This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about New Zealand sauvignon blanc
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
When the temperatures turn toasty I tend to turn to white wines and one of my favorite warm weather whites is a crisp, dry and refreshing sauvignon blanc. This green skinned grape originated in the Bordeaux region of France and is now being cultivated in a number of grape growing regions but in my humble opinion the best sauvignon blancs come from New Zealand. According to wine writer Karen MacNeil, New Zealand's sauvignon blancs are among the most exotic, vibrant and intensely flavored in the world.
New Zealand's sandy soil on top of shingles of volcanic ash cause the grape vines to struggle. This results in lower yields and concentrated flavors. In addition, the long narrow geography of New Zealand's two main islands ensure that vineyards are in close proximity to the coasts resulting in extended growing seasons which allow the ripening grapes to develop an excellent balance of acids and sugars. New Zealand sauvignon blancs are bursting with flavors and aromas of tropical fruit while exhibiting a bracing acidity and they are my favorite wines to drink with light pasta dishes and seafood.
There's a funny story involving New Zealand sauvignon blanc and seafood. A few years ago while cruising in the Gulf of Mexico my buddy Mike Anghelone and I sat at the ship's oyster bar and over a period of two hours consumed three dozen oysters each in addition to large helpings of tuna tartare and ceviche. We washed it all down with two bottles of N.Z, sauvignon blanc. After the feast I nodded off for a few moments and didn't hear Mike tell me he was going to hit the restroom. When I came to I assumed he left me high and dry and proceeded to wander around the ship looking for the rest of our party. "Why did you leave me?" a slightly miffed Mike asked when I ran into him an hour or so later.
Featured Wines of the Week
Barkers Marque, Arona, 2020, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $14.19/750ml- Spiced apple, kiwifruit, pineapple and stone fruits lead the charge here, which Is an amazingly Intense charge and is backed up by an equally intense minerality and smokiness. Super intense and pithy attack which is rich, textured (as in the previous two years, dare I say phenolic), beautifullysupple and dense. The "gin and tonic" character of the 2019 wine is replaced with a deep, rich yet subtle tropical fruitcore tensioned by the most amazingly bright mouthwatering acidity. This acidity carries the wine to a long, texturedfinish that Is both bright and dense at the same time. (Source)
Alexander Valley, Eco Terreno, 2018, Sauvignon Blanc, California,$22.99/750ml- The nose is extremely aromatic and has a melange of fruit and herbal notes - papaya, sweet lime, and pear with a hint of lemon verbena. On the palate, abundant fruit notes of honeydew melon, yuzu, and pineapple, balanced by a long and teasingly dry, flinty finish. (Source)
Domaine Paul Thomas, Sancerre, 2018, France, $34.89/750ml- Notes of jasmine and almond shine through a mineral driven, slightly creamy texture, with bright undertones of green apple and grapefruit. Perfect as an aperitif and also ideal for fresh oysters, grilled seafood, lemon chicken, or a simple plate of fresh goat cheese and fruit. (Source)
Lapis Luna, 2018, Chardonnay, California, $14.19/750ml- Orange zest, ripe pineapple, toast and vanilla on the nose. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with lush white peach and ripe apple flavors leading to a savory buttered finish. (Source)
Moniker, 2018, Single Vineyard Chardonnay, California, $12.99/750ml- This generous and well-balanced wine offers a fresh apple and peach center accented by subtle vanilla, butter and almond. The mouthfeel is full and creamy but not heavy. (Source)
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New and Returning Products
Austin Brothers Cherralyzer, $2.79/12oz-The original Brothers Blend, Cherrallyzer is part Double IPA, part Cherry Beer, and all delicious! (Source)
Austin Brothers Dad Shoes, $3.79/16oz-A New England Style IPA dry hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe. The perfect beer for manicuring your lawn, firing up the grill, resting your eyes in the recliner, or whatever it is you do in your dad shoes! (Source)
Brewery Vivant Cherry Apricot, $5.29/16oz-Fresh farmhouse ale made with Michigan sour cherries balanced with tons of delicate apricot, blended with traditionally aged sour beer to make the fresh fruit come forward and burst with flavor. (Source)
Deschutes Mirror Pond, $1.79/12oz-The quintessential Northwest pale ale. Cascade hops and more Cascade hops give this tawny colored ale delicious hop-forward aroma and flavor. Pale malt allows the hops to linger, not overpower. (Source)
Fair State BBRR, $5.49/16oz-Sour - Fruited
Graft Birds of Paradise, $3.09/12oz-A Polynesian inspired Moscow Mule cider with ginger, lime, hibiscus, & lavender. (Source)
Graft Crazed Grazers, $4.39/12oz-From our Spring Book of Nomad series, this Apricot Passion Fruit Sake Cider is made with NY Apples, Apricot, Passion Fruit, Yuzu, Matcha, Sake Yeast. (Source)
Grand Armory Blurred Limes, $2.19/12oz-Everybody get up! Blurred Limes is highlighted by flaked maize, lime, and Cascade hops that creates a distinctive Key Lime Pie flavor. We know you want it! (Source)
Resilience Whilom, $4.39/16oz-Hopped with the timeless combination of Centennial and Cascade, this Resilience series passion project honors the legacy of visionaries like Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada. Whilom (meaning “erstwhile, what once was”) pours a light copper color with a slightly off-white head and features aromas of orange zest, lemon and grapefruit. Light pine and earthiness yield to a restrained bitterness and dry finish. Highly drinkable, simple and balanced, it features both pale and crystal malts—just like some of our favorite beers that began the craft revolution and continue to inspire us today. (Source)
Saugatuck Lager of Love, $1.89/12oz-Lager - American Light
Schilling Alexandr, $3.29/16oz-A sessionable pale lager inspired by similar Czech beers. Premium authentic raw materials shine, including Moravian pilsner malt—foundational to the substantial but rounded hop flavor and aroma. (Source)
Schilling Palmovka Special, $3.79/16oz-This limited edition Pilsner pays tribute to the origins of the style by featuring two authentic heirloom yeast strains that are independently fermented on a singular wort and blended to demonstrate the harmony between them. Brewed with all Czech-sourced ingredients, North Country water, decocted and boiled adhering to an extended Czech-style schedule, this batch is our homage to the rich tradition of Plzň. Notes of baked bread, exceptionally soft and rounded in flavor and aroma. (Source)
Schilling Poppy's Moonship, $4.69/16oz-Sessionable and effervescent, this progressive variation of traditionally tart wheat ale is brewed with gentle salinity and fermented with our house culture. (Source)
Schilling The Grafton Metro, $3.59/16oz-The classic American lager. Golden, crisp, and refreshingly dry on the finish, this is all-day artisan beer for summer in the mountains. (Source)
Shacksbury Doubles, $4.19/16oz-DDH Cider with Nelson and Motueka hops. Collab with Modern Times. (Source)
Short Fuze Peche Sauvage, $4.89/16oz-Aged for 18 months in our oak foeder. Then added 1800 lbs of fresh michigan peaches. (Source)
Shorts Blackberry Galaxy, $2.59/12oz-Surround yourself with aromas of deep earthiness blended with an intense combo of fruits like berry, melon, peach, and lime courtesy of the Galaxy, El Dorado, Ekuanot, and Palisade Hops in Blackberry Galaxy IPA. Medium bodied and well balanced, this Pub favorite tastes like pine trees and fresh blackberries with a plethora of underlying fruit notes. Seriously, think about a fruit and we bet you’ll find the flavor in this beer…because hops are amazing and magical and full of infinite potential, just like the galaxy (and all of us). (https://untappd.com/b/short-s-brewing-company-blackberry-galaxy/4331037Source)
Toppling Goliath Pineapple Fandango, $6.79/16oz-Conjure up warm-weather vibes with this kettle sour. Tropical papaya and fresh-squeezed pineapple juice will transport your taste buds to a tropical wonderland. Sweet, tart, and then sweet again. (Source)