SEPTEMBER 2008 EMAIL SPECIAL -- 2007 PASCUAL TOSO MALBEC

Last January we did an email special on the 1996 Pascual Toso Malbec from Mendoza Valley in Argentina .  The wine had received a 91 point rating from Wine Enthusiast and later was selected as the magazine’s #1 Best Buy of the Year!  Here is last year’s write up:

91 Pascual Toso 2006 Maipu Vineyards Malbec (Mendoza); $12.  This wine is the rare BEST BUY that can swim with the big fish and give them a run for the money.  Pop the cork and enjoy lusty aromas of Turkish tobacco and berry compote.  In the mouth, there's a riot of fruit flavors followed by a smooth, generous finish.  Excellent at any price, but a world-class value.

The new vintage (2007) was just released and it is more bold, lush and intense than the 2006, which sold out.  The 07 has not been rated yet (last year the 06 was rated in January), but we believe when it is rated, it will score at least as high as the 2006, probably even higher--it is a better wine! 

The recommended retail on this wine is $12 a bottle, and you will see it at many locations for one or two dollars more.  Elena has taken a very big position on the new vintage so she can offer it at the same price as last year--$9.95 a bottle or $100 a case (which gets your bottle cost down to $8.33 on case purchases!)

For the next two weekends, Elena will have bottles of both the 2006 (snitched from my own private stash) and the 2007 open in the store so you can try then side-by-side and see for yourself the improvement in the newer vintage.  I am confident that after you try it, you will want to have some of this luscious wine squirreled away under your cupboard for the holidays. 

If you would like Elena to hold your wine past 7 days, please call her with your credit card number

AUGUST 2008 EMAIL SPECIAL -- INKBERRY SHIRAZ-CAB BLEND

JULY EMAIL SPECIAL--QUINTA DA ALORNA

 Two years ago, Elena and I spent 10 delightful days in Portugal sightseeing and sampling local wines.  The small villages were charming, the people friendly and the unfamiliar grape varietals were an education in new flavors.  And we found some real bargains, one of which was the Quinta Da Alorna, from the Ribatejo region, which Elena has carried ever since (although the price has been creeping up as the value of the dollar has decreased).. 

 Last week we tried the newly released 2006 vintage, and it is by far the best one yet. 

 The 2006 Quinta Da Alorna is a unique blend of Tinta Roriz, Castelao, Syrah and Alicante Bouschets grapes.  This is an impressive, new-world style, fruit-forward wine with luscious, pronounced flavors of vanilla, black raspberry and dark cherry.  The tannins are soft and the finish lingers on and on. 

The regular retail on the Quinta Da Alorna is $10.95 a bottle, but Elena has negotiated a large quantity discount on this new vintage and is offering it at $9.95 a bottle or $99 a case on a first come basis.  Note that your bottle cost on case purchases is only $8.25.  This deeply discounted price is for the current inventory only, which I expect to last about a week.

MAY EMAIL SPECIAL --SALMON CREEK PINOT NOIR

While most of our efforts to find great quality value wines to recommend for our customers come to naught, periodically we find a real gem.  The 2007 Salmon Creek Pinot Noir from Sonoma definitely is one of them. 

Salmon Creek wines are bottled specifically for hotels and restaurants where they sell for $6-8.00 a glass and $22-28 a bottle.   Of all of their varietals, however, only the Pinot Noir is especially outstanding.

The dominant flavor is dark, ripe Bing cherries with notes of caramel.  The texture is smooth and elegant with soft tannins and a long finish.  Refreshing and satisfying by itself, the Salmon Creek would also make a nice accompaniment to food.  This light to medium-bodied Pinot is a perfect summertime red house wine, and I can recommend it to you enthusiastically and with no reservations whatsoever. 

Elena took a very large position on it to be able to offer it $7.95 a bottle or $76 a case.  The deeply discounted case price brings your bottle cost down to $6.33.  We have limited space to store a delivery this large, so the $76 case price is offered on a first come basis only. This is an incredible wine for the price. 

Elena will have a bottle open all this week so stop in and taste it.  Even though we have a large inventory now, you can be sure it will sell out quickly at this price, so if you want to serve it over the summer, you will have to stock up now.  Bargains like this don't come around very often, and when this delivery sells out, it will be out of stock for the rest of the year.  We purchased every available case.

SPRING EMAIL SPECIAL - LES RIALS

Many of you are familiar with Les Rials, a French wine made from an ancient white varietal--"Loin de L' Oeil" (Far from the Eyes)--that has pretty much fallen into oblivion. (Some of you know the wine as "The Naked Lady Wine" because of the tastefully erotic drawing on the label.)  We carried this wine for 4 of the past 5 years (we passed on the 2004), and it has sold out each time we offered it.  Last year we purchased 100 cases, and we still ran out well before summer was over!

Last week Elena brought home a bottle of the new 2007 vintage, and we drank it side-by-side with a bottle of the excellent '06 from our cellar.  Without question, the '07 was even better--in fact, this is the best vintage of Les Rials we have ever had.   The 2007 Les Rials is scrumptious, with just the right amount of pear, apple, and citrus on the palate, and a long, satisfying, smooth finish. 

Just like last year, Les Rials will be our house white wine for the summer.  It is perfect for barbeque's, graduations, relaxing on the deck, or anything you might do outside on a hot summer day.  But it is also sophisticated enough, and and has a lovely enough presentation, to serve for your guests at dinner.

Numerous customers have reserved multiple cases to stockpile for the summer, so I am certain it will sell out again this year.  Right now, however, the first delivery is on hand with a second delivery scheduled for June. 

Les Rials is $8.99 a bottle; on sale at $92 a case (which gets your bottle cost down to $7.67 on case purchases). If you haven't had this wine previously, you should definitely try a bottle--you won't want to miss a wine of this quality at this price. 

Paul@Elena's.org

APRIL EMAIL SPECIAL -- SPANISH MERLOT

When Elena and I first tasted the Finca Antigua 2004 Merlot at the Monument Grill in Leominster last summer, we both loved it and wanted to do an email special on the wine right away.  We have had great success with Tempranillos from the La Mancha region in Spain, but this is the first Merlot that we found worth recommending.  Unfortunately, there were limited quantities available, and the price was prohibitive.

Last week, when Elena came across an opportunity to get a large volume of the same 2004 at a nice discount, she did not hesitate.  Here is the write up:

The Finca Antigua 2004 Merlot is a beautifully nuanced red wine with a floral and fruity nose.  The palate is silky with fine tannins, good acidity, plump summer fruit and a touch of spice on the finish.  This juicy red from La Mancha is a fantastic value, and a fine example of the new wave of Spanish wines.  Soft enough to drink on its own, but big enough to serve with meat dishes or cheese.

On sale now at $9.95 a bottle or $100 a case, while supplies last.  Elena will have bottle open through the weekend for those who would like to try some. 

Addendum:  The La Mancha region in Spain is famous as the home of Cervantes' Don Quixote, a.k.a "The Man from La Mancha," first published in 1605.  In one delightfully hilarious scene, we find the intrepid but illusional knight errant dressed in his underwear in a boarding house and engaged in "the thick of the most stubborn and fiercest battle" against a giant monster.  As the landlord soon discovers when copious amounts of "blood" start pouring down the hallway, the "monster" that Don Quixote is slashing with his sword is nothing more than several large skins full of red wine stored in his room.  I can't drink a red from La Mancha without recalling this scene.

MARCH EMAIL SPECIAL -- VALUE PINOT NOIR

Dear Customer,

Pinot Noir is a versatile varietal that pairs well with a variety of main dishes.  Elena and I often serve it with dinner on holidays, especially Easter.  Other than special occasions, however, we seldom drink Pinot Noirs because our experience has been that the good ones are expensive, and the inexpensive ones are not good.  We just don't think of it as an everyday wine because of the price. 

 This week, however, we tried a value pinot noir from Chile that is an exception to this dictum.  Some of you will recall that we featured a Chardonnay by this same producer (Terra Andina) several months ago (it quickly sold out) and we can now recommend their newly released vintage of Pinot Noir, not just as a wine to serve at Easter, but as a great dinner wine for any occasion.  It is an exceptional bargain.  Here is the write up.  

 Producer: Terra Andina

Wine & Year: Reserva Pinot Noir 2006

Country/Region: Chile/Central Valley

Description/Notes: The bouquet is subtle with a complex combination raspberry and violets. On the palate it is medium-bodied with a soft velvety texture, flavors of dark cherry and vanilla, and a round and elegant finish that has just a hint of licorice.  Recommended retail $13.

 The regular price for this wine is $12.95.  We are offering it at $11.95 a bottle or $120 a case, while supplies last. Your bottle cost on case purchases is ten bucks!  It really is highly unusual to find a Pinot Noir of this quality at this price--this is the first time for me! 

Elena will have a bottle open in the store the next couple of weeks if you want to try it.  BTW, consider decanting this wine 30 minutes before serving.  I just love it!

paul@elenas.org

FEBRUARY EMAIL SPECIAL

Great Value Wine -- 91 Points!

Wines for the High Holidays

We use a different set of criteria when selecting wines to serve at Christmas than the one we use to choose Thanksgiving wines.  Thanksgiving at our home is a very inclusive affair with brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, aunts and uncles all feasting on a cornucopia of food and drink.  Christmas is much more intimate, and the palates of our guests much more discerning.   Here are the two wines (red and white) we will serve with Christmas dinner:.

Red.  Amavi Cellars 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State.  $24.95

 Wine & Spirit wrote the following description of this wine:  "Once again, Amavi has released an elegant, soft, expressive Cabernet, more complex than wines five times its price." 93 points.

 Wine Enthusiast describes it this way:  "For a Cabernet, this is almost soft, with seductive, coffee-infused flavors of plum and pie cherry.  The sweet spices carry into the finish, with just a hint of herb and fresh mint to clean the palate." 90 points.

 White.  Mount Eden 2004 Chardonnay from Edna Valley.  $17.95

 The Wine Spectator ranked this Chardonnay among the top 100 wines in the world for 2007, and provided the following description.  " Ripe and intense, with rich, perfumed apple, pear and spice flavors that pick up a note of butterscotch from oak.  Turns elegant and stylish on the finish, showing a hint of lemon and citrus.  A great value." 

 I am certain that our guests will love both these wines, but the reason we are serving them is because these are two of our own very favorites. If you want a special wine to serve with your Christmas dinner, you won't go wrong with either of these.

paul@elenas.org

Another Great Value Wine

Finding nice red wine for under $10 is always a challenge.  The past 2 nights in a row Elena and I drank the 2000 Terra Unica Reserva made in Alicante wine region in Spain from a blend of Tempranillo and Monastrell, and we both loved it.   This is a medium-bodied wine with a lusty caramel bouquet on the nose, and nice flavors of ripe berry on the mid palate. It has soft tannins, light acidity, and the finish is long, smooth and satisfying.  A perfect value wine for serving (and drinking) over the holidays.
 
Because it is from the 2000 vintage, we were a little worried that we would not be able to get sufficient quantities to offer it as a special, but today we were able to negotiate a great price by agreeing to take a very large shipment for immediate cash delivery.  (This Reserva blend is a much more sophisticated wine than the entry-level Terra Unica Tempranillo we sold several years ago.)
 
Normal retail on this wine is $9.95.  We are offering it on special at $8.95 or $88 a case, while supplies last.  Your bottle cost on case purchases will be $7.33--and it comes in a wooden box!  This wine is drinking beautifully right now, and well-made wines from older vintages seldom become available at a value like this. 
 
The 2000 Terra Unica Reserva is the wine we will be serving at our home for guests over the holidays--if I don't drink it all myself before then.

Thanksgiving Day Wines

What wine to serve with your Thanksgiving banquet? 

November 7, 2007

People ask me all the time why I am constantly recommending "value" wines (under $10) without giving equal time to some of the great wines available in the $20 range. 

October 24th, 2007

September 11, 2007

Elena and I like a wide variety of types and styles of wine, so our specials come from around the world.  (Well, almost around the world, because while we love some California wines, we have been unable to find one that I consider a great "value" wine.) 

Our ongoing challenge is to find a new wine that is a pleasure to drink that we can offer at a great price.  We have a new one.

Masi is one of the oldest and most distinguished wine producing families in Italy, and many of their wines are very expensive.  This past week, however, we stumbled across a Masi Sangiovese table wine that is a superb value.  The importer describes the 2005 Masi Sangiovese di Toscano this way:

"Near opaque, black magenta.  On the nose there are ripe blackberry and cherry aromas.  The palate is lively and crisp with fresh berry and cherry flavors.  Round and smooth with modest acidity and matte tannins.  A quaffable dry red for gatherings or everyday consumption.  100% Sangiovese from carefully selected grapes in the Rufina area.  Lovely for drinking now but can be matured for 2-3 years."

Elena and I have enjoyed a bottle two nights in a row, and we both absolutely love it.  The predominate flavor is fresh cherry, and the wine has lovely acidity and some soft tannins.

Normal retail on this wine is $8.95 a bottle, but by taking a very big position on it with the distributor, we can offer it at $78 a case, which will bring your bottle cost down to $6.50.  This wine is a steal at this price.  Delivery is scheduled for today, August 9th. As usual, if you don't like it, return it for a full refund. 

July 18, 2007

A few weeks ago we sent out an email about the 2005 Razor's Edge, an Australian Shiraz that we thought was a superb value. You may recall we took a big position on it and by negotiating with both the importer and the distributor, were able to get the price down from $11.95 to $9.95 a bottle, or $100 a case.

Just today, the 2005 Razor's Edge received a 90 point rating in the August issue of Wine Spectator, and is designated a "Best Value" red wine. Here is the write up:

"90 Points--Razor's Edge, Shiraz McLaren Vale, 2005. Smooth and round, with ripe plum, blackberry and dusky spice flavors that just don't quit, lingering on the open-textured finish. Not a big wine, but flavorful and graceful. Drink now through 2012. 20,000 cases made. Suggested retail $12.

I never had any doubt that this wine was a great value, even at the full retail of $11.95, but it is nice to get this validation (even though this reviewer is wrong about it not being a big wine--believe me, this is a BIG wine).

Because we featured this wine prior to its getting the 90 point rating, both the Importer and distributor have agreed to honor the agreement we struck on the previous order. This means we can again offer it for $9.95, or $100 a case. The case price brings your bottle cost down to $8.33--an incredible value for a wine of this quality! This price is limited to supplies on hand, which I expect will sell out fairly quickly.

An interesting dimension to this wine is that although the top is a screw cap, the Wine Spectator review says drink now through 2012. I took two cases the last time we had it on special, and these became the only screw cap wines in my cellar. It is all gone now, but I am taking two more now with the hope a bottle or two will still around in 2012 so I can see how it holds up. I will let you know.

Paul@elenas.org
www.elenas.org

June13, 2007

April 24, 2007

Dear Customer,
Many of you are familiar with Les Rials. We have featured this wine each of the past three years, and it has sold out every year. Les Rials is EXACTLY the type of white wine I like to quaff outside on our deck on a warm summer evening (or even afternoon, if I can get away with it).

For those of you who have not tried it, Les Rials is a French white wine made from an ancient white varietal that has pretty much fallen into oblivion--"Loin de L' Oeil" (Far from the Eyes). Les Rials is a scrumptious, medium to light-bodied, summertime wine, with just the right amount of pear, apple, and citrus on the palate, and a long, satisfying, smooth finish. I enjoyed a bottle last evening, and I believe the 2006 is the best vintage yet. At our home, this is the #1 white wine we serve all summer. It is an incredible bargain at $7.95 a bottle or $82 a case! We are trying to purchase all we can, but with the warm weather coming, I am certain it will sell out at this price. It is available now on a first-come basis.

On another note, Elena is planning a wine tasting on Sunday, May 6th, from 3-5:00 pm. We are still working on the wine list, but you can be sure it will be impressive. We will also have a nice array of gourmet foods Cost is $15. Be sure to save the date.

April 5, 2007

Dear Customer,

For three years one of my favorite value wines in the store was the 1998 Castillo Peracense, a 100% Tempranillo that was an incredible bargain at $10 a bottle. Unlike many Spanish wines, the Peracense was made in the New World style, meaning the fruit was fresh and vibrant, without the earth/prune components and oxidation of Old World style wines. Since it ran out of stock in 2005, we have been searching unsucessfully for something to take its place. Yesterday we found it.

The 2002 Glorioso Crianza from the Bodegas Palacio (est. 1894) in the Rioja region is simply delightful. A 100% Tempranillo, it is medium-bodied, with bright, vibrant, flavors of Bing cherry that dance on the palate; a hint of vanilla; perfect acidity; and a long, scrumptuous, refreshing finish.

Elena called the distributor first thing this morning and locked-in their entire remaining inventory of 28 cases. I wish we could have got 100 cases. Delivery is scheduled for Friday morning (April 6th).

The normal retail on this wine is $11.95, and I think it would be a value at $15. Because we took their remaining stock, and the new vintage is due in shortly, we got a great deal and can put it on the rack at $9.95. This is an incredible price for a wine of this quality!

If you really want a bargain, we are offering it at $100 a case for one week only, through April 14th, or while supplies last. This will bring the price down to $8.33 a bottle on case purchases! The only reason we are offering this deep discount on a wine of this quality is because we just don't have the storage space for 25+ cases of wine in the store, so if you want it at this price, we would like you to pick it up within the week.

Anytime you buy a case of wine from us and don't like it, you can return the unopened bottles for a full refund.
paul@elenas.org
www.elenas.org

March 14, 2007

When Elena and I first tasted the Tumans Mourvedre a couple of months ago, we both loved it. I wanted to feature it as an email special, but our distributor did not have sufficient quantities in stock, so we bought all they had (I think it was 4 or 5 cases), and put it on the rack at $7.95. Some of you have already discovered this as a lovely wine at a superb price, and it has slowly been finding its way out the door.

Last week the sales rep called to tell us that his company had exactly 26 cases in their New York warehouse that we could have. We immediately committed to all of them. Here is the skivvy on the wine:

The Mourvedre grape is primarily grown in the Southern Rhone region of France, where it is often blended with Syrah and Grenache in upscale wines such as Chateneauf du Pape and Gigondas. Because it is rarely found in the US as a "stand-alone" varietal, customers seldom pick it up on their own. Big mistake. The Tumans Mourvedre is a big, spicy, red from Spain with a lovely aromas of pie cherries on the bouquet and flavors of blackberries and strawberries on the palate. The texture is chewy with round tannins, nice acidity, and it finishes with hints of coffee and chocolate.

As most of you know, we have very little storage space, and with 26 cases being delivered today, we have to move it quickly. This wine is a FANTASTIC value at the regular retail bottle price of $7.95; it is a steal at $72 a case, while supplies last--which will not be very long.
paul@elenas.org
www.elenas.org

February 22, 2007

Two weeks ago I touted a value Italian Sangiovese made by a tiny, family-run vineyard in Tuscany. The wine was a classic Chianti-style wine, light bodied, full of summer fruit and with lovely acidity-a perfect pasta wine. The 30 cases we had sold out in just a few days. Although I like to feature wines from different parts of the world, this week I tasted another fabulous Italian red wine that is so good I just have to tell you about it. Even if you don't like Italian, Chianti-style wines, you owe it to yourself to try a bottle of this delightful, medium-bodied red from 100% Merlot grapes and made in a completely different style than the Sangiovese. (You might call the Sangiovese we featured last week an Old World style wine, and this one a New World style wine--both good, but very different.) Here are two of the reviews of the 2005 Umbria Falesco Pesano Merlot.

Wine Advocate - June 2006 - 90 points
An extremely intense, amazing bargain, the 2005 Merlot Pesano (100% Merlot aged 5-6 months in barrel) exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, and fleshy, concentrated, black cherry, cassis, smoke, herb, and mocha aromas and flavors. This medium-bodied, concentrated, unbelievably low-priced red is too good to be true.

Wine Enthusiast - March 2007 - 90 points - Merlot: It's the Best Red Wine that You are Not Drinking. This wine must certainly be one of Italy's best-valued Merlots. The overall intensity and concentration is nothing less than stratospheric and its aromatic profile reaches deep into the darkest and plushest of enological possibilities: Fudge, cinnamon, ginger, blackberry, espresso and vanilla come at you one thick layer after another.

The wine makers, Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella, describe their creation this way: "Made from 100% Merlot grown in estate vineyards in Umbria. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 5 months. This Merlot is unfiltered and exhibits a deep ruby-red color and rich, spicy aromas. Blackberry, tobacco and vanilla come through on the palate. The finish is long and pleasant."

Normal retail will be $14.95, but I am so confident that you will love this wine that we are selling individual bottles at the case discount price, just to make sure our customers get a chance to try it. The 2005 Falesco Pesano Merlot, $13.50 net during February only, or while supplies last.
paul@elenas.org
www.elenas.org

February 13, 2006

One of the real joys of this business is finding a great wine at a bargain price for our customers. Sangiovese is the primary grape used in Chiantis, but it is almost always blended with "lesser" varietals in Chianti wines. Last week we tasted a wine from the Classico Chianti region in Tuscany that is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, so the winemaker decided not to call it a Chianti. Elena and I both thought it was superb. After drinking a bottle we were able to negotiate a big discount by agreeing to purchase the US importer's entire inventory. Here is the info on it.

Producer: Azienda Agricola Fulignano di Silla Domenico [Artisanal Vineyard]
Wine & Year: Sangiovese di Toscana 2004
Total Production: 500 cases
Country/Region: Italy/Tuscany

A small production wine from a small family-owned and operated vineyard located outside of the tiny, medieval Tuscan town of Monterigioni. The grapes this year were harvested in perfect condition after having ripened slowly and evenly during the growing season. This Estate grown and bottled 100% Sangiovese is far more serious and complex than the modest price would suggest. It is medium to full-bodied with an intense ruby red color. On the nose it is redolent of berry fruit, spice and cherries. On the palate the wine is smooth and easy to drink, with fine tannins and has a long berry-tinged, fruity flavor. Drink now and over the next 3 years.

The normal retail on this wine is over $13 a bottle. We purchased the distributor's entire inventory and can offer it at $9.95 a bottle, or $96 a case on a first-come basis while supplies last. In other words, your bottle cost on case purchases comes down to $8! Due in this afternoon. There will be no more when this shipment is sold out.
paul@elenas.org
http://www.elenas.org

Wine Special - Valentine's Day Wines

Elena will have several "Valentine-friendly" wines open for sampling this coming Friday, February 9th from 4-7:00 pm and all day Saturday, February 10th. Please stop in and try her Valentine Day recommendations, along with some chocolates and other goodies. Here are some of the wines she will have open for you to try.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne NV (90 points, Wine Spectator).
An assertive mineral laced bubbly with citrus, honey and spice filling out the flavor spectrum. Concentrated and densely textured Champagne from France, with a lively acidity and lingering aftertaste. Best now through 2009. Retail $42.95

Kenneth Volk, 2005 Santa Maria Cuvee Chardonnay, Santa Barbara.
From the winemaker who founded the renowned Wild Horse Vineyard, this new winery is focusing on creating the most elegant wines of the Santa Barbara County. This Chardonnay has been barrel fermented and has elements of citrus fruits, pear and apple supported by bright acidity and a supple mouth feel. A rich and complex wine. Retail $19.95

Guenoc Lake County Petite Sirah, 2003.
One of California's most heralded red wines, the Guenoc Petite Sirah is a rich, tasty, rewarding effort; ripe and round with excellent concentration of dark fruit. This full-bodied wine has abundant flavors of ripe berries, plum, chocolate, and spice with hints of smoky oak and vanilla in the finish.
Retail $15.95

Martin Cendoya 2001 Rioja Reserva
Ripe and refreshing, this red delivers plum, mocha, spice, tobacco and light earth flavors on a plush, balanced frame. Firm tannins emerge on the spicy finish. Drink it now through 2010. Only 1,000 cases made. Retail $19.95

Dell'Acquese, 2006 Brachetto D'Acqui
A lovely off-dry dessert or afternoon wine, with summer fruit, a glorious bright red color, and just the right touch of frizante to be refreshing. Retail $15.95

Each of the above wines will be offered at a 10% discount through Valentine's Day.

December 14, 2006 -- Special Wines for the Holidays

For everyday consumption, we are always looking for quality value wines, but during the religious holidays in December we become more extravagant. We consider wine central to a celebration of life, good food, and special company, and the holiday season warrants a step up in quality and price. In this email I will discuss our top choices for wines to serve at special holiday gatherings and match them to various main courses. As a rule, the red wines I suggest deserve to be decanted and allowed to warm up to room temperature to be fully appreciated.

Roast Beef. We had one group of family at our home on Thanksgiving Day, where we served the traditional turkey, and other family members the following Sunday, where I prepared a standing rib roast (purchased at Romano's in Fitchburg, and I do not believe I have ever had better beef in my life). Quality roast beef is best served rare and calls for a big red wine. My personal favorite pairing for roast beef is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The history of this wine is worth recounting.

In the 14th Century, Pope Clement V moved the Papacy from Rome to the city of Avignon in France-hence the name "Châteauneuf -du-Pape," which translates "new chateau of the Pope." Thirteen different varietals are permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, but the better producers include mostly Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. By law, all Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines must have at least 12.5% alcohol. Producers who own their vineyards are permitted to stamp the Papal Coat of Arms onto their bottles.

The 2001 Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape was made from grapes that came from about 30 different vineyards (80% Grenache with some Syrah and Mourvèdre) from vines averaging 45 years old. It was awarded 93 points and selected as Number 41 in the top 100 wines of 2003 by Wine Spectator. Here is the write-up: "Old-fashioned, this is a full-bodied, traditional wine that seduces with its decadent game, saddle-leather, plum and sautéed wild mushroom aromas. No hint of fancy oak, just a mouthful of Châteauneuf character that swirls around to a long, sweet finish. Another great negociant red from Guigal. Drink now through 2008."

Elena has just two cases of this wine in the store that she unceremoniously and selfishly abducted from my wine cellar (which I guess is okay because that is the way it got there from her store in the first place). Any bottles that are not sold the next two weeks will go right back into my cellar where they belong. Suggested retail when it was released was $40, and we still honoring that price while current supplies last.

Lamb. This is the traditional repast for Passover, and was almost certainly the main course at the Last Supper as well. But why wait until Spring to enjoy this delicacy? Having spent much of the last two years in the Middle East, I have acquired a new appreciation for lamb cooked a variety of ways. Like good roast beef, lamb calls for a big red wine to wash it down, and my choice is another great Rhone wine from Guigal-the Cote Rotie Brune et Blond 2000. This blend of 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier is fermented in stainless steel before being aged in oak barrels for 24 months prior to bottling. The result is a deep, complex, rich wine that combines elegant vanilla and berry flavors with good, firm structure. The August 2003 Wine Spectator scored it 90 points with the following description: "Discreet red, with reserved mineral, wet earth character and a tightly wound tannin structure. The fruit isn't very ripe, but shows up as cherries, blackberries and, in a different register, some floral notes. Very subtle oak, just touches of mocha and spices. Will improve with age. Best from 2005 through 2011." I can vouch for the fact that this wine has improved significantly since it was released and this review was written 3 years ago. Elena is honoring the original retail price of $48.

Turkey or Ham. Several of our customers groused that I had the comeuppance to omit a Pinot Noir from my list of Thanksgiving wine recommendations. I love good Pinot Noirs, but the ones I would recommend cost more than I generally want to spend for the Thanksgiving eat-a-thon. For the high holidays, however, my pockets seem deeper, and I don't mind splurging a little. Emily's Cuvee Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley is a perfect choice, and at $38, this is a value Pinot Noir. Wine Spectator awarded it 93 points and placed it as number 54 on its top 100 wines for 2006. Here is the verbiage: "Fragrant rose petal and crushed raspberry aromas turn elegant and stylish on the palate, with fresh lively acidity and a sleek, rich aftertaste. Wonderful balance, finesse and delicacy. Finish sails on. Drink now through 2010. 1595 cases made." Elena and I had a bottle of this last week and we both loved it. Three cases in stock. Price is $38.

Seafood. I grew up in an Italian family and we did not eat meat-just seafood-on Christmas Eve, and in most cases seafood pairs better with a white wine. The white wine I am recommending for this holiday season is the 2004 Domaine Thibert Pouilly-Fuisse. By law, all French White Burgundy must be made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. The better wines from the Maconnais area of Burgundy will have the name "Macon" followed by the village, such as Macon-Charnay. Only wine from two villages, which are adjacent to one another, are permitted to use just the village names on the label. These are the villages of Pouilly and Fuisse. Traditionally, the best wines from the Macon area of Burgundy are made from grapes grown in these two villages. The one I am recommending comes from a tiny Artisanal Vineyard with very small production. This is a gorgeous French Chardonnay that is rich and precise, with long buttery Chardonnay flavors and subtle, balanced wood integration. Tinged by lemon with flavors of juicy white fruits, this silky textured, unfiltered wine exhibits outstanding mineral and fruit characteristics. The Domaine Thibert Pouilly-Fuisse is an exceptional example of a well-made white Burgundy at $19.95.

Pasta. No varietal goes better with pasta and tomato sauce than Sangiovese, the varietal used to make Chiantis. Finding a good Chianti can be challenging because, unlike French classifications, Italian wines are not regulated in a manner indicative of consistent quality. For example, any wine made from Sangiovese grapes grown in the traditional region of Tuscany can be labeled Chianti. This is a hilly region, and vineyards facing south, where the grapes get more sun and ripen better, get the same designation as those on the north slopes, where the grapes often don't develop the same lushness. Those vineyards from the smaller traditional Chianti region have the designation Chianti Classico. Finally there are Chianti Classico Reservas, which are grown in the traditional Chianti region and are aged in oak barrels for 27 months before bottling. In each case, knowing your producer is crucial to guarantee quality.

The best vintage in the Chianti region in recent years was 1997, which was given an overall rating of 97 points by the Wine Spectator. A few months ago we had the opportunity to purchase 10 cases of 1997 Tomioso Chianti Classico Reserva, and we still have a couple of cases on hand. This is a superb value at $14.95 a bottle. If you are serving a pasta dish sometime over the holidays, the 1997 Tomioso Chianti Classico Reserva is a perfect choice.

Dessert. There are so many good places to buy fresh baked pastries locally, that I seldom make my own. The pies sold at Flat Hills and Lanni's Orchards are outstanding, and Trudy's Treats has a nice assortment of fresh pastries baked daily. Regardless of what I choose to serve as dessert, however, I always make my own whipped cream. Homemade whipped cream is nothing like Cool Whip, or the chemical-infused, processed, shaving-cream-tasting foam that supermarkets sell in aerosol cans as whipped cream. If you haven't made your own whipped cream, try it over the holidays. Here is how it is done.

First, buy your cream at Stillman's Dairy Farm. All of their milk products come from Jersey cows, and this is superior to the milk from the higher production Holsteins that is found in supermarkets. Cream for whipping should have between 25-40% butterfat content, and Stillman's cream is always close to 40%. This time of year Stillman's often runs out of whipping cream, so buy it well in advance. (Older cream whips better than new cream anyway.) Cream whips best at about 35 degrees. I add one cup of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla to a quart of cream. Place sugar, mixing bowl, and beaters from your mixer in the freezer 20 minutes before you begin so that they are very chilled when you start work. The cream will double in size when whipped, so use at least a three quart bowl or saucepan. Put all the ingredients into the frozen mixing bowl and whip on high speed until the cream turns a very pale yellow and forms peaks-about 8-10 minutes. It will stay firm in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Make plenty, as everyone will want seconds.

If you want to serve a wine with dessert, good choices are Brachetto d'Aqui or Moscato d'Asti. The Brachetto is a vibrant cherry-red in color and the Moscato is golden, so either one makes a stunning visual presentation at the table. Both are off-dry with a tiny bit of frizzante. The bottle costs are $15.95 and $10.95, respectively.

These are my high-end wine recommendations for special holiday meals. I also keep a good supply of value wines around the house just in case one of my two wine quaffing brothers stops by. I have never told either of them about my stash of wines in my cellar.

Have a great holiday season.

paul@elenas.org
Open 7 days a week through December

September 2006

As most of you know, we taste dozens of wines each month in order to find the ones we want to recommend in an email to our customers.  Even when we find something we think is a good buy, there are still a couple of steps we take before we decide to feature the wine in an email. 

First, we always try it a couple of more times to insure that the bottles are consistent (sometimes with a value wines, consistency can be a problem). 

Second, we want to make sure that there are adequate supplies available before we start recommending it, for two reasons: 1) we try to order a quantity large enough to get the price as low as possible; and 2) and we don't like to recommend a wine as a good buy and then run out the first week.

After tasting it in the store last Tuesday with the distributor, we took two bottles of the 2005 Chateau d'espeyran from Southern Rhone home to drink on consecutive nights, and we agree that this wine is a superb bargain for the price. 

The producer describes the Chateau d' espeyran this way: "Brilliant color of ruby red.  Smell of red fruits and discretely spicy.  First, nuances of blackcurrant, cherry, then presence of ripe tannins.  Well balanced, this blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan can be drunk immediately, or aged several months."

This is not a wine to hoard away in your cellar, but it is a very soft, easy-drinking wine for everyday consumption.  We are offering Chateau d’esperyran at $7.95 a bottle, or $72 a case.  We purchased the importer's complete inventory, so this special is limited to supplies on hand.

August 2006

Unless Elena and I are having an outdoor fun-fest on a hot day, we seldom serve Pinot Grigio.  This past week, however, the Dining Section of the New York Times featured Pinot Grigios in their weekly article: "Wine of the Times." 

Every Wednesday, Eric Asimov, the wine reviewer for the Times, and a panel of selected wine connoisseurs, do a blind tasting of a particular type/style of wine.  I read it faithfully, but generally there is nothing interesting to report.  This week's review got my attention.   Here is an abbreviated version of what they had to say about Pinot Grigios in the August 23rd "Wine of the Times."

"PINOT GRIGIO has come a long way in the last 20 years.  Just as an especially popular piece of classical music or literature will be rejected by a contingent of connoisseurs simply because of its popularity, pinot grigio from Italy, the most popular category of imported white wine in the United States, has largely been dismissed by serious wine drinkers as bland and insipid, the harmless, gulpable equivalent of a lawn mower beer.

Even if reflexive, the hostility rests on a truthful assessment. Most Pinot Grigios give many people exactly what they want: a mellifluous, easy-to-pronounce wine that can be ordered without fear of embarrassment and that is at the least cold, refreshing and for the most part, cheap.

But the Dining section's wine panel found recently that pinot grigio can meet these minimum criteria, yet be much more than that.  In a tasting of 25 pinot grigios from northeast Italy, we found wines that were balanced, lively, crisp and subtle, with mineral foundations that supported stimulating citrus and floral flavors. 

The pleasing results were something of a surprise. . . .When I think about it, though, the pleasure I found in these wines should not have been any surprise at all. 

Of all the Italian pinot grigios, none has been as popular for so long as Santa Margherita, the huge producer in Veneto that churns out millions of bottles a year.  I confess that I have been among those who have mocked Santa Margherita as an overpriced wine without character.  It may be overpriced, but I will have to rethink the jeers as the 2004 Santa Margherita Alto Adige was one of our favorites, clean, crisp, and minerally with refreshing flavors that lingered in the mouth.

Only one wine among our top wines was more expensive than Santa Margherita, and that was our No. 1 wine, the 2004 Livio Felluga.  This wine simply had more body and presence than the others, while retaining its refreshing purity and mineral and citrus flavors.  By contrast, our No. 2 wine was our best value, the 2004 Bollini from Trentino.  With crisp, tangy apple and mineral flavors, this wine would be hard to improve on for casual drinking or as a value for large groups. "

Here are Eric Asimov's tasting notes from the top 3 pinot grigios he reviewed (remember, this was a blind tasting of 25 wines):

Livio Felluga Colli Prioentali del Friuli 2004: Fresh and substantial, with fruit and floral aromas; good texture and depth.

Bollini Trentino 2004 (Best Value): Tangy, balanced and perfumed with linering apple and mineral flavors.

Santa Margherita Alto Adige 2004:  Clean and dry, with balanced mineral and fruit flavors.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this review so much, is that Elena stocks all three of these pinot grigios, and we had planned to serve the Bollini to my thirsty, wine quaffing brothers at our annual family Labor Day gathering this coming weekend. 

In honor of Elena's exquisite palate (choosing these same three wines as her top Pinot Grigios in the store prior to the NYT article), she has decided to put them all on special through Labor Day.

# 1 Livio Felluga Colli Orientali del Fruili 2004.  Reg. $26.95;  Net 23.95.

# 2 Bollini Trentino 2004.  Reg. $12.95;  Net 11.45. 

# 3 Santa Margherita Alto Adige 2004.  Reg. 25.95;  Net 22.9

July 2006

Chateau Haut Nadeau

Many of you are familiar with the Chateau Haut Nadeau: We have stocked it each of the last 4 years, tasted the 2004 a few weeks ago at our April wine tasting (where it sold out the first hour), and we have at least a dozen customers who have been waiting for us to get the 2005 vintage in stock.  Our allocation of this wine has sold out every year, and I am certain it will sell out again this summer.  Although I have not tasted the 2005 vintage myself, previous vintages of the Chateau Haut Nadeau have consistently been one of my favorite white wines in the store.  Our importer assures me that it will arrive in the country this week, and we should have it in the store about the middle of next week. 

Elena does not have much storage space, so she has decided to offer the Chateau Haut Nadeau at a special discount for preorders.  It normally retails for $11.99, and that is the price at which it will go on the rack.  For preorders, however, she is offering it at $10 a bottle or $115 a case.  You will not find a better white wine anywhere at this price. Here are the notes from David Raines, Vineyard Research, the sole US importer of this wine. 

“Patrick Audouit  grew up in the Entre Deux Mers, but instead of following his father into the family vineyard he went off to school, got a degree in enology, found work as a consulting enologist, then realized that happiness was, after all, in his own back yard, or rather in  his parents’.

 ‘I can tell my clients what to do to make great wine,” he says, “but I can’t make them do it.’ Monsieur Audouit realized that you have to manage your own vines and make your own wine if you want to see your ideas put into practice the way they should be.

Monsieur Audouit’s ideas relate mostly to his vines. He wants them to produce ripe, healthy, balanced, flavorful fruit. To get there he minimizes his use of insecticides, and avoids fertilizers altogether. Instead, he constantly “works” his vines: trimming leaves, positioning shoots, plowing his soil . . .  allowing his vines to balance their crop load with their photosynthetic output.

In a less sunny year, that might mean decreasing the yield by cutting away fruit. In a year like 2005, a year with constant sunshine throughout the summer and fall, it just meant waiting for the right moment to pick.

The 2005 Château Haut Nadeau, Entre Deux Mers, is the best wine this estate has produced in the last 5 years. 100% Sauvignon Blanc, it is balanced, light, fresh, intensely flavored, has a lovely floral nose, and is exquisitely refreshing.

Les Rials

Les Rials is a French wine made from an ancient white varietal that has pretty much fallen into oblivion--"Loin de L' Oeil" (Far from the Eyes).  Previously, we carried this wine two years in a row, and it sold out each time.  This past summer, however, the 2004 vintage was a disappointment, and we passed on it. 

But last night Elena brought home the 2005 vintage to have with dinner.  It is OUTSTANDING!

This is, without a doubt, our house wine for the summer.  It is perfect for barbeques, graduations, relaxing on the deck, or anything you might do outside on a hot summer day.  But it is also sophisticated enough, and has a lovely enough presentation, to feature at dinner.

The Les Rials is scrumptious, with just the right amount of pear, apple, and citrus on the palate, and a long, satisfying, smooth finish. 

It will definitely sell out in a couple of months.  Today Les Rials is $7.99 a bottle; on sale at $82 a case. You should definitely try a bottle--you won't want to miss a wine of this quality at this price.

With a generally warm and sunny, but sometimes uncertain, maritime climate like  the one in  Bordeaux, hard work will yield at least a good wine almost every year. But the region’s fame was built on years like 2005 and on wines like this.

June 2006

I was first introduced to Rosé wine in 1980 at a small Italian Restaurant located on the Pier in Monterey, California. At this restaurant, instead of bringing bread or cheese or olives to the table, as soon as patrons were seated, the waiter would bring a small carafe of house Rosé and a heaping plate of calamari.  At the time, I was partial to big red wines, but the Rosé they served was a lovely aperitif--elegant and off-dry—and a perfect accompaniment to the calamari.

I was in Monterey attending a four-month US Government course on organizational development, and my classmates and I went out to dinner every night. Among the scores of quality restaurants in the Monterey area, this was my favorite, and I had dinner there at least 2 or 3 times a week for the entire 4 months.  Their house Rosé soon became my favorite California wine.

I mention this story because this is the last time I remember really liking a Rosé wine—until last week.  A representative from A to Z Winery from Oregon stopped in last Thursday with an array of what he called "aristocratic wines at democratic prices" for Elena and me to try.   Here are the winery’s tasting notes on each of them.

A to Z, 2005 Oregon Rosé.  This lovely hot pink/magenta Rosé is made entirely of Sangiovese grapes harvested from the Del Rio Vineyard in Southern Oregon.  Inviting aromas are full of fresh strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, and what the French call petit fruits rouge, with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.  The stunning wine is juicy and quaffable, not overly complex, but full of flavor and pleasure ($12.99).

A to Z, 2004 Pinot Noir.  This Pinot Noir has clear, dark garnet color with flashes of purple.  Initial aromas of ripe fruits, violets, blueberries, and blackberries are followed by more subtle notes of smoke, lavender, and fresh spices, with hints of oak and cassis.  The wine is balanced, structured and succulent, offering a lovely entry and great length.  Ripe tannins, balanced acidity, and depth of structure offer a beautiful balance between concentration and elegance ($17.99).

A to Z, 2005 Oregon Pinot Gris.  The color of the 2005 Pinot Gris is yellow gold with beautiful flashes of emerald.  Powerful aromatics are redolent of ripe citrus fruits, acacia flowers, and tropical fruits (nectarines and pineapple). A concentrated wine with ripe acidity.  The lasting impression is a wine of great ripeness and opulence balanced by wonderful juiciness and succulence.  The 2005 Pinot Gris will drink wonderfully for the next 2 years ($12.99).

I had never tasted these wines before last week, but reviews for previous vintages are impressive.  This is the first year they have been available locally, and I am confident the reviews for the current vintages will be equally positive.  The best time to buy these small production wines is before the reviews of the new vintages are published because, afterwards, they are often not available.

Food & Wine Magazine: "A to Z Pinot Noir is the best American Pinot Noir under $20."

Wall Street Journal: A to Z Pinot Noir has . . ."Lovely, upfront fruit, tight earthy finish. . . fine volume."

Wine Spectator: A to Z Pinot Noir offers ripe generous plum and dried blueberry flavors."

Bon Appetite: A to Z Pinot Noir: "Sommelier's choice."

Saveur: "Wine Masterminds. A to Z owners make great, affordable cuvees.  Their Pinot Gris is alive with bright acidity and fruit."

Wine Spectator: "A to Z Pinot Gris is rated Best Value."

April 2006

When was the last time you had a 95 point wine?  In fact, when was the last time you saw one for under $100 a bottle?  The Vina Almaviva from Mapio Valley in Chile (located about an hour west of Santiago) is the product of a partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild from France (home to the Chateau Mouton--Rothschild) and Concha y Toro in Chile.  (A comparable partnership in the US between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi produces Opus One, which sells for $150 a bottle.)

Elena recently got a chance to purchase 42 bottles of the 2003 Vina Almaviva, which received 95 points recently in the Wine Spectator. 

The suggested retail on this wine is $85, but Elena wanted to make it available to our regular customers at a huge discount, so we are selling it at $62 net, which is just a few dollars above our cost. 

If you need a special gift for your husband or Dad for Father's Day, or if you just want to squirrel-away a world class wine for a special occasion in the future, this is the one to get.  But you will have to move fairly quickly as it will sell out at this price, and we can not get anymore.  (I have two bottles in the basement for Thanksgiving--2007 and 2008.)

Here is the write up from the Wine Spectator on the Almaviva:

95 Points, Vina Almaviva.  Puente Alto 2003  $85

Very dense, with loads of raspberry ganache, black currant and fig fruit layed with tobacco, mineral and cedar notes.  Lots of grip on the finish, with impressive balance between tannins, acidity and oak. Built like a Pauillac.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Cabernet Franc.  Best from 2007 through 2015.  10,000 cases made.  Wine Spectator.

March 2006

I am constantly asked what wine I reach for first when I get back from one of my regular forays to the Middle East.   Truth is, Elena often has some new wines that she wants me to try the first couple of nights I am home, but then I do gravitate back to some old favorites.  I have given the question of favorite some thought, and this email is my attempt to answer these inquiries.

In my mind, I organize white and red wines into three rather broad categories:

1) wines for everyday consumption (about $10);

2) wines for entertaining (about $20); and

3) wines for special occasions (over $30).  

Wines for Everyday Consumption.  This is the most challenging category of wines to discuss.  Elena and I are constantly searching for good value wines that we can enjoy for around $10.  Because we are both very fussy about what we drink, we have to taste through a lot of plok to find ones we can recommend.

My Favorite Everyday White: I have recommended the Chateau Haut Nadeau in previous emails, and we have sold out of it every year.   The 2004 vintage of this sauvignon blanc from the Bordeaux region of France is every bit as good as years past, and is an incredible wine for the price.  A perfect balance of yellow apples and floral nose, coupled with a smooth long finish, make it make my first choice for an everyday white.  At $10.99, I know it will sell out again this year.  Too bad, because if you wanted a top value white wine to enjoy during the summer, you could not do better than this.  I have tucked away several cases for my own consumption and I can recommend it with no reservations whatsoever.

My Favorite Everyday Red:    There are several quality red wines that I enjoy in the $10 range, to include some new Portuguese arrivals, but this Spanish from the Duero region is still my favorite.  We have never featured Roble Zalagar in a email, but it has been a staple in the store for the past three years. Zalagar walks a nice line between the light almost ethereal summer fruit of some of the inexpensive French reds (Secret de Campane, for example), and the lusty chocolate and coffee of the new Portugese additions.  Zalagar is a dinner wine, crafted to compliment family dining in a satisfying but unobtrusive way.  This medium-bodied wine boasts early summer fruits of dark cherry and cassis both on the nose and the palate, but unlike many of the Australian reds, the fruit component is elegant and understated.

Even though these are my top picks in this category, we like to try different wines all the time.  Indeed, part of the fun of drinking wine is its infinite variety of flavors and textures.  And of course, people’s palates and tastes vary greatly, so there is no "best wine."  But these are good, solid choices in this price range.

Wines for Entertaining:

WHITE: The white wine that we keep on hand for semi-special occasions is the 2004 Clos La Chance Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountain area in California.  Chardonnay is best when it is grown in a cool region so that the grapes ripen slowly and develop the structure and nuances of pear and white peach, like this one.  The Clos La Chance has a smooth, creamy texture in the mouth, but with enough acidity for balance.  Because it is aged in French oak, rather than American, it nice hint of toasty oak without the overbearing wood flavors that characterize so many domestic chardonnays.  Cost is $17.99.

RED: Many Americans who drink domestic wines tend to shy away from blends for some reason.  This is unfortunate.  The Steltzner Vineyards 2002 Claret is a blend of traditional Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and it is a superb wine from the Napa Valley in California.  This is a wine of soft tannins and a long velvet finish. There is a hint of black pepper on the palate, along with red plums and blackberries.  The Steltzner Claret is a polished, versatile dinner wine for $17.99. 

Wines for Special Occasions.

RED.  Most experts consider 2000 the best vintage for Bordeaux in 40 years.  We are one of the few stores in the region that still has several classified 2000 Bordeaux in stock.  Here is what Robert Parker wrote about one of them: "The 2000 Faugeres is a dense blue/purple, and the aromatics offer abundant quantities of sweet oak, smoke, black currants, and cherries.  There is structure and tannin married with a ripe finish in this classy effort, with outstanding purity and moderate weight in the mouth, this is an intensely flavorful St. Emilion. Drink 2006-2017.  91 Points."  Normally $44.95; on sale at $38 through Easter. Limited to quantities on hand.  (We are down to our last case of this wine, and there is no more available.)

WHITE.  2002 is a classic white Burgundy vintage--a vintage when even a less experienced grower could be expected to make a great wine; but an experienced grower, like Alain Coche-Bizouard, with well-sited vineyards in almost every part of the village of Meursault, made a big, dense, richly flavored, beautifully balanced 2002 that combines power and finesse in a way that can be done only in the Côte d’Or and, even there, only in one vintage out of three.  The nose offers subtle aromas of apricots and Clementines, and the palate reveals more apricot, a hint of orange, and a refreshing mineral quality, like the feel of cold water on clean mountain rocks.  Normally $42.95; on sale at $37 through Easter.  Limited to quantities on hand. 

January 2006

While in Portugal last week, dining at a top-notch restaurant recommended to us by a local, I asked the maitre d'  to bring us a bottle of local red wine.  (This was the only sentence I learned to say in Portuguese, and it got us by all week: Gostariamos uma garrafa de vinho tinto de ragiao por favor.)

We were floored when he returned with a bottle of Castello D'Alba 2003 Tinto Reserva.  Jack Couto, our Portuguese wine consultant, had hosted a table of all Portuguese wines at our last wine tasting, and strongly recommended that we include the Castello D'Alba, which we did, but it sold out completely without either of us getting a bottle to take home.  Like several of the other wines we featured that night, this one was also completely sold out at the importer's, and we could not replenish it.

So six weeks later we found ourselves 6,000 miles from home, about to taste for the first time a wine that we had featured in our store, based on the recommendation of a maitre d'  we had just met.  I couldn't wait.

We were in Porto, where the mouth of the Doura River joins with the Atlantic.  The Doura is the largest and best wine region in Portugal and the Castillo D'Alba Reserva is from the upper Doura area of northern Portugal.   The summer fruits of blackberry and red plum are nicely balanced with a creamy notes of vanilla and a hint of praline.  We both just loved it.  And we have it back in stock.  Regular $10.99;  January special of $9.89 net.  I believe we paid about $25 Euros for it in Portugal!

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