It's
Fourth of July Week and
you're
probably asking yourself what wines would
you like to enjoy in the warm sun with good
food and friends. We have many options.
Below are a few that come to mind.
As always,
read, sip, relax, enjoy.
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Let's
Begin With Rose
With
the continued warm weather here in Santa
Barbara, it's the perfect time to
celebrate the holiday week/weekend with
bottles of Summer wine; specifically Rose.
Our selection represents many parts of the
globe including Bandol, Sancerre, Morocco,
and of course Roses from our own backyard.
Here are a few favorites:
2024
Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rosé
(France, Languedoc) $11.50
Many a people have looked at the price and
kept walking. However, though this may be
inexpensive it is worthy.
Red
currants, strawberries, raspberry, and
peach, hints of watermelon and wildflower,
with a touch of minerality. The wine is
well balanced, round, and crisp, offering
refreshing acidity and a clean, long,
"more-ish" finish, meaning yes, more
please!
Organic too!
ON SALE!
2023
La Spinetta Il Rosé di Casanova
(Italy, Tuscany) $20
reg 24
One of our favorite go-to Italian Roses;
this one is in a great spot. Savory,
inviting, red fruit with a touch of peach
and yellow citrus, long finish.
2024
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé
(France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire,
Sancerre) $35
There's a pale elegance here; tart and
refreshing notes of cranberry, cherry,
slivers of citrus, a core of stony mineral
acidity, and a vibrancy that finishes
strong. Outstanding.
2024
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé
(France, Provence, Bandol) $62
This is a beauty; a great vintage for
Tempier Rose. It's gorgeously fresh with
red fruit, melon, and exotic citrus notes,
herb-tinged with nice structure and
length. A worthy Summer wine.
Try this one with grilled salmon.
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2024
Zarate Albariño Rías Baixas Val do
Salnés
(Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas) $30
Fresh
and vibrant, with bright acidity and
lengthy mineral notes. Aromas of guava,
key lime, and oyster shell, with floral
notes and a refreshing, seductive finish.
One of our favorite Spanish wines year in
and year out.
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2022
Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru Montée de
Tonnerre
(France, Burgundy, Chablis) $95
If
you made a list of all the vineyards in
Chablis, premier cru and grand cru, then
asked us to circle our
favorite, Montée de Tonnerre would be
the one we'd select. It has the most of
what we love: "shells and stones". That
is, oyster shell and the impactful
limestone that seem to seep into the
wines.
We splurged on our day off and enjoyed
this wine immensely over the course of
several hours. It kept unwinding, opening,
showing more and more structure and depth;
after 90 minutes or so the wine became
craveable! We vowed next time, we'd
include a few dozen oysters, raw and
grilled.
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2022
Bouvy Cidre - Mont Sur Courville
(France, Champagne) $32
Victor
Bouvy is the fourth generation to run his
family’s farm in Mont-Sur-Corville in the
Vallée de l’Ardre in the heart of
Champagne, tucked between the Montagne de
Reims and the Marne Valley.
In the early 2000s, Victor’s father began
successfully cultivating a vast array of
new fruit varieties for simple table
consumption, as the region’s calcareous,
silty-clay soils proved to be a perfect
match for apples (and not just Pinot
Meunier in the production of fine
Champagne!)
Victor wanted to take the family’s
commitment to apples a step further. With
a degree in agricultural engineering and a
passion for traditional dry cider, Victor
traveled to Normandy to better learn the
intricacies of cider production. Upon his
return in 2019 he planted a new and
complimentary mixture of apple varieties
(Avrolle, Douce Coët, Douce Moen, Bedan,
Fréquinette, Dabinett, Douce de l’Avent,
and Locard Vert), ideal for cider
production.
Expertly crafted, this cider has
delightfully array of aromas and flavors,
from yellow apple to marigolds to crushed
stones and sweet spice. Long, precise and
dry, with fine bubbles.
And how did we discover a traditional
cider producer in the middle of Champagne?
Winemaker Francis Egly of Domaine
Egly-Ouriet introduced Victor to the
importer, the importer introduced his
cider to us, and now we have the pleasure
of returning the favor and sharing this
beauty with you.
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2022
Michel Sarrazin et Fils Maranges
(France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune,
Maranges) $45
A
week ago a text came through. It began,
"Off the charts value!!", then, "Highly
recommended you try". Finally, "Best value
in ages".
This was not from a retailer, or sales
person, but from an East coast friend
known for his great palate.
So we ordered three cases sight unseen so
to speak. The wine arrived Tuesday
morning, and today we have just finished
sampling the Pinot Noir. Our notes go a
little something like this:
...brilliant
nose...then red raspberry, hint of earth,
savory minerals...med. body w/ juicy
acidity,
...blood
orange, iron sauvage,
violets...light spice, subtly rustic...
long
finish...give 15 minutes in the glass to
open...
This is one heck of a wine from Burgundy;
fairly priced, and wickedly delicious.
Hats
off to our friend for steering us towards
this one.
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2022
Lingua Franca Pinot Noir Avni
(Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills)
$36
It's
been hard to keep this one in stock, but we did purchase
extra for the weekend. By far our best selling
Oregon Pinot Noir...ever!
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