2018 Domaine du Petit Clocher Rosé
Anjou, FR
Regular Price $17.99
Sale price $13.99
50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Grolleau
2018 rosés are coming in, which is good news, especially since you can drink rosé anytime, right? We like this one because its fresh (obviously) and full and pretty rich. Grolleau is pretty much dissed by the wine press, but then again, they are seldom right about anything, so why assume that they are right about Grolleau?
2015 ColleMassari Rigoleto
Montecucco, IT
Regular Price $18.99
Sale price $14.99
70% Sangiovese, 15% Montepulciano, 15% Ciliegiolo
This blend of traditional Tuscan grapes hails from Montecucco, in the southwest of Tuscany. It’s bright and juicy and soft and great with whatever food you feel like eating tonight.
2015 Thibault Liger-Belair ‘Les Deux Terres’ Bourgogne Gamay
Burgundy, FR
Regular Price $29.99
Sale price $23.99
2/3 Gamay, 1/3 Pinot Noir
Ripe and grapey, this is a delicious blend that shows off the geographic proximity of Burgundy and Beaujolais. It has nice structure (it does spend some time in oak, but none new) and is pretty rich and lush. It’s pretty modern but certainly not over-the-top
2016 Duc des Nauves Côtes de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, FR
Regular Price $28.99
Sale price $22.99
80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
I’ve been chatting up this wine for some time, and we finally got more in. This shows the same polish and balance of the more expensive ‘Emilien’ (which I’ve also been gushing about), but with perhaps more exuberance, an indication of its youth and shorter time in both concrete and bottle. Incredibly fresh and lively, it’s a wine of pure pleasure. It might improve with age, but why wait?
2016 Mas Doix ‘Les Crestes’
Priorat, SP
Regular Price $29.99
Sale price $23.99
Garnacha 80%, Cariñena 10%, Syrah 10%
The wine creeps dangerously close to fruit bomb status, but the slate minerality, herbal and floral tones add complexity to the bold dark berry flavors. It’s elegant and soft and full and rich. It’s delicious.
2017 Joey Tensley Fundamental Red
Central Coast, CA
Regular Price $19.99
Sale price $15.99
Field blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre and Viognier
Typically, ‘Rhone blends’ from California are very good, but expensive (see Tablas Creek) or inexpensive and uninspiring (see nearly every other Rhone ranger in California). Hold on to your hat, because this blend from Syrah specialist Joey Tensley is very good and affordable. Dense and chewy with both forward fruit and a backbone it also shows some Rhone-ish herbal and floral nuances.
The French Paradox
10435 Stevenson Rd
Stevenson, MD 21153
410.413.1630