MARCH 2026
Newsletter Features
Luke Jefferson Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills:
– LS (Larry Stone) Vineyard, Lingua Franca Estate 2018
– The Head and the Heart Vineyard 2017
$22.99/$18.40 by the case Originally $52 and $66 Limited Availability
If you haven’t already bought some (or if you want more!) here’s one last chance to get in on the retirement sale deal from one of the Willamette Valley’s best winemakers, Steve Doerner. Not only did Doerner propel Cristom Vineyards to great heights, he also started a personal label with his wife Irene called Luke Jefferson around 2012 making tiny quantities of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. Now retired, he’s selling off remaining stock at crazy low prices.
At a recent Friday night tasting we poured five different vintages of The Head and the Heart: 2019-2016 and 2014 – same vineyard, same winemaking – and it was fascinating to taste how different they were. While every taster had their favorite, all the wines reflected Steve’s winemaking style – age-worthy, elegant and balanced – contrasted by the growing conditions of each specific vintage.
This 2018/2017 duo on offer clearly showcases that vintage variation and delivers two distinct personalities.
This 2018 from Lingua Franca’s Larry Stone estate vineyard drinks much like The Head and the Heart Vineyard that we poured. Showing the warmth of the vintage, the overall profile here is darker and softer than the 2017 with black cherry fruit and cola-like peppery spice lingering over smooth tannins.
The 2017 is classic, Burgundy-inspired Pinot Noir from a relatively cooler vintage. Despite being a year older this drank like a younger wine with brighter red berry notes, lively acidity and a floral rosy, woodsy perfume. Poured blind many would not guess this is an 8-year-old wine. If you want one to cellar and watch develop over the coming years, this is it.
Vincent Tremblay Chablis 2019
$22.99/$18.40 by the case
A local distributor’s Happy New Year Burgundy sale has gifted us with one of our favorite things – lightly aged white Burgundy at a great price! Vincent Tremblay is a third generation winemaker who farms organically and ages exclusively in stainless to preserve the steely, minerally drive that makes Chablis so endearing. With 5+ years in the bottle this is in a great spot, its oyster shell minerality and lemony acidity slightly softened and joined by a parade of other subtle notes from candied fennel and crystalized lavender to green apple and dried apricot. Still plenty racy, the texture softens midpalate a bit, extending the flavors, before a rush of lemon-lime flashes back up, energizing the mouthwatering 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.
Château Mitrotes Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2022
$20.99/$16.80 by the case
The 2022 vintage in Bordeaux is already widely considered as one of the greats, with many wines balancing richness with freshness and power with elegance in an appealingly open-knit style. The Merlot-based reds of Saint Emilion did particularly well and this internationally styled charmer is a delicious example. Generous and mouthfilling, this delivers a velvet-covered core of power with loads of black currant, cherry and blueberry richness backed by dark spicy notes of Asian spice, cocoa powder and toasted oak. The texture is sexy and lush, with supporting fruit-encased tannins that soften with air. Although this is already a treat, it will continue to improve for years if you can keep your hands off it. An excellent value for true Saint-Emilion.
Caves du Paradis (Olivier Roten) Pinot Noir/Gamay Dôle Valais 2022
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Gamay, this is grown on steep slopes in the Valais region in the heart of the Swiss Alps close to the French and Italian borders and offers an intriguing take on these familiar varietals. The nose is perfumed red berry laced with wintertime peppery spice and a light graphite minerality. The texture is silky and caressing while tiers of red/black fruit flavors glide effortlessly to gentle tannins on the finish. A classy alpine wine that offers enough depth and structure to pair with winter meals while remaining lively and fresh.
Domaine du Salvard Cheverny 2024
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
Near the end of a recent seemingly interminable tasting day this jumped out like a breath of fresh springtime air, a Sauvignon Blanc-dominated charmer from the eastern Loire that reminded us why we sometimes taste 35+ wines in a day – to find the gems like this. For longtime Kermit Lynch followers this is hardly a hidden gem though; imported by Kermit since 1992, this fifth-generation family estate is a reliable, over-achieving value vintage after vintage. That said, this just arrived 2024 tastes like the most complete version in a while. The nose is lovely, an expressive perfume of spring flowers, lemon verbena, mild tarragon and vibrant gooseberry. Delivering Sancerre-like flavors with a more mid-weight texture, it’s crisp yet caressing with Meyer lemon and lime fading into softer white peach, while the finish brings notes of crushed chalky stone and a refreshing lemony kick.
Previous Favorites Still Available
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.
Bodegas Breca Garnacha 2021
$18.99/$15.20 by the case
This powerful Spanish red comes from head-trained vines planted between 1900 and 1975 on a high-elevation plateau resulting in a wine of intensity and depth. The clone here is Garnacha de Aragón, the oldest and most genetically untouched clone of Garnacha in the world so while reminiscent of southern Rhône Grenache, it offers its own distinctive personality. Brambly black spice aromatics lead to dark cherry and blueberry on the palate, lushly textured yet firm, with lingering notes of licorice, black tea and sandalwood on the lively finish.
Domaine Le Mas des Flauzieres Gigondas “Four Danuga” 2023
$26.99/$21.60 by the case
Family owned and operated since 1919 Flauzieres makes satisfyingly rich yet traditional reds from a handful of southern Rhône appellations and this Gigondas is a star of their line-up, especially at this flash sale price. Critic Jeb Dunnuck sure liked it: "[This] checks in as a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. With rocking framboise, pepper, sweet flower, and incense-driven aromatics, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, graceful mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It has a kiss of modern character with its purity and subtle oak, but it's still a classic Gigondas that has so much to love.” 94 points
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.
Ayres Pinot Noir Perspective Ribbon Ridge 2023
$26.99/$21.60 by the case
We featured this back in May for Oregon Wine Month and it’s drinking even better now. Definitely one of the best fuller-bodied Pinot Noir under $30 currently in stock and a great value for 100% Ribbon Ridge fruit. The 20th anniversary of Ayres’ first release has winemaker Brad McLeroy doing what he has done since the beginning, quietly producing excellent value, true-to-terroir, deliciously-drinking Pinot Noir. This bottling is mostly estate fruit along with neighboring Armstrong Vineyard and delivers loads of spicy, soil-driven Ribbon Ridge character in a dark-fruited, powerfully punchy style. Aromas of bright red berry and elegant floral tones lead to a beefier core of tangy black raspberry, cherry and peppery black soil. Youthful and lively, the suave texture, juicy tannins and dark flavors makes this a great choice for those who like their Pinot Noir with some meat on the bone.
Monte Tondo "Campo Grande" Ripasso della Valpolicella 2020
$20.99/$16.80 by the case
A satisfying, velvety smooth option any time of the year, there’s something about the cold, early dark evenings of winter that makes the saturated richness of Ripasso style feel even more comforting and indulgent. Ripasso is sort of halfway-to-Amarone; after pressing the dried grapes from which Amarone is made, an already finished Valpolicella wine is passed over/through its pomace. The resulting wine is richer in body and flavor but not as over-the-top intense as the Amarone style it emulates. This one from our old friends at Monte Tondo is generous and sexy in style with plush waves of dark cherry, brighter raspberry and appealing shades of spiced raisin, cocoa and baking spice.
Alcide Toscana 2015
$25.99/$20.80 by the case Originally $65!
The more internationally styled of the two, this blends 50% Sangiovese (from 70-year-old vines) with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon to produce a fuller bodied wine with darker, Cabernet-influenced flavors like cassis, black cherry and blackberry. Despite the more modern feel, the old vine Sangiovese still shines through adding a clear Tuscan flavor background of fennel seed, wild mushroom umami and a forest floor fragrant earthiness. With a great balance of lively acidity, food-friendly tannins and smooth rich fruit this is in a lovely spot right now and should continue to charm for another few years.
Tre Donne Barbera d’Alba 2021
$19.99/$15.99 by the case Originally $25
Following the wild success of last month’s Tre Donne Nebbiolo offer, we scooped up all of this, another of their delicious reds from the terrific 2021 vintage, also discounted to help clear out inventory from a closed Midwest distributor. The fruit here comes from 30 to 48-year-old hillside vines in Neive – in the heart of Barbaresco – and is made in a generous, plush style with light, food-friendly tannins rounding out the finish. The fruit leans dark yet lively, a mix of black raspberry, cherry and plum with classic Piedmont aromatic notes of cured tobacco, licorice, menthol and floral rose adding dimension and depth.
Abbey Road Farm Chardonnay Yamhill-Carlton 2021
$17.99/$14.40 by the case Originally $36
A slam dunk end of vintage deal, this terrific organic Chardonnay showcases the white Burgundy-inspired, lively style that Oregon is known for, married to a lightly creamy texture and a wealth of detailed flavors. Succulent apple and pear are accented with notes of toasted almond, warm spice and a hint of vanilla, while a precise beam of lemony acidity provides focus and lift. The finish is dry and supple, trailing notes of dried white fruit, jasmine and mandarin peel. With acclaimed winemaker Blair Trathen at the helm of this 82-acre working farm with an onsite B&B, the buzz around Abbey Road Farm keeps buzzing stronger and this is a great introduction to their wines.
L'Ecole No 41 Frenchtown Red Columbia Valley 2023
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
This Walla Walla icon likely needs no introduction. Founded in 1983 in a former schoolhouse on the edge of town, they were the third bonded winery after Leonetti and neighbor Woodward Canyon and have been making consistently great wine ever since; so consistent that sometimes we take them for granted. Tasting through the whole line up last month we were reminded just how rock solid they are and so fairly priced for Walla Walla-based wines.
This Bordeaux-meets-Rhône blend captures their balanced, flavorful style and totally overdelivers for the price, with a string of 90+ point reviews – a feat not often achieved by most $20 range WA reds. A blend of eight varietals, it melds richness and freshness, dark fruits and bright, with a lush juicy texture held in check by fine-grained tannins. The flavors are copious yet integrated with lots of red/black berry, crisp cherry and currant framed by purple floral and cedary mulling spice aromas.
Les Vignerons de Yura Jurançon Sec 2023
$19.99/$15.99 by the case
From a small, rarely seen appellation in southwestern France whose vineyards have a close-up view of the majestic Pyrenees, comes this marvel of a white wine, a super vibrant and expressive blend of Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng that balances aromatic intensity, generous delectable flavors and mouthwatering acidity. The appellation Jurançon is best known for its sweet wines (if it is known at all) and while we sometimes have a Jurançon Sec (dry) in stock, it is often overlooked, lost amongst the jumble of lesser-known southwestern French appellations like Tursan, Madiran or Sant Mont.
This one however deserves the spotlight – its flavor explosion will arouse your palate from the winter doldrums, and its ample body makes it a great choice for richer winter dishes. While our notes are littered with plenty of adjectives, this 97-point review from Decanter captures the essence: "Decadent aromas of mango, pineapple, orange peel and quince rustle over the sublime smoky wood character. Ripe and rounded with a mesmerizing salve of acidity and a lengthy mouth-watering finish. Brimming with style and finesse." – Decanter, World Wine Awards, 6/25.
Domaine Kientzler Pinot Blanc Alsace 2023
$21.99/$17.60 by the case
We’re thrilled to have this back in stock after a six-month drought but given the current thirst for Alsatian Pinot Blanc it may not last long. This has been a favorite in the Kientzler line-up for years and again stood out among the new arrivals. The fruit comes from 35-year-old vines nestled in the hillsides around the storybook medieval village of Ribeauvillé, along the winding two-lane Route des Vins d’Alsace. Its aromatic and textural generosity is balanced by a driving energy and snappy vibe as white floral aromas lead to pear and dried mango edged with lemon and brown spice, flavors that melt gently on the dry, rounded finish.
Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2022
$25.99/$20.80 by the case
One of the original members of the legendary Gang of Four who in the 1980s advocated for Beaujolais to be made in the traditional way, Jean Foillard’s wines are as unmanipulated as the Beaujolais Nouveau of that era was manipulated. A longtime Kermit Lynch staple, his wines continue to be textbook examples of Gamay – transparent, pure and full of terroir-driven character. This is the last of the 2022 vintage – pre-tariff and drinking so deliciously right now that we were surprised it was still available.
Sourced from organic, granite soil vineyards on the boundaries of Morgon, Saint-Amour and Lancié, this Villages-level wine drinks better than many Cru-level Beaujolais. There’s a dense yet yielding core of spiced dark plum emitting aromatic waves of bright pomegranate, black raspberry and floral wild violet. The texture is velvety yet buoyant, gliding effortlessly across the palate as you ask yourself: do I make mental notes of this flavor complexity or just hedonistically chug this? Oh, so many decisions to make!
J.C. Somers Joie de Chien Gamay Noir Laurelwood District 2024
$20.99/$16.80 by the case
With over 30 years’ experience making Pinot Noir in the Valley winemaker Jay Somers (founder of J. Christopher and long-ago Cameron assistant) creates reds of balance, elegance and pleasure and he totally nailed this new arrival. Sourced from older Gamay vines in the Chehalem Mountain's Laurelwood District and aged in neutral wood, it offers the fresh drink-me-now juiciness that makes Gamay so charming, paired with a supple mouthfeel and color wheel complexity. A lively jumble of mixed berry flavors - red, black and blue - melts into softer plum, giving the palate a light cushiony roundness. A beam of spiced cranberry electrifies the back end before shifting into a faintly smoky, black tea crunch while the finish echoes with notes of pie cherry, dried blueberry and cinnamon stick.
Domaine Fond Croze Cairanne 2022
$19.99/ $15.99 by the case
Last summer/fall we featured two southern Rhône village cuvées from this unpretentious gem of a family winery, the Vaison La Romaine followed by their Rasteau. After recently tasting this, another outstanding village bottling in their line-up, we loaded up at its pre-tariff price. A blend of 50% Grenache and 25% each Mourvèdre and Carignan, its personality lands somewhere between the other cuvées mentioned above. Offering an irresistible juiciness balanced by a concentrated core of fruit, it’s energetic and lively with a cascade of rich, pure flavors. The texture is silky, loaded with red and blue berry and cherry fruit, all perfumed by light notes of herbes de Provence and subtle ground pepper. If you liked the now sold out Crous Saint Martin Cairanne, this is an awesome follow up.
Fento Albarino Rias Baixas 2024
$23.99/$19.20 by the case
The new vintage of this beloved mineral-driven Spanish white arrived last month and we’re thrilled to say it’s as good as ever. A personal family project of winemaker Eulogio Pomares (Bodegas Zarate) and wife Rebeca Montero, the fruit comes from organic, dry-farmed vineyards composed of mica and granite. With minimal intervention during winemaking – native yeast, stainless steel, low sulfur – the essence of the fruit and rocky terroir shines through. Expressive and brimming with a youthful energy, the nose offers a floral perfume of salted lime, white flowers and summer melon. The palate is snappy yet roundly supple, dripping with Meyer lemon and fresh pear, flavors that remain supercharged through the crisp spearmint-laced finish.
Belle Pente Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton 2022
$34.99/$28 by the case
We’ve long been fans of Brian O’Donnell’s Pinot Noirs, wines that effortlessly combine elegance, detailed complexity and an overall flavor saturation that gives them their own personality, while still tasting like a quintessential Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. His Yamhill-Carlton cuvée is all declassified estate fruit, an intentional blend of early pick, late pick and press wine that delivers classic Yamhill-Carlton character in a drink now, accessible style. As always the aromatics here are lovely, an enticing mix of floral violet, dusty blueberry, tangy rhubarb and savory spice. The palate is refined and delicate, with high tone raspberry cherry and fertile soil notes unfurling on a bed of light tannins. Aeration does wonders for this youthful new release, so let it breathe to take advantage of all it has to offer.
La Fond de Notre Dame Gigondas “Le Mas” 2022
$23.99/$19.20 by the case
Sourced directly last fall just as the 2022 vintage excitement was beginning, this marries youthful power and graceful beauty, packed with all the flavors/aromas we love in southern Rhône reds. With an average vine age of 70 years, there’s a deep intensity hiding below the polished, glossy surface. The dark cherry/blackberry fruit is perfumed by the many sunny scents of southern France – floral lavender, savory herbes de Provence, umami black olive tapenade – while the finish brings enough of Gigondas’ classic hearty earthiness to show this is no mere Côtes du Rhône.
Domaine Les Gryphées Beaujolais Cuvée Centenaire Les Balmes 2023
$16.99/$13.60 by the case
A silly value for a wine coming from low-yielding 103 year-old vines, this marries the easy-going, insouciant charm of young Gamay to a richer texture and concentration level more typical of pricier Cru Beaujolais. The vineyard sits on a steep slope (balmes in local dialect) in a mix of limestone, clay and golden chalk, a mineral-rich soil that helps define the region. Winemaking is old school – hand harvests, indigenous yeast fermentation and aging in old large barrels (foudres) – to produce a wine of character and place. The nose is all purple flowers and mixed wild berries, with deeper cherry and appealing baking spices joining on the palate as Gamay’s trademark acidity keeps the flavors sailing along, high, crunchy and bright.
Amalie Robert Pinot Noir The Uncarved Block Willamette Valley 2016
$30.99/$24.80 by the case
Allow me to let the late, great wine critic Josh Raynolds make the introduction here: "Dena Drews and Ernie Pink have been quietly producing some of Oregon's most elegant and perfumed Pinots since the 2004 vintage. Their 30-acre vineyard outside the town of Dallas, abutting the famed Freedom Hill vineyard, is painstakingly farmed and yields are kept low so production of these wines is limited. Winemaking includes abundant use of whole clusters, which is no doubt responsible for the wines' exotic bouquets and sneaky structure…"
Dena and Ernie clearly love what they do and seem in no hurry to push their progeny from the nest. Multiple past vintages are still available; we currently stock 2010, 2012 and this lovely 2016 which is a blend of all the different blocks of their vineyard, a balanced reflection of varied soil types, microclimates and clonal selection. Dark fruited and spicy, it’s a perfect combination of the winery’s elegant style and a warm vintage, with its generous yet silky texture and deep well of flavors. At eight years from harvest, it has a mellow, integrated feel as subtle sandalwood and pipe tobacco aromas perfume the dark cherry fruit and linger on the long juicy finish. As I wrote simply in my tasting notes, “delicious older vintage, very cool for the price.”
Secret Squirrel Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2019
$20.99/$16.80 by the case
Without a doubt our best-selling NW Cab over the past six months, the vintage recently rolled into 2018 and the cases keep rolling out the door. The well-known secret here is that this is made by Corliss Cellars, one of Walla Walla’s most prestigious wineries. But… if you don’t know that or don’t like animal labels you might not pick this one up. The quality and taste, however, are exactly what you would expect from a winery like Corliss and this new vintage tastes a lot like the 2017, just a bit bolder and more concentrated. Full-bodied and polished, the blackberry, black currant and cherry kirsch flavors are accented by bass notes of cedar, dark chocolate and spicy oak. Despite its age there’s still plenty of power and muscle below; with air it softens and gets prettier revealing brighter red berry, rosy floral aromas and even a subtle lemony lift. A much nicer wine than the price suggests, the Wine Advocate minced no words in their review: "this wine over-delivers for the price and will outperform the competition once it's released. Buy it by the case.”
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