: 2007 PETTRONE SANGIOVESE MENDOCINO COUNTY
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January 2012
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Select Six Archives:
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
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Total combined regular cost $87.94
For January they are only $75.99
You save $11.95!
All Red Select Six - $83.99
All White Select Six - $67.99 |
2010 LOTE 44 PINOT GRIGIO MENGOZA
This is a wine that may seem to the cautious consumer
like it's almost TOO good a deal."$9 for a Pinot Grigio?
What's wrong with it? Is it sweet and boring like all the others
on every grocery shelf?" In most cases those suspicions would
be warranted, but this beautiful little value far exceeds its
dollar mark. Fresh, bright peach and white fruit aromas give way
to a surprisingly round texture for the price point as well as
a touch of citrus and cool mint to give the finish some snap.
while it won't make you forget the great Pinot Grigios from Friuli
or Alto Adige in Italy, it will make your dinner table very happy,
as well as your wallet.
Regular price $8.99, $7.64/case |
2010 SAINT COSME COTES DU RHONE
(Wine Advocate 90points)
Some may jump to this wine simply because of the strong press
for the price point, as well as the usual rock steady consistency
over recent vintages in the Rhone. But there is a bit of uniqueness
here, an unexpected plot twist that makes the wine stand out.
The Saint Cosme is regarded as one of the standout producers in
the Gigondas region, an area known mostly for wines based on Grenache.
For this Cotes du Rhone, however, the wine is based exclusively
on Syrah pulled off various small plots across the region, varying
from sandy soils to the fist sized 'galets roules' found in many
famous Chateauneuf vineyards. The resulting wine delivers a fascinating
combination warm fruit and savory gaminess, as if large portions
of Crozes-Hermitage from cooler climates further North had been
dropped in the mix. Immediate aromas of black pepper and curing
beef, open up with time to show increasingly intensive black fruits
that also seem to flesh out and sweeten the wine. There is a nervy
note here as well, presenting a freshness and slight note of cranberry
fruit on the finish often lost on the lush and soft Grenache based
Rhones. This is a wine Rhone fans will fall in love with, capable
of aging effortlessly for several years to become one of those
wines you wish you had bought twice as much of for such a great
price.
Regular price $13.99, $11.89/case
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2009 HENRI JOUAN BOURGOGNE PASSETOUTGRAIN
Pinot Noir usually does not get viewed as a blending grape, especially
in the tight and traditional Burgundy region. Unless, of course,
you want to believe the rumored practice of wineries secretly
buying Syrah from the Rhone to fatten up weak vintages still persists
today. The one exception to this concept is found in a Passetoutgrain,
where Pinot Noir is blended with Gamay from Burgundy's oft-forgotten
Beaujolais region. Usually the Gamay serves to soften the rougher
edges of lesser Pinot for easier short term drinking, but in the
hands of a great producer in an exceptional vintage, they can
provide unparalleled drinking pleasure for the pricepoint. More
Pinot than Gamay on the nose, with a smoky and herbal edge to
the surprisingly fleshy black cherry and fragrant strawberry fruit,
and a silky texture that in all likelihood didn't need too much
softening help from the Gamay. In all honesty, were it not for
the occasional high toned fruit note or tinges of cured meat appearing
here and there you would be hard pressed to see this as something
else other than a very drinkable and pleasurable Bourgogne that
is a screaming value for such a highly regarded vintage. No need
to think about cellaring this.
Regular price $18.99, $16.14/case |
2010 REICHSGRAF von KESSEL-STATT GRAACHER RIESLING TROCKEN
It's never too early in the new year to start breaking down common
wine myths. One of our favorites is the belief that all Riesling
wines are sweet, and while there are a lot of great examples of
well-made sweet ones throughout the world, there is so much more
to Riesling than that. Any grape can make a sweet or dry wine
depending on how much sugar gets fermented out, but with the high
acidity Riesling tends to come with (especially from cooler climates
like in Germany) a little bit of residual sugar can help keep
the wine from tasting like you're biting into a raw lime. It's
a difficult tightrope to walk but the right balance of natural
weight can reign in the acidity without sweetness, and great dry
wines like this one are just such an example. Bright blasts of
lime juice and crisp pears on the nose give way to a very zesty
palate that is cooled by a nicely rounded ripe fruit texture.
There is still a definite tingle here, so those that don't like
much acidity in their wine may steer clear, but there should be
no fear of sweetness. A refreshing match for citrus prepared fish
and poultry dishes or lightly spiced Asian foods.
Regular price $16.99, $14.44/case
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2010 CALDORA CHARDONNAY TERRE DI CHIETI
This is yet another example of why Italy may very
well be the greatest country for winemaking, taking the often
boring realm of unoaked Chardonnay and creating examples that
really make you sit up and take notice. From the Abruzzi region
on the Adriatic coast, Terre di Chieti is part of the vastly improved
IGT and DOC system that has helped encourage this region to move
away from its history of large production jug wines and embrace
more distinctive, higher quality production. This isn't unoaked
Chardonnay as an afterthought as you unfortunately so often find,
delivering a great round texture full of ripe and sunny apple
notes and fresh sage without any buttery malolactic fermentation,
presented in the same fresh and vibrant way the Italians feature
their native varieties. There is a zestiness here, not in a high
acid or astringent way, just alive and playful, perfect for any
seafood dish or sipping by itself in a completely non-boring way.
Regular price $12.99, $11.04/case |
2009 MONCHIERO NEBBIOLO LANGHE
Not much of a back story for this wine, no educational parable
or efforts to convert you onto a new or obscure growing region.
Just another example of a great value coming up from Argentina
hand over fist. It has everything we have come to expect from
Malbec, with loads of silky up front black fruits and a long,
palate-staining finish that provides heaps of easy enjoyment.
There is even a little kiss of well placed oak in there as well,
more elegant and restrained French oak as opposed to the more
forward and aggressive American oak often found on bigger tasting
wines. Yet another wine that will be part of your everyday selection,
ready to be popped and enjoyed at a moment’s notice.
Regular price $15.99, $13.59/case
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