Looking for something tasty?

Les Vignobles Foncalieu, Picpoul, Rose $21
Organic

ROSÉ
grape: Piquepoul

It's Back!!! "Les Vignobles Foncalieu are updating a forgotten variety: Piquepoul noir, the brother of Piquepoul blanc. It's unusual name evokes the way in which hens (or 'poules' in French) would peck ('piquer') at the grapes scattered on the ground." - Producer

"Very pale appearance. Delicate aromas of crushed rose petals with lemony notes. Wonderfully lively and bursting with freshness." - Importer
Note - this wine flies!

Cave des Vins de Sancerre,
Le P'tit Loire $17

WHITE
grape: Sauvignon Blanc

"Made by the Cave Cooperative in Sancerre, the wine offers many of the same characteristics as an AOC Sancerre for about half the price. The 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in vineyards in the proximity of those in Sancerre, with the same soils that are well-drained chalk with stone and marine fossils. The resulting wines are bright, bracing, with lots of citrus and mineral on the palate - all the things we like about Sancerre!" - Importer

Viña Echeverria, No Es Pituko, Chardonnay $18
Organic/Biodynamic

WHITE
grape: Chardonnay

"No stabilization process, no filtration, no added sulfites. Chardonnay proprietor’s single vineyard grapes, from ungrafted selected clones of pre-phylloxera French rootstock. "No es Pituko" translates more or to "Is not pretensions. And in fact it isn't. natural wine is pale yellow and is slightly cloudy, due its lack of processing. On the nose, strong aromas of banana, apple and pear blend with toasted brioche. In the mouth, it is full-bodies and rich, with a creamy refreshing and fruity acidity" - Producer

Grace + Vine, Counter Point Red Wine, Paso Robles $24
Organic

RED
grape: Grenache, Counoise, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre

"A friend of a friend said you should talk to such and such, I hear they make good wines." That's how this production came into the hands of my distributor. The team at Grace + Vine are on a mission to access the highest pedigree grapes in the Central Coast region and craft beautiful wines at moderate price points. A smooth, lovely integrated black fruit, still with a sense of freshness and balance that play with baking spices, pomegranate. And did I say smooth? - SE

Tinus, Vin de France Rouge d'Une Nuit $21
 

RED
grape: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache

A top Burgundy producer playing with Syrah, Cab and Grenache? That's crazy talk! But when you're that talented you probably want to play with as many mediums as possible. - SE

"It's a blend of 1/3 Syrah, 1/3 Cabernet-Sauvignon, and 1/3 Grenache. The wine was aged in barrels for 10 months then in concrete vats for 6 months. This wine has a very fruity nose: very ripe red fruits. It's complex with more woody aromas thereafter." - Producer

Patricia Green Cellars Muskat Ottonel Marie, Eola Amity Hills $26
Dry Farmed/Organic

ORANGE
grape: Muscat

Muscat Ottonel is related to the Muscat grape and is produced in many countries as dessert/sweet wine. However, Jim Anderson from Patricia Green Cellars interprets the Ottonel version in a Bone-Dry Style. And when I say bone dry, I mean super dry! The acidity is pronounced and consistent throughout the finish. Yet, the nose has perhaps the most enchanting aromas I have at the shop. (Full disclosure, I'm a little obsessed with this wine) - SE

Longavi, Glup Naranjo Valle Del Itata $24
Dry Farmed/Organic

ORANGE
grape: Moscatel

You might have seen this producer in my previous offers. I love their red, and they've recently released rosé. And they are now introducing their Orange wine. I've always been a fan of Chilean wines, especially from innovating producers who promote a natural and healthy farming environment, such as this collaboration between two friends. This Naranjo is complex and packed with aromas and flavor. The grapes are fermented in amphora, and after the wine is pressed, they go back into that amphora to age for a year. - SE

Groundwork Counoise, Central Coast $21
Dry Farmed/Organic

RED
grape: Counoise

What is this Counoise? (Cooo-wahz) is a grape generally seen in blends  from the south of France. Washington State and California embraced the varietal sometime around the 90s. Since 2011, Curt Schalchlin, winemaker at Groundwork, has been interpreting this grape in a much lighter, playful manner even before it was cool and all the other kids did it. If you're looking for something, refreshing with some tannins, dry, but with a touch of fruit, then look no more. I had it last week with fish tacos from BuenoMalo. - SE

Groundwork Mourvedre, Arroyo Grande Valley $24
Dry Farmed/Organic

RED
grape: Mourvedre

Yup, same guy from the previous wine, Curt Schalchlin. "The Groundwork label was started in 2006. The wines are young and specifically aim for a rustic, bistro wine style. The philosophy behind Curt's winemaking is simple: "Stay out of the way." Almost all the vineyard sites are dry farmed. Curt keeps his wines natural in order to keep a sense of the place from which these grapes came and to honor all of the people who produced them. Dark cherry, leather, white pepper, hibiscus tea, oyster shell, tobacco." - CRWC/Producer