November 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.

Nottola 2015 Anterivo Toscana Rosso • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $45.99 | INSIDER $36.99 | 25% OFF = $27.74

From vineyards near Montepulciano. 50% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese), 50% Merlot. 12 months in French oak barrique + 6 months in the bottle before release. Epic 2015 vintage… ready to drink! Smooth, deliciously complex. Red fruits, plums, deep black cherry, spices! Wonderful with roasted meats. Also great to sip and enjoy. 


 

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 summer in mind.

 

Château Vieux Chevrol 2019 Lalande de Pomerol • Bordeaux, France • Reg $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79

This winery makes one red blend every vintage. 2019 = Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%. Certified organic. Old vines = more body in this terrific, classic Bordeaux rouge.

Cassis, plums, sandalwood on the nose. Fruits are more dominant in the flavors: black plums, blackberry, soft note of cassis. Super elegant, complex, great acidity with a long, pleasantly dry finish. Has this wine hit its prime? It's close. We think it will be excellent for the next 2 years, but it's out of this world now. So pleased. Enjoy with braised or grilled meats, mushroom pizza or pasta, fried or roasted chicken & more.

 

Friedrich Becker 2021 Pinot Gris • Pfalz, Germany • Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39

100% Pinot Gris. Orange, pink color. Unfiltered. The original orange wine! Crazy-aromatic nose: floral, spicy, earthy. It just plays with you. Pink grapefruit+. So many flavors, it's hard to describe: grapefruit, citrus, Meyer lemon, pear, orange zest on the spicy finish. Note of salinity & earth on the LONG finish. Such an amazing wines. Jens: An absolute stunner!!

 

Gosset Champagne Grande Réserve Brut • Champagne, France • Reg $72.99 | Mixed Case $58.39

Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne, founded in 1584 by Pierre Gosset. Blend: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier. Aged 4 years in cellar. Lemon meringue pie & yellow fruit such as Mirabelle plums. Toasted notes. Good richness & volume. —Le Chef de Caves, Odilon de Varine (pictured)

 

Lapierre 2023 Moulin àVent • Beaujolais, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19

100% Gamay from the Beaujolais Cru Moulin à Vent. Wonderful wine. Plummy, forest floor, subtle mushrooms, earth, soft notes of licorice. Super balanced. Elegant. Finessed. Plums, forest strawberries. Acidity is perfect. Pre-order = 3 cases. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Jens: Lapierre is the French BMW of Beaujolais. Doesn’t get better!

Pictured: Christophe Lapierre

 

DeLille Cellars 2022 Chaleur Blanc • Columbia Valley, Washington • Reg $48.99 | Mixed Case $39.19

Classic (white) Bordeaux blend: 69% Sauvignon Blanc & 31% Sémillon. 6 months in oak. Complex floral notes on the nose. Spicy. Fresh. Lemon curd, white peach, touch of minerals, tiny note of hay on the palate. Rich mouthfeel. Long finish. Scrumptious. 

 

Four Vines 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel • Lodi, California • Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19

100% Zinfandel. Aromas of ripe wild berry flavors with a hefty dusting of spice and zesty pepper. Full-bodied with a juicy entry and big finish. —winery notes. This wine was made for your Thanksgiving table, so any dinner with roasted foul served with a spicy chutney, sweet potatoes and the slight bitterness of brussels sprouts or kale would be fantastic!

 

Vincent & Sophie Morey 2019 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Embrazées" • Burgundy, France • Reg $89.99 | Mixed Case $71.99

100% Chardonnay. Pears, apples, citrus, limestone on the nose. Palate is so complex. Not over oaked. Not too acidic. So incredibly lovely. Complex. Well-balanced. Stone fruit, tree fruit, spice, soft creme brulee, then minerality on the long finish.....

 

Serre dei Roveri 2016 Barolo Riserva • Piedmont, Italy • Reg $54.99 | Mixed Case $43.99

100% Nebbiolo. Riserva = minimum 62 months (including 18 months in barrel) before release.

After 3 hours open... Nose of red plums, red fruit, note of licorice, earth, truffle, spice & orange rind. Similar flavors: spicy plums, cherries & a hint of orange from the acidity. Long, smooth finish with a touch of anise. Absolutely wonderful wine.

This wine is ready to drink, but it still needs time to breathe and open up. We recommend 3 hours minimum. You don't need to decant. Just open the bottle and let it sit. You wouldn't be making a mistake if you opened it in the morning to be enjoyed with dinner. Dinner? Flank steak, lamb chop, gamey meatballs or a dish with a rich mushroom base.

 

Nigl 2021 Grüner Veltliner • Kremstal, Austria • Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39

Wow!! Inviting, vibrant nose of stone fruit, pineapple, dried peach. Flavors are mouthwatering: stone fruits, citrus & then spices: ginger, cardamom with a long, white peppery, spicy finish. Worth the extra price.

 

Brotte 2022 Laudun Blanc • Southern Rhône, FranceReg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59

Classic white blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier, Roussanne. Nose of  green apple & citrus fruits with a touch of hazelnut followed by apricot, almond & ripe mango. The mouth is round and lively with touches of citrus, ripe yellow fruits, acacia honey, vanilla and lemon peel. –winemaker's notes.

 

Acra 2022 Malbec Rosé • Peloponnese, Greece • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.99

100% Malbec. "Aromas of peach, wild strawberries, white flowers and aroma of chamomile. Rich and full body in the mouth with refreshing acidity and long creamy aftertaste." –winery notes. Our notes: Rosé across the board pairs great with Thanksgiving dinner. Consider it!

 
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October 2024