2010 Grand Veneur "Réserve" Côtes du Rhône

Dear Rene,
This may be the best Rhône wine deal of the last nine years. That's right, in the last nine vintages of Rhône Valley reds, 2002-2010, the Wine Advocate has reviewed well over 500 Rhone reds that scored an "outstanding" 91 points or higher. Not a single one listed a price as low as our best price ($11.99) on the wine Robert Parker called "amazing" and "sensational", the 91 point red Côtes-du-Rhône Réserve from Alain Jaume's Domaine Grand Veneur! Or, looking at it differently, the Wine Advocate has reviewed 191 different "bargain" Rhône wines with a price tag of $12 or less from the 2002-2010 vintage. Not a single one scored above 90 points. This scored 91 points, and the review and rating came from Robert Parker himself (entire review is below).

This is a great deal, but it won't last long. Order yours soon, before it joins our list of sold-out wines. It is in stock now!
Also, we are low on space in our back room. If you have orders here, we'd be very grateful if you could make plans to pick them up soon. Thank you!
It's that time of year again....for our annual and famous (or is it infamous?) Port Tasting on Saturday! Of course we'll still have our regular wine and beer tastings Friday evening. See below for all details.
Be on the look out for Perry's delicious December Cheese and Charcuterie Newsletter coming later today!
Jim Cutts

	2010 Grand Veneur "Réserve" Côtes du Rhône

2010 Grand Veneur "Réserve" Côtes du Rhône
(Rhone Valley Red Wine)
Reg. $14.99
SALE:
6- bottle price: $12.99 per bottle
Case (12+ bottles) price: $11.99 per bottle

The fruit-filled, concentrated, complex red wines of the Rhone Valley are considered by many to be among the most delicious red wines in the world. A recent string of great vintages in the southern Rhône Valley has made these wines extremely popular throughout the world. Despite this popularity, there are still some wonderful values to be found. There are lots of great-value red wines from the Rhône, but there hasn't been one with this high a score and this low a price since the 2001 vintage. Here's what Robert Parker said about this wine...

"As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this full-bodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone that sells for a song ($15). This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer. 91 Points." -Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #195 (June 2011).

2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot & 2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot

Dear Rene,
2009 was a stellar year for red Burgundy. And the great news is that this is true at all levels-- it's not just the top-end collectible Grand Crus and 1er Crus that did well in 2009, but also many village and regional level wines.

Today's e-mail feature has the proof-- two great red Burgundies that also represent great values. Both are small-production, boutique, traditionally-styled, estate-bottled beauties that show the depth, character, texture and quality that make 2009 a special vintage.

Order today and save:

• Order 6 or more bottles of these two red Burgundies (mixed however you like) and save 15% off your entire order.
• Order a case (12 or more bottles) of these two red Burgundies (mixed however you like) and save 20% off your entire order.

You're in for a real treat when you try these wines.
Please look at what Perry has on special this week in the Tuesday Boucher.
Doug Rosen

	2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot

2009 Bourgogne, Domaine Jean Michel et Laurent Pillot
Reg. $21.99
(Best price $17.59)
Brothers Jean-Michel and Laurent Pillot (pictured below with Laurent's wife, Catherine) are the third generation of the Pillot family to make wine from their outstanding vineyard near Mercurey in Burgundy's Côte Chalonnaise, an area south of Beaune named for the village of Chalon-Sur-Saône. Just as with the best Côte d' Or red Burgundies, this is made from 100% pinot noir.

If you know somebody that claims you have to spend a ton of money to get a good Burgundy, this will prove them wrong. Likewise, if you know somebody that thinks you need to age Burgundy for five or more years for it to taste delicious-- just open a bottle of this beauty and watch them backpedal. This is knock-out Burgundy and it's already drinking wonderfully (though you can certainly keep it for at least 3-5 more years if you'd like to). Don't hesitate to open with your Thanksgiving meal or with just about any other robust meal featuring poultry or pork.

Here's how it tastes:
This deep ruby-colored Burgundy has a beautifully fragrant bouquet of strawberry tarts and ripe bing cherries with hints of toasted pine-nuts and pink violets. Fully ripe, the palate shows loads of strawberry preserves and baked cherries with a long mouthwatering finish showing sweet fruit combined with a refreshing touch of toasted nuts and cherry pit. This is longer, brighter, and more fresh and pure than pinots costing twice the price from Oregon or most areas of Burgundy.

To order, please call us at 703-525-0990, e-mail orders can be delayed. We will need your name, phone number, and Visa or MasterCard information (with expiration date). The wines will arrive tomorrow, Wednesday November 9th.

	2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot

2009 Bourgogne Rouge, Domaine Albert Boillot
Reg. $27.99
(Best price $22.39)
Now this is serious Burgundy for an amazingly low price. Raymond Boillot (of Domaine Albert Boillot, pictured below) makes stunning wines. His are some of the most elegant and filigreed wines that I have tasted from the famous Burgundy villages of Volnay and Pommard.

His deep, ageworthy, terroir-driven, traditionally-made Bourgogne is his most affordable wine and it is a great introduction to this classic Burgundy producer based in the revered village of Volnay in the Cote du Beaune (named for the nearby city of Beaune).

The Boillot family is famous, with many of the Boillot estates producing and exporting large volumes of Burgundy in all price ranges. Unlike many of his relatives from a family that's been making wine for over 300 years, Raymond Boillot never exported his wonderful wines until 2005. Instead, he sold his tiny production out the cellar door to clients that included many top restaurants in Paris.

My friend and "Burgundy Insider" Stephen Murray-Sykes, an Englishman who has lived in Burgundy for over 15 years, and his American business partner, Jim Ungerleider, coaxed and cajoled Raymond (and his cousin Louis) into selling some wine for the U.S. market, telling them that these wines were too good to keep to a lucky few Europeans. I can tell you that Stephen's portfolio of growers is special. Stephen knows wine. He's been a panel judge, jury member and professional taster for many of the most respected French wine publications, such as Guide Hachette, Bourgogne Aujour d'hui and Fleurons de Bourgogne. In short, he knows his wine and he's well connected.

This delightful Bourgogne is from a single vineyard named "Les Sorbins". The vineyard is less than one hectare in size and is located on the plain just below the Pommard village boundary. The vines are, on average, 50 years old. Because of the nobility of the site, the character of the old vines, and the nature of the exceptional vintage, this Bourgogne has surprising structure that will allow it to age very well. Age this for one to two more years, then enjoy it over the next 3-5 years. Only 500 cases were made.

This is what it tastes like:
The color is medium depth ruby to garnet. The aromas are dense with red cherries and sweet raspberries. The medium-bodied and satin-textured palate is compact and dense, showing jammy cherries and concentrated ripe raspberries and blackberries along with fresh herb. This is fleshy and engaging and shows great harmony of ripe fruit, elegant snappy acidity, and ripe yet firm tannic structure. This is tasty now but there is exciting potential promising much more. With air, the palate develops a medium bodied personality with a flavor profile balanced between red and black fruit. It is made more complex by hints of nutmeg and a wet stone minerality. If you're looking for a finely-balanced, food-friendly Bourgogne that's elegant, structured and precise, then act fast to get some of this amazing value. It's best give it two to three hours of air, or better yet, one to five more years in the bottle.

2009 Clos du Mont-Olivet Côtes du Rhône, "Montueil-La Levade" Vieilles Vignes

Dear Rene,

This concentrated and complex Cotes du Rhone from very old vines is incredible. And it's as low as $11.99. Thierry Sabon's Rhône reds from his Clos du Mont Olivet estate are our best-selling Rhône wines of all. They have been for years. The reasons are obvious: excellent top-of-the-class quality combined with shockingly fair pricing. We've already featured the estate's outstanding Chateauneuf du Pape and his unparalleled luxury cuvée Chateauneuf du Pape called "Cuvée du Papet" from the great 2009 vintage.

If you missed the Châteauneufs, don't despair. Just call soon before Clos du Mont Olivet's estate-bottled 2009 Côtes-du-Rhône "Montueil la Levade" Vieilles Vignes is gone. This wine, from very old vines, is among the most aromatic, concentrated, and pure Côtes-du-Rhônes every year, truly comparable to many Châteauneuf du Papes. And the 2009 is absolutely gorgeous-- it joins the 2001 as the top vintage I can remember for this unbelievably deep and complex wine (yes, I even prefer it to the great 2005 and 2007). And our price makes it even more amazing. The published price is $18 per bottle. Today you can order it from Arrowine for as little as $11.99 per bottle! That's the lowest price in the USA **and** it matches our lowest sale price for the 2008 vintage. In fact, it even matches our best sale price on the 2003 vintage!

This estate ALWAYS over-delivers, at all levels of wine. Great vintages of their top level Châteauneuf du Pape called "Cuvee du Papet" have earned ratings up to a rare and unbeatable 100 point score from Robert Parker, yet it is usually less than half the price of other top "luxury cuvées" from the region (as low as $49.99 at Arrowine). Their regular "traditional" Châteauneuf is an excellent value, too-- the great 2009 vintage earned 92 points from the Wine Spectator (outscoring 55% of the 139 Chateauneufs the Spectator has reviewed) yet it was one of the very lowest priced Chateauneuf du Papes of all (as little as $25.99 at Arrowine, only one Chateauneuf reviewed listed a lower price).

The special old vine Cote du Rhone "Montueil-La Levade", though, is the wine that really wows bargain hunters. It is sourced from two old-vine vineyards that give it the concentration, character and complexity of many Châteauneufs while it's priced like many mass-produced Cote du Rhônes (at least at Arrowine; everywhere else it costs more).

It's from 2009-- a truly outstanding year-- a vintage that earned a rating of 93 points from Robert Parker and 93-96 points from the Wine Spectator which called the vintage "a cross between '05 and '07, with ripe fruit and polished tannins." Please try this. It WILL exceed your expectations, and by even more than the wines from this estate always do.
Please look at what Perry has on special this week in the Tuesday Boucher.
Jim Cutts

	2009 Clos du Mont-Olivet Côtes du Rhône, "Montueil-La Levade" Vieilles Vignes

2009 Clos du Mont-Olivet Côtes du Rhône, "Montueil-La Levade" Vieilles Vignes
National Published Price: $18
Our Reg. $16.99
6 Bottles: $13.99 each
Case Price: Just $11.99 per bottle
Our case price is the same as when we offered the 2003 vintage. It was the lowest price in the country then, and it still is. And this is as concentrated and complex as old vine Cotes du Rhone gets. That's why this is THE BEST COTES DU RHONE BUY. PERIOD.

This Côte du Rhône is a blend from two excellent vineyards, "Montueil" and "La Levade". It is made from 80% grenache, 15% carignan, and 5% syrah. All the vines are old (at least 55 years) and many are substantially older.

Here's how it tastes:
This ruby-colored red has rich aromas of black cherries, red berries, plum skins, and violets. On the palate it is pure and deep. It starts with rich black cherry, spicy red plums, and raspberries then it grows in intensity and finishes with berries, minerals and pepper spice. The old-vine flavors are almost sappy in texture with real presence on the muscular, mineral and spice finish. The finish is seamless and amazingly long. Although it drinks well now, its flavors will broaden and only get better. In a year it will be screaming, and it will continue to drink beautifully for at least four more years. (Don't try this kind of aging with ordinary Côte du Rhônes). The price is just silly. You will not find a 2009 Rhône with this concentration and complexity for less. Amazing.

Call 703-525-0990 to order your case today. I have tasted many Châteauneuf du Papes that aren't this good. Only 100 cases are available, though. We will need your Visa or MasterCard information with expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd.

Thank you for reading.

Jim Cutts

2009 Domaine des Roy Touraine "Les Silex" Blanc

Dear Rene, Did you know that about 90% of French wine comes from machine harvested grapes? In some other countries, it's even more. Simply put, a harvesting tractor that shakes and beats the vines until grapes fall off cannot be as selective as a person with eyes and hands. The harvesting tractor is better for tons per hour, the person is better for quality. Similarly, in many regions the norm includes the bulk spraying of chemical herbicides in vineyards because it allows the treatment of an entire vineyard in a short time. Herbicides are quicker, weeding by hand makes for healthier vines and higher quality grapes. When a small family winery like Domaine des Roy in Fontlevoy (the best part of Touraine) makes the decision to do everything by hand (from weeding to harvesting to winemaking) the quality of their wines often outshines their neighbors that work industrially. Frequently, though, this attention to detail and this more laborious method also means that their wines' prices outshine their neighbors', too. Today's wonderful featured wines are refreshing exceptions. The wines, one juicy, silky and delicious red and one nuanced and intensely flavored white, are painstakingly farmed, organically grown, hand harvested (a refreshing deviation from the norms in Touraine), and estate-bottled. The attention to detail continues in the cellar with an artisan approach that avoids adding commercial yeasts and enzymes (it means their fermentations are slower but their wines are more complex). The quality of the wines is superb and they are garnering great critical praise. But somehow they missed the memo that their prices should be higher than their more industrial, higher volume, lower quality neighbors! Kudos to Thomas Calder (of Thomas Calder selections) for discovering this star of the Touraine. The warm and sunny 2009 vintage resulted in outstanding, ripe and flavorfulTouraines. These are some of the best we've ever tasted and the prices are far lower than comparable wines. Our best e-mail prices allow you to save 25%-27% off the already amazing low prices. Doug Rosen 2009 Domaine des Roy Touraine "Les Silex" Blanc 2009 Domaine des Roy Touraine "Les Silex" Blanc Reg. $14.99 mix 6 price: $11.99 per bottle mix 12 price: $10.99 per bottle Named for the flinty stones in clay soils (the same great soil type as the best of the famous Pouilly Fumé vineyards), this shows great ripeness, depth and concentration. Certified organic by Ecocert, this white isa blend of intensely flavorful chenin blanc with soft, round menu-pineau (also called arbois) all from vines averaging 30 years of age. Here's how it tastes: The color is pale yellow with gold highlights. The aromas are ripe and exotic, bringing to mind white grapefruit, peaches and Asian pears, with a mineral nuance that suggests orange peel and slate. This is ripe and supple on the front palate showing flavors of pear and peach, on the long finish it turns more to the ripe and refreshing citrusy grapefruit notes. This has a supple, almost creamy mouthfeel and wonderful lingering aroma. This is a substantial white, but it has no oak and it is not at all heavy. For a perfect food match, consider chicken with a basil cream sauce or scallops St. Jacques. Jim Cutts

2008 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Dear Rene, It's never happened before. Not once has an Italian wine under $20 won Italy's top award. Not until this delicious Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, and it's as low as $13.99 today! Italy's most important wine publication, Gambero Rosso considered nearly 25,000 wines for their 2011 Guide "Italian Wine". Only 32 wines won the "Tre Bicchieri Plus" ("Three Glasses Plus") award after only 31 won the award last year. No other red (or white, or sparkler, or sweet wine for that matter) in the under $20 price category has ever won this award. And it's coming to Arrowine on Thursday. Order today. To create Gambero Rosso's famous guide book "Italian Wines" for 2011, regional panels of wine professionals "selected for their competence and honesty" tasted nearly 25,000 Italian wines blind. Many wines were not rated at all. Those rated received a rating of "one glass" (good) or "two glasses" (very good to excellent). The top "two glasses" award winners (about 1,500 wines) entered the "Three Glass Finals" in which leading regional panelists came together and retasted the top wines (again, blind) and selected the best. The winners of this competition received the prestigious "Three Glasses" award. Only 402 wines (less than 2% of all wines tasted) won this award. A "Tre Bicchieri" award is a really big deal for an Italian winery; it singles out a wine as being among the best of the best. It is a major cause for celebration at a winery and is considered a real validation of a winemaker's and a winery's work. Many great wines miss the cut and get a "two glass" rating. As you would expect, the Three Glasses award most often goes to very expensive and prestigious wines. But since the tasting panels taste blind, occasionally some exceptional values are selected. Some great values have been selected before, but there's never been a value quite like this. Starting with the 2010 guide book, and continuing in the 2011 guide book, the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Guide, Daniele Cernilli, has "allowed myself the small privilege of placing a '+' sign next to the names of a few Three Glass winners. These are the wines that most impressed me during tastings, and in most cases my view is shared by the Guide's other editors." For the 2011 guide, just 32 wines were selected (just over one tenth of one percent of all wines tastes). As Cernilli says of these "three glasses plus" wines: "Some are major classics. Four were Wine of the Year winners for red, white, sparkler, or sweet. Some are very traditional in style. Other are modern. But all are representative of their territories and, crucially, impeccably made, at least in my opinion." The 32 wines on the "Plus" list include, predictably, some seriously expensive wines such as Bruno Giacosa's Barolo "Rocche del Falletto Riserva" ($440), Giacomo Conterno's Barolo "Monfortino" ($400), Bartolo Mascarello's "Barolo" ($100), Sassicaia ($215), Biondi Santi's Brunello di Montalcino Riserva ($400), Gaja's "Costa Russi" nebbiolo blend ($440), Montevertine's "Pergole Torte" ($95), Valentini's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($259), and Gravner Rosso ($140). But in this list of "the best of the best of the best", alongside these great names (and startling price tags) there was one (and only one) wine that sells in the "under 15 Euros" (about $21) category. That wine is the 2008 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo which sells in the United States for only $18-$20. That price puts this at very top of the list of the greatest Italian red wine values we've ever seen. Our lower price (as low as $13.99) makes it a wine you absolutely should load up on. Don't miss it. Please look at what Perry has on special this week in the Tuesday Boucher. Jim Cutts 2008 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Reg. $17.99 6 bottle price: $15.99 12+ bottle price: $13.99 Here's just some of nice things the Gambero Rosso has written about Villa Medoro: "The entrepreneurial verve and skills of a very young Federica Morricone (pictured below) are the reason for the international success this Atri winery reaped recently. The winery has state-of-the-art equipment, a good 92 hectares under vine on the southern slopes of the Colline Teramane, and a range of wines that astonishes, not least for their affordability, not to be sniffed at in these times of recession. We were surprised to find that the best wine this year was the 2008 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a basic product at a truly honest price for a red of this calibre. It is masterfully made, powerful and agile, with good structure and drinkability." You've likely had Montepulciano d'Abruzzo even if you weren't aware of it. It is an all time favorite "by the glass" or "house" red wine at Italian restaurants because, even when they don't have much depth or complexity, they usually have lots of tasty fruit. These tasty but simple "house" montepulciano's are generally very inexpensive because montepulciano vines can carry very large grape yields and still make a palatable (if unsophisticated) wine. When treated seriously, though, and grown in the best locations with low yields, strict selections, and inspired winemaking, Montepulciano is capable of making gorgeous wines with real depth and power while maintaining a remarkably appealing texture and drinkability. As more producers realize this and pursue quality over volume, these wines are being recognized as belonging among Italy's best. That is why three of the 32 "Three Glasses Plus" wines for 2011 are Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. It is also why Valentini, a famous grower of montepulciano and trebbiano, was named Italy's "Winery of the Year" for 2011. You could, of course, look for Valentini's "Three Glasses Plus" award winning Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. If you found it, though, it would cost $250 or more for a bottle. Instead why not use that $250 to get a CASE of Villa Medoro's "Three Glasses Plus" award winning Montepulciano d'Abruzzo? You'll even get plenty of change back! Here's how it tastes: This is beautiful in the glass with deep purple color that's opaque at the core while bright at the rim. The aromas are intense and deep, not at all shy, and bring to mindviolet potpourri, blackberries, raspberry tarts, and licorice. On the palate, this is loaded with ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit as well as is dried herbs and black and red licorice. This is a plush, easy to drink style with cashmere texture and nice length. It feels substantial and important, but not heavy. It is so well balanced it wouldn't overpower grilled chicken and garden vegetables, yet it is plenty powerful enough to match beef tenderloins in a creamy mushroom sauce. This is delicious today and promises to keep for at least 3-4 years. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. The wine arrives Thursday, July 28th. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts

2010 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone

Dear Rene, How is this even possible? The rare 100% syrah 2009 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone was so good that theWine Spectator named it to their Top 100 Wines of the Year List (Ranked #88 on the 2010 List). It was only $18 per bottle and it earned an "outstanding" rating. It was even named a "Smart Buy" pick for their November buyers guide. Now the surprising part... The 2010 is even better-- Saint Cosme's famous winemaker, Louis Barruol himself said "it is purely my best Cotes du Rhone since 2007, without a doubt. The quality of the fruit is superb, the wine is profound, round, with a deep colour." We've tasted it twice and can confirm all this-- the 2010 is a thrilling, outstanding wine--noticably better than the 2009. This is great syrah from great vineyards crafted into wine by a great winemaker. And then it gets completely crazy... The 2009 was super successful and a top value at $18 per bottle. The 2010 is better and the dollar is weaker (since last June, a Euro has gone from $1.20 to $1.45). All these factors suggest the price should go up. But it didn't go up. In fact, at Arrowine it went down. Way down. Instead of $18 per bottle, you can get it for as little as $11.99 per bottle. $11.99 isn't just lower than the 2009, it's lower than the 1999 was! I repeat... how is this even possible? And be sure to take a look at what Perry is featuring in the Tuesday Boucher. Jim Cutts 2010 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone 2010 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone Reg. $15.99 Buy 6 bottles at $13.99 per bottle Buy 12 or more bottles at $11.99 each This impressive 100% syrah Cotes-du-Rhone is the work of one of the Rhone's most exciting winemaking superstar talents: Louis Barruol. Here's just a little of what's been said about Barruol (pictured below) and Saint Cosme: Robert Parker, whose Wine Advocate newsletter is considered the world's most influential wine journal, wrote: "If you have not yet tried the wines of St.-Cosme, you're missing the boat." He also wrote: "...there is no more passionate and talented proprietor than Louis Barruol." And also "The young Louis Barruol has quickly emerged as one of the southern Rhone's most talented young winemakers." Andrew Jefford's, author of "The New France" (which Parker called "Exceptional...a must buy and read." and "My book of the year...") wrote: "The ambitious and articulate Louis Barruol is one of the new stars of the southern Rhone - and of the northern Rhone too.... Grace, purity, and singing fruit are three of the Barruol hallmarks..." James Turnbull's "The Great Wines of France" says "So pure and authentic are Barruol's wines that Saint Cosme is destined to become one of the great names of the Southern Rhone... A magnificent triumph of old vines and non-interventionism!" Whether you are a serious Rhone wine collector or just someone who enjoys a good glass of red wine and doesn't want to pay too much, we know you'll enjoy this beauty. And our special email pricing makes getting some easy. Every year this is among the highest rated, and best, Cotes-du-Rhones. In 2010, Barruol crafted one of his finest Cotes-du-Rhones yet. Here's what he had to say about his 2010: "I only use the nicest sources to make this wine: the terroir of Vinsobres and the 'galets roulés' (rolling stones) by the Rhone river, very similar to the best places in Chateauneuf. We are talking about extraordinary quality potential. Watch out for 2010: this is purely my best Cotes du Rhone since 2007, without a doubt. The quality of the fruit is superb, the wine is profound, round with a deep colour. Its texture brings a lot of pleasure and anybody can understand and enjoy it.... I am simply very happy to be able to deal with such a vintage...Wonderful. Graphite, strawberry compote, licorice, lilacs." Though the quality and texture on the 2010 are notably better than the 2009, the style is similar. To give you an idea of the style, here is the review of the 2009 (the 2010 hasn't been reviewed yet): "A lovely floral violet aroma leads the way, followed by dark berry, tobacco and charcoal notes, with a dash of tarry grip on the finish. Pure and solid. 90 points. Smart Buy (at $18). Top 100 of 2010 (Rank: 88)." James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator, Nov. 15, 2010. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, Wednesday May 11th. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts

2010 Entrada Malbec, Argentina

Dear Rene, The 2010 Entrada Malbec from Argentina is absolutely delicious. It's open for tasting so you can see for yourself, and our Door Buster Sale means it's as low as$5.99 per bottle this weekend at Arrowine (while supplies last). Other than that, there isn't much to say. We searched and searched and couldn't find a single rating or review in the press. We couldn't even find a website for the producer, so we have no details on exactly what part of Argentina it comes from or how it is made. What we know is this... It's an absolutely delicious Malbec. A group of wine professionals tasted it alongside several popular brands and well-rated Malbecs that sell from $10-$15. Entrada didn't just hold its own, it flat out beat some famous Malbecs with big names and (considerably) higher price tags. REMINDER: This is a "Door-Buster Sale" which means this special price is available only today (Friday, April 29th) and tomorrow (Saturday, April 30th). This sale price is for in-store sales only and while supplies last only. Sorry, no phone or e-mail orders and no combining with other offers. We also have excellent tastings this weekend, so be sure to stop in. Tasting details are below. Jim Cutts Door Buster Sale: Don't Miss This 2010 Entrada Malbec, Argentina Reg. $7.99 DOOR BUSTER Case special: $5.99 per bottle by the case Open for tasting. $5.99 price is only on case sales of this wine (12+ bottles). Only 175 cases available. No further discounts available on this wine and no combining with other offers. Sale is Friday and Saturday only and only while supplies last. In store sales only (sorry, no phone or e-mail orders). This delicious malbec will go great with just about any kind of food, from cheese and charcuterie, to grilled chicken, to pizza, to burgers, to steak. Even with no food at all it's absolutely delicious. It's a great buy at our regular price of $7.99, but once you try it you'll want a case (or maybe more) and you'll love being able to get it at just $5.99. It might just turn into your new house wine! It's smooth and lush and friendly, with none of the harsh tannins that show up in many malbecs. As it says right on the bottle: "Entrada Malbec is a full bodied, yet easy to drink example of what Argentinean winemaking is best known for. The wine has typical Malbec characteristics of berries and plums, mingling with a hint of warm spice flavors." REMINDER: This is a "Door-Buster" Sale which means this special price is available only today and tomorrow. This sale price is for in-store sales only and only while supplies last. Sorry, no phone or e-mail orders, and no combining with other offers. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts

2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Dear Rene, Though less than 1/4th of the 2009 Bordeaux reds have been released, one thing is becoming very clear from our tastings of these wines... The critics are right,there is something very very special about thisvintage. And have we got a 2009 Bordeaux find for you: the 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, a full yet focused and pure wine from the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux (hills of Bordeaux) that is already showing beautiful silky texture and soft tannins. Wine Spectator rated this up to 92 points, everyone at Arrowine loves it, and the price is amazing, as low as $16. In addition to the rating up to 92 points in the Wine Spectator, this estate-bottled, hand-harvested Bordeaux has also been a favorite of Robert Parker who has featured it in "Parker's Wine Bargains- The World's Best Wine Values Under $25" calling it"sensational" and writing that the wine is "Medium to full bodied, velvety textured, sumptuous, and long...". He's called Stephane Derenoncourt (who consults at the estate) "brilliant" and the estate was classified as "excellent". So, just how great is the 2009 vintage? "The finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux!!!" - Robert M. Parker Jr. "In France's most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator Other critics have echoed his enthusiasm, and many are calling it THE Vintage of a Lifetime. And though it seems as if every 4 or 5 years there's another "greatest" vintage (remember 2005 and 2000?), it's clear that there is something truly special about the 2009s that was lacking in 2005 and 2000. All three vintages have great depth and concentration and delicious fruit. The tannic structure of the 2000s and 2005s, though, was very firm. The 2009s possess an element of freshness and lithesome texture that make them far more appealing to drink at a young age. And that's exactly what wines like the Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux are for-- they're perfect for drinking now and over the next 3-4 years (while your classified growths are aging). As the Washington Post's wine columnist Dave McIntyre wrote, these are "meant for the dinner table rather than the trophy case." We've tasted dozens of wines from this vintage and it is clear that this vintage truly has it all. It has concentration and ripeness and balance. In addition to our regular beer tasting this evening and Friday and Saturday wine tastings, we are having a very special wine tasting this evening from 5:30 - 7:45 p.m. with Kevin O'Connor, co-founder, owner, and winemaker of Lioco Wines, a high quality Califonia winery specializing in small lots of single vineyard and regional wines. Don't miss this special no-cost event and be sure to inform your wine-loving friends. Jim Cutts 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Regular: $19.99 SALE: 6+ Bottle Price: $17.99 per bottle 12+ Bottle (Case) Price: $15.99 per bottle We can't argue with the critics on this one bit; it isabsolutely delicious and one of the most gorgeously textured Bordeaux reds we've seen from incredible 2009 vintage. Of all the great 2009 Bordeaux we've tried to date, this is among the most focused and pure, while still having palate-caressing tannins that give the wine sensual texture. Already extremely enjoyable, this will continue to drink well until it is 5-7 years old. The importer provides the following information about the estate and the wine: Etienne Barre and Christophe Reboul-Salze bought this exceptional vineyard near the village of Gainiquet in 1997. The mature vines are planted in clay, limestone, and sandy soils. With the help of famed consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, pitcurd below, they've pushed the quality of the estate's wines to among the best of the Blaye area. The hand-harvested, hand-selected fruit (50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot) is fermented as whole berries in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks with a long, slow 30-day maceration. The wine is then racked into French oak barrels (25% new) for aging before the wine is estate bottled. 2,500 cases were produced. Here's the tasting note from the Wine Spectator's barrel tasting: "Licorice and tar on the nose. Full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit and silky tannins. Focused and clear. Could be best ever from here. Score range: 89-92 points." -James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, 2010 If you've been waiting to try the 2009 Bordeaux reds, don't wait any longer. This is remarkably gorgeous wine that is already a joy to drink and promises to remain a favorite for several years to come. Fans of the Wine Spectator and those that like to predict which wines will make theirannual Top 100 list will note that a score up to 92 points for a Bordeaux under $25 is extremely rare. In fact, only one red Bordeaux made the the Top 100 list for 2010. It was rated 90 points and had a listed price of $30. Since the Wine Spectator considers both quality and value when making selections for their Top 100 list, the $20 (or less)2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux with a score up to 92 points is a strong contender for the 2011 list (lower price and higher quality than last year's Bordeaux selection). Of course by the time the list is released, this wine will likely be sold out or far more expensive. Don't wait to get your supply. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. The wine arrives tomorrow, Friday April 29th. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts

2006 "Claraval" from Bodegas y Vinedos Del Jalón, Calatayud, Spain

Dear Rene, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has rated over one thousand wines from Spain from the 2006 vintage (1,080 to be exact). Guess how many of these wines earned a rating of 91 points or more and list a price under $11 per bottle? Zero. None. Zip. But today we've lowered the price of the 2006 Claraval from Bodegas y Vinedos Del Jalón to make it achieve this combination of price and quality criteria that not one other Spanish wine matched. And Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar has rated 774 Spanish wines from 2006. Guess how many list a price under $15 per bottle and a score of 92 points or higher? Exactly one. This one! Put another way, two of the most influential wine journals in the U.S. both rated this wine higher than ANY other Spanish wine from the vintage that can be purchased for $10.99 which is our special case price for phone orders on this wine! Don't wait though; highly rated wines tend to sell quickly. And they sell especially quickly when they're priced this low! Call Arrowine today to order. Perry has some very special items in his Tuesday Boucher at e-mail-only-prices. Please see below for details. Jim Cutts 2006 "Claraval" from Bodegas y Vinedos Del Jalón, Calatayud, Spain 2006 "Claraval" from Bodegas y Vinedos Del Jalón, Calatayud, Spain Reg. $14.99 6 bottle sale price: $12.99 per bottle Case (12+ bottle) sale price: $10.99 per bottle Robert Parker's Wine Advocate wrote: "Bodegas y Vinedos del Jalon's current portfolio is first class from top to bottom." According to the Del Jalón website: "Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón has 1000 hectares of vineyard, concentrated in the southern part of the Calatayud region. Our vineyards extend from the River Jalón to the north, deep into the Systema Ibérico mountain range to the south, and are centred on the river valleys of the Jiloca and the Perejiles. Our vineyards are situated at altitudes of between 600 and over 1000 metres (2000 - 3300 feet), with the higher sites dominated by Old-Vine Garnacha and the lower sites by Tempranillo. Of the more than 600 hectares of Garnacha that we have in production, more than half are Viñas Viejas, planted more than 40 years ago. These low yielding vineyards are our "jewel in the crown", providing consistently outstanding fruit, year after year, and forming the basis for many of our best wines." Here's what Robert Parker's Wine Advocate wrote about the 2006 Claraval: "The 2006 Claraval... was sourced from higher elevation vineyards. Opaque purple-colored, the wine coats the glass. It gives up an alluring aromatic array of wood smoke, mineral, scorched earth, black cherry, black raspberry, and violets. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, layered wine with loads of sweet, spicy dark fruit flavors, ripe tannin, good balance, and a long, pure finish. Give it 2-3 years to blossom and drink it through 2020. 91 points." Dr. Jay Miller, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (#175), February 2008. And here's what Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar had to say: "Deep, bright ruby-red. Sexy raspberry and blackberry preserve aromas are complicated by Asian spices, smoky minerals and fresh flowers. Suave and velvety, with deep, sweet flavors of red and dark berries, cherry-cola and candied rose. Supple tannins supply shape and gentle back-end grip. A very appealing wine: it would be no crime to drink this now. 92 points." Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep./Oct. 2008 To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, January 26th. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts

2009 Chateau Le Petit Courret, Bordeaux

Dear Rene, Imagine a nicely-balanced, deeply-flavored, 100% cabernet sauvignon Bordeaux with palate-saturating texture and a nice finish. It is an estate-bottled, Grand Vin de Bordeaux made from selected, hand-harvested grapes. Now imagine getting that for the same price that you would pay for a typical, generic wine. That's right, at only $7.99 per bottle by the case you can get the taste experience of real Bordeaux. This is such a crazy value we're sure once the word gets out we can expect a stampede! Just a little background for those of you who don't follow the ups and downs of Bordeaux vintages. Robert Parker, the Bordeaux guru himself, says "The finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux!" Other critics have echoed his enthusiasm, and many are calling it THE Vintage of a Lifetime. The Wine Spectator proclaims this: "In France's most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages." With this kind of hype it's no wonder the pricing on the classified growth futures have gone through the roof. But the good news is that just like in other great vintages (such as 2005), the small, so-called "Petite-Chateaux" perform way beyond expectation. These "Baby Bordeaux" are bottled earlier (with less oak aging) and are meant for early consumption (within their first 4 or 5 years of life), rather than for sitting in the cellar for decades. We will have a bottle open to sample, so come on by and give it a try. As a reminder, this is a "Door-Buster" Sale which means this special price is available only today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday), while supplies last. This sale price is for in-store sales only - no phone or email orders, and no combining with other offers. Graham Reid Friday and Saturday Door Buster Sale: Don't Miss This 2009 Chateau Le Petit Courret, Bordeaux Regular: $9.99 Special Sale Price (by the case): $7.99 per bottle Open for tasting. $7.99 price is only on case sales of this wine (12+ bottles). Fabulous 2009 vintage "Baby Bordeaux" ready to drink now and over the next several years Hand harvested, estate-bottled 100% cabernet sauvignon Sale is Friday and Saturday only and only while supplies last. In store sales only (sorry, no phone or e-mail orders). This estate-grown and estate-bottled red, comes from cabernet sauvignon vineyards located in the Entre-Deux-Mers area of Bordeaux. The mature vines average 25 years of age and grow in loose, well-drained, gravelly soils. The winemaking is clean and hygienic. It gets a short stay in French oak barrels (20% new) to give it authentic Bordeaux texture. The 2009 vintage is ripe and fruit-forward with pleasant structure provided by fresh acidity and silky smooth tannins. This medium-bodied cabernet provides palate-coating flavors and the kind of textural dimension Bordeaux lovers look for. Here's how it tastes: In the glass, there is deep ruby color. The bouquet is a beautiful blend of red and black cherries, mulberries, and spring flowers after a rain. The palate-coating flavors bring to mind black cherries, black currants, and crushed herbs. There is good concentration, medium body, impressive texture, and a medium to long beautifully balanced finish. This is delicious today and will drink nicely for about 3 more years. It is absolutely delicious. It is ready to drink. It is substantial without being heavy so it will go with just about any kind of food. And best of all, it is a tiny fraction of the hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars per bottle that Bordeaux first growths will command in this historically great vintage. At ten bucks it's an overachieving, well-made wine of some substance and a character true to the classic Bordeaux model. At our special Door-Buster price it's the best wine at the cheapest price we can find! Reminder: this is a "Door-Buster" Sale which means this special price is available only today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday), while supplies last. This sale price is for in-store sales only - no phone or email orders, and no combining with other offers. Enjoy! Graham Reid