January 2024
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.
Palazzo Malgara 2020 Nero d'Avola
Sicily, Italy // Reg $17.99 | 25% OFF = $13.49
Fresh red berries, red plums on the nose with complex herbal notes of fennel & thyme. Flavors of plums, red & black cherries with a hint of sun-dried tomato & black tea then back to herbs. No oak. Just the magic of the grape. Good acidity and soft tannins on the finish. Crazy-interesting wine!
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 the start of the new year in mind.
Castello di Verrazzano 2019 Chianti Classico
Tuscany, Italy // Reg $32.99 | Mixed Case $26.39
100% Sangiovese. Saddle leather, bay leaves, red fruits. Flavors of red cherries, black cherries, herbal. Pleasantly dry & tart. Note of grapefruit rind on the finish. Jens: Europeans can sip this wine, no problem!! Balance is killer -- fruit, acidity, tannins. This wine just goes....
Métier 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Smooth. Medium bodied. Velvety. The nose: a beautiful, inviting, earthy nose. Blackberries, black cherries, a note of cassis. Velvety. Jens: That’s a cab to be proud of. Fantastic dinner wine. Drink now. The fruit is going all the way through. Smooth. “That is like a symphony that thing!!”—Jens
Dopff & Irion 2018 Pinot Blanc
Alsace, France // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
“Complex notes of nectarine, pineapple, fresh almond, white acacia flowers, and white pepper [on the nose].” Fresh light and smooth on the palate. Winery says to enjoy with curried chicken kebabs, lemon chicken, fried fish, and semi-dry goat cheese.
Lamblin & Fils 2022 Bourgogne Blanc
Burgundy, France // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case
Tasted blind: Very minerally. Chalky citrus nose. Blind I would have thought Petit Chablis. Taste = limestone, citrus, apple fruit, minerality (kimeragon limestone soil). Then I looked at the bottle: it's from Marigny-les-Chablis! Crazy-fun wine. Earthy, chalky, lemon-fruit. Delightful. Dinner = lighter fish. So lovely.
Paitin 2021 Starda Langhe Nebbiolo
Piedmont, Italy // Reg $28.99 | Mixed Case $23.19
Organic. 3 to 6 weeks macerating in stainless steel. Then Slovenian barrels for 6 months to 1 year. Lighter in body but full of flavor: soft cherries, dark raspberries, tart red plums with peppery earth and acidity that lifts this wine up. It’s dry but is still lovely, easy drinking. Very approachable.
Cepa 21 2020 Hito Tempranillo
Ribera del Duero, Spain // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Red plums, red fruit, raspberries on the nose. Note of herbs. “Super exciting nose, actually”. Reds plums, lots of black cherries, blackberries. Fresh, pleasantly fruity, Spanish food wine. Go!
Cor Cellars 2022 Alba White
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
58% Gewurztraminer, 42% Pinot Gris. Super fun winter white! “Peach, melon, honeysuckle, plus spicy notes of pears and lychee…”—winery notes. We say: You get the fun of Gewurztraminer, but in moderation. Crowd-pleaser. Local.
Domaine de Mougin 2021 Rouge
Vins de Pays de L'Aude, France // Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Garrigue (oregano & fennel) on the nose with complex fruit (raspberries, wild strawberries). Perky acidity. Insanely complex and deliciously fun for $15!! Nuts. We can't believe this wine.
Villa Maria 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand // Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39
Classic, zingy, NZ Sauvignon Blanc. With flavors of “fresh passionfruit and citrus”, the winery suggests pairing with oysters, mussels, white fish, as well as boldly flavored Asian dishes including Thai green chicken curry.