July 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.
Santa Venere 2021 Cirò Bianco
Calabria, Italy • Reg $19.99 • 25% OFF = $14.99
100% Greco from the sub-region of Cirò. Ripe citrus fruit (lemon, lime, tangerine), white peach, thyme, wet stone. Soft, fruity middle. Has sort of a Viognier quality. Beautifully acidic. Nice dry finish. Perfect summer white. Go exploring!
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 summer (hopefully) in mind.
Domaine Berthier 2020 Mâcon-Chaintré
Burgundy, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
100% Chardonnay. Stainless steel aged. Mirabelle plum, stone fruits, pear & minerally, smoky notes. Mâcon at its best!
Domaine des Annibals 2023 Cuvée Rosé • Provence, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Cinsault/Grenache/Syrah - 55/25/20. Dry & softly fruity. Notes of peach, nectarine with a hint of pineapple acid for refreshment. Minerally on the finish. Delicious rosé from the Var region of Provence
Tahbilk 2018 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre • Victoria, Australia • Reg $25.99 | Mixed Case $20.79
A blend of 42% Grenache, 36% Shiraz, 22% Mourvèdre. The varietals spend 12-18 months in a mix of neutral & new French & American oak. Nose of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice, with a scruffy herbal component reminiscent of Southern Rhône (which makes this wine!). Add in plummy notes on the palate. Acidity is fantastic. Absolutely delicious wine. This vintage is 2018, and it still can age! It just plays with you on the palate. Complex but fresh. Spicy notes on the finish. You're gonna be wowed. The winery suggests pairing this wine with a chargrilled Angus Eye Fillet Steak (below).
Salcheto 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
Smells like fresh, Tuscan air... scruffy herbs & subdued cherries. Complex, well-balanced, elegant, fine acidity. Black cherries, plums, earth. Sage. Superb wine.
Pala 2022 Soprasole Vermentino • Sardinia, Italy • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Crunchy apricot & nectarine, wet stone on the nose. Add in citrus, pear, apple on the palate. Medium-bodied. Minerally finish. Just dynamite! Great with all seafood, roasted chicken, pork loin slow-cooked in milk... and many more.
Mario Pala pictured in his vineyards.
L'Ecole 2022 Luminesce • Walla Walla Valley, Washington • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Bordeaux blend (Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon) from Seven Hills Vineyard. “Expressive aromas of stone fruit, grapefruit blossom, mango, key lime, and gooseberries accented by a delicate spiciness. On the palate, flavors of fresh peach, honeydew melon, and lemon tart mingle with exotic jasmine and minerality, building to a fresh, persistent finish.” —winery notes.
Santa Duc 2019 Aux Lieux-Dits Gigondas • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $56.99 | Mixed Case $45.59
A 50/50 blend of Grenache & Mourvèdre (fun blend!) from 75 year old vines. Aged 18 months in oak barrels without fining or filtration. Fuller-bodied. Dark fruit. “Serious and deep, marked by spices, liquorice notes, and fleshy tannins.”—winery notes.
Six Hats 2021 Fedora Chenin Blanc • Western Cape, South Africa • Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
100% Chenin Blanc. Crunchy pineapple on the nose + white peach, lemon rind. Flavors of nectarines, clementines, citrus with some spicy notes on the finish. Good acidity. Dry. Fresh. Fantastic wine for the money. Winery says to enjoy with seared tuna or spicy Asian cuisine.
Fabre en Provence 2022 Rosé • Côtes de Provence, France • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
A classic Provence rosé. Pale (although the photo doesn't show it!), minerally, refreshing. "Aromas of rose-water, citrus & wild berries" from this sun-laden coastal vineyard.
Ancient Peaks 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon • Paso Robles, California • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Cocoa powder dusted over cherries on the nose. Blackberries, boysenberries, black cherries, black currants. Cocoa again on the finish. Enjoy with a steak off the grill.