CLASSIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2020 Due Terre Wines Nero d'Avola, Sicily, Italy
Organically Grown
100% Nero d'Avola
All Due Terre wines are from certified organic growers who have been working this way for many, many years and all are single varietal bottling, to showcase the unique character of each native grape.
Grown at a very high elevation, the Nero d'Avola bottling here is a crisp, crunchy, vivid expression of the Sicily's ubiquitous red grape that can easily get fat and high in alcohol, because, well, Sicily is hot and fresh wines haven't traditionally been a thing here. But with dark brambly fruit, lush blueberry, forest floor, soft tannins, chalky minerality and a refreshingly light-ish body, this one could even ride solo, no fatty meat dish required, and sings with a slight chill.
Food pairings: Spicy Italian sausages, puttanesca sauce, Greek cuisine, lamb, duck, beef
Red 2 – 2022 Bruno Murciano 'Parajes del Cabriel' Bobal, Utiel-Requena, Spain
Biodynamically Grown
100% Bobal
Parajes de Cabriel (Places of Cabriel) is a varietal Bobal whose grapes come from very old vines between 70 and 100 years old. For cultivation, biodynamic agriculture is used, in which toxic pesticides and herbicides are avoided. The wine name refers to the little attention paid to the local varietal, an under-the-radar grape that happens to be the 3rd most planted red wine in Spain.
Appealing nose with an intense flavor of crunchy red fruits like cherries & blueberries completed with a hint of black licorice & violets. Dry & light fresh palate with silky tannins and refreshing acidity. Soft and very easy to drink wine.
Food pairings: Cold salads, bacon, ham & cheese, pasta & rice with chicken and rabbit, barbecue and grill meets.
White 1 – 2018 Casa do Capitão-mor Alvarinho Reserva, Portugal
100% Alvarinho (Albariño)
Parajes de Cabriel (Places of Cabriel) is a varietal Bobal whose grapes come from very old vines between 70 and 100 years old. For cultivation, biodynamic agriculture is used, in which toxic pesticides and herbicides are avoided.
The wine name refers to the little attention paid to the local varietal, an under-the-radar grape that happens to be the 3rd most planted red wine in Spain. Bright and fresh on the palate with wild cherry, crushed violets, blueberry and hints of anise on the juicy finish.
Food pairings: Wine Folly suggests to add a little fruit to your sauce to bring out the flavors. Try it with orange chicken or a roast chicken with pomegranate molasses sauce.
White 2 – 2021 Due Terre Wines Catarratto, Sicily, Italy
Organically Grown
100% Catarratto
Catarratto is one of the most important indigenous grapes from the island of Sicily and the most widely planted. It is used in nearly every white blend on the island and produces a consistent, drinkable wine. Due Terre uses only certified organic grapes, native yeast fermentations and minimal intervention in the winery, they exclusively make single-varietal wines of native Sicilian grapes.
Aromas and flavors of pear, papaya and white peach with notes of tarragon and mint. Moderate acidity and long, clean finish.
Food pairings: Fish, seafood, white meats, grilled vegetables and soft goat cheese
COLLECTORS CLUB
Red 1 – 2015 Seamus 'Olde Sonoma' Cabernet Sauvignon, Atwood Ranch Vyd, Sonoma Valley
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Most wine enthusiasts think of Cabernet Sauvignon as nearly synonymous with Napa Valley. But Sonoma has some ideal sites for growing Cab, too, as this wine proves, grown just on the other, cooler, side of the Mayacamas from Napa, on a vineyard that’s been planted to grapes since the mid-1800s. “2015 was a good year for Sonoma Valley,” winemaker/owner James Foley says. “The yields were small, but the quality of the grapes was fantastic.” The wine spent 22 months aging in French oak before being bottled. Limited edition, only 110 cases produced. Ready to drink now or can age for another few years.
Food pairings: Ribeye steak, beef or lamb dishes
Red 2 – 2021 Seamus Merlot, Sonoma Valley
100% Merlot
Winery Notes: "Séamus Wines is family-owned and produces 2500 cases per year of ultra-premium, hand crafted California wines made with grapes from the very finest vineyards and appellations for each varietal we source. Because our winery is small, we live out our passion for creating superior wines by literally hand selecting hard-to-find vineyards for our grape portfolio based exclusively on quality, terroir, and our winemaker’s needs. In addition, being small producers allows us to buy the best fruit from preeminent California vineyards without impacting their commitments to large customers. Being able to source exactly the fruit we want for each varietal allows us the control we need to provide you with the most select, delicious, luxury wines possible."
Food pairings: Roasted meats, BBQ chicken, pasta dishes, cheese & charcuterie
White – 2018 Tayaimgut Sauvignon Blanc, Sant Joan de Mediona, Catalonia, Spain
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tayaimgut is the curious name of a small winery in Alt Penedes led by owner/winemaker Jaume Bertrán. Located in the northernmost part of the region at the foothills of the Montserrat mountains. Founded in 2000 with only two plots, all the work is carried out manually. This wine is the benchmark of Spanish Sauvignon Blanc, and has been compared to wines made by Dagueneau in Sancerre.
Food pairings: Creamy cheeses, Iberian cured meats, fish, seafood and sushi
PINOT CLUB
Pinot 1 – 2014 CalStar Cellars, Sangiacomo Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
100% Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: The Sangiacomo Vineyards, positioned in the celebrated Sonoma Coast AVA, is known for its exquisite cool-climate Pinot Noir. The 2014 Calstar Cellars Pinot Noir from this vineyard is a testament to the excellent growing conditions and meticulous vineyard management that make this location so esteemed.
The 2014 vintage started with a warm, dry winter, leading to early bud break. A moderately warm growing season with no extreme heat spikes resulted in even ripening of the grapes. The weather around harvest was ideal, allowing us to pick the fruit at the peak of maturity. The nose immediately opens with enticing aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis liqueur, and black licorice, intertwined with nuances of fine leather and a hint of savory roasted meats, adding an intriguing layer of complexity.
While undeniably enjoyable when it was released, this wine has the structure and depth to mature gracefully, promising even greater complexity and elegance with some years in the cellar.
Food pairings: Salmon, mushroom risotto, antipasti, delicata squash, brussel sprouts
Pinot 2 – 2019 Premonition Cellars Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
100% Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: At Premonition Cellars, we are dedicated and committed to producing limited quantities of outstanding quality wine. These handcrafted wine were a personal project of the winemaker, from farming the small vineyards himself all the way to putting the finishing touches on the bottle.
These Pinots are a combination of three vineyards all located within the Russian River Valley. Two of the vineyards are on Olivet Road and other just south of the town of Windsor. One of the Olivet vineyards was planted 1974, making it one of the older Pinot Noir vineyards in the area. Having these wonderful vineyards to blend with allows us to create truly unique, balanced, and complex wines.
DOUBLE GOLD - San Francisco Chronicle, GOLD - Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Food pairings: Salmon, tuna, duck, quail, pork and lamb. Chutney sauces, mushrooms and firm cheeses like Gruyere, Gouda and aged cheddar.
ORGANIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2020 Due Terre Wines Nero d'Avola, Sicily, Italy
Organically Grown
100% Nero d'Avola
All Due Terre wines are from certified organic growers who have been working this way for many, many years and all are single varietal bottling, to showcase the unique character of each native grape.
Grown at a very high elevation, the Nero d'Avola bottling here is a crisp, crunchy, vivid expression of the Sicily's ubiquitous red grape that can easily get fat and high in alcohol, because, well, Sicily is hot and fresh wines haven't traditionally been a thing here. But with dark brambly fruit, lush blueberry, forest floor, soft tannins, chalky minerality and a refreshingly light-ish body, this one could even ride solo, no fatty meat dish required, and sings with a slight chill.
Food pairings: Spicy Italian sausages, puttanesca sauce, Greek cuisine, lamb, duck, beef
Red 2 – 2022 Veronica Ortega 'Quite' Valtuille, Bierzo, Spain
Organic
100% Mencia
Winemaker Notes: Aging for about 9 months, 80% in cone-shaped French Oak vats. The idea of this wine is to combine the minerality and fruitiness provided by the sandy and clay soils, keeping the friendly and cheerful character of Mencía, resulting in an informal wine, with lots of fruit, very fresh and agile. Very drinkable, seductive nose of red fruits, blue flowers with liquorice background, light cut and slender plot on the palate. In short, Quite is a wine for any occasion, easily understandable and enjoyable.
Food pairings: Hard sheep cheese like Manchego, corned beef and pastrami
White 1 – 2021 Chateau Mont Plaisir 'Terres Profondes' Cotes du Rhone, France
Organic
70% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc
Vinification in stainless steel vats during alcoholic fermentation. Aged for six months in concrete vats before bottling.
Aromas of complex white flowers and tropical fruits such as quinces, kiwis, with a delicate salty background. Fresh with good acidity, full bodied and viscous with silky tannins. Well balanced with a fresh, long lasting finish.
Food pairings: Foie gras, Coquilles St. Jacques, oven roasted sea bream, goat cheese with figs, spicy food.
White 2 – 2021 Due Terre Wines Catarratto, Sicily, Italy
Organically Grown
100% Catarratto
Catarratto is one of the most important indigenous grapes from the island of Sicily and the most widely planted. It is used in nearly every white blend on the island and produces a consistent, drinkable wine. Due Terre uses only certified organic grapes, native yeast fermentations and minimal intervention in the winery, they exclusively make single-varietal wines of native Sicilian grapes.
Aromas and flavors of pear, papaya and white peach with notes of tarragon and mint. Moderate acidity and long, clean finish.
Food pairings: Fish, seafood, white meats, grilled vegetables and soft goat cheese
BUBBLES CLUB
Bubbles 1 – 2020 Domaine Fabrice Gasnier 'La Cravantine' Brut, Chinon, France
Biodynamic
100% Cabernet Franc
The estate of Domaine Gasnier is comprised of 25 hectares, all within the commune of Cravant-les-Coteaux. The age of the vines average 45 years and are all south-facing, an imperative characteristic, given the marginal climate of Chinon. The Gasniers employ biodynmaic techniques in farming, no pesticides or herbicides. Yields are extremely low.
Fabrice Gasnier's La Cravantine is a sparkling rosé made from 100% Cabernet Franc. The juice is from a direct pressing to preserve the fruit character of the grapes, and made in the traditional method. Bright, fresh and energetic, this is a sparkler to enjoy as an apertif, with light appetizers, or relax with on a beautiful day.
NP SOMM CLUB
Bodegas Valduero is a family-owned boutique winery and one of the pioneers and most prestigious in Spain in the mythical Ribera del Duero area.
The winery was founded in 1984 by the sisters García Viadero and is one of the largest landowners in Ribera del Duero, with 160 Ha of exceptional vineyard, which is highly valued and with a large quantity of old vine. Vines are planted in bush, ecological (no irrigation, no use of chemicals nor sulfates), and handled 100% manually, only with natural viticulture practices. Valduero has always focused on producing premium Reservas, each one aged in high-quality barrels from different origins.
Red 1 – Valduero Una Cepa
Organic
100% Tempranillo
Winemaker Notes: The vines which produce this wine are all low bush. There is no irrigation or use of chemical fertilizer. A strict pruning in winter is followed by a green prunning in June. Picking in all done by hand. The yield is three time less than from trellised vines, giving grapes that are three times superior in quiality. The result: from each vine bush or ‘cepa’, just one bottle of wine is produced each year.
A great complexity and extraordinary intensity of aromas. Aromas of fruit and oak combine, showing notes of mature, red fruit, leather and vanilla. Very well structured and balanced, the integration of alcohol and acidity is excellent.
Red 1 – Finca Azaya
Organic
100% Tempranillo
Winemaker Notes: Grapes from the Valduero Estate high altitude vineyards are hand picked. Macerated for 10 days after fermentation, the wine rests for 14 months in oak.
Refined and long lasting aromas as the result of its aging in toasted oak showing notes of menthol, licorice and roasted coffee. Perfectly balance on the palate, this wine has a sensation of power and maturity.
97 PTS - DECANTER
White – Valduero Blanco
Organic
100% Albillo
Winemaker Notes: Raised on the lees, this is the first white wine from the Ribera del Duero. Fruity aromas with notes of pineapple and grapefruit, typical of the Albillo varietal. Well balanced, with light acidity. Served cool it will be fresh and tasty. Consumed at room temperature t will have complex aromas of smoke and honey.