Budbreak

 

In March and April, the vines begin to reawaken from their winter hibernation, spouting sap and the first signs of foliage. The next few months will determine the destiny of this year's wines: it's an exciting time!

 

Hollywood is once again tackling wine in the new Alan Rickman film Bottle Shock. Despite the danger of a possible cheese overdose, it's still cool to see wine becoming further embedded into our country's pop culture psyche. Sideways's impact on the industry was unbelievably potent, and one only needs to look at how expensive (and overproduced) pinot noir has become to see that. Bottle Shock focuses on Napa in the mid 70s, just as pioneers like Chateau Montelena began to produce wine capable of standing up to the great wines of Bordeaux (as was officially tested at the famous 1976 tasting in Paris). So, if this movie proves as large a success as Sideways was, we can only advise you to get your fill of California Cab now!

 

Check out the trailer:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYs0kblXToA

 

Our latest California Cab discovery:

 

Broadside Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, CA $22

 

Broadside is the latest project of Chris Brockway. His main line, Broc Cellars, focuses on Rhone-style wines. Broadside serves as Brockway's vehicle to pay homage to the wines of another famous French region: Bordeaux. This Cab has such a nice minerality, especially notable for Paso Robles (whose wines are both loved and loathed for their excess of jamminess). Great structure, and not too much fruit; the fruit that is there is dusty and dark, perfectly complementing the earthier aspects. Broadside offers further proof that Chris Brockway is one of California's most talented up-and-coming winemakers.

 

 

Nun Wine

 

Suore Cistercensi Vino da Tavola Bianco Coenobium Lazio, Italy $27

 

 

Sometimes the story sells the wine. This vino da tavola from Lazio proves it - in some quarters it's now called simply "the nun wine." Coenobium denotes a community of monks, and the wine is made by the sisters at the Cistercian monastery in Vitorchiano, north of Rome, with help from the famous Montefalco vintner Giampiero Bea. The blend is made from organically grown Verdicchio, Trebbiano and Grechetto. A long soak on the grape skins helps transform these modest white varieties into an amazingly layered wine. Scents of rainy-day flowers, coriander and orange zest lead you to a richly textured mouthful, with sweet honeysuckle, minerality and a subtle tang. Good story; great wine.

 

 

 

Our Spring Red of Choice

 

Capestrano Montepulciano Abruzzo, Italy $14

 

Bursting with fresh, juicy marascino cherries, this wine has the vibrancy that immediately earns a wine a place on our list of "new favorites." Super bright, really plush; when tasting it, we all kept coming back to this wine simply because it was so refreshing and flavorful. Montepulciano is the name of the grape, and it's the trademark red of southeastern Italy's Abruzzo region.

 

Euro+Dollar=Value?

 

 

Lafage Cote Sud Rousillon, France $15

 

As the Dollar's value shrivels and the Euro's steadily creeps up, good European wine values are harder and harder to find. To find a wine made by a sought after winemaker that also offers bang for the buck is even more rare. Jean-Marc Lafage, famous for the Las Rocas wines he and importer Eric Solomon make, offers up an excellent red from his own estate. Wine Advocate writer David Schildknecht says, "Lafage has scored a mind-boggling value with his Syrah-based (10% each Grenache and Cabernet) 2005 Cote Sud. Intense aromas of plum paste, cherry, iodine and herbs lead into a richly-fruited, deeply mineral, dynamic palate with layering and interplay of black chocolate, lavender, licorice, cherry preserves, singed meat, salts and iodine. A wine this rich and complex and with a finish this long takes on an aura of unreality when one sees the price!" 90 pts. Need we say more?

Springtime Sipper

Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet                     Coteaux du Languedoc, France now $8- usually $10

This extremely refreshing little wine is proof that an unknown wine from the south of France can become a sensation despite its weird name! It's a huge seller around town, and has earned its popularity with its dry, clean, grassy-citrus tinged taste. The name of the grape, Picpoul (pronounced "peek- pool") translates to "lip stinger", so expect bright acidity. The perfect pick for a picnic or a wide variety of Spring and Summer fare. This wine is also available in 1.5L bottles, $18, and 3L boxes, $30, as well.

 

Stone Beers

 

After an extended hiatus, due to a change in distribution and mountainous paperwork, we have some stock of Stone beers. It is by far the most requsted beer we carry. Get it while you can!

In stock are:

 

 

Ruination IPA, Intensely hoppy! $7

 

 

IPA six packs, A classic, modern IPA $14

 

 

Arrogant Bastard, Are you worthy? $6