Hello and Happy Friday!

I think I can safely say that Spring has sprung!  With temperatures climbing into the 60’s, 70’s and even 80’s from time to time, I’ve seen an increase in those looking for crisp white wines and eager customers waiting for the new vintages of Dry Rosé from around the world.

Rest assured that Perman Wine Selections will be the GO TO place for everything thirst-quenching and cool this Spring and Summer.  I’ve got lots of fantastic white wines and Rosés trickling into the store right now!

With all of this in mind, I am introducing my latest 6 for $60-Something Sampler and it is feeling very Spring-y!  Never heard of this sampler and want to know what it’s about?

Six wines, hand-selected by me, that represent a range of styles – all hovering around the $10 price point.  Each wine is available by the bottle or case, but as I often say, for maximum pleasure you should take the whole sampler.

The “Six for $60-Something” is highly recommended to those learning about wines, trying to stock their wine rack with affordable and tasty adult beverages, or wanting to bring a gift to someone hosting a party.

So how does this work? To order, simply e-mail me back and say “Hey Craig, hook me up.” To join the devoted legions of fans who receive them every month you can just say “and keep ‘em coming!” Some people are challenged by some of the wines that I put in to my sampler. If Rosé makes you faint, or Grolleau Gris has been banned in your household, or any other interesting reason why you can not drink one of the following wines, then I will substitute and try to get the sampler as close to $60 as possible

A suggestion to those folks trying to learn from this as well as get a buzz – print out a copy of the newsletter to keep with your sampler. That way when you are in the mood for a bottle you have your own mini-wine lesson on hand. So what are you waiting for? Order yours today!

The 6 for $60-something is in stock and ready to be picked up any time!

Thanks again for all your support!

Cheers,

Craig

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2011 BODEGAS OSTATU RIOJA ROSADO
Fill up your pool, fill up the bathtub, you are going to want to swim in this incredibly delicious dry Rosé from superstar Rioja producer, Bodegas Ostatu!

Never heard of their Rosado?  That is because this is their first release ever!

Ever since I tasted this blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Viura, I’ve been dreaming about drinking another bottle.  Ostatu uses fruit from their highest elevation vineyards, vines that are 60-70 years-old.  The Rosado is fermented in stainless steel tank.

Rosé comes in all shapes and sizes.  This version is a very pale color, with incredibly vibrant aromas of watermelon and wild strawberry.  It is super juicy and nervy on the palate, and finishes dry with surprising length.

If you’re a Rosé hater, this may even change your mind.  If you can’t get enough of the stuff, then this is one you are going to want to buy by the truckload.

I’ve worked out a deal to offer this at a ridiculously low introductory price for this sampler.  The price will be good through April, so load up now, you will be glad you did!

$13.00 BTL. / $156.00 CASE – PRICE GOOD THROUGH THE END OF APRIL

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2011 LUBERRI RIOJA “ORLEGI”
One of the greatest aspects of the enjoyment of wine is the ability for a bottle that comes from half way around the world to transport the drinker to its place of origin.

This wine will take you to Rioja – transporting you to a typical little village where during Spring you will be drinking the young, non-oak-aged Rioja with a variety of foods.

Luberri “Orlegi” is one of the greatest examples that I’ve tried of this style, and it is a wine that I look forward to its release each year.  The 2011 was just released, and I will be carrying it throughout Spring and Summer.

Luberri is owned by Florentino Martínez Monje, and is located in Elciego, in the Rioja Alavesa region.  Florentino has “mad street cred” in Spain as he was the original winemaker at Artadi, and helped put them on the map.  Luberri was started in 1992 and has some amazing vineyards, farmed carefully by Florentino and his crew.

For “Orlegi,” Florentino uses 15-25 year old-vines from fairly high altitude.  This is produced partially in a style called whole-cluster fermentation, which is a traditional method in Rioja, but not a style we often receive here in the US.  The result of whole-cluster yields a juicy, fruit-forward style, with no tannins and a bright, clean finish.

Go ahead and put a slight chill on this.  You can drink it with virtually anything, it so flexible at the table.  Let the journey begin!

$13.00 BTL. / $156.00 CASE

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2011 DOMAINE HERBAUGES GROLLEAU GRIS
I’ve hit the 2011 “trifecta” with my inclusion of one of the most easy drinking, fun white wines known to man.  It’s Grolleau Gris folks!

Don’t rack your brains too hard because you aren’t going to go out and find a whole bunch of Grolleau Gris on the market.  It is a relatively widely planted grape from the Western edge of the Loire Valley.  Most of the time it produces a rather innocuous wine, that rarely leaves the region as it is consumed as a regular table wine.

When you get it in the hands of the Luc Choblet of Domaine des Herbauges, you can eliminate the innocuous part and in its place just put “awesome.”  Luc is a fourth generation winemaker, most famous for his fantastic line-up of Muscadet.  His line-up under the name “Collection Plaisir” is a place one can look for even more fantastic, every-day drinking wines.

This wine is composed of 100% Grolleau Gris from 15-year old vines planted in light, sandy soil.  Fermented and rested in stainless steel, it is a wine you want to drink young.  The 2011 just arrived, and as your wine dude, I tasted it for you.  Awesome!  Light, crisp, hints of both citrus and tropical fruit, and a bright, juicy finish.  Great as an apéritif or with oysters. STOCK UP FOLKS!

$11.50 BTL. / $138.00 CASE

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2008 GIOVANNI MANZONE DOLCETTO D’ALBA “LE CILIEGIE”
Springtime is about venturing back outside, cleaning off that deck and chairs and enjoying a good bottle of wine with some snacks.  If you are like me and you could have an antipasti plate with cured meats every day of your life, then you are also going to want to arm yourself with this bottle of Dolcetto.

Piedmont – home to some of Italy’s greatest red wines, is also home to everyday drinkers like Dolcetto.  This example comes from Giovanni Manzone in Monforte d’Alba.  A producer that has been growing grapes since 1925, and estate bottling since the 1960’s.  A dedicated farming family that produces beautifully styled, harmonious wines.

This Dolcetto comes from the Le Ciliegie vineyard in Monforte d’Alba.  It is a stainless steel fermented and aged wine.  It offers aromas of black cherry, anise, and pepper notes.

On the palate, it is fresh, with bright high-toned cherry and strawberry notes, and just a little hint of structure on the palate.  Do yourself a favor – head over to Publican Quality Meats, grab an assortment of some of their fantastic cured meats and artisanal cheeses, and enjoy a bottle of this easy drinking Dolcetto.  It will improve your life.

$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

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2008 SYLVIE ET GILLES GUERRIN SAINT-VÉRAN
Remember the days when you could afford to get a good bottle of White Burgundy on an everyday basis?  Those days are back, at least for this month.

The appellation of Saint-Véran is located in the Mâconnais in the Southern part of Burgundy.  Names like Pouilly-Fuissé are well-known even among the American consumer.  On the outskirts of the aforementioned, famed appellation is Saint-Véran, a great place to look for values.

Sylvie and Gilles Guerrin own a very small domaine located in the village of Vergisson, within the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation.  They produce just over 200 cases of this fantastic Saint-Véran, fermented in stainless steel and rested in neutral oak barrels.

The 2008’s from this region are really starting to drink amazingly well right now, and this is no exception.  This is textbook Saint-Véran.  Poached apple and hints at orange peel emerge on the nose.  A very citrus-focused palate, with just a tad of weight in the mid-palate, and some hints of honey, apricot and toasted hazelnut.  This has great purity, and really remains very fresh.

I bought the remaining 12 cases of this wine and offer it to you at a truly stupid price for this sampler.

$10.50 BTL. / $126.00 CASE

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2009 OLLIEUX ROMANIS “CUVÉE CAPUCINE” ROUGE
Having Déjà vu?  Understandable, considering that last month I featured this producers white wine, the same cuvée, on my 6 for $60-Something Sampler.

Since I spoke about the winery last month, I will keep this brief.  Ollieux Romanis is located in the Corbières Boutenac region in the Western Languedoc.

Their “everyday red” wine is a blend of 25% each of Carignan, Grenache Noir, Syrah and Merlot.  Since this is not a permitted blend in Corbières, the wine falls into the Vin de Pays de l’Aude category.  But what does the A.O.C. know?

This is a bright, easy drinking red, with hints at strawberry, raspberry, and thyme.  The palate is soft, but does not lack in depth.  From chicken to burgers, this is a wine to use as a house red, or maybe an after-party wine, given its ridiculously low price!

$7.00 BTL. / $84.00 CASE

Hello and Happy Friday!

I’m excited to announce the release of the newest “Six for $120-Something” Sampler! The concept is simple; in the course of my tastings each month, I put together a mix of what I think are the best wines I’ve tasted in that $20-ish dollar range. It is true that I used to simply call this the “6 for $120,” but in the interest of me having more flexibility, I’ve decided to not be so exact.

All of these wines are available by the bottle as well as the case, but the idea here is to give you a selection of wines that you will want to have stocked in your wine rack at home!

So email me to order your sampler, and pick it up at your convenience. They are in stock and ready to go!

Have a great weekend,
Craig

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6 for $120-Something

2010 D. VENTURA RIBEIRA SACRA “VIÑA CANEIRO”
Just when you think you’ve got the hang of it, you realize you haven’t. That is how I feel every day about wine! Sure I eat, sleep and breathe wine, and have done so for the last 14 years, but yet the excitement over new discoveries never stops.

Ever heard of Ribeira Scara? This Spanish appellation located in Galicia in the Northwest is a must try.

Ventura is a winery I have featured in the store over the last couple years. If you are
going to discover the region of Ribeira Sacra, you should start by trying the wines of Ramón Losada and his family. His wines are the most stunningly pure expressions of Ribeira Sacra, with amazing clarity due to fermentation and aging only in stainless steel.

Let me paint a quick picture of the region. Incredibly steep hillside terraced vineyards perched over the Sil River contain very old Mencía vines deeply rooted into the slate soil. The Losada family owns prized vineyards in the area called Amandi. “Viña Caneiro,” his top wine, comes from 80+ year-old vines. The grapes are organically grown and only natural yeasts are used in fermentation in tank. The wine is rested a short period in tank before bottling.

Please decant this bottle, opening for a half hour to hour beforehand. What will emerge is a deeply scented wine, full of mineral, wild berry and smoked meat notes. Syrah, Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch all come to mind when I drink this. A perfect compliment to squab or grilled duck breast.

After you’ve drunk your bottle, come back and buy a half-case to age in your cellar. This should be interesting to watch over a decade!

$24.00 BTL. / $288.00 CASE

 
2010 EDMUNDS ST. JOHN “HEART OF GOLD”
With this unprecedented Spring weather, I had to go big on white wines for this Six for $120-Something. I’m very excited about the white wine choices on this newsletter because they all are quite divergent in style.

Steve Edmunds is the kind of winemaker that you want to buy from. His engine runs on pure passion, and his sincerity to produce wines with balance, based on the European ideals of drinkability and food friendliness, should be praised. Among wine geeks, he is well-known, having produced his first vintage over 25 years-ago.

Steve sources fruit from various regions throughout California, most of which are lesser known. This wine called “Heart of Gold” comes from El Dorado County. An area where growers took a chance at planting varietals like Vermentino and Grenache Blanc. Grown by Ron Mansfield for over a decade, this is the third bottling of this wine, a co-fermented blend of 72% Vermentino and 28% Grenache Blanc. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed into stainless steel tank and fermented at a cool temperature. Kept on their gross lees till February, 2011 it was bottled in March.

This wine has a lot of character. Bright citrus and tropical notes on the nose, lead into a rich mouthfeel that finishes fresh and vibrant. The texture of this wine makes it so versatile when pairing it with food. Whether it be shellfish, or white meats like pork or chicken, have fun pairing this with a variety of food. Only 260 cases of this was produced, so hurry because it won’t be around very long.

$20.00 BTL. / $240.00 BTL.

2010 ELIO GRASSO DOLCETTO D’ALBA “DEI GRASSI”
Everyone knows Perman Wine is down with Piemonte! It is one of my favorite regions in the world for red wine. This is definitely a Barolo-centric shop, but yet there is so much more in Piedmont, with some seriously delicious and affordable Dolcetto’s coming from the region. This is one of the most impressive bottles of Dolcetto that I’ve had in a long time.

I met with Gianluca Grasso, winemaker of Elio Grasso a couple weeks ago at the store. Tasting through his line-up reminded me of the fact that he happens to be one of the elite producers of the region. The family owns some magnificent vineyards located in the commune of Monforte d’Alba. Piedmont is not a huge region, and to have the vineyards that the Grasso family owns is like hitting the lottery, think Powerball not scratch-off tickets.

This Dolcetto comes from a 1.5 hectare vineyard located in Monforte d’Alba. The vine age is an impressive 30 years-old average. Southeast-facing vines on a loose-packed calcareous soil yield grapes with incredible freshness. The vinification and aging is in tank, which preserves the fruit and freshness.

Dolcetto is a wine of the table. Pastas and meats are an ideal match, perhaps take a try at making your own Tajarin with a ragù of rabbit and artichokes. The wines bright berry notes, hints at anise and spice will marry together perfectly.

$17.00 BTL. / $204.00 CASE

2010 DOMAINE DE LA LOUVETRIE MUSCADET “LE FIEF DU BREIL”
It’s official – I don’t get it. How can a white wine from France, one of the best in its category, age worthy, and oodles of fun to drink only cost $20 a bottle?

Since I don’t have the answer to that question, I might as well tell you about this excellent Muscadet from Jo Landron of Domaine de la Louvetrie. Muscadet Sèvre et Maine is an appellation on the western, Atlantic edge of the Loire Valley in France. Melon de Bourgogne is the workhorse grape of the appellation, a cousin of the Chardonnay grape. The handful of top producers, including Jo Landron work hard in the vineyard, farming organically, keeping yields low, and focusing on the terroir of specific areas or soils.

“Le Fief du Breil” is year in and year out among the best and most age worthy wines of the region. It comes from a south facing vineyard with good exposure on a soil composed of clay, flint and orthogneiss.

The 2010 is a brilliant vintage, one with great clarity and intensity of flavor. This seafood-centric wine has bright aromas of oyster shell, lemon and spice. It is razor sharp on the palate with well defined citrus and mineral flavors along with its typical underlying richness. Drink this young with oysters or uni, age it for several years and it can pair with poultry or fish with richer sauces. Most excellent juice!

$19.00 BTL. / $228.00 CASE

 
2006 VIÑA PILAR RIBERA DEL DUERO CRIANZA
Maybe it is a little early to say that grilling season is back, but what the heck, time to introduce a great wine for grilled meats.

Ribera del Duero is a large appellation, with a dizzying array of wineries focusing primarily on the Tinto Fino varietal, which you know as Tempranillo. Having had a chance to travel through the region, one particular area that I was most impressed by was the vineyards surrounding Sotilla de la Ribera.

This is where Bodegas Félix Callejo was established in 1989. The Callejo family has been growing grapes in the area for 4 generations. They own 100 hectares of vineyards, most of which are at 850 meters altitude. The harvest is on average a week or two later than other parts of Ribera del Duero. That is one of the noticeable difference with the Callejo wines.

“Viña Pilar” is a second label of Callejo, coming from 20 year-old Tinto Fino vines. The same care goes into this wine as the rest of the wines. It is vinified in tank and aged in third-use French oak barrels.

This has really pretty floral and both red and dark berry fruits on the nose and palate. The underlying earthiness really comes out when paired with grilled meats like lamb or steak.

$20.00 BTL. / $240.00 CASE

2009 BERTHENET MONTAGNY 1ER CRU “VIEILLES VIGNES”
Any fan of White Burgundy should stock up on this outstanding value from Jean-Pierre Berthenet, wine grower based in Montagny. The rolling hills of the Côte Challonais is a place one can look to find excellent values in what is normally the high priced world of White Burgundy.

Take the Montagny challenge – put this wine next to a more expensive Chardonnay from Chassagne-Montrachet or Sonoma Coast, and you will be amazed at the complexity and richness for the price. This comes from the Berthenet’s oldest plots of vines in Premier Cru vineyards in Montagny. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in a mixture of both tank and oak barrels.

This has really pretty aromatics of toasted almonds, citrus and spice. Texturally it has medium weight with a long, balanced finish. A classic match for simple roasted chicken.

A steal at this price!

$20.00 BTL. / $240.00 CASE