News from Frankly Wines

Frankly Wines Newsletter
Week of April 27th, 2008

This Week At Frankly Wines

In addition to our ever growing selection of wines, we are now the proud owners of a very large, reasonably quiet, energy star-rated air conditioner.

Good thing too - it was actually warm enough this week that we needed to turn it on.

While it's probably still not hot enough for aircon at home, here at the store, we made the wines very happy. And happy wines make us happy. They also made Con Edison happy, but that's another story.

In This Issue

This Week's 3-Pack

In-Store Tastings

Blind Tasting 3-Packs

Staff Picks

Fancy Pants Wine

New to the Shelves

Etc. Etc. Etc.

A Bunch of Sangiovese Grapes

Disturbing fact of the week: The name 'sangiovese' derives from sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove". Drink up!!!

This Week's 3-Bottle Sample Pack

We firmly believe the best way to learn about wine is to just drink it. So each week we put together a different "3-Pack", often featuring 3 wines from different regions, but made from similar grapes.

Tasting notes are included to give you some idea of how wine geeks would distinguish between the three wines. But the main idea is for you to crack them open, give them a try, and get a better sense of what you like and why.

Oh Say Can You Sangiovese

You may have heard of Brunello di Montalcino. You have almost certainly heard of Chianti. But did you know that the main grape variety in both wines is Sangiovese? Or that Sangiovese vines can even be found beyond Italian soil? Well, now you know. Come pick up this week's 3-Pack and give this undercover grape a try.

Sonnino 2006 (Chianti Montespertoli DOCG, Italy): Classic Chianti = classic Sangiovese = dried tart cherries, dusty tea leaves, medium body and lip-smacking acidity. Chianti is a food-loving wine, so be sure to drink it with some - Italian is the natural choice. Regular price: $14.99

Girasole Vineyards Sangiovese 2005 (Mendocino, California): Sangiovese, California-style. The wine has a touch of earthiness, but it primarily offers up bright, clean cherry fruit. You wouldn't mistake if for Italian, but this wine is lovable in its own right. Regular price: $16.99

Mocali 2006 (Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Italy): In the Montalcino region, Sangiovese is known as 'Brunello' ('little dark one') or 'Sangiovese Grosso' (big' Sangiovese'). And Brunello di Montalcino is big-time, big-money Italian wine. But you can get a little taste of it (without the big bucks) by trying one of the region's younger, more approachable Rossos - like this one. This version of Sangiovese is fuller-bodied, more earthy, with darker fruits and bigger, silky tannins. Regular price: $19.99

Special 3-Pack Pricing: $44.99 (regular price $51.97)

In-Store Tastings
If you happened by the store last week, here's a sampling of what you sampled: Domaine Houchart Rosé (Provence), La Ferme Saint Pierre (Cotes du Ventoux), Vinedo de los Vientos Estival white blend (Uruguay), Il Mimo Nebbiolo rosé (Piedmont, Italy) and Crios Torrontes (Salta, Argentina). If you didn't stop by, there will be more to try this week.

Wine Geek Alert: Blind Tasting 3-Packs!

Over the last couple weeks, we've been asked to put together blind tasting kits. Sounds fancy, but it really just involves picking out three bottles, wrapping them in paper, and popping them into a handy Frankly Wines box. You get home, pop them open, and guess what it is you're drinking.

If this sounds appealing, you're either a seasoned wine geek, or on your way to becoming one. Either way, we'll happily feed your habit.

Soon, we'll offer ready made kits complete with tasting notes, but for now, just come in, give us a price target, and specify easy, medium, or difficult - and we'll put an ad hoc kit together just for you.

air conditioning cartoon

Staff Picks

ROSS SUGGESTS: Marcel Deiss Pinot Blanc 2004 (Bergheim, Alsace, France) - Beautifully balanced samlom-tinged white wine from Alsace, the sunniest region in France (sunniest, not warmest - the grapes can tell the difference). The nose offers soft ripe peach and pear. On the palatte, white peach is balanced with apple leading to a long finish with hits of grape fruit. YUM. Price:$22.99

KARIA SUGGESTS: Oremus Mandolas Dry Tokaji 2004 (Tokaji, Hungary) - Made from Furmint, one of the grapes used to make the (very expensive) sweet dessert wine, Tokaji Aszu. This verion is completely dry, very aromatic with ecoty notes of sweet spice and honeyed apples. Price: $19.99

NICK SUGGESTS:
Nick is still on holiday. Skiing in the desert in Dubai - maybe drinking some ice wine?

Fancy Pants Wine

Feeling flush? Looking for something special? Let us suggest the following:

Chateau Musar White 1999 (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon)

Gaston Hochar's red Chateau Musar wines have developed cult following, but the whites are even more obscure - and just as worthy of a little cult of their own. Made from the Merwah and Obaideh grapes, the wine reminds us of traditional aged white Rioja. Done in a slightly oxidized style, the wine is nutty, with notes of carmalized almond, dried fruits, and a bit of honey - but it's not at all sweet. It has a super long finish and would go very well with simply grilled fish.

Price: $34.99

New to the Shelves
Every Thing's Coming Up Rosés 'Tis the season to drink dry pink wine. We're filling the shelves with something for every taste - from traditional French-style, to fun and fruity, to slightly serious. Come pick out your favorite for the summer.