|
|
|
|
Wine of the Week
Mauro Molino
Piedmont, Italy
2022 Barbera d' Alba
$15.99, $14.39 for Wine Club Members
2022 Barbera d' Asti
$19.99, $17.99 fro Wine Club Members
A Tale of Two Cities: Barbera from Alba and Asti
As the weather dials down I start to think about heartier meals and wines. I have a serious love for Barbera and these Wines of the Week strike a pure fall note. One dish that comes to mind is lasagne (recipe to follow). These two wines would make an entertaining experience this weekend with some friends and a one-dish wonder. Perhaps you open both to determine if anyone can tell the difference then decide which you prefer.
Barbera is a marvelous grape from Piedmont, and, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights (or fame) of Nebbiolo, it is absolutely delicious and pairs well with almost anything thanks to its notoriously high acidity. This is what fills the local's glass...sorry Barolo. And such a great candidate for everyday dinner-table drinking, especially when served with tomato sauce laden recipes.
Barbera D’alba Vs Barbera D’asti - How They Differ?
Terroir and Climate
One of the primary factors contributing to the divergence between Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti is the difference in terroir and climate of their respective regions.
Barbera d'Alba hails from the hilly Langhe region within Piedmont, characterized by a combination of clay and limestone soils. The higher altitude and diverse microclimates in this area play a crucial role in shaping the flavor profile of Barbera d'Alba wines.
On the other hand, Barbera d'Asti is produced in the Asti region (26 miles north), which boasts a more diverse terroir. The soils here range from limestone to sandier compositions, influencing the grape's growth and development. The climate tends to be slightly warmer in Asti, contributing to riper fruit flavors and softer acidity compared to its counterpart from Alba.
Our first wine is the Barbera d' Alba. It is sourced from around the village of Alba, a town that is often called the culinary capital of the Langhe (the land of truffles). It’s also an area that is mostly planted to Nebbiolo for Barolo, so it’s a bit more rare to find Barbera from here. Molino's version is bright with pure dark cherry fruit and some fun herbal and floral accents. It has full, ripe fruit on the palate with smooth tannins, great energy, and an elegant texture. It has that beautiful high acid that Barbera is beloved for, and it is just alive and full of dark red fruit. It is a great wine to start with. The second Barbera is sourced from Asti in the Monferrato Hills. It has more texture and tannins than the Alba counterpart, with a darker, brooding fruit profile of blackberries and currants and spice. And that signature acidity still sings through.
Mauro Molino 2022 Barbera d' Alba
$15.99, $14.39 for Wine Club Members
"Sleek and elegant, this red sports black cherry, blackberry, tamarind paste and earth flavors. Solidly built, with excellent intensity, balance and length. Drink now through 2030." "90 Points" The Wine Specator.
Mauro Molino 2022 Barbera d' Asti
$19.99, $17.99 for Wine Club Members
"A ripe magenta/ruby color, the 2022 Barbera D'Asti Leradici is seductive wine with fresh, fruity aromas of pristine blackberries, fresh plums, violets, and crushed stones. On the palate, it offers good structure, with ripe tannins, and fresh acidity, and it has snappy, fresh lift and a clean, stony mineral texture. Drink 2024-2028." "91 Points" Jeb Dunnuck.
The brother and sister team of Matteo and Martina Molino lead this elegant La Morra estate. A family-owned winery, their grandfather Giuseppe moved from the Monferratto area to La Morra in the 1950s and purchased the property. Giuseppe’s son Mauro came back to La Morra following his studies in Alba, and in 1982 he produced his first vintage of Barolo from the small amphitheater vineyard of Conca. In 2003, Mauro’s son Matteo joined the winery, having also studied at the Alba Winemaking School, and he continues to lead the winemaking today. He is joined by his sister Martina on the commercial side of the winery. All of their vineyards are in the municipality of La Morra except for one, with approximately 20 hectares under vine and an annual production of 160,000 bottles. The wines are refined and wonderful at highlighting the gracefulness that La Morra can offer.
Lasagna
by New York Times
5 Star Rating from 8,299 Reviewers
Lasagna makes the perfect weekend dish. It's a rare family that has a member that doesn't love it. You can make a pan ahead of time (even go so far as to make one for the freezer also) and enjoy a reheat the day after. Dry pasta bares no shame. The Co-op sells fresh pasta sheets ready to go. If you respond to "Yes, Chef" in your house and are fortunate to have the time, then you should turn out some of those delicate, thin sheets of pasta that crisp so beautifully in the oven and then charge admission--dishwashing perhaps?
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Stefano Brandi
G. D. Vajra Luigi Baudana Dragon Bianco 2023
Langhe, Piedmont, italy
$20.99, $18.89 for Wine Club Members
With a nostalgic drawing of the mythological monster printed on the bottle-front, by the late Gianni Gallo, prolific artist from Dogliani (Langhe, Piedmont), “Dragon”, a Langhe Bianco from the Luigi Baudana estate, the wine does not breath fire, but undeniably powers through in the glass with its freshness, roundness and balance.
Luigi Baudana and his wife, Fiorina, since the 70s vinified the fruits of the old family land only for themselves, until in 1996, when they achieved the bottling of their first Barolo to be sold to the public. The family estate, that counts only about 6.4 acres of vineyards, is composed by the Baudana plots located on the west slope of Serralunga D’Alba and Cerretta Piani on the east side, known as one of the Barolo denomination grounds. In 2009, upon request of Luigi and Fiorina, the Vajra family took on the task of carrying on the Baudana legacy with full respect for their land and their winemaking.
Dragon is far from the modern monovarietal model: this wine is a unique white blend of diverse white grapes from the estate properties, growing side by side and vinified together. Initially produced with only Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the wine evolved to include Nascetta—an heirloom variety native of the Langhe area—and a tiny amount of Riesling. The vineyards are located mid-slope on the north-east shoulder of Cerretta Piani, a plot of the “tenuta” exposed to a natural cooler climate and nicely suitable for white wine grapes. The plants are growing on marly and sandy soil. The grapes are fermented and then aged for 6 to 8 months in tempered-controlled stainless steel vats.
The now-mature vines are giving wine showing mineral aromatics, wild flowers and grass. Aged on its lees, this Langhe Bianco balances crisp acidity, minerality and a round, almost silky texture. Scents of white fruits, hints of citrus and botanicals are on the nose. The palate is fresh but full, vibrant and smooth.
Dragon is best paired with delicate fish dishes, mediterranean antipasti, and lightly-spiced asian courses.
Bodegas Lan Rioja Vina Lanciano Reserva 2016
Rioja, Spain
$24.99, $22.49 for Wine Club Members
Since 1972, on the natural border between Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, sheltered by the Cantabria mountains, stands Bodegas LAN—an acronym of the 3 provinces that make the DOC Rioja (Logroño—now La Rioja, Álava and Navarra). Viña Lanciano is the original heart of the estate: the vineyards are hugged by a bend of the Ebro river, and exposed to a unique microclimate, with vines between 30 and 60 years of age. The grape varietals in the 22 parcels, grown with the active practice of sustainable viticulture, are Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha.
Bodegas LAN Vineyards
The weather conditions for the 2016 season in the area, with cold a winter, rainy spring, and a dry summer with high temperatures and perfect conditions for ripening, result in a particularly good vintage. The grapes for this bottle (95% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha, 2% Mazuelo) are hand-harvested in crates and the fermentation is done in small stainless steel truncated-cone-shaped tanks, with long macerations and continuous pumping-over of the must, to achieve better color extraction. Malolactic fermentation and the first 14 month of aging happen in new French oak barriques sourced from the Tronçaise forests. Consecutively the wine undergoes further aging for 7 months in Russian oak barrels, and 18-month refinement in bottle in the estate cellar.
The wine has a bright, ripe red cherry color in the glass. On the nose, expect a wide range of aromas of ripe red fruit with violet nuances, thyme, cinnamon and graphite. Intense but very balanced on the palate, the wine has a fruity and balsamic aftertaste, and a long-lasting, persistent finish.
With autumn at our doorsteps, this wine pairs well with hearty seasonal dishes, meat or fish based, and is a good accompaniment for smoked and spicy flavors too.
NEW ARRIVALS
Notes by Hannah Green
Domaine la Ligière
Vacqueyras, Rhone, France
The Bernard family, of Domaine Ligière, hasn’t always been on the winemaking path; the family has been farming since the late 1800s, practicing polyculture farming, primarily focusing on silkworms. By the 1950s, the family realized their land was well suited for wine grapes, and they turned to wine growing. The estate acquired a further 42 acres of grapes in 1997, and released its first estate-grown cuvée in 2008. Today, Philippe Bernard, along with his wife, Elizabeth, are third-generation stewards of the estate.
Their vineyard is bursting with sunshine, tempered by a cooling Mistral breeze. The sandy clay and limestone soils are picture-perfect for crafting exceptional crus. The family has chosen to farm organically in order to preserve this natural heritage.
Domaine la Ligière Vacqueyras le Chemin Blanc 2022
$19.99, $17.99 for Wine Club Members
No, the name is not a typo—Chemin Blanc (with an M) is the name of the wine. Chemin means path in French; this bottling is the path for its white wine the winery has chosen to follow.
For their 2022 Blanc, four of the region’s white Rhone grapes are grown in their limestone-clay plots, fermented in barrel and stainless steel, blended to perfection and then aged on its lees. Enjoy with pear and stilton salads, honey and orange roasted carrots, or risotto alla Milanese. Saveur has a decadent risotto alla Milanese, tinted golden yellow from the saffron and made meltingly luxurious from their inclusion of bone marrow. If you must, swap the bone marrow for the best butter you can get your hands on.
"Mainly Clairette and Roussanne, with smaller amounts of Grenache Blanc and Viognier, the 2022 Vacqueyras Le Chemin Blanc may be the finest vintage of this cuvée to date. Notes of ripe pear, apricot and peach abound on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is plump and fleshy, moving into ripe citrus notes on the lingering finish. 92 points" Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
45% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc, 10% Viognier
Risotto alla Milanese by Saveur
Domaine la Ligière Vacqueyras le G 2022
$29.99, $26.99 for Wine Club Members
La G is also grown on limestone clay, 100% Grenache sourced from vines over 70 years old. The Grenache ages in neutral barrels for five months, and it bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only light sulphur is used to preserve the wine’s depth of character. Rumor has it that La G is Elizabeth Bernard’s favorite bottle in the cellar. Serve with fennel-rubbed pork chops and roasted plums, gingery short ribs and soy sauce-seared tofu, or caramelized shiitake potstickers, like these from Half Baked Harvest.
"The 2022 Vacqueyras G is one of the stars of the vintage. Crafted from the grapes of over 70-year-old vines, it opens up with vivid raspberry, black cherry, black plum, white pepper, licorice and forest strawberry aromas. Classic and round, this stellar red provides good structure, fresh acidity and a complex finish. An age-worthy Vacqueyras with class, substance and a relatively modest 14.2% alcohol. 92 points" Vinous
Shiitake Mushroom Dumplings with Sweet Chili Ginger Sesame Sauce by Half Baked Harvest
FRIDAY TASTING
Zinfandel Tasting
with Bedrock and Robert Biale Wines
with Amy Pickering, Elliot Bay Distributor
Friday, October 4th, 3-5:30 pm
  
Zinfandel is the most American of grapes. Sure, there are other varieties of Vitis vinifera that have been here longer (Mission, for example), and there are plenty of native vines (we're looking at you, Norton and Catawba!). But perhaps more than any other grape variety, Zinfandel reaches its apex in the United States, and nowhere does that happen more dramatically than in California, where from Contra Costa and Sonoma to Paso Robles, Amador County, and beyond, Zin, as it's often affectionately known, thrives with a serious sense of drama and deliciousness.
This tasting we are featuring two iconic California producers to share with you.
Bedrock Wine Co. was started in 2007 by Morgan Twain-Peterson (aka son of Joel Peterson-orignal owner/winmaker for Ravenswood). Working out of a small converted chicken coop in a friend’s backyard, Morgan focused on making personality-filled wines wrought from a small array of thoughtfully farmed vineyards. Over time the chicken coop and its outdoor fermenters and tiny basket press gave way to production at another friend’s winery and eventually to the “elegant” tin-sided warehouse that is now called home. In addition, after six years of working alone the winery welcomed Chris Cottrell as a partner-in-crime along with a small, dedicated staff of highly decent human beings.
Robert Biale Winery-Perfecting the old California classics, Robert Biale Vineyards has become a revered standard of heritage vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in the Napa Valley. From the winery’s inception, the Biale Founders have cherished the tradition of historic old vines (some dating to the 1880s!) and prize the small quantity of concentrated and intense fruit that they produce. Diligent farming, expressive terroir, and superb elegance are the winery’s hallmarks. Among the winery’s portfolio of 20 wines that Winemaker David Natali crafts, Black Chicken Zinfandel is the flagship–and has become a benchmark for the varietal.
It all started in the 1940s when 14-year-old Aldo Biale helped his mother make ends meet by selling to insider Napans–along with eggs and produce–some of the family’s homemade Zinfandel. Over the old “party line” phone system, the code words “a Black Chicken” signified a jug of bootleg wine…and kept nosy neighbors and the authorities from finding out about Aldo’s underground Zinfandel operation!
We welcome our good friend Amy Pickering from Elliott Bay Distributing Company to present these wines to you.
Friday, October 4th. 3-5:30 pm. $5 tasting fee. One free ticket per Wine Club Membership.
The Line-up
1) The Whole Shebang! 16th Cuvee, $15.99
2) Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel 2022, $26.99
3) Bedrock Pato Vineyard Heritage Red 2021, $44.99
4) Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel 2022, $54.99
5) Robert Biale Party Line Zinfandel 2022, $29.99
6) Robert Biale Royal Punisher Petite Sirah 2022, $54.99
Upcoming Tastings
Bedrock & Robert Biale Zinfandel Tasting
with Amy Pickering - Elliott Bay Distributing
Friday, October 4th, 3-5:30 pm
Vinea Imports–Meet the Importer Tasting
with Eric Stone
Friday, October 11th, 3-5:30 pm
Meet the Winemaker–David O'Reilly
Owen Roe Library wines & Rocks of Bawn (David's new project)
Friday, October 18th, 3-5:30 pm
$5 fee. Wine Club Members receive one free tasting per membership.
CLICK FOR MORE INFO
NEW LOCAL TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED
WINE STORAGE
Nexus Wine Storage
We are excited to see a new option for storing a cellar properly in our neck of the woods. Well-established Seattle Wine Storage has recently built and opened a new facility in Ferndale. When taking care to protect your investment, the perfect storage is extremely important.
They offer something for every size collection.
The most crucial factor in wine storage is temperature, ideally kept at a constant 13C/55F. Nexus Wine Storage maintains this ideal temperature to prevent slow maturation below 50 degrees, accelerated aging above 65-60 degrees and cumulative damage from repeated high-temperature exposure.
They offer individually locked units - only you have the key. The entire facility is alarmed and monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sprinkler system covers the entire facility. Access is limited to clients and their authorized agents.
The building has security cameras and a 24/7 professional monitoring service. Access is granted after 2 forms of keypad entry along with individual keyed lockers.
Belong to wine clubs who ship? You can have them delivered directly to your locker. No waiting at home for the UPS/Fedx delivery person.
6920 Salashan Pkway, Ferndale, Washington. 98248
Suite E208
www.nexuswinestorage.com
HOURS OF HAPPINESS
Tuesday-Saturday
10-6 PM
360-393-3271
In-Store Shopping / Door Service / Store pick up / Curb side
ORDER ON-LINE
Email: ted@sjwinemerchants.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
