Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2022 Chateau de Chaintres Les Hirondelles Saumur Rose - $31.99
Château de Chaintres, in the heart of the lovely appellation of Saumur-Champigny, is perched high above the Loire River just to the west of Chinon. The Château itself is stunning: a mid-17th-century mansion that combines charm and majesty that is so typical for this part of the Loire. This 100% Cabernet Franc rose is organically and biodynamically farmed, hand harvested and pressed directly, fermented spontaneously, and vinified in steel with a bare minimum of sulfur. It’s a tangy, vivacious, wine that really speaks of place. Bright, crunchy red fruits in the glass, this one is a thinker. Pairs beautifully with fish and veggie dishes!
-Angie
2022 llahe, Viognier, Willamette Valley - $24.99
Small and family owned in Willamette Valley since 1983, Illahe (a Chinook word meaning "Earth") farms their vineyards organically and hand crafts their wines in tune with a slower and more gentle pace. They even have a pair of draft horses working the estate instead of machinery. Their 2022 Viognier is not a "classic" expression of the French Northern Rhone Viognier white wine grape centuries famous in Condrieu or Chateau Grillet, with its lower acidity and dense perfumed concentration. Rather, with the cool climate of their estate vineyards in Willamette Valley this Viognier is much more vibrant with lifted acidity brightening things up beautifully while still offering varietally correct perfumed floral notes and rich fruit. Aromas of lilac, jasmine, nectarine, and honeydew lead to a clean and crisp palate of tropical fruit with refreshing acidity. The wordsmith writing on Illahe's website calls this Viognier "Spring in a bottle" and is ideally paired with "Sunshine and picnics"!
-Patrick
2018 Kir-Yianni Ramnista Xinomavro - $35.99
Kir-Yianni is a great wine estate, located in Northwestern Greece that was started by Yiannis Boutaris of the Boutari wine dynasty in 1997 as an effort to produce more terroir driven and technologically advanced wines. Xinomavro is one of Greece's most noble varieties and this wine is a flagship representation for the varietal as well as the estate. Xinomavro is akin to Nebbiolo in that it shows similar characteristics of fruit, higher acidity, and tannin. The Ramnista is a single vineyard selection and this vintage shows a little more ripeness making it a pleasurable foray into the grape for the consumer. The nose shows pretty aromas of savory herbs, vanilla, and plum. The palate shows baked cherry notes with vanilla and well integrated tannin and acid. Try this world class wine with grilled herb-crusted lamb chops or Moussaka.
-Rob
2021 Zillamina Organic Spanish Red Wine (Monastrell), Alicante - $16.99
Just in time for Summer! This co-op from the blisteringly hot and dry south of Spain has existed since the 1930’s and has been increasing its organic acreage since 1997. This bright and juicy version of Monastrell is NOT made in a carbonic or whole cluster style instead they rely on climate and old vines to reach this refreshingly light style that retains Monastrells signature dark fruit and integrated spice. Best with a chill, try pairing with mixed grill. Voted most likely to become a patio staple.
-Dave
Bell's Oberon Variety Pack - $22.99
"You can't review the same beer twice," they said. "There's good beer besides Oberon," they said. Well, if you take my favorite beer and make it a variety pack, you can't expect me not to review it. Now Oberon comes in the exquisite original as well as citrus, cherry, and mango-habanero variants. I was initially a bit skeptical to try the flavored varieties, thinking they would each just be an over-flavored mess. However, each kind has a wonderful accent of its respective flavor without being overpowering, with the core flavors of Oberon still dominating. Whether you've tried the original Oberon or not, this variety pack is an awesome summer pick for activities indoors and out.
-Nick N
