Every month you’ll get two bottles of wine picked by the Dedalus tasting panel.  For Club 25, we’re on the lookout for cool, distinct wines that will give you great bang for the buck.  We’re constantly tasting wines from up-and-coming regions, wines made from interesting grapes, and by interesting people – you’ll always have something delicious and different to share with your friends.  Many of these are wines you might never try, but we think you should.

All of our club wines come with a Dedalus Smart Sheet.  When you reach for a bottle of wine, you’ll know a bit about what makes it special, and why we think you’ll enjoy it.

Getting your Club 25 wines is easy. They’re ready for you to pick up by the 10th of each month.  We’ll send you an e-mail reminder and have them waiting by the door.

September through April – usually two reds each month
May through August – usually two whites each month

Join Club 25 and for $25/month and get:
• 10% discount on ANY purchase at the Dedalus Wine Shop
• 10% discount on any Dedalus Class
• 15% discount on all Club 25 wine case purchases

Club 65 wines are stampede wines – cult bottling, limited allocation, small production, incredible press – you’ve heard all the catch phrases.  Join Club 65 and each month we’ll hunt down two bottles of wine sure to raise eyebrows.

Though the majority of Club 65 wines will be red, the occasional white, sparkling or dessert wine might find its way into the club.

All of our club wines come with a Smart Sheet.  When you reach for a bottle of wine, you’ll know a bit about what makes it special, and why it made the Club 65 cut.

Getting your Club 65 wines is easy.  They’re ready for you to pick up by the 10th of each month.  We’ll send you an e-mail reminder and have them waiting by the door.

Wines are available for pick-up at the shop each month by the 10th.

For $65/month, Club 65 members receive:
• 10% discount on ANY purchase at the Dedalus Wine Shop
• First dibs on wine allocations
• Special invitations to Dedalus Wine Dinners
• Purchase a 12 month subscription and get a free Dedalus class

Les Jumeaux Chardonnay and Inacayal Torrontes.

Mas Carlot Costières de Nîmes, Rosé, 2009

About the Wine: I believe that there are two types of people when it comes to rosé.  There are the passionate rosé lovers, the pioneers, the posse (we got your back, rosé!)  And then there are the folks who we haven’t converted yet.  So this is our attempt to recruit more troops to the pink wine camp!  As warm weather rolls in, you can find no better wine to drink than a refreshing rosé.

The Mas Carlot is made from a blend of Grenache and Syrah.  It displays red summer fruits like watermelon and wild strawberry with notes of wild flowers.  It has crisp, tart acidity mid-palate and a beautiful lush finish.  It’s a perfect food wine, especially when the thermostat rises.  It’s a cool and lively, dry wine with great body.

Rosé can be made in one of three ways.  A winemaker can use red-skinned grapes and leave the skins in contact with the juice for just a short period of time (the skins are where all the color comes from in red wine) Secondly, a winemaker could use a method called Saignée, or bleeding of the vats.   The pink juice that is removed during this process can be fermented separately to produce Rosé.  Lastly is blending, the simple mixing of red wine with white wine to impart color.  Rosé can range from light pink salmon to deep dark fuchsia, depending on the grapes and wine making technique.  Rosé should not be associated with “that other pink wine”   White Zinfandel.  No, our version is the real deal.

Food Pairings: Your options are limitless!  Not only is rosé lovely to sip on its own, but it makes a great partner to anything you feel like grilling. Try Soft shell crabs on the grill with a homemade remoulade.

Zin 91, Old Vine Zinfandel, California, 2006

About the Wine: This vintage of Zin 91’s Old Vine Zinfandel comes from the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma.  Sonoma County exudes a laid back attitude where wine is made to enjoy with ease.  The Zin 91 mirrors that style, delicious, well-made wine that is fun to drink.  There is some playful rivalry in this area, with its close proximity to the esteemed Napa Valley.  Two great wine producing regions in California with different opinions on who’s “the best”!  Well when it comes to Zinfandel, Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley is one of California’s most prominent strips of land.

The Zin 91 has rich aromas of dark fruits, plums, black cherries, and blueberries.  It flows smoothly onto the palate, giving you hints of burnt sugar and spice.  It is smooth and supple and very drinkable.  The gentleman depicted on the label having a “bright idea” is modeled after Hubert Opici who on his 91st birthday had an Old Vine Zinfandel epiphany.  Remembering an Old Vine vineyard planted in 1891that always produced amazing wines and had been one of his favorite places.  The Opici family, along with winemaker Richard Bruno of Vinum Cellars, brings the magic of this memory to you in each bottle of Zin 91.

Food Pairings: Another great wine for the grill.  Try it with balsamic marinated steak tips, fingerling potates, and grilled ramps.

La Mondianese Grignolino d’Asti 2007, Italy

About the Wine: Located on the hills of Castagnole Monferrato in the province of Asti in Piedmont, this wine is made from 100% Grignolino grapes.  The name Grignolino comes from a local dialect that means “many pips” and indeed, this variety has numerous seeds in each berry, which can impart bitter tannins if extra gentle pressing is not practiced.  The grapes are hand-picked to further ensure the quality of the final product.  Grignolino is a late-season ripener with natural tendencies toward high acidity.   The La Mondianese is grown in sandy soil with lots of sunny exposure and the vines produce very few bunches of grapes.  The focus is on quality, not quantity.

The resulting wine is delicate in style.  Instead of hitting you in the face with big aromas and flavors, it gently seduces you.  It has a beautiful light ruby color in the glass and the aromas of red cherry are soft and gentle.  It stretches nicely onto the palate where you get the mouth-watering acidity and mild tannin.

Food Pairings: The level of acidity makes this a great food wine.  I like it with Grilled Swordfish and oven-roasted tomatoes.

Algairen Garnacha 2006, Spain

About the Wine: This wine comes from producer Pablo Almonacid De La Sierra.  The family owned estate was founded in 1760 and emphasizes the use of indigenous varietals and bio-dynamic farming.  Fermentation and aging in 100% stainless steel assures that the subtle fruit flavors are preserved.  The estate is located in the Carinena region in northern Spain and is one of the oldest protected growing areas in Europe.  It sees a Continental climate, long hot summers, to help produce ripe fruit.  The “cierzo” a cold northerly wind, helps to keep the humidity low.  The Garnacha grape, in general, is quite vigorous and has good wind tolerance.

Garnacha is the most widely planted grape in this region and the vines at the Bodega are 80 years old.  Grape vines can grow for over 120 years. After about 20 years vines start to produce smaller crops, and average yields decrease, leading to more concentrated, intense wines.

The nose on this wine shows ripe blackberry and blueberry with notes of cinnamon.  The palate is all red fruits, cherry, strawberry, candied apple, and red plum.  It is smooth and elegant with a clean finish.

Food Pairings: I like this wine with Paella.  Saffron rice, shrimp, clams, and sausage equal a great match with this medium-bodied red.

Yes, it’s really happening, slowly but surely.  The promise of warm sunny days and green grass has me more than a little giddy.  However, there is a reality to deal with, it ain’t here yet!  So March’s Club 25 wines are designed to warm you from the inside out, until Spring shows up for good.

il Brecciarolo Rosso Piceno Superiore 2006, Italy

About the Wine: Produced by Velenosi Ercole, this red is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese.  The vineyards are located in the Italian region of Marche, which is bordered by Tuscany to the Northwest, Umbria to the West, Abruzzo to the South, and the entire Eastern boundary is formed by the Adriatic Sea.  Two-thirds of the region is covered with hilly terrain intermingled with wide gullies and numerous, albeit short, rivers.

This wine shows a dark garnet color and aromas of toasted spices & dark fruit curl out of the glass.  In the mouth dense fruity flavors of blackberry, prune, and black cherry are balanced with fine tannins and cleansing acidity.  It is smooth, lush, and rich.

Food Pairings: Cooking in Marche comes out of a deeply rooted peasant tradition and pretty much every town and/or village has a food or wine festival throughout the year.  From snails, frogs, and mussels to wild boar & quail, pecorino cheese and polenta, and of course truffles, there is always something good eat. This wine would be brilliant with a creamy polenta with pecorino cheese and a wild mushroom and lamb ragu.  Wow, I just made myself hungry!

De Martino Reserva 2008 ‘347 Vineyards’, Chile

About the Wine: We actually chose this wine prior to the earthquake in Chile and are very glad we did.  The country’s wine industry was hit hard, with some wineries nearly leveled.  We hope that the economy in Chile gets the support they need and we are happy that we can share this fantastic wine with you.

From the central Maipo region, this 100% Carmenere wine is composed of carefully selected fruit from many different valleys.  The resulting wine is multi-dimensional and complex.

The Carmenere grape was originally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France.  Imported by Chilean growers in the 19th century, Chile now produces the vast majority of Carmenere wines available today.  Though often used as a blending grape, bottlings of pure Carmenere, when produced at optimal ripeness, have a unique character all their own.  The name Carmenere originates from the French word for crimson, which is the color the leaves on the vine turn just before they fall in Autumn.  It is related to the Cabernet family of grapes and may be a distant relative of Merlot.  In fact though different, Merlot and Carménère were often confused.

The De Martino Carmenere has lovely, meaty and savory aromas with notes of dark red fruits and hints of smokey spice.  The palate offers more of that smoked meat with accents of cassis, raspberry, tobacco, and vanilla.  It is full-bodied with a nice level of acidity to keep it from being overly rich or jammy.

Food Pairings: I have two pairing suggestions for this wine.  For the weekend, braised rabbit and garlicky kale.  For the mid-week meal, grilled sausages with sauteed peppers and onions.

Trinitas Old Vine Cuvee 2006

Contra Costa County, California

About the Wine:

Trinitas was founded by Tim and Steph Busch and is dedicated to bringing historical California vineyards & varietals to the forefront of winemaking.  Located in Oakley, California, in the northeast corner of the Contra Costa County, the vineyards are from early Italian and Portuguese farmers who settled in the area.  The average age of the vines is 90 years old, but some vines are as much as 120 years old.  Sandy soil and ample sun & heat mean low yields and high concentration.  The resulting wine has deep richness and a hearty 14.9% alcohol.

This red is a blend of 54% Zinfandel, 32% Carignane, 7% Mataro, 5% Petite Sirah, and 1% each Alicante Bouschet & Black Malvasia.  It has a deep garnet color in the glass.  The aroma is of raspberries, black pepper, vanilla, and cardamom.  The palate is very fruit forward, like a mouthful of berries with a peppery bite and toffee hints.  The layers of flavor are deep and comforting.

Food Pairings:

I can think of no better pairing for this wine than a large hunk of Willow Hill Farm Vaquero Blue Cheese, a crisp baguette, and my favorite movie.

Vinosia Aglianico 2008

Irpinia, Campania, Italy DOC

About the Wine: Irpinia is a region of the Apennine Mountains around Avellino, a town in Campania about 40 km east of Naples.  Campania boasts one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines and an abundance of agriculture.  The area was colonized by the Ancient Greeks; Campania itself is derived from Latin, as the Romans knew the region as Campania felix which translates into English as “fertile countryside”.

The grapes are harvested in late October to early November, sometimes picked in the snow.  The wine benefits from the late autumn chill which conserves its fragrant perfume and its naturally high acidity that make it such a food friendly wine.

This wine has a violet tinged red color in the glass.  It exudes aromas of sweet vanilla and berries.  In the mouth you get notes of black cherry, blackberry, and chocolate cake that has been studded with sugared violets.  It is medium bodied with moderate tannins and great acidity that rounds it out nicely.

Food Pairings:

Campania produces a large amount of tomatoes, cheese, salami, and sausage.  So I would say why not go for a homemade pizza starring those very ingredients.  Or try Spaghetti with sausage, rapini, and red sauce.  This region is well known for both Pizza and Spaghetti, and rapini (or broccoli rabe) is often used in this cuisine.

La Puerta Reserva Bonarda, Famatina Valley, La Rioja, Argentina 2006

About the Wine:  Around the time that the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians were sharing an Autumn feast in 1621, workers  in Argentina were already harvesting grapes and in fact had been doing so for almost 75 years.  If only the Pilgrims had swung by South America first, they could have picked up some very food friendly wines to share and this 100% Bonarda would have made a nice addition.
Bonarda is a red Piedmont grape that is now somewhat rare in its native Italy.  It was the most widely planted grape in Argentina until it was recently surpassed by Malbec.
This wine shows an intense, nearly black color with deep purple hues.  It displays an attractive nose of plums, spice, and damp earth.  Medium-full bodied, this wine has ample ripe black fruit, savory flavors, good depth, and soft tannins that lead to a long and elegant finish.

Food Pairings: This wine is no pushover and would do well paired with equally bold flavors like game meats, roasted garlic & vegetables, and a wild mushroom & gruyere bread pudding; for the non-traditional Thanksgiving.

Masserie Pisari Salento Rosso, Apuglia, Italy 2006

About the Wine:  From the Puglia region of Italy, this is a 100% Negroamaro, which means black/bitter in Italian.  The vines that produce this wine are between 15-50 years old, the grapes first macerate on the skins for approximately 12 days in temperature-controlled stainless –steel tanks and then mature in steel for another 10 months.  Only about1500 cases are produced annually.
In the glass you immediately notice a vibrant ruby color to the wine.  Ripe red fruit and surprising hints of citrus & herbs are displayed on the nose.  On the palate you get licorice, roasted plum, cedar, and mocha toned fruit.  It has a rich and slightly rustic mouth-feel.   The balance of soft tannins and bright acid give definition and prevent the wine from becoming “jammy” or over-ripe.

Food Pairings:  This is a well balanced glass of wine that makes it an ideal partner for roast turkey, stuffing, gravy and the 10 to 12 other side dishes that make up a traditional Thanksgiving table.  Or better yet, enjoy it the next day with a big, fat leftover turkey sandwich, (it makes a comforting end to a crazy “Black Friday”.)

Alpatico Pinot Noir, Patagonia Argentina, 2007

About the Wine: First we have the Alpataco Pinot Noir from Argentina. Located at the Neuquén River Valley, the hand picked grapes come from a climate of dry sunny days, cool nights, & high winds. This and the sandy & rocky soils lend a remarkable freshness and richness of flavors from the grapes. It has a dark color in the glass, not what you would expect from a Pinot Noir. Aromas of raspberry, currants and strawberries lead you in. On the palate you get a youthful, even cherry across the surface with hints at mushrooms and strawberries. It remains dry with ultrafine tannins and a well defined mouth feel. Allowing even a few minutes in the glass lets this wine open up to you further and red fruit flavors become more pronounced.

Food Pairings: Lovely with Roasted Pork Loin with sautéed apples and onions.

Andre Brunel, Grenache, Vin de Pays du Vaucluse, 2007

About the Wine: Andre Brunel is best known for his Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux. His grandfather was a winemaker, as was his father. The family has lived in the Rhone since the 1700’s. All of the care & attention that Brunel has for his CdP is well translated into his table wines as well. It is a fine example of when you get wine from a great winemaker, even a lower tier wine, you will still get an incredible product. This 100% Grenache is a Vin de Pays from the Vaulcluse area in the Rhone in southern France. The land here is rich with truffles, lavender, honey, and of course, wine. Nature here is strong and respected by its inhabitants and that comes across in the wines. This wine really grabs you by the nostrils. It has a mossy, earthy, mulberry aroma that invites you in further. On the palate juicy dark fruits, like black raspberry, plum, and blueberry are well balanced by a meaty quality that gives real complexity to this wine. This wine is full of rustic charm that really transports you.

Food Pairings: Imagine yourself in a French Country Inn by a stone fire place where you will be served roasted local sausages, creamy aged cheese, and rustic bread with this wine. You can have that feeling in your very own home. Be sure to throw on some classical music to set the mood.