Recent Arrivals Roundup!

We have had a number of great recent arrivals, either wines are ideal as the weather warms or new releases from great recent vintages. Here are a few new arrivals that we’d highly recommend:

• Forge Cellars Lower Caywood Vineyards Dry Riesling 2016: These are small, artisanal producers that focus on bone dry Riesling and cool climate Pinot Noir from the Finger Lakes of New York. They are like minded friends, with deep wine roots – French Winemaker-Grower, Louis Barruol of Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas and Finger Lakes partners Richard Rainey, and Justin Boyette. Their wines are made to reflect place and decisions in the cellar are made to guard that reflection. They spontaneously ferment and ferment in tiny lots to ensure to expression of each vineyard every vintage. This single vineyard bottling comes from 40+ year old vines that are part of the original Charles Fournier plantings on the East Side of Seneca Lake in Lodi, NY. The grapes were hand-harvested (October 11th), sorted, and whole cluster pressed. The slow and gentle fermentation went into June 2017 in order to get down to 0.3% residual sugar. The 2016 vintage was a dry year in the Finger Lakes (lowest rainfall during growing season since 1973) and so there was no botrytis, the flavors remain fresh, and there is vibrant acidity. Expect bright candied lemon, apple skins, and hint of savory rosemary from this bottle. (Production: 146 cases)
• Domaine Hirsch Chénas 2015: Originally from Alsace two young oenologues, Celine and Nicolas Hirsch, have put down roots in Beaujolais. Since 2011 they have been cultivating 8 acres of Beaujolais (Juliénas, Chénas and Moulin à Vent). The vines are nurtured using the demanding qualitative practices of ‘viticulture raisonnée’ or ‘sustainable viticulture’. In the cellar the wines are hand-crafted in the traditional way, respecting the expression of ‘terroir’. Their work has been rewarded with awards (Concours International du Gamay), as well as being hailed by the press and French gastronomy guides. Their vineyard in Chénas is in a place called The Brureaux and is planted with vines that are from 40-90 years old. Chénas is the smallest of the ten Beaujolais Cru and this wine reflects the special nature of the place. This is a beautiful wine that is ready to drink now but will also age for the next several years. Don’t sleep on the rarest of Beaujolais Cru!
• Albino Rocca Barbaresco “Montersino” 2015: Much like in Burgundy, the location that Nebbiolo is grown makes a huge difference and since 2007, Barbaresco’s different crus have been officially recognized (officially they are known as the Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive or MeGA). The Montersino cru is located in the hills of San Rocco Seno d’Elvio, a hamlet of Alba that is close to Treiso, and has full southern exposure with a higher altitude than Barbaresco. This is only the fourth vintage of the wine and they chose to make this single vineyard cru bottling to highlight the impact that terrior have on the expression of Nebbiolo. Production is only 1 large barrel (or about 2700 bottles) per year and is a beautiful, elegant  wine with a floral and cherry nose that dances across your palate. (Arrives Thursday.)

This Week’s Schedule:

• Beer Thursday, 5-7p: New Arrivals Beer Tasting
• Wine Friday, 5-7p: California Classics
• Saturday Sips, 2-6p: Staff Pick Tasting