We've gotten some really excellent new wines in this week, and thought we'd mention a few of our favorites! Both these wines really made us sit back and take notice. When you taste boring wine after boring wine (we go through so much to weed out the best for you!), it's really exciting to discover one (or even two!) that stand out from the crowd.

 

 

2005 Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue

Bronzinelle, Languedoc, France

$16

 

Very flashy in style for a French wine, but still maintains an earthy refinement that is quite French. Being from the South, the relaxed spirit of the Provencal life seems reflected in the wine. Maculine yet sophisticated, structured yet somewhat wild, the great medium-to-full body is packed with dense (but never brittle) tannins, clove, notes of sweet ice tea, leather and tobacco. The fruit ranges from blueberries to bright cherry and blackberry, with dark chocolate on the finish. Importer Kermit Lynch says "a blend of the great Rhône grape varieties aged in oak demi-muids and barrels. It is a perfect expression of the Provençal spirit, but has a slight Bordeaux accent. Top it all off with an excellent vintage and you have a winner."

 

 

Hently Farms "Mallee Sands" Chardonnay

Fool's Bay, Australia

$12

 

Australians have been making unoaked Chardonnay for a while. Its all about preserving the natural vibrancy and flavor of Chardonnay rather than the old way of serving up a buttery, wooden taste with a bit of Chardonnay.  The Mallee Sands is a very cool growing region with elegant Chardonnay that shows naturally high acidity combined with substantial exotic fruit: peach, pear and melon flavors jumped out of the glass. The depth of flavor is impressive. A really great all-purpose white: it will go with everything from chicken to fish to pork.

 

 

ON SALE

 

Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

Margaret River, Australia

Was $17; SALE $14

 

An elegant blend made in the style of the white wines of Bordeaux. Sauvignon Blanc adds citrusy zing, while Semillon adds a weighty depth and melon notes. They work like Ying and Yang! Cape Mentelle is the Australian outpost of New Zealand's most famous producer of Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay.

 

 

 

Heinrich Red (awesome little red blend from Austria, with native grapes)

was $15; SALE $13

 

 

 

Lavradores de Feitoria Douro Portuguese Red

was $13; SALE $11

 

 

 

Lion Stout (6-pack; beer from Sri Lanka)

was $12; SALE $10

 

 

 

Mendocino Brewing Company "Eye of Hawk" beer

was $10; SALE $8

 

 

Upcoming Tasting Events

 

Bistro Dinner

at Marche 

Wednesday, February 27

6:30pm

$40

 

We are thrilled to offer a Parisian-style Bistro Dinner down the hill at Marche. The menu for the event is as follows:

 

Gaston Riviere Pineau des Charentes

 

Prince Edward Island Mussels,herbs, garlic & white wine

2006 Chateau de la Chesnaie Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine

 

Salad Lyonnaise frisee, poached egg and bacon vinaigrette

2006 Chateau des Capitans Julienas

 

Braised Short Ribs, celery root puree

2005 Chateau Labory Fronsac 

 

Pear Tarte Tatin

2005 Chateau Hallet Sauternes

 

Call Marche to make reservations (262-1111)

Piedmont Wine Dinner

at City House

Monday March 3

6:30pm

$71

 

We had our first official wine dinner with City House on Monday, and we couldn't be happier with the event. In fact, we are chomping at the bit for the next one! Thanks so much to all who came and made it so memorable. The food was outstanding, and it was a pleasure to have a chance to get to know many of you better. It sounds cheesy to say, but having food and wine from a given region is just magical: the two play off each other so well, and one enhances the other in ways that are just amazing. The next dinner will focus on Northernwestern Italy's Piedmont region. Home to some of the most wonderfully bipolar wines on earth (both wildly tannic and unbelievably elegant and delicate at the same time), you've probably heard of Barolo and Barbaresco. Explore Nebbiolo and the other beautiful grapes of Piedmont with the most authentic cuisine you'll find in the city (if not the whole Southeast!).

 

2005 Villa Sparina Montej Bianco 

 

Antipasti

 

Grissini - housemade bread sticks

Maiale Tonnato - roasted pork, creamy tuna sauce

 

2006 Villa Sparina Gavi

 

Pasta

 

Risotto al Nebbiolo - Carolina Gold risotto, red wine, porcini, parmesean

Pastina in Brodo - housemade pasta in broth

2005 Fontanafredda Barbera Briccotondo

2006 Fontanafredda Dolcetto Torremova 

 

 

Secondi

 

Bollito Misto, housemade cotechino, Springer Mt. chicken, tongue, short ribs

Mostarda di Cremona

2003  Massolino Barolo DOCG  

 

 

 

Dolce

 

Housemade Chocolates in the style of Torino

2005 Fontannafredda Moscato D'Asti Moncucco

 

Call City House to reserve your place (615-736-5838).