Friday Flight & Value Case 1/08/25

With the help of my in-laws, Jack and Lori, the sign is back on display at the shop which feels really good. We were able to tackle that and a few other projects while closed for a few days and we are ready to get back after it.

2025 is here and it looks like a bumpy ride ahead, so I plan to have as many meaningful distractions at the shop as possible for the next few years including: Friday Flights, winemaker events, importer tastings and wine classes if there's an interest.

I thought we would kick off the first flight of the year with a mixed-bag of European wines under $20 (except for the bonus wines). Emily from Handcrafted and I picked wines from Spain, Italy and France that are both delicious and affordable that we hope you enjoy.

Buxy Bourgogne Aligote Silex Burgundy, France 2022 $14 - Apricot, nectarine, mandarin orange, lemon zest. Palate is bright with creamy undertones, laced with lilies, white flowers & hibiscus. Vignerons de Buxy is a collective of Chalonnaise winegrowers who came together to pool their talents, tend their vines and make wine together. 120 families with little plantings work together in the way their ancestors did. "Silex" refers to the limestone soils, Aligoté is the lesser known grape from Burgundy yet is historically as important as Chardonnay.

Poggio del Moro NU Chianti Tuscany, Italy 2020 $14 - "Nu" is 100% Sangiovese sourced from the mostly sandy soils of the Mezzogiomo and Mattina vineyards, located at 350 meters of elevation in the hills of Tuscany. The wine sees no new oak to preserve the purity of the fruit and to emphasize the terroir. 

Nanit Natural Bobal 2022 DO Manchuela, Spain $15 - Vibrant, deep violet-purple. Exuberant nose dominated by raspberries, fine herbs and subtle peppery edge. 100% Bobal.

Herencia Altes L'Estel Terra Alta DO, Spain 2019 $19 - This rural denomination of origin in southern Catalonia is comprised of both new wineries and long-established and experienced cooperatives that cultivate both native and imported grape varieties. The DO consists of a total of 12 municipalities located in the west of the province of Tarragona. A lively intense colour with a claret body and bright ruby-red rim. Aromas of black fruit and spices are accompanied by a stony minerality. Full-bodied in the mouth with flavours of deliciously ripe fruit and smooth tannins. Garnacha + Syrah.

Monfort Lagrein Trentino, Italy 2021 $19 - Monfort’s Lagrein comes from the sunny hills of Pressano. It is a wild and untamed wine and needs a longer ripening time to give complexity and charm with aging. Characteristically fruity, very intense reminiscent of black berries with hints of spice and chocolate and violet.

Bonus Wines

Domaine de la Charmoise "Marionette" 2020 Loire Valley, France $32 - 20 hectares of massal selection vines were planted between 1967 and 1982. Average yields are around 40 hL/ha. The domaine is located at the highest point between the Loire River to the north and the Cher River to the south, and enjoys a continental climate. Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine, Loire Valley, France; light bodied and dry, mineral driven with notes of grapefruit and lemon citrus, with Spring flowers, medium plus acid, and a smooth leesy texture and finish.

Chateau de Landiras Graves Rouge Bordeaux, France 2018 $22 - The history of Château Landiras dates back to the 12th century when William the Templar, Archbishop of Bordeaux bought Landiras lands. In 1306, the castle is rebuilt on the ruins of the fortress erected by the Lords of Landiras. At the tasting, Château Landiras offers a sustained color, a nose of ripe fruit, spices, chocolate and vanilla. In the mouth, the attack is sweet and the finish is on tannins well melted.

Tenute Neirano Barolo Piedmont, Italy 2018 $32 - In the heart of Monforte d'Alba, a region famous for its compressed sandstone soils, crafting intense, structured wines with great power and longevity. It is there, in an ancient 17th century villa, that this fine Barolo is produced. It spent 3 years in large Slovenian oak barrels and 1 year in bottle before leaving the winery for export. The 4th generation of the family is now making the wine. A very pleasant and real Barolo here with dried cherries, raspberry jam and hints of spicy vanilla on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with rather chewy, loose-grained tannins for now. Give it a few years for the tannins to sink in. 

Value Case $136

Here's what I came up with for January's Value Case. I'll start compiling orders and will have the wines ready for pick up this coming Friday the 10th.

Rosarie Sauvignon Blanc France 2023 $14 - Fresh lemon, white flower and racy acidity.

Rey Santo Verdejo Rueda, Spain 2023 $14 - This offers crisp, bright citrus and melon characteristics with flavors that linger on the palate for a long time.

Vetricce Blanc Il Beaute, Corsica 2023 $15 - Bursting with fresh apple, peach, citrus, honeysuckle and gentle spice notes, this will perk up your day in no time. This stainless steel fermented blend of Chardonnay and Vermentino literally smells like a sunny spring day.

Hecht & Bannier Rouge Languedoc 2019 $16 - This is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Bright red fruits, with plum and sweet tannin.

St Cosme Micro Cosme NV, Rhone Valley $15 - Micro-Cosme Rouge carries the Vin de France designation due to its unique production method. The wine is made from blending wines from multiple vintages in concrete tanks starting with the 1999 vintage. The result is a wine that is both vibrant and complex. Grenche + Pinot

Bodegas San Velero "Plano Alto" Garnacha, Spain 2019 $14 - This is rather inky with dark berries and graphite to the black-cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and long, textural finish that goes on for minutes. 

Eguren La Mancha, Spain 2021 $15 - Cherry red. Fruity aromas enveloped by noble woods, with hints of vanilla and toast. Suggestive, enveloping and polished. It fills the mouth without aggressiveness, smooth and round. Blend: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha.

Lezaun Tinto Navarra, Spain 2021 $14 - This red blend (Garnacha + Tempranillo) has lush notes of red and black berries with supple tannins and pleasant acidity.

Chateau Lacoste Garzac Bordeaux, France 2020 $14 - A mix of Merlot and Cabernet with 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.

Altitudes Cotes Roussillon, France 2020 $15 - 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 25% Carignan This youthful wine is an un-oaked blend of three local grape varieties: 25% of old vines of Carignan (40–50 years) which brings spiciness and dry herb notes, 45% of Grenache which bring fruitiness and roundness, and 30% of Syrah for the structure and purple color.

Castegggio Barbera Lombardia, Italy 2021 $14 - Intense ruby red color with violet tone. Nose: intense perfume of black fruits. Mouth: a young fruity taste with almond aroma.

Gini Chianti Tuscany, Italy 2018 $14 - This wine is simple and fruit-forward and makes a great companion to any casual dinner. It is full bodied with good acidity, firm tannins, and notes of tart red fruit, dried herbs, fennel, balsamic and tobacco.