Newsletter
December 16, 2021 – January 17, 2022
Brunello
2016 Brunello di Montalcino (Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona)
Regular Price $59.99 – Sale Price $47.99 NET
Barolo
2017 Barolo 'Albe' (G.D. Vajra)
Regular Price $41.99 - Sale Price $34.99 NET
Côte de Nuits
2019 Marsannay ‘La Charme aux Prêtres’ (Domaine Coillot)
Regular Price $39.99 – Sale Price $29.99 NET
Champagne
Brut Champagne (Marie Weiss)
Regular Price $34.99 – Sale Price $24.99 NET
We didn’t think it was possible to find Champagne for this price anymore, especially one with this pedigree. As the second label of Ployez-Jacquemart, the Marie Weiss cuvée is sourced from their Premier and Grand Cru sites and is almost equal parts Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Pleasantly nutty and toasty, it also holds on to its fresh apple fruit and honeysuckle aromas. This makes it a lovely partner to all the courses of a dinner and, of course, the toasts.
Chablis Premier
2019 Chablis Ier Cru ‘Montée de Tonnerre’
(Louis Michel)
Regular Price $49.99 – Sale Price $39.99 NET
Chablis is our favorite Chardonnay, and in the 2019 vintage we have re-discovered the wines of Louis Michel. All of their wines are raised in stainless steel vats to preserve and highlight the mineral nature of Chablis. Montée de Tonnerre is a sun-soaked Premier Cru vineyard that in 2019 gives rich fruit and earthy minerality. Terrific now and even better as it ages for at least a decade.
Big New House
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Domaine de la Janasse)
Regular Price $59.99 – Sale Price $44.99 NET
The extended Sabon family tree hovers over Châteauneuf-du-Pape, maintaining a holy status at a number of estates. One of our favorite branches is Domaine de la Janasse, whose 2019 is a monumental Southern Rhône red with dark fruit, spicy tannins, and a deep, long finish. This is Grand Cru Grenache with a 20 year lifespan.
Cru Exceptionnel
2018 Margaux Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel (Château d’Arsac)
Regular Price $39.99 – Sale Price $31.99 NET
Classed growth prices for Bordeaux have risen dramatically in recent years. Luckily, d’Arsac in Margaux has produced an exceptional 2018 yet priced it affordably. This is an old-school Médoc, heavily weighted with Cabernet Sauvignon leading to a lovely crushed violet aroma and an iron and graphite mineral-laden finish.
Shea of Yamhill-Carlton
2016 Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir ‘Shea Vineyard’
(St. Innocent)
Regular Price $49.99 – Sale Price $39.99 NET
Shea Vineyard has become one of the iconic sites for Oregon Pinot Noir. St. Innocent has been producing great Pinot Noir from Shea for decades, and their 2016 is a cherry-scented delight. It’s also packed with gorgeous tannins and earthy, foresty flavor.
Listed prices are honored through January 17th, 2022. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 46, No. 1
Dr. Frank Heyden had a great vintage in 2019. His Silvaner is stellar. The Sackträger Grosses Gewächs was deep and delicious. But his best value is this Oppenheimer Riesling Kabinett. Everything is in the right place: the nose is pristine with apple and herbal aromas, the palate is saturated with ripe, fruity flavor and just a hint of sweetness, and the finish is crisp and dry. Try this with spicy noodle dishes and simple broiled fish.
Way back in 1567 Philip II banned the Melon grape from Burgundy. It then found a better home in the Loire Valley, where it took on the name Melon de Bourgogne, a.k.a. Muscadet. The vines have adapted well to the maritime climate and the varied soils of the Pays Nantais, spurring a late 20th century renaissance for the previously maligned grape. The Luneau-Papin clan bottles vineyard-specific Muscadet that are perfect for the seafood of the North Atlantic. Their 2020 Le Verger is not as fruity or forbidden as the label suggests; it drinks like a rich, dry white with a deep core of minerals. Tasted blind, we might have guessed Burgundy. Have this with a pan-roasted haddock, fingerling potatoes, and a celery root remoulade.
Once again we find ourselves dipping into the well of one of our most trusted Barolo producers, G.D. Vajra, for their endless source of reliably delicious reds. Their 2019 Barbera is our current favorite, thanks to its smooth concentration of fragrant dark berry fruit laced with spices and herbs. This tangy, succulent red is the perfect partner for a braised pork or any red-sauced pasta.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the biggest cash crop in California. The delivery system for most Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is lashings of expensive oak with thick, fruity flavor and a high price tag. Fortunately, there are still some balanced and affordable bottles to be found. The 2019 Matias is a well-mannered Napa Cab with enough fruit and oak to please a Cab lover, along with a measured, tannic finish which will accent a bowl of chili and a spinach salad. 
We are bracing for a shortage of Sancerre due to the frosts earlier this year that affected the 2021 vintage. So, we find ourselves fortunate to offer this new organically grown 2020 from Lucien Reymond which is grown on limestone and delivers a racy, full-flavored Sauvignon Blanc experience. A quintessential wine for seared salmon with lentils on a bed of braised greens. 
Pinot is a big category that encompasses some of the greatest grapes in the world. There is no replacement for Pinot Noir, but we continue to champion the underrated Pinot Blanc. France’s Alsace makes very good Pinot Blanc, but we also find excellent wines and great value in Italy’s Alto Adige and Germany’s Pfalz region. As evidence of the latter we have the new 2019 vintage from Koehler-Ruprecht. Its beautiful apple aromas, medium body, and spicy, long finish are perfect for a roast chicken as well as a simple boiled lobster. 
The Carvalho family has been at the helm of Quinta de Santa Eufemia in Portugal’s Douro region for four generations.
Their white port is a seductive concoction of honey, flowers, candied nuts, and golden raisins. Slightly chilled, it’s bound to charm on its own or with fruit tarts. For those more in the mood for chocolate desserts or blue cheese, we suggest the 10 Year Tawny. Like the white port, the 10 Year Tawny is made from a blend of local grape varieties that have been foot-stomped and aged for ten years in barrel. Along with aromas and flavors of nuts and dried fruits, there’s a quiet hint of woodsy spice. The smaller bottle formats of both make them an affordable luxury. 
Rush Creek Reserve is one of the most highly anticipated seasonally made cheeses in America. This incredible cheese is made in the style of Vacherin Mont d’or. The cheese is only produced in the late fall when the cows have switched from wild grasses to hay and their milk is rich and sweet. This soft cheese is best served at room temperature or gently warmed in the oven. Get in on this while you can: inventory is extremely limited! The flagship cheese from Uplands Cheese Company in Wisconsin, 
Pleasant Ridge Reserve holds the distinction of being the most awarded cheese in American history. This alpine-style cheese has won the American Cheese Society’s Best of Show three times, the only cheese with that honor. In keeping with the tradition of the alpine cheeses after which it is modeled, it is only made in the summer months while the herd is grazing on pastures. The flavor is incredibly balanced—fruity, nutty, and grassy nuances are all tied together by umami richness—and it carries a long, lingering finish.
Zorzal makes fine varietal wines in Northern Spain’s Navarra district. The 2020 Garnacha is deep and dark with spicy plum fruit and ripe tannins. Great with a bean and mushroom stew.
2019 Sangiovese (Di Majo Norante) 