New Box of 6 for $60

 

Save $9 on the combined prices of these 2 whites and 4 reds: 6 wines that are versatile and perfect to have around the house for your everyday drinking needs.

 

Yard Dog White - A kitchen sink blend (Chard, Sauv Blanc, Riesling, Semillon & Viognier) with massive appeal, not to mention a really cute label.

 

El Coto Rioja Blanco - Dry and crisp white from Spain made with the Viura grape; perfect for shellfish or seafood.

 

Colosi Rosso - We love Sicilian reds, and this is a new one for us. Bright and vibrant, sunbaked and summery. Made with the underrated Nero d'Avola grape.

 

Colonia Las Liebres - Bonarda from Argentina. Light & bright, but not without those signature Argentinian touches of coffee and bittersweet chocolate. 

 

St. Francis Red - A crowd-pleaser from California that combines Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Zinfandel.

 

Castano Monastrell - New vintage just in! Mourvedre from Spain that's flashy, bright and spicy.

 

These Just In . . .

 

2007 Broc Cellars Rose - We would probably just have to show you this label and say no more, but since this is a verbal medium, we will tell you that this 50/50 Syrah/Grenache rose is as enticing as its packaging. It opens a bit slowly at first, but if you can wait about 5 minutes before glugging, you'll be rewarded with lots of baked strawberry and rhubarb, a nice bit of balancing minerality, subtle floral (especially rose) notes, and even a hint of creaminess on the finish. $15

 

2006 Hope Chardonnay - While most Chardonnays from Australia seem to be taking the "unwooded" route, Hope makes its Chard the old-fashioned way, with French barrique ageing. The resultant wine has all those Chardonnay buzz words: rich, creamy, buttery, oakey. But unlike many of the oakey Chards that the Unwooded wines are reacting against, Hope balances all its richness with lively acidity, leading to a texture that is full yet still easy to drink. A really great value. $12

 

2006 Castano Monastrell - In his review of this wine, Josh Raynolds (who writes for Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar) used the word "sexy" multiple times. We agree, but let's distinguish what type of sexiness: it's the old school kind. This wine is like Elizabeth Taylor: elegant, but also bursting with spicy white pepper and flashy dark berries. It's a natural choice to pair with smokey grilled foods. $12

 

2005 Philippe Alliet Chinon - If you've never had a Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, you're missing out! Especially if you're a fan of Bordeaux or, well, anything earthy and elegant at the same time. Tons of raspberry tinged with blackcurrant; green pepper tinged with graphite; overall, leaves an impression of fresh youthfulness. Totally great! $26

 

2005 Pardi Montefalco Rosso - A Sagrantino/Sangiovese blend that's zippy and well-structured. From Umbria, it shows a lovely balance of cherry fruit and earthy, peppery aspects. Fans of Chianti should definitely check this out. $23

Get Stoned For Less 

 

Stone brewery, located in Escondido, CA, is consistantly ranked by beer critics as one of the top breweries in the World. Demand for their beers has sky-rocketed since their quiet start in 1996. Due to a recent change of distributors in this area, Stone has been very scarce. Now that it's warm and we have a more consistent supply, what could be better? How about dropping the price? Stone IPA 6-Pack $12 — was $14. By far our best-selling hopped-up American IPA.

 

 

 

Vegetarian Wine Dinner at Marche

  

We've had lots of requests for this, and now that all the delicious spring veggies are sprouting, it seemed like the perfect time to do it!

 

We're still setting up the menu and accompanying wines, but you can go ahead and make reservations (we expect this one to fill up quickly; call Marche at 262-1111).

 

Vegetarian Wine Dinner

Marche

Wednesday, May 21

$40

 

 

Getting Philosophical

 

I was looking for info on the Hippolyte Sancerre (which we just brought in this week) on the Kermit Lynch web site, and stumbled upon this beautiful little essay by California winemaker Steve Edmunds of Edmunds St. John Winery. He'd been to a tasting with Kermit, and 5 whites from the Loire Valley made a pronounced impact on him, leading him to ponder what it was that was so special about those particular wines. In the last paragraph of the essay, he vocalizes what I have often felt regarding artisan wine in general, but have found difficult to put into words: that inimitable sense of history and character in each glassful. His take may read as a bit melodramatic, but I find it lovely; if you're not a ponderous type, maybe wait til you've had a glass or two before reading! 

 - Courtney

 

"I don’t know how many years they’ve been making wine in that stretch of the Loire where the Sauvignon reigns, but there is a mastery at work there, such that the experience of tasting each of these wines carries with it a profound sense of meeting with an 'other,' a living presence as substantial and legitimate as one’s own. And a sense, too, of feeling, in that presence, the weight of the past, of the steady, devoted practice of countless generations of human souls, tending their vines, and watching the river flow. Of marking the births of children and grandchildren, and the passing of elders, and shepherding the spirit of their village, through the endless risings and settings of Sun and Moon, and the raising of many glasses in ceremony and remembrance. Something for a California winemaker to chew on, no?" - Steve Edmunds

Read the whole essay here (scroll down to the end; requires Adobe Acrobat reader)