“The first rule of WINE CLUB is… ALWAYS talk about  WINE CLUB!”

The Wine buyers (Andrew and Dale) pick two wines each month for you that we love, one white (or rose, or bubbly) and one red each the total value of which will exceed $40
Come by the shop to sign up, or give us a call at 803.279.9522

3 months $40/month = $120 and you get a Riedel glass
6 months $36/month = $216 and you get two Riedel glasses
12 months $32/month = $384 and you get four Riedel glasses
(totals are pre-tax)

WINE CLUB
March 2016 Selections

Protea Chenin Blanc 2014 Western Cape, South Africa
South Africa is known for its great Chenin Blanc, and this one is a stunner! Crisp and clean, nice mineralty, and a full mouthfeel, peach and melon… This was suggested as a WINE CLUB selection by Erica Crawford, who with her husband Kim, established the Kim Crawford winery. She was here showing off their Love Block wines, which are wonderful, though a little pricey for WINE CLUB. Dale and I opened a bottle and decided it would be a great choice. Mom tasted this one as well, and raved about it. (she also loved the Priorat) Anyhow, here’s what Wilfred Wong of Wine.com has to say –
“A really cool wine (aka: I like this stuff), the 2014 Protea Chenin Blanc has beautiful flavors, is very fresh and drinks so nicely. I would ask the chef to make a shredded chicken salad, with romaine lettuce, pickled scallions and dressed with a light touch of sesame oil. Medium straw color; ripe honey dew aroma, appealing, medium depth; off-dry, medium acidity, well balanced; fine white peach, melon flavors; medium finish, lively aftertaste. (Tasted: June 26, 2015, San Francisco, CA)”
I would add that the slight minerality of this wine will pair wonderfully with light seafood dishes!

Bluegray Priorat 2012 Spain
I saw this wine on a list and thought to give it a try, as this is in a very attractive price range for a Priorat blend. It’s 45% Garnacha, 30% Mazuelo, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Mazuelo is also used in Rioja blends and is genetically identical to Carignan, which is grown widely throughout Europe and primarily used as a blending grape.
This wine is a big dark inky thing, clean dark fruit, nicely complex, definitely old world, clean and well balanced with nice acidity and tannins. It’s relatively high in alcohol at %15, and it shows up in the glass as an asset to this wine.
I’d have this wine with grilled or smoked meats, lamb shish kebab, even a heavy roast if you choose to age the Bluegray for a couple of years. A little char would match the intensity of this wine quite well, this wine will heighten the effect of any hot pepper you use.

I found a couple consumer reviews on this Priorat:

“This one opens quickly. Lovely garnet color with ruby tips.
Nose of blackberry and tobacco with a dark chocolate fade.
Opening of black fruits favoring blackberry and plums with French oak, slate and leather.
Medium bodied, above average acidity with a lovely complex tannin that emerges quickly but lingers long.”

“drinks above the price tag, stewed berry and earth on the nose, soft entry, powerful as it crosses the palate, raspberry, plum, smoke and cassis flavors, a heavy dose of tannin, the finish is long, had with a beefy stew, a structured, strong performing wine for the price, excellent value”