March Wines of the Month Tasting Notes

March 2025 Wines of the Month

NV, Dalva, Sparkling Bruto, Douro, Portugal $22.99/$19.54

Light citrus color, this wine reveals a mineral aroma with notes of fruits like passion fruit and citrus. The texture is fine and elegant with pleasant persistence. On the nose, this is light and floral with hints of lime & pineapple. On the palate, the fruit is crisp and citric with elements of riper pulpy fruits. Very refreshing and round, it has a light and fresh finish.

2023, Anselmo Mendes, “Passaros” Loureiro, Vinho Verde, Portugal $19.99/$16.99

Anselmo Mendes' Passaros Loureiro is made from 100% Loureiro. All grapes are hand-harvested and are fermented at a low temperature for an extended period of time. The wine is aged for 4 months on the fine lees with regular stirring before bottling. The Passaros pours a lemon-green color, exhibiting aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. On the palate, the wine is light and crisp with a sharp, refreshing acidity. The finish is long with lovely fruit and herbaceous flavors.

2023, Swiftsure, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $22.99/$19.54

It isn’t often that in a crowded category like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that something stands out so clearly. Well, this is one of those unexpected finds. Bursting with aromas; an abundance of tropical fruits, crisp citrus, punchy jalapeno, and fresh herbs, this wine showcases the intensity that has made Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc famous the world over. The palate is refined and classical with a vibrancy of fruit and a mineral purity that creates a sense of sophistication and elegance.

2023, Emile Beyer, “Tradition” Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France $23.99/$20.39

Soft and delicate with refined floral notes, this wine combines freshness and suppleness balanced by a pleasing acidity. This Alsatian beauty opens with a seductive aroma of orchard fruits: apple, dried apricot, white peach, and pear scents that entice the nose. In the mouth, this Pinot Blanc offers a delightful mélange of orchard fruits on a flow of juicy acidity and mouthwatering minerality. A delightful wine for a myriad of settings.

2022, Vignerons de Mont de Bourgogne, Chardonnay, Burgundy, France $24.99/$21.24

Pale lemon color and a fruit-forward nose of fresh apple, peach, and almond. Mid-weight on the palate with crisp acidity and flavors of lemon, peach, apricot, and a touch of toasty vanilla, this is a classic expression of Chardonnay from the region that sets the benchmark for the grape.

2022, Day Wines, “Tears of Vulcan” Orange Wine, Willamette Valley, Oregon $38.99/$33.14

Extended skin contact fans will want to add this wine to their collection. It is a blend of Viognier, Pinot Gris and Muscat that fermented on skins for 23 days before resting in a combination of 90% neutral French oak, 5% new French oak and 5% new Acacia. Ripe melon, guava, rose hips and plumeria aromas are flanked by crushed brick dust and a note that’s reminiscent of an orange candy. The wine has grippy tannins and a chalky texture to go along with flavors such as beeswax, chamomile tea, peach skins and honey.

2022, Domaine les Cardinaux, Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France $27.99/$23.79

Domaine Les Cardinaux sits on an outstanding terroir on the Côte de Brouilly. The soils are made up of volcanic and plutonic rocks and we find in our plot the famous Côte de Brouilly blue stones composed of hard schist and diorite. Elegant and medium bodied, it develops aromas of fresh fruit and peppery notes. The blue stones endow the wine with a powerful and complex character complemented with smokey and saline notes.

2022, Swiftsure, “Bannockburn” Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand $25.99/$22.09

This is a gorgeously aromatic Pinot Noir with floral elements to the bouquet that’s reminiscent of red rose and violets with plenty of dark cherry and red-fleshed plum, with wild thyme and raspberry flavors. Purity and restrained power with an impressively lengthy finish. Savory, earthy elements manifest with a little time in the glass to lend a greater complexity.

2018, Chateau Barreyre, Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux, France $26.99/$22.94

Château Barreyre is a small property with a view of the Gironde and the nearby port of Macau that actually lies within the Haut-Médoc. It is in fact quite close to the border of the Margaux appellation. A bold but balanced wine, this wine offers enticing aromatics that show savory scents of blackberry, cassis, and cacao mingled with hints of cedar. In the mouth, the wine graces the palate with berry fruit, cedar, and forest floor flavors, which are carried on a bed of ripe tannins with plenty of verve and vigor to remind all that there isn’t anything petit about this petit château’s wine.

2022, Richvale Wine Co., “I Heart Pizza” Red Table Wine, Central Coast, California $27.99/$23.79

Richvale Wine Co., based in California's Central Coast, is known for crafting playful and approachable wines that celebrate the joy of casual gatherings. The "I Heart Pizza" Red Blend is a harmonious mix of 59% Dolcetto, 26% Mataro (Mourvèdre), and 15% Counoise. This full-bodied red wine presents dark fruit aromas on the nose, leading to a juicy texture on the palate. The blend offers a rich profile, making it an excellent companion for a variety of dishes.

2022, Robert Biale Vineyards, “Party Line” Zinfandel, North Coast, California $34.99/$29.74

The Party Line wine is a throwback to the old days of Zin when California’s wine-growing families made lighter, easier-drinking wine for everyday consumption. It is layered with aromatics of dusty strawberries, red licorice, black cherries, peach, root beer, and raspberry taffy. The entry is weighty with rustic mid-palate tannins that make for a long and juicy finish. Instead of the traditional jammy fruits of some other Zins, this wine is all about lithe textures and freshness.

2022, Cordero di Montezemolo, Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy $28.99/$24.64

This is a big, dark, and full Barbera from one of the oldest producers in Barolo. Grapes come from their estate vineyards, and the wine is fermented in stainless steel and finished and aged in oak barrels. Sleek, vibrant, and expressive, this red exudes violet, blackberry, and black cherry aromas that lead seamlessly into super-ripe black cherry, mocha, licorice, spice, and espresso notes on the palate. Smashingly delicious, this wine is all flamboyant personality and incredibly pleasurable to drink.