Free tasting | Saturday, November 16, 2019 | 4-6PM

Guys. Girls. All y’all. The new Crozes-Hermitage from Matthieu Barret is OFF THE HOOK. Bethann from Cafe Europa is visiting us on Saturday and pouring Matthieu’s 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhône, as well as four other wines that we’ve already paired to the fall weather and your Thanksgiving feast. 10% discount on all tasting wines. Free Matthieu Barret bear hugs for all. See you there.

Crozes-Hermitage & More Line-up:

NV Moillard Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé

Who: Vincent Sauvestre

What: Pinot Noir and Gamay

Where: Burgundy, France

How: This was made in the Traditional Method aka the Champagne Method!    

Farming Method: Organic methods.

Fun Fact: Moillard was originally owned by the Moillard family who decided to become wine merchants when a railway near their home in Nuits-Saint Georges was built and they realized they could create wine for a larger audience!

Tasting Notes: Dry and bright with friendly notes of strawberries and raspberries.

2018 Benvenuti Malvazija 

Who: Livio, Albert, and Nikola Benvenuti 

What: Istarka Malvazija

Where: Kaldir, a small landlocked village in the center of Croatia

How: These grapes were hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts.

Farming Method: Organic methods

Fun Fact: Istarska Malvazija is one of the most popular grapes grown in Croatia.

Tasting Notes: Full-bodied with notes of clay, a fresh bouquet, and pears.

2016 Bodegas Ponce ‘Reto’ 

Who: Juan Antonio Ponce

What: Albillo 

Where: Manchuela, Spain

How: These grapes came from four different vineyards that were all planted between 40 and 60 years old. These Albillo grapes were then aged for 8 months in old barrels.

Farming Method: Biodynamic

Fun Fact: Juan Antonio started his winery in 2005 when he was 23 years old.

Tasting Notes: Honey-suckle, pear, and the tart bite of a Honeycrisp apple.

2017 Garage Wine Pais

Who: A winemaking trio of Pilar Miranda, Derek Mossman, and Dr. Alvaro Peña 

What: Pais

Where: Maule Valley, Chile

How: This was fermented with indigenous yeasts and was aged in neutral oak.

Farming Method: Organic

Fun Fact: Pilar, Derek, and Alvaro made wine informally together for friends and family members for about half a decade when a local newspaper wrote an article about their wine and cited them as ‘The Garage Wine Company.’ This is what motivated the friends to formally bottle and distribute their wine under this name! 

Tasting Notes: Juicy strawberry and raspberry fruit with an edgy pop of acid on the finish. Think earthy bubble gum, if that makes any sense.

2018 Matthieu Barret Crozes-Hermitage ‘Et La Bannière’

Who: Matthieu Barret

What: Syrah

Where: Northern Rhône Valley, France from the beautiful appellation of Crozes-Hermitage

How: After being harvested by hand these grapes underwent a ten day carbonic maceration with indigenous yeasts and aged in stainless steel for 9 months. Only 800 cases made!

Farming Method: Biodynamic

Fun Fact: Matthieu (a look alike for a young Jerry Garcia) is the 7th generation of winegrowers in his family; he joined his grandfather in the fields in 1997 and quickly became intrigued with biodynamic practices. Soon he exchanged his machinery for horses! “Et La Bannière” comes from David Reynaud’s vineyard, a biodynamic producer from Crozes-Hermitage. Barret sources from the younger vines to get a better fruit expression. Vinification happens at Reynaud’s winery, but everything is under Barret’s direction from harvest till bottling.

Tasting Notes: Rich plums, juniper, fresh soil, and raspberry pie. This is our Wine Director Susan’s #1 pick for Thanksgiving so come buy it before she drinks it all!