Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/35/2007-st-emilion-premier-grand-cru-classe/
Thursday, 30 April 2015
2007 St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Class�
In this post you'll find an overview of the ratings of the 2007 Medoc 2. Grand Cru Class�. We have gathered all ratings from Robert Parker, Decanter and Wine Spectator.
RIP SkyMall, purveyor of random wine stuff
Forget the ECB–the big business news of the day is that the parent company of SkyMall has filed for bankruptcy! Yes, the catalogue found “in the seat back in front of you” that peddled bizarre but somehow captivating objects is on a ground stop that may really be interminable. SkyMall loved pets–everything you never thought […]
The post RIP SkyMall, purveyor of random wine stuff appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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Tasting note: ?bitter clown tears?
This tasting note is no doubt better than the wine! But, oddly, I bet it actually helped sales of the wine (assuming people read it). It wouldn’t surprise me if there were a store out there somewhere that posted only mockeries or send-ups of tasting notes. Would resonate well with the youngs. If anyone lacks […]
The post Tasting note: “bitter clown tears” appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma
Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma The Buena Vista Winery is located in the town of Sonoma. Folks who live outside of Northern California get a little confused when they try to understand where Sonoma is located. I perviously cleared that up in an article on Sonoma. The town of Sonoma is one of the most […]
The post Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.
Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/buena-vista-winery-in-sonoma/
New York Times wine club on ice
Members of the New York Times wine club residing in New York are not receiving wine–and shipments might not resume until July. The Albany Times Union has a detailed account of the wrangling that has led to the suspension (indeed, on the NYT wine club site, New York is not even an option for sign-ups–the […]
The post New York Times wine club on ice appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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Twelfth Night: New Zealand Wine with Massachusetts Roots
That's the decision Boston-based Vela Wines principals Max Risman, Arie Dahan, and Beth Ann Dahan were faced with a few years ago as they scoured the globe for a location. The eventually decided on New Zealand. On the twelfth day of a visit to the Central Otago region they found their mark and that night as they looked up at the stars the Twelfth Night name was born.
They now produce Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand under the Twelfth Night label, with distribution occurring mostly in Massachusetts at this point. All things considered they felt Central Otago was the best place to start a winery. After meeting with Max and hearing about the region I'm inclined to think they knew what they were doing.
While I was taking WSET courses one of my absolute favorite wines we tasted was a Central Otago Pinot Noir. For me, it's most closely aligned with Oregon Pinot Noir in style, but falls more towards California in the flavor spectrum than most Oregon Pinots. That being the case, New Zealand Pinot Noir can be a real source of value.
Especially these wines from Twelfth Night which land at appealing price points and present a compeling quality:price ratio values.
I received a couple bottles to get to know them better. Here are my tasting notes...
2012 Twelfth Night Central Otago Pinot Noir
1,000 Cases Produced
14% Alcohol
$22 Retail
Rated 89 points by Wine Spectator
Medium bodied visually with vibrant ruby shades. Baked cranberries, citrus peel, and distinctive white pepper aromatics. These notes convey on the palate with just a tiny hint of effervescence on the palate that distracts a bit from an otherwise outstanding wine.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
2013 Twelfth Night Central Otago Riesling
400 Cases Produced
12.2 % Alcohol
$18
Rated 87 points by Wine Spectator
Light golden with grey tinges visually. Classic Riesling markings on the nose with appealing citrus notes. Lively on the palate and finishes clean. Free of off notes. Nice stuff.
86/100 WWP: Very Good
Get to know Vela wines better if you're attending the Boston Wine Expo this weekend. Their winemaker will be on hand describing how Central Otago is the Burgundy of the Southern Hemisphere. I hear they'll be offering some tasty discount codes as well.
Definitely check for their wines at retail especially if you're in the Boston area. Here are some listings on Wine-Searcher.
On the web: http://velawines.com
On Twitter: @VelaWines
Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
The wines from Pierre Usseglio I
Domaine Pierre Usseglio is first and foremost a maker of�Chateauneuf-du-Pape but has also a couple of vineyards just outside the appellation. From these they make a good value�C�tes-du-Rh�ne and�a Vin de Table, where Merlot makes up�80 % og the blend. �I gave the 2006�C�tes-du-Rh�ne 2006�88-89 p. which makes it a good value. It’s a sort [...]
Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/44/wines-from-pierre-usseglio-1/
File under classy: Southern wine reps taunt former supplier
Wine made Page Six! This should be good, right? The NY director of sales and the district manager at Southern Wine & Spirits (SWS), one of the country’s behemoth wine and spirits distributors, hold the honor. According to the NY Post, they lost Laurent-Perrier champagnes from their portfolio. So they decided to go to a […]
The post File under classy: Southern wine reps taunt former supplier appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Deal Alert: $30 off $100+ at Wine.com with AMEXSPRING
For example, with this offer you can get a bottle of 2010 Silver Oak Napa Cab for $69.99 fully loaded, delivered to your doorstep in Massachusetts (no sales tax on wine here). The best price I see for this wine nationwide is $84.95 and that doesn't include shipping costs.
The offer can be used for any $100 order so I'll probably use this to restock on some daily drinkers Wine.com sells at decent prices.
Refer to this post I wrote last summer for tips on how to best take advantage of this offer.
Summarizing the key points:
First you've got to select wines that aren't heavily marked up vs. the best price you can get them otherwise. Use Wine-Searcher.com to check whether Wine.com's prices are inflated. Some wines are, others aren't.
Second, you've got to minimize shipping costs. The best way to do this is sign up for a free Steward Ship trial and then cancel it before being billed.
Third, make sure your order lands as close to $100 without going over too much. This way you'll maximize your percentage savings. If you want to order more than $100 worth of wine, break it up into separate orders. If you want to orders wines less than $100 add some "filler" wines (daily drinkers) to get to $100.
Offer expires 6/5/2015.
Complete terms below. Click to enlarge...
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic
A-List wine critics are the celebrities of the wine geek but we don’t get a chance to learn much about them. Just Google for interviews of Robert Parker or James Laube and you will see very little outside of promotional stuff. But Antonio Galloni of The Wine Advocate seems to be more open and has […]
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/r0JKYBK5oFQ/
Monte Carlo ? Find Your Dream Home
Expensive real estate is the thing that tops the list of the luxury items like gadgets, food and clothing. According to a recent survey by the Global Property Guide, the most expensive real estate market in the world is Monte Carlo. Named as ?Mount Charles? after Prince Charles III of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a […]
The post Monte Carlo – Find Your Dream Home appeared first on Vagablond.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/2NbbfP8ciYU/
The King is Dead! All Hail Caesar!
Majestic Wine has acquired Naked Wines today for around �70 million. On the surface it is a straightforward but interesting business deal giving each a new injection of energy.�Underlying this, however, is an interesting story of conquests and empires that are a lot less regal than they are imperial. [read more here on Harpers] The [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/DWU8kutJFzs/
White Wine Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds
RIP SkyMall, purveyor of random wine stuff
Forget the ECB–the big business news of the day is that the parent company of SkyMall has filed for bankruptcy! Yes, the catalogue found “in the seat back in front of you” that peddled bizarre but somehow captivating objects is on a ground stop that may really be interminable. SkyMall loved pets–everything you never thought […]
The post RIP SkyMall, purveyor of random wine stuff appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/Bzc9Dr_X9bs/
State dinner wines: a lucky 8 for PM Abe?
There was a state dinner last night at the White House–the eighth for the Obamas–in honor of visiting Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. About 200 people attended, new china was revealed (above), and “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto was in da haus. Recall that Obama and PM Abe ate at the counter of sushi master Jiro Ono […]
The post State dinner wines: a lucky 8 for PM Abe? appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/LEoNcjBWc-c/
Wine Tasting Dinner: Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World
Sauvignon Blanc has been one of our favorite white varieties for years. We have a soft spot for Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, which was solidified on our trip to the region in 2005. Ever since, we have made it a point to try Sauvignon Blanc from other countries/regions when we […]
Wine Tasting Dinner: Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/nx9gJo2FTTU/
Sauvignon Blanc Riesling Chenin Blanc Pinot Grigio Sémillon
Pairs and Pairings
Alan Kerr aka Canadian Zinfan rode into town to hang out with us at Gang Central for some Easter ?holiday hijinks,? a weekend that Kim would describe afterwards as ?epic.? It was certainly all that and more. Before his arrival, Madame L?Pour (Kim?s old Gang moniker) asked Chef Kerr what he wanted to do during [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/QRU8Xh-IXVU/pairs-and-pairings
Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Academy of Wine Communications-FLX: February Meeting this Thursday, 2/25/10
Update: February meeting canceled due to winter storm warning for the region.� We’re working on setting up our next meeting for Thursday, 3/18/10.� Watch here for more details. February’s meeting of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Academy of Wine Communications will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Three Brothers Wineries & Estates […]
Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/awc-meeting-this-thursday-22510/
Burg surge: wine auctions 2014
Wine auctions around the world ticked higher in 2014. But auction hammers were coming down the fastest in the US, which surged 26 percent according to data aggregated by Wine Spectator. They report that global wine auctions halted two years of declines to grow at a 4.5% rate to $352 million; the US accounted for […]
The post Burg surge: wine auctions 2014 appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
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12 Great Wine Values for Gifting Available Now at Empire Wine
I've been doing some holiday gift basket shopping online the past couple weeks. While I like the idea of a [hopefully] polished presentation there's undeniable uplift in the cost of most gift baskets and wine is no exception.
For one family in particular I just wanted to get them a tasty case of red wine. And especially since they live in New York, Empire Wine came to mind. Their inventory was fresh in my mind after stopping in for a visit to their Albany store front on the way back from Cooperstown with our boys last month.
I was thinking if there was a Wine Deal Hall of Fame, Empire Wine would be a first ballot shoe in. They just consistently carry great wines at great prices, ship quickly, and get it done.
I perused their site and put together what I think is a nice mixed case of reds. Here's what I bought...
For one family in particular I just wanted to get them a tasty case of red wine. And especially since they live in New York, Empire Wine came to mind. Their inventory was fresh in my mind after stopping in for a visit to their Albany store front on the way back from Cooperstown with our boys last month.
I was thinking if there was a Wine Deal Hall of Fame, Empire Wine would be a first ballot shoe in. They just consistently carry great wines at great prices, ship quickly, and get it done.
I perused their site and put together what I think is a nice mixed case of reds. Here's what I bought...
What to Buy
This more affordable Veraton botting from Alto Moncayo has been an absolute breakthrough for me this past year. Whereas Alto Moncayo proper is a spectacular blockbuster of a wine, it can come off a bit boozy and just a bit too much on a weeknight. The Veraton is more moderate in every way. Lower alcohol, more affordable (around $25 vs. $40), and more balanced. A terrific guilt-free indulgence the closer you can find it to $20. Read more...
I was really impressed with this while tasting it at the winery in Tuscany, and it wasn't just a matter of being "under the ether"while on vacation. I bought a few bottles of them at a great price once we got back and cranked through them quickly. And I enjoyed it with family at Il Mulino at Walt Disney World while on vacation. What I like about it is its new world fruit while being undeniably an old world wine. Love the price point too, especially compared to Sette Ponti's flagship Oreno bottling. Read more...
Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 2010
Along with Rancia this was one of my two favoites while tasting at Fontalloro this summer. It's pure class but it needs time to show well. Lay this down for a while and enjoy it with a meal. Read more...
Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
I don't think I've ever specifically highlighted this wine here on the blog but I do pick it up regularly when I find it under $20 and I'm looking for a rich yet affordable Napa Cab. I like the label and it's just a joy to drink. Empire tends to run the price pretty lean on this one in particular so I think it's a nice add.
Laetitia Pinot Noir 2012
They had this for $14.99 at Trader Joe's in Framingham last month. I mentioned it to a friend and he noticed they'd been cleared out of it. WWP effect? ;) They've still got the 2012 at Empire, with a slightly higher price, and they've reloaded at TJ's with the 2013. Haven't tried it yet. Read more...
Orin Swift Locations 'E-2' Spanish Red Blend 2012
A rich and juicy red that's a crowd-pleasing no brainer to pop open and enjoy. Read more...
Belle Glos 'Meiomi' Pinot Noir 2013
Winemaker Joe Wagner is reliably delivering vintage after vintage with this ubiquitous fruit-forward California Pinot Noir. The Wagner Family is behind Caymus and other well-regarded wine brands. Read more...
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
I've never had this wine that I recall but a very good friend with a sharp palate has a theory about finding a certain kind of value wines: Attend high end functions at places like the Ritz and the Four Seasons and see what they're pouring. He says you'll see 14 Hands being poured a lot. They don't want to tarnish their brand by pouring junk and they want a nice looking label that pleases the well-heeled crowd. I like the approach. Give it a whirl!
Columbia Crest 'H3' Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
I've long been a fan of Columbia Crest, and their H3 lineup hits a real value sweet spot. With their 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon raking in a 92 Spectator rating this seems to be a high point for the label. I've had it. I like it. I'm buying a lot of it. Makes a great gift for colleagues and friends. Super solid ~$10 Cab? We could use more of those. Read more...
Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Tres Picos 2012
I first tasted this at The Capital Grille and have since grown to love pretty much everything Borsao does. They're adjacently responsible for the Alto Moncayo wines and it's sometimes hard to immediately discern which wines they're responsible for. Besides Tres Picos another to check out is Monte Oton. Every one of these wines are reliable mind-bending values.
Ramsay Pinot Noir 2013
A reader asked earlier this year what I'd recommend for a sub-$10 Pinot Noir for a wedding pour. This wine doesn't quite hit that price point but it does delivery significantly more enjoyment than it costs. Read more...
Columbia Crest 'Grand Estates' Merlot 2012
This is an old favorite I've rarely gone wrong with. The 2003 bottling was one of the first wines I went out and bought a case of after reading a 90+ point review in Spectator and loving the first bottle I bought of it. If you're looking for a reliably delicous sub-$10 wine remember Columbia Crest Grand Estates.
Bonus Wine!
Juan Gil Silver Label 2012
Somehow I forgot to add this ever-reliable QPR king. I opened a bottle of this 4 nights ago, and enjoyed a pour from it over the course of several nights. I only sealed it with a simple $1.99 stopper and it got better and better each night. It's surprising that such an affordable wine behaves this way but it bodes well for its quality. Back up the truck at the prices Empire dishes this one out.
Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite wine shops for gifting? What are some of your favorite wines to give as gifts this holiday season?
I hope you have a terrific holiday season. Cheers!
Sette Ponti Oreno for $39.99 w/Free Shipping on 12+
New Jersey retailer Wine Library is offering the 2011 Sette Ponti Oreno for the amazingly low price of $39.99. They're also offering free shipping on 12 bottles.
Oreno is the Sette Ponti's flagship label. According to Wine Spectator, the 2011 carries a $107 release price. New York and New Jersey retailers in particular seem to regularly offer this wine in the $50-$60 range. But this is the lowest price I've ever seen it.
I first tasted Oreno at a Wine Spectator Grand Tour event in Boston.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Sette Ponti this summer.
Like all out of state retailers they can't ship to MA.
But with prices like these it's worth finagling shipping to a nearby state.
Hat tip to jtinto.
Oreno is the Sette Ponti's flagship label. According to Wine Spectator, the 2011 carries a $107 release price. New York and New Jersey retailers in particular seem to regularly offer this wine in the $50-$60 range. But this is the lowest price I've ever seen it.
I first tasted Oreno at a Wine Spectator Grand Tour event in Boston.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Sette Ponti this summer.
Like all out of state retailers they can't ship to MA.
But with prices like these it's worth finagling shipping to a nearby state.
Hat tip to jtinto.
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz Zinfandel
The Top 10 Wines of 2010
I’m officially declaring 2010 the year of the ros�. Yes, I know that many wineries have been producing stellar ros�s for years, but I felt that this year was the tipping point where the public started to get behind the pink drink again. It was the year when wineries paid much more attention to the [...]
Source: http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/the-top-10-wines-of-2010/
The Liberty Hotel ? Boston, Massachusetts
Luxurious?yes. Elegant?yes. Comparable to any other hotel?nope. The Liberty Hotel is a perfect storm of all the elements you would expect from a historical landmark turned luxury hotel. The Liberty Hotel is ideally located in the heart of Boston?s Beacon Hill neighborhood near just a stones throw from the Charles River and its Esplanade. What […]
The post The Liberty Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts appeared first on Vagablond.
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ALT Hotel :: Toronto
It’s a boutique no frills hotel, but still has the bells and whistles. ALT boasts of individuality, as expected of a boutique hotel. If you are stopping over for a night in Toronto this is the perfect place. You easily get into the shuttle train and after a quick ride walk across and right into […]
The post ALT Hotel :: Toronto appeared first on Vagablond.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/oUNKKY4353M/
Riesling Chenin Blanc Pinot Grigio Sémillon Gewürztraminer
Monday, 27 April 2015
Deal Alert: 5% off Gift Cards at Table & Vine
5% may not seem like a ton (and in reality it isn't enough to go out of your way for). But here's why I might consider this and how I'd maximize its value...
First, the gift cards don't expire now so you can order them now (for yourself of course!) then use them later when you see they have a deal on a wine you're looking for.
Second, since they're gift cards you can stack the 5% with other savings like 10% off a straight case. Table & Vine's pricing model doesn't employ case discounts as significantly as other retailers because they don't mark up base prices as much as other retailers.
Third, since Table & Vine is owned by Big Y (a grocery store) purchases at Table & Vine code as grocery which can get you 5% or more if you've got a credit card that bonuses grocery spending. You can use this nifty utility to see which category specific retailers code as for Visa. I see Table & Vine coding as a grocery store. Nice!
Here's an example if you roll this all together...
Take the 2011 Clio they have in stock for $39.99/btl.
First, buy enough gift cards to cover the majority of your purchase. This saves you 5% on the gift card purchase and another 5% if you've got a credit card that bonuses grocery spend.
To be fair the 5% advantage depends on your current credit card profile and should be compared to the best card you could use at a wine shop. So it's not a full 5% better than your next-best card. But it is beneficial to generally consider the advantage of buying wine from retailers that code as grocery I think.
Later, once the gift card has arrived, buy a straight case of a wine you want they've got at a good price and cover the overshoot with the same credit card that bonuses grocery spend.
This brings the per-bottle price down to $32.48/btl - theoretically cheaper than the amazingly-low $33.33/btl price I mentioned a couple days ago.
Then, pick up the wine in-store next time you're passing through Springfield. Like on your way to Cooperstown or while visiting the Basketball Hall of Fame. They do ship in-state at not-so-terrible prices but that diminishes the savings and Table & Vine is a fun place to visit (trip report) anyway.
All in all, it's a bit complicated and involves buying a straight case (and visiting in-store) to maximize. But hey - if you're in the area and have your eye on a straight case of wine they stock at a reasonable price I say go for it.
Go here to take advantage of the deal
Offer ends December 1st, 2014
Subscribe to the WWP for future deal alerts!
A List of Wineries that Ship to Massachusetts
It has been a long time coming, but as you may have noticed some out of state wineries are now able to ship to Massachusetts!
Some spring release mailers have included a special shout out saying they'll be able to ship here. What it really means for me is cheaper shipping and fewer hassles.
I'm looking forward to being able to order directly from my favorite producers in a recurring manner to develop a persistent relationship with them. Sometimes when I was on the fence about reordering from a pricey producer I'd decide against it because of shipping costs and the hassle of shipping to a neighboring state.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can out of state *retailers* ship to Massachusetts now?
A: Not legally. The provision passed in 2014 only allows out of state *wineries* to apply for a permit.
Q: A winery I know ships to Massachusetts isn't listed. Why would that be?
A: In the past, some wineries may have found creative ways to ship to Massachusetts. They should now go through the process of getting a permit because it's the right thing to do and will likely lead to lower shipping costs for them and you.
Q: If I know a winery was recently approved but isn't listed what should I do?
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
Q: I'd like to encourage a winery to obtain a permit, what should I do?
A: Contact them and tell them you'd buy from them if they get a permit. The permits aren't cheap, wineries need one for each state they ship to, and small wineries need to know they have enough demand for it to make sense.
Q: I thought FedEx and UPS weren't going to be able to deliver in MA because each truck needs a permit. What happened with that?
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
Q: What does it take for a winery to get a permit?
A: Massachusetts is now similar to many other states that allow winery direct shipment. Here's a post from ShipCompliant on what's needed.
Q: Where did you get this list?
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
Here is a list of wineries approved to ship to Massachusetts as of January 30th, 2015:
- Aaronap Cellars
- Abacela Vineyards and Winery
- Adelsheim Vineyard
- Adirondack Winery
- Alpha Omega Winery
- Amuse Bouche
- Ancient Peak
- Andrew Murray Vineyards
- Anomay Vineyards
- Arietta
- Arkenstone Vineyards
- Armida Winery
- Aubert Winegrowing
- Alexander Valley Vineyards Winery Co.
- Andretti Winery
- Banshee Wines
- Barnett Vineyards
- Batam Cider Company
- Bells Up Winery
- Bennett Lane Winery
- Benovia Winery
- Benzinger Family Winery
- Bethel Heights Vineyard
- Betz Cellars
- Blackbird Vineyards
- Blankiet Estate
- Bressler Vineyards
- Bridge Lane Wines*
- Caduceus Cellars
- Cakebread Cellars
- Cape Cod Winery
- Carlisle Winery & Vineyards
- Castrucci Wines
- Chateau Diana
- Cherry Hill
- Chiarello Family Vineyards
- Chimney Rock Winery
- Canyon Wind Cellars (Christianson Cellars)
- Cameron Hughes Wine (Clara Street Company)
- Clos Du Val
- Conway Family Wines
- Copper Cane
- Corbett Vineyards
- Coup de Foudre
- Scott Harvey Wines (Creative Wine Concepts)
- Crew Wine Company
- Cuvaison
- David Family Wines (Davids Pinot Vineyards)
- Dehlinger **
- Del Dotto Vineyards
- DeLoach (Wheeler Winery, LLC)
- Denner Winery
- Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines
- Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard (Diamond Mountain Vineyard)
- Domaine M.B.
- Doubleback
- Dry Creek Vineyard
- Dunham Cellars
- Duplin Wine Cellars
- Dutton Goldfield Winery
- Elyse Winery
- Epoch*
- Et Fille Wines
- F. Kobrel & Bros
- Far From the Tree Cider
- Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
- Field Stone Winery
- Firesteed
- Far Niente
- Foley Family Wines
- Fontanella Wines
- Fortunatus
- Fox Run Vineyards
- Foxen Vineyard
- Francis Coppola Winery
- Scherrer Winery
- Frost Wines
- Gamble Family Vineyards
- Cass Wines (Geneseo Partners)
- Grgich Hills Cellar
- Hartford Family Winery
- Heitz Wine Cellars
- Homestead Hard Cider
- Honig Vineyard
- Houdini
- Husch Vineyards
- ITO Wines
- J Vineyards
- J. Lohr Winery
- Jackson Family Wines
- Joseph Phelps
- Jordan Winery
- K Vintners/Charles Smith Wines
- Kenefick Ranches Winery
- King Ferry Winery
- Kistler Vineyards
- Kosta Browne*
- Kuleto
- Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
- Laird Family Estate
- Lieb Cellars*
- Long Meadow Ranch Winery
- M.A.C. Wines
- Marimar Estate
- Martin Ray Winery
- Mercer Wine Estates
- Merry Edwards Winery
- Meteor Vineyard
- Mira Winery
- Mirasol Wine
- NakedWines.com
- Navarro Vineyards
- Nimrod Wines
- Marilyn Wines (Nova Wines, Inc)
- Dalla Valle Vineyards (Oakville Hill Cellars)
- Orin Swift Cellars
- Pahlmeyer
- Paloma Vineyard
- Patz & Hall
- Paul Hobbs Winery
- Pazdar Beverage Co.
- Peju
- Pernod Ricard
- PharoahMoans Wine
- Presqu'ile Winery*
- Michael David Winery (Phillips Farms)
- Pina Cellars
- Plymouth Bay Winery
- Pride Mountain Vineyards
- Radio-Coteau
- Rarymond Vineyards
- Red Car Wine Co.
- Robert Foley
- Robert Young Estate Winery
- Rocca Family Vineyards
- Rombauer Vineyards
- Rutherford Hill Winery
- San Antonio Winery
- Sanford Winery
- Saxum Vineyards
- Schrader Cellars
- Sea Smoke*
- Sequoia Grove
- Seven Hills Winery
- Shafer Vineyards
- Six Sigma
- Skalli Family Wines
- Sokol Blosser
- Sonoma-Cutrer
- Spring Mountain Vineyard
- St. Francis Winery
- Staglin Family Vineyard
- The Steven Kent Winery
- Stolpman Vineyards
- Stony Hill Vineyard
- Sulphur Springs Winery
- Swanson Vineyards
- Talley Vineyards
- Robert Biale Vineyards
- The Morlet Selection
- The Ojai Vineyard
- Tobin James Cellars
- Treana Winery
- Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod
- Turnbull Wine Cellars
- Twin Peaks Winery
- V. Sattui Winery
- Villa Amorosa
- Vineyard 29
- Wagner Winery
- Washington Vintners
- Wente Vineyards
- Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards
- Winery Fulfillment Services
- WINZ of Sandown
- Wolffer Estate
* - Confirmed by winery
** - Said to have applied, permit pending
Still Does Not Ship to Massachusetts (but I wish they would!):
Unknown Entities:
- A W Direct
- BWSC
- C And C Wine Services
- GBF Enterprises
- Gene M. Kosinksi
- Icolebe
- J. Cellars Investments
- Jack John Investments
- Kangaru Enterprises
- Modern Development Company
- New Vavin
- Nuage
- Mathew Reid and Martha Webb
- TSG
My thanks to the Massachusetts ABCC for sharing this list, to ShipCompliant for sharing useful updates on this process, and to Free The Grapes and other organizations for their part in making direct shipment to Massachusetts.
If you've received official communication from a winery that they've been approved for direct shipment to Massachusetts and they're not on this list feel free to leave a comment below and I'll add them to the list.
If you're a winery and you've recently been approved leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll add you to the list.
I'll reach out to the ABCC again in the next couple months for an update.
Hope this is helpful!
10 Wines to Buy Now at Deep Discount from Wine.com
Turns out the deal I mentioned recently from Wine.com is even better than I thought. Hit the comments on this post to see exactly what I'm talking about. I intentionally don't want to spell it out too clearly for fear of killing the deal.
Update: 4/17/2015 Orders now need to total $100+ to get $30 off. Still a decent deal but not nearly as exciting. We'll see if orders are fulfilled...
Update: 4/17/2015 Orders now need to total $100+ to get $30 off. Still a decent deal but not nearly as exciting. We'll see if orders are fulfilled...
This presents an amazing opportunity to get some great wines at mind bogglingly good prices.
I always like to look at a deal from the perspective of what I really want then work my way back from there to see how to get the best price possible for what I want.
The hot categories I'm shopping for right now are 2012 Oregon Pinot Noir and 2010 Brunello. Since it's spring I'm shopping for ros�s and Sauvignon Blanc. And for daily drinkers I'm always in the market for juicy Spanish reds.
Here are two 90+ point rated 2012 Oregon Pinot Noirs for around $30:
2012 Adelsheim Pinot Noir
2012 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir
2010 Brunello is hot. Casanova di Neri is a favorite and Felsina Rancia (not actually Bruenllo) is terrific as well. 95+ ratings from various sources on these fantastic producers:
2010 Casanova di Neri Brunello
2010 Felsina Rancia
For ros� you might want to try the Jolie-Pitt Miraval. I had it the other night and thought it was a little thin. I probably won't buy this vintage again. I bet this one from Borsao is much more to my liking and less than half as much:
2014 Miraval Rose
2014 Borsao Rosado
Sauvignon Blanc hits the spot for me this time of year, and one of my favorites in a long time is this one from Presqu'ile. Fantastic. And Honig Sauvignon Blanc is always delicious. Love it.
2013 Presqu'ile Sauvignon Blanc
2013 Honig Sauvignon Blanc
Spain continues to be my go-to source for value and these two are sure-fire winners. The Castano Solanera got 94 points from Parker (which is a little overblown, but still - it's good wine). And Juan Gil is, well, no post here is complete without mentioning Juan Gil. Not the greatest price in the world, but consider the discount.
2012 Castano Solanera
2012 Juan Gil Monastrell
Remember, read the comments in this post. And review the finer details of the deal in this post to maximize the savings.
White Wine Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds
No 8 on Wine Spectator's Top 100: 2012 Brewer-Clifton Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir
The category and metrics are right up my alley: A California Pinot Noir with a proven track record. 94 WS/$40/1,226 Cases Produced.
All of Spectator's Top 100 wines are worth considering, but the Top 10 in particular are very thoughtfully selected. They always seem to have that elusive confluence of quality and broad appreciation given the vetting process Spectator employs.
And given that the winemakers behind each of the Top 10 wines is invited to New York each fall for the Spectator Wine Experience they seem to think about whether they'd, y'know, like to have the folks behind the wine "over to their house" so to speak.
Spectator's landing page for this wine captures its essence very nicely. Check out the video where James Laube describes why they selected it.
Greg Brewer is the winemaker. He's also winemaker at Melville so you may already be familiar with his style even if you haven't yet tasted Brewer-Clifton. Wines under both labels showed very well for me at this blind tasting of 2009 Pinot Noirs.
Here are my notes:
2012 Brewer-Clifton Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir
$40
14.5% Alcohol
1,226 Cases Produced
This wine leaps from the glass with gorgeous, pure aromatics. At first they're fresh and primary. With time, ripe stem inclusion becomes evident and adds complexity. Translucent vibrant ruby color. Sweet cherries and pipe tobacco on the palate. The mouth feel reveals medium-full viscosity. Really quite spectacular and worthy of inclusion in the WS Top 10.
94/100 WWP: Oustanding
QPR-wise (though not necessarily stylistically) this wine reminds me of the 2008 Paul Hobbs RRV Pinot Noir. Great price point given the quality, and a wine that would be hard to over-purchase.
I'd highly recommend tracking some down while you still can (the Top 10 wines seem to disappear rapidly). I'm also inclined to check out other 2012 bottlings from Brewer-Clifton and Melville as well. Although 2012 was a tough vintage for California Pinot Noir overall quality winemakers like Brewer were able to produce tremendous wines.
Wine.com has the 2011 and 2012 Melville Pinot Noirs in stock in MA for $29.99 and $39.99 (affiliate links):
Massachusetts friends: I see this retailer has it for $44.99 and eligible for 20% as part of a mixed case purchase (add some affordable filler wines) and free shipping on $100+ orders.
Find it on Wine-Searcher
Learn more at http://brewerclifton.com
Follow @BrewerClifton on Twitter
Question of the Day: Have you had any of the Brewer-Clifton or Melville 2012s? If so what did you think?
Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds Andrew Murray Arrowood
Wine Event Announces Winners
The winners of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced June 10 at a media roll-out in Los Angeles. Find the winners here.
2007 Medoc 5. Grand Cru Class�
Here you'll find an overview of the ratings of the 2007 Medoc 4. Grand Cru Class�. We have gathered all ratings from Robert Parker, Decanter and Wine Spectator.
Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/33/2007-medoc-5-grand-cru-classe/
Sunday, 26 April 2015
The Grapes Around Texas is changing. �Stay Tuned! We are in the process of starting our own vineyard and winery over the next few years. �We decided we would use our blog site to tell our story along the way. �We have taken off our post from our original blog style to do this.Filed under: […]
A List of Wineries that Ship to Massachusetts
It has been a long time coming, but as you may have noticed some out of state wineries are now able to ship to Massachusetts!
Some spring release mailers have included a special shout out saying they'll be able to ship here. What it really means for me is cheaper shipping and fewer hassles.
I'm looking forward to being able to order directly from my favorite producers in a recurring manner to develop a persistent relationship with them. Sometimes when I was on the fence about reordering from a pricey producer I'd decide against it because of shipping costs and the hassle of shipping to a neighboring state.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
I'm also entertaining joining some moderately priced winery clubs that I hadn't considered before. And possibly taking advantage of specials wineries offer from time to time. Wineries don't like to compete with retailers who carry their wine on price but you'll sometimes catch deals on their mailing list that will now make more sense than they used to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can out of state *retailers* ship to Massachusetts now?
A: Not legally. The provision passed in 2014 only allows out of state *wineries* to apply for a permit.
Q: A winery I know ships to Massachusetts isn't listed. Why would that be?
A: In the past, some wineries may have found creative ways to ship to Massachusetts. They should now go through the process of getting a permit because it's the right thing to do and will likely lead to lower shipping costs for them and you.
Q: If I know a winery was recently approved but isn't listed what should I do?
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
A: Leave a comment below if you have official communication from them. They were probably approved after this list was compiled.
Q: I'd like to encourage a winery to obtain a permit, what should I do?
A: Contact them and tell them you'd buy from them if they get a permit. The permits aren't cheap, wineries need one for each state they ship to, and small wineries need to know they have enough demand for it to make sense.
Q: I thought FedEx and UPS weren't going to be able to deliver in MA because each truck needs a permit. What happened with that?
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
A: FedEx flattened that issue.
Q: What does it take for a winery to get a permit?
A: Massachusetts is now similar to many other states that allow winery direct shipment. Here's a post from ShipCompliant on what's needed.
Q: Where did you get this list?
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
A: From the Massachusetts ABCC. I took their list of approved entities and manually mapped it to winery websites. In some cases there was ambiguity (is Oakville Hill Cellars really Dalla Valle?). In others a single corporate entity has a bunch of permits (Diageo, Jackson, etc). But hopefully the format presented here is user friendly. Let me know if you spot any mistakes.
Here is a list of wineries approved to ship to Massachusetts as of January 30th, 2015:
- Aaronap Cellars
- Abacela Vineyards and Winery
- Adelsheim Vineyard
- Adirondack Winery
- Alpha Omega Winery
- Amuse Bouche
- Ancient Peak
- Andrew Murray Vineyards
- Anomay Vineyards
- Arietta
- Arkenstone Vineyards
- Armida Winery
- Aubert Winegrowing
- Alexander Valley Vineyards Winery Co.
- Andretti Winery
- Banshee Wines
- Barnett Vineyards
- Batam Cider Company
- Bells Up Winery
- Bennett Lane Winery
- Benovia Winery
- Benzinger Family Winery
- Bethel Heights Vineyard
- Betz Cellars
- Blackbird Vineyards
- Blankiet Estate
- Bressler Vineyards
- Bridge Lane Wines*
- Caduceus Cellars
- Cakebread Cellars
- Cape Cod Winery
- Carlisle Winery & Vineyards
- Castrucci Wines
- Chateau Diana
- Cherry Hill
- Chiarello Family Vineyards
- Chimney Rock Winery
- Canyon Wind Cellars (Christianson Cellars)
- Cameron Hughes Wine (Clara Street Company)
- Clos Du Val
- Conway Family Wines
- Copper Cane
- Corbett Vineyards
- Coup de Foudre
- Scott Harvey Wines (Creative Wine Concepts)
- Crew Wine Company
- Cuvaison
- David Family Wines (Davids Pinot Vineyards)
- Dehlinger **
- Del Dotto Vineyards
- DeLoach (Wheeler Winery, LLC)
- Denner Winery
- Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines
- Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard (Diamond Mountain Vineyard)
- Domaine M.B.
- Doubleback
- Dry Creek Vineyard
- Dunham Cellars
- Duplin Wine Cellars
- Dutton Goldfield Winery
- Elyse Winery
- Epoch*
- Et Fille Wines
- F. Kobrel & Bros
- Far From the Tree Cider
- Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
- Field Stone Winery
- Firesteed
- Far Niente
- Foley Family Wines
- Fontanella Wines
- Fortunatus
- Fox Run Vineyards
- Foxen Vineyard
- Francis Coppola Winery
- Scherrer Winery
- Frost Wines
- Gamble Family Vineyards
- Cass Wines (Geneseo Partners)
- Grgich Hills Cellar
- Hartford Family Winery
- Heitz Wine Cellars
- Homestead Hard Cider
- Honig Vineyard
- Houdini
- Husch Vineyards
- ITO Wines
- J Vineyards
- J. Lohr Winery
- Jackson Family Wines
- Joseph Phelps
- Jordan Winery
- K Vintners/Charles Smith Wines
- Kenefick Ranches Winery
- King Ferry Winery
- Kistler Vineyards
- Kosta Browne*
- Kuleto
- Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
- Laird Family Estate
- Lieb Cellars*
- Long Meadow Ranch Winery
- M.A.C. Wines
- Marimar Estate
- Martin Ray Winery
- Mercer Wine Estates
- Merry Edwards Winery
- Meteor Vineyard
- Mira Winery
- Mirasol Wine
- NakedWines.com
- Navarro Vineyards
- Nimrod Wines
- Marilyn Wines (Nova Wines, Inc)
- Dalla Valle Vineyards (Oakville Hill Cellars)
- Orin Swift Cellars
- Pahlmeyer
- Paloma Vineyard
- Patz & Hall
- Paul Hobbs Winery
- Pazdar Beverage Co.
- Peju
- Pernod Ricard
- PharoahMoans Wine
- Presqu'ile Winery*
- Michael David Winery (Phillips Farms)
- Pina Cellars
- Plymouth Bay Winery
- Pride Mountain Vineyards
- Radio-Coteau
- Rarymond Vineyards
- Red Car Wine Co.
- Robert Foley
- Robert Young Estate Winery
- Rocca Family Vineyards
- Rombauer Vineyards
- Rutherford Hill Winery
- San Antonio Winery
- Sanford Winery
- Saxum Vineyards
- Schrader Cellars
- Sea Smoke*
- Sequoia Grove
- Seven Hills Winery
- Shafer Vineyards
- Six Sigma
- Skalli Family Wines
- Sokol Blosser
- Sonoma-Cutrer
- Spring Mountain Vineyard
- St. Francis Winery
- Staglin Family Vineyard
- The Steven Kent Winery
- Stolpman Vineyards
- Stony Hill Vineyard
- Sulphur Springs Winery
- Swanson Vineyards
- Talley Vineyards
- Robert Biale Vineyards
- The Morlet Selection
- The Ojai Vineyard
- Tobin James Cellars
- Treana Winery
- Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod
- Turnbull Wine Cellars
- Twin Peaks Winery
- V. Sattui Winery
- Villa Amorosa
- Vineyard 29
- Wagner Winery
- Washington Vintners
- Wente Vineyards
- Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards
- Winery Fulfillment Services
- WINZ of Sandown
- Wolffer Estate
* - Confirmed by winery
** - Said to have applied, permit pending
Still Does Not Ship to Massachusetts (but I wish they would!):
Unknown Entities:
- A W Direct
- BWSC
- C And C Wine Services
- GBF Enterprises
- Gene M. Kosinksi
- Icolebe
- J. Cellars Investments
- Jack John Investments
- Kangaru Enterprises
- Modern Development Company
- New Vavin
- Nuage
- Mathew Reid and Martha Webb
- TSG
My thanks to the Massachusetts ABCC for sharing this list, to ShipCompliant for sharing useful updates on this process, and to Free The Grapes and other organizations for their part in making direct shipment to Massachusetts.
If you've received official communication from a winery that they've been approved for direct shipment to Massachusetts and they're not on this list feel free to leave a comment below and I'll add them to the list.
If you're a winery and you've recently been approved leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll add you to the list.
I'll reach out to the ABCC again in the next couple months for an update.
Hope this is helpful!
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