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March Staff Picks Wines
Mar 1 – Mar 29 all-day

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.

 

                           

 

 

 

 

March Staff Picks

Champagne Charles Clement NV Brut Tradition, France (Pat)

A new Champagne with an affordable price was revealed to our tasting panel this week, made by a cooperative of growers formed in 1959 in southern Aube. All of the fruit comes from the Cote des Bars, a Champagne region that has soil more similar to Chablis than the rest of Champagne, with Kimmeridgian marl and Portlandian limestone content prominent.  Comprised of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, this announces bright citrus fruit followed by apple, stone fruit, and rich complexity from 3 years lees aging. Pair with a bowl of potato chips or popcorn, or enjoy with a luxurious lobster dinner!

$39.99

Mills Club $35.99

Case Price $31.99                                                     

 

Thevenet 2022 Macon-Villages, Burgundy, France (Jen & Jerry)

We’ve enjoyed a number of bottlings from Jean-Claude Thevenet, and this new arrival is no different. Made from estate-grown Chardonnay grapes from several parcels in the Maconnais, this wine sees only stainless steel and concrete, making for a clean, crisp, fresh expression of Chardonnay boasting notes of Granny Smith apple, melon and cool minerally undertones. Enjoy with crab cakes or shellfish!

$24.99

Mills Club: $22.49

Case Price: $19.99                                        

 

Keuka Lake 2019 Semi-Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York (Avery)

Returned just in time for the Easter table, this Riesling from Keuka Lake is just the pairing for a salty bite of ham and a dollop of creamy scalloped potatoes. Showing beautiful notes of pear, nectarine, and peach, this features a juicy palate refreshed with cleansing acidity. Pass the ham!

$21.99

Mills Club $19.79

Case Price $17.59                                                                                                                                                     

Hillinger 2020 Pinot Gris, Austria (Aron)

Weingut Leo Hillinger is an ultra-modern wine facility located in the Jois community within the Burgenland wine growing region of Austria. The long history of Jois was first documented in 1217 as “Gyois”. In the mid-1500s, the Hungarian Queen Maria granted the village the right to label its wine barrels with the letter “G” due to the excellent quality of the wines. While Hillinger is known for their powerful reds and zippy Gruner Veltliners, this delicious and affordable white wine is yet another example of their breadth. This Pinot Gris would provide a lovely aperitif- a palate pleaser that’s easily paired with a wide variety of foods from olives to various cheeses and charcuterie. Fruit-forward with notes of quince and mango and finishing with a touch of toasty almond and spice, it finishes crisp, clean, and smooth.

$13.99

Mills Club: $12.59

Case Price: $11.19                                                     ORGANIC                  

 

Cherrier 2022 Sancerre Cuveè Les Chailloux Vieilles Vignes, France  (Tim)

Based in Verdigny in the Loire Valley, the Cherrier brothers Francois and Jean-Marie farm 20 hectares of vines in Sancerre as well as 10 hectares in neighboring Menetou-Salon. They’ve made sustainability a priority, using cover crops instead of pesticides and herbicides, eliminating chemical fertilizers, and implementing a gray-water reuse plan at the winery. Like many Sancerre, this Sauvignon Blanc lithely weaves richness, energy, elegance and acidity, making for a superb pairing with typical Loire fare: fish with a beurre blanc, vegetable soup, goat cheese and white asparagus in the spring.

$29.99

Mills Club: $26.99

Case Price: $23.99                                                                

                                   

Bloem Chenin Blanc/Viognier Blend, South Africa (Aron)

“Bloem” is the Dutch word for “flower”, and what better harbinger of Spring than this beautiful wine from the Cape of Good Hope of South Africa? Comprised of 85% Chenin Blanc and 15% Viognier, our tasting panel loved the fresh notes of apricot, green apple and honeycomb with a creamy texture and dry finish. Pair with seafood with roasted vegetables or cream of crab or butternut squash soup.

$14.99

Mills Club: $13.49

Case Price: $11.99                                                    

                                                                                                                       

Miravigna Rosso, Italy (Pat)

This field blend red from the Abruzzo region of Italy brings to mind happy times, a simple glass of red in some ancient Italian village’s osteria alongside a slice of pizza or some antipasti. A slight chill makes this mulberry and sour cherry fruited red with smooth tannins all the more pleasurable.

$10.00

Mills Club $9.00

Case $8.00                                                     

                                   

Lady Hill 2021 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon (Avery)

It’s no wonder proprietors Jerry and Elain Owen named their winery “Lady Hill”, after having 9 children (8 girls and 1 boy), plus, with a history of strong female role models in the family since settling in the region in the 1850s. Now in the fifth generation of working the land, they farm with an aim towards sustainability. A portion of this 100% Pinot Noir is aged in new French oak, and the rest in used French oak for 12 months. This elegant red shows complex black and red bramble fruit intermingled with earthy moss and baking spice. Pair with baked fish or roasted pork tenderloin with mushroom risotto.

$25.99

Mills Club $23.39

Case $20.79                                       

                                               

Gran Passione 2022 Rosso, Veneto, Italy (Andres)

We’re familiar with the Amarone and Valpolicella Ripasso wines of the Veneto, but this satisfying blend is a fraction of the price of its more famous brethren. This is a rich, full-bodied red made from Corvina and Merlot grapes, boasting blackberry and black cherry fruit notes with great structure and acidity.  The boldness of this wine makes for a great pairing with roasted beef or venison dishes, or as in the Veneto with a quality cut of aged asiago and some salami.

$14.99

Mills Club: $13.49

Case Price: $11.99                                        

 

Barnard Griffin Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington (Jen & Jerry)

Rob Griffin grew up in Napa Valley and knew he wanted a wine career at a young age. He enrolled in UC Davis wine program at 17 and after gaining some experience in Napa moved to Columbia Valley, Washington. Fast forward to recent news where he celebrated his 41st vintage and was recognized as the longest practicing winemaker in the state of Washington. Ripe plum and cherry notes characterize this 100% Merlot that came from four vineyards located in Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Red Mountain. The wine was aged 19 months in both new and neutral barriques. This would make a wonderful pairing with lamb or Spanish ham.

$19.99

Mills Club: $17.99

Case Price: $15.99                                                                                                                            

Château Segonzac “Les Vignes de Brias” 2018 Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux, France (Tim)

This right bank Bordeaux from the Blaye-Cotes de Bordeaux appellation and excellent 2018 vintage is comprised of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Chateau Segonzac is an 80-acre estate situated on a sunny hillside overlooking the Gironde River. Showing black plum and blackcurrant fruit notes typical of the region, this is nicely concentrated with an undertone of vanilla from 12 months aging in oak barrels, mostly used.  Enjoy with roasted beef or lamb, or a portobello mushroom sandwich.

19.99

Mills Club: $17.99

Case Price: $15.99                                                                                                    

 

El Cortijillo 2022 Tempranillo, Spain (Andres)

You cannot beat the value of a fresh little Tempranillo from La Mancha, like this El Cortijillo recently returned to Mills’ $10 value racks! Cortijillo translates to “little farm” in Spanish. Light to medium-bodied, jammy raspberry and cherry fruit notes with touches of spice make this the perfect weeknight wine paired with anything from pork chops to chili to tacos.

$10.00

Mills Club: $9.00

Case Price: $8.00