May/June 2025 Mixed Case Sampler

Crisp whites & roses, and easy drinking reds are just what the doctor ordered as the weather heats up here in North Carolina.  Fire up the grill, head out to the back porch and grab one of the delicious wines to enjoy with whatever the evening has in store.

Obvious Wines French Bubbly #5 Cremant De Loire (France) - Obvious Wines is an importer that works with small, family owned, boutique estates in France, Argentina, and Italy. In addition to promoting and distributing these family produced labels in the USA, they also work with some of their producers to create custom cuvees that they label under their own "Obvious Wines" label.
They call this a "Grower" Cremant de Loire because like a Grower Champagne, the wine is vinified and bottled on the estate where it was grown. A honeyed nose of caramelized apple, baked pear, orange marmalade and white peach jump out on the nose of this sparkling wine. The creamy-textured wine made from 100% Chardonnay has a smile-inducing mouthfeel and an equally supple finish.

Conti Speroni Gavi di Gavi (Italy) - Just north of Genoa, about a third of the way to Milan, lies Gavi - one of Italy’s most gorgeous wine making regions. Only 11-miles long (the same length as Manhattan) here the Cortese grape is grown in it’s ancestral home and the results are still remarkable. Conti Speroni is clean, fresh, and fragrant with notes of springtime blossom and green apples on the nose. These attractive aromas follow through to the palate combining with notes of white peach and a zippy grapefruit finish.

Domaine Bretaudeau "Theia" Muscadet (France) - Bretaudeau is known for making wine from a wild array of varietals (and aging vessels) rarely seen in this part of the Loire Valley. An intriguing and vibrant expression of Muscadet, offering aromas of citrus zest, green apple, and white flowers, with hints of flint and saline minerality. On the palate, it is crisp and refreshing, with a textured mouthfeel and a lingering finish of sea breeze and lime.

Curran Grenache Gris Rose (California) - Pale Rose Quartz in color, this dry rose is refreshingly clean with notes of strawberry, white raspberries, and hints of honeysuckle, and mint. This wine has beautiful structure with firm, yet silky tannins and a crisp, lingering finish.

Figuiere Mediterranee Rose (France) – Roses are so perfect for this time of year, and these two are so delicious, that we had to include them both in our May/June Mixed Case.  Figuiere Rosé is intended to be light, invigorating and easy-to-enjoy. Aromas and flavors of peach, orange skin and white flowers are accented by refreshing acidity and a salty minerality thanks to the influence of the sea.The refreshing character of southern French rosé with its bright acidity and moderate level of alcohol make it the ideal partner to the simply prepared cuisine of the Mediterranean. 

Terrazas de Los Andes Malbec (Argentina) – We love this bold and juicy Malbec from high altitude vineyards in Mendoza and we're not the only ones.  Wine Spectator recently named is as one of their top 10 "Values of the Year."  Notes of hibiscus and orange blossoms join the fresh core of this fragrant version, which is silky in feel, delivering a pure beam of raspberry and cherry flavors. The finish is satisfyingly juicy, with baking spice accents around soft tannins.

Habla del Silencio (Spain) - This unusual (Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon) red blend from Extremadura is one of those bold, spicy, deep and smooth reds that is so good and complex that we bet most people who taste this wine blind would believe us if we told them it cost $40-$60 and then not believe us when we told them the real price was just $17. Intense and complex, with hints of cherry, blackberry, mint, pepper and graphite. It is a rich wine, fresh and fleshy at the same time, with abundant fruit notes and cherry liqueur bonbon.

Souras "Zoe" Red (Greece) – The color is brilliant, medium-strength violet with pink hues. On the nose it is vivid and intense with aromas of black cherries, blackberries, hints of plums, violets and dried herbs. On the palate it has medium body, moderate acidity with smooth tannins – all in harmony. The aftertaste is moderate with a gentle note of anise seed.

Elio Perrone "Tasmorcan" Barbera d'Asti (Italy) - If Nebbiolo is the grape of Kings, Barbera is the grape of the people. This Barbera is rich mainly due to its deep purple color, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a winter wine. It's fresh strawberry and summer cherry palate make it a light.

Domaine de la Chapelle Bizot Chiroubles (France) – Chiroubles, one of the ten crus of the Beaujolais region, is celebrated for its steep, granite slopes and high elevations, the highest of all the Beaujolais crus. Known for its light body and color, delicate tannins, and elegant florality, Chiroubles is often considered the most 'feminine' expression of Beaujolais. Domaine de la Chapelle Bizot’s Chiroubles showcases fresh flavors of red plum, raspberry, and strawberry, complemented by delicate notes of peony and dried herbs

Anna Espelt "Pla de Gates" Negre (Spain) - Made from 100% Lledoner Negre, the local name for Garnacha in this part of Catalunya, Pla de Gates showcases the new-school style of Garnacha growing increasingly popular in Spain. Sourced entirely from fruit that Anna Espelt grows in granitic soils in her personal vineyard of Mas Marés, these organically farmed vines are surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean and exposed to nearly constant winds from inland or from the sea.  Bright aromatics glide above a juicy, mid-weight core of beautifully textured red fruits, which are accented by lively spicy notes. 

Chateau Saint-Roch "Old Vines" Red (France) - This wine, made up of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah, sourced from organically farmed "goblet trained" bush vines.   Right out of the glass it exudes freshness with a raspberry-blueberry mix of fruit on the nose that plays double-Dutch jump rope on the palate with a floral streak of medium acidity.  A fruit-driven wine, with flavors of blueberries and cherries lifted by subtle hints of black olives, fresh herbs and delicate dark chocolate notes. This richly textured wine with sweet tannins captures the heady aromas of the Mediterranean.