March Case Of The Month - $115
COM = a mixed case with one bottle each of these winners
– or you can buy them individually as well
Petit Yllana Bobal 2013
New year, new you! So try something new, like this not-often-seen varietal from south central Spain. While Bobal from Valencia can seem Syrah-like in their body and flavor, this version from central Spain is more akin to Gamay, bright and aromatic. A lovely floral perfumed nose leads to fresh pie cherry and blueberry on the palate accented by mineral and turned earth notes, flavors that cruise along on a wave of crunchy acidity. $9.99
Andrew Rich Roussanne Columbia Valley 2014
Thanks to an end-of-vintage deal this popular offbeat local whites is priced low enough to include here. Roussanne is a main varietal in northern Rhône whites (along with Marsanne) and Andrew, a fan of the region, has made this local version for years. Well suited to the season’s cooler weather, this has a creamy rounded texture balanced by a zesty lift. Notes of salt water taffy, charred pineapple and toasted nuts are mellow and inviting, curiously appealing flavors that meander toward the gentle finish. Regularly $19, now $12.99.
Côté Mas Rouge Languedoc 2017
Apparently 750ml wasn’t enough wine for the party happening on the label so they decided to crank up the size to a 1 Liter. Yes, that’s right! One liter of southern French goodness for just 13 bucks. Bold and fragrant, the macerated berry/pomegranate coulis glides smoothly across the palate backed by a pastoral clay earth pepperiness. Mostly Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. $12.99
Squadra Rosso 2014
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (with Syrah and a splash of Merlot) from Sicily, this is a confident, slightly grizzled party-time pizza wine. Fresh oregano, mint and cured salami on the nose lead to flavors of just-ripe marionberry on the palate while a background of side flavors shift on through the finish. Clean and bright one sip, spicy and briary the next, it keeps the palate engaged and refreshed. Just the ticket after a long bike ride. $8.99
Il Volano Toscana 2012
Thanks to five years in bottle, this Sangiovese-dominated Tuscan offers more complexity and detail than expected for the price. It opens dark and moody with flavors of dried black cherry, grilled meats and black tea. With air, the chewiness loosens its grip revealing much more: notes of red forest berries, balsamic, blond tobacco and a supple lively texture that fades gently on the finish. $11.99
Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco 2016 - Cuttingly crisp and steely, this classy Portuguese white from the Atlantic coast offers fine, precise flavors of lemon peel, chalky soil and perfectly ripe Bartlett pear. Dry, salty and snappy, this wine is begging for oysters, sushi or other fresh seafood. Normally $19, we bought the last of the vintage so here just $11.99.
Radicle Red 2015 - An unsung hero of the northwest red shelf (the label is cryptic), this quirky blend from Lady Hill Winery offers a delicious compromise: the savory, somewhat structured quality of Bordeaux married to the juicy open-knit personality of most WA reds. Broad-shouldered and smooth, the peppery cedary smoky notes are a nice foil to the mouthful of black plum and red cherry. An unusual blend of Barbera, Merlot and Petit Sirah…but it works! $11.99
Durigutti Bonarda 2017
Although the second most planted varietal in Argentina, 100% Bonarda bottlings are not that common. Originally thought to be the same Bonarda found in Lombardy and Piedmont, recent testing matches it to an obscure varietal from the Savoie region; from the Alps to the Andes, I wish I could watch a documentary on how that happened. Anyway, this is a good example of Bonarda solo: black cherry and blueberry, violets and mineral, firm but supple tannins, familiar yet not. There’s a dried mint, animal quality reminiscent of the Old World matched to the inky dark fleshy juiciness of the New. $12.50
Couroulu Vaucluse 2015
Couroulu is a respected winery in Vacqueyras and this simple vin de pays bottling is made in the same mold as their burly main wines, just less forbidding. A 50/50 blend of Syrah and Merlot, you would be hard pressed to guess Merlot as the taste is classic southern Rhône: a slightly rustic yet juicy mix of dark plum and dusty blackberry accented lightly with aromas of wild herbes de Provence, cured black olive and a whiff of your neighbor’s barn. $9.99
Rivarey Rioja Crianza 2015
A great value for Crianza-level Rioja (aged at least six months in oak), this new vintage delivers classic Tempranillo flavors in a clean, layered style. Medium-weight and creamy in texture, the mixed plum fruit is plump and generous, dusted with appealing notes of North African brown spices and light cocoa. $9.50
Barbi Orvieto Classico 2017
This archetypal Italian white offers a lovely springtime vibe as floral almond blossom aromas flirt with garden herbs before turning to flavors of fresh red apple, crisp and crunchy. Light and airy overall ending with a kiss of dusty white pepper and wet stone. $9.99
Lenore Syrah 2017 - Prettily perfumed and surprisingly elegant for Washington Syrah, this new arrival opens with aromas of roses and savory underbrush, floral and woodsy. The palate is dominated by red high notes from raspberry to red currant, fading to dusty pepper-tinged blackberry on the finish. $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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