SELECT SIX FOR SEPTEMBER 2016

2015 QUINTALUNA DE OSSIAN VERDEJO TIERRA DE CASTILLA
The Rueda is a unique outlying region in Spain's Old Castile, almost exclusively white wines in a sea of reds from Toro and Ribera del Duero. During the centuries the Moors occupied the Jerez, Rueda was 'elected' to convert to growing white grapes for sherry production to the rest of Spain. Once the Moors were defeated, sherry production returned to the Jerez but the white grapes remained planted in Rueda and over time the anomaly became a local tradition. The Verdejo grape grown here has some Sauvignon Blanc-like characteristics, like the grassy notes on the nose and some of the vibrant fruit on the palate. But this producer, with its old ungrafted vineyards and Burgundian techniques in the winery, brings out so much more, with a rich texture full of resinous white fruits and melon rind. This is a food friendly wine without any barrel flavors weighing it down, and a great addition to your weekly drinking rotation.
Regular Price $13.99, $11.89/case

2014 HERMANOS DE PECINA 'SENORIO DE P. PECINA' RIOJA JOVEN
(Vinous 91points)
Traditional style Rioja is a unique pleasure, especially when you are able to find one that's a value. Hermanos de Pecina is a relatively young estate, but its history is cut from old cloth with the owner having worked with La Rioja Alta for nearly 20 years. Their Crianzas and Reservas/Gran Reservas all spend time in barrel and bottle longer than the established norm, which helps give the wines a more mature and traditional flavor. For the Joven, meant to be sold young and consumed young, the traditional side is still able to show through. Bright and spicy red fruit aromas, while more earthy and even slightly dusty dark fruit on the palate, this is more parallel to a youthful inexpensive Bordeaux than the many aggressively fruit forward Tempranillo that tend to spring from the warmer middle parts of Spain. Light enough for a more flavorful vegetarian or poultry dish, but also great with simple red meats.
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2015 DOMAINE JEAN TOUZOT MACON-VILLAGES VIEILLES VIGNES
The last few vintages of this wine has served as our early barometer for what we can expect from Burgundy overall, as it is one of the first to hit our shores and always takes a nice picture of what the year has to offer. The early word is that 2015 was warmer overall that several previous vintages, and the regions that were able to avoid the rains before the white wines were harvested (sorry Chablis lovers) will have big, fleshy wines full of ripe forward fruit. Unfortunately yields were down in many places that has hail problems in 2014, which will drive the price for many wines up, so if you can find ANYTHING close to this quality in or around the $20 mark we will be gobbling it up. And so should you. Round ripe tropical fruit that is soft and approachable on the palate, with a noticeably lower acidity on the palate than the cooler 2014s. Straightforward but with plenty of body and flavor for the price range, this is about as good as you get for an everyday Burgundy.
Regular Price $14.99, $12.74/case

2015 ZE BECCO MONTEPULCIANO d'ABRUZZO
An exciting new value from one of our favorite importers, one that we had to get into customer's hands as soon as possible. Abruzzi has traditionally been the bread basket for producing high volume, straightforward volume wines, but the last few decades has seen lots of new investment and improved quality, especially at the upper end which most people never knew even existed. In a recent article on the Vinous web site reviewer Ian d'Agata stated "The wine scene in Abruzzo, long a sleeping giant of Italian wine, is especially exciting today." Not only are the top end wines achieving high quality, but the less expensive ones are a better value than ever before, and this represents one of the best deals we have seen in a while. Similar to a Sangiovese but with less acidity, the Montepulciano grape should be round and generous, and this has it in spades for the price, with lots of earthy dark fruit and a minimally filtered texture that adds body usually lost at this price. Immensely gulpable as a weekday pizza wine; also, white wine drinkers should look for their equally exceptional Trebbiano on the floor and in a future Select Six.
Regular Price $9.99, $8.49/case

2014 MICHEL GASSIER 'NOSTRE PAIS' COSTIERES DE NIMES BLANC
(Wine Advocate 91points)
The Costieres de Nimes has always suffered a bit of an identity crisis. Wedged between the world renowned regions of the powerful Southern Rhone/Chateauneuf and the hip Mediterranean glamor of Provence, Nimes shares the grapes of these neighbors but none of the acclaim. But as will many other overlooked wine producers, change is coming as new money and ideas are being brought to revitalize old vineyards. Michel Gassier is from a 4th generation family growing grapes here, and with the help of renowned winemaker Philippe Cambie and importer Eric Solomon, the wines have grown to great reputation over the last decade. This is a classic white Rhone blend of mostly Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, and while there is only a little bit of neutral oak used in the aging process the richness is very appealing to even the Chardonnay crowd. Vibrant citrus and pit fruits on the nose, flowery at first but more mineral and green fruit underneath than expected. This is the type of wine that could easily suffer from lack of acidity in order to make a larger framed wine, but the balance is just right. A great option for heartier seafood or poultry dishes, and one that can handle a lot of spice and citrus..  
Regular Price $18.99, $16.14/case

2013 HIGH NOTE 'ANDES 1,100 METER' RED BLEND MENDOZA
Another offspring wine from the ever-present but always outstanding Catena family. A terroir driven project that focuses on developing vineyard sites at higher elevations, which provides cooler evening and overnight temperatures than lower in Mendoza, allowing better acidity and tannin to develop. Built mostly from Malbec with a varying blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the Red Blend is built for easy consumption without coming across overtly sweet or heavy. A bit of the Malbec goes through carbonic maceration (the same process that Beaujolais Nouveau famously goes through) which helps add some natural grapiness to the often dark and hard edged variety. Fleshy and purple in the glass, but not overpowering on the nose, and the carbonic adds a surprising softness that makes the dark fruit very gulpable. Easy to enjoy, and easier to afford.
Regular Price $12.99, $11.04/case

These wines regularly sell for $85.94
For Select Six August they are $73.99
You Save $12. 95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $80.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $66.99
Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!
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