JULY CASE OF THE MONTH - $140
Catena Malbec Appellation La Consulta 2022
Established in 1902 Catena is one of Argentina’s top producers, with a range of quality wines from $20 up into the $100s. This Appellation Series cuvée comes from old vines grown at a remarkable 3600 feet in elevation where the combination of intense sun and cool nights creates an appealing marriage of cool climate complexity and ripe fruit richness. Deeply saturated yet elegantly restrained, the cherry raspberry flavors unfurl slowly yet confidently, surrounded by aromatic notes of violet, white pepper and a cedary earthiness before finishing with bright, fine-grained tannins. Originally $26+, now just $15.99
Notre Dame de Pallières Sablet 2024
A southern Rhône favorite over many vintages, this 2024 just arrived and happily is very similar to the 2023, marrying a polished, fine-grained texture to a gently rumbling powerhouse of fruit. The juicy marionberry and ripe blackberry flavors are friendly and mouthfilling, accented by notes of camphor, dark chocolate and wild thyme on the substantial finish. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. $14.99
Papa Roc Côtes de Gascogne Rouge 2024
Called a “light, chillable, totally crushable red” by the importer, this is great for summer when the food wants red but the weather says rosé. Super fragrant and expressive, flavors of mixed berry, dried currant and orange peel glide along the supple texture before finishing with a zesty cranberry snap. Refreshing yet substantial, this is a versatile summer drinker that you can reach for again and again. $14.99
Planeta La Segreta Grillo Sicilia 2021
A minor white Sicilian varietal that was nearly abandoned by the 1980s, Grillo is on an upswing and drinking this you can see why. Bursting with sea salt-sprayed citrus, it races through a fruit salad of lime, lemon curd, tangerine zest and grilled pineapple before finishing crunchy and crisp with light echoes of toasted almond. Originally $17, now $11.99
Celler Marià Pagés Senyor de los Pedres Emporda 2019
A wild, darkly flavored red, this comes from Spain’s most northeastern appellation, just over the French border close to the Mediterranean Sea. An unusual blend of Garnatxa, Samso (Carignan), Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it’s a powder keg of glossy black fruits, rocky minerality and woodsy spice that takes some airtime to disentangle. It’s as if you pureed black raspberry, blackberry, currant and fig with licorice, pimentón and cinnamon then strained it through granite gravel. More normal and tasty than that sounds, it’s a fun detour into less-traveled lands. $14.99
Vetriccie Ile de Beauté Rosé 2025
Drinking rosé on a Mediterranean island sounds pretty dreamy right about now… ahh, hopefully someday. In the meantime we can at least drink this lovely rosé from the Mediterranean island of Corsica. A blend of mostly indigenous varietals Nielluccio and Sciacarello, this is made in the classic Corsican style, dry and zesty with a vein of minerality that carries the refreshing watermelon/ strawberry/lime flavors into a crisp saline finish. Bring on the sun. $13.99
Welland Valley & Valley Barossa Shiraz 2019
The Case of the Month hadn’t seen a Shiraz for many years until a worthy closeout deal last summer that ended up being quite the hit. So with BBQ season now in full swing here’s another crazy price drop deal to pair with anything smoky, meaty or richly flavored. Textbook Barossa in style, this is big, lusciously textured and jam packed with ripe blackberry/plum sauce flavors and accented by even darker shades of espresso, chocolate and toasty oaky spice. Culturally it seems like the 1990s are having a moment – this big bold Aussie Shiraz will fit right in! Normally $22+, here just $11.99
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2025
The assertively sunny disposition of most New Zealand “Savvys” make them a good drinking buddy for our sunny summer weather and the new vintage of this popular favorite is crackling fresh and looking to party. This 90-point Wine Spectator review says it all:
“Aromatic and intense, with bright and expressive passion fruit, pineapple and mango notes that burst forward with plenty of generosity. A sleek frame, a hint of saline, and a thread of ginger and fresh herbs linger. Drink now!” $14.99
Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley Cromas Gran Reserva 2018
Owned by Bordeaux’s Rothschild family since 1988, Los Vascos helped bring the wines of Chile to the world stage. Their Cromas Gran Reserva line is a big step up in quality from their basic bottlings and this older vintage warehouse find is drinking great. Balancing punchy, distinctive flavors and a plush creamy texture, aromas of minty herb, cured tobacco and chipotle pepper lead to black plum and currant on the palate with light flourishes of chocolate and woodspice on the finish. Normally $21, how about $13.99
Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2024
Delivering flavor intensity and concentration without the weight, this is medium bodied and lively enough for summer but has plenty of richness and grill-friendly complexity to pair with fuller-flavored meals. The core of black cherry and wild ripe strawberry is shadowed by aromas of cocoa powder, orange peel, dried oregano and black tea before finishing with whispery tannins. $12.99
Château Fonsalade Saint-Chinian Cuvée F 2022
Saint-Chinian is a small, rugged Languedoc appellation about 30 km north of the Mediterranean coast and just south of the Cévennes mountain range. The March case included a Fonsalade reserve wine that highlighted the winery’s oldest Grenache vines. This Cuvée F is the winery’s calling card, 1/3 each Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre made in a classic, no-oak style that allows the purity of the fruit to shine. Medium-bodied and red-fruited overall, the Grenache and Syrah dominate first with a raspberry/cherry core that’s dense yet airy. Mid-palate the Mourvèdre takes over, bringing darker fruit, cured black olive notes and a dusty spiciness to close out the finish. $11.99
Clos des Lumières Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2025
A friendly and ebullient blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, this offers lush notes of honeysuckle, apricot and peach that roll generously across the palate, enlivened by a streak of fresh lemon zest acidity, hints of toasted nuts and freshly chopped lemon verbena. Juicy and fruity yet balanced, this is a nice change of style from the more common summertime crisp, minerally white. $13.99
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