Category Archives: 6 for $60-Something

Hello and Happy New Year!

Well, it is almost 2013 and we are wrapping up a great year here at Perman Wine Selections.

What better way to do so than with another rendition of the “6 for $60-Something” Sampler.

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 “6 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 Malbec makes you slur, Tempranillo doesn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy inside or any other interesting reason why you cannot 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!

—

As a reminder, we are open during normal operating hours today and tomorrow and will also be open on Monday from 11am to 5 pm for last minute New Year’s Eve shoppers. Don’t forget that I have one of the best selections of sparkling wine and Champagne in the city of Chicago.

Last but not least, today is a very big day here at Perman Wine Selections as it is Huge’s last day at the shop. Not sure if you know, but he has become kind of a big deal in the food photography world and will be concentrating solely on his own business next year. So, if you are in the neighborhood today (Friday), stop by for a shot of bourbon, tequila or maybe a wine cooler.

Seriously though, he is a great friend and has been great to work with. Thanks for everything Huge!

A very Happy New Year to each and everyone of my great customers!

Cheers,

Craig

===

2011 Domaine La Madura “Classic” Blanc

A white wine kicks off the newest winter version of the 6 for $60-Something Sampler?  It does, and it should.

Back by popular demand, I’ve just received my newest shipment from Domaine La Madura, a small family producer based in the appellation of Saint-Chinian with whom I deal with directly.

Run by wife and husband Nadia & Cyril Bourgne, they produce an exciting range of white and red wines from their beautiful vineyards. Since I’ve written extensively about the producer and they have a great website that you can read here (http://www.lamadura.com), let me tell you what is so special about this Sauvignon Blanc.

It is a grape varietal that most of us enjoy, although for me I always proceed with caution. Many Sauvignon Blancs that I taste are “one-note wonders” and while allow for simple quaffing, don’t really make me think twice about them. Really great examples like this provide that refreshing quality we look for, but also enough character to inspire us into having a second and third glass.

The La Madura Sauvignon Blanc is inspiring. You’ll note that it comes with all the citrus aromas you would expect, but on the palate it has more weight and texture than you would get from one from say, Touraine or Saumur in the Loire Valley.

Many of you may remember this as a retail $18 bottle on my shelf the last time I imported it. With a more favorable exchange rate and savings on shipping, I’ve reduced the prices, making these even more amazing values. To top it off, I’m offering this wine at a further reduced price in the sampler! So stock up now, as it will return to its normal price, and great value of $14.99 at the end of January. Don’t miss this!
$14.00 BTL. / $84.00 SIX-PACK – WILL RETURN TO REGULAR PRICE OF $14.99 AT END OF JANUARY – STOCK UP NOW!

2010 Renato Corino Barbera d’Alba
If there was one Italian varietal that I would always want at my dinner table it would be that of Barbera. Sure, the Nebbiolo grape of Piedmont achieves the greatest heights in terms of complexity and longevity, but Barbera is that old blanket you want to snuggle up with.

I’ve been really fortunate to offer a couple of Barberas on previous 6 for $60-Something Samplers, and today is no different. It isn’t typical to find a good quality Barbera at this price point, but with my excellent negotiating skills, I’ve struck another great deal to offer you one at a one-time, incredibly low price.

Renato Corino is an excellent producer based in La Morra. In 2005, his brother Giuliano and he split their father’s winery called Giovanni Corino. Giuliano kept the Giovanni Corino name but Renato created a winery in his name. The vineyards were split fairly, and the Renato Corino wines have instantly become as well regarded as that of the Giovanni Corino name. A workhorse in the vineyard and the cellar, Renato Corino is known throughout Piedmont as a great farmer. This is clearly seen in the wines, especially the “everyday” wines such as this Barbera. It offers beautiful aromas of cherry, strawberry and spice. Very silky, with lovely purity of fruit, and a bright, juicy finish.  This is a real steal so Barbera fans shouldn’t miss it!
*please inquire

2010 Domaine Fenouillet Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
This is always one of my favorite “French bistro” wines. You know, the type of wine that you could imagine yourself slurping down in between plates of cured meats and artisan cheese. Yep, this is the one.

Domaine de Fenouillet is brilliantly run by Patrick and Vincent Soard. They represent the 4th generation at the estate which is based in the village of Beaumes de Venise.  Their vineyards are spread across several appellations including the catchall Vin de Pay de Vaucluse.

This wine is a blend of Marselan and Merlot from vineyards in the Vaucluse. If you have never heard of Marselan, that is because it typically is used in very small percentages as a blending grape. It is a hybrid varietal, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. There is no tricky vinification with this wine, the grapes are simply crushed, destemmed, macerated and fermented before a resting period of 6 months in cement vats.

No need to hold onto this wine; it is meant to be enjoyed young. It shows lovely Mediterranean spices, red berry fruit, and a soft, silky texture. It is so easy to drink, you’ll “kill” the bottle before you know it. So dust off those classic French bistro recipes and pop the top on this delicious wine from Fenouillet.
$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

2007 Gini “Gran Cuvée” Brut Millesimato
I remember several years ago a wine importer proudly bringing in their newest Soave, a white wine that hails from the Northeast of Italy near Verona. The bottle was shaped like a Voss water bottle, only with an even more sculptured look. Their pitch was not about the wine and what was inside, rather the bottle and how inexpensive the wine was.  Needless to say, I didn’t bite, rather kicked the bottle and the person showing it to me to the curb.

For every 100 bad producers in the often maligned appellation of Soave, there is a standard bearer such as Sandro and Claudio Gini. Located in the heart of the region in Monteforte d’Alpone, each of their wines is made with such great care that it can be counted as one of the best wines of the region.

While still white wine is the norm in the region, it is a little-known secret that the family makes a vintage sparkling wine called “Gran Cuvée.”  It is produced from a third each of the local varietal Garganega, alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The grapes are harvested and pressed and fermented separately. The base wines are then blended and a secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle. It is aged for three years on its lees before being disgorged.  They only produce 8,000 bottles per year.

This is an absolutely brilliant sparkling wine, with great depth and character. The Garganega and Chardonnay provide those trademark dried apricot and citrus fruit notes, while the Pinot Noir adds red fruit and body to the palate.

An important note, this wine does not normally retail for $12. Normally it sells for around $32, and well worth it at that price. The distributor overbought this product and wants to move it while it is still drinking well. He gave it to me well below his cost, and you benefit. I only received 120 bottles, so I’m going to limit it to the sampler only.  Additional orders will be filled if there is any remaining at the end of January.

A great way to toast in the New Year!
*please inquire

2011 Enrique Foster “Ique” Malbec
It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to choosing an inexpensive bottle of Malbec from Argentina.  Many in the $10 price category lack soul and taste like a laboratory experiment gone wrong.

Luckily there are wineries such as Enrique Foster to restore my faith in humanity and the world of Argentinean Malbec.  Located in the Lujan de Cuyo area of Mendoza, the winery has three vineyards in different parts of Mendoza in order to reduce risk of hail damage ruining their entire crop.  Speaking of vineyards, Foster works with many old-vines, some of which are pre-phylloxera and un-grafted.

The winery is a money’s-no-object, gravity fed cellar, that allows winemaker Mauricio Lorca to make the best wines possible.  Mauricio is a young, but well established winemaker, having previously been at the head of the Luigi Bosca and Finca La Celia wineries.

“Ique” is the “everyday” tank fermented and aged Malbec of the house.  Meant to drink young, it comes from 30+ year-old vines.  The 2011 is mighty delicious – with hints at red fruits, herbs, and notes of pepper.  It is a savory version of Malbec, the fruit not tasting candied at all.  It is easy to sip on this all by itself, but ultimately, it would be great with a hunk of steak.
$10.00 BTL. / $120.00 CASE

2011 El Cortijillo Tempranillo
Here is a “go to” wine for those big parties and events that you may throw from time to time.  Very few places in the world can produce wine of any quality at $8 per bottle.  One place that can, albeit only from time to time, is that of Spain and the region of La Mancha.  Located in Southern Central Spain, this is the world’s largest wine region, with over 300,000 hectares, 165,000 of which are able to lend their name to the appellation.

Tempranillo is grown in great quantity in this region where it is also known as Cencibel.  Because of the warmer climate and dry conditions, you will find that most Tempranillo from this region offer a bit more alcohol and ripe berry fruit than the Rioja region.

This really tasty Tempranillo comes from Vinicola de Castilla, located in the town of Manzanares, within Ciudad Real.  A larger producer, they pump out nearly 12,000,000 liters of wine each year.

“El Cortijillo” is made entirely of Tempranillo from 30 year-old vines.  It is fermented and rested in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.

Bright and fruit forward with notes of strawberry, blackberry, and pepper spice.  This is very easy to drink on its own, and will be a crowd pleasing hit at your next large function.
$8.00 BTL. / $96.00 CASE

Hello and Happy Friday!

It is time to introduce the newest “6 for $60-Something” Sampler!

—

Before I do so, it is my civic duty to let you know that a new and very exciting restaurant has opened that you must check out!

You remember all those great underground dinners that I would participate in?  Or perhaps the famous and infamous Txakoholika at my store each Spring?  Well, the duo behind those great meals has opened up a restaurant!

Fat Rice – located at 2957 West Diversey blends Chinese comfort food with the flavors of Macau, a Portuguese colony. This casual restaurant takes its food very seriously, and you will experience many new flavors and some classics that have been executed to perfection. Oh, and the wine list is pretty darn good.  I did curate it after all!

So what are you waiting for – check it out!

—

Now back to that “6 for $60-Something!”

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 “6 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 Aglianico makes your belly button itchy, Chenin Blanc gives your vertigo 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

—

2007 Cantine Antonio Caggiano “Tarì” Irpinia Aglianico
It is rare to get a first-ever on the “Six for $60-Something,” but this is the first time I have ever offered an Aglianico from Campania. I am a true believer in this Southern Italian region, as it can produce some of the greatest, inkiest, full-bodied reds in all of Italy.  The problem has always been the price. There are some values in Campania as a whole, but finding a good sub-$15 Irpinia Aglianco is next to impossible. Till today.

What a great buy this wine is from Cantine Antonio Caggiano, one of the top producers of the appellation, most famous for his Taurasi. This is not the most historical property, as it was founded in 1994, but in that time, has established a reputation for making polished, crowd-pleasing, yet soulful examples of Aglianico.

If you have never had this grape, I should give a brief introduction. Brought to the region by the Greek settlers, it became famous in ancient Rome, even mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his writings. Known for being a full-bodied, tannic varietal, it is well-suited to the volcanic soil as well as the high elevation vineyards it is typically grown in.

“Tarì” is a great wine to introduce you to the varietal. It may not show the intensity or tannic structure of a Taurasi, but the flavors and spirit of the varietal shine through.  100% Aglianico di Taurasi, it is fermented in stainless steel and then gets aged in a second-use barrel for several months.

A very aromatic wine, dark and red fruit notes, combine along with pepper, herbs and mineral notes. Medium-plus-bodied, with well incorporated tannins and a fresh, bright finish. This is perfectly suited to wintry dishes, such as braised short ribs.
$14.00 BTL. / $84.00 SIX-PACK CASE

2010 Aveleda “Follies” Touriga Nacional / Cabernet Sauvignon
Very few producers in the world produce quite the range of values as Aveleda. The largest Vinho Verde producer in Portugal, also makes a range of red wines that, too, offer unbeatable value. The Guedes family has been growing grapes for well over 300 years. In recent years, the family has expanded outside their home base in Northern Portugal to regions such as the Douro and Beiras.

This red wine marketed under the “Follies” label comes from vineyards in the Beiras region of Portugal.  Located south of the Minho and Douro, this large region produces a wide range of varietals.

This blend of 70% Touriga Nacional and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Aguieira Vineyards in Beiras.  It is fermented in tank and aged for 18 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels.

Full-bodied, with dark berry aromas and flavors, hints at sweet spices from the oak and soft tannins on the finish. This is super-complex for the price and just a great everyday red for those looking for something with some guts.
$10.00 BTL. / $120.00 CASE

NV “Jeio” Prosecco Brut
Yesterday was a fun day for tasting.  Huge and I got a chance to do “the great Pepsi challenge” with a couple bottles of Prosecco. After all, I was searching for a good buy for this month’s sampler.  Finding inexpensive sparkling is more difficult than finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Over time I’ve learned that one place to find Sparkling values is Valdobbiadene in Northeast Italy, where they produce the grape Prosecco.

On the left was an unnamed Prosecco, paired next to “Jeio” Prosecco from the Bisol family. While there was a couple dollar difference between the two, they were worlds apart in terms of quality. That unnamed one was everything you hate about bad Prosecco, weird, inoculated yeasts creating bubble gum aromas, and a flavor profile that can’t decide whether it wants to be sweet or dry. In a word – disgusting.

On the other hand came “Jeio,” one of the handful of truly great values in sparkling from Italy. The Bisols are very well-known in Valdobbiadene, as their family has had ties to the region for almost 500 years. This value bottling for the family is named after the current generations father Desidierio, often called “Jeio.”

This is composed entirely of the Prosecco grape, which is also called Glera. Made in the traditional Charmat method, which takes place in large, stainless steel tanks and is bottled under pressure. The resulting aromas and flavors are clean, with classic peach notes and s nice freshness.

This is the time of year for mass consumption of bubbles, and if you are on a budget you would be hard-pressed to do better than this for the money. A terrific sparkling value!
$13.00 BTL. / $156.00 CASE

2006 Selvagrossa “Trimpilin”
The Le Marche region of Italy may be well-known for growing Montepulciano, but in the Northern part of the region, Sangiovese is particularly suited to the climate and soil. Still relatively unknown to most outsiders, Le Marche has tons of potential to produce topnotch Italian reds.

Proving this theory are the Taddei brothers, Alberto and Alessandro, who work their family’s vineyards with great care and pride. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically, with fava beans growing in the vineyards, tilled into the soil for nutrients.

This tiny winery produces four wines, 1 white and 3 reds.”Trimpilin” is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Ciliegiolo grown on sandy, calcareous and clayey soil. Vinified in stainless steel tanks and aged in 225-liter oak casks for 16 months.

I was able to scoop up the last remaining cases of the 2006, a vintage which the distributor has been aging for you, much to their dismay.  I cut a great deal to be able to offer this to you in the sampler.

This is a very tasty expression of a mature Sangiovese.  Classic cherry, spice and floral notes come together is a elegant, softly-textured mouthfeel.  Make sure you enjoy this with a meal, it is not a “cocktail wine,” but it will pair great with simple red-sauced pastas or pizza night.
$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

2011 De Meye Chenin Blanc
I recently tasted through an impressive portfolio of South African wines and was excited by several offerings, including this one from the Myburgh family. Located in the Stellenbosch sub-region called Greater Simonsberg, De Meye produces both red and white wines from estate vineyards.

Chenin Blanc, which is also known as Steen in South Africa, is a varietal well-suited to the Mediterranean climate of Stellenbosch.  Southeast facing vineyards, along with cool westerly winds during the summer produce grapes that have both good ripeness and as well as the requisite freshness.

The 2011 De Meye Chenin has very pretty aromatics hinting at tropical notes like passion fruit, along with citrus notes.  Clean and crisp on the palate, this has enough body to stand up to chicken or grilled fish. A very tasty example of South African Chenin. A great value.
$10.00 BTL. / $120.00 CASE

2010 Château Roc de Segur Bordeaux Rouge
I don’t know if you’ve heard but Bordeaux experienced the greatest vintage ever in 2010.  I say that with a smile on my face because, it seems that every one or two years is the greatest vintage ever in Bordeaux.

Bordeaux, as a whole, did experience a very good vintage in 2010, and we are starting to see some of the results as some of the inexpensive offerings have begun to arrive to our shores.

Château Roc de Segur is an annual best-buy here at Perman Wine Selections. Owned by the Vidal family, the vineyards located in the Entre-Deux-Mers area were replanted in 1990.  We are starting to really see the fruits of their labor.

This is truly a great Bordeaux value.  A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, from vines planted on clay-limestone soil. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and then aged in tank.

What you get is a bright, fruit-forward, mineral-driven red. This is the type of classic bistro red that should be poured out of the carafe alongside a dinner of steak and frites!
$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

Hello and Happy Friday!

It is the last Friday of the month, and that means time for another 6 for $60-Something sampler!

Don’t let this scare you, but guess what next month brings?  Thanksgiving!  Yeah, I said it.

Since I’ve got your back when it comes to stocking up for the holiday season, this month’s 6 for $60-Something focuses on Thanksgiving wines.

Need something inexpensive to bring for your Thanksgiving dinner with your 40 cousins?  Refuse to break out the expensive stuff for Aunt Hilda and Uncle Hank because they usually pass out by the time the first football game is over?

No problem – I’ve got you covered with this sampler!  I do have to point out, that this month’s wines are not just great with Thanksgiving dinner, but also with a wide arrange of food, or just to drink on their own.

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 “6 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 you refuse to drink Rosé after August 31st, Tempranillo is banned during the month of November or any other interesting reason why you cannot 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!

Have a great weekend,

Craig

——

2010 Mencos Rioja
The new vintage of Mencos Rioja is here!

Those who are regular PWS devotees will recall that I once called Mencos Rioja the best value in the region today!

I still stand by my words.  Having visited with Count Iñigo Manso de Zuñiga Ugartechea and his wife back in September, touring the vineyards and the winery and trying the new vintages, my belief is even stronger than when I first uttered those words!

It all starts with the vineyards, and the Count (he really is one), owns some absolutely amazing parcels of land near his home of Torremontalvo in the subregion of Rioja Alta.

How many sub-$15 wines from Rioja or really anywhere come from a great parcel of land with over 35 year-old vines?  The vineyard sits on the South side of the Ebro River, with a soil composition of chalky clay over gravel.

Aside from the uniqueness of the vineyard, what makes this particular wine so special is that it shows a side of Rioja that not many consumers in the United States are accustomed to, but should be.  The big bodegas of Rioja Alta have a choke hold on the market.  These bodegas mainly focus on so-called traditional styles, wines that have been oxidized in American oak barrels.  These wines can achieve great complexity, yet there are other styles to be seen in Rioja.

The Count chooses to offer you a wine that is both traditional and modern in a sense.  From those 35 year-old vines, he ferments in stainless steel tanks and then simply rests in bottle before shipping.  This allows the purity of the Tempranillo grape varietal to shine.

Don’t let the price or simplicity of production method fool you.  This is a very complex bottle of Rioja.  Bright cherry, wild strawberry and violet notes on the nose lead into a textural fruit focused wine on the palate.  A repetition of red berries, hints at mineral and spice emerge on the long finish.

This is an outstanding value, really one of the best Spanish wines for under $15.  It will go great with a wide range of foods, including turkey, but also with red meat like lamb.

This wine has gained such a great reputation at the store – so I know I’m going to see some excited folks!
$13.00 BTL. / $156.00 CASE

2009 Selbach-Oster Riesling Spätlese
In a lot of ways it is disappointing for me to see a spike in German wine sales at Thanksgiving.  These are wines that should be consumed at all times of year!

Those my age will remember the old Hanz and Franz skit from Saturday Night Live.  I’m reminded of this because most guys think that if they drink off-dry Riesling they will be perceived as “girlie-men.”  Well I’m here to tell you that your wrong.  This great German Riesling from the Mosel Valley is going to “pump you up!”

Selbach-Oster is one of the great names of the Mosel Valley, with Johannes Selbach widely regarded as one of its best winemakers.  The style of the Selbach-Oster wines is one of purity and drinkability.  The wines almost always taste great young, and certainly taste great old.

There is history to this estate, more than 400 years of Selbach’s growing Riesling in the Mosel.  The family is fortunate to own some pieces of the greatest vineyards in the region.

This Riesling comes mainly from the Himmelreich vineyard near the village of Zelting.  There is also a little fruit from the Hubertuslay vineyard near Kinheim.  2009 was a superb vintage in the Mosel, and the ripeness of fruit and pristine quality of the wine show this.

Bright notes of red apple and pear can be found on the nose and palate.  It has medium-weight and a laser-beam-like acidity.  There is such great balance to this wine, that the residual sugar is fully incorporated.

There really isn’t any better pairing at Thanksgiving than this.  A Riesling as beautiful as this can mesh well with so many flavors.  If you don’t use it at the Turkey table, then keep it around for spicy Thai food. You can also age it for a decade easily, then pair it with roasted pork.

This is not the normal price on this wine.  It is usually almost double this price.  The new vintage is here, it had to be moved, and you who buy the sampler benefit!  Do not miss this.
Please inquire

2011 Quintay “Clava” Pinot Noir
It almost never happens.  A Pinot Noir on the 6 for $60-Something.  I’ve told you it wasn’t possible.  But sometimes it does.  Your not going to find it coming from Oregon.  Clearly not Russian River Valley.  So where to find one of the best under $15 Pinot Noir Values?

Chile.  You’ve heard me talk about it before, there are very few places in the world that can produce value wine quite like the Chileans.

Quintay offers the value-driven line of wines called “Clava.”  The focus of the winery is on the cool climates of Casablanca and Leyda.  These two regions benefit from the cool winds of the South Pacific Ocean, as well as the cooling effect of the Humboldt current.

When you think cool climate, you think Pinot Noir.  It is a grape that needs freshness to produce good quality.  The grapes for the “Clava” Pinot Noir come from two different vineyards in the central part of the Casablanca Valley.  One vineyard has some clay matter in it, and the other is more composed of sand.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel tank, and bottled under screw top.

This is not a tweaked or manipulated Pinot Noir, and no, it doesn’t contain any Syrah.  This always maintains great varietal character, while showing a style that is light and bright.  A very spice driven nose, with flowers and red fruit, lead into a soft-textured mouthfeel.  The wine finishes with great freshness and balance.

This isn’t the second coming of DRC, Cristom or Benovia.  It is inexpensive Pinot Noir, well-made, and fun to drink.  Pair this with the bird, or it makes a nice match for salmon or roasted chicken.
$11.00 BTL. / $132.00 CASE

2009 “Selection by Kermit Lynch” Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
In recent years, well-respected importer Kermit Lynch has brought some excellent values to the table under a line called “Selection by Kermit Lynch.”

Kermit works closely with his producers to select fruit that might not make it into their own line of wines, but could be offered as a great value offering to his customers.

I featured this wine before from the 2007 vintage, and now it is time to bring to you the excellent, and well-priced 2009.  The fruit for this Southern Rhône wine comes from Domaine Durban, a well-respected producer located in Beaumes-de-Venise.

The Leydier family was selling off the fruit that went into this to the local cooperative.  Kermit convinced them to produce a wine from it that would be geared towards everyday drinking.

This wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot and 10% Marselan.  Fermented in stainless steel, it offers a pure expression of these varietals.  Spice-driven notes of kirsch, red licorice, and black pepper.  It is soft and juicy, and a true “bistro wine.”

Not all Rhône wines are suited for Thanksgiving dinner, but a softer style like this does work well.  This wine would also marry well with a classic dish like confit of duck legs.
$8.00 BTL. / $96.00 CASE

2011 Château d’Or et de Gueules “Cimel” Rosé
In my opinion Rosé season is never over!

Especially when you get to an incredibly diverse meal like Thanksgiving.  White meat, dark meat, sweet and tart cranberry sauce, gravy, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, veggies, well you get the point.  How do you pair that?

Take the freshness of a white wine with some of the red berry notes of a red wine, and you have Rosé.  Add in a lower alcohol content, and thirst quenching factor due to the fact it’s chilled, and now you know whey it is really a great match.

This year I’m recommending this terrific Rosé value from the Costières di Nîmes appellation in the South of France.  There are tons of killer Rosé’s from this area, but in my opinion Diane de Puymorin has a great touch with it.

This relatively new estate began in 1998.  Puymorin found some great vineyards for her estate and has been making delicious and individualistic wines since she started.

This Rosé is composed of 40% each of Grenache and Cinsault with the remainder from Syrah.  The Grenache and Cinsault are made by direct press, where the Syrah is made from the saignée method.  It is fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness.

I love when wineries use a combination of direct press and saignée as I often find they compliment each other.  The freshness of the direct press with the intensity of the saignée produces a thirst quenching yet serious style.

Aromatic notes of fresh strawberry and flowers, are accompanied by medium-weight on the palate, more red berry notes and a crisp but balanced finish.

If you fell off, get back on the Rosé-wagon, and don’t miss this value.
$9.00 BTL. / $108.00 CASE

2008 Novaia Valpolicella Classico
Some of you may wonder about how and why I get so excited about some of the offerings on the 6 for $60-Something?  When you taste wine in the $10 price category, lets just say there is a lot of really bad wine to sift through.

So when you run across a wine, such as this, which in its category, absolutely crushes the competition, even competing against some wines that are more expensive, you tend to get very excited.

Novaia is known in Italy as one of the great producers in the Valpolicella Classico DOC.  Giampaolo and Cesare Vaona are the driving forces behind the quality at this estate located in the Marano Valley of Verona.  It’s an overused line, but everything at this estate is done to assure the highest quality grapes and thus wines.

Their entry level wine is a good example of this.  It is a blend of the traditional varieties, Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella.  It is hand-harvested from their vineyards in Novaia di Marano di Valpolicella.  These are high density vineyards sitting on a mixture of clay and lime.

The grapes are fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks and rested in tank for 10 months before being bottled.

This really jumps from the glass with aromas of red plums, cherries, flowers and Asian spices.  Lightly textured this just glides across the palate with more red fruit and bright acidity on the long finish.

This is a standout in what normally is a sea of mediocre Valpolicella Classico.

The majority of Italian wines don’t work so well at the Thanksgiving table, but his wine marries perfectly as its light texture and bright acidity make it very easy to sip and can cut through all the flavors at the table.  Delicious stuff.
$11.00 BTL. / $132.00 CASE

Hello and Happy Friday!

It is time to introduce the newest “Six for $60-Something” Sampler!

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 Grüner Veltliner makes you loopy, Carménère brings back horrible memories from college 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!

Cheers,

Craig

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2009 Altano Douro Tinto
Portugal can have “bistro wines” too!

In fact, with all the development in regions like the Douro, we continue to see a plethora of value-driven wines that can be enjoyed on an everyday basis.

If you are looking to get adopted into a Portuguese family, I would apply with the Symington family.  After all, they only own 8 different Port producers, including Graham’s, Warre’s, Dow’s and more.  Oh, and add 4 Madeira houses as well as 3 important Douro wine estates and you have a winemaking empire.

Charles Symington along with Pedro Correia are the winemakers behind the Altano wines.  This value-driven wine is made from a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca.  The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in Cima Corgo and Vilariça.

Fermented in stainless steel tanks, the wine is aged for a short period of time in used 400-liter French and American oak barrels.

While this wine doesn’t have anywhere near the complexity of the top Douro reds today, it does offer lots of pleasure.  Bright red and dark fruits with hints of pepper and mineral can be found on the nose and palate.  There is enough body to match up with meats, but a seamless, low-tannin quality that will allow you to drink this with lots of different foods.
$9.50 BTL. / $114.00 CASE

2010 Fratelli Seghesio Barbera d’Alba
You will not find a better deal on a Barbera d’Alba than this one from Fratelli Seghesio.  Brothers Aldo and Riccardo Seghesio are well-known within the community of Monforte d’Alba.  Famous for their Barolo from the La Villa cru, their wines tend to be packed full of flavor and often times very approachable in their youth.

This Barbera comes from the Castelletto hamlet within Monforte d’Alba.  The Northeast facing vineyard produces a ripe yet fresh style of Barbera.  The Seghesio’s look to preserve that freshness by fermenting the grapes in a steel rotary fermentor, and then maturing it in tank for 1 year.

The result is a red fruit driven wine, with hints at red licorice and herbs.  I often talk about the versatility of the Barbera varietal with food, and I’m not changing my tune.  Barbera is great with those fall and winter soups, stews and braises.  It can offer the acidity to cut through any fattiness from meat, and the texture and flavors that pair well with veggies, poultry or pork.  Fans of Barbera, don’t miss this!
$10.00 BTL. / $120.00 CASE

2007 Anaba “Coriol” Red
Anaba is a dynamic young winery located in the Carneros region of Northern California.  Proprietor John Sweazey has gone to great lengths to provide the best grapes and winemaking facility for his winemaker, Jennifer Marion.  The focus of the winery is on Burgundy and Rhône varietals.

I have offered wines from Anaba before, and they have all been well received, selling out quickly.  I expect this week’s offering to do the same.

Anaba “Coriol” Red is their interpretation of a Rhône-inspired red from Sonoma Valley.  The 2007 vintage is a blend of 38% Grenache, 27% Mourvèdre, 25% Petite Sirah and 10% Counoise.  The fruit comes from three vineyards – Landa for the Grenache, and Teldeschi and Annadel Estate for the rest.

The grapes were kept on their skins for 22 days, basket pressed and aged in French oak, half of which were new barrels.

The resulting wine is a complex, rich and spicy red that should please any Rhône varietal fan.  Classic fresh cracked pepper notes are interwoven with hints of ripe cherry and strawberry.  This full-bodied red has excellent balance and a long finish.  It just calls out for grilled meats.

This wine normally retails for $28 per bottle.  The local distributor amicably parted ways with the winery, and in an effort to clear some space has priced it for me to sell in my sampler pack.  The wine is clearly worth its normal retail price of $28, and its lower price has nothing to do with the quality, as it is a delicious wine.

I will offer this as part of the sampler through the coming month, as my supplies are limited, your requests for additional bottles will be filled at the completion of the sampler.  Take advantage of this great deal.
*please inquire*

2010 Berger Grüner Veltliner
Ever wondered what wine was appropriate to drink for brunch or breakfast?  I do.

For me nothing says ‘wake up’ like the ultimate party wine – Berger Grüner Veltliner.

If you have heard my spiel about the great Austrian varietal Grüner Veltliner, than you will know that I often say that it comes in all shapes and sizes.  From the powerful, Ray Lewis-like examples from the top vineyards of the Wachau, to the gorgeous and refined Sofia Vergara-like Grüners from the hills of the Kamptal, and even the fun, delightfully refreshing Taylor Swift-like wines, like this one, from Berger in the Kremstal.

Berger makes some “serious” white wines from their 18-hectare estate, yet their basic Grüner Veltliner, bottled in 1-Liter bottles is anything but that.  Yes – it is in a 1-Liter format, topped with a crown cap, just encouraging you to drink the whole bottle.

Come discover the light and super refreshing style of Grüner Veltliner.  It offers loads of citrus fruit and minerally goodness with just a hint of herbs.  Next Sunday, I encourage you to invite some friends over for a smörgåsbord featuring oysters, smoked fish and various porky things.  It of course will go, oh-so-well, with this delicious wine from Berger.
$12.00 PER 1-LITER BTL. / $144.00 CASE

2011 Monteabellón “Avaniel” Ribera del Duero
It seems like just a few years ago there was no such thing as a great Ribera del Duero value for under $15.  The values would often be found in that $20-30 range.  Today, I am seeing more well-made wines in that Six for $60-Something price category.

With a modern winemaking history only spanning back 3 decades, Ribera del Duero grew alongside the modern wine boom.  It has also seen the same difficulties as other regions whose majority of wines exceeded “every day” drinking type prices.  It seems that growers and wineries in the region today realize that affordable wine should be part of the Ribera del Duero landscape.

Here, you have an excellent value from Monteabellón; this grower turned winery opened its doors in 2000.  With a wide range of wines from different areas within the region, the Avaniel Tinto comes from the Los Miles vineyard close to the river Duero.  Fermented and aged in tank, it provides a juicy, easy drinking style of Tempranillo.  With dark berry notes, hints at pepper and licorice, this would be well-suited to a regional food staple – roasted baby lamb.
$9.50 BTL. / $114.00 CASE

2011 Punto Niño Caménère Reserva
A couple months ago, I featured the Cabernet Sauvignon from Punto Niño, the value brand of Michel Laroche’s Viña Punto Alto estate in Chile.  With such a great response for the Cabernet Sauvignon, I wanted to feature their excellent interpretation of Carménère.

Carménère was a blending grape used in Bordeaux, but always had the trouble of ripening in such an Atlantic climate.  Phylloxera took care of that problem, killing off almost all the vines in Europe. Today, Chile is the largest producer of Carménère, as its  Mediterranean climate really helps its production. Today, Carménère is Chile’s flagship red varietal.

This Carménère comes from purchased fruit from the Colchagua Valley.  The grapes were fermented on their skins for 15-18 days, and aged for 1 year in 225-Liter French oak barrels, of which only 15% were new.

This is really an outstanding value in Carménère.  Ripe plum and dark berry fruits combine with trademark pepper spice, dark chocolate and soft tannins.  This is a go-to wine when pairing with beef.
$10.50 BTL. / $126.00 CASE