SELECT SIX FOR MAY 2018

2017 OSTATU RIOJA ALAVESA BLANCO
Bordeaux and Rioja share a lot of common history and DNA in their wines. The structure and age-worthiness of the red wines from both regions are strikingly similar, and surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) so are the white. Depending on the blend of grapes used and the use or absence of oak use, the wines can be either fresh and bright or intensive and long lived. This one falls into the 'fresh and bright' category, built from a blend of Viura and Malvasia aged on their lees in stainless steel, but also using native yeasts for fermentation to bring out a unique complexity. Clean and almost clear in color, the nose is mostly stone fruits and melons, a classic aspect of the Viura, along with a prettiness of flowers and black tea from the Malvasia. The native yeasts keep the aromas from getting TOO fruity or tropical, bringing out some subtle savory notes that make the aromas increasingly exotic as it opens up. The palate has a lot of Viura's round waxy mouthfeel, intensified by aging on the lees which brings out a light tannin texture on the finish. 
Regular Price $16.99, $14.44/case

2016 CH. LA MOTHE DU BARRY BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR
After the nearly picture perfect 2015 vintage in Bordeaux, a year when pretty much everyone with vines made a really good to great wine, the 2016 vintage forced them to do a little work. Cool wet weather in the Spring forced a lot of early work to avoid flowering and mold issues that can affect crop size and grape quality. Those that did the work were rewarded with a dry Summer that provided well ripened grapes and very high quality wine in the end. While there may not be quite as many values out there as 2015, it isn't like they will be that hard to find. This Biodynamic producer was featured at the end of March in the Washing Post and really shows off the ripe fruit and energy of the vintage, essentially Merlot but with a lot more earth and cocoa-fine tannins than usually found in this price point. Don't spend all your Bordeaux budget for the next decade on just 2015, you will miss out on some beauties!
Regular Price $13.99, $11.89/case

2015 TUCK BECKSTOFFER WINE 'THE '75' SAUVIGNON BLANC
 In the mid-1960 Tuck's father Andy moved his family from Richmond, VA to Napa as part of the Heublein Company, which had purchased several prized vineyard sites in Napa. Over the decades the vineyard management company grew to own and farm over 2,500 acres in Napa, Mendocino and Red Hills, providing fruit for some of the most acclaimed wines in the 80's and 90's. Tuck has followed in the family business, but also moved into the winemaking side about 20 years ago, taking his extensive vineyard knowledge into growing and acquiring grapes for his own projects. The 75 Wine Co. label is more of an entry level label, using mostly sourced fruit from various appellations yet still show great distinction. The aromas definitely give a sense of the wine being from 'cool climate' sources like Mendocino and Red Hills/Lake County, which provides fruit with crisper fruit aromas and more natural acidity, and the palate definitely shows that off as well with an almost Loire-like racy texture and cool minty vibrancy. There is a touch of the New Zealand style gooseberry fruit on the finish, just enough to give a tanginess to the palate but does not dominate the flavors at all. 
Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case

2017 ALAIN JAUME/GRAND VENEUR COTES DU RHONE ROSE RESERVE
For this round of the Select Six, the Rose will be playing the part of a Red wine. See how versatile they are? The Alain Jaume and Grand Veneur labels should be fairly familiar to frequent shoppers in our store, as well as other quality stores around the state, as their importer is based here in Virginia and they have a very large number of bottlings in their portfolio. With estate owned vineyards going into the Grand Veneur wines and sourced vineyards going into the Alain Jaume, the family run property makes a seemingly endless lineup of wines that hit great quality for the price at all levels. Clean, fresh, almost salmon-colored in the style of a Provencal Rose more so than those from closer by Tavel, but with a bit more softness and fruit on the palate. This is yet another strong option for warm weather drinking either chilled down on its own or with light Summer dinners.
Regular Price $13.99, $11.89/case

2016 CH. DE FONTENILLE ENTRE-DEUX-MERS BORDEAUX BLANC
When you don't want to throw around a lot of money looking for solid everyday wines, it often pays to seek out some of the emerging regions on the edges of the more famous names. Entre-deux-Mers is the land in between the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers that merge near the city of Bordeaux and form the large Gironde estuary. While their wines don't have the reputation or hype associated with their neighbors further downstream, the quality is still very solid, and there is actually a much higher percentage of white wine produced here as well. This comes from an estate that is routinely considered among the best in the region and exemplifies the quality you can get for the dollar. A classic blend of primarily Sauvignon Blanc with equal splashes of Semillon, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris, this sees no oak so it's all about the freshness and vibrancy of the fruit. The Semillon provides a bit of body and richness on the palate, and the Muscadelle gives a pop of aromatics, but the Sauvignon Blanc takes the main stage with lots of green citrus and herb tinged acidity on the finish.
Regular Price $12.99, $11.04/case

2015 BODEGAS VOLVER 'ACTEA' MONASTRELL
A unique find for us, and a great value for you! This label is a limited private release made by renowned Spanish wine importer Jorge Ordonez from a single source of older vine dry farmed Monastrell from the Alicante region. The bad news is that if you end up liking it as much as we do, you won't be able to find it again as it's likely a one time availability. The good news is that you get a ridiculously good deal for at least a little while. Deep, inky color with black fruit aromatics to match, this has a surprising amount of structure to keep it from lapsing into an over-extracted ooze-monster, and has great complexity that nobody could get tired of at this price. Durable enough to keep for a time in the cellar, this will be a hidden treasure for many people to break out for weekend cookouts.
Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case

These wines regularly sell for $89.94
For Select Six May they are $77.99
You Save $11.95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $78.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $76.99
Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!