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.

Galan Varietal Chardonnay 2011 – 8.97 – Organic – Entry level range and is quite different from the intense tropical fruit-flavored wines produced in Chile’s Central Valley. Highest terrace, light spritz, rationally oaked. Used French & American barrels. Subtle aromas of peach, melon and spicy pear. Supple rounded pear, peach and fig flavors with a gentle creaminess and a touch of hazelnut. Crisp acid, a little less nut and creaminess compared to the 2010. In the cool-climate South American wine regions of Argentina’s Uco Valley and Chile’s Casablanca, Chardonnay has started to develop a presence. In Chile, it has surpassed Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Vert to be the most widely planted white wine grape.

Catalina Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère 2012 – 11.97 – Shows some of the pretty typicity with ripe raspberry and currant, juicy acid. The Cabernet lends a bit of body without too much weight. A very pretty porch-sipper. Cabernet makes a pretty natural blending partner for Carménère, which had been grown in Bordeaux before Cabernet Sauvignon existed. Worth checking out, versatile food wine.

Dona Catalina Carménère Reserve 2011 – 11.97 – This wine displays the brightest qualities of the Varietal Carménère.  Ruby color, ripe red fruits, and a strong bouquet that accents hints of raspberries.  Dona Catalina Carménère opens up with hints of vanilla and clove on the nose, but finishes with a strong black pepper presence on the finish.  It is a true balance between fruit and spice for Carménère.

Galan Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – 11.57 – Organic – Offers exceptionally expressive aromatics consisting of smoke, black cherries, raspberries, and a touch of blackberries and cassis.  The Private Reserve wine’s full-body with velvety tannins give way to a slightly spicy, long, and moderately tannic finish. In Chile, the wines were historically limited by the excessively high yields that were commonplace throughout the country. As producers begun to concentrate on limiting yields, regional differences began to emerge that distinguished Chilean Cabernets.