01/09/2025
SELECT SIX FOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025. - Hand Picked and tasted by WW. Save when you buy our SS.
2023 DOMAINE DES COGNETTES SAUVIGNON BLANC VAL DE LOIRE
Return vintage from one of our most exciting white wine finds from last year. Domaine des Cognettes has long been recognized as one of the leaders in organic/Biodynamic viticulture in the Sevre et Maine part of the Loire, a region best known for their Muscadet production. At this end of the river Sauvignon Blanc may take a more secondary role it can still show very well, and in the Cognettes' hands it is far from an 'ordinary' wine. Obviously unfiltered (perhaps startlingly so for people used to clean and clear Sauvignon Blanc) that signals some of the natural winemaking production here, but does not make for a dirty wine. Aromas are fresh and zingy, loaded with tangy citrus and cool white fruits with notes of coastal seashell and lemon peel. Palate is fleshed out more than most thanks to the lack of filtration, which really helps round out the fruit and brings juiciness to the long and otherwise tartly acidic finish. Incredibly vibrant for the price, definitely not your typical generic Loire white wine.
Regular Price $17.99/btl, $15.29/case
2021 DOMAINE l'ARNESQUE COTES DU RHONE
This has been a favorite Rhone of ours over the last several vintages, especially when we want to introduce people to an example of a 'rustic' wine without going too far down that pathway. Grenache is the dominant grape in the region, with Syrah not too far behind, and are a dominant part if not the entirety of most Rhone wines. Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault are less featured, especially in wines that look to be more fruity and modern. The 'rustic' style brings these grapes into the blend more, coming from a time when it made more sense for growers to have a diversity of varieties in a site to help hedge against seasonal problems in grape development. Rustic usually refers to more earthy, savory tones, and you get that here on the nose with touches of peppery herbs and drier red fruits. On the palate the texture is less weighty and the fruit doesn't come across as jammy, but still has lots of nice body and dark spicy fruits. Less of cocktail wine than many Rhones can be, but dynamite to pair with hearty lentil soups and cold weather dishes that have lots of meaty flavors.
Regular Price $15.99/btl, $13.59/case
2024 PROYECTO NAKKAL WINES 'NAKCOOL' BLANCO URUGUAY
One of the most interesting things about the modern natural wine movement is that it's helped us further tap the unknown winemaking potential of many more regions in the world. The spirit behind making wines with as little intervention as possible, to buck the trends and traditions of the high volume industry, can catch on just about anywhere, and they always seem to have new things to present to the customer. This small project in Uruguay was started by a pair of friends, with the name of this wine series paying respect to the 'NatCool' movement started in Portugal by wine innovator Dirk Niepoort. This blend of Viognier, Ugni Blanc and skin-fermented Muscat Ottonel has all the best aspects of natural wines without any of the funk. Fresh and lightly flowery with notes of apple orchard and citrus skin that carries through on the texture that is fleshy from being unfined/unfiltered but no sweetness to the fruit that is often associated with the grape varieties here. Fun, incredibly food friendly and NO SO2 USED.
Regular Price $18.99/btl, $16.14/case
2022 IL MOLINO DI GRACE ROSSO TOSCANA 'IL VOLANO'
It's the perfect 'American in Tuscany' dream that we would all love to live out: fall in love with the region, have the opportunity to purchase an old property with growing history dating back to the mid-1600s, and establish a new winery that strongly honors tradition. Located in the rugged heart of Chianti near Panzano, The Grace family has converted the property to organics since they founded the winery in 1997, with all the existing vineyards and their new plantings certified since 2010. Their focus for the Chiantis is to be on Sangiovese only, but the property does have a bit of Merlot planted to be a part of this entry level Rosso Toscana. Built from the vineyard's youngest vines and tank aged for freshness, this still has some surprising structure borne from the Panzano terrain. Deep ruby color and loads of savory plum, bitter cherry aromas with hits of leather and earth; not to the extent of their Chiantis, of course, but surprisingly present in a second wine. The palate hits the darker fruits and the earthier tannins to give the wine more chew on the finish, helping it stand up to some bigger dishes. A great dinner wine for the price.
Regular Price $17.99/btl, $15.29/case
2022 DOMAINE THIBERT-MIRANDA MACON-FUISSE
When looking for good values in White Burgundy these days, it's inevitable that you have to start with wines from the Macon. Lots of space, lots of vines, not a lot of super-high-end producers driving the costs up, makes for a lot of chances to still find a few hidden gems. A favorite part of this family run Domaine for us is their choice for minimal use of oak barrel and malolactic fermentation across all of their production, allowing the wines to show all their natural character and even a bit of fine minerality that is often glossed over here. Bright peach and apple blossom aromas with a bit of drier citrus skin notes, with the touches of barrel and malolactic showing up more on the rounder palate than the nose, but neither place does it get in the way of the lively minerality that finishes with some apricot zest. Very quaffable especially for the price point.
Regular Price $20.99/btl, $17.84/case
2021 BODEGAS OLIVARES MONASTRELL ALTOS DE LA HOYA UNGRAFTED VINES
Much of the history for wines in the Levant, the Spanish region around Valencia, has been focused on big cheap nondescript red wines sold in bulk. In the last 30 years there has been a move towards modernization and improvement, but a lot of it was also following the Australian influence of the time, that bigger=better and that everything about the wine needed to be 'supersized'. That arms race has subsided and there are many more nuanced versions of their wines appearing. Monastrell (Mourvedre) is king of grapes here, able to withstand the baking heat and dry conditions and still maintain acidity and tannic structure. It is also hearty enough to live in the poor soils and be one of the few places in Europe that can maintain both own-rooted ungrafted vines AND be dry farmed. For the price this is an exciting introduction to the character of the region, built with a surprisingly delicate hand. Loads of black fruits and road tar on the nose, but surprisingly fresh without sweeter tones, and even a Rhone-like touch of herbs. White the palate is still fairly full bodied, it isn't thick or coating, instead showing more darker currant and fine tannins, even a sense of freshness to the finish without obtrusive new oak in the way. A great option for hearty meals in the cold days ahead.
Regular Price $17.99/btl, $15.99/case
These 6 wines regularly sell for $106.94
For Select Six January/February they are $93.99
You Save $12.95!
Select Six White (2 of each white) is $97.99
Select Six Red (2 of each red) is $89.99
Pick any three different bottles and get 10% off!
