Federal Wine & Spirits

29 State Street, Boston, MA 02109

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This Week's Tasting

Distinctive Wines at Value Prices
October 23, 2024

Don't you want something a little different? We do, so for this week, we picked some of the most characterful, well-priced wines we've come across.

 

Wine Tasters 

This Week

Wed, October 23, 2024

Distinctive Wines at Value Prices

In-store, 5 - 6:30pm

 


 

Ronchi

Not Giant Pumpkins: a Man and his Qvevris in Georgia

      

Don't you want something a little different? We do, so for this week, we picked some of the most characterful, well-priced wines we've come across. Some are less familiar. Some others are innovative takes on traditional wines. All are great values for the money and well -worth checking out.

 

White

 

2022 Casa di Monte Toscana Biancospino

Not Your Usual Tuscan White

Light to medium-bodied, this smooth, suave Tuscan white is made from Trebbiano with a sweet and savory Malvasia accent. It's scrumptious, perfect for sipping on its own or to partner lighter fish or salad. You can't argue with its price.

Aroma: Flinty and round, nicely concentrated fleshy, and full with a hint of spice; Mouth: Clean herbal bright acid, fleshy and round; Very Good $12.99; Case, $10.99

 

2022 Christophe Monget Coteaux-du-Giennois

Rounded Loire Sauvignon Blanc

Heady and rounded, this is Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc full in the mouth with a pleasant mouth-watering acidity.

Aroma: Rounded fruit heady with full grape, forward; Mouth: Bright, rounded sweet fruit, intense and firm lower ton4ed grapefruit; Very Good Plus $21; Case, $17.99

 

2023 Ch Peybonhomme les Tours Bordeaux Blanc

White Bordeaux in a Rhone Bottle

The bottle does not have the usual Bordeaux shoulders but is gently sloping in the Rhone or Burgundy style, fortelling the style of the wine. With more Semillon than usual blended with its classic Sauvignon Blanc, it seduces with a creamy mouthfeel and savory herbal notes, Like a Southern white rhone or a Chardonnay with more intriguing flavors of its grapes.

Aroma: savory and sweet, very rich and full, clean; Mouth: clean, light and lively, tasty and mouth-filling, bright and intense; Very Good Plus $23.99; Case, $19.99

 

Red

 

2019 Casa de Saima Bairrada Colheita Tinto

Ripe & Tangy Portuguese Red

Portuguese wines have been getting better and better and are now some of the best values in Europe. Wines from the Baga grape grown in coastal Bairrada are among the most distinctive but rarely seen here. We were delighted to find this medium-bodied red at an incredibly low price for the region. It is nicely mature and has a spicy edge that will make it a good partner with tomato sauce or even lighter-spiced Asian meat dishes. It's excellent value for a very low price.

Aroma: Heady and herbal, savory, integrated, heady and fine; Mouth: Clean, fine acid, bright and. Herbal, , intense  fine, long tangy; Very Good Plus $15.99; Case, $13.59

 

2022 Yohan Lardy Chenas Les Deschamps

A Buzz about this Cru Beaujolais producer

Although young, Yohan Lardy is already making a name for himself as a practitioner of excellently crafted Cru Beaujolais. Another's importer tried to sell a cru because it was made by Yohan Lardy's cousin. Yohan's wine speaks for itself. It's from lesser-known Chenas, which is often overly tannic and hard from other producers. Lardy's 2021 is perfectly balanced and a prism of the different elements of the cru. You can drink this delightful wine now or over the next three to five years.

Aroma: Heady savory, rich, full, intense, savory; Mouth Bright, clean intense, fine acid, classic Chenas in a deliciously full-fruited modern style; Very Good Plus $26.99; Case, $22.99

 

2021 Gogushika Saperavi

A Hearty Georgian Red

Saperavi is the principal red grape of the Georgian part of the Caucasus mountains. It is like Syrah but darker, bolder, and often more tannic. The Gogushika winery did a great job with its rendition of the grape. Aged in the traditional Georgian in-ground clay qvevri vessels, It has a slightly oxidative quality with nicely smooth tannins. Big and bold, it wants hardy meat dishes and rich, rich foods.

 Color: very dark black, saturated; Aroma: earthy, rather intense, heady and earthy; Mouth: bright clan light, nicely intense, very smooth, very bright, spicy and smooth; Very Good Plus $25.99; Case, $21.99

 

Distinctive Values Case  two each of the wines - $219

Or Mx any twelve or more at their case prices

 

Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com

 

Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!

 

           - Len Rothenberg

 

 

 

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