Last Week's Tasting Notes

Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne ($7.99)
From the producer:
Mont Gravet comes from vineyards located in the Gascony region, near the city of Toulouse in the South West of France. The climate combines the Oceanic and Mediterranean influences, which brings enough sun and humidity to grow rich, concentrated and ripe grapes. Mont Gravet has a pale, bright yellow color, with a very intense and refreshing nose. It displays flavors of citrus fruit and blackcurrant leaf. This wine will express itself best as an aperitif or with any seafood. Serve chilled at 50°F.​

From me:
I discovered this wine a couple of years ago, and it's still one of my favorites. Cotes de Gascogne wines are not easy to find, which is a shame, because there are some great values to be had from that area. Mont Gravet is 100% Colombard, a grape typically only used for blending. In this varietal wine, Colombard is light, crisp, with a nice lemon/citrus flavor and a clean finish. This is my summer go-to wine.

Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio ($7.99)
From the producer:
"Exhibits soft aromatic flavors of perfumed rose and honeysuckle. Clean and well-balanced with depth of fruit showing through and a firm, crisp acidic finish."

From me:
This is, even for Pinot Grigio, a very approachable wine. It is juicy, smooth, and fruit-forward on the palate, but balanced by a fine acidity that lends a crisp finish. You can enjoy this with seafood, salad or Mediterranean fare, but it is awfully nice just on its own.

Gazela Vinho Verde Rosé ($7.99) 
From the producer:
"Raspberry pink in colour, with a slight prickle of fizz that emphasises its bouquet of red fruits (strawberries) and tropical fruits (banana). In the mouth it is lively and fresh, intense in flavour and well balanced, the overall impression being of lightness and freshness, with an elegant finish."

From me:
Aside from Port, Vinho Verde is arguably the most well-known style of Portuguese wine. The name literally means green wine, which is a reference to its youth. The wine is bottled just after production, and is meant to be enjoyed young. It is characterized by a slight effervescence and a refreshing acidity. This rosé version is fruity and a touch sweet, with about 1.6% residual sugar. The alcohol content is low at 9.5%, and the overall impact on the palate is similar to a wine spritzer. It's very easy and light, and perfect as an aperitif. If you are planning to hang out and drink on the porch on a hot day, this is your wine!