COMMON CENTS CLUB April 2021 | 3-bottle line up

Welcome to April 2021. We made it!

Spring is fully enveloping us in a sunny glow, the world is looking a little brighter and more vaccinated than a year ago, and the wine is as good as ever.

This month marks our 1-year anniversary since the wine club started (woo!), and as we reflect on the last year and get a little misty-eyed by how much our little club has grown, we just want to tell you thank you so, so much for your support. It’s meant the world.

Jen + Natalie

2018 Château de la Jousselinière Perle Bleue : Region: , France Retail: $12 / bottle or $126 / case (that’s $10.50 / bottle if you buy 12) Pronunciation: “fohl-blawnsh”

This wine is brought to us by the Chon brothers. Their family started making wine in Burgundy back in the 1600s, but a terrible frost in 1709 destroyed most of the in the area and forced them to relocate to the Loire Valley. The Chons have been there ever since, focused on making bright seaside like this one. The main grape here is Folle Blanche (aka Picpoul), and while we typically see it as the backbone of the , this bottle is proof that it can also spur a very beguiling wine.

Drinking & pairing ideas*: Fresh, cold shellfish (the oyster shell on the label is perfectly on the nose), shrimp , or creamy goat cheese smeared on crackers or tossed in an arugula salad.

2018 La Valle Del Sole Passerina Grape: Passerina Region: Le Marche, Retail: $17 / bottle or $169 / case (that’s $14.08 / bottle if you buy 12) Pronunciation: “leh mar-shay” Passerina is a rare grape, but it’s a long-time cult favorite. Even the birds agree — in Italian, sparrows are called “passeros”, a name given to them by the winemakers who begrudgingly witnessed their voracious appetite for the Passerina grape. We love this perfectly springtime version from the female-owned not too far from the beautiful Adriatic beach.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Pull this bottle out of the fridge on a sunny afternoon to go with cheese, salumi, and olives while you grill veggies then top them with olive oil and grated parmesan. It would also be great with spaghetti and clams. Or all of the above.

2019 Josep Grau Montsant “L'Efecte Volador” : , Cinsault Region: Montsant, Spain Retail: $18 / bottle or $176 / case (that’s $14.66 / bottle if you buy 12) Pronunciation: “sin-so”

Montsant is a rugged region nestled in Catalunya just south of Barcelona. The vineyards sit on rocky soil high up in the hills, with capricious weather that requires a certain amount of grit from the farmers. When the winemaker, Josep, saw how unforgiving the terrain can be, he said, “This area is inhabited by stubborn people. Obviously, I stayed.” We’re glad he did.

Drinking & pairing ideas: If you’re thinking about uncovering your BBQ for the first time in awhile, might we suggest some juicy backyard burgers with this chewy wine? Toss some grilled chicories with balsamic dressing and peppery breadcrumbs and we’ll be right over.

2018 Erste & Neue Kalterersee Grape: Schiava Region: Alto Adige, Italy Retail: $15 / bottle or $151 / case (that’s $12.58 / bottle if you buy 12) Pronunciation: “skee-ah-vuh”

Schiava is an international grape of mystery. It’s also known as Vernatsch, or Trollinger in Germany, or Black Hamburg in England. You’ll see it listed on bottles as Edelvernatsch, Kleinvernatsch, or St. Magdalener. It has multiple passports and no time for your questions. But in all seriousness, it’s an ancient grape of Northern Italy that makes a fun, lighter-bodied wine that might be your new favorite daytime red for the summer.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Try it with gingery, basil-y Vietnamese dishes with shrimp and sweet and spicy sauce. Or roasted lemongrass salmon. For a good time, give it a little chill.

2020 J. Mourat Vin de France Blanc Chenin de Jardin Naturiste Grape: Region: Loire Valley, France Retail: $18 / bottle or $176 / case (that’s $14.66 / bottle if you buy 12) Jérémie is a young winemaker who took over for his dad at the family winery in 2000, and has since worked hard to convert the farming practices to organic, with minimal intervention in his . Meaning, he tries to let the grapes do their thing without adding stuff like sulfites and without filtering out stuff like sediment. It’s bright, crisp, and refreshing, with a bit of a -like texture and a hoppy vibe that makes it both interesting and delightful. It’s also Natalie’s pick of the month.

Drinking & pairing ideas: In the mood to cook? This would be so good with pan-seared pork chops and an herby apple and citrus salad. Or, did you just say to your partner, “What sounds good for dinner tonight?” Order Thai delivery and pour a glass while you wait.

2017 Querciabella Maremma Toscana DOC “Mongrana” Grapes: , , Region: Tuscany, Italy Retail: $25 / bottle or $235 / case (that’s $19.58 / bottle if you buy 12) Pronunciation: “san-jo-vay-zay”

This quiet winery with rolling, grassy hills in the Chianti region is about as dreamy as they come. It was one of the first Italian to convert to organic in the 80s, and now we get to enjoy this stellar value (and natural) Super Tuscan. Natural wines are often thought to be fringe wines — they may taste and feel different from what you’re used to. But this bottle packs a beautiful, refined wine that you might not even suspect is “natural” if we didn’t tell you. It’s also Jen’s natural pick of the month.

Drinking & pairing ideas: If we had to conjure up the perfect meal to go with this wine, a big plate of crispy-edged lasagna would suddenly appear on our table next to a lemony kale salad, a crusty loaf of bread to scrape up the leftover sauce in the pan, and a few of our closest friends. But that’s just one idea.

*As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.