55 Degree Wine

CHARMING CHARDONNAY $10.50 FLIGHT

Glendonbrook Chardonnay 2006 Cawarra, Australia

A vineyard run on sustainable agriculture principles, using modern winemaking techniques all without oak!

Taste: $3.00 Glass: $5.00

San Luis Canyon Chardonnay NV Central Coast California

A barrel fermented chardonnay that takes advantage of a bit of oak aging.

Taste: $3.00 Glass: $5.00

Familia Schroeder “Saurus” Patagonia Select Chardonnay 2006 Patagonia, Argentina

40% of this Chardonnay ferments and ages in new French & American oak.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.00

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A VISIT TO THE VENETO $16.00 FLIGHT

Althe’a Prosecco Frizzante Valdobbiadene NV Veneto, Italia

From the classical zona of Prosecco production. The wines are delicious with teeny, tiny bubbles. The Frizzante is about 2/3 the pressure of the Spumante.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.50

Villa Erbice Soave Superiore 2006 Veneto, Italia

Garganega with Trebbiano for freshness, spends a year on the lees (yeast cells & grape solids left from fermentation)

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.00

Poggi “Il Moretto” Valpolicella Ripasso 2003 Veneto, Italia

Harvested in late October from old vines in the family’s Il Moretto vineyard, (one of the top sites in the DOC.) After the initial fermentation the wine is passed over the skins of the family’s Amarone.

Taste: $6.00 Glass: $14.00

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THE TOE OF THE BOOT $13.50 FLIGHT

Ippolito “Cirò Cirò” Rosso 2006 Calabria, Italia

Cirò may be the oldest type of wine still in production, with roots back to pre-Roman days when this part of Italy was Magna Graecia (Greater Greece ).

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $8.00

Lento Romeo Lamezia 2005 Calabria, Italia

This cantina is a true family affair using Greco Nero, Magliocco & Nerello Mascalese for this regional beauty.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $8.50

Vintripodi Pellaro 2002 Calabria, Italia

Calabrese, Nurello, Alicante & Nocera,. Partial drying of the grapes & longer aging = lighter color but larger, evolved flavor.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $12.50

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SANGIOVESE IN THE MIX $ 13.50 FLIGHT

Nostri Feudi Sicilia Rosso 2008 Sicilia, Italia

Yummy warm fruit from Sicilia 40% Nero’d Avola, 40% Frappato brought up a notch with 20% Sangiovese

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.50

Di Sesta “Poggi d’Arna” Toscana Rosso 2006 Toscana, Italia

A “Super Tuscan” that is not too “super” in the price department, 60% Sangiovese with 20% each of Cabernet & Merlot.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.00

Ciù Ciù “San Carro” Marche Rosso 2007 Marche, Italia

The brothers wanted to bottle the source of all of the gifts of Mother Nature in their zona: the huge, warming, life giving Mediterranean Sun! A blend of Barbera, Merlot and Sangiovese.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $12.00

Posted in Wine Tasting |

This weeks tasting at 55º Wine. Check out some new and different wines.

Posted in Wine Videos with Staci |

CASTLES & TOWERS $14.00 FLIGHT

Toricino Greco di Tufo 2007 Campania, Italia

Aside from fanatical, hands on wine GROWING (not making), Toricino is so very proud of the fact that their old & gnarled vineyards in Tufo & Lapio are located on top of volcanic sulfur deposits.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $12.00

Castel San Giorgio “Il Drago” Pinot Grigio 2007 Oltrepò Pavese, Italia

An ancient tower & wine cellar (dating back to 1500s) have been witness to a resurgence of quality wines in Oltrepò Pavese.

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $8.00

Castel Sallegg Sauvignon 2006 Alto Adige, Italia

In 1851 Castel Sallegg & its vineyard was bought by Archduke Rainer of Austria, Viceroy of Lombardy-Veneto. It was then inherited by Count von Kuenburg. You might expect a guy with a name like Count Georg von Kuenburg who lives in a castle worthy of a fairy tale to be a stuffed shirt but neither he nor his wines are stuffy.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.00

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FLOWERS & SPICE $13.50 FLIGHT

Donati “Situla Bianco” 2007 Trentino, Italia

A blending of aromatic varieties Nosiola, Sauvignon, Riesling and Traminer.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $9.50

Bortolusso Malvasia 2007 Friuli, Italia

Aromatic Malvasia coming from a vineyard that uses no pesticides and only organic manure & compost!

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $9.50

Martilde “Piume” Malvasia Organic 2006 Oltrepò Pavese, Italia

Husband & wife team crafting wines with a deep respect for their land and their pets!

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.00

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GRAPES YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF?? $17.50 FLIGHT

Ippolito “Ciró Ciró” Rosso 2006 Calabria, Italia

Calabria’s historic Galioppo at 100%. Ippolito is one of the oldest Cantina’s in the zona.

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $8.00

Laimburg Süditrol Lagrein 2005 Alto Adige, Italia

Despite its northern location, this cantina has palm trees & agave plants in front of its facilities which is due to warm winds blowing off the lakes to their south. This is one of the warmest areas in Alto Adige….think riper fruit!

Taste: $5.50 Glass: $13.00

Château Feuillet Fumin 2005 Valle d’Aosta, Italia

In Valle d’Aosta the local dialect and the grape mix are a grand melange of Italian, Swiss and French influences.

Taste: $8.00 Glass: $20.00

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DESTINATION CALIFORNIA $ 13.50 FLIGHT

Pagor Merlot 2003 Temecula, California

Ed has been crafting wines for a couple of decades (labor of love!!) sourcing great fruit and hand crafting the wine!

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.50

Fife Redhead Vineyard Zinfandel 2002 Mendocino, California

At 1200 feet elevation, Redhead Vineyard overlooks Lake Mendocino to the south & a gentle slope to the Redwood Valley to the north.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.00

Norman Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2003 Paso Robles, California

78% Cabernet Sauvignon balanced out with 11% Merlot & 10% Petit Verdot. A California beauty!

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.50

Posted in Wine Tasting |

This weeks tasting at 55º Wine. Check out some new and different wines.

Posted in Wine Videos with Staci |

BONITO BLANCOS DE ESPAÑA $12.50 FLIGHT

Juan de Alzate Blanco 2007 Rioja, España

400 meter elevation vineyards are terraced into the hillsides with the best southern exposure for maximum sunlight. After harvest & fermentation the wines are placed deep into caves cut into the hillsides.

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $7.50

Cherubino “Marques de Caro” 2007 Valencia, España

This wineries’ history begins with five generations of the Valsangiacomo family starting a cantina in Canton Ticino, Switzerland in 1831 then moving to Valencia, Spain in the 1890’s.

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.00

Gallegas “Alectum” Albarino 2007 Rias – Baixas, España

We like to think of Albariño as the Tocai Friulano of Spain. Its name means “white Rhine.”

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.50

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HONORING ABRUZZO $13.00 FLIGHT

Fararone “Le Vigne” Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2000 Abruzzo, Italia

This Trebbiano sees no wood but does spend considerable time on the lees and therefore can mature for years like great French wines…develops secondary bouquet and textures.

Taste: $6.50 Glass: $18.00

Miglianico Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 Abruzzo, Italia

Classic grape of the region; soft pressed, then macerated for extraction & finally fermented at controlled temperatures

Taste: $3.00 Glass: $6.00

Valle Martello “Aprutium alma Mater” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 Abruzzo, Italia

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a type of grape and a type of red wine made from these grapes in Abruzzo east-central Italy.

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.50

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“VECCHIA” PIEMONTE $15.50 FLIGHT

Martilde “Tina” Barbera Organic Unfiltered 2005 Oltrepò Pavese, Italia

Barbera made from organic grapes and bottled without filtration..

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $9.50

Castello di Gabiano Rubino di Cantavenna 2007 Piemonte, Italia

This wine is 75% low yield, old vine Barbera lightened and aromaticized with the addition of 15% Freisa and 10% Grignolino and matured for two years in large, neutral oak then in bottle for three months.

Taste: $6.00 Glass: $14.00

Castello di Gabiano “Il Giardino di Flora” Malvasia 2007 Piemonte, Italia

“The Garden of Flowers” seems intriguing enough but that literal take on the name of this wine is only the start: it is a tribute to the nymph Flora, idealized by Botticelli in his portrait entitled “La Primavera”.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $12.00

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THE MILIEU OF MERLOT $ 15.00 FLIGHT

Château Bois Chantant 2005 Bordeaux, France

75% Merlot balanced out with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon & 10% Cab Franc. Bernard signs every bottle.

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.00

Château Cap de Faugères Côtes-de-Castillon 2002 Côtes de Castillon, France

A right-bank blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cab Sauvignon. Spends 12 months in used French barrels.

Taste: $5.00 Glass: $11.00

Château Yon-Figeac Grand Cru 2005 Saint-Émilion, France

80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Rests 16 months large oak barrels to finish.

Taste: $6.50 Glass: $17.00

Posted in Wine Tasting |

Here’s to the Old Man!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pops will be proud when you “pop” open one of these cold one’s for him on Dad’s Day.

Reissdorf Kolsch
Kolsch Ale                Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf, Germany……4.8% ABV
These days Reissdorf Koelsch has almost reached a “cult status” with beer connoisseurs around the world looking at it as a “well preserved secret”.
Taste:  $2.00                Glass:  $5.00

Fullers Vintage Ale
Old Ale           Griffen Brewery, Chiswick, London, UK ……8.5% ABV
Coming to you from London’s oldest brewery. Bottle conditioned.
Taste:  $2.50                    Glass:  $6.00

Gulden Draak
Tripel Ale           Brewery Van Steenberge, Belgium ……10.5% ABV
The name meaning, “golden dragon”, represents a statue that can still be seen today in a small Belgian village.  Try this ale after dinner with a cigar.
Taste:  $3.00                    Glass:  $7.00

Allagash Brewing Co. Curieux
Tripel Ale                   Portland, Maine……11.0% ABV
This strong ale is aged in Jim Beam Bourbon oak barrels for that extra kick that’ll knock the old man back in his recliner and pass out watching golf.
Taste:  $4.00                Glass:  $12.00

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer
Special Dark Ale          Brewery Het Anker, Belgium……11.0% ABV
This strong ale is only brewed in limited quantity on February 24th, the birthday of Charles V.
Taste:  $3.00                    Glass:  $6.50

Scaldis Prestige
Strong Ale          Brasserie Dubuisson, Belgium……13.0% ABV
Aged in oak barrels for 6 months.
Taste:  $8.00                    Glass:  $20.00

$ 20

Posted in Sunday Beer Tasting |

FOBiancos $13.50 FLIGHT

Gotto d’Oro Frascati 2007 Lazio, Italia

Friendly blend of Malvasia, Trebiano and Greco – zippy and bright and VERY food friendly.

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.00

Pietra Tagliata Grillo 2008 Sicilia, Italia

From the Marsala side of the island. This 100% Grillo is fermented in steel to capture Grillo’s vibrancy!

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.00

Ballarin Bianco 2006 Piemonte, Italia

Smooth and perfumed blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (off the skins) and Favorita.

Taste: $5.50 Glass: $13.50

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PURELY PINOT $14.50 FLIGHT

Martilde “Nina” Pinot Nero Organic 2005 Oltrepò Pavese, Italia

100% Pinot Nero does not see a drop of oak..and is lovingly tended in the vineyards.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.00

Quattro Valli “Ca’Delvento” Pinot Nero 2007 Emilia-Romagna, Italia

Pre-Fermentation soak on the skins for 10 days captures the brightness of Pinot’s fruit.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.50

Peters Family Winery “Sonoma Stage Vineyard” 2005 Sonoma Coast, California

Fruit from a low yield vineyard and 100% free run juice create this beautiful Sonoma Coast wine.

Taste: $5.50 Glass: $14.00

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BY THE GRACE OF GRENACHE $16.00 FLIGHT

Gabbas “Lillové” Cannonau di Sardegna 2005 Sardegna, Italia

Old vine fruit gets a 20 day maceration then is slowly fermented in old wooden casks.

Taste: $5.50 Glass: $13.00

Arraiolas “Mouras” Grenache 2006 Alentejano, Portugal

Grenache left to soak for 3 weeks after fermentation – big, rich fruit and spice.

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $9.00

Gabbas “Dule” Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2004 Sardegna, Italia

Once again 100% Cannoau – this time from older vines with a longer maturation in wood.

Taste: $6.50 Glass: $18.00

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THE REAL RIOJA $ 10.50 FLIGHT

“La Raz” Tempranillo 2007 Rioja, España

Pure Tempranillo. Modern vinification uses temperature controls and neutral oak to craft this beauty.

Taste: $3.50 Glass: $6.00

Don Jacobo Rioja 2004 Rioja, España

Traditional Rioja blend: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo/Graciano. Spends 15months in American oak.

Taste: $4.00 Glass: $9.50

Alavesas “Solar de Sameniego” Crianza 2003 Rioja, España

Mostly Tempranillo with a splash of Graciano…comes from the winery’s best plots.

Taste: $4.50 Glass: $10.00

Posted in Wine Tasting |