May Wine Picks

Red

2013 Domaine Gachot-Monot Côte de Nuits-Villages ($27.99)

Winemaker Damien Gachot works his Villages plots with the care of a Grand Cru, and it makes his wines a real bargain. A powerful nose of dark cherry and purple flowers marks the wine as something special, which the palate carries through. Beautiful and textured in the mouth, it shows dark cherries, spice and a wonderful fullness. Concentrated and powerful, it finishes with a lingering savory undertone. Kermit Lynch Import.

2016 Francesco Boschis Dogliani Dolcetto Grignolino Piedmont ($14.99)

This top Dogliani Dolcetto producer makes a tiny bit of light, fresh, utterly delicious Grignolino. The grape is native to Piedmont. Super-ripe cherry and strawberry fruit at the core with hints of cranberry and licorice and a supple, grippy finish.

White

2016 Forge Cellars Riesling Wagner Caywood East Finger Lakes ($23.39)

Scents of lime, lemon cream, quince/apple, nectarine and a slightly wooly mineral note. Full bodied, very dry, flavors of lime, apple, nectarine and lemon cream are lightly accented by a tea-like note and earth. The finish is of a piece, lightly lip smacking, moderately spicy, with very good length.

2016 Sassarini Cinque Terre Bianco Italy ($18.69)

“After a meticulous selection of the grapes, we softly press them. A brief and strictly controlled fermentation, constant bâtonnage and a light ageing in steel barrels gives us a wine with a persistent fruit and white Mediterranean flower bouquet, enriched by typical mineral and salty notes. A blend of Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino.” ~Winemaker notes.

2017 Ross Andrew Pinot Gris Celilo Vineyard ($16.99)

“This incredibly bright, energetic, and delicious Pinot Gris comes from one of the greatest vineyards, the Celilo Vineyard. It’s like stuffing an Asian pear, nectarine, ginger, hint of lemon zest and a few dashes of mineral in the bottle, resulting in fantastic aromatics. The palate is crisp, vibrant and refreshing. A go-to for the warmer months, but also a beautiful glass filler in the fall. Enjoy!” ~Winemaker notes.

Pink

2017 Ned Rosé Marlborough New Zealand ($13.99)

One of the country’s most popular off-dry styles of Rose, crafted from 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Gris. The fruit purity and rose petal characters are exceptional with an intriguing exotic spice note. Crafted under the watchful eye of legendary winemaker Brent Marris, the original founder of the highly successful Oyster Bay. Plump and rounded with strawberries and cream and a clean stonefruit finish.

2017 Les Trois Couronnes Rosé Côtes-du-Rhône ($9.99)

“Elegant lychee fragrance with white summer fruits bouquet. Full flavored and refreshing with a crisp finish. A blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 5% Syah.” ~Winemaker notes.

Cheers!

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.