Category: Spain

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Fanfare for the Uncommon Varieties: El Dorado in Galicia’s Ribeiro Region (6-Bottle Wine-Pack $190, All Included)

The northwestern Spanish wine production zone of Ribeiro is undergoing a renaissance. One of the vanguard producers of this movement is the Bodega of Coto de Gomariz located in the Avia valley in the autonomous community of Galicia. A unique microclimate that is influenced by both Atlantic and Continental factors allows the region’s native grapes to fully ripen and develop a floral, aromatic complexity while keeping the mouthwatering freshness that Galician wines are known for.

Galicia is one of the few oceanic climate production zones with a wealth of native grapes used in their wine. These varieties are so well-suited to their unique environment you rarely see them used elsewhere. Indeed, you’re likely never going to see a supermarket sign pointing you to the huge selection of Sousón or Ferrol-based wines. Because of Galicia’s landscape of mountains and sea, the cuisine is broad and diverse. As such, the region’s wines pair well with a myriad of dishes, from fish to fowl to filet.

Coto de Gomariz was created in 1978 by the Carreiro family. They began the area’s resurgence by recovering a vineyard that Cistercian monks had established in the 10th century. Today, they own close to 70 acres of vineyards. Coto de Gomariz winemaker Xosé Lois Sebio is one of the most admired and exciting names in Ribeiro. He employs both organic and biodynamic viticulture practices in the vineyards and all wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts.

Shisteous, granitic, and sandy soils, steep slopes, tiny yields, a unique microclimate, and the farming of the native red and white grapes of the region has allowed Coto de Gomariz to produce some of the most distinctive and expressive wines in Ribeiro.

Included in the Fanfare for the Uncommon Varieties 6-Bottle Package are one each of the following wines:

Price includes a 10% discount plus tax and delivery. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the package.

 

Sebio Wish, (Galicia 2016) RED, Regular Price: $43

Made only during warm vintages, “Wish” is a tribute to the pioneering post-punk band The Cure, who accompanied Xosé Lois Sebio through his youth. It is also named after the aspiration to make a single wine with fruit from very old strains growing on a plot at the limit of Ribeiro on the steep, terraced Penelas slope oriented to the northwest. This plot is always last to be picked, yet in warm years it produces a wine of fresh, floral, and fruity intensity reminiscent of Côte Rôtie. A blend of 50% Ferrol, 35% Caiño Longo, 10% Sousón, and 5% Bastardo fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 14 months in French Oak barrels for a wine with gorgeous aromatics of lilac, high-toned fruit, and distinct minerality. Only 94 cases produced.

 

VX Cuvee Caco (Ribeiro 2015) RED, Regular Price: $41

VX or “experimental wine” was the name written on the first barrels aged at Coto de Gomariz, and Caco is the nick-name of Ricardo Carreiro´s father. It is a blend of 50% Sousón, 30% Caiño Longo and Caiño da Terra, 15% Carabuñeira, and 5% Mencía from the “A Ferreira” estate vineyard re-planted with local varietals in 1994. Fermented with native yeasts and aged for 20 months in new French 500 liter oak barrels. Fragrant spiced dark berries and licorice on the nose precedes a sip that offers depth and focus with a hint of vanilla and framed by supple tannins. Only 208 cases produced.

 

Abadía de Coto de Gomariz (Ribeiro 2017) RED, Regular Price: $28

Abadía de Gomariz is a blend of 50% Sousón, 25% Brancellao, 20% Ferrol, and 5% Mencía from the village of Gomariz where soils are granitic with schist and clay. Though fermented in stainless steel, the wine is aged for one year in 500-liter used oak barrels, mostly of French origin, to tame some of the hairy tannins that Sousón can exhibit. A sip is juicy little forest berries with a long and winding cherry pit finish. On the nose, the berry fruit is sweeter with hints of licorice and cream. On the label is the coat of arms of the Abbey Gomariz — the oldest civil building for winemaking in the Iberian Peninsula. Only 1,600 cases produced.

 

“The Flower and the Bee” (Ribeiro 2018) RED, Regular Price: $20

This miniscule production everyday red comes from younger Gomariz vineyards planted with the native variety Sousón in mostly granitic soils. Fermented with native yeasts and aged for 4 months in barrel, this wine is the entry level of Gomariz, yet expresses the same identity of the Avia Valley terroirs as its more ambitious siblings. It’s a versatile wine full of ripe dark berry aromas with a pinch of herbs and spice and a bright finish. The lively label represents both the origin of vine fertilization, as well as the estate’s respect for nature. Only 1,250 cases produced.

 

Finca O Figueiral (Ribeiro 2017) WHITE, Regular Price: $37

70% Treixadura, 10% Godello, 10% Lado, 5% Loureira, and 5% Albariño from the single estate vineyard “O Figueiral” in Gomariz grafted with local grape varieties in 1978. The terroir is mostly clay with a subsoil of schist. Free-run juice begins fermentation in stainless steel vats and finishes in new 500 liter French Oak barrels. It is then aged over fine-lees for 10 months with periodic battonage to build body while maintaining balance. Melon, peach, and tangerine aromas with floral overtones precede a stony and precise, lush yet lively wine. Only 275 cases produced.

 

“X” (Ribeiro 2019) WHITE, Regular Price: $30

“X” is a blend of 95% Albariño and 5% Treixadura named after the schist soils (xisto in Gallego) where the grapes are grown. This single vineyard wine comes from fruit grown in the “As Penelas” plot. Free-run juice is fermented with native yeasts and then aged in stainless steel vats. Aromas of yellow fruit and honey with a touch of lemon pith precede a fleshy mid-palate, offering vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavors braced by juicy acidity and a finish of nervy minerality. This is the kind of white wine that will please just about everyone. Only 400 cases produced.

 

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Half-a-Dozen Wines to Pour on Thanksgiving Day (12-pack for $280 All-Included)

G.K. Chesterton wrote, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

Despite (or perhaps because of) the tumult of 2020, we can probably all find something to be thankful for this year. Whether it be health, family, a meaningful life, or just a substantial supply of toilet paper, why not celebrate with a box of tasty wine especially selected to pair with the season’s feast?

The typical Thanksgiving meal is far too diverse with textures, flavors and aromas to labor over perfect pairings. The most important characteristics of the wines on your table is that they are light, refreshing, energetic, with moderate alcohol, lots of fruit, a lively acidity, and versatile.

We’ve selected a list of wines that will enhance any holiday feast: white wines abundant with fruit and freshness, and reds that aren’t too tannic or heavy. You don’t want anything too bold that might become cumbersome and overpower many of the dishes. Best of all, these are all wines that drink well before, during, and after the meal, so there’s no need to get all fussy about what’s getting poured.

Half-a-Dozen Wines to Pour on Thanksgiving Day (12-pack for $280 All-Included)

This 12-Pack contains two bottles of each wine. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a discount of nearly 15% off the regular price. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to your order.

As usual, we can deliver to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience, including on Thanksgiving Day.

 

Domaine Weinbach Riesling (Alsace 2018) Regular Price: $33, WHITE

Domaine Weinbach lies at the foot of the majestic Grand Cru of Schlossberg hill and has been planted with vines since the Ninth Century. A family run estate since 1898, they produce an exquisite range of wines. Domaine Weinbach started farming biodynamically in 1998 and were certified in 2010. With a focus on purity and terroir expression, the wines are made in old oak vats with indigenous yeasts. This is the epitome of Alsace Riesling, dry, rich, concentrated, and intoxicatingly fragrant. A glass is juicy, vivid, ripe and fresh, with a stony finish that speaks deeply of the land.

 

Can Sumoi “Perfum” (Penedès 2019) Regular Price: $25, WHITE 

Can Sumoi is a new project from Pepe Raventós and Francesc Escala to create vibrant wines from the mountains of the Baix Penedès in the Catalunya region of northeastern Spain. True to its name, “Perfum” exudes a heady mix of aromatics, primarily floral notes of jasmine and rose, although there is an abundance of orchard fruit as well. A sip leads with citrus that turns to soft, ripe apples on the midpalate. All that fruit rides a wave of juicy acidity all the way to the finish. The wine is a blend of 50% Moscatel, 30% Macabeo, and 20% Parellada. Although vinified completely dry, the Moscatel (Muscat) variety contributes much of its aromatic character to this wine. Bottled without additives or filtering.

 

Domaine Gachot-Monot (Côte de Nuits-Villages 2018) Regular Price: $34, RED

Fifth-generation vigneron Damien Gachot and his Danish wife, Lise, farm about 30 acres in the village of Corgoloin, in between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaune. He has harnessed the ability to balance traditional vineyard management and respect of terroir with more contemporary methodologies in the cellar. His wines are some of the best values in Burgundy. 100% Pinot Noir from vines 40 to 45 years old growing in clay and limestone soils, this is a deeply colored, highly aromatic, full and complex Côtes de Nuits Villages that tastes more like Nuits-St-Georges than village Burgundy.

 

Domaine Robert-Denogent “Jules Chauvet” (Beaujolais-Villages 2017) Regular Price: $25, RED

“Cuvée Jules Chauvet” is made from a three acre parcel of Gamay vines in a 15 acre vineyard that was owned by the late Jules Chauvet – a legend for his pioneering work with organic viticulture in Beaujolais and his leadership in the French natural wine movement. The wine is made with rigorous sorting in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar and then aged for 16 months in seven-year-old barrels. The aromatics are all strawberries and cinnamon, the telltale of a semi-carbonic maceration process that keeps the wine light and lively. A sip is fresh and bursting with berry fruit, a downright pleasure to drink.

 

Cà Viola “Vilot” (Dolcette d’Alba 2017) Regular Price: $19, RED 

Giuseppe “Beppe” Caviola is one of the most important oenologists in Italy. Indeed, in 2002, Beppe was named “Enologist of the Year” by the Italian wine industry’s most important guide, Gambero Rosso. Beppe is focused on showcasing the terroir of the Langhe and employs sustainable vineyard and winemaking practices at all times. A traditional Dolcetto, “Vilot” is produced from 20 year old vines growing on the high, steep slopes of Montelupo in soils rich in calcareous clay marl and sandstone. Fresh blackberries lead into a smooth and balanced finish in this classic food wine.

 

Artuke (Rioja 2019) Regular Price: $17, RED

“Artuke” is made with the carbonic maceration method, a wine-making technique used to enhance aromatics and produce luscious, fresh, fruity wines preferred by Basques in the northern sub-zone of Alavesa. It is a blend of mainly Tempranillo grapes with about 5% of the white grape, Viura, from vineyards in the village of Baños de Ebro. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete for close to six months before bottling. It smells like a four-berry pie. This mouth-watering red wine takes a relatively deep chill which makes it a versatile pairing with pretty much everything on the Thanksgiving table.

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Saturday Sips + Saturday Sips Review Package (8-Pack for $190 All-Included): “Natural Wine” from Four Spanish Producers

This Saturday we travel to Spain to explore both its diverse landscape of red wine and four producers who are translating their local terrain into tasty “natural” wine.

The basic definition of “natural wine” is wine that is made by small-scale, hands-on farms that use strict organic and/or biodynamic cultivation techniques, spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts, and very little to no sulfites. Most winemakers that aim to produce wines that speak of place will limit sulfites but the fact is that they do serve an important role in the preservation of a wine’s character. The four producers in this week’s Saturday Sips Review package understand the relationship between this important aspect of production and work meticulously to strike a balance between conservation and raw expression.

Of course, (as with all of our selections) we ensure that these “natural” wines receive the proper treatment of cool transport and storage before they get to your table. In general, these wines will have a bit more wildness, or attitude, than a typical red, and will benefit from a slight chill. With this package we invite you to embrace the great range of possibilities that fermented grapes can offer.

Saturday Sips Review: $190 — 8 Bottles of “Natural Wine” from Four Spanish Producers

The price for this Saturday Sips Review Package includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

 

“Pésico” (Asturias 2013) Red, Regular Price: $28

Nicolás Marcos clearly likes a challenge. He left his family’s winery in Toro, did a stint with the distinguished Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage, and then settled into the northwestern region of Asturias, specifically Cangas del Narcea. Pésico is a blend of equal parts Carrasquín, Mencía, Verdejo Tinto, and Albarín Tinto, all grape varieties indigenous to the region. Nico vinifies the juice from about 18 acres spread over parcels from four different crus. Each parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeast before blending and partial aging in French oak barrels (including second year barrels from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti). This is truly a wine that speaks of the land, ripe yet fresh, bursting with blue fruits and layers of texture before a lengthy finish.

 

“Silice” (Galicia 2016) Red, Regular Price: $29

Sílice Viticultores is a project started in 2013 by brothers Carlos and Juan Rodríguez with star winemaker Fredi Torres, a native of Galicia who cut his teeth in Priorat working with Clos Mogador. The partners cultivate using organic and biodynamic methods with the goal of expressing the terroir of Amandi — one of the five subzones of Ribeira Sacra. 2016 Sílice is a Mencía-based blend with 20% of other grapes including Albarello, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, all planted on sand, granite, and slate. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, the wine is then matured in a 17-year-old, 4,000-liter oak foudre purchased in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The result is a wine with aromas of sweet cherry, wanton flowers, smoked tea, and loamy earth. Ripe fruit is in ideal balance with bright and juicy wild forest berries.

 

“Latitud 40” (La Tierra de Castilla 2015) Red, Regular Price: $23

Uva de Vida’s wife-and-husband team of Carmen López and Luis Ruiz have harnessed the soul of the land to produce wines of purity, brilliance and energy. Biodiversity of plant and animal life is promoted in their 33 acres of vines planted at 1,600 feet of altitude in the clay-based soils near the tiny village of Santa Olalla just up the road from the city of Toledo. Uva de Vida employs minimal intervention techniques from start to finish. 100% Graciano and nearly opaque deep red, a glass of “Latitud 40” radiates aromas of cherry fruit leather, dark chocolate, herbs, and salty, sun-baked earth. These heady scents merge seamlessly into a mid-weight sip of blackcurrant fruit with a long and juicy finish.

 

“Cielos & Besos” (Arribes 2016) Red, Regular Price: $20

Almaroja winemaker and Englishwoman Charlotte Allen holds 15 acres in western Spain on the border with Portugal. “Cielos y Besos” is mostly organically-farmed old vine Juan García, a variety native to the Arribes del Duero and the most widely planted red grape in the area. The wines of this variety are characterized by wild berry fruit, fine tannins and good acidity. The remainder is an eclectic mix of tempranillo, rufete, bastardillo chico, bastardillo serrano, and garnacha (to name but a few) with a few kilos of white grapes thrown in for good measure. Filled with fresh, ripe berry fruit alongside a deep, earthy vibe, this wine is not only a great value, it is versatile. Pair it with pizza, red meat, and everything in-between.

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Wine-Aid: $255 “Three Shades of Tempranillo” — 12 Bottles from Rioja’s Rising Star, Artuke Bodegas y Viñedos (All Included and Delivered)

Easily one of the most exciting producers in Rioja right now, we never tire of the wines from brothers Arturo and Kike de Miguel Blanco, third generation viticulturalists that produce wine for Artuke Bodegas y Viñedos. Each new vintage illustrates just how much growth and improvement can be accomplished when your singular focus is creating wines of freshness and purity that speak of place.

Modern Rioja’s storied history began in the mid-1800s when local winemakers adopted the methods of Bordeaux and began aging their wines in wooden casks. Since then, the region has tended to spotlight the amount of time the wine spent in oak barrels, effectively putting a supporting actor in the leading role. But in June of 2017, The Consejo Regulador in Rioja announced the introduction of a “Singular Vineyard” designation to be known as Viñedos Singulares. Now the quality of Rioja wine can be linked to a specific terroir.

In practice, these “Singular Vineyards” are nothing new for Arturo and Kike. These two young men have completely refocused their winery to cultivate small vineyard plots in and around the village of Abalos in the high elevation foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains. Yet they currently have no plans to adopt the new labeling to their own wines, believing that the laws were thrown together too hastily, without enough study of the soils and history of the land.

With less than 55 total acres of vineyards distributed over 32 different plots, Artuke is a family affair. Their father still helps with vineyard maintenance, and their mother will always have a plate of food at the ready for hungry family members and visitors alike. Their wines clearly reveal the characteristics of the Alavesa sub-zone, the northernmost and smallest of the three Rioja sub-zones, where the cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean meets the warmer interior. This unique climate has the effect of ripening Tempranillo grapes with slightly thinner skins, yielding wines with superb fruit and balance.

The price for this Wine-Aid package includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Included in “Three Shades of Tempranillo”:

2 Bottles “Finca de los Locos” (Rioja, 2015) Regular Price: $36

Arturo and Kike’s grandfather was regarded as crazy (loco) for purchasing this single vineyard located on a high terrace around 1,600 feet in elevation overlooking the Ebro river in Baños de Ebro. The plot consists of nearly 40-year-old vines growing in a sandy, gritty soil over a chalky limestone subsoil. A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano that is aged for 13 months in both 500 and 3500 liter French oak barrels, this wine shows it’s Atlantic climate mainly on the palate as ripe red fruit immediately turns crunchy to lead into a lengthy mineral finish. Aromatically complex, a noseful is rewarded with plums, minty herbs, dark chocolate, baked earth, and cherry blossoms. You could do worse things than pairing “Finca de los Locos” with some fatty red lamb chops.

 

4 Bottles “Pies Negros” (Rioja, 2018) Regular Price: $25

A blend of mostly Tempranillo with a small amount of Graciano from vines as old as 95 years, from vineyards in the village of Ábalos. Pies Negros means Black Feet, a reference to the archaic method of crushing the grapes using one’s feet. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, most of the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for one year, with about one-quarter kept in concrete. The wine is especially pretty on the nose with a heady floral scent wrapped around candied fruit and cinnamon. A medium-bodied sip is generous and swells through the midpalate to finish with a touch of earth. A fantastic value that would pair beautifully with anything you’re grilling this autumn.

 

6 Bottles “Artuke” (Rioja, 2018) Regular Price: $16

“Artuke” is made with the carbonic maceration method, a wine-making technique used to enhance aromatics and produce luscious, fresh, fruity wines preferred by Basques in the northern sub-zone of Alavesa. It is a blend of mainly Tempranillo grapes with about 5% of the white grape, Viura, from vineyards in the village of Baños de Ebro. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete for close to six months before bottling. It smells like a four-berry pie. This mouth-watering red wine takes a relatively deep chill which makes it a versatile pairing with all types of food: tuna, pretty much anything made with zucchini, fried chicken, gooey cheese sandwiches, pizza, etc…

 

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $250 “Green Spain” — Taste the Terroir of Northwest Spain with 12 Bottles (6 Red, 6 White, All Included and Delivered)

Our latest Wine Aid box hails from the northwest corner of the Iberian peninsula and is packed with lively, graceful, cool-climate wines, defined as much by the nearby Atlantic coast as the vineyard soils and slopes. These are wines with the same sort of aromatic headiness and elegant structure that draw wine lovers to the most famous winemaking regions in the world.

Included in the Green Spain Wine-Aid Package are three bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Fento

Hard-working vigneron Eulogio Pomares is a rising star in the far northwest corner of Spain where he receives accolades from critics and consumers alike. Although perhaps best known for his work with the region’s Albariño variety as the seventh generation winemaker at Zárate, his family’s estate, Eulogio can’t be contained and is branching out into some of “Green Spain’s” other subregions.

Fento is a partnership of Eulogio with his wife Rebeca that works with both rare and common indigenous grapes found within Galicia. Organic viticulture is difficult in the region due to humidity and mildew pressure, but Eulogio is applying the methods to bring the Fento vineyards into full organic cultivation, relying on native cover crops and natural products to do most of the work.

“Xabre” (Ribeira Sacra 2017 RED) Regular Price: $29

The cuvée Xabre [SHAH-bray] is named after the weathered, sandy granite soils of Ribeira Sacra. It’s a blend of predominately Mencía with the remainder made up of Sousón, Mouratón and Garnacha, all from vines ranging between 15 and 80 years old. The fruit comes from the Quiroga-Bibei sub-zone, from terraced vineyards between 900 to 2,100 feet in elevation. Extraordinarily perfumed, Xabre radiates notes of citrus peel, green tea, violets, fresh berries and warm terra cotta. With just a slight chill it’s an ideal wine to keep you company while tending the grill.

 

“Bico da Ran” (Rías Baixas 2018 WHITE) Regular Price: $18

Bico da Ran is 100% Albariño made from fruit grown in the sub-zone of Val do Salnés. Considered the birthplace of the Albariño grape this is the original and oldest sub-region in Rías Baixas. Some of the best vineyards in Salnés produce the Bico da Ran fruit. The vines are 15 to 25 years old. Grapes are harvested in early morning to preserve aroma and freshness. Vinification and aging is done in stainless steel. All of this results in a wine that is aromatic with citrus and a delicate herbality. On the palate it is refreshing and crisp, with layers of crunchy orchard fruit.

 

Viñedos y Bodegas Pardevalles 

Third generation vigneron Rafael Alonso is one of the pioneer winemakers of southern León. Viñedos y Bodegas Pardevalles, his family’s vineyards and 300 year old cellars are situated in northwestern Spain at around 2,400 feet in elevation where the uncommon and indigenous grape varieties Prieto Picudo (red) and Albarín Blanco (white) thrive in the extreme microclimate around the River Esla. Rocky soil, swinging diurnal temperatures and less than 20 inches of annual rainfall combine to create wines of superb ripeness, acidity and balance with highly developed aromatics.

Recently granted official Denominación de Orígen status in 2007, Tierra de León is nevertheless an ancient region that has been cultivated for wine production for centuries. The Alonso family holds around 95 acres there in the high plains, where Quaternary Period soils are covered in rounded stones that absorb the heat of the sun during the day. Similar to the galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape but at a much higher elevation, these stones help the vines bear the low nighttime temperatures and ensure a long, even ripening.

“Gamonal” (Tierra de León 2015 RED) Regular Price: $23

One of Spain’s most fascinating indigenous varieties, Prieto Picudo is highly aromatic with fleshy bright fruit and good acidity. Aged for one year in 225 liter neutral oak barrels, you might compare the Pardevalles Gamonal to a Cru Beaujolais from a vintage that achieved full ripeness (and then some). While it’s a joyous wine full of bursting berries up front it shows a more serious side with a concentration and a pure, lengthy finish. With the slightest chill it will pair with myriad grilled foods or a simple plate of cheese and olives.

 

“Albarín” (Tierra de León 2019 WHITE) Regular Price: $19

Pardevalles’ seven acres of Albarín Blanco (about 10% of all vineyards planted to the variety) were developed in 2004 for the purpose of recovering this indigenous grape which was on the edge of extinction. But the wine is far more than a rescue mission for an obscure variety. The Albarín Blanco is an exuberant wine brimming with aromatics of fragrant herbs, mouthfuls of white fruits, and a finish that’s fresh and clean. It’s a wine that delights both the casual drinker and the most discerning gourmand. It’s versatile enough for sipping on the patio or pairing with seafood and poultry dishes.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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Summer-Aid: $235 “Homage to Catalonia” — Taste the Terroir of Northeastern Spain with 12 Bottles (All Included and Delivered)

From breezy Mediterranean shores to Barcelona cafés to the towering peaks of the Pyrenees, the autonomous community of Catalonia is a land of diversity. These places and cultures have inspired poets, artists, and winemakers.

This week’s Wine-Aid package starts in the ancient wine country of the Penedès Plain, then into Priorat, one of the most progressive winemaking regions in all of Spain with its special reddish and black slate soils (called llicorella in Catalan), and finally to the slopes of the multi-peaked Montserrat range. A glassful of any one of these wines brings the region to life at your dinner table.

Included in Homage to Catalonia Wine-Aid Package is four bottles of each:

The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 10% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

Alemany i Corrio Principia Mathematica (Penedès 2018) Regular Price: $26

Passionate wife-and-husband winemakers Irene Alemany and Laurent Corrio’s “Principia Mathematica” is crafted from 100% Xarel·lo (shah-REHL-loh), a grape indigenous to the region that most sparkling wine drinkers will recognize as the principal variety that makes up Cava. 55 year old Xarel·lo vines see fermentation in new French oak barrels of 228 and 700 liters. A third of the wine is then aged for nine months in stainless steel on the yeast (sur lie) with the remaining two thirds aged in oak barrels with occasional stirring (battonage). The result is a wine of freshness and depth that fully expresses a Burgundian style of winemaking alongside high coastal Mediterranean terroir.

 

Blai Ferré “Ona” (Priorat 2016) Regular Price $22

Blai Ferré’s Ona is Priorat in the raw, a wine of intensity and balance with little elaboration. It is a classic Mediterranean blend of 40% Garnatxa, 40% Syrah, and 20% Carinyena. Cultivation is organic and the harvest is hand-picked and hand-sorted. Half of the wine is aged in stainless steel vats and the other half in French oak for eight months. We’ve found that it’s a wine that always outperforms its price level and it’s versatile enough to be paired with a simple cheese plate to roast lamb and everything in-between. Blai produces a scant 500 cases of Ona, bottling the rest of the harvest in other cuvées.

 

Ca N’Estruc Negre (Catalunya 2016) Regular Price $14

Francisco Martí is co-owner of perhaps the finest wine shop in Spain, Vila Viniteca, located in the El Born district of old Barcelona. Yet he has spent much of his life in the vineyards of the Ca n’Estruc estate that lies on the slopes of Montserrat at over 500 feet in elevation. The Vineyards are ideally orientated to optimize sunshine and hold some vines that are close to 80 years old. Ca N’Estruc Negre is a blend of Garnatxa, Samsó (Carinyena), and Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) grown in alluvial soils. Ripe raspberries and cherries underneath a hint of rosemary make this one of the more interesting everyday value wines that you’ll find.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

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$270 “A Dozen Rosés” Wine-Aid Package — Crisp, Cool Climate Rosé + A Rosé Sparkler (All Included and Delivered)

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Whether you’re social-distancing with friends on the patio, grilling in the backyard, or just relaxing on a cozy chair with a good book and all the windows thrown open to the warm breeze and birdsong, this weather calls for a glass of fresh rosé by your side.

Introducing A Dozen Rosés, a $270 Wine-Aid package that includes twelve bottles of dry, pink wine mainly from the cool climate wine regions of France, plus a world-class sparkling rosé from a top producer in Spain. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package.

These are all fresh, current release wines, not close-outs of last year’s wine that has been languishing in warehouses. With this variety you’ll find everything from delicate wines redolent of flowers and early strawberries to rich and herbal wines big enough to pair with grilled meats and possibly even satisfy the most ardent red wine drinker.

We are committed to providing you with your wine needs in the safest way possible. We do encourage you to take advantage of our back door pick-up or free delivery. We can easily process the payment of your purchase over the phone and load you up without you needing to get out of the car. Or we can deliver it to your doorstep for free (within a reasonable distance of our shop) and leave it there for you to bring in at your convenience.

Included in A Dozen Rosés Wine-Aid Package are two bottles each:

Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy “Terre de Maimbray” (Sancerre 2019) Regular Price $32

Based in the tiny hamlet of Maimbray surrounded by chalk hills of the Loire Valley, Pascal Reverdy and his wife Sophie produce wines of place from almost pure “Terres Blanches” soils of fossilized Marne/Kimmeridigian limestone and clay. The Reverdys harvest exclusively by hand, and do not filter any of their wines. “Terre de Maimbray” is 100% Pinot Noir with vibrant, mineral accented strawberry and tangerine scents over sappy redcurrant and citrus fruit flavors.


Domaine Collotte Rosé (Marsannay 2019) Regular Price $24

Philippe Collotte and his daughter Isabelle produce some of Marsannay’s best values. They focus on sustainable viticultural practices and fruit yields well below the appellation’s allowances. All fermentations are done with indigenous yeasts only. This Pinot Noir-based rosé is made from 30 to 60 year-old vines growing on classic Burgundian clay and limestone soils. In the glass it exudes an exuberant floral and red cherry vibe. A richer rosé, the medium-body delivers ripe red fruit, herbs, and a hint of mineral funk.


Pierre-Marie Chermette “Griottes” (Beaujolais 2019) Regular Price $19

Strict traditionalists, Pierre-Marie and Martine Chermette were among the first in Beaujolais to use sustainable agricultural practices, shunning the use of chemicals in the vineyard and encouraging as much life in the soil as possible. The wines are made with minimal intervention: wild yeasts, minimal sulphur additions, and no filtering if possible. Their poundable, Gamay-based rosé is pale in color but deep in flavor. Fruit and flowers on the nose are enhanced by a hint of gravel.


Château de la Bonnelière “Rive Gauche” (Chinon 2019) Regular Price $18

Château de la Bonnelière is a certified organic domaine situated in the heart of Chinon. Marc Plouzeau has been running this small, 37 acre family domaine since 1999, taking over from his father who started renovation and replanting back in the 1970s. All of Marc’s wines are produced with minimal intervention. “Rive Gauche” comes from the gravel and sand-based alluvial soils on the left bank of the Vienne river. High-toned aromatics of raspberry and peach hover above a fresh and juicy glass of this Cabernet Franc rosé.



Domaine La Bérangeraie “Malbec Rosé” (IGP Côtes du Lot 2019) Regular Price $14

The 86 acre Domaine La Bérangeraie began in 1971 when André Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie and planted their vineyard on the red clay and iron stone soil near the small village of Grézels in the Lot department in south-western France. 100% Malbec, ripe strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors are complemented by a hint of spice. A core of juicy acidity balances a silky fruit profile and a pinch of residual sugar adds to the body.


Raventós i Blanc “de Nit” (cru Conca del Riu Anoia 2017) Regular Price $30

Biodynamically farmed and rivaling many a grower Champagne in quality terms, “de Nit” is a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada with the addition of a small amount of red Monastrell for complexity and to give the wine its pale pink color. Aged for at least 18 months on the lees before release this is a wine of balance, with subtle minerality. Creamy, with aromatics of flowers, orchard fruits, and almonds, we suggest drinking this sparkling wine from a white wine glass to experience everything it has to offer.

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$165 “The Paco de Lucía” Wine-Aid Package – 6 Bottles of Wine from Iberia’s Atlantic Coast (All Included and Delivered)

No need for a quote. We will let Paco de Lucía’s music speak for him. 

Introducing The Paco de Lucía, a $165 Wine-Aid package that includes six bottles of wine (four bottles red, two bottles white). From the inland mountains of Portugal to the coastal vineyards of northwestern Spain, this selection illustrates the broad range of styles from the Iberian peninsula’s Atlantic Coast. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a deep discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

One of history’s greatest guitarists, the role of the flamenco guitar evolved considerably through the playing of Paco de Lucía. He extended the former accompaniment-only tradition of flamenco guitar to include deeply personal melodic statements and modern instrumentation. José Luis Acosta, president of the Spanish Artists and Editors Society, stated that “Paco was and will be a universal artist, who took the guitar and flamenco sentiment to the heart of the whole world.”

The wines featured in The Paco de Lucía Wine-Aid package were produced with the kind of virtuosity and deep passion that Paco de Lucía put into his music. 

Included in The Paco de Lucía Wine-Aid box are two bottles of each:

1) Sonho Lusitano Vinhos “Pedra e Alma” (Alentejano 2013) Regular Price $35

“Pedra Y Alma” (Stone and Soul) is Sonho Lusitano Vinhos reserve wine produced only in the best years and from the oldest vines on the property. It is a blend of Trincadeira, Arragonez, Alicante Bouschet, and Grand Noir that is aged for two years in new French oak barriques. The 2013 vintage saw a late harvest that began in searing heat and ended in rain. It was a highly successful year for Trincadeira and the estate picked the old vine fruit just before the weather broke at the end of September. It is a tight-knit but generous and well-balanced red that will keep on giving.

 

2) Dominio del Urogallo “Pésico” (2013) Regular Price $28

Nicolás Marcos clearly likes a challenge. He left his family’s winery in Toro, did a stint with the distinguished Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage, and then settled into the northwestern region of Asturias, specifically Cangas del Narcea. Pésico is a blend of equal parts Carrasquín, Mencía, Verdejo Tinto, and Albarín Tinto, all grape varieties indigenous to the region. Nico vinifies the juice from about 18 acres spread over parcels from four different crus. Each parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeast before blending and partial aging in French oak barrels (including second year barrels from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti). This is truly a wine that speaks of the land, ripe yet fresh, bursting with blue fruits and layers of texture before a lengthy finish.

 

3) Coto de Gomariz “X” (Ribeiro 2017) Regular Price $30

One of the vanguard producers in the northwestern Spanish wine production zone of Ribeiro is the Bodega of Coto de Gomariz. Located in the Avia valley near the Atlantic coast, they enjoy a unique microclimate created by the Avia river. Shisteous, granitic and sandy soils, steep slopes, tiny yields, a unique microclimate, and the farming of the native red and white grapes of the region has allowed Coto de Gomariz to produce some of the most distinctive and expressive wines in Ribeiro. “X” is a single vineyard blend of Albariño and Treixadura named after the schist soils (xisto in Gallego) where the grapes are grown. It is wonderfully fresh, juicy, and rich. 

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$195 “The Sergio Leone” Wine-Aid Package – 12 Bottles of Spanish Wine (8 Red + 4 White, All Included and Delivered)

“I’ve always believed that true cinema is cinema of the imagination.” — Sergio Leone

Introducing The Sergio Leone, a $195 Wine-Aid package that includes 12 Bottles of Spanish Wine showcasing the quality and value of Spanish wines from the slopes of Montserrat near the Mediterranean Sea to the Val do Salnés on the Atlantic coast. The price includes tax and delivery, as well as a 20% discount. We will also honor a 10% discount on any bottles you might wish to add to the Wine-Aid package. 

While Sergio Leone is an Italian director most of his films are inextricably tied to the landscape of Spain. The Tabernas Desert in the southeastern province of Almería is probably the most famous setting, but he filmed all over the country. Indeed, the first film of the “Man With No Name Trilogy” that made both Leone and Clint Eastwood famous, and is considered the birth of the spaghetti western genre, was principally filmed in the municipality of Hoyo De Manzanares, a short drive from the vineyards of our first featured winemaker Uva de Vida.

It’s easy to imagine that those many years ago the cast and crew might have been drinking very similar wines as are featured in this Wine Aid package. And it is this idea of geography, and its connection to the history of humanity, that can make the simple act of drinking a good bottle of wine something more profound. 

Included in The Sergio Leone Wine-Aid box are four bottles of each:

1) Uva de Vida “Latitud 40” (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla 2015)  Regular Price $23

The wife-and-husband team of Carmen López and Luis Ruiz have harnessed the soul of the land to produce wines of purity, brilliance and energy. Biodiversity of plant and animal life is promoted in their 33 acres of vines planted at 1,600 feet of altitude in the clay-based soils near the tiny village of Santa Olalla just up the road from the city of Toledo. Uva de Vida employs minimal intervention techniques from start to finish. 100% Graciano and nearly opaque deep red, a glass of “Latitud 40” radiates aromas of cherry fruit leather, dark chocolate, herbs, and salty, sun-baked earth. These heady scents merge seamlessly into a mid-weight sip of blackcurrant fruit with a long and juicy finish. 

 

2) Ca N’Estruc Negre (Catalunya 2016) Regular Price $14

Francisco Martí is co-owner of perhaps the finest wine shop in Spain, Vila Viniteca, located in the El Born district of old Barcelona. Yet he has spent much of his life in the vineyards of the Ca n’Estruc estate that lies on the slopes of Montserrat at over 500 feet in elevation. The Vineyards are ideally orientated to optimize sunshine and hold some vines that are close to 80 years old. Ca N’Estruc Negre is a blend of Garnatxa, Samsó (Carinyena), and Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) grown in alluvial soils. Ripe raspberries and cherries underneath a hint of rosemary make this one of the more interesting everyday value wines that you’ll find. 

 

3) Fento “Bico da Ran” (Rías Baixas 2018) Regular Price $17

Bico da Ran is 100% Albariño made from fruit grown in the sub-zone of Val do Salnés. Considered the birthplace of the Albariño grape this is the original and oldest sub-region in Rías Baixas. With an altitude below 1,000 feet and vineyards that reach the Atlantic Ocean, this is the coolest winemaking zone in the region. Some of the best vineyards in Salnés produce the Bico da Ran fruit. The vines are 15 to 25 years old. Grapes are harvested in early morning to preserve aroma and freshness. Vinification and aging is done in stainless steel. All of this results in a wine that is aromatic with citrus and a delicate herbality. On the palate it is refreshing and crisp, with layers of crunchy orchard fruit.

 

Still from A Fistful of Dollars (1964) compared to a recent photograph in Hoyo De Manzanares