Weinhaus

Excellence from Spain: Marques de Riscal
   

Marques de Riscal Rueda We love white wine in cold weather! First of all, you don’t have to worry so much about temperature. We enjoy white wines at anything from cool room temperature to refrigerated, and everywhere in between. Our favorite comfort foods go really well with white wines, too. Pasta dishes with cheese sauce or light meat sauces, gratins of all stripes, salmon and trout, or just a plain ol’ baked potato with sour cream and chives are vivified and complemented by a good white wine. Often overlooked in white wines, Spain produces some excellent white wines north of Madrid in the area called Rueda. They have planted both Verdejo and Viura grapes there, and they generally produce them in a European style, without oak or malolactic fermentation, which makes them more pleasant as food wines and able to accompany a wide range of dishes. We enjoy this dry wine for its unique fresh favors, light and balanced acidity, and long, friendly fnish. So whip up some comfort food and give it a try. Try the Marques de Riscal Rueda for just $9.29 a bottle, $111.48 a case on the Presell. Our regular price for this wine is $11.99 a bottle.

Excellence from South Africa: Hill and Dale Pinotage

   Have you heard the Pinotage story? That the grape is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, pioneered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in the 1920’s? That it is South Africa’s unique entr y into the world of wine, like America’s Zinfandel or Chile’s Carmenere? That it makes a uniquely favored red wine which can be a delicious food match? We love stories like that, but only if the end of the story includes: “and it makes a very good wine.” In good hands Pinotage makes a medium to full bodied wine with unique and pleasant favors which typically produces slightly higher levels of tannins and has a brawny, intense mouth-feel. Hill and Dale has very good hands, being the second label of the prestigious Stellenzicht winery, and having Guy Webber, who has won numerous awards for his wines, as winemaker. Their Pinotage has intense ripe plum aromas with a hint of smoke or raspberry. It has plenty of rich favors that follow closely the aromas, and is a delicious food or everyday wine. It even goes well with dark chocolate! We recently had this wine with an herb crusted pork loin with garlic mashed potatoes, and the match was outstanding. Try the Hill and Dale Pinotage for just $7.99 a bottle, $95.88 a case on the Presell. Our regular price for this wine is $9.99 a bottle.

The Best White Wine Value we have had in Years: Terra Noble Sauvignon Blanc
  The models for great Sauvignon Blanc are the Loire Valley and Bordeaux in France. Chilean wines from the Central Valley are right in the middle between the two French styles. We have said it before but it bears repeating, that if you were to diagram the ideal soil, climate, and conditions for wine production, Chile would ft the diagram. What remains for them to do in Chile is to modernize their production facilities and growing strategies, and they are rapidly doing that. Terra Noble is one of the companies poised to lead Chile into the next phase of their wine production. They are the owners of several 30 acre parcels of Sauvignon Blanc grapes planted in the early ‘90’s and now fully mature. This Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in a stainless steel tank at a controlled temperature in order to preserve all its fresh favors. It has intense natural acidity (which makes it a perfect food wine,) the pungent citrus aromas associated with the Loire style, and the generous ripe fruit similar to the Bordeaux style. We think it is excellent. And it is Cheap!! Try the Terra Noble Sauvignon Blanc for just $7.50 a bottle, $90.00 a case on the Presell. Regular price for this wine is $9.50 a bottle. For a delicious white wine for everyday occasions or for a special meal, you can’t fnd a better value.

Excellence from the US: Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon mixed case
   When we remember our beginnings in the wine business, we remember the name Louis Martini. Dave met Mr. Martini in the late ‘70’s and has some of his old Cabernets in his personal cellar (one of the perks of the wine biz). Martini was one of the pioneers in Napa, along with Mondavi, Heitz, and the Gallo boys. He had some great vineyards and was always a Cab specialist. When Mr. Martini died, his son Michael took over the winery. Michael has continued the tradition of making great Cabernets, and has added contracts with grape growers in Sonoma county as well as his own vineyards in Napa. If you are a fan of California Cabernet, you realize that prices have gone through the roof over the past few years. Those that we used to enjoy for under $15 are now $50 and more! For that reason, the Weinhaus has been sparing in our recommendations of California Cabs. We are the more pleased, now, to be able to offer a mixed case of six bottles each of Louis Martini’s Napa Valley Cabernet and his Sonoma Valley Cabernet at a very attractive price. Both of these wines were recently rated 90 points and highly recommended by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (issue # 186.) Mr. Parker says the Napa Valley Cab is “a superb bargain…a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%Merlot, and the rest Syrah and Petit Verdot. Its deep ruby/plum color is accompanied by sweet blue and red fruits intertwined with hints of loamy soil, licorice, and subtle backgroud oak. With good favor as well as silky tannins, this well-balanced, concentrated 2006 should be even better over the next 10-15 years. It is a big time sleeper of the vintage.” The Sonoma Valley Cab gets high marks as well: “2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, a 290,000 case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest the other Bordeaux varietals. An exquisite value, this is a seductive, feshy, fruity wine with excellent texture, body, and balance. Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick! Drink it over the next 5-7 years.” As with all great Cabs, we enjoy these wines with grilled steak or roast lamb, blue veined cheeses, ripe Camembert or Brie, or game. While these wines are delicious to drink now, they will continue to develop for the next 5 years or more. Try the mixed case of Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa and Sonoma for just $167.88 a case. That’s an average cost of $13.99 a bottle. Our regular prices for these wines is $20.99 and $12.99 per bottle respectively. We strongly urge you to take full advantage of this offer and remember your needs for the next couple of years.

Special Mixed Case of Red Wine
   France has had great vintages since 2003. Bordeaux has had a couple, Burgundy has had two or three, and the Rhone valley has been on a roll, with every vintage except for 2004 being great! Right now, the Weinhaus has in-house some outstanding wines from these wonderful vintages and regions. Chateau d’Arcins 2003 Haut Medoc from Bordeaux classic claret. Mas des Lysses 2006 Cotes du Rhone top producer in Rhone valley. Cuvee des Galets 2006 VDP Gard along with Terre de Mistral 2007 Cotes du Rhone two wines from Estezargues, a top performing co-op in the Rhone. Michel Goubard Borgogne Pinot Noir 2005 tasty Burgundy from the Cote Chalonnaise. Domaine de Cristia Cotes du Rhone 2008 a delicious blend from a great estate near Chateauneuf du Pape. We are pleased to be able to offer this selection for just $120 per case (2 bottles each of the six wines). That’s an average of just $10 a bottle for some delicious drinking.