Vino Friday Flight (2/19/10): Wines of Portugal and Spain!

I've been talking to a lot of my wine reps how this recession has changed everything as far as people's buying habits. In the past consumers would hunker down, cut back, and when the hard times were over they'd go right back to their profligate ways. When this recession ends, it just feels different. The fundamentals have changed, the paradigm has shifted, and those who thought nothing of spending $25-plus on a bottle of wine for the most part aren't coming back in force. I say all this as a way to introduce the incredible wines we'll we'll be pouring at this tasting, which are all about value; and also as a way to take another crack at Oregon wine producer, who continues to not get it. With reports coming to me of thousands of unsold cases of '05, 06, '07 and now '08 vintage wines stacking up, there are still wineries who stubbornly think the party isn't over. One of my reps brought by the entry level '08 Bethel Heights Willamette Valley pinot yesterday. This is the wine they want to get people to appreciate their offerings. It is also a wine I would have to sell for $27 a bottle. This is what they consider the "low end"! Then there's Willakenzie, who is "generously" discounting their single-vineyard pinots '05 pinots ('05s??!) by offering a whopping $3.50 off their wholesale price of $36.50. Panther Creek slicing $6.50 off their '06 "Shea" pinot, yet it still will (not) sell at $50 a pop. As much as I am baffled by this behavior, it is also impossible not to watch with some bemusement as these guys (and dozens others) drive themselves right off the economic cliff.

Which takes me back to tomorrow's tasting. These are truly delicious, world-class wines at each price level. Even the bonus-bonus, the as-good-as-it-gets Muga Reserva Rioja, sells for the relative bargain price of $29.95! And imagine how not shocked I am that when I bring these wines in to Vino they actually sell through. So come in tomorrow and get a dose of economic reality, and some fabulous red wines for your dinner tables to boot:

• 2007 Castelo do Sulco Estremadura Reserva (Portugal)
• 2006 Beronia Rioja Crianza (Spain)
• 2004 Alves de Sousa Quinta Do Vale "Raposa" (Portugal)
• 2007 Quinta do Portal Tinto Douro (Portugal)
• 2006 Bodegas Pinuaga Tempranillo "Nature" (Spain)

And then to roll out the extra benefit package:

• 2003 Quinta do Portal Douro Reserva (Portugal)
• 2007 Descendientes J. Palacios Bierzo (Spain)
• 2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva (Spain)

Come see how much your bucks will bang at Vino tomorrow from 4:30 till 8. The cost is ten dollars for the first five, with a bit more for the bonus pours. These wines will kill with some snacks, so bring something nibble on! As always everyone is welcome to sip at the Vino tables and you can drop by anytime! Cheers!

Taste a set of five wines during our informal drop-in tastings from 4:30pm to 8:00pm every Friday.

Feb. 19: Wines of Portugal and Spain. Value and world-class flavor. Imagine that!

Saturday Sampling (2/20/10)

Some more store favorites to roll out this Saturday during our free tasting from 11 till 6. There is no end to delicious wines at outstanding prices these days, so hopefully you'll take a few minutes this Saturday to stop by and taste a few of these:

• 2008 Ippolito Calabrise - A 100% nero d'avola from Calabria that may be my new favorite Italian red!
• 2006 La Puerta Bonarda Reserva - A sad story that will make you happy: a poor suffering distributor with too much of this luscious Argentinean wine makes me an offer I can't refuse if I take all his inventory off his hands. The result is this wine, which I happily sold in the past for $14.95, is now a ridiculous $10.95!
• 2002 Marques de Somera Carinena "Reserva Especial" - Another happy wine tale: a local distributor made a deal with a Spanish importer to take all of their supply of this 2002 (!) fruit bomb of a carignan and now I can sell this red that totally over-delivers for a mere $9.95 a pop. This is a steal!
• 2008 J. Christopher "Zoot Allures" Blanc - The new release is just out, and it defines the term "lip smacking." Bring on the seafood!

We'll see you here! Salud!

Find us in Portland, Oregon, at 1226 SE Lexington St., Portland, OR 97202. 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 8:00).