First of all, this is the same grape – a dark grape with thick skin that needs a lot of heat to ripen.  It just has a different name, depending on where the grape is grown,  but because of the impact of the land, weather, altitude, soil & winemaking style of where the grape is grown, the use of Syrah or Shiraz has become indicative of the style of wine you will get.

It’s unclear where the grape originates, but it was first cultivated in France’s Rhône Valley.  Red wines from the Northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côtes Rôtie, St. Joseph & more) are mainly (up to 100%) Syrah (with up to 5% Viognier “to make things more interesting” Jens says).  They tend to be higher-end, require aging (due to the level of tannins) and are known for flavors of dark fruit, black olives and a notable gaminess. We don’t carry many Northern Rhône wines are they tend to be pricy and not easily accessible, but if you get the urge to try them out, they are wonderful, lesser-known examples French Syrah.

The vineyards of E. Guigal, Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône

Reds from the Southern Rhône also have Syrah, but as a blend of Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre/Cinsault.  These wines are more accessible, a little juicier but still with a lovely, soft earthy spiciness, building from a nice, $12 straight-forward, bottle of Côtes du Rhône to a big, fuller-bodied, old world style Chateauneuf, which is full of liquorice, herbs, and meaty flavors.  Jens said that some of the old Chateauneuf houses are starting to produce a New World style which is super fruity, super oaky … and a big disappointment if you’re a traditionalist and like wines to taste like where they’re from.

Vines growing next to rosemary (Baumes-de-Venise, Southern Rhône)

Australian Shiraz is a big boy due to the hotter climate of the regions where it is grown, most famously the Barossa Valley (although it must be noted that many of the more nuanced (and often not available in Seattle) wines are from lesser-known, less hot areas.  Jens was in Australia last Februrary, a guest of the Australia Wine Commission for a tour of Victoria Pinot Noir country, but he still had the pleasure of visiting several areas growing top notch Shiraz, e.g. the Giaconda Winery located in Beachworth, north-east Victoria (note the photo – top).  For Shiraz (available in Seattle) that show off big, well-balanced wine with the nuance of minty herb that can be Australia’s lovely touch, try: D’Arenberg 2008 Laughing Magpie or for a splurge D’Arenberg 2006 The Dead Arm Shiraz, both from the McLaren Vale Valley & both with a touch of Viognier. An excellent example of 100% Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is John Duval 2007 Entity Shiraz.

South Africa is making some notable Shiraz as well.  Still big and dark, they use a yeast additive in fermenting that gives the wine a special smoky flavor.  Neil Ellis (known for his Pinotage) makes a tasty, as well Boekenhoutskloof (calling it Syrah) makes a beautiful 100% Syrah.

Last, I will end with the wonderful & varied Syrah coming out of our home state.  Washington State sits at the same latitude as the Rhône Valley, so it enjoys many of the same growing conditions, and its Syrah is known for its dark fruit flavors of black currant & blackberry with some nuance of black pepper, licorice, clove, thyme, sandalwood & cedar.  WA growers don’t seem to differentiate style by the use of Syrah vs Shiraz on the label, but both styles are readily available (usually called Syrah), from what could be called the “hedonistic pleasure bomb” (as quoted from our friend Catherine Reynolds) style. Wonderful examples of this style are Chris Sparkman Darkness Syrah, Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah, Owen Roe Ex Umbris, Darby The Dark Side Syrah.  In the other camp you have a leaner, more subdued, arguably more complex wine, with notable examples including Efeste Syrah Jolie Bouche & wines by Chuck Reininger.

Other notable around the world Syrah:  California offers up some excellent examples of Syrah.  Darioush is perhaps the best known. We currently serve one by the glass at the bar: Qupé.  As well Novy has, through the years, produced a nice quaffable, well-priced Syrah.  Argentina, while known for Malbec, has several producers offering up exceptional Syrah, try: Benegas 2006 Syrah from Mendoza.

It’s the time of year for these wines, so come pick out a few and go exploring!

Cheers!
Julie

These wines have been carefully chosen to not only taste good but pair well with all the various holiday foods. Our selection of sparkling, white & red wines will please both the connoisseur crowd and the casual imbibers.   Short on time? Call or email us and we’ll have your mixed case ready for pick-up. Also, remember we offer 20% case discounts! Now that’s something to cheer about!

La Farra Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (IT)
Reg $17.99 | INSIDER $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
This is a DOCG Prosecco grown in the high hills of Farra di Soligo, Farr, Solighetto & San Pietro di Feletto (north of Treviso in Veneto). Wonderful, delicate bubbles! Fresh with fruity notes of peach & apple.

Bodegas Maset NV Cava Reserva “NU” (SP)
Reg $14.99 | INSIDER $13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19
From outside of Barcelona, this wine gives you the Spanish take on bubbly.  Dry, with lots of fruit on the nose and persistant bubbles. Tasty!

Bodegas Casto Pequeño 2010 Chamelin Verdejo (SP)
Reg $17.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
The most fragrant white we know of! Beautiful bouquet of flowers & fruit.  Fuller-bodied, making it a great, round food wine.

Airfield Estate 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
$13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19
Dry, crisp, grassy.  An excellent effort from WA State.

Vinchio-Vaglio Serra 2010 Dorato Cortese (IT)
Reg $16.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Fleshy, fruity nose. A well-balanced delicate body with fresh crisp notes & a hint of oak richness. Everyone loves this wine!

Olsen Hills Estate 2008 Red Wine (WA) $13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19
Rich with dark cherry fruit and dark berry notes.  Smooth and balanced.  Great for drinking now and great for drinking every day at this price!

Owen Roe 2009 Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
$16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Great value from a kick-ass local winemaker!

Boedecker 2009 Pappas Pinot Noir (OR)
$21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Smooth, medium-bodied, spicy cherry fruit. Made by husband-wife team in the Willamette Valley.

Tiasta 2009 Malbec (ARG)
Reg $16.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Smooth, but still that hint of leathery saddle!

Zuaso Gaston 2010 Rioja (SP)
Reg $15.99 | INSIDER $14.99  | Mixed Case $11.99
Nose of fresh berry fruits, licorice spice with a hint of oak. Medium-bodied with lots of fresh red fruit on the palette and a long delicate finish.

Pelassa 2009 Bricco Enrichetta Langhe (IT)
Reg $20.99 | INSIDER $19.99 | Mixed Case $9.59
A small family winery in Piedmont produces this elegant wine. Ripe berry fruit notes blend into a harmonious body.  Good sipper, spectacular with food!

Château des Roques 2007 Vacqueyras  (FR)
Reg $22.99 | INSIDER $20.99 | Mixed Case $16.79
A well-made & well-priced Vacqueyras! Well-balanced with a full body of concentrated black fruits on the front palate. Spicy notes linger on the long finish. Delicious & festively packaged, it’s a perfect holiday wine!

Happy holidays and good cheer to all!
Gina

Esporão is one our favorite Portuguese producers here at Portalis. The estate is located in Portugal’s remote Alentejo region, located 112 miles southeast of Lisbon. Due to their hot climate, their style of wines are ripe, spicy & very easy drinking. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Pedro for a few minutes as he told me a little bit about himself & his interesting wine journey.

Born & raised in Lisbon, Pedro has always been around wine. His family has operated a small biodynamic winery just for the locals (and themselves) for several decades. As a young boy he played a lot of soccer & always dreamt of playing professionally, despite his father wanting a more collegiate path for him. He accomplished his dream when he was picked up by a professional team from the Lisbon area. Though he enjoyed playing soccer & felt a sense of accomplishment (he played professionally for 5 years) in Pedro’s own words, “I realized I wasn’t a great player”. So Pedro, having been around wine his entire life, decided to give it a chance. Instead of working at the family winery though, he chose another route & landed a job in sales for a local distributor called Food & Wine of Portugal. After several successful years with FWP, they offered him an amazing project he couldn’t refuse, to help open a Portuguese wine market in Canada. So he relocated to Toronto, with his girlfriend (now wife), to help bring Portuguese wines into a new market. “Things were very slow at first,” he said, “so the first two years I also worked in restaurants waiting tables while the new branch of FWP was getting started.”  I asked him how his relationship with Esporão began. He said from the beginning with FWP, Esporão was one of the producers in their portfolio, so he was very familiar with the family-owned brand. After 7 yrs in Toronto with FWP, Esporão hired Pedro to represent their brand exclusively. With his new role with Esporão he moved back to Lisbon in 2007 to work more closely with them. Currently Pedro lives in NYC where he has just recently located to help expand Esporão in the US market.

One last questioned for Pedro -
What makes Esporão wines so special? His reply was, “I feel their wines are about tradition & consistency. It’s a huge company producing 14 million bottles a year, yet they are still family-owned since it was purchased in 1973. Their youngest son is now CEO; they’ve kept it in the family, that says a lot about them.” Esporão produces 28 different products including olive oil & has 660 hectares dedicated to vineyards.

We currently we offer the following wines at Portalis:

Esporão 2009 Reserve Branco  Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Esporão 2004 Syrah  Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Esporão 2004 Quatro Casto  Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Selection Extra Virgin Olive Oil  $19.99

Cheers,
Gina

VOTE NO on 1183

Initiative 1183 would permit Costco, grocery stores, and other large volume discount retailers to sell liquor, but would prevent small, independent retailers like McCarthy and Schiering from selling select armagnac, calvados, single malt scotch, bourbon and specialty spirits from domestic distillers. To qualify for a liquor license under 1183, you must have a retail space of 10,000 square feet or more, unless you live in an area of the state where stores of that size do not exist. Our shops are about 1500 square feet each. Large grocery stores will be able to shout even louder “Buy your wine AND liquor with us, skip the extra stop!” But you will probably not be pleased with the selection. Existing generic wine offerings at grocery and big box stores are representative of what your liquor and spirits selections will be like if 1183 passes, with no opportunity for small independent retailers like us to offer you alternative selections!

To say we are excited about our recent container of Spanish wines is a bit of an understatement. Believe me, there is something for everyone here, no matter if your style is old or new world – the wines will take your palate for a ride. The sales team had the opportunity to taste all of the wines the day after they arrived and frankly, we were blown away by how amazing they tasted so quickly from their long journey. Jens, however, was not surprised at all. He hand-selected these wines on one of his buying trips last spring. With a knowing grin on his face, he just watched us as we ‘oohed and ahhed’ over each Spanish delight. He definitely has a gift for spotting quality for the money, and that’s why I will always drink whatever he is pouring. Taste and learn my friends, you too will become a believer.

Below are a couple of my personal favorites, but there are many more to be enjoyed. They range from the easy & smooth-fruited (gulpable comes to mind) to the more chewy, dark-berried, ‘must have a grilled steak right now’ kind of wine. Several of these wines are offered by the glass at the bar, so feel free to stop by and taste for yourself what Spain hasto offer.

Bodegas Maset NV “NU” Reserva Brut Cava
Reg $14.99 | INSIDER $12.99 | Mixed Case $10.39
Grapes: Macabeo, Parellada, Xarello
Aged 30 months in oak casks, this Cava has the quality of a fine French cremant.  Pear & almond aromas with a creamy mouth-fill, great acidity with a dry, light citrus finish. When you drink bubbles as much as we do, this refreshing Cava is certainly a blessed discovery.

Bodegas Casto Pequeño 2010 “Chamelin”
Reg $17.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Grapes: Verdejo
Need a “go to” white that’s a crowd pleaser but different from the usual suspects? This Verdejo does not only please, but pretty much everyone that tries it wants their own bottle. Crisp with a mellow-richness, notes of lemon peel & apple. Great with cheese & seafood.

Bodegas Juan Ramirez 2001 Alba de Los Infantes
Reg $17.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Grapes: Tempranillo
From Valdepeñas, a gorgeous red made from 50 year-old vines and aged 15mths in new French oak. Chewy, with dark berry, licorice & cocoa. Finish is bold, dark velvety fruit with a fair amount of grip. Roasted meats, Serrano ham or strong cheese would suit this wine just fine.

Bodegas Marques de Montecierzo 2007 “Emergente” Tinto
Reg $12.99  | INSIDER $11.99 | Mixed Case $9.59
Grapes: 40% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha, 30% Merlot
Looks can be deceiving. This un-oaked value-priced red has a lot going on in the bottle. From the Navarra region of Spain, this family-owned winery produces top quality wines. Medium-bodied with layers of raspberry, dark cherry & moderate spice. Super easy sipper that will pair well with grilled meats, paella or just on it’s own.

–Cheers, Gina

If you’re interested in learning more about the beer and the brewery, which was established in 1517 by Jiří Birka, here’s MORE>

Cheers,
Julie

The cooperative was forced to close in the 1920′S due to hard economic times, but was revived again in 1958 by the parish priest of Barbaresco. He realized in order for the small vineyard properties to survive, they would have to join forces. He gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the current Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, then they built a winery in the square of the village where it presently resides. Today the cooperative operates 100 hectares between 53 growers. If you’ve done your math right, you’ll realize that each grower only has a small amount of property. The land is divided by hills and each hill has different growers. Many of the families are 4 or 5 generation growers who own their land.

What does it take to be a part of the cooperative? Our guide, Aldo Vacca (Director of Produttori del Barbaresco) explained there were 3 primary rules for the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative:
1) 100% of the fruit from the growers goes into the cooperative 
2) Members are not allowed to vinify on their own or make their own wine
Though the first two rules seem like strict guidelines, 3) - the cooperative pays top dollar for quality fruit, making it very attractive for its members (and thus a waiting list for membership). I asked Aldo who governed the cooperative and its growers? He explained that the cooperative has a board of 9 people made from the family of growers and selected by the family of growers. Every 3 years they elect a new president from the family of growers. Note the emphasis on family? I was really digging this cooperative idea. It is a well-organized system that allows local farmers to focus on what they do best, grow grapes and the potential to make a very good living at it. My eyes were wide-opened! What a fantastic example of a community helping their community by employing people, supporting the farmers and establishing a legacy for future generations.

 After our tour of the cellar, we tasted a line-up up of delicious single-vineyard Barbarescos. Complex, full-bodied with tannic structure Barbarescos are approachable young but have the ability to age many years. Below is a list of Produttori del Barbaresco 2005 Cru wines available through special order at Portalis:
Barbaresco Riserva “Asili”
Barbaresco Riserva “Ovello”
Barbaresco Riserva “Paje”
Barbaresco Riserva “Rio Sordo”
Barbaresco Riserva “Pora”
Barbaresco Riserva “Moccagatta”
Barbaresco Riserva “Montefico”

Stay tuned for more.  (I leave for my next trip to Italy at the end of September!)

Cheers,
Gina

And many more, depending on what’s in season and the whim of Chef Tracey!  There are usually 4 items to choose from with one item staying the same:  Tracey’s homemade Chicken Liver Paté (known to the staff as chicken butter!) with her house mostarda and baguette.

Drop by, check it out & and pair up your choice with 1 of 40 glasses to choose from.  Your waitstaff will be happy to toss you a suggestion if you need one.  You won’t be disappointed!

Cheers,
Julie

Radeberger Pilsner is Dresden’s shining star of pilsners … or should I say Radeberg’s shining star, as Radeberg is a village (now a suburb) on the northwestern edge of the city, on your way to the Meissener wine country which is several more villages out on the same road.  Jens and I moved to Dresden at the end of December 1994 for him to start his residency in January of the new year.  It had already been 5 years since the wall had come down, but you would never have known it.  The East German autobahns were in the early stages of being rebuilt (since Hitler’s originals in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s) which was one of the first big capital projects (and one that had still not been completed when we left a decade later) and the city sat in its sad, gray, dilapidated state for several more years after we arrived before the funding came through for the rebuilding to begin. 

Attribution: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-60015-0002 / Löwe / CC-BY-SA

We arrived in Dresden after dark that December day, and I remember Jens driving me down to the Altmarkt to see the famous ruins of the bombed Frauenkirche.  It was snowing, and the huge flakes were falling slowly over the partially standing walls of the church, still perched within the remaining fallen stones.  The Frauenkirche has since been rebuilt, an impressive technical feat as all the stones that were still in the town square at the start of the project (some 50 years after its demise on the evening of February 13, 1945) were chronicled in a sort of outdoor stone museum and then reused in the rebuilding in each of their original positions.

After stopping downtown, we arrived at our little student housing accommodations on Bodelschwingstrasse, the photos of Eric Honecker and Fidel Castro still hanging in the stairwell.  Most of the buildings in our area had not been destroyed in the bombing of Dresden, but through lack of money & upkeep during the ensuing years of communism, they were condemned, awaiting money from West Germany to arrive so that they could be renovated and made livable again.  (From the East German perspective they would be made unaffordable and therefore still  unusable for the locals.) 

Friedrichstadt, Fall 1995

There were few restaurants in the town when we first arrived, a legacy of not allowing public places to gather. But right in our neighborhood, next to the hospital, was Riesa Efau, an underground students’ club which had thrived as a meeting place under the old regime and continued to do so after German reunification.  It was small and thick with smoke every time you entered.  The mood (by Dresden standards) was generally festive, the food was cheap & good (with 2-3 items on the menu any given night), and the beer was Radeberger, served in tall, thin, upright German glass mugs.  Radeberger (along with Meissener wine) was one of the few items that the locals could sell to West Germans for hard currency during East German times.  And there was a reason it was so sought after as it’s some of the best out there:  fresh, with mild flavors of herb & citrus and a nice hoppy bite.  It wasn’t available in Seattle when we first moved back, but in the last years it has been imported to this area.  Whenever I drink beer (which isn’t that often anymore), it always takes me back.

Hope you get a chance to try it!  And better yet, I hope you get a chance to try it in Dresden.  You won’t have the experience we did in the early years after reunification (today, it would take some luck to see a Trabi), but the “Pearl on the Elbe” is still a jewel, closer now to its former, pre-World War II glory.

Cheers,
Julie

So, here’s a little tickler on the wines that are here.  And stay tuned because we’ve got another container with a different line of French wines arriving at the beginning of July, a container from Spain due in in August, and September brings our first line from Italy. As well, we’ll be adding Argentina to the mix throughout the summer.

We’ll be hosting a kick off party on Friday, June 17 (SIGN UP>) & here’s the tasting list:

Cave de Bissey NV Crémant de Bourgogne
Burgundy, France
Reg $21.99 | INSIDER $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
 

Cave des Grands Cru Blancs 2009 Pouilly-Loché
Burgundy, France
Reg $23.99 | INSIDER $20.99 | Mixed Case $16.79

Château de la Bigotière 2009 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
Loire Valley, France
Reg $14.99 | INSIDER $12.99 | Mixed Case $10.39

Château du Halley 2009 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
Loire Valley, France
Reg  $17.99 | INSIDER $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79

Château du Grand Caumont 2008 Cuvée Tradition
Corbières, Languedoc, France
Reg $15.99 | INSIDER $13.99 | Mixed Case $11.19

Château du Grand Caumont 2008 “Impatience”
Corbières, Languedoc, France
Reg $22.99 | INSIDER $20.99 | Mixed Case $16.79

Domaine de Mougin 2007 Vin de Pays de l’Aude
Languedoc, France
Reg $14.99 | INSIDER $12.99 | Mixed Case $10.39

Domaine Les Fusionels 2008 Cuvée “Le Rêve”
Faugères, Languedoc, France
Reg $22.99 | INSIDER $20.99 | Mixed Case $16.79

Domaine Clavel 2007 Syrius St. Gervais
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhône, France
Reg $19.99 | INSIDER $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39

Chateau des Roques 2007 Vacqueyras
Southern Rhône, France
Reg $22.99 | INSIDER $20.99 | Mixed Case $16.79
 
We look forward to seeing you June 17!  And stay tuned, containers from France, Spain & Italy are on the way!

Cheers,
Julie