Another recession buster! Quality juice at an amazing price. Open a few bottles and BBQ with friends.

"Château d’Or et de Gueules is located in the Camargue, in the rolling hills outside the ancient Roman city of Nîmes. Diane de Puymorin purchased Domaine de la Petite Cassagne estate in 1998. She renamed the property after her family’s crest: d’Or (gold) et Gueules (red, in ancient French). Situated on the south/south-eastern exposed slopes of the Costières de Nîmes, the soils here are characterized by cailloux deposited by the Rhône River centuries ago. Diane works with organic farming methods and believes in strictly limiting yields. Unique pruning and leaf pulling techniques help her optimize the fruit maturity in her vineyards, and allow her to harvest before the autumnal weather changes. Only Girls is made of 100% Syrah. It undergoes a 20-day fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. This fresh wine possesses very round and rich tannins. It is subtle and meant to be drunk young. Diane has put all her love in this wine, which was specially crafted by a woman for her daughters. “Only Girls” label displays her 5 daughters’ name: Chloé, Barbara, Charlotte, Clémence and Lucie."—Robert Kacher

Last month, WU members loved the approachable Guiot Grenach/Syrah: Not only was it easy on the palate, it was easy on the pocketbook. This month, here is a richer wine that won’t break the bank. You could say that it’s this month’s Camacho house wine.

From Robert Kacher: “Young Christophe Blanc is the third generation of winemakers in the family. He is the owner of this small domaine, which is located in the heart of the Languedoc near the Mediterranean Sea. Only about 10 acres of Merlot are produced here. Planted on the gravelly hillsides behind the village of Pèzenas, this warm microclimate is capable of ripening Merlot to perfection. The wine undergoes a short maceration in tank to extract bright fruits and very smooth tannins. The style is quite deep, rich and well colored. It is an easy-drinking wine. Bottled without filtration, the wines of Montpezat represent terrific value.”

A fun, easy red for everyday fare. This organic wine is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 40% Carignan. Here is what Parker wrote about it: “88 Wine Advocate #185: The 2007 red, a blend of 40% Grenache and equal parts Carignan and Syrah, all fermented and aged in tank, is a sleeper selection. Deep ruby/purple-tinged with lots of cassis, raspberry, licorice, and forest floor, the wine exhibits excellent ripeness, a delicious, silky mid-palate, and a good finish. This is a very good bargain and worth drinking over the next few years.”

Still wanting some wine to snuggle up with against the slight chill in the air? Soft and spicy, you will just need some braised short ribs, a Snuggie and a good movie. A southern Rhône red doesn’t get more comfortable than this. Sebastian Vicenti, the winemaker, trained under the amazing André Brunel. Vincenti has become one of the top producers from Ventoux.

Definitely not a heady, thinking wine, but comfortable for everyday. The nose is all about cherries with some floral elements. Good structure with great acidity that will work well with food. Grill up some pork sausages and you are set! This wine is aged 4 month in oak (25% French & 75% American).

This wine is perfect at this price point. Easy going with an authentic feel. Not trying to be over expressive, just a good solid zin. Sometimes it's so hard just to be yourself. Maybe it is because, “The wine was then drained of the skins and placed in 40% new oak barrels for 9 months before bottling. This early bottling allows the fruit to stay intense and youthful showcasing the Zinfandel grape.” Boy, do they know how to handle zin. Enjoy all the jammy blackberries this zin can give.

As WU members know, I am a huge fan of the Varner brothers. Foxglove is their second label. This lively berry-filled Zin is perfect for any BBQ this summer. Swap your heavy, alcohol-loaded Zins for this fun and peppy Zin.

Alert! New Camacho house wine! This one does it all for me. It has some earth, some fruit, balanced and most importantly, it knows how to listen! And for those of you who are into Parker points: 87 pts! It's 50% Syrah, 25% Carignan, 25% Grenache and fermented in tanks to preserve the fruit.

From Robert Kacher: "Château d’Or et de Gueules is located in the Camargue, in the rolling hills outside the ancient Roman city of Nîmes. Diane de Puymorin purchased Domaine de la Petite Cassagne estate in 1998. She renamed the property after her family’s crest: d’Or (gold) and et Gueules (red, in ancient French). Situated on the south/south-eastern exposed slopes of the Costières de Nîmes, the soils here are characterized by cailloux deposited by the Rhône River centuries ago. Diane works with organic farming methods and believes in strictly limiting yields. The estate produces an average of 30 hl/ha, half the allowed yield. Unique pruning and leaf pulling techniques help her optimize the fruit maturity in her vineyards, and allow her to harvest before the autumnal weather changes. 'Les Cimels' comes from the old Occitan language and means 'fruit bouquet.' Vintage in and out, this is always among the finest values in our portfolio!"

This is Bordeaux 101, a basic everyday type of wine that won’t hurt the pocketbook. Wine Spectator consistently rates it high and writes, “Fresh and fruity, with attractive berry and tobacco character and just a hint of vanilla." This is not a "showy" wine, it's laidback in style but not flabby on the palate. A very well-made wine. Christophe Piat is the winemaker and was a previous recipient of Bordeaux’s Winemaker of the Year for Wines and Foods of France. This wine is organic and is made from low yields.

A Wine Unleashed favorite has a new vintage. I typically would hold off for the fall for this one but it sooooo lovely I couldn’t wait.
With nearly 400 miles of river, the wine region known as the Loire Valley starts in the west where the river pours into the Atlantic and finishes well past the town of Nevers to the east. This region offers a fantastic assortment of wines, many white, but some very fun reds as well. Maurice Barbou and his grandfather Fabel planted Cabernet Franc at Domaine des Corbillières over 50 years ago. Today, the wines are made by Fabel’s great-grandson, Dominique Barbou. They have nearly 50 acres of vineyards; the sub-soil here is limestone overlaid by clay and limestone topsoil. The key here is they harvest only by hand and not by machine. Impressively deep and dark in color, this Cabernet has beautiful aromatics and sensational texture. Although delicious to drink while young, purple and fresh, this wine always surprises me each time I taste an aged bottle at the domaine. Try this with roasted chicken or grilled meats.

Cantarelles is owned by Jean-François Fayel. The estate is located southeast of the city of Nîmes. This area was once the delta for the Rhône River and is considered part of the Rhône Valley, as opposed to its neighbor, the Languedoc. The region has a warm climate that produces wines noted for their ripe fruit and rich texture. It is the last untapped region for quality wine production in southern France. Cantarelles’ excellent location and cailloux-based soils (similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s) create a spectacular environment for Cabernet Sauvignon. —Robert Kacher

Since WU members have really enjoyed the previous Furque selections (and the Malbec just received high scores from Parker), I thought some more Furque was necessary.

"In 1995, Alberto Furque and his family purchased an old winery and vineyards in an area just south of Mendoza called the Uco Valley. The estate, known as Aconquija, is located in the small town of La Consulta and is being enthusiastically run by Carolina Furque, Alberto’s daughter. They have 74 hectares of vines planted, which include 11 hectares of Malbec, 7 of Syrah and 5 of Tempranillo. There are also 22 hectare of Cabernet Sauvignon that are currently being restructured in the vineyard for future potential. The three principal varietals are being worked at the highest level to produce these very authentic wines. The Uco Valley is considered the sweet spot in the region of Mendoza. The dry climate has very cool nights, very warm days, and nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. The village of La Consulta and its vineyards average 3,000 feet in elevation. The vines are planted north/south on terraces in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The name Aconquija, which means “snow near the moon,” is named for the Western Hemisphere’s highest snow-covered peak in the Andes Mountains (22,835 ft). Carolina harvests much later than many other growers in the area, working with an agronomist to be sure that the grapes have achieved physiological ripeness. All hand-harvested, the fruit is de-stemmed and fermentation is temperature-controlled. Each grape type is fermented separately and maceration takes 15 to 20 days. The wines are aged in insulated concrete tanks, or in the case of the Robles wines, in small French oak barrels. Working closely with the domaine, we select out the best cuvées each vintage, and bottle these authentic wines without filtration to preserve their intense color and structure. This blend of Malbec, Tempranillo and Syrah was aged in French and American barrels. It has the flavors and the taste of Altamira, terroir from where it comes. A limited quantity of the wine is produced every vintage." —Robert Kacher

Here is a “serious” red for under $20. The Volte Face is extremely worthy for serving to guests but even better to serve as an every night type of wine. This is a serious enough wine that could be aged a touch if you are in search of a mellow aged profile at an affordable price. This wine is also from certified organic vineyards.

I wrote about this wine in September’s blog post. Incredible value, a recession buster, if you will. It’s dark and inky without going all the way into the forest. Flavor and complexity are what this wine is all about. Pair this with your braised meats and stew, and it will definitely warm your heart. Robert Kacher writes, “Santa Duc wines are very allocated and have become very hard to get. The fruit comes from four vineyards (the Quatre Terres); Rasteau (1/3), Seguret (1/3) and a blend of Vacqueyras and Rouaix (1/3). A provençal red of dimension and flavor. Very purple and concentrated, this is a wine for those folks that look for the authentic! • The Côtes du Rhône is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre & 8% Cinsault • Average vine age is 30+ years • Made from selected lots, the fruit is picked late – sûr maturité (super ripe) • As is traditional, this cuvée is 100% tank made – with no destemming • This wine is bottled unfiltered.”

Love the smell of violets, and then it’s dark and inky on the palate. Good driving acidity to keep you clear headed, but has a soft side. Decanter gave this wine a bronze and described it as an “elegant balance of red berries and smoked oak. Big mixture of red and black cherries; tannins well-balanced with acidity and fruits.” Alpha Estate has won many awards, and garnered recognition for their innovation and for showing Greece can make excellent wine. This wine is a blend of Xinomavro and Syrah. They are located in the far NW corner of Greece in a previously unplanted area called Amyndeon.

This is a delightful wine with bright fruit but yet an earthy character. Although you do sense the oak on the nose, it should integrate in a year or so. If you are looking for the soft edges of Pinot but want a notch more in terms of tannin (a little Syrah and Mouvedre are blended in), this is your dream wine come to life. The wine has grace, yet is perky—almost wise beyond its years. Technical stuff: This wine was punched down by hand in open-top fermentors, gently pressed, then aged in French oak barrels for 10 months. This wine was not fined or filtered.

Here is a elegant style of Zinfandel—not surprising since this winery has made their mark on small production Chards and Pinots. Go ahead and light up the grill but reach for a pork tenderloin and forgo the spice. Enjoy the smooth floral and plum notes this delightful style delivers. Their site describes it as, "Aromatically, the wine fills the glass with scents of Bing cherry, cinnamon spice and bramble. The brightness of the nose portends the exceptional liveliness in the mouth, which just bursts with sweet cherry fruit and molasses overtones. The freshness of the wine carries through the long sour cherry finish."

I’m a huge fan of Cal-Ital wines, and so here’s one by none other than the owner of San Francisco’s famous North Beach restaurant. Food and wine definitely live in Lorenzo Petroni. He strives to grow Sangiovese as well, if not better, than in its homeland of Tuscany. Using organic farming methods, he has created a stunning Sangiovese that will give any Tuscan wine a run for their money. Great value!!

From Petroni’s website: “Destemmed to 4-ton closed fermenters, the berries were cold soaked for 5 days (with pumpovers) and allowed to warm on their own until the onset of a native fermentation. Maceration period lasted 6 weeks and included the near completion of a native malolactic fermentation. The wine gets its silky mouth-feel from an elevage lasting 20 months in new and used French oak barrels. To achieve a brilliant appearance, the Rosso was fined with egg whites and cold stabilized prior to bottling.

The Wine: Silky
The wine’s appearance is brilliant and ruby red. The first impression in the bouquet is of sweet tobacco and a slight earthiness, later growing into more perfumed aromas of black cherry and cinnamon. The attack on the palate is smooth, warm, caressing, presenting mineral and stone fruit flavors from start to finish. It is a very accessible wine at this early stage of its development and incredibly food friendly.”
1,600 cases made.

Just a coincidence but Parker did give this wine 92 points. It'll delight the pickiest of palates. Made from 45% Grenache, 45% Syrah and 10% Mouvèdre, you will enjoy the dark inky character as it easily displays its complexity and length. Amazing at this price point. Nadal requires 1–2 years again before it is released. Parker writes: "Deep ruby/purple, with kirsch liqueur, licorice, spring flowers, and black raspberries, the wine is dense, medium to full-bodied, and despite being aged in small barrels, displays virtually no evidence of any wood. The freshness of the acids buttress this substantial, rich wine, which should drink well for 4-6 years."

Explosion of flavor—this is a HUGE wine! This Syrah has big body and big flavor with a pepper kick at the end. This is a big boy! Greg Brown, besides being an extremely nice man, is a phenomenal winemaker—you can taste his passion.

This is what Burgundy is all about. Great acidity, earthiness and some cherry notes that gives everything a lift.
Kacher writes: “Xavier Monnot is a 17-hectare estate, all family-owned, located in Meursault. About 50% of the vineyards are planted in white, 50% in red. The production though is 65% white. Domaine Xavier Monnot’s vineyards are very spread out, covering most of the Côte de Beaune starting in Beaune 1er Cru “Cent Vignes” and stretching all the way to Maranges 1er Cru in the Côte Chalonnaise. All the vines are hand-harvested and new oak is used with a lot of caution. The vines for this wine grow on a Southern-exposed 1-hectare slope from the Clos de la Fussiere, which is in the very heart of Maranges' Premier Cru area. Located in the very heart of Maranges 1er Cru, this small vineyard has a south exposition, providing the wine with bright red fruits.”

Enter into a deep berry forest. The supple tannins will surround you and take you on a journey. Rich in texture and drinking well now, this will also be a great addition to a cellar. Napa neighbors are charging $125 a bottle for very similar quality, so at $39, this is a steal.

This is a wine that you can lay down in your cellar. Personality and a fabulous food wine. Here is some info from their website:
“At Montenidoli, the best bunches of Sangiovese are vinified separately with a long maceration on the skins. Each year, the Tonelleries Taransaud sets aside the new barriques in which the wine matures and stabilizes; it’s bottled unfiltered to maintain its intense, powerful personality intact. It’s called Sono Montenidoli because it represents the spirit of the land, the hills overlooking San Gimignano and facing Chianti Classico: I am what I am.”
“It saw the light in 1971, and in 1975, Luigi Veronelli praised it at length in one of his first wine reviews. In 1979, Krista Klauke called Sono Montenidoli ‘one of the Paladins of the Italian Wine Renaissance,’ in Alles Uber Wein. In 1988, Horst Dhom selected 60 great Italian reds, including Sono Montenidoli, for Frankfurter Allgemeine. In 1999, Der Feinschmecker ranked Sono Montenidoli among the hundred best wines in the world.”