Lagniappe

Lagniappe: Unwined Style
Sign up for our monthly must-have sixer selected by the Unwined crew.
Subscribe to enjoy month-long discounts on featured wines. We’re pretty
easy-going, so no problem if you need to skip a month or cancel. A great
gift for yourself or the wine geek in your life!
March 2015 Lineup:
Wintry Mix
Subscribers: $117.94
A-la-carte $100.25
Lagniappe
Something extra from us to you.
March 2015 Lineup:
Wintry Mix
Bradlee Shopping Center
3690-J King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 703-820-8600
Belle View Shopping Center
1600-A Belle View Boulevard
Alexandria, VA 22307
Phone: 571-384-6880
March 2015 Lineup: Wintry Mix
Vanessa
2011 Di Majo Norante Ramitello Biferno Rosso DOC,
Molise, Italy
The Di Majo family has been making wine on their 85 hectare estate in
the Molise countryside since the 1800’s. Molise is Southern Italy’s best
kept secret with stunning views of the Adriatic and ancient grape varieties
that create wines with a true sense of place. Ramitello is a single vineyard
with clay-rich soils planted to Montepulciano and Aglianico. Aged in a
combination of stainless and oak barrels, this wine is both richly fruity
and earthy. Aromas of candied cherry and plum mix with underbrush,
leather and spice to offer a supremely flavorful yet easy-going red.
Nick
2009 Haut Maurac Medoc, Bordeaux, France
Nothing says cold weather wine drinking like big, hearty Bordeaux. This
2009 Chateau Haut-Maurac comes from a small biodynamically farmed
estate in the Medoc, the northernmost area of Bordeaux’s famed left
bank. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grown on well
draining gravel soils, the Haut-Maurac is a plush, modern Bordeaux that
punches above its Cru Bourgeois weight class. Only moderately tannic
and medium-bodied, it exudes flavors of black plum, sage, tobacco and
well integrated oak. 2009 was a knockout vintage and wines from that
vintage are getting harder to find. Pair this classic claret with prime rib
and Yorkshire pudding on a cold winter night.
Paul
2012 Ancient Peaks Renegade Red Margarita Vineyard
Paso Robles, California
Ancient Peaks is a family owned winery in the heart of California’s
Central Coast. The Margarita Vineyard is the southernmost vineyard in
Paso Robles, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains
just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. This 2012 Renegade Red is a blend
of 71% Syrah which provides rich berry fruit and pepper spice, plus 24%
Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot adding structure, intense perfume and deep
color. Dark berries and lavender aromas coupled with soft, fine tannins
and mouth watering acidity keep you wanting another sip. Cut into your
heavily marbled bone-in Rib Eye and enjoy.
Renée
2012 Boas Quintas Herdade de Gambia, Setúbal,
Portugal
In 1991, the Abreu family created Boas Quintas, a company set to
discover unique properties that produce single estate wines of the
highest quality, and reflect Portugal’s character. Located due south
of Lisbon on the Setúbal Peninsula, Herdade de Gambia is one
those wineries. The sandy soil of Setúbal’s Sado Estuary is home to
hundreds of species of birds and wildlife (thus the label of this vinho
tinto), as well as the Touriga Nacional, Syrah, and Aragonez vines
that produce this supple blend. With ruby red fruit, medium body
and silky tannins, this wine is a chameleon: it pairs beautifully with braised pork on a
snowy night, or burgers from the grill when the crocuses start to peek through.
Suzanne
2013 Conreria D’Scala Dei Black Slate La Morera
Blanc Priorat, Spain
The Black Slate project, headed by Jordi Vidal, shines a spotlight on
the rugged Priorat region in Catalonia, Spain. La Morera is one of
nine small villages making distinct wines for the label. This blend of
93% Garnatxa Blanca and 7% Pedro Ximenez - a grape best known
for its role in the sherries of Jerez - is a gorgeous white for winter. It
is aged in stainless steel and spends time on the lees, adding richness
and heft. White peach, pear and apricot mingle with hints of white
flowers and honeycomb while the focused finish delivers crushed
stone.
Brett
2012 Doña Paula Black Edition Lujan de Cuyo,
Mendoza, Argentina
What happens when you blend great desert vineyards, cutting edge
technology, and creative minds not constrained by tradition? Good
wine, that’s what. Doña Paula wines are grown high in Luján de Cuyo,
Mendoza, at the base of the Andes. The makers handle their estate
grown grapes with scientific precision in every step of the process at
their state of the art winery. On the palate the wine expresses itself
as a fruit bowl of flavors with juicy apricot, blackberry, and mulberry
with a hint of coffee. The acidity is lively and the tannins nearly nonexistent. It drinks a little too easily. This Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
blend would pair well with braised red meats or take on the earthiness of roasted
mushrooms well.