Free tasting | Friday, February 9, 2018 | 5-7PM

Mise Wines with Jackson
Jackson is back in black with all the goods. Come taste!

2016 La Folle Berthe 'Les Folles Bulles', Les Verchers – Loire Valley, France ($24 $21.60)
Former Parisian journalist David Foubert moved to Saumur for a life change and discovered a taste for winemaking. He made his first vintage of Folle Berthe (aka Crazy Bear) in his own vineyard but borrowed a friend’s cellar to make his wine. Now he has his own cellar and leases land from a legendary winemaker, Philippe Gourdon, on land that had been biodynamic since 1998. To satisfy his winemaking urges, Philippe still sometimes helps out in the fields. This Chenin Blanc is from chalky soil and is a shotgun of citrus, pear, and bracing minerality.

2014 La Distesa Bianco 'Gli Eremi', Cupramontana – Marche, Italy ($38 $34.20)
Cupramontana has a long history of viticulture; it is the oldest wine producing region in the Marche and dates back to 1186! Camaldolese monks used to have a monastery and vineyard that stood right outside La Distesa's cellar. The Verdicchio grapes come from a single vineyard that is particularly suited for vine cultivation. It is nestled like a basin at the foot of hills, that protect it from cold winds. The vineyard has about 30 rows of Verdicchio grapes with clay and calcareous soil. After being harvested in boxes, the grapes are fermented and aged in old oak barrels for a year. Gli Eremi is full of luscious sage, white peach, and apricot notes.

2016 La Cabotte Rouse, Massif d'Uchaux – Côtes du Rhône, France ($16 $14.40)
Winemaker Gabriel d'Ardhuy bought land in the Côte du Rhône with big, vague plans to create incredible wine there. He collaborated with one of his seven daughters, Marie-Pierre, to properly care for the land. She was absolutely the correct choice; this 30-hectare vineyard with siliceous sandstone and calcareous sandstone soil bloomed under her touch. This is a hodgepodge of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre. 2016 was the warmest winter in the Massif d'Uchaux since 1900 and it produced a wine with super ripe strawberry and spice notes with an undercurrent of earthiness.

2014 Domaine Reveille 'Elan', Côtes Roussillon – Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($32 $28.80)
France Crispeels, native to Belgium, is as friendly and charming as her wines from the organic winery, Domaine Reveille. After studying architecture and working in business administration France decided to switch gears and discovered her hidden skill for winemaking. Elan, a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah is grown on granite and gneiss soil. After being fermented in whole bunches to preserve the roundness of the fruit, Elan is rustic and refreshing with cranberry tartness and earthiness.

2016 Division 'Un' Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley, Oregon ($32 $28.80)
Division is a Willamette winery to try if you're a fan of wines from Burgundy, the Loire, or the Côte du Rhône since the two owners, Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe, apprenticed in and modeled their wines on those regions. They're giddy about the 2016 vintage (the past few years in Willamette have unfortunately been very hot and dry) since 2016 had pristine Pinot Noir conditions! Taste their 'Un' and see if you agree! After 10 months aged in French oak, it is silky with ripe strawberry and raspberry notes with a touch of earth on the finish.

*10% off all tasting beverages this Friday