CLASSIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2017 Fable Mountain Vineyard ‘Night Sky’ GSM, Tulbagh, South Africa
36% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 31% Mourvedre
Fable Mountain Vineyards is set in a remote and magical place on the edge of a wilderness reserve tucked high up in the Tulbagh region against the Witzenberg Mountain range, approximately two hours outside of Cape Town. The Night Sky is named after the vast and beautiful stars that light up the nights on this isolated farm where Nguni cattle and Merino sheep roam free.
This ‘GSM’ blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvédre is made in a Southern Rhône style. All varieties are grown on the farm and are hand picked into fermentation vessels of either concrete or stainless steel. The musts are allowed to undergo post fermentation maceration on the skins which usually lasts around 8 weeks. They are tasted often and when they are ready, pressed off into French oak barrels. This wine has aromas and flavors of darker red fruits. Dark maraschino cherries soaked in kirsch with a long grippy finish. Notes of freshly crushed fennel seeds and cumin with a hint of black olive tapenade.
Food pairings: Beef, lamb, spicy food, mature and hard cheeses
Red 2 – 2019 Anne Pichon ‘Sauvage’ Syrah-Grenache, Ventoux, Rhone, France
Certified Organic
80% Syrah & 20% Grenache
Anne Pichon and her late husband, Marc started an agrarian-bohemian life together in the 1990’s when they moved into an abandoned farm house at the base of Mont Ventoux in France's Southern Rhone. The began to resurrect a defunct Domaine called Murmurium, meaning ‘the buzzing song of bees.’ These vineyards had been been farmed organically for many years prior to their stewardship.
This certified organic blend of Syrah and Grenache is medium bodied and dry. Savory, meaty, and succulent, this is lush, beautifully textured wine that delivers dense blueberry and blackberry fruit and distinctive notes of cracked black pepper and sea salt on a long sophisticated, earthy finish.
Food pairings: Chimichurri lamb chops or turkey burgers with sautéed mushrooms.
White 1 – 2020 Collestefano Ribona, Colli Maceratesi DOC, Marche, Italy
Organically Grown - Rare Grape
100% Ribona
Collestefano is well known for their Verdicchio di Matelica. 2020 is the inaugural vintage for their Colli Maceratesi, which means Ribona - a unique variety of Trebbiano. Organically grown on a tiny parcel of an acre and a half, only 250 cases are made. Harvested October 20th with a slow fermentation at low temperature, then left on the lees for 4 month in stainless steel.
Mild aromas of chamomile and wild flowers on a sea breeze, the palate has an irresistible citrusy crispness that is Collestefano’s trademark. This is an energetic and mouthwatering white wine with a hint of bitter almond on the finish.
Food Pairing: Fish and seafood or vegetable lasagna with a béchamel cream sauce.
White 2 – 2017 Domaine Creusserome ‘Lucie Dutron’ Macon-Villages Chardonnay, Maconnais, France
100% Chardonnay
The Lucie Dutron Macon Villages is from sustainably farmed vines located in Viré, Péronne and Verzé. Lucie and her husband Stephane have small parcels of 20-40 year old vines planted in limestone and clay soil.
The wine is rich with good intensity. The nose is joyfully expressive, white peach and citrus notes and white flowers jump from the glass. The palate is lush and round, smooth and complex. Flavors are fresh and lively mirroring the aromatics. Rich stone and orchard fruit and a refreshing burst of lime zest on the fruit-filled, minerally, finish. You’ll love the creaminess and texture in this great all-purpose, no-oak, French Chardonnay.
Food Pairing: Excellent on its own or pair with seafood, salads or goat cheese.
COLLECTORS CLUB
Red 1 – 2016 Bonafede Family Wines Sangiovese, Rutherford, Napa Valley
100% Sangiovese
The third in the line up of Bonafede wines, this 100% Sangiovese from Rutherford was hand chosen by Jeff & Kathy while still in the barrels at Staglin Winery. A nod to Jeff’s Italian heritage, this is the second vintage of Sangiovese in his collection. This wine is silky smooth with enticing aromas of black cherry and a hint of leather.
Food pairing: Italian dishes... mangia mangia!
Red 2 – 2014 Piero Busso ‘Mondino’ Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
Certified Organic
100% Nebbiolo
In the heart of the Langhe, in some of the most famous crus of Barbaresco, you’ll find the vines of Piero Busso. Founded by Piero's father in 1953, the winery is now run by Piero, his wife Lucia, his daughter Emanuela and his son Pierguido, who manage all phases of production from their organically farmed vineyards to the winery. This wine is made of grapes from the Mondino vineyard which are fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in large oak barrels and 6 months in bottle before release.
Barbaresco is the yin to Barolo's yang. The 2014 has a harmonious and balanced nose that reveals fruity aromas with delicate spices and flower undertones. On the palate this wine is full-bodied and elegant with round, textured tannins.
Food pairing: Grilled and sliced steak over arugula with slivers of parmesan.
White – 2019 Javi Revert ‘Micalet’ Valencia, Spain
Rare White Blend
Valencia is a region in eastern Spain not known for fine wine production, but there is one winegrower – Javi Revert – who is busy changing the region’s reputation. His white wine, Micalet, is from a single vineyard. It’s a vineyard his great grandfather planted in 1948. Half of this vineyard is on its own rootstock and the other half is with American rootstock. It’s a blend of different varieties. One lot is a field blend, and then there are named varieties – Trepadell, Malvasía, Merseguera and Verdil. The wine is fermented in demijohns and old barrels.
This is a fresh, supple wine with distinct minerality. Aromas and flavors of bright citrus and pear. Harmonious with a keen acidity, concentrated but delicate..
Food pairing: Roast chicken, salty cheeses, Serrano jamón or prosciutto.
PINOT CLUB
Pinot 1 – 2018 Trail Marker Wine Co Pinot Noir, Ferrari Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains
Organically Grown
This tiny gem of a winery focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Mendocino Ridge made in a very classic, old world way. The people behind Trail Marker are husband and wife team, Drew Huffine and Emily Virgil. The goal of Trail Marker is to work with cooler, coastal sites where flavor development occurs at lower sugars, and the resulting wines are more about finesse and delineation. The cellar techniques carry this philosophy forward with "hands-off" winemaking. The Farrari Vineyard Pinot included about 30% whole clusters. The grapes were pressed to barrel for native malolactic fermentation in neutral oak and aged 13 months in neutral, French oak barrels.
"The 2018 Pinot Noir Ferrari Vineyard is gorgeous. Beautifully perfumed, bright and airy, the 2018 is all class. In the glass, it is silky, perfumed and wonderfully light on its feet, with distinctive notes of crushed flowers and red fruit that open up on a translucent frame." – Vinous (93 points)
Food pairing: Roast chicken, rack of lamb, roast pork or dishes with mushrooms.
Pinot 2 – 2019 Domaine Robert Gibourg Chorey-les-Beaune ‘Le Grand Saussy’, Burgundy, France
Robert Gibourg inherited about 2.5 acres of very old vines from his parents in the Cote de Nuits and from his grandfather in the Cote de Beaune. He married Marie Therese, whose family was a winemaking family in Ladoix. Over the years they have purchased several other prime vineyards site and today owns about 15 acres. The wines are made by son-in- law Sebastien Bidault. Chorey-les-Beaune is a ‘non glamorous’ suburb of Beaune despite its close proximity to Corton and Corton-Charlemagne, two of Burgundy’s most famous Grand Cru. Affordable, delightful and well suited to the dinner table.
Yields are kept low and all grapes are hand-harvested. No chemical fertilizers are used, the soil is turned to promote diversity and health. All wines are vinified at the Domaine in Morey-Saint-Denis. Grapes are de-stemmed. Fermentation is 100% natural. Punching down of the cap occurs twice daily. Maximum 30% new oak barrels are used to age the wine. Wines are aged for 16– 18 months depending on the vintage. Wines are bottled at the Domaine with no fining or filtering.
Food pairing: Seared tuna with a sesame crust or chicken thighs in a creamy mustard sauce.
ORGANIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2020 Michel Guignier Les Amethystes Morgon 'Canon,’ Beaujolias, France
Organic
100% Gamay
Michel Guignier is a fourth generation vigneron from the Morgon appellation in Beaujolais. Following in the footsteps of the famed “Gang of Four” in Morgon, Guignier is producing wines in the most natural way possible in order to both protect the environment and convey a sense of place. The Canon comes from 10 acres in the heart of the Morgon appellation area. The vines are over 70 years old.
"Saturated ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, potpourri, smoked meat and incense, with mineral and exotic spice notes emerging slowly. Bitter cherry and blackberry flavors smoothly blend depth and energy and turn sweeter as the wine gains air. Closes extremely long and spicy, with resonating florality and polished tannins adding subtle grip." – Josh Raynolds, Vinous (93 Points)
Food pairing: A wide variety of dishes including chicken, turkey, grilled salmon and acorn or butternut squash.
Red 2 – 2017 Mas Conscience ‘L’Eveil’ Terrasses du Larzac AOC, Languedoc, France
Organically & Biodynamically Grown
45% Syrah - 45% Grenache – 10% Cinsault
Nathalie & Eric Ajorque of Mas Conscience have chosen to work as close as possible to nature’s cycles. They grow organic and biodynamic grapes (according to European regulations), respecting the vine’s natural growth cycle, short pruning methods, green harvest, hand sorting and picking. Choosing balance, freshness and subtlety rather than power in their reds.
The name of the wine means "the awakening". The wine shows a deep, dark red color and a few swirls of the glass release a cascade of delicate aromas. Notes of sun-drenched red fruits, sweet spice and licorice "awaken" the nose and palate simultaneously. L'Eveil is wonderfully balanced, exhibiting elegant tannins and a refined acidity along with complex notes of fruit, spices and minerality. The wine is the perfect balance of finesse and power highlighted by a soft and concentrated finish with fabulous depth and length.
Food pairings: Grilled meats and vegetables, spare ribs, duck and aged cheeses like Gouda.
White 1 – 2020 Collestefano Ribona, Colli Maceratesi DOC, Marche, Italy
Organically Grown - Rare Grape
100% Ribona
Collestefano is well known for their Verdicchio di Matelica. 2020 is the inaugural vintage for their Colli Maceratesi, which means Ribona - a unique variety of Trebbiano. Organically grown on a tiny parcel of an acre and a half, only 250 cases are made. Harvested October 20th with a slow fermentation at low temperature, then left on the lees for 4 month in stainless steel.
Mild aromas of chamomile and wild flowers on a sea breeze, the palate has an irresistible citrusy crispness that is Collestefano’s trademark. This is an energetic and mouthwatering white wine with a hint of bitter almond on the finish.
Food Pairing: Fish and seafood or vegetable lasagna with a béchamel cream sauce.
BUBBLES CLUB
Bubbles 1 – 2020 Oliver Bellanger ‘Gazouille’, Loire, France
Organically Grown
70% Menu-Pineau, 30% Sauvignon Blanc
Olivier Bellanger grew up in near Tours in the center of the Loire Valley. He obtained his agricultural diploma in 2000, and spent the next 8 years working for various Domaine in the Loire, notably Philippe Tessier. In 2008 he got the opportunity to buy 15 acres of vineyards in Thesée near his native village. He immediately converted them to organic farming. He is committed to local grapes and deplores the regulations that reward ripping up old vine native varieties that are not in fashion, or not allowed in the regional appellation. His wines are a real labor of love. He’s still fine-tuning his blends and adapting to vintage conditions. The results are always exciting and convincing. And delicious.
Persistent and frothy, these bubbles are dry with aromas and flavors of brioche and a hint of fresh green herbs.
Food pairing: Bunch or with appetizers.
Bubbles 2 – Lise & Bertrand Jousset ‘Bulbulle’ Pét Nat, Montlouis-sur-Loire, France
Biodynamically Grown
100% Chenin Blanc
The Jousset’s fundamental and profound respect for nature led them to exclude herbicides and pesticides in favor of the balance that biological diversity promises down to the microscopic level. They believe that to make an original wine it is necessary to have living soils with high microbial activity, a “living” vine, and a balanced life between plants and animals in all of the domain’s parcels.
‘Bubulle’ comes from a single vineyard of 70 years old Chenin harvest by hand and fermented with the yeast that occurs on the grape skins. Nothing is added, and you’ll discover that nothing is filtered. The fermentation is manually stopped when 15g of sugar remains. Then the wine is bottled in December, where the second fermentation – creation of the bubbles – happens inside the bottle. It is aged 1 year in the bottle, then disgorged, topped off and corked. A sparkling wine made in the Pétillant Naturel method, we call Pét Nat for short.
Food pairing: A perfect style of wine for brunch or afternoon parties.
NP SOMM CLUB
Red 1 – 2019 Robert Biale Vineyards ‘Black Chicken’ Zinfandel, Napa Valley
100% Zinfandel
Perfecting the old California classics, Robert Biale Vineyards has become a revered standard of heritage vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in Napa Valley. From the wineries’ inception, the Biale Founders have cherished the tradition of historic old vines (some dating to the 1880s!) and prize the small quantity of concentrated and intense fruit that they produce. Black Chicken Zinfandel is the flagship–and has become a benchmark for the varietal. The name dates back to the 1940s when a 14-year-old Aldo Biale helped his mother to make ends meet by selling some of the family’s homemade Zinfandel to neighbors along with eggs and other produce. Over the old “party line” phone system, the code words “a Black Chicken” signified a jug of bootleg wine.
The Black Chicken is a hedonistic mouthful of rich and fruit. Bursting with blackberries, baking spices and mocha, the powerful flavors linger for days.
Food pairing: BBQ ribs, brisket, and meats with sweet style sauces.
Red 2 – 2019 Bethel Heights Vineyard Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
100% Pinot Noir
The Pinot Noir Estate incorporates fruit from nearly all of the estate vineyard in various amounts. Gnarly old vines, geologically complex hillside soils, and direct impact from coastal winds, all conspire to create highly energized wines with firm backbones, depth of character, and distinctive personalities.
The 2019 is a more delicate, earthen offering than the 2018, with delicate red to black fruits over forest floor and dried leaves. Acidity is fresh but not overbearing and the tannins are fine grained, giving shape and texture to this young wine. The Estate is enjoyable upon release, but as is the case with all of their 2019 wines, it will benefit from 8-10 years of aging.
Food pairing: Duck, lamb, salmon.
White – 2018 Ashes & Diamonds Blanc No.4, Napa Valley
Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon
From winemaker Steve Matthiasson, the Ashes & Diamonds Blanc is a fully ripe and textured, yet bright, zesty and supremely age-worthy Bordeaux inspired blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from three carefully-chosen vineyards in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District and Yountville. 100% Barrel fermented in 25% new French oak and barrel-aged for 10 months.
Aromas of tropical fruits, lychee, green mango, key lime, wild spring flowers, moist grass and tangerine. The mouthfeel has amazing texture and balance, driven by flavors of tropical fruits, lime and pear which continue throughout.
Food pairing: Raw oysters, fish & chips, sushi, chicken or veal.