RED, WHITE & NEW

For Independence Day, we've lined up a selection of cult-y, under-the-radar, good-value, often sustainable, and always delicious American wines particularly great with July 4 picnics but worth celebrating anytime (our celebration continues through July 9—see below):

Tulocay Haynes Vineyard Chardonnay 2006 ($41.99)
When we tasted this unmanipulated Burgundian-style Chardonnay, it blew us away. It's Kistler—one of California's most sought after insider wines—10 years ago and at half the price.

Soter North Valley Pinot Noir 2006 ($41.99)
After 25 years as a consultant to the country's top wineries (like Etude and Araujo) Tony Soter bought an estate and turned his attention to the grape he loves most. Four years out, his wines are at the top of Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, and Wall Street Journal must-buy lists. His lush, supple organic Pinot is a knockout with grilled salmon or anything mushroom and as cult as the wines he once helped make.

Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2005 ($53.99)
Only 300 cases of this biodynamic wine were released—we have six bottles. Youthful but with a complexity that will only become more astounding over time, this is a great American wine to age.

Ken Wright Abbott Claim Pinot Noir 2006 ($61.99)
We could only get our hands on three bottles of this terrior-driven Pinot. The 2005 vintage scored 95 points Wine Enthusiast, 92 points Wine Spectator, 92 points Robert Parker—we expect this year to be no different.

Brick House "Les Dijonnais" Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2006 ($55.99)
From a producer with yields so low (from just 40 acres of vines) that it was released in only six cities outside New York, this (again) biodynamic, (again) Burgundian-style, strawberry-ed, light-bodied, hand-bottled gem is made from minimally tinkered-with grapes of Morey-St. Denis ancestry.

Also, due to high demand, we added an all-American wine and cheese tasting to our 4-part Wine & Cheese Tasting Series. Join us on July 9 as we learn about (and sample from) the dynamic, artisanal producers who are reshaping our country's food culture. The best part just may be the cherry pie finish.
Wednesday, July 9
6:30-8:30 PM
$45
JOIN US!

Happy Fourth!