OCTOBER 2026
Newsletter Features
It’s a Trip Down Memory Lane October this year as we have scooped up deals on “lost in the warehouse” older vintages at “we need the space” pricing. In late 2026 we are thrilled to be able to offer great-drinking wines from 2017, 2015, 2014 and even 2010 so dive in and have some fun. And if you like fresh vintages of past favorites, we have those too!
Xavier Vignon Châteauneuf du Pape 2017
$35.99/$28.80 by the case Originally $57
How wines like this get lost in a warehouse is a mystery but since we are the beneficiaries I’m not going to worry about it. After helping craft top-scoring wines as a consulting enologist at some of Châteauneuf’s most prestigious addresses, Xavier Vignon started his own label in the early 2000’s. When this 2017 was released it was hailed as his best work to date and almost a decade later it’s still drinking beautifully. Modern and bold in style, it is remarkably youthful with cascades of dark fruit, peppery spice and woodsy Provençal herb perfume. Sourced primarily from the northern section of the appellation to provide freshness, a high percentage of Mourvèdre and Syrah add a sumptuous dark richness to balance out the brighter red fruit notes of Grenache, and all these years in bottle has worked its magic, resulting in a complex, richly flavored wine. Any Châteauneuf du Pape at this price is rare; a nine-year-old bottle drinking this good? Awesome.
Saffron Fields Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2014 (!)
$24.99/$19.99 by case Originally $55
Another fortuitous “hey, what are all those cases back there?” discovery, this a such a cool blast from the past. With the winery needing room for the upcoming harvest, they were happy to make you happy with an outrageously low price. Way back when Obama was still president, winemaker Tony Rynders took about 55% Saffron Fields Estate fruit (Yamhill-Carlton) and blended it with fruit from Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills to create a complex, powerful wine that has aged incredibly well. Among the many rave reviews back then, northwest expert Paul Gregutt called this cuvée out for showing “reserve-level density and extra complexity” and suggested it would drink better after several years. Indeed, even all these years later this absolutely blossoms with air, waking up to reveal layers of detailed nuance and flavor depth.
Full-bodied and concentrated for a Pinot, black cherry and plum provide an anchor for the swirl of brighter, more perfumed notes of strawberry, dried raspberry, rose petal and cola spice while light briary tobacco notes add yet another layer on the soft plush finish. It’s sleepy at first, so we strongly recommend decanting to enjoy all this visitor from the past has to offer. A super cool one-shot deal, when it’s gone it’s gone.
Sangouard-Guyot Mâcon-Vergisson La Roche 2024
$24.99/$19.99 by the case Normally $30
The 2023 was a huge hit last fall and wisely (thankfully!) the importer again offered a one-month price break on this just-arrived vintage, so let’s blow it all out before the price goes up! 2024 is already seen as an excellent vintage in Burgundy and while this tastes similar to the 2023, it offers more minerally precision and citrus-driven energy – just what white Burgundy fans love.
Sanguourd-Guyot has been a family winery since 1799, farming around 30 acres mostly in Pouilly-Fuissé. This cuvée is a star of their line-up and arguably the best value. The vineyard sits on a steep limestone slope just below the dramatic Rock of Vergisson, right on the border with Pouilly-Fuissé. Fermented in tank then aged partially in neutral oak, it displays a crystalline purity cushioned by the gentlest of fruit texture. Bursting with tangy lemon, white flowers and crisp green pear, its racy intensity is balanced by a dappled background texture and a depth of fruit more typical of higher-priced wines.
Finca Nueva Rioja Gran Reserva 2010
$29.99/$23.99 by the case Originally $44
Calling all Rioja fans, here’s a happy, out-of-the-blue opportunity to revisit one of the great vintages of the early 2000s and yes, it is still drinking great! Finca Nueva was founded in 2004 by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio, a former Madrid University professor turned winemaker highly respected for his focus on terroir-driven single vineyard cuvées at Finca Allende. His goal at this “new estate” was tradition, updated – a fresher, more modern style Rioja still following traditional aging and production techniques.
100% Tempranillo, the taste is unmistakably Rioja, but compared to some older, lighter, dried out examples, this offers a sexier fruit-driven richness and textural generosity that plays counterpoint to the wealth of flavors and lively acidity. The perfumed nose careens around the aroma wheel, a heady mix of north African exotic brown spice, dried orange peel, balsamic, licorice and flashes of mole sauce. The texture is silky and supple with smoky, spiced pepper tones coloring the mellow blue/black fruit. Very much alive and ever-changing with air, the finish brings polished tannins that suggest this still has years to go.
Château Picque-Caillou Pessac-Léognan 2021
$19.99/$15.99 by the case Originally $36
The gift of the closing distributor keeps on giving with over 40% off this serious Bordeaux from the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Graves region. As one might guess from the name, the soil here is made up of layers of gravel and sandy pebble material, perfect for the excellent drainage in which Cabernet Sauvignon thrives. The best wines from the region are prized for a silky elegance and textural fineness to balance Cabernet’s natural power. Picque-Caillou dates to 1780 with a modern renaissance in the early 2000s; since then it has developed a reputation for overdelivering quality and character, even at its regular price.
A blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 25 Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, this clearly shows off its gravelly terroir with mineral-driven notes of graphite, Asian spice and pipe tobacco leading to deep notes of red currant and cherry draped over a fine-grained texture. Made in a classic age-worthy style, it opens and relaxes with air, filling out with more blue/black fruits and dark smoky spicy earth overtones, before finishing with polished tannins and a final flourish of mineral.
Vite Colte Nizza Riserva ‘La Luna e i Falo’ 2020
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
Covering a hilly area just south of the Piedmont town of Asti, the Nizza appellation was created in 2014 as a showcase for the serious, high-quality Barbera being produced and to differentiate it from the basic Barbera d’Alba/Asti. To be labeled Nizza strict production rules must be followed including 100% Barbera sourced from only certain communes, very low yields and minimum aging requirements (both in barrel and total. All these rules lead to higher quality and prices, which is why this Riserva cuvée is such a treat. Produced only in the best vintages and never available in the States until now, an intrepid importer discovered it at the Vinitaly trade show in April. With over five years aging, this is in a great spot, balancing richness, complexity and freshness, all for an unusually low price.
This 93-point Wine Enthusiast review (at $35) does it justice: "Vibrant blue- and purple-fruit aromas intertwine with delicate notes of iris and violet, complemented by sweet oak spice. Rich and lush on the palate, this wine maintains a remarkable balance, offering a generous and mouth-filling experience without overwhelming the senses. A solid structure supports the mouthwatering flavors, leading to a lengthy finish that leaves a lasting impression.”
Cameron Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Reserve 2024
$47.99/$38.40 by the case
The happy problem with Cameron is just when you think “this bottling/vintage is so good I’m going to load up on it” another one comes along that is even better! Last October customers went gaga for the 2023 Reserve and rightly so as it was a big step up from the regular Dundee Hills. Well, this 2024 kicks the “damn that’s good” factor even higher, tasting awfully similar to the single vineyard wines at almost half the price.
Honestly, I was enjoying tasting the wine so much that I neglected to take decent notes, but the 2023 comments below still ring true, with the addition of a mouthwatering freshness, a languorous dappled texture and more intense depth of fruit. A blend of roughly 80% Abbey Ridge and 20% Clos Electrique it offers all that lovely Abbey Ridge charm and elegance – floral rosy perfume, fresh summer strawberry, juicy red cherry – with Clos adding darker fruit, spicy savory notes and depth to balance out the high-toned, airy prettiness. Given the small production and high quality, this will once again likely sell out quickly.
Previous Favorites Still Available
Joseph Mellot Sancerre La Chatellenie 2024
$23.99/$19.20 by the case Originally $42
Perfectly timed for the lingering dog days of summer, this incredible deal from one of our best-selling regions is classy, nuanced and downright delicious. The appellation of Sancerre sits in the Centre-Loire area in the middle of France, much closer to Chablis (only 50 kilometers) than to the château-filled “Garden of France” middle Loire of popular imagination. Its three main soil types – seashell-rich Kimmeridgian clay-limestone marl, stony limestone and flint (silex) – give the wines an unmistakable and irresistible mineral signature.
This bottling comes from 25-year-old vines planted in flinty clay, fermented in stainless steel and bottled young to capture its energy and freshness. Initial aromas of flinty minerality, lemon zest and floral jasmine lead to juicy white peach and yellow plum on the palate. With air another layer emerges adding a succulent burst of lime, fresh chervil and kiwi, all propelled by pulsing acidity. Supple, mouthwatering and minerally, this is definitely the best deal we have seen from Sancerre in a long time.
Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes 2023
$21.99/$17.60 by the case Normally $26
This perennial overachiever has been in the shop pretty much every vintage since the 1998 and it’s a wine that clearly drinks waaaay better than its basic appellation would suggest. There’s a simple reason why – the enclosed “clos” vineyard that produces this wine is entirely surrounded by Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards, having been intentionally left out of the appellation in 1936 due to a bureaucratic spat. Old vine Grenache farmed organically and biodynamically in the stony terroir of Châteauneuf du Pape for $22? Yes please! Richly textured yet elegant, this overflows with spicy wild herb garrigue aromas and concentrated berry and black cherry fruit, with silky fine-grained tannins providing power and lift. 84% Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan.
Alta Mora Etna Bianco Sicily 2024
$26.99/$21.60 by the case
While most wine drinkers rightly get excited about Sicilian reds, the whites can be an eye-opening experience. At a Friday night tasting last year the lone white outsold the reds and at a more recent Sicilian tasting this was a big hit. 100% Carricante from the minerally volcanic soils around Mt Etna, this is rich yet lively, snappy and sappy with layers of intertwined flavors. Slightly exotic in personality, it blends white peach, ripe pear, lemon and mild pineapple with dried herb, white floral aromas and a salty spicy minerality. Alternately succulent then crisp, this yin-yang keeps the palate engaged as it rolls on through the long, lightly nutty finish.
Château de Font Vive Bandol Rosé 2025
$22.99/$18.40 by the case
From a small winery whose vineyards border Bandol superstars Tempier and Terrebrune, this new-to-Portland pink delivers textbook Bandol character and power at a fraction of the price of those famous names. Roughly a third each Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault, it is beautifully perfumed, all fresh red berries and summer roses with a streak of warm Mediterranean herbs. Roundly textured, the delicate nectarine/apricot fruit carries pops of sea salt, pink peppercorn and citrus-y kumquat. With more body and intensity than most rosés, this is great to pair with richer summer dishes or just when you want to amp up your rosé game.
Triennes Rosé Var, Provence 2024
$16.99/$13.60 by the case Originally $21
This sells so well it doesn’t need a newsletter spotlight but since we suggest it to anyone who asks for a rosé recommendation, we might as well put it in writing. Mostly Cinsault with a little Grenache and Syrah, it is quite simply a classic: lively, thirst-quenching Provence rosé whose effortless charm belies the quality of winemaking. Triennes is owned by two of Burgundy’s most revered winemakers – Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – and kudos to them for producing a wine that is such a joy to drink without having to overthink it. The Cinsault brings lovely floral aromatics and racy, lip-smacking acidity while the Grenache and Syrah add a gentle softness and zesty red berry fruit. A sleeper hit of the summer so far, grab a bottle and join the party.
Collestefano Verdicchio di Matelica 2024
$20.99/$16.80 by the case
A New York Times Italian favorite that often sells out quickly, this is sleek yet powerful, delivering a jolt of crushed granite, lemon and saline notes that invigorate the palate. As it opens and warms more nuanced flavors emerge – just-ripe pear, white pepper, orange blossom and lime zest – echoing about on the refreshingly brisk finish. The biodynamic 10-acre vineyard in the Marche sits up high in the Apennines mountains with wild strawberries planted between the rows to keep weeds down. Sounds like a dreamy place to work: the importer says winemaker Fabio Marchionni is one of the happiest people he has ever met. Living in a setting like that with a glass of this in his hand I can understand why.
Josep-Maria Vendrell Montsant Miloca 2024
$19.99/$15.99 by the case
This absolutely delicious 100% old vine Carignan comes from vineyards not far from the Priorat border, and with only 50 cases made we’re extremely happy to get some. Referred to as a “high-class country wine” by the importer, it feels both satisfyingly rich and vibrantly fresh with enveloping aromatics of piercing wild berry and hazy peppery bramble. The palate is soft and juicy, buoyed by a current of mouthwatering acidity. Its effortlessly joyous profile belies (or maybe highlights) the qualities that make it so – hand harvested organic 50 to 80-year-old vines, indigenous yeast fermentation and bottling unfined and unfiltered. 100% Carignan cuvées are rare enough, ones that taste this good for just $20… we’d love to see more.
Brunely Vacqueyras Les Secrets De La Licorne 2023
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
When visiting Gigondas producer Edmond Burle in the early 2000s I remember his son Damien shrugging in that Gallic way when asked about the difference between Gigondas and its less famous neighbor, Vacqueyras: “Not much really; you can charge more for Gigondas because it is better known.” Oh how I love an honest vigneron. Even if most southern Rhône aficionados would argue that Gigondas is indeed a step up from Vacqueyras, the differences can be slight, especially in old vine cuvées like this one. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from 50-80-year-old vines, it displays a Gigondas-like dark fruited intensity at a very un-Gigondas price.
“This brings a classic, Provençal style in its ripe black cherry, melted licorice, and sappy, floral, garrigue-like nuances. It's a rich, powerful 2023 that has tons of fruit and a voluptuous, layered mouthfeel. It puts its foot firmly on the ripeness scale while staying pure and balanced.” 93 points, Jeb Dunnuck.
Viña Nora Albariño ‘Peitán’ Rias Baixas 2024
$18.99/$15.20 by the case
While we love the crisp raciness that coastal Albariño is famous for, versions from farther inland can also delight, with a wider range of flavors and creamier, more generous textures. This delicious example comes from the most eastern and southern subzone of Rias Baixas, called Candado do Tea, and is made by the young rising star winemaker Emilia Schmidt. Its succulent peachiness is enlivened by persistent yet moderate lemon peel acidity and its swirl of slightly exotic flavors gives it dimension beyond the typical citrus mineral spectrum. Floral honeysuckle and tangerine slide into juicy mango and white peach with cleaner notes of crisp Bartlett pear on the finish.
Tacchino Giusti Barbera del Monferrato 2018
$17.99/$14.40 by the case
The 2017 was one of our best-selling Italian reds in 2025 so we were thrilled when this 2018 was recently offered direct from the winery. It offers all the developed flavor complexity and true Piedmont character that we loved in the 2017 in a slightly fuller-bodied style, making it again one of the most interesting and best value Italian reds in the shop.
Third generation winemaker Romina Tacchino and her brother farm just over twenty acres in the lush, forested hills of Piedmont’s Alto Monferrato region. Located northeast of Barolo and Barbaresco in the foothills of the northern Apennine mountains, the area is rich in history, picture postcard views and castles – as well as being the likely birthplace of the Barbera varietal. True to Monferrato’s reputation, this has a slightly more wild, aromatic personality than Barbera from Alba or Asti with vibrant acidity electrifying the dark plush fruit. Top aromas of oregano, rosemary and tobacco perfume the mass of spiced black plum and berry fruit while notes of wild strawberry, licorice and orange zest linger on the long finish.
Gaussen Vin de Pays du Mont Caume 2019
$19.99/$15.99 by the case
Gaussen makes one of the most old-school style wines in a fairly old-school appellation, Bandol. A small Provençal village perched on the Mediterranean, Bandol is quietly famous for its long-lived Mourvèdre-dominated reds and powerful age-worthy rosé. His Vin de Pays, from vineyards outside the boundary, is made from the same mold, albeit designed to drink younger. A blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache with a little Cabernet Sauvignon, it is redolent of classic cured black olives, wild pungent herbs, briary wet earth and dark dried fruit. Compared to some vintages this 2019 is open-knit and approachable, balancing its typical animale wildness with a juicy black cherry smoothness, making it a versatile wintertime companion.
Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2019
$59.99 Normally $85+
One of the iconic names in Montalcino since the early 1900s, Sassetti’s vineyards are on the Montosoli hill located on the cooler northern side of the appellation. Their style is traditional yet sneakily hedonistic, with a racy underpinning bringing life to the dark wild fruit and spicy aromatic accents. Usually in short supply or even allocated, a recent distributor switch resulted in excess inventory, hence this golden discount opportunity from the great 2019 vintage no less. Although this will easily age a decade or longer, we were surprised at how delicious it already is – sultry, silky textured and packed with layers of complexity. Acclaimed with a string of 95-point reviews from top critics, this one describes the magic well:
“The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is a spice box of a wine, opening with a burst of camphor and dried flowers, giving way to crushed blackberries, sage and cloves. This is surprisingly energetic and racy in style. Vibrant acidity propels depths of dark red fruits and inner floral as salty minerals saturate. The 2019 finishes structured and long yet still lively, leaving violet inner florals and hints of currant to taper off slowly. The combination of power, depth and energy makes this impossible to ignore.” -95 pts, Vinous
Klipsun Vineyard Red Blend Red Mountain 2022
$41.99/$33.60 by the case Normally $55+
A knockout single vineyard Bordeaux blend from Washington’s prestigious Red Mountain AVA, wines like this have given Red Mountain its enviable reputation. Bold and mouthfilling with serious presence and intensity, the saturated flavors cascade across the palate with polished tannins providing a sturdy framework. Mixed berries, black cherry and plum are joined by accents of tobacco, cedar shavings and crushed slate, appealingly wild aromas that meld beautifully with the dark fruit. Powerful and concentrated, this drinks well now – especially if decanted – but will evolve nicely for years to come. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 17% Syrah, 7% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc.
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