Friday June 26, 2026
It's Friday, June 26th, 2026
This coming Thursday, July 2nd, we celebrate our 14th anniversary as Campus Fine Wines. The shop has been here on Brook Street, just off Wickenden, since 1974; we like to think that it has been a good neighbor through all of those decades. It's wild to think that when it opened the Vietnam War was raging despite all the accords and promises to end it. Nixon was about to resign in disgrace for crimes the current VP calls what would be today "a twelve hour news story." And yeah, he's probably right. The zone is fully flooded and the life rings are in the hands of corporations demanding payment up front, should we dare to seek salvation.
And so we swim, we tread, we float like dead men––all the time searching for buoys on the horizon. And that's what this shop is to us––a light and a bell bobbing on a tumultuous sea, perhaps not pointing the way to a safe harbor because . . . what does that even mean when each dawning day sees the champions of brutality further emboldened and enabled? Maybe it's just a sip of potable water, a brief moment in the shade, a patch of dry land upon which we steady ourselves before diving back in. Who knows. But we are grateful for this little shop, this tight-knit neighborhood, this city (even though, yes, we have our complaints!), and of course our many brilliant, compassionate, creative customers. We literally would not be here without you. Our appreciation knows no bottom. Just like the current regime!
Swing by tonight, 5-7pm, for our regularly scheduled wine tasting and enjoy a 10% discount on the wines poured. Tomorrow, we have Red Eyed Spirits in the shop from 4-6pm––you didn't know you needed Pawtucket-made amaro and akvavit in your life, but trust us, you do.
A few new arrivals:
Brij Pinot Noir Printemps SLO Coast 2025 $31.
Brij is a second label to Raj Parr's Phelan Farm. Brij Wines are made from grapes purchased from their friends and neighbors who farm organically. In the cellar the approach is the same as at Phelan Farm: "careful, thoughtful, and hands-off when possible. The wines are about clarity and energy, not weight or excess. They're meant to be honest, precise, and easy to drink—clear expressions of where they are grown."
Winemaker Notes: 100% carbonic fermentation. Élevage for five months in neutral oak barriques. Bright and lively, with aromas of wild strawberry and rose petal. The palate is light and energetic, carried by fresh acidity and delicate tannins, with subtle hints of forest floor and spice. A vibrant, Spring expression of Pinot Noir. Enjoy chilled now through 2030.
Our note: It's so delicious! Drink it.
Handshake Persian Digestif (from Maine!) $39.99
A marriage of 29 botanicals and spices from around the world, and Maine, made by an Iranian immigrant. "Persian saffron, tea, sumac, and limo ommani (black fermented limes) is the Silk Road in a drop. Maine hops, spruce tips and dark robust maple syrup bring the woods to your glass."
Forthave Spirits FIVE Negroni 375ml $28.99
A limited edition ready-to-drink Negroni cocktail produced by Forthave Spirits in Brooklyn, New York. It's "a layered blend of over 13 botanicals (over Forthave Red Aperitivo) including Seville orange peel, gentian root, rhubarb, and aromatic spices, fortified with our Blue Gin, a botanical-forward spirit distilled with over 18 organic plants, and softened with a house-blended (Finger Lakes) vermouth." Our opinion is that this drinks more like an amaro than a negroni, which, as people with a penchant for the bittersweet in life, we can appreciate.
We will be open all day, 10am-10pm, on Saturday, July 4th. Anyone have a funeral dirge playlist? Oh, here we go.
Ok, notes are below. Cheers to decent humans! Curses, hexes, worst-wishes, etc, upon the rest. You know the drill.
Friday Wine tasting, 5-7PM
Domaine les Pins "La Folie Blanc" Blanc de Noir 2024 $21.99
Domaine Les Pins is a fifth generation family-owned estate founded in the 1930s by Jules Esprit. The domaine covers 32 hectares with 28 in Bourgueil, and 4 in Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, planted exclusively with Cabernet Franc, locally known as Breton.
Christophe and Philippe Pitault are the latest to lead the estate which they farm sustainably and are certified HVE3, the highest level in France. HVE (High Environmental Value) is a voluntary approach which aims to identify and promote particularly environmentally-friendly practices applied by farmers. HVE covers four key areas: biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertilizer use, and management of water. Level 3 provides the certification for the entire farm operation.
"La Folie" is a selection of various parcels within the Bourgueil appellation. However, as the appellation regulations do not permit the production of white wine, it is classified under the broader category of Vin de France.
The grapes are from 10-15 year old vines planted on a 3 ha (7.41 acres) south-facing plot on sand and gravel (same terroir as Bourgueil). No herbicides are used; cover crops and green harvesting are utilized. Fermented in stainless steel, no malo, four months on lees. Fining is via chickpea agents, SO2 is less than 80ppm.
This white wine from Cabernet Franc smells like Cabernet Franc, and tastes like Cabernet Franc. It is subtly floral with vibrant acidity and super easy to love.
Herdade do Sobroso Branco 2024 $15.99 (on sale) Regularly $19.99
Herdade de Sobroso is a large 4,000 acre property in Alentejo, located in southeastern Portugal. It is owned by wife and husband Sofia Ginestal Machado and Filipe Texeira Pinto. This is cork tree land with most of the property covered in the trees. But it is also planted to olive trees, and of course grape vines. Alentejo has the most varied soils of any region in Portugal, with its diverse terrain of mountains, plains, hills, and valleys. The result is soils of clay, limestone, quartz, granite, schist, sandstone, and gravel.
Sobroso Branco is Antão Vaz, Arinto, and Verdelho, and Perrum hand-harvested from vines planted on loam-clay soil. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature for 30 days. This white wine is clear and bright with fresh aromas of citrus and passionfruit. Have it on its own or with a wide array of seafood, from raw to deep fried.
Holloran Willamette Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir 2025 $21
The following producer note (the italicized part) was written up by Irene for one of our past wine clubs. We know! Still working out the kinks on its resurrection.
What's so special about Willamette (dammit)?
The Willamette Valley, Oregon's premier wine region, owes much of its grape-growing prowess to a fascinating geological history. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity and tectonic shifts created the Coast Range to the west and the Cascade Range to the east, forming the valley's natural boundaries. Over time, the valley's floor accumulated sediment, creating rich, fertile soils.
But the real star in the story is the Missoula Floods, a series of cataclysmic events during the last Ice Age. As glaciers periodically dammed and then released waters from Lake Missoula, the resulting floods scoured the landscape, depositing nutrient-rich silt and loam across the valley. These floodwaters left behind an intricate mosaic of soils, including the prized Jory, Willakenzie, and Laurelwood series, each offering unique properties that influence vine health and, ultimately, the flavor profile of the wines.
The Willamette Valley AVA runs about 150 miles north to south and its most notable sub-AVAs are in its north. At the southern edge of the northern Willamette is the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This area's complex tapestry of soils are well-drained, so ideal for vine stress, which forces the roots to dig deep, enhancing the concentration and complexity of the grapes.
Another key influence on Eola-Amity is the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range that invites cool, maritime breezes into the region. This natural air conditioning helps to moderate the temperatures, preserving the acidity in the grapes, and extending the growing season—crucial for producing wines with elegance and balance.
While Pinot Noir reigns supreme throughout Willamette Valley, the diverse geology and climate of the Eola-Amity Hills are opening doors for other varietals to shine. As the climate continues to evolve, the Eola-Amity Hills could become a hotbed for new grape varieties, further cementing its reputation as a diverse and dynamic wine region.
Holloran Vineyard Wines has been making wine from their estate vineyards for over a decade. Located along Dundee Road in the north of the Eola-Amity Hills, their vineyards are situated on the east side of the coastal range providing relief from the hot afternoon sun that bakes western exposures in late summer. Each afternoon around 3pm, a reliable breeze flows east over the hillside, cooling the vineyards and starting the diurnal temperature shift so essential to growing balanced vines.
Holloran rosé is 100% Pinot Noir from the ANA vineyard, a 20-acre site first planted in 1974, with 15 acres under vine. Holloran winery sits at the south end of the vineyard. It is dry farmed, as well as organic and biodynamic. This rosé, at under 800 cases produced annually, is a banging bargain. It tastes like Pinot Noir, but pink! Bone dry, a touch of cranberry and cinnamon, bing cherry and dusty earth. So good.
Tendal Negramoll La Palma, Canary Islands 2022 $31.99
Tendal is a small, family winery established in the late 1990s by Nancy Castro Rodríguez and Constancio Ballesteros Magán, who met in oenology school. They were living in La Mancha when a vacation to La Palma changed the course of their future. La Palma is one of Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of northwestern Africa. It's also known as La Isla Bonita/The Beautiful Island, and historically as San Miguel de La Palma. It is the most northwesterly of the seven main islands of the archipelago. Like the rest of the Canaries, it is volcanic; here the volcano rises four miles above the ocean floor, and at 1.5 miles above sea level is the astronomically famous Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the largest arrays of telescopes in the world.
While on vacation on La Palma, Nancy and Constancio came across old family vineyards in one of the wine-producing areas of Tijarafe and Puntagorda. Due to the topography and difficulty of the terrain, the vineyards were not very developed and there were no bottling wineries in the area.
In their words: "So, at the beginning of the summer of 1997, we decided to leave everything and begin a new adventure. That same summer, we began preparing the small winery the family owned, where they produced their grapes for their own consumption. This winery was located in caves dug into the Bellido Mountains. At that time, the La Palma Wines Designation of Origin (DOC) hadn't been in operation for long, and we became a member that same year. We began the harvest in October of that same year, and with limited resources for both production and bottling, we launched our first bottle of wine. In the following March, we sold 4,000 bottles of white, a blend of Listan and Albillo, as well as 12,000 bottles of red, Negramol, and Prieto, all of which were very well received."
"Our new project aims to publicize this small corner of pre-phylloxera viticulture, in the middle of the Atlantic, an island with a diversity of microclimates and soils, native varieties, traditional and sustainable cultivation of high mountains. 'Garden of Eden of viticulture' added to passion and creativity, without forgetting tradition. We obtain the result of honest wines, which transport you to the terroir where they were born."
Sometimes the terroir is unforgiving, like in 2021 when their winery burned.
But, they persevere. These are coastal, saline-mineral-driven, crisp and crunchy, savory but fruity. Lithe and energetic. Tendal Tinto is 100% Negramoll from multiple organically-farmed, co-planted vineyards at up to 1500 meters altitude in Tijarafe, Puntagorda, and Garafia. Grapes were de-stemmed, macerated for a quick 6 days on the skins, then pressed and fermented in stainless steel tank, followed by one year of aging on the lees in tank. The mountain terroir comes through in this light, ethereal red, with brisk acidity, crunchy volcanic minerals, and taut, refreshing red fruit.
