April Shower of New Stuff

The Spring Wine Round-up
Despite a near constant state of illness since late February, we’ve somehow managed to keep the good stuff coming. New offerings range from Australia to Greece, and points between. My guilty conscience demands that I give you an exhaustive cataloguing, with detailed notes on each wine, but I am so far behind... So, we’ll give you the complete list, an occasional highlight, and I’ll try to get caught up. Ready to dig in?

Reds
Wishing Tree Shiraz--10.99
Cuq Merlot--Organic--11.99
Nuevomondo Cabernet/Malbec--Organic--13.99
LeSec Rubis Cote d Rhone--14.99
Falset ‘Blue Label’ Montsant Blend--9.99
Moon Mt. Cabernet--15.99
Ch. de Bastet Cote d Rhone--Organic--15.99
Valori Montepulciano--15.99
LeSec Vacqueyras Red Rhone-21.99
Stignano (Tuscany)--39.99  Celebrate, or put it down for a few years.
Sant’Angelo (Montepulciano)--49.99 Ditto!
Leila Garnacha-Argentina--Organic--7.99
Ochoa Tempranillo/Garnacha--Organic--9.99
Our Daily Red--Organic--8.99 Our best selling organic red!
Secret de Campane--8.99--New! The perfect everyday red, only $77/case.
Enciro Monastrell/Merlot(Spain)--9.99--Tasty surprise at this price.
Postales Malbec--9.99
Puerta Malbec--9.99
Tinka-Tonka Malbec--9.99
Drince-Lotta Malbec--9.99
Razor’s Edge Shiraz--10.99
Hill of Content Grenache/Shiraz--13.99
Distinto Tempranillo/Syrah--9.99
Le Grand Cabernet/Syrah (France)--9.99
Boschetto Merlot (Italy)--9.99
Lidakis-Archanes (Greece)--15.99--Tastes like an older Rioja. Excellent!
Sincerity Merlot/Cabernet-Organic--15.99
Menage a Trois Zin/Merlot/Cabernet--Organic--12.99
Four Vines Zinfandel ‘The Maverick’--19.99--Rated 92 points by the Wine Spectator!
And two bottles of a hard to find Amarone, for $100.

Whites
Honora Chardonnay-14.99--Made in Vermont, from California grapes.
Newhaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)--11.99
Sincerity Chardonnay--Organic--15.99
Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul--9.99--Remember this? Crisp Sauvignon Blanc style.
Carmen Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)--9.99
Razor’s Edge Chardonnay (Australia)--10.99
LaPuerta Torrontes--9.99
Il Prosecco (in a cool bottle, with a bottle cap)--12.99
Crossings Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) --14.99
Madfish Riesling (Australia)--14.99
Paul Metz Pinot Blanc-(Alsace)--14.99
Valori Trebbiano-15.99
Vendrell Cava Brut--Organic--17.99
Cortijo (Spain)--7.99
I count forty new wines, and two McGuffins. That means a lot of fun new stuff to try, and more to come. As always, your feedback, pro and con, is appreciated. Enjoy!

Brew News
A local distributor, g. Housen, has picked up two new beers from Rodenbach, one of the premier Belgian brewers. The Grand Cru almost tastes like...sorry...not my fault...wine. An acquired taste, yes, but amazingly satisfying, with that trademark sour/bitter edge that makes these beers stand out from the crowd. The other beer is a so-called Flemish, being a mixture of 75% new beer, and 25% oak aged beer. Tasted pretty good to me. We’re hoping to see more challenging ales and such coming down the pike from g. Housen, as the man-behind-the-scenes, Scott, has plans for world domination, via high quality beer. All hail, Scott!

The Dogfish boys from Maryland have released their seasonal Aprihop, in a 4-pack. Also, the same packaging approach has been taken by Vermont’s own Rock Art folks, releasing their, (can’t write this with a straight face) Magnumus ete Tomahawkus Extreme 8% alcohol, 80 IBU Ale, (ESB squared). Please ignore the “This ain’t for no Mama’s Boy or Daddy’s Girl” come-on. The real story is inside the bottle, smooth and solid.

Berkshire Brewing, who has a nice little pub on Flat St., has released their Maibock, and Otter Creek ditto with their Cuckoo Bock. From beer maven Ray McNeill, Reagin’s Stout, the tail end of the Imperial IPA, Imperial Stout, and the limited-edition 18% alcohol monster, Blunderbuss. You must have an up-to-date NRA membership card to purchase this fine brew, available only in unique, collectible, eight gallon black bottles, shaped like an authentic, Pirate’s aboard! shootin’ iron.

Fresh from the tanks of Magic Hat comes a stealth organic offering, Orlio. Stealth because the Hat appears nowhere on the package, and there’s no hint that is even brewed by elves or anything. Suffice to say that the Common Ale, and the IPA are worthy of a place on our shelves. Look for it next to the Wolaver’s.