Reds-Bottle | $20 | Total Wine | I carry good news for those like me who have given up on Merlots because they are too thin and simplistic. This one is different! Rich, bold, robust, full-spectrum flavor. You’ll notice a difference in color as soon as it’s poured. Nose and flavor match. It’s cab-like but different.
Codici Salento Primitivo
Reds-Glass | $12 | Decanter | Nice big Italian red. 14% alcohol, tobacco / chocolately Southern Italian yummyness. From Salento in the region of Puglia – the heel of Italy’s boot. Trusted stand-by. Remember – Primitivo = Zinfandel, so if you like big California Zinfandels for your reds, try some Primitivos. You might find just as nice or nicer for less cost.
Santagostino Baglio Soria Firriato Nero d’Avola and Syrah
Reds-Bottle | $25 | Decanter | Very good, very powerful (14.5% alcohol) non-Italian, Italian wine. You know right away that something funky is going on when Syrah is listed on an Italian Red. In this case, it works. Winemaker is willing to forgo DOCG, DOC official ratings to try something new and it’s a hit. Complex enough to drink on its own (Italian wine is usually meant to go with / be essential part of food), you can drink this now or save for a long while. Next time someone asks you to bring a nice Italian red, grab a bottle of this. Would have rated a case if the price were $5 – $10 less.
Trentadue Old Patch Red Zinfandel Petite Sirah Carignane
Reds-Case | $13 | Decanter | Awesome California red blend (primarily Zinfandel) – fantastic on its own or with big meats or heavy cheeses. 13.9% alcohol is well balanced and the 70% Zinfandel 20% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignane work fantastically well together. Great big red.
Macon-Villages Bouchard Aine & Fils Chardonnay
Whites-Glass | $13 | Total Wine | Great French chardonnay (unoaked – this is not California). Fermented in stainless steel hint of citrus and grown in Maconnais region of Burgundy (far south of Chablis), but still enough oyster shell and minerals in the soil to taste in the wine and pair with seafood. Go get some raw oysters and drink-up.
Mumm Napa Brut Prestige Bubbles
Bubbles-Bottle | $17 | Total Wine | Nice California Bubbles. Not too sweet, crisp and lovely. Grab this for your next special event and put down that #$%!+ Korbel, would you?
Laurence and Philippe Greiner Alsace Riesling
Whites-Case | $18 | Iron Bridge | Fantastic Riesling – yes, Riesling. Normally I think all Rieslings are sickly sweet dessert wines and I can’t stand trying to pronounce all the extra letters in the various types of Rieslings (and keep the differences straight), but just know that this one is a keeper. From Alsace (“Alsatian”) minerals, crisp, little lemon, little salt, and lots of acid to fight off the sweet – this should be your featured summer white.