Lieu Dit - Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez Valley 2020

Stunning Example of the Possibilities of Loire Varietals in Santa Ynez

One of the Highlights of the recent Skurnik Grand Portfolio Tasting!

Vinous 94 Points - "The 2020 Cabernet Franc is brilliant and beautifully focused. Dazzling red cherry, mint and rose petal. Tasted next to the Cabernet Franc Sans Soufre, this has more focus and brightness. Heat spikes in 2020 seem to have dialed up the fruit and baked out some of the more vegetal Franc notes, but there is still tons of varietal character." - Antonio Galloni

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Lieu Dit is a partnership of longtime friends Eric Railsback and Justin Willett. The two met in Santa Barbara while Eric was finishing college and Justin was just beginning his career in winemaking. The two were among a small group of young winemakers and restaurateurs in Santa Barbara unified by a common interest in wine and all its mysteries.

After countless bottles shared together and many trips to France, Railsback and Willett decided to found Lieu Dit in 2011 and focus it solely in the varieties indigenous to the Loire Valley, now grown in Santa Barbara County. The varied micro-climates and marine based soils of Santa Barbara County are ideally suited to this set of grapes. Lieu Dit centers on Sauvignon Blanc and more limited bottlings of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Rose and produces around 2500 cases annually. Each vintage, the quest for purity, elegance, and balance in every wine is paramount.

Agustí Torelló Mata - Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva, 2014

Bone Dry, Crisp, and Delicious Vintage Cava Made in the Champagne Method with 8 years of Lees Aging!

The 2014 Gran Reserva Cava is a stunning wine; a blend of 35% Macabeu, 34% Xarel-lo, and 31% Parellada all from vines with more than 50 years of age. Featuring a beautiful bright golden color with green hues and slow-evolving fine bubbles. The aroma has notes of golden apple, quince, brown-butter and almonds while the finish is toasty, persistent and racy. No dosage reveals a crisp texture and bone dry freshness. Disgorged in January, 2022, after eight years on the lees. Beautiful Wine. 

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Yves Cuilleron - Syrah, Les Vignes d'a Cote,

IGP Collines Rhondaniennes, 2020

Yves Cuilleron has become one of the bright shining stars of the northern Rhone” - Robert Parker.

Talk about quality to value! The benchmark producer Yves Cuilleron absolutely stunned us with their entry level everyday Syrah. The wine jumps out of the glass with classic aromas of savory bacon fat, rich black fruit, candied black olives, and dark purple flowers. The palate bursts with smokey dark fruit, firm tannin, and an excellent granitic, mineral finish laden with spice and salinity. Needless to say, we were very impressed! The perfect accoutrement to everything grilled. 

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Cheers! -Alex

Alexander Knechel - Certified Sommelier

Wine Sales Manager - Plucky Wines

alexanderknechel@pluckywines.com