Carl's Picks

August 2008

2007 Can Feixes Blanco Selecio, Penedés
$16.99

This white Spanish wine is from Penedés, located high in the mountains, and is blend of Parellade, Macabeo and Chardonnay. The nose is blend of citrus and apple, and carries through on the palate with spiciness and a stoney minerality. I like this wine because the blend makes it a nice change from other well known whites. The tartness makes it a great candidate for seafood dishes, rich white sauces, and wonderful creamy cheeses.

2005 Château Jalouise, Bordeaux Supérieur
$12.99

Being only a Bordeaux Supérieur, this one is fantastic and the vintage was excellent. Rich opulent flavors of spice, red fruit, and a slight understated earthiness greet the nose, and follow through on the palate to the very end. The tannins are soft, making this wine immediately approachable. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely delicious and a delight to drink. Any red meat pairing would be wonderful, but I think I would enjoy it on its own to sip for what it is ------fantastic!

July 2008

2006 Pra Soave Classico
$18.99

Soave was for me, for the longest time, a very light, almost watery wine. Boy, what a surprise was this one. The bouquet starts with floral notes, followed by lime and ginger, overall clean and bright, with a creamy, unctious mouthfeel, and finishing with vanilla, almond and honey. The wine is not at all flabby, and would be a great with any rich creamy dish, soft cheeses and especially with pastas that are served in a cream sauce. I really do like this wine for the surprises it brings and because it is sooooooo delicious.

2003 Chateau Branda, Puisseguin-St-Emilion
$27.99

Good bordeaux are usually very expensive, and great ones unaffordable. To my surprise, this bordeaux is both great and inexpensive. This merlot is a classic with all the great flavors of St. Emilion: earthiness, leather, spice, and dark fruits that carry forth from nose to palate to finish. What is so amazing about this wine and makes it so great is how the flavors keep developing. The smoothness and light tannins of this wine make it very approachable and a joy to drink. This merlot would go so well with any red meat dish, but I actually enjoyed it by itself.

June 2008

2005 Elena Walch Gewurztraminer, Alto Adige
$10.99

This delicious wine from Italy has aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, and citrus peel. These notes are also nicely balanced on the palate, and a touch of lychee makes this wine a joy to drink. I paired it with a homemade papardelle in a creamy, rich meat sauce. The wine’s acidity made it a good match to the richness of the pasta.

Lillet, Podensac
$18.99

Lillet has long been one of my favorite aperitifs. The floral and herbal notes carry through to the palate. Try this on the rocks, with a twist of orange peel, for a lovely beginning to any meal, or just to sip on the deck. Let’s hope the summer begins quickly!

May 2008

Julien Chopin Brut Champagne a Monthelon
$39.99

Pinot Meunier is the lesser-known of the the three varietals authorized in the making of Champagne. Julien Chopin, one of the smaller Champagne houses, close to Epernay in the village of Monthelon, is unusual because of the blend of 90% Pinot Meunier and 10% Chardonnay. The additional Pinot Meunier produces amazing notes of floral and clove, followed by a lemony palate and toasty finish; the overall effect is delightfully refreshing. This is one champagne to accompany the (hopefully!) warmer days coming. Pair with seafood, especially oysters on the half-shell, or with salads or soft cheese.

2006 Hubert Lapierre "Cuvee Vielles Vignes" Moulin-a-Vent
$18.99

This Cru Beaujolais is a rich and powerful wine, especially when you realize that it is produced from the Gamay Noir grape, known for light and fruity like the familiar Beaujolais Nouveau. In the right hands of this producer, this grape can become a surprisingly complex wine: spicy, with an overlay of dark red fruit and earthy minerality, nicely balanced with perfect acidity. Very low in tannins, this wine is very versatile, pairing with everything from hard cheeses to any substantial meat dish. Try it as a wonderful substitute to a Pinot Noir.

April 2008

2005 Trenel, Saint-Veran
$18.99

I am a lover of French chardonnays - this one is no exception. The nose starts with a wonderful whetstone and flintiness that is so characteristic of these wines, along with a hint of asparagus. Spice and soft vanilla notes balance the mid-palate and finish. This wine is a good choice for cheeses and rich cream sauces, especially pastas - I enjoyed this one with a quatro formaggio pizza from our neighbor La Vita e Bella - it was really goooood!

Soligo Prosecco
$17.99

Proseccos are sparklers that can express great character and depth. This one happens to do just that - a prominent lime zest on the nose is followed by notes of mocha-almond creme follows with a pleasantly dry, nutty finish.

March 2008

2005 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills
$44.99

This Pinot is crafted in the Burgundian style, but with an Oregonian touch. Lovely red fruit flavors and earth notes carry through to create an amazing texture. This wine is what makes Pinot so wonderful to drink.

2005 Schoenheitz Muscat Vin d'Alsace
$19.99

I love this wine, featured at one of our recent tastings. Lovely citrus flavors and yellow fruit gives this wine a wonderfully dry finish, unlike many domestic versions that can be overly sweet and cloying.

January 2008

2006 Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
$31.99

This is a good, solid Oregon Pinot at a reasonable price, with subtle flavors of earth and fruit that slowly develop to produce a well-balanced, pleasingly-satisfying wine.

Seattle Cellars Staff

Carl

Carl has worked at Seattle Cellars on and off for about six years, but was originally a customer! He started coming to Seattle Cellars regularly after Dave Woods recommended a fabulous rose that paired perfectly with grilled salmon. He loves Pinot Noir and white Burgundies, and loves food-wine pairing challenges! His favorite meal is roast chicken, potatoes, green salad, with either the Pinot or the white Burgundy.