Wine & Words

Green (Grüner Veltliner) (Austria) – Reg. $11.50/ Feature Price - $9.20

The problem with German and Austrian wines is that the labels are hard to read and impossible to pronounce. This first white is from the most widely planted grape in Austria. But what do you do with that umlaut? Most English speakers just say "greener felt leaner." This producer has made it even easier…just call it "Green." The wine is crisp and bright and likes to be served very chilled. Just the thing for sipping out on the deck. And its bright acidity goes with most green salads. So just ask for a "Green" and discover Austria’s great summer secret.

D’Arenberg Stump Jump White 2006 (McClaren Vale, Australia) - Reg. $13.25/ Feature Price $10.60
We’ve had the Stump Jump Red at both stores for some time. Now we introduce you to its summertime sibling. The wine is a luscious blend of Riesling 63%, Sauvignon Blanc 16%, Roussanne 13%, and Marsanne 8%. The Marsanne, a full-bodied wine with heady aromas of honeysuckle and almonds, is an excellent blending partner for aromatic varieties with high natural acidity…such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. So you get a wine that’s not as dry as Chardonnay and not as sweet as Riesling, just perfect for summer salads and chilled soups.

Hubert Rousseau “Domaine des Trois Toits” Muscadet Sevre et Main Sur Lie (Loire Valley, France) - Reg. $17.50/ Feature Price $14.00

That’s a long name, for sure. Hubert Rousseau is the winemaker. He grows the Muscadelle grapes on his estate named “The House of Three Roofs.” The official region for the wine is “Muscadet (MOOSE-kuh-day) Sevre et Main” – the area between the Sevre and Main rivers. And “sur lie” means the wine was aged “on the leas,” that is, with the fruit and yeast before it is strained off. Because this region of the Loire Valley is close to the Atlantic coast, the wine has developed a reputation of being THE wine for oysters and other shellfish. Another introduction that’s sure to please. Steven Tanzer’s Int’l Wine Cellar Rated: 90 pts

Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc Grand Cuvee 2006 (Coastal Region, South Africa) - Reg. $19.50/ Feature Price $15.60

We had an earlier vintage of this wine, but it’s been out of stock for a long time. When I was choosing the wines for summer, I decided to see if it was back. Sure enough, our distributor has more. Later the same day that I ordered, I received my e-mail preview of the upcoming issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. The wine was rated 90 pts! And what a beauty it is. A balance of clean, crisp freshness with layered complexity and a long, long finish. This will be the wine of choice for everyone who wants to serve casual elegance on their summertime table.

Les Jamelles Cinsault Rosé (Languedoc, France) - Reg. $11.50/ Feature Price $9.20

This wine will serve as an introduction to “Les Jamelles,” a winery started in 1991 by Catherine and Laurent Delaunay, two young winemakers from Burgundy whose family has been producing wine for four generations.

The wine is a "rosé de saignée," wherein the juice of the Cinsault (san-so) grapes is left with the skins only long enough to pick up a salmon color and a rich flavor (a few hours).

The Wine Enthusiast: 86 pts “Best Buy”: "Cinsault is seldom featured on its own as it is a varietal used in blends, but this rosé is worth more than that with its intense aromas of peach and apricot."

Serve well chilled as an apéritif, with salads, grilled meats, all kinds of cheeses…heck, you can serve this one out on the back porch with hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s summertime…relax!

Susana Balbo “Crios” Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Mendoza, Argentina) - Reg. $16.00/ Feature Price $12.80

We’ve had this wine for some time, in fact it was the first “Crios” on our list. But since Susanna Balbo’s Rosé of Malbec and crisp Torrontés were so well received in recent Features, we decided to Feature it as our “non-American” Cab. You won’t be disappointed. The wine is fruitier and juicier than your typical California Cab, but that lets it go with a wide range of foods, from grilled meats to seafood salads. Susana Balbo knows how to make great wines at very reasonable prices. A Wine Spectator “Smart Buy,” 88 pts

Castell del Remei Gotim Bru 2004 (Costers del Segre, Spain) - Reg. $17.50/ Feature Price $14.00

Here’s another one we’ve really enjoyed in vintages past. The current release will not disappoint. A blend of 60% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot aged for 10 months in French and American oak. Think of it as a “super Riojan.” It’s a big, full-bodied red, but very well behaved, with smooth integration of flavor and a lingering finish without a wrong note. Serve it with a mixed grill. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate calls it “an outstanding value” – 90 pts

Turkey Flat Butcher’s Block Red 2005 (Barossa, Australia) - Reg. $31.50/ Feature Price $25.20

Another new one for us, this wine is a traditional Barossa blend of Shiraz (41%), Grenache (40%), and Mourvedre (19%). The grapes are from vines that were planted many years ago on the Turkey Flat farm (near where the original settler had his old butcher’s block). The result is a wine that is both rich and soft, bold and mellow, complex and easy-going. This is an all-around red that Robert Parker calls “surprisingly voluptuous” (92 pts). Pair it with something “from the barbie” or just savor it (cooled down to cellar temperature, about 55 degrees) on a long summer evening. This is a beautiful summer wine!