Spring 2024 Mixed Sampler Case Special
Grape Abduction White 1L (Slovenia) - Grape Abduction Company is the brainchild of Peter Gönc who makes wine in Podravje, Slovenia whose family has been making wine since 1936. Peter’s great-grandfather built their first wine cellar and planted the vineyard around it in the small town of Dobrovnik in Slovenia. After World War II, his grandfather moved to the city Ptuj where he started working in the Ptujska Klet, or Ptuj wine cellar, as a cellar cleaner and worked his way up to head winemaker and CEO of the oldest winery in Slovenia, now known as Pullus.
A bright and refreshing nose with aromas of white flowers, citrus, white peach, and lychee. On the palate, the wine is crisp and vibrant, with refreshing aromas expressed on the nose. The finish is long with a nice acidity denoting lots of white fruit and another hint of lychee notes.
Chehalem Winery Mountain Pinot Gris (Oregon) - Bill Stoller became co-owner of Chehalem Winery in 1993 and sole owner in 2018. We're big fans of Bill and the Stoller family and the wines from their Stoller label have been some of our best sellers this past year. We recently had the chance to taste the sister winery, Chehalem Winery lineup and were again wowed by the quality of the wines. Now just the 6th Oregon winery to achieve B Corp. status, Bill and the gang at Chehalem have upped their already impressive game since this takeover. The latest vintage of the Pinot Gris is a vibrant wine with bright and clean aromatics orchard fruit with a sprinkle of white blossoms. The palate is balanced with flavors of stone fruits such as apricots and peaches, with the support of the vibrant acidity, and finishes with lingering notes of candied lemon peel.
RAW White (Spain) - RAW is a label from the Latue Co-Op in the Villanueva de Alcardete district of Spain. Latue pools the fruit and resources of 450 small family farms who individually afford to bottle their own juice, but together, their certified organically farmed fruit goes into making the Bodegas Latue & RAW wines.
The RAW white is a blend of indigenous Spanish grapes (Verjejo, Airen) and the lovable Sauvignon Blanc that gets right to the point of brisk, joyous refreshment. Pale yellow in color with the aromas of mineral and citrus that take on a light and fresh bouquet of peach, chalk, and orange blossom on the palate. Serve well-chilled and enjoy with friends around a table of tapas. Certified organic and vegan.
Clarendelle Bordeaux Rose (France) - From the family that owns First Growth Haut-Brion comes this amazing value Rose from the Bordeaux region. A classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc. The powerful bouquet features floral aromas such as rose, as well as fruity overtones of blood orange, apricot, and grapefruit. The aromatic complexity on the nose carries over onto the palate, which includes lovely flavors of ripe fruit like redcurrant. The wine is suave and concentrated, while remaining tremendously fresh.
Quatro Cravos Positivo Red (Portugal) - The Cravos family's winemaking roots date back to 1911, when they founded their first winery which remained in the family for two more generations until Alberto Cravo founded Sociedade Agrícola Quatro Cravos, Lda in 2014. He had one goal in mind: to modernize the business while showing the world what Portugal has to offer. The Positivo is a blend of classic Bairrada varietals, Baga,Tinta Roriz,& Touriga Nacional that shows intense berry and baked fruit aromas with spice and appealingly rustic notes. Vibrant plum and black cherry on the palate with liquorice hints, robust tannins, and finely poised acidity.
Chateau Venus Graves Rouge (Bordeaux) - When Emanuelle and Bertrand Amart bought their vineyards in the heart of the Graves appellation in 2005 they named the estate for Venus, the goddess of beauty, finesse, and elegance, the attributes they hoped their wines would embody. Their 22 acres are planted entirely to red grapes, a 70/30 mix of Merlot and Cabernet. Medium ruby color, with a subtle garnet hue to the rim. Juicy aromas of fresh currant and plum contrasted by complex cedar, leather, and fresh herbs with a hint of violet. Fresh and dry on the palate, with tell-tale Bordelais grip to the tannins and refinement of balance.
Lomas del Marques Rioja Tempranillo (Spain) - When we heard our best-selling, $13 unoaked Tempranillo was going to be out of stock, we went in search of a replacement. The Lomas is just as good and cheaper and we’re sad to say that the old guy may have permanently lost its place on the shelf! Medium-bodied with velvety tannins and a juicy palate. Aromas and flavors revolve around sweet red cherry, strawberry, and brambly wild berries. The finish is nice and long, introducing dried leaves, leather, and stewed fruit. It walks a pleasant line between traditional and modern expressions of Rioja.
Babylonstoren Babel Red (South Africa) - Located in the Western Cape appellation of Franschhoek Valley, the farm and vineyards at Babylonstoren are considered historical landmarks in South Africa. Pieter van der Byl planted the first vineyards there in the late 1600's and many 17th & 18th century buildings are still in use at the winery. Babel Red is a "kitchen sink" red blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Pinotage, Mourvedre, Grenache, Barbera, and Marselan aged for 12 months in a blend of new and old French oak. Garnet black in color with aromas and flavors of dark chocolate bacon bar, peanut butter, hint of coffee, and buttered biscuit with a supple, bright, fruity medium body and a tingling, appealing, medium-long finish that presents nuances of grilled green pepper, cassis, and creme brulee with dusty, earthy tannins and moderate oak flavor.
Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve Merlot (Sonoma, CA) - Frei Brothers Sonoma Reserve has been a part of the fabric of Sonoma County for over a century. After coming to California from his native Switzerland, founder Andrew Frei first established vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley in 1890. His two sons, Walter and Louis, eventually took over and adopted the name Frei Brothers. They successfully ran the winery for over 70 years. The beautiful Frei Brothers vineyards caught the eye of Julio Gallo soon after the repeal of Prohibition and he began a friendship with the Frei family and using their fruit as a source for the rapidly growing E. & J. Gallo Winery. When Walter and Louis both retired in the late 1970s, the Gallo family purchased Frei Ranch promising to preserve the spirit and vineyards of the Frei Brothers.
This deep and flavorful wine made from organic grapes has a light touch on the palate, offering lots of blackberries, blueberries, wood char and dark chocolate while staying elegant and smooth in texture. A fantastic example of what made the grape so popular in California during the early 2000's and why you should definitely be drinking more Cali Merlot.
Humble Roots Shiraz (Australia) - Humble Roots is a relatively new project started by importer David Forziati and winemaker/grapegrower Jock Harvey. Jock Harvey is a life-long McLaren Vale resident, third generation grape-grower, and founder of the McLaren Vale Biodiversity project. We've been looking for a new Cote Rotie style, Aussie Shiraz/Viognier blend for a while and knew we had found it when we tasted the Humble Roots. The Shiraz/Viognier is from Jock's parents' backyard. Also an organically-farmed vineyard, this wine plays on the beautiful combination action of Syrah and Viognier, with the Viognier drawing out the savory characters od the florality of the Shiraz. 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier, it is medium-plus bodied with dark fruit and spice on the nose. On the palate layers of fleshy plum, oak, and blackberry, notes of wet earth, incense, ash, and cocoa, black current and pepper, with medium acid, and an earthy finish.
Angelo Negro "Angelin" Nebbiolo (Italy) - The Negro family has grown wine on the Roero hills since 1670. Giovanni Dominico Negro and his son run the winery today and the company has grown to today's nearly 70 hectares of vineyards, distributed between the historic Perdaudin farm in Monteu Roero, the San Vittore in Canale farm, the Basarini farm in Neive and the Baudana Vineyard in Serralunga. The Angelin is a lovely bright and fresh style of Nebbiolo that is made to drink young and perfect for those who also like Pinot Noir but are looking for something with a little more backbone. Offering up textbook Nebbiolo notes of bing cherry, truffle, earth, spice and a touch of tar on the nose, the palate is light yet still offers a slight tannic grip with earth and a cherry note, with medium acidity.
Tour de Gilet Bordeaux (France) - Château Tour de Gilet is in Ludon in the Haut Médoc, just south of Margaux on the Bordeaux left-bank, near to the classified 5th Growth Ch. La Lagune property. The current Tour de Gilet chateau was built on the foundations of the ancient Abbey de Gilet, which dates from the 12th century. The 2019's nose is intense and elegant, rich in black fruit, blackcurrant and blackberry, and a vibrant sweet spice aroma, completed with pastry and floral nuances. The palate is supple, generous and round, supported by fine and silky tannins, well-integrated oak and excellent balance.
Gemtree "Dragon's Blood" Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) - Last vintage we were enamored with the Gemtree Shiraz, but this vintage it is their Dragon's Blood Cabernet that is the standout. Sourced from the Buttery family's certified organic, biodynamically farmed vineyards, the 2021 Cab is an outstanding bargain. Strikes appealing balance between power and elegance, with concentrated salted black licorice overtones to the blackberry, blueberry and cassis flavors. Shows notes of rosemary, Earl Grey and tobacco that mingle with dense tannins, which have both grip and polish to them.
12 X 750ml
750ml x 12
Please note that with the uncertainty around shipping & deliveries from our suppliers, it might become necessary to make comparable substitutions in our mixed packs as certain items run out. Thanks for understanding!