Here is part 2 as promised of some of my favorite sale wines that have been marked down in the Wine Store—this being the under $100 list. In my last entry I mentioned my delight in seeing so many potentially great suggestions for folks—wines that shouldn’t have to be marked down but are (with such a great inventory, some wines just inevitably get overlooked—at least for a little while!) But there are also times when I need to steer clear of the Wine Sale link:
Wine Sale. I’m such a sucker for “bin-ends” and sale-prices in general that I have to save me from myself! The guilt wells-up in me when I click the “checkout” button if I also happen to glance at the picture on my desk of my lovely wife and French bulldog, “Bugsy.” I remember our resolute goal of keeping our family budget on track. Heck, I’m already well-over the wine budget and it’s only September!
My Favorite Wines on Sale (under $100):
2003 Ambroise, Bertrand - Corton Le RognetWas $95;
Now $84 Dark and big; chocolate covered cherries with an espresso bean “pit.”
2002 Montevetrano – Colli di SalernoWas $82;
Now $69 Boy, this wine is unmistakable Italian juice! Bright, tart red berry with Asian spices that front a cherry mid-palate. The wine adeptly balances sweet and sour notes.
2003 Lecheneaut - Nuits St Georges Les Pruliers 1er CruWas $68;
Now $58 Fairly smoky, with a bit of leather and blue fruit at the start. The wine gains sweetness in the glass and is less NSG-minerally than typical. This is a great value without the sale price and something to pour for your friends crossing over from CA Pinot.
2003 Monbousquet – BlancWas $55;
Now $49 This is lemon meringue with a creamy, orange-lavender infused brûlée. Lovely now and suitable to use as a starter or with a full meal.
2002 Viader – SyrahWas $58;
Now $48 A fairly soft palate with varying rudiments of baked fig, brambly, wild berry and melted dark chocolate. I’m usually buying their excellent Proprietary Red, but this is a real fun wine and a true crowd pleaser.
2001 Snowden - Cabernet SauvignonWas $55;
Now $41 Darn serious Cabernet shows old-world herbaceous and new-world fruit. Cassis and black olive are framed in a judicious amount of wood.
2004 Spinetta - Monferrato Rosso PinWas $42;
Now $36 Barbera with Nebbiolo always offers some easy to approach qualities, yet finishes with wine-cellar bravado. For best reward, let it breath and serve with a grilled flank with soy-ginger glaze.
2003 Doisy-Daene 2eme CruWas $36;
Now $29 Remember the song used in the Heinz Ketchup commercial, “Anticipation”? Well, it suits this wine here, not because it isn’t ready yet. When you turn the glass over and wait for those last unctuous, sweet drops to hit your tongue, you’ll know what I mean. Cooked apples with cinnamon/hazelnut topping and pineapple upside-down cake.
2003 Tablas Creek – SyrahWas $35;
Now $29 Earthen backbone supports both the vibrant acidity and the red & black boysenberry fruit.
2004 Venica and Venica - Ronco delle CimeWas $27;
Now $23 Granny-Smith apples and eau-de-vie poached white peaches. This wine has a finish missing from many of the cheap imitations utilizing the Tocai Friulano grape.
