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.