2009 Domaine de Beauregard 

(Laurent Gregoire) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie - France White - Loire. From the Pays Nantais. Made from Melon de Bourgogne. Brisk & mineral driven, aided in this by the fact that it is growing out of millenia old oyster beds where the Loire river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Briny, lemony, light & zesty. Short herbal note. Perfect with raw oysters, but happy with fresh shellfish or other seafoods as well. This is from our favorite appellation in Muscadet, made in the style that best suits the appellation - extended contact with the spent yeasts (lees) lending more complexity than you can get with simpler production methods. Crisp, fresh, and elegant, in a lean and reserved way. Honeydew melon note is balanced by the creaminess of the leesiness.

Our Price: 11.57

NV Louis Perdrier Rosé 

Sparkling - France. This is a Cremant de Bourgogne, wine made in the same method as Champagne, but outside of the Champagne region, in Burgundy, France. It is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cinsault, giving it a rich rose color and "fruit forward" red cherry & strawberry fruit on the palate. It has fine bubbles (called a mousse in sparkling wines) and a medium weight body, and a nice apple orchard & crystallized citrus note on the nose. The fruit comes through on the palate, and there is a nice length to this wine for the money. Well balanced, in terms of acidity, sweetness, alcohol, and very light tannins from the short skin contact. an easy pair throughout the meal because of the acidity and the way the bubbles can lift fats off the palate and essentially reset it.

Our Price: 9.77

2010 Château Routas Rouviere Rosé 

Rosé. Coteaux Varois en Provence, one of the most important smaller appellations within Provence. Vibrant and dry, full-flavored. 55% Cinsault, 23% Syrah, 14% Genache, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hand-harvested, gently destemmed, cooled, & pressed. Syrah & half of the Cabernet go in neutral barrels for primary & malolactic fermentation. Grenache & Cinsault are fermented in stainless steel tanks, with no malolactic. The two different lots are aged separately for 5 months and then blended prior to bottling. Great color, with berry & floral nose, strawberries, pepper, fennel. Versatile for pairing with grilled meats, dry cheeses, and even seafood.

Our Price: 12.97

2006 Flaugergues Languedoc 

France Red - South. Aging beautifully in the bottle and just getting better and better. Drinking fine now, and will continue to improve for a year or two. Lavender and earth on the nose, with black fruit. Cherry & plum on the palate, with a little cocoa powder and cedar backing it up. Nice integration. Some raspberry & blueberry fruit as well. Interesting, with New World ripeness and fruit-forward character balancing Old World acid and mineral. A lot of terroir for less than $20. Big fruit fills out and adds light caramel as it opens up, lighter side of medium body, with fine, dusty tannins. We think this is great at the price-point and used it for a paired wine dinner with Rabbit + Hat. A red for laying down, made from 2/3 Syrah, 1/3 Grenache. Free run wine matured over 18 months. Old vines producing warm & fruit-laden wines.

Our Price: 18.77