April 2025
WINE OF THE MONTH
Every month we give a little spotlight time to a hidden treasure, a wine we think you should meet (and hopefully fall in love with). To encourage the introduction, we offer the wine at 25% OFF the bottle price for the given month.
Michel Chapoutier 2021 Marius Rouge • Vin de Pays d'Oc, France • Reg $14.99 | 25% Off = $11.25
High-end Northern Rhône producer Michel Chapoutier enters the everyday wine market with a line from Vin de Pays d'Oc in Languedoc-Roussillon.
Blend = Syrah 57%, Grenache 43%. Nose of raspberries, black cherries. Herbs. Blueberries, blackberries, black cherries on the palate. But light & vibrant. Blood orange notes on the finish = fun acidity.
JENS’ TOP PICKS
Every month Portalis owner Jens Strecker picks 5-10 wines that he thinks are outstanding … for any reason he chooses. Here are his picks (not in a specific order) made with early spring in mind.
Castello di Bossi 2022 Chianti Classico • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Organic Sangiovese. Nose of dried cherries, red plums and herbs. Beautiful Tuscan nose. Flavors of red & black cherries, dark plums followed by orange zest acidity. Herbal, mineral notes return on the finish. Superb classic Chianti from southernmost Chianti (so a tiny bit warmer). Such a well-made wine. Our pairing: spicy pork, garlic, kale, chickpeas with lot of lemon juice & lemon zest (so pretty fresh & acidic) over pasta. The acidity & the medium-body of the Chianti was a perfect match.
André Brunel 2021 Côtes du Rhône Blanc • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Terrific blend of Roussanne 70%, Grenache Blanc 15%, Clairette Blanche 15%. White flowers on the nose with lots stone fruits & orchard fruits. Flavors of ripe apples, peach, honeydew melon, with citrus to the finish. Well-done. Elegant. For a white Rhône, it's on the lighter side (but still medium-bodied compared to most whites). Yummy, easy-drinking wine.
Weingut Sattlerhof 2019 Sauvignon Blanc • Gamlitz, Austria • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
11 kms from the border to Slovenia = main area in Austria where SB is grown. Very herbal on the nose. Flinty, citrus, wild grasses. Flavors of citrus, lime, a little grapefruit, tart apples, minerals. Pretty full-bodied for Sauvignon Blanc. 2018! Still has a lot of life. Fun wine.
Chemin de Provence 2023 Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé • Provence, France • Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault. Ripe strawberries, raspberries on the nose. Palate adds in citrus, guava. Soft herbal notes. Fresh and light and delicious!
Castello Colle Massari 2019 Montecucco Rosso Riserva • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $24.99 | Mixed Case $19.99
Sangiovese + Ciliegiolo & Cab. Very aromatic. Herbal notes, forest floor, black cherries on the nose. Medium+ bodied with good acidity. Super complex. Flavors of black cherries, black plums with herbal, spicy notes & licorice on the long finish. Absolutely killer wine!
Crow Haven Winery 2023 Riesling • Rattlesnake Hills, Washington • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Dried apricot, a little peach, and water running over rocks (minerality) on the nose. More soft peach on the palate + a little citrus, then the neutral oak adds a wonderful complexity. Crisp, acidic, long, fun finish.
Really creative winemaking. Bothel father/son team (with the son living in Ballard). Support your neighbors. You'll be glad you did.
Maison Mirabeau 2024 Coteaux Aix-En Provence Rosé • Provence, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
First rosé of the 2024 vintage! Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre blend. Fresh, fruity, minerally, delicious. Just what you’d expect from Provence. Come get yourself some! Cheers to spring!
Elqui 2020 Carménère Riserva • Elqui Valley, Chile • Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
100% Carménère. Aged in a mix of new, 1st and 2nd use French, American & Hungarian oak barrels for 24 months. "Aromas of black plum, urfa pepper, and spring flowers. Round, silky palate, with more black fruit, cinnamon, and baking spice. Finishes long and spicy." –winemaker's notes.
Fuller-bodied. Smooth. Perfect winter wine
Gordo 2021 Monastrell • Yecla, Spain • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
100% Monastrell = Mourvedre. Herbal, earthy, dark fruit on the nose. Palate = blackberries, black plums, blueberries, herbal, black tea. Dry finish with a little, vibrant, orange rind acidity on the tail end. Crazy-good food wine. The wine you're getting for the money is insane.
Romain Paire 2022 Colline en Flamme Gamay • Loire Valley, France • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
30-70 year old vines on mainly granite soils. 100% organic Gamay aged in concrete vats. Herbal, minerally nose with notes of cherry and red currant. Flavors of red cherries, dark raspberries and strawberries. Lighter-bodied and complex. Long, slightly earthy finish. Fine tannins. Not overly acidic. Lots of fruit & easy to like.