Wine Tasting Notes-Saturday August 16th 2025

Saturday August 16th

All the cool kids are having a cookout.

 Regular$/Tasting$

2021, Josef Jamek “Am Rain” Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau, Austria                                                     $29.99/$25.49

The handiwork of a great winemaker and the extraordinary 2021 vintage, the 2021 Josef Jamek offers crystalline intensity and laser-like precision. Lightly fruity with green apple, pear, and lemon zest, Josef Jamek’s Stein am Rain Grüner Veltliner Federspiel is racy, delightfully fresh, and increasingly complex. Great minerality adds additional vivacity and an explosive finish. Shrimp and veggie skewers on the grill? Drink this.

2023, Domaine Dupre, Macon-Villages, Burgundy, France                                                                                    $18.99/$16.14

Wait, is that a Burgundy on sale for under $20? It actually tastes like real wine? Sign me up! Very fresh, citrus and white flowers on the nose. On the palate, the wine is very fruity with a nice amount of acidity. It also possesses a lovely, fresh finish. Uncomplicated and delightful at the same time, this wine overdelivers. Grilling some fresh-caught striped bass? Drink this. 

2024, Ostatu, Rosado, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, Spain                                                                                                   $21.99/$18.69

Ostatu Rosado is one of the most beloved pink Rioja Alavesa wines, offering a very different experience than many other rosado wines from Rioja that are often made as an afterthought. The Ostatu Rosado is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, with some Viura to make it sharper and paler, this salmon-colored wine is a refreshing Rosado. Focused and mineral driven with notes of ruby grapefruit pith and tart red berries, this rosado will only get better after a few sips. Hot-smoking some chicken on the grill? Drink this.

2023, FRAM, Shiraz, Swartland, South Africa                                                                                                            $19.99/$16.99

There is an old sign as you head into Riebeek Kasteel from Hermon that reads “Welcome to Shiraz country”. It was true many moons ago and is still just as true today. This wine is from a selection of vineyards around the Swartland, and is produced with the vision to make a wine that will focus on freshness, and show lively fruit, ranging from red cherry to the black savories of licorice. The nose offers lovely black and blue fruit, black pepper spice, anise, clove, and gentle wood spice aromas. The palate shows good concentration with dark berry, earthy, and licorice flavors. Grilling some Merguez sausages? Drink this. Definitely drink this.

2021, Ancient Peaks, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California                                                                     $25.99/$22.09

Black currants, grilled sage and crushed stone form a darkly enticing bouquet as the Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon opens in the glass. This is surprisingly juicy and energetic in character, with racy wild berry fruits offset by a tinge of citrus. It tapers off with dramatic length and grippy tannins yet somehow leaves the mouth watering for more. Well-seasoned steaks and kabobs on the menu? Drink this.