CLASSIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2019 Marqués de Valdueza El Canto de los Pajaros, Tierra de Extremadura, Spain
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Historians know the name Valdueza for the relevance of the Álvarez de Toledo family in the history of Spain, Europe, and America. Romantics will tell you that it is one of the last families that still drives cattle on horseback from Extremadura to Ávila. For gourmets, the name Valdueza means a magnificent olive oil, red wine, vinegar, and honey.
Fresh and lively, this is an ideal wine to accompany everyday dishes. 53% of the wine is aged in stainless steel for 12 months while the rest is aged in French oak to achieve a velvety texture on the palate. Aromas of strawberry jam and red fruits. Unctuous and round, it envelopes the palate with balance and fruitiness.
Food pairings: Sausages, pizza, stews
Red 1 – 2021 Febo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy
Natural / Organic / Biodynamic
100% Montepulciano
Near to the Adriatic coastline in Eastern Italy, Davide and Laura Febo decided to connect with their family history and grow the Febo winery and family business. Their family were generational farmers, but their grandfather with vineyards and farm in Spoltore Aruzzo was the true inspiration for the winery, planting the first Montepulciano grapes.
A natural & vegan wine, this has aromas of Amarena cherries and licorice and a slight funkiness thanks to its 100% natural production. It tastes of dark fruit, with a rich texture and slightly bitter finish, with the funky vibe continuing while tasting. Fermented and refined in the winegrower's grandparents' concrete vessels.
Food pairings: Pairs nicely with chicken parmesan
White 1 – 2022 Details by Sinegal Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast, California
100% Sauvignon Blanc
The North Coast appellation covers a combination of grapes grown in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties. The majority of the fruit is Sonoma Valley - sourced from Wildwood Vineyard planted in the late 1800s. Vinified in stainless steel tanks with aggressive lees stirring.
On the nose there are aromas of lemon zest, white flowers, honeycomb. There are flavors of apricots, white grapefruit, melon, refreshing acidity and minerality.
Food pairings: Versatile food wine for cheeses, pastas, salads, vegetables
White 2 – 2022 Domaine A Deux Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, France
Organically Grown
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Domaine A Deux was established in 2015 by Gerald Vallée and Francois Xavier Barc on 24 hectares in Saint Aignan-Sur-Cher in the Loire Valley.
We love Touraine, because in good years, it is almost as amazing as Sancerre, at a fraction of the price. A Deux brings lively, fresh aromas of citrus and stone fruits. Its effusive nose leads to a dense, crisp palate, fruit-forward yet balanced with a gripping acidity.
Food pairings: Appetizers, seafood and cheese
COLLECTORS CLUB
Red 1 – 2019 Tilenus La Florida Mencia, Bierzo, Spain
100% Mencia
The wine is named Tilenus after the Celtic God "Teleno", the equivalent to the Roman god Mars, to pay tribute to the ancient Romans in Bierzo, who mined the gold of Médulas. Consulting winemaker on this wine is the one and only “King of Mencia,” Mr. Raul Perez. Perez is the most well-respected winemaker in Spain and he is creating a Mencia revolution.
Notes of cherry, blackberry, licorice, cassis, spices, sweet smoke, meat, crushed gravel. This grape lands somewhere between a Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc and does well with a slight chill on it.
Food pairings: Enjoy with anything off the BBQ – chicken, pork, beef, veggies – it will all sing alongside this wine.
Red 2 – 2018 Chateau Blason d'Issan Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Blason d’Issan, the second wine of Chateau d'Issan, was introduced from 1995 onwards to enable selection amongst the vines growing in the Margaux appellation area. Fruit from the youngest vines is used to produce this wine, which respects the identity of its terroir, while offering a tasty round fruitiness, which can be enjoyed upon release. Blason d’Issan is also aged in barrels for 14 to 16 months, one third of which are new.
Blackberry, blueberry, graphite, clove, tobacco and mahogany on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Very tight and refined with a mineral finish. Dark-toned fruit, chocolate, leather and spice all flesh out in this juicy wine.
Food pairings: Braised meats, blue veined cheeses, rich sauces
White – 2020 Porter-Bass Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California
Biodynamic / Organic
100% Chardonnay
Family owned and operated. Luke Bass and his mother, Susan Bass, literally do everything from farming to winemaking to bottling to fixing their tractor. The Porter-Bass Vineyard is 9 miles from the ocean. It is one of the most westerly vineyards in the Russian River Valley and a truly cool climate vineyard. Fermented with indigenous yeast in neutral barrels with minimal additions in the cellar; no additives other than a tiny amount of SO2. It is un-fined and unfiltered.
Delicate oak spice, with lemon custard, apricot, and chive. The palate also yields to a softer texture, lemon verbena and apple, with an undercurrent of tension & verve.
95 PTS - JEB DUNNUCK, 92 PTS - VINOUS
Food pairings: Roast chicken, hazelnut crusted white fish, creamy, mild cheeses.
PINOT CLUB
Pinot 2 – 2021 Vivier Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California
100% Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: "Flocchini is our historic source for fruit but this year we are adding newcomers Kosich. Both are established Pinot Noir vineyards of 15+ years old with heritage Burgundian clone and fantastic Adobe Clay and Goldridge clay formation. Additionally, we've blended in Tobias Glen for a classic old Russian River block and the usual small adds of Gap's Crown and Van der Kamp.
The nose is comprised of beguiling perfumes of sweet spice, bramble red fruit, and earth. It is a balanced yet complex wine that changes with every swirl. The palate shows the return of violet, black cherry and earthy spice trifecta with power and elegance. The wine stays fresh to the lingering finish. The acidity is well put. and believe us, it will be a fun thing to lay some flasks for a couple years in your cellar!" – Stéphane Vivier
Food pairings: Duck, salmon, mushroom and truffle dishes
Pinot 2 – 2023 Elephant Hill Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand
100% Pinot Noir
A combination of Burgundian clones was used in blending to showcase the broad flavour spectrum of Central Otago Pinot Noir. All the grapes were carefully de-stemmed and were cold soaked for 4 days to preserve delicate aromas and colour. The wine had 11 months in French oak (30% new) before bottling.
"The scents of Otago are immediate through the bouquet - savoury wild thyme, ripe dark cherry and wild flowers with a gentle peppery edge. A silky touch on the palate is contrasted by tannins and acidity setting in place a nice frame and firm grounding. Flavours of dark red berries, fruit and barrel spice with a seam of mineral." – Cameron Douglas (93 Points)
Food pairings: Pork and duck dishes, medium cheeses, fig & prosciutto pizza
ORGANIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2021 Chateau Labastide Haute Malbec, Cahors, France
Organically Grown
100% Malbec
With the rise of Argentinian Malbec wines, it is easy to forget that this red wine variety has ancient roots in quality French winemaking. Chateau Labastide Haute is the perfect reminder of that heritage, located in the Lot Valley in the Occitane region of France.
This ancient estate has produced a richly structured wine. Red fruit, spicy notes, blackberries, black currant, oaky red fruit and licorice. Firm tannins that give this wine a tremendous amount concentration and refined personality. Still young, its juicy acidity is developing into a complex wine with dark tannins.
Food pairings: Red meat, duck, lamb, strong cheeses
Red 2 – 2020 Caligiore Natural Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina
Organic / Vegan
100% Bonarda
Caligiore’s Bonarda is made from organically-grown grapes from the winery’s estate Finca Cayanta vineyard in Lujan de Cayo in the heart of world famous Mendoza. Originally from Savoie in France, Bonarda (also known as Charbono) is Argentina’s second most widely-planted grape. Known for deep color and exotic fruit-driven flavors, lower-tannins and higher-acidity. The result is a deep violet-ruby color and features an intense nose of black fruit, cassis and ripe plums with hints of vanilla and chocolate. The palate has sweet and ripe dark fruit notes framed by a pleasing freshness and soft, well-integrated tannins. The long finish has a lovely layer of acidity.
Food pairings: Mole sauces, curried potatoes, empanadas or tacos al pastor.
White – 2022 Echeverria Family Wines 'No Es Pituko' Viognier, Curicó Valley, Chile
Organic / Natural
100% Viognier
In Chilean slang No es Pituko means ‘it ain't fancy,’ meaning this viognier is terroir-driven and as raw and un-precious as it can get.
This natural wine is a departure from your typical Viognier. Tropical flavors coexist with the creamy texture of the Malolactic fermentation. The straw yellow color appears slightly cloudy in the glass due to its lack of processing. On the nose it has aromas of peach and tropical fruits such as chirimoya, that harmonize with a buttery characteristic. In the mouth, the tropical and floral flavors linger and the acidity highlights this wine’s freshness.
Food pairings: Creamy cheeses, grilled fish with mango salsa
BUBBLES CLUB
Bubbles 1 – Champagne Andre Huecq Heritage Blanc de Meunier, Champagne, France
Organic / Biodynamic
100% Pinot Meunier
This Champagne is part of the Andre Heucq Heritage collection and the fruit is 100% Meunier harvested from vineyards in the Valley de la Marne. First fermentation occurs in steel and aging on its own lees for at least 48 months with a final dosage of 0 - making it a Brut Nature, for this rich and dynamic Blanc de Meunier.
The bubbles are rapid and abundant with expressive aromas of apple and jasmine which lead to a fresh and crisp palate with a hint of minerality as it warms.
Bubbles 2 – Champagne Bernard Lonclas Brut, Côte des Blancs, France
50% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir.
The family-run Bernard Lonclas is in a class of Champagne grower-producers that makes some of the style’s most distinctive and evocative bottles. While many Champagne winemakers source grapes from specialized growers, Lonclas does the farming themselves, applying their focus from the fields to the cellar in order to craft a pure expression of their terroir.
"The result is a celebratory and contemplative bubbly from the star-studded Côte des Blancs. Aromas of lime zest and orange burst forth with the vibrancy of the “Champagne Supernova” chorus, before the palate delivers peachy key-lime and mineral riffs—the controlled energy and seamless spontaneity of Paul Weller’s guitar solo with a light touch of ripe fruit to finish."
NP SOMM CLUB
THIS MONTH NP SOMM CLUB MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE 3 WINES.
THE FIRST TWO REDS + a third RED or a WHITE
Red 1A– 2020 Alain Jaume 'Clos Sixte' Lirac, Rhone, France
Certified Organic
50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
Established in 1826 in the Northern part of Chateauneuf du Pape, the Alain Jaume Winery boasts both the exceptional terroir of the Southern Rhone Valley and a long line of dedicated winemakers. Alain Jaume works in accordance with certified organic agricultural practices for both the Grand Veneur and Clos de Sixte vineyards. They strive to let the true terrior be expressed in their wines.
On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild blackberry). The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liqueur and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshiness of the wine. Hints of licorice and vanilla on the finish, which gives the wine length and complexity.
Food Pairings: Pair with cheese and charcuterie plates, roast lamb, stews and roast beef
Red 1B – 2020 Alain Jaume 'Les Gelinottes' Ventoux, Rhone, France
50% Grenache, 50% Syrah
The wine is produced from hilly vineyards that are mainly planted on sandy and clay soils. They are located on the East side of the Rhone valley, in the Vaucluse area. Welcome to the foothills of the well known “Mont Ventoux” Mountain.
Stainless steel fermentaion at cool temperature to preserve the fruits and typicity. Bottling 8 months after the harvest. The aromatic range of the nose goes from fresh berries to black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry). The palate is full-flavored, with very soft tannins.
Food Pairings: Mature and hard cheese, poultry and cured meats
Red 2 – Domaine de la Mordorée Cotes du Rhone, France
Organic/Biodynamic
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre
Domaine de la Mordorée is a family estate, created in 1986 by Francis Delorme and Christophe, the domaine brings together a 57-hectare vineyard divided into 38 plots spread over 8 communes. Is located in the south of France and also in the south of the Rhone Valley.
Côte du Rhône is very fruity and easy to drink with friends. Notes of black currant, red fruits and violet. Fresh with soft tannins, nice length
Food Pairings: Cold meats, BBQ, charcuterie and soft cheeses
White – 2023 Karine Lauverjat Sancerre, Liore Valley, France
100% Sauvignon Blanc
The Lauverjat family has been growing grapes in Sancerre for generations in the tiny village of Sury-en-Vaux. Husband-and-wife team Christian and Karine have 30 acres of vines in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. Their Sancerre is made from thirty-year-old vines grown in clay-limestone soils, fermented and aged in stainless steel with three months on the lees; medium-bodied, crisp and dry, it has aromas of gooseberries and herbs with great minerality and tangy citrus notes on the finish.
Food pairings: Goat cheese, seafood, green vegetables