Vinobuys.com E-Specials: The Right Wine for the Right Price!

I've said this before in Friday Flights e-mails, and with this offering it bears repeating. With the upward spiraling price of plane tickets combining with the Euros continued pummeling of our American peso, I for one don't have any immediate plans for that much-longed-for-European vacation. But it doesn't mean that I can't vicariously experience the pleasures of the continent, because even taking all of the above factors into account, I feel you still can't beat the pleasure to value ratio provided by the wines sailing across the Atlantic to fill your empty wine glasses. This week, from incredibly good under-$10 reds from Spain to some delicious $15-plus wines from the south of France and Spain's Rioja region that blow away their similarly priced American reds, I have a few cases in point for your consideration. Here are today's pain relievers (with savings throughout!)

And if you need options, you can mix or match any twelve bottles and take 10% off the per bottle price. Put together 18 or more bottles and take 15% off the price. Just respond with an e-mail or call the store at 503-235-8545 and we'll confirm your order and let you know when your wines will be ready for pickup or shipment. All wines are offered subject to prior sale and availability and the irregular rhythms and loathsome self-interest of our wholesalers. But, in any case, for drinking now or sticking in the cellar, check out these gems:

Ravishing Rioja

2004 Bodegas Breton Rioja "Lorinon"
$15.95 btl/$158.00 case

I was looking for a wine to fill one of the slots in our recent Spanish tasting, and noticed that the distributor had dumped the price on this perennially excellent Rioja (the old retail was $19.95). I hadn't tasted the '04 vintage, but knowing this was a classic Spanish vintage (the overall '04 Rioja vintage was rated at 95 points by the Wine Advocate!), I had a really good feeling about this one. So I brought it in, threw it into the Friday fray, and it absolutely killed! This is a red that will show the greatness that is Rioja. 100% tempranillo, it has all the rich and complex tell-tale Rioja character: dark fruit, earth, leather; a meaty texture, perfect balance, fine-grained tannins, and a long, uber-delicious finish. This drinks incredibly well now, is the best Rioja in the market at this price point, and is something that will get better and better for the next five years. How do I know? I took a 2/3 full bottle home after the tasting. Threw it in my fridge to keep it as fresh as possible, meaning to drink it over the weekend. Finally last night, AFTER TWO WEEKS, I finally opened it up, fully expecting to have to toss it down the drain. How wrong could I be? It was still spectacular! That pretty much says it all, don't you think? At four dollars off a bottle, this is a must buy!

Spanish Steals

These four reds (plus one rose) from Spain are amazing values. Absolutely delivering drinking pleasure on all levels, these are wines you can pull out at will at your next crowd gathering without having to worry about your wallet being emptied!

2005 Bodegas Lezaun Tinto Navarra
$8.95 btl/$89.00 case

2007 Bodegas Lezaun Rosado
$8.95 btl/$89.00 case
A certified organic winery, Lezaun is a tiny family owned estate in the Navarra region, just north of Rioja. The tinto is 100% tempranillo and is a dark, deep red wine with a multi-dimensional palate of rich blackberry, cherry, spice, and coffee flavors. The rosado is mostly grenache, with a bit of tempranillo to round things out. This dry, crisp, super-fresh rose for this money is probably the deal of the year. I had it open here at Vino a couple of Saturdays ago, and the crowd bought every last bottle I had. I think that's called universal appeal!

2005 Terrai Syrah
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case

2005 Terrai Garnacha
$8.95 btl/$89.00 case
Both awesome values from central Spain's Carinena appellation, these are simply too easy to drink. Not that that's a problem! Both made from organically farmed vineyards, both rich, ripe, jammy and filled with peppery spice. Plus both are awesome matches with anything off your grills! The syrah is a bit more structured and full-bodied, the garnacha a tinge softer but no less delicious.

2006 Bodegas Aragonesas Castillo de Fuendejalon
$7.50 btl/$75.00 case
Once again, the economics of getting something this good here for this kind of money escapes me, but who am I to complain? $7.50 a bottle? Pretty crazy, especially when this red is tailor made to be your house red. Made from grenache and tempranillo off of 20-plus-year-old vines, this just drinks so well. There is nothing not to like, and it's aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, smoke and spice just flow from the glass and deliver deliciousness on every level!

Rhone Revelations

Two more world-class reds that will provide untold drinking satisfaction now, and will also age gracefully for several years in your cellars. What more could you want?

2005 Domaine de Monpertuis "Cuvee Counoise"
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case
I haven't been this excited about a southern French red since I brought the awesome Mas des Chimeres to you about seven years ago. This is another amazing red that I think for the money is an absolute steal that, as absolutely delicious as it is now, will be fabulous with about three to five years in your basements. Monpertuis is a great producer of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Proprietor Paul Jeune and his crew hand harvest all the grapes from their 10-plus acres of 50-plus-year-old vineyards. In the great 2005 vintage, he was so impressed with his vats of counoise (usually a blending grape in Chateauneuf) that he decided to bottle them separately. As such, he couldn't label it as Chateauneuf, and the price reflects that. But believe me when I say this is a complex, rich, impeccably balanced red that is loaded with character. Easily one of the most impressive French reds for the money I've had this year. I've got mine in the basement, and hope you will, too!

2005 Domaine J.L. Chave Cotes du Rhone "Mon Coeur"
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case
You might remember me pimping both the '03 and '04 vintages of this red from the legendary producer J.L. Chave (whose out-of-this-world Hermitages go for about $200 a bottle). This is an absolutely stellar red that is made from grapes grown outside the Hermitage appellation, and hence the lower price. Probably the best Cotes du Rhone you'll drink, this is just now starting to show its stuff, and will keep improving for at least another five to 10 years. Rated at a well-deserved 90 points from the Wine Spectator, I almost can't say enough how awesomely good this wine is. I took a half-full bottle home after last Friday's tasting and didn't get to it for two days, and it was better than ever. That would be a really good sign, by the way!

Box O' Rhone
Buy a mixed case of six each of these beauties for just $173.00!

On the Table

As you can see, Chopper is zealously guarding his share of Vino's first shipment of the just released Abbot's Table. Luckily, there's more to be had and, besides, Chopper is old and can only drink so much! Which means that, starting this week, the rest of us can grab all we want of the latest. And I'd say greatest but don't they all taste so freaking good?

2007 Owen Roe Abbot's Table
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case
Once again the most eagerly anticipated release of the Vino wine year is upon us. And once again it is absolutely, unquestionably stellar. The '07 OR AT is out, and holy sh-t is it good! My man Matt from Owen Roe dropped off a sample bottle last week, and I opened it when my pals Kat and Aaron stopped by, because they've been buying the Abbot's from vintage one, so they've got a little historical perspective. We all loved it, and they immediately placed their case order so I'll take that as a good sign. For my palate this is a classic vintage for Abbot's Table. As always, it is a blend of about eight or nine different grapes, this year the highest percentage being sangiovese (about 22%) with around 20% each cab, syrah, zin and then a bunch of other grapey flavor enhancers. This is a lushly textured vintage, not as tannic as the last couple of years but, to my mind, more what I think of when I think of what Abbot's Table should be. Long, intense flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, cocoa, coffee, slight floral hints. Of course, it is ultra full-bodied, with all the intensity and impact you could ask for, and even though it's been in bottle only about three or four weeks, the luscious finish is remarkably complete and sure to improve. Saying all that, it has just been bottled, and ideally you'd give this a few weeks to come together, and then in a perfect world watch it get better for the next five years. But, hey, if you're the instant gratification type (like me!) and realize life is short, then drinking this down with dinner tonight isn't such a bad idea, either. Whatever you do, you are in for a huge treat. And kudos to David O'Reilly for continuing to hold the line on the pricing for I think the fourth year in a row. As I say every year, if this was a boutique California winery, you'd be paying two or three times as much!

2007 Owen Roe Pinot Gris "Oregon"
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case
I also just took a bottle of this incredibly priced Oregon gris home to try and I can say without reservation that this is not only the best pinot gris ever to come from the O'Reilly label, but it is hands-down the best value Oregon pinot gris in the market! Both w and I were very impressed (better still because my wife is not an not easily impressed wine drinker). I'll admit the last two vintages of O'Reilly's gris weren't to my liking...too soft, not enough acidity, too ripe, a little sweet on the finish. Not a problem with this beautiful 2007. '07 was a much cooler year, a perfect white wine year, and the local blancs coming out of this vintage have been for the most part delicious, with great fruit definition and excellent acid backbone. The '07 O'Reilly's gris is absolutely spot on. Full of fig, apple, hazelnut and floral aromas and flavors, great texture, very smooth finish with a beam of acidity that will make this an incredible wine with food. It really is that good, and at this ridiculous price, something you need to be drinking! Salmon, chicken, fresh crab, a nice vongole pasta...whatever you do, it'll work!

Save a Little, Enjoy a Lot!
Buy six to 11 bottles of either Owen Roe deliciousness and save 10%, mix 12 bottles and save 15%!

Amazing Aussie!

2006 Razor's Edge Shiraz-Grenache
$13.95 btl/$138.00 case

Falling firmly in the "What's not to like?" category, this is simply a sensationally delicious shiraz blend from Australia that I just tried last week and knew I had to share. If you're throwing tasty bites on your grill this summer, there is little better than a super rich, intense, jammy shiraz from those Down Under masters of drinking pleasure. This is also one of those bottles that totally over-delivers for the money, with boatloads of dark, teeth-staining deliciousness that comes charging out of every glass. Need more? How about some Wine Spectator love in this recent 91 point rave: "Polished, round and expressive. A gorgeous mouthful of ripe blackberry, plum, cherry and exotic spices, with hints of leather and brown sugar nibbling at the edge. The finish rolls on and on against superfine tannins. Drink now through 2016." I know, sounds luscious, doesn't it? Well, that it is, and it is also very limited (as of right now only 66 cases for the state!), so if you want some guaranteed goodness, grab it while you can!

Don't Miss the Mas!

2005 Mas Des Chimeres Coteaux du Languedoc
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case
Let me preface this pitch by saying there are maybe six or so wines that I think are must buys, things I buy every year for my own cellar. This is one of them. So how happy am I? My annual favorite southwest French red has just arrived (after an 18-month absence), and it is absolutely smoking this year. All across France, 2005 turned out to be a spectacular year for the grape growing arts and at Chimeres in '05, as expected, grower/winemaker Guilhem Darde has made perhaps the finest Chimeres I've ever had, and this is the 7th vintage I've had the pleasure to plunk down in my cellar. As always, this blend of 70% syrah, 20% grenache and 5% each cinsault and mourvedre is loaded with character. Broodingly dark, with intense aromas and flavors of garrigue, blackberry, wild herbes, cherry, coffee and so much more, this is a sensory delight. Full-bodied, with great texture and presence, fine tannins and perfectly balanced acidity, this has everything I could ask for. So good to drink now, this is also something that you could lay down for five to 10 years and watch it get better and better. Simply a beautiful bottle of vin rouge! Am I excited? Hell yes!

Pretty (and Tasty) in Pink

Now, like this time every year, I'm thinking pink at Vino, and with the recent onslaught of delicious, crisp, and dry roses coming my way, I thought a special mixed-case offering was in order. Three bottles each of four different wines from four different wine growing areas. All of these are perennial Vino favorites and fabulously food-friendly with your grilled burgers, shrimp, veggies, sausages and chicken. Check 'em out and pop 'em open:

2007 Provenza Chiaretto Rose (Italy)
$15.95 btl/$158.00 case

2007 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Rose (Oregon)
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case

2007 Chateau D'Ooupia Minervois Ros� (France)
$13.95 btl/$138.00 case

2007 Marques De Caceres Rioja Rosato (Spain)
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case

Pack O' Pink:
Get your mixed case of all four for just $139.00!

Bargain Bottles

Two reds, two whites, all killer buys!

2004 Columbia Crest Shiraz "Two Vines"
$7.95 btl/$78.00 case
The crowd has spoken, and they asked for more! I just had this in our Friday Flights last week, and it was a huge hit. I sold out of four cases I had on hand halfway through the tasting. 100% syrah with plenty of stuffing, a rich texture, spicy, peppery blackberry fruit and simply way too easy to drink (as if there is such a thing). For this price, you'd be hard pressed to do better. By the way, if you're having a crowd over, there are magnums (1.5 liters) available for just $14.95!

2006 Brumont Gros Manseng
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case
Can you say bright, crisp, vibrantly fresh and floral? This is just a delicious, classic, warm weather sipper that is begging for a sunny afternoon at the beach or mountains. Also the perfect pre-dinner sipper to get your party started. If you were sitting at a sunny sidewalk cafe in Paris, this is what you'd want to slurping on with your bowl of moules!

2007 Santa Julia Tempranillo "Organica"
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case
In case the big red printing on the label escapes you, it's organic! Oh, it's also rich, delicious, filled with cocoa, earth, dark black cherry and currant flavors. I should also let you know this Argentinean red goes all too well with pasta, pizza, and various 'cued delights. Medium to full-bodied, smooth, with a jammy finish, yet another way to drink excellent red wine for under ten bucks!

2007 Casa Santos Lima "Exemius"
$7.95 btl/$78.00 case
To repeat my usual refrain when I come across these crazy deals from Europe: How in the heck do they get a white that is so fresh, fruity, dry and delicious from Portugal to Portland for so little? I don't know and I don't care, just keep it coming! All the apple, fig and light citrus notes you could ask for here. Get this little gem ice cold and enjoy! Perfect with spicy Spanish or Asian food.

Local Flavor

2006 Pappas Wine Company Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley"
$17.95 btl/$178.00 case

Let's see...a delicious, bright, all-too-easy-to-drink Oregon noir from my new favorite producer for less than fifteen bucks a bottle by the case? Yeah, I can get with that! This stellar bargain comes from winemakers Stewart Boedecker and Athena Pappas whose Boedecker Cellars label has come at me out of nowhere and knocked me out. I LOVE their B.C. single-vineyard pinots for their purity, balance and integrity. They also regularly garner 90-plus scores from The Wine Spectator. The "Athena" vineyard bottling is easily my new favorite pinot this year. They also make wines under the Pappas label to introduce people to their hyper quality-oriented winemaking style. They have just released a miniscule 150 cases of the new '06 Pappas Pinot this week, and it is something not to miss. They reluctantly take 10 percent of the production from their single-vineyard Boedecker "Stewart" and "Athena" bottlings to blend into this gem, and the quality and care shows. Strawberries, spice and floral notes carry your senses to your "happy place." Super food-friendly (I just had half a glass with some leftover bolognese pasta...yum!) and priced so people can actually afford it, this is that all too rare pinot bargain! The Pappas math: 150 cases plus deliciousness plus affordability equals vaporization of inventory!

Add Pappas
They also have released one of those ultimate summer whites, their 2007 Pappas Pinot Blanc ($13.95 btl/$138.00 case), a dry, vibrantly fruity all-stainless (yay!) fermented beauty that is crying out for a sunny afternoon on the deck. I had it open this past Saturday and it got huge crowd support!

Add Boedecker
Also available from Stewart and Athena is the absolutely stellar 2005 Boedecker Cellars "Athena" Pinot Noir ($35.95 btl). Not only is this a rare 2005 pinot still available from that great vintage but, as I said above, it is the best new Oregon pinot I've had this year. Incredibly elegant, beautifully defined berry, spice, plum and earth notes, with a judicious use of new oak so the pure, delicious fruit can shine through. This is exactly what I love in Oregon pinot, and I think it is a classic expression of how good Oregon pinot can get!

Muga Madness!

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva
$31.95 btl/$162.00 six-pack of 750 ml bottles
$17.95 btl/$178.00 case of 375 ml bottles

I've been waiting months for these to arrive, and they have finally made it. For years Muga has been the yardstick against which the wines of Spain's Rioja region have been measured. The incredible, classic '04 vintage (see wine below, too) was stellar all over Spain, and Muga made some of their finest Riojas ever. I'll step aside and let Parker's Wine Advocate do the raving: "The 2004 Muga Reserva is dark, ruby-colored with an enticing nose of pain grille, pencil lead, crushed stone, and blackberry. This leads to an elegant wine with layers of flavor, an elegant finish and several years of aging potential. 93-plus points!"

Tempting Tempranillo

2004 Conde de Siruela Ribera del Duero
$13.95 btl/$138.00 case

This is a wine I first tasted just last week, and it gave me one of those rare "wow" moments. This 100% Tempranillo from Spain's prestigious Ribera del Duero, home to all too many $20 plus bottles of red, is a delicious example of classic, old-school Spanish tempranillo. A deep purple color, rich, ripe black fruit, earthy, leathery notes, perfect balance, mouthcoating flavors with a long finish, this has it all, except the usual high price tag for this appellation!

Everyday Drinkers

A quartet of wines to pop the corks on at will so you can better afford to put fifty or more (freaking) dollars worth of gas in your cars:

2006 Vinum Cellars "Pets" Petite Sirah
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case
The best vintage yet for my favorite bargain petite from Cali that absolutely stole the show the recent Friday Flights tasting of Petite Sirah and Syrah here at the wine shack. For the money delivers loads of uber-drinkable jammy raspberry, pepper and cocoa-infused fruit with a full-bodied texture that is begging to be opened at your next 'cue-fest!

2006 Alamos Bonarda "Mendoza"
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case
This a really terrific buy from Argentina, which is coming hard in the wine world with some unbeatable wines in the "bang for the buck" category. Alamos is the second label of one of that country's premier producers, Bodega Catena, and the Alamos shows all the same care and quality that goes into its big brothers. This Bonarda is absolutely loaded with sweet, fleshy strawberry and raspberry fruit with hints of spice, licorice and violets. Rated a more-than-respectable-for-its-price 88 points by the Spectator, this is the wine to get you off your cabernet cravings. Super value!

2006 Shenandoah Vineyards Zinfandel "Amador"
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case
Easily one of the best zin values in the market, this jam-packed beauty has it all...copious quantities of blackberry, cherry and peppery fruit that jumps from the glass. A rich, full-bodied, ripe and way-too-easy-to-drink style, this is a crowd pleaser extraordinaire. I love Amador zins, and to be able to pick one up for under ten bucks these days is almost unheard of. A Vino favorite!

2006 Domaine Ferrandiere "6 Enfants" Viognier
$8.95 btl/$89.00 case
Man, is this good! A super dry yet intense viognier from southern France's Languedoc region that is mouth-wateringly good. The classic viognier aromas and flavors of pear, spice, apple and fresh cut flowers are all there along with a nice minerally complexity. The quintessential aperitif wine that is also substantial enough to handle heartier fare as well. One sip and I was on board...I think you'll be joining me!

Amazing Burgundy Bargain!

2005 Domaine du Prieure Bourgogne Pinot Noir
$13.95 btl/$138.00 case

Let me repeat that: 2005 red Burgundy for $13.95 a bottle! Yeah, I know, pretty crazy, but it's true. 2005 was perhaps the best Burgundy vintage in the last ten years, and the wines are garnering huge press, and are mostly priced accordingly. That's why, when I first tried this, I was stunned that it went for so little. Very pretty aromas and flavors of strawberry, Asian spice, floral notes and that classic Burgundian earthiness that domestic winemakers can only dream about. Speaking of, don't we have a few thousand acres of pinot noir planted about an hour south of here? Why in the world do I have to go all the way to France to get something delicious, interesting, way-too-drinkable, and under-fifteen-bucks-a-pop that shows quality and care in the cellar when their are a hundred people making wine in our backyard? I guess as long as I can drink this well, for this little I don't really care. This really is a beautiful pinot, and right now I have some sitting in a big burgundy glass right next to me, and every time I lean over to smell it it opens up even more, revealing more enticing fruit. An absolute Vino Best Buy!

Calling All Pizza and Pasta Lovers!

2006 Straccali Chianti
$9.95 btl/$98.00 case

Again, as with the Burgundy above, I love that even with the dollar becoming about as valuable against the Euro as a used bus ticket, I can get delicious, food-friendly and just fun-to-drink sangiovese from Tuscany for this kind of price. This Straccali really showed well at our last Tuscan Friday tasting a couple of weeks ago, showing those classic dusty-cherry, earthy, and ripe berry flavors that I love in these wines. This drinks perfectly right now, with a pitch perfect fruit-acid balance that makes it drink so well with food, especially tomato-based pastas and pizzas. Drinking well for less is never a bad thing, don't ya agree?

Barbera Blow-Out

2005 Bruna Grimaldi "Scassa" Barbera d'Alba Superiore
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case

Many of you will remember last year's 2004 "Scassa" bottling from the great Barbera producer Grimaldi that blew our palates away here at the wine shack. We sold cases and cases of that juice. Crazy juice that only confirms my love of Barbera as perhaps the premier food wine going. Now we have the deliciously complex 2005 Grimaldi "Scassa"...finally...and it is a stunner. As good, if not better than, the '04, and simply something you have to try. Little Matty Kramer got all over this in last Sunday's Oregonian, and I pretty much agree with his rave: "You can't help but be struck sometimes about the appearance of certain small-production wines in the local market. But then you come across an exceptional Barbera d'Alba, such as this 2005 bottling from small Piedmontese producer Bruna Grimaldi and you're amazed to find it here. After all, only 700 cases of this wine are produced. We're lucky to get it, as this is one of the best barberas I've tasted in a long time. A single-vineyard bottling from the Scassa vineyard, this 2005 rendition is beautifully delineated. It has spent time in oak, although you wouldn't know it from the taste, which is devoid of any telltale vanilla. Instead it comes through in a desirable impression of polish and suppleness. Plumped with almost a whiplash intensity of wild cherry and minerals, this is one of the more remarkable barberas made today. If you're a barbera lover, this is one to seek out!"

Ridiculous Riesling!

2004 Struktur Riesling Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
$5.95 btl/$60.00 case

Um, I'm not sure how to express what an insane deal this is. Really good German riesling from the best vineyard area in the country...the famous Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region...selling for a pittance. My friend DOR sprung this on me, giving me a glass and asking me how much I thought it cost. I took a taste, savored it's apricot, peach, mineral and floral aromas and flavors, beautiful balance and the slightly sweet finish backed by this burst of crisp acidity that is the hallmark of well-made riesling. I was like "I don't know...$15 or $20?" He just smirked and dropped the bombshell: "$5.95"! I picked up my jaw up off of his dining room floor and immediately made plans to share this absolutely stupid deal with all of you. This is simply the most stunning riesling bargain I've EVER come across, especially when you consider the pummeling the dollar is taking. A perfect aperitif wine that is also bulky enough to go with spicy Thai or Indian food. (I had some customers take it home for just that purpose and they said it was spot-on with their Indian food.) Pop this with some spicy shrimp off the grill and sit out on your patios and enjoy. At five bucks per by the case, it has to be your white wine for the season! Don�t miss it!

Red Raves

I could go on and on about how much I like these two world-class reds, but I need a quick break, so I'm going to let some of Parker's Wine Advocate adjective-laden prose do the talking for these two:

2005 Cellars de Capcanes Mas Donis "Barrica"
$15.95 btl/$158.00 case

RP: "Mas Donis Barrica is a custom cuvee made for importer Eric Solomon using old vine grenache (80-plus years) and syrah (30-plus years). Bottled without fining or filtration it offers up an expressive nose of slate, mineral, licorice, violets, black cherry and blueberry. Layered, long, and complex, this spicy, hedonistic effort has two to three years of aging potential but can be enjoyed now without guilt. It is a great value. 90 points!"

2006 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone "Les Chevrefeuilles"
$15.95 btl/$158.00 case

RP: "Proprietor Remi Klein is one of the top-flight winemakers among Cote du Rhone producers. His wines always represent tremendous value for the quality. The 2006 Chevrefeuilles reveals terrific density for a Cotes du Rhone along with wonderful berry fruit intermixed with lavender, pepper and underbrush. Round, deep and seamlessly constructed, it is ideal for consumption for the next several years. 90 points!"

'Tis the Season

For the annual onslaught of my favorite spring things in a bottle. We're talking rose time, and they are starting to roll in. These are great food wines, and are way underappreciated for their ability to match perfectly with meats off the grill. And don't miss the pink bubbly that will knock your wine loving palate out!

2007 Domaine Sorin Rose Cotes de Provence
$11.95 btl/$119.00 case

Every year this is one of the first out of the box, is a classic southern French rose with its vibrantly fresh, crisp strawberry and spice flavors that leave your palate tingling in pleasure, and at the end of the summer I always look back and know that this syrah-grenache blend was the best rose I had all year, especially at this ridiculously good price. I think nothing more needs to be said!

2007 J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto Rose
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case

Winemaker/rock star Jay Somers always nails a great bottle of pink, and this years is his best yet. Why? Because he switched from his all-pinot style because of cost issues, and switched to an all syrah-grenache blend from Columbia Gorge fruit. Spicy, rich, bursting with raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors, and best of all three dollars less per bottle than last years. Did I mention it's his best yet?

NV Louis Perdrier Rose
$9.95 btl/$99.00 case

There may be no other wine in the store that makes me as happy as this one. First off, let me say I LOVE good rose bubbly, and this one is wonderful and crazy good for the money. I found this delight when w and I were up in Seattle at Cafe Campagna, my traditional lunch stop. They had this pink Perdrier by the glass, and I had never heard of it, so I ordered a glass and was bowled over by how good it was. Elegantly packaged, looking for all the world like a real Champagne, and tasting pretty darn close with nice creaminess, elegance and rich, crisp, dry flavor, I knew I had to find this. I was guessing it would retail in the $20 a bottle area. I was truthfully blown away when I found out how inexpensive it was. This is what you want for any upcoming celebrations (it's going to be the bubbly of choice at my own impending nuptials), or if you're just looking for something delicious, fun and fizzy. Very highly recommended!

Spanish Sensations

Have I mentioned that Spain is the place to look for crazy Euro red wine values? Yeah, I know I have...again and again, but it bears repeating. Two more compelling pieces of evidence have made their way to Vino:

2006 Bodegas Fontana Tempranillo "Mesta"
$7.95 btl/$79.00 case

2005 Castillo di Almansa Garnacha Tintorea
$8.95 btl/$89.00 case

If you have a problem with red wines that are so good and way over-deliver on your wine dollar that you will be struggling to think of superlatives, then perhaps you'd best pass these by. For the rest of you, you would be well-advised to grab a few (dozen) bottles of these crazy buys for your spring house red. The last time I saw the "Mesta" in our market was I think the '03 or '04 vintage when we blew through about 50 cases in an E-Special. It went missing until a couple of weeks ago, and now it's back and better than ever. $7.95 a bottle for really terrific tempranillo? Yeah, I know. Pretty wild. But here it is, so what can I do but share? Rich, ripe, filled with spice and character, this is far too easy to drink, and way too delicious not to! One of those crowd pleasers that proves the "an open bottle is an empty bottle" truth. The '05 Almansa is another fabulous deal from an old favorite Vino producer. We ran with their Reserva bottlings for years here, loving every luscious drop. The reserva is no longer available here for various reasons, but after tasting this at a trade event yesterday, I have to say I could care less. This red for under $9 is like stealing. Loads of jammy blackberry, raspberry, and cocoa and pepper-tinged fruit; complex and complete with its full-bodied palate on through to a lush, textured finish. Really great juice that you'll be hard pressed to keep around. Both of these are the deal with burgers, steaks or grilled veggies off the 'cue. They'd do well with some strong cheeses, too. This good, this cheap and this versatile is not a bad thing!

Spain by the Case:
Buy six bottles of each of these bargain bottles and get them for the same full case discount: $84.00 a box!

Spring Whites

I know it's fashionable to wait until after Memorial Day to break out the whites, but I always felt that rules were for those who lack imagination, so with that I'll throw these two temptations out there and let Matt Kramer do the raving:

2007 Cameron Winery "Giuliano"
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case

MK: "Cameron Winery is a font of new ideas, whimsical label names (Vino Pinko; Cameroni; Clos Electrique) and not least, really beautiful wines. The latest intrigue from John Paul is simply labeled Giuliano. The white wines of northeast Italy's Friuli region inspired the young, Italy-smitten Julian/Giuliano. This just-released 2007 version of Giuliano is the best rendition Cameron has yet made. A blend of friulano, a white grape native to Friuli and very rare in Oregon, with approximately 20 percent each of pinot blanc, pinot gris, auxerrois and a mutation of pinot gris John Paul calls white pinot gris, it's a stunningly dry white. Bright, fresh, free of intrusive oak and brimming with an impressively seamless flavor of fresh hay, wildflowers and the barest edge of honey, this is one of the best dry white wines made in Oregon in a very long time. Only 180 cases were made. Get it while you can. $20."

2006 Vignalta Pinot Bianco "Colli Euganei"
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case

MK: "The name "Colli Euganei" matters. It's a strange volcanic upwelling just 40 miles from Venice on the otherwise flat vastness of the Po Valley in northern Italy. There's nothing else like it anywhere on the Po Valley plain. Although pinot bianco (better known in French as pinot blanc) is not native to the area, this Burgundian grape variety performs exceptionally well in the Colli Euganei district. The winery called Vignalta makes an especially fine version; the 2006 vintage offers one of the best renditions I've yet tasted from this producer, with an unusually intense minerality and lovely zip allied to a dense, succulent chardonnay-like fruitiness. This is really lovely dry white wine at an equally attractive price: $14.95."

Cellar Selections

2005 Montoya Vineyards "Napa valley" Cabernet Sauvignon
$14.95 btl/$145.00 case
First off, just let me say that this is an awesome value in the land of egregiously over-priced California red wine. I've had this on the E-Spec to-do list since I first tasted it about three weeks ago. I loved its tell-tale Cal cab aromas and flavors, not to mention its elegant packaging. All that dusty cherry, cassis, blackberry, cocoa sensations that are SO Napa, with subtle vanilla and oak undertones. One smell and you know this could come from nowhere else but Napa. Classic! But being a consensus kind of guy, I wanted to get the public pulse on this one so I opened it last Saturday during our weekend wine tasting. The verdict was unanimous, much love and praise was forthcoming, and it's time to share the goodness. This is the deal for all you cab...or any red wine...lovers. Layered and complete from the entry through the full-bodied mid-palate and on to the pitch perfect finish, this has plenty of acidity and fine grained tannins to get even better over the next three to four years and drink beautifully for at least six to eight years.

2005 Chateau La Croix De Jaugue St. Emilion
$17.95 btl/$175.00 case
"Let me pull a bottle of Bordeaux out of the cellar." When you picture that scenario, usually you have in mind some boring, overstuffed wine geezer who at one time spent way too much money in a vain attempt to impress his friends. That's why at Vino we counsel grabbing bottles like this that will rock your dinner tables after a few years downstairs. Three things here:
1. 2005 was an absolutely stellar, classic, world beating vintage in Bordeaux. In those vintages you shop the lesser-known labels where the wines will almost always drink as well as bottles that cost two to three times as much.
2. This has classic Bordeaux style...cedar, cassis, blackfruit and plum on the nose and palate. It's fleshy, ripe and richly textured with young but perfectly balanced tannins and acidity to ensure improvement in the cellar.
3. This beautiful merlot-based wine is a steal. Hold this for five to eight years and I guarantee you'll be knocked out by its elegance and complexity. Maybe the best Bordeaux deal in the market right now!

2006 Penfold's "Koonunga Hills" Shiraz-Cabernet
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case
A flat-out bit of thievery here from this ever reliable Aussie wine icon. In our Friday Flights tasting a couple of weeks ago this was awesome and wowed the assembled throngs. It also wowed Parker's Wine Advocate, who jumped all over it with this rave: "Purple-colored, the wine offers meaty black currant, blackberry and blueberry aromas. On the palate the wine exhibits remarkable focus and structure given its humble price. The fruit is grapey and primary as well as intensely flavored. It should evolve for several years and drink well through 2022 (!!) if not longer. It is a fantastic value. 91 points!" Not much to add there, other than for the money, this over-delivers like nothing else!

2005 Canalicchio Rosso di Montalcino
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case
Sadly, I can't afford to cellar and drink all the Brunello di Montalcino (maybe my favorite wine in the world) that I want. But I can afford their younger brothers, the baby Brunellos known as Rosso di Montalcinos, especially when they come from the fabulous '05 vintage and will also get better over the course of five years or so. 100% Tuscan sangiovese that is so complex and freakishly food friendly. Here's some Matt Kramerisms on this gem: "Canalicchio is one of the dwindling number of Brunello producers whose Rosso di Montalcino comes from the same vineyard site as their Brunello di Montalcino. This is unusually rich, dense, characterful Rosso di Montalcino. The 2005 vintage has proved an exceptionally good year for Rosso di Montalcino, and you can discover the dust-with-orange-peel distinction of the Brunello strain of sangiovese in this beautifully made red wine. The price is superb given the exceptional quality of this wine: $19.95!"

2006 Bodegas Caro "Amancaya" Cabernet-Malbec
$15.95 btl/$155.00 case
I've been hounding the distributor about this wine for weeks. I finally tasted it yesterday and it is fantastic! So worth the wait with it's wonderful aromas of plum, cherry, earth and spice that roll out of the glass. The palate is very Euro-styled, with an almost Bordeaux like quality. Ripe, dense fruit with palate-coating fruit balanced by medium-to-firm tannins that will resolve themselves beautifully over the next four to six years. The Wine Advocate graced this with an exceptional 91 point score and called it "an outstanding value that will drink well through 2016!" Regular readers know we've been loving the latest wine releases from Argentina. The reward-to-dollar-spent ratio is off the charts!

2006 Patricia Green Cellars "Reserve" Pinot Noir
$23.95 btl/$235.00 case
Okay, not cheap, but in the realm of outstanding Oregon pinot to throw down in the basement it is a relative bargain. Patty G. always makes great pinots, real benchmarks for local quality that always show off her fruit-driven style of winemaking. This latest release from the warm '06 vintage is almost lushly textured for a pinot, but manages to hold on to some restraint due to her deft winemaking touch and judicious use of oak. So good to drink now, but man, if you can only wait about four years or so this will sing. Last night I finished a 2/3 full bottle that I kind of forgot in my fridge for the last two weeks. I assumed it would be gone, but it was incredible, not showing any downturn in its elegant aromas and flavors even after that prolonged time. Can you say "bodes well for the future!"

And now a quick word about cellaring: At home I have a corner of the basement where I keep all my wine. The temperature remains fairly constant day to day, with seasonal fluctuations from around 54 degrees in winter to 68 degrees or so in the summer. I haven't had any problems. My wine is stored in various boxes and scavenged shelving, because while I respect the visual appeal of nice wine racks, saving my money for more wine is the main thing. For me, simple (i.e. cheap) is better. Besides, when that special bottle I've held is on the dinner table, does it really matter if it spent its formative years surrounded by cardboard?

The Red Wine Rule: Drink More, Pay Less!

Here's a trio of red bargains (& 1 killer white) for those of you who believe the better the buy, the better the bottle.

2005 Domaine Du Coriancon Cotes du Rhone
$10.95 btl/$109.00 case
This is EXACTLY what I think of when I remember all those bargain Cotes du Rhones from France I used to enjoy back in the day. Wine that didn't cost a lot, and delivered a ton of flavor for the money. Mouthfuls of spicy blackberry, pepper-infused grenache (70%) fruit melding perfectly with bursts of ripe raspberry and earth notes from the syrah and mourvedre (10% ea.), with smaller percentages of cinsault (5%), clairette (2.5%), and bourboulenc (bet ya never heard of that one!). This is from true old-vine, biodynamically farmed vineyards in the hills surrounding the tiny village of Vinsobres. You can absolutely taste the warmth that washed over these vines in the near-perfect 2005 vintage. This wine proves again that in classic vintages like '05, shop the lower priced appellations to get unheard-of character and flavor, not to mention awesome value. I had this great bottle open a couple of Saturdays ago and people were floored by how good it is. It is one of my favorite wines in the store right now, and for this money it is stellar. I highly encourage you to grab some of this remarkably food-friendly red for yourselves!

2006 Crios De Susanna Balbo Torrontes
$14.95 btl/$145.00 case
Also available is her stunningly good Torrontes, a aromatic, thrill-a-sip, no-oak white that is a fabulous buy. I tried the new '07 last week and flipped! It runs the same price as the Malbec ($14.95/ $145.00) and is highly pleasurable. Here's Parker's Wine Advocate rave: "The Crios �07 is about as good as this varietal gets. Super fragrant, smelling of spring flower garden, honey, and exotic spices, from the nose one expects the wine to be sweet. On the palate, however, it is dry with a creamy texture, intense flavors, excellent acidity, and a lengthy finish. It is an ideal alternative for rich dishes normally calling for a chardonnay. Rink it over the next 12 to 18 months. 90 points!"

2005 Dominio De Tares Bierzo "Albares"
$12.75 btl/$125.00 case
If you've been paying attention to what is shaking here at Vino, you know I love the wines from the up-and-coming Bierzo region of Spain. Made from the mencia grape, these are exuberantly styled wines that are a treat to drink. Wine Spectator/Oregonian columnist Matt Kramer has been on board with these as well. Last Sunday he recommended this lovely, all-stainless fermented bargain with the following rave: "Mencia resembles a rather burly pinot noir, offering pinot noir's famous berry-like flavors in a rich, substantial fashion. But there's yet more. The Bierzo district boasts slate soils and there's definitely a certain soil dimension that shines in these wines, very likely from the slate. Think of the ripest raspberry and cherry flavors somehow allied to a lick of slate. Dominio de Tares offers five other mencia wines, all oak-aged. Only Albares is oak free. (And it's only for the U.S. market, by the way, as the American importer instigated its creation.) The Albares bottling, ironically, the least expensive in the lineup, is the best. This is terrific red wine, brimming with berryish flavor and pristine in is delineation. One of my all-time favorite Spanish reds, it's a steal for the money!" I've got to agree with MK, and if you haven't experienced the wine drinking happiness that is Bierzo, this is a great place to start!

Pinot Pleasure

Put aside your prejudice, because this is a real deal:

2006 Saintsbury "Garnet" Pinot Noir
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case

No, this deliciously rich California pinot noir isn't one of those "coals to Newcastle" deals. What it is is an excellent pinot noir at a great price that I wish more Oregon wineries would offer, because I really would rave about local products. But because so many of our homegrown wineries are more motivated by money than consumer-friendliness, I'll gladly offer you this until a better option comes along. I have to admit I hadn't tried the new release of this always rock-solid pinot until Matt Kramer wrote it up a couple of Sundays ago, so I'll let him fill you in: "It is an article of almost aggressive faith among Oregon winegrowers that California isn't up to the pinot noir challenge. The wines are too big, they say. Too alcoholic. Too fruity and lacking necessary finesse. All of these accusations are nonsense, the trash talk of competition and maybe even a little jealousy at California's undeniable marketing advantages. The key point is that California can, and does, create compelling, persuasive, finesse-filled pinot noirs that taste like the real, true pinot thing. Yes, some of the wines are loftily priced. (The same is true for Oregon pinot noirs.) And some of the wines are over-extracted and obvious. (Ditto.) But with every vintage, California has shown itself capable of commanding pinot noir respect. If you want proof, just try this stalwart performer. Almost without fail, Saintsbury's "bargain" bottling, called Garnet, offers a wafting, pure berryish fragrance, vibrant but not over-emphatic fruit and a grace and finesse that sets pinot noir apart from all other red grapes. Make no mistake: This is a pinot noir that a Burgundian would be proud to make. I had a well-known Burgundy shipper try a previous vintage of Saintsbury Garnet and he admired it without reservation and admitted he couldn't offer a pinot noir from Burgundy this good at such a price. At $19.95 a bottle, it's a terrific buy!"

Italian Ideals

The return of one of our all-time favorite wines that rocked a Friday Flight recently, plus a sangiovese steal from Puglia.

2005 Provenza Negresco
$19.95 btl/$198.00 case
There aren't too many wines that I just know will be huge hits in our tastings. This is one of those rare exceptions, and I guarantee you'll love each and every lusciously satisfying sip. Provenza is a great producer in Italy's Lombardy region. They produce amazing whites, a knockout rose (the beloved Chiaretto), and then this. What an amazing bottle. A fantastically perfect blend of barbera, sangiovese, gropello and marzemino (And no, I hadn't heard of those last two, either!). Rich, perfectly balanced, full, long, jammed with berry, spice, cocoa, coffee and earthy aromas and flavors. This has it all...so complete, perfect acid balanced acidity and tannins. Too good right now, but for the patient it will only get better with a couple of years in the basement. One of my personal faves and I'm thinking it'll be yours, too!

2007 Pervini Sangiovese Puglia "I Monili"
$7.95 btl/$75.00 case
"Ex-u-ber-ant (adj.): Filled with or characterized by a lively energy." Which is the perfect descriptor for this little gem from the heel of the boot of Italy. Jumping with juicy cherry flavors, this is about as fresh as it gets, and is the officially the first red I've seen from the '07 vintage. If they are all this good, this fun, we're in for good times ahead. Perfect for drinking right now with pizza, pasta, or anything else, and cheap enough at $6.25 a bottle by the case so that when you want that inevitable second bottle (or is that just me?), you can pop corks at will. One word: Enjoy!

Calling All Zin Lovers

(Especially those who like to save serious money!)

Foppiano Vineyards Lot 96 "Bin 001"
$9.95 btl/$109.00 case

This is just pure drinking fun! Which kind of describes the whole zin drinking experience. Okay, this is really a blend, but with its big dose of Dry Creek zin (the Mecca of zin), this has everything you could ask. Peppery raspberry and black cherry fruit absolutely out of the glass from the glass and coats your palate in jammy, full-bodied flavors. So what else is going on here? How about 20% Petite Sirah (of which Foppiano is maybe Cali's premier producer) from their Russian River estate vineyards, and 40% Alexander Valley sangiovese. How about a head-swimming 14.8% alcohol that doesn't taste hot at all, and just adds great texture and richness. This is one of the most impressive under-$10 bottles from California I've had in a long time. Very highly recommended by the Vino tasting panel!

Pair O' Pinots

2005 Maysara Pinot Noir "Jamsheed"
2006 Et Filles Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley"
$23.95 btl/$238.00 case

Two classic Oregon noirs that play right into my palate, which means they eschew the overripe, over-oaked character that's seems to be unfortunately the coming thing. There's a reason I like wines like these (along with Cameron, Thomas, St. Innocent, etc.), and that is the fact that the main thing here are the grapes, and their intrinsically delicate, complex flavors that don't need to be buried under toast and vanilla. Both Maysara and Et Filles use mostly neutral oak, limiting the new oak to thankfully short stints. Which means you get pure pinot flavors....strawberries, cherry, marionberry, spice, white pepper, plum....that makes our local produce such a joy to drink. The Maysara garnered a well deserved 90 point rating from the Wine Spectator, as did the whole '05 Et Filles lineup (their '06s haven't been rated yet, but I feel they are even more complete wines). For Oregon pinot-philes, these are must try wines to add to your drinking repertoire!

Mixed Case of Pinot:
Full mixed cases of the Et Filles and Maysara go for the same $238.00 case price!

Piedmont's Pinnacles!

Here are two simply stunning reds that are absolutely as good as it can get from Italy. It's hard to put into words how great they are but, of course, I'll try:

2003 Aldo Conterno "Il Favot" Nebbiolo
$49.95 btl/$482.00 case

2003 Vietti "La Crena" Barbera d'Asti
$46.95 btl/$451.00 case/$254.00 six-pack
With the "Il Favot," there's an amazing story here. Aldo Conterno is one of the Piedmont's most revered Barolo producers. His single vineyard wines typically sell for $125 to $200 a bottle. In '03, which was a very hot vintage, he thought the wines weren't up to his usual standards, so he, against the urging and begging of his sons, decided to declassify his entire single vineyard production into a "basic" Nebbiolo Langhe called Il Favot. Here's where the story gets interesting. I'll let Wine Spectator/Oregonian wine columnist Matt Kramer take it from here: "According to Conterno, 'About a month after we had decided not to make any wine labeled Barolo in 2003 and, instead, eventually sell all the wine under our nebbiolo label called Il Favot, one of my sons came to me with a glass of wine in hand. 'Try this,' he said. He didn't tell me what it was. So I tasted it and I said, 'This is very great wine.' And my son said, 'Well, Dad, it's the 2003 Il Favot.' After I tasted that glass of wine, I realized my mistake,' Mr. Conterno said. 'Normally, we put the nebbiolo for Il Favot into small oak barrels. But I refuse to put my Barolo wines into small oak barrels because I personally don't like the taste of oak. So I said to my boys, 'Let's get this wine out of the small barrels and into the big casks like we use for Barolo. Because this wine is really Barolo.' Although technically a 'Langhe Nebbiolo,' the 2003 Il Favot is really a very great Barolo. And it will age, as great Barolos do, for upward of 20 years. Poderi Aldo Conterno winery has never made an Il Favot quite like this and very likely never will again. If this same wine had been labeled Barolo � as it could have been � it would sell for $125 bottle. But because it appears under the Il Favot name, the price is $50. That's hardly cheap, to be sure, but for a 'Barolo' of this extraordinary quality with this kind of pedigree, it's a flat-out steal. Any Barolo fan will tell you that you can't get an Aldo Conterno Barolo today for 50 bucks. Except, this once, you can." An unbelievable story, and an unbelievable wine!

As for the '03 Vietti "La Crena," this is simply my favorite Barbera, ever! Like the Conternos, the Viettis are legends in Piedmont. This single vineyard "la Crena" Barbera is only made in the very best vintages. Big, staggeringly rich and built to last. Luca Carrado from Vietti was in the store a couple of years ago, and when I asked him how long they would age this, he said "We make it for the grandchildren." That's awfully nice of him, but I have to admit I'm drinking mine myself! Others tend to agree with my assessment of this beauty, too. Here's a rave from the Wine Spectator: "Opulent and succulent, with chocolate and ripe plum character on the nose and palate. Full, lively and juicy. From old vines. Lovely. Always very, very good quality. 90 points!" And even better, it received a coveted "Three Glass" award (their highest rating!) from the most prestigious Italian wine guide out there, the Gambero Rosso: "Thrilling depth, elegance, structure, length and complexity. Remarkably powerful. Three well deserved glasses!" Barbera is also perhaps my favorite food wine, and this blockbuster will stand up to anything you might care to pair it with.

2006 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco
$13.95 btl/$138.00 case
We wrap up our Festa Italiana with this gem. When it comes to white wines that rock with food, the all-stainless steel fermented beauties from northern Italy's Alto Adige are hard to beat. Alois Lageder is one of the finest practitioners of white wine excellence in the whole country, and this fresh, bright bianco absolutely bursts from your glass. Also a Matt Kramer fave, here's his rap: "Alois Lageder's 2006 pinot bianco is a textbook-perfect example. This is an elegant, subtle yet flavor-rich pinot bianco proffering a mix of lemon zest, ripe nectarine and a definite stony and mineral aftertaste with an ideal zip of acidity. It's blessedly free of oak and it exists only to serve your thirst and your favorite foods, preferably fish, shellfish or cheeses. The price is superb!"

More Kramerisms

Since I've gotten many emails about this, here's the dish for all of you (verbiage is MK's):

2006 J. Christopher Sauvignon Blanc "Willamette Valley"
$16.95 btl/$168.00 case
"2006 J. Christopher Sauv Blanc is proof of just how good Oregon-grown sauvignon blanc can be. Simply put, this is superb sauvignon blanc: dense-textured, pristine in its flavor delineation and possessed of perfect balance between substantial fruit and refreshing acidity. It's the best Oregon sauvignon blanc I've yet tasted. $16.95."

Jammy Goodness

2004 Quinta Do Vale Meao Meandro
$20.95 btl/$205.00 case

This is something that has been lurking on a distributors list that I came across, tried and was bowled over by. A juicy, jammy, intensely full-bodied blend of five different native Portuguese grape varieties, this is another "Wow" wine! At a dinner party at home Sunday night there was much "oohing" and "aahing" around the table. And now I come to find out that the Wine Spectator is clued in to this one too, as they graced it with a 92 point score, raving: "An intense kirschlike aroma is followed by pure flavors of dark cherry and blackberry, with loads of mineral and spice. Refined and powerful, with a long, long finish of iron and hot stone. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca. Drink now through 2012."

The Crowd Has Spoken!

2004 Vinas Del Cenit Tempranillo "Vina Mazzaron"
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case

Every now and then we pour a wine at our Friday Flights tastings that everyone loves. At our Spanish tasting a few weeks ago, this was that wine. It has been on the E-Special to-do list for the last month, and now it is time to make up for its omission and spread the word. Bottom line: I guarantee you will love this wine! There, how's that? If you have an irrational fear of jam-packed, full-bodied fruit-bombs-in-a-bottle, then you better not be popping this cork. But if you have no such fears, then you need to wrap your lips around this big boy! I love it, the Friday drinkers loved it, even the Wine Advocate loved it: "Dark ruby-colored, it has a classy perfume of pain grille, spice box, black currant and blackberry jam. This supple textured wine has gobs of sweet fruit, ripe tannins, and surprising elegance. It should continue to evolve for two to three years. 92 points!"

Holiday Happiness

Now that your wallets have had their sticker shock, you might like the sound of these gems. I feel very strongly about all of these, not just for your holiday enjoyment, but as every day drinkers. Each wine delivers huge bang for the buck and, I think, offer something that every wine drinker will love. With that, I offer the following:

2005 Domaine Puydeval Vin de Pays
$12.95 btl/$128.00 case

The last vintage I was able to get of this fabulous cab franc (60%), syrah (30%) and merlot (10%) blend from the south of France was the 2001, and I loved it. Now we finally have more, from the awesome '05 vintage, and it is rocking. Rich, blackberry, cocoa and coffee notes. Every time I've had it open here at the store, everyone loves it. You will, too!

Personal Finance 101: Moderate investments with high returns!

2005 Domaine La Roubine Sablet "La Grange des Briguieres"
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case
This is one of those hidden gems that makes me so happy that I got into this business. First off, I LOVE the wines from France's Rhone Valley. Secondly, I love great bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, two of the greatest wines you could ever hope to slurp out of your glass. Sadly, I can't afford to drink them all the time. But then I come across this little stunner, and once again all seems well in my world. Eric and Sophie Ughetto have been growing grapes in Gigondas for years and selling them to the local co-op. Finally, around 2000, they started bottling their own wines, and thank goodness. Their Gigondas' are always big, intense, chunky wines that are among the best. Unfortunately, their current Gigondas costs about $30. Luckily for my Rhone-loving palate, they also bottle this awesome Cotes du Rhone Villages that is almost every bit as good as its more expensive sibling. A syrah/grenache blend from a tiny two-acre, 45-year-old vineyard in the Sablet appellation, this beauty oozes blackberry, coffee, earth, plum and peppery spice notes. Long and rich on the palate, medium-weight tannins, a luscious finish...that's about all I could ask. This will drink perfectly on your dinner tables this fall and winter, but I guarantee it's going to get better with some time in your cellars. A great buy and I love this juice!

2005 La Luna Del Rospo Barbera d'Asti
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case
Taking into account what I said about the above two wines being some of my favorite things to consume, now I get to offer one of my all-time favorite food wines, a deliciously good Barbera from Italy's Piedmont region. The cherry-tinged fruit and bright, fresh acidity of these slurpy wines make them perfect matches with practically anything you throw on your dinner plates. We blew through dozens of cases of the 2004 vintage La Luna del Rospo, and I had high hopes for the latest release. I needn't have worried, because this notches the volume up and delivers big, even in the classic '05 vintage. Tiny vineyard yields from their biodynamically grown vines, meticulous care in their winery bottles, unfiltered so you get every bit of flavor and texture, and in this case that's a bunch! A delicious, value-priced Barbera that is getting harder and harder to find, this will hit all your pleasure spots!

2004 Vina Maquis Lien "Valle de Colchagua"
$14.95 btl/$148.00 case
Another Friday Flights star, this falls firmly in the "nothing not to like" category. Our own Matt Kramer recently mentioned this Chilean red in his Oregonian column, so I'll let him wax on: "It would be a mistake not to recognize just how good Chile's best wines have become, often at a steal of a price. The red wine called Lien is a delicious case in point. A deft blend of syrah, carmenere, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec, this deep-hued red wine is silky and almost sumptuously flavorful, with strong blackberry notes and a touch of vanilla and toast. There's oak in this wine, to be sure, but the depth and scale of the fruit carries the oak well. But it's the blend itself that raises this wine well above most of its competition at this price...from anywhere in the world. You'd have to look long and hard to find a richer, more dimensional, better-quality red wine for the money. At $14.95, it's a standout bargain in genuinely fine red wine!"

Bargain Bottles

More for less? Heck yes! Check 'em out:

2006 Mas Del Mets Montsant
$8.50 btl/$84.00 case
The wines from the Montsant appellation have long been called "baby Priorats," owing to their proximity to that region. Their similar grape makeup, and the fact that you can get delicious Montsant for about half to a third...or in this case about a sixth...of the price of their pricier neighbors. And after tasting this little fruit bomb, I absolutely know where my wine dollars will be invested. This has great texture, a full-bodied feel and the aromas and flavors simply burst from the glass. 33% each of grenache, tempranillo and mazuela (aka carignan), and 100% delicious, this will rock with any braised or stewed meats, or maybe some strong flavored cheeses, or some homemade tapas. It doesn't matter. What matters is that you've got some of this Spanish steal in your glass!

2005 Farnese Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
$8.50 btl/$84.00 case
As I've said many times in the recent past, with the beatdown the dollar is taking against the Euro, I am amazed every time I taste something like this stellar bargain from Italy's Abruzzo region. How they get it this good for this cheap is beyond me. A blend of sangiovese and cerasuolo, this drinks so easily that I'm betting each time you open a full bottle, you'll end up with an empty bottle! Raspberry, bing cherry, spice, earth and hints of smoke, this rolls out of the glass and down your gullet effortlessly. The definition of "crowd pleaser," and a great choice for holiday entertaining.

Great White Hopes

Hey, we've got plenty of warm weather ahead, and I have personally had a kind of white wine renaissance this summer, getting into all sorts of trouble with some amazingly food-friendly bottles. These recent Matt Kramer picks, coincidentally both sauvignon blanc-based, will be two I'll be slurping in the future, and may I suggest you should do the same! I'll let MK do the raving:

2006 J. Christopher Sauvignon Blanc "Willamette Valley"
$16.95 btl/$168.00 case
Okay, MK can rave right after this: It is my fairly well-informed opinion that Jay Somers makes the finest sauv blancs in America right now...bar none! Kramer is spot-on in his assessment: "One of Oregon's rarest wines, unaccountably so given its quality, is sauvignon blanc. Owner-winemaker Jay Somers - one of Oregon's premier winemakers - has an unusually dab hand at crafting compelling dry whites. His Sauvignon Blanc "Willamette Valley" 2006 is proof of just how good Oregon-grown sauvignon blanc can be. Simply put, this is superb sauvignon blanc: dense-textured, pristine in its flavor delineation and possessed of perfect balance between substantial fruit and refreshing acidity. This is a classic, cool-climate sauvignon blanc (which means citrus notes rather than the fig flavors of warm-climate sauvignon blanc). It's blessedly free of any oak and delivers a lovely array of scents and tastes of grapefruit, lemon curd and a touch of nectarine. If Oregon has created a better sauvignon blanc than this one, it hasn't come to my attention. It's a steal at $16.95!".

2005 Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Blanc
375 ml: $9.95 btl/$102.00 case
"Sometimes you taste a wine and you say, 'Very nice. I really liked that.' Then you find out the price and you say "Wow! I like this even better now." That pretty much sums up my reaction to this lovely dry white from Bordeaux. The Bonnet 2005 Blanc benefits from the stellar 2005 vintage in Bordeaux, which blessed the high as well as the low end. Even modest wines turned in exceptional performances, within their class. This is beautiful dry white wine - a blend sauvignon blanc (50 percent), semillon (40 percent) and muscadelle (10 percent). Hints of ripe peach, pineapple and citrus notes such as lime are allied to a luscious texture and invigorating acidity. It's a winning choice for all the usual fish suspects, especially shellfish such as mussels. If there's a better dry white wine selling for this low a price, I haven't tasted it!"

Bargain Bottle: Cab Lovers Unite!

2004 Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon
$8.95 btl/$87.00 case

The bargain priced cabs from Avalon have been a staple here at Vino for the last three vintages. I think this ripe, wonderfully balanced cab drinks as well as most $15 to $20 bottles. And based on the piles of cases we've sold and the feedback that has come my way, it seems you agree. In any event, this is classic Cali cab...big, up front flavors that show oodles of berry, cocoa, cherry, cassis, and vanilla. Super smooth, yet surprisingly dense and concentrated considering the incredibly low price asked. Our distributor has just lowered the price a bit, so I wanted to pass the savings opportunity on to you. We've blown though it at $10 a pop, and at $7.25 a bottle by the case, this has definitely grabbed a seat in the insane value boat!

Barbera That's the Bomb!

2003 Gozzolino Barbera d'Asti "Il Sciorio"
$20.95 btl/$205.00 case

After blowing through innumerable cases of the 2001 version of this same wine, I was devastated when the distributor ran out. He assured me the 2003 was on the way (the winery, to their credit, skipped the mediocre '02 vintage), and tht it was just as good. Having heard that before from numerous wine flacks, when he showed up with the just-arrived 2003, my palate radar was tuned to skeptical. So I took a sip, and man, oh man, I shouldn't have doubted him. This is another stunning single vineyard Barbera from the tiny Gozzolino estate, loaded with character, oozing blackberry, spice, smoke and earthy fruit. Full-bodied, with an extra dose of richness from the superhot 2003 vintage, this has the requisite tannins and perfect acid backbone to ensure that it will age beautifully for at least the nest four to six years. But I wouldn't blame ya if you can't keep it out of your glasses, because this is great food wine, and with grilled steaks or lamb, or planning ahead for some of fall and winter's hearty cooking, you'll be loving it. Immediately shooting to the top of my "favorite wines in the store" list, this is a must buy! And if you want to read more, check out my blog post about this fabulously fantastic wine!

We Love the Burle!

2005 E.A.R.L. Burle Cotes du Rhone
$10.95 btl/$105.00 case

This has to be the longest running show here at Vino. Since we flung open the doors at the wine shack, the fabulously character-filled wines from the late Edmund Burle and now his son, Damien, have been mainstays of our French wine selection. Gigondas, Vacqueyras and, of course, the stellar value that is their Cotes du Rhone. You may have taken advantage of the incredible close-out offering we did on the 2003 a few months ago. The biggest selling wine in E-Special history. If you took advantage of that deal, or if you just missed out, then you'd best be grabbing some of the newly released 2005. The small importer who brings in Burle's wines has remarkably held the line on pricing, actually lowering the the wholesale from the 2003 front line price. I can't even tell you how remarkable that is with the beat down the dollar is taking at the hands of the Euro. Burle's 2005 vintage is the first where son Damien has had complete control, and the wine is better than ever. He's learned his lessons well, and I think taken the quality up a notch. Burle's wines always have that ripe, earthy southern French funk (in a good way!) going on. I love these wines. All blackberryish, peppery, the taste of the soil and sun coming through in every sip. These wines always show what terroir is all about. Damien has retained all of that crazy character and has added more refinement, concentration and balance than I have ever tasted. This is great young Cotes du Rhone, an amazing value, and the perfect red to get through loads of spring and summer 'queing. Plus this is still young and fresh, and something to enjoy, should you be able to control your impulses, for the next three to six years. Well done, D!

Pinching Pennies

2005 Caleo Primitivo Salento
$9.95 btl/$102.00 case

So you've pretty much jacked your budget out of whack this holiday season? Then I'm guessing you need some financial relief as badly as you need a drink. Luckily for you we've got both needs covered! This little red fruit bomb from southern Italy is just what your wallet and palate are craving. Richly textured and so ripe and fun that you can almost taste the sun and warmth that bakes these vineyards every vintage. New to town, this showed extremely well in a recent Italian tasting and was one of the crowd faves against wines costing 2 to 3 times as much. Spicy, jammy, medium to full-bodied and way satisfying. At $8.50 a bottle by the case, this is like stealing! A classic Vino Best Buy!

These are all superb choices for your drinking schedule. Plus, for those of you with a modicum ofself-discipline, several will also be great cellar candidates. If you need options, you can mix or match any twelve bottles and take 10% off the per bottle price. Put together 18 or more bottles and take 15% off the price. Just respond with an e-mail or call the store at 503-235-8545 and we'll confirm your order and let you know when your wines will be ready for pick up or shipment. All wines above offered subject to availability and the erratic, sometimes capricious whims of our suppliers. Cheers!

Find us in Portland, Oregon, at 1226 SE Lexington St., Portland, OR 97202. Or phone 503.235.8545
(toll free dial 1.888.922.8545) or simply e-mail vinobuys@qwest.net.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am to 6pm (Friday 'til 7:30).