Our Little Raven Vineyards sommeliers work hard each week to uncover a few undervalued, scrumptious bottles of wine to share with our customers. And with the start of summer season upon us, we have included a few extra summer options. If you're in the mood to try something different, check out our recommendations below.

   Casa  Garcia

  Vinho Verde,

  Penafiel, Portugal                                   $9 a bottle
   Bright, thirst quenching, this is the perfect wine for tapas,

   hanging out on a warm evening eating cheese and berries,

   and other recipes that require little to no preparation. Casa

   Garcia is as vibrant and zesty as the label is interesting.

   Notes of lime, white flowers, and wedding cake fill the mouth

  as the slight zippy note of carbonation brings up the finish. Keep a few of these on hand for those moments when nothing but a cold, refreshing glass of frizzante white wine will do.

Chateau du Rouet

Cuvee Reservee Tradition, 2007

Cotes du Provence, France                                $17 a bottle

Happy days are here again, rosé time is here again! This blend of 60% grenache and 40% syrah is perfect for warm summer nights. Grapes were picked by hand, and the wine was made by the first bleeding off of juice following a cool skin maceration. It is a delicately colored wine with an intense nose of raspberry and cassis and a fruity but also elegant taste. Rich and voluminous in the mouth, the length is impressive here, and goes well with seafood or almost any other summer fare.

   Vin de Savoie

   Apremont, 2006

   Marches, France                  $15 a bottle

    Apremont, from the French Alps, is a wine for cheese.

    It has a nice citrus fruit flavor with high minerality to cut

    through the heavy flavors of the cheese and refresh

    for each new taste.

Chateau Miraval

Cotes du Provence Rosé, 2006

Correns, France                            $17 a bottle

For many people rosé is the only wine they would drink with turkey. It offers just a pinch of tannins, so its structure cradles the flavor of the fowl. It also works with many of the traditional side dishes served with turkey. Chateau Miraval Rosé is elegant, with floral aromas that carry over to its strawberry canvas. Hints of mineral, tangerine zest, cherry blossoms, and gooseberries offer a soft profile with a perfume-like mid-palate and finish. They drink more pink wine in this part of France than white; this wine is a fine example why.

    For Connections Members, we suggest a special selection:

  Chateau Valcombe

  Cotes du Venteux, 2006 

  "Signature" Rosé,

  Saint Pierre-de-Vassols, France                                                   $16 a bottle

 Delightfully pink and fruity, this is a dry and

 serious wine that would go well with 

 appetizers, salads and other light luncheon dishes. The nose is fresh a vibrant with aromas of strawberries, raspberries and hints of the not so far away herbs de Provence. The palate is medium-bodied and dry with crisp flavors of cranberries and red berries.

Benoit Gautier

Vouvray, 2005

Rochecorbon, France                              $19 a bottle

The Gautier domaine in Vouvray has been in the family for seven generations. Benoit Gautier, the viticulturer since 1981, makes this elegant white that is bright, zesty, and the perfect bottle to pair with lighter fare. Flavors of golden apples and peaches, hints of lime, and a touch of creaminess marry together to create a layered and interesting canvas. A judicious amount of acidity works well with the hint of honey on the finish.

                                                                       Auratus

                                                                       Alvarinho/Trajadura, 2006

     Melgaco, Portugal   $18 a bottle

The name Auratus translates to gold (as in "goldfish") like the brilliant color of a glass of this exotic and charismatic wine. One sniff and you know this is not "your Mother's Chardonnay". Alvarinho and Trajadura are often found blended together. Trajadura is often a component of the light and frizzy wine, Vino Verde. In the Auratus it offers good acidity, while albarinho is exotic and fruity. This blend is voluptuous, with flavors of apricots, honey, white flowers, and minerals. A mouthwatering finish lingers with notes of honeysuckle. Auratus is a lovely wine for seafood and fish.

Benessere Vineyards

Costa Del Sol, 2004

Saint Helena, California                                                              $20 a bottle
Costa Del Sol is an explosive blend of Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet and Merlot A big, full bodied red is loaded with fruit and packed with concentration. The four unlikely bedfellow grapes make a smooth, yet spicy drink. One the palate you will find intense fruit with a cornucopia of raspberry, black cherry, cassis and licorice. Hints of mineral, flint, and vanilla emerge on the finish. Polished tannins give structure, yet are soft on the finish. While it works as a pleasing sipper, Costa Del Sol also pairs with a variety of dishes, like grilled chicken barbecued ribs, even a plate of spicy bucatini or spaghetti all’amatriciana topped with grated pecorino Romano. It's rare to find a wine that offers this much in the $20 price point. This is an outstanding pickup!

Elio Perrone

Moscato Sourgal, 2007

Piedmont, Italy

$19 a bottle

Young Stefano Perrone is a master of Moscato and for the past two years, the influential Italian wine publication Il Mio Vino has rated Clarté Italy's finest Moscato.  This wine shows extraordinary lusciousness, vivid fruit, soft mousse, and captivating perfume, so it is no surprise that the following for Moscato d’Asti has grown dramatically in recent years., a superb light dessert wine, perfect with fruit of all types. It is the perfect summer sipper too -- ideal for picnics or and perfect with melon and prosciutto. It's also a traditional accompaniment in Piedmont at the Christmas celebration.

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   Sineann Piedra Roja, 2006

   Pinot Noir, Newburg, Oregon          $26  a bottle

    A sultry item for your bountiful table. A heady

    aroma of violets and roses, the palate is a symphony

    of strawberry, smoke, lavender, plum, cola nut, and

    a pinch of earth. An enchanting red. Beware, you'll

    slave over the bird, but the wine just might steal the

    show.

La Poule Blanche

Vin De Pays DOC, 2003 France                             $10 a bottle

There ain’t nobody here but us chickens! La Poule Blanche (The White Chicken) is

bottled by Sacha Lachine, son of the famous Alexis Lachine and Pierre Lachine.

Sacha says of this wine, “Like my father I believe that wine should be enjoyed and not idolized. I have created this blend with pure hedonistic enjoyment in mind. Wonderfully fresh with an elegant character easily glugged with a roquette and parmesan salad or seafood linguini.”

The Little Raven Sommeliers also would llike to add that it goes well with fish, oysters and milder cheeses. A blend of Chardonnay (45%), Sauvignon Blanc (30%) and Viognier (25%), La Poule Blanche is a white you are sure to enjoy and is great value at $10 a bottle.

  Santa Alicia

  Carmenere, 2004

  Maipo Valley, Chile                             $12 a bottle

  Carmenere is the signature grape of Chile. Once thought to be

  extinct, this smooth, smoky, grape variety is a great pair with   

  burgers, steak, lamb, or pasta with red sauce. Santa Alicia offers

  notes of black cherries, caramel, coffee with a touch of cream with

  soft tannins.

Pezat

 Bordeaux Superior, 2005

 St. Emilion, France                                 $24 a bottle

This fruity Merlot-based wine with a good dose of oak and terroir, drinks very well. The stunning 2005 vintage has produced a big wine, hugely enjoyable, finely constructed. This over-delivering fruity Bordeaux Superieur that is moderately tannic offers an extra dimension of quality at this price point.

Loimer

LOIS Gruner Veltliner, 2005

Kamptal, Austria                                    $18 a bottle

This Gruener Veltliner is perfect for many occasions. It is exceedingly aromatic with hints of fresh apples and incomparable attractive spiciness. Notes of exotic fruit and the typical acidity of the Kamptal make LOIS a special drinking experience.

   Lustau

   East India Solera Sherry, NV

   Jerez, Spain                                                         $32 a bottle

   This Solera Sherry is a “must-have” fortified wine, from the South of

   Spain. The palate is complex, extremely voluptuous and enjoyable

   showing up flavors such as roasted nuts and toasted almond enticed

   with caramel and butterscotch. You will find this sweet, luscious

   almost weighty wine very balanced with a clean lingering finish.

   It makes a perfect accompaniment to light desserts, chocolate cake,

   and peanut butter and cherry jam cheesecake! Serve chilled or at

   room temperature.

  Loica, Sauvignon Blanc, 2004

  Maule Valley, Chile                             $14 a bottle
  A touch of Bordeaux offers this sauvignon blanc soft,

  round, elegance with a very balanced structure. The

  nose offers citrus and blossoms. In the mouth, the wine

  is fresh and crisp with notes of limes, melons, fresh cut

  grass, and minerals. The acidity and creaminess from

  being aged on the lees are a great compliment to each

  other. This is one elegant white.

    Wildhurst 2005

    Reserve Chardonnay, 2005

     Lake County, California            $12 a bottle
  There are many chardonnays on the market and it

   is difficult to sort out the mediocre from the great

   (that's why we taste so many of them for you).

   Wildhurst Reserve Chardonnay is very elegant

   with crisp acidity. Notes of exotic fruits are

   complimented by a hint of vanilla. The finish

   offers a touch of lime zest.

  Ben Marco Malbec, 2005

  Mendoza, Argentina            $23 a bottle
  Smoky and medium bodied, this red is a great

  alternative to merlot. Bright, focused flavors

  of black cherry, blackberries, charred

  marshmallow, clove, and cinnamon layer in a

  seamless profile. The finish offers a little bit of

  licorice and the acidity balances the fruit and soft tannins. A versatile red able to

  pair with many foods.

Cline Cellars, 2006

  Ancient Vine Mourvedre,

  Sonoma, California                         $17 a bottle

  Old vines produce dense juice. This offering of old

  vine mourvedre is packed with notes of blackberries,

  chocolate cupcake, black plums, vanilla, coffee,

  balsamic, and fig. Polished tannins offer a platform for

  the evolving flavors. Allow it to breathe a little and

  enjoy the cornucopia of tastes.