Here are six shining examples of why so many people say that once you hit that $20-ish price point, the return on your wine investment increases exponentially. The following bottle (offered in a rather appealing mixed case at the end) easily prove the wisdom of those words. I’m more than a little excited to get this offer in front of you and know you’ll be as impressed as I was by all of them. Finding wines like these is truly why I love what I get to do every day here at the wine shack! Enjoy…..
2020 PALACIOS REMONDO Rioja “La Montesa”
$24.95 bottle/ $239.00 case
After a two year absence I’m more than a little excited to have one of my all-time favorite Spanish reds back in stock! This is is an absolute knockout Rioja. So flavorful, with dark berries, earthy spice, and a long, clinging finish. If the number one job of wine is to be delicious, then this über-drinkable red more than fulfills that requirement! Unusually for Rioja, it is 100% garnacha with no tempranillo in the mix. A gorgeous, heady, and exceedingly well made Spanish red wine that’s impossible NOT to love. Even my hard to impress wife, who generally is not a fan of Spanish reds, found this quite to her liking, which is assuredly a ringing endorsement!!
>> 93 pts- Vinous: ”This boasts a purple-red color. Its enticing, earthy nose presents notes of sour cherry intertwined with herbal and grapefruit undertones. The palate is precise and exhilarating with a taut profile that vibrates with a juicy mouthfeel, all balanced on a refreshing core. It’s an alluring, flavorful red.”
>> 93 pts- Wine Advocate: “They are going for lower yields and less bottles of the 2020 La Montesa as this is a powerful vintage; it’s structured, textured, and it’s powerful; a little darker than in previous years. The tannins are very fine with a subtle texture.”
2021 MAS DE GOURGONNIER Les Beaux des Provence Rouge
$20.95 bottle/ $201.00 case
If you ever feel like being transported to a sidewalk table at your favorite bistro in Provence, where a savory plate of lamb that’s been slowly braised with white beans, rosemary, and garlic that’s been lightly sprinkled with lemon zest and parsley is waiting for your attention, then take along a bottle of this delightfully expressive Provençal red to complete the experience! From the traditionally shaped bottle to the dark and juicy wine within, this speaks so eloquently of the character of the south of France. The family owned Gourgonnier estate was certified organic (yes, it’s “natural”) in 1970, when such radical behavior was considered foolish by your neighbors, rather than the right thing to do. A blend of mostly grenache and syrah with bits of cab sauv and carignan, this bursts from the glass with wild blackberry, ground pepper, earth, mineral, and coffee sensations. Fresh, with bright acids and smooth tannins that keep the wine fresh and you coming back for another satisfying taste. So food friendly, it was enjoyed with friends last night over a couple of pizzas from Lovely’s and it couldn’t have been better! This will be a sublime accompaniment to your summer dining plans, I promise!!
2022 LUIGI BAUDANA Langhe Bianco “Dragon”
$20.95 bottle/ $201.00 case
From the very first taste of this irresistibly appealing Piedmontese 
white I knew it would be on of my “Wines of Summer 2024”! Vibrantly fresh and bright, the citrus and mineral tinged fruit has an almost electric charge as it ricochets across your tastebuds. My wine (and very good) friend Jeff, who knows his way around a good bottle or two, simply said “Wow, this is delicious!” last night when I unscrewed the cap on this thankfully unoaked example of Italian winemaking know how. That’s basically the feedback I’ve had from everyone who’s tried it, and I can guarantee you, and whoever is lucky enough to share it with you, will be equally impressed with this awesomely food friendly bianco!
>> 91 pts- Wine Advocate: “A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Nascetta and Riesling, the Luigi Baudana 2022 Langhe Bianco Dragon makes a very pretty appearance in the glass with brilliant luminosity. The wine plays its cards well with complexity, a tropical side with star fruit, minerality and sliced honeydew melon (the ripe side of the cut*).”
*- and all due credit to critic Monica Larner, whose writing I generally agree with, for specifying which part of the honeydew melon applies here.💪
2016 CHATEAU DE CUGAT Bordeaux Supérieur
$20.95 bottle/ $201.00 case
Wine like this from producers I’ve never heard of are a huge part of the fun of this job! Also a big reason why I’m still stashing bottles of 2016 Bordeaux into my own “cellar” (i.e.- “corner of my basement”) at home! Two big points about this unexpected delight:
1)- 2016 was an absolute cracker of a vintage across the heralded landscape of Bordeaux. So many wine achieved perfect ripeness and balance due to classic growing conditions throughout the year.
2)- I’ve said this so many times before: in a great vintage like 2016 even unknown producers like Cugat tend to wildly exceed their under-the-radar status and produce profoundly delicious, age worthy wines that sell for bargain prices considering the quality achieved.
From the right bank of Bordeaux, this is a blend of 70/30 merlot & cab sauv that is just peeking into its prime drinking window. Elegantly textured with expressive aromas and flavors of plums, cassis, cedar, saddle leather, and spice that all come together effortlessly. The mouthfeel is silky, rich and full with a perfect tannin/acid balance. The longer it’s open the more nuance is revealed, and I can see this getting even better over the next 5+ years. It’s a remarkable $20 Bordeaux where this level of satisfaction will usually run you 2 to 3 times this price!
2018 TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer
$19.95 bottle/ $192.00 case
Coming from one of Alsace’s legendary wineries, this is nothing less than among the best gewürztraminers I’ve ever had! So vibrantly fresh and pure with amazing levels of intensity allied with impeccable balance. TOTALLY DRY, yet richly textured, it’s a phenomenal food wine in a perfect drinking window. If you have any thoughts of meals that feature Asian/Indian/Middle Eastern food (and don’t we all plan/dream of such meals?!), then this is an achingly perfect pairing. If you think that all gewurz is sweet and generally not worth your time, then I would humbly ask for the opportunity to shift your erroneous assumption!
>> 91 pts- Wine Spectator: “A racy Gewürztraminer, boasting exuberant lychee, sappy peach and ginger layered with floral perfume. Despite the ripe lushness, this has good balance and definition, with dried green herbs, crushed stone and baking spices weaving through the lively, acidic finish. Drink now through 2028.”
>> 92 pts- Wine Enthusiast: “Both flinty reduction and rose notes play on the nose. The palate comes in with concentration and a pithy, phenolic texture that lends structure and backbone to this rich, rounded, almost oily but dry wine. Pleasant citrus-pith bitterness sits well with the bold, warm but dry generosity.”
2020 MUSELLA Valpolicella Superiore
$19.95 bottle/ $192.00 case
Valpolicella is revered across northeastern Italy as the red wine that seemingly goes with every kind of food. A bit like the Veneto’s version of Barbera. The problem is there’s an ocean of mediocre examples out there so I’m always skeptical when presented with a new one. Obviously, since you’re reading about this Musella. it’s anything but average. In fact, it might be the best Valpolicella Superiore I’ve had in years. Billows with enticing aromas of dark cherries, earth, spices, and baking cocoa/coffee. The richly textured palate echoes all of that, but more deeply. It finishes with a pop of acidity on the smoothly textured, clinging finish. Really great $20 Valpolicella that will be perfect on the dinner table tonight!
>> 92 pts- Vinous: “The 2020 Valpolicella blossoms in the glass with a blend of crushed stones and peppery wild berries lifted by violet florals. Softly textured and more savory than sweet, with tension that mounts as rose and raspberry tones resonate over a core of saline minerals. Zesty acidity maintains fantastic balance as the 2020 finish crisply refreshing. A blend of corvina, corvinone, rondinella, and barbera.”
~ ~ A CASE OF (AND FOR) THE GOOD LIFE: I can hardly express the potential for future life enhancement the above six wines offer. But if you’re the trusting sort (and in this instance you 100% should be) then I am more than a little pleased to offer a gently hand packed case containing 2 bottles each of the above six liquid pleasures. All can be yours for a most reasonable $215.00 per box. At an average of $17.91 a bottle your drinking future is not only very bright, but pretty darn affordable as well!!
~~ A Case of the Good Life: $215.00
~~ A Half-Case of the Good Life: $114.00 for one bottle each of he above six wines
On the off chance you might want a little more of that one and a little less of the others, then please feel free to express your individuality by taking advantage of the following mix & match discounts…
Mix 6-11 bottles save 10% off the per bottle price
Mix 12-29 bottles save 15%
Mix 30+ bottles save 20%
