The 2023 Newsletter -Volume 1 · Spring Edition- is Here

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Wines of the Month

WHITE

2021 Château les Sept Chênes Entre-deux-Mers Bordeaux, France · $14.99 | Sale $11.99

This bright and vivacious white is produced by the Landie vineyards located in the beautiful, hilly Entre-deux-Mers region. The château name comes from a local legend. It is said that, at the place of the present vineyard, there used to be a beautiful oak grove of which only seven oak trees remain, bordering the actual property. Those trees are protected and seen as holy. The wines for les Sept Chênes are crafted in honor of the land. Classically made at incredible prices, the delicious Bordeaux Blanc is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Muscadelle. Aromas and flavors of grapefruit, lemon, and melon are delivered on a fresh and lively palate. Pretty much exactly what you want from a zesty, everyday white!

RED

2019 Mocali "Fossetti" Toscana

Toscana, Italy · $18.99 | Sale $14.99

The Mocali estate has been owned by the Ciacci family since the 1950s. Their gorgeous Tuscan vineyards are farmed sustainably to promote the harmony of man and nature. The result is delicious, ripe, and balanced wines available at prices that are incredibly low when compared to those of the more established producers of Montalcino. This small estate is sheltered by pine and oak forests and also houses two olive groves. Fossetti is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Canaiolo - grown in marly limestone soils. Medium-bodied and earthy with notes of red and black fruit. Any fan of Italian wine will be very pleased with this exceptional deal.

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The Exceptional Beaujolais of Yann Bertrand

In less than a decade, Yann Bertrand has established himself as one of the most sought after producers of the Beaujolais… and he's only in his early 30s. His wines have reached cult status and are highly allocated. He makes about a dozen cuvées in small quantities. All of his vineyards are organically farmed with no added sulphites. These are the true definition of natural wines. There is great purity of fruit while still accurately reflecting their terroir. We were fortunate to get a small allocation this year to offer up for your delectation. Because these are true natural wines there may be a slight effervescence when first opened. This should dissipate after 30 minutes, so leave time for a mild aeration.

2021 Saint Amour "Les Bambins"

Beaujolais, France · $36.99

Crafted from the single vineyard -La Côte de Besset- 40 to 70-year-old bush-trained vines. The blue stones from mica schist and sandstone scree in this parcel lend this particular bottle a robust and spicy dimension. Cold carbonic maceration and seven months in used barrels. A charming wine, more of the huntsman side of Gamay.

2021 Juliénas

Beaujolais, France · $37.99

From the most northern Cru in Beaujolais, which piqued Yann’s interest as it is a very different terroir from his own - sandstone, schist, and white clay soils - plus 10% Chardonnay from the same vineyard, co-fermented! Cold carbo followed by seven to nine months in used barrels and Demi-Muids. Lavender-driven, perfumed, and silky - a worthy expression of this Cru.

2020 Fleurie Vieilles Vignes

Beaujolais, France · $44.99

From a two-hectare plot of 60+-year-old vines grown in pink granite sand soils called "Arène Granitique." Carbonic maceration with native yeast and no other additions. Over a year of ageing in used 225-liter barrels that are at least four years old. No fining or filtering. Rose hips and strawberry aromas, closing with a mild note of cured meat. Red fruit, sweet herbs, and a mineral vein run through to the long finish.

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Recap: 31st Annual Wine Festival of Colorado Springs

Featuring the Wines of Northern Italy | March 2-4, 2023

winefestivalofcoloradosprings.com

What a wonderful Wine Festival of Colorado Springs we had this year, and with such a special group of winemakers and esteemed guests from Piemonte and Friuli! In honor of their visit, we are pleased to showcase their incredible wines and relive some of the excitement of the festival events and its philanthropic mission to support the arts in Colorado Springs.

2021 Ronchi di Cialla Friulano

Friuli, Italy · $24.99

Ronchi di Cialla is a historical Friulian estate, and it is strictly a family business. Their philosophy has always been to work only with indigenous varieties such as Ribolla, Refosco, Schioppettino, Verduzzo, Picolit, and of course Friulano, that in the Cru' Cialla finds the perfect environment. After 40 years, Ronchi di Cialla has a well-established reputation on the market as a producer of some of the finest age-worthy wines of Friuli. The estate continually uses natural practices and farming with minimal interference where possible to stay bio-dynamically diverse. The vines for their Friulano are over 40 years old, all grown organically. After harvest, the wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged for three months on the fine lees. This is a gorgeous example of the Friulano grape with bright, clean fruit flavors of pear and candied lemon complimented by notes fresh walnuts. The wine is full bodied but still fresh with a dense palate and lots of layers flavor that lead into a long, quenching finish.

2021 Petrussa S. Elena Chardonnay

Friuli, Italy · $28.99

In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, near the Italian border with Slovenia, nestled in the gentle hills encircling the Judrio river valley to form a natural amphitheater, is a beautiful landscape ideal for grape vines. It is in this idyllic setting we find the Vigna Petrussa vineyards. It has been highly rated and lauded as "one of Italy's best and most under the radar estates" by Vinous and Ian D'Agata, rating all of their wines over 90 points in 2020. Hilde Petrussa is the head winemaker, following her mother's retirement. She is considered one of Italy's best winemakers, paving the way for future generations of female winemakers. Her Chardonnay is full of balance and depth. Malolactic fermentation and maceration with skins in stainless steel barrels extract more flavor from the grapes. The result is a mannered, expressive, balanced, and strong-bodied wine with a clearly-expressed acidity and a long-lasting aftertaste. It has the aromas of unripe apples, white melons, cream, yogurt, toast, toasted hazelnuts, and citrus fruits.

2020 Petrussa Schioppettino di Prepotto

Friuli, Italy · $41.99

Schioppettino, also called "Ribolla Nera" has been around since the 13th century in Friuli. Saved from the brink of extinction, it came back to light in the 1970s. The Prepotto region of Friuli is the most famous area for this red varietal. Peppery, elegant, and fruity, medium-bodied with smooth tannins and bright acidity, this is a graceful wine with lots of depth and concentration.

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ELVIO TINTERO: In 1900, a Frenchman named Pierre Tintero set out for Piedmont in search of work. He found an opportunity to do odd jobs at a small estate where widow Rosina Cortese was struggling to handle all the work herself. Pierre, called “Pietrin” by the locals, quickly became a vital part of the estate and also fell in love with the widow, whom he married two years later. The couple continued to work the vines together and bottled their own Dolcetto for the first time just as war fell in 1914. Today the winery, still run by the Tintero family, holds land in the commune of Mango, the heart of Moscato country, and 20 of the Tinteros' 30 hectares are planted to this grape. They also produce incredibly well priced native varietals such as Arneis and Nebbiolo, highlighted here.

2021 Elvio Tintero Langhe Arneis

Piemonte, Italy · $18.99

Arneis means "little rascal" in the Piemontese dialect. Fermented dry, it retains the gorgeous grape must aroma that typically fades with fermentation, giving us a wine reminiscent of ripe pear and gardenias - a quintessential choice for bright salad courses.

2021 Elvio Tintero Moscato

Piemonte, Italy · $18.99

Have a sip of this delectable nectar - what possibly is there not to love? Who could resist such a heavenly ambrosia, with its scent of kaleidoscopic spring wildflowers, fragrant citrus blossoms, and succulently ripe grapes? It is just sweet enough, but not too sweet, while a razor-crisp acidity and tickling spritz cleanse and stimulate the taste buds with each gulp.

2019 Elvio Tintero Barbaresco

Piemonte, Italy · $35.99

This release marks a breakthrough for Tintero Barbaresco, a wine produced in tiny batches each year from the famous crus Balluri and Bricco di Neive. It is a Barbaresco you can dig into right away, full of sumptuous dark berry fruit with spicy hints of clove and a strikingly elegant finish. No cellaring necessary, but a good decant will go a long way.

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2021 Ronco delle Betulle Pinot Grigio

Friuli, Italy · $24.99

Three generations of the Adami family have worked together to transform Ronco delle Betulle from a bulk juice producer to one of the top organic wineries in Italy. Recently, the winery has also created a natural process to filter the water used in their winery, which is then used for irrigation. They are the first winery in Friuli-Venezia Giulia to have implemented this process. While the family makes many beautiful reds, their whites are what really speak of their land. The Pinot Grigio is a touch coppery in color, due to a short maceration. The aromas are extremely elegant, with pleasant notes of yellow flowers, hints of plum and a touch of dried fruit. It is fresh and rich on the palate with a marked sapidity. This is an incredible Pinot Grigio to pair with fish and chicken dishes.

2019 Poderi Colla Barbaresco Roncaglie

Piemonte, Italy · $71.99

The land of Roncaglie has been producing grapes since 1693 when everything in this area was one big vineyard. In 1992, the Colla family bought the best parcels of this historical site and began to produce top tier Nebbiolo. Founder Beppe Colla actually farmed every single cru or MGA site known before picking what he considered to be the best to purchase… and he was correct! The 2019 vintage shows exuberant and complex aromas of blackberries, spices, brush, rosehip and violet. A "classic" Barbaresco with the elegance of the Roncaglie cru: rich, enveloping and intense in the mouth. There is no shortage of character with a long finish of velvety tannins, and great ageing potential. It is a great wine for any part of the meal, which goes well with red meats and wild game. "Roncaglie is one of Barbaresco's best vineyard districts and Poderi Colla owns most of it." - Ian D’Agata · 95 points | Wine Enthusiast

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Coaltrain Staff Faves!

2021 Quinta da Lixa Pouco-Comum Alvarinho

Minho, Portugal · $15.99 | Sale $11.99

The Meireles family began their journey in 1986, selling juice from their property for bulk wine. As soon as they realized the quality of their fruit and how highly sought after it was, they created their own bottlings, and the winery of Quinta da Lixa was born. In 1994, they modernized and expanded so their product could find its way to markets outside of Portugal. The Meireles family believes that "wine brings in its essence what its mentor carries in his soul." While their history lies with Vinho Verde wines, this Alvarinho is a superstar! Notes of peach, lemon, and grapefruit follow a bouquet of white floral and hints of sweet herbal tea. Fruit and floral notes dance on a bright, acidic stage, creating a vibrant, food-friendly glass to pair with almost everything!

2021 Etz Grüner Veltliner

Etsdorf am Kamp, Austria | 1L bottle

$19.99 | Sale $17.99

A few years ago, our search for a quaffable, delicious, well-made liter of Grüner Veltliner led us to two brothers, Franz and Karl, the fourth generation to run their family wine estate in the small village of Walkersdorf. Established in 1898, the Franz Etz estate lies just southeast of the famous wine town of Langenlois and includes parcels of some of the most important vineyards of the region such as Gaisberg, Offenberg, Kammerner Hund, Galgenberg, and Wechselberg. With nearly 40 hectares of vineyard in production, the Etz estate prides itself on synthesizing the modern and the traditional. Their goal is to offer wines that show themselves from vineyard to bottle entirely in harmony with nature and the environment. The Etz brothers place their emphasis on a peppery and spicy style of Grüner Veltliner, exclusively fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is crisp, dry, and refreshing. Look for aromas of green apple, grapefruit, melon, and snap pea with the spicy white pepper finish for which Grüner Veltliner is so famous.

2012 Can Feixes Negre Tradició