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New Arrivals

A lot of work goes in to curating our wine department.  Our wine staff tastes hundreds of bottles of wine in deciding which ones to bring in and offer to our guests.  We recently tasted a line of wines that are brand new to the state, and we are very excited about them.  The wines are called Location, and come from winemaker David Phinney.  Phinney is the winemaker for both Orin-Swift and Shatter, which have been staples on our shelves for some time.  With his Location wines, Phinney takes and unconventional approach, and blends grapes from several distinguished regions across a single country.  We are now proudly carrying his Spanish (E), French (F), and Italian (I) Location wines.

The Spanish Location is a blend of Garnacha from Priorat, Rioja, and Toro, Tempranillo from Rioja, and Carignan from Ribera del Duero.  Low yield, old vines, and judicious use of oak result in a wine that is richly concentrated, yet balanced.  The wine is deep red in the glass, with an intense nose of dark cherry, black fruits, and exotic spice.  The palate follows with berry compote, floral, and plum flavors.  Bright acid, silky tannins and notes of mocha round out this impressive wine.  It garnered 93 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and he described it as “voluptuously textured with stunning richness and depth.”

The French Location is a blend of Grenache from the Roussillion, Syrah from the Rhone Valley, and assorted Bordeaux varieties.  The wine is deep purple, with a ruby tinged rim.  The nose features compelling aromas of ripe cherries, blackberry preserve, lavender, and licorice.  On the palate, the wine features flavors of strawberry compote, crushed plums, mocha and black tea.  Silky, vibrant, and round, this wine is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave it a score of 91 points.

The Italian Location is a blend of Nero D’Avola and Negroamaro from Puglia, Barbera from Piedmont, and a bit of Sangiovese from Tuscany.  The wine is a beautiful crimson color with a magenta rim.  Aromas of macerated raspberries, lavender, and plum tart explode from the glass.  On the palate, there are lush flavors of ripe berries and spice, with perfectly complimentary acid.  It finishes velvety and soft, with lingering notes of minerals and herbs.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded it a 90 point rating.

Stop by and browse our thoughtfully curated wine department and let one of our experienced staff members help you find the perfect bottle.