You’d never guess.

Dearest Feastlings,

One day, a month or so ago, we tasted a bottle of white wine from the Loire Valley.  It was a delicious Sauvignon Blanc.  We thought.  As luck would have it, though, it didn’t contain a drop of the stuff; it was a blend of Chardonnay and Melon de Bourgogne, and still delicious, but not what thought we’d be tasting when we pulled the cork on a Loire white.  The Last Sunday tasting this month is the product of much chin-scratching after that taste.  What if, we said as we scratched our figurative chins, we put together a tasting of other wines that tricked us in some fashion?  So here it is- White reds, rich leesy versions of crisp whites, red Chablis and more.  The tasting happens on Sunday, March 31 at 3:30 and the wines will each be paired with a taste of something tailored to it.  The tasting is $30 plus tax and tip, and it will most assuredly fill up, so our recommendation to you is to call us (web and email won’t hold you a place) at 326-9363.  You’ll get some tasty food, delicious wine, and fascinating stories from our good friend Katie Woodcock, who’s coming down from the exotic land of Phoenix to lead us in the tasting.  It’ll be fun.

 

You’d never guess

 

2016 Domaine de la Fruitière “Les Vignes Blanches” Val de Loire IGP                                                                                 $12.00

While it might seem tempting to think of this as covering all your bases, Les Vignes Blanches is far from a muddle. Each variety contributes something to the final blend that somehow becomes greater than the parts. All come from the granitic soils of Château Thébaud, are fermented separately and blended after a few months of aging on the lees. The final blend combines the richness and slight nuttiness of the Chardonnay, the zesty aromatics of the Sauvignon, and the mineral depth of the Melon.

2016 Fillaboa “Selección Finca Monte Alto” Albariño, Rias Baixas                                                                                       $29.00

Color: Soft golden-yellow in color with a bright, sparkling white rim.
Aromas: Fine, elegant and expressive, this wine has a remarkable aromatic evolution with alluring aromas of fresh apple, ripe pear, white flowers, brioche and citrus fruit.
Flavors: Soft upon entry, with great structure on the mid-palate, the 2016 Finca Monte Alto is elegant and complex, with well integrated acidity and fleshy-fruit notes. Considered to be one of the few Albariños with outstanding complexity, Fillaboa’s
Selección Finca Monte Alto is a stellar Spanish wine known for its unique balance and roundness.

2016 Aniello Blanco de Pinot Noir, Patagonia                                                                                                                    $15.00

Aniello produces this white wine, Blanco de Pinot Noir, by gently pressing the fruit with minimal skin contact. The wine is then fermented in concrete tanks with indigenous and inoculated yeasts. 10% of the wine is aged up to five months in French oak. Stone fruit and floral aromas on the nose are followed by a rich, yet crisp, mouthfeel.

NV Nicole Chanrion “Effervescence” sparkling Côtes de Brouilly AOC                                                                                 $29.00

When Nicole Chanrion began her career in the 1970s, convention relegated women to the enology labs and kept them out of the cellars—even her mother thought winemaking was man’s work—but she would not be deterred from her dream of becoming a vigneronne. With six generations of family tradition preceding her, she grew up helping her father in both the vineyards and the cellar in the Côte-de-Brouilly, one of the southernmost crus of the northern Beaujolais. Though she is mild-mannered and slight of build, her determination and conviction have consistently defied all doubts. Ever since taking over the family domaine in 1988, she works all 6.5 hectares entirely by herself, from pruning the vineyards and driving the tractors to winemaking and bottling, all without bravado or fanfare. In 2000 she became president of the Côte-de-Brouilly appellation, a position of respect and importance among peers. It’s small wonder then that she is affectionately referred to as “La Patronne de la Côte,” or the Boss of la Côte. The Effervescence is made by Methode Champenoise, hand-riddled twice daily and aged 18 months sur latte.  It’s vintage sparkling wine labeled as non-vintage.

2014 Domaine Savary Bourgogne Épineul Rouge                                                                                                                 $24.00

Think of Pinot Noir grown in the climate and soil of Chablis. Convincing Olivier to bottle unfiltered helped to unlock all of this Épineuil’s potential.  Bourgogne Épineul comes from northern Burgundy, the Chablis region, not far from the Loire.  So alongside its classic Burgundy Pinot Noir characteristics, the wine brings a certain northwestern character to the table: peppery aromas of peonies and roses, and a certain herbal character make this a racy red Burgundy that definitely does not forget where it’s from.

 

2015 De Martino “Gallardía” Cinsault, Itata Valley                                                                                                             $19.00

Gallardía is a tribute to the coastal vineyards of the Itata Valley located in the southern region of Chile; it is the cradle of the country’s viticulture, with vines dating back to 1551. A sustainable agriculture, including dry farming and ploughing with horses are practiced in their vineyards. 100% Cinsault. Violets tones and shallow blue. On the nose is very fresh red cherry. On the palate has high acidity; tannins are more granular. This wine is very easy to drink.

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