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Our Top Rosé Wines

Rosé is here to stay! No longer an afterthought for winemakers and wine drinkers alike, rosé is now recognized as a serious style of wine to be enjoyed in the most casual of settings. Dry, light and refreshing for warm summer days, a glass of rosé evokes picnics on the beach, polo tailgates and leisurely dinners in the backyard.

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The crisp and lean style of rosé allows lighter dishes, such as grilled fish served with fresh garden salads topped with goat cheese, to shine without fear of being overpowered by the wine’s weight.

On the flip side, the light nature of rosé is a lovely counterpart to richer dishes. It’s a thirst quenching wine to serve with a spicy rack of barbecue ribs, carne asada tacos or spicy Pad Thai.

Think pink, drink pink, and enjoy this slice of sunshine in a glass!

– Joanna

matthiason-rose

2014 Matthiasson Rosé
Napa Valley, California

Ethereal, delicate notes of peach and rhubarb are present in this austere rosé, best enjoyed with grilled salmon.

alexandervallyevineyards-rose

2014 Alexander Valley Vineyards ‘Dry Rosé of Sangiovese’
Alexander Valley, California

An Italian grape grown in California! Bright strawberry notes are met with super refreshing acidity. Serve with roasted pepper hummus and chips.

calcu-rose

2014 Calcu Rosé
Colchagua Valley, Chile

A French style of rosé made in Chile, the Calcu features 50% Malbec, 40% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot grapes and pairs best with barbecue ribs.

commandeire-de-peyrassol-rose

2014 Commanderie de La Peyrassol Rosé
Provence, France

A classic! Light watermelon notes and mineral tones from the region that made rosé a household name, enjoy with grilled shrimp.

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2014 Château Valcombe Rosé
Ventoux, France

A wonderful Grenache based rosé from the Rhône, dry with a hint of strawberry, serve with grilled artichokes with a pepper aioli.

rose-de-loire

2014 Auguste Bonhomme ‘Rosé de Loire’
Loire Valley, France

Another great find from the Loire Valley, featuring Gamay and Grolleau grapes with notes of red currant, enjoy with your favorite cheeses.

lacrimarosa-rosato

2014 Mastroberardino ‘Lacrimosa’
Campania, Italy

Raspberry, pepper and rhubarb notes are plentiful in this hearty rosé, serve with grilled zucchini and artichokes.

gobelsburg-cistercien-rose

2014 Schloss Gobelsburg ‘Cistercien’ Rosé
Kamptal, Austria

A blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent, this rosé teems with minerals, the slightest hint of watermelon and has a wonderfully refreshing finish, serve with a raw beet salad.

chateaumontaud-rose

Château Montaud Rosé
Côtes de Provence, France

A classic Provence rosé, refreshing acidity meets bright strawberry notes, serve with chicken salad.

 

 

Top 9 Bubbly Wines for the Holidays!

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There is no other category of wine in the store that can do or say so much than Sparkling Wine! Regardless of price, a glass of bubbly is the best way to start any occasion.  The ‘pop’ of the cork is the official sound of party time, and perfectly sets the tone of any gathering. Not only is sparkling wine delicious and one of the most versatile wines for food pairing, but also is the perfect way to say Thank You, I love you or Congratulations!

With so many choices, names and styles it can be difficult to pick a sparkling wine that suits your occasion or meal. We’ve simplified your decision making process by creating a list of our Top 9 Sparkling Wines for this holiday season. Cheers!

Download & Print the List >

Pol Roger Champagne – Good enough to be served at Kate and William’s royal wedding so it’s definitely good enough for any occasion at your home.  Classic Champagne with plenty of structure and delicious complex flavors.

Charles de Fère Blanc de Blancs – Made in the same style as Champagne, but much less expensive.  Made with 100% Chardonnay, it’s light and lively but has a deep and complex toastiness that makes it a great value.

Ca’ Furlan Prosecco – Our most popular wine in the store!  Beautiful and crisp and a perfect pairing with party time!  Superb value!

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs – California’s premier sparkling wine producer and often poured at the White House for fancy state dinners.  Packed with gorgeous tropical fruit flavors, fresh green apple, roasted nuts and a long creamy finish.  Also available in a 1.5L!

Mercat Cava Brut – Beautiful Cava in a beautiful package. Aromas of creamy pear and apple burst out of the glass coupled with flavors of papaya and hints of toasted hazelnuts. So good!

Egly-Ouriet ‘Brut Tradition Grand Cru’ Champagne – The King of the ‘Grower Champagnes’! Made by the same people that grow the grapes, this is an absolute sleeper of a Champagne.  Dry, perhaps even austere, with some much complexity of flavor that you’ll be thinking of it for days after.

Mionetto Brut Prosecco – Perhaps the most iconic Prosecco in the world!  Intensely fruity aromas – very dry, fresh, light in body and well-balanced.  Perfect alone as an aperitif or as a complement to appetizers.  Also excellent as a base for Bellinis and other sparkling wine cocktails.

Möet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne – So much elegance and complexity wrapped up in one bottle!  Vibrant intensity of green apples and citrus fruits, freshness of mineral nuances and white flowers and elegance of brioche and fresh roasted nuts.

Chandon Rosé – A dramatic sparkling wine from California!  Deep pink color with intense ripe strawberry, juicy watermelon and fresh red cherry fruit flavors and aromas.  A very creamy and seductive wine that is bold and sure to make a big impact at any occasion.

Cheers!
Eric Taylor

Autumn Elixirs: Top 5 Pumpkin Beers

pumpbee2Pumpkin beers are a great source of debate among beer lovers. For some it is a gimmicky trend that has yet to move on, and for others it’s the taste of autumn in a glass. Here are our Top 5 Pumpkin beer picks of the season!

Two Roads Roadsmary’s Baby
What a great name! I love Two Roads’ unique take on the classic Pumpkin ale. The body of this beer is remarkably smooth, with notes of pumpkin, balanced spice, and subtle toasted grain. This ale also spends some time aging in a rum cask, which only acts to accentuate the vanilla and spice notes. www.tworoadsbrewing.compumpbee9

 

Southern Tier Pumking
Everyone hail the Pumpkin King! Considered one of the most sought after pumpkin beers, I would be remiss if I didn’t include it on our list. Let’s start with the rich golden-orange color, a sign of delicious things to come. For me this is the epitome of classic ‘pumpkin pie’ ale. At 8.6%, the higher ABV helps counter and balance the indulgent spice and pumpkin flavors. This warming beer is ideally suited for sipping during those cooler fall months. www.stbcbeer.com

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Dogfish Head Punkin
As with all of beers in Dogfish Head’s lineup this beer is definitely off kilter, but in the most delicious way! This ample brown ale is brewed with pumpkin, organic brown sugar, and finally the addition of some spices. What I love most about this brew is that it is a BEER FIRST and then pumpkin ale. Not overwhelmingly flavored, just the right amount of malt to pumpkin goodness. www.dogfish.compumpbee11

 

Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout
Locally made in Gloucester, Massachusetts, this brew is Cape Ann’s fresh interpretation of a classic fall staple — a stout. This is loaded with dark roasted malt notes, which couples nicely with the balanced flavor of pumpkin and pie spices. At a warming 7% ABV, this is the perfect brew to cozy up with on those brisk autumn evenings. www.capeannbrewing.comfisherman

 

Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale
Last, but certainly not least, we have Brooklyn’s offering which might possible be the most restrained pumpkin beer off this list. Brewed with the addition of Dickinson pumpkins and nutmeg, this is a very food friendly ale! This beer would be a great pick for Thanksgiving; it pairs perfectly with a turkey that has all the fixin’s. *audible gasp* That’s right I mentioned Thanksgiving! www.brooklynbrewery.compumpbee10 And so as the leaves begin to fall and the air feels slightly crisper, then and only then do I enjoy cracking open a pumpkin beer.

Sadly, we find that they continually arrive far sooner than autumn does and it just isn’t the same drinking them when summer is still upon us. This is partly due to the high demand and ‘seasonal creep’ for which beer drinkers get up in arms — by the time the season really gets going most of these beers are long gone. pumpbee6My advice for all this pumpkin hub-bub? Enjoy them any way you can get them!

by Jackie Blackwell

Top 9 Rosé Wines of the Summer!

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Summertime means one important thing at Bottles – it’s officially rosé season!

Rosés are perfection partnered with easy, warm-weather foods. Think BBQ or light salads with insanely fresh veggies.

Don’t confuse rosés with those sweet White Zins or Blush Wines. Rosés are actually made from red grapes.  They’re dry and not sweet. And, they have fantastic strawberry, raspberry, and cherry fruit flavors that come from the red grape skins.

For your go-to summer wine, you really can’t go wrong with peppy, lightly citrusy rosé. Everyone will obsess over them!

Here’s a honed down list of our favorite rosé wines of the season. For even more choices, swing by the store and we’ll help you find just the right one. Cheers, and happy rosé season from Bottles!

Bieler

Bieler Pere et Fils (rhymes with Feeler)
Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
The staff’s favorite rosé this season!  Light and crisp, with delicious mouth-watering flavors of raspberries, watermelon, and fresh herbs. $11.99

Charles+Charles

Charles and Charles Rosé
Washington
A heavier style rosé made with mostly Syrah.  Big, bold, dark fruit flavors like Bing Cherries and ripe strawberries.  A great pick with messy BBQ ribs or chicken. $11.99

LesDauphins

Les Dauphins Rosé
Côtes du Rhône, France
A stunning value for a classic and prestigious wine growing region.  Expect ripe summer fruit, backed up with rich, spicy, and peppery flavors that make it a perfect pairing with grilled hamburgers or lamb kabobs.  $11.99

AtoZ

A to Z Rosé
Oregon
A lush and creamy rosé with loads of personality.  Aromas of hibiscus and honeycomb with bright and spicy fruit flavors, like citrus and strawberries that finishes crisp and clean. $14.99

Gobelsburger

Gobelsburger Rosé
Austria
Beautiful, light salmon pink color that must be seen in your glass to be really appreciated.  Made from Zweigelt, a grape native to Austria, this is a bone dry rosé with an incredible amount of acidity that begs to be paired with BBQ ribs.  Yes, ribs. $16.99

Peyrassol

Commanderie de Peyrassol
Côtes de Provence
Classic and sophisticated rosé from the iconic Cotes de Provence region in Southeastern France.  This rosé has a pale rose color and has a lovely fruit blossom aroma, with flavors of wild strawberries and Herbs de Provence (thyme, sage, rosemary). $21.99

Orlana

Orlana Rosé
Portugal
The best rosé value of the Summer!  Light and breezy, this rosé has a very light fizz to it and is deliciously gulp-able.  Light in color, aroma and flavor, this wine demands to be alongside you at every casual gathering this summer. $8.99

RoseChinon

Domaine Sourdais Rosé
Chinon, France
This rosé is as engaging as it is delicious.  Made from Cabernet Franc, this is a bit heavier than most, with flavors of bright red berries, ruby red grapefruit, and a delicious minerality. $17.99

ChateauPradeau

Chateau Pradeaux Rosé
Bandol, France
Bandol (in the Southeast of France) may be the most serious region for rosé production in the world.  This exceptional wine is very complex, rich and full bodied – a special treat! $32.99

Our Top 9 Spring Wines

Top Spring Wines

For us, spring is the real beginning of the year.  So many exciting wines start to arrive, the most notable being rosé from all over the world. When thinking about springtime foods, they mirror the season very well – fresh, light and with vibrant flavors and colors.  To make a comparison, we think of Grüner Veltliner, Albariño and Cabernet Franc to be the Ramps, Fiddlehead Ferns and Asparagus of the wine world.

PRINTABLE WINE LIST >

 

Spring Wines

Look for our in-store display of spring wines, hand-selected to be perfect with almost any fresh and vibrantly flavored springtime dish.

Braised Lamb Shanks recipe // Wine Pairing Ideas

Stout-Braised Lamb Recipe >

2012 Château D’Oupia ‘Les Hérétiques’, Languedoc, France, $11.99 
2010 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France, $14.99
2009 Frederic Mabileau ‘Les Rouilleres’, Loire Valley, France, $17.99

Roasted Chicken Wine Pairing ideas

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe >

2012 Matua Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, $12.99
2012 William Hill Chardonnay, North Coast, California, $14.99
2012 K Vintners Viognier, Columbia Valley, Washington, $24.99

Garlic, Ramp, and Mushroom Flatbread recipe

Veggie Flatbread Recipe >

2011 Burgáns Albariño, Galicia, Spain, $12.99
2012 Château Les Valentines ‘La Caprice de Clementine’, Provence, France, $14.99
2013 Anton Bauer ‘Gmörk’ Grüner Veltliner, Wagram, Austria, $15.99

Cheers!
Eric Taylor
Bottles General Manager