This Saturday’s Wine Tasting (2-6 pm): Favorite White & Red Wine Pairings
This fun tasting will feature three “pairings” of white and red wines from the same producer that are top picks to pour at Labor Day weekend gatherings and during the beautiful “Indian Summer” days ahead in September:
Pairing #1: Nicolas Potel Burgundy White and Red Wines, France
2010 Nicolas Potel Macon-Villages (100% Chardonnay)
Silver Medal and “Best Buy,” World Wine Championships for wines under $20
“Aromas of sponge cake, baked apple, and cream with a supple, dryish medium body and a crisp, citrus and chalk snap on the finish. Nicely balanced and refreshing. (March 2012, Beverage Tasting Institute, Chicago)
Reg. Price : $14.99/Mills Club Price: $13.49/20% off Case Price: $11.99
2011 Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Gold Medal, World Wine Championships for wines under $20
“Rich ruby color. Robust aromas mixed berry compote and French toast with a silky, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tangy mulberry, apple skin, toasty cedar, earth and stone accented finish. An exceptionally well poised and structured pinot noir for the table or sipping.” (March 2013, Beverage Tasting Institute, Chicago)
Reg. Price : $17.99/Mills Club Price: $16.19/20% off Case Price: $14.39
Pairing #2: El Coto White and Red Wines, Rioja, Spain
2011 El Coto de Rioja Blanco (100% Viura)
Winery Notes: “The 2011 El Coto de Rioja Blanco is pale gold-yellow with greenish hues, the wine is intensely aromatic, well balanced, with body and the fruit has a refreshing tart character. Pleasant acidity combines perfectly with an exquisite aftertaste of flowers, fruit and fine herbs.”
Reg. Price : $11.99/Mills Club Price: $10.89/20% off Case Price: $11.99
2009 El Coto Crianza (100% Tempranillo)
Reg. Price : $15.99/Mills Club Price: $14.39/20% off Case Price: $12.79
Pairing #3: Clayhouse Wines Adobe White and Red, Central Coast, California
2011 Clayhouse Wines Adobe White (a Viognier-based white blend)
Winery Notes: “The Adobe White is a proprietary blend with a golden straw color, and fragrant floral notes of orange honey blossom and lemon citrus. Jasmine, pear, peach, mango and lychee aromas jump from the glass. There’s a creamy mouthfeel from the 5% barrel fermentation. That small portion of barrel fermented Viognier adds some viscosity to the grassy sharpness of the Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc, and it enhances the aromatics with barely perceptible vanilla bean notes. The wine lingers in the mouth with a bit of warmth and spice on the finish.”
Reg. Price : $15.99/Mills Club Price: $14.39/20% off Case Price: $12.79
2009 Clayhouse Wines Adobe Red (a Zinfandel-based red blend)
Winery notes: “Based on Zinfandel, this lip-smacking, juicy red is the result of blending grape varieties and flavors grown throughout California’s Central Coast. The majority of the grapes
came from our estate Red Cedar Vineyard, just east of the town of Paso Robles. Adobe
Red is a fun and tasty flavor fusion of six different grape varieties: 32% Zinfandel, 25%
Petite Sirah, 13% Malbec, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 9% Petit Verdot. »
Reg. Price : $15.99/Mills Club Price: $14.39/20% off Case Price: $12.79
Staff Picks for September Part I: A collection of wines that the staff feels overdelivers for their price points! 6 of the 12 wines are tasted Saturday and the other 6 wines are tasted on Sunday.
“Hard-to-find-on-the East Coast” Foxen Wines
Some of the very few Foxen wines from California that make it to the East Coast have joined our California section: two Pinot Noirs, one Chenin Blanc, and one Cabernet Sauvignon. Take the opportunity to meet Foxen owner Dick Dore as he stops by for a quick meet and greet and taste a lovely Foxen wine!
2009 foxen 7200 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vogelzang Vineyard, Happy Canyon
93 Points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (Nov. 2012):
“…. the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Vogelzang Vineyard is gorgeous. Dark cherries, plums, menthol, graphite, grilled herbs and spices explode from the glass as this boisterous, deeply expressive Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its personality and sheer class. The 2009 boasts fabulous richness and depth from start to finish. I imagine this exciting, viscerally thrilling Cabernet Sauvignon will drink beautifully for a number of years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019”.
2011 Foxen Pinot Noir, Block 8- Bien Nacido Vineyard
92 Points, Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast (forthcoming)
93 Points, Antonio Galloni’s “Vinous” (July 2013):
“The 2011 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 is beautifully layered from start to finish. Dark red fruits meld into sweet floral and balsamic notes as the wine opens up in the glass. Medium in body and beautifully textured on the palate, the 2011 is all about polish. This is another terrific showing. Best of all, the 2011 will offer tremendous pleasure right out of the gate.” Drinking window: 2014-2021
2011 Foxen Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
94 Points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (Nov. 2012):
“The 2010 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 is another super-impressive wine from Foxen. It combines some of the ethereal feel of the Julia’s with the weight of the Sea Smoke. If that sounds appealing, believe me, it is. This is a marvelous Pinot loaded with class and finesse. The Bien Nacido Block 8 (along with the Julia’s) is one of the least expensive of the 2010 Pinots, yet i find it the most compelling of the bunch. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020”
2011 Foxen Chenin Blanc, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard
): Wines from Bouchaine Vineyards: Napa Valley’s America’s Cup Winery!
Bouchaine, the oldest operating winery in the Carneros district of Napa Valley and also Napa’s closet winery geographically to the America’s Cup competition, will be pouring three dry wines and its amazing “Bouche d’Or” dessert wine made from late harvest Chardonnay.
- 2012 Bouchaine Riesling Las Brisas Vineyard (Dry Riesling)
- 2010 Bouchaine Chardonnay Estate Vineyard Price $27.99/Mills Club $25.19/Case Price $22.39
- 2009 Bouchaine Pinot Noir, Carneros $26.99/Mills Club $24.29/Case Price $21.59
- 2010 Bouchaine “Bouche d’Or” Chardonnay $29.99 /Mills Club $26.99/Case Price $23.99