August 2018 Wine Club Selections • Only One Bottle of Each Wine May
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Copyright© Vino Venue 2018 August 2018 Wine Club Selections • Only one bottle of each wine may be selected • Some bottles only allowed at 6-bottle membership level • Please email your selections BEFORE coming in to the store • A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section is at the end of this document • Bonus Wines: Members get 1st dibs on buying allocated wines White Wines 2016 Maior de Mendoza “Fulget” ALBARIñO, Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain 4 and 6 bottle levels $15 (member price $13) 100% Albarino Rias Baixas is in northwest Spain, next to the Atlantic, and just north of Portugal. A family owned winery, Maior de Mendoza is one of the pioneering wineries of Rias Baixas, and owns many of the oldest vineyards. The fruit for Fulget comes from estate vineyards in Val do Salnés. This unoaked dry white has notes of white peach, bosc pear, hints of butter, grass and salinity. Because it sees some lees aging, it has more body than most albariños. Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy with lemony clam tossed linguine, steamed mussels, grilled sea bass with seasonal vegetables, Paella, pan seared scallops with lemon caper sauce. Pair with regional foods like pulpo a’ feira (octopus seasoned with paprika), classic ceviche, arroz negro (black rice with seafood), or grilled sardines with lemon, garlic and paprika. Or enjoy a glass with light creamy cheeses like Burrata or chèvre and soft Spanish cheeses like Nata de Cantabria cream, Marjorera goat and Torta de Casar, along with slices of Serrano and Marcona almonds. 2016 J. Wilkes PINOT BLANC, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California 4 and 6 bottle levels $17 (member price $15) 95% Pinot Blanc, 5% Melon de Bourgogne Jeff Wilkes was a long-time grape grower and grape salesman at Bien Nacido Vineyard and Solomon Hills in Santa Maria Valley (northern Santa Barbara) before starting his namesame winery in 2001. His understanding of the terroir and relationships with vineyard owners meant that he found the best fruit. Tangerine, peach, white flowers, dried honey, wet stones are featured flavors of this unoaked dry white. As it ages, the honeyed aspects come to the forefront, as the fruit drops. Get an extra bottle, stash it away for 4-5 years and explore the difference! Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: Savor with field greens drizzled with lemon vinaigrette, sushi rolls, quince-glazed pork chops, pan-seared trout with grilled summer squash, and clammy linguine swimming in a delicate broth. This aromatic white is also excellent with Alsatian dishes like pan-fried frog legs in parsley cream sauce, pork tenderloin with Hollandaise and herbed spaetzle, Tarte Flambée (Alsatian Bacon & Onion Tart) . After dinner, enjoy a glass with foie gras mousse, charcuterie, quince paste, Humboldt Fog and dried fruit. Copyright© Vino Venue 2018 2016 Au Bon Climat CHARDONNAY, Santa Barbara County, California 4 and 6 bottle levels $23 (member price $20) 100% Chardonnay Whenever I get around to compiling a Top 10 USA Winemakers list, Jim Clendenen will be on it. He’s been producing elegant Chards and Pinots for 35 years out of Au Bon Climat’s facility in Bien Nacido Vineyard. Jim is also generous, as he’s in Atlanta every year for the High Museum Wine Auction. I took advantage of a distributor promotion to be able to offer this to 4 and 6 bottle members. One year in French oak (mostly used), meyer lemon, tart green apple, dried honey, vanilla. Zippy acid for California. Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: This elegant chardonnay is simply sensational with baked oysters sprinkled with smoked truffle Pecorino, Alfredo linguine topped with succulent lobster, crispy veal cutlets over toasted polenta, baked shrimp scampi, grilled chicken with lemon vinaigrette over arugula, Cornish game hen with mushroom risotto, maple teriyaki glazed salmon with couscous and pineapple chutney and herbed pork chops with Brie and sautéed mushroom farrotto. Or simply savor a glass with dreamy Tete de Moine, creamy Camembert, Halloumi or Brillat‐Savarin drizzled with a touch of honey. Sparkling Wine nv J Vineyards “Cuvee 20” SPARKLING BRUT, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California 6 bottle level $34 (member price $22) 54% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, 3% Pinot Meunier J Vineyards was founded in 1986 as a sparkling wine house, then they followed with a lineup of still wines. Cuvee 20 is a traditional method sparkler, aged 24 months on the lees, then another 6 months in the bottle. Cuvee 20 has the familiar Champagne cépage, although the fruit is more pronounced. Creamy texture, green apple, lemon zest, red raspberry, toasted almond. Please note that Cuvee 20 is a 6 bottle level wine. Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: Fireworks won’t be the only thing sparking up your Labor Day celebration! These delicate bubbles pair with all your summer favorites from crispy mini crab cakes topped with a dollop of Remoulade and goat cheese rolled with herbes d’provence to crisp summer salads drizzled with lemon-vinaigrette and fresh lobster rolls. This versatile sparkler is ideal served on the back patio along with appetizers such as ahi tuna tartare chips, chilled pea soup, fresh popped white cheddar popcorn and chips and homemade salsa or throughout the meal with smoked salmon over butternut squash risotto, grilled chicken stuffed with Gorgonzola over wild rice and four cheese ravioli tossed with pesto. Whether you’re cocktailing by the pool or grilling out at the park, this sparkler is guaranteed to be a hit especially with triple cream cheeses, fresh chèvre and creamy Camembert. Copyright© Vino Venue 2018 Beer Wine is numero uno for me, but I also love beer! I’m featuring world class beers in the coming months. These beers will be 750ml (“wine bottle size”), and deserve a place at your next dinner or party. nv Brasserie Dupont SAISON, Belgium (750ml) 4 and 6 bottle levels $16 (member price $14) “Saison Dupont is to the saison style category what Jay-Z is to rapping, Jordan is to basketball and Ali is to boxing."— Sayre Piotrkowski (Beer Cicerone) Leave it to a millenial to keep it real! Saison Dupont is the classic Farmhouse Ale. The 1st fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, the 2nd fermentation in the bottle. Saison (“season”) beer is produced in the winter, and made to be consumed in the summer, but Saison Dupont is no lawnmower beer! Complex flavors of herbs, coriander, citrus and yeast. Mid-palate has some sweetness and tartness, finish is dry. Like Duchesse de Bourgogne (July Beer), Saison Dupont begs to be matched with a cheese plate. Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy this refreshing saison with a Caesar salad topped with parmesan, croutons and grilled salmon, grilled spiced chicken thighs with summer squash, pork tenderloin wrapped with bacon, beer brats stuffed with cheese and beer battered onion rings dipped in spiked Dijon mustard, lobster ravioli, and even spicy Thai food such as curry snapper steamed in banana leaf or pork satay with spicy peanut sauce. Or simply enjoy a glass with rich and stinky washed rind cheeses like Limburger, Taleggio, Winnimere and Epoisses. Rosé Wine 2017 Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta “Futurosa” DRY ROSE, Piedmont, Italy 4 and 6 bottle levels $18 (member price $16) 50% Barbera, 50% Merlot The Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta family has been producing wine in Piedmont since the 11th century, and the family is still operating the winery. Amongst their ancestors are the founder of the Italian World Wildlife Fund and the creator of Sassicaia (the original Super Tuscan). Their vineyards are located in the Monferrato Hills (surrounding the village of Asti; just east of Barolo and Barbaresco). Their estate wines include Futurosa (rosy future), a dry unoaked rosé with notes of strawberry, raspberry, dried herbs and red roses. Lizette’s Food Pairing Suggestions: This picnic-perfect rosé promises to be your new favorite summer wine pairing perfectly with sunshine quaffed poolside as an apéritif. It’s equally delightful with grilled swordfish topped with salsa verde, crab ceviche, linguine tossed with clams, salmon Niçoise, milk braised pork with four cheese risotto, grilled Fontina and speck panini, truffle oil roasted salmon with summer veggies, and asparagus and prosciutto flatbread. This versatile rosé also pairs perfectly with a wide selection of cheese especially of the goat variety served with olives, Italian salumi and olive oil brushed crostini. Copyright© Vino Venue 2018 Red Wine 2016 Casa l’Angel CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Fontanars dels Alforins, Valencia, Spain 4 and 6 bottle levels $18 (member price $16) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Single vineyard (Finca El Poblet), 2000 feet elevation, sandy soil. Hand harvested. Three months in used French oak. Black cherry, black plum, dark chocolate, dried herbs. Not a blockbuster, rather medium-bodied elegant wine to be enjoyed with dinner. Casa ‘Angel is another example of the terrific value-priced wines of Spain. If you like Spanish wines, Discover Spain is just around the corner! Sunday 12 August (3:00pm until 5:00pm). vinovenue.com/shop/discover-spain-festival.html for details or to reserve your space. Cabernet Braised Chicken with Chorizo & Chickpeas serves 4 civilians or 2 restaurant employees after a double shift Ingredients: -- ½ cup golden raisins -- ½ teaspoon ground cumin -- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika -- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided -- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed -- 1 teaspoon olive oil -- 6 oz dried Spanish chorizo, casing removed, halved lengthwise, sliced into ¼ inch half moons -- 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed & drained -- 1 teaspoon finely ground orange zest -- 1 small onion, thinly sliced -- ½ cup Cabernet Sauvignon -- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth -- ½ teaspoon sherry wine vinegar -- 1/3 cup + 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided Instructions: Place raisins in small bowl, cover with hot water, set aside.