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Early Fall Wine Selections

Back-to-school ushers in cooler weather and a need for heavier wines. Read below to discover what our knowledgeable wine team will be drinking for September.

Logan’s Picks

Logan is our Assistant Wine Buyer, and physics student on the side! He continues his wine education by participating in weekly blind tasting groups and study sessions.

Fog Theory Pinot Noir $15.99
This Pinot is the lowest in price from our selection of wines from Sta.
Rita Hills. The name Fog Theory pays tribute to the fog that comes off
the ocean, cooling the small AVA and allowing excellent climate for the
Pinot to grow. Great balance between fruit and acidity.

St. Laurent Chinon $13.99
Hailing from the Loire, the grape they use in this wine is Cabernet
Franc. The father of Cabernet Sauvignon, this boasts a full body with
fruit and spice for days. The finish is long, gravely and pleasant. This
is how Cab Franc should be.

Vietti Barbera d’Asti $15.99
This awesome little Italian is a well-rounded crowd pleaser. It balances
fruit, alcohol, acidity, tannins and oak in one of the more pleasant red
wines for under $20. With such great balance, you can pair this with
several meals to impress your friends.

Clos Pegase Merlot $22.99
This isn’t your mother’s merlot. Forget what you think you know about
this varietal and try this. This is a big and chewy mess of a wine with
enough fruit to make your mouth water and enough acidity to keep you
coming back for more. The depth and complexity on this wine is enough
that you’ll find something new in every glass.

 

Shannon’s Picks

Shannon is our Wine Buyer and head of the Wine Department. She is a Certified Sommelier and travels the world in search of the best wines, at the best prices, for DEPs.

Lioco ‘Laguna’ Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast $34.99 I am a huge fan of everything Lioco does, and this fresh and lively Pinot from the Coast is exactly what it should be: acidic, aromatic and light enough with an herb-tinged finish.

Tissot Cremant de Jura Rose, France $19.99 Wines from the Jura, France, are incredibly popular right now, and rightly so. This bubbly comprised of Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau is rich in elegance and texture.

Domaine Chignard Julienas Beauvernay, France. Almost nothing makes me happier than Beaujolais,with a slight chill on it, in the fall. Added that this one is from my favorite French importer Kermit Lynch and it all comes together. The granite rich soils and 60+ year old gamay vines develop a wine of lightness and complexity at the same time.

Bernard DeFaix Chablis 1er Cru, France $23.99 What is it about Chardonnay from Chablis? There is simply no comparison. Nervy, with a hint of lime zest, it finishes as only Chablis can-with a richness of texture and oak without being overbearing.

 

Traci’s Picks

Pasqua Passimento (Romeo and Juliet’s Wall) – This Italian wine was made in tribute to a legendary love from Verona, Italy, the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Visitors signatures recount this love story in Verona and is featured on the unique and colorful label. It is soft and velvety with spice and is made from grapes pre-dried in wooden trays. 40% Merlot and two Italian grape varietals - 30% Corvina, and 30% Croatina.

Chateau Teyssier Pezat Bordeaux Superieur – Bold yet elegant. Great fruit. Tastes and Drinks like a much more expensive Bordeaux. 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Get one to drink now and one to keep for a couple of years.

Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon – Herbaceous, even a little eucalyptus on the nose. Great cabernet for the price. Really delivers.

Round Pond Kith & Kin Cabernet Sauvignon – which is old English for “Friends & Family”. Great cabernet sauvignon sourced from Napa Valley, but rooted in Rutherford, one of my favorite AVA’s. Wonderful deep aroma of blackberry with spice on the nose. Smooth dark fruit with great spice. Rutherford dust with great acidity.

 

Dana’s Picks

 

Jezebel White Wine
$12.99

Pam Walden, the winemaker for Willful Wines, Oregon, has created Jezebel Blanc an aromatic blend of Alsatian white varietals, from vineyards throughout Oregon. The blend is primarily Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris with some Muscat. A refreshing sipper, or aperitif, the tropical and stone fruit flavors are also complimentary to spicy, savory foods - think Indian, Thai, and Korean cuisines.

MDZ Malbec $7.99

Sustainable farming, zero chemicals, and minimal intervention from winemaker Sebastian San Martin results in this approachable wine from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. It is 100% Malbec, with dark fruit, cocoa, and other earthy notes. A easy, social wine for the cooler months to come.

 

Gordon’s Picks

Chateau St. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc Horse Heaven Vineyard 2014 - $10.99
A sturdy, medium-bodied sauvignon blanc with balanced grapefruit and lemon flavors that are enhanced by melon and tangy green-apple notes. Good with everything from salads to roast chicken.

Bouchard Pouilly Fuisse 2013 – $24.99
This wine has mellow apple and tropical fruit flavors with a creamy texture and very light oak. Great with shellfish or cheeses like brie or dry jack, but will also stand up to big dishes, even sausage.

Steelhead Pinot Noir - $10.99
Fresh cherry fruit notes and good overall balance make this inexpensive pinot noir stand out from the competition. It’s good with salmon, so it makes perfect sense that a portion of the profits are donated to preserving salmon-stream habitat.

Pecchenino San Luigi Dogliani (Dolcetto) 2013 - $14.99
Beautiful dark cherry and raspberry notes jump out of this racy wine. The pleasant acidity will cut through rich, cheesy casseroles like lasagna or eggplant parmesan.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Gold -$9.99
This excellent everyday red has plump, dark-berry fruit notes and a velvety texture. It’s a blend of cabernet franc and merlot that you cannot find anywhere but Dep’s.

Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 - $24.99
Mellow baked plum, blackberry and dark cherry notes combine beautifully in this tasty cabernet. Decanting or aeration will soften the moderate tannins, and that is true of many 2013 Napa cabs.

 

Jenn’s Picks

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Gold Limited Release - $9.99
You don’t see too many Cabernet Franc-based blends, but here is an exciting one out of Washington. It’s limited, so enjoy while it we have it. Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this wine is dark and rich, offering up flavors of raspberries, black cherries and dark chocolate.

Steelhead Pinot Noir - $10.99
Bright red fruit with a hint of spice, this wine has found an excellent balance between stainless and barrel fermentations. It is medium-bodied without going overboard, yet still has enough finesse in its flavors to be elegant.

Il Raduno delle Streghe Falanghina - $11.99
This dry, Italian white is crisp and clean, starting off with soft lemon and peach flavors, and finishing up with some refreshing citrus at the back. While I love the idea of simply pairing this wine with a beautiful day, it has enough character to pair well with lighter grilled fare, such as fish, chicken, or vegetables.

Terlan Gewürztraminer -
From northern Italy, this Gewürztraminer is dry and elegant, without losing any of the fun unique nuances of its varietal. On the nose there is lychee, mango, honeysuckle, and rose petals. These carry through to the palate, adding in some lively acidity and mineral notes. This wine is a good match for spicy foods, but it is not limited to them.