The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Labor Day Grill Wines
August 13, 2025
White
22022 Goisot St. Bris Exogyra Virgula Biodymamic, Organic;
Sauvignon Blanc from Burgundy? Why not? For shellfish and any fish. Just outside Chablis, the Goisot family crafts fine wines that rival Chablis quality. This wine from St. Bris has a Chablis mineral-driven style, but expressed through a smoky rendition of Sauvignon Blanc. The Latin name refers to an extinct species of shellfish whose remains underlie both communes and inform their wines. This is a powerful yet subtle expression of grape and region.
Aroma: fresh, intense, savory but delicate anise-inflected aromatics; Mouth: clean, light on the plate with notes of anise and smoke, intense, firm tannin, dark. Very Good Plus $26.99; Case, $22.99
We can also recommend many a dry or sweet Riesling, Loire Sauvignon like Sancerre, some savory, crisp Italian and Rhone whites
Rose
2024 Le Fraghe Chiaretto Bardolino Rosato Organic
If it's too hot for a red, this lighter-bodied rose has enough spice to match many a marinade.Martilde Poggi makes a highly quaffable yet savory Chiaretto Rosé. Her wines, regularly acclaimed by Vinous, Decanter, and Gambero Rosso, capture the elegance and freshness typical of the best Bardolino.
Aroma: Wild roses are the first to emerge, followed by nuances of wild strawberry and redcurrant that linger and complete an elegant bouquet. Mouth: An emphatic crispness and full body, the happy result of a perfect balance between ultra-savoury flavours and a tasty minerality, characteristics that are classic to this terroir, and excellent supporting tannins and acidity. The finish is lengthy and nicely mirrors the aromas offered by the nose.Very Good Plus $16.99, Case $14.99
Also some very good from Provence Roses like Pibarnon or Cibonne and California Arnot Roberts
Red
2017 Valle Reale Vigneto di Popoli Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
One of our customers ‘favorite Italian red wines is also a great pairing for barbecue. Whether it’s slow-cooked ribs, dry-spice rubbed brisket, grilled lamb, or chili-rubbed duck breast, this Montepulciano’s savory fruit and spice make the wine the perfect complement for this type of food.
Aroma: Dark spicy fruit, peppercorns, blackberry, cassis, licorice, pomegranate, and tobacco. Mouth: Black cherry, pomegranate, anise, baking spices,
balanced acidity, supple texture, structured tannins, and a satisfying finish.
Very Good Plus $23.99, Case $19.99
2023 Tua Rita ‘Rosso di Notri’ Toscana Rosso
Cabernet-based wines can also work, Thisd Super Tuscan, for example. In recent decades, Tua Rita ‘s quality praised by Gambero Rosso, Vinous, The Wine Advocate, and Jancis Robinson. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Franc delivers a truly delicious experience
. Aroma: Blackberries, plums, and ripe black cherries enveloped with subtle notes of cocoa, licorice, and sweet spice. Mouth: Very smooth in texture, with silky tannins and bracing acidity, showing structural balance long into the finish. Very Good Plus $21.99, Case $18.99
2021 Ca’ La Bionda ‘CasalVegri’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore
A wine with meat on the bone to go with your bone-in ribeye or pork chop. Superiore is a big step-up from the entry-level Valpolicella Classico, as the fruit is sourced from a single vineyard, with some of the estate’s oldest vines producing rich and concentrated fruit. With that in mind, the winemaker opted not to make an overdone ripasso. The natural fruit concentration is still present with the satisfying richness and complexity of more extended aging. Yet a classic style of production adds freshness that brings complete balance to the wine.
Aroma: Garden fresh red berry fruits, rose petal, mint leaves, cigar box. Mouth: Sour cherry, red currant, orange peel, mint, pepper, toasted baking spice, tobacco leaf. Excellent $28.99, Case 25.49
2023 Domaine de Pieblanc Bourdon Cotes du Rhone
Big and Brawny- Great Value
Although the label doesn't say it, this is all Sierra. It is big, bold, and brawny, the best rendition of southern Rhone Syrah at its price. It boasts a unique blend of spice and richness, making it a terrific bargain at a very low price.
Color: very dark; Aroma: heady, very dense, spicy and firm, savory; Mouth: very rich, smooth, intense, bright, rounded, clean, long; Very Good Plus $18.99; Case, $15.99
Also, Biale or Ridge Zinfandel, Mont Olivet Cotes du Rhone or Chteauneuf, Reynaud’s powerful Crozes Hermitage
Labor Day Case: Special, two each of the wines - $277, Sale 235, !9.58 the bottle
Or mix any twelve at their case prices
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
FREE DELIVERY!
downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
