September 2025 Bottle Club Selections
The following wines are a part of our monthly Bottle Club! The following selections are provided to members for the month of September. Please visit the bottle club page if you’d like to find out more and join the club for yourself or chat with us about it the next time you visit us!
A Journey Through Blends
Wine has always been a conversation between grapes, terroir, and the people who coax them into harmony. While single-varietal wines can feel like a solo performance, blends are more like a band—each grape adding its own tone, rhythm, and texture until the composition feels complete. Across Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal, generations of winemakers have discovered that the sum is often greater than the parts.
Each of these blends has a reason for being—whether it’s to tame Nebbiolo’s stern tannins, heighten Sémillon’s richness, or give Tempranillo a partner to carry it further into the cellar. Together, they form a tapestry of winemaking decisions rooted in history but alive in the glass.
Pour generously and see how these grapes converse with one another. You’ll notice how one blend leans toward red fruit and spice, another toward florals and herbs, another toward texture and length. It’s the language of blending, spoken differently in each region, but always with the same aim: to delight the table and elevate the meal.
Cocito Langhe Bianco “Ben Turnò” 2023
A Piedmont white that refuses to sit quietly in the corner. Cocito pulls together 95% Arneis with a splash of Chardonnay and Sylvaner — a blend that’s almost eccentric in a region known for Nebbiolo. The Arneis brings almond blossom and pear, Chardonnay lends texture, and Sylvaner adds a faint herbal whisper. Old vines (30–40 years) give this bottle an added depth. It’s as if Piedmont’s alpine light were captured in liquid form. Pair it with burrata layered over roasted tomatoes, halibut drizzled with lemon and olive oil, or even a plate of pesto gnocchi.
Cantine Olivella Bianco “Lacrimabianco” 2024
From the volcanic soils of Vesuvius comes this luminous white, a blend of Caprettone, Falanghina, and Catalanesca that feels both ancient and alive. Caprettone brings citrus zest and herbal freshness, Falanghina rounds it out with orchard fruit and body, while Catalanesca — once grown mostly for eating — adds golden hue and a faint tropical lift. The result is a wine that balances sea-spray salinity with fruit-driven charm, like sipping sunshine cooled by mountain breezes. Pair it with spaghetti alle vongole, grilled prawns, or fried zucchini blossoms for a taste of Campania that is crisp, mineral, and just a little rebellious.
Quinta do Vesuvio “Comboio do Vesuvio” Douro 2020
Named for the train stop that once carried barrels from the estate, this wine is a love letter to the Douro’s heritage. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz make up the trio. Unlike the estate’s muscular Ports, this bottling is unoaked, letting the fruit sing without heavy makeup. Think wild blueberries, violets, and crushed slate, with a supple finish. It’s Douro stripped down, more rock concert than opera. Try it with piri-piri chicken, pork skewers, or grilled salmon with paprika — dishes that echo its rustic elegance.
Malvirà Langhe “San Guglielmo” 2018
Malvirà loves to champion forgotten grapes, and this bottling is proof. A blend of Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Bonarda Piemontese, San Guglielmo is almost a history lesson in a glass. Barbera provides juiciness, Nebbiolo its tannic spine and rose-petal perfume, and Bonarda — a local rarity — adds spiced cherry and intrigue. The name comes from a local chapel that stands guard over the vines, tying the wine to its landscape. Pair with tajarin pasta rich in ragù, a spread of bagna càuda vegetables, or roast lamb. A bottle that feels like opening Piedmont’s archives but finding the pages alive.
Virginie de Valandraud Blanc 2018
Jean-Luc Thunevin’s “garage wine” revolution is alive in this tiny-production Bordeaux Blanc. From a mere 2 hectares of vines, the blend is 50% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Sauvignon Gris. It’s layered: Sémillon adds honeyed weight, Sauvignon Blanc brings zip, and Sauvignon Gris threads in spice and tropical brightness. The texture is waxy and lush, but the finish is mineral-driven. This is Bordeaux Blanc at its most haute-couture. Serve with Dungeness crab, roast chicken with citrus, or sushi. It feels indulgent but never heavy, like silk worn casually.
Brotte “Les Hauts de Barville” Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023
The Rhône in white is always a surprise — this is no exception. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Bourboulenc, it’s grown on the limestone and pebble-strewn soils of Châteauneuf. Grenache Blanc gives body, Clairette lends freshness, Bourboulenc adds structure. The wine comes across as creamy pear and almond blossom on one side, salty minerality on the other. It’s a white Rhône you want to linger with. Pair it with lobster tail, seared scallops, or a roast chicken with thyme and lemon. It’s sunshine with structure, a glass of the Provençal table.
Château Le Castelot Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2008
Right-bank Bordeaux in its mature form: this is Merlot and Cabernet Franc in seamless duet. Castelot sits near Ch. Quintus on the slopes of Saint-Émilion, and its gravelly, siliceous soils give the wine both finesse and backbone. By now the 2008 vintage has softened into tobacco leaf, cedar, and dried plum, with savory depth replacing youthful fruit. It’s a wine that feels like worn leather armchairs and whispered conversations. Perfect with duck confit, mushroom risotto, or beef sliders laced with horseradish. This bottle reminds you what patience in Bordeaux can reveal.
Villota Rioja 2020
A revival story from a family that once co-founded Contino, Villota is all about reclaiming their historic Finca San Rafael. The blend is 85% Tempranillo, 13% Graciano, and 2% Garnacha. It’s Rioja stripped of excess oak, showing bright red currant, graphite, and violets. Graciano lends verve and longevity, Garnacha a touch of warmth. This is Rioja with energy and modern polish but old-soul roots. Pair it with lamb chops, jamón and manchego, or grilled tuna. A wine that straddles old and new with swagger.
Tenuta di Valgiano “Palistorti di Valgiano” Rosso 2021
Biodynamics in Tuscany, and a blend as unconventional as the estate itself: 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah. Grown on the Lucchese hills north of Lucca, the wine has Sangiovese’s red-cherry heartbeat, Merlot’s supple flesh, and Syrah’s savory spice. The farm is run more like a living organism than a vineyard — bees, olive groves, animals, all woven into the vines. The wine reflects that vitality: juicy, earthy, alive. Pair with porchetta, fennel sausage pizza, or bistecca panini. It’s Tuscan in soul, global in spirit.
Proprietà Sperino “Uvaggio” Coste della Sesia Rosso 2020
Northern Piedmont Nebbiolo with alpine altitude and a rare supporting cast. Nebbiolo dominates (80%), joined by Vespolina (15%) and Croatina (5%). Vespolina gives white-pepper spice, Croatina darkens the fruit. Sperino, founded by Paolo De Marchi (of Isole e Olena in Chianti), has revived these forgotten Alto Piemonte vineyards. The result is a wine with roses, raspberries, and mountain air woven together. Pair it with porcini pasta, roast pork, or a wedge of aged toma cheese. This is Nebbiolo seen through a northern lens — taut, bright, and aromatic.
Domaine de la Bouïssière Vacqueyras 2022
From a plateau cooled by mistral winds, Bouïssière crafts a Vacqueyras that’s equal parts muscle and grace. The blend is Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre — classic GSM proportions, with Grenache leading the charge at 45%. Expect black raspberry, lavender, garrigue herbs, and just a touch of pepper. The tannins are polished but still grip. It feels both rugged and refined, like a well-worn leather jacket over a linen shirt. Pair with grilled lamb, herbed pork roast, or charcuterie heavy on black pepper.
Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva “Selección Especial” 2019
Haro’s iconic Muga brings us a Rioja Reserva that is essentially the heartbeat of the region. The blend is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo, 3% Graciano. It spends extra time in oak and bottle, layering dark cherry, cocoa, tobacco, and spice into something that feels timeless. Selección Especial is only made in top vintages, and 2019 shines with both intensity and freshness. Pair it with ribeye steaks, roasted mushrooms, or manchego with membrillo. It’s Rioja in full regalia — bold, classic, yet still agile.