We have a vested interest in the farmers and winemakers we meet, the wines they make, and the stories they have to tell. As of this writing we're working directly with about 40 wineries in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Luxembourg, and over the past year about 50,000 or so of their bottles found their way into our warehouse and then out into your car or onto a UPS truck. Thank you!

With this six-pack you'll be introduced to a virtual tour of some of (we think) our best selections in the $20 price range.  Get to know us in just a week or two with this nice half dozen recent discoveries from all over Europe. 

With this mixed pack you'll receive six different wines, all ready to drink right now. Here they are:

From Portugal...

Monte Branco Alento Branco 2022, $19-- If you must know it is blended from 50% Arinto, 40% Antão Vaz, and 10% Roupeiro (for what that's worth). It is built to drink young, while it's nice and primary and refreshing. I love the citrine color and the fruit aromatics that leap from the glass. A wine to keep by the caseful at home. This is our go-to for something to sip while we prepare the meal, and carries us right through to the table.

...to the Loire

Laura David Côt, $24-- Malbec in France has its roots in the hearty southwest where it is known as the Black Grape of Cahors, but further north, it more resembles a bright and fresh wine, with wonderful acidity and fruit balance, yet still maintains its opaque black color. I often find just enough dusty tannin to barely coat the teeth when we drink this one, yet the wine maintains a real lip-smacking juicy quality too. 

...and Burgundy

La Paroisse 'Coup de Foudre', $23-- Jean-Claude Chaucesse (show-sess) and his wife Laetitia cultivate vines that are an average of 80 years old near the charming village of Renaison. He is the 13th generation to farm the same land. This cuvée called 'Coup de Foudre' is made from some of Jean-Claude's "medium-aged" Gamay vines--in this case about 80-110 years old, and in a style that was favored by his father and grandfather before him, meaning 1 year aging in old, upright barrels (foudres) to allow a silky, warm mouthfeel that gives way to layers and layers of concentrated Gamay fruit.

Geraldine Louise Bourgogne Blanc 'Elegance', $36-- A great bottle of white burgundy is just the ticket to have around the house for any 'ol reason. Sure, there are lots options in the white wine world, but when done correctly, a fresh, lemon-scented, honeyed and rich Chardonnay is hard to beat. This beauty is aged for 6 months in three old Chassagne Montrachet barrels of 400 liters, then settled in stainless steel for about 10 weeks before bottling, for an energetic, precise, layered and complex Chardonnay. Geraldine only makes 1400 bottles of this.

Then, from Tuscany...

Sassotondo Ciliegolo Maremma Toscana 2022, $27--Why isn't this Tuscan winery, in business for 25 years, not more well-known? They must be making Sangiovese right? Everybody loves that stuff! Well, it turns out that Tuscany is pretty big, about the size of New Jersey. And just like everywhere in New Jersey is not on the beach, not everywhere in Tuscany is in Chianti Classico or Montalcino. In fact, the Maremma is far from it. Little cherries. That is what the grape variety Ciliegiolo translates to in Italian. But when one sees Ciliegiolo written on paper, or a wine label, and speaks very little Italian, they need a mnemonic device to rememeber how it's pronounced. Alas, I give you: Chili Jell-O. Its color is ruby red, of nice vivacity; the nose is intense with notes of red fruits, plum, licorice and the typical touch of ground white pepper. The taste is warm and smooth thanks to tannins that are present but not aggressive and to a structure backed up by alcohol and a nice acidity.

...And finally, a from Piedmont

Contrada di Sorano Barbera Superiore Sottosopra 2021, $23--This is hands down our smallest winery--not just from a production standpoint, but from one of physical space too. Paolo and Cristina Baudana are the energy behind this garden-like slice of utopia. Only 600 bottles of these beauties were made in TOTAL--just enough to fill two small older barrels. I asked for half of it, and got 20%. Better than nothing I suppose.

It's blended from two different small vineyard sites near Serralunga d'Alba--"Sotto" from a low-lying parcel, and "sopra" from a high terrace. Together they make Sottosopra--"upside down"--the direction you'll be turning the bottle once you get down to the last drop!