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Chateau La Commanderie De Queyret – White Bordeaux 2009

July 15th, 2010 by tom

Named for a Commandery of Knights based here in the 13th Century, this highly respected estate sits on 106 hectares of clay/limestone soils, 20 of which is planted in Sauvignon Blanc- used in this wine.  A delightfully pungent aroma and taste of sweet pea, lemon/lime, and grapefruit greets you, along with a dusty grey stone minerality and bracing acidity.  It will enhance any seafood dish like trout, oysters, or shrimp, as well as salads, poultry, tex/mex dinners, and especially Asian stir-fry with snow pea pods.  The 2009 vintage is being raved about by experts as one of the top vintages EVER in Bordeaux.  So, it’s an exciting pleasure to get to sample whites from this vintage now, like this one, before the reds are released.  Something to look forward to!

$14.99 /sale price- $16.99 / regular

Tom Bates

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DOMAINE HOUCHART ROSE 2009 – COTES DE PROVENCE, FRANCE

June 25th, 2010 by tom

It’s summer and that means it’s time to break out the roses – like this one from the locals of Aix-en-Provence.  With newly renovated wine making facilities, the 5th generation Houchart family estate has made a dandy.  Sourced from 5 different grape varieties(Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre), it’s salmon pink in color and loaded with dark red fruits. Lively, fresh and DRY, this one has good structure, concentration and intensity enough to satisfy you red wine drinkers out there. Serve between 50-55 degrees with any grilled meats, ham, salmon, pizza or Asian dishes.      Look for the gorgeous wallpaper type label.

Price: Reg. $15.99 / Sale  $13.99

Tom Bates

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Mirror Pond Pale Ale – Deschutes Brewery – Bend, Oregon

June 25th, 2010 by tom

Looking for a new pale ale to try instead of Bass, Sierra Nevada, or even our award wining Summit?  Check this out!  Very British in style, it instantly  brought back fond memories of English Real Ales found in all the pubs there.  After pouring, you notice a deep coppery amber color, and then the distinct floral ester aroma of the Cascade hops.  You’ll get caramel, citrus, lemon, and grapfruit flavors with a fresh yeasty bread doughy character that leads you to a light toasty and satisfying finish. But don’t take my word for it, Alstrom Bros from the Beer Advocate gives this brew an A-.  I would give it an A+.  Cheers!

Price: $9.99 /6pk  or $3.99 /22oz bottle

Tom Bates

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Donnafugata “Anthilia” 2008 – A White Blend from Sicily

June 18th, 2010 by tom

The Donnafugata estate has been consistently producing some of the best wines in Sicily for 150 years. “Anthilia” is a white blend of four indigenous grapes – Ansonica and Catarratto(both comprising 80% of the total), plus two other rarities. It’s very fragrant with floral notes, crisp, with rich fruit of lemon/lime, white peach and yellow plum. Only 12.5% alcohol, this is an excellent and refreshing summer alternative to the popular Pinot Grigio. A complete and complex Italian white wine, it is best served at about 50 degrees with light pasta dishes, chicken, fish, and all types of salads. It was a big hit at a recent patio party!
 $15.99

Tom Bates

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