2007 Domaine Pierre Guindon "Cabernet," Coteaux d'Ancenis, France

Dear Rene, We have a not-to-be-missed offer today: a complex 2007 French cabernet as low as $8.99 per bottle. And this isn't some mass-produced "cheap" cabernet. An estate-grown, estate-bottled, hand-harvested, limited-production cabernet from 35-year-old vines froma producer who has been called "the pre-eminent grower" of his region by David Schildknecht (the regional expert for Parker's Wine Advocate)! The producer, Domaine Pierre Guindon, is an absolute star of the tiny "Coteaux d'Ancenis" region in France's Loire Valley, a highly-regarded area in France, but one which remains undiscovered outside of France. In addition to consistent praise from the Wine Advocate, Guindon has been listed as a "favorite producer" by Master of Wine Jancis Robinson (a well-regarded wine blogger and writer) and has been distinguished in several of France's top wine journals. I bought this wine last year and have held it and carefully aged it for over a year for you. Why? Because I wanted you to experience how unique and complex this wine could be now that it is really starting to hit its stride. This is so good I bought nearly half of the total production, something I was only able to do because I went to the Loire Valley and met with the producer. At Arrowine, we take great pride in finding you these gems. If you are looking for real value in estate-bottled, hand-harvested, limited-production wine that is delicious as well as profound (as well as ridiculously cheap), then look no further, order your case(s) today. And if you're not thinking of buying any, then just buy six bottles. In addition, please check out our special tastings this weekend, and take advantage of our cheese and charcuterie features and sales. I hope to see you this weekend. Doug Rosen 2007 Domaine Pierre Guindon "Cabernet," Coteaux d'Ancenis, France 2007 Guindon "Cabernet", Coteaux d'Ancenis, France (Loire Valley Red Wine) Regular Shelf Price $12.99 6-Bottle Price- $10.99 each 12-Bottle Price- just $8.99 each (save over 30%) Wait until you see how complex and how unlike cheap cabernet from Australia or California this is-- it has true complexity and character! What makes it different from new world Cabernet? Just about everything: In this area of the Loire Valley, the word "Cabernet" on label can refer to cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, or both. Guindon's 40 year old vineyard includes both, about 80% franc and 20% sauvignon. It is carefully estate-grown and hand-harvested unlike almost all wines in this price range from this part of France (or anywhere else). The tiny vineyard is densely planted at 6,500 vines per hectare; this forces the vines to compete and keeps yields naturally low for better concentration and complexity. Fermentation is entirely with natural yeast, allowing true expression of the vineyard and remarkable complexity. It is from a cool climate, unlike Australian and California cabernets, so it shows more freshness and liveliness and a better affinity with food. It is more dry and savory and less heavy and sweet. Guindon's vineyards are planted on excellent hillsides with soils consisting primarily of clay and schist. This gives the wine a distinct mineral complexity. Fermentation and aging are done in tank, there are no oaky flavors to cover up the complex fruit, mineral, and spicy complexity. Here is how it tastes: This is a serious wine for only $8.99. It has wonderful garnet color with aromas of red currants, sun-dried leaves with hints of red licorice. Soft and silky, ripe, red strawberry fruited palate with hints of herbs, red licorice and stone dust. This wine possesses wonderful precision and mineral tang, making it an ideal wine with roasted chicken, salmon or any lighter meats. I just don't know of many $12.99 bottles of wine that can deliver this level of complexity; at only $8.99 per bottle load up and enjoy this fascinating wine over the next few years. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, Friday February 26th.

2007 Château de Jouclary, Cuvée Tradition, Cabardès Rouge

Dear Rene, I know few other wines that offer you as much complexity, depth, and value as Chateau Jouclary does at $11 (o.k. it's $12-$15 elsewhere in the country, but it's still a good deal at those prices). It's been a perennial customer and staff favorite for six years straight. These guys get it right every year. But 2007 is an exceptional year, it is the fullest and deepest Jouclary yet. And our Door Buster price is our lowest price EVER on Chateau Jouclary, just $7.99 per bottle by the case. Even with our great e-mail specials, our previous lowest price for any vintage was $8.99 (THAT was the lowest price in the U.S.A.; today's price is the lowest BY FAR). REMINDER: This is a Door-Buster Sale meaning this price is available only Friday, February 12th, and Saturday, February 13th. This sale price is for in-store sales only and while supplies last (we have 150 cases available). Sorry, no phone or e-mail orders.  Previous vintages sold out quickly. Since then, customers have called again and again asking for more. How often do you see a price tag like this on a wine with flavors that have drawn comparisons to Châteauneuf du Pape? This special wine and special sale prove once again that working closely with local importers saves you money. Friends like Ed Addiss of Wine Traditions bring the wines directly from the vineyards to Arrowine. I visited the property with Ed and can attest to the fact that this is fabulous winemaking from fabulous vineyards in a fabulous terroir. It's another way we work diligently to ensure that our customers get the best possible values in the market. There are only 150 cases available. Doug Rosen Friday & Saturday Door-Buster Sale: Don't Miss This! 2007 Château de Jouclary, Cuvée Tradition, Cabardès Rouge Regular: $10.99 per bottle Door Buster Sale price: Only $7.99 per bottle by the case (12) Sale price on solid cases only. No further discounts and no combining with other offers. Sale is Friday and Saturday only and only while supplies last (150 cases available). In store sales only (sorry, no phone or e-mail orders) This is the lowest price in the country by far on this wine! Okay, what is Cabardès Rouge? Located just outside the medieval walled city of Carcassonne in the Southwest corner of France, this is the only appellation that requires the use of both Bordeaux and Rhone varietals in the blend. Cabardès has the best of both worlds: the depth and structure of a fine right-bank Bordeaux, and the bright fruits and spice of Mediterranean (Rhone) wines. All that depth, generous mouthfeel, and complexity of flavors, and yet a wine that issmooth enough to just drink by itself! At our regular price of $10.99 (or even at the $12-$15 price it sells at in most of the U.S.) this has got to be one of the very best values around. This is especially true in an excellent year like 2007. At our Door Buster price, it's a steal. The Cuvée Tradition is an un-oaked blend of merlot, syrah and grenache, each grown in the type of soil conditions which allow for ideal varietal expression. That's possible in this case because there are two distinct soil types on the property, visible even to the untrained eye: the merlot thrives in heavier clay soil, while the 70 year old grenache vines thrive in lighter limestone soil. This wine truly reflects the special vineyards where it is grown. How does it taste? Tasting this wine we all agree that the old-vine grenache is the most prominent flavor component, with gorgeous floral and spice box aromatics and delicious black raspberry fruit. Red flame plum and dried cherries round out the fruit expression while subtle nuances of cinnamon bark, licorice, and cumin spiceadd a fascinating array of complexity. The wine has a silky suppleness of texture and a delicious lingering finish. There's a lot going on in this wine, much more complexity than other wines at this price. This may be the only $11 red in the store that the staff simply refuses to spit. What else need we say? Jouclary is amazingly food versatile or enjoyable all on its own. Fancy foods, simple foods, hearty dishes, light dishes, cassoulet, pasta, chicken, lamb, you name it. This is the kind of wine restaurants dream of - it tastes great with anything! For a simple evening meal after a hard day's work uncork this with plate of charcuterie and cheese. For a perfect cheese match, try the award-winning "Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve", a firm, flavorful, and delicately nutty cheese from Wisconsin's excellent Uplands farmstead creamery. Our salame, paté, or cured meats can round out the simple and fabulous meal. Enjoy! -- Graham Reid and Jim Cutts

2007 Arnoux Vacqueyras "Chapelle St. Arnoux"

Dear Rene, This is a deal you don't want to miss. The 91-93 point rated Vacqueyras we are offering today is one of the greatest values we've seen anywhere from the historically great 2007 vintage in France's Rhone valley. In case you've somehow missed it, here is some of what world famous wine critic Robert Parker has said about the 2007 vintage Rhone reds: "Tasting the 2007s out of bottle has confirmed my thoughts - this is a truly historic and profoundly great vintage.... this may be the most compelling vintage of any viticultural region I have ever tasted.... I have never tasted better Côtes du Rhônes, Gigondas, or sumptuous, rich, complex Vacqueyras than the 2007s. " Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com "You can't buy enough of the 2007 Southern Rhônes ...from top to bottom, this is the greatest vintage I have ever tasted in any viticultural area.... The wines are just hitting the distribution channels in the United States and Europe, so move quickly. Despite the worldwide economic woes, these wines are disappearing at a rapid pace." Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com No set of wines has ever created quite the same frenzy as the 2007 Rhones (not even the 2005s from Bordeaux). Anybody who has even a slight interest in wine should be trying all the 2007s they can from France's famous Rhone Valley and stocking up on their favorites. The wines are THAT good. Today you can order a highly rated (91-93 points) red wine from the historically great 2007 Rhone vintage and from the excellent area of Vacqueyras. Though Parker pegs the price of this red Vacqueyras wine at $25-$42 per bottle, you can order it today, while supplies last, for as little as $12.99. Don't wait. Call now to order (703-525-0990). We are receiving 200 cases tomorrow and, with a deal this good they are likely to all be spoken for by the time they arrive. Jim Cutts 2007 Arnoux Vacqueyras "Chapelle St. Arnoux" 2007 Arnoux Vacqueyras "Chapelle St. Arnoux" Release price: $25 Our reg.: $16.99 6 bottle sale price: $14.99 per bottle 12 bottle sale price: just $12.99 per bottle **200 cases available** The Chapelle St. Arnoux estate has been family-owned since 1717. The Arnoux family owns 40 hectares of vineyards in Vacqueyras and also makes wine with carefully-selected purchased (negociant) fruit. Marc Arnoux, a stickler for high quality, is the current oenologist and vineyard manager. The quality of this producer is starting to attract a great deal of positive attention with the international press. Since 1978 they have received 30 Gold Medal awards. Arnoux's 2007 vintage wines, in particular, have attracted the attention of critics and wine lovers everywhere; they are outstanding. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has rated many of the Vacqueyras and Gigondas cuvees very highly. Of the many excellent 2007 Rhone wines made by this estate, though, the Vacqueyras "Chapelle St. Arnoux" offers, by far, the most impressive combination of high quality (Parker's rating calls it "An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character.") and a great price (especially at Arrowine). Here is the brief note from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Vacqueyras Chapelle St.-Arnoux is nearly identical to the Jean-Marie Arnoux. I could not find much difference between the two in their composition, upbringing, texture, flavor, or intensity. It is a super, unfiltered effort. All these 2007s merit serious attention. 91-93 points ($25-$42)." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #181 And, to understand more about this review, here is the lengthier review of the Jean-Marie Arnoux wine that Parker called "nearly identical": "The 2007 Vacqueyras Jean-Marie Arnoux is superb. Its blend is somewhat different, with the Grenache dominating (70%), but 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre, all from 50-year or older vines included. This stunning wine exhibits a dense purple color along with abundant quantities of blackberry fruit, pepper, bouquet garni, spice box, and meaty notes. Full-bodied and opulent, it is a superior Vacqueyras from a great vintage. 91-93 points ($25-$42)." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #181 To order your case of 2007 Arnoux Vacqueyras "Chapelle St. Arnoux" for only $12.99 per bottle, please call us at 703.525.0990. We will need complete Visa or Mastercard information. This combination of high quality and affordable price is rare, especially on a category of wines as sought after as 2007 Rhones. This will be extremely popular. Please call soon to order; if all of our lines are busy, please call back. Jim Cutts