A Most Serendipitous Wine Hunt
Dearest gentle drinkers–
From time to time I venture into our area shops to see what I might find. Despite my obvious circumstances, I love a bargain and a game of chance! While helping my staff gather necessary supplies during our “blast of nature’s fury 2026” I went into a nearby Grocery Outlet to warm myself and found some interesting things. I have not tried these–I was unable to get my carriage up my lane so basic essentials only–I shall leave that to you, gentle readers!
A votre santé dear people!
Lady Whistledrunk
2017 Tenuta di Ceppaiano ‘Ceppaiano’ Toscana
Super-Tuscan, Pisa Italy
Made by the Castellani family with a label featuring the artist Keith Haring. Gentle drinkers, we enjoyed its sister wine last fall, the ‘Toscano Rosso’ with a hearty beef stew. Perfect with all of your meaty soups, rich pasta entrees or stews. This wine is a blend of 60-70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot–the addition of two French grapes to native Sangiovese is where the name “Super-Tuscan” comes from. Terrific price, drink it now. If I could get my carriage up my laneway I would have stocked up!
2024 Bodega Renacer Punto Pinal Malbec
100% Malbec
Mendoza Argentina
(Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo grapes)
Gentle drinkers. If there’s something Argentina is known for it's their excellent, luscious Malbec! The Uco Valley in Mendoza is a wonderful source. If you are looking for a medium-bodied fruity red to go with your stews, lamb chops or grilled mushrooms this bargain might hit the spot. It even may have a touch of pepperyness if that’s what you enjoy–I know who you are! It's not a fancy Malbec but is a high-quality one at a good price.
2023 Domaine des Reves Chablis
100% Chardonnay, Chablis
AOC Burgundy France
Oh gentle drinkers, where would I be without French wines? Here in Twain Harte! The Chablis region in France is really best known for one thing: Chardonnay. In France, wines are named for where they are grown, not the grape variety as we do here. I like to trick my anything-but-Chardonnay (“ABC”) companions by offering a Chablis. This is a very crisp, citrusy, no oak wine to surprise those used to our California Chardonnay and they may even thank you for it! Try this good vintage with cheese plates, fish, seafood or by the fire. Delightful!
2024 Firestone Discoverie Series
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit
Verdot
Paso Robles AVA CA
Gentle drinkers, if you are looking for a kick-back Cab for lounging by the fire like I do, this should be a bold, fruity, elegant, chocolatey example, priced just right! You may know that you will probably never find a bottle of 100% Cabernet; winemakers will always add a bit of ‘something’ like Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot to help tame Cabernet’s “raging” tannins. Otherwise you would have to age it forever and it might still pack a big punch! Such a naughty grape! If you have your kitchen staff grilling, try getting this one breathing!
2022 Sonoma Grove Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County
Gentle drinkers. The Alexander Valley is really the pinnacle of Cabernet growing in Sonoma; nice and hot to make the wines fruity, but cooled overnight by fog so it still has some acidity–this is not jam-making my friends! This Sonoma Grove wine is made from grapes grown around the valley but without owning the vineyards per se. That way we, the gentle drinkers, might find a nice ripe, fruit-forward, toasty-oak Cab blend from Sonoma, but without paying $60 more! If you are grilling, roasting or braising or just making hamburgers it should be a nice friendly wine!
