87 Main Street
Annapolis
MD 21401
Check out our monthly “Staff Picks” wines, where we choose 12 of our current favorite wines, specially chosen to pair well with seasonal dishes and that present good value for the price. Save 10% on any purchases, or put together a mixed-or-matched case of 12 bottles for a 20% discount.
December Staff Picks
Steininger Sauvignon Blanc Brut Reserve Sparkling, Austria (Tim)
From the wine village of Langenlois in the Kamptal Valley of Austria, the Steininger family makes beautiful white wines including Gruner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, as well as traditional method Sparkling wines which are all single vintage and single varietal, showcasing the special characteristics of each grape. This wine is the perfect example, with Sauvignon Blanc gooseberry, currant, and pepper aromas wafting from the glass. A fine, lively mousse accompanies the minerally, dry finish. This would make a wonderful celebratory toast or a fine pairing with Salmon en Papillote, or a plate of creamy Cacio e Pepe pasta.
$34.99
Mills Club $31.49
Case Price $27.99
Villa Matilde 2018 Fiano di Avellino “Montelapio”, Italy (Pat)
Fiano di Avellino is a rustic, hilly appellation in the Avellino Provence in Campania, where the Fiano grape has been grown since Roman times. With refreshing notes of lemon, green apple, pear, and hazelnut, this medium-bodied white with crisp acidity would be a nice pairing with clam chowder, cream of crab soup, or a spicy rice bowl.
$17.99
Mills Club $16.19
Case Price $14.39
Seghesio Family Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California (Jen)
We’ve long carried the Seghesio Zinfandel but only recently tasted their supremely satisfying Chardonnay! The Seghesio Family story dates back to 1895, as Italian immigrants moving to California, planting roots in a new country, and planting vines! They take a Burgundian approach to winemaking, which is reflected in this Chardonnay. 25% of the wine was fermented and aged in 50/50 French and American oak barrels for 6 months, while 3% was fermented and aged in new oak before settling in stainless steel. The components were blended after 8 months and aged in stainless steel together before bottling, resulting in a decidedly Burgundy-esque Chardonnay. Pair this balanced wine with delicate scallops, lobster, or crab.
$21.99
Mills Club: $19.79
Case Price: $17.59
Domaine Corne Loup 2023 Lirac Blanc, Rhone, France (Aron)
We’ve featured the Rosè from this Rhone producer, who farms 25 hectares in Tavel and 17 hectares split between Lirac and Cotes du Rhone, but were recently impressed with this refreshing white wine. The name “Corne Loup” refers to the historic custom of a horn (corne) sounding the alarm when a wolf (loup) was entering the village. This example of their work is 40% Grenache Blanc, 35% Viognier, and 25% Roussanne, a full-bodied, juicy wine featuring bright pineapple and white nectarine fruit notes and a mineral-driven, dry finish. This would be a dynamite pairing with oysters, roast chicken with difficult-to-pair asparagus, or with soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert.
$18.99
Mills Club: $17.09
Case Price: $15.19
Domaine de Chezatte 2023 Sancerre Blanc, Loire Valley, France (Andres)
We’ve thrown another relatively affordable Sancerre into our Loire Valley mix with Domaine de Chezatte! This is a family-owned, fourth generation estate located on a peak in the northernmost village of Sancerre. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown to flint and clay soils, this displays fresh aromas and characteristic flavors of lemon, lime, apple and minerals, perfect to pair with oysters, seafood, or a salad topped with goat cheese balls.
$29.99
Mills Club $26.99
Case $23.99
Domaine Bibich “Zutina”, Croatia (Jerry)
The name “Zutina” translate to “yellow” in this orange wine made from the Debit grape in North Dalmatia. Organically grown and hand harvested, the wine is macerated on the skins for 30 days, during which time it ferments spontaneously on its own natural yeasts. After pressing the wine spends 6 months in neutral American oak. We loved the aromas and flavors of this well-structured wine which featured generous notes of apricot and peach.
$29.99
Mills Club: $26.99
Case Price: $23.99 ORGANIC
Au Bon Climat 2022 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, California (Tim)
Impressively, this is Au Bon Climat’s 40th vintage of this wine! The grapes for this wine come from 6 vineyards: Bien Nacido and Rancho Real of Santa Maria Valley, and Rancho Ontiveros, Rancho La Cuna, Kick On, and Los Alamos of Santa Barbara County. The grapes are hand harvested before aging for 12 months in 10% new Francois Freres French oak barrels. We loved the abundance of fruit on the palate, with notes of plum, dark cherry, cranberry and touches of anise, tea and clove, and the elegant texture. Try with stuffed pork chops, oven roasted chicken rubbed with rosemary and lemon, or baked rockfish.
$34.99
Mills Club $31.49
Case $27.99
Cantina del Pino 2022 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy (Jerry)
Cantina del Pino is one of the oldest estates in Barbaresco. For generations, the Vacca family contributed grapes to the esteemed Produttori dei Barbaresco before turning to focus more on their own bottlings. The wines are made without the use of harsh chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, farmed traditionally but also employing innovation such as their inclusion of whole clusters. Cantino del Pino wines are known for that illusive combination of power, intensity, elegance and refinement. The Dolcetto grapes for this wine come from vines planted to calcareous limestone soils. Fermentation and aging take place entirely in stainless steel tanks. Good acidity marks this beautifully perfumed, soft red with dark cherry flavors and a hint of black pepper and mineral. The acidity and pepper notes make this a great pairing for a dish with spice like vegetable curry, or consider with pasta with arrabbiata sauce or mushroom risotto.
$24.99
Mills Club: $22.49
Case Price: $19.99 BIODYNAMIC and ORGANIC
Juntos 2023 Merlot, Alicante, Spain (Aron)
From the same producer as “Volver”, this Spanish wine takes the name “Juntos”, which translates to “together”. Showing notes of cassis and red berries and violet notes with good tannins and a silky finish, this is a great wine to enjoy “together” with your family over ancho chili rubbed ribs or pot roast tacos.
$10.00
Mills Club $9.00
Case $8.00
Château La Freynelle 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, France (Jen)
Last month we featured the 100% Petit Verdot from this producer and now we turn to another of their unusual monovarietal Bordeaux in this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Chateau La Freynelle is a 75-hectare estate in the village of Daignac, located in the heart of Entre-Deux-Mers in Bordeaux. Showing sumptuous notes of black cherry, licorice, leather and mocha, this is smooth with good tannic structure, great for pairing with pan seared steak, beef stew, or lamb meatballs.
$17.99
Mills Club Price: $16.19
Case Price: $14.39
Santa Julia 2023 “La Vaquita” Red, Mendoza, Argentina (Andres)
This natural wine with no sulfites added from Argentina is a result of cofermenting a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Torrontes. Named “La Vaquita”, or “little cow”, this wine is a nod to Bodegas Santa Julia’s commitment to sustainable farming. Showing savory plum, juicy cherry and pomegranate notes, this fresh wine has a round, velvety mouthfeel. This can be served with a slight chill with a cheese platter or slow roasted beef with chimichurri sauce.
$19.99
SALE $15.99 ORGANIC and NATURAL
Burgess 2018 Contadina Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California (Pat)
Immigrants first farmed the Estate Sorenson Vineyard in 1882 – Italian-speaking Swiss who were accustomed to hillside farming. Remarkably, in 1892, Giovanni and Elva Poncetta used stones in the area to build a gravity flow winery on the hillside where grapes were crushed on the upper floor and juice flowed into tanks on the lower floor. This winery was the original Burgess winery site and stood for 128 years. This wine from Burgess is a classically styled Napa Cab, with fruit from the Howell Mountain Sorenson and Haymaker vineyards. We loved the ripe black current and blackberries fruit notes supported by undertones of sage, olive and tobacco. The smooth, velvety finish makes this splurge-worthy Cab a great pairing with some nicely marbled ribeye steaks, or a slow roasted leg of lamb.
$44.99
Mills Club $40.49
Case $35.99