SELECT SIX FOR DECEMBER 2015

2012 TWO PONDS CHARDONNAY COLUMBIA VALLEY
Washington State produces a lot of great quality wine with an increasingly high number of great values appearing as well. For a long time a particular 'Chateau' has been the dominant name, but you are stating to see more and more names slipping through and offering alternatives. The great thing about the whites from here is they always seem to provide a strong 1-2 punch of both richness of fruit and vibrant acidity, thanks to their Northern latitude. This is a prime example in a Chardonnay, delivering a rich creamy texture without needing the 'buttery' effect from heavy malolactic fermentation. Loads of pear fruit and caramelized apple tones, but without loosing the crunchy apple and bright citrus underneath that keeps a wine like this from falling too heavily on the palate and becoming monotonous. A nice option for a holiday cocktail wine, also good with poultry or richer fish dishes. 
Regular Price $13.99, $11.89/case

2014 LOUIS MAX PINOT NOIR 'HAUTE VALLEE' SUD DE FRANCE
Historically, it has been virtually impossible to get something that approaches the 'Burgundian wine' experience outside the borders of Burgundy. You can certainly find Pinot Noir from other part so France, but they always lack the character and nuance and are often dosed with Grenache, Syrah or other varietals to taste more fruity. The massive costs associated with buying vineyards in Burgundy have all but eliminated the true value wine from the Burgundy conversation, so those looking to make one have to look elsewhere. The Haute Vallee is a cooler corner of the Languedoc near the famous Limoux sparkling wines, and in the hands of a quality Burgundy producer like Louis Max produces a dead ringer Bourgogne. Earthy red fruits on the nose with hints of dried spice, polished on the palate with good body to convey the dried cherry notes without feeling weighty, and a light red fruit finish. A beautiful everyday wine for those that feel they are getting priced out of the Burgundy market. 
Regular Price $13.99, $11.89/case

2014 CASALE MARCHESE FRASCATI SUPERIORE
Frascati is most known as being the local white wine of Rome, the region lying in the hills just outside the city's beltway. Like many other wines, the name became bastardized and overused to the point of being nearly worthless (think Soave, for example), loosing the context for grapes used or quality and was applied to every garden variety white wine poured in a Latium region cafe. Casale Marchese is one of the oldest and most established houses in Frascati, and thanks to one of our local importers is bringing the quality level way up with hardly a price increase from the mass marketed offerings. Fragrant white flowers that lean towards the pretty side of wines like Pinot Grigio without the peachy or tropical orange fruits, instead leaning towards kiwi or currants. Refreshing on the palate with a nice body that allows the fruit to feel juicy and fresh and then leave on the finish with a touch of dry grapeskin tannin. A nice 'Pinot Grigio mood but I don't want Pinot Grigio' sort of alternative that's plenty enjoyable in it's own right.
Regular Price $15.99, $13.59/case

2011 CAMERON HUGHES 'LOT #384' MERITAGE DRY CREEK VALLEY
The Cameron Hughes bus just keeps on rolling out great value wines from across California and anywhere else the opportunity presents itself. Each lot is it's own wine, built from sourced grapes, juice in tank, or even finished and bottled wines. Often these deals come along as one time offers, so there is rarely the same wine from one vintage to the next, but the standard has always been a high delivery of quality for the price paid, which brings everyone back to try at least one bottle that bears the company name. This lot is from the tricky 2011 vintage, cooler than some and overshadowed by the hype of the 2010-12-13 vintages on either side. There was still great quality, but many wineries weren't getting the prices they wanted for them, and this wine came from a source needing to sell off some slow moving juice. Mostly Merlot with some Cab Sauv and Cab Franc blended in, the structure and style are somewhat Bordeaux, showing cooler currant and dark cocoa tones on the nose and drier red fruits on the palate. Very polished texture with fine tannins that get richer as it opens up, the more modern Cali Cab fans may find this a bit short on overall 'bigness', but the balance and structure here for the money are tough to beat, especially when you compare it to the rest of what's out there from the 2011 vintage.
Regular Price $16.99, $14.44/case

2014 STINSON VINEYARDS SUGAR HOLLOW WHITE
Long time Virginia wine drinkers may remember the White Hall Sugar Ridge White, their semi-sweet value Vidal Blanc that largely scratched the itch of White Zinfandel drinkers looking for something a little bit better. New kids to the White Hall area have taken up the Sugar Ridge/Sugar Hollow name mantle, but are putting a much drier take on Vidal Blanc this go-around. Don't let 'Sugar' in the name throw you; the residual sugar level here about half of the Sugar Ridge, allowing a lot more of the zesty citrus to show through, and even some fresh acidity on the finish. Still showing plenty of pear and melon on the nose and palate, this is a great holiday wine to offer to guests whose tastes you aren't sure about; dry enough for those fans to enjoy the fresh citrus flavor, but enough 'sense of sweetness' for the White Zin/Moscato crowd to cozy up to during dinner.
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2013 TENUTA SANT'ANTONIA CORVINA 'SCAIA' VENETO
The wine region around Verona is most famous for the intensely rich Amarone and Ripasso styled wine, made from partially dried grapes to intensify the sugars and flavors. It is often forgotten that those grapes are used to make regular everyday wines as well, and can provide very juicy, enjoyable everyday values.Corvina is one of the most important varieties in this region, both as the backbone of the more intensive wines as well as the source of the best values. Tenuta Sant'Antonia is extremely well regarded for their Amarones, but recent renditions of this wine have been hailed as '(one of) the best deal in Italian wine today'. Juicy and completely gulpable, full of cherry and red fruits on the nose and palate, and a distinctly Italian earth and mineral component that keeps the flavors from approaching anything remotely sweet. The perfect all-purpose dinner table wine that holds up to red meats and red sauces equally.
Regular Price $11.99, $10.19/case

These wines regularly sell for $87.94
For Select Six December they are $75.99
You Save $11. 95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $76.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $74.99
Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!