Please join us this Saturday, July 31st, at Weygandt Wines, from 1PM until 4PM, for a tasting and discussion with Peter Weygandt. In addition, all of the wines poured will be on sale between 15-30% off! The Lineup:

Georg Mosbacher Forster Elster Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2007,  Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Organic - “Rich, round and spicy, offering grapefruit, nutmeg and white pepper aromas and flavors, with a savory aftertaste. Nicely balanced and long. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported.” – Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator.

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Steirische Klassik 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $18.99 – Sytria, Austria – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 12.5% abv – Organic - Southern Styria is a traditional production area which enjoys excellent growing conditions, especially for white grapes. For this reason, 95% of the vineyard area is devoted to white varieties and 5% to red wine grapes (Blauer Zweigelt). The Tement Estate lies on a narrow plateau, into which the slope of the Zieregg cru gently flattens. Tement’s ‘classic’ Sauvignon Blanc shows ripe tropical fruit flavors with sweet herbs in the finish.

Chateau Castigno Saint-Chinian Blanc 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 90% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne – 14% abv – Organic - With an average of 25 years for the vines, these grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils. Vinification is in 100% new oak barrels. The color is golden-yellow. The nose is of exotic fruits and an and impression of candied citrus. The palate is strong, round, well-balanced by firm acidity.

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Rosé “Les Griottes” 2009, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $13.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Organic - A light-bodied, cherry-scented rosé made from 100% Gamay. Domaine du Vissoux may just be the most perfect expression in my whole portfolio of what I seek, for the very ability to be natural and great, at once.

Giovanna Ciacci Rosso di Montalcino 2005, Regular Price $26.99, Sale price $22.99 – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 14% abv – Organic - The Ciacci family has been growers in the area of Sant’Antimo for centuries. The estate dates back 800 years and once totaled 700 hectares (nearly 1700 acres) in size. It has been divided over the generations (there are several producers named Ciacci, now). Giovanna markets most of her production under another label, through another importer and the style there is fairly modern. But Giovanna is at heart a traditionalist and produces, under the name Giovanna Ciacci, a limited quantity of traditionally crafted wines. A perfect fit for us. The Rosso is younger vines, less ideally situated parcels of Brunello di Montalcino. The 2005 is beautifully balanced and long, and a value.

Chateau Castigno “Secret des Dieux” Saint-Chinian 2007, Regular Price $25.99, Sale price $19.99 – Languedoc, France – 50% Syrah, 30% Carignan, 25% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre – 13.5% abv – Organic - Secret des Dieux is grown on clay and limestone soils (mainly limestone for the Grenache). The average age of the vines here is 25 years (but for the Carignan the vines are 100 years old). Deeply saturated dark red color. The nose gives refined impressions of red fruit and garigue. The palate is rich and generous with well-integrated tannins.

Sale prices last through July 31st. No other offers may be applied.

While we keep our store a constant, cool 67 degrees, we don’t spend every waking hour at the shop, so in venturing out, we do know what everyone else knows: it’s HOT! Really hot. And it has been for too long. That being said, we can offer something to help combat this seemingly unending heat wave. Something that can help take your minds off the unbearable swelter. Something that tastes great and is easy on your purse or wallet.

Please join us on Saturday, July 24, from 1-4pm for an in-store tasting and sale on 6 terrific wines at equally outstanding prices. The Lineup:

Verace Pinot Grigio 2009,  Regular Price $11.99, Sale Price $9.99 – Veneto, Italy – 100% Pinot Grigio – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Crisp green apple is at the core of this delicious, refreshing white with good definition, focus and clarity. This tasty Pinot Grigio offers good length and balance.

Strele Soave 2007, Regular Price $19.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Veneto, Italy – 100% Garganega – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - There’s a touch of gold in the color, with ripe, citrus and honey notes. Medium-bodied, with good clean fruit, turning to fresh lemon and almond on the finish.

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Les Galets Roses 2009, Regular Price $15.99, Sale Price $12.99 – Rhone, France – 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Carignan, 10% Syrah – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - Silver-pink. More floral than the Rose Fleur, displaying scents of yellow rose, Lily of the Valley and raspberry, with building spiciness. Despite its punchy depth of red fruit flavor, this comes off almost weightless. The spiciness carries assertively through the long, focused finish. – Rated 90 points, International Wine Cellar

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Pierre Chermette, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $13.59 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12% abv – Sustainable - The basic bottling (incorporating purchased fruit), 2008 Beaujolais Pierre Chermette could be mistaken for a Pinot Noir given its bright cherry fruit and almond extract high tones; chalky, salty, smoky mineral inflections; and a subtly silken texture that beautifully complements the fresh, slightly piquant edge to its fruit. It is an exuberant wine to drink within a year or two – as always – but one that will change the opinions of Beaujolais among those who taste it for the first time. – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Monte La Sarda Garnacha Viñas Viejos, Regular Price $10.99, Sale price $9.99 – Bajo Aragon, Spain – 100% Grenache – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - This supple, medium-bodied red offers sweet blackberry and dark chocolate flavors, with modest tannins and lively acidity.

Simone Scaletta Barbera d’Alba Sarsera DOC, Regular Price $26.99, Sale price $19.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14% abv – Organic -A rather intense nose which is flowery and fruity at the same time, with nice light overtones of spices and vanilla and a certain freshness. Round and delicate, it gives harmony to the typical complexity of Barbera. The flavour is full, persistent, nicely dry and velvety as well as strong bodied. Further time in bottle will define its peculiar taste and complexity for approx. 10 years. Simone Scaletta’s vines are all situated in Monforte d’Alba, home of some the greatest domaine names in Barolo. He tends all of his vines himself–he only has 4 hectares total, including 1 hectare of Barbera, single vineyard Sarsera. Aging of this Barbera was all done in older foudres and barriques. A full, complex Barbera, well worth its regular price. Decanting recommended.

Sale prices last through July 24th. No other offers may be applied.

Join us this Saturday at Weygandt Wines from 1PM until 4PM as we host a tasting of delicious Barberas and Dolcettos from Italy – Piedmont’s so-called “little” wines.

Both Dolcetto and Barbera originate in Italy’s Piedmont region. And while sometimes overshadowed by its powerful Nebbiolo-based wines (Barolo and Barbaresco) Dolcetto and Barbera nevertheless produce distinctive and incredibly versatile wines in their own right.

Dolcetto produces ruby-purple colored wines with rich cherry and bitter-cherry fruit character, firm acidity, and soft tannins. Barbera produces wines of ripe plum and cherry fruit character with spice notes, and fine natural acidity. The Lineup:

Schiavenza Dolcetto d’Alba “Vughera” 2005, Regular Price $21.99, Sale price $16.49 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Dolcetto – 14% abv – Organic

Schiavenza Dolcetto d’Alba “Vughera” 2006, Regular Price $21.99, Sale price $16.49 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Dolcetto – 14.5% abv – Organic

Schiavenza Barbera d’Alba 2004, Regular Price $24.99, Sale price $18.69 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Barbera – 14% abv – Organic

Simone Scaletta Barbera d’Alba “Sarsera” 2007, Regular Price $26.99, Sale price $19.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Barbera – 14% abv – Organic

Simone Scaletta Dolcetto d’Alba “Viglioni” 2007, Regular Price $18.99, Sale price $13.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Dolcetto – 13.5% abv – Organic

Boeri Barbera d’Asti Martinette 2005, Regular Price $18.99, Sale price $13.99 – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Barbera – 14% abv – Sustainable

Our 3WC (Weygandt Wines Wine Club) June Backyard BBQ Pack is now available for shipping or pickup in the store. If you have any questions about our Wine Club, please click HERE or call the shop at (202) 362-9463 and ask for Tim. The Lineup:

Classic Wine Club:

Domaine Les Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone Viognier 2009 – Rhone, France – 100% Viognier – Sustainable - Classic Viognier aromas of white peach, apricot and violet with gentle mineral notes adding energy. An exotic papaya quality lingers on the juicy finish. This is perfect as an aperitif or with freshly grilled halibut or rockfish.

Domaine Duseigneur Lirac Antares 2007 – Rhone, France – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre – 14.5% abv – Biodynamic - A bigger, richer offering, the 2007 Lirac Antares is a blend of 60% Grenache and equal parts Mourvedre and Syrah. The Grenache is aged in tank, and the other two varietals are kept in barrel. In keeping with the style of this vintage, it possesses plenty of freshness and ripeness in addition to deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit, licorice, smoke, and garrigue notes. This dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant as well as substantial Lirac should drink well for 5-6 years. This biodynamically-farmed vineyard, which has Philippe Cambie as its consultant, is a sleeper selection for value and high quality. – Rated 91 points, The Wine Avocate

Regular Price $38.98, 3WC Price $29.99 – A 23% Savings!

Gourmet Wine Club

Bodega Pedralonga Albariño Rias Baixas 2007 – Rias Baixas, Spain – 100% Albarino – 13% abv – Sustainable - A very full-bodied nose with notes of grapefruit, apple and floral hints. Structured and robust on the palate with prominent minerality,  lactic hints and slight, fruity acidity. Quite a bit richer and fuller than your average Albariño, serve this with a nice, oily fish such as mackerel or fresh sardines.

Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Le Rouvre 2007 – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Dark and winey, with crushed currant, fig and boysenberry fruit laid over a strong graphite note. Additional tobacco, plum sauce and coffee notes fill in the briary finish. Best from 2010 through 2013. 2,080 cases made. – Rated 91 points, Wine Spectator

Regular Price $63.98, 3WC Price $49.99 – A 22% Savings!

Deluxe Wine Club

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Le Chevalieres 2007 – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – Organic - The most elegant, and most complex, aromas to this point with citrus blossom, anise, delicate pain grille notes and a background hint of orange peel marries into very pure and stony flavors that are chiseled and gorgeously intense, all wrapped in a dry and mouth coating finish that again offers excellent length for a wine of this level. As it usually is, this is the best of this fine group of villages wines. Recommended. – Rated 90 points, Burghound

La Campana Brunello di Montalcino – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese Grosso – 14% abv – Sustainable - Medium-deep red. Ripe red cherry, plum, marjoram, cinnamon and smoke on the nose and palate. Creamy and sweet, this Rosso offers lovely texture and intensity to its flavors, with fresh acidity giving it a penetrating quality. Though it starts off rather sweet and lush, it finishes with substantial tongue-coating tannins that leave you scrambling for something to eat.

Regular Price $125.98, 3WC Price $99.99 – A 24% Savings!

Ahhhh, sunshine. It’s always a good thing to look outside and see something other than gray skies and black snow. As many of our regulars have noticed and taken full advantage of, we’ve been trying to clear some space by way of our Winter Clearance Sale. While that is pretty much over, save for some tremendous wines from the Mosel, the sale did serve its intended purpose. So with our doors wide open and our moods lifted, we introduce four new wines to the shop. The two Chardonnays are a refreshing change from what many have come to expect from this noble grape and we would especially like to encourage all who have written off this varietal because of bad experiences with the domestic breed. The Chianti is about as good as this region gets. If you’ve never tasted a wine from Chinon, there is no better example than this Cabernet Franc. And if you have, be prepared for a mini-explosion in your mind. The Lineup:

Domaine de La Chapelle Saint Veran Madame Noly 2008, $25.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 13% abv – Very juicy, with a supple texture framing apricot, orange and mineral notes, which are more up front than on the back end, though this does linger.

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Blanc Cepage Chardonnay 2008, $21.99/btl – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – High-toned, ester-rich citrus and distilled pit fruit aromas; piquant nuttiness; and a soft, oily texture characterize Chermette’s 2008 Beaujolais Blanc. A lactic note jars with the juiciness of citrus in the finish, but there is a satisfying underlying chalkiness as well as excellent sheer length.

L’Arco Chianti 2007, $13.99/btl – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 13.5% abv – With a bright ruby-garnet cast, this Chianti displays a spicy red currant and tobacco nose, plenty of zip and drive, abundant fruit, and a tonic acidity on the finish. A great pairing with pizza or pasta with red sauce.

Beatrice et Pascal Lambert Chinon Les Perruches 2006, $22.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Cabernet Franc – 13.5% abv – Rock-solid, with a briary undertow carrying the macerated plum and cherry fruit, all followed by sweet tapenade and aged tobacco notes on the long finish. Even better than the 2005. Drink now through 2011. 200 cases imported. – WS 90 points

We, here at the shop, have had just about enough of this white-powdery-turned-black-icy-roadblock-stuff. Supposedly, we have but one more little storm left tomorrow night, and that may mark the end of what one of our outstanding customers called thundersnowpocalypse fluricane precipageddon 2010. Whatever the case, we’ve got a business to run because we know that regardless of what Mother Nature decides to use us as, most of us need some something to warm our spirits.

On Saturday, February 13, between noon and 5 pm, Bailey Kasten from Double Premium Confections will be in the shop to offer tastes of her exquisite chocolates. And to make your Valentine’s Day that much more special, we’ll be offering tastes of six of our fabulous sparkling wines from France and Italy, along with a special surprise that will be unveiled at the event.

We’re not going to sit back and try to tell you what the perfect gift is for Valentine’s Day. To the contrary, if you need advice from us, you’re probably in pretty bad shape to begin with. However, we will tell you that be it Valentine’s Day or Arbor Day or Groundhog Day, sumptuous sparkling wines and captivating chocolates are a match made in gastronomic heaven. And they make a pretty good Valentine’s Day gift…The Lineup:

Boeri Moscato d’Asti Ribota 2008, $17.99/btl – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Moscato – 5.5% abv – Clean and crisp, with lemony character. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, with a simple finish. There’s lots of melon and lemon on the palate. Drink now. 250 cases imported.

San Giovanni Prosecco Brut, $18.99/btl – Veneto, Italy – 90% Prosecco, 10% Chardonnay – 11.5% abv – Sparklingly clean, pleasantly fruity fragrance of apple and slightly reminiscent of roses. Thanks to its soft and harmonious taste, it is suitable as an aperitif, with fish and cheese snacks, but fits perfectly with chocolate!

Hubert Clavelin et Fils Cremant du Jura Brut Comte Chardonnay Tete de Cuvee NV, $20.99/btl – Jura, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12% abv – For over two decades, Hubert Clavelin and his importer have been promoting non-vintage Cremant du Jura Brut-Comte Chardonnay Tete de Cuvee, and this latest batch (lot number LBRC05, in tiny print on the back label) – based on the 2005 vintage, and having spent 36 months sur lattes – is as fine as any I can recall, and a wine that deserves to be taken seriously at the dinner table. A hint of Jura-typical pungency figures amid aromas of buckwheat, lime zest, and apple cider. With fine mousse and impressive vinosity, this coats the palate with zesty piquancy and saline, mineral-meaty savor of scallops and bacon. Both fascination and versatility are guaranteed for the coming year. – WA 90 points

Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Brut Methode Traditionnelle NV, $20.99/btl - Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 13% abv – The latest rendition of Aubuisieres Non-Vintage Vouvray Brut Methode Traditionelle smells of ripe melons and narcissus, with a whiff of snuffed candle wick. Pineapple and lime join the melons on a juicy, delicate palate, with hints of salt as well as pungent citrus zest and smoke adding to the invigoration conveyed by a fine stream of bubbles. I was surprised to find the finish entirely satisfying and fruit-filled despite there being a mere 2 grams of residual sugar. The latest installment of what is surely the consistently best value in its appellation. – WA 89 points

Domaine Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace NV, $23.99/btl – Alsace, France – 60% Pinot Blanc, 40% Auxerrois – 12.5% – Based on the same varietal blend as their Pinot Blanc, the Barthelme’s non-vintage Cremant d’Alsace (the lot under review is L34) offers citrus zest and floral aromas, delicate mousse, and a salty, chalky, wet stone-inflected and subtly bitter finish. Enjoy this admirably clear, pure traditional sparkling wine over the next 6-9 months. Compared with it, most Alsace Cremant is sadly lacking in concentration or personality. – WA 88 points

Domaine de La Chapelle Cremant de Bourgogne 2007, $26.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – New to the shop, a deliciously fruit forward sparkler!

Seriously folks, who opens Barolo for everyone to taste? I’m not going to name any names, but their initials are Weygandt Wines. Nebbiolo is one of those grapes that is often not recognized, mainly due to the dent it can put in one’s wallet. Who takes a chance on a $75 wine that they’ve never had anything remotely similar to? Well, today is your chance to try one of the legendary wines of Italy. Beef, Boar, Bison – really anything that roams the earth on four legs is a good match for this powerful yet elegant wine. There’s really nothing quite like a well crafted Barolo. And with three vintages that scored 95, 96 and 96 respectively (1999, 2001 and 2004) from The Wine Advocate, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned Barolo vet, you’ll be a happy camper if you come by the shop today. The lineup can be found here.

As the days get shorter and colder, one must think of self-preservation. And while there is nothing we can do about the temperature outside, we can make suggestions on what to do to help protect yourself from the elements:

1. Wear a coat.

2. Don’t go outside.

3. While not outside, eat hearty stews and drink Barolo.

While #’s 1 and 2 might fall into the categories of either obvious or not possible, #3 is what we would like to highlight. And with that in mind, we present to you the wines of Luciano Pira:

One doesn’t go into a renowned area like Barolo to find something ordinary for one’s clients. We had the good fortune to find not only a top quality producer, but a like-minded one, as well, in Luciano Pira. There are no barriques in Luciano’s cellar for Barolo. He has only 8 hectares total of Dolcetto, Barbera, Barolo. He works the vine himself and has a high proportion of old vines near Serralunga and crafts traditional Barolo, with great depth and balance. Moreover, Luciano has parcels in Il Prapo and Terruzza, two of the top single vineyards around Serralunga. I personally love great Barolo and so it was easy to love Luciano Pira’s wines. – Peter Weygandt

On Saturday, January 9, between noon and 4 pm, we’ll open 5 of our flagship Piedmontese wines. In addition, all of these wines will be on sale for 25% off! For one day only, come in, taste and go home with some truly special wines at a terrific price. Just make sure you start the stew before you come into the store. The lineup:

Schiavenza Barolo 2004, Sale Price $44.99 (Regularly $58.99) – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14.5% abv – The 2004 Barolo is a floral mid-weight Barolo with terrific delineation and clarity in its dark fruit, menthol and spices. The tannins remain a touch firm, but the wine’s balance is impeccable, particularly at this level. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Proprietor Luciano Pira is typically among the last producers to bottle his Barolos, so these 2004s are the current releases. Incidentally, the Schiavenza family also runs an informal trattoria in the center of town that features authentic regional cooking at very fair prices. – WA 89+ points

Schiavenza Barolo Bricco Cerretta 2004, Sale Price $49.99 (Regularly $67.99) – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14.5% abv – The 2004 Barolo Bricco Cerretta is a gorgeous wine redolent of cherries, plums, spices and minerals in a layered, delicate expression of Serralunga Nebbiolo. Sweet scents of tar, smoke and leather make an appearance on the vibrant, pure finish. This gorgeous wine from Schiavenza is more approachable today than the imposing Prapo. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Proprietor Luciano Pira is typically among the last producers to bottle his Barolos, so these 2004s are the current releases. Incidentally, the Schiavenza family also runs an informal trattoria in the center of town that features authentic regional cooking at very fair prices. – WA 92 points

Schiavenza Barolo Vigneto Bricco Cerretta 2001, Sale Price $44.99 (Regularly $59.99) – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14% abv – Complex, intense ruby red with garnet reflections fruity, fine, ample and ripe red fruits, note of liquorice and spice. Full-bodied, fresh, lusty tannins, balanced, very long persistence. Fermented and macerated in cement for 15-20 days and aged in Slovenian barrels from 30 to 40 hectoliters for three years. Great with grilled and braised red meat as well as aged cheeses, A big wine with great aging potential.

Schiavenza Barolo Vigneto Prapo 2001, Sale Price $41.99 (Regularly $54.99) – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14% abv – Complex, intense ruby red with garnet reflections, this Barolo has ripe fruit with hints of rose and violas. Very intense and typical for this cru. Good structure, well defined with big tannins, excellent acidity and long after taste. This is a wine with character and personality. Fermentated and macerated in cement for 15-20 days (25-30 degrees) and aged in Slovenian barrels from 20 to 40 hectoliters for three years. Perfectly suitable with red meat, game and seasoned cheese – recommended with typical Piemonte dishes.

Schiavenza Barolo Riserva 1999, Sale Price $59.99 (Regularly $79.99) – Piedmont, Italy – 100% Nebbiolo – 14% abv – Medium ruby. This Riserva is the finest wine I have tasted from this estate. It displays a fresh, floral nose that opens onto the palate, revealing highly attractive layers of sweet red fruit and toasted oak nuances with exceptional length and fine tannins. It is surprisingly medium-bodied for a wine from Serralunga in this vintage; in fact its flavors are much more typical of a Barolo from La Morra. It should drink well to age 15. Drink after 2007. – WA 92 points

Thanks to everyone who stopped by on Saturday to help us welcome Cecile Tremblay to the store. It was a good opportunity to taste some really special wines from Burgundy. Keep checking in as we hope to have regular visits by our winemakers which means more great wines to try. For free.

As for this week, we have another special event scheduled for Saturday (details to come), so this week’s lineup applies to Monday thru Friday, and as always, 4-7 pm:

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Costieres de Nimes Les Galtes Dores 2008, $14.99/btl – Rhone, France – 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 30% Vermentino, 7% Marsanne,3% Clairette – 13% abv – The elegant white wine offering, the 2008 Les Galets Dores (nearly equal parts Grenache, Roussanne, Rolle, and tiny amounts of Marsanne and Clairette), offers notes of honeyed grapefruit and buttery citrus along with fresh acidity, medium body, plenty of flavor, and a dry, crisp finish. It should be drunk over the next year. – WA 88 points

Weingut Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Schieferterrassen 2006, $19.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – There’s appealing flavors of peach, spice and slate, yet this seems a little slack, lacking the core of acidity to give all the components verve and snap. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 88 points

Memo Sangiovese 2008, $10.99/btl – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 13% abv – Strong ruby red color in the glass, with an intense and persistent nose. This fruity Tuscan wine has notes of cherries, prunes and vanilla. Medium bodied, slightly tannic, balanced and ready to drink. Cheap and cheerful!

Domaine La Bastide Syrah Les Genets Vieilles Vignes 2007, $12.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Syrah – Medium-bodied, with dense red fruit flavors and tobacco leaf notes. There’s pepper and graphite on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,000 cases imported. – WS 86 points

Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone La Ferrande 2006, $21.99/btl – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 14% abv – As remarkable as 2007 is, there are 2006s that should not be forgotten. Domaine Ferrand (an excellent producer of Chateauneuf du Pape) has turned out a 100% Syrah cuvee, the 2006 Cotes du Rhone La Ferrand. Its opaque ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of pepper, blackberries, licorice, incense, and earth. Dense and rich with surprising complexity and character for a southern Syrah, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine la Berangeraie Les Caminoles Cahors Malbec 2007, $14.99/btl – Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – In 1971 Andre Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie, who is originally from Champagne, and planted their vineyard near Grezels, on the red clay/iron stone soil known as Grezes. Their two children, Maurin and Juline not only joined them in the family business but so too have their respective spouses. Thus the three couples all work together and do everything in this twelve hectare domaine themselves – the pruning, the treatments of the all-organic vines and the harvesting all by hand (a disappearing practice in Cahors where harvesting is now done almost exclusively by machine). This is a lighter bodied Malbec from where the grape was originally grown. Malbec lovers should try this as a nice alternative to their standard powerhouses from Argentina.

Domaine Alary La Grange Daniel Blanc 2008, $14.99/bottle – The 2008 La Grange Daniel blanc (100% Roussanne) could easily be compared to a top vintage of Beaucastel’s renowned white Chateauneuf du Pape (which is dominated by Roussanne). Honeysuckle, rose petal, and apricot notes emerge from this tank-fermented and aged white. It exhibits surprising body and flavor intensity along with beautiful richness and length. I wouldn’t age it beyond a year, but it is ideal for current drinking with intensely flavored shellfish and poultry dishes. – WA 90 points

Soellner Grüner Veltliner Hengstberg 2007, $21.99/bottle – Ripe peach flavors dominate this medium-bodied white, which features some almond notes and a smoky finish. Drink Now. 500 cases made. – WS 85 points

Schiavenza Dolcetto d’Alba Vughera 2005, $21.99/bottle – Medium bodied with dark plums and cherries, good with pasta and pizza. Drink young. A classic Dolcetto d’Alba.

Domaine Charvin Vin de Pays à Côté 2007, $14.99/bottle – I don’t know why Laurent Charvin never shows me this wine when I taste with him as the 2007 is a brilliant effort. A blend of 42% Grenache, from 60-year-old and 45-year-old parcels, and 58% Merlot from much younger vines, aged for 18 months in concrete tanks, and bottled without filtration, it represents a gorgeous bargain. A deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by sweet black cherry, spice box, pepper, and unsmoked cigar tobacco notes. The wine possesses a ripe, round texture, and a long, lusty finish. This is pure hedonism at its best combined with the unmistakable character of Provence. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine les Aphillanthes Vin de Pays 2007, $13.99/bottle – A blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Grenache, the 2007 Vin de Pays possesses straightforward, crunchy, chunky, juicy notes of kirsch, black currants, licorice, and loamy soil undertones. This fresh, lively, bistro-styled red sells for a song. Consume it over the next year. – WA 87 points

Domaine Font-Mars Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $7.99/bottle – Firm, with plum and berry flavors, and some herbal notes on the finish. Drink now. 1,250 cases imported. – WS 83 points