Ruffino Modus Primo Toscana IGT Italian Red Wine is the evolution of Modus, showcasing quality fruit from three Tuscan vineyards on Ruffino's Poggio Casciano Estate, each one representing the best that this centuries-old wine region terroir has to offer. This Ruffino wine opens with a bouquet of ripe cherries and orange zest, followed by layered balsamic notes and spicy hints of sweet tobacco and vanilla.
Review:
Ripe and lively in its sensory profile, it shows notes of black plums, blackberries, sage and laurel. Juniper berries describe the secondary scene. Full body, elegant and relaxed on the palate, it closes modern and captivating. Better from 2023.
-WineCritic.com 94 Points
A very savory nose of tar, leather and cigar smoke draws levity from undertones of vanilla, baking spices and dark berries. On the palate, the fruit brightens, but things stay savory overall, through a dark, bitter chocolate finish. Acid bubbles around big, chewy tannins.
-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
Aromas of crushed stones, dark berries and blueberries follow through to a medium to full body with creamy tannins and a medium-chewy finish. Chocolate at the end. Sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Two or three years of bottle age will bring this around nicely. Drink after 2024.
James Suckling 94 Points
A very savory nose of tar, leather and cigar smoke draws levity from undertones of vanilla, baking spices and dark berries. On the palate, the fruit brightens, but things stay savory overall, through a dark, bitter chocolate finish. Acid bubbles around big, chewy tannins.
Ruttenstock Gruner Veltliner Ried Reipersberg DAC is 100% Gruner Veltliner.
The wine offers a touch of pear, spice and dried fruit aromas on the nose, and exotic fruit characters.
Minerality emerges from the primary rock soils, followed by an elegant and lively finish.
Pairs well with chicken and pork dishes.
Sake By Kysela has been a project in the making for three years now. In the end, we selected a Sake made from the famous Yamada Nishiki rice produced in the Southern Prefecture of Shimane. Flavorful, rich, and clean; this sake is best as an aperitif or with seafood like fluke, dover sole or halibut. Kanpai!!!
Rice milling: 60%
Rice varietal: Iwai (Only available in Kyoto)
Alcohol: 15%
Sake meter value: +3.0
Acidity: 1.3
Tasting Notes: --------
Eikun sake uses water from a source called "Fusui", rated as one of the top 100 sources of water in Japan. This water source is located just south of the ancient Japanese, and still cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto.
Review:
"Clear with a platinum blue cast. Aromas of coconut milk, melon, pear and rice pudding with a with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a vanilla, apple, and pepper accented finish. A robust and lively sake that will sing with spicy Asian cuisine."
- Beverage Testing Institute (July 2nd 2014), 91 pts
Inviting aromas of mint, marshmallow and Asian pear pull you into this drink. Surprisingly dry, this Nigori (cloudy) style sake has a rich, chewy texture. The intriguing mid palate features mint, white chocolate, and tart cherries. The finish belies our expectations with an elegant, softness of minerals that settles in a dry finish.
Pair with roast duck, dry-rub ribs, full flavored country pate, and fruit and nut desserts of light sweetness.
Mildly ripe Coulommiers or Brie, Italian Raschera.
Blanc de Noirs (white from black) is the counterpart to Blanc de Blancs (white from white). Made primarily from the red grape Pinot Noir, this is a complex, medium-bodied, brut sparkling wine that is aged on the yeast lees in the bottle for two to three years prior to disgorgement.
Reviews:
"Lively and refined but festive, with pretty accents of strawberry, lemon, apple and graham cracker that sail on the crisp yet supple finish."
— Wine Spectator 93 Points
Ti Cuntu… means “I will tell you a story…” in Sicilian dialect and it refers to the ability of the wines made from these native grapes to tell the story of their terroir and of their history. The label shows the dry stone walls and the wild myrtle which characterize their territory.
Frappato is a rare native grape of Vittoria and is almost exclusively grown in Eastern Sicily. The vineyards lie on the sides of Mont Iblei at 300 meters above sea level on a south-west exposure. The relatively infertile terrain encourages the concentrated structure with a light color and beautiful aromatics. Irrigation is generally avoided. There are 4,000 plants per hectare. Agriculture is sustainable and no herbicides or pesticides are used and wild herbs fill the vineyard rows.
Color: Light cherry red with garnet reflections.
Bouquet: A ripe strawberry, black cherry, roses and violets fill the bouquet along with notes of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Taste: Fresh and berry-filled with an intriguing root beer note. The tannins are refined and the acidity lively. The finish is notable and long.
Excellent with cold meats and salamis, seafood and light pasta dishes.
Siegel San Elias Merlot is 100 percent Merlot
Soft, rich and concentrated with juicy plum and blackberry fruits, soft tannins and a velvety texture.
Try with hearty stews, pasta and roast red meats.
Sobrenatural Tinto Organic is amde from 80% Tannat and 20% Malbec from Chakana’s Finca Nuna vineyard, fermented with indigenous yeasts. Sobrenatural is a new line of certified biodymanic and no Sulphur added wines from Chakana’s Nuna vineyard.
Deep, dark fruit aromas. Firm tannins balanced by a juicy, soft texture, good acidity and length.
Pairs with empeñadas, pork chops, Chorizo, spicy food, grilled vegetables.
USDA Organic
Fermented with native yeasts in concrete vats for 6 months (no epoxy sealing). No fining, no filtration, no additives. NO SULFITES ADDED.
Taste the tropics! Flavors and aromas of fresh cut pineapple and juicy mango make this Seasonal Selection a tropical treat. Enjoy with angel food cake or chili spiced nuts.
Love this wine with...
coconut cream pie
Made from cherries
10.4% Alcohol by Volume
13.5% Residual Sugar
Sweet and tart, St. James Winery’s Cherry Wine is better than rip cherries fresh from the tree. Tastes great with grilled pork or, for dessert, with milk chocolate.
Select Wine Competition Awards:
2012 GOLD Los Angeles International (92 points)
2012 GOLD Taster’s Guild
2012 SILVER Dallas Morning News / TexSom International
2013 SILVER San Francisco Chronicle
2012 SILVER Long Beach Grand Cru
2012 SILVER Indy International
2012 SILVER San Diego International
2012 SILVER New World
2012 SILVER Pacific Rim
2012 SILVER Riverside
2012 SILVER Houston Rodeo
2012 BRONZE International Women’s
2012 BRONZE NextGen
2012 BRONZE San Francisco International
2012 BRONZE Lone Star International
2012 BRONZE International Eastern
2012 BRONZE Florida State Fair International
A Spiced Apple sweet wine that's perfect for bonfires, fall festivities and tailgates. Made with real apples, this burst of autumn flavors is a seasonal selection available for a limited time only! Can be served chilled or warm.
Delicate fruit with hints of peach and mineral. Complex and juicy.
St. Nikolaus Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett is a delicious wine with good alcohol, acidity and sweetness.
RS: 55 grams/liter
Acidity: 7.8 grams/liter
ABV: 7.5%
Goes well with Asian cuisine with some spiciness.
Sun Bee evokes warm summer days by infusing natural mango flavors into a blend of California white wines. A strong golden color in the glass leads to a vibrant mango and tropical fruit basket on the nose. The taste is reminiscent of a puree of mango or a juicy, fruity Chardonnay. There are hints of Lychee and Passion Fruit rounding out the bright, inviting flavor.
Pairs remarkably well with spicy foods where many wines struggle. Try it with Savory Curry dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala or Tacos Al Pastor.
Tenute Cisa Asinari Marchesi di Gresy Gaiun Martinenga Barbaresco 2016.
Bright garnet red with slight orange reflections. Intense and pleasant hints of plum and cherry blend sinuously with balsamic nuances of mint, tea leaves, dried flowers and blond pipe tobacco.
A parcel of 90 ares, one part is 20 years old and the other part is 55 years old. Its is called Les Pressonniers, in Gevrey-Chambertin.
Bourgogne Rouge Côte d’Or comes from a plot of Gevrey-Chambertin vines, giving delicate fruit and body, as well as the character and complexity of the Gevrey-Chambertin terro
Mortet Bourgogne Passetoutgrain is mae from 60% Gamay and 40% Pinot Noir
Aged 11 months in Neutral French oak barrels.
12% ABV
Malolactic fermentation in barrel.
Slight filtration before bottling.
Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine from the region of Burgundy.
Most Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is red, although rosé wine may also be produced. Unlike other Burgundy wines, which are
primarily produced from a single grape variety, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains is essentially a cuvée of Gamay and Pinot noir.
This is a quintessential bistro wine. Fresh and fruity, displaying red and black fruit flavors. Well balanced, good structure and silky finish with excellent length. Serve slightly chilled.
Oeufs en Meurette (poached eggs served in a red wine sauce with onions and lardons).
Boeuf Bourguignon (beef cooked in red wine with carrots and patatoes).
Pizza and pasta.
Michel Thomas Sancerre Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc (40% Caillottes, 40% Grosses Terres, 20% Silex)
The wine displays an exotic nose with a touch of smoke and licorice. On the palate, peach and watermelon dominate with citrus zest and chalk notes.
This Thorn Clarke Mt. Crawford Riesling is a fine example of Mount Crawford climate, soil and aspect combining to display a varietal bouquet of spicy floral characters. With fresh, crisp citrus notes and a long finish on the palate, this wine can be enjoyed with a vast array of foods. The winemaker recommends enjoying this with spicy tandoori chicken.
This Thorn Clarke Mt. Crawford Riesling is a fine example of Mount Crawford climate, soil and aspect combining to display a varietal bouquet of spicy floral characters. With fresh, crisp citrus notes and a long finish on the palate, this wine can be enjoyed with a vast array of foods. The winemaker recommends enjoying this with spicy tandoori chicken.
Mascot is a small-production label founded by Will Harlan in Napa Valley. The wines under this label are made from the younger vines of Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory, but The Mascot bottles share an exclusive preview at the development of their estates. Founded as an initial experiment to see what the young vines were capable of producing, the wines were initially only shared with close friends and family. By 2008, Will officially released the first vintage to the public since production had increased significantly. They create just one wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, and the bottle is aged for five years before release. Assembled into a single, youthful expression, this wine shares a glimpse into the evolution and pedigree of its parent estates.
Luis Canas Rioja Crianza is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha
A classic style Rioja from one of the regions most enduring family run wineries.. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.
Tasting notes
Made from 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha of 30 years of age, the wine shows a ruby red color, a clean nose with nuances of balsamic, plum and cedar. The palate is smooth and velvety, complex and structured, with fruit, spice flavors with toasted oak. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.
The harvest
This year in Rioja Alavesa the weather has been especially cold, the summer short and dry, and there has been plenty of rain in early September. This has produced wines with great aromatic notes, particularly those coming from high altitude areas, very fragrant and with great structure.
Winemaking and aging
Upon entering the bodega and passing the selection table, the grapes are de-stemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation and then maceration in stainless steel tanks for a total of 8 days, obtaining better color extraction as well as much more complex wines, suitable for prolonged aging. The wine is clarified with vegetable gelatines and follows anicrobic filtration.
It is ideal to pair with meats; red meat, poultry, small game, oily fish, semi-cured cheeses, spicy dishes and hot dishes such as beans or potatoes Rioja style.
After its primary fermentation, the wine is placed in barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for a minimum of 12 months. It is then bottled for at least another 12 months.