Newsletter
September 19, 2025 – October 17, 2025
Green & Red
2022 Napa Valley Zinfandel ‘Chiles Canyon Vineyards’ (Green & Red)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
Green & Red is the rare Napa Valley winery specializing in Zinfandel. Their history goes back to the 1970s when Jay Heminway bought a property and discovered it had an abandoned vineyard. The old vines were used to replant other vineyards and Zinfandel proved to be the choice vine. The winery name comes from the red chert soil that has veins of green serpentine. The 2022 is a dare we say elegant Zinfandel with plum and cherry fruit and supple tannins.
Going Once… Going Twice…
2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Auctioneer)
Sale Price $29.99 – $305.90 case of twelve
Langhe
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo (Voghera)
Sale Price $19.99 – $203.90 case of twelve
Rufete
2022 Sierra de Salamanca ‘Ciclón’ (Viñas Serranas)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
The Rufete grape is a hidden gem from the hills of Salamanca in Western Spain. The 2022 Ciclón is an aromatic red with rose petal perfume, fine-grained tannins, and an earthy dry finish. Great with a pork roast and silky red peppers.
Considerable Charmes
2023 Morgon ‘Les Charmes’ (Jean-Marc Burgaud)
Sale Price $21.99 – $224.30 case of twelve
We love Cru Beaujolais and we are never without a few Morgons on the shelf. Amongst them, Jean-Marc Burgaud’s wines stand out. He has vines in all the best parts of Morgon and his wines are incredible values. The latest winner is the 2023 Les Charmes, which captures the gushing fruity charm of the Gamay grape, but also delivers perfume and richness. Have this with a roasted chicken for a blissful meal.
Deep in Brunello
2019 Brunello di Montalcino (Altesino)
Sale Price $59.99 – $611.90 case of twelve
The very fortunate Tuscan DOCG Brunello di Montalcino reported an excellent vintage in 2019, and yet we were lucky to grab a few cases of this superb Altesino at a price reduction when the wholesaler needed to make room for the next vintage. Brunello is a dark-skinned clone of Sangiovese that truly needs aging. The wines rest in big barrels for several years to soften the tannins and expand the aromas. Fruit is subdued and there is considerable weight and power. The 2019 Altesino has all this and is surprisingly ready to drink (decanting will help) and eminently ageable.
Listed prices are honored through October 17th, 2025. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 49, No. 10
For several years now the level of quality and subsequent interest in Greek wine has risen. With a wealth of indigenous grape varieties and the arrival of modern winemaking equipment, those old grapes taste new and modern. Enter Romeiko, a red grape from Western Crete. Historically made into a strong after dinner wine, today the Pateromichelakis family turns it into a savory, dry white wine. Early harvested and entirely destemmed grapes are gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel vats, resulting in an herb-scented Blanc de Noir with apricot and apple fruit. A fine wine to try with spicy food and strong cheeses. 
The most important grape variety in Germany’s Franken region shines in the capable hands of one of its top producers. Weingut Hans Wirsching has had plenty of experience: the family has been involved in the wine trade in some form all the way back to 1630. Slightly more ancient are the Jurassic clay soils in their vineyards in and around the town of Iphofen, which get a nod via the playful label of their entry-level ‘Terroir’ bottling. Easy to drink and enjoy, this is packaged in a 1L bottle for an even better value. The fresh and lively 2022 has tons of citrus and orchard fruit, brisk minerality, and a hint of Silvaner’s characteristic earthiness. A great wine for sushi.
Our newsletter could always use an unoaked Chardonnay, and there are few as good for under twenty dollars than Drouhin’s Mâcon-Villages. The 2022 retains Drouhin’s house style of subtlety and finesse. Perfect for roasted cod.
If ever there was a grape that captures the flavor of snow melting into a rushing mountain stream, it is Jacquère. Planted only in the French Savoie in appellations such as Chignin and Apremont, it yields a refreshing and light but substantial white that goes exceptionally well with cheese and charcuterie. The 2024 from Jean Perrier is a pristine example with crunchy orchard fruit and a light as a feather finish. 
The Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España continues to prove that a wine with fantastic appeal and ageability need not cost a ton of money. According to the winery, 2018 was a classic vintage without the excessive temperatures that have challenged the region more recently. The long growing season allowed for excellent ripening while maintaining acidity for freshness and longevity. The blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo spent 18 months in French and American oak barrels, plus an additional 12 months resting in the bottle before release. A few more years have allowed the oak to integrate and extra complexity to develop. Upon first opening it is slightly austere, but it soon softens and becomes increasingly expressive and generous. The blackberry and cherry fruit, forest floor, and licorice are rounded out with touch of oak spice and framed by fine tannins. Great with a grilled ribeye with chimichurri.
2025 marks the 40th harvest for Robert Sinksey Vineyards. Not bad for a certified organic family-owned winery founded by a former cataract surgeon. Though Dr. Robert Sinskey passed in 2015, the winery operations are now overseen by his son Rob and Rob’s wife Maria. Their Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir is a staple on our shelves, and their Bordeaux blend ‘POV’ a welcome new addition. However we were recently taken by the 2019 Abraxas white. This is a compelling blend of Alsatian grape varieties (Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer) grown in Sinskey’s only Sonoma vineyard. On a recent visit, Maria Sinskey emphasized the importance of blending in their winemaking process, and this comes through in the layers and depth of the wine. The 2019 has a gorgeous nose of juicy apple, citrus, jasmine, white flowers, and almonds. The body, with a hint of Gewürz’ richness and waxy texture, is layered with ripe fruit and lively acidity leading into a briny finish. A pleasant partner for fried fish with a lemon aioli and heaps of garlicky greens.
Peter and Rachel founded Parish Hill Creamery in 2013 as a place where they could showcase their commitment to handmade, natural cheeses and sustainable agriculture. Peter and Rachel use only the most delicious grass-fed raw milk from Elm Lea Farm, an educational farm at The Putney School, located less than 5 miles from their creamery. Their cheeses all have a flavor profile that is creamy, earthy, and distinctly Vermont, truly reflecting the terroir of the Green Mountain State.
2024 Vermentino di Sardegna (Piero Mancini) 
2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine ‘Mise Précoce’ (La Pépie) 