Category: wine clubs

Black Friday Wine Sales: Jumping the Gun

Fittingly, an exciting early Black Friday wine sale comes from one of my favorite recent discoveries: Tooth & Nail from Paso Robles. 

  • service@toothandnailwine.com

The Black Friday deal: 30% off all wines until November 28th

BTW: for a small limited production winery, a 30% discount is a BFD.

Here are my favorites that were reviewed at winereviewonline.com

2020 Destinata by Tooth & Nail, Santa Barbara County Syrah 

When opening a Syrah in a clear bottle, you instinctively brace for something unusual.  Destinata is the latest addition to the Tooth & Nail family, and it represents wines made for present enjoyment without fanfare.  “Inspired by the experience of Beaujolais Nouveau” this cool climate Syrah was made with native yeasts and bottled unfined and unfiltered.  The lush, black fruited aroma is backed by hints of black pepper and the flavors display solid Syrah character throughout.  Smooth and vibrant with good acid balance, it is harmonious from start to finish.  The winemaker’s motto is: “Pour now.  Live for today.”  So, yes, it can be served chilled.    And with the discount, the price is close to $20 a bottle!!  

91 Norm Roby 

2018 Amor Fati, Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara County Grenache Murmur Vineyard 

 “Wow” is the first impression and the amazement continues as the wine unfolds.  Darker than most, this Grenache displays aromas of ripe dark fruits, spice, and hints of lavender, thyme and earthiness.  Medium-bodied and loaded with lush, dark fruit, currants and spice flavors, it is plush and has soft tannins that bring it to a strong finish.  Powerful, but not over-done with oak in the background, it should age well for 4 to 5 years, but it is lovely now.  This cool-climate Grenache is easily one of the top five I’ve ever tasted.      

97 Norm Roby 

2018 Amor Fati, Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Syrah Murmur Vineyard 

From the same vineyard used for the winery’s Grenache, this is exciting cool-climate Syrah.  Amor Fati, which means “love of one’s fate,” is made by the Tooth & Nail Wine Co. based in Paso Robles.  For their Syrah, they source fruit from the Murmur Vineyard, which is located about 12 miles from the Pacific.  Minimally handled, the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 30% of it new.  Dark, opaque in color, it is a concentrated, brooding wine that needs time to unfold.  With aeration, it displays deep blackberry and black pepper fragrances with some olive and earthiness in the background.  Medium full, but no monster, it is well-balanced, with secondary flavors of tobacco and plum.  Needs time to unwind, but has all the right stuff.     

94 Norm Roby 

Love Paso Robles Cabernet? Of course you do.

Well, this following wine could be the best deal of all Paso Cabs for less than $20:

2020 Tooth & Nail Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

Don’t delay. Go to the website for the discount code.

You can, as always, thank me later

Making Wine Fun Again

Just discovered One of the most exciting wine clubs, bar none. 

Honest.

It not only meets but also exceeds my 4 very demanding standards:

1.High quality wines

2. Wide variety of wines, unusual wines, and wines at all price points

3. Membership has real value, VIP, being part of cutting edge thinking, something trending

4. Fun

Well, the “fun” requirement eliminates about 90 of all winery wine clubs, the snobby places with way over the top prices.

Also those wineries where members feel pressure to buy or else get dropped. And those with the weekend traffic and the crowds? 

So  hello Paso Robles, the home to high quality wineries owned by crazy, gifted, fun loving, creative, enthusiastic and, well, nice people.

If anyone is thinking Paso is in the middle of nowhere, let me remind you that this is 2021, the era of Zoom, virtual tastings and websites with real human interaction. Besides, typical members visit the winery once or twice a year.

And one more major thing, this winery is within reach of TinCity, home to dozens of other wineries, a few artisan breweries, and a food vendor or two. Yes, part of a wine destination!!

And THE winery is: Tooth & Nail Winery

www.toothandnailwine.com

This oddly named winery offers several types of wines under 4 different brand names:

Tooth & Nail: Creative, unconventional wines with unusual names and stunning labels. For example, “The Fragrant Snare” brings together Chardonnay, Albarino, and Viognier

Amor Fati: Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from cool climates.

For me, these 4 were love at first taste. All scored 92 points or higher. See reviews at 

http://www.winereviewonline.com

 Stasis: Pinot Noir from Santa Maria and a Viognier. Both excellent.

Destinata: Drink now, no fanfare Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Syrah. All good. All fun. Especially the drink-now style Syrah. The dry Riesling and Chenin will surprise you.

Bundles: special packages at 20% off prices. 

There’s a Pure Bliss” bundle and a” Once in A Lifetime” bundle you should check out.

BTW: the labels are so artsy, so creative, and so collectible!

Who’s Behind these Wines?

Rob Murray is the owner. After making Rabble Wine a raving success, he sold it to start Tooth & Nail. With Rabble, he was the first to use augmented reality technology in wine labelling, thereby injecting a sense of movement and play onto a bottle of wine. When it comes to label artwork and design, he is far ahead of everyone. He also earmarked a percentage of profits from Rabble for “1 % for the Planet”, joining companies like Patagonia, Boxed Water and Honest Tea, in giving to vetted environmental non-profit organizations.

Winemaker Jeremy Leffert’s motto is: “Pour now. Live for today.” He has a degree in Environmental Science and later studied at Cal Poly. At Tooth & Nail, Jeremy leans toward the philosophical and is ever alert to avoid “the dominance of the winemaker’s hand.” With that in mind, he views himself as a shepherd as much as a maker. “My approach is to treat everything with such care that the voice of the vineyard shines through the wine,” he says. “It’s all about respecting nature’s intent.”

Wait! A winemaker without a BIG ego? Not puffed up about high scores, not an icon or living legend? Just a highly skilled professional making wine clubs fun again.

Celebrate World Malbec Day

 2-Hawk Vineyard Malbec “Darrow Series,” Rogue Valley, Oregon 2017   $49

With so many solid, pleasant drinking Malbecs available for under $25, anything above that price point has to be exceptional to get my attention. I was looking for a special Malbec to celebrate the occasion.

Well, I recently discovered an exceptional Malbec from 2-Hawk,  a small winery in Southern Oregon. “Darrow” refers to the dominant soil profile in the home vineyard.  As winemaker Kiley Evans notes, “ Malbec is one of the real stars in the Rogue Valley because it shows a consistent ability to ripen while at the same time being sensitive to vintage variation.” 2017 was an unusually cool vintage with the last Malbec picked in early November. And the wine, blended with 21% Cabernet and aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak, is a show stopper. Dark in color, it displays layers of blueberry, licorice, and leathery aromas mingled with hints of thyme and cassis. The whole package is more elegant and refined than blockbuster, powerhouse. It finishes with persistent fruit flavors joined by light toasty oak spice and refined tannins.  341 cases made. 95

http://www.2hawk.wine

3 Reasons Why Old Vine Wines are (well, maybe) Better

My 3 Exhibits: Attention Class

2018 None Such Mourvedre, Enz Vineyard, San Benito County, $38.00 at http://www.nonesuchwines.com

2018 Bedrock Wine Company California Old Vine Zinfandel $27.99 at www. wine.com

2018 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate, $38 at http://www.invino.com

Are Old Vine wines better than other wines? This question likely ranks as one of the most common raised in wine classes. It is often raised when the subject turns to Zinfandel and indeed, there are arguably more Old Vine Zinfandels now on the market than any other wine type.

Yet, before getting to possible answers, let’s be clear: old vines exist in many other wine regions, especially in Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Chile.

First, “old” is not very well defined in the wine world. So because the average lifespan of a productive vine is 45-50 years, I’m using old for a vine that’s at least 50 years old. That’s 

Pre-1970 in California, but there are vineyards that were planted in the 1880s, 90s.

When a vine ages beyond 50 years, it becomes less and less productive, meaning fewer clusters per vine and often smaller berries. So one attribute of old vines is a concentration brought naturally about by low yields and small berries. Without getting geeky scientific, the ratio of juice to grape skins is different. And the skins yield less tannic wines.

Another thing often pointed out is that old vines have deep roots which makes sense. Deep roots have the vine drawing different nutrients from the soil than young vines. Many winemakers believe that leads to a balanced vine, one that matures the grapes evenly and the maturation process is smooth and normal.

Now one more point to bring up before answering the question and that is old vines are usually tended differently. For starters, most are dry farmed, meaning never irrigated. Then many are own rooted, meaning direct bearers, not grafted onto highly productive, disease re rootstock.  

That they are farmed differently was hammered home when I walked through old Mourvedre vines in Roussillon and through old steep vineyards in Oporto. In both, the vines were not planted in rows, they zigzagged their way along a slope or around a rock because everything was handled by people, not machines. The old vineyards in Oporto and many places are mixed, meaning field blends of several varieties intended to be harvested at the same time and fermented together. Many Old Vine Zinfandels are most likely field blends. 

But are Old Vines better?

  1. Balance

For starters, they are better balanced because the vine was in balance and therefore the wine didn’t need to be adjusted, manipulated, or rocket aged by some nerdy winemaker. The reason why so many pre-1970 California wines were field blends was to prevent a new winemaker from changing the tried and true winemaking regime. I may have heard that from Robin Lail whose family ran Inglenook during its prime years. 

2.Texture

In addition to aromas and flavors, wine has a range of textural possibilities. This is also known as the “mouthfeel,” as in soft, silky, astringent, puckery, harsh and whatever. Helen Turley, aka the “wine goddess” crowned by Robert Parker was not nerdy at all. Once when tasting wines with her, she started  talking about “old vine velvet” and to this day, this attribute stands out to me. Old vines at their best are more concentrated but the tannins are less harsh so the wine might have high alcohol but still come across as velvety smooth.

3. History

There’s something authentic about an Old Vine wine because it captures and showcases a sense of place, not a wine made in the cellars, not a wine that’s a winemaker’s signature. In this era of over blown cult wines and cult winemakers, that’s rare and refreshing. The enjoyment of wine is more about places and peoples, not points.

Your Cheat Sheet

Wine #1

Sommelier Ian Cauble puts it better when talking about the 2018 None Such Winery Mourvedre

Made from Enz Vineyard: 

It is, he explains, made from vines that are “own-rooted, head-trained, dry-farmed, and hidden deep in San Benito County, where it has flourished since the 1800s. The wines which hail from this special place are truly remarkable. To drink Enz is to understand the very fabric of California winemaking, and to be lucky enough to make a wine from Enz is to partake in history.” The winemaker and owner of None Such is Caitlin Quinn. You might want to remember that name.

Wine #2

The 2018 Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah is an old field blend with Zinfandel. The vineyard was established in 1901. Ridge and winemaker Paul Draper need no explanation.

Wine #3

 Bedrock’s 2018 Old Vine Zin is a blend of 85% Zinfandel filled out with Mataro, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Carignan, Petite Sirah and scant amounts of the many other varieties that can be found in California’s older, multifarious vineyards. And BTW, just about every Bedrock wine demonstrates the unique appeal of Old Vine and Heritage Vineyard wines. The winery is part of the Joel Peterson clan, the pioneers of old vine wines.

And yes, I reversed #2 and #3 here just to see if you were paying attention.

3 Big Wine Sales for President’s Day: Deal or No Deal?

Well, after a lackluster Valentine’s Day, several online wine sellers/wine clubs woke for President’s Sales.

Three made big headline splashes:

www.cawineclub.com

www.insiderwine.com

www.wineawesomeness.com

Let’s look at each, weigh the pros and cons, and decide whether it’s a deal, or no deal.

First up  wineawesomeness.com

Really tempting. For $99 you get a case of the 2014 Tedeschi Valpolicella Capitel del Nicalo

And shipping is included. The pitch says that would normally cost $240.

Assessment: I like Valpolicella, though many may not know much about it. It is a smooth, medium weight red, proudly poured throughout Venice and the region. A check of the producer and Tedeschi is indeed legit, making a range of wines and with a good reputation.

But the 2014 is kind of old for this type of wine, normally enjoyed in its youth. Makes me wonder where it has been stored for the last few years. Probably not at the winery. More likely in a warehouse on the East Coast. Now more than 6 years old, it may have lost some of its best traits.

And now let’s consider the discounted price of $99 for 12 bottles. Roughly $8-ish a bottle delivered. A check with wine searcher gives a range of prices in the US from $11.99 up to $18 or an average of $15.00.

The website estimates the total package is worth $240. With case shipping estimated at $40, the $240 somehow seems a little on the high side.

Later in the day it added a similar deal for 2019 Italia Foto Wine Co. Grillo which while a current vintage did not interest me at all. 

So back to the case of Valpolicella for $99. The price is right.

http://www.wineinsider.com

The Headline: 14 Wines for the Price of 7

The deal: “Get 7 great bottles, some traditionally priced up to. $29.99/ea. We’re sweetening the deal and adding 7 ADDITIONAL wines at no cost to you. That means you’ll get 14 wines for an exclusive price of $132.86. That’s only $9.49/bottle. Tired of all that math? The international award winners in this case can help!” 

In other words, two bottles of each and the offer is for all red, all white, or a mix. Additionally, an aerator is added to this particular deal. Okay, I use that type of aerator but mine is old and worn out, so a new one is value at $15.95, and now I’m more than curious. And the deal is sweetened still by shipping everything for free.

Let’s look at the wines: 

Preferring red wines in general and especially at this time of the year, I checked out the reds.

Turns out the California wines from Wolfson Cellars and George Phillips are available at only two places: wineinsider.com and Heartwood & Oak in LA. Same was true of the Argentinian red, finca Los Olmos. I found no reference to the French wine by Le Bosq, and while wineinsiders lists a Bordeaux from Chateau Le Redon, there is a real Chateau Redon. Oh, those French and their names. I did discover that there is a German Pinot Noir named The Modernist, but the labels didn’t match.

When you click on heartwood& oak it takes you to winesiders, so basically one and the same.

About to nix this deal, but then I noticed an offer to add 6 bottles of French red wines for $59.94 and recognized the names of the 2 other chateaux. The one in Castillon is excellent. Le Redon is part of this add-on.

Now definitely tiring of the math, I am looking at 20 bottles of red wine play a badly needed aerator shipped to my door for around $200.

Deal or no deal? 

www.cawineclub.com

“Presidents’ Day BLOWOUT” was the headline. But the sale, $1 case shipping actually extends to March 31, 20212. The announcement went on:

“SPRING WINE SALE

Save up to 61% on every bottle of handcrafted wine, plus save up to $38 in shipping on every case!

Sale ends on March 31, 2021.  Half, full, and/or mixed cases all ship via ground for $1 to most states.”

So we are talking savings and $1 shipping on 6 or more bottles. 

One of the oldest. This site has long proven itself for reliability and good service. It specializes in family owned, real wineries that it calls “artisan wineries.”  

Right away I was drawn to one example, 2018 Merlot from Lucas and Lewellen Estate for $13(regularly $32) Great price for a current vintage, not old inventory, and from a proven family winery.  

Since the shutdown, this wine club has added wines from better known, more exciting wineries such as Talley and Testarossa for Chardonnay lovers. 

Always looking for the best deals, I automatically click on deals under $25. Right away I liked the two wines from Madrona Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills: the 2020 Barbera Rose($11.99) and the 2016 Hillside Zin($12.99). Moving on I remember the home for this wine club is the Central coast so no surprise to see appealing wines from that area. Among them there’s the Le Vigne Paso Robles Malbec($13.99),  Courtney Benham Central Coast Grenache($14.99) and Testarosa’s 2016 Monterey Chardonnay ($14.99). 

From Sonoma the old vine Jeff Cohn Zinfandel is another standout, and it was also a pleasant surprise to see wines from C.C. DiAries which often fall under the radar and a Syrah from everyone’s favorite, Terre Rouge. It, like many others is not deeply discounted, but, of course, a few bottles could be included for the $1 case shipping.

The downside with this wine club is, as the name implies, it is a California specialist. But when it does reach out into Oregon, it has a beauty, Maysara Pinot Noir, half off at $26.00.

Imports are few but then the organic white Bordeaux at $17.00 is one I’d like to explore.

Among top tier wines, the Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc is a collector’s wine, priced 24% below retail.

An absolute deal is Testarossa Winery 2018 Cuvée Los Gatos Monterey Pinot Noir at $17.99.

The conclusion?

First of all, it is much better if you can make your own selections. 

It is far better for many reasons, but now as the shutdown continues on, to buy wines from real wineries made by real people.

Anyway, all of this is to suggest how I approach buying wines online. 

You will have to make your own decisions.

You can thank me later.

And, I could really use a new aerator.

3 Online Winners: Best Valentine’s Day Wine Offers

Despite the marketing opportunity, most online retailers stuck with the latest cult Cabernet or some under the radar wine from Italy or Spain. A few rose to the occasion and actually put effort into curating.

And the winner is a pleasant surprise, a longshot I wouldn’t have bet on but a great website: 

www.sommselect.com

The special offer was creative and, best of all, consisted of these two excellent wines:

Henriet-Bazin, Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Verzy & Verzenay, Champagne, France 

2018 Pierre-Marie Chermette, Saint-Amour “Les Champs Grillés,” Cru Beaujolais, Burgundy

A beautiful Rose Champagne and a delicious red certain to put the “amour” in the day.

Price for the pack: $95.  

Another winner reflecting solid effort is http://www.wineaccess.com with its “Luxe Valentine” 4 bottle package. 

led by the 2007 Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne and included the 2015 Château Tronquoy-Lalande St.-Estèphe. For these and a 2013 Wade Napa Valley Cab and French Burgundy, the price for this terrific selection was $374.00, probably over budget for many people.

www.wine.com made an effort, albeit a slight 10% discount, on its amazing selection of Champagne and other bubblies. The best to me was the Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose for $79 or the Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose for $69.

For more info about these 3 see my detailed reviews at http://www.winereviewonline.com

As for wineries selling direct, one stood out:

www.clos.com 

While a few wineries offered discount shipping for Valentine’s Day, one winery went out of its way with a special dinner for locals and two special wines. 

Clos LaChance explains it has “two romantic options available now; a case of our brand new 2020 Colibri Rosé and a bottle of our new Sparkling Rosé – both are a perfect way to show your love!”  The case of bubbly was offered at $180. A savings of $84.

Otherwise, it was not much of a marketing show for selling wines direct. Valentine’s Day created as much excitement as Groundhog’s Day. In fact, even the Super Bowl brought out as many special deals. 

Another Mile High Club?

American Airlines’ announcement that it will sell wines through its Flagship Cellars program made the business news circuit. It must have been a slow day, as even CNN andFox Business picked it up as if it were a big deal. 

Well, this is neither big nor all that newsworthy. It is just another subscription box sales pitch. And no, a laid off flight attendant or crew member is not likely to personally deliver the wine to your door.

The Flagship Cellars Wine Program is powered by vinesse which has been in the wine subscription box business since 1993. 

Furthermore, for many years vinesse which is headquartered in Southern California,  has been fulfilling wine clubs for not only American Airlines but also for Delta and United Airlines before this announcement. Indeed, vinesse also goes by the name of American Cellars Wine Club.

The one real bit of news is that the quality level of wines in American’s Flagship Cellars is a big step up from vinesse’s usual selection. I regularly receive teaser offers from vinesse for 6 bottles for $29.99, but once you get past the teaser, the wines are not that exceptional nor are they bargains by any means. Vinesse also powered the NRA’s wine club. Make of that what you will.

The short list from American’s Flagship Cellars consists of real wines, not private brands. It offers Chardonnays from Trefethen and MacRostie and Truchard and a couple of good Oregon Pinot Noirs. There’s a Hall Merlot and the Jaboulet Beaume de Venise is quite unusual. Most  other reds are above average in quality. But the Champagnes are wonderful. Both Deutz and Moutard are among my all-time FAVS.

So the deal is if you subscribe, you get miles as well as wine. A three-bottle monthly subscription costs $100. 

If not a member, you can buy a case and it will ship free. And that’s my strong suggestion.

Go to http://www.vinesse.com/afc

If you see a favorite in the list at a reasonable price,  go for it and buy a case with free shipping.

However, this “news story” does raise a few questions.

 First, does anyone need miles this badly? Maybe these are the best wines served during some flights, but where are the wines being stored since the pandemic reduced flights and drinking during a flight?

Does American Airlines really have a sommelier leading a team that tastes 2000 wines a year? If so that’s not many wines and yes, I’d take the job without the team.

Finally, is pushing a wine club to unload wine really an innovative response to falling revenues? One business report said American estimated this program will add $40,000-$50,000 during the first quarter. Woopie!

If that’s the best you can do, why not donate the wines to some worthy cause or charity wine auction for first responders?

Not that would truly qualify as a breaking news story. 

Four from Foursight

Foursight Wines, an Anderson Valley superstar, is offering an unbeatable 4 pack for the holidays. 

Enjoy these great wines and support a family owned winery.

https://www.foursightwines.com/2020-holiday-sampler/

 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (almost sold out!)

 2019 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir (rosé)

 2018 Zero New Oak Pinot Noir (new release)

 2018 Charles Vineyard Pinot Noir (new release)

I’m a longtime fan of the distinctive Sauvignon Blanc, loaded with flavors and beautifully balanced.

The 2018 Charles Vineyard Pinot Noir is simply one of the best from Anderson Valley.

And what a terrific opportunity to enjoy and talk about 3 styles of Pinot Noir, all from the family owned Charles Vineyard. 

Bet you never tasted a high quality but unoaked Pinot. Here’s your chance.

Act fast!

and consider joining the club.

Thank me later

Unbeatable Deal on Award Winning Wines

Top This: Great Wines at 50% Discount

Terrific opportunity to get to know Navarro Vineyards which is family owned and hauls away Gold Medals at every wine competition.

Navarro’s six-bottle Black Friday Sampler is only available through Monday, November 30, or until the sampler is sold out. The six wines in this sampler, three Chardonnay and three Pinot Noir, have earned a total of seventeen Gold or Silver medals in major wine competitions. 

The 2017 Chardonnay, Mendocino was awarded 94 points by http://www.winereviewonline.com

2016 Pinot Noir, Méthode à l’Ancienne, Unfiltered  is another winner, one of the finest examples of Anderson Valley Pinot.

The sampler is being offered for $88.50, a savings of $88.50! There is a limit of one sampler per household. However, you can also add six bottles of any Navarro wine or non-alcoholic juice of your choice and the twelve bottles will qualify for One-Cent shipping.

online at www.NavarroWine.com or you are welcome to phone us toll-free at 1-800-537-9463 or 707-895-3686 between 8-6 PST weekdays, 8-5 PST weekends. If you prefer, reach us by email at sales@NavarroWine.com 

Wine of the Week: A Rare Walla Walla Double Double

2016 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla

93 points

Washington State continues to impress with so many best value red wines. Chateau Ste. Michelle remains a leader and its line of “14 Hands” seems to get better and better each vintage.

But there’s more to Washington State red wines than Ste. Michelle’s extended family which includes Columbia Crest. 

My ongoing search for an excellent Syrah priced below $20 uncovered one from Columbia Valley, the 2016 Appaloosa Syrah. They do love their horses in the Northwest but they are not horsing arounds when it comes to value. This one displays spot-on Syrah varietal character in an easy to drink style.

Yet Washington really beats the competition when it comes to great value Cabernet Sauvignon. That was reinforced when tasting the 2016 Amavi Cellars. This is not just a value.  It is a serious Cab, beautifully balanced and structured to age well. With a splash of Merlot for smoothness and a touch of oak for complexity, it is classic Cabernet. 

Walla Walla has a well-deserved reputation for big-time Cabernet, thanks to pioneering vintages from Leonetti, L’Ecole #41 and Cayuse. All three are cult wines. I’m also a big fan of Pepper Bridge Winery’s Cabernets which sell for around $60.

Amavi is owned by the same three families behind Pepper Bridge.

 best news: the 2016 Amavi Walla Walla Cabernet from the family-owned estate vineyards is also a super value, selling most places for under $30. 

I found it for $14 at www.lastbottlewines.com  Another reason to follow my posts.