Please join Richard McKinney for this tasting of exciting wines from Europe. Starting in Portugal then on to Italy, France and Spain, we will visit quality run enterprises offering wines of outstanding value ($8.09 to $14.39), as well as an exciting range of flavors that are bright, clean and sufficiently complex to invite another glass. Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Garnacha, Corvina and Rondinella are the cast of characters offering flavors for every wine lover’s palate. Taste, learn, enjoy and save at our Free Saturday Tastings!
2011 Aveleda Casal Garcia Branco; Vinho Verde, Portugal
Fresh and zesty, this wine is filled with delicate lime aromas and flavors. Pure and nicely balanced this wine would shine with spicy seafood dishes or just great with appetizers. Bottled under cold temperature, this wine has a classic prickle of carbon dioxide on the palate to keep it lively. Only 10% alcohol, this is a great wine for seafood and does well with poultry.
AWM Regular Price: $8.99 per bottle
Tasting Special: $8.09 per bottle or $7.64 by the case
2010 Monmousseau Vouvray; Vouvray, France
2010 was another very successful vintage in the Loire Valley but only for quality conscious vintners whose vineyards were set up properly. This wine is glorious with its wonderful melange of crisp, delineated fruit aromas and flavors. Ripe, but so wonderfully balanced by the band of ripe acidity, this glides down the palate so easily. Great on its own and very versatile with food, especially spicy foods and any creamy or saffron based sauces.
AWM Regular Price: $12.99 per bottle
Tasting Special: $11.69 per bottle or $11.04 by the case
2010 Bodegas Terra Sigilata Filon Garnacha; Calatayud, Spain
Bodegas Terra Sigilata is located at one of the highest points in Calatayud, a DO known for its old-vine Garnacha. The 2010 Filon was sourced from 30- to 40-year-old vineyards. It offers up notes of smoke, mineral, and wild cherry that mingle with layers of ripe cherry fruit on the palate. A lot more elegant than its competitors and very pleasurable, this savory offering over-delivers in a big way. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.
AWM Regular Price: $9.99 per bottle
Tasting Special: $8.99 per bottle or $8.49 by the case
2009 Santi “Solane” Ripasso; Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Italy
This “Ripasso” wine is traditionally made then allowed time on the lees of Amarone, for which this house is particularly noted. This medium-bodied wine exhibits nice density and richness, medium to full body, and notes of truffles intermixed with black cherry, spice, dark chocolate, and minerals. It boasts super purity, lively, vivacious fruit, and a rich concentrated, textured finish. Drink this over the next few years and enjoy the interplay of the silky, smooth fruit and the delicate hints of dried cherries running throughout this wine.
AWM Regular Price: $15.99 per bottle – “Tre Bicchieri” – Gambero Rosso
Tasting Special: $14.39 per bottle or $13.59 by the case
Special tasting prices: 10% off the bottle and 15% off by the case, mix or match unless already discounted via a special price