Tag Archives: wine of the day

Wine of the Day: La Palazzetta ‘Trio From Montalcino’ 10-27-16

Here’s a taste of the real Italy, three wines you might find by the glass or bottle at the quaintest ristorante in Tuscany. La Palazzetta’s Flavio Fanti wastes no resources on fancy websites, marketing, or Bordeaux barrels. Instead, he makes honest wine from the southern end of the Montalcino DOC in the tiny village of Castelnuovo dell’ Abate. Fanti farms his family’s 45 acres organically, and his winemaking style, which seeks finesse over extraction, matches the area’s delicateness. Balanced, perfumed, and representative of place, La Palazzetta impresses us each year. And all of these wines are ready to enjoy today, at prices you’d also expect to find in Italy. –Daniel

Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Sant’ Antimo, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($14.95) Buy Now: $11.90 special

Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($19.95) Buy Now: $16 special

Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $36 special

… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 10-20-16

Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $19 special

As you might remember, last year was hot, the hottest on record for the state of Oregon. The mere thought of it induces thirst. But the heat of 2015 also gave the potential to produce some delicious entry-level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Ayres Winery took advantage. Rather than over-ripe or cooked, this wine, made from Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton grapes, offers a fresh Pinot fruit profile and a pleasant tartness. Savory notes mingle with a hint of salinity, and a well-judged sense of balance (only 13.6% alcohol) carries the wine through to a succulent finish. Even after being open overnight, the wine stays consistent like last year’s 90-degree temps.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2015 10-15-16

Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $19 special

A visit from John Paul of Cameron happens often here at Vinopolis, yet not often enough. No other Willamette Valley winemaker displays his sort of charisma and laid-back, quasi-genius: the mastermind behind Clos Electrique has an electrified brain, it seems. He makes us laugh, and shares his wines. Granted, as John pointed out, the oak has yet to integrate, but the silkiness, suppleness, and succulence already signal a  charming cuvee: Give this wine a few months or more before consumption. You’ll be glad you did, and even gladder that you swooped some up before this Cameron wine goes the way of all the others… out of stock soon enough.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion 2014 10-14-16

Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion 2014 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $16.60 special

Louis Barruol has 14 generations of winemaking on his side at Château Saint-Cosme. Since 1490, Barruol’s family represents Rhône winemaking better, and more exhaustively, than most. The Saint-Cosme line-up of Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Côte-Rotie impresses wine connoisseurs and critics every year, which makes the Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion a smart choice for a table wine. Côtes du Rhône reds provide delicious early drinking, and the 2014 vintage lends a touch of lightness to the plump nature of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Let a breeze of garrigue and Rhône warmth help you keep it summer on the inside, no matter the time of year, for well under twenty bucks.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: CVNE Cune Crianza 2012 Rioja 10-12-16

CVNE Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana Cune Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($14.95) Buy Now: $11.90 special

Order a glass of Crianza at a bar or restaurant in Spain, and odds are they’ll have Cune to pour. Ripe, balanced, and full of bright cherry notes, Cune is, before anything else, delicious. It also happens to go well with a variety of foods, from classic jamón and cheese, to steaks and roasts, even with fish in Spain. But that price! Una locura! At $11.90 a bottle, anyone with a taste for Spanish wine, for Tempranillo, or for a superb table red should add a bit of Cune to the bodega. Trust in its ubiquity in the land where they drink wine the way we drink bottled water.… Read the rest