Siciliano's Market News, December 24 Edition

This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about a perfect wine for holiday meals

Guest preamble by Dominic Siciliano

Some time around Labor Day I got a call from the old man. “When you going to pick up this wine, buddy?” my dad asked rather snarkily.

I have to admit that at first I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. Turns out that during a romp through a few bottles of wine up at the lake one evening he introduced me and my wife Janelle to a rosé from the Tavel region of France. Apparently we loved it so much that we ordered a case.

Now this is really nothing new. We Sicilianos love rosés at all times of the year but especially in the summer. And it’s not the first time pop introduced us to a wine or spirit from the store that we asked him to order for us. It’s just that in this particular case I honestly didn’t remember ordering it!

The bottle of wine we enjoyed so much is not officially called Tavel but that’s what Janelle and I call it. Tavel is an appellation controlle in the Rhone region; wineries have to adhere to a strict set of guidelines to use the name and the most apparent is color. Tavel has a deep almost strawberry hue that is darker than most rosés. The red skins and the pulp of the Syrah and Grenache grapes are macerated along with the pulp of a white (most often Clairette) to develop that deep pink hue and the spicier, heavier undertones that are atypical of most rosés. The result is a wine that drinks easy like a rosé but pairs up nicely with heavier dishes and sides.

On Thanksgiving the Tavel complimented the turkey and gravy as well as the cranberry and sweet potatoes. It even worked well with the pumpkin pie! I mentioned the spicy undertones but it has a very nice floral nose and a subtle blackberry/strawberry top end. It can really hold up to any holiday dish but I’d lean toward poultry, light meat dishes and maybe heavier fish. And it’s okay to keep drinking it right through desert. It won’t get lost in the palette and its dark pink color is a wonderful compliment to the colors of any Christmas table.

Featured Wines of the Week

Les Lauzeraies, 2019, Tavel Rose, France, $22.49/750ml- Black Grenache (50%, softness and high aromatic potential) - Mourvèdre, old Carignans and Syrah (17%, color,spicy aromas and fullness) - Clairette (6%, floral aromas) - Picpoul and Bourboulenc (7%, flower aromas and liveliness) - Cinsault (20%, delicacy) - (15% and structure). Eye: deep pink. Nose: mineral, fruity woodland.

Mouth: flinty, delicate and very fruity. (Source)

Poggio Anima, 2017, Lilith , Primitivo, Italy, $15.59/750ml- Opaque ruby. Smoked meat, dried cherry, cracked pepper, and cassis on the deeply scented nose. Medium to full-bodied with berry cobbler flavors showing a liqueur-like intensity with an anise note coming up with air. The smoke and cassis notes carry through on the finish, which features dusty tannins. A wine of real intensity and concentration given the price point. (Source)

Schuchmann, 2018, Piromani, Saperavi, Georgia, $13.99/750ml- A juicy and fruit forward version of Saperavi with notes of fresh cherry, pomegranate and plum balanced with acidity and a tannin. A pleasant easy drinking version of Saperavi with good structure perfect for a wide range of foods. (Source)

Jed Steele's Shooting Star, Chardonnay, 2018, California, $15.99/750ml- The area around the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara has a maritime climate with lots of morning fog in the summer and cool evenings. We get grapes from Bien Nacido whose vineyards are on benches above the Sisquoc River and from the Goodchild Vineyard, which lies across the river. Both of these vineyards add a tropical fruit aroma, with flavors that are reminiscent of mango and papaya. (Source)

Masi, 2016, Campo Fiorin, Italy, $16.99/750ml- Full bodied, smooth and velvety, but approachable and versatile in its food pairings. Combines simplicity with style, strength and majesty.

This is the original Supervenetian created by Masi in 1964 and internationally recognised as a wine of “stupendous body and complexity”, the prototype for a new category of wines from the Veneto inspired by the Amarone production method (Burton Anderson).

Look: intense ruby red Nose: ripe cherries and sweet spices. Palate: rich, intense cherries and berry fruit; good length and soft tannins. (Source)

Buy three or more bottles of wine get 10 % off.

"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices."

New and Returning Products

Big Lake BA Vanilla Dark Star, $5.89/16oz - A barrel aged breakfast stout made with coffee, cocoa, oats, and vanilla bean. (Source)

Big Lake Red Velvet, $4.89/16oz - A Malty yet balanced Imperial Red Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels. (Source)

Black Rocks Raevn Black, $2.19/12oz - Light dark chocolate, roasty, easy drinking lager. (Source)

Dogfish Head Sun-Day Feels, $2.79/12oz - Ale brewed with Viognier grape juice, peaches, blood oranges, lemon, oranges, and lime. (Source)

Goose Island Guave Squad, $1.69/12oz - IPA - American

Three's Bad Wallpaper, $4.89/16oz - Guava, Resin, Citrus Pith, Smooth, Zest. Hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Motueka. (Source)

Three's Here Ya Go, $4.39/16oz - Juicy, Apricot, Citrus Zest, Pine, Dry. (Source)

Three's Logical Conclusion, $4.89/16oz - Ripe Peach, Gushers™, Fluffy Wheat, Coniferous, White Minerals. Hopped with Citra, Simcoe & Mosaic. (Source)

Three's Vliet, $4.39/16oz - Clean, Sweet Hay, Herbal Hops, Verdant. (Source)

Victory Cosmic Connections, $2.59/12oz - Sour New England-Style DIPA.

The connection between Victory and Sixpoint continues as we evolve our collaborative sour new England-style DIPA to cosmic heights. This time, our brewers selected CTZ, Idaho 7 and Strata hops to create a flavor that's outta this world. (Source)

Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!