SELECT SIX FOR OCTOBER 2015

2014 CHATEAU GRAVILLE-LACOSTE GRAVES BLANC
This is one of a pair of Bordeaux Blancs from winemaker Hevre Dubourdieu and importer Kermit Lynch that might easily get confused for each other based on the extremely similar labels and somewhat similar makeup. Both estates are owned and run by Hevre and are made up a traditional blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle, but the other estate -Chateau Ducasse- carries a higher percentage of Sauvignon Blanc. Graville-Lacoste is made with a higher percentage of Semillon, which gives the wine more weight and waxy richness that provides more intensity on the palate. Still vibrant, showing bright lemon and green citrus aromas, the extra Semillon comes through on the palate giving the citrus some roundness as well as some skin tannins. A white wine for cooler weather ahead, able to hold up to richer seafood and poultry dishes.
Regular Price $18.99, $16.14/case

2013 ZORZAL PINOT NOIR 'TERROIR UNICO' TUPUNGATO VALLEY
(Wine Advocate 91points)
Argentina is primarily known for the production of Malbec in the Mendoza, and rightly so, as the valley floor is an ideal setting for the grape's production. Diversity is also nice to have, and over time there has been more exploration and experimentation to develop new areas of interest and a broader selection of varieties. Tupungato is a sub-area along the mountains of the Valle de Uco, at the base of one of the highest mountains in Argentina, which provides a cooler microclimate than other parts of the valley. This provides a wonderful opportunity for Pinot Noir to develop, allowing it to better keep its vital acidity and not overripen the fruit. The style is parallel to Oregon or the cooler northernmost regions of California, with a combination of vibrant red fruits, even hints of citrus, along with a background of darker spice. The palate is full for a Pinot but not sweet, and the acidity gives the texture and finish a more lip-smacking character. A delicious everyday drinker. 
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2014 LOVINGSTON WINERY SEYVAL BLANC 'JANET'S BLOCK'
It is hard to find wines from Virginia that provide both quality and a lot of value, but trust our friends at Lovingston to pull that feat off in a major way with this vintage of their Seyval Blanc. This hybrid variety does very well on the East Coast when it comes to handling our unique set of weather factors, and generally has a character similar to Sauvignon Blanc. As usual, we have come to expect the unexpected from their winemaker, and they played around with the fermentation process to develop a crisper, more vibrant texture to the variety, and then added a touch of Vidal Blanc to soften the acidity some and provide some fragrant fruit. The result is along the lines of a Virginian-born Muscadet or coastal European white wine, vibrant and crisp on the palate with just a slight touch of intentional effervescence, clean citrus aromas and fruit throughout with a refreshing finish that has plenty of nerve. It would be criminal to serve Chesapeake Bay oysters with anything else, especially at this price.
Regular Price $11.99, $10.19/case

2012 BASTIDE MIRAFLORS SYRAH/VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE COTES CATALANES
(Wine Advocate 91points)
The majority of wines from the Catalonian parts of Spain and France tend to be dominated by Grenache, and the wines have a ripe, juicy red fruit character that tends to be very lush and warming. Grenache is heavily planted here, on both sides of the Pyrenees, but the other Rhone varieties are here as well, and it is fun to have wines that take the focus elsewhere and provide a broader image of what a region can provide. The Syrah here has a stronger minerality than expected, giving the dark red fruits more raciness and flowery tones instead of just darkness. The Grenache is more in the background providing some spice and softening the texture a bit on the palate, but the Syrah really shines. Bigger than a Crozes-Hermitage but not as weighty as an Australian Shiraz, it walks a very comfortable line in between and delivers lots of pleasure and value.
Regular Price $16.99, $14.44/case

2014 DOMAINE d'ELISE PETIT CHABLIS
With the cost of 'true' Chablis continuously pushing upwards, it falls upon the Petit Chablis wines to take up the slack and provide value. Petit Chablis wines are made from their own sets of vineyards that border along the edges of even Premier Cru sites, but are often on the cooler sides of the hills that don't ripen as consistently or the soils change away from the chalky Kimmeridgian that Chablis is best known. But with improved technology these sites are much less at risk than even 20 years ago, and most producers can produce very tasty, vibrant and traditional Chablis character out of them with great regularity. Clean and unoaked, this bottling shows lots of racy citrus and oyster shell on the nose, fairly straightforward fruit on the palate but with the amount of salinity and bright acidity here you don't need a lot of fruit complexity. If you HAD to drink something other than the Lovingston Seyval Blanc with oysters, this would be a fine second option, and would show with other forms of seafood nicely as well.
Regular Price $18.99, $16.14/case

2013 BUENAS! TEMPRANILLO
The world of less expensive Spanish wines is stacked with simple, fruit forward and low complexity Tempranillo from throughout the central plains (where the rains fall, mainly). It's almost shocking when you come across a wine like this that bucks the trend, but we have it. Sourced entirely from vineyards the Rioja region by an established producer, this has become a 'secret second label' for them to use some of their less established vineyards without diluting their main brands. Bright red fruits and light dusty spice on the nose, all of which translates to the palate with a nice savory tone. You can definitely taste the Rioja origins here as opposed to the warmer climates to the South, but there aren't any hard under-ripe flavors either. A perfect everyday dinner wine with a more traditional mindset, especially at this price point.
Regular Price $7.99, $6.79/case

These wines regularly sell for $89.94
For Select Six October they are $77.99
You Save $11. 95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $84.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $70.99