Staff Picks - What to Drink This Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2022 Tessier Femme Fatale Rose - $27.99
Kristie Tacey, winemaker and founder of Tessier Winery, is a scientist-turned-winemaker. A former published research scientist who studied protein pathways, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from her native Michigan to pursue a career in biotechnology, and eventually came to realize that winemaking was her true calling. Her rose is sustainably farmed and a tribute to The Velvet Underground and all the Femme Fatales. A blend of Arroyo Seco Grenache Noir and Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. Pale pink color with aromas of raspberry cotton candy, watermelon rind, and white lily. I paired this with a good pal, a blanket spread out in a park and some cheese and fruit. Bring on the picnic wines made by super smart gals!
-Angie
Jean Bourdy Crémant Du Jura Brut - $27.99
The Man, The Myth, The Mustache — Jean Bourdy, 15th generation of Domaine Bourdy.
Created in the late 1400's, this winery is one of the most historic in the Jura region. This biodynamic Crémant is comprised of handpicked Chardonnay grapes grown in red clay and gravel. It spontaneously ferments from native yeasts in a minimal-intervention fashion, is aged in very old barrels (some 80+ years old), and is then bottled with extraordinarily-low sulfites (2-3mg/L). The results are a rich, full bodied Crémant with a ferocious bubble and notes of lemon & fresh baked bread. A true powerhouse sparkling wine and a consumable piece of French history.
-Kat
2019 Lungarotti, Rubesco di Torgiano, Umbria - $24.99
The word Rubesco comes from the Latin word, Rubescere, which means "to blush" and has a joyous connotation. The Rubesco label from Lungarotti is the family's approachable "joyous" everyday red wine first released in the early 1960s by the late Giorgio Lungarotti after he converted his long-standing family farm into a full winery in the late 1950s. He was really responsible for the birth of modern winemaking in Umbria and the area of Togiano, where his family's vineyard is located, received the first DOC status for Umbria, in 1968. With wine-making now in the capable hands of his daughters Chiara and Teresa, their 2019 Rubesco release consists of 90% Sangiovese grapes with the balance being Colorino for depth of color and tannic structure. Their estate vines are grown in sandy clay soils over a foundation of limestone. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks, followed with 12 months of aging in oak casks and 12 more in the bottle before release. Aromas of pepper, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco move to a palate full of juicy, red fruit with fresh acidity. A silky mouth-feel leads to a long, light mineral finish. This will pair nicely with grilled ribs slathered in a spicy BBQ sauce.
-Patrick
2020 Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Vermentino $44.99
Anne Gros and partner Jean-Paul Tollot are superstar Burgundian vignerons who each manage exceptional estates in Vosne-Romanee and Chorey-les-Beaune respectively. They wanted to make wine together and decided to bring their Burgundian touch to the high altitude region of Minervois in the Languedoc in Southern France. The La Vermentino shows pretty aromas of apple and savory herbs. The palate is truly a textural experience showing notes of apple and peach with minerality and richness. Try this suburb white wine with herb and lemon roasted chicken or your favorite salmon recipe.
-Rob
2021 Wiley Wines Mourvedre, California - $33.99
Just a few vintages in and Phineas Fitapauldi is nailing the balance on his varietal wines. This 2021 Mourvedre manages to tone down the varietals common high extraction and alcohol without losing any complexity. The nose is redolent of dark fruit, pepper and wild herbs. The body remains plush without heaviness. Typical flavors of blackberry, leather and smoked meat linger on an atypical and distinctly fresh and lively finish. Just exactly what you want, even if you don’t know it.
-Dave
