Château les Paruades Bordeaux Supérieur 2009 - $10.99

This château, built by Emmanuel Tessandier in 1875 in Macau, is located at the beginning of the Haut-Médoc on the edge of the renowned Margaux appellation. A proper claret, as the Brits say, it is elegantly balanced with a seamless, silky palate. Blackberry and black cherry fruits play off its fine, ripe tannins. Great Bordeaux vintage, classic Médoc style. Brilliant!

(60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc)

Cap Cette Picpoul de Pinet 2011 - $7.99

The fine coop Cave de Pomerols produces this stylish dry white wine from the local specialty Picpoul de Pinet. Known as “the Muscadet of the South,” this is to the Mediterranean coast of France what Albariño is to Spain…the default wine for fresh shellfish & seafood. Robert Parker called it the “vinous equivalent of gin and tonic.” This refreshing bargain shows delightful aromas of grapefruit & lime with soft fruit on the palate. NOTE: this is the exact same wine as our perennial favorite green-label HB Picpoul, but bottled with a different label.

Santa Julia Malbec Organica 2011 - $9.99

Sometimes in life you get more for less. Not often, but sometimes. This smashing Malbec is a ripe plushie of a wine. It is crafted from organically-farmed grapes by a winery that emphasizes energy conservation, wildlife preservation, and social welfare programs. Hand-picked and licked by kittens, it shows a complexity well beyond the mounting mass quantities of entry level Malbecs. Ripe blackberry fruit flavors, notes of fig jam, and a smooth finish are packed into a delicious and responsibly-made wine. For $7.96. You’re welcome.

Wimmer Gruner Veltliner 2010 Liter - $9.99

Our latest addition to our Austrian wing is this delightfully refreshing Gruner Veltliner. It comes in a liter bottle to help you economize (To compare the price of a liter bottle with a standard bottle, divide by four then multiply by three.) Sylvia and Martin Hugl make many interesting wines in Ketzelsdorf-Poysdorf, this is their rock solid value bottling. It offers pleasant lime and green apple aromas, with tropical fruits and a dash of white pepper. (Note: this wine is also sold under the label “Hugl.”)

Volpetti Cesanese Lazio 2008 - $11.99

Cantine Volpetti sits in the heart of the Roman province of Lazio on the gentle slopes of the volcanic Albano Hills. Cesanese is an ancient grape variety grown only in these hills that parallel the A-1 Autostrada connecting Milan with Naples. This smashing red packs a wicked wallop of intense plum and black cherry fruit that wraps around ripe tannins to finish smooth and plush. Hard to miss, its bold red and yellow label sports an imperial Roman sun. The sun may have set on the Roman empire, we hope never to run out of this charmer.

Castle Rock Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2010 - $10.99

Castle Rock is a California winery known for producing tasty wines that also are well-priced. While they specialize in Pinot Noir, they are now making a name for their Chardonnays. This remarkable value is made at the Badger Mountain Winery in Kennewick,  in Washington's Columbia Valley. Elegantly-balanced, with melon and apple aromas, the palate shows tropical fruits with a round, smooth, creamy body. If you love Chardonnay, this is one to buy by the case.

Ca’ Bea del Maniero Pinot Noir 2011 - $11.99

Nestled in Lombardy, in northwestern Italy, sitting on the Po River is the town of Pavia. Directly south, across the river sits the Oltrepò Pavese wine region - “other side of the Po.” It’s high hills are ideal for growing Chardonnay and , in this case, Pinot Noir. (Not Coincidentally Italy’s “champagne” region Franciacorta is nearby.) This smashing soft, supple Pinot is full of black cherry and raspberry fruits with a smooth, fruit-forward finish.

Love Over Money “Evolucio” Furmint 2011 - $10.99

Love Over Money is a collection of wines that are different, unknown, and unusual to the American public. Evolúció is made from the white Furmint grape in the Tokaj region of Hungary near the border of Slovenia and Ukraine. This is a dry Furmint from this region known for its world-class sweet wine Tokaji. Aromatic and fruit-forward with green apple, cantaloupe, and orange zest aromas, the palate shows off-dry with stone fruit and citrus flavors. Resembles a hypothetical crossing of a crisp Sauvignon Blanc with a rich Pinot Gris.

Oupia “Les Heretiques” 2011 - $10.99

Chateau Oupia is located in the northern hills of the Languedoc above the walled city of Carcassonne. Most of their wines are labeled as Minervois for that is the appellation where the vineyards are located. “Les Heretiques” is their little “bistro” wine made from seventy year-old Carignan and Syrah vines. It entices with a dark purple color in the glass. It delivers aromas of red and black berries with a hint of anise and a smooth, rich, ripe palate of deep dark berry fruits.

Bodegas Borsao White 2011 - $8.99

Bodegas Borsao lies west of Zaragoza within northeastern Spain’s Campo de Borja wine region. All their wines are consumer friendly, consistent, and remarkable values. This “White” is made from 100% Viura (aka Macabeo) in a gentle way to preserve the bright citrus aromas and tropical fruit flavors for which Viura is known. Three months aging in neutral barrels gives it a creamy texture that balances the acidity. Peach, lemon, and honeysuckle aromas combine with orchard fruit flavors into a wine bursting with personality.