Tag Archives: wine of the day

Wine of the Day: Philippe Pacalet Moulin a Vent 9-8-16

Philippe Pacalet Moulin A Vent, Beaujolais, France 2014 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now $49 special

Never patient when it comes to Beaujolais, I drank Pacalet’s intrepid Moulin-a-Vent the very night it arrived at our shop. A simple salmon dish served as accompaniment, and I poured some out into a decanter in order to contrast normal and accelerated evolution of the wine as it aerated. Cherry aromas soared out of the glass, with an immediate flavor profile of goji berries, plum, Bing cherries, and a touch of leather. The fruit bears this intriguing crunchiness, with the acid mingling but never overarching beyond the wine’s overall feel. There is a playful energy this Beaujolais, which went lovely with the salmon and danced between being a little showy and a bit mellow over the course of four hours.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’, Barbera d’Asti 2013 9-6-16

Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’, Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2013 750ML ($19.95) Buy Now: $17 special
Case-12 Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’, Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2013 750ML ($219.95) Buy Now: $179 specialrenatorattiBARBERA

More diplomatic than martial, despite the label, this Barbera d’Asti ends up conquering nonetheless. Renato Ratti wines embody the silky Italian style, while encouraging the Barbera to sing of its Asti origins. The 2013 has plenty of structure but not too much, which lets the fruit and floral notes emerge, while nice acidity keeps the powers in balance. Drinking well now, or you can keep it quartered for a while. – Daniel

Fan of Piedmontese wines: don’t miss the Renato Ratti Nebbiolo d’Alba!

Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($26.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Case-12 Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($279.95) Buy Now: $219 special

Winery note: “Fine, delicate and persistent bouquet with characteristic trace scents of strawberry and raspberry.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Franchere Gruner Veltliner, Willamette Valley 2014 9-2-16

Franchere Havlin Vineyard Gruner Veltliner, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) Buy Now: $16 special

For a few reasons, this Oregon-grown Gruner Veltliner is delicious. One, it matches grape variety with place: Austria’s forests, temperate latitude, cloudy skies, and laid-back attitude reflect Oregon’s. Two, winemaker/owner Mike Hinds lets the wine follow its own course in vinification — native yeasts, no lead-footed extraction, but he does age the wine in acacia barrels — and his story, as a direct descendant of the Franchère who helped found Fort Astoria, is cool. Plus, he studied winemaking at Chemeketa, outside of Salem. Three, most importantly, the wine is a pleaser: light and brisk, appley and spiced, balanced and refreshing, gulpable on its own or with food.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2012 9-1-16

Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze, Burgundy 2012 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special

The name Leflaive says it all. White Burgundy knows no better producer than Leflaive, which explains their astronomic prices, which is where the Macon-Verzé comes into play. Biodynamically-grown in the Maconnais, just south of the Côte d’Or, the wine is made at Domaine Leflaive in Puligny. Perfectly balanced Chardonnay, with nutty, buttery, classically Burgundian notes, plus the warmth of Macon’s southern latitude, all for under forty bucks. The 2012 vintage was superb, ripe and succulent. This is the best deal on white Burgundy in all of Vinopolis, and it’s ready to drink today, or tonight. – Daniel

Wine Spectator 89 Points “This pretty white, evoking floral, lime, white peach and mineral aromas and flavors, is elegant and vibrant, with a lingering aftertaste of ripe fruit and spice.”… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2006 – 8-29-16

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Gravonia‘ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $28 special

The wide range of flavors on offer from the ‘Gravonia‘ conjure up thoughts of an open-air market, where fruit and vegetables elbow up against exotic spices and a million different scents waft through the hustling masses. Delicate impressions of tea, sun-soaked lemons, caramel, and peach play off of hints of hay, spring-time flowers, petrol, and almonds; the descriptors of this wine are rivaled only by the vast amount of dishes it’d match.

‘Gravonia‘ comes from 100% Viura; you may otherwise know the grape as Macabeo. The wine is aged for four years in mature oak barrels and racked twice yearly, later resting in the bottle before release.… Read the rest