January/February Case Of The Month - $115
COM = a mixed case with one bottle each of these winners
– or you can buy them individually as well
Once again we offer the January/February ne plus ultra case of the month: Greatest Hits of 2018. We’ve picked some of last year’s best-sellers and most talked-about wines and brought them back for a lip-smacking’ encore. Enjoy!
Wildstock Pinot Noir WV 2015 Ian Burch took over winemaking for 2015 at Scott Paul and continued the house style of clearly defined flavors and an earthy elegance. His winemaking skill is apparent even for their second label: polished and supple, the floral brambly aromatics roll into high tones of strawberry and raspberry, all riding a wave of crunchy acidity. The finish rounds out the flavors with a touch of savory grip. Originally $20, now $9.99
La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017 - The new vintage of this longtime favorite is even better than I remembered. Supple and caressing, pretty and perfumed, friendly and versatile - just like your dream date! A gentle wash of clean red cherry flavors floats across the palate, lightly dusted with cocoa and coriander, while mild tannins give it a traditional Italian feel. $11.50
Teso La Monja Romanico Toro 2015 Toro is southwest of Rioja and although 100% Tempranillo (called Tinta de Toro there), the style is quite different. Almost always darker, more powerful and one could say more “modern”. This wine is all about bass: muddled blackberry and plum fruit accented by notes of pencil lead, cumin, cinnamon, dark chocolate and espresso. French oak lends a creamy, softer edge but the grippy, fruit-encased tannins cry out for grilled meats. $11.99, normally $18.
Azul Malbec Valle de Uco 2017
40 year-old vines grown at 3000+ feet have produced this inky, concentrated red that reminds me of Petit Verdot thanks to its blue tones, dark color and structure. Packed with flavor, the macerated blue and black berries are joined by notes of graham cracker espresso, black pepper and probably a lot more. Open a bottle and find out! $12.99
Mayu Pedro Ximenez 2017
Talk about unexpected. Pedro Ximenez is known almost exclusively for making nearly black dessert wine in Spain’s Sherry region. This dry white wine comes from a high-elevation (6320 ft) vineyard in Chile’s Elqui Valley. The differences could hardly be more stark. The indulgent nose suggests an overall fruitiness but the palate is bracingly dry, minerally and spicy, a dichotomy that gives the wine great tension. Floral honey aromatics turn to crisp red apple and Asian pear while a perfume of freshly opened mandarin and a citrusy pithy sweetness colors the whole. $9.99
For a Song Petit Verdot 2012
This Washington red is a good example of why Petit Verdot is such a valued addition to many Bordeaux-styled blends, with a few years of age to boot. Dark in color with an iron-y structure, the black berry fruit flavors are joined by a cinnamon-sandalwood perfume and smoky cocoa overtones. Despite its bass note profile, a sense of airiness gives it lift, balancing the richness. $12.99
Florensac Picpoul du Pinet 2017
Offering an outsized personality given its limited area along the Languedoc Mediterranean, Picpoul’s name is thought to mean lip-stinger, a reference to its bracing acidity and citrus zest bite. This isn’t all sting ; here the refreshing limey edge is wrapped in a baby fat fleshiness of guava and peach that race smoothly across the palate ending with a final burst of grapefruit. $9.99
Fonseca Ripanco Aletejano 2016
Full-bodied and generous, this Portuguese red offers green tea and spiced candy aromas before diving into a pool of warm-toned fruit. The black plum and red currant flavors are concentrated yet lively and the finish brings pleasing notes of fig newton and graham cracker. $11.50
Bonny Doon A Proper Claret 2014
Hardly a proper claret based on the varietal composition, this California red nevertheless delivers dark smoky muscular fruit that should pair well with many a winter dish and certainly a nice grilled steak. A blend of Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah, this shows Tannat’s power, Petit Verdot’s blue fruit shades and the Cab’s mellow black plumminess. $9.99
Pajzos Dry Furmint 2017
This unique Hungarian dry white offers a lively burst of ripe Asian pear and juicy white peach followed by more unusual subtle brown spice notes, hinting at mustard seed and ground cumin. Fleshy and smooth on the palate in an Alsatian Pinot Gris sort of way, the richness is balanced by a vibrant tanginess making it a good wintertime white. $10.99
Chateau Freynelle Bordeaux 2015
2015 is a celebrated vintage in Bordeaux and a rising tide lifts all boats as is evident in this bargain bottling. Its vibe is youthful and friendly as bright flavors of cherry, plum and even raspberry wash across the palate. Although international in style, its Bordeaux provenance shows itself as savory green herb notes echo on the lightly grippy finish. $7.99
Barinas Monastrell Jumilla 2014
Modern in style with hints of the old world, this Spanish red has volume and presence backed by enough complexity to be legit. The fruit runs blue to black hinting at marionberry and the side flavors are reminiscent of Christmas as cinnamon stick, vanilla, red licorice and graham cracker weave in and out. $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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