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Mandriola Lisboa White Blend Portugal 2022
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: Fernão Pires, Moscatel-Graúdo
Winery: Aveleda
Location: Lisboa, Portugal
Drink or Cellar? Drink now
Some tidbits:
Inspired by the experiences that make up the city of Lisbon, mandriola de Lisboa represents the more relaxed and uncompromising side of the city, the focus on enjoying the moment, living life and exploring new experiences. Relaxed, versatile and easy to drink, these wines are for those who like to enjoy life. They are the perfect excuse to enjoy the simple moments of life.
Tasting notes:
With a light-yellow hue, a clear and crystalline appearance, mandriola de Lisboa white presents a fresh and tropical aroma, with nuances of pineapple and well-balanced white fruit, characteristic of the grape varieties. It is a medium-bodied wine, with a slight creaminess and a balanced and pleasant acidity, in a harmonious and refreshing aftertaste..
Food pairings from them!
White meats, grilled and roasted fish, seafood, Indian and Asian cuisine. It is also a good option for serving as an appetizer.
From Them to You!
“Life is to be enjoyed!”
150 years ago, following the dream of the company’s founder, Manoel Pedro Guedes, Quinta da Aveleda produced its first white wine. This wine was tasted by the main critics of the time, in Berlin and Paris, immediately gaining quality recognition with a gold and silver medal. From this point on, Aveleda was created, with a distinct wine, of great quality, appreciated by many, which today is distributed to more than 70 countries.
150 years later, Aveleda has many more dreams that have been accomplished. We have gathered 150 years of stories, starting with the success and joy that are at the base of the Casal Garcia brand, stories of innovation in our wine producing methods, in the way we care for our vines, of our people, our sustainable growth and how we have adapted to what nature has to offer over five generations. Learn about these stories, of our achievements, challenges and particular details that this company has created throughout 150 years.
Source: https://www.aveleda.com/en# https://mandrioladelisboa.pt/en/homepage/
Astica Sauvignon Blanc Argentina 2020
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Winery: Bodegas Trapiche
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Drink or Cellar? Drink now
Some tidbits:
Astica means flower in our native Indian language and this wine was made in their honor.
Tasting notes:
This sauvignon blanc is remarkably fresh, and with nice aromas of litchi and grapefruit. Ideal to drink as an aperitif or with fish or white meats.
Food pairings
- Grilled Shrimp or Prawns with Lemon & Herbs: The wine’s citrus and acidity enhance the freshness of seafood.
- Ceviche: Its bright acidity complements the tang of lime and freshness of raw fish.
- Grilled Asparagus or Zucchini: The wine’s green notes highlight the vegetable’s natural flavors.
- Tabbouleh or Falafel with Yogurt Sauce: Works well with bright herbs and Middle Eastern flavors.
- Thai Green Papaya Salad or Vietnamese Spring Rolls: The crispness balances spice and fresh herbs.
From Them to You!
Since its early days, in 1883, Bodega Trapiche has received worldwide recognition for its relentless quest for innovation. Our full understanding of the land as our most valuable asset, combined with state-of-the-art technology to venture into otherwise unchartered territory, have turned Trapiche into a winery that is constantly challenging what is allegedly known.
The relentless determination to achieve the highest standards in the world of winemaking has resulted in Trapiche’s worldwide recognition on countless opportunities. Trapiche was distinguished as “The Most Awarded Argentine Winery” by the WRW&S for the fourth year in a row, was selected by the prestigious English publication ‘Drinks International’ among the “50 Most Admired Wine Brands”, becoming the only Argentine winery to obtain 5 of this selections (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019) and was awarded by Wine Enthusiast as “The New World Winery of the Year” in 2019.
Biodynamic practices stand out as the purest forms of ecological agricultures, which are aimed at preserving the natural properties of crops by eliminating the use of chemicals, herbicides and fungicides and calculating the moon cycles for the harvest. Those practices also look to sustain ecosystem balance and biological diversity and to recover bacterial activity in the soil. The winery is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards managed under those practices, which include the use of organic plant and animal fertilizers from a farm owned by Trapiche, located at the back of the winery.
We believe that to keep on producing, innovating and educating about our wines, we must respect what nature provides us.
Source: https://www.trapiche.com.ar/
Manousakis Nostos Romeiko White Wine Greece 2022
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: Romeiko
Winery: Nostos Manousakis
Location: Vatolakkos, Crete
Drink or Cellar? Drink now
Some tidbits:
Nostos the journey…
The island of Crete; family; history; soil; the sea; sun; mountain herbs; the passion for quality grapes, all coming together in this very special wine made from the local Romeiko grape. Our whole story has brought us here, right back to our roots.
Tasting notes:
Pale lemon color and impressive aromas of white berry, bergamot, lemon, pear, white peach, fresh almond, and white flowers. Delicate mouth with medium body, balanced acidity, and floral aftertaste.
Food pairings
- Grilled Fish with Lemon and Herbs: The crispness of the Romeiko harmonizes with the light, herbaceous flavors of simply prepared fish.
- Pasta with Pesto and Fresh Vegetables: The wine’s acidity balances the richness of pesto, while its citrus undertones enhance the freshness of seasonal vegetables.
- Chicken Breast in Mustard Sauce: The wine’s bright profile cuts through the creamy, tangy flavors of the mustard sauce, creating a balanced pairing.
- Risotto with Asparagus and Parmesan: The wine’s acidity complements the richness of the risotto, while its citrus notes highlight the freshness of the asparagus.
From Them to You!
Over the millennia the Lefka Ori Mountains of Western Crete have absorbed the quiet life cycle for thousands of the island’s native flora. When you walk these mountains in the spring it takes you on a sensory adventure filled with the scents of rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, and chamomile. In the fall, they descend back to the soil and are absorbed and thus the quiet life cycle continues.
My name is Alexandra and I am the youngest daughter of Ted Manousakis, the owner and founder of Manousakis Winery. My father was born in the village of Vatolakkos in 1943 and left his village eleven years later, following the journey many Greeks were making, to America. For an enterprising young man, the possibilities were endless.
Nostos is the greek meaning of “yearning to come home” and this propelled my Dad to the land of his birth. He wanted to be more than a mere visitor, he wanted to give something back to the island that he loved. Making wine is a strong tradition in Crete and wine was a way of life in Vatolakkos and filled his boyhood memories. There was no better way to pay homage to those traditions and bring people together to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Soil, sun, weather conditions and yearning converged to perfection and gave birth to Manousakis Winery and the first vineyards were planted in 1993. Fourteen years later, I had the same desire as my father, to be more than a mere visitor in my ancestral home.
Our winery is the culmination of my father’s and my dream to produce and share world class wine in a place that we love.
Tahuan Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Ernesto Catena Vineyards
Location: Andes Mountains/Mendoza, Argentina
Drink or Cellar? Drink now
Some tidbits:
Sometimes, new marvelous places produce strong sensations in our mind and body. Such was my good fortune when I first encountered the Tahuantinsuyu, the realm of Inca culture.
The Incas conquered most of the Andean tribes through commerce and religion, not war. In their quest for union they built a network of roads connecting all the Andean micro-cultures from Quito to Mendoza. It is on one such road that i once dreamed of honoring the culture of the Tahuantinsuyu, “quechua” expression for “The Four Lands United.”
Tuhuan wines are 100% varietal from selected old vineyards at the foothill of the Andes Mountains.
Tasting notes:
Intense aromatic expression with spicy notes of raspberry jam and hints of paprika. Sweet and delicate entry, crisp acidity in harmony with round tannins, and well-integrated oak that is expressed in vanilla and chocolate flavors invite you to continue drinking. A rich and warm complexity ends in a long, unctuous finish.
Food pairings
- Beef or Mushroom Tacos with Chipotle or Ancho Chile: The wine can handle smoky, mildly spicy elements.
- Portobello Mushrooms or Lentil Stew: Umami-rich, earthy dishes balance the wine’s tannins and fruit.
- Braised Short Ribs or Pot Roast: The deep fruit notes in the wine stand up beautifully to slow-cooked meats.
- Beef Empanadas or Asado (Argentine BBQ): A regional pairing that plays into the wine’s bold and rustic character.
From Them to You!
Founded in the year 2000 by Ernesto Catena, a fourth-generation winemaker of Italian heritage, he developed his own winemaking style, “the path of the artist”. Ernesto sees his mission as transforming winemaking into a true art. Like painting, music and dance are forms of art, when executed with feeling, when the soul is expressed…Also known as the Wine Poet, Ernesto is a passionate man in relation to his multi-faceted love of nature. Ernesto and his team admire the local Inca and Mayan traditions. The majority of the buildings at the winery are inspired by pre-Columbian architecture.
The winery believes in organic and biodynamic agriculture and the connection between us, nature and the universe. We look for our vineyard to reflect our beliefs. So to understand completely who we are and where we come from, it’s necessary to visit us in Vista Flores, Mendoza, at the foothills of the Andes.
Ernesto Catena Vineyards is a work of art in constant metamorphosis, growing under a biodynamic and natural philosophy, in which all the composing elements work in synchrony.
Source: https://www.ernestocatenavineyards.com/en/
Chateau La Cour d’Argent Bordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: 95% Merlot, 3% Cab Franc and 2% Cab Sauv
Winery: Vignobles Denis Barraud
Location: Bordeaux Supérieur
Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2030
Some tidbits:
Whether for our Bordeaux appellation wines or our Saint-Émilion appellation wines, we apply the same uncompromising methods to achieve complete maturity of the grapes. Average age of vines: 35 years.
Tasting notes:
“”Medium-bodied, soft, polished and fresh, the wine focuses on its cherry, plum and oak filled core of, sweet, fresh fruits.”
Food pairings
- Roast Chicken or Duck with Herbs: The wine’s earthy tones pair beautifully with roasted poultry and herbs like thyme and rosemary.
- Grilled Lamb Chops or Leg of Lamb: Lamb’s richness balances the wine’s smooth tannins and dark fruit character.
- Beef Bourguignon: A classic French pairing—mushrooms, slow-cooked beef, and wine reduction meet their match in Bordeaux.
- Ratatouille: The herbaceous and tomato-based flavors in this Provençal classic are lifted by the wine’s bright acidity and red fruit.
- Pâté, Rillettes, Prosciutto, or Duck Sausage: The savory, salty components of cured meats are perfectly balanced by the wine’s structure and fruit.
From Them to You!
Founded at the end of the 19th century, the estate has remained a family property ever since . It was enlarged by my grandfather, Pierre-Henri Descrambe, who passed on his love of the vine to me. I have been working it since 1971.
Good wine can only be made if the vine has been meticulously prepared to produce beautiful grapes. Our cultivation methods are therefore demanding in order to achieve complete maturity of the grapes . Our winemaking processes then have the sole aim of obtaining the best expression of these healthy and ripe grapes so that they reflect the personality of our rich terroir.
Source: https://www.denis-barraud.com/
Lievland Cabernet Sauvignon Coastal Region, South Africa 2018
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the Producer’s Website)
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Lievland Estates
Location: Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Drink or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2028
Some tidbits:
A combination of high-altitude cooler Stellenbosch vineyards and dry land warm climate Paarl vines resulting in a balanced wine with complexity and abundance of fruit. The Stellenbosch fruit adds structure and elegance to the wine while the grapes from Paarl add riper dark fruit and richness.
A South African expression of this classic varietal, striking a perfect balance between old-world austerity and new world exuberance. A small addition of Cinsault grapes lifts the aromatics and contibutes vibrant fruit flavours, while the dark fruit of the Cabernet Franc grape contributes overall structure and depth.
Tasting notes:
Hints of pencil shavings, blueberries and prunes are all evident on the nose, while the palate boasts of dark fruit with juicy tannins and an elegant finish. Aiming to craft a more traditional style of Cabernet, a small percentage of Cinsault was added contributing vibrant fruit expression and balance to this well-rounded and classic Cabernet Sauvignon.
Food pairing suggestions:
- Grilled Ribeye or New York Strip Steak: The wine’s tannins cut through the richness of a well-marbled steak.
- Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops: Earthy and herbal notes in both the lamb and wine create a seamless match.
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms or Mushroom Stroganoff: Umami-rich and earthy, mushrooms enhance the wine’s subtle savory character.
From Them to You!
Lievland, which is Afrikaans for Loveland, is a historic farm with a long quirky history. The manor house dates back to 1865, and many a pioneering spirit have called it home through the years. The pursuit of winemaking has been a common thread, and each of these stories are woven into the rich history of the estate. Like the one about the legendary baroness from Latvia, a widow with 5 children, who famously plowed the vineyards with a horse. Or the story of the visionary woman who barrel-fermented a Chenin Blanc long before it became standard practice. Then there was the wine virtuoso who put Lievland on the map with an iconic Shiraz that people still talk about today. The most recent Lievland anecdote involves a tender story of a pair of horses who adopt a baby springbok; this bucolic scene of the mismatched animals grazing in the paddocks delighted visitors to the estate. This unusual love story became the inspiration for the Lievland wine labels.
Source: https://lievland.co.za/
West Seattle Wine Cellars 