Highland Half Case - February Half Case Mixed 2025

REDS:

VEGA TOLOSA, ’11 PINOS’ BOBAL 2021, CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, SPAIN $15.99 Vega Tolosa was founded in 1905 in Mancuhula in the eastern part of Castilla-la Mancha. Today it is run by Juan Miguel Tolosa, the third generation of the family. This region is home of one of Spain’s most interesting and under-appreciated red varieties: Bobal. Cherry red with violet flecks. Aromas of blackberry, cherry, red currant mingle with a strong mineral component. Subtle balsamic and spicy nuances complete the aromas. On the palate it is fresh and fleshy with intensity. A very seductive wine, perfect for rich meals on a certain special day…

BOUCHARD AÎNÉ ET FILS, ‘HÉRITAGE DU CONSEILLER’ PINOT NOIR 2023, FRANCE $14.99 This wine is an homage to Paul Bouchard (1814-1898), known as the Grand Conseiller, Paul was both a politician and a visionary, he served as the mayor of Beaune, not only was he involved in the city affairs but in those of the vine. He founded the Viticultural School of Beaune, whose teaching helped to understand the various diseases including Phylloxera. The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine are sourced from the coolest climates France has to offer. Bright red garnet in the glass, the nose shows delicate aromas of cherry and coffee with subtly integrated toasted notes, these carry over to to the palate where nice cocoa flavors are underlined by a hint of menthol, lying on silky tannins. The finish is long with assorted fruit notes and a subtle touch of oak spice.

CHÂTEAU DU CAILLAU, MALBEC 2021, CAHORS, FRANCE $18.99 While we normally think of Malbec as strictly Argentinian, it is actually an import from France. Specifically from the southwest, around the romantic, medieval village of Cahors. Château du Caillau, which means ‘pebbles’, appropriate as the soil in the vineyards is dominated by river pebbles, is owned by Philippe Bernède whose family have been making the wine for six generations. Deep intense ruby color. Ripe fruit on the nose. Round and mellow in the mouth, this wine seduces with its fruit and well-matured tannins that bring persistence and finesse. Beautiful finish that is both harmonious and ample. This wine is perfect for sipping or with meat dishes, tuna (raw or cooked), and firm cheeses.

WHITES:

BABYLONSTOREN, ‘CANDIDE’ WHITE BLEND 2024, SIMONSBERG-PAARL, SOUTH AFRICA $16.99 (MIXED) We are crazy about the wines coming out of the Babylonstoren estate in South Africa. Named after a nearby hill that resembled the biblical tower of babel, the beauty of this estate more closely resembles the garden of Eden. A gorgeous renovated old Dutch plantation, in addition to its vineyards and winery, it has a full functioning farm, botanical gardens, and even one of the top restaurants in the country Babel. The wine itself is a blend of the white varieties, mostly Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, it shows fresh tropical and citrus flavors of pineapple and lime with hints of melon, very complex but also refreshing, it sits long in the palate with a long finish that lingers but never overpowers.

WEINGUT FÜRST, SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023, MOSEL, GERMANY $18.99 The Fürst family has grown grapes and other crops at their estate in the Sauer Valley since the 13th century, and Michael is the third generation to make wine under the family name. His Sauvignon Blanc comes from a single vineyard planted in chalk limestone in the Obermosel, the southernmost part of the Mosel river in Germany, directly bordering Luxembourg. Clear, elegant, cool climate Sauvignon with classic varietal signatures of grapefruit, passionfruit and fresh cut grass.

SORTESELE, ‘SANTI’ PINOT GRIGIO 2023, ALTO ADIGE, ITALY $12.99 In Trentino dialect, ‘sortesele’ is the diminutive of ‘sorti,’ or “small parts of vineyard.” According to ancient custom, a ‘sortesele' referred to large parcels of vineyard for which the heirs of an agricultural property drew lots, nowadays it’s more of a reference to a particularly prime spot of vineyard, usually where the best, most ripe grapes can be found. Grown along the famed Adige river in northern Italy, the world’s premier region for Pinot Grigio. Aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness, it is a pale straw color with delicate green tints. The nose shows complex aromas of pears and wild flowers. On the palate, the wine has generous, soft but lively fruit with firm flavors, good acidity and a long finish. The wine has fine structure, captivating to the nose and very satisfying on the palate.