March Wine Tasting-Wines from Around the World

Join us for a taste of these amazing wines from around the world:

2020 Fio ‘Fabelhaft’ Riesling Trocken Mosel (Germany)

Fabelhaft means both ‘fabulous’ and ‘containing fables.’ The label recounts an old German fable in which a pair of

ducks fight over a frog for dinner, only to be captured by a chef themselves. This project is a joint venture connecting

two families: the Ketterns, who have been making wine in the Mosel for several hundred years, and the Niepoort

family, led by famed Portuguese winemaker, Dirk Niepoort. The wine is a blend of organically farmed fruit from estate

vineyards, showcasing the Mosel’s steep slopes is used. The grapes are hand-harvested, and spontaneous

fermentation in tank is followed by aging on the lees for 10 months in 70% stainless steel, with the remainder in fuder

and doppelfuder from the 1940s and 1960s. SO2 used only at bottling. Expect aromas and flavors of apples,

apricots, and a hint of flintyness. Juicy yet delicate on the palate, this is a vibrant, fruity, and fresh crowd-pleaser.

2021 BloodRoot Pinot Noir ‘California’ (USA)

The spirit of BloodRoot is simple - make wines that reflect the soul of place, and make them at a quality and price

level that make them absolute no-brainers to drink. Spearheaded by Noah and Kelly Dorrance of Reeve Wines,

BloodRoot is a collaboration between esteemed winemakers with great vineyard sourcing who have come together to

make masterful, value-driven wines. Sourced from multiple benchmark vineyards throughout California’s most

respected winegrowing regions, this is the first release of a ‘California’ appellated Pinot Noir from BloodRoot. By

utilizing fruit sources throughout it reflects the soul of California’s dynamic terroirs. It excels in its class with aromas

and flavors of dried herbs, spices and subtle hints of oak all dancing around a core of red cherry and ripe cranberry.

The tannins are velvety smooth and seductive. It’s a delight! Pair it with a wide range of foods, from salmon to pan-

seared baby lamb chops.”

2019 Finca Torremilanos ‘Los Cantos’ Ribera del Duero (Spain)

Founded in 1903, the 200-hectare Finca Torremilanos is the second-oldest wine-producing estate in Ribera del

Duero DO (after Vega Sicilia). Since 1982, Pilar Pérez Albéniz has been at the helm; one of the most respected

women in the region, she won the inaugural ‘Ribera Heritage’ Award in 2019. The first-ever Demeter-certified

biodynamic winery in the appellation (2015), this is a family-run gem that marches to the beat of its own drummer.

Composed of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Merlot from biodynamically farmed vineyards that average 35 years old,

these parcels are distinguished by the presence of round river stones (“cantos”). Aged for sixteen months in French

oak barrels. Vivid ruby-red. Fresh red fruit and floral scents are accompanied by subtle herb and spice flourishes.

Seamless and energetic on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that take a sweeter turn on

the back half. Shows very good focus and tangy cut on the subtly tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, peppery

persistence.”

2020 Le Rocher des Violettes Touraine Côt ‘Vieilles Vigne’ (France)

Xavier Weisskopf founded Le Rocher des Violettes in 2005 after studying winemaking in Chablis and Beaune and

earning his degree in viticulture and oenology. He quickly went to work for the hard working and demanding Lous

Barruol at famed Gigondas producer Chateau de Saint Cosme, rising to the rank of chef du cave and making 4

vintages during his tenure there. But it was his love for Chenin Blanc drew him to Montlouis, where an

underappreciation of this historic appellation allowed him to acquire 9 hectares of sacred old vine pre-War sites. His

goal is to make wines of clarity, focus and laser precision – like this 100% Malbec from 2-1/2 acres of certified-

organically farmed vines that average 80 years old. (The oldest vines actually date to 1891!) 80% whole cluster

fermentation with only indigenous yeast, it was aged for 14 months in large, older barrels before being bottled unfined

and unfiltered. The nose on this powerfully built Malbec from the banks of the Loire river offers notes of sweet and

sour cherry, fresh blackberry, and country herbs. Concentrated and intense, it presents a silky texture and an elegant

finish. Just Gorgeous.

Bonus Pour:

2017 Mocali Brunello di Montalcino (Italy) $49.99

Before the town of Montalcino achieved fame in the wine world, a group of 25 vignerons banded together to form a

consortium that would eventually become an international symbol of the high quality of Tuscan (and Italian) wine.

Dino Ciacci, the founder of the Mocali estate, was one of them. Today, they farm 20 hectares in Montalcino, and

always follow a traditional style of winemaking. 100% estate-grown Sangiovese Grosso, fermented in stainless steel

followed by aging in large Slavonian oak for one year. It is then transferred to large French oak casks for an

additional two years before bottling. 92 Points, James Suckling: “A dense and layered red with lots of ripe fruit as

well as wood and tile highlights. It’s full and chewy with intense tannins yet the texture feels velvety and dusty at the

end. Drink after 2023.”