08 Ridge Lytton Springs (Dry Creek Valley, California)
The Dry Creek Valley north of Sonoma is famous for two red grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The Ridge Lytton Springs is a Zinfandel dominant blend, and every vintage is interesting. Now, if you are thinking "aren't California Zinfandels big fruit bombs?" Many are. But Ridge creates a balanced and classy version which has Burgundian overtones to its nuanced and earthy flavors. Opening with aromas of plum, cherry, and green olive, the body is slightly tart with spice and berry notes, leading to a dill-scented finish and just a hint of earthy tannins. Great with steak of course, but goes nicely with grains like brown rice, or cous cous with toasted pine nuts.

A note about a new importer, Jay Beattie of Vinea Imports:
Sure, the wine business is about wine, but for us at Vino Verité, it's also very much about the people we work with. In the end, great wine is based on a relationship - and those who care about the product and the customer tend to bring us the best results. When Jay Beattie came in several months ago, we liked him right away. Friendly, intelligent, and very creative, Jay was introducing his new import company and having us try various wines he was going to bring to Seattle for the first time. As of now his portfolio focuses on Spanish wines. Every wine Jay poured for us was great; so expect to see more of his selections in the shop soon. These wines just arrived in his first large shipment, so you are among the very first to taste them. Jay, by the way, is not new to food and wine. His former company Cucina Fresca Pasta (located right here in Seattle) has been a top-quality producer of hand-made pasta, pasta sauces, as well as an importer of olive oil and other items for years. So Jay knows food, wine, and how to run a great business with great products and the customer's satisfaction always in mind. We look forward to scheduling a tasting with him soon.

08 Finca VilaDellops Tinto (Penedés, Spain)
One of Jay's newest additions to his portfolio. An old estate in the Penedés region near Barcelona, Finca VilaDellops is an incredibly well-established winery going back a hundred years, producing exceptional wine from its opening in 1877 all the way to the 1980s. Then, for unknown reasons, the winery went idle, the estate seeming to freeze in time for 20 years. The Desvalls family purchased the estate in 1999 and was thrilled with what they found: everything was still intact; even the vines are original, ranging between 20 to 80 years old. The older, more mature vines and the slightly higher altitude of this coastal region, along with hot, dry winds and very little rain makes for powerful, complex wine. Even the region's soil is unique - old sea deposits with crushed and whole ancient sea shells; "poor soil" as the winery describes it, which makes the vines work hard to get water and creates vibrant, zesty fruit. Using some of the oldest vines on the property, this blend uses 60% Garnaxta (the Catalan spelling of "Garnacha") and 40% Syrah for bold results: vibrant blackberry, plum, and cherry dominate the nose and carry through to the main body of the wine, underscored by some darker notes of cassis, a touch of licorice and spice on the finish. This is fantastic with a number of foods, but goes beautifully with red-based Paella, lamb stuffed with olive tapenade, and other strongly flavored "tapas" inspired dishes which use spice and distinct main ingredients.