Great Value Reds Mixed Case - February/March 2023

Cave la Comtadine Cotes du Rhone (Rhone Valley, France) – It's almost unheard of these days to find an estate grown and bottled Cotes du Rhone at this price, but that's exactly what we have here from Chapoutier's Cave la Comtadine property.  This cuvée is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes from the best terroirs of the villages of Puyméras and Mérindol les Oliviers. It is a magnificent burgundy red colour. It has a very fruity nose with aromas of raspberry and blackcurrant, and is suave on the palate with fine and round tannins.

Bodegas Atalaya "Laya" Red (Almansa, Spain) - Bodegas Atalaya was founded in 2007 by the Gil Family with the focus on producing wines from Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell that flourish in the area.  The Laya Red is a 90+ point wine from Parker's Wine Advocate in almost every vintage (as it is this year) and really over-delivers for the price. A blend of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre) bush vines raised mostly in stainless steel tanks. The medium-high intensity nose is fruit forward and ripe with blueberry, bramble, black tea, and savory aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the sweetish palate with more ripe blueberry, blackberry, and black tea flavors with some savouryness and touches of pepper spice. It has fresh, juicy acidity and polished tannins that offer a subtle, textural grip, along with some warmth on the mid-palate.

MWC Pinot Noir (Victoria, Australia) – MWC is from McPherson Wine Co, a family owned winery in Australia's Victoria region.  Their Pinot Noir is a glistening ruby-red and is intensely perfumed with aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, candied flowers, Asian spices and mocha with suggestions of vanilla and nori build as the wine opens up. Deeply concentrated but lively as well, offering juicy, mineral-laced black raspberry, cherry cola, boysenberry, candied rose and spicecake flavors that show superb clarity and back-end lift. Closes impressively long and precise, with polished, even tannins and resonating floral and spice notes.

Fantini Terre di Chieti Sangiovese (Abruzzo, Italy) - Really good Chianti under $15 is almost impossible to find these days, but his fantastic Sangiovese from Fantini in Abruzzo (same area that Montepulciano d'Abruzzo comes from) will definitely scratch that Chianti itch for just $14.  A youthful and appealing wine, garnet red in colour and intense on the nose with vibrant red fruit, cherries and herbal characters. On the palate, it has bright fruity notes of strawberry and Morello cherry, with subtle vanilla characters from the oak. The wine is well-balanced and medium-bodied with structured, firm tannins, fresh acidity and a long finish.

Pavette Cabernet Sauvignon (California) – We're not going say that the Pavette is the most complex Cab that we have on the shelf, even in the under $20 category, or that it is loaded with classic Cabernet "varietal character."  What we are going to say its that this is one of the tastiest, easy drinking reds that we've had lately and that you won't be disappointed when you pop the cork.  100% Cabernet from Lodi, it drinks like a Like a  chocolate covered plum. Supple and giving with kirsch, currant, and plum fruit flavors and notes of cocoa nib. Whole berry primary fermentation and spontaneous malolactic in tank followed by aging in a regimen of oak barrels, foudre, and tank for 14 months.

Fratelli Cozza Puglia Primitivo (Italy) - Fratelli Cozza has been making wine in southern Italy since 1560.  Primitivo is Italy's version of Zinfandel in the United States.  Fratelli Cozza is a young Primitivo that displays all of the grape's best qualities; rich & dark fruit, and peppery spice. This is a medium body wine, zesty with balanced fruit and soft tannins. It has minimal oak influence so it boasts an impressive freshness that really captures the essence of the grape and terroir. A perfect wine to drink on its own or with pizza, burgers or barbecue.