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Usually, the "bin ends" sell themselves out from foot-traffic... yeah... we don't have any right now. So... some fun and eclectic shopping for everyone! You can click on the bullet to jump to the wine. Reply to order. Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas "La Louisianne” 2018
- Sale $39.99
- Buy 3 or more pay $37.99
- Six or more on Sale $34.99
95-97 pts Wine Advocate 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and the balance Syrah and Cinsault. A marriage of rich fruit and traditional winemaking, no punching down and no new oak, aged in cement tanks for 6-8 weeks after fermentation, and then transferred to large, used oak foudres for 12 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. What that does is allow the wine to breath, unlike stainless steel, and soften, without adding toasty, oaky flavors. From vines at least 40 years old, with some 70-100+ years, this is concentrated, potent juice, with layers of dark and spicy fruits, and a broad, savory mouthfeel shockingly lacking in tannin. The finish is impressive for its length and complexity. And yet all the power comes from perfectly farmed and ripe fruit, not a hint of new oak! "Raspberries, black cherries, tea leaves and violets all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, velvety and long on the finish." Juan Gil Monastrell Silver Label 2018
- Buy a case and pay just $14.99 per bottle
- Buy six and pay $15.99
- All Else on Sale $16.99
93 pts Wine Advocate In the past TEN years, the Wine Advocate has reviewed 10,424 Spanish Reds. Of them, just TEN others have been rated 93 pts and sold for under $17... An impeccably pure and focused expression of the Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) grape that explodes from the glass with aromas of mulberries, raspberries and blackberries. Bright acidity – the result of the cooler season - provides the perfect backdrop for the rich, luscious blackberry and blueberry fruit. Hints of anise add to the complexity, along with a hint of oak spices. The finish is long and lush. " This is a textbook Mediterranean vintage with a varietal profile mixing aromatic herbs, berries and spices, with a smoky touch. It has notes of esparto grass and other aromatic herbs and ripe berries. It has fine-grained chalky tannins and a dry finish. Truly Mediterranean and a textbook Jumilla. " WA Moreau-Naudet Chablis 2017
- Buy six or more pay $19.99
- That’s 33% less than the best US Price of $29.95!!!
- Anything less $22.99 on sale – Still a 23% savings off the Best US Price!
90 pts Vinous / 90 pts Wine Advocate Over the past 20 years or so, producers, led by radicals like Dauvissat and Raveneau, have begun swinging the pendulum back by reducing yields, hand harvesting of only ripe, clean fruit, whole berry pressing, and natural yeast fermentation followed by extended aging on the lees. Inspired by their example, Stephane Moreau began to change his family’s estate. And a funny thing happened on the way to the Forum… the generic, tart acidity that many claimed as “minerality” was replaced by a rounded, softer acidity and a vein of real mineral-inflected structure and flavor. Oh, and there is this crazy thing… the wines taste of fruit again! And you can still taste the “terroir” and individuality of different vineyards.
Ok… I think I’ve gone on long enough… a little ‘bout the wine now…
“The 2017 Chablis is absolutely gorgeous. The bouquet alone is so inviting, but that is just a prelude, as the 2017 has so much to offer. Orange peel, lemon confit and floral overtones abound, but it is the wine silkiness and grace that impress most. The 2017 is quite simply a wine of total finesse. Drink 2020-2029.” – V
“The 2017 Chablis Village displays pretty aromas of grapefruit, green apple and subtle citrus blossom, followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural palate that's pure and precise, its bright spine of acidity nicely enveloped in concentrated fruit, concluding with a mineral finish.” WA
Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett AP #12 - 2019 - Sale $24.99 - 95+ pts Wine Advocate
"Drink-ability, digestibility and versatility are cardinal Falkenstein virtues" —David Schildknecht
“Entirely from one plot of vines on blue-gray clayey slate soils with quartzite, the 2019 Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett #12 Kugel Peter opens with super clear, refined and bright Riesling aromas with slatey, floral and iron notes and even green olives. Juicy-piquant and pervasively salty on the palate, this is a firmly structured, sweet and complex yet fine picture-book Kabinett with grip and tension but the lightness and filigreed structure only the very best Kabinett wines have to offer. 8.5% alcohol." WA Riverbench One Palm Pinot Noir 2018 - Sale $43.99 - 94 pts Vinous
“Meet our One Palm Pinot Noir, the debonair one of the bunch. He’s polished and gracious, with integrated oak that won’t overwhelm the senses. This wine pops with a dark purple color, customary of clone 667, and coats the tongue with hints of red fruits- strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. Yet there is a dusty quality that brings in an element of earthiness, maybe dirt after the rain, adding some old world sophistication. Yes, we’re talking more Rhett Butler than Ashley Wilkes, make no mistake, with a sultry sexy, brooding and…dare we say it?...dangerous edge. One sip of this and, frankly, you won’t give a damn.” Laura Booras, CEO
““The 2018 Pinot Noir One Palm is a fabulous wine. Rich, savory and deep, but not at all heavy, the 2018 has so much going on. The flavors are dark and savory, which adds to the wine's mystique. Hints of lavender, sage, mint, tobacco and game show a wilder, more virile dimension of Pinot that is quite alluring.” Vinous
Riverbench Estate Chardonnay 2018 - Sale $25.99 - 91 pts Vinous / 90 pts Wine Spectator
“Are you constantly let down by Chardonnay? Does the thought of ordering it off a menu scare you, for fear you’ll end up with a glass of sad, watery something that tastes like it’s been left out too long? There’s nothing more depressing than a flabby Chardonnay, and it’s our humble opinion that too many winemakers cover up the gorgeous nuances of this lovely fruit. Before you write off the varietal for good, show this wine some love. Our Estate Chardonnay, which has a true balance between fruit flavors and an appealing buttery note, really is that good. Enjoy it with gourmet mac and cheese (a hint of bacon would complement the oak nicely!) or grilled trout.” Laura Booras, CEO
Laura, I'm gonna do you one better, and remind you of your Southern roots... try this Bourbon & Bacon Mac and Cheese! Oh my... click on the pic for a recipe.
“The 2018 Chardonnay Estate Grown is a delicious wine to enjoy on the young side. Lemon oil, white flowers, marzipan mint and white pepper are all nicely lifted in an airy, transparent wine. Bright saline accents give energy and verve, while there is good depth to the fruit. Saline underpinnings perk up the finish nicely. Subtle and understated, the Chardonnay is a terrific introduction to the vintage. Best of all, the 2018 offers superb quality for the money.” Vinous “Bright, featuring well-knit flavors of freshly cut green apple and ripe pear. Shows minerally intensity midpalate, with a finish showcasing savory richness and buttery hints. Drink now through 2024.” WS
The Paring Syrah 2018 - Sale $24.99 - 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck for 2015, 16 and 17… and this is even better!
“At the price, it's almost too good to be true. Readers looking for a great Syrah at a great price should snatch this up. You can’t go wrong with the 2018s, and the vintage is unquestionably in the list of top vintages for the region.” JD
“A blend of 94% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah, and a splash of Viognier, the 2017 Syrah gives up a terrific bouquet of blackberries, plums, ground pepper, and meaty, earthy notes to go with a medium to full-bodied, plump, sexy style on the palate. It's beautifully done and a stunning value. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years or so. Readers looking for a great Syrah at a great price should snatch this up.” JD on 2017
“It offers a rocking bouquet of bloody blueberries, lavender, toasted spice, ground pepper, and bouquet garni. This gives way to a concentrated, medium to full-bodied, powerful Syrah that has beautiful purity, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. At the price, it's almost too good to be true. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years.” JD on 2016

Gramona Brut Nature III Lustros 2012 - Sale $49.99 - 95 pts Decanter / 93 pts Wine Advocate
“This has great aromatic complexity, with balsamic notes, hints of petrol, beeswax, nuts and pollen. Dry, with a touch of bitterness, it's vertical and long, ending very dry and with tiny bubbles. It's more restrained and young and less exuberant than warmer years; this is more in line with 2010, more on the elegant side. The cork allows for a little more exchange, and they start with more pressure here, because it loses more. But it's super integrated and fills your mouth in a silky way. It's a blend of 65% Xarello and 35% Macabeo that matured with the lees in the bottle, which was closed with a cork stopper (rather than a crown stopper), for no less than 87 months. No sugar was added when it was disgorged. “ WA
“Biscuit and brioche aromas, with hints of baked apple and honey. Lovely age and complexity, a very good example with beautiful refreshing acidity.” Decanter Clos St. Antonin Cotes du Rhone Plan de Dieu 2018. (label for illustration) Sale $19.89 - Beats Best US Price Online
91-93 pts Jeb Dunnuck
Even the most casual drinker of Rhone wines has undoubtedly heard of Domaine de la Janasse. Many an argument could be made that they are the finest producer in Chateauneuf, and without question stand in the top 10. The estate has been run for the past decade or so by siblings Christophe and Isabelle Sabon, under their father Aime's watchful eye. As Aime prepares for Christophe's succession, he has partnered with Isabelle to form a new winery that she will inherit. Of course, being a tight-knit family, she has access to the Janasse vineyards, and her brother's winemaking expertise.
The geologic forces that created the terroirs of the Rhône Valley also formed the Plan de Dieu – a flat plain of red clay covered in gravel overlaying deep sandy subsoils situated just to the east of the ancient city or Orange. In many regards this soil shares a lot in common with the high plateau of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, most notably that which is found in Le Crau. But it wasn’t until 2005 that the Plan was elevated to Cotes du Rhone Villages status. Prior to that, it was somewhat of a secret gem. Yeah... and guess who has insider knowledge? The Sabons, of course!
Compare this gem with Chateauneuf at twice the price!
"Mostly Grenache blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre, brought up in demi-muid, barrique, and wood tank, the 2018 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu reveals a medium ruby color as well as a beautiful perfume of kirsch, crushed flowers, incense, and spice. It's rich and powerful, yet has an elegant, seamless style." JD |