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As we enjoy these changing days of late summer and early fall, we are reminded of gatherings with good friends and family, sometimes out on the deck and other times, by the fire (who knows what weather we will have on any given day)?! But that is part of the joy of living on Cape Ann - the changing seasons. For this Saturday, we are pouring a brilliant and inexpensive Cava, two reds that flow easily from summer into fall with their soft tannins, blackberry fruit and silky texture and two all-time favorites reds from South America that will take us well into the cool nights of Autumn. Kate Haggerty is with us from Charles River Wines, a small, boutique distributor in Sturbridge, Ma. They source and feature small-production, artisanal wines, much like those I sold in Chicago, including two-beloved wines I have sold for decades, including Ricardo Santos Malbec and Peñalolen Cabernet.
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Fall Hours
(Until November)
Tuesday - Friday, 11 am - 7 pm
Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
Save the Date!
5-part Wine Series: Become at Wine Expert!
Begins Thursday, October 3rd at 6:30 pm (and continues for the next 4 Thursdays in October). I am now teaching this once a year, so sign up now if you can.
$250.00 for all 5 classes, which includes wines to taste, 100 page notebook and a food-and wine pairing dinner at the end.
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Tasting at Savour
with with Kate Haggerty of Charles River Wines
Saturday, September 14
2 ~ 5
complimentary!
($5.00 suggested donation to Pathways for Children)
Los Monteros Cava Brut Rose, $14.99
First in the lineup is a lovely, bright Cava from Valencia. It is clean, simple and crisp, with notes of slightly underipe strawberrry and dark cherry. What is unique about this Cava is that it is made from one 100% Garnacha grapes, known for a velvety texture and summer fruit taste. It is one of the best values I have seen in sparkling wine, and receives 87 points from the Wine Enthusiast.
Patricia Green Old Vine Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2016, $39.99
Now this wine is a serious contender from one of the greatest American winemakers, who unfortunately passed recently, leaving us with this glorious legacy from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. "As the Estate vines tap their roots deep into the soft sub-soil they eventually make contact with the mineralized water on the property. This brings a whole new element to bear in the flavor and texture profile of the wine. This bottling comes from the original 1984 planting of Pommard which was fermented with 33% whole clusters, a 1987 planting of Chardonnay grafted to Pommard Clone in 1998, a 1990 planting of Pinot Gris that was grafted to Pommard in 2002 and a 1997 planting of Pommard on a steep west facing slope. Given the diversity within the vineyard (we have a 360 degree aspect on our hillside vineyard) and the range of vine age (20-33 years) we were able to pick at multiple different times and had fermentations that ranged from 100% de-stemmed to 50% whole cluster. The assemblage for this particular wine is always fascinating because you can see the wine come together as the elements from each block are added in." (Winemaker notes)
This wine is one of the few truly older vine bottlings that exists from Ribbon Ridge at this juncture and it shows how the best, older vineyards here have the capacity to translate the mineral laden nature of our water and soil into the refined, focused nature of the fruit we can grow here. This AVA is a special place and as interesting, dramatic and amazing as some of our specialty bottlings from this site are this one is the mother of them all and the true definer of wine from this site. The 2015 was listed as the #39 wine in The Wine Enthusiast 2017 Top 100 wines. "These old vines were planted between 1984 and 1990. They bring the anticipated subtle aromatics and detail, with highlights of ginger, clove and cinnamon. A black cherry flavor carries a streak of cola, along with a sense of minerality to the natural acidity. Delicious now, or enjoy over the next decade."
Editors' Choice
Evidencia Doa 2016, $14.99
The Dão wine region is located in the heart of Portugal. Sometimes referred to as Portugal's Burgundy, not because of any physical similarity but because both have a similar wine style. Like red Burgundy, Dão doesn't rely on power, but instead aims at subtlety and finesse supported by natural acidity given from this terroir. This wine was produced with the noblest grape varieties of Dão region with predominance of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 24ºC. Ruby color. With vibrant wild fruits aromas and spices. The firm but round tannins complete the consistency of the wine. Evidência goes really well with roasted leg of lamb or rigatoni pasta with grilled lamb sausage and red pepper ragout.
Ricardo Santos Malbec, La Madras Vineyard 2015 - $19.99
Ricardo Santos has demonstrated a life-long commitment to the Argentine wine tradition, particularly in regards to Argentina's great varietal, Malbec. The former owner of the Norton Winery, Ricardo renounced a career in architecture to pursue his passion for winemaking with the belief that Argentina could make wines equal to the best in the world. He was the first winemaker from Argentina to export Malbec to the U.S. over thirty years ago. (Unfortunately, he passed this year and the world will miss his incredible vision and dedication to making the best wine possible from the great vineyards of Argentina).
This exceptional wine is from the single vineyard, La Madras, on the slopes of the Andes Mountains in Argentina at an altitude of 2,800 feet, allowing for a temperate Continental climate. Grapes are harvested and selected by hand, gently pressed, and only the first pressed juice used. The wine is then aged in French and American oak for six months.
The Malbec is a striking deep, brilliant purple color. The nose is ripe and full, reminiscent of dark cherries, plums, and chocolate with undertones of loam and earth. In the mouth, the wine displays a profound core of ripe, blackberry jam fruit, lengthening into a sophisticated weighty finish coupled with an elegant silkiness. This is a rich and complex Malbec with an outstanding elegance and good structure. It is often referred to as "a Malbec for grown-ups."
Peñalolen Cabernet 2016, $19.99
Hailing from the very famous Quebrada de Macul vineyard in the Maipo Vally of Chile (the same vineyard from which Chile's most pretigious wine, Domus Aurea is sourced), this wine is dense with blackberry and cassis, followed by eucalytus and mint, typical of Chile's spicy, herbaceous cabernets. "From the younger vines at Vina Quebrada de macul, the eucalyptus influence doesn't diminish the wine's gentle texture and pretty black-currant flavor. Rather it helps capture the cool mountain feel of the Andes." 91 pts. Wine and Spirits. This has been my favorite $20.00 cab for more than a decade. It is stunning with short ribs or steak on the grill with roasted peppers. It is not heavy, but remarkably stands up to any full-flavored meat, including lamb, and my favorite, buffalo burgers!
Saturday, September 14
open from 10 am - 7 pm
(Special Tasting from 2 - 5 pm)
Our new wine selection from our new $14.99 section - exceptional quality at a great price!
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