Wine Club Selections
WINES TO WELCOME FALL | September 2024
WHITE:
LYRARAKIS Assyrtiko Voila * Crete, GR
The Lyrarakis family uncovered East Crete's potential in the 1970s. Initially in the "Voila" plain and later in the surrounding areas, they identified exceptional vineyards where the great grape variety Assyrtiko thrives. The harvest was performed by hand. Skin contact was carried out for an average of 24 hours, while 7% of the grapes had fermentation maceration on skins. Fermented in a stainless-steel.
Grapes - 100% Assyrtiko
Flavors - Bright yellow-straw color. Aromas of citrus, white-fleshed fruit, ripe peach with hints of fresh green herbs and chalky notes. The mouthfeel is full flavored and crisp with a salty freshness and a long mineral aftertaste.
Serving - Pair with pork and celery (a fun fall dish perhaps?), fish and shellfish dishes…as you well know, in the PNW there’s no shortage of great seafood!
Album Pairing - BECK ‘Midnite Vultures’ - 1999 * You’ll notice a Minnesota Theme running through these pairings this month. We’ll leave you to guess why! Starting with this perfectly playful and coy album from Beck which sounds so good alongside this lively and slightly salty white.
CHILLABLE RED:
FICOMONTANINO 'Noble Kara' Toscana Rosato 2019 * Tuscany, IT
Maria Sole’s farm is called Ficomontanino (roughly, “Little Fig Mountain”), a property her grandfather acquired in the 1960s as a place to produce olive oil and breed horses. Named after one of her grandfather’s favorite horses, “Noble Kara” claims its rightful place in the proud tradition of “real” rosé wines—rosés made from fully ripe, healthy grapes and allowed to express a natural depth of color. Pure Sangiovese from three different parcels on the property—Ficomontanino, Melogranino, and Campo Cavalli—this vivacious wine spends 24 hours macerating on its skins before pressing and fermentation, which takes place in stainless steel via naturally occurring yeasts and with no temperature control. As with all her wines, Maria Sole bottles “Noble Kara” without fining or filtration, and with a minimum of sulfur.
Grape - 100% Sangiovese
Flavors - The nose is fresh and aromatic - a delightful bouquet of strawberry, raspberry, and red cherry. These fruit-forward aromas are complemented by subtle floral notes of rose petal and a hint of citrus zest, adding complexity and allure.
Serving - Its freshness and acidity make it an excellent match for grilled shrimp and salmon. It also pairs well with light salads, Mediterranean dishes, and soft cheeses like mozzarella or burrata. Yum!
Album Pairing - prince and the revolution ‘purple rain' - 1984 * Ok, the wine isn’t exactly purple, but it is a chilled red that wants to be beside an electric artist and his synthesizers.
RED:
CHATEAU LA CHAPELLE Saint Emilion 2020 * Bordeaux, FR
In 1925, Château La Chapelle was purchased by Georges Larribière. The estate is located in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, southeast of Saint Emilion on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary. In 1997, a fourth generation of the family, in the person of Béatrice, took over the winemaking operation. She is well-qualified after several years of viticulture training followed by experience in the vineyards of Australia and California.
The vineyard is made up of silty clay at the foot of a hillside, with several plots more than a hundred years old which are gradually being replanted with Merlot. The juice from the freshly harvested merlot grapes is extracted using vertical presses, one of which dates back to Beatrice’s grandfather. Fermentation and maturation takes place in concrete vats, in order to reveal all the terroir and the deep aromas of black fruits characteristic of Saint Emilion.
Grape - 100% Merlot
Flavors - On the nose, you’ll find spicy notes with aromas of undergrowth and blackberries. On the palate, the wine is round and fruity, with powerful and ripe tannins and an elegant and long finish.
Serving - Fried eggplant sandwich, thyme roasted tomatoes, mushroom and currant risotto, cheesy broccoli and rice casserole, cacio e pepe, and a pizza topped with fresh basil leaves. All your fall cravings.
Album Pairing - LIZZO ‘Cuz I Love You’ - 2019 * A powerful, round, and elegant wine deserves an equally powerful, round, and elegant artist. If a beautiful Merlot from Bordeaux could pick its voice, our money is it would pick Lizzo.
CHILLED APERITIF:
PARK Pineau des Charentes NV * Cognac, FR
Cognac Park is the flagship brand of Distillerie Tessendier, a Cognac house established in 1880. Today, in its fourth generation of ownership, the Tessendier Estate maintains vineyards on more than 60 acres in the heart of one of the most exclusive growing areas of Cognac: the Borderies. This Pineau des Charentes is composed of 76% grape must and 24% cognac eau-de-vie. After a resting period of 6 months, the pineau is aged for a minimum of 18 months, including 12 in oak barrels.
Grape - 50% Montils, 30% Colombard, 20% Ugni blanc
Flavors - Notes of apricot, fresh fig, dried fruits and nuts.
Serving - It is ideal chilled as an aperitif or in cocktails. It also goes well with cheese, melon, crème brulée or foie gras. It also makes you feel fancy…ooh la la! ** Imbibe: A Low-ABV Highball Recipe
Album Pairing - BROTHER ALI ‘Shadows on the sun’ - 2003 * Pineau Des Charentes is one of our all time favorite aperitifs - a totally unexpected product of Cognac grape juice blended with unaged Cognac distillate before being barrel aged together. Brother Ali is one of our all-time favorite Hip-Hop artists - a powerfully brilliant lyricist who is an albino black muslim from Minneapolis. Poetry and power abound with these two.
REMINDERS
To celebrate our valued club members we offer 15% off all food ordered on pick-up Tuesdays.
If you can not pick up on the pick up dates please contact mckay@barmiriam.com and we will hold your allotment offsite and can arrange for a future pick up.
Email mckay@barmiriam.com to buy more single bottles or a case with special club pricing.
Queen Anne Bottle Shop is open Tuesday-Saturday from 3:00pm — 8:00pm.
Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.