Newsletter
November 19, 2025 – December 15, 2025
Lugana
2024 Lugana ‘San Benedetto’ (Zenato)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
The Lugana DOC sits on the southern shore of Lake Garda in northern Italy. The grape variety here is Trebbiano di Lugana, also known as Trebbiano di Soave or Turbiana, but which is genetically distinct from the many other varieties which go by Trebbiano. Turns out it is actually more closely related to Verdicchio! But don’t get caught up on the confusing lineage. This is a delicious dry white with crisp acidity, white flower aromas, ripe orchard fruit, and a hint of peach pith. It will please many palates and get along quite well with the Thanksgiving turkey and the whole range of sides.
Cuvée les Amours
2022 Pinot Blanc ‘Cuvée les Amours’ (Hugel)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Alsace wine at Thanksgiving is an old Wine Cask tradition. This year it is Hugel’s 2022 Cuvée les Amours, which instantly reminded us of a gorgeous yellow plum called French Early that we found at a farmer’s market this summer. Its combination of ripeness and crispness will make it an active participant with all the dishes of the feast.
Manarine
2022 Côtes du Rhône (Domaine la Manarine)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
This is quintessential Grenache for the bird lovers who want a wine with a little more heft. This southern Rhône red shows plenty of plump and juicy red fruit, but also has a sprinkle of herbs to keep things compelling. Domaine la Manarine works organically and there are minimal interventions in the cellar. This is a great value year-round wine that is versatile and food friendly. Here’s to the bird lovers.
Gruet Sparkles
NV Brut (Gruet)
Sale Price $14.99 – $161.90 case of twelve
Gruet’s Brut is always in stock here, but we never tire of surprising customers with the fact that it comes from New Mexico. Originally winemakers in Champagne, the Gruet family relocated to New Mexico in the early 80s, and they continue to make one of the best value traditional method sparkling wines in the US. Made with 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, this is solid Brut sparkling wine: ripe fruit, a little toastiness, dry but not too dry. Extremely food friendly and a fantastic value, it’s a great choice to have on hand all day on Thanksgiving, from food prep and appetizers to the meal itself, and even through dessert.
Catena Bianco
2023 Chardonnay (Catena)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Demand for premium white wine from Argentina has skyrocketed. So much so that Chardonnay grapes now sell for more than Malbec. Catena is easily one of Argentina’s best wineries. Their high-elevation wines have received the greatest praise and broken price barriers for South American wines, yet they still produce this excellent value. The 2023 Chardonnay has a touch of oak, lovely orchard fruits, and a stony dry elegance.
Ken Wright Pinot
2024 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Ken Wright)
Sale Price $24.99 – $254.90 case of twelve
Though exploring the many great vineyard sites of Oregon’s Willamette Valley through single vineyard Pinot Noir is core to Ken Wright Cellars’ philosophy, they still make a great blended Willamette Valley AVA bottling. Sourced from multiple vineyards throughout the northern part of the appellation, they capture what has earned the Willamette Valley its reputation as the best location for Pinot Noir in North America: charming fresh red fruit, silky tannins, and nuances of earthiness and spice. This is a no-brainer pick for turkey.
Listed prices are honored through December 15th, 2025. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 49, No. 12
L-D-B’s Cuvée Prestige
Ca’ La Bionda
An informal survey (if it ever existed) of wine retailers places the Mediterranean village of Bandol high on the list of livability. Sure, the housing prices are insane and the wines aren’t the cheapest around, but the year-round climate and the fresh seafood makes up for that. That said, easy access to a delicious Bandol Rosé is always a plus. Our long-time favorite comes from Dupuy de Lôme, whose vineyards face north which lengthens the growing season and adds elegance to the sturdy Mourvèdre. The 2024 will be a fine match for a cauldron of fish stew and a garlic and saffron-laced rouille. 
Alessandro Castellani of Ca’ La Bionda visited recently and reminded us that production of regular Valpolicella has been significantly reduced due to demand for Amarone. As much as we like Amarone, it is not a wine we reach for very often. We do have Ca’ La Bionda and others to thank for continuing to make a brilliantly affordable regular Valpolicella. Mainly produced from the severely underrated Corvina grape, this 2024 has aromas of fresh cherries with hints of pepper and clove. This style of light red is perfect for serving with fish. It’s organic and gracefully weighs in at just 12 percent.
Want to keep it local this holiday season? One of the winemakers in this talented duo is a Somerville native! We have to keep this writeup brief, so ask us if you want to hear more of his story. Suffice to say, they have some serious winemaking chops earned through winemaking stints around the world. Their Carbonic Red perfectly demonstrates their ethos of making wine that is “both fun and serious, approachable and interesting, delicious and thought-provoking.” This organic red is made from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Valdiguié sourced from two vineyards in Northern California. Carbonic maceration (the winemaking process made famous in Beaujolais) enhances the bright and crunchy red fruit and pleasing spice notes. This chillable light red is perfect for a Friendsgiving potluck. 
If you prefer your reds a little more rich and structured, we present Joseph-Jibril’s Cabernet Franc. From a single vineyard in the Santa Cruz mountains, they describe it as having “a classic Bordeaux profile, only fresher.” We were immediately charmed by the aromatics and expressiveness on the nose. On the palate, ripe blackberry and plum fruit are matched by peppery spice and a dark earthy character. Supple tannins, wonderful length, and great balance of freshness and power make this an impressive addition to our Cabernet Franc selection. A great match for seared duck breast with pomegranate molasses and roasted acorn squash.
Domaine Chavy-Chouet was built in the time-honored Burgundian fashion: by marriage. 
The 2023 is a ripe and full Pinot Noir with some real meat on its bones. One could easily drink a bottle now, but it should improve for another 5 years. The 2023 Maranges Blanc is excellent. It’s a complex Chardonnay produced from a 30 year-old parcel planted on clay and limestone. Aged 15 months in oak, this shows volume, length, and elegance. There’s truly superb winemaking at this estate. We can’t wait to taste more.
Sought out for its concentrated reds, in recent decades Priorat has joined Rioja as one of Spain’s most prestigious and expensive wine regions. Its best producers are able to create balance within its intensity. One such producer is Alvaro Palacios, who was vital to placing the region on the international wine map. The Camins del Priorat is his best-priced wine and it showcases how finesse can coexist with power. The 2023’s silky blend of Garnacha (aka Grenache), Samsó (aka Carignan), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah is rich with cherry and black plum along with hints of licorice and savory herbs. A delight with a lamb roast and Gruyère potato gratin.
2024 Côtes du Rhône Blanc ‘Réserve’ (Famille Perrin) 
The Brunello producer Ciacci also produces a super Tuscan red blend. The 2024 is jam-packed with Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot. This dense and structured red is ready for hearty winter food. 
2024 Grüner Veltliner (Mantlerhof)