October Jug Club Wines

RED
2005 Domaine de la Chanteleuserie "Bourgueil"
Retail $15.99 ~ Jug Club$13.59

How 'bout a little jaunt to France for this month's red? After all, they've been doing this for QUITE some time now...Since 1822 at this small facility in fact. This wine is "stereotypically" French in that it is not fruit driven...Aromas of lead pencil, fresh herbs, subtle spicy blackberry & black currant, rocky earthen notes, unsweetened cocoa, espresso & maybe a "leafy" quality are full of complexity. Earthy flavors of subtle dark fruit, olives, coffee & chocolate are present, but what you notice first is the HUGE tannins and acidity. This is why we recommend that DECANT this wine, or at least pour a glass and forget about it for awhile, unless you like IMMENSE red wines, and then, well, knock yourself out...A CLASSIC food wine. This vineyard is 3 hectares...small, and the name & label do mean something...Chanteleusery means "place where the larks sing" in French.

WHITE
2006 "The White Knight" Viognier
Retail $11.99 ~ Jug Club $10.19

FINALLY! We have been looking for a good California Viognier to show you ever since we started this Jug Club thingy...but all the good examples we've tried so far have been $20-$30. Our patience has been rewarded. From the Sebastiani Family comes: The White Knight. Classic Viognier aromas & flavors of honeyed peaches, mineral, honeysuckle, acidity, it's all here! Get deeply into this wine & smell what we're steppin' in...orange blossom & lemon meringue aromas, flavors of mango, breadfruit, vanilla, lemon curd & that GORGEOUS white peach all come together with the perfect amount of acidity on the finish. This wine is also very versatile. It works well alone, with light appetizers, with entrees like Jerk chicken or fish tacos and we've heard that stirring a bit into fresh fruit sorbet is to DIE for. Enjoy it, we are...