OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN (A ROUND-ROBIN WORLD TOUR)

Our good friend/new Vintner Select sales manager, Jeff, dropped in to show off some cool new stuff from their ever-expanding portfolio:

Gruet Blanc de Blancs Sauvage NV. Grade=Outstanding. Holy cow is this one dry sparkler! Felt my teeth recess as I was tasting this, and all the water in my body began a quiet, clandestine exodus. This is ultra-dry with mouthwatering lemon zest, crisp Granny smith apples, hints of chalk, flint and lime. Would be amazing with chilled oysters on the half shell.

Huber Gruner Veltliner “Hugo” 2009. Grade=Outstanding. My favorite Gruner has made its way to VS! Fresh, dry, clean – with some racy lime, white pepper, and mineral characters. A delicious white wine to go comfortably with sushi.

Huber Gruner Veltliner Traisental D.A.C. 2009. Grade=Outstanding. This gorgeous single-vineyard GV is a small-production Austrian white that shows off zesty lemon and lime notes, some black and white pepper, and chalky mineral. Bracing acidity adds character.

Huber Gruner Veltliner “Obere Steigen” 2009. Grade=Outstanding. The more robust and brawnier GV from Huber, this one demonstrates some oily swagger alongside super ripe lime, blanched almonds, cracked black pepper, slight Mandarin orange, and wet stones.

Huber Riesling Traisental D.A.C. 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Lime, Rainier cherries, chalk, sea salt, and mineral tones flesh out in this light-to-medium-bodied, dry-style Riesling. Beautiful.

Clava Chardonnay Casablanca Valley 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Some fresh peaches and pineapple with a bit of cantaloupe and honeydew as well as lemon meringue and nectarine notes. Crisp and racy acidity leads you into a tropical fruit salad finish.

Clava Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Dark cherries, plums, cherry cola and some dusty earth lend to a light-bodied, fruity, terroir-driven red.

Huber Zweigelt D.A.C. 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Drinks like a cross between a Russian River Pinot Noir and a Barossa Valley Shiraz, this medium-bodied red exudes spicy notes of black pepper, cayenne, raspberry, blueberry and mulberry fruit, some mineral, white truffle and habanero pepper. Finishes with a juicy core of red plum and red currants.