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As we enter our final month of warm weather, there are still plenty of summer wines to be discovered.
*Michel Torino’s “Cuma” wines from Argentina are all organically grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Torrontes is unique to Argentina and has recently made a name for itself beyond its home. Some of them can be quite watery; however, this wine has aromas of honeysuckle and mint with intense honey, orange, tangerine and marmalade flavors. This is a thicker, more viscous style of Torrontes with some real power. I am researching two other wines of this winemaker’s: Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Maybe I will talk about them next month. $14.30 *La Vieille Ferme Rhône White Blend, Côtes du Luberon. I discovered at a local eatery and it was a perfect prelude to our entrée! Light floral aromatics with crisp acidity accompanied by melon and lemon flavors. Clean, fresh and simple. $8.99 *Bergevin Lane “Calico White” Blend Wash., the second vintage of the tasty white wine. The wine is two-thirds Chardonnay, one-third Viognier, melded into a very crisp and refreshing wine. There is a nice orange peel aroma leading off; and once in the mouth the wine has a brisk viscosity that invites sip after sip. $15.99 *Domaine de Couron Grenache Rosé. From the Rhône Valley of France, this has to be the best rosé on the market for the price! I know I have gone on and on about rosé this summer, but can I help that rosé is just so darned good?! Because of the Grenache grape used to put this little gem together, it is strawberries and spice and everything nice. So enjoy your rosé before they are gone with the sun! $9.99 Never fear, I know there are some lovely reds out there for our grilled dinners. Here are two that have been my choice this summer: *Chateau Pellot 2006 Graves. One of the only Bordeaux we received this year and it is perfect for grilled steaks and chops. Bold, fruit driven with the right balance of acidity and tannin. At $12.15 a bottle, you cannot lose! *La Aldea Monastrall. Spanish wines have been incredibly popular these last two years. It could be because the prices are so reasonable or because more and more small estates are distributed to a wider market. Whatever the reason, Monastrall is the Spanish name for France’s Mouvedre grape. It is herbal, red raspberry laden with a relatively dry finish. Great with light appetizers before dinner or on its own. $9.25 Cinder Winery, Boise, Idaho. About a month ago, a young couple contacted me about visiting the area with some of their first wine releases. Melanie Krauss, winemaker, trained in the Washington wine industry for five years only to return to her roots in Boise. Now using the grapes of the Snake River AVA(American Viticulture Area), she is handcrafting small lots of Syrah, a dry Rosé, Viognier, a Bordeaux blend and Chardonnay. We were lucky enough to snag some of her delicious Viognier, as all of her other wines have already sold out! Aromas and flavors of stone fruits and crisp acidity would pair wonderfully with a bucket of steamed clams, grilled veggies, and a mild sheep’s cheese such as Idiazabal or Manchego. $16.75 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, Eagle, Idaho. Thanks to the winemaker mentioned above, another Idaho winery from the south has come our way! Gary Cunningham from a suburb of Boise brought some delicious sample of his bone-dry Rosé (0% residual sugar), Chardonnay (made in a Burgundian-style, meaning not a buttery wine) and Syrah (bottled just four days before we tasted it). They were all delicious and to top it all off, his vineyards were just certified organic! The Syrah will arrive later this fall, however, we do have his other two wines ready to be enjoyed. The Rosé is $15.75 and the Chardonnay $17.25. They will be found on our organic shelf facing the meat department. Stone Brewery’s 12th Anniversary Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is out for your enjoyment. $4.10 Enjoy the remainder of the sun! |
