Klassen Wines 2020 Miraflores Chardonnay Single vineyard Klassen! The Indian Rock Vineyard in Calaveras County is farmed by brothers Dimitiro and Ray Nava. The soils of Calaveras County contain a great deal of limestone making the region a perfect place for the Dijon clones of Chardonnay. This Chardonnay was fermented in French oak barriques with the lees stirred monthly. After racking, the wine completed its maturation in barrique and was then bottled. This Klassen Chardonnay has the pear melon flavors of a nice Macon mixed with the mango and lychee notes of California. Perfect with twice baked potatoes!
Giunta 2022 Sauvignon Blanc From Hawke’s Bay, the Crispy White is lovingly referred to at Decibel Central as the “Ultimate House White”. These wines are styled to be young and fresh; typically sold straight to restaurants and never around for long. The name plays homage to Dan’s heritage; a family name of his Sicilian Great Grandparents and translates to “good addition to the family”. Hints of pear, quince, lime and yellow flowers. Lush front palate with flavors of crisp peach and perky lemon meringue. The finish lingers with a pithy acidity and tension between bruised and crisp red apple. The perfect wine when you don’t know what to serve guests, a winner every time.
Jean Perrier & Fils 2022 Savoie Apremont “Cuvée Gastronomie” Located in the foothills of the Alps, Savoie neighbors Jura (north), Switzerland (east), and Bugey (west across the Rhône), Caveau Savoyard was founded in 1853, and is currently run by the seventh generation of the Perrier family. Apremont lies on the western side of la Cluse de Chambéry facing Chignin and is one of the better known white wine crus of the Savoie, steep, high altitude slopes on glacial deposits with limestone. Floral notes, ripe pear and subtle citrus aromas with flavors of green apple and white peach. Stony minerality and balanced acid make this zesty, bright and fresh with a slightly saline finish.
Château de Costis 2023 Bordeaux Blanc Château de Costis is located in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers, near the village of Targon and facing the medieval Château de Benauge. Half of the vineyard was part of the original family estate and the second half was purchased in 1972. Varietal blend is composed of 100% Sauvignon Blanc, with extended lee aging, giving the wine a great texture, and a powerful nose. This is small-production, organically-farmed Bordeaux Blanc at an incredible value!
La Coste 2018 Grand Vin Blanc Château La Coste – The name conjures up fine reds, complex whites, floral and fruity pinks, and expressive sparkling wines, but that is far from all to be found at this intersection of organically grown wine. There’s art, architecture, food, hospitality, and scenic beauty. This unique wine estate is located just outside Aix-en-Provence and celebrates the best of life as experienced through all the senses. The Grand Vin is a blend of Vermentino & Chardonnay, aged on fine lees for 8-10 months. The result is rich and complex. Wonderful minerality, notes of fresh citrus fruits. Full-bodied flavor, with a beautiful freshness.
Les Hauts Plateaux 2023 Rosé Alpes de Haute Provence New vintage! This Rosé is produced from traditional regional grapes, including Syrah, which gives the wine its structure and its color. Like the other wines classified from this area, Les Hauts Plateaux must meet strict specifications: the wines must first be originated from a plot located on the departments of Alpes de Haute Provence, and its production must meet a maximum yield of 90 hectoliters per hectare. Salmon color, possessing great intensity on the nose (gooseberry), aromas of red berries, with a scent of violets. Supple in texture, and easy to drink.
Piron ‘COQ Leon’ 2019 Gamay 95% Gamay from Beaujolais & Beaujolais Villages combined with 5% Gamaret. The latter, a little known varietal created in the 1990s by crossing Gamay with Reichensteiner, had hopes of being authorized for production in Beaujolais, but this never happened. Consequently, there are plots of these vines growing in little known villages in the region and occasionally, as in this case, it is blended with Gamay to make a plump, darker, some would say more fun wine to be enjoyed without fuss with the hearty fare served locally. Julien Revillon, now head of Dominique Piron’s operation, owns such a plot of vines. The wine is in fact plump, delicious, without artifice, but absolutely satisfying and food friendly. Glou Glou!
Viña Gormaz 2020 Crianza Viña Gormaz is the undisputed leader in Ribera del Duero’s Eastern subregion of Soria – this zone has until recently been more or less overlooked, and we hold it in high esteem due to the unheard-of concentrations of old vines that sit on original rootstock and continue to be propagated in that manner today. Fans of dusty, intense Ribera are wise to explore Soria’s individual villages deeply. You can think of grape sourcing in Ribera much as you do in Burgundy – individual families own and control small plots, sometimes as minimal as a row or two of vines. In the glass, you’ll find cherry red color with violet hues. Aromas of dark fruit, vanilla, and roasted coffee. Full mouthfeel, not too tannic, with a spicy and dry finish.
Ginestraia 2022 Chianti Rufina Here is the “little brother” to our beloved Basciano! Paolo Masi produces this wine for early drinkability, and his new 2022 arrival is crunchy and ready for spaghetti night! Intense, ruby red color. Structured and concentrated wine, it shows scents of little red berries and flowers as typical of Sangiovese, yet with lively acidity.
Le Cadeau 2018 Red Label Pinot Noir Crafted from 100% estate-grown fruit, the Red Label Pinot Noir is our opportunity to select barrels from any block of Le Cadeau Vineyard and blend them into a single estate cuvée. The result is a beautiful, small-production representation of our exquisite vineyard site. The 2018 Red Label Pinot Noir is a blend of high-elevation estate blocks, with additional fruit from the Southern and Eastern blocks. The resulting character of this selection is a balanced wine with initial red-fruited notes, followed by savory black pepper and appealing structure complimenting the darker fruit of the Eastern blocks. Clones include four Dijon selections, Calera, and estate plantings directly sourced from Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy. It was fermented with 20% whole-clusters, aged in 25% new French oak, and bottled in August 2020.
Château 2018 La Garde Red Château La Garde charmed Dourthe with the exceptional quality of the terroir, and undoubtedly one of the finest gravel outcrops in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Château La Garde is a powerful, well-structured wine offering rich, well-balanced character. A selective approach in the vineyard and winery alike brings laser-precision and elegance to rival the finest wines. The perfect elegant red to enjoy any day of the week.
Château Meyre 2018 Haut-Médoc Red This red wine, M de Château Meyre, hails from the Haut-Médoc subregion of Bordeaux and is crafted from a vineyard with a history spanning over 300 years. The unique sand and gravel mix terroir compels the roots to delve deep into the soil for nourishment. Aged in stainless steel vats, this wine offers a fruit-forward, spicy, and elegant taste, making it enjoyable both now and in the years to come. A classic blend with 44% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, & 5% Cabernet Franc.
