2023 Atalier by Raul Perez, Albariño, A Cruz das Ánimas, Rías Baixas, Spain $31.99
Over the last few years, many of you, like myself, have come to realize that Albariño can be seriously good, world class white wine. The Atalier from Raúl Pérez is an example of the ecstatic heights that old-vine Albariño can reach when treated with the respect, care, and the patience it deserves. Everything Raul Perez touches seems to turn to gold. Certainly, that’s true here with his Albariño. A Cruz das Ánimas (“The Crossroads of Souls”) is nothing short of explosive. Atalier comes from two parcels of own-rooted, pre-phylloxera Albariño vines in the Cambados area of the Salnés valley, located in the southern portion on the northwest tip of Spain. Aromas of oyster shell, lemon zest and jasmine segue to a palate of great intensity, emphasizing the tension between ripe stone fruits, quince, obvious minerality and balancing acidity. Enjoy with taps or anything coming out of the ocean now through 2032.

Special Price: $31.99 per bottle

2022 Arterberry Maresh, Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR SALE $29.99 - Reg. $33.50
Jim Arterberry's "Dundee Hills" bottling is comprised of mostly Weber and Maresh vineyard fruit and drinks more like a Pinot selling for $45 than for one less than $30.  The elegant yet lush Arterberry Maresh house style is on full display here and offers tangy blue and red fruits, Dundee Hills earthy notes and fantastic balance. "A deep magenta, the 2022 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is lifted and floral, with fruit verging more toward raspberry than strawberry, with dusty rose and hints of spice. It's sleek and racy, with supple textures and crisp wild berries cascading across a core of juicy acidity. This finishes long and staining yet remarkably fresh, leaving a lingering whisper of licorice and a gentle tension. Drink through 2030” - 91 Vinous & “Pommard, Wadenswil (50%) and a bit of Dijon, the youngest vines on the Maresh estate, are from 1997, as well as plantings from 1991, 83, and 70, all of it own-rooted. Earth and rose petals announce gorgeous aromatics. Winemaker Jim Maresh destems 100%. It sees 18-24 months in barrel. At $33.50, this may be the best deal in American wine. Earthen aromatics, pine bough, and blood orange spritz. The palate is fresh with blue and red bramble fruits, spicy clove and savoury herbaceousness.” - 96 Decanter.

Special Price: $29.89 per bottle

2023 Kelley Fox, Pinot Blanc, Stater, Dundee Hills, OR $33.89 bottle / $179.94($29.99) six-pac
Let’s keep this simple. We’ve been big fans of the Kelley Fox wines for over ten years and this is our favorite Pinot Blanc from her yet. Here are my tasting notes: “Pretty nose with orchard fruits. The palate has great texture and balance. Delicious fruit with a seductively lush finish. Yum!”

Special Price: $33.89 per bottle

2022 Parsec Cider, Mountain Rose Variety, Hood River, Oregon $24.99
Sec Wines first ever cider! This inaugural bottling from Parsec Cider is proof that great fruit, even if they're apples, can become something delicious in the glass. At the foot of Mt. Hood, the Kiyokawa Family has been cultivating a small number of Mountain Rose apples from 100 year old trees. This special apple has slightly pink blush and green skin that reveals an intense red flesh when cut into. Perfect for a naturally rosé cider that has fresh and perfumed aromatics of ripe strawberries, watermelon, and ruby red grapefruit. The pressed juice is fermented for 6 months until dry and then primed with wildflower honey before bottling for a pleasingly petite persistent bubble profile. The palate is fresh, yet dry, with apple, strawberry, and grapefruit notes. Best enjoyed from a wine glass and only 7.4% alcohol the cider works well as an aperitif. Give it a try! - Lance’s pick

Special Price: $24.99 per bottle

2019 Castell'in Villa, Chianti Classico, Tuscany $29.99 bottle / $171.00($28.50) six-pack
Dear Tuscan Cognoscenti - this is it. If you love old-school, traditional Tuscan wine like I do, this is your ticket. While Castlell'in Villa makes a couple other wines, it's their "normale" that always goes into my cellar. I'm not alone: "Chianti Classico does not get any better or any more traditional than this.” - Ian d’Agata, Vinous. Castell’ in Villa is not only my personal favorite Chianti Classico producer, it also became out best selling Chianti producer. “The 2019 Chianti Classico has changed dramatically since I last tasted it, either because of more time in bottle, or because this is a later bottling. In any event, the 2019 is dense, ample and resonant in feel. Readers will find a serious, texturally intense Chianti Classico that delivers the goods, big time. Drink through 2034.” - 94 Vinous

Special Price: $29.99 per bottle

2020 I Custodi, Etna Bianco, Ante, Sicily $29.99 bottle / $171.00($28.50) six-pack
This white from Mount Etna is so damn delicious! A blend of 90% Carricante with a little Menella and Grecanico, the Ante (Etna spelled backwards) is at once rich and lush with apricot and nectarine fruit while pulsating with Etna’s volcanic minerality. I Custodi’s cellar master is long-time Etna guru Salvo Foti (formerly Benanti’s winemaker). Foti considers himself a bianchista (white wine lover) who prizes elegance and tension in his wines while allowing the volcanic spice to shine forth at the same time. Enjoy now and over the next few years with lobster, prawns, scallops, swordfish, chicken or pork dishes. I love this wine.

Special Price: $29.99 per bottle

2019 I Custodi, Etna Rosso, Contrada Muganazzi, Aetneus, Sicily $36.89 / $209.94($34.99) six-pack
I always want to like Etna Rosso as they are after all, the darlings of sommeliers, podcasters and instagram stars all over the world. They often, however, fall short of excellence or are really good but way over-priced.  With the 2019 I Custodi Aetneus, there is an Etna Rosso that I can truly get excited about on all fronts.  Comprised of organic Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Alicante vines of up to 150+ years old, aromas of tar, licorice, cassis and fine pipe tobacco waft up from the glass. The palate is refined and elegant with a quiet power. Notes of dark fruit intermingle with a strong core of volcanic minerality and an earthy finish framed by silky tannins.

Special Price: $36.89 per bottle

2021 I Custodi, Etna Rosso, Pistus, Sicily $23.89
The little, precocious brother of the I Custodi Aetneus (above) is a lot of fun. While the Aetneus is built for the long haul, the Pistus is ready to go now. Aromas of cool earth, leather and plums segue to flavors of strawberry, dark plum with a lashing of volcanic minerality all framed by silky tannins. This red drinks a little like a $35 Langhe Nebbiolo, but with more energy and vibrancy. A super deal.

Special Price: $23.89 per bottle

2019 Feudo Montoni, Nero d’Avola, Vrucara, Sicily $59.89 bottle / $329.94($54.99) six-pack
Well, well, well…we’re promoting another $50+ Nero d’Avola - our third in 14 years to be exact and all three have been Fedudo Montoni’s great Vrucara! Before we became familiar with Montoni’s Vrucara, we never imagined that we would be in this position. But hey, you gotta be open to new things and realize you don’t know everything, which I’m forced to acknowledge pretty much every day.  Anyway, this is exciting red wine from pre-phylloxera vines in the Vrucara vineyard containing a unique genetic code of Nero d’Avola, which has been guarded for centuries at Montoni. Bright ruby red, the Vrucara has an intense nose with earthy aromas and notes of dark plums, roses, eucalyptus and balsamic. The incredibly well-balanced (it’s really true!) palate has flavors that reprise the aromatic themes and is kept fresh with good acidity and soft tannins wrapped in a velvety texture. The Vinous review nailed it: “Dark depths of crushed plums, black cherries, balsam herbs and dark chocolate form a beguiling display as the 2019 Nero d’Avola Vrucara smolders in the glass. This is pure elegance, silky and textural, yet full of youthful tension, with tart wild berries and zesty citrus colliding under an air of inner rose. The 2019 is structured with sweet tannins and is dramatically extended, showing hints of brown spice, mocha and clove that linger on and on and on. This is a powerful rendition of Vrucara. Drink through 2031.” - 93+ Vinous

Special Price: $59.99 per bottle

2023 Bruno Verdi, Pinot Grigio, Oltrepo Pavese, Italy $19.99
Yes, really good Pinot Grigio for under $20 that’s actually worthy of your attention.This wine offers more aromatic complexity than most Pinot Grigio/Gris with a palate that is well-balanced with nice texture, crisp acidity and real mineral action.I can’t think of a Pinot Gris/Grigio from anywhere that comes close to the Bruno Verdi for under $25.

Special Price: $19.99 per bottle

2023 Mas Des Quernes, Les Petits Traves, Langeudoc Blanc, So. France $22.99
Atop the AOP ‘Terasses du Larzac’, 11 hectares of vines and olive trees blend into the terraced scrubland along the Larzac River. The shallow soils mixed with galets (fine river stones) encourage the vine’s roots to grow deep to find their nutrients. This particular blend is 60% Rolle (Vermentino) and 40% Grenache Blanc. Like many wines from this region the nose is very expressive with lime zest, stone fruits, and pear. The palate is fleshy and textured with excellent drive throughout the long finish. Drawn back again and again for another sniff and sip, this wine was a pleasure to drink. - Lance’s pick

Special Price: $22.99 per bottle

2021 Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone, So. Rhone Valley $29.99
The “Baby Beaucastel” is no ordinary Cotes-du-Rhone.  The Coudoulet vineyard is immediately adjacent to the Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyard, but was not included in the appellation created in 1936. On the same limestone plateau with the same “galets” the Coudoulet is a blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah & 20% Cinsault made in the same way as the Beaucastel Chateauneuf.  The main difference is that the Beaucastel Chateauneuf is extremely full-bodied, more structured and burdened with more alcohol. The 2021 Coudoulet Cotes-du-Rhone is remarkably fresh and vibrant with a modest alcohol (for the region).  “Lovely density and darkness to the colour, density of fruit too on the palate. Very well balanced, with dense, deep, grippy tannins. The Mourvèdre makes itself known this year - intense damson and licorice on the long finish. A good value pick “A terrific vintage for this wine, which was bottled just a couple of weeks prior to my late June visit, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a blend of 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus 10% Cinsault. From a vineyard just outside the boundaries of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it's a remarkably consistent wine and always a solid value. Scents of sunbaked stones, black cherries and licorice appear on the nose, joined by hints of purple raspberries and dark chocolate, while the medium to full-bodied palate is lush and velvety, finishing long and complex.” - 92 Wine Advocate

Special Price: $29.99 per bottle