CLASSIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2017 Westerly Red Blend, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
70% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot 10% Malbec 8% Cabernet Franc
Winemaker Notes:
This wonderful and delicious Bordeaux-style red blend opens with hints of dried cranberry, red fruit, and vanilla bean. On the palate, the wine has a beautiful approach giving way to a medium to full body character, and red fruit texture. The finish is refined and lengthy. The wine is well-farmed and meticulously made with true value in its offering. Enjoy now or age up to five years.
Food pairings: Aged, hard cheeses or steak or lamb dishes
Red 2 – 2021 Maculan Brentino Rosso, Veneto, Italy
55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded in 1947 in Breganze, a small town in the Province of Vicenza (Veneto), Maculan is now at the 3rd Generation of winemakers. In pure Breganze style, Maculan makes wines from both native and “international” varieties, which have been introduced by the French and the Austrians in 1800, and hence here are considered traditional.
This über-classic Bordeaux blend is elegant and juicy at the same time, offering aromas of ripe berry and cherry, followed by notes of fresh spices and light toast. Finishes dry, with balanced acidity and firm tannins.
Food pairings: Perfect for pastas with wild boar ragout... but you can use pork or beef in your Bolognese sauce if wild boar is unavailable.
White 1 – 2022 Maculan 'Pino & Toi' Bianco, Veneto, Italy
60% Tai, 25% Pinot Bianco, 15% Pinot Grigio
Grown in volcanic soil and limestone tufa and aged in stainless tanks for 6 month to preserve the aromatics. Tai is a grape that has been present in the Veneto-Friuli area for over two-and-a-half centuries and can be considered a truly local variety since it has lost – if it ever had – any resemblance to any other variety. Some say it is distantly related to the Hungarian Tokai which could have been planted here centuries ago.
Fruity and floral on the nose, zesty on the palate, with well rounded structure and a long finish.
Food pairings: Perfect as an aperitif or as a compliment to salads, first courses with fish and vegetarian dishes.
White 2 – 2021 Gini Soave Classico DOC, Italy
Organic
100% Garganega
Among Italy’s classic whites capable of great potential, Soave is named after the medieval village and surrounding hillsides from whence it comes. The original, historical Soave zone, delimited back in 1927, covers the eastern, volcanic hillsides of today's general Soave zone and is called Soave Classico.
"The 2021 Soave Classico is remarkably pretty with yellow flowers, wet stone and freshly sliced pear. This is mineral and focused upon entry, with perfumed orchard fruits and a salty flourish that returns toward the close. Pear and peach skins resonate, as this tapers off lightly structured with an almost-herbal tea-like quality. The Classico is a blend of some of the region’s top vineyards with an average vine age of 90 years." – Vinous (91 Points)
Food pairings: Shellfish, seafood, fresh cheese such as goat, mozzarella, burrata or ricotta
COLLECTORS CLUB
Red 1 – 2019 Saint-Aymé Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Rhone, France
Old vine Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Wine Folly says "that a great bottle of red Châteauneuf-du-Pape bursts with rich raspberry and plummy fruit flavors. As it evolves, you’ll taste notes of dusted leather, game, and herbs. The French call this herbal play “garrigue,” after the region’s scrubland of sage, rosemary, and lavender. As if that wasn’t enough, CdP Rouge often finishes on a sweet-strawberry tingle that glows in the back of your throat from elevated alcohol. The finish ranges from sweet to savory, depending on the vintage."
2019 was a good year. A big fat generous year. This wine was aged in barrels for 12 to 15 months. It has a complex nose with toasty and truffled notes that mingle with aromas of forest fruits and spices. A structured palate with a lot of fat and a nice length. Very good ageing potential.
Food pairings: Great with roasted and spiced vegetable-driven dishes. Try this dish of stuffed peppers with lamb
Red 1 – 2020 Saints Hills 'St.Roko' Plavac Mali, Croatia
100% Plavac Mali
Croatia, at the heart of Europe, at the heart of the Mediterranean. The Adriatic sea and Saints Hills’ vineyards are but a stone’s throw away from Dubrovnik. Plavac Mali is the most significant and the most planted indigenous Croatian red variety. Characterized by small yields, dark color, and specific aromas of red fruit and plum.
Winemaker Notes: St Roko is a Plavac Mali from the young vineyards of Komarna, known for its good winds and rocky soil, and the excellent freshness. It is aged for 14 months in French oak barriques and in large concrete tanks. Along with the aromas of plums and cherries, the aromas of wild Dalmatian herbs and vanilla are typical.
Food pairings: Lamb, fresh tuna steaks, blue cheeses
White – 2023 Brooks Note Pinot Blanc, Schrader Ranch Vineyard, Mendocino
100% Pinot Blanc
Winemaker Notes: Our 2023 Pinot Blanc is a beautiful reflection of summer. It has lovely aromas of Jasmine, honeysuckle, wet stone and pear. The wine has a smooth entry, with flavors of Meyer lemon zest, red apple, pear and honeysuckle with a crisp balanced mouth feel. It's lingering finish of pear, citrus and minerality makes this wine great for those warm summer nights. In crispness and body, it falls between a traditional Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc
Food pairings: Dishes with subtle flavors. Soft cheeses, salads with cream dressings and flaky fish
PINOT CLUB
Pinot 1 – 2022 Brooks Note Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma
100% Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: Sorted into small open-top fermenters with 15% whole clusters. The ferments were punched down twice daily for fourteen days before pressing. The wine was aged for 15 months in 25% new French oak barrels. Our 2022 Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir is beautiful medium ruby color. It has a bouquet of nutmeg, vanilla, baked black cherry, earthy sage and wet stone. It has a silky entry and lovely, round mouth feel with flavors of dark cherry, berry compote, sage, bay tree and baking spice. It has a long, lingering finish with dark cherry, berries, a little leather, subtle tannins and fresh acidity.
Food pairings: Seared duck breast with a pomegranate reduction
Pinot 2 – 2022 Tagua Tagua Gran Reserva Pinot Noir, Rapel Valley, Chile
100% Pinot Noir
Located in Chile’s famous Rapel Valley, Bodegas Tagua Tagua takes its name from the nearby city of San Vincente de Tagua Tagua. Their wines are excellent expressions of Chile’s varied terroirs. Tagua Tagua is a representation of the spirit of their family and pays homage to the origin of the Chilean wine scene. The wine represents the perseverance of the people who managed to overcome the intense terrain and fierce climate of Chile to produce wines of global quality.
This Pinot Noir was aged 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, brings complexity, firm structure and perfect balance. Decant for 15 minutes if possible. Intense aromas of fresh red fruit, followed by soft notes of violet. Juicy on the palate with vibrant acidity.
Food pairings: Classic French cuisine such as Coq au Vin and Beef Bourguignon. Also pairs well with salmon dishes and your favorite pizza.
ORGANIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2019 Baracchi 'Smeriglio' Sangiovese, Cortona, Italy
Organic
100% Sangiovese
Winemaker Notes: Fermentation and maceration with skins for 25 days in stainless steel vats. Passage in French oak barrels of second passage for 12 months. 3 months in bottle before the release. The nose reveals typical aromas of violet and cherry. Spicy notes of juniper berries and balsamic hints. Powerful yet fresh at the same time, firm tannins and very long finish of red fruits & floral.
"A solid sangiovese with dark cherry, chocolate and some walnut. It’s medium-bodied with chewy yet polished tannins and a flavorful finish." – James Suckling (93 Points)
Food pairings: Pizzas and pastas, excellent with eggplant and portobello mushroom dishes
Red 2 – 2018 Cantina Orsogna 'Lunaria Coste de Moro' Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Italy
Certified Biodynamic / Organic
100% Montepulciano
Cantina Orsogna, created in 1964, is a cooperative company of 450 partners. It is the largest producer of organic and biodynamic wines in the south centre of Italy. It has more than 1.100 hectares of vines, 80% is certified organic, and 30% is certified biodynamic by Demeter. Cantina Orsogna has been certified biodynamic since 2005 and has been organic producers for more than 30 years.
Red fruit on the nose and black cherry jam on everything, light notes of cocoa and toasts complete the bouquet. In the mouth it is warm, rightly tannic and therefore soft, intense, and with the typical almond finish.
Food pairings: Pairs with cured meats, grilled and baked meat, pasta dishes with very structured sauces
Rosé – 2022 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosato, Sicily, Italy
Certified Organic
Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
This winery, owned by Marc de Grazia and set on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, is responsible for putting Etna wines on the World map.
This Super dry, mineral and refreshing Nerello Mascalese-based Rosato has been praised for its "compelling aromatics and ethereal sweet fruit" and "extraordinary complexity." All from fruit in the Calderara, Guardiola, and Feudo crus, this is a salmon-pink Rosato with the high-toned aromatics and ashen terroir of Mount Etna.
"Notes of candied cherries and dried orange peel with hints of flowers and minerals. Clean and focused on the palate with a medium body, steady acidity and tangy, flinty character on the finish." – James Suckling (92 Points)
Food pairings: Fish, poultry, soups, pasta, prosciutto and cantaloupe, figs and salame, bread and olives and cheese.
BUBBLES CLUB
Bubbles 1 – Lini 910 'Labrusca' Lambrusco Rosso, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
85% Salamino, 15% Ancellotta
Lini's wines are renowned for their signature freshness and classic dry character. Thanks to Fabio Lini's artisanal approach to sparkling wine production, their bright red fruit and berry flavors are balanced by juicy minerality. Their clean but lingering finish makes them an ideal pairing for a wide variety of cuisines.
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
90 Points - Wine & Spirits
Bubbles 2 – Col del Balt Codola Col Fondo Prosecco, Treviso, Italy
100% Glera
Before this 'modern era' of Proseccos made with the Charmat method, Prosecco was made with the ancestral method, like this wine, Codolà, where fermentation takes place in the bottle, and it is not disgorged. This means that the wine is unfiltered since it is on its lees. In Italy it is also called a Col Fondo sparkling wine and in the US, we use the French term ‘Pet Nat’ to describe this wine. This results in a white sparkling wine whose aromas and flavors continue to evolve while they are in the bottle. This Col del Balt white sparkling wine made by the Sanzovo brothers has a straw yellow color with lots of fine bubbles and green herb and pear aromas with a hint of lemon zest. It has 0 residual sugar and it tastes dry and clean, with a slightly bitter, lemon rind tasting, finish.
NP SOMM CLUB
Red 1 – 2016 SummitVine 'Diamant' Red, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley
62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot
Diamond Mountain District is a relatively small AVA at the northern end of Napa Valley in California. The Diamond Mountain forms part of the Mayacamas Mountains, which divide Napa from Sonoma Valley. Located immediately south of and above Calistoga, the AVA occupies 5,000 acres (2,023ha) of rolling vineyard, scrubland and forest on the western side of the valley. Most Diamond Mountain vineyards are located 656 to 820 feet (200–250m) above sea level, scattered among the various peaks and troughs created by the low mountain topography. Sun-baked, rocky, infertile slopes provide the perfect level of stress for the vines, forcing them to dig deep, strong root systems. When well managed, this results in small yields of intensely flavored grapes with a good balance of sugars and acidity.
Food Pairings: Ribeye steak, lamb chops, hard cheeses
Red 2 – 2021 Kobler 'Cuvee of the Fog' Syrah, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma
97% Syrah, 3% Viognier
In 1996, Michael Kobler, his brother Otto Kobler, and their wives Debbie and Barbara, planted four and a half acres of Syrah, in the heart of the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Later adding a half an acre of Viognier, Michael and Otto wanted to become a premium producer of Rhône varietals.
Made in the Côte Rôtie style, this Syrah has a bouquet of violets, raspberries, and vanilla, with hints of bacon fat and white pepper. This is amedium-body red wine with balance on the acidity and medium-plus tannins, resulting in a velvety finish. Only 125 cases produced.
Food Pairings: Peppercorn crusted tuna, bacon, smoked gouda, olives
White – 2022 Kobler Estate Viognier, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
100% Viognier
In 1996, Michael Kobler, his brother Otto Kobler, and their wives Debbie and Barbara, planted four and a half acres of Syrah, in the heart of the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Later adding a half an acre of Viognier, Michael and Otto wanted to become a premium producer of Rhône varietals.
Opens with vibrant tones of grapefruit, jasmine and pear with notes of honeysuckle and yellow peach. Medium bodied with intense floral aromas, it has beautifully integrated acidity and a silky finish. Only 125 cases produced.
"Vivid floral and tropical fruit aromas lead to lively pineapple, kiwi and mango flavors in this full-bodied, exuberant wine. Lively acidity keeps all those flavors dancing through the finish." – Wine Enthusiast (91 Points)
Food pairings: Fried chicken, slow-cooked root vegetables, curried dishes, satays with peanut sauce