[ #1 ] 2022 Thanksgiving Wines: Annual TOP-10 COUNTDOWN!

ANNUAL CHAMPAGNE & CAVIAR HOLIDAY EVENT

our Holiday Celebration that combines two of our favorite things, Champagne & Caviar!

Special Flight Options this week ONLY!

 

Pick 3 for $20 or Pick 4 for $24 or Pick 5 for $27 or Pick 6 for $29

MYERS PARK:

5-7pm Tuesday

5-8pm Wednesday

1-8pm Saturday

 

* Closed on Thursday & Friday

SOUTH END:

5-9pm Wednesday

1-9pm Saturday

12-6pm Saturday

 

* Closed on Thursday & Friday

A single vineyard Northern Italy Gewürztraminer with character. Winemaker, Elena Walch has led the Alto Adige quality revolution & has gained international esteem for her efforts. The 5th generation, daughters Julia & Caroline now lead the family business.

 

Varietal: 100% Gewürztraminer from Kastelaz vineyard in the Alto Adige DOC. 

 

Taste: With a rich, golden yellow color and a beguilingly complex bouquet both elegant and mineral, with aromas of roses and lychee as well as subtle acacia honey. On the palate, the wine is convincing and complex with an elegant structure, stimulating acidity, harmonious-spicy freshness and a delicate, vibrant finish. A wine with finesse and character!

 

It's #10 on our list!

$42/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

The CRU Cab is rooted in St. Helena. Each year, the blend is taken from different vineyards to layer together (by winemaker Philippe Melka) a delicious, well-rounded & beautifully balanced wine that expresses the nuance and character of the Napa Valley. 

 

Varietal: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. 18 months in 50% new French Oak. 

 

Taste: Cocoa and Bing cherry give an expressive nose while the palate houses notes of cassis, plums, black peppercorns and fresh tobacco leaf. The '18 Cru finishes with a weighty finish that never loses its focus and remains pure throughout.

 

It's #9 on our list!

$69/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

As a true Zinfandel lover, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis, wanted a vineyard that balanced the big, jammy notes of classic Zin with the minerality, lean tannins and age-ability of a cooler climate. He found just that in the hills of El Dorado County where the fruit for this Zin originate.

 

Varietal: 100% Zinfandel. 100% Barrel Aged; 30% New, Hungarian and American barrels.

 

Taste: Clear, deep ruby crimson color with violet glints. The 2018 vintage was one of great energy and vibrancy – ample precipitation and even, gradual ripening allowed the vines to produce an excellent crop! This wine captures the vintage perfectly, especially in its youth. There is a kinetic excitement that seems to leap from the glass. Bright, lifting aromas of dark cherry, cranberry and cola are immediately joined by secondary notes of thyme, white pepper and dark chocolate. The palate mirrors the nose, but brings a touch of complexity and harmony. Savory mushroom, loam and bay leaf anchor the lovely fruit notes while the soft (but coating) tannins dry the fruit and leave you begging for another sip.

 

It's #8 on our list!

$29/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

Regarded as one South Africa's best Estate producers, Hamilton Russell has a storied history of harnessing Chardonnay's true identity that few outside of France have been able to accomplish. Full of complex, layered elegance, purity and mineral liveliness.

 

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay with 9 months of barrel aging. This vintage was later and cooler than usual with fruit quality and acidity at exceptional levels that stand out for their complex, layered elegance, purity and mineral liveliness.

 

Taste: Orange cream, fruit pith, and lime zest aromas and flavors are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.

 

 

It's #7 on our list!

$52/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

Villa La Pagliaia has a long & rich history in the area (dating back to 1895). Thanks to its location in the southern part of Tuscany, the vineyards enjoy a mix of clay & limestone and give life to this spectacular Chianti Classico Grand Selection.

 

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese. After the fermentation in steel, followed by a 22-day maceration, the wine is aged for 24 months part in Slavonian oak casks and part in 500 liters French oak barrels and a further 8-10 months in bottle.

 

Taste: Deep ruby red in the glass with a nose that releases scents of dried plum, blackberry and raspberry. Subtle aromas suggesting espresso, toasted oak and dark-skinned fruit also emerge from the glass. Full-bodied wine with a tight palate that offers baked plum, roasted coffee bean and sage. Well integrated acidity.

 

 

It's #6 on our list!

$47/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

2nd wine from Léoville Las Cases comes from within the walled L'Enclos & is a great entry point to Las Cases with lift & focus on the finish. The old vine Merlot gives character to the berry fruit intensity, which is balanced with tannins on the palate. St. Julien is still my favorite Left Bank appellation for opulent Bordeaux - and this 2nd growth estate's alt label brings the A game to your red Bordeaux flanked Thanksgiving table!

 

Varietal: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 43% Merlot. Aged in French oak barriques, 30% new. Managing Director Pierre Graffeuille mentions that this wine is mainly a blend of the younger vines of Léoville Las Cases; 3 to 20 year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines with some of the old Merlot (40-70 years) from the Las Cases enclosure.

 

Taste: It has a pure, beautifully balanced, elegant and medium to full-bodied style that carries lots of cassis fruit, notes of violets, tobacco, and sweet earth. Terrific overall balance, and a lively, fresh, focused finish. Blackberry, blackcurrant and wet-earth character with spice and sweet tobacco. It's another wine from this estate that builds beautifully with time in the glass.

 

 

It's #5 on our list!

$90/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

Named after those who live out on the Coastal Plain, the Fog-Eater is an Anderson Valley appellation Pinot blend from the Deep End of the valley (the extreme NW section). The '19 vintage has layered complexity & a taught energy thanks to the nearby Pacific and the surrounding fog influence. This is my favorite domestic Pinot of the year - full stop. When you think of domestic Pinot, think of Anderson Valley and think of the FOG-EATER!

 

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir (75% La Tache clone from Wendling vineyard, and 25% Swan clone from Clow Ridge vineyard). Fermented with native yeast & 20% whole cluster. Aged for 11 months in 95% neutral French oak, and 5% new French oak.

 

Taste: The red fruit character leans toward cranberry and pomegranate with sage & red rose petals flavors and aromas. The distinctive forest mushroom character plays off well with the bright acidity that preserves the freshness on the palate. Velvety, fine-grained tannins that combines with layers of fruit and subtle spices for a very compelling finish.

 

 

It's #4 on our list!

$67/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

A soft & elegant wine, the Montée de Tonnerre is situated right next to the Grand Cru Blanchot vineyard. The notable white clay helps to develop intense fruit & floral aromas while the older vines add the depth & complexity. Regarded as the best 1er Cru in Chablis. Having just visited the domaine in Chablis a month ago, we continue to be more than delighted with Servin. In volume, this producer is our #1 white burgundy label.

 

Varietal: 100 % Chardonnay (known locally as “Beaunois”) from 35 year old vines.

 

Taste: Pale yellow color with grey highlights. The nose is very fine with notes of acacia flowers

and white fruits. A very elegant and feminine wine. On the palate, there is a nice acid balance, and a lovely texture. The refined, intense and wonderfully sleek medium weight flavors flash a bracing salinity on the classy, balanced and wonderfully persistent finale.

 

100 cases produced.

 

 

It's #3 on our list!

$62/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

The historic Château Thivin continues to rank among the reference points for classical, age-worthy Cru Beaujolais. The exceptional terroir on the steep slopes of the Côte-de-Brouilly gives Cuvée Zaccharie a spicy minerality and solid structure. This is easily the most exciting Cru Beaujolais we've tasted all year and deserved a number of unmentionable expletives to describe the sheer joy when drinking... No kidding.

 

Varietal: 100% Gamay Noir from 50 year old vines (avg.) from an area of the Côte de Brouilly appellation on the slopes of Colline de Brouilly. This volcanic terroir full of “blue stones” or “corne verte” is where wines are forged with a complex character, powerful and elegant, with very good keeping potential. Aged for 11 months in barrel (10% new French oak).

 

Taste: Deep garnet in color with a deep and complex nose of forest berries and underbrush that gently pulls you into this very concentrated and sophisticated Cote-de-Brouilly, which combines Grand Cru structure with great mineral depth. Black fruits, acidity & tannins, and vanilla from wood aging come together well on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine that has a long, sapid finish with spices and blackcurrants.

 

The flagship wine from Château Thivin; named after founder & patriarch, Zaccharie Geoffray.

 

 

 

It's #2 on our list!

$57/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE

Racines de Trois represents the “three roots” of Champagne Waris-Larmandier: the contribution of the three siblings, and their use of three grape varieties from three regions of Champagne: the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims and the Aube. Great structure and red-fruit traits are just the beginning for this truly ethereal bottle of Champagne.

 

One sip and your French pronunciation of vah-riss lahr-mohnd-yeh will be as fluid and elegant as every wafting sip of this grower Champagne. Think of popping this beautiful bottle as an aperitif before Thanksgiving, then during your glorious meal, and even as a perfect digestive afterwards - heck, I'll be sipping this all weekend in fact. Think about this holiday as the perfect time to imbibe with great Champagne, not just to celebrate with family, but to take your wine journey to the next level with some sublime bubbles.

 

WARIS-HUBERT CHAMPAGNE, it's our #1 wine this season - Cheers.

 

Varietal: 60% Chardonnay Côte des Blancs Grand Cru, 30% Pinot Noir Montagne de Reims 1er Cru, and 10% Pinot Meunier Côte des Bar. Certified organic and biodynamic. Usually a two-vintage blend without the addition of solera wine. The average élevage for Racines de Trois is as follows: the base wines are aged 6-to-18 months before secondary fermentation in bottle, followed by 24-to-36 months of lees aging, sur lattes.

 

Taste: Low alcohol by volume and NO manipulation (like other bigger names with big marketing budgets) make this a wine which feels good the day of drinking, and still has you feeling good the next day. And yes, for you label lovers, this is more beautiful than any other bottle of champagne we've seen... but that's not why we love it. Straw yellow color with fine effervescence in the glass. The nose offers a complex bouquet with notes of PEAR, green apple, white flowers, candied orange peel and toasted almonds. It is deliciously balanced, with wonderfully small bubbles and structured with a refreshingly long finish.

 

 

 

It's #1 on our list!

$72/bottle

 

Purchase online HERE