TASTINGS & EVENTS

Tasting Notes ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Now that Dry January is coming to end, are you ready to get "high"?  We are talking about high altitude wines....what were you thinking? Ben Weisberger from Vineyard Road will be here Friday, January 31st, 5-7pm, pouring wines from the Jura (France) and Sudtirol (Italy) wine regions which will pair nicely with the truffle fondue (by The Truffleist) that we will have on hand for your dipping pleasure with our fresh baked bread from Bread Obsession (433 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA), which we get in every THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY.  Add to that, we also have Curio Spice Co. joining us with samples of Rose Harissa in a Muhammara Dip and goat cheese rolled in Herbes de Romance  The wines that we will be pouring include the following:

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Kuenhof, Sudtirol Eisacktaler Sylvaner 2021 - 

There is a lot of history in the hills of Alto Adige (Italy), and Kuenhof is no exception.  First mentioned in written text during the 12th century, the property, along with its vineyards, was owned by the Bishop of Bressanone (Italian version) or Brixen (German version). The estate, located south of Bressanone, is now owned by Peter and Brigitte Pliger, and has been a part of their family for the last 200 years. For many years, the grapes grown on the property were used for the farm's own wine tavern, and later sent to a nearby Abby.  In 1990, however, the family changed course and started bottling their grapes for public consumption. With a total vineyard area of 6.8 hectares (16.8 acres), this largely terraced property is a sight to behold, with layers of quartz and shale found throughout. The family makes four (4) white wines. In addition to the Eisacktaler Sylvaner, they make a Reisling, Grüner Veltliner and Gewürztraminer. According to the winemaker, their Sylvaner "presents itself as a complex salty wine with a fruity spice, a particularly strong taste and a long finish."  

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Domaine Bourdy, Cotes du Jura Blanc & Rouge 2020

In the village of Arlay, France, approximately 200 miles from the Swiss border, the Bourdy family has managed their estate in the Jura for 16 generations, going back to late 1400s or 1579 (depending on the source). In either case, they go wayyyy back. For reference, 1579 was the year that Sir Francis Drake landed in California while circumnavigating the globe, claiming the land for Queen Elizabeth I. While the estate was founding in the 15/16th century, it was not until the 19th century that they began to bottle their wine, and it wasn't until the 1930s that they began to sell it internationally. Currently, the Domaine has 10 hectares of vineyards, which primarily consists of white varietals. The Domaine has been organic and practicing biodynamic farming since 2006. They received their Demeter certification in 2010. Their cellar is the stuff of legend, allegedly holding wines from all the way back to 1865. Laura Bourdy took over the Domaine from her father and uncle in 2022. They use old neutral barrels (up to 80 years old) for fermentation and aging.  The Blanc, an alpine chardonnay, is very different than what you are used to tasting. Extended aging and the use of natural yeasts has produced a nose with a sherry-like nuttiness, with ripe pears and baked apples, yet the palate has a briny minerality with lively acidity. Perfect for truffled alpine cheese. The Rouge is a blend of equal parts of Trousseau, Poulsard and Pinot Noir. Notes of Cranberry, red currant, and herbs (thyme). Lots of fruit, good acidity and a lengthy finish. What's not to love?

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Muri-Gries, St. Magdalener Sudtirol Klassisch 2022

The Muri-Gries winery is located in Gries District of the city of Bolzen/Bolzano in Alto Adige, South Tyrol (Italy). The winery has a rich history, as it is one of two wine-producing monasteries in Alto Adige. The name of this wine comes from the village of St. Magdalena above Bolzano. This cuvée of Schiava (95%) and Lagrein (5%) combines bright fruit flavors and freshness to create a wine that goes great with a wide range of culinary delights.  

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