Everyone needs a little happiness in their life... and is there any better way to find it then with Champagne? I think not!

Oh, and apparently, the picture I thought was of Sicily was not... I've been "Googled!"... so I'm amending my Italian Wines of the Year offer with an accurate picture... 

Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Champagne NV

Sale $24.89 net

Beats Best US Price online!

91 pts Wine Spectator

Here ‘ya go… The best US Price on Wine Spectator’s highest-rated Champagne under $40.

Boom. Mic Drop. I’m out.

Always a favorite, the Feuilatte bottling this season is the best in recent memory. Wine Spectator, whose “memory” is longer than mine, agrees, with its highest-rating ever for the bottling! No doubt thanks to the inclusion of a huge chunk from the stellar 2012 vintage, this gem sparkles with citrus and floral notes. A true Champagne blend - 40% Pinot Noir for roundness and structure, 20% Chardonnay for elegance and finesse and 40% Pinot Meunier for fruit character.

On first whiff, I was impressed. Intense aromas waft from the glass, mingling honeysuckle, pear and citrus. On first sip, I was more than a little impressed with the textural richness of this bubbly. Upon further investigation, I understand why. While the law only requires 15 months on the lees, the Feuillatte is aged at least 36 months, giving it more time to develop complexity and finer bubbles. Altogether, this is one classy, elegant Champagne that begs for another sip... or gulp...

I can think of no better way to start the evening, toasting to friends, family, loved ones and good health!

“An aperitif-style Champagne, with flavors of crème de cassis, lemon curd and pastry riding a creamy mousse and framed by crisp, well-knit acidity. Drink now through 2020.” WS


Or reply. Arrives Friday after 1 pm. 
 

Italian Wines of the Year! With A real picture of Siciliy this time! 

 "Italian Wines of the Year? Really? Hyperbole much, Todd?" Perhaps on occasion, but I am shooting it straight here. The Frappato was destined for the Case of the Year, but got delayed because... well... Italy...  We could have canceled the order, or amended the quantity, but this was my favorite of the entire case! My favorite Italian wine of all of 2017! Are you kidding me? People should be buying (and drinking) this by the case load! And the Nero d'Avola? Absolutely stunning... at a price point too low for the Case of the Year... so we just ordered a bunch for fun! Well, now they are both here and it's time to party! 

Oh, and did I mention... at the best price in the entire US?!?! Get it while you can... only 500 cases of Frappato are produced... and we have 80! When it is gone, it is gone for a long time!
Centonze Frappato 2016

Mix a case and pay $13.99

Mix Six and pay $14.99
All else Sale $15.99 net - All Prices Beat the Best US Price online!

91 pts Vinous Media!

100% Frappato from Siciliy. If you haven’t discovered Frappato, you MUST try this wine. I mean, I "suggest" you consider buying some... my friend Vincenzo over there might get a little bent out of shape... kidding... kidding... unfortunately, the infamous Godfather movies have obscured the true image of Sicily. An amazing coastline, studded with small towns perched upon rocky cliffs, secluded beaches with just room enough for two, crystal blue waters offering the freshest fish, garden-fresh produce and... WINE! While Sicily boasts thousands of years of production, it is late to the international party. And you know what that means... stunning wines at ridiculously low prices! For now... 

A purple-y red, the wine explodes from the glass with oodles of raspberry, strawberry and violets. At once rich and lush, it is also medium in body and has a weightless elegance to it. Think California Pinot Noir, without the oak, and a brighter fruit profile. Or maybe Grenache from the Rhone... or Garnacha from Spain... It is extremely pure and laser-focused, every sip bringing little explosions of fruit and floral notes. The acidity is bright, resulting in a mouth-watering finish that begs, nay commands, you take another gulp… er sip… okay, I lie… GULP! For food? Hmm... eggplant is everywhere in Sicily... why not try this with Parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parm)... or maybe fresh fish topped with caponata... or Pasta alla Norma, a stick-to-your-ribs dish, it’s made with fried eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and ricotta salata. (Click on the pic for a recipe)
 

" Intensely perfumed bright aromas of red cherry and violet with a pungent florality typical of the Frappato variety. Bright and fresh on the long vibrant and very juicy finish. It’s impossible not to like this cheerful, juicy bright red." Vinous

Centonze Nero d'Avola 2015

Mix a case and pay $10.99

Mix Six and pay $11.99
All else Sale $12.99 net - All Prices Beat the Best US Price online!

92 pts Vinous

100% Nero d' Avola. Nero is the Yin to Frappato's Yang - the dark, earthy counterpoint to the bright juiciness of Frappato. Together, they blend to form Sicily's finest wines - Cerasuolo. Here we have the chance to experience them as individuals! Dark cherry aromas and flavors mingle with Meditteranean herbs in a lush, rich wine. What I find particularly compelling is how this lushness is balanced by vibrant acidity and a fine beam of tannins. A dream with food. The aforementioned Pasta alla Norma would be fabulous... but I am really craving a pork roast, marinated in a combination of citrus and herbs, straight from the shores of Siciliy. (Click on the pic for a recipe)

"Dark ruby-red; this wine, made with Nero d’Avola, is much darker than Centoze’s Frappato, as it should be, as the latter cannot give very dark or inky colored wines. Very ripe on the nose and in the mouth, but with still lively aromas and flavors of red and black cherry fruit complicated by tobacco, violet and sweet spice notes. Obviously superripe fruit was picked here, but the wine is surprisingly light on its feet. Couldn’t be anymore different from Centonze’s Frappato, but each will have its fans." Vinous

 

Or reply. Available Friday after 1 pm. Both Stores.



Bonus Wine - Something Sweet for the Holidays

Il Palazzino Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2001 (375 ml - Half Bottle) 37.99 net - 94 pts Vinous Media!

So what is Vin Santo you ask? Vin Santo translates into Holy Wine. Its a dessert wine that is primarily found in Tuscany, but also made in Umbria, Trentino-Alto-Adige and Veneto. Il Palazzino's Vinsanto is made from white Malvasia di Toscana grapes along with a very small amount of Trebbiano Toscano. The grapes are picked in late September and hung from iron hooks in well-ventilated rooms, where they are allowed to wither slowly for several months. The concentrated juice from these grapes, high in sugar and flavor, is sealed in small chestnut or oak barrels to stop the fermentation once the oxygen inside is used up. After five years, the Vinsanto is ready for bottling. At the end of this long process, the yield is usually less than 2,000 liters of Vinsanto per hectare.

"Il Palazzino's 2001 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is fabulous. Extended time in cask and bottle had produced a mellow, wonderfully mature sweet wine loaded with class and personality. Dried figs, burnt sugar, tobacco, smoke, new leather and spices caress the palate in a rich, textured wine that hits all the right notes. Drink now-2021." Vinous

I love Vin Santos, but they're increasingly incredibly hard to find, and if you can find them they're usually very expensive. The production process is long and arduous, there aren't many wineries in Chianti still making these wines. For those that do its usually a labor of love, more something that owners and staff consume themselves. Were very lucky to have access to this wine, and to have a 94 pt rated Vin Santo at this price - unheard of, snap it up while you can!


Or reply. Available Friday after 1 pm. Both Stores.

 

Thirsty Thursday Super South America with Winebridge! – Thursday, December 14th- Chapel Hill- 5-7 PM- It may be dreary here, but it’s nearly summer in Mendoza! We’ve got four superstar reds all at prices perfect for your holiday parties! Come steal some warmth with some of our new favorite reds from Calvin’s trip to Argentina earlier this year all at the best prices in the US! Hope to see you there!

• Alma Cruz Single Vineyard Carmenere 2015 – US Best Price Sale $20.99 / Reg. $27.99 (Save 25%) – A gorgeous Chilean Carmenere from the more coastal region of the Colchagua valley, this deep red shows off the intense floral notes of Chilean reds. Ripe red fruit bolstered by rich herbs and a delicate vanilla make this beautifully approachable, but the balanced by a brisk acid and soft tannins from 12 months in oak.  Because of its lovely round body and incredible herbaciousness, Carmenere is perfect next to holiday foods like roasted turkey or chicken drumsticks!
• Antonio Mas Single Vineyard Malbec 2015 – US Best Price Sale $16.99 / Reg. $22.99 (Save 25%) – 92 pts James Suckling -  Straightforward, fresh, and fruit driven, the 2014 Antonio Mas is a wonderful expression of the Uco Valley. From vineyards nearly 1000 meters above sea level, this Malbec shows it’s intensity right from the bottle. Ripe and racy purple fruit with a persistent nose of violets and lavender, as well as soft, supple tannins, make this perfect to share with friends!
• Hinojosa Malbec 2016 – US Best Price Sale $13.59 / Reg. $16.99 (Save 20%) – Grown at 4000 feet above sea level the grapes at Bodega Hinojosa enjoy a long, slow ripening under a cool mountain sun. This wonderfully nuanced fruit sings with ripe blue and black fruit balanced by a smoky vanilla and a light touch of oak. A winding, floral backbone unleashes aromas wonderful for pairing with soft cheeses or red meat, or you can just save yourself some time and enjoy it next to a burger with some Havarti!
• Catalpa Assemblage 2013  – US Best Price Sale $22.99 / Reg. $28.99 – A nigh-ostentatious blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet, and Malbec, the Catalpa Assemblage is perfectly plush. Soft red and purple fruit blend with an oaken backbone to provide a wonderful structure for this maddeningly good red, wile a violet perfume nose extends for what seem like days. A Bordeaux blend in a distinctly Argentinian style, this wine practically demands a reverse-seared Ribeye next to it!

Hillsborough Wine Co. – FREE Fridays – December 15th from 5-6:30 – King Cabernet & a Bubbly! It finally feels like winter!  If you enjoy braised meats and stews as much as I do this time of year, you’ll want to stop by this Friday to taste our line-up of wines guaranteed to pair beautifully with winter cuisine.  For fun, we will have a sparkling wine as well.  All of these wines also make excellent gifts!

• Faire la Fete Cremant di Limoux NV – Sale $13.99 / Reg. $20.99 – “Faire la Fete, to Create a Party, originates in the village of Limoux where the World’s longest running annual carnival celebration allows revelers to dance, sing, celebrate and enjoy an endless flow of sparkling wine. The key to the terroir in Limoux says the winemaker is the wonderful mix of chalk and clay soils.  Combine that with the hillside vineyards and you get lovely rich aromas with classic sparkling elegance.” 
• (Alexander Valley) Embankment Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – Sale $19.99 / Reg. $26.99 – 94 Points, Wine and Spirits Guild of America  “Another sensational wine from fabled winemaker Nick Goldshcmidt. It pours a bright garnet color with aromas of bright red fruits. Palate-coating velvety soft tannins pave the way for a wonderful dried raspberry flavor that’s accompanied by a graphite minerality that really shines. The finish lingers with flavors of oak and cassis. This wine will undoubtedly be a rock star in 3-5 years."
• (Napa Valley) Ultraviolet Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – Sale $27.50 / Reg. $37.99 – “Ultraviolet is a homage to the California climate where winemaker, Samantha Sheehan, grew up. A pure expression of fruit ripened under the California sun. Ripe notes of blueberry compote, plums, fresh violet petals and currant, a round mouthfeel with hints of blackberry bramble, black pepper, and a Bordeaux-like earthiness, with bright acidity and a velvety, persistent tannin.” -Winery website
• (Red Hills, Lake Co.) Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – Sale $26.99 / Reg. $34.99 - Estate grown high mountain Californian Cabernet Sauvignon. “The black rocks of Obsidian Ridge in Lake County, at an elevation of 2,600 feet, make it one of the more distinctive terroirs in Northern California. Geologists have said that the soils have to be a minimum of 10,000 years old, which perhaps explains the high quality of these wines, which are selling at modest prices.” - Robert M. Parker Jr.  The Obsidian Ridge is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (337 clone). This is actually pretty rare in California these days, most Cabs we see are essentially blends of mostly Cab. But here we have the real deal, all mountain Cab baby – this is what Cali Cab really ought to taste like! Enticing and intriguing on the nose, brambly dark fruits with hints of cocoa powder. Rich and generous in the mouth, this wine features notes of black cherries mixed with blackberries galore and is soft yet voluminous. The concentration is representative of the third year of drought in California, creating dense, layered flavors that hold on the palate. Pretty awesome stuff, at an incredible price!