Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2021 Division Wine Tulips $38.99
A chillable red in a pretty bottle from a winery we love? Sign me up! Tulips is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay from the Johan Vineyard in the Van Duzer Corridor in the Willamette Valley. Co-fermented and utilizing Carbonic Maceration (like they do in Beaujolais) from biodynamically farmed fruit results in a perfect, late summer sipper that is reminiscent of strawberry jam, floral notes and a touch of flinty minerals. Only a few cases made their way to Minnesota and we were lucky to grab one. Pair with roasted chicken, grilled sausage and backyard hangs.
-Angie
2020 Jean Perrier & Fils ‘Cuvée Gastronomie’ Mondeuse Vieilles Vigne, Savoie - $21.99
This sommelier favorite grape is largely unknown outside of it’s home in the French alps but is surprisingly user friendly when made well. Mondeuse is naturally a bit rustic and high in tannin and acidity, which can require a bit of taming in the winery. Good examples combine the lift and fruit of Gamay with the spice and dark fruit of Syrah. The Jean Perrier Mondeuse is light and mineral upon opening with distinct floral and wild berry aromas. With some decanting, the old vine fruit plumps up revealing a silky, seamless mid palate. As some of the savory notes recede, the bright acidity and slightly coarse tannin remain in the background lending complexity. This wine is at once intriguing and refreshing.
-Dave
2022 Salwey, Pinot Noir Rosé, Baden - $29.99
From Germany' most sun-drenched and southernmost region, near to Switzerland and across the Rhein from France's Alsace, the Salwey family started focusing strictly on quality wine production in the 1980s under Wolf-Dietrich Salwey. He was then instrumental in establishing the high level viticulture classification of VDP Baden.
A particular passion of his was for Pinot Noir and his son, Konrad, continues that tradition. The grapes are grown in volcanic and loess soils, hand harvested, and fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts and see no fining or filtering. This Rosé from Pinot Noir displays light brief skin-contact color. It is fresh, dry, with easy tannins and lifted acidity. Aromas of minerality and earth lead to light and dry notes of strawberry and raspberry with a hint of spice.
A perfect wine for a summer BBQ.
-Patrick
2022 Echeverria 'No es Pituko' Orange Wine - $18.99
Echeverria's 'No es Pitiko' line, which translates to 'it ain't fancy', is a delicious series of natural wines from Chile that are offered at a price that is hard to beat for the category. The staff was just introduced to the fresh and vibrant orange wine and it is an instant contender for the best sub $20 orange wine in the shop. This wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc and retains the varietal's characteristics even after 60 days of skin contact. The nose shows notes of orange peel and hazelnut and the medium bodied palate delivers rich tangerine citrus fruit and tropical fruit notes. This would be a great bottle if you wanted to give orange wines a try for the first time, especially if you are a Sauvignon Blanc fan. Orange wine is extremely versatile with food. Try this wine with some state fair classics like deep fried cheese curds or pork on-a-stick.
-Rob
Deschutes Haze Tron; 6-pack cans - $11.99
I would classify this 6-pack as a "hidden gem" of our beer cooler. For how many times I had stocked it or looked at it, I had never even thought about buying it to try. Was that ever a mistake! The bitterness of hops and flavors of tropical fruit are both prominent, satisfying hop-heads and haze-heads alike. Along with an imperial-grade ABV of 8%, this beer is efficient at delivering both flavor and alcohol. If you're a big IPA person who's looking for a big beer for your day, this is it.
-Nick N
