| Producer | Highland Half Case |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Mixed |
| Varietal | Mixed |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Sku | 210000018477 |
| Size | 750ml |
KATO, PINOT NOIR 2022, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND $18.99 (MIXED) The name ‘Kato’, meaning harvest, is derived from the Māori language and honors the original inhabitants of what is now New Zealand. They follow a ‘natural’ wine making philosophy, meaning they are hands-off and non-intrusive, allowing the unique terroir characteristics to shine through unencumbered by manipulation in the winery. On the nose some mushroom and bacon notes overlay plump red fruit, cedar and spice. A big lift of tart acidity and sappy, chewy tannins somewhat overwhelm on the palate, but the supply berry flavors peep through the cracks. Serve chilled.
ESPORÃO, MONTE VELHO TINTO 2023, ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL $12.99 Created in 1992, its name comes from the mountain located next to the Caridade reservoir, at Herdade do Esporão in southern Portugal. More wild and remote than the more urbanized coastal regions, the Alentejo is where we get to wines that offer more than just being ‘dry Ports’ like what we see in the Douro. Produced from a blend of regional varieties: Aragonez, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Syrah; the grapes are produced in conjunction with other regional suppliers who all follow the same philosophy as Esporão, avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides to protect the quality of the soil and grape. It is medium bodied, showing mostly dark fruits: blackberry, black currant, morello cherry, with a slightly smokey quality on the finish. Like many of the wines we pick for the summer, it makes an idea grill mate.
CAPEZZANA, BARCO REALE DI CARMIGNANO 2022, TUSCANY ITALY $18.99 (MIXED) The original supertuscan, Villa Capezzana has roots dating back to the roman times; with a land survey inscribed on the original sheepskin from the year 804 AD classifying it as a vineyard. In the 15th Century it was purchased by the Medici family as a summer get-away. Catherine de Medici, the Queen of France in the 16th Century, exported Cabernet Franc to this estate, where it has been grown ever since, Cab Sauv came later once it was born and both are used as deemed appropriate by the vintage and must make up no more than 20% and no less than 10% of all DOC wines, they remain the ONLY DOC permitted to do this, beating the super-tuscan trend by many centuries. It opens in the glass with a pretty blend of autumnal spices, cedar shavings, Tuscan dust and dried strawberries. It sweeps across the palate with ease, soft-textured and supple, while mineral-tinged red berry fruits slowly saturate toward the close. A web of fine tannins frames the experience as the it finishes with hints of orange citrus and a tart cherry twang.
ALTOS LAS HORMIGAS, ‘COLONIA LAS LIEBRES’ BONARDA 2024, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA $14.99 For most of its existence in Argentina, Bonarda was grown and cultivated as blending wine, often with low-grade bulk wines and for the most part, ignored Bonarda as a serious single varietal wine. However, in 2000 Alberto Antonini and Attilio Pagli, the winemakers of Bodega Altos Las Hormigas, a Malbec specialist, fortuitously discovered the potential of growing single varietal Bonarda in Mendoza. Now in it’s 21st vintage, this wine has helped cement Bonarda as a staple in the Argentine wine scene. It opens with a dark-fruited, earthy nose accented by herbal notes. On the palate, it is broad and seamless while maintaining a lively energy, finishing with a straightforward and pleasing earthy quality that steers clear of rusticity. I drank it with some spicy Thai food and it was delightful!
ELICIO, GERNACHE-MERLOT 2023, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE $15.99 (MIXED) Made by Xavier Logette, this unusual blend surprises with its freshness and versatile, easy drinkability, but is still unmistakably of the warm and lush Southern Rhône. Packed with fresh blackberry and blueberry, prominent brown spices and a floral delicacy round out this deceptively complex wine. A round and very fruit-forward wine to be enjoyed by itself or all your meals, and very well-suited to smoky and spicy foods like BBQ.
CA’ GIALLA, BARBERA D’ALBA 2023, PIEDMONT, ITALY $15.99 Marco Porello is the third generation of his family to produce wines in Roero. The family owns 15 hectares of vineyard land in total, all in highly regarded locations in two of Roero’s twenty-three villages. The marine clay based Mombirone in the village of Canale, and Tanone in Vezza d’Alba, which is a sandy, limestone-rich site. All wines are farmed naturally without the use of herbicides or pesticides – Marco is working towards organic certification. A full bodied, fruity example of Barbera at a price that will make you smile. Full bodied, round, hints of red fruit and brilliant acidity! Serve chilled!
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