Wine BTG Flashcards
Prosecco
Zardetto, ‘Private Cuvee’, Veneto, Italy, NV $13
60% Glera, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Moscato
Fermented in stainless steel for 30 days then bottle aged for 1-2 months. Citrusy and refreshing, medium bodied and lightly floral. Peach, pear, and apple.
Blancquette de Limoux
Domaine Martinolles ‘Le Berceau’, France, NV $20
90% Mauzac, 5% Chardonnay, 5% Chenin Blanc
Grapes are hand harvested, and kept for a minimum of nine months on the lees before being disgorged. Champagne, cremant, and blanquette are all produced using Methode Traditionnelle (Champenoise), but in order to be labeled blanquette it must be 90% Mauzac. Extremely mineral driven, notes of green apple, pear, honeydew, and lemon zest.
Rose Brut Nature
Sidonio de Sousa, Portugal, NV $16
100% Baga
A cool climate, coastal region, Sidonio de sousa is known for having some of the oldest baga vines in Barraida. This wine spends four years on the lees before being released, resulting in refreshing and fruity wine, with a crisp yet creamy acidity and soft bubbles.
Rose
Domaine Guillamon, Cotes de Gascogne, France 2021 $14
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Super traditional Provence style rosé. Fresh strawberry, raspberry, and grapefruit. Dry, high-acid and uncomplicated.
Sauvignon Blanc
Marine Dubard, ‘Coeur du Mont’, France, 2020 $14
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Grown in limestone soil, in a town called Bué in Sancerre, and fermented in stainless steel. Extremely mineral driven and crisp on the palate, with intense and bright acidity. Notes of citrus and passion fruit, with a persistent finish. Perfect wine for food because of the mouthwatering acidity.
Moscofilero
George Skouras, Peloponnese, Greece, 2021 $15
100% Moscofilero
George Skouras got his wine degree in Burgundy, and continued to study winemaking throughout France, Italy, and Greece. This wine has a short skin contact, no malolactic fermentation, and a short aging time over fine lees before finishing fermentation in stainless steel. Very floral and fresh on the nose, notes of honeysuckle and lemon, with a bracing acidity.
Chardonnay
Red Tail Ridge, ‘Sans Oak’, Finger Lakes, New York, 2020 $16
100% Chardonnay
As the label suggests, this chardonnay is made without oak, and in a cool climate, which produces a much more delicate wine than we usually expect from a new world Chardonnay (think California). While malolactic fermentation does lend the wine some of the creamy, buttery notes one might expect when drinking an American chardonnay, it is balanced with a refreshing acidity. Notes of green apple, pear, and grapefruit.
Txakoli
Xarmant, Spain, 2021 $15
70% Hondarrabi Zuri, 10% Gros Manseng, 10% Petit Manseng, 10% Petit Corbu
Practicing organic estate. Grapes are harvested separately based on ripeness, and after a cold maceration are fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. Xarmant translates to “charming”, which is exactly what this wine is. Easy drinking, light, refreshing, with a slight sparkle and smokiness.
Pinot Noir
Browne Family Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2019 $15
100% Pinot Noir
This vineyard is a tribute to the current winemaker’s grandfather, William Bitner Browne. The wine is juicy and fruit forward, with notes of blackberry and violet. Slightly tannic, with a lingering finish. There are some vanilla notes from the oak, overall an elegant and subtle wine.
Mediterranean Blend (temporary)
Massaya ‘Le Colombier’, Bekka Valley, Lebanon, 2018
35% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 30% Tempranillo
Nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean, the grapes in this wine are grown on hillsides at an altitude of 900 to 1200 meters. Fruity, deep, with hints of pepper, and spice. Medium-plus body, but the bright red fruit flavors keep it relatively easy drinking.
Southern Rhone Blend
Rhonea, ‘La Beaume’ Cru des Cotes du Rhone, France, 2019 $21
90% Grenache, 10% Syrah
Rhonéa is a family of over 388 artisan winegrowers who have chosen to pool their expertise and breathe life into a creative, ground-breaking model, based on their knowledge of Rhône Valley wines. Participatory model that brings together skills and generates new and often slightly offbeat concepts. Single vineyard parcels - here, north of Lafare, soil is oxfordian black marl. Impressive aromatic complexity between red fruits, soft spice, cocoa and liquorice as well as concentrated tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Castoro Cellars, Paso Robles, California, 2019 $16
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Organically grown grapes, grown in a cooler microclimate. After resting in stainless steel tanks, it is transferred to American and French oak barrels where it’s aged for 12 months. Notes of blackberry, currant, plum, and vanilla. Fine tannins and a medium to full body.
Barbera D’Alba
Ellena Giuseppe, Piedmont, Italy, 2021 $18
100% Barbera
Natural, organic, vegan. Single vineyard ‘Paradiso’ in La Morra. Mostly stainless steel instead of oak to feature the freshness and varietal character of barbera. Only 40% spends 9 mos in 2nd passage barriques before being blended back in. Bright ruby red in color with clear crimson highlights. Full aromas, elegant, well-balanced and enduring, reminiscent of rose, undergrowth and oriental spices. Very powerful bouquet, sweetened by an overall softness. Fine structure accompanied by lively acidic freshness. Flavors conjure up Morello cherry and plum jam with a long finish of withered grape.
