Dear Friends,

I once read a quote from Ernest Gallo that I will need to paraphrase here since I am sitting on an airplane with no access to internet (c’mon United, get with the program already) and can’t remember it word for word. Essentially he said I don’t care about aromas or midpalate structure, I just want a wine that tastes so good I want to drink more. You know, it’s hard to argue with that and probably too often we get caught up in the art of the descriptor in this business, even (gasp!) yours truly. So, in the spirit of that greatly mangled paraphrasing I offer you two great wines that offer terrific value and will make you want to drink more of them.

Lot 252 North Coast Petite Sirah is sourced from high-end vineyards in Mendocino County and Sonoma County and made by a gentleman with over 30 years experience sourcing and making Petite Sirah up on the North Coast. The 2009 vintage served up an excess of fruit, but rather than make wine in stainless steel with oak chips destined for the bulk market, this wine was made with care and attention in French oak barrels and a small percentage of new oak.  Big, dark, and rich with black fruits and terrific structure. Weighing in at 14.1% alcohol there is elegance to this wine and a certain nobility that makes me wonder why in the world we haven’t planted more Petite here in the North Coast, particularly Mendocino and Lake Counties? A great deal at $12/bottle.

Lot 258 Mendoza Malbec is from the same producer as the Lot 275 Reserva Malbec and could rightly be called its little brother. Unlike so many Malbecs from Argentina, this wine is linear, deftly extracted with a juicy texture that invites quaffing. It has good complexity to boot but is more rightly noted for its drinkability – it’s just a tasty wine that is imminently pleasurable. Purple/red to the eye with flavors of dusty black cherry, ripe plums – delicious nose. There is a nice richness, it is very balanced, not an over the top style.
Both of these wines could age a couple years (Lot 252, in particular, even longer), but why bother. Sometimes you just need a pop and pour wine for dinner and you’d be hard pressed to be better served than these two wines. 

As always our customer service team is standing by to help, so please email us or call at 1-800-805-1971.