2021 Ronchi, Barbaresco, Piedmont $33.99 bottle / $179.94($29.99) six-pack
“Now that most of the wines (2021 Barbaresco) have been released, the early promise of 2021 is no longer a question of potential but of reality. These are vivid, exceptionally beautiful wines that show the heights Nebbiolo can reach…The wines are aromatic, deep and structured. In other words, classic Barbaresco.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Over the past few years, Ronchi has become, by far, our most popular Barbaresco producer and for good reason: Ronchi Barbarescos are delicious and offer unparalleled value in the Barbaresco market. I’ll cut straight to the chase -this is, hands down, the best deal in real, authentic traditional, age-worthy Barbaresco in the market. 2021 is an outstanding vintage for Barbaresco and while it’s still early in the release cycle, this is flat out the best 2021 Barbaresco we’ve seen yet.  It simply runs circles around other, much more famous Barbarescos on the market that cost twice the price.  The nose and palate reminds me of tasting young Barbaresco from the 1989 vintage, tight, unyielding and primal but with so much promise of future fireworks.  Like all truly classic Baroli and Barbaresci, this wine requires patience and it is presently dominated by its structure - the structure that will propel it to age gracefully for 25+ years.  While the 2021 has not yet been rated, Ronchi’s Barbaresco “normale” consistently scores in the 92-95 range from Antonio Galloni in vintages that are not as strong as 2021.  An amazing deal.  Buy it now while it’s still available.

Special Price: $33.99 per bottle

2021 Ronchi, Barbaresco, Cru Gaia-Principe, Piedmont $39.99 bottle / $221.94($36.99) six-pack
This wine takes it up a few notches in terms of concentration and fruit intensity (perfectly ripe) while still remaining balanced and nuanced. It is more ready to drink at this early stage while showing tons of potential with lots of aromatic complexity and the structure and balance to age gracefully for 22+ years. The Ronchi Gaia-Principe is another amazing deal but don't buy this wine just because of its value, buy it because it is outstanding young Barbaresco. Fans of the Produttori del Barbaresco Cru Riservas will love this wine (and it’s much lower price)!

Special Price: $39.99 per bottle

2022 Domaine Mélody, Saint-Péray, Northern Rhone $29.99 bottle / $161.94($26.99)
Fresh, bright, and elegantly balanced, this Northern Rhone white is a lovely and transparent example of a Saint-Péray with pedigree. The Marsanne (90% of the blend) provides weight, mouthfeel, and dimension with aromatics of earthy minerality, honeysuckle, peaches and herbs. Meanwhile the Roussanne in the blend adds a lively acid kick and a distinct red d’Anjou pear aroma. The limestone soils in which these vines are planted lend a crisp minerality that keeps the wine focussed and clean. My compliments to the vigneron on this one! - Lance’s Pick

Special Price: $29.99 per bottle

2022 Domaine Mélody, Crozes-Hermitage, Friandise, N. Rhone $24.99
This 100% Syrah from the variety’s homeland is so damn aromatic. Aromas of violets, boysenberries, cracked pepper and olive tapenade soar from the glass. This is the kind of aromatic complexity that $75 - $100 Washington State Syrahs are chasing, but find so elusive. The palate is easy and ready to go with flavors that echo the aromatic themes. Fine balance and moderate alcohol (12.5%) make this an exceptionally versatile wine with food, not to mention tasty on its own. Enjoy now and over the next three to five years with anything made out of meat or featuring mushrooms, olives or potatoes.

Special Price: $24.99 per bottle

2016 Louis Nicaise, Millesime Extra-Brut Champagne $59.99 bottle / $329.94($54.99) six-pack
Champagne Louis Nicaise is located in the heart of Hautvillers, the village made famous by Dom Perignon and known as the birthplace of champagne. Grower-Producers, the Nicaise family have been making champagne for four generations from their nine hectares of Premier Cru vineyards, all in Hautvillers.  Laure Nicaise-Préaux and her husband, Clement Préaux, Clémént apprenticed with Anselme Selosse - yes, that Anselme Selosse!   A blend of 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier, the 2016 Extra-Brut Millesime is really delicious, luxurious Champagne with impeccable balance.  A strong vein of flinty minerals and a hint of toast play nicely together on the long finish.   Drink now through 2030. An outstanding value for a vintage Champagne of this caliber.

Special Price: $59.99 per bottle

2023 Jean-Maurice Raffault, Chinon, Blanc, Loire Valley, France $19.99
Geek Alert:  Here's a geeky white wine that you don't have to be a wine geek to geek-out on.  In other words, you can either examine or admire this wine or you can just enjoy it for its sheer deliciousness.  That's right - sheer deliciousness.  The central Loire Valley appellation of Chinon is home to a disproportionate number of the world's best Cabernet Francs, but tiny quantities of dry Chenin Blanc (about 2% of the Chinon's total production) is made on an outcropping of chalky limestone soil.  Raffault's 2023 Chinon Blanc offers aromas of honeysuckle to go along with the vibrant Chenin fruit and wet stones scents.  The rich palate is at once both lush with perfectly ripe Chenin fruit and taut with refreshing acidity.  A streak of limestone gout de terroir runs through the wine now and hints at the mineral smorgasbord to come with three to five or so years in the cellar.  Enjoy with roast lemon chicken, salmon with beurre blanc sauce, or cast iron seared trout with morels.  Or just drink it when you get home from work for its sheer deliciousness.

Special Price: $19.99 per bottle

2021 Jean-Maurice Raffault, Chinon, Clos d'Isore, Loire Valley, France $22.99
One of Chinon's great vineyards, the 3 hectare Clos d'Isore vineyard was planted in 1938 with a selection massale on a limestone and clay base, giving wines great complexity and longevity.  100% Cabernet Franc, the Clos d'Isore is aged for 18 months in primarily neutral oak casks which allows the Clos d'Isore to express its distinctive terroir. Aromas of cassis, leather and damp earth give way to the beautifully balanced palate with an echo of the cassis fruit and earth.  Polished tannins and good acidity provide excellent structure to this medium-bodied red.  Enjoy now with beef, lamb or pork prepared in any manner, or cellar for up to 15 years for additional complexity to develop.  An amazing value.

Special Price: $22.99 per bottle

2022 Thomas, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, OR $84.99
Yep. The one and only.

Special Price: $84.99 per bottle

2023 Royer, Chardonnay, Royer Estate, Eola-Amity Hills $44.99 bottle / $239.94($39.99) six-pack
Mark Royer is dedicated to growing the best Chardonnay possible in the Willamette Valley or more specifically, the Eola-Amity hills. Mark sells most of his grapes to some of the finest Chardonnay-centric wineries in the valley, but has begun to save some of his finest grapes for his own label, as seen here and the next wine. The 2023 Royer Estate Chardonnay is a real head-turner with aromas of freshly roasted hazelnuts and baked pears segueing to the rich, elegant palate with delicious fruit, balancing acidity, and a hit of minerality that manifests itself on the saline finish. Again, simply delicious. “An impressive Chardonnay of profound elegance comes from the windy southwest slopes of Royer Vineyard, at 200 metres in the Eola-Amity Hills. Soft on the palate, this delicate and floral wine shows honeyed aromatics of lemon curd and sweet pastry cream lifted by notes of ocean air salinity. It is creamy on the palate, with lemon pastry cream, fleshy ripe apricots, honey-drizzled peaches, and a vibrance that carries through to the finish. Hold this wine to appreciate the ageability of Oregon Chardonnay.” - 93 Decanter

Special Price: $44.99 per bottle

2022 Royer, Chardonnay, Royer Estate “Witzel & Wind” Eola-Amity Hills $114.99 bottle / $299.97($99.99) three-pack
This very special bottling is from a particularly windy block of the vineyard planted on witzel soil-base and made by 00 Wines using their “black Chardonnay” method. The nose offers just the right amount of reduction as to elevate the other aromatic notes rather than obscure them. There is a lot going on here aromatically. The palate has real depth with a tactile mid-palate feel supporting the notion of tension between perfectly ripe fruit, chiseled acidity and a strong sense of terroir. Fantastic now, but as this wine has so much potential, I would really recommend drinking it between 2029 - 2035. This wine has to be in the conversation of best domestic Chardonnay we’ve ever offered. “Beguiling and confident, Chardonnay may be the future of the Willamette Valley, with the Eola-Amity Hills continuing to show Witzel & Wind comes from a so-named, mixed clonal block containing seven heritage clones of Chardonnay, planted on seven rootstocks. This wine is made using the ‘Black Chardonnay’ method, and its reductive nature shows a briny oyster shell mineral tone, smoky chipped flint, and sleek salted lemon wedge. The palate is exquisite, saline, and stony, with taut lemon oil, verbena, white pepper, and ample brine. Exquisite and classic.” - 96 Decanter

Special Price: $114.99 per bottle

2019 Timothy Malone, Pinot Noir, (La Colina) Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley $29.99
Tim is all about making well-balanced Pinot Noirs that reflect the sites from which they come.  Although the label humbly suggests this may be a blend of different vineyards from the Dundee Hills, this is 100% Pommard and Wadenswil clone Pinot from the prestigious La Colina vineyard. The beguiling nose which offers scents of raspberry fruit, violets and baking spices segues to the palate with really nice concentration, a strong mid-palate and seductive texture. Pristine fruit and a little earth are framed by fine-grained tannins and balancing acidity. This beats the pants off most $45+ Pinot Noirs.  A real deal in the world of Pinot Noir. Enjoy now through 2032. Limited - only 75 cases made. After the 2019 sells out, the delicious 2022 will be available.

Special Price: $29.99 per bottle

2022 Timothy Malone, Gamay, Jubilee, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley $21.99
Gamay, the grape variety behind all the sublime Cru Beaujolais we drink and sell, is somewhat of an afterthought in the minds of most Willamette Valley vineyard owners because they can make more money selling Pinot Noir. Fortunately, there are a few really good Gamay vineyards, and a few really good winemakers bringing Gamay to its full potential here in the Willamette Valley. Case in point, this 2022 Timothy Malone Jubilee vineyard Gamay is sensational , probably my favorite Gamay I’ve ever tasted from Oregon. The nose offers scents of baking spices and cranberries. The palate posses so much energy and vibrancy with a melange of black raspberry, cherry, lavender and five-spice notes. Enjoy with all forms of poultry and pork along with salmon and vegetable dishes now and through 2028.

Special Price: $21.99 per bottle

2023 Timothy Malone, Melon, Deux Vert, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley $19.99
Tim has a deft touch with white wine too as this Melon demonstrates. Melon, or Melon de Bourgogne, is the grape variety grown in the far western part of France’s Loire Valley that gives us the racy dry white wines we know as Muscadet (not Muscat!!!). Tim’s Melon shows notes of Granny Smith apples, lime and a touch of mint. This medium-bodied white is very refreshing and a delight to drink on its own or with seafood, salads or spicy dishes.

Special Price: $19.99 per bottle