Nick’s Picks – April 2025

Value $108

Discount Price $92

Clos Maia 2016 Terrasses du Larzac - $22

Grenache, Oeillade, and Cinsault from Languedoc, Southern France.  This is a special find to jump on immediately.  Showcasing a brighter and more elegant expression of French Grenache opens with sunbaked garrigue, licorice root, and dried black cherry aromas.  A palate of prominent spicy acidity evaporates toasted star anise flavor in the entire mouth, with a warming ripeness and piercing linear mouthfeel at the same time.  Gorgeous for the price.

Gomotartzi Danube Plain Red - $20

70% Gamza and 30% Cabernet Franc from Bulgaria.  Eastern Europe.  So hot right now.  Cranberry and floral red cherry flavors lead the charge here, with subtle aniseed aromas bringing up the rear, with a light, low tannin, approachable body one would not expect to carry depth and complexity on its shoulders.  Raspberry jam and tart dark citrus leave a light but long-lasting finish.

Veiga de Princesa Albarino - $21

From Rias Baixas, Western Spain.  If you haven’t emerged out into the sun from this long Winter, this bottle will lead you outside in time.  Papaya, salty minerality, and a wide spectrum of lime and grapefruit flavors evoke sunshine on the nose, with a palate of prominent but well-integrated acidity, light refreshment, with a pretty roundness toward the end carried out tropical fruit and waxy blossoms.

Chateau la Noe Muscadet - $14

Melon de Bourgogne Grape from Loire, France.  An undisputed champ of seafood, salad, and sunshine.  Flavors of honeydew melon, river stone, and lemon sliced fresh from the tree spark up subtly from the glass.  The drinkability is really what shines here; drying mouthwatering acidity combined with a softer mouthfeel will make you want to drink it instead of water.  Porch-pounder 101.

 Adega De Penalva Premium Red - $15

Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Jaen Grapes from Dao, Portugal.  The famed reputation of Portuguese over delivery for price shines in this balanced beauty.  Juicy red berries, wood spice, and a hint or clay pot aromas dance on the nose, finishing the job on the palate with baking spice, tobacco, and dark fruited grippy but sweet tannins and a balanced medium body.  The complexity is there is you want it, but drinkable pleasure is definitely mandatory. 

Garibaldi Vero Brut Rosé - $16

Sparkling Cabernet and Merlot Rose from Serra Gaucha, Brazil.  When it comes to warmer weather drinking with friends, one should never rule out sparkling, or rose, for that matter.  Knock them both out with this unique bottle.  Fine and persistent bubbles kick up spritely notes of juicy raspberry, wild strawberry, and bitter citrus peel.  The electric voltage of acidity jumps up from the popping perlage of bubbles on the palate.  This lovely light hearted wine can cut through just about anything perfectly, especially your Spring wine rut.