Around Our Table

Domaine Joseph Cattin Cremant d'Alsace Rosé Alsace, France
The Cattin Estate has a long rich history. As we mentioned in January’s wine club, the family has been producing wines in the heart of Alsace for the past 11 generations. The vineyards sit below the historic village of St. Morand, named in honor of the patron Saint of Winemakers. While this picturesque village is beautifully peaceful now, much of the Estate was destroyed during the first world war and it took many years to fully recover. Despite the hardships, the Cattin family continues to impress us with their delicate and lively wines. This 100% Pinot Noir based sparkling is aged for 15 months on the lees in the caves underneath the winery, which were built after the war. Pair this rosé with a roasted beet salad with a fresh mint, wild honey & Greek yogurt dressing topped with crushed toasted pistachios.

A.J Adam Riesling Trocken 2022 Mosel, Germany
We continue to be impressed with the wines coming from this tiny estate in the Mosel. Riesling, the pinnacle varietal of the Mosel, is on full display here with pure, uninterrupted intensity. The area under vine in the Mosel is protected and therefore cannot be expanded, in conjunction with increasingly difficult harvests due to climate change, the wines from this area have skyrocketed in price. Luckily for us, this brother-sister duo continue to deliver wines far beyond their value. Enjoy while cuddled under a warm blanket on a Tuesday night after the kids have gone to sleep.

Château Pradeaux Côtes de Provence Rosé 2022 Provence, France
Bandol is an appellation within Provence, and it is known for some of the most dynamic long lasting rose wines that are made. Chateau Pradeaux is one of the greatest wineries in that appellation producing Mourvedre based wines with a deep dark ruby color. This cuvee is their declassified wine, even though most of the grapes are still in the Bandol appellation. Bright cherry and rhubarb with substantial tannins and acid make this a perfect wintertime rosé. Enjoy with chinese take-out, pizza, and of course steak tartare.

Cantine Barbera Lu Cori Nero d'Avola 2022 Sicily, Italy
Nero d' Avola, native to Sicily, is typically a big, bold wine with heavy structure. Unless of course it is planted in Menfi, just steps away from the sea, where hot Sicilian summers are cooled by the fresh ocean breeze. The briny sea air, and constant winds create a mild temperature which influences the ripening process, giving the grapes a unique personality. In the cellar, a cold maceration is performed in order to extract flavors from the grape skins. Spontaneous fermentation lasts about 6 days, followed by malolactic in stainless steel. Notes of raspberries, mulberries, and spices, paired with velvety soft tannins and bright acidity lend to a vibrant, lively wine. A perfect pairing for pizza, sausage, broccoli rabe, fried eggplant, soupy, prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano, fresh mozz

Albet i Noya 'Les Timbes' 2018 Penedes, Spain
Albet i Noya are true pioneers. Not only were they the first in their state to begin farming organically, they have also made a strong commitment to sustainable practices throughout the vineyard. Les Timbes, meaning small south facing parcels, is a blend of Garnaxta, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are hand harvested then undergo cold fermentation and maceration for 6 days. The juice is aged in french oak, and lightly filtered before bottling. Results are a wine full of ripe fruit, spices, cocoa and a nice balance of acidity. A reminder of the warmer days that are to come, we recommend pairing this with grilled meats, and roasted veggies.

Alfredo Maestro-Tejero Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon Vina Almate 2021 Castilla y Leon, Spain
Bold yet delicate; wild yet structured; Deep, and dark yet elegantly lifted; words that embody the wines of Alfredo Maestro. As a native of the area of Ribero del Duero, Alfredo is adamant to express the uniqueness of his vineyards and the terroir. However, despite the vineyards being centrally located in the heart of the Duero, he chooses to label his wines Vino de Castilla y Leon, which allows his creative freedom. This freedom he found later in his winemaking career. Early on, he would studiously follow winemaking textbooks guidelines only later to discover his wines are truly great without cultured yeasts, acids, enzymes and color enhancers. By the early 2000s Alfredo devoted himself and his craft entirely to nature and organics. Today, this 100% Tempranillo stunned us and will continue to be on our winter tables. Enjoy with lamb empanadas or spinach, zucchini, bell pepper frittata. 

Master Pack

Lelarge Pugeot Vrigny Blanc Coteaux Champenoise 2014 Champagne, France
Vrigny is a small village thirty minutes southwest of Reims which is surrounded by the vineyards of the Petite Montagne. This family estate has a love affair with Meunier which is a great thing because they excel at it. This wine is a rarity for so many reasons, starting with that it is a still wine made in Champagne. The fact that its white continues that trend, but being made 100% from Meunier seals the deal as being one of the rarer wines offered in our shop. Mineral driven but with tart citrus and yellow apple this has a creamy texture and finish as well. Beautiful and still quite wild, the decade this has spent in the bottle has not tamed it much. Pairing: Fish on a parrilla (argentinian style / open smoke) grill or Sit down with 5 cheeses and some bread. 

Guy Breton Fleurie 2022 Beaujolais, France
Cru Beaujolais continues to set our hearts and palates on fire with wines that consistently hit every mark. Guy Breton is one of the original biodynamic Beaujolais producers and has been making wine Mogon since the mid 1980's. The 2022 Vintage is absolutely crushable and vibrant without being over the top in bold fruit. Fleurie is one of the 11 cru's in Beaujolais and is a village known for producing incredibly delicate wines with racy acid. The bold strawberry and cranberry fruit here is offset with a slight earthy pull and a mineralistic streak that makes you want more with each sip. If this is one of the best Beaujolais has to offer then we are completely satisfied with that. Pairing: Make a burger on the grill, and sit to enjoy one of life's simple bistro pleasures.