Exclusive offer: 5/20/2022 – Patio Pounders
This offer is only available from Friday, May 20th at 3:00 pm to Sunday, May 22nd at 3:00 pm. If the offer is still on, you’ll see the order form at the bottom of this page. That form is sent to Solo Vino Wine Shop in St. Paul, MN for final fulfillment (shipping is available).
And don’t miss out on our May 2022 “Four on the Fourth” box we built in coordination with Solo Vino. Check it out.
Do you have friends that would be interested in our Friday Exclusive Offers? Forward this page to them and tell them to sign up for our newsletter!
“Patio”
Noun. A patio (/ˈpætioʊ/,[1] from Spanish: patio [ˈpatjo]; “courtyard”, “forecourt”, “yard”, “little garden”) is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved.[2] In Australia the term is expanded to include roofed structures such as a veranda, which provides protection from sun and rain.[3]
“Pounder”
Pounder is a surname and may refer to Rafton Pounder (1933-1991), an Irish politician.
A rice pounder is an agricultural tool, a simple machine that is commonly used in Southeast Asia to dehull rice or to turn rice into rice flour.
Pounder is an EP from Nuclear Assault, released on June 1, 2015.[4] It is the band’s first EP since 1988’s Good Times, Bad Times, and their first studio recording since 2005’s Third World Genocide.
“Patio Pounder”
A wonderful glass of wine often served chilled, that is immensely affordable and as the cool kids would say, “crushable.” Often it is consumed faster than the drinker may expect, only to be followed by another round.
It is proper form to top off your guest’s cups before topping yours.
Multiple bottles are essential, nearby and at the ready. Bonus points if you have them in a fridge in the garage.
There is debate in the patio-pounding community if the outdoor temperature must be a minimum of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but the modern consensus favors ignoring this old-fashioned rule. The only requirement for 21st-century patio pounding is the wine is cold and consumed outside.
THE WINES
*** Note: the box wine I teased out in the email turned out to not be available in the quantity that we needed, and I forgot to adjust the email. My fault, my apologies. It will be available in July and we will do a feature on it then. ***
Mary Taylor Côtes de Gascogne “Oliver Gessler”
Mary Taylor is kicking ass. She’s a young and confident wine importer that immediately got national press for her ability to find diamonds in the rough throughout Europe, then offer the wines at amazingly affordable prices. We were lucky enough to do a live event with her last summer, and it was one of the highlights of the year.
This wine is from the Côtes de Gascogne, located in Southwestern France where grapes are also grown for Cognac production. The grapes are Columbard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng. The 2020 vintage is out of this world, bringing freshness, lift, energy, and verve to the glass. If you love the crispness of a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll go gaga for this wine.
More info on this particular wine and producer.
Evolúció Dry Furmint
In Hungary, the rarely experienced grape Furmint grows to perfection. Often used in stunning (and expensive) dessert wines, it’s also harvested and fermented dry to make crisp and clean glasses of wine that fit the term “patio pounder.”
This wine flies under the radar completely. If you have wine friends over for a glass, this is a great bottle to pull out. “What is this?” will be the most common question you’ll hear, as they pour themselves yet another glass.
Medium-bodied with a load of pear, green apple, peach, and mineral aromas. It’s a noseful of happiness, with layers of complexity rarely found at this price point. The mouthfeel is elegant and satisfying, with a long and clean finish.
The perfect pairing? I’d lean toward goat cheese, anything involving an abundance of herbs, and anything involving pesto.
Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet
Picpoul literally means “lip stinger,” so you know already what you’re getting into here. The region of Picpoul de Pinet is located a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea, just down the coast from Montpellier. It’s where the famous oysters of the region are grown and harvested, so you can imagine what I’d suggest for food pairing.
There are many great Picpouls in the market, and it’s a regular addition to our summertime drinking. But what sets this one apart is clean farming. While most Picpouls are produced en masse in order to drive the costs down and compete only on price, this one is all about the quality. 100 acres farmed with organic and biodynamic principles, along with careful winemaking, make this stand out.
Aromas of lime and apple, with a bit of sea breeze and oyster shell (seriously). This particular Picpoul, while invoking its lip-stinging translation, has a touch more roundness and far more detail and layers than all others on the market today.
Learn more about Picpoul de Pinet.
Calcu Gran Reserva Rosé of Malbec, Valle del Colchagua
Chilean wines are starting to have their moment, finally. Particular importers, following the model of legendary European wine importers such as Kermit Lynch and Terry Theise, are specializing in Chilean wines and bringing top-quality smaller producers to America.
Calcu is one of our favorites. They were one of the first wineries to pass the rigorous Chilean Code of Sustainability, their wines are always predictably above grade, and their pricing is more than fair.
But one wine, every year, stands out. Their Rosé!
Made with a blend of 75% Malbec and 25% Petite Verdot, it brings all the juicy strawberry and raspberry aromas you want, with a persistent and dry finish. In terms of rosé to enjoy with grilled food, this is clearly a winner. Produced close to the coast, where the cold air of the ocean keeps acidity intact in the grapes, this wine showcases just how good Chilean wine can be.
Poderi Dal Nespoli, Sangiovese-Merlot “Nespolino”
This is from Emilia-Romagna, the breadbasket and heart of Italian food. Wines from this region are rarely considered blockbusters or age-worthy, and as a result, the region specializes in the kind of wine this is: chill-it-down red that is totally gulpable and perfect with a tray of charcuterie.
The chill-it-down part is the key. It snaps the acidity into place and makes for a thirst-quenching glass of red wine, perfect for the hot and humid days ahead.
Aromas of cherry and violet, bursting with a cranberry edge. The palate is light to medium-bodied, fresh and bouncy. If you have traveled to Italy and been amazed at the quality of a cheap glass of wine in a bistro, then you understand what I’m talking about.
Burgers and brats on the grill are perfect for this. Turn on the radio and listen to a Twins game while you have a glass of this in hand, and life is good.
BUYING ADVICE
This week it’s pretty simple. Buy them all! 🙂
All joking aside, our goal this week was to find five wines that are affordable and over-deliver on quality without getting too geeky. Sometimes wine gets overthought. Sometimes too much Somm-jargon is used. (I was at a casual event last week when a fellow sommelier, when asked what she thought about a glass of wine, said “Medium-plus on body but the structure was symbolic of the region that vintage.” I still don’t actually know if she liked it.)
Wine is here to bring us pleasure. And when you combine the seeking of pleasure with relaxation on the patio, the magic multiplies.
Enjoy your wines!
5/22/22, 3 pm: This offer is closed. Thank you for your interest.
