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

2009 La Chapinière, Touraine, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc & 2009 Pierre Gaillard Syrah (VdP Collines Rhodaniennes, Northern Rhone Valley, France

Dear Rene, Please take advantage of these two wines. They (one red, one white) set the standard for excellence in their respective appellations. Both are sold out at the winery and our allocations are nearly gone and both are now available for under $15 per bottle. Winemaker Florence Veilex has set a new standard for sauvignon blanc from Touraine. The great thing is that we now have the terrific 2009 vintage, one of the best vintages ever in the Loire Valley. The even greater thing is that it can still be had for as low as $13.99 per bottle, (matching our lowest sale price ever for this wine). Wine broker Thomas Calder and I discovered La Chapinière Sauvignon Blanc more than three years ago at the Salon des Vins de Loire wine show. We were captivated by the quality of the wine and by winemaker Florence Veilex. Her work is inspired. Winemaking at this level can't be taught, it has to be felt. Like creating any great work of art, it must come from the soul. I've often heard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc described as "poor man's Sancerre," as if it was an inferior substitute. This wine shows that Touraine sauvignon has its ownpersonality and charm and that it can actually be superior in quality to all but the very best of Sancerre. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate recently wrote (and underlined) "Touraine is a treasure trove of value" and this is "exhibit A" to prove his point. To find a wine with this much depth and character often means spending twice as much or more. Next we have a wonderful syrah from Pierre Gaillard, a "superstar" (as proclaimed by The Wine Advocate's Robert Parker), that will wow any devotee of Northern Rhone reds. Gaillard makes magnificent syrahs in Côte Rôtie that sell for $50 - $120 per bottle depending on the vineyard site and the vintage. Robert Parker wrote (in the Wine Advocate) "Pierre Gaillard has over two decades of experience, so he no longer qualifies as an 'up and coming' superstar as he has achieved that status."I've been selling Gaillard's wine for years and have visited his domaine numerous times, which is how I know about this little gem of syrah, only sold to friends and a few insiders in France and elsewhere. It's a steal for syrah from the Northern Rhone. It comes from the very first vineyard that he ever worked. A vineyard that Pierre's father bought him as a gift when he first showed an interest in making wine many years ago. It was from growing the grapes in this vineyard and making the wine that Pierre started his climb to superstardom. It's about eight miles north of Côte Rôtie, located near the village of Ternay. Pierre lavishes attention on this vineyard and makes the wine with the same attention he gives to his Côte Rôtie. One more great feature of this wine is that it is from 2009, a spectacular vintage in the Northern Rhone about which Parker recently wrote, "Where 2009 is great is in the northern Rhone. A number of producers who have been making wines for over thirty years claim it is the greatest vintage in their lifetime. I can say that without a doubt it is the finest overall vintage in the north since 1999, and probably since 1990. However, 2009 is different than either of those vintages as it is much more concentrated than 1999, and fresher and more delineated than 1990." Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Doug Rosen 2009 La Chapinière, Touraine, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 La Chapinière, Touraine, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc Regular Price $17.99 6 bottle Price: $15.99 per bottle Case Price $13.99 per bottle This delicious sauvignon blanc is a mirror image of the woman who made it. It is bright, complex, poetic, and full of life. Florence Veilex is a remarkable woman who never stopped dreaming. Even though she had a highly successful career with doctorates in mathematics and computer science that enabled her to rise to the highest ranks of the corporate world, she just wasn't satisfied. Florence wanted to make wine and the wine she makes is extraordinary. In 2003, after 20 years of dreaming, she turned her dream into reality. Florence and her husband, journalist and literary critic, Eric Yung, bought the small domaine of La Chapinière in Touraine in France's Loire Valley, not far from where Eric was raised. This is what makes Florence so special: As an adolescent she always wanted to work with the land. Florence worked in a botanical garden to help support herself while in University. Her father liked wine and encouraged Florence to explore the world of wine. For over a year and a half Florence returned to school to receive a Bachelor of Technical Science in viticulture. She's more proud of this degree then her Ph.D.s. She immersed herself in the culture of the area, talking at length with vignerons, gleaning what she could about farming, making wine and the business of wine. After seven vintages, Florence's passion for working the soil and making wine is stronger than ever. She is doing what she was meant to do. Here's what makes Florence's wine so special: The 7.5 hectares of sauvignon blanc are farmed organically. Her vines are up to 50 years old and create intense and complex grapes. She allows wild grasses to grow between the rows, eliminating the need for weed killers, reducing the vine's vigor to concentrate flavor in the grapes, andrecreating biodiversity in the vineyards, which allows the vineyards to achieve a natural balance. Florence pulls the excess foliage and grape clusters from the vines by hand toreduce yields and concentrate flavors in the grapes. No systemic chemicals are used. The grapes are harvested in the morning when they are cool, they are lightly pressed and the juice is cooled. The juice is then cold macerated for roughly 10 days, resulting in enhanced richness. The duration of the maceration period is determined by taste. The juice is allowed to settle and as the temperature begins to rise,fermentation begins using the natural, indigenous yeasts. The temperature of the juice is kept cool during fermentation to retain freshness. The wine is kept on fine lees for three months and then stored outside during the winter to stabilize naturally. The wine is bottled unfiltered with minimal use of sulphur. As Florence puts it, "We are always guided by love or passion and the desire to make wines that we will enjoy sharing with our friends and clients, because for us, pleasure and sharing are an integral part of the best job in the world - vigneronne!" This is what Domaine La Chapinière, Touraine sauvignon blanc tastes like: Ethereal aromas of lemon rind, tangerine, rose water and white gardenia. This is full-bodied, dry sauvignon, bursting with flavors of tangerine, lime, sweet pink grapefruit and fresh white flowers, elegantly presented with lush texture, remarkable depth, and surprising persistence. Serving this will heighten the experience of eating nearly any great preparation of fish or other seafood. It is also a wonderful aperitif served with creamy cheeses (like camembert) or tangy goat cheeses. For $13.99 (or $19.99, for that matter), you can't buy better sauvignon blanc. Buy some and be happy! To order, please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information, including expiration date. Wine is here now, ready for pickup. 2009 Pierre Gaillard Syrah (VdP Collines Rhodaniennes, Northern Rhone Valley, France) 2009 Pierre Gaillard Syrah (VdP Collines Rhodaniennes, Northern Rhone Valley, France) Reg. $14.99 Sale: Buy 6 bottles at $11.99 per bottle Case Sale: Buy 12+ bottles at $10.99 per bottle Pierre Gaillard, the superstar winemaker of Côte Rôtie, has a vineyard about eight miles north of Côte Rôtie, located near the village of Ternay. This excellent vineyard is planted on the hillsides of a glacial moraine facing south-west to take full advantage of the afternoon sun. The vineyard is also primarily on clay soil (ideal for syrah) and is covered with large rounded pebbles which hold the sun's heat well into the evening. Because of the southwest orientation and the pebble-covered clay soil, the location is especially warm and perfect for producing especially ripe grapes (just like in Côte Rôtie, the prestigious area just to the south that translates to "roasted slope"). Even though it's in a less-famous area, Gaillard cuts no corners with the grapes from this vineyard. The grapes are hand harvested and then further sorted by hand so that only perfect, clean, optimally ripe grapes are used. The grapes are then partially de-stemmed and crushed, and allowed to cold-macerate for about 5 days before fermentation. Just as in Côte Rôtie, the fermenting wine goes through a "punch down" ("pigeage") three times a day and a "pump over" ("remontage") at least once so that the deep color and expressive aromas and flavors can be extracted from the syrah. The wine is then aged for eight months, 2/3 in large casks, 1/3 in smaller used barrels. The result is a wonderfully expressive syrah with great freshness and a soft, pure palate of red and black syrah fruit and spice. Here's how it tastes: Beautiful garnet color. Pristine nose of dark red raspberry and stone dust. The palate is incredibly pure with delicious flavors of black raspberry, plum and spice that finish with a hint of violet very long and clean. This wine will help you get through winter's chill. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine is here now, ready for pickup. Thank you for your support of Arrowine and the work that we do. Doug Rosen