Cave Spring Blanc de Blanc
$47.59
This Blanc de Blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes which are grown in the limestone-clay soils of vineyards along the benchlands of the Niagara Escarpment. Here are the wineteams comment: "On the nose, aromas of bread dough, green apple and lemon meringue lead the way over top nuances of wet stone and hazelnuts. The palate is dry with a very fine, tight and vivacious mousse. It is creamy in feel up front, becoming richly textured and mineral on the mid-palate, with lively apple fruit throughout. The finish is long and full, with intense toast and yeast overtones alongside hints of citrus".
Occhipinti Sp68 White
$42.49
A blend of Moscato d'Alessandria (also called Zibibbo) and Albanello. Aged into cement for 6 months then into the bottle. Citrus, spices, mineral, aromatic. There are camomile and grapefruit notes. Even though it’s a killer with seafood, we mostly drink it for apéros.
Carlisle Papera Zinfandel
$92.99
94% Zinfandel, 6% Mixed Black Varieties (Petite Sirah, Peloursin, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, and Tannat). Harvested in mid-October. 17% new, 83% neutral French oak.
Grown and managed by the Sonoma legend Phil Coturri, this Zinfandel is a stunning example of Carlisle's mastery of adapting to growing conditions from vintage to vintage. Rossi Ranch Zinfandels can sometimes be challenging in their youth, but the 2019 vintage is ready to be enjoyed now through 2028.
Papera Ranch shows what Zinfandel is capable of and is highly regarded by wine critics vintage after vintage.
A KWM exclusive.
Pingus PSI
$67.99
92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for the 2014 vintage! The review: "The 2014 PSI is a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha and perhaps 1% of other grapes found interplanted with the other varieties in the old vineyards, mostly white Albillo. The idea here is to protect the old vineyards that are disappearing from Ribera del Duero and provide some added value to the grapes coming from them. They have identified a grand total of only 56 hectares of Garnacha in Ribera del Duero, and they have rented 20 of those to save them, because they were set to be uprooted. It has great freshness and energy, with an herbal/leafy touch in the nose that also adds complexity. It's a wine that seems to improve from vintage to vintage, and I believe the jump will be noticeable when they produce it in their own winery from the 2015 vintage onward. The Garnacha always has a lower pH than the Tempranillo, and helps to provide an extra spark of freshness. This is an approachable Ribera, but keeping the character of yesteryear. This is really what Ribera del Duero used to be: all old vineyards and no new oak whatsoever. Kudos to that! 210,000 bottles produced."
Ferme Du Mont Gigondas Jugunda
$63.99
La Ferme Du Mont has the uniqueness of offering a complex mosaic of vineyards, among the finest terroirs in the southern Rhône Valley. Sensible to the integrity of its environment, Stéphane Vedeau has deciphered, interpreted, and adapted to these terroirs to reveal their most sincere expression. In the glass, this Gigondas is full-bodied yet graceful, with aromas of ripe black cherries, violets, wild herbs and a subtle mineral edge. On the palate, it is rich and textured, unfolding layers of dark berries, licorice, herbs, all carried by fine, structured tannins and a long, elegant finish. It's a blend of grenache (80%) and syrah.
Vilmart Grand Cellier Brut 1er Cru
$123.24
91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for this outstanding Champagne! The review: "The NV Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut offers a very clear and precise bouquet with citrus and some smoky/flinty flavors. Pure, clear and fresh on the palate, very precise and mineral, this is a remarkably finesse-full and expressive Champagne. It was disgorged in June 2015 with nine grams of dosage, but it tastes significantly more dry. The finish is full of tension and minerals, which makes this a seriously expressive Champagne of great elegance and ageing potential. The blend is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir."
Collective Arts Life in the Clouds
$4.22
Just one more sample of Collective Arts IPA to add to that delicious pile. Simcoe and Mosaic make this as punchy with juice as you'd expect. The hazy, delicate body keeps that hoppy mess in balance (the good kind of hoppy mess), and remains incredibly crushable.
Paulaner Helles Lager Tall Can
$4.22
Bright and crisp with crackery, lightly lemony malt with floral hop notes and light body.
Speri St Urbano Valpolicella
$38.24
"Deep ruby with a rich, ample bouquet of spice and ripe red fruit confirmed on the full, layered palate," according to the importer. "The Speri family’s presence in the heart of Valpolicella goes back to 1874. Their vineyards (totaling 60 hectares/24 acres) are located in the finest districts of the Classico area. And every grape that goes into their wines is estate-grown and cultivated by the Speri family with just as much pride in the craft of viticulture – the hands-on, hard-working side of it – as the art of it. The vineyards are divided into three distinct crus: La Roverina, Sant’Urbano and La Roggia." Pair with red meats, perhaps game, or hard cheeses.