NOVEMBER CASE OF THE MONTH - $140
Chehalem Hi-Lo Pinot Noir 2021 and Pinot Gris 2022,
both Willamette Valley
Two terrific local deals from one of Valley’s best-known wineries, this private label was destined for the Hi-Lo Hotel in downtown Portland but oops, they labeled too much! It’s the same wine as the regular label, just cheaper! Perfect to share with out-of-town Thanksgiving guests or locavore friends, and at these prices you can again and again.
Pinot Noir Hi-Lo WV 2021
Showing the richness and density of the 2021 vintage, this is broad and fleshy with a taut black cherry richness balanced by brighter notes of strawberry rhubarb and brambly earthy notes on the beefy finish. Normally $25+, here just $15.99.
Pinot Gris Hi-Lo WV 2022
Produced in 100% stainless steel this is made to be a light, crisp cocktail style white with gentle floral aromas leading to crunchy apple and softer white peach on the palate, finishing with a dry lemony kick. Normally $16, here just $11.99.
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Plaimont Saint Mont Les Vieilles Vignes 2018
Now here’s a wine for winter! An old vine bottling of mostly Tannat and Pinenc (aka Fer Servadou) from a young appellation nestled in the foothills of southwestern France’s Pyrenees, the vintage is 2018 but it seems to come from a different era. The fruit is dark and deep, laced with a dusty stone/wet slate earthiness and wild umami notes of black olive, grilled herbs and licorice. Despite its heft there’s a surprising textural elegance about it as the firm black fruit is balanced by an airy silkiness – a well-muscled body in tight, satiny clothes. Normally $23, a spot offer makes it just $14.99.
Sobon Estate Old Vine Zinfandel Amador County 2022
Thanksgiving is always a nice time to revisit Zinfandel and family-owned Sobon Estate delivers a range of bottlings full of distinctive Zin character at great prices. This one comes from the Sierra foothills with vines aged 36 to an incredible 105 years old. Bold and mouthfilling it overflows with lush black fruits and zesty, spicy briary accents, ending with decadent hints of caramel and dark chocolate. $13.99
Travignoli Chianti Rùfina 2023
Traditional and appealingly rustic in style, this is awash in spicy savory dark red plum fruit with Rufina’s characteristic leathery underbrush note. It opens nicely with air, revealing notes of cola, dried oregano and star anise as the dense cherry fruit takes on a more polished texture before turning earthy again on the finish. $13.99
Loimer Lois Grüner Veltliner 2022
Grüner is such a great fall/winter white as its fuller body and lightly spiced herbal flavors pair well with the richer flavors of the season. Fred Loimer, based in the northeastern Austrian Kamptal region, is a highly respected winemaker and a founding member of Respekt-Biodyn, a certifying body for biodynamic viticulture in Austria. This Lois bottling is his Grüner calling card – affordable enough to buy repeatedly but good enough that you would want to! With a lightly creamy texture balanced by a core of peppy acidity, aromas of chamomile and white pepper lead to bouncy flavors of tangy yellow plum, green apple and lime, trailing deeper notes of lemon oil on the crisp finish. Normally $20, a flash deal this month makes it just $14.99.
Esporào Quinta dos Murças Minas Douro 2019
Showing a more elegant profile than most Douro reds, this comes from vineyards interspersed with natural springs that help cool the area and maintain the grape’s natural acidity. With a few years of bottle age, this has integrated, developed flavors – mellow plum, brighter cranberry, sweet/sour balsamic and spicy pimentón – as well as a background old world earthiness that gives it a sense of place. Originally $24, a distributor switch deal makes it just $13.99.
Château Virgiles Costières de Nîmes Rouge 2023
A repeat favorite that still delivers incredible value despite tariffs, this comes from vineyards just 15 km north of the Mediterranean. A blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Marselan, the high percentage of Syrah gives this a darker, fuller-bodied profile than a typical Grenache-dominated Côtes du Rhône. Soft and voluptuous with smoky, rosy, brambly aromatics, ripe blackberry fruit and a smooth juicy finish. $13.99
Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Bierzo 2021
From Spain’s small northwestern Bierzo appellation, this showcases a lively, fresh side of Mencia while retaining plenty of dark fruit and rumbling power. Opening bright and spicy, the red berry, plum and cherry fruit is shaded with warmer tones of cocoa and cinnamon and rides on a silky rail, getting darker and beefier before finishing with ripe, rounded tannins. $10.99
Tellus Vinea Bordeaux 2022
Mostly Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc from vineyards that border Lalande de Pomerol, this is dark, dense and winey with deep red notes of dried raspberry, currant and cherry. The fruit is interspersed with gravelly, spicy herb notes and fine-grained tannins, a great example of old school Bordeaux style married to a ripe vintage like 2022. $13.99
Galáctica Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Central Chile 2024
A custom cuvée for a quality/environmentally conscious importer, this pretends to be nothing more than a good honest bottle of red at a great price, something we can all use these days. With spot-on unmanipulated Cab Sauv flavors, it’s plump and juicy, rolling through mild raspberry, cherry and plum edged lightly with hints of baking spice and cocoa. It’s really quite tasty and pure for just $9.99.
Umani Ronchi Pecorino Vellodoro 2021
Pecorino is an ancient white variety likely indigenous to Italy’s Marche/Abruzzo regions just inland from the Adriatic coast. Originally prized for its bright acidity and expressive aromas, it fell out of favor due to its low productivity. These days as more regions and winemakers try to reclaim their individual heritage, Pecorino is making a comeback. These displays Pecorino’s trademark zippiness with mild tropical aromas leading to crunchy green apple, pear and toasted salted almonds, before delivering a final lemony kick on the dry textured finish. Originally $18, end of vintage deal makes it just $10.99.
Recent GWB Newsletters
Here are current and back-issues of the Great Wine Buys Newsletter to help you print out this month or find a wine from past issues.
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