SPRING WINE PICKS FROM THE WINE COUNTRY'S STAFF
Springtime means new wines have hit our shelves. Fresh releases of old favorites along with some new additions to our shelves. Here are our staff picks for your spring time wine refresh. We chose not to include Rosé in this post, look for another post from Samantha later this month. Here we can find exuberant lively white wines and some porch pounding chillable reds for your sipping pleasure.
Castell de Sant Pau N.V. Cava Brut Nature, Spain $8.99
Well, hello beautiful wine for way less money than should be charged. Green apple, graham crackers and nuts with tiny bubbles and a crisp, clean finish. What's not to love?
Moulin de Gassac 2021 Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France $13.99
One of our quickly growing areas of interest are the wines from Pinet, made from Picpoul. Southern French whites are so easy to love for their crisp flavors and light body, tends to go perfectly with the foods we eat here in Southern California. Green, bright and vibrant.
Jardin d'Edouard La Roche aux Loups 2017 Muscadet Sevre -et- Maine, France $17.99
Such a sexy and lush texture for Muscadet! Loads of mineral, lots of citrus and with a wicked cool mouthfeel. Brilliant weight and this wine shows that Muscadet can, and does age delightfully. Think seafood.
Fasoli Gino 2020 Bardolino "La Corte del Pozzo", Veneto, Italy $15.99
This is a lighter, more delicate style Bardolino with beautiful red cherry fruit. Almost drinks like a more savory rose. A nice light red as we transition into warmer summer nights and lighter fare.
La Ginestraia 2018 Rossese Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria Italy $25.99
Rossese, known as Tibouren in Provence, is a light, dry red wine from Liguria italy. Think roasted strawberries with a dry, slightly peppery finish. A nice, chillable style red to pair with grilled fish or hearty salad.
Leo Steen Casa Verde 2020 Red Table Wine, Redwood Valley, Sonoma County $21.99
Aromas of strawberry and red cherry followed by dried herbs, hints of red perilla leaf & pepper. The pallet is medium body loaded with red fruit, earthy notes, and personality. The firm, but soft tannins and lively acidity makes for a nicely balanced finish
Penville 2021 Grenache-Mencia, Santa Barbara $31.99
This carbonic blend is full of lively soft fruit notes with super easy with hints of earthy notes from the stems included in the ferment. This wine has so many layers of each sip was a new experience but still finds balance in the acidity and tannin grip.
Joyce 2021 Albarino, Mission Ranch, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County $22.99
Wild Jasmine, stone fruit, wet stones, sea breeze, wild mint Fresh white peach, meyer lemon, green apple, salt infused rock. The brisk and steely Spanish style Albariño is vividly fresh with heighten aromatics and racy acidity. Crisp and refreshing with tart green apple, white peach and zesty citrus fruits, along with wet stones, apricot pit and a mouth watering saline making for a great summer sipper.
Hedges Family Wines "CMS" 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley $12.99
This unique combination of grapes always produces a wine with a pleasant aromatic character and the 2020 is no exception. It has aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest, baked apples, cinnamon and a touch of creamy lemon custard. Poached pear, cinnamon and a touch of fresh herbaceousness with zesty lemon provide a very flavorful and bright palate.
Jules Taylor 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $20.99
It embraces concentrated tropical fruit flavors of passion fruit, pineapple, and notes of citrus complimented with fresh lemongrass. Juicy and dry with a nice acidity makes for the perfect spring/ summertime treat.
A. A. Badenhorst 2020 "The Curator" White Blend, South Africa $10.99
Chenin Blanc makes up the largest portion of this blend and is backbone of the wine. the Chardonnay gives this wine great texture and aromas of dried peaches, apricots and ripe citrus. The Semillon & Viognier give off some spice and and give the wine a long lengthy finish
2021 Fernweh Wine Co. Fursich Viognier, Santa Barbara County. $25.99
What I really enjoy about this wine is the salinity that is present throughout. I also really like Sebastian, the owner of Fernweh Wine Co., he also brings in wines from around the world but also makes some tasty stuff! His Viognier has vibrant orange zest and fresh white peach notes. Bright tangerine rind characteristics keep the wine refreshing til the end.
2017 Weingut Rebenhof Weissburgunder Trocken, Styria, Austria. $25.99
For as much rich fruit as this wine has up front it has a lean finish. Gold and delicious apples pair with yellow pear to coat the palate and creates a rounded mouthfeel. Pineapple fruit comes in and brings richness but also bright acidity that cuts through all the fruit characteristics and leads to a dry finish.
2019 Cuvelier Los Andes Cuvee Nature Blend, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina. $22.99
A blend of 55% Malbec and 45% carbonic Merlot this is a super easy drinking chillable red wine from Argentina. Boysenberries and plums up front create a luscious profile. Hints of white pepper bring some tannic structure to the wine while light notes of tart raspberries brings some acidity that allows it to stay light on the palate.
Sanctum Sticks & Bugs Piquette, Stajerska, Slovenia. $16.99
Usually with Piquettes you get a light wine that has a little fruit but tends to lack length or body. this combination of Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir helps provide both to this Piquette from Slovenia. Dark cherries and blueberries coat the palate nicely with some richness. Salted plums on the finish add depth but also brings a nice pop to the wine.