Highland Half Case - May Half Case Mixed 2024

REDS:

VORSPANNHOF MAYR, ZWEIGELT 1L 2019, KREMSTAL, AUSTRIA $18.99 Grown, vinified and bottled in the shared Buchegger-Mayr winery in northern Austria. 100% Zweigelt, a varietal that was born from a cross of the other two great reds of Austria: Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. The desire was to get a grape that ripened more optimally, in the fickle continental climate, than either of its parents. Seductively fruity and juicy on the nose: ripe black cherries, red mulberries, and a certain kick of spiciness. On the palate the fruit remains in focus, the texture is juicy, elegant and easy to drink; this goes very well with darker, richer fare such as beef, venison or pâtés, as well as all pasta variations and hard cheeses. Possibly the perfect "table red".

DOMAINE MAS BARRAU, CABERNET FRANC 2022, GARD, FRANCE $11.99 The Gard region lies at the southern end of the Rhône valley, a river valley which stretches from Lyon in the north to the Mediterranean delta in the south. Winemaker Guillaume Letang looked specifically for vines which are south-facing, thus receiving the most sunlight annually, to source the Cabernet Franc grapes for his wine. The terroir is full of limestone, which gives a rich, yet soft and aromatic wine: in the glass you’ll first note petrichor, the earthy smell that follows a fresh rainfall, mixed in with hints of menthol and truffle. The palate is incredibly long and layered with brambly black fruit, earthy peppery layers and a touch of sweet prune on the finish.

A.A. BADENHORST, ‘THE CURATOR’ RED BLEND 2020, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA $12.99 Typically the wine makes a party, not the other way around. However, at Badenhorst they throw several intense blending parties and whichever blend gets drank the most is the wine that will be made under the Curator label. Such a fun and fresh approach produces a wine of the same qualities. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the bolder, expressive components in this wine with structure and a firmness. The Grenache and Cinsault temper the tanins resulting in a wine that’s full bodied but easy to drink, are easy to open (another bonus) and to share!

WHITES:

BOUCHARD AÎNÉ & FILS, MÂCON-VILLAGES CHARDONNAY 2022, BURGUNDY, FRANCE $19.99 Since 1731 the Bouchard family has been a mainstay of the Burgundy wine trade, beginning as wine merchants, they created a hybridized business model where they work closely with local winegrowers to create wines worthy of the Burgundy name. Pale gold with green highlights, brilliant and limpid. Floral and fruity aromas, with hints of lemon, mint and honeysuckle. Exotic and spicy aromas. Well-balanced, with herbaceous and floral notes. This wine is light, charming and fresh. Enjoy on its own as an aperitif, or with mussels, all types of fish, poultry; the list goes on…

STOLLER, PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2023, WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON $16.99 When Bill Stoller set out to convert his father’s turkey farm into a winery in 1993 he did not do so on a whim. Having worked on the estate in his youth, he knew better than anyone of the potential of the sloped, rocky terrain with low-yielding soil, to produce world-beating wines. An early advocate of rose, it has been a cornerstone of their production for well over a decade. We are fortunate that 2023 seems to be a red letter year for rose, all of the examples we have found combine rich flavor with that mouth-watering acidity and freshness that we all look for in the category. Fresh, juicy, and vibrant. Aromatics of strawberry and orange peel spring from the glass. A bright, zingy line of acidity buzzes across the palate as the wine fades into delicate notes of white tea and spring flowers.

LÍCIA, ALBARIÑO 2022, $18.99 Lícia is a shortening of Galicia, the region in northwest Spain known for its Celtic influence and overall greenness thanks to its maritime climate. This estate wine is a refreshing and flavorful white that is made from 100% Albariño, sourced from the sub-zones of Condado de Tea and O Rosal in DO Rías Baixas. Situated along the border with Portugal, vineyards in these sub-zones benefit from the drier climate and warmer growing season. Straw yellow with greenish hues, it is an excellent example of the varietal, showing hints of grapefruit, quince jelly, notes of fresh herbs, green apples, and minerals. It is full bodied and well balanced, highlighting the aromas of citrus and green apple, with a long and persistent finish. This wine pairs deliciously with grilled fish—or any kind of seafood—Asian cuisines, rice dishes, salads and grilled vegetables.