Fattoria del Cerro Rosso di Montepulciano 2013

Fattoria del Cerro Acquired in 1978 by Saiagricola, the Fattoria del Cerro estate was already an established part of the Montepulciano winemaking community and under the Baiocchi family, who founded the estate in 1922.  This long-standing tradition allowed Fattoria del Cerro to play a major role in the renaissance this area experienced with the creation of the DOCG appellations in 1980.  Fattoria del Cerro emerged from this transitional period as one of the foremost producers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Today, the estate is comprised of 1,485 acres of land.  In addition to olive groves, wooded areas and fields, there are 230 acres of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano vineyards, 90 acres of Rosso di Montepulciano vineyards, 50 acres of Chianti Colli Senesi vineyards and 52 acres of other ­varietal vineyards.  The state-of-the-art winery produces 850,000 bottles of wine every year.

Fattoria del Cerro Rosso di Montepulciano 2013 "A red with plum, chocolate and hints of cedar. Nutty too. Medium to full body. Hazelnut undertones. Savory finish. Excellent value here. Drink Now" 90 POINTS James Suckling James Suckling.com

Gruet Winery, New Mexico

Gruet Winery, New Mexico Founded in 1984, Gruet Winery specializes in Methode Champenoise sparkling wines. Family owned and run, the New Mexico-based winery produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-based sparkling wines and a small collection of still wines, with roots originating from Gilbert Gruet's Champagne house in Bethon, France. More than 25 vintages later, Gruet Winery has achieved unprecedented acclaim and remains a favorite of the nation's top sommeliers.

Gruet Brut  Non Vintage A blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. Aromas of green apple and citrus mineral notes make for a delightful start to this traditional sparkler. Our Brut NV offers bright, crisp aciditycomplimented by a touch of yeast on the delightfully long finish. A classic house style! 88 POINTS, BEST BUY Wine & Spirits, Mar 15, 2015 Regular Price $15.99 Special Offer $12.80 Daily Deal Valid for July 2, 2016 Buy Now

Gruet Sauvage, Blanc de Blans Gruet Sauvage NV, made with 100% Chardonnay, is a bone-dry sparkler, pale straw in color with a delicate but persistent mousse. The aromas of bright mineral and citrus notes tickle the nose followed by touches of green apple, lemon and grapefruit. The finish is structured, flavorful and long. The bright acidity makes this wine a perfect pairing for oysters, sushi and cream sauces.   "Pale yellow straw in color, this is a nicely balanced fresh tasting wine showing ripe apple and lemon cream, finishing dry and chalky. Not as bone dry as some brut natures but refreshing with very bright lemon acidity." Don Winkler 90 POINTS - AMERICA'S TOP RATED SPARKLING - BRUT NATURE International Wine Review, Dec 10, 2015

Wishing you a safe and a happy July 4th!

HAPPY JULY 4TH!

2015

Wishing you a safe and a happy July 4th!

Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2014 Deep red. Sweet, spicy aromas of red cherry, licorice, coffee and marzipan, complicated by minerals and tobacco. At once plump and juicy, sweet and poised, conveying an impressive delicacy to its floral red fruit and stone flavors. The seductive floral tones repeat on the silky finish. A knockout Cerasuolo di Vittoria. 91 Points Vinous Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc2014      The warmer tropical aromatics in this wine are characteristic of Joel's favorite vineyard in Monterey, while Napa Valley vineyards offer stone fruit flavors, and fruit from Lake County brings citrus qualities to Joel's Sauvignon Blanc blend. Combining fruit from throughout the state creates a balanced, food-friendly wine. The 2014 California Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of pineapple, ripe stone fruit and citrus. The wine fills the palate with bright fruit flavors and a round fullness, finishing with crisp, refreshing acidity. Clos Beylesse Cotes du Provence Rose 2015    This wonderfully seductive rose is pale pink in color, is dry, elegant with a rich flowery bouquet.,p> Clos Beylesse is equally at home when served with traditional Provencal and Mediterranean specialties, Asian dishes or contemporary fusion food. A blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Cinsault Jean-Pierre Rous, Master Sommelier of France, Sommelier de Louis XV, Alain Ducasse says: "Clos Beylesse Rose has a beautiful aromatic intensity-a true marriage of harmony, elegance and seduction."

Summer Whites Part 1

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc - Viognier 2014 California Pine Ridge founder Gary Andrus, inspired by the illustrious wines of Bordeaux, believed in the Napa Valley's potential to produce wines of similar stature. He planted the property's original namesake vineyard on a steeply terraced hillside flanked by a dramatic ridgeline of pine trees in the Stags Leap District. Gary's pioneering efforts with this first vineyard were met with tremendous success as the Bordeaux varietals he planted - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot - thrived and produced wines of great distinction. In the following years, Pine Ridge continued to acquire exceptional vineyard sites across the region. The newest release of our intriguing blend delights the nose with a charming bouquet of enticing aromas of fresh Meyer lemon, fuzzy peach, ripe honeydew melon and yellow plum, mingled with touches of citrus blossom and white tea. The clean, vibrant palate enters with juicy pomelo, sweet lychee and honeyed tangerine fruits, balanced by vibrant acidity and hints of yellow apple and key lime pie that last through the crisp and refreshing finish. A consistent, big-time winner in the value sweepstakes, the 2014 Chenin Blanc / Viognier is a blend of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% is aged totally in stainless steel, has malolactic blocked, and offers what consumers love - big, flowery, fresh honeysuckle and tropical fruit, a light to medium-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful purity, texture and a long finish.  90  Poinst eRobertParker.com Issue 220

Martin Codax Albarino 2014 Spain Bodegas Martín Códax was founded in 1986 and was named after the most known Galician troubadour whose medieval poems, the oldest of Galician-Portuguese language, are preserved. In the poems, the troubadour sings to love and to the sea of our coastline. Since it's founding, Bodegas Martín Códax has grown and developed; always supporting its people, its land and its culture.  The culture is promoted in more than 40 countries over the world. A project that started with the dream and efforts of a group ofwinegrowers is now a reality and it is this reality which has let Bodegas Martín Códax become a symbol of Galician wines inside or outside of our borders/country. Yellow apple, pear, green almond play against the bright acid. Excellent value. 89 Points The Tasting Panel Magazine, June 2016

Masseria Li Veli ASKOS Verdeca 2015 Italy At the beginning of the XX century Masseria Li Veli was a cellar built on the ruins of a late Medieval structure, traces of which can still be seen in the present building. The estate is situated just outside Cellino San Marco, half way between Brindisi and Lecce, a land with a long and fascinating history which started more than 2500 years ago. The Messapi were an ancient Italic population of the "Messapia", the name given by Greek historians to this "land between two seas", the Ionic and the Adriatic, which comprises the provinces of southern Apulia: Lecce, Brindisi and part of Taranto. First indications of the Messapian civilization date back to the VIII century B.C. After 272 B.C. they became part of the territory of Rome, while partly preserving their own identity. Nowadays manytraces of that ancient civilization are still visible: the remains of walls, tomb stones, terracotta objects, gold and silver artefacts. ASKOS is the name of our project of rediscovery and selection of ancient Apulian grape varieties that are almost disappearing. Wines are produced by using exclusively these indigenous varietals, cultivated in their most suitableterroirs according to the traditional method. We have chosen a Greek "Askos" (=wine jar) as a symbol of the wine making, a practice that in Puglia was started by the ancient Greeks. Bright yellow color with green shades. Intense fruity on the nose, with scent of tropical fruit, citrus, pear and fresh spices. On the palate it is full, well balanced with a good acidity. Fruity, mineral and mildly spicy aftertaste.

Pura 8 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve 2010 Rapel Valley, Chile

Chile Wines Copa America Centenario

Our winery began its history in 1970 as a family vineyard. In 1994, with more than 20 years of experience, we decided to focus the production on making fine wines in each category through the investment in cutting-edge technology and high quality standards. Located 87 miles from Chile's capital city of Santiago, the family has its own estate in the Rapel Valley in the village of Rosario (Apalta) and Las Cabras. Many of the vines are more than 30 years old and 100% of our wines come from our vineyards. The name Pura comes from the Mapudungun, "voice of the earth" language of the Mapuche tribe in Chile. Its meaning is the number 8, which the ancient Mapuche tribe believed to be a very auspicious number to agriculture and well-being of the land. Today, our wine making heritage continues to mirror the dedication of the Mapuche people of Chile in preserving our mother earth's treasures.

Pura 8 Pinot Noir Grand Reserve 2010 Rapel Valley, Chile Ruby red color, with floral and black fruit aromas. Light-bodied with raspberry, cherries, plum and herbal notes. A great pairing with Tuna, Salmon and Sushi.

Fattoria Sardi Colline Lucchesi Vermentino 2015

"My goal is to always make the land that my family for generations have safeguarded more and more sustainable. Hence the decision to offer our consumers the terroir wines produced with organic and certified biodynamic grapes." Matteo Terroir for us means producing wines where the soil, the climate and traditions are recognizable by the consumer. For this reason we need to create a connection between the vineyards and the surrounding environment.  Hence the decision to produce wines respecting the times and harmony of nature.

Fattoria Sardi Colline Lucchesi Vermentino 2015 Certified organic Vermentino grapes. Pale yellow with light green hues. The nose is complex with hints of white flowers, fresh pears, summer peach, and ripe grapefruit. Medium-bodied wine, fresh, with nuances of citrus fruits, summer peach, finishing with an essence of Mediterranean sage & mint and light spice This authentic Vermentino is truly versatile, ideal with appetizers of all styles, seafood, pasta and light meat dishes. The complex flavors in this wine make an excellent complement to spicy fare. Cheers Costas

Chateau Greysac 2011

Château Greysac, located in the Médoc hamlet of Begadan, north of St. Estèphe, was built in the 1700s. For many years it was the property of the late Baron François de Gunzburg.   Classified as Médoc Cru Bourgeois, Château Greysac has been a member of the elite Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux since 1982. Château Greysac has become synonymous with classic Bordeaux style at an affordable price. Chateau Greysac 2011 I drank a lot of Greysac in college when it was owned by the late Baron Gunzberg. The soft, fruity, round, charming 2011 (65% Merlot, followed by mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is everything a Cru Bourgeois should be. The current proprietor, Jean Guyon, has made this property one that should be seriously considered by consumers.  Robert M. Parker, Jr. 86 Points eRobertParker.com Issue 212  Gold Medal  - Concours Mondial des Vins du Canada  Silver Medal - Concours de Bordeaux Bronze Medal - Challenge Internationale  Bronze Medal- Concours des Grands Vins de France  New Bordeaux - Jane Anson: 92/100. Firm ambitious strands of flavor, pretty good.

National Pink Day, Think Pink, Drink Pink, Be Pink

June 23 is National Pink Day It's National Pink Day,   A day where everything should be basking in pink splendor! THINK PINK, EAT PINK, DRINK PINK!

Bieler Pere & Fils Rose Cuvee Sabine 2015 Provence, France "High-pitched, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries, lavender and white pepper. Clean, racy and sharply focused, conveying a weightless quality to the strawberry and orange zest flavors. Closes taut, minerally and long, displaying resonating red fruit and floral character. Quintessential pink Provence winethat's ridiculously easy to drink too much of, if such a thing were possible, and it's a crazy value to boot." Grenache: 40%, Syrah: 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon: 25%, Cinsault: 7%, Rolle: 3%. 90 Points Vinous

Chateau   de L'Aumerade Cuvee Marie-Christine Rose    2015 Provence,France Light, bright pink. Musky red berries and orange pith on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy and smooth on the palate, offering ripe citrus fruit and red berry flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Finishes warm and smooth, displaying a refreshingly bitter edge and good persistence. 89 Points Vinous

Dio Fili  Xinomavro Rose    2015  Siatista, Greece Xinomavro's ruddy fruit shows in this wine's pale color and earthy, tangy flavors. It's dry and savory, a touch of tannins adding gravitas to its delicate flavors. It's light enough to make a refreshing aperitif, and firm enough for dinner time. 90 Points "Best Buy" Wine & Spirits Magazine, Years Best Rose August 2016

La Vieille Ferme Rose    2015 Rhone, France Bright orange-pink. Fresh red berry and orange pith aromas, along with a hint of white pepper. Spicy red currant and bitter citrus fruit flavors show good clarity and a slightly firm edge. In an uncompromising style for the price, offering good finishing bite and decent persistence. 87 Points Vinous

Chateau Miraval Rose    2015 Provence, France Pale orange. Expressive scents of fresh red berries, orange zest, white flowers and chalky minerals show excellent clarity and lift. Fine-grained and focused on the palate, offering zesty red currant, strawberry and tangerine flavors and an exotic touch of honey on the back half. The floral note comes back strong on a silky, very persistent, mineral-tinged finish. 91 Points Vinous