The beginning of a great adventure!
One of the main reasons I opened Fiske & Main was to introduce wines of character and complexity from around the world to my local community. Unwavering in my search for interesting wines, I seek wines that are able to tell you where they come from, or those that may reveal the grape variety to the taster, from a sniff or a sip. Unique wines. Balanced wines. Great wines. But what IS a great wine?
Great wine?
What is considered great wine will vary among wine lovers. For me, great wines have personality, depth, equilibrium, and nuances that set them apart from, well, wines that don't express those things. All too often these are what you find with the big brand wines that proliferate at the box and discount liquor stores. The great wines are usually made by a small family or individual who has a connection to the soil the vines grow in, and who is steeped in the tradition and history of the wine-making in their region. But, this is not the only avenue for making exceptional wine. Wine and distinction and character are also made by people who don't have their own vineyards, yet have access to exceptional fruit and have a dedication and devotion of crafting beautiful wines of exceptional quality. There are many roads to beautiful great wine.
I think much of the beauty of wine, as a whole, is the enormous variety available to explore. There is just SO MUCH to try! Yet many wine drinkers keep drinking the same two or three wines all the time. Not every wine will be a winner, but keep pulling corks and you will eventually have that "aha moment" that sets you on a tireless trail through the vast landscape of wines and vines.
This may be annoyingly obvious, but, the best wines in the world are very expensive. But maybe not so obvious to some is that just because a wine is expensive, it doesn't guarantee its greatness. And, conversely, just because a wine isn't expensive doesn't mean it can't be great. Which brings me to my main point today:
Great wines don't have to be expensive!
Great wines become apparent in many instances. For instance - lounging, chatting with loved ones or friends while sipping a glass and suddenly you realize what your drinking is AMAZING, and you have never tasted anything like this before, and the balance is so incredible, and Bob and Kris' tandem holiday story fades out, and you're trying to understand how a wine could be so compelling, and you can't stop sipping. Well, you CAN stop because there is only one bottle, and anyway you have to get up in the morning so... Hopefully everyone has or will have an aha moment with a glass of wine. It doesn't always have cost an arm and a leg to get there. So, I would like to introduce a group of wines that, among them, one or more will make you stop and pay more attention to what is in your glass. Maybe even give you that "aha moment."
Explore a Six-Pack Value
The first Exploration Six-Pack on offer is an eclectic mix of value-minded wine from around the world. Two from Spain, one from Italy, one from France, one from Chile, and one from New York, USA. I think these are all great wines, especially from the perspective of value, but also because of their individuality and how they transmit where they come from so transparently.
This sampler includes the following six wines:
Terra Serena NV Prosecco Treviso Brut
100% Glera. Bubbles? Check. Alluring fruit? Check. On the dry side? Check. Seems like all the boxes are checked for a delicious Prosecco!
El Portalon 2018 Rueda
100% Verdejo. Medium bodied white. Hints of citrus and savory herbs. Moderate acidity gives the palate a joyful little tingle.
Rin du Bois 2019 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
100% Sauvignon Blanc. More melon and apricot than grapefruit and grass, but all those components are present in this fairly complex Sauvignon Blanc. It is also a bit richer than you might expect. Yet the wine still has the zip you'd expect.
Casa Castillo 2017 Jumilla Monastrell
100% Monastrell (Mourvedre). Black and red fruit flavors. Smooth and bright despite the 15% alcohol. This should delight from first sip to last.
Laurent 2019 Petit Verdot Clandestino
100% Petit Verdot. Black currants, dark cherries, blueberries, rosemary, and a wee bit of sage. Serious, but not pretentious, the wine very well balance and has some ripe tannins to lend structure and a long finish. This is nice find and surprisingly good for the price. Organic.
Anthony Road NV Devonian Red
55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Pinot Noir, 15% Lemberger. Raspberry and dusty herb with a gently dry finish. Light and bright red blend from the Finger Lakes, this is an easy sipper from an unexpected place.
All Exploration Packs are discounted 10% or more from the regular price of each wine sold separately. This Pack does not qualify for any other discounts.
Cheers!
Richard