Deals and more deals!
Freeport Cheese & Wine
Spring appears to be here and we keep pushing the distributors for more Wine Deals! Pine State Distributors is again dropping prices A LOT on some really good wines. A few other distributors are as well. Some of these (the Leeuwin Estate wines) are repeats of wines from the January e-mail that Pine State still had in-stock. We bought all that Pine State had in stock. We also bought a bunch of other wines!
The wines are grouped by WHITE and RED. The wines are in alphabetical order.
Quantities are limited. We have all the wines in stock. Please call or e-mail if you want any of these!
White Wines
Alma Rosa Pinot Gris 2005 (California) Reg. $21.99, Sale $14.99 - We just tasted this on Monday.....it's SMOKIN'! Aromas and flavors of apricots, honeysuckle, pears, minerals, apples and almonds. This has a bigger, rounder texture than most Pinot Gris. Crisp, bright acidity. Stainless steel fermentation. 2,133 cases made. Sustainable agriculture. Food pairing - spicy Asian dishes, Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as paella, grilled fish with a spicy tropical fruit salsa.
Forest Glen Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2004 (California) Reg. $17.99, Sale $9.99 - This is tasting great! This is not the "grocery store" label from Forest Glen - it's their reserve. Unfortunately for the distributor, their sales force didn't sell it well, so they closed it out. Which is fortunate for you because the price is GREAT! It's not an oaky Chardonnay.....it shows classic Chardonnay aromas and flavors of apples, pears, minerals and more. This is also cool because it has nice bottle age - the wine is bright and fresh! Crisp. Clean. Food pairing - chicken, seafood, lobster.
Leeuwine Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2005 (Australia) Reg. $89.99, Sale $19.99 -A little mute to begin of the nose but soon opens out to some very pretty floral and tropical fruit aromas: jasmine, pineapple, guava and some spicy oak plus faint hints of chalk dust and white pepper, with some coaxing. The palate is rich and ripe with a full body of concentrated fruit, and a decent backbone of medium to high acidity to balance. Long tropical finish. Drink now to 2015. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91 points
Leeuwine Estate Art Series Riesling 2006 (Australia) Reg. $21.99, Sale $13.99 - The light straw-colored 2006 Riesling "Art Series" exhibits a bouquet of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon-lime. This leads to a dry, crisp wine with plenty of citrus fruit, ripe flavors, excellent concentration, and a lengthy finish. Although it can be enjoyed now, particularly with raw bar, it will evolve for up to a decade in the manner of a top Mosel Riesling. Drink through 2017. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points
Leeuwine Estate Prelude Chardonnay 2006 (Australia) Reg. $33.99, Sale $12.99 - The 2006 Chardonnay Prelude Vineyard was barrel-fermented and aged in one-third new French oak. Medium straw-colored, it offers up an alluring bouquet of buttered toast, spiced apple, and tropical notes. Crisp and refreshing on the palate, it has superior depth, ripe flavors of pineapple and mango, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Drink it over the next four years (2009-2013). Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points
Patz & Hall Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay 2006 (California) Reg. $44.99, Sale $24.99 - Good medium yellow. Lemon drop, orange, clove and minerals on the nose, complicated by a musky flinty, smoky character. Glyceral in the mouth, with fruit-driven flavors of pineapple, lemon custard and stone fruits. A bit more complex and deep than the Napa Valley bottling. Stephan Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 89 points
Vinum Cellars Vio Viognier 2007 (California) Reg. $29.99, Sale $22.99 - This is a rich, lush white with lots of minerality, acidity and exotic tropical fruit flavors and aromas. Coconut, nectarines, lychee fruit, vanilla and subtle toasted oak. It finishes juicy and soft. Fermented in small French oak barriques. Aged "sur lies" for 9 months. Partial malo-lactic fermentation. All of that means the wine is a weightier, more lush Viognier. Food pairing - sushi, sashimi, spicy Thai dishes.
Red Wines
Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2001 (Italy) Reg. $76.99, Sale $39.99 - 2001 was a GREAT, GREAT vintage in Brunello! This wine is just coming into its own and is delicious! Full-bodied. Concentrated. Supple. Aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, cola, mint, cherries and plums. Flavors of dark berries, cherries, toast, vanilla, dark chocolate, mocha and more! Excellent length with soft, integrated tannins. You can age this through at least 2016. Wine Spectator, 93 points; Stephan Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 91 points
Cristom Eola-Amity Hills Syrah 2005 (Oregon) Reg. $29.99, Sale $19.99 - Delicious wine from one of my favorite Oregon wineries! Aromas of red raspberries, currant and blueberries. Bright, fresh flavors with a hint of baking spices and smoky meat. The tannins are moderate. This is just coming into its own in terms of aging. Syrah with less than 1% Viognier added to the blend. 100% estate-grown fruit. 90% of the grapes were destemmed and the remainder were whole-cluster fermented. Aged 22 months in 31% new French oak. 613 cases made. Wine Spectator, 91 points
Domaine de la Janasse Côtes-du-Rhône 2008 (France) Reg. $16.99, Sale $12.99 - Aromas and flavors of strawberry, black cherries, dried cherries, minerals and spices. We like this A LOT! This is a nice cross between an "Old World" (earthy and funky) CdR and a "New World-style" (lots of fruit and no earthiness) one! One of the best Côtes-du-Rhônes from the '08 vintage! Year-after-year this winery makes superb wines! You should drink this over the next 2-3 years ('08 is making good wines for NOW; '07 is the year you buy Rhônes to age). Blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 15% Carignan and 5% Cinsault. Grapes are destemmed before the crush. Stainless steel fermentation and aging (6-9 months). Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points
Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Australia) Reg. $24.99, Sale $16.99 - Aromas of dark berries with peppery spices and a little earth. Flavors of dark, cooked fruit (i.e.; before you add the sugar to jam), with dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins. Aged in French and American oak - the barrels are an even mix of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th use barrels - so, the oak influence is subtle. Wine Spectator, 88 points
Leeuwine Estate Prelude Cabernet Merlot 2003 (Australia) Reg. $33.99, Sale $12.99 - Bright red. Peppery, herb-accented cherry and redcurrant aromas strongly suggest Bordeaux; this doesn't smell like it's from a superripe vintage. Taut, light red berry and plum flavors are nicely focused and zesty, with fine-grained tannins adding structure. Finishes bright and crisp, with very good persistence and a lingering note of cherry pit. Nice balance here. Stephan Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 90 points
Salentein Pinot Noir 2003 (Argentina) Reg. $22.99, Sale $9.99 - We bought this the last go-round with Pine State. This packs a PUNCH in terms of price/quality ratio! The medium ruby-colored 2003 Pinot Noir Reserva offers an alluring nose of raspberry, cherry, and rose petal. This leads to a velvety-textured wine with ripe flavors, good depth, and enough structure to last for several more years. Excellent; supple, rich and full bodied; a wine with intense fruitiness (plum, cherry), and layers of oak character (toast, smoke, cedar). Very long finish.
Sterling Vineyards SVR Reserve 2006 (California) Reg. $49.99, Sale $34.99 - This is one of California's classic Cabernet-based blends - and it is on a great deal! Tight, structured and full-bodied, with firm, ripe dried currant, blackberry, mineral, anise and sage flavors that have a touch of black licorice before ending with mocha, spices and fine-grained tannins. The wine is soft in texture. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Aged 18 months in oak (45% French, 40% American & 15% European). Decant this to taste it as its best. Best from 2011 through 2017. 5,770 cases made. Food pairing - beef, grilled steak, lamb chops. Wine Enthusiast, 94 points
Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Australia), Reg. $21.99, Sale $9.99 - Aromas of ripe dark berries and black currants with subtle cinnamon and leather notes. Tintara makes its reds to age for up to 10 years, so this is still drinking nicely! 100% McClaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon from 70-year-old vineyards. Flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, baking spices, vanilla and a little toast. Medium-bodied. Good length on the dry finish.