WINE DEALS 7/27/2025
1) Bodega Sierra de Tolono Tempranillo 2022, Rioja: $23.99 It’s known for its focus on purity of fruit, achieved through minimal intervention winemaking and aging in neutral oak and amphorae. This Tempranillo showcases ripe red and black fruit notes, with hints of spice, earth, and a refreshing acidity. Sourced from old vines in the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño mountains, benefiting from the high altitude and limestone-rich soils, which contribute to the wine’s freshness and depth.
2) Mary Taylor Finca El Molar Macabeo 2023, Albacete, Manchuela, Spain: $19.99 89 Points (2023 vintage review) – John Gilman, View From The Cellar “The 2023 Macabeo from Finca El Molar has a gentle orange cast to its color from a bit of skin contact after the fermentation. The grapes are grown organically and the 2023 Macabeo offers up a deep and complex bouquet of desiccated pears, tangerine, pecans, a lovely base of soil tones, wild fennel and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, complex and full-bodied, with good acids, fine focus and grip and a long, well balanced and tasty finish. This is a very well made wine that will drink very well for at least the next five or six years. My gut feeling is that if the period of skin contact was reduced from seven days to four or five, a bit more primary fruit character might shine through and add even further complexity to what is already a very tasty bottle. 2025-2030+.”
3) Mary Taylor Elabore Par Olivier Gessler Cotes de Gascogne Vigneron a Panjas 2023: $13.99 First settling in Gascony from Switzerland in 1928, the Gessler family is now in their fourth generation of winemaking. Now certified sustainable and practicing organic, they cultivate the red clay soils where they tend to the indigenous varietals of the region. This blend of 50% Colombard, 20% Ugni Blanc, 20% Gros Manseng, 10% Sauvignon Blanc is bright and crisp, with notes of citrus and tropical fruit and lip-smacking minerality. In true Mary Taylor Wine fashion, this is not only an affordable wine, but a genuine and authentic expression of a unique terroir that you can enjoy anywhere- be it a dinner party, BBQ, or just a relaxing night at home.
Food Ideas: Fish tacos with zesty slaw, oysters!, crispy duck breast with a winter greens and citrus salad, cheesy baked spaghetti squash.
4) Monchiero Carbone Pelisa Barbera D’Alba 2022, Piedmont: $27.99 Deep ruby red with bright highlights. Aromas of sour black cherry, earthy notes of damp soil, and hints of spice. Medium to full body, velvety, and fresh, with good acidity. Can have hints of bitter chocolate, wet stones, or even a touch of coffee/chocolate. Excellent with grilled meats, especially pork chops and sausage, as well as cured meats, stuffed dough, roast meats, and medium-aged cheeses.
5) Punset Barbera D’Alba 2022, Piedmont: $22.99 This delicious Barbera d’Alba, Punset’s flagship wine, beautifully captures Marina’s vision of crafting wines that are full of life, energy, and pure terroir. Showcasing optimal freshness without any oak influence, it features bright red berry aromas and a round, pleasant palate with energetic acidity and a clean, dry finish. Punset proudly stands as Italy’s first certified organic winery and producer of Italy’s first certified organic Barbaresco thanks to Marina’s forward-thinking vision in the 1980s. Today, this family estate, passed down through four generations, cultivates one of the healthiest vineyards in the region, emphasizing sustainability and authenticity while honoring Piedmont’s rich winemaking tradition.
6) Paitin Barbera Serra 2022, Abruzzo: $22.99 A powerful yet fresh red graced by smoky blackberry, plum, graphite and black pepper flavors. Harmonious and lingers with a combination of juiciness and chalkiness. Drink now through 2032.
7) Paitin Barbera D’Alba Superiore Campolive 2020, Piedmont: $34.99 Campolive is a very steep plot on the border between Serraboella and Bricco di Neive, under the road of the Montà del Bricco. Already named as such from the monks who in the past owned this site: the field of the olive (“campo dell’oliva”). Probably centuries ago dedicated to the olive trees, since its protected and warm position. This wine has great complexity which shows dried herbs, dark cherries and plums, with a hint of balsamic and forest floor.
8) Paolo Conterno Barbera D’Asti Bricco 2021, Piedmont: $20.99 100% Barbera from a single cru called “Bricco Uffizio,” located in Penango, north of the town of Asti. 25-year-old vines grown at 250-270 meters above sea level. Calcareous clay and loam soil. Macerated for up to two weeks and aged for nearly a year in large oak. 1,400 cases produced.
WS 91 pts. Camphor, cherry, blackberry and spicy pipe tobacco aromas and flavors highlight this complex, succulent red. Balanced and solidly structured, with a long aftertaste of fruit, earth and savory notes. Drink now through 2028. 1,400 cases made, 467 cases imported.
9) Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley: $94.99 Jeb Dunnuck 95 pts. “A pure ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch is spicy and lifted on the nose with notes of ripe red cherries, lifted bright spices, a hint of white pepper, and wild fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, it displays a more linear approach through the palate, with a lovely level of refinement, fine tannins, a mouthwatering feel, and bright perfume on the finish. It’s long on the palate and will have a good deal of longevity. Drink 2026-2040.”
10) Beaux Freres Pinot Noir 2022, Willamette Valley: $84.99 This ensemble cuvée features a choir of eight vineyards across four distinct viticultural areas. Ever the crowd-pleaser, it continues to showcase complexity borne from the breadth and character of Willamette Valley terroir since its first vintage in 2005. Generous profile of red tea, baking spices, black raspberry, and candied cherry. Drink now through 2032.
11) Lapostolle Grand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Valle del Rapel: $15.99 Grand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of strawberry, blackberry, plum, spicy cardamom, and red paprika. It has medium acidity, juicy tannins, and a round palate. Enjoy Grand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled steaks, hearty stews, a cheese plate, or pasta with Bolognese sauce. Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenère, 5% Grenache, 2% Petit Verdot.
12) Terranoble CA2 Carmenere Costa 2021, Valle de Colchagua, Chile: $32.99 This Carmenere is sourced from our vineyards located on the coastal mountain range of the Colchagua Valley. Benefiting from a strong maritime influence, this is a very unique Carmenere, as it offers both a refreshing elegance and character. The constant breezes off the Pacific Ocean cool the grapes, slowly maturing the intense aromas of dark fruit and spice. Grapes were picked at maximum of maturity to maintain all of the aromatic potential. Together with the soft texture and intense flavors on the palate, this wine is a perfect expression of Carmenere from the coast of Chile. The grapes for this wine come from Colchagua’s coastal dryland (secano), specifically from the sector of Lolol. The vineyards are planted on the slopes of the region’s soft hills, on soils of low fertility. The coastal influence that penetrates each morning in form of winds and humidity to the valley allows for a slow ripening of the grapes, achieving in this way a very good varietal version of Carmenere. This is a very elegant and fruity Carmenere that offers a combination of red and black fruits, with no herbal notes but a great freshness, which makes it a wine with lots of aromas and full of life. It feels vibrant on the palate, with a good concentration, balance and great volume. Its tannins are big and round, and it offers a persistent ending with great structure.
13) Ochota Barrels A Forest Pinot Noir 2023, Adelaide Hills: $60.99 The opening bass line of ‘A Forest’ by The Cure transcends the listener into a blissful, enigmatic and meditative trance in a place where the road splits into hopeful jubilation or heartfelt loss. The same holds true for this wine as nearly a decade on in the evolution of this wine, it has found the path of jubilation. The paradox of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir is that the highs are there but often disappointment looms. Amber has achieved a lot of substance with this wine as the depth of flavor really takes it to places it has never gone. The fruit comes from Scanlon & Virgara vineyards, which have been the source since 2021. The clones remain a blend of triple-seven, D5V12, and the Swiss mother vine clone of MV6.
The grapes were hand-harvested partially destemmed (roughly 1/3 of the lot). The berries and bunches were kept separate by clone and cold soaked in open-top plastic fermenters until fermentation occurred naturally. The ferments were gently hand plunged across 1-2 weeks before being basket-pressed to old French barriques and puncheons for maturation. After six months the wine was bottled without fining or filtration and just a small addition of sulfur.
14) Ochota Barrels Slint Chardonnay 2023, Adelaide Hills: $57.99 This wine has always had a foot in Chablis, an arm in the Jura and a toe in the Adelaide Hills. Taras had fashioned the first vintage of this wine in 2011 and continued to see the style evolve. Always incorporating a bit of battonage, parts of ML, a touch of new wood, peacefully oxidized in some respects and yet tightly reductive in others. 2020 was the cause of panic and sorrow in the Hills for many reasons and 2021 brought about a new chapter at Ochota Barrels. It was also the new beginning of a vineyard site as the vineyard shifted from Lenswood to Piccadilly, bringing with it the energetic drive that Piccadilly is known for. The vineyard is quite high in altitude at nearly 2,000 feet and planted at a very steep incline with incredible drainage to the quartz and ironstone riddled soils. This was again the site in 2022 and 2023. The fruit was hand-harvested and whole-bunch basket pressed with full solids directly to a mix of seasoned and virgin Burgundian barrels. Fermentation occurred naturally without any additions and with weekly battonage across four months. The barrels were gravity racked to tank after a total of six months of aging and then were filtered to retain natural malic acid. The wine was bottled with just a small sulfur addition; no fining.
15) Ochota Barrels Where’s the Pope? Syrah 2023, McLaren Vale, Australia: $61.99 Ochota Barrels’ “Where’s the Pope?” Syrah 2023 from McLaren Vale, Australia, is a wine known for its light alcohol, rich flavors, and savory notes with a slightly reduced character that eventually gives way to dark fruits and olive tapenade. It features gentle tannins and a finish described as svelte. The wine is made from 100% Syrah grapes grown in the Onkaparinga Hills, specifically the Grancari Vineyard.
16) Ochota Barrels the price of silence Gamay 2022, Adalaide Hills: $60.99 In 1985, three clones of Gamay were planted high up in the Piccadilly Valley. A few years later, due to its unpopularity, these vines were grafted to Chardonnay. It wasn’t until 2013 that Taras convinced his grower mate, Sam, to chainsaw off the Chardonnay grafts and bring back canes from the Gamay rootstock evolving from there. Cuttings were taken of these three clones and grafted on established vines in Sam’s quartz-laden woodside vineyard, planted on a former gold mine. The site succumbed to the devastating wildfires in the Hills in 2020, but the vines have regained balance in 2022. As for the name, The Price of Silence is a reference to one of Taras and Amber’s favorite hardcore Aussie band.
The fruit was hand-harvested in April and placed into small half-ton fermenters. Half of the grapes were fermented whole-bunch partial carbonic for three weeks and the other half fermented entirely whole-cluster but open top with gentle hand plunging for roughly a week. The lots were basket-pressed directly to 500L French puncheons where the wine aged for five months. The wine was then blended to tank to settle naturally and bottled without fining or filtration and only a small 40ppm hit of sulfur dioxide.
17) Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto 2020, Piedmont: $60.99 Montezemelo is from the west side of the region in La Morra, known for the highest altitude in the region and more clay soils that give a touch more plushness in style of wine, showcasing more fruit, but make no mistake there is plenty of tannin. La Morra is the epitome of the velvet glove with an iron fist. Monfalletto hails from a few vineyards around La Morra, but mostly from the winery near the iconic cedar of Lebanon.
18) Paolo Conterno Barolo Riva del Bric 2021, Piedmont: $56.99 Wine Advocate 93 pts. “The Paolo Conterno 2020 Barolo Riva del Bric shows good focus and direction with powerful dark fruit flavors. It’s not very long on the palate, but the wine delivers good power with a 15% alcohol content and easy black cherry aromas. It is fermented in steel and aged in botti for 36 months. Fruit comes from younger vines that are 25 years old. 20,000 bottles were created.”
19) Tornesi Brunello di Montalcino 2019, Tuscany: $59.99 Famous for being the DOCG with the longest aging requirement and for its prodigiously age-worthy Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is a gem among Italy’s fine wine regions. The Tornesi family has owned their estate, known as Le Benducce, since 1750, long before Brunello di Montalcino became known as a wine before Italy became a unified nation. Today Le Benducce is run by Maurizio, his wife, and his daughters and is comprised of both vines and olives. It sits at 500m elevation, close to the famed vineyards of Biondi-Santi. The steep vineyards benefit not only from higher elevation but also excellent orientation, providing a fantastic acidic core and intense aromatics to complement the natural structure and ripeness of the fruit. Organic farming methods are employed, vineyards are worked by hand, yield-reduction is a primary tenet as well as high-density planting. Winemaking is traditional, only large used barrels are used for the Brunello, native yeast, minimal intervention, and absolutely no corrections. A typical, minimal hint of Brett gives it that rusticity traditional Brunello and Rosso Di Montalcino are famous for as well as aromas of forest, wild berry, dried cherry, sage, anise, and coffee bean on the palate.
20) Felsina Berardenga I Sistri Chardonnay 2022, Tuscany: $31.99 Rich and waxy nose with notes of cooked peaches, dried pineapple, beeswax and caramel. Full-bodied, broad, succulent and nicely filled with tropical fruit and a lot of nutty and spicy nuances. Deep, intense and characterful, with a lingering finish. Drink or hold.
21) Sierra Batuco Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Valle del Maule, Chile: $11.99 Rich jammy fruit flavors yet surprising acidity and freshness, with lingering tobacco and chocolate flavors.
22) Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon Pirque Viejo Estate 2018, Valle Del Maipo: $28.99 A deep ruby red, this Cabernet Sauvignon is extremely aromatic, displaying aromas of red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, along with cassis and hints of ash, white pepper and spices. Great concentration and volume in the mouth with full, round tannins. Perfect for pairing with barbecued filet and smoked beef.
23) Cesari Centofilari Lugana 2023, Lombardy: $28.99 This Lugana is named after the vineyard Centofilari located south of Lake Garda – where its Turbiana and Chardonnay grapes are grown. Vinification takes place in stainless steel, with contact with lees for three months to fully express its aromatic potential. The sensory characteristics of this Lugana DOC comes from a mild Autumn, with snowfall only in November, followed by a Winter that was first warm and then arctic. A cool and rainy May brought a torrid Summer in August, with high temperatures even at night, ending with thunderstorms. Lugana DOC Centofilari’s color is brilliant yellow straw with golden reflections. The bouquet bursts with intense notes of flowers and fruit, hints of citrus, and delicate notes of tropical fruit, ripe apple, and peach. The palate is mineral and pleasantly savory.
24) Cesari Centofilari Bianco Garda 2023, Veneto: $23.99 The Garganega (80%) and Chardonnay (20%) grapes that characterize this Garda DOC come from vineyards enhanced by their proximity to Lake Garda, which mitigates the climate and avoids temperature swings, imparting flavor and minerality balanced by a pleasant acidity. Vinification in stainless steel, with contact with lees for two months. Centofilari Bianco Garda bouquet shows off on the nose with tropical and citrus notes, as well as white flowers. It introduces itself to the mouth with well-presented and well-defined acidity with notes of flavor and freshness that complete the drink.
25) Hiedler Ried Steinhaus 1er Riesling 2020, Kamptal: $40.99 James Suckling 91 pts. “There’s a wealth of citrus, both fresh and candied. Crisp and crunchy on the medium-bodied palate, this is pithy and dry in the candied lemon and orange finish. Sustainable. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
26) Justin Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Paso Robles: $56.99 Clear and deep ruby in color, lightening at the rim, with light staining in the glass and moderately thick tears. Medium intensity on the nose with rich red plum, blackberry jam, cocoa powder, and savory tea leaf. A vein of earthy minerality brings complexity to juicy fruit and autumn spice. Oak lends warm vanilla, caramel, and allspice. Dry and full-bodied with intense, youthful red fruit on the palate. Bing cherry and blackberry notes are layered with leather, espresso, and nutmeg, and the long finish is accented with well-integrated tannin and an element of acidity that keeps the wine from being heavy.
27) Sylain Pataille Fleur de Pinot Marsannay Rose 2022, Cote d’Or: $99.99 94 points Charles Curtis, MW (Decanter): “This unique wine is more than your standard rosé – it shares the structure of a red wine and the racy tension of a white. The color is deep, and the aromas exhibit a heady blend of red berries, floral notes, and exotic spices. The texture is lively and perfectly dry, with enough elegant substance to age gracefully (yes, a rosé!). The wine is blended from Pinot Noir and Pinot Beurot (Pinot Gris) from a collection of old vine fruit in Marsannay; half is direct to press and half is macerated to extract more color. Drinking Window: 2025-2050. (11/2/23)”
28) Chateau Haut-Bages Monpelou Cru Bourgeois Pauillac 2016, Bordeaux: $59.99 Wine Advocate 88 pts. The 2016 Haut-Bages Monpelou is a blend of 27% Merlot, 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc cropped at 50 hectoliters per hectare. Matured in 50% new oak, it has quite a rich bouquet with saturated small black cherries and a touch of cassis infused with pencil shavings. The palate is classic is style with a firm backbone, masculine with good salinity and a welcome touch of black pepper and bay leaf towards the finish. This is a very competent Pauillac from the Castèja family this year. [Neal Martin, 28/09/2017]
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2032
Decanter 89 pts. This property has been owned by the Casteja family on and off for over 300 years, with the vines located near Château Batailley. This is a deep, rich wine, showing very well in 2016 with lots of the mint/cassis/cedar signatures of Pauillac, and it is a good opportunity to buy some great, inexpensive Pauillac. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. [Jane Anson, 03/04/2017]
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2038
29) Levantine de Musar 2022, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon: $39.99 Levantine de Musar is a unique blend of Cabernet, Cinsault and Tempranillo, hand harvested from Musar’s organic vineyards in West Bekaa Valley. The name refers to the wine’s source, the Levant, a region centered around modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The palate reveals fascinating tannins and depth while the nose is still shy but will develop over time. The wine is unoaked and fermented in concrete vats, bottled in the spring of 2022, and released in the spring of 2023. The wine is known for its elegant and vibrant character, displaying red fruit aromas, smooth tannins, and a refreshing acidity.
30) Musar Jeune Red Wine 2022, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon: $28.99 The 2022 vintage is a blend of Cinsault (50%), Syrah (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). The latter two varieties stole the show this year with their deep color and fragrance and the Cinsault, harvested on the 5th of September, was of consistently high quality. A bright, vibrant ruby color; the 2022 vintage is bursting with rich fruits. A traditional Musar Jeune nose with dark cherries and berries, it is all at once juicy and fresh with pomegranate, cranberries and herbal scents of violet and thyme. Dense and energetic on the palate with smooth tannins and lively acidity.
31) Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar 2018, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon: $89.99 Known for its unique, age-worthy wines, this is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Cab
32) 2021 DuMol “Chloe” Russian River Valley Chardonnay: $73.99 Jeb Dunnuck 96 pts. “Pouring a bright medium yellow/straw hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Chloe is highly expressive, with a golden perfume of pineapple, orange oil, and a bit of honeysuckle. It has full body and a rounded texture, with ripe apricot, hazelnut, and white flowers. A lusher personality to drink over the next ten years, it’s a bit more open at this youthful stage.”
33) Champagne Jean-Noel Haton Brut Rose, Marne Valley: $50.99 30% Chardonnay 35% Pinot Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir. Very fragrant, delightfully revealing aromas of fresh red fruit. With aeration, stone fruit, sloes and orange zest emerge to finish on complex notes of pine resin and a slightly roasted flavor. A gourmet and distinguished palate and superb length.
34) Blason D’Issan Margaux 2018, Bordeaux: $60.99 A stunning Medieval Castle equipped with moats, towers, stone walls, and 59 hectares of vines to boot, Chateau d’Issan is the picturesque Bordeaux wine estate. It occupies a central position in the commune of Margaux and a central role in wine history – the wine of this estate was reported to have been served at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henri Plantagenet, future King of England on 18th May 1152. Nowadays, one doesn’t need to be royalty to sip the d’Issan! Especially their ‘Blason d’Issan’, which was first produced in 1995 as a selection of fruit from their youngest vines within the Margaux appellation. Similar to their flagship wine, ‘Blason d’Issan’ is also aged in barrels for 14 to 16 months, one third of which are new. Generous aromas and flavors of plum, cherry, and currant mingle with earthy hints of dark cocoa nibs, cedar, tobacco, leather, and forest floor. Tannins are well integrated, and deftly balanced with bright acidity, making this a perfect dinner companion. Medium-full bodied, this has plenty of structure, lending itself well to aging, but this elegant yet earthy bottling is delicious to drink now too.
35) Heidi Schrock &Sohne Amphore Amore 2021, Weinland, Austria: $34.99 Vinous 93 pts. “The 2022 Grauburgunder Amphore Amore Anders als alle Anderen spent three weeks fermenting on skins before being pressed and maturing in amphorae for a year. It is a beautiful, coppery, deep pink in hue. The nose is smoky with reduction and a slight waxiness reminiscent of an orange pith. Smoothness and gentle creaminess, also from oak, define the palate that has already smoothed and united its tannins. Bright acidity outlines the purity of the apple and orange notes on this wine that strikes a most elegant balance. Tender fruit rings long, almost with a floral touch.”
36) Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Napa Valley: $21.79 Crazy price for Napa Cabernet! $35 at the winery. This Cabernet is bold and expressive, opening with aromas of black cherry and licorice, layered with subtle notes of smoked bacon and dried herbs. The palate is richly textured, showing flavors of mint chocolate, plum, and milk chocolate, carried by fine, chalky tannins that lend structure and grace. A seamless finish lingers with depth and finesse, capturing the essence of Napa Valley.