Indian Summer Picnic Wines

ATREA "The Choir" Roussanne/Viognier
Mendocino County 2007 $19/bottle

Since last Christmas Eve, when we last enjoyed, Holly and I have dreamed of revisiting Lucky Pig. What is it? It's served at SolBar, the restaurant connected to Solage Resort in Calistoga, and it's a slow-roast duroc pork shoulder served with black sesame crepes and butter lettuce leaves along with oodles of groovy condiments like roast Mongolian peanuts, gingered pineapples, cilantro, and rice noodles to name a few. It's a hands-on taste delight that serves two (at $37, a good value, and unless you have two big appetites, you'll take some home with you).
We went to SolBar on a warm, late-summer day with a slight threat of sprinkles. The unusual dark clouds on a summer day made the afternoon even more memorable. Lucky Pig was as good as we remembered from last Christmas Eve. And, knowing the dish, I found the right wine to go with it, ATREA "The Choir" Roussanne/Viognier, Mendocino County 2007, $19/bottle. What a great pairing with comparable flavors in food & wine that all got along in the mouth. Honey/floral nose & gingered pineapple. Spicy nose & the cilantro & peanuts. "The Choir" is weighty enough to match the flavorful pork, so tender you don't need teeth. You gotta try it. But, if Lucky Pig is not in your future, make or buy the freshest spring rolls you can, and be sure to have all the aromatic fixins in & on them.

PALI Pinot Noir "Riviera"

Sonoma Coast 2008 $21/bottle
I was happy as a pig in mud when this delicious, happy-drinking, young Pinot Noir came across my palate last week. The winery's in Santa Barbara makes delicious Pinots from designated California & Oregon AVAs. Kenneth Juhasz, Winemaker. "Riviera," named after the LA neighborhood, combines prime Sonoma Coast vineyards. It's delish and a fine value. Sweet, juicy cherries, great texture and richness, friendly & yummy.

OJAI Syrah Santa Barbara County 2006 $26
Here's my go-to wine for BBQ. Burgers, ribs, chicken with BBQ sauce...get thee to a tailgate!
Ojai's Santa Barbara Syrah is a blend of their outstanding single vineyard wines (Bien Nacido, Thompson, White Hawk & more). A little Mourvedre & Grenache gives more spice, brightness & complexity. I'm a fan: forward, pure dark fruits, rich & very ripe, good acidity & black pepper spice, smoke and succulent fruit. Blue ribbon goes to Ojai's Adam Tolmach who, for 26 years, has made consistently delicious, exciting wines.

THREE INDIAN SUMMER WINES
Mixed case, 4 of each: $239 (10% off)

HALF CASE, 2 of each: $125 (5% off)

3 ways to order: Call Toll-Free at 877-322-2576,
Order online here, or just reply to this email.
Thank you!