Keepin’ on with Carignan
2015 Minervois ‘Plaisir d’Eulalie’ (Chateau Sainte Eulalie)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.30 case of twelve
While the Plaisir d’Eulalie Minervois is a mixture of Grenache (45%), Carignan (40%), and Syrah, we believe it is the Carignan that gives the wine character. Carignan came to prominence in Languedoc due to its high yields, but not until the vines reach maturity is Carignan recognized as a quality wine grape. Old vines like those at Chateau Sainte Eulalie prove Carignan’s worth by adding gorgeous berry fruit to considerable ripe tannins and proper acidity. The 2015 is rich and round, spicy and long. Have this with a lamb curry and spicy carrots.

Earthy Rioja
2012 Rioja Crianza (Finca San Martin)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Finca San Martin’s Rioja Crianza does not conform to the usual Rioja playbook. Despite being 100% Tempranillo and aged for 16 months in oak, it is neither fruity nor oaky. Instead it has an earthy dryness and gripping tannins that expand as the wine breathes. This dry Tempranillo is suited for a paprika- and garlic-laced pork stew.

Bourgueil
2015 Bourgueil ‘Cuvée Domaine’ (Domaine Guion)
Sale Price $15.99 – $163.10 case of twelve
Although delicious in any season, there’s something about Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley that combines perfectly with the leafy aromas and savory, earthy flavors of autumn. Indeed, the Cuvée Domaine has the smell of freshly fallen leaves, along with crushed pepper. This is a warm and supple Bourgueil tasting of ripe raspberries, black cherries, dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice. Only wild ambient yeasts are used for this certified organic wine, leading to the fragrance and flavors specific to the region. No additives such as sulfites are used, except for an extremely low dose of sulphur at bottling so that the wine can survive its transatlantic journey. This is as transparent as winemaking gets, creating a wine that can only come from Bourgueil. Particularly delicious with a seared duck breast or pork rillettes.

More than Aruma
2015 Malbec (Aruma)
Sale Price $12.99 – $132.50 case of twelve
We are not claiming that this wine equals the pricier efforts of the Lafite Rothschild and Catena clans that collaborate to make Aruma, but this is exceptional value. The 2015 vintage in Mendoza started out rainy and cold but ended dry and adequately warm, so the high-elevation Malbec grapes were harvested with an excellent balance of sugar and acidity. This wine’s dark blackberry fruit is bright and refreshingly balanced by nuanced tannins and a crisp, lively finish.

The Coop
2015 Lagrein (Colterenzio)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Cooperative wineries make some of Alto Adige’s finest wines. Interestingly, in a region more often associated with white wines, it is the red wines of Colterenzio that we favor. Earlier this year we featured their Kalterer See and Pinot Nero. This month we have their 2015 Lagrein, an intensely berry-scented red with low tannins and a long, mellow finisha.

Pelaverga, A Rare Treat
2015 Pelaverga Verduno (Fratelli Alessandria)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
In the 1970s Pelaverga was nearly extinct when a few dedicated growers spearheaded by two branches of the Alessandria family began a revival. The grape is interestingly described by one grower as “having no deep color, no deep structure, not too much tannins” and that “it seems lighter than it is,” which appears to be no praise at all. But he goes on to say that “at a young age you have a complex aroma.” We agree, and adore the herbal, strawberry, and rose petal aromas and the wine’s lovely transparency of color and beguiling palate presence. This member of the Alessandria family concludes by saying that with mushrooms “this is something special.” Not bad at all with salmon either.

San Boldo Prosecco
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ‘San Boldo’ (Marsuret)
Sale Price $14.99 – $161.90 of twelve
At first we smirked at the notion of single vineyard Prosecco, but after a few comprehensive tastings we see that the lovely and voluminous Italian sparkling has much more to offer. Marsuret’s San Boldo is a decidedly dry Prosecco with charming, peachy aroma and persistent, lively bubbles.

Napa Cab
2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Twenty Bench’
(Nine North)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Things get lost and forgotten, even wine. Rediscovered in a distributor’s inventory, (usually because a new vintage has arrived), superior wines have been known to emerge from an accidental obscurity. This is one of those wines. Although the current vintage is 2014, we like the 2012, which has had a chance to sleep undisturbed for the past few years. Time has melded the components into a pleasurable Cabernet with aromas and flavors of roasted meats, cocoa, plums, blackberries, and vanilla. Its rich and balanced body and smooth tannins summon thoughts of pot roast, juicy rib-eye steaks, and hard aged cheeses. But the best part may be the price. A Napa Valley Cabernet under $20 worth drinking has become nearly impossible to find. With the Twenty Bench, we finally found onea.

Rueda Verdejo
2015 Rueda (Nisia)
Sale Price $16.99 – $173.30 case of twelve
Rueda is the land of the Verdejo grape variety and a white wine house pour all over Madrid. The 2015 Verdejo from Nisia is packed with ripe pear and guava fruit and a crisp, zesty finish. This is a sneakily intense dry white made from the fruit of 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. Wonderful with hake and clams.

Specialty Foods

Bluebird $28.99 per lb.
(Regular price $32.99)
From Grey Barn in Chilmark, Massachusetts, this cheese shows the aesthetic influence of its island environment with a hazy gray textured crust which looks as if it had tumbled in the ocean and washed ashore. The paste is yellow hued with jewel-tone green and blue veining. This is how I prefer my blues: a bit sweet, a bit salty, and a bit punchy, with just the right amount of creaminess. Certified organic raw cow’s milk, aged at least 60 days.

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar $19.99 per lb.
(Regular price $22.99)
This Cheddar is aged at the Cellars at Jasper Hill, a collaboration with Cabot creamery that started in 2003. The young cheeses arrive at Jasper Hill and are coated in lard and an additional layer of cloth, then ripened in a specially calibrated vault in which they are constantly brushed, turned, and monitored for quality. Crumbly in texture with a nutty aroma, approachable yet complex. Flavors are savory and tangy with a touch of caramel sweetness. It’s the season for cheddar, and this is one of the best New England has to offer!

Middlebury Blue $15.99 per lb.
(Regular price $17.99)
A raw blue cheese made with milk from the Ayrshire cows next door. Named after the college town of Middlebury, Vermont, this cheese is described by Blue Ledge Farm as “ ‘town meets gown,’ that unique experience when good earthy Vermont grit meets smooth high-brow academia with nothing short of poetic results.”  Creamy and crumbly, mild at first, but with lingering hay and earth flavors. Increasingly popular amongst chefs, this is a great blue cheese for cooking or to toss in a salad.

Beemster Vlaskaas $12.99 per lb.
(Regular price $16.99)
Vlaskaas, which means Flax in Dutch, is the newest addition to Beemster’s line, but it is their oldest recipe! Vlaskaas was historically a cheese made only during the harvest festival for the flax workers to eat with bread and porridge while they worked and celebrated. On the occasion of a harvest festival revival in 2004 the old recipe for Vlaskaas was rediscovered and Beemster was asked to recreate it. Since then it has gone on to become an award-winning cheese and is still being made over a decade later. A creamy cow’s milk similar to a Gouda with sweet and nutty flavors.