Offers

Sauvignon Blanc from Burgundy? What the heck? Yep, Saint-Bris is a tiny village just west of Chablis, and it's the only AOC in Burgundy that allows for the production of Sauvignon Blanc. Most importantly, the Domaine Felix is one of the pioneering producers of the region, and this is an absolute thrill ride of a wine.

What a beautiful and immediately accessible version of Nebbiolo! From one of the reference-point estates of the Roero region of Italy's Piemonte, Almondo's Arneis gets all of the press and deservedly so. We stock that too, but the estate's 2020 Roero Nebbiolo merits just as much critical acclaim.

Where Ted Lemon goes, I will follow! Mr. Lemon is one of of my favorite vignerons, and the work he does at his Sonoma winery Littorai is second to none. His Pinot Noirs have garnered dozens of 95+ point scores over the years, but the allocations on those wines are next to nothing, and the pricing is, shall we say, not cheap.

Rarely seen in "these parts," the Aglianico grape is one of Italy's oldest and most noble grape varieties. Unquestionably the top grape grown in Southern Italy, it is often compared to Nebbiolo due to its highly aromatic and structured personality. If you want to experience the grape in top form and at a great price, you've got to try this!

I have been offering some awesome deals on a number of Southern Rhone reds this year, and I've got a new and exciting one to share with you. The 2018 Rouge Bleu Saint-Cecile 'Mistral' comes from vineyards just north of Chateauneuf du Pape, and this classic GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) is a highly attractive red at a wonderful price.

Sam Bilbro's Idlewild Wines represent the best interpretations of Italian varieties being made by anyone outside of Italy. His 2021 Flora and Fauna White and Red are blends based on Piedmontese grapes, and both recently garnered some high praise from Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media.

Alvaro Palacios is one of Spain's most respected winemakers, and the work he does at his family's estate is second to none. His La Montesa Rioja Crianza is a wine that really grabbed my senses when I tasted it last week, and I proceeded to buy every bottle available. When you taste it, you'll understand why.

With Valentine's Day just a week away, we've got a terrific offer going on three fabulous Grower Champagnes. What is Grower Champagne, and why should you choose it over bigger-name bubbles? I'll explain WHAT they are first. 

Mike Januik is one of Washington-state's most acclaimed winemakers, and his Royal Slope Red Blend is absolutely rocking this vintage. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, it is one of the best under-$20 red wines coming out of Washington. Equally serious and easy-to-drink, this Bordeaux-inspired blend is incredibly polished, smooth, and forward.

World-class Barbaresco imported by Kermit Lynch for less than 40 bucks? Sign me up, and I can say with 100% certainty that this is the greatest Barbaresco value I've encountered in my 20+ year wine career. Vintage 2019 provided great conditions to produce wonderful wines in the Piedmont, and the proof of that is contained inside this bottle of beautiful, highly aromatic Nebbiolo.

The Domaine Berthenet Bourgogne Aligote is a splendid rendition of this grape. Bursting with bright and tangy citrus and mineral, this will appeal to those who like Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, and other clean and crisp whites.

Talk about a wine that over-delivers in a big way. Giampaolo Tabarrini makes some of the top red wines in the Montefalco hills of Umbria, and his 2018 Il Padrone Rosso is a wildly delicious blend of mainly Sangiovese with splashes of Sagrantino and Barbera. 

The village of Maury in France's Roussillon region is home to some seriously old Grenache vines, and that's what you get with the 2015 Tetu Grenache. Produced from 60- to 80 year-old vines grown in the tough and rocky soils of Maury, this is an absolute joy to drink, and it will appeal to both New and Old World wine lovers!

Saint Damien makes reference-point Gigondas, but they also make two stunning, value-priced, and gorgeous Cotes du Rhones. Trust me, these aren't your typical, straightforward CDR's. They are substantial wines with more flavor dimension and complexity, and for buyers who don't want to spend $40+ for Saint Damien's Gigondas', these two cuvees are perfect alternatives.

Domaine Perraud is one of the benchmark estates of the Maconnais, and I am so happy their wines are now available in North Carolina. When I tasted their Saint Veran  recently, I really had to keep my poker face on, especially after my sales rep Steve Nelson  of Grapevine Distributors told me the price. This should cost A LOT more!

 

What happens when famed Brunello producer Ciacci decides to "play around" with Bordeaux varieties? Greatness, that's what happens, and it is contained within theirr 2019 Ateo Rosso. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from 30-40+ year-old vines, this is one of the best Super Tuscan values in the world.

After tasting the Auteur's 2019 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir last week, I proceeded to buy my distributor out. These micro-production wines are of an impeccable quality, showcasing all of the best attributes that Burgundian varieties can attain along the cooler Sonoma Coast. The Chardonnay is rich yet finely detailed and balanced, and the Pinot Noir is a dazzling wine that will make heads spin. Act fast on these folks, they'll be gone in a flash.

The holidays are upon us, and there's no better way to toast good cheer than with a glass of world-class, small grower and producer Champagne. This is a new and more affordable bottling from our friends at Voirin-Jumel, and it is absolutely fantastic. We still stock their Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, and it's as good as ever, but the estate's Tradition Brut is not only an insane value, it's incredibly delicious.

For those looking for a lovely Blanc de Blancs styled Champagne to toast the holidays with, look no further than Thierry Triolet's Chardonnay-dominated bubbly. A ton of True Champagne for the money, this stuff will be gone in a flash. Just 10 cases made it to NC this year, and we snagged 7 of them.

For the third year in a row, Trefethen's gorgeous Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has garnered a 97 point score with Decanter, Great Britain's top wine periodical. After tasting this with my sales rep last week, I am inclined to agree with them. This is a grand, finely detailed, and classic Napa Cab with a ton of style and grace.