$11.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s yet another remarkable value from Spain. . .how do they make it, cover distributor costs and get it here for less than 12 bucks per bottle?  No matter the cost, it’s a great pick as a tasty daily drinker or reliable go-to for dinner.

This wine is produced by the Eguren family, making wine in Rioja since 1991 and sourcing fruit from vineyards planted between 1940 and 1980.  Its name comes from the Spanish word for laws, traditions and codes.

Codice is imported by Jorge Ordońez, the Godfather of Spanish wines in the United States, who nearly singlehandedly raised awareness of the region.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Codice shows a deeply colored red wine with a bouquet of warm summer strawberries with a hint of sweet vanilla, ripe cherry and black currant flavors fill the glass with soft, young tannins and sweet spices enhancing the long, aromatic finish.  Meats, pasta, cheeses or any food that seeks a major red wine will be enhanced by this extraordinary wine.

$45 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This seldom happens. . .a red wine so intriguing, so wonderful that we include it with all four of the red club options.  Then there is the fact that winemaker-extraordinaire Paul Hobbs had a hand in the vinting of this wine, making it an even more compelling choice.

The basic back story of this wine, however, is difficult to unearth because it is one minor label that is part of the giant portfolio of TGIC Importers, Inc., a company founded in 1985 by Alex Guarachi, a Chilean winemaker and entrepreneur who has interests in Chile, Argentina and California (Hobbs has long experience in South America).

As the name suggests, this is a big dog of a wine—huge dark fruit flavors overwhelm with the first sip.  Black cherry dominates and it takes forever to melt away in your mouth.  This wine is agnostic when it comes to pairing. . .good to go with whatever red meat is on your plate or as a glass with friends.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “True to Napa Valley tradition, our “Black Ink” wine is robust, dark, inky, tannin-rich and is hand-crafted very judiciously.  It is a deep red wine, with purple silhouettes and distinct coats of violet, layered in black currant and berries, with a peppery nature.  Enjoy every drop of this black, serious shade of red wine.”

$50 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

From the Medlock Ames web site:  “Medlock Ames is an estate fine wine producer located in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California. Started in 1998 by friends Chris James and Ames Morison, we consider our commitment to quality through mindful and organic farming to be one of our greatest assets.  Our vineyards are farmed organically with no insecticides, chemical fertilizers or herbicides and solar power provides the energy we need to run.  Only 55 of our 338 acres are farmed; we chose to leave the majority of land in a natural state, reserving the majority of our acreage for oaks and wildflowers, not vines.  Innovative and traditional methods are used to farm this boutique vineyard where vegetables, olives and wildlife also flourish.  The portfolio includes chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, reserve chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, a Bordeaux blend, estate bottled olive oil, verjus (a highly acidic grape juice) and preserves.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Concentrated aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla and black currant provide a welcome entry to this powerful cabernet sauvignon that shows notes of licorice, plum and a hint of slate and minerality on the palate.  Lush, firm tannins round out the finish.”

$45 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This seldom happens. . .a red wine so intriguing, so wonderful that we include it with all four of the red club options.  Then there is the fact that winemaker-extraordinaire Paul Hobbs had a hand in the vinting of this wine, making it an even more compelling choice.

The basic back story of this wine, however, is difficult to unearth because it is one minor label that is part of the giant portfolio of TGIC Importers, Inc., a company founded in 1985 by Alex Guarachi, a Chilean winemaker and entrepreneur who has interests in Chile, Argentina and California (Hobbs has long experience in South America).

As the name suggests, this is a big dog of a wine—huge dark fruit flavors overwhelm with the first sip.  Black cherry dominates and it takes forever to melt away in your mouth.  This wine is agnostic when it comes to pairing. . .good to go with whatever red meat is on your plate or as a glass with friends.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “True to Napa Valley tradition, our “Black Ink” wine is robust, dark, inky, tannin-rich and is hand-crafted very judiciously.  It is a deep red wine, with purple silhouettes and distinct coats of violet, layered in black currant and berries, with a peppery nature.  Enjoy every drop of this black, serious shade of red wine.”

$34.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We don’t often feature wines from France as club selections (it’s often difficult to unearth details), but this is one Drew knew would be hit among our lovers of white juice.  This Pouilly-Fume (sauv blanc) was made without exposure to oak, so the flavors are big, fresh and crisp.

From the distributor:  “The largest and most famous Pouilly-Fumé vineyards have been in the hands of the Comte Lafond and Ladoucette families since 1787 when the Comte Lafond purchased the estate from the illegitimate daughter of the French king, Louis XV. The estate is now owned by Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, a descendant of the Comte Lafond, and Pouilly Fumé has earned a reputation as one of the world’s great white wines.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Pale golden-green in color. The nose develops a natural range of subtle floral and earthy green plant aromas such as acacia, ferns, peppermint and white nettles. Notes of stony minerals and lemon give the wine a beautiful structure balanced by a fruity roundness, with a finish marked by hints of citrus fruits.”

Wine & Spirits Tasting Notes (92 points):  “Scents of flint and sorrel hide the fruit of this wine at first, but they don’t hide its bold spice and nutty richness. Once the fruit emerges with air, there’s an openness to the flavors, packed with an intensity that warrants aging the wine for several years. Its bass notes and earthy flavors will match goat cheese with spring vegetables, or chicken paillard with mushrooms.”

$30 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This recent entry from one of Napa’s most gifted, creative, prolific and tireless winemakers, David Phinney, founder of Orin Swift and the genius behind a plethora of blends, starting with The Prisoner, a wildly successful, predominantly zinfandel blend that launched his career.   The label that brought Phinney to the party was spun off in 2009 to another company (along with Saldo), and now he has the resources to do pretty much whatever he desires in creating new wines.

In fact, Phinney’s reach is now global, starting with his D66 project in France (a blend of grenache, syrah and carignan) that includes 300 acres of vineyards, plus ventures in Spain, Italy, Corsica, Argentina and more coming to other continents near you.

Recently, Orin Swift opened a tasting room in downtown St. Helena where you can taste many of Phinney’s iconic wines:  Mercury Head, Papillon, Machete and Abstract.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Gilded in bright yellow, an alluring perfume of candied lemon, Bosc pear, wild flower, and honeydew melon incentivize the palate. Upon entry, a deliciously rich and creamy texture balances out vivid tropical fruit notes, exotic spices, and fresh pineapple that slowly emerge in a captivating way. The finish has a lively tone of acidity, which serves as an ideal foil to the crème brulee, marshmallow, and hazelnut flavors that envelope the mouth.”

$14.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is a family-owned vineyard with a long tradition of farming in Washington and Oregon.  Butch and Jerry Milbrandt decided to enter the business of grape growing in 1997, and today, they farm 12,500 acres.  After observing others make awesome wines from their grapes, they opened their own winery in 2005.

Winemaker Joshua Maloney is a graduate of Cornell University where he took a wine appreciation class as a senior. . .which ultimately sent him on a detour from his original chemistry major.  After a stint as a wine salesman for a distributor in Chicago, he landed a job with Heron Hill, a winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  From there, it was on to California with stops at Stag’s Leap and Estancia, before moving to Washington and Chateau Ste. Michelle and ultimately Milbrandt in 2011.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Our pinot gris is crisp on the palate with lively flavors of white peach, a hint of cantaloupe giving way to a fleshy mid-palate with a clean, bright finish.  It pairs beautifully with antipasto, summer salads, ripe white cheeses and simple seafood dishes such as steamed clams and oysters.”

$14.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is a family-owned vineyard with a long tradition of farming in Washington and Oregon.  Butch and Jerry Milbrandt decided to enter the business of grape growing in 1997, and today, they farm 12,500 acres.  After observing others make awesome wines from their grapes, they opened their own winery in 2005.

Winemaker Joshua Maloney is a graduate of Cornell University where he took a wine appreciation class as a senior. . .which ultimately sent him on a detour from his original chemistry major.  After a stint as a wine salesman for a distributor in Chicago, he landed a job with Heron Hill, a winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  From there, it was on to California with stops at Stag’s Leap and Estancia, before moving to Washington and Chateau Ste. Michelle and ultimately Milbrandt in 2011.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Our pinot gris is crisp on the palate with lively flavors of white peach, a hint of cantaloupe giving way to a fleshy mid-palate with a clean, bright finish.  It pairs beautifully with antipasto, summer salads, ripe white cheeses and simple seafood dishes such as steamed clams and oysters.”

$45 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This seldom happens. . .a red wine so intriguing, so wonderful that we include it with all four of the red club options.  Then there is the fact that winemaker-extraordinaire Paul Hobbs had a hand in the vinting of this wine, making it an even more compelling choice.

The basic back story of this wine, however, is difficult to unearth because it is one minor label that is part of the giant portfolio of TGIC Importers, Inc., a company founded in 1985 by Alex Guarachi, a Chilean winemaker and entrepreneur who has interests in Chile, Argentina and California (Hobbs has long experience in South America).

As the name suggests, this is a big dog of a wine—huge dark fruit flavors overwhelm with the first sip.  Black cherry dominates and it takes forever to melt away in your mouth.  This wine is agnostic when it comes to pairing. . .good to go with whatever red meat is on your plate or as a glass with friends.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “True to Napa Valley tradition, our “Black Ink” wine is robust, dark, inky, tannin-rich and is hand-crafted very judiciously.  It is a deep red wine, with purple silhouettes and distinct coats of violet, layered in black currant and berries, with a peppery nature.  Enjoy every drop of this black, serious shade of red wine.”

$30 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This recent entry from one of Napa’s most gifted, creative, prolific and tireless winemakers, David Phinney, founder of Orin Swift and the genius behind a plethora of blends, starting with The Prisoner, a wildly successful, predominantly zinfandel blend that launched his career.   The label that brought Phinney to the party was spun off in 2009 to another company (along with Saldo), and now he has the resources to do pretty much whatever he desires in creating new wines.

In fact, Phinney’s reach is now global, starting with his D66 project in France (a blend of grenache, syrah and carignan) that includes 300 acres of vineyards, plus ventures in Spain, Italy, Corsica, Argentina and more coming to other continents near you.

Recently, Orin Swift opened a tasting room in downtown St. Helena where you can taste many of Phinney’s iconic wines:  Mercury Head, Papillon, Machete and Abstract.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Gilded in bright yellow, an alluring perfume of candied lemon, Bosc pear, wild flower, and honeydew melon incentivize the palate. Upon entry, a deliciously rich and creamy texture balances out vivid tropical fruit notes, exotic spices, and fresh pineapple that slowly emerge in a captivating way. The finish has a lively tone of acidity, which serves as an ideal foil to the crème brulee, marshmallow, and hazelnut flavors that envelope the mouth.”

$50 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

From the Medlock Ames web site:  “Medlock Ames is an estate fine wine producer located in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California. Started in 1998 by friends Chris James and Ames Morison, we consider our commitment to quality through mindful and organic farming to be one of our greatest assets.  Our vineyards are farmed organically with no insecticides, chemical fertilizers or herbicides and solar power provides the energy we need to run.  Only 55 of our 338 acres are farmed; we chose to leave the majority of land in a natural state, reserving the majority of our acreage for oaks and wildflowers, not vines.  Innovative and traditional methods are used to farm this boutique vineyard where vegetables, olives and wildlife also flourish.  The portfolio includes chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, reserve chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, a Bordeaux blend, estate bottled olive oil, verjus (a highly acidic grape juice) and preserves.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Concentrated aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla and black currant provide a welcome entry to this powerful cabernet sauvignon that shows notes of licorice, plum and a hint of slate and minerality on the palate.  Lush, firm tannins round out the finish.”