Summer Staples

Sizzling summer staples are here! From “porch-pounders” to backyard BBQs, there’s a little something here for everyone. Enjoy these reds, whites and pinks to get you through the summer satisfied. Have a fun and safe summer Leschi!

Red Wines

2013 Avennia Arnaut Syrah Boushey Vineyard Yakima Valley ($46)

“The 2013 is a rock star. Offering sensational purity in its meaty, dark fruits, olive brine, beef blood, currants and hints of violets, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, impressive concentration and a great finish, where it shows additional minerality. Coming from the two oldest blocks at Boushey Vineyard, this is a serious, age-worthy Syrah.” –Wine Advocate, 93-95 points.

2014 Darby Purple Haze Columbia Valley ($18.69)

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Syrah. When you combine the warm, ripe vintage 2014 with the keen, deft ability of Darby, you get the best wines. Big, exuberant and not overdone. Like fine architecture.

2014 Francesco Cirelli Rosso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($17.99)

This is the Montepulciano grape. It delivers a nose of baking spice, cherry pie and tomato leaf. Juicy purple fruits dominate the palate but it’s made fresh by some herbal notes. Just enough structure to let you know that this wine is unmistakably Italian—no excessive fruit, everything balanced and a bit rustic. Organic farm certified by IMC.

2014 Domaine La Manarine Carignan Rouge Côtes du Rhône ($13.09)

Domaine La Manarine is a small, family-owned winery established in 2001. The vines average around 35 years in age. This wine is 100% Grenache and produces a classically spicy, full-bodied wine that speaks clearly of the “garrigue” of the region. The wine is bottled without filtration. Unoaked, with aromas of dark berries and ripe, rustic tannins.

White Wines

2014 DeLille Cellars “Chaleur Estate” Blanc Columbia Valley ($35.99)

“An amazing nose of sweet Sauvignon Blanc provides cream, key lime and Herbs de Provence. Maybe the best descriptor is ‘wow!’ showing flavors that are rich and expansive. It’s not all about the Sauvignon Blanc though—the Semillon is evident on the palate with guava and citrus honey notes. 2014 is a vintage of classic balance and elegance reinforcing the pedigree of this wine.” –Winery notes.

2015 Butter by Jam Cellars Chardonnay California ($16.99)

Made by winemaker Rob Lloyd of Rombauer fame. “Rich, bold and luscious, this is an easy-to-love creamy California Chardonnay. The fruit we choose has juicy, ripe, stone fruit and baked-lemon aromas. Cold fermented to the perfect, rich creaminess and aged in our own blend of oak, gives this wine a lovely, long, vanilla finish that’s uniquely Butter!” –Winery notes.

Rosé Wines

2015 Tranche Rosé Pink Pape Blackrock Estate Vineyard Yakima ($14.99)

31% Cinsault and 23% Counoise and 46% Grenache. “Pale salmon in color with light pink hue. Delicate aromas of rose petal, honeydew melon and white peach, with lifted notes of sweet pink grapefruit and lemon peel. The wine is fresh and lively upon entry, with bright stone fruit and mountain berry flavors complemented by wet river rock minerality. Driving acidity and citrus qualities provide focus and direction, drawing out the palate to a mouthwatering finish. 637 cases made.” –Winemaker notes. New vintage.

2015 Hecht & Bannier Rosé Côtes de Provence ($14.99)

“For our Côtes de Provence we take a path quite apart from the one we follow for our Languedoc Rosé with its high proportion of Syrah. We have sought a Provence Rosé of immense charm and minerality redolent of dried herbs and mountain flowers. A blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 15% Syrah.” -Gregory Hecht.

2015 Domaine de Triennes Rosé Vin de Pays de Méditerranée ($13.99)

A collaboration between Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. “Pale pink. Red fruit and notes of citrus contribute to the aromatic complexity. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned worldwide appreciation of the rosés of Provence. Principally Cinsault, blended with Grenache, Syrah and Merlot.” –Winery notes.

2015 Domaine De Fontsainte Rosé Gris de Gris Corbieres Languedoc-Roussillon ($13.09)

Salmon color with superb amethyst tints. Fine separate legs run slowly down the glass. Expressive and particularly tonic, the wine immediately gives off notes of raspberry, cherry and freshly picked strawberries - followed by exotic aromas such as pineapple and mango. Kermit Lynch Import.” –Winemaker notes.

2015 Domaine Saint Nabor Gris Rosé Vin de Pays du Gard ($9.39)

“This Rosé is bright and glistening with a raspberry pink tint. It has a bouquet of red fruit aromas and honeysuckle with linden-tree nuances. The wine has a fresh acidity. It is light, crisp and easy drinking, with acidulous red fruit flavors of wild strawberries and blueberries with mineral nuances.” –Winery notes.

CHEERS! ENJOY!

Kenneth Benner, a Seattle area native, is a trained chef and has worked in such restaurants as Barbacoa, B.O.K.A. Kitchen + Bar, and Dahlia Lounge. Ken is the wine buyer at Leschi Market. He has a passion for learning, a meticulous palate, and a tenacity for searching out the best for his customers while offering some of the most highly coveted wines in the area. His wine column is intended to inspire and explore new choices in wine, learn about wine with his readers, and share his knowledge and experiences in the wine world. Check out the latest at www.LeschiMarket.com or request to be added to email updates or send questions, comments, or suggestions to ken@leschimarket.com and follow the wine department directly on twitter at twitter.com/leschimarket.