Oh, another European wine that is named for a location and not the grape! Txakolina evolved from the Catalonian term for ‘homemade wine’ or ‘farm wine,’ and it was originally produced as a local commodity because the grapes did not fully ripen due to climate constraints. In the 1990s, there was a technological renaissance regarding Txakoli viticulture, which led to installing modern trellising systems and better cultivating the soils and ecology in the Basque region. The indigenous Hondarrabi Zuri grapes (yep, that’s what makes up Txakolina) have been able to thrive, and experimentation into a lot of different styles has taken place. The Bodegas Aizpurua Txakolina is more of a true representation of what people generally think of – it invites you in with a hint of effervescence along with floral and herby aromas, and then lemon, lime, and green apple envelop the palate, all rounded up by some salinity, tingly acidity, and a clean finish. This wine begs for cured meats, so pick up some prosciutto and anything else that you desire from Di Abruzzo Italian Market.
Everything about Domaine de l’Aurière is traditional—it’s located in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine vineyards and was depicted on a map before 1850, predating phylloxera. l’Aurière means ‘the place where gold was extracted,’ referring to an oratory, or an old chapel, that once resided there. Did you know that the traditional fermentation vessel for Muscadet wines is an underground glass-tiled vat? There are still wineries in the surrounding areas that have a small door in the floor that, when lifted, shows the mouth of the vat. This particular wine, made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes, is all about preserving the fruity finesse of these grapes. Ensconced in gneiss and granitic soils, Melon de Bourgogne grapes often have a mineral character; in addition, this wine also has a creamy mouthfeel from 7 months of lees aging. Complex and unique, this Muscadet exhibits pear, yellow peach, and candied citrus, plus a touch of salinity. Order your favorite sushi from Keiichi (if you can get reservations!), and savor it with the Domaine de l’Aurière Muscadet.
There is almost nothing more classic than a French Pinot Noir. Bouchard Aîné & Fils uses select vineyards throughout Burgundy, mostly in the south in Côte Chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune, and, to a smaller extent, in Côte de Nuits, along with cool-climate parcels throughout the country. The house has been making wine since 1750, and they partner with farmers to find the best grapes to fulfill their motto: “Rigor for excellence, typicality for style, without compromise.” Of course, they seek to make this Pinot Noir express the range of France’s terroir and the grape’s signature. With a mixture of stainless steel and oak aging, this wine has multiple pleasing layers as well as high acidity. Upon first sip, small red fruits like raspberry and cherry emerge, evolving into blackberry, subtle chocolate, and a kiss of menthol. Put on a beret, grab some Camembert from Ten:One Cheese, and celebrate this Pinot in style!
There are various levels of Chianti, from the no-frills Chianti, moving up to Classico, which is crafted in the heart of the Chianti region, to Superiore, which uses lower-yielding grapes. And then there’s the Riserva, which introduces the aging requirement of at least two years. The Uggiano ‘Prestige’ (by the way, ‘Prestige’ sounds like another level, but it’s just the winemaker’s addition), has been aged for 12-14 months in French oak and another 12 months in the bottle. At 90% Sangiovese (that’s practically 100%!) and 10% Canaiolo, this wine screams pure Chianti, highlighting, in Uggiano’s words, “all the beauty and tradition of Tuscany.” With aromas of violet, the palate is transformed by high-toned red fruits like sour black cherry, wild strawberry, and raspberry, while vanilla creates a delicious undertone. Make a good meal of Spaghetti Carbonara from Napoli’s even better with a glass of this Chianti Riserva.
The Kuhlken family, founders of Pedernales Cellars, first planted grapes in the early 1990s in the Hill Country and have been instrumental in growing the Texas wine industry. Pedernales specializes in Spanish and Rhône grapes, making wine since 1995, but they are absolutely known for their Texas Tempranillo more than any other offering. They are dedicated to making world-class wines, using Old World styles as their inspiration but performing a Texas twist on them. This medium-bodied Tempranillo, crafted from a majority of Tempranillo rounded out by some Mourvèdre and Grenache grapes (but still called a Tempranillo), has seen some time in wood, 14 months in new and neutral American oak. It conjures notes of red cherries, bramble, and blackberry plus vanilla, cocoa, and black pepper on the palate. The Pedernales Tempranillo is a celebration of the Texas sun and soil and should be savored with Pulled Pork Fries from Anderson’s Eatery and Distillery.
According to Wine Spectator, "Altocedro represents real artisanal winemaking, a boutique operation with some serious talent behind the wheel." The talent is Karim Mussi, a third-generation Lebanese immigrant, who founded Altocedro in 1999. Early in his career, he pursued the idea of high-altitude farming, a notion that no one else was doing in the early 2000s in Mendoza. He also espouses using indigenous yeasts, old vines, century-old concrete fermentation tanks, and minimal intervention to create terroir-driven wines. Altrocedro, by the way, means “high cedar” and is named after the looming trees that surround the vineyards in La Consulta, part of the Uco Valley; cedars are also sacred in Lebanese culture. This cooler-climate Cab Sauv has a bit of oak influence as 30% of the juice spent time in French oak. Dominant flavors include red plum, cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and tobacco leaf. Smoked sausage from Rudy’s Country Store and Barbecue would complement the Altocedro Cab really nicely.
Tracey and John Skupny founded Lang & Reed in Napa Valley in 1993 in order to explore “the distinct charms of Cabernet Franc and to craft wines that are both expressive and enjoyable to drink.” Named after their two sons, the winery itself is a family-owned and operated business. The Skupnys got inspired by Cabernet Franc’s dominance in France’s Loire Valley and Bordeaux, and they saw a trend of the use of Bordeaux varietals in Napa in the 1980s as they were learning more and more about wine. They view viticulture as the intersection of art and science, wanting to showcase wines that are true to their grape varieties but that show balance and restraint. This 2022 Cab Franc was sourced from multiple areas surrounding Napa due to the wildfires. Redolent with red plum, nectarine, rosemary, thyme, dried cranberry, anise, and graphite, the Lang & Reed Cab Franc is pure pleasure. Why not also get a little messy with a serving of ‘The’ Kevin Sanders Sloppy Joe from Rooster’s Roadhouse.
Two Angels is a line of wines created by brothers Steven and Dennis Kreps, both storied wine brokers and importers. The label’s angel art is from the late 16th century and was created by Flemish painter Jacob DeBacker. Both angels depict an oxymoron: one is joyful (and inebriated), and the other is mournful (and sorry he drank so much the day before), or at least that’s how the legend goes. Apparently, Steven’s wife always called their sons “little angels,” and the moniker stuck for this Petite Sirah. This wine sources grapes from Clay Shannon’s Red Hill and Clear Lake vineyards, and he was a consulting winemaker. Perfectly angelic (and only less so if you drink too much of the Two Angels), this wine reveals notes of juicy blackberry, cherry, plum, mocha, and toasty oak, along with a hint of savory game. Not overly boozy at 14.4% ABV, it’s well-balanced and has minimal acidity. Paired with the ribeye from LongHorn Steakhouse, it truly will be a match made in heaven!