December | 2022
DOMAINE DE LA DOURBIE – “PETIT CANET” ROUGE 🌱
BODY: Mid +
ACIDITY: Soft
TANNINS: Mild
VINTAGE: 2020
ORIGIN: FR
GRAPE VARIETALS: Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah
“The Petit Canet cuvée comes from a unique ecosystem of clay-limestone and clay-sand soils located between La Dourbie and L’Herault rivers. They have been farming organically since 2003, and their only direct neighbor is a beekeeper who lets his bees out to help pollinate all the vines. The majority of the vines were planted in the 1960s and 1970s, though some of the Carignan dates back even longer. This wine was especially blended for Paris Wine Company to highlight the old vine Carignan from the region.” Notes: Nicely balanced with fine tannins. The palate is shows dark fruit with notes of raspberry, plum, and herbs.
Food Pairings: Carnitas Tacos
Price: $14
MALBEC LUNE NOIRE “L’IRRÉSISTIBLE,” COMTÉ TOLOSAN
BODY: Mid to Full
ACIDITY: Mild
TANNINS: Soft-Mid VINTAGE: 2020
ORIGIN: FR
GRAPE VARIETALS: Malbec
Located in Pau, in the heart of southwestern France in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Lionel Osmin & Cie Maison is committed to expressing the true unique regional grapes and the essence of their landscape. The south-west of France, what do we need to know about this side of the map? Think of it as an ampelography museum of grape varieties from the past and present, with a diversity of types emerging from the mists of wine-growing history: Manseng, Tannat, Negrette, Malbec, Duras, Len-de-el, Mauzac, Fer-Servadou, Arrufiac, and Baroque. These grape varieties give the wines accents of authenticity and the breadth to satisfy all palates: dry or sweet white, sparkling, tender or vinous rosé, light red, or for laying down. Wines that pair well with food and are easy in the pocket. Notes: The aroma is dominated by black fruit, with notes of juniper and a tiny touch of nutmeg. The palate is full and focused with dark fruit that help you enjoy the silky tannins and long finish.
Food Pairings: Meat or Lamb Stew
Price: $15
ULTRAVIOLET BY SAMANTHA SHEEHAN 🌱
BODY: Mid
ACIDITY: Some
TANNINS: Mid
VINTAGE: 2021
ORIGIN: US
GRAPE VARIETALS: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc
“Samantha Sheehan has been quietly crafting high elevation, single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, Manchester Ridge and Carneros since 2009. Her goal to create alluring, vineyard-specific wines with minimal intervention, judicious use of sulfur, and no additives have landed her front-and-center as a primary drum beater of the IPOB movement (In Pursuit of Balance).” wine-sense is a proud supporter of all her productions: Poe Wines, Mommenpop Spirits, and Ultraviolet – one of California’s best values. This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from three vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, which is just east of St. Helena, and west of Lake County. Red Hills is one of the most geologically active areas in California, with a pocket of magma flowing two miles below. The Cabernet Franc comes from her personal vineyard plus a friend’s vineyard in Coombsville, which is the new AVA in Napa. (Read more about Samantha Sheehan below). Notes: “Velvety, fruit-driven and balanced. It has notes of plums, blueberry compote, fresh violet petals and currant, with hints of blackberry and black pepper.”
Food Pairings: Tagliatelle Bolognese (see recipe below)
Price: $21
MONTE DELLE VIGNE LAMBRUSCO – SPARKLING RED 🌱
BODY: Mid
ACIDITY: Mid/High
TANNINS: Firm
VINTAGE: NV
ORIGIN: IT
GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Lambrusco Maestri
“Gentle hills, layed on the right bank of the Taro river, Emilia- Romagna, in northern Italy. Raising up to three hundred meters high, to grant grapes exposed on different sides the privilege of a homogeneous and full ripening. Monte delle Vigne was born here, seven hectares planted with passion, in the early 70’s. Today there are 60 hectares. In the centre of the vineyard we find Merlot, Chardonnay and Lambrusco, and with them the new winery. Territory, passion, innovation; the starting point of an enthusiastic way: the rewrite of a page belonging to the wine-growing history of the Parmesan territory”. Notes: First, not all Lambruscos are sweet! Juicy dark berry fruit and ripe blackberry open the bouquet of this Frizzante red wine. There’s a tangy raw quality to the wine that would pair well with cheesy lasagna.
Food Pairings: Salumi and Cheeses
Price: $17