Tastings this Week!

Tuesday Double Tasting!

Today's Tasting #1: Tenuta Monteti Wines from Italy 5 to 7pm At the Bar Tenuta Monteti is located in Tuscany in the southern part of the Tuscan Maremma, in the surroundings of the small town of Capalbio, on the hills, just behind the hill named Monteti. Javier Pedrazzini, a family member, will be the representative attending and pouring two fantastic selections. 2009 Monteti Caburnio Maremma IGT, Tuscany  On Sale $15.99 "(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Aliconte Bouschet, 10% Merlot) This has been one of our fastest moving Super Tuscans whenever we have it, which isn't often as it sells out fast. While there is no press on this yet, past vintages have received 90 to 92 points from The Wine Advocate." Merch Staff 2007 Monteti Monteti Maremma IGT, Tuscany  On Sale $27.99 (55% Petite Verdot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) "A dense, fruity red, bursting with blackberry, violet, vanilla and toasty spice notes. Very modern, with the focus on fruit more thanterroir. Bright and long, only the earthy finish and tannins give this away as Tuscan. Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2020. 2,833 cases made." 92 Points, The Wine Spectator

Today's Tasting #2: Australian Wines with Ryan Davis of Vine Street Imports 5 to 7pm At the Bar This tasting will feature some rich, fruity wines from Australian producer Zonte's Footstep and one selection from Shinas Estate. Ryan Davis of Vine Street Imports will be here to answer questions and talk about Australian winemaking. 2011 Zonte's Footstep "Sea Mist" Langhorne Creek Verdelho  On Sale $17.99 "Green-tinged straw. Fresh lemon and pear aromas are complemented by notes of anise and honeysuckle. Fleshy and smooth in texture, offering broad orchard fruit flavors with a touch of warmth. Finishes on a refreshingly bitter note, with good energy and grip." 88 Points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 2010 Zonte's Footstep "Violet Beauregard" Clare Valley Malbec  On Sale $17.99 "Inky purple. Potent aromas of cherry pit and cassis, with licorice and smoke accents building with air. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering intense dark fruit flavors and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes with good power and length, leaving a spicy note behind." 88 Points, International Wine Cellar 2010 Zonte's Footstep "Lake Doctor" Langhorne Creek Shiraz  On Sale $17.99 "Full ruby. Exotically perfumed bouquet evokes blueberry and boysenberry, dried violet and cracked pepper. Lush, seamless and gently sweet, offering weighty dark berry flavors and supple texture. The blueberry note repeats on the velvety, very persistent finish." 90 Points, International Wine Cellar 2009 Shinas Estate "The Guilty" Victoria Shiraz  On Sale $17.99 "Ripe shiny blackberry red. Voluptuous cherry, vanilla and peppery spice aromas and full-bodied flavours packed with smoky vanillin oak, cherry and strawberry fruits, chocolate and mocha all wrapped up in a big, rich, velvety smooth package. A juicy wine with fine tannins, the pepper detected on the nose kicks in again to make a welcome reappearance on the powerful finish. Made from low yielding old vines dating back to 1898 and aged in older French oak, the fruit is sourced from Mildura on the north west Victorian border." Tasting Notes

Thursday Tasting: Wines from Importer Kysela Pere et Fils 5 to 7pm At the Bar Thursday's tasting will feature a collection from Importer Fran Kysela. Chateau Gaudrelle's winemaker Alexandre Monmousseau and Hugues Beaulieu, Sales manager for Kysela Pere et Fils will join us for this event. Don't miss the opportunity to taste with a winemaker! Loire Valley Whites from Chateau Gaudrelle 2011 Chateau Gaudrelle Clos Le Vigneau Vouvray On Sale $17.99 "The 2011 Clos Le Vigneau, from a more challenging vintage, is just as good. Aromatics of spring flowers, poached pears, honeyed melon and some buttered citrus jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, very pure, fresh and nicely concentrated wine, which is the epitome of a dry Chenin Blanc meant to go with a cornucopia of cuisines." 91 Points, Robert Parker NV Chateau Gaudrelle Cremat de Loire Brut On Sale $20.99 "The two sparkling wines should not be missed. They're both terrific examples of how good sparkling Vouvray can be. Both are 100% Chenin Blanc cuvees. Even better is the slightly richer, more honey and lemon-scented and flavored non-vintage Cremant de Loire. A blend of equal parts Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay aged for a minimum of 18 to 24 months in their cellars before disgorgement, this is a real beauty and a superb wine. Unfortunately, just under 100 cases are imported to the United States." 92 Points, Robert Parker NV Chateau Gaudrelle "Le Petit Chenin" On Sale $11.99 "100% Chenin Blanc. Aged in stainless steel tanks with temperature controlled fermentation." Winery Notes Red Wines 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Villages "Les Champauvins"  On Sale $17.99 "The single-vineyard Cotes du Rhone, the 2010 Les Champauvins, is a smaller cuvee made largely from Grenache (70%) and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre. This is the poor person's Chateauneuf du Pape, with notes of garrigue, lavender, black cherry jam, licorice, and a hint of blacker fruits. Rich, full-bodied, ripe, with sweet tannin and lots of concentration, this is a beauty to drink over the next 8-10 years - it is that rich and concentrated." 92 Points, Robert Parker 2009 Chateau Bellevue Cotes de Castillon "Cuvee Vielles Vignes"  On Sale $17.99 "Mint and tannins feature in the initial flavor, then it opens out to show delicious blackberry juice fruit. The tannins are dry but integrate with acidity to give more serious aspect to this balanced wine." 89 Points, The Wine Enthusiast 2009 Maurice Ecard "Les Serpentieres" 1er Cru Savigny-Les-Beaune  On Sale $32.99 "A lush, vibrant red, with sweet vanilla shading rich cherry and plum flavors. There's a touch of earth and tannins that provide grip on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2020. 600 cases made." 89 Points, The Wine Spectator 2009 Aticus Crianza Rioja  On Sale $15.99 "(100% tempranillo, raised in American oak): Saturated ruby. Aromas and flavors of dark cherry, blackcurrant and vanilla, with a hint of peppery spices lending vivacity. Sappy and expansive, with strong finishing cut, gentle tannins and lingering spiciness. This wine has the depth to age." 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar