Unexpected Treats

During the weeks leading up to Halloween, I always find myself pleasantly surprised and delighted by the places candy unexpectedly pops up in my daily routine. A visit to the bank? In the kitchen at work? At the doctor’s office? Everywhere I go, it seems, there are snack-sized Kit-Kats and packets of Starburst to be enjoyed. For eleven months of the year, I’m a relatively reserved candy consumer, but when it comes to October, I indulge in my fair share of chocolate - anything Reese’s is generally my weak spot.

Today, I’m highlighting a couple of wines that - when I stumbled upon them - surprised and delighted me in the same way an unexpected Snickers bar does during the afternoon doldrums. These are wines that speak to me as exactly right for the Halloween season, both because their aesthetics fit in perfectly with the colors of the spooky season and because their flavors pair like a dream with the crunch of leaves underfoot and chill of an October evening. I think of both bottles as the ideal kind to open and enjoy while your kids are sorting their Halloween candy, before you swoop in to assist in organizing and doing away with all the less-desirable Baby Ruths and Whoppers (ah, the folly of youth)…

2021 Eva Fricke Trocken Riesling, Kiedrich $52

A beautiful riesling from the Rheingau made by a first-generation female winemaker from 40 year-old vines. This is a wine that strikes you from the outset with beautiful aromatics and a depth and intensity that beg for close attention and leisurely enjoyment. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, who rated it a 92, says: “Round and elegant on the palate, with a charmingly refined and mouth-filling texture and very fine, ripe acidity, this is a tense, saline, very persistent and lingering mineral Riesling with remarkable quality and complexity.” Great to drink now, even better to hold until 2025 or later.

2022 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir, Cincuenta y Cinco $63

From 60 year-old vines in Northern Patagonia, owned by the grandson of Sassicaia founder Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. This is a gorgeous and unexpectedly nuanced expression of Pinot Noir, with a beautiful texture and extraordinary drinkability. James Suckling, who rated it a 96, says: “Fresh and floral nose with tiles, vibrant red berries and pomegranate. Stony, mineral verve. Pure and expressive with good tension on the medium-bodied palate. Silky, very nimble and elegant. Acidic red berries in the finish that cleanse the palate… Drink or hold.”

Did one (or more) of these wines pique your interest? There are multiple ways to order with us! If you place your purchase through our online store, we’ll be happy to package and hold your bottles for you to pick up at your convenience. You can also reply to this email and ask us to set aside any bottles you’re interested in picking up at a later date. If you have any questions or would like to make special arrangements, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (919) 644-1243. Shipping is available - call for details.