March 9, 2023
Approaching Spring, Sip-By-Sip!
Somehow, we're already "Spring-ing forward" with daylight saving time. Amidst the recent snow fall, we're simultaneously starting to see the new 2022 vintages of rosé arrive! With only a few weeks left of Winter to endure, we pivot our gaze to the blossoming season ahead. This week we explore some fabulously floral beverages, along with Irish libations to explore in honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day.
More 2022 rose arriving weekly with lots more into the shop tomorrow!
Lungarotti Tasting Event
Friday, March 10, 6:30 p.m.
Wines of Umbria: Tradition and Innovation in an Ancient Wineland.

You are invited to join us and Francesco Zaganelli, third generation in the Lungarotti wine making family for an exploration of Umbrian grapes and wine styles through their two world class wineries in Montefalco and Torgiano.
The Lungarotti family has been instrumental in reviving the spirit of Umbrian wine through their dedication to family, environment and history expressed through finely crafted wine.
Only a few seats left!!
$30 ticket includes $20 credit towards Lungarotti wines!
Aromatic White Wines
Aromatic white wines are defined by their dominant floral aromas. As we wait for April showers to bring May flowers, we resort to floral white wines to fill the void. Aromatic varieties include Albariño, Gewürztraminer, Moscato, and Torrontés. "Smell the roses" by sniffing Gewürztraminer — or Torrontés, a bouquet of geranium and rose petal. Get your honeysuckle aromatherapy with Albariño, or with Moscato that will also provide notes of orange blossom. Ideal food pairings for floral wines tend to be lighter fair such as chicken or seafood, but you can also find transcending pairings with the similarly aromatic cuisines of Southeast Asia and India.
Aromatic Spirits
Floral Liqueurs and Spirits are a perfect way to liven up your at-home-bar. We love playing with floral gins in classic cocktails such as Gimlets and Sours. Floral liqueurs make a great addition to cocktails such as a Martini, Daiquiri, or Spritz! Lillet Blanc and St. Germain also make delicious aperitifs and can be served neat, on ice, or simply with tonic.
Spirit Spotlight : Spot Irish Whiskey
Spot Irish Whiskey is produced by Mitchell & Sons, one of the few bonded whiskey makers left in Dublin. Mitchel & Sons have been distributing wine, Sherry and Port since 1805. In 1887, they entered the whiskey bonding business sourcing their single pot still Irish whiskey and aging it in their ex-Sherry cask. Each of the casks were marked with a spot of paint to signify how long the whiskey was to be aged. That's where the name came from believe it or not! Blue Spot is aged 7 years, Green Spot 7 to 10 years, Yellow Spot 12 years and Red Spot 15 years.


Spot Whiskeys at North Loop Wine & Spirits
Green Spot is a 100% single pot still whiskey. It is made from malted and un-malted barley that is fermented and distilled 3 times in the pot still then aged in ex-Bourbon casks and Sherry casks for 7-10 years. It has a fresh aromatic nose with a full body and toasted oak flavor.  
Yellow Spot (Green Spot's older sibling) is aged 12 years and uses ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Malaga casks. It has a peppery nose with a coffee and caramel taste and a lingering sweet finish. 
Green Spot Léoville Barton is special edition whiskey aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry and ex-Bourbon barrels, then is finished in ex-Bordeaux wine casks for 12 to 24 months. This adds a nice complexity to the Green Spot with nice spice, vanilla and French Oak notes.
If you are a fan of Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys such as Redbreast you should give Spot whiskeys a try. You won't be disappointed.
-Nikola
Cocktail Of The Week: The Irish Kick
Get in the spirit with this easy & delicious Irish cocktail!
INGREDIENTS
1 oz Blended Scotch whisky
1 oz Irish Whiskey
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Orgeat

INSTRUCTIONS: Shake all of the ingredients in a shaker, with ice. Strain the chilled mixture into a chilled glass, then garnish with a lemon twist.
-New Wines This Week-
2022 Fableist "Estate" Rose
2022 Teutonic Seafoam White Pinot Noir
2022 Teutonic Riesling Willamette Valley
2022 Teutonic Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
2022 Jolie Laide Pinot Gris
2022 Jolie Laide Rose
2022 Jolie Laide Glou d'Etat
2022 Birichino Vin Gris
2022 Ostatu Rosato
2022 Kind Stranger Rose


Tiamo Prosecco
2018 Lungarotti Montefalco Rosso
2018 Lungarotti Montefalco Sagrantino
2019 Lungarotti Rubesco
2021 Lungarotti Vermentino 
2021 Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico
2021 Domaine de la Chanteleuserie Bourgueil
2020 Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvée Terroir
2022 Triennes Rose  


Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 03/10/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Jack of Winebow for a FREE wine tastings this Friday!
Get 10% off any of the wines you taste.
Staff Picks - What to Drink This Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!

2018 Evolucio Blaufränkisch, Weinland, Austria - $15.99
If you enjoy drinking Gamay, from Beaujolais, but would like to broaden your palate, I would recommend trying a Blaufränkisch from Austria. With more depth and funkiness (in a great way) and a very approachable price of $15.99 per bottle, this expression from Evolucio is a great choice for exploring the pleasures of this native Austrian varietal. This is 100% blaufränkisch, from vines on average 20 years old, grown in gravelly and loamy soils in the Burgenland region of Austria at the border with Hungary. Evolucion practices Biodynamic viniculture. The wine is fresh, with notes of blueberry, spice, and raspberry jam on the nose. The flavors on the palate speak of earth, ripe cherry, and tangy red currant. The pleasing finish is very silky and velvety with just the right lingering spice. Try this wine with tangy BBQ spare ribs. Yum!
-Patrick
2020 Famille Laudet La Teuf Gros Manseng Cote de Gascogne - $19.99
La Teuf is a French slang term for "party" and this lovely white from the Southwest corner of France is a party in a bottle. Cote de Gascogne can be known for cheap and cheerful whites made from the Gros Manseng grape and La Teuf definitely falls into that category, but the difference here is that it comes from a small, 8th generation run winery that farms biodynamically, a one of a kind winery nestled in the heart of the French South West, in between Landes and Gers. Fresh and lively with notes of citrus, peach and kiwi, this party in a glass doesn't need food but would pair beautifully with spicy Indian cuisine, smoked chicken or roasted mussels.
-Angie
Ak Zanj Haitian Rum - $29.99
As much as I love Saint Patrick's Day, I thought I would do a review on something a bit different to switch things up. A dark rum from Haiti, "Ak Zanj" means "with angels", referring to the portion of the rum that evaporates during production. The stuff that's left and gets bottled, though, is awesome. A distinctive molasses taste that carries (in my uneducated opinion) an undertone of petrol, the combination of flavors is delightful as a sipper or a mixer. This rum works great in a Dark and Stormy, and would likely make an awesome dark rum mojito. Give it a shot before the cold weather is gone!
-Nick S
2021 Grosjean Gamay - $31.99
Attention Gamay Geeks: If you want a departure from Beaujolais, then give this bottle a try. The wine starts out with a hint of smokiness quite reminiscent of Burgundian reds. It also has a fair amount of tannin, providing structure and the ability to hold its own against heavier dishes. Due to these factors we were actually surprised to find out that the wine is aged in stainless steel. You may want to decant this if you plan to drink the entire bottle with a single meal. If there is a bit left over, you will be delighted to find that it becomes much more supple. The smoky note fades and the fruit has a cooked quality that provides a lovely after dinner treat. This dark horse, value driven Gamay hails from the alpine region Valle d'Aosta in Northern Italy. Aosta Valley (Valle d'Aosta) is Italy's smallest and least populous region, just one-eighth the size of neighboring Piedmont. It covers a mountainous corner of Italy's far northwest, where the nation's borders meet those of France and Switzerland. The Valle d'Aoste is marked by high elevation vineyards along high mountain passes. After harvest, the grapes are pressed and macerated on the skins for days before fermentation and aging in steel tanks. The fruit is elegant, red in nature and finely aromatic. Gamay grown at this altitude tends to be more rustic and spice-driven than in Beaujolais. A refreshing mountain Gamay. The Grosjean family is one of the few to estate bottle their own wine in the Valley. The tiny Alpine region of Vallée d’Aoste- which is basically the Italian side of Mont Blanc- offers the winning combination of both popular and obscure grape varieties, coupled with a tender, precise purity that only Alpine wines possess. Grosjean’s superlative Gamay rivals more than a few Cru Beaujolais up to twice the price, and we count it among the greatest values we offer! High-density plantings, native yeast fermentation, certified biodynamic.
-Rob
2021 Union Sacre ‘Oasis Vineyard’ Pinot Gris - $27.99
Made in the now popular ‘dragone ramato’ style, this wine displays a rose’ like red hue. However, the 20 hours of skin contact does not yield as much spice as you might expect. Instead, the slightly reductive/ flinty nose eventually gives way to typical green apple and pear aromas framed by lifted grapefruit and lemon citrus. The body of the wine shows a bit more ripeness with some plushness leading the way with its weighty texture and hints of sweet orchard fruit before collapsing back into a dense and lingering saline and lemon dominated finish. Like most quality wines of this type, it veers close to the edges of style and comes out whole and better for the adventure.
-Dave
6oz Pour
Wine Education Classes
World of Wine Series
WOW - Spain In 7 Glasses
Saturday, March 11,
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., $60
Spanish wine, perhaps more than any other country, offers the perfect blend of variety, affordability, and deliciousness. The story of Spanish wine is just as multifaceted. It's a story shaped by incredible plot twists and surprises. In this tasting, we'll work our way through Spain's history, touching on some of its major themes like the Reconquista, Franco, and Transatlantic trade all while sipping through some seriously incredible wine.
Reserve your seats on Tock
VERY IMPORTANT - Furry Friend Visits!
Cheers Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits