Springtime Staff Picks!
We get questions all the time from customers who ask, "What is your favorite wine in the store right now?" The truth is, we often can't pick just one...
At Wine Thieves, we go through hours and hours of tedious wine tasting to try and find things that we like (and that we think you will like) for the price points we need to sell tham at. It is a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it! What this means, essentially, is that you won't find anything in the store that we don't like. However, every once in a while, there are wines that stand out to each of us from time to time. Those wines become our "go-to" for recommendations when someone is in the market to try something new.
Here are a few staff favorites that we have in stock right now. (Keep in mind that our inventory does change due to price increases and vintage changes):
Sam's Pick: 2014 Carpineto's 'Dogajolo' Rosato of Sangiovese Toscano, Italy
March is one of my favorite times of the year because it signifies springtime. And you know what that means... Rose season is here! Right now, we have a delicious Rose, or as the Italians say, "Rosato", from Tuscany, Italy. This wine is made up of 100% Sangiovese from a highly reputable winery named Carpineto, who are known for making some of the best Chianti in Italy. Sangiovese is their specialty and even in Rose form, there's no exception. This wine exhibits aromas of fresh strawberry preserves, citrus notes and hints of rose pedal. On the palate it is light-bodied, but with a round edge among the flavors of sweet lemon, melon and hints of mineral towards the finish. Needless to say, this is a dry Rose (the way they should be) but its complexities lie outside of the usual characteristics of Rose from Provence, France (which are often times my favorite). Try this springtime sipper with charcuterie or cheese plates (don't forget the goat cheese) for only $11.99!
Darrell's Pick: 2013 Bruce Patch Zinfandel Sonoma County, CA
I love this "tricky" Zinfandel from Sonoma. I say it is "tricky" because it actually drinks a little differently than the normal "fruit-bombs" of California. In fact, it has only 80% Zinfandel in it, while the remaining composition is a unique blend of Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouchet (a Portuguese variety) and a Carignane. These three additions add a slew of color, complex aromas and a little more structure to the wine. In addition to these grape varieties, the wine is also aged 24 months in oak, so it is really rich and well-textured, overall. The nose is reminiscent of dill, ripe blackberry and blueberry notes and even slight hints of leather. Similar flavors follow onto the palate, with the addition of raspberry fruit, white pepper and acidity, which makes this the perfect pair with ribs! The overall structure is what I love most about this wine. For this reason, I call it a Zin for Cab lovers. If you like boldly-flavored, well-structured wines, Bruce Patch is the one for you. Best thing about this small production gem? It's only $12.99! Grab it while you can.
Jim's Pick: 2012 Bodegas Breca Old Vine Garnacha Aragon, Spain
Living in California, we have access to some of the best wines in the world, right in our own backyard. But I must admit, from time to time, I also appreciate a good import. In this case, a wine from Northwestern Spain. In 2005, one of the best-known Spanish winemakers, Jorge Ordonez, purchased some land and founded Breca winery. The vineyards here have Garnacha vines that are over 90 years old. As a result, the fruit produces rich, ripe flavors of black cherry, cassis and hints of raspberry. It is full-flavored and full-bodied with more structure than most Garnacha. It is aged in oak for 21 months which adds some spice and accents the mineral undertones. It is full and complex and even has some great reviews by critics; Wine Advocate rated it 91 points! What's more is it's only $14.99! There's nothing about this wine I don't like.
Erle's Pick: 2012 Lavau Rasteau Rhone Valley, France
Rasteau is a small village located just north of the highly-acclaimed Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhone Valley. This wine is Grenache-based and displays a vibrant bouquet of raspberry, plum and lavender notes, with underlying hints of spice. It is medium to full bodied and really smooth, which makes it a nice wine to have before dinner with appetizers and friends. It drinks well now, but I like it best after it has had an hour to open up and release all of its intriguing aromas. The best part about this wine is the value. Areas like Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas can be pretty pricy, but Rasteau, because it is not as well-known, has all the benefits of the terroir without the price tag. You can pick this wine up for only $15.99!
So there you have it. The inside scoop on what we're drinking at Wine Thieves! Aside from these wines, we have a ton of favorites that we love to recommend based on your styles, meals and price points. All you have to do is ask.
