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60 Days of Rosé | #04 | La Vie en Rosé | Pays d’Oc | Cinsault Rosé | 2017

60 Days of Rosé | #04 | La Vie en Rosé | Pays d’Oc | Cinsault Rosé | 2017 | $9.99 (normally $12!)

Rolling in at number 4 during our 60 Days of Rosé is La Vie en Rosé – a wine we like so much, that every year, we snag stacks of it!

La Vie en Rosé fires on many cylinders:

  • Delicious, approachable, and crowd friendly
  • Drink by itself or with a BLT, fried chicken, Waldorf-style salads, fresh cheese, quinoa salad, Ratatouille, berry cobbler or pie… La Vie en Rosé is quite versatile
  • Easy to get into – unscrew the cap and enjoy!
  • Flowery, romantic label – we sell a lot for weddings
  • On sale for $9.99 (normally $11.99)

Enjoy this delightful rosé  today!

 

Read about Pays d’Oc:

content from www.paysdoc-wines.com

Cinsault: a delicacy

This grape variety is the ultimate Pays d’Oc rosé wines par excellence! It produces fresh wines with a pronounced taste of strawberry and rose petal, becoming slightly tile-red when assembled with Grenache where the rosé takes on its roundness.

Pays d’Oc grape varieties

Pays d’Oc wines are fruity and new, elegant and modern or refined and contemporary. They are perfect for every occasion, fulfil every desire and are ideal for every table. They have a well-defined French character, bathed in sunshine and the Mediterranean, which makes them easily recognisable.
Excellent value for money, Pays d’Oc wines are resolutely appealing.

Pays d’Oc: IGP – Protected Geographical Indication – a quality label

Pays d’Oc IGP is attributed to a wine that is exclusively produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon and has been accepted for approval by the Pays d’Oc Wine Producers Union. The label is awarded to wines that meet strict production quality criteria. The wine must also display typical Pays d’Oc characteristics. 92% of all Pays d’Oc IGP wines are varietal wines.

Between Land and Sea

The Pays d’Oc territory winds along the Mediterranean Sea, weaving itself along 4 departments in the Languedoc-Roussillon : Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault and the Gard. The Pays d’Oc boasts 200 km of beaches and vast expanses of vineyards bathed by the sun.  A rich and natural combination of steep slopes, hilly peaks, vineyards, garrigue vegetation and the sea, the Pays d’Oc territory is embraced by its Mediterranean climate that comfortably enfolds the vines with its dry and windswept soils.

Having always embraced the vine, Pays d’Oc has adapted its vineyard and adopted grape varieties from different regions in France.  These grapes have embraced the Pays d’Oc and taken on the region’s charm.

The terroir effect

The terroir effect is noticeable upon tasting wines from the different Pays d’oc zones.  The Languedoc-Roussillon’s wealth of diverse soils and climates are exemplified by its *** terroirs. As grapes embrace the land from which they are grown, the grape varieties express themselves differently depending on the climate, exposure, relief, and soils. Pays d’Oc’s patchwork of wine-growing areas creates an expression of these grape varieties that is unique.

Pays d’Oc men and women

In the Pays d’Oc, mankind and vineyards tell one of the most beautiful stories of life and passion. Throughout the centuries and eras, passion for wine has always stayed alive.  Despite all the ups and downs of history, it remains, more than ever, connected to its territory. Over the past 30 years, the men and women from Pays d’Oc have understood the importance of adapting regional viticulture to economic and regulatory changes. Their heartfelt commitment to the regional viticulture tradition has created a strong motivation towards optimising the use of the vineyards. Using a savoir-faire passed down through the centuries, they create high-quality wines that reflect Pays d’Oc’s typicity.

As a result, Pays d’Oc wines embody wine growers’ passion and commitment and reflect the producers’ ability to combine tradition and modernity.

 

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60 Days of Rosé #02 | Simple Life Rosé | $9.99

60 Days of Rosé #02 | Simple Life Rosé | $9.99 (compare at $12.99!)

Refreshing & vibrant, Simple Life rosé is a crowd friendly, easy drinking rosé for only $9.99 – enjoy the ‘Simple Life’ today!

From simplelifewinery.com:

SIMPLE LIFE WINE –
Growing up in a small town in California means being able to enjoy the Simple Life. We walk downtown and shop at family-owned grocery stores, we cook with fresh vegetables and meat from local farms, and we drink wine made by our family and friends who have lived here for generations

ROSÉ –
A new addition to the Simple Life lineup, the Rosé has vibrant aromas of fresh florals, red fruits and zesty citrus. The palate holds refreshing flavors of juicy strawberry, watermelon, cranberry and hibiscus.

The Simple Life Rosé is distinct and intentionally made in an understated style. Skin contact was minimized to promote fruit forward aromas, bright flavors, and a stunning pale, rose gold color. Minimizing grape skin contact also helps build a wine with soft tannins that lets the acidity and minerality shine through.

FOOD PAIRING –
Although our rosé is delightful to sip on its own, we suggest pairing with a fresh caprese salad, smoked gouda & mushroom quesadillas or grilled salmon with pesto sauce.

WINEMAKING –
As grapes were received at the winery they were immediately pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at cold temperatures. No oak was used during fermentation and the resulting wine did not go through malolactic fermentation. This wine is meant to show-case fruit from the premier California vineyards individually selected for this rosé wine.

TASTING NOTES –
This elegant and dry wine is a glimmering rose gold color in the glass. Bright aromas and flavors of wild strawberry, rose petal, pear blossom and jasmine floral notes are inviting. The wine is fresh and delicate with a juicy fruit palate and balanced acidity. This Simple Life rosé will pair well with a wide array of foods or is delightful to sip on its own.

PHILOSOPHY –
We treasure this small town, California life and its simple pleasures – like walking down-town and shopping at family-owned grocery stores, cooking with fresh ingredients from local farms, and drinking wine made by our family and friends who have been here for generations. We created these wines for the people that enjoy the simple things in life; friends, family and a glass of wine.

 

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Broc Cellars | Love Red Wine

 

Luscious and craveable, Broc Cellars Love Red wine delights our customers from vintage to vintage with this alluring red blend.

Specializing in “site specific” wines from biodynamically  grown grapes and minimal intervention, Chris Brockway is a winemaker from whom we buy every drop of wine we can.

Broc Love Red is a wine you can easily enjoy by itself, or at the table with flank steak and roasted potatoes, butternut soup, fried chicken, pork tacos, BLTs, burgers… it is quite versatile (and delicious!)

In the summer, you can even give it just a hint of a chill to enjoy during the warm weather.

Next time you need a new wine to try or a wine gift for under $20, snag a bottle of Broc Cellars Love Red. You won’t be disappointed!

Broc Cellars | Love Red Blend | 2016 | $17.99 / 750ml

 

 

From broccellars.com:

BROC CELLARS | 2016 LOVE RED

  • VARIETAL: 54% Carignan, 31% Syrah, 15% Valdiguié
  • VINEYARD: Wirth Ranch, Parenti and Frei Vineyard
  • LOCATION: Solano County, Green Valley
  • ALCOHOL: 13%
  • TOTAL PRODUCTION: 3600 cases

VITICULTURAL AREA: The grapes come from 50 to 70 year-old vines in Solano County’s Green Valley. This area is tucked between Napa and Suisun Valley. Syrah comes from Parenti and Wirth Ranch. Valdiguie comes from Parenti, Wirth and Frei Vineyard. Carignan comes from Frei and Parenti Vineyard. The grapes of each vineyard grow in clay loam soils and come from dry-farmed and head-
pruned vines. Our wines are made naturally, meaning no use of inoculated yeasts or bacteria. We use only native yeast to spark fermentation. We do not add any powdered tannins or enzymes.

 

 

WINEMAKER’S NOTES: The fifth bottling of Love Red’s grapes were harvested in the second week of September to preserve the grape’s natural acidity. The Carignan and Syrah were 100% destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The Valdiguié went under carbonic fermentation in stainles steel. Aged for 8 months in neutral French Oak barrels and blended before bottling.

 

 

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Rosé Wine – We’re hard at work!

Jason & Kate at an industry rosé tasting
Jason & Kate at an industry rosé tasting

Jason & Kate at an industry rosé tasting

A ‘Rosé’ among thorns…  We’re working hard these days, shifting through 100’s of wines to bring you the best deals and best tasting Rosé of the year!

Stay tuned for our ’60 Days of Rosé’ feature kicking off about a week – we’ll be posting reviews about our favorite, the most craveable, utterly scrumptious rosés about every other day for 60 days.

Stay tuned and thirsty!

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Tessellae Carignan | Vieilles Vignes | Côtes Catalanes – Back In Stock!

A $16.99 stunner!

We are delighted to announce the return of Tessellae Carignan Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) to our wonderful French red wine section.

This gorgeous French red wine has a solid following at our store, so much that we have to pre-order it multiple times a year.

Next time you need a great, versatile bottle of red wine for under $20, snag a bottle of Tessellae.

Tessellae Carignan | Vieilles Vignes | Côtes Catalanes | 14.5% ABV | $16.99

Tessallae Carignan Vieilles Vignes –

  • Varital | 100% Carignan
  • Age of Vines | 70  Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines)
  • Location | Roussillon, France
  • Appellation | Côtes Catalanes IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée)
  • Size | 160 hectares
  • Farming | Practicing organic
  • Soil | Schist
  • Altitude | 275 meters
  • Fermentation | Hand harvested, destemmed, cold pre-fermentation maceration, fermented in concrete
  • Aging | 12 months in concrete tanks (80%) and demi-muid (20%)
  • Flavor | Black raspberry and black cherry fruit, licorice and dried spices to go with a super sexy, heady, seamless style on the palate that keeps you coming back to the glass.
  • Food Parings | Vermont Creamery Cremont, Fresh Chevre, Cranberry Vinaigrette Salad, Tumeric/Curry Pilaf, Moroccan Couscous, Coconut Pepper Chili Soup, Spicy Shrimp Thai, Balsamic Glazed Chicken.

From europeancellars.com

Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage farm 160 hectares of vines located just south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean while others can be found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This range of sites allow them to make both refreshing whites as well as concentrated reds and, this being the Roussillon, some fortified wines as well. Benefiting from a warm, dry climate, the estate is farmed organically.

They grow primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne and Chardonnay with a significant proportion of the vines well over 50 years old. The soil, as you near the coast is weathered, alluvial gravel while in the higher elevation sites it is predominantly schist. They harvest by hand and the winemaking is surprisingly uncomplicated with stainlesss steel for the fresher whites but mostly concrete tanks for the rest with a
small amount of French oak demi-muids.

Carignan has had a rather tumultuous history in the south of France. Once seen as a necessary grape to spur the recovery of the region after the plague of phylloxera in the late 19th century, primarily for its ability to produce high yields, it has been largely replaced with “nobler” varieties such as Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. This is unfortunate, for as challenging as the variety is to love when the vines are young, they are superb with half a century under their belt. Jean-Marc Lafage luckily resisted the call to uproot and replace this variety, and he possesses Carignan vines well over 70 years old on schist with which he makes the Tessellae Carignan.

 

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Fall for Ferrari-Carano Wines

~ Fall for Ferrari-Carano Wines ~

Ferrari-Carano has been delighting wine lovers with their exquisite wines for decades.

From well-structured reds to luscious whites, Ferrari-Carano has something for everyone.

If you are looking to treat yourself or give a stunning gift, dive into the delicious world of Ferrari-Carano!

 

In Stock:

Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc | Sauvignon Blanc | Sonoma County |2016 | 13.8% ABV | $13.99! (compare at $17.99)

Ferrari-Carano Reserve Chardonnay | Napa Valley – Carneros | 2013 | 14.2% ABV | $39.99

Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay | Sonoma County | 2015 | 14.2% ABV | $19.99! (compare at $29.99)

Ferrari-Carano Tré Terre Chardonnay | Russian River Valley – Sonoma County | 2014 | 14.1% ABV | $19.99

Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon | Alexander Valley – Sonoma County | 2014 | 14.5% ABV | $29.99! (compare at $35.99)

From ferrari-carano.com:

Our Promise – “The bottom line is quality without compromise. This is a commitment we feel is reflected in every bottle of our wine,” Don Carano

Our Vineyards – As Don Carano says, “Great wine begins in the vineyard.” Ferrari-Carano is fortunate to own and cultivate some of the finest vineyard land in all of California.

Vineyard Philosophy – Our vineyard practices are customized to match the particular characteristics of each vineyard, to help the vines produce the best fruit possible, and in turn, the best wine possible

Ferrari-Carano is a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard

Steve and his team have long practiced sustainable farming techniques, such as recycling organic matter for use as mulch in the vineyards, planting cover crops and other plant species to avoid soil erosion and to add desirable nutrients back to the soil as well as attract desirable insects, and integrating animals to naturally enhance biodiversity and nutrient recycling.

Ferrari-Carano’s 2016 Fumé Blanc is a delicious wine with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, pineapple, guava, citrus, lemon grass and a touch of minerality. This wine has bright acidity and crisp freshness from the cool, stainless steel tank fermentation, while the subtle oak character from neutral French oak barrels adds body, complexity and depth.

 

 

The 2015 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay from Sonoma County has superior lots of wine from our vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros. This full-bodied and refreshing Chardonnay boasts aromas of graham cracker, quince, lemons, orange blossoms, lychee, and white peaches perfectly balanced by flavors of Meyer lemon, pear and butter cream with a toasty vanilla finish.

 

The grapes for the Reserve Chardonnay come primarily from our vineyard in Napa Valley Carneros. This wine has elegant, upfront aromas and flavors of quince, apple, cinnamon, caramel, citrus, butter, pear, vanilla, graham cracker, peach, crème brûlée and hazelnut complemented by a lingering, toasted oak finish. The cool climate of Napa Valley Carneros imparts its unique finesse to the wine, while the Alexander Valley component adds an intensely rich mouth-filling character.

 

The 2014 Tré Terre Chardonnay from Russian River Valley is a delicious, full-bodied wine with aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon, citrus, pear, green apple, peach, apricot, brown sugar, spice and maple. A wine with bright fruit and nice acidity, this Chardonnay has a long, lingering finish.

 

 

 

Our Cabernet Sauvignon comes from mountain-grown fruit in Alexander Valley. Vibrant aromatics of cassis, mocha, dried cherries, mint, cola and smoky leather awaken the senses, while full-bodied flavors of black cherries and plums generously fill the palate. Supple tannins and lingering notes of toasty caramel round out the finish.