La Mondianese Grignolino d’Asti 2016
Regular price: $17.99
Sale Price: $13.99
This tiny winery (6 acres) in Piedmont makes tiny amounts of really good wine including this Grignolino (330 cases!). Crisp, and bright with summer berry aromas, is light and fresh yet boasts substantial grip and texture.
DaTerra Azos da Vila, Ribeira Sacra 2016
Regular Price $39.99
Sale price $31.99
Laura Lorenzo is the new hot name from northeastern Spain, making tiny amounts of great, fresh, well balanced wines. This is a blend of Mouraton, Gran Negro, Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, Dona Blanca, Colgadeira and Godello and shows excellent juicy raspberry and tart cherry flavors and bright crisp acidity. You won’t hear about this wine from any critics because, a.) they don’t understand balance in wine, and b.) Laura Lorenzo doesn’t fly them to her winery and ply them with food and wine to insure good scores.
Sidebar Red Field Blend Russian River Valley 2015
Regular price $34.99
Sale price $27.99
This is a California example of the very good everyday wine, made with Zin along with Alicante Bouschet and Petite Sirah. Bold and juicy with some anise hints and jammy berry flavors, it’s not as alcoholic as too many Zins, making it more interesting, if less hedonistic.
Clos Figueras ‘Serras del Priorat’ 2016
Regular Price $39.99
Sale price $31.99
A stunning blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak for 7 months. It’s rich and full, polished and bold. True to its origin, the wine sports a robust 15% ABV, but it carries that with ease. Seamless and delicious.
SonVida Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza 2013
Regular price: $24.99
Sale Price: $19.99
This is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah co-fermented, and then oak aged for 18 months. It’s everything the modernist Cab drinker loves, for ½ the price of a comparable California Cab
Chateau Mazeyres Pomerol 2015
Regular price $34.99
Sale price $27.99
Pomerol is, of course, the home of Merlot, and this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, shows the strengths of the vintage, winery and appellation in one complete package. Bold, yet not over-the-top; ripe yet with a solid tannic structure, this is actually a wine that will age well, but its pretty good today, too.