March 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.
Château Saint Seurin 2018 Rouge
Bordeaux, France // Reg $16.99 | 25% OFF = $12.74
Classic blend of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot. Aged in French oak for 6+ months. Aromas of black currants, violets, hint of cedar. Smooth, medium-bodied, well-balanced. Flavors of blackberries, dark plum, dried cranberries, wet gravel. Fine tannins on the finish. Drink now.
Photo: Renaud Jean (right) owns and operates Château Saint Seurin de Léviac with his wife, Claire.
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 late winter in mind.
Domaine de La Denante 2022 Bourgogne Blanc
Burgundy, France // Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
100% Chardonnay. Stainless-steel aged. Bright fruit flavors: grapefruit, pear, note of tangerine, citrus. Rich, round, and bright. Super yummy. Year round!
Vino La Monarcha 2020 Malbec
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Nose is full of red & black plums, blueberries. Flavors add in juicy blackberries. Medium- to fuller-bodied. Smooth. Smoke on the finish.
Walter Scott 2022 Chardonnay
Willamette Valley, Oregon // Reg $43.99 | Mixed Case $35.19
"Opens from matchstick to intense peach perfume and nuances of beeswax, almonds and acacia. The medium-bodied palate explodes with layer after layer of powerful fruit, delivered in a luxuriously silky texture and tempered by focused acidity. The Combe Verte offers fantastic length, concentration and energy!" —96 points Wine Advocate
Bodega Cepa 21 2019 Tempranillo
Ribera del Duero, Spain // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
100% Tempranillo. Fermented in stainless steel tanks then aged in French oak barrels. Beautiful nose of black cherries & blackberries. A little floral. Earthy. A lot of dark plums on the palate. Black cherries. Again, earth. Super fine tannins which are pleasant for sipping if you like this style of wine, but food enhances without a doubt. Pair with lamb or beef dishes.
Felline 2022 Fiano
Puglia, Italy // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Fiano Campania 70%, Fiano Minutelo 30%. Aged in stainless steel. Seashells then pears, apples on the nose. Add in citrus then almonds on the palate. Dry with fine acidity. An exotic wine. Seafood, shellfish!
Daou 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles, California // Reg $41.99 | Mixed Case $33.59
Not a classic nose. Red fruits. Herbs. Minerals. Super inviting. Flavors are way bigger. Blackberries. Black currants. Earth. Great acidity. Spicy finish. Could age. Great now.
Domaine Piaugier 2019 Sablet
Sôuthern Rhone, France // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. Raspberries upfront. Garrigue, licorice follow on the nose. Flavors of raspberries, black cherries, blackberries. Superb, mouthwatering acidity. Soft, tingling tannins. Fresh, fun finish with herbal notes. Love this wine! Winemaker says to pair with a leg of lamb.
Photo: Marc Autran with his son & granddaughter working the 2020 harvest. Also pictured is the village of Sablet from their vineyards.
Les Hauts de Lagarde 2020 Rouge
Bordeaux, France // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
55 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Cab Franc. Certified organic from clay-calcareous soil. Vineyards located in Saint Laurent du Bois & Entre-Deux-Mers. “A core of blackberry and black cherry preserves shows good energy as the flavors move through an anise- and sweet tobacco–tinged finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.” —winery notes.
La Puerta 2020 Alta Malbec
La Rioja, Argentina // Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
Plummy plums on the nose & palate! Yellow plums. Purple plums. But complex. Lovely. Coffee notes on the finish. This wine is not to miss!
Casas del Bosque 2022 Carménère Reserva
Valle de Rapel, Chile // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
On the nose, the strain's typical green paprika blends well with toasty notes and cocoa from the barrel. Plummy flavors with notes of tobacco & spices. Medium-bodied. —winery notes