February 28th Wine Tasting – Friday

Noshies continues its backpacking trip through the Europe, bringing some of the best wines for the Palouse to taste and buy. This week, we continue our expedition through France, sampling the delicious white varietals that are offered throughout the old country. These delicious white wines are perfect for pairing with food or simply just to drink by themselves.

First, from the Bordeaux region, the Chateau de Parenchere Bordeaux Blanc Sec. This medium bodied white blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle bears a pale gold with jubilant flashes of bright green in color in the glass. On the nose you’ll find light aromas of grass, hay and bright citrus fruits with flavors of waxy, honeyed lemons. This wine is perfect to be paired with light, citrusy seafood.

Turning south from the Atlantic coast, we head toward the Mediterranean and visit the Rhone Valley. From here, the 2018 Famille Perrin Réserve Côtes du Rhône Blanc is featured. This white blend consists of Grenache Blanc, Viognier (pronounced Vee-OWN-Yay), Roussanne and Marsanne. This is a full bodied, heady brew of honeysuckle, floral and perfume aromas with soft sweet spritzes of lime and white pepper on the palate. This wine is the MUST HAVE for oily Mediterranean dishes.

Finally, beachside on the Med, the Languedoc-Rousillon Region on the French Riviera is the final stop in the French tour. Here, the 2018 La Chapelle du Bastion Picpoul de Pinet is the featured wine. Not a well known grape, the Picpoul (Pick-Pool) grape literally translates to “stings-the-lips”, as it is known for it’s high and bright acidity. Tart flavors of fresh squeezed lemons and limes with some shell stone minerality make this a perfect wine to enjoy ice cold on a hot day.

All these wines are fantastic to drink and all are being poured for your tasting pleasure at Noshies. This Friday, come enjoy the best white wines that France has to offer that are both delicious to sip and inexpensive to buy, only at Noshies.

February 20th Wine Tasting – France

Noshies goes international! This week, we here at the best wine shop on the Palouse, bring the most famous reds from the most famous wine regions of France. These fantastic wines highlight their regions with true old-world style and flavors, and what is even better is that all these wines are under $20.00!

Starting off in northern France, the Burgundy region produces the delicate and famous Pinot Noir. The 2017 Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Pinot Noir is one of these gems, with its delicate ruby color and soft aromas of white flowers, and bing cherries. The flavors bear notes of honeyed black fruit and subtle toastiness.

Next, we will visit the temperate region by the sea, Bordeaux. Here, you’ll sample a great red powerhouse from the right bank, the 2016 Chateau de Micouleau Merlot. This full bodied red boasts some powerful raspberry, red currant and earthy mint flavors with aromas of minerality, toasted oak and darker plum. Don’t let the movie Sideways fool you, you shouldn’t pass on this merlot.

Finally, to the beautiful Rhone region, where the warm suns of the French Riviera mix with the cool air of the Mediterranean Sea, where syrah is king. The Cotes du Rhone Reserve is a delicate mix of syrah, grenache and just a little splash of mourvèdre. It bears a fleshy mix of mulberry and cassis flavors with soft tannins and mineral stony finish, with just a hint of spice.

The Old World is the cradle of fine wine, and these reds are not to be missed. All of them are easy to drink by themselves or with a meal, and on top of that they are easy to buy. Inexpensive and of premium quality, these wines should not be missed!

February 13th Wine Tasting – Sparkling Wines for Valentines

What better way to toast an evening of romance both young and old than with the bright crispness of a freshly opened bottle of champagne and sparkling wine? Here at Noshies, we will be sampling some fantastic and affordable bottles of bubbly that will help make your Valentine’s Day that much more special.

For those of you who prefer having their dessert in a bottle and love a good sweet wine, then the Lovo Moscato Giallo is for you! This delicious bottle of moscato hails from Italy and boasts a beautiful yellow gold in color with sweet notes of sweet perfume, blossoms and honeyed peaches. This sweet wine will go great by itself to cap off a wonderful dinner.

For those of you who prefer the more delectable fruit with your bubbles, then look no further than the Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose. Be it by a fireplace on a bearskin rug or a couch and coffee table, pairing a bottle of pink champagne with chocolate covered strawberries is the hallmark channel of Valentine’s Day. This wine comes from Burgundy, made from delicate Pinot Noir and has flavors of soft red raspberries and red currant.

For those of you who just want to enjoy good wine for what it is, a delightful step in the right direction, then The Diver Sparkling Brut is what you need. Nay, what you deserve. This bottle of sparkling comes from California and is the perfect bottle for those who just want to enjoy a great bottle with expectations, save for delicious bubbles and questionable decisions. This wine boasts flavors of buttered green apple, jasmine and soft bubbles to round out its delicate peach-like juiciness.

Love is in the air in Pullman, and Noshies is serving the best for romance. What makes this even better is that every one of these fantastic bottles are less than $20.00. Lovers, drink up and enjoy and happy Valentine’s Day!

February 6th Tasting – Efeste Wines

This week we’re bringing the sleek and classy Efeste wines to Noshies and pouring some of the best Washington has to offer. Efeste brings a healthy slice of modern winemaking and sophisticated flavors usually found at the coolest wine bars in the most secret tucked away corners of the bigger cities. This week we’re pouring three of their very best.

Efeste Evergreen conjures images of, well, evergreen trees and brilliant green vineyards on a cloudy day in Germany. But more importantly, it delivers crisp and cool flavors that are enjoyed chilled to perfection on mild starlit evenings on a balcony over the water paired with some goat cheese and appetizers made with balsamic vinegar. Not your normal sweet Riesling, this wine boasts a dry acidity mixed with chalky minerality and a bright mouthwatering lime zest on the finish. On the nose you’ll find pleasant aromas of peach nectar, floral perfumes and citrus oils.

Next, we have the appropriately named Efeste Feral. This wild huntress of a wine should be enjoyed around a bonfire on a tree lined beach on Puget Sound with your best friends at dusk, paired with oysters on the half shell and fresh squeezed lemon. It has aromas of wet stone, ocean wind and citrusy herbs. It boasts flavors of tart lemon and lime, sea-soaked minerals, with just a hint of tropical sweetness.

What would an evening of classiness be without the silky decadence of a bold and smooth red wine? So, to finish off, Efeste Final-Final is the perfect wine to have once “Last Call” is heard. A sinful blend of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah suggests the word, “Luscious”. Jammy black fruit, juicy blueberry and plenty of toasted oak round this blend to a sultry wine. Perfect for the one who always says, “Just one more glass….”.

January 30 Tasting – The Plains of Spain

This week we are bringing the plains of Spain to your glasses. Noshies is now featuring some of the best inexpensive Spanish varietals this week!

Borsao hails from the northeastern region of Spain. A delightful blend of Macabeo and Chardonnay produces subtle flavors of lime, pineapple and honeyed citrus fruits. The French oak it was aged in mellows the acidity down to a soft potion of zest and vanilla. I would pair it perfectly with a white fish, and some meaty rice with lime.

The Flaco Tempranillo bears notes of luscious, randy, dark red fruit with mysterious Spanish spices bring a heady brew of spicy evenings and bad decisions. But what great adventure was ever made with good decisions? Best drunk with heavily marinated street tacos, pork and a swarthy handsome swordsman named Inigo Montoya.

Finally, the staple of the Spainsh country side enjoyed by Dons and the peasants alike. The Xiloca Garnacha is the ruby gem of wine that brings what Spanish wine should taste like. Sultry whispers of blackberries, black coffee and mocha round this “best-date-you’ve-ever-had-in-a-bottle” to something perfect and saucy. This should be enjoyed with a spicy plate of peppered fillets and, if you can swing it, a black stallion. Because, you know, horses are cool. Especially with wine.

What makes this trio of Spanish sauciness all the more better is that all of these delicious bottles are under $13.00. Easy on the pallet. Easy on the wallet. And everyone of them pairs with tacos. You cannot possibly go wrong.

December 26 Tasting – Holiday Sparkling Wines

We don’t even have one week left before 2020! What better way to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new decade than with something non-vintage, sparkling and easy on the budget? We will be sharing three available options for our Thursday tasting here at Noshies before New Years Day!

Spanish Cava: Bonoval: “Medium straw color. Aromas and flavors of spiced apple and pear, hint of band-aid, and straw with a supple, vibrant, finely carbonated, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless, appealing, medium-long finish with notes of lemon and tangerine curd, nectarine skin, and minerals with no oak flavor. A rock solid cava with bright acidity and tangy fruit.” ~ tastings.com https://www.tastings.com/Wine-Review/Bonaval-2015-Brut-Cava-DO-Spain-11-18-2017.aspx

Italian Spumante Rose: Rive Della Chiesa: The dead of winter is my favorite time to harken spring with a rose wine. “A delicious, pink sparkler from northern Italy. Delicate frizzante bubbles with a sigh of pink and a delicate nose of cherry roses and the kiss of summer strawberry. ” – toastwines.com https://www.toastwines.com/products/10888195/rive-della-chiesa-frizzanti-rose

Italian Moscato: Lovo Moscato Giallo: “Fior d’Arancio (“orange blossom”) is one of the world’s unique wines: a very rare clone of Moscato that derives its unmistakable citrus scent from the orange groves growing nearby. Wow! A sparkling wine with refined bubbles and a beautiful, pearlescent color, Fior d’Arancio is perfect as an aperitif or to accompany a delightful dessert. Produced by Salvatore Lovo, a true hands-in- the-dirt winemaker, there are very few estates in Italy that can produce this DOCG wine, so our friendly advice is to enjoy it while we can.” ~ http://www.augustwinegroup.com/wines/wine/fior-darancio-docg

December 12 – Oakshire Fruit Farm Wild Ale and Oregon Pinot Noir Wine

Oakshire Brewing out of Eugene, Oregon has released their latest in their Fruit Farm Vintage Series. Oakshire has inspired us to step outside of our tasting night routine and into the wild world of beer! They bring us two barrel aged wild ales with additions of fruit. Oakshire describes their Fruit Farm with Pinot Noir grapes as jammy with complex tannic structure and drying acidity. That’s a must try right there!

Just in case you miss your wine we will be sampling a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir by Roco Winery. The wine maker promises us “several lush and complex aromatics fill the nose upon inhale including rose petals, ripe loganberry, a rich vanilla spice framed by rich forest floor aromas. For flavor consider, lovely elegant fruit with spice and enough acidity to cause this wine to dance on your tongue. Persistent red fruit and loganberry give a “sweet” lift to this classic cool climate Pinot Noir. The finish sails on a “deck” of rich cherry fruit, lovely earth tones and the sort of peppercorn spice that calls out for mushrooms, lamb or even buttery black cod” Wine Enthusiast gives this 2017 wine 91 points at an entry level price point.

Tasting starts at 4pm every Thursday and goes until the bottles are empty. We hope you will join us!

~Cheers

December 5 Tasting – Red Blends from Around the World

Hi everyone! Noshies is excited to resume our weekly wine tastings and we enjoy getting to know our community by sharing these delicious, hand-picked wines. So, please come down and join us during this holiday season and warm up at Noshies every Thursday from 4-7 PM.

Our first wine that we will be tasting is the “Sur Le Pont Côtes Du Rhône 2016”. We have already had this tasty French wine awhile back, but we loved it so much for the price point that we wanted to give you all another opportunity to taste it. This is a standard G.S.M blend from the Rhone region of France and brings forth great flavors, balance, and finish.

The second wine that we are tasting will be the Colter’s Creek “Arrow Rim G.S.M 2015” from our friends in Juliaetta, Idaho. This wine, like the Sur Le Pont, is a traditional G.S.M. that brings out tremendous flavor and balance between grape varietals. The blend was aged in 30% New Oak and 70% natural French Oak which provides for a smooth and jam-like finish.

Our final wine on Thursday evening will be a delicious wine from Spain by way of Borsao. The “berola” is a blend of 70% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Although the other two wines are G.S.M., this blend will be an excellent night-cap. This wine will shine in flavors with pomegranate and comes in very deep in color but drives home excellent flavors.

We can’t wait to see you at Noshies this Thursday from 4-7! Bring a friend too!

~Cheers!

November 21 Tasting – Preparing for Thanksgiving

Hello all! This week’s Thursday tasting will feature wines we believe will be great for Thanksgiving. These wines are from California and we know they will be fantastic for our upcoming tasting! We included some other delicious holiday themed snacks in the photo for some inspiration.

First, we have the “Brownstone Chardonnay” from Brownstone Winery in Lodi, California. This Chardonnay is crisp, full-bodied, slightly dry and has notes of citrus. Overall, this wine is very balanced and it pairs tremendously with vegetables and white meats like chicken and turkey. At 12.5% ABV, this wine will be smooth and refreshing for your Thanksgiving dinner. Stop by, try some, and take some home or to your families or friends for that special evening.

Next, we will be sampling the “2017 Old Vine Zin” from Gnarly Head. This wine also hails from the Lodi area of California and features a lot intense fruit flavors thanks to the vines. This wine claims to boast a rich, dark berry profile as well as oak, vanilla, and spices present. This wine pairs well with dark meats as well as warm foods like stews and chilis. Pop this bottle open with us and then you will rave about it to your friends and family during the holidays.

Our last wine will be a Pinot Noir from Mana Wines. This Californian treat is the 2017 Vintage and boasts a flavor profile full of strawberries and cranberries. This wine is also light, refreshing, and pairs well with a majority of foods, as Pinot Noir is usually known for. Pair this balanced wine with beef, poultry, and venison. This is an excellent wine for Thanksgiving as you can pair it with your favorite meat dishes as you enjoy quality time with those closest to you.

We can’t wait to see you this Thursday evening from 4-7. We hope you find some amazing wines to enjoy during your time with family and friends.

~Cheers!

November 14 Tasting – Dad’s Weekend!

Hello all! This Thursday, we will be kicking off Dad’s Weekend 2019 with a collection of Washington wines from Latta Wines. Latta Wines sources their grapes from the Columbia Valley. Although two of these wines are branded under the name Kind Stranger, they are all brainchildren of winemaker Andrew Latta. Latta prides himself on creating “uncommon varietals from the most unique vineyards in Washington State.” Thus, we thought it would be great to kick off Dad’s Weekend in Eastern Washington with some delicious varietals from our backyard.

Our first wine of the night will be the 2017 Kind Stranger Chardonnay. This Chardonnay is a blend of 82% Evergreen Vineyard Chardonnay and 18% Lawrence Vineyard Roussanne. This wine provides strong citrus notes with a hint of exotic fruits and drives a bold complexity. Although this is the first wine of the evening, it may very well be your favorite.

The second wine is the 2015 “Latta Latta” GSM. GSM stands for Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. This GSM blend is 44% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, and 24% Syrah. This was made to honor the Rhone region of France that inspired Andrew Latta to create a big, bold GSM here in Washington. This is a big, bold GSM with a large presence of red berries.

Our last wine of the night will be the 2016 Kind Stranger Cabernet Sauvignon. This bold Cab is a blend of 79% Wahluke Slope Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Weinbau Vineyard Malbec. This wine was barrel aged for 22 months in 15% new French oak. This wine claims to have deep notes of fruit and spice notes.

We hope to see you in on Thursday to kick off an amazing Dad’s Weekend. Come on by from 4-7. We can’t wait to see you here!

~Cheers!