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