Friday Flight 2/7 - South Africa with Emily Heins
The history of South African wine begins in 1655 when the first grapevines were planted near Cape Town by members of the Dutch East India Company. The first results weren’t encouraging but as more colonists arrived, they brought knowledge and a tradition of viticulture and winemaking. The wine industry grew throughout the 18th century, mainly producing sweet and fortified wines. Brandy, which necessitated the cultivation of white grapes, also became a major export.
South Africa is found at the southern tip of the African continent. The vineyards are almost all within a hundred miles of Cape Town, which lies at about 34 degrees South Latitude. While not very far south, the climate—described as mild Mediterranean—is suitable for wine growing for a couple of reasons. Areas near the coast are much cooler than those further inland due to the cold Benguela current that comes up from Antarctica. Inland regions are warmer but benefit from elevation. Coastal areas are wetter than further inland, where vineyards often need irrigation. But the country as a whole has had to deal with serious water shortages in recent years.
Opstal Estate "Sixpence" Blanc 2023 $14 - Opstal Estate is situated at the foot of the Slanghoek mountains in the heart of the breathtakingly beautiful Slanghoek Valley on the Breedekloof Wine Route. The valley forms part of the Breede River Valley with Worcester as the closest, large town. 60% Sauvignon Blanc / 40% Sémillon.
Opstal Estate "Sixpence" Cabernet Sauvignon/Merot 2022 $14 red berries, plum and hints of dark berry fruits, with a well-rounded finish.
Kumusha Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 $16 - Kumusha in the Zimbabwean Shona language translates to ‘your home’, ‘your roots’ or ‘your origin’. World Renowned Sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka believes the best wines are representative of their region. Through a collaborative process with respect to the vine, the winemaker and the consumer, Tinashe is building a brand of wines that represent and honor their roots. Minimal intervention wine making and natural fermentation is aimed at letting the wine be free to do the talking of its origin. Red berries, plum and coffee.
Lubanzi Cinsault 2023 $17 - At the core of this wine project is a focus on giving back back to the families who live and work on South Africa's wine farms via the Pebbles Project in the form of health and education support. Energetic cherry, raspberry bush, blueberry compote, saddle, anise. Bright palate of chocolate cake and Luxardo cherries - fresh and enveloping.
Kumusha Carignan 2023 $22 - Kumusha Wines Carignan Wild Mutupo Slanghoek is a vibrant red bursting with juicy raspberries, wild cherries, and a hint of spicy pepper.
Bonus Wines
Longridge Cabernet Stellenbosch 2020 $24 - An elegant wine with classic aromas of rich cherry tobacco, cigar box and dark fruit, complemented by silky tannins, which are well structured and delicately smooth.
Kumushu Pinotage 2023 $25 - Kumusha Pinotage has depth, balance, and aromas of dark cherries and mulberries. Taking great care to gently extract the delicious purple fruit characteristics of the grapes, this minimal intervention wine explodes with flavors of berry, plum, coffee, and baking spice, and a savory finish.
Nice Beverage "Leave it to me" Red $31 - Nice Beverage Co has been designed from the ground up to uplift and give space to emerging wine talents, especially those of women, black winemakers, and those traditionally excluded from winemaking spaces. Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault. Winemaker Kiara makes this wine for Nice Beverage Wine Co. Fruit drawn from the "exceedingly traditional but underrepresented" winemaking region of Paarl, in particular mature bush vine vineyards
VINO HOURS:
Tuesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Friday 11:00 - 8:00 PM **Flights 4 - 8pm
Saturday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 - 7:00 PM
Monday Closed
Free Loire Valley Tasting February 5th 5 - 7pm
We’ll have Brian Martin from Prufrock pouring some of his favorite Loire Valley picks 5 - 7pm.
Anne-Cecile Jadaud Pet-Nat Rose Charivari 2023 $28
Perrault-Jadaud Vouvray Sec Les Grives Soules 2021 $27
Brazilier Rouge Tradition Coteaux du Vendomois 2022 $17
Hautes Noelles Voulez-Vous Gamay avec Moi? 2021 $21
Garreliere Cabernet Franc Rouge des Cornus 2014 $32
Friday Night Flight January 31st - Bordeaux
Join us 4 - 8pm for a flight of 5 wines for $12 and 3 additional for purchase.
Bordeaux, as a whole, is France’s largest appellation d’origine côntrolée (AOC) area, though it’s not the country’s largest winegrowing area. It makes up 25 percent of France’s AOC vineyard area but accounts for only 14 percent of the country’s total vineyard area. Although Bordeaux is famous for its 1855 classification, only 5 percent of the vineyard area is devoted to the production of cru classés.
Vineyards in Bordeaux are typically associated with estates, or châteaux, rather than plots of land, as in Burgundy. There are approximately 6,300 winegrowers in Bordeaux (half of what there was 20 years ago). The average size of a Bordeaux wine estate is 17.6 hectares of vines, and nearly 60 percent of the region’s estates are still owned and run by families.
On average, Bordeaux produces 59 million cases of wine per vintage. Red wines typically make up 85 percent of the total volume production. Dry whites and Crémant de Bordeaux account for 10 percent; rosés, clairets, and Crémant de Bordeaux rosés make up 4 percent; and sweet Bordeaux whites account for 1 percent of total volume.
Château Costis Bordeaux Rouge 2020 $13 In 1985 Laurent Mazeau began the work of renovating his family’s extensive vineyard holdings in Southern Bordeaux. Plantings stretch out over 137 hectares over six châteaux, and Laurent’s goal is to offer consumers unbeatable values in Bordeaux. 40% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Château Cleyrac 2020 is 90% Merlot Noir, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and garnet red. It tastes of jammy red fruits, with woody notes. Its mouth feel is of velvety tannins and has a good length. This single-vineyard Bordeaux Superieur is a mere $14
Château Grimont Cadillac - Côtes de Bordeaux 2020 $17 is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Château Grimont, built in the 17th Century, has been in the Yung family for three generations. It is situated on the right bank of Le Garonne opposite Île de la Lande and just nine miles south of the center of Bordeaux. In the 1800s, wine merchants would moor their barges at the Chateau’s jetties to load barrels of wine. This structured wine, with its solid core of tannins, has fine potential. Wood aging flavors still show at the edges. Blackberry fruits and acidity add a contrast of fruitiness.
Château Galand is located west of Libourne on the other side of the Isle River. The buildings date back to some of the sixteenth century, and the vineyards stretch from the southern flank of the famous gently sloping clay-limestone hillside of Cannon (itself an extension of the Côte de Saint-Émilion) to the alluvial plains of the Dordogne. Château Galand Bordeaux Superieur 2022 $19 85% Merlot 10% Cabernet Franc 5% Malbec is deep purple color with violet hue, intense, alluring and fruity nose with vanilla and blackberry notes, ample and racy mouth, with a good fruity maturity, blackcurrant flavors, young and elegant tannins, yet round with a good lingering finish.
Château La Grande Clotte Lussac Saint-Emilion 2022 $19 is located in Lussac, ten kilometers northwest of Saint-Emilion, and less than an hour from Bordeaux, Château La Grande Clotte is a peaceful haven within the Lussac-Saint-Émilion appellation. A subtle gourmet wine. Rich blueberry, cherry and hazelnut notes, accompanied by ripe and plush tannins. Creamy and full-bodied with a smooth finish.
BONUS WINES
Château Vieux Moulin Listrac-Médoc 2014 $22. That's right.....$22 for a 2014 Listrac-Médoc! This is a serious, complex wine from an estate that was created in the 1930s. Old vines and wood aging have give the wine concentration and richness. Black-plum skin and blackberry flavors, enhanced by a good proportion of Petit Verdot, dominate a wine that will age well.
Château Tour Chaigneau spreads over 21 hectares on a clay-limestone soils with iron dross. It is located at the highest point of the Néac plateau and in the continuity of the most prestigious part of the Pomerol plateau, at 800m as the crow flies from Château Petrus. Comprised of 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon the Château Tour Chaigneau Lelande-Pommerol $29
Château l'Alouette Lalande de Pomerol 2021 $26 For 20 years, Jean-Claude Giraud worked with one of the finest winemakers in the appellation Lalande-de-Pomerol, a village in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. In 1990 he took over his father’s business, and in 2005, he purchased Château L’Alouette. Château L’Alouette is defined by its smooth and rounded character. With its pronounced, black-tinged, garnet appearance, the wine is characterized by its elegant bouquet of violets and red berry fruit aromas redolent of blackcurrant. Its smooth, concentrated structure evolves with charm. The wine lingers persistently on the appealing finish.
Friday Flight January 24th 4 - 8pm - California
I thought it would be nice to show our neighbors to the south some love and pour some wines from California this Friday. I'm also planning on donating some of the proceeds to a good cause to help those in need.
At the core of Foxglove are brothers Bob and Jim Varner. The brothers rose to prominence in the 80’s as farmers and winemakers at their first venture, Varner Wines, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. It was here that their talents for producing high quality, transparent, terroir driven wines were heralded by critics. They worked the Spring Ridge Vineyards site until they made the difficult decision to say goodbye to the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2014. Foxglove Chardonnay Central Coast 2021 $19 is clean with tropical hints and fresh lemon.
Chris Brockway started Broc Winery in 2020 near Berkeley with the dream of making wine from organic grapes with native yeast ferments and lower alcohol. We'll be tasting the Broc Cellars 2022 Red Blend $18 of 50% Carignan, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre. Dried Cranberry, Baking Spices and Cocoa with fresh acidity.
Matthew Fritz Merlot North Coast 2021 $18 Give Merlot a chance! Renowned winemaker, Jim Milone, crafts, blends and bottles Matthew Fritz in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Jim grew up in the vineyards of his grandfather’s winery in Mendocino County and currently lives in Northern Sonoma. A quintessential Merlot, the wine is ripe, jammy and perfectly balanced. Classic cocoa and ripe red fruits on the nose with hints of bing cherry and baking spices. Lucious, velvety and fresh with a silky finish.
Foxglove Zinfandel Paso Robles 2020 $19 is less about being a powerful Zinfandel and more about a wine that is more refreshing. Put a light chill on this and enjoy a more red-fruited wine with bright spices.
Samantha Sheehan's Cabernet Sauvignon is velvety and balanced. She is committed to using locally-grown, organically-farmed grapes; keeping her production small; and using no additives (other than minimal amounts of sulfur). Her wines are fruit-forward, aromatic, and with nice acidity. UltraViolet Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021 $19 has ripe notes of blackberry compote, boysenberry, fresh violet petals and currant. A round mouthfeel with hints of blackberry bramble, black pepper, with bright acidity and velvety tannin.
Bonus Wines
BonAnno Los Carneros Chardonnay 2023 $21 is another project by Matthew Fritz. BonAnno Chardonnay is sourced from the Los Carneros AVA located just north of the San Pablo Bay and includes parts of both Napa and Sonoma. Medium straw in color and bursting with white flowers, fresh peach and green apple on the nose. The palate is layered with ripe lemon, crisp apples, and white peaches. The finish is clean yet long with the slightest hints of vanilla and fresh brioche.
Dashe Cellars is a family-owned artisan winery located in the heart of the Urban Wine Country. After 15 years in Oakland's Jack London Square district, Dashe Cellars has moved to Spirits Alley on the old Naval Airbase in Alameda, CA. Founded by the husband and wife winemaking team of Michael and Anne Dashe, Dashe Cellars crafted its first vintage of Dry Creek Zinfandel in 1996. Since that time, the Dashe’s have focused on producing exceptional, single-vineyard wines using a traditional, non-industrial approach to winemaking. Dashe Cellars 2021 Zinfandel "Vineyard Select" $27 Big, structured wine with a velvety texture, blackbery, pomegranate and casis,hints of chocolate and licorice,great acidity and balance.Finishes with a long and balanced raspbery and cherry liqueur finish.
I had the opportunity to visit Tablas Creek down in Paso Robles a few years ago and got a tour from the owner, Jason Haas, who is very down-to-earth and extremely knowledgeable. They were the first to convert to Biodynamic farming in Paso and are now the world's first Regenerative Organic Vineyard. I find this stuff fascinating and won't bore you to death, but you can find more information here. Tablas Creek was also a nursery for the Rhone Varietals they brought one from Chateau Beaucastel in the Rhone Valley so I included a picture of Jason grafting a vine cutting. The Tablas Creek Patelin Rouge 2023 $28 is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. A pretty, savory nose of black pepper and teriyaki marinade. Lovely on the palate with black fruit and black licorice in front, leavened by plum skin acids and a finish with sweet sarsaparilla and smoky oolong tea notes.
Friday Flight January 17th
No other country can match Portugal’s range of indigenous wine grape varieties, a rich palette for winemakers that goes back to the Bronze Age. Tartessians, Romans, and Phoenicians introduced winegrapes here, and viticulture eventually spread across Portugal’s diverse geography. Isolated from the rest of Europe, many unique wine varieties developed there as vines accustomed themselves to extremes in soil, weather and altitude.
Now, in a small country with over 250 unique, indigenous wine grape varieties to choose from, it is not surprising that Portuguese winemakers usually draw from a variety of grape sources to create balanced, flavorful blends. The result is that Portugal is blessed with a treasure chest of unique and distinctive wines.
Portuguese blends, with their distinctive combinations and unique character, reward people seeking diversity. These wines, at their best, often from small but distinct regions, combine ancient winemaking wisdom with the latest scientific and technical knowledge to put the wonder and pleasure back in wine.
These are exciting times for Portuguese wines, as producers embrace sustainable wine growing and modern winemaking techniques. A delicate balance between tradition and modernity has ushered in a new era of creativity in Portugal, the result of a quarter century of investment, education and enlightenment.
Vinho Verde has exploded in popularity, largely thanks to its public image as a fresh, go-to sipper, custom-built for the poolside, picnic, or park bench. But this crisp, easy-drinking reputation accounts for just one aspect of Vinho Verde’s identity. As a new generation of sommeliers, retailers, and industry professionals has started to discover, the wines of Vinho Verde are capable of so much more. Gota Azahar Vinho Verde 2023 $15 Green figs coated with sea spray, tart granny smith apple and hints of lemon verbena. Azahar is a serious departure from traditional, stylized VV, packing complex texture and bracing acidity on the palate.
Gota "Prunus" Tinto 2021 $15 is a blend of 80% Jaen (Mencia), 10% Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo), 5% Alfrocheiro Preto, 5% Touriga Nacional from the Dão region. Lightly oaked and perfectly balanced, with a silky texture and crisp edge. The nose is cram-packed with plums, mulberries, blackberries and anise. On the palate, black cherry and raspberry fruit tones with creamy and chocolaty oak flavors.
The Gota Mira 2021 $19 comes from 30 years old vines from 500 meters above the Dão river and produce high quality grapes of the varieties Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional.
Filipa Pato "DNMC" Baga Bairrada 2022 $20 The D.N.M.C. Tinto is all unoaked Baga. It comes in at 12.2% alcohol. The winery explains the name of the wine “’dinamica’—D.N.M.C.". This is a blend of vineyards throughout the region. This is an expression of Baga and Bairrada. This is not a typical expression of Baga, but more light Beaujolais.
Mateus Nicolau de Almeida and his wife, Teresa Ameztoy, began their organic/biodynamic/natural wine project in 2015. Organically farmed and certified, their wines reflect the attributes of a combination of vineyards in the different subregions of Douro and a multitude of indigenous grape varieties. The Trans-Douro Express are three “climate” reds from roughly ten different vineyards that demonstrate what each subregion has to offer: Baixo Corgo in the west is the coldest and wettest, on the far east, on the border of Spain, is Douro Superior, the driest and warmest, while in the center is Cima Corgo, a climatic balance of the two extremes. We are going to have one each from Baixo and Douro Superior. Mateus Nicolau de Almeda 2021 Trans Douro Express Baixo Corgo Tinto $22 Crafted from a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, and Roriz grapes, this red wine undergoes an eight-month fermentation and aging process in concrete tanks. The resulting wine boasts a classic ruby color with enticing aromas of black pepper, blackberries, elderberry, and blueberry.
Bonus Wines
The countryside north of Lisbon is dotted with small wine regions that all bathe in Atlantic wind and rain. Grapes here generally struggle to ripen and much of the wine is distilled for brandy. However, the area also features hills like the chalky clay Serra de Montejunto, behind which the vineyards of Obidós shelter. Tomas and Alberto Emidio’s organically farmed Quinta Verzea is dedicated to Arinto. Quinta Varzea da Pedra (Bombarral) 2021 Arinto $22 offers aromas of pear butter and peach with wildflowers and thyme and sage growing out of granite.
Mateus Nicolau de Almeda 2021 Trans Douro Express Douro Superior Tinto $23
Quinta do Olival da Murta/Serra 2018 Serra Oca Tinto Red Blend $28 A powerful, fruity red wine made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Castelão, and Aragonez, which spend 16 months in French oak before the wine matures an additional 6 months in bottle. On the nose you find concentrated aromas of wild berries and spices. On the palate, deep blackberry and dark cherry flavours shine through, with a full body and mouth-filling tannins that are well balanced by the medium acidity. Quinta do Olival da Murta, located in the Lisbon region near the Montejunto mountain, has been in the Vivas family for five consecutive generations.
Free Tasting January 15th 5 - 7pm
We'll start out with a single-vineyard Arneis from Giovanni Almondo. I tasted this wine when I first opened the shop and fell in love with it. It comes from the most elevated vineyards of Roero Arneis denomination, at 390m. From the top of this hill, you can see Monviso and Monte Rosa. Here, 40-year-old vineyards grow on a mainly sandy terroir, with accents of limestone and clay. A combination of mineral and marine hints, recalling the sandy soil which millions of years ago was in the sea. Fragrances of jasmine, apple, white peach, orange and acacia blossoms mix with balsamic notes of mint and anise. $23
Next a delicious Gavi from Olim Bauda. Beautiful straw yellow color with golden hues. Aromas with good strength, dominated by scents of white flowers. Fresh, soft and structured taste. 100% Cortese di Gavi grown at 300m on chalky soils gives this wine more texture than I usually find in Gavi $20
Elio Grasso is a superstar producer from Monforte D'Alba so it's no surprise the Dolcetto is a knockout. The 30 year old Dolcetto is grown at 280m in clay and limestone, Juicy with notes of blackberry with a hint of blueberries, crushed flowers, fresh soil, and a light minty lift. It’s light on its feet and reveals good ripeness, with a kiss of sweet fruit, fine tannins, and a clean finish. It’s elegant, charming, and nicely balanced, with a wonderfully approachable feel. $21
This single-vineyard Barbera by Cigiulti is one of the best I've ever had. This is not an afterthought but an intentional wine made from the Serraboella vineyard in Neive. A rich magenta/purple color, the 2021 Barbera D'Alba Vigna Serraboella is richly concentrated with aromas of ripe plum, mocha, lavender, candied lavender, and a nice lift of spice. Its palate is fresh and velvety in texture, with ripe tannins, fantastic length, and a great finish! $27 ***only 800 cases made and only a handful of bottles left in Oregon.
I find Langhe Nebbiolo can be similar to Côtes du Rhône or Bourgogne Rouge in the sense that quality is all over the map, but this wine is made with intention. The Nada Fiorenzo Langhe Nebbiolo is a glimpse at his Barbaresco at a fraction of the price. Rich and layered, the 2020 is a gorgeous, overachieving wine from the Nada family. Crushed flowers, mint, chalk, white pepper and rose petals drive through a core of bright, red-toned fruit. $29
With 6 years on the Breza Barolo, you start to get a glimpse of what the wine will be down the road. The Barolo DOCG is made from a blend of Breza's Cru vineyard from Novello and Monforte D'Alba in the traditional method. Antonio Galloni said "The 2019 Barolo is a gorgeous entry-level offering from Brezza. In fact, it's one of the best editions of this wine I can remember tasting. Bright, translucent and full of character, the straight Barolo is all charm. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, sage, mint and sweet spice all lend notable complexity throughout." $45
We'll wrap things up with a 2019 Barbaresco from Giacosa Frattelli. Single- vineyard Gianmate, located in the Basarin area, one of the most prestigious crus in Neive-Barbaresco. The color is bright ruby red. The nose is of red fruit, cherry and blueberry first and foremost, with a nice side of hints of leather, cocoa and a hint of balsamic herbs. The sip is rather fresh, with a very present fruit and a rather pleasant finish with tones of cocoa and spices. Aggressive but manageable tannins, medium persistence. $63