Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Wine Wednesday. With Craft Beer.

We know that the summer shut-down week for some of our suppliers is upon us, so we've been loading up on deliveries. Here's a look at some of the freshest products to arrive in our stores.

Killibinbin Seduction Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

The people who are downplaying Australian wines are really missing some great bottles. That just leaves more for the rest of us, right? This scored 90 points from Wine Spectator: "Rich and Ripe, with generous flavors of blackberry, plum, tar and spice that glide seamlessly through the polished finish, lingering impressively. Drink now through 2017."

And the winery says this: "Deep crimson color with garnet hues. Intense aromas of blackberry, mulberry and dark cherry. Hints of fennel and leather supported by spice and tar notes.

A generous, structured palate exhibits blackberry and black currant fruit. A touch of mint and an earthy texture. Juicy textured tannins ensure a finish with great length."

Only $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Smuttynose Smuttlabs

The philosophy behind this series is pretty simple. "We’re very proud of each of our Smuttynose beers. However, our brewing staff has many ideas that can’t be done on a large scale; this is where Smuttlabs comes into play. From barrel-aging and beer souring to culinary collaborations and special projects that just don’t fit anywhere else, if a project is out of the ordinary, unique or time consuming, you can bet it’ll bear the Smuttlabs name."

There are two new arrivals from Smuttlabs. Look for Bière de ‘Shire. It's part of the Farmhouse Series – brewed with French saison yeast and Brettanomyces. Look also for Baja Hoodie. This is an amber Mexican Lager/ chili and agave syrup brew.

Great Divide 21st Anniversary American Sour

This American sour is a celebration of 21 years of brewing with Bold Character. This commemorative release opens up with bright, tart, kiwi and citrus notes before mellowing out with a hint of oak and subtle white wine-like character. Soured with lactobacillus and brettanomyces and aged for 9 months in wine barrels, 21st Anniversary is notably complex while retaining a delicate approachability.

Pair with smoked ham sandwich, calamari, roasted new potatoes, gruyere, sour cherry pie. 6.2% ABV. Woodbridge only.

There are a few other newly-arrived Great Divide brews. Please ask at the stores for a specific label.

We've previously noted that we were at the beginning of the autumn beer and ale season. You'll find some already on display at Woodbridge. They will be available in Lawrenceville very soon.

Beran Napa Valley Zinfandel

Of all the domestic red wines, it's hard to beat a nice Zinfandel as your BBQ partner. Before we run out of summer, run in and get a bottle of this great Napa zin.

Beran created a full-bodied, complex and beautifully structured Zinfandel by picking the grapes at optimal ripeness, then following that with extended fruit maceration of up to 30 days. The wine rested for 12 months in a combination of American and French oak before bottling.

Some Petite Sirah was also added to the blend — another grape of historical significance for California. When vines were first planted in the state, Petite Sirah (along with Carignane) was often planted with Zinfandel in fields of mixed blacks that were harvested and then vinified together. This further adds to the complex layers of flavor found in this rich, ripe and beautifully balanced wine.

Color: Bright, vibrant purple with a deep black core.

Aromatics: Black cherry, sweet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate with hints of black pepper spice and cedar.

Structure: Acidity and tannin are in perfect balance with fine-grained tannins, richness and weight, and great persistence.

Limited availability, at $39.99 in the Bottle Club®.




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