Château L’Oiseliniere Muscadet 2010 – 12.97 – organic. Fresh and slightly sparking, with floral and fruity aromas reminiscent of apricot and hawthorn. After maturation, intense notes of fresh melon develop. Fresh and pleasant in the mouth, with an enviably long finish. Can be kept for several years. Wines are fermented in concrete, temperature-controlled vats using native yeasts and then aged for the winter on their lees. This maturation method is specific to the Muscadet region and produces purer, more aromatic and complex wines. The wine for oysters.

Trimbach Pinot Blanc 2009 – 15.97 – (Pinot Blanc and Pinot Auxerrois) Rich and concentrated aromas, with white flower and apricot notes. Smooth, medium-bodied with good fruit acidity. The two grapes are fermented separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete vats and do not undergo the secondary malolactic fermentation. The wines are released after two years of cellar aging, when they have a perfect balanced of fruit and acidity. Ready for the summer heat.

Cote Mas Estate Cremant Brut Rose NV – 15.57 – Down from 18.57 – Bright strawberry fruit, cool as well. ! year lees contact. Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir. Dropped the cost – (we pass the savings to you – both of the sparkling wines would have been over $20) – all estate fruit. Juicy, rhubarb, nice length on the finish. Strawberry dominates with nice tangy acids. Favorite of the lineup when I tasted through all of the featured Paul Mas stuff again recently. Good juice, here to stay for a bit. Tasty goodness, brought back into the fold for summer partying.

Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly 2009 – 17.97 – organic. Château de la Chaize is located in the Brouilly appellation, the largest of the Beaujolais Crus and where the predominant grape planted is Gamay. The granitic ochre sand of the Brouilly hills allows perfect drainage. At La Chaize, 50% of the vineyard is older than 50 years, some plants even reaching 75-years old. Aromas of fresh strawberries and raspberries. The palate has silky red fruits balanced by lively acidity. The great 2009 vintage.

Bouchard Père et Fils Bourgogne Blanc 2011 – 18.57 –  Nose of white tree fruit – peach, pear. In the mouth, it expresses its fruity flavors of a creamy texture, with a twist of the nerve that outperforms. Two hundred seventy-five years of history. Bouchard Pere et Fils is truly an institution in Beaune. The Maison was founded by father and son Michel and Joseph Bouchard in 1731, and the family wine merchant business has grown steadily ever since, taking any opportunity to add to its vineyard holdings along the way. Aromatic bouquet. Round – though not heavy – and silky, with charming fruitiness.

Bouchard Père et Fils Bourgogne Rouge 2011 – 18.57 – In 1995, the Champagne family of Joseph Henriot took control of Bouchard, resulting in improvements in quality, not to mention the addition of more top level vineyard sites. Aromas of spices, smoke, and cherry. Garnet with purple hints; very expressive nose of red and black fruits; aromatic and fruity mouth with round tannins. Drink young to enjoy freshness.

Villa Ponciago Fleurie Gamay 2010 – 18.97 – Vivid red. High pitched red berry and floral scents are complicated by notes of fresh rose and lavender, with a touch of licorice coming up with air. Taut and focused, offering tangy red currant and bitter cherry flavors that pick up sweetness with air. Silky tannins add grip to the lively, linear finish. – Tanzer. Red and black cherry with big floral support to start. Good structure in middle, some sweet hints on finish. South facing vineyard.

Verdillac Bordeaux Rouge 2010 – 9.57 – A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. This year’s Verdillac is light but charming. It begins with earthy, blackberry / brambly fruit and mineral smoke aromas, and while the tannins pretty ripe, they are able to maintain some drying character. There’s some underlying good fruit. Cool nights during a warm summer kept some of the acidity around, but made the wines a little less approachable young (vs. 09) – Put some air on it.

Free Wine Tasting for 11^th on 11^th with The Wine Frog

Saumur Les Pouches White 2011 – 11.57 – Co-op of 40 families making high quality wines in the Loire, from Anjou to Touraine. From vines that are pushing 50 years. Peach and caliche like crushed rock nose. Fresh, bright pippin apple malic acidity, white pear, citrus, green plums. . White pepper. Mineral – flinty. Loire valley, aged in stainless steel vats. Really like the acidity, which makes it a great food wine.

Pizzolato Fields Prosecco DOC – 11.97 – A new favorite affordable Prosecco, that we have in stack quantities for the holidays. Really fresh, clean and pretty, and very versatile as a food wine for pairing with all kinds of tasty things. The estate is located in the rich and flourishing countryside in the north of Treviso, and the vineyards are situated on the plains and hillsides near PIAVE river. Tasting Notes – Wine Enthusiast: grassy-herbal notes followed by white peach, honey and jasmine. More herbal flavors appear on the close and the wine is fresh and simple in the mouth. Only Indigenous Yeasts used. Suitable for Vegans. Wine made from USDA National Organic Program Certified Grapes. Certified by BIOS.

Left Coast Cali’s Cuvee Pinot Noir 2011 – 18.97 – We skipped right past the tiny 2010 vintage into 2011, and this is drinking great, very bright fruit and tangy cherry acid. We love it, and are very happy that we have such a great example of Oregon Pinot Noir that we can offer for under $20. Cherry and herbal highlights. Juicy and polished on the palate with round tannins.

Saumur Les Pouches Red 2010 – 11.97 – Classic Cabernet Franc nose, more juicy and round than expected. Dusty, dark, focused. Pretty deep and dark currant fruit, great acidity, lower tannins, mineral palate. This wine is a steal, again for the amount of fruit that is here, the degree to which the terroir of Saumur comes through in the wine, the balance of the sugars and acidity and tannins, and the delightful finish. If you do not like this, you probably do not like Cabernet Franc.