It's hard to believe it's been more than two years since our last dinner here at the shop, so I am beyond pleased to announce our next in-house AWM Wine Dinner featuring Asheville importer and former AWM staff member Kate Stamps. As most of you know, Kate imports some fantastic wines from all over Europe, and her French imports from the Savoie are especially remarkable. The evening will focus entirely on selections from Kate's import portfolio, and I'll be announcing the evening's lineup in an upcoming newsletter.

I'm also excited that one of our favorite Asheville culinary practitioners is returning to prepare the evening's dinner -- Chef Steve Goff will be in the house! Menu to follow.

The trip originally scheduled for this fall has been postponed, and I'll be looking to reschedule a customer trip to France sometime late next spring. Interest seems to be gathering for customer trips to other places in Europe, so there's also a strong possibility of a trip to Spain in the late summer or early fall of 2023. I'll be setting up a separate newsletter for AWM travel-related news shortly, so keep an eye on this newsletter for signup details.

Best to everyone for a safe, happy and healthy week.

Cheers!

-Larry

It doesn't get easier than this!

Delivery options are available Tuesday through Saturday for case purchases. The delivery charge is $10-$20 for most of the greater Asheville area and goes directly to Robert's son Galen, who's making our deliveries.

AWM Gift Cards make great gifts all year and it's super quick and easy to purchase them online. We can mail them for you or hold them for pickup at the shop.

Cooking with chicken is like painting on a blank canvas, and the creation that makes it to your plate can vary considerably. Use this handy cheat sheet as a starting point for pairing wines with your culinary adventures featuring chicken.

Marqués de Silvo Rioja Reserva

Marquis del Silvo is a private label project I sourced from one of my favorite European connections — the wife and husband team of Eva López and Ignacio Alonso. They have excellent relationships with top estates and vignerons throughout Spain, and their wines are always standout customer and staff favorites in our Spanish department. Since I source these directly, it eliminates a lot of "nickels" tacked on by middlemen. This way, I can offer them to email subscribers and locals at the best price!

Selecting a red wine from Spain's Rioja region can be a confusing task for the uninitiated; however, it makes a lot more sense when you realize it's all about oak.

Oak is one of the most essential and celebrated elements of wine production in Rioja. The use of oak in the aging process defines the style and character of the region's wine, and there's a slew of laws determining what you're allowed to do and how you'll represent it on the wine's label.

Armed with this information, one can easily navigate a Rioja label to zero in on your preferred style. Like earthy, old-school, old-world wines? You'll love the Reserva and Gran Reserva. Prefer a more modern style, juicy red in your glass? Go for the Joven, Consecha, or Crianza.

The Marques del Silvo Reserva is a classic example of a top-quality Reserva. Just released at the end of 2020, it spent thirty months in medium toast French and American oak barrels before spending an additional two years in bottle. This extra time in new and well-used oak barrels produced a wine with exceptional balance and complexity.

In the glass, you'll immediately notice layers of nuance and complexity that separate Reserva wines from the Crianza and Joven and many other Reservas! Aromas of vanilla, baking spice, cigar box, and mocha stimulate the senses. On the palate, expressive notes of earthy cherry, red currant, red licorice, dark chocolate, and mocha all melt into super-smooth tannins. The textbook Rioja finish is long and in harmony with the fruit and tannin.

This Reserva is a gem and indeed a bargain for its exceptional quality. There may be other inexpensive Reserva Riojas out there; however, I can guarantee that very few of those, if any, will even approach the quality of the Marques del Silvo at this price. If you're a Rioja fan, be sure to stock up on this one!

Regular AWM Price - $21.99

The eastern Loire River Valley is home to the world's most famous and sought-after Sauvignon Blanc, and the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé are at the region's epicenter.

The wines here are strikingly vibrant, with bracing acidity and mineral-driven depth that can rival Chablis. Chalk, flint, and limestone-gravel soils dominate the region, and the contributing minerality provides a perfect foil to the palate of citrus and gooseberry.

The appellation of Pouilly-Fumé sits on the opposite bank of the Loire River, just across from its somewhat more famous neighbor Sancerre. Wine production here dates back to Roman times, and in the middle ages, wines from the Loire were more highly prized than those from Bordeaux and Burgundy!

Compared to Sancerre, the soil in Pouilly-Fumé has a higher percentage of flint, storing the ground's heat more efficiently — producing a rounder ripeness along with the signature flinty minerality.

The Grebet family has a long history of winemaking in the Loire, and sons Vincent and Fabrice have joined their father Gerard, becoming the sixth generation vignerons to work the family Domaine. Their twenty hectares of vineyards are planted primarily to Sauvignon Blanc and feature three distinctly diverse terroirs: Marne Kimmeridgian, Portlandian Limestone, and the highly prized Silex (flint.) For the last ten years, the family has not used any chemical weed killers or pesticides, and they are on track to be certified organic in 2023.

This wine is truly a joy in the glass — it reminds me of just how exceptional Sauvignon Blanc from Pouilly-Fumé can be when produced by a talented artisan focused on terroir. As the wine warms in your glass and as you swirl to release the aromatics, the incredible purity of the fruit begins to emerge with notes of citrus, tropical fruits, and white flowers.

On the palate, it's all about the balance of fruit and minerality. The middle palate progresses to a mouth-filling blend of lemon, guava, wet stone, and a subtle, welcome hint of orange oil and nectarine. The gorgeous, flinty minerality kicks in and continues to a super-lengthy finish along with the ripe fruit.

If you're a fan of fresh, clean, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, this one's for you. Sancerre fan? Do yourself a favor and try this stellar Pouilly-Fumé. Wanted to try one of Didier Dagueneau's Silex wines but couldn't cozy up to the price? This is the experience you've been wanting!

Regular AWM Price - $21.99

The wine-growing region of Puglia is almost instantly recognized when it's described as "the heel of Italy's boot." The long thin Salento Peninsula extends south along the Adriatic Sea to the west and along the Gulf of Taranto to the east. The terroir here is nearly perfect for viticulture. Long, searing summer days with nights cooled by the steady coastal breezes encourage maximum ripeness. Thousands of families in the region take advantage of this climate and the limestone-rich soils, providing the local co-ops with a practically endless volume of grapes.

As you travel south towards Puglia, you'll notice the gradual shift from Central European culture to a distinctly Mediterranean vibe, with more of a Greek, Spanish and Turkish flavor. Further south, the rolling hills of Northern Puglia gently melt into the vast, flat farmland of Southern Puglia. The wine also changes here, shifting from the Atlantic and Central European grape sets to the indigenous grapes of South-Western Italy -- Vermentino, Nero di Troia, Negroamaro, and the region's workhorse, Primitivo.

For generations, grape-growers in the vast flat farmland of Puglia produced copious amounts of low-quality wines, destined for blending or trucking off to distilleries to become grappa or vermouth. This all changed when some families in the region decided to focus on quality instead of quantity. The Varvaglione family was one of the first to make that change.

The Varvaglione Estate was established in 1921, and during the early years, they sold and traded their fruit strictly within the local co-op. Second-generation vigneron Angelo Varvaglione was the first in the family to produce wine under the family's name commercially. In those years, he produced vino sfuso, an everyday wine made for immediate, pleasurable consumption. Locals would come and fill their own vessels, paying by the liter, like filling up your tank at a gas station.

Third-generation vigneron Cosimo Varvaglione introduced more changes by focusing the family's attention strictly on native, indigenous grapes. In the early 2000s, Cosimo and his wife Maria-Teresa -- a business-savvy accountant -- started to bottle their estate wines and market them internationally.

Here's where it gets particularly interesting. Over the last ten years, all three of Cosimo and Maria-Teresa's children, Marzia, Angelo, and Francesca, joined the family business. Their focus was on improving the family's wines both inside and out -- with fresh labeling and graphic design on the outside and, most importantly, making sure the best quality wine is inside the bottle.

This new focus resulted in the family's latest line of wines -- the 12 e Mezzo label. The name translates to "12 and a half," alluding to the 12.5 percent alcohol level of the 12 e Mezzo line. This is especially remarkable, considering most of the Primitivo and Negroamaro typically produced in the region can run as high as 16%! To bottle these wines at the 12.5% alcohol level, the family harvests from the estate's younger vine holdings, averaging 10-12 years in age.

Primitivo and Negroamaro are harvested five or six days earlier than their other parcels and are fermented at a significantly lower temperature. The brilliant result is rich, deeply satisfying glasses of Primitivo and Negroamaro that are a couple of degrees lower in alcohol. This innovative method certainly fuels hope for an antidote to climate change in the vineyard!

In your glass, after a quick swirl, the Primitivo delivers a burst of dark red and blue fruit on the nose and palate. There's a lovely balance of soft, silky fruit, generous lift and acidity, and ripe, velvety tannins, all inviting sip after sip. Notes of dark plum and blueberry mix with brown spice, cocoa, and just a hint of vanilla on the palate lead to the pleasingly lifted finish. I find this to be a tremendously versatile red for food pairings and would love this with pasta, pizza, and burgers, all the way to grilled chops and steak.

Thanks to the aging in extra-large French tonneau, you'll find the Negroamaro to be a little softer and more fruit-forward in your glass. Like the Primitivo, the focus is on blue fruits with soft, supple tannins leading to a lengthy finish with notes of vanilla, cocoa, and spice. I find the Negroamaro to be even more suitable for pasta, pizza, and practically anything with red sauce.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Nestled on the Atlantic coast of Southwestern France, Bordeaux is the largest wine-growing region in the country. If Bordeaux itself were a country, it would be the fifth-largest wine-growing entity globally. A recent count shows nearly nine thousand winegrowers have taken advantage of the region's excellent climate conditions and calcareous soil -- dating back as far back as the Roman Empire.

Close to 90 percent of the wines produced in Bordeaux are red, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the vineyards east of the Gironde River, and Merlot dominating to the west. While the wine press endlessly focuses on the high-ticket, famous names, most of the wine produced in Bordeaux is very reasonably priced and produced on small family estates. Château Petit Freylon is a perfect example.

Château Petit-Freylon is located in the Aquitaine village of Saint-Genis-du-Bois, a tiny hamlet on Bordeaux's right bank with less than 100 inhabitants. For generations, the estate has been producing Merlot and Cabernet-based Bordeaux blends, regularly earning medals at the prestigious Concours Agricole in Paris and the Concours de Bordeaux. Although the estate has recently made recent updates with new tanks, barrels, and vinification equipment, they strictly employ traditional production methods in the vineyard and winery.

In your glass, the 2018 Cuvée Sarah is a complex and warming blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. After a quick swirl, you're greeted with savory notes of spice, tobacco leaf, and earthy dark fruits on the nose, leading to a bright and lifted palate of dark red fruit and spiced plum. There's a remarkable amount of juicy red fruit on the palate that's deftly balanced by the perfect amount of oak treatment. Notes of cocoa, brown spice, and dark cherry dance through the clean, lengthy finish.

This classic Bordeaux drinks super-well and would pair like a dream with braised meats, stews and ragout, and lamb chops. Enjoy now and through 2024.

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

Years ago, I coined the phrase "Tuesday Night" wine to describe affordably priced, quality-driven wines. These are wines that you're not afraid to open and enjoy on a Tuesday night, and they're great to have around when friends and relatives show up at your door.

My favorite way to find these little Tuesday night gems is through the incredible independent vignerons and co-ops I already work with. In many cases, these producers will have terrific entry-level reds and whites sourced from younger vines or just outside the village borders. These wines are always affordably priced and enjoy the same integrity in production and attention to quality normally reserved for higher-priced bottlings.

Le Petit Martin comes from one of my favorite vignerons and one of the first properties I arranged to source from France many years ago. Most of you will instantly recognize Domaine Martin for their amazing Plan de Dieu Village. Today's insider deal is the new release of their "Petit Martin" Vaucluse blend — a perfect "Tuesday Night Red" if I've ever tasted one. It's affordable, comes from a quality-oriented independent vigneron, and it's pure drinking pleasure in the glass!

The bonus: the 2021 Rosé just arrived as well!

Julien Martin established Domaine Martin in 1905 when he purchased five hectares of vineyards in the Plan de Dieu. In the 1930s, Julien's son Jules took over the property and started to buy additional vineyard plots in the Plan de Dieu and surrounding villages. By the late 1940s, the family shifted from selling fruit to the local co-op to producing their own wine at the Domaine. In 1960, Jules's sons René and Yves continued to acquire more vineyard holdings and expanded the cellar to add bottling production.

Today, the property is owned and managed by Eric and David Martin, the founder's great-grandsons. The estate has grown to more than 70 hectares and includes parcels in the Plan de Dieu, Rasteau, Carianne, and Vaucluse. They grow a classic combination of Rhône varietals, all perfectly suitable for the region's vineyards — Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Marselan, and Merlot for the Reds; Viognier, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc for the Whites; and Grenache and Cinsault for Rosé.

The 2020 Petit Martin Rouge is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Merlot sourced from 20-30-year-old vines, all located in and around the Plan de Dieu. The sandy limestone soil, blanketed with layers of pebbles, is very similar to Gigondas and Vacqueryas, and results in a wine with similar density and structure.

In your glass, the 2020 Petit Martin is a delightful full-bodied red that opens with bright aromas of raspberry and black cherry, mixed with spicy herbs and spice. The palate is super fresh and packed with dark-red berry and savory notes of garigue flowing through the palate. The soft yet ample structure will compliment almost any food pairing, and I know it will shine at all of your grill-outs and picnics.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

Just as we ran out of the 2020 Petit Martin Rosé, I received the good news that the 2021 arrived -- talk about great timing! We tasted the 2021 Rosé earlier in the week, and once again, it was love at first sip.

The 2021 Petit Martin Rosé is blended from 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault, sourced from the Domain's holdings in the Vaucluse.

After a quick swirl of this vivid hot-pink beauty, aromas of red berry, strawberry, and red currant vault out of the glass, leading to a smooth and silky palate brimming with bright, spicy red fruit. The lengthy and pleasingly dry finish is lifted and fresh, with a nice touch of salty minerals and spice to balance the terrific fruit. You'll find just a tad more "meat on the bones" with the 2021 compared to last year's release, and the fruit is a little more generous on the middle palate.

Perhaps the best news is that thanks to a significantly stronger dollar, I was able to offset the increased shipping costs this time around, so the price did not go up at all from last year — if the dollar continues to remain steady, the price could hold through the summer!

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

Vinho Verde -- Vinho Verde Rosé

If you enjoy sipping wine outdoors in the summer, chances are you've poured a glass or two of Vinho Verde. This cool, crisp porch-sipper is the perfect antidote to the heat of summer and the ideal addition to any pool party or beach gathering.

Vinho Verde doesn't refer to a grape — it refers to the region in northern Portugal that produces the spritzy thirst-quencher. The name literally translates to "green wine," however, locally, it means "young wine," indicating that the wine was bottled for market 5 or 6 months after harvest. This early bottling captures all of the tangy freshness and can retain just a touch of C02, providing that signature gentle spritz.

You'll find the Vinho Verde wine region in the northwest corner of Portugal, bordered by the Tras-os-Montes and Duoro wine regions to the east and the Lafões and Dão to the south. The Vinho Verde denomination is the largest DOC in Portugal, consisting of nine sub-regions, each placing its distinctive stamp of terroir on their Vinho Verde.

Gateway White is a traditional style of Vinho Verde, low in alcohol with a slight fizz and plenty of freshness. It's made from a blend of Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto, and Azal, all sourced from the Amarante sub-region. The Gateway pink is a blend of Espadeiro and Touriga Nacional, also sourced entirely from Amarante.

In the glass, the fresh and tangy White Gateway has just a gentle hint of spritz that leads to a crisp, clean lemon-lime palate, finishing with a nice touch of white melon. The Rosé Gateway shares the same pleasant spritz and adds a hint of delicate red fruit to the palate. Both are pleasingly dry and make a great low alcohol alternative to an afternoon gin and tonic.

Pair these crisp Vinho Verdes with all of your late spring and summer fare, including cold soups, salads, chicken, and seafood. Both are especially food with shellfish, and the pink would do very nicely with salmon.

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

The Pratsch family has been dedicated to organic viticulture and vinification for generations. Their high standards and perfect stewardship of their land earned them organic certification more than thirty years ago -- well before most other wineries in the region.

Stephan Pratch continues the legacy by managing all thirty hectares of his family's vineyards under strict organic standards. That same level of detail continues in the winery, featuring spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and minimal addition of sulfur. Stephan also avoids the use of artificial processing materials and animal products. Instead of gelatin, he uses potato starch and pea flour as clarifying agents.

Zweigelt is Austria's most planted and most popular red grape. The grape was named after Dr. Fritz Zweigelt, the Austrian entomologist and phytologist who developed the Zweigelt grape by crossing two native varieties: Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. Blaufränkisch provides a peppery backbone of spice, nicely balancing the lush, Pinot Noir-like texture and elegance of St. Laurent.

In your glass, the dark, red ruby hue leads to aromas of wild strawberry and plum, framed herbal notes, and hints of balsamic. The pleasingly dry palate features supple tannins and flavors of red berry, red currant, and strawberry with hints of black pepper and tobacco leaf.

This medium-bodied red is best enjoyed at cellar temperature or slightly chilled. Pair with grilled duck, chicken, white meats, and grilled salmon and tuna. We also love Zweigelt with BBQ and spicy Tex-Mex dishes.

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

A passing glance at a bottle of Rose mon Rose might suggest that it was a Rosé from Provence. While it resembles and even drinks like a Rosé from Aix-en-Provence, the real perk for us is that it doesn't share the price tag.

Domaine Montrose is located in the Côtes de Thongue appellation in the Languedoc, and they are one of the most highly regarded Rosé-centric producers west of Montpellier. The estate was established in 1701 and has been family-owned and operated for twelve generations.

The Mediterranean climate of the Côtes de Thongue appellation is perfect for viticulture, and the local estates take full advantage of the long, hot, dry summers and temperate winters. Steady coastal breezes cool the summer evenings and protect the vines, allowing full development and ripeness.

The estate's vineyards are planted on a rather unusual breadth of terroir not common in this region.

Clay-limestone: this soil structure allows maximum moisture retention during the hot, dry summers.

Villafranchian terrasses: small round pebbles; while naturally poor in nutrients, they make the vines suffer, yielding top-quality fruit — very typical terroir of this appellation.

Volcanic: the estate is fortunate to have vines planted on a volcanic slope, producing very distinctive minerality

In your glass, the gorgeous pale salmon hue opens to aromas of red berry, melon, and strawberry. The palate has a beautiful balance of fruit and acidity with just the right amount of creamy texture on the middle palate. The finish lingers nicely with notes of red berry, red currant, citrus, and peach skin.

This pink gem really does drink like a Provence Pink that's north of twenty bucks!

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

Montsant and Priorat are neighbors and a classic example of how one neighbor gets all the love and attention of the winepress while the other gets politely ignored. For the last few years, the Priorat DOC has been the darling of hipster soms and wine publications. The attention is well-deserved; the region produces excellent wine from a punishing landscape and climate.

Think of the Priorat as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Montsant as Gigondas, Vacqueras, Cairanne, Rasteau, and all the other villages that surround Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Wines in the surrounding communities often use the same grape varietals, share similar soil structures, and even share weather conditions.

The one thing they don't share is the price.

The village of Capçanes and the winery bearing its name are located 100 miles southwest of Barcelona, 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. There is a long and proud history of wine growing here that dates back to the middle ages. Cellars Capçanes was created in 1933 by a small group of local vignerons and now includes hundreds of families throughout the region.

Capçanes sources the fruit for Potente from high altitude vineyards on south and southwest facing mountain slopes. The low amounts of annual rainfall, extreme climate swings, and the barren, rocky soil make it difficult for the grapes to survive --and that's what makes great wine!

It's always a great day when a favorite wine returns in a new vintage -- especially when it's just as good or even better than the previous release. After the fabulous 2016 Potente from Celler Capçanes, I had high hopes for the newly arrived 2018 vintage. I'm delighted to report that I wasn't disappointed -- the new arrival is close to a carbon copy of the last vintage. It has the same smooth and silky elegance that we all loved with just a tad more brightness and freshness. The best news of all is that I recently secured another supply of the 2018, and it's just arrived!

In the glass, you'll find a superb union of power and finesse. Aromas of roasted dark berry and cherry compote, wild raspberry, and forest berries burst out of the glass along with a subtle hint of smoke and campfire. Just like the wines of the Priorat, the gorgeous lift of this Montsant on the palate is the perfect foil to the pure, velvety fruit. The long finish is a melange of dark berry fruit with hints of balsamic, chocolate, and a touch of pepper spice.

If you're a fan of Priorat, you'll fall in love with this "Junior Priorat" blend of Garnacha, Cariñena (Samsó), Syrah, and Merlot.

Best of all, this wine drinks like a Priorat, at the price of a Montsant!

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

When asked to name the ultimate underdog of Italian white wine, my answer would undoubtedly be Pinot Bianco. Known as Pinot Blanc in France and Weissburgunder in Germany, the grape lives in the permanent shadow of its more famous sibling rival Pinot Grigio when grown in Italy.

Compared to Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco is generally more nuanced and delicately scented, presenting notes of pear, apple, lemon zest, and white flowers. Pinot Bianco features excellent zippy acidity yet still offers the alluring creamy texture found in most Pinot Grigio.

The Francesco family estate was founded in 1968 by Salamon Francesco, and their initial agricultural focus was mainly on corn, wheat, and soy. Slowly, the family branched out into viticulture, initially growing the rustic local variety of Raboso grapes. Over the next two decades, the family honed their skills in vineyard and winery, producing well-received regional, quaffable reds.

By the late 1980s, the family realized their estate was ideal for growing Glera, the primary grape used in Prosecco. Today, Gianluca Salamon runs the family estate, and he continues his father's commitment to organic farming, growing Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero, in addition to Glera.

Pulling the cork on a bottle of Nomalas Pinot Bianco is the perfect way to enjoy a warm, sunny spring or summer day. Extra added bonus -- there's just a whisper of fizz in the glass, making this crisp white even more enjoyable!

In your glass, you'll find the classic Pinot Bianco notes of pear, apple, and white flowers on the nose, leading to a palate of ripe pear and lemon framed by gorgeous minerality. At the core of the middle palate is a subtle but present creamy texture that's the perfect foil for the zip and verve. Pair this bargain of a white with a porch, pool, or patio, and feel free to enjoy a glass while you're firing up the grill!

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

In addition to the wines I source and arrange with my own contacts, I'm always on the lookout for personal projects and private-label bottlings from well-regarded importers. The Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect example!

New York importer T. Edward is the creator of the Crosby wines. It's the newest private-label project made for the importer, and it comes to us via Asheville's own Kate Stamps. For years, T. Edward has forged connections across the globe, creating exceptional opportunities for sourcing private label projects.

Crosby wines are crafted from declassified grapes sourced at various estates in top California AVAs. The source vineyards remain a secret since these same grapes find their way into much pricier brands. According to the folks at T. Edward, the Crosby line was created to "bring varietal and vintage correct expressions to wine lovers at reasonable prices." They have certainly succeeded in that quest!

Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon is a superbly refreshing style of California Cab. There's a ton of ripe red plum and blueberry fruit on the nose and palate; however, plenty of lift and acidity keep this medium-bodied Cab super clean through the supple finish. Tannins are present, but they're smooth and silky, making this a great everyday, easy-drinking Cab.

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

The eastern-most part of the Loire Valley is a mosaic of landscape that just happens to be ideally suited for white wine production. Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé were especially favored by the happy occurrence of a geological accident locally known as the "Sancerre Fault."

The fault produced a trio of terroirs in the hilly landscape of the eastern Loire Valley; Terres Blanches, a white, chalky clay also known as Kimmeridgian Marl; Silex, featuring a high percentage of flint; and Oxfordian limestones, which feature layers of pebbles and gravel.

Each of these soil structures contributes a distinctive character and nuance to the Sauvignon Blanc grown in the region. Kimmeridgian soil yields wines with rounder fruit that takes a front seat to the minerality while imparting assertive acidity. Silex soils produce the most mineral-driven wines, featuring a flinty minerality that envelope the fruit. Lastly, Sauvignon Blanc, grown in Oxfordian clay, yields rich and perfumed wines but with more delicate minerality.

The Prieur family has grown Sauvignon Blanc sustainably in some of the region's most prestigious terroirs, including Bouffants, Chavignol, Chêne Marchand, Coinches, Perriers, and Monts-Damnés. The formidably steep slopes of their Les Monts Damnés vineyards earned the name from the grower's disdain for working on 'those damned slopes.'

Today, tenth-generation vignerons Thierry and Bruno Prieur produce textbook Sancerre from their 30 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc. They consider La Damnée to be their best bottling, and I enthusiastically concur!

Fruit for La Damnée is sourced from the family's best plots, featuring the unique characteristics of the three main soil types. The wine is tank fermented and rests on lees for eight months to further protect the nuance of each terroir.

After a quick swirl and sniff, you'll know you have classic Sancerre in your glass. Layers of lemon, pink grapefruit, peach, and gooseberry swim seamlessly along with the gorgeous hit of flinty minerals. The balance between the ripe fruit and crisp acidity is stunning and lengthy, leaving you longing for another sip. This is drinking like a charm now; however, it will develop nicely for at least the next few years. Pair with white-fleshed fish, shellfish, and goat cheese.

Limited amount available.

Regular AWM Price - $32.99

Château Juvenal is a name you see pretty often in this newsletter. There's a good reason -- their wines are absolutely spectacular, and they're always a tremendous value. This was one of the very first properties I sourced during one of my earliest buying trips to France, so I have a considerable fondness for the two families who own the estate.

Ribes du Vallat, like all of the wines produced at Château Juvenal, is made from grapes grown on south-facing slopes of clay and limestone, and the certified organic vineyards are farmed and harvested parcel by parcel. The blend varies slightly from vintage to vintage and most years is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. It's vinified and aged entirely in tank, with extra time on the lees to preserve the freshness of the fruit.

The name of the wine is part of the story, and owner Bernard Forestier explains it this way:

In your glass, you can look forward to notes of red berry and blue fruits on the nose, nicely framed by lavender and garigue. The lovely spice on the nose floats directly into the palate and provides a welcome foil to the purity and density of fruit. Crushed raspberry and blueberry lead to a lengthy, spicy finish with hints of smoke and black pepper. This is classic Château Juvenal all the way!

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Choosing winemaking as a profession is a difficult way of life and a challenging way to make a living. Now imagine that you also have to completely reinvent how you make your wine and the type of wine you'll make. Félix Lorenzo Cachazo accepted that challenge and joined a small group of vignerons who would change winemaking in Rueda forever.

Bodegas Cachazo was established in 1946, and as with all of the wineries in Rueda at that time, they produced the "old wines" of Rueda. These Amontillados wines could be considered a distant relative of Sherry, sporting naturally high alcohol at 15%, and the classic notes of oxidation. Félix Lorenzo Cachazo started his career at the family's underground wine cellars and rapidly became known for the high quality of his Amontillados wines.

Fast forward to 1980, and what appeared to be the beginning of the end for winemaking in Rueda. The high-alcohol, sherry-like wines of the region were rapidly falling out of vogue, with demand shifting towards the lighter fresh wines made all across Europe.

In 1980, Félix Lorenzo led his family's winery through a complete conversion to modern winemaking. He joined seven other Bodegas in the region to form the beginning of the Rueda D.O. Of the eight Bodegas who saved winemaking in Rueda, only two remain -- Bodegas Félix Lorenzo Cachazo and Marques de Riscal.

Today, the winery remains a family affair. Félix Lorenzo and his wife Rita Heras continue to oversee all operations. Their daughter Ángela Lorenzo Heras was the first family member to graduate from enology school and is currently the lead winemaker. Their son Eduardo Lorenzo Heras is the business director and tirelessly promotes Rueda wines across the globe.

It's interesting to note that the "old wines" are making a comeback. The family produces a remarkable Amontillados called Dorado, a wine that Michelin-starred restaurants highly prize.

The grapes for this delicious Verdejo are sourced from the family's vineyard holdings across the Denomination of Origin Rueda, from young wire-trained vineyards with stony soil to 140-year-old bush vines that survived the phylloxera plague thanks to the sandy soil.

In your glass, you'll find notes of apple, pear, and white flowers on the nose leading to a zesty and zippy palate of white fruits, quince, and citrus. I love that the balance of crisp acidity and tangy fruit makes this a thirst-quencher for the porch and perfect for the table. Pair this benchmark Verdejo with all of your seafood creations, vegetarian dishes, and sushi.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

So what do Romans, the French King Charles Le Chauve, and the Rigal Roquefort Cheese Company all have in common? They've each owned and made wine at this venerable estate!

Yes, I am writing about a 10-dollar Cab (10-bucks for insiders, that is); however, this is a 10-dollar Cab chock full of history and pedigree. It's actually the entry-level wine of Château du Grand Caumont, a well-regarded benchmark producer in the commune of Lézignan Corbières.

Corbières and the Languedoc, in general, produce a boatload of terrific, high-quality, value-driven wines. The sad fact is that most of these gems never leave France and only occasionally make it out to the E.U. Happily, that's been changing over the last few years, and we're finally able to get some of these best-buy gems into our glasses Stateside.

When we first tasted this last week, we couldn't believe the price, and we asked our rep to double-check to make sure there wasn't an error.

In your glass, you'll love how pleasingly smooth this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon feels on the palate. Earthy aromas and briary red fruits lead to the supple palate of black raspberry, black cherry, and a whisper of cassis. There's a lovely balance of fruit and earth that finishes perfectly clean with just a hint of tobacco and spice.

Pair this with everything from burgers to grilled chops, roasted birds, and even pasta-pizza.

These true ten-dollar gems are getting more and more difficult to find, so back up the truck for this one!

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

I can't think of any other Garnacha from Spain that has garnered so much attention and so many accolades from AWM customers. It was an instant hit when I introduced the 2015 vintage and sold out almost immediately. The 2016 OGV was another fantastic Garnacha, and like the 2015 vintage, its quality/price ratio was off the charts. The 2018 vintage was another show-stopper, and best of all, it's back!

Calatayud is one of the largest D.O.s in the Aragón region of Spain. A combination of the region's high altitude and arid climate provides ideal conditions for producing some of Spain's finest Garnacha. The broad diurnal shift produces significantly cooler evening temperatures, allowing the grapes to reach full ripeness levels while still maintaining good lift and freshness. The red iron-rich soils are studded with layers of loose rock, sand, and gravel, and this soil combination does an outstanding job of preserving the region's precious moisture.

Bodegas Cooperativa Virgen de la Sierra has been making wine in the Calatayud for more than 100 years. Six hundred families take part in the Co-op, and over the years, the vineyard holdings have grown to more than 700 hectares. The land in this Co-op has been passed down in local families for generations, and there is an amazing sense of pride and quality that drives all aspects of production.

Co-op wines are often ignored by the wine press and snubbed by collectors in favor of estate-grown and bottled wines. I've learned over the years that while most estate wines are indeed quality-driven, so are carefully chosen Cooperative wines. In some cases, the Co-op is the local economy's driving force, and dozens if not hundreds of families depend on it for income. In most cases, well-made Co-op wine is a bargain when compared to estate wines of similar quality.

Bodega Cooperativa Virgen De La Sierra is a perfect example of a Co-op that does everything right. They balance an ideal blend of old-school tradition in the vineyards and the best of modern technology in the winery. There's no use of chemicals or pesticides on the vines, and there's a bare minimum of intervention at the winery. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and growers are paid based on their grapes' quality, not on quantity.

The Co-op at Virgen De La Sierra operates with a level of integrity far beyond the average Co-op; however, they have a secret weapon that genuinely defines their wine: the grapes are harvested from 70 to 100-year-old vines. These gnarled old vines produce a minuscule yield that is absolutely magnificent in density, nuance, and extraction.

When you get this one into your glass, you'll see why everyone is in love with this wine. On the nose, you're greeted with aromas of toasty blueberry and red berry compote. The real action starts on the palate — dark red berry, blueberry, baking spice, and vanilla mingle with hints of coffee and mocha on the finish. There's a lot going on with this wine, and as it gets a little air, it really starts to come alive. There's a ton of fruit; however, it's not a lollipop — the ample tannin allows one to enjoy this with a steak, yet it's smooth and supple enough to sip on the porch.

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

Torroxal Albariño 

As you travel west, leaving the dry interior of central Spain's Meseta Central, the parched, brown earth tones of the plateau fade away and turn lush and verdant. You've arrived in "Green Spain!"

The Rias Baixas region is located in Galicia, just above the Portuguese border on Spain's Atlantic coast. The area's direct proximity to the Atlantic Ocean keeps the climate cool and quite wet compared to most of Spain's other wine-growing regions. While it's not ideal for red wine production, it's the perfect climate for growing Albariño.

Carlos Gómez founded Adegas Valmiñor in 1997, and winemaker Cristina Mantilla has been making the wines since the very first vintage. She's one of the region's top oenologists and, over the last two decades, has been a tireless advocate for Albariño. In addition to Adegas Valmiñor, Cristina's consulting company, Mantivinos, works with many leading producers in Rias Baixas, notably Pazo San Mauro Palacio de Fefiñanes.

Albariño has surged in popularity, and over the last few years, it's helped put Rias Baixas back on the map for all white wine lovers. The grape can also claim dual citizenship since it's a significant player just over the border in Portugal -- known there as Alvarinho. Even sunny California has seen a considerable rise in the amount of Albariño plantings.

Albariño's newfound popularity has made it tough to find top-quality examples at a reasonable price. When we recently tasted the new vintage of Torroxal Albariño from Adegas Valmiñor, we were blown away by both the quality and very reasonable price -- we instantly knew we had found another winner!

In the glass, you'll find an explosion of tropical and exotic fruit on the nose, mingling with hints of salty ocean breeze on the nose. There's a gorgeous density of fruit on the palate, with notes of lemon, lime, and orange oil leading through the salty, mineral-tinged finish. It's easy to understand why Albariño is considered to be one of the world's best wines for shellfish and ocean fish!

Torroxal is by far the best buy in Albariño I have found in years. Don't miss this one if you're hunting for a crisp, unoaked, full-bodied white with that perfect hint of salty sea breeze!

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

We taste a lot of Rosé at the shop to preview and curate the selections for our customers. Roughly one out of thirty or forty reaches our quality standard and makes it past us to the shelves. The most challenging of these wines to preview are those that fall into the best-buy category, and the hunt goes on perpetually for these elusive bargain-priced treasures.

It's always a great day when we discover one of these hidden gems, and it's even more gratifying when that find is reasonably priced. The 2021 Vallevo Rosé is indeed one of these rare finds, and you won't believe the pure drinking pleasure and overall quality of this wine at such a low price!

The Terre di Chieti IGT is nestled in the foothills of central Italy's Abruzzo region. Montepulciano is the region's notable and ubiquitous red; however, white wine makes up more than 60% of its entire production -- Pecorino, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio are the main white grapes with smaller amounts of Moscato and Cococciala.

The region's recorded history dates back to Roman times and notes that the region's ports were often used by the Roman merchant ships making connections throughout the Adriatic. Many of these ports are still in use today.

The coastline known as the 'Costa dei Trabocchi' features many "Trabocchi" -- dwellings that once allowed fishermen to fish in bad weather effectively. These wooden structures acted both as shelter and as fishing "machines," extending out in the water on long wooden legs using long poles and systems of nets to reach passing schools of fish.

Vallevò is a well-regarded co-operative winery in this region, located close to the village of Chieti. They have grown to more than 500 members during the last forty years, with close to 2,000 acres of vineyards. The coop produces a large variety and volume of wine; however, only 10-15% of their wines are bottled, and the rest is sold in bulk - we're told, to some famous producers that would prefer not to be named! Fruit for the bottled wine is sourced from the coop's top one hundred family producers and is consistently the best fruit available in the region.

After a swirl or two, the first thing you'll notice is the wonderfully vibrant red berry and melon aromas virtually leaping from the glass. The fresh and lifted palate has broad richness yet retains a pleasing amount of acidity that keeps the wine lively. There's a nice touch of minerals and salinity on the palate that lingers in the long finish of melon and red berry fruit.

This pink thirst-quencher is super versatile and will shine with all of the classic Rosé pairings. We especially love it with spicy Cajun, Paella, and other saffron-infused dishes, grilled salmon and tuna, shrimp and grits, and of course, any ham preparations. For a real treat, serve this with one of the Abruzzo region's favorite dishes: herb and tomato baked fish -- cod, halibut, or even salmon would be fantastic.

I'm always impressed with the quality this coop offers for such a low price year after year. Much like their terrific unoaked Chardonnay, the Vallevo Rosé is an honest, superbly made wine available at an unbeatable price.

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

Weingut Pratch is a tiny gem of an estate with thirteen single vineyard sites on twenty hectares in the Niederösterreich region. Wilhelm, Anneliese, and their son Stephan have been practicing organic farming and winemaking techniques since the early 90s and were among the first in the area to convert entirely to organic production.

Stephan Pratsch was drawn to wine at an early age. By his 15th birthday, the winemaking prodigy became the eighth-generation vigneron at his family's estate. With Stephan running the winery, his parents focused on completing the property's conversion to organic viticulture.

Grüner Veltliner, the national wine of Austria, is prized for its refreshingly zippy acidity, herbaceous, peppery aromatics, and uncanny ability to seamlessly marry into difficult food pairings. The Pratsch Grüner is just that and more. In your glass, vibrant aromas of red and green apples and white flowers jump out of the glass to introduce a zingy palate of lemon, lime, peach, and the classic Grüner note of white pepper. I love the play of mouth-watering acidity with the ripe, lush fruit. If you love your whites crisp and zippy, with nice roundness on the palate -- this Grüner Veltliner is for you!

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

I was introduced to Zweigelt Rosé fifteen years ago during my first buying trip to Austria, and it remains at the top of my list of favorite dry Rosé. I've always leaned towards buying Zweigelt Rosé in larger quantities, both personally and for the shop, since they always drink so well into the following year. I love how these Rosés soften around the edges into their second year, yielding a smoother sip while still maintaining plenty of lift. The Pratsch Zweigelt Rosé is an excellent example of this phenenom.

In your glass, peach, red berry, and pomegranate aromas lead to a juicy palate of cranberry and orchard fruits. The ripe and round palate has just the right amount of pleasing acidity to keep the finish fresh and clean. Notes of peach and hints of citrus linger nicely on the finish. This is a great one for the porch and patio; however, it's also super food-friendly.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

If you were to ask wine drinkers today to name the most famous Italian white wine, chances are, many would say Pinot Grigio. That hasn't always been the case, and if you asked that same question thirty or forty years ago, the answer would have certainly been Soave.

In the 1980s, Soave became the most imported white wine in America. Large corporate wine manufacturers bombarded the airwaves with over-the-top television ads that looked more like out-takes from a Godfather movie. Magazine ads featured Italian royalty dressed in designer suits, leisurely sipping glasses of Soave in the garden of their medieval castle.

Soave quickly became a resounding commercial success; however, there was just one problem -- the wines were terrible. The exports of Soave sent to America bore little or no resemblance to the proper, authentic wines produced by small family estates of the region.

Sadly, all the marketing and hype tarnished the good name, and it would take close to a generation for the true wines of Soave to recover.

There's excellent Soave made today by the dozens of small family estates in the region. The Tessari family, owners of the Suavia estate, is one of those families that helped reclaim the reputation of Soave. Although it did take some time, Soave has very nicely recovered from the damage inflicted by the large corporate wineries of the 1980s.

The Suavia estate has been in the Tessari family since the early 1800s, and until the late 1970s, the family grew grapes for sale to the giant wine manufacturers of the region. That all changed in 1982 when Giovanni Tessari and his wife Rosetta began to crush their own grapes to make the estate's first wines. Today, you'll find three of Giovanni and Rosetta's four daughters running the estate.

From grape to bottle, the three Tessari sisters -- Meri, Valentina and Alessandra -- run the family winery in Fittà

In your glass, you'll immediately note vibrant aromas of yellow apple, pear, tropical fruits, and herbs. The juicy palate has nice creamy notes that are perfectly balanced by cool minerality and fresh, lively acidity, and trademark hints of almond. It's a harmonious white that perfectly balances all elements from your first sip to the last.

Pair this with grilled or seared white meats, pork tenderloin, and grilled white-fleshed fish.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

We're very fortunate indeed to have some very talented and dedicated wine importers in Western North Carolina. We're even luckier to have my good friend Jean-Philippe Bourgeois right here in Asheville. Although he's based here in town, Philippe is a national importer, and he sells his wines in some of the best shops all across the country.

I first met Philippe some twenty years ago, after moving to Asheville to work here at the shop. I was immediately impressed with Philippe's portfolio and his unwavering drive to find the best, most reasonably priced wines Europe has to offer.

Philippe specializes in European wines; however, the really exciting stuff comes from his home turf of France. His selections from the Rhône Valley and the Languedoc are especially remarkable, and in most cases, Philippe is intimately involved in the blending and aging process.

We've consistently featured Philippe's Elicio Red, White, and Rosé for the last 15 years, and I feel that they represent a terrific bang for the buck. I'm delighted to report that they have all just arrived in stock, and since I've long admired Philippe's turn of a phrase with his wine descriptions, I'm featuring his personal notes on the wines.

Blend: 100% Vermentino

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Blend: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah

Aging: 10 to 20 years old vines aged in stainless steel tanks for 5 months.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Aging: 10 to 20 years old vines aged in concrete tanks for 6 to 8 months

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Auxey-Duresse Burgundy, France

As an unabashed Francophile, I've spent the better part of my adult life investigating French wine and cuisine. Years back, when my career as a Chef was in full swing, I began making pilgrimages to this sacred land of food and wine, savoring each meal and every glass of wine. Over the years, I've developed a shortlist of favorite places in France -- Burgundy remains firmly at the top of my list.

Burgundy is one of the most important and prestigious wine regions globally; however, it produces just a tiny amount of wine. Everything here happens on a microscopic scale. In most cases, vineyard ownership is measured by rows, not hectares.

This tiny production scale allows most winemakers in Burgundy to craft their wines with an intimate, hands-on attachment to the entire process, personally guiding the progress from grape to glass. The guy or gal jumping off the tractor in the vineyard is likely the property owner and winemaker.

Vines in the Saint Romain and Auxey-Duresses subregions grow on the southeast-facing valley slopes cut into the steep limestone plateaus of the Cote D'Or escarpment. These plateaus can extend upwards of 1000 to 1500 feet, 300-600 feet higher than vineyards in Côtes de Beaune. The additional elevation and cooler climate conditions slow the ripening, resulting in a later harvest that retains a remarkable freshness of fruit -- especially relevant with global warming.

Brothers François and Sylvain Latour carry on the family tradition as 7th generation vignerons working 16 hectares of family vineyards in Auxey-Duresses, Mersault, Saint Romain, and Hautes Côtes de Beaune. It's a classic Burgundian family affair with brother Sylvain growing the grapes and managing the vineyards, while François makes the wine and oversees the cellar. Tasting with François on my last visit, I was again blown away by the passion and attention to detail they both apply at every production level.

Le Jarron is sourced from a Lieu-dit -- a single named vineyard parcel -- on the southern border of Saint Romain, a stone's throw from Auxey-Duresses. Due to its comparatively higher altitude, this is a prime example of risk and reward in Burgundy. This higher altitude presents the perfect foil to global warming, resulting in an extraordinary freshness and lift. The downside is the increased danger of frost and the risk of losing part or all of the harvest.

I can't think of a better way to describe this wine than the tasting note from my late friend and importer extraordinaire, Craig Baker:

I couldn't agree more! More just arrived -- very limited amount available.

Regular AWM Price - $49.99

I find the Languedoc to be one of France's most exciting and varied wine regions. The region extends along the Mediterranean coast, stretching from Provence all the way to the Spanish border. Wine has been made here for over 2000 years, and some vineyard sites have remained in near-constant production since Roman times. Laurent Miquel's family farms 200 hectares of some of the finest vineyard sites here, most featuring old vine plantings with very low yields.

Laurent's family has been growing grapes and making wine in the Languedoc since 1791. I think it's pretty safe to assume this wealth of experience has provided a unique understanding of the Languedoc's terroir and wine production. Laurent has taken this knowledge, passed down from generation to generation, and combined it with a master's degree in engineering and a degree in winemaking from the University of Montpellier. With this incredible confluence of knowledge, Laurent has embarked on a lifelong quest to make the Languedoc an internationally recognized and respected wine region.

In your glass, the blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache is a lovely melange of red fruits. Right away, you'll notice the silky-smooth texture on the palate. Notes of dark chocolate and spice frame the velvety finish with just the right amount of tannin present to keep the finish clean.

Laurent Miquel's Syrah-Grenache is, for sure, a classic Tuesday Night Red. It's undoubtedly a red I would choose for casual sipping out on the porch or patio; however, I find it to be super food-friendly as well, and it will pair wonderfully with just about anything from the grill.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

How about a 94 point blockbuster red from the South of France, made at a family-owned estate, by the most famous consulting winemaker in Châteauneuf-du-Pape? And by the way, the Insider-Deal price is only $21.99!

Yes, please, bring it on!

Over the years, I've been very fortunate to meet and make friends with some of the most wonderful winemakers in Europe. It's no accident or surprise; the folks I meet are humble, down-to-earth, hard-working people who genuinely love sharing the passion for their home, the grapes they grow, and the wine they make. As I've often opined, the Forestier and Alban families, owners of Château Juvenal, exude this warmth and generosity. Once again, I'm delighted to present the fruit of their labors to AWM Customers.

Anne-Marie and Bernard Forestier purchased Château Juvenal and its surrounding vineyards in 2001, determined to put the Château on the map as one of the region's finest estates. In 2011, they merged the property with the Alban family, built a new winery, and focused their attention on Grenache and Syrah-based wines. The families brought rock-star winemaker Philippe Cambie from Châteauneuf-du-Pape onboard as consulting winemaker, completing the formula for greatness.

La Terre Du Petit Homme is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, from 50-60 year vines planted on gravel soil mixed with clay and limestone. The vines are located on slopes of southern exposure and harvested manually to ensure proper ripeness. After harvest, the grapes receive an extra-long maceration with extended pump-overs to extract the maximum flavor and color.

The deep red pomegranate color opens to complex aromas of black cherry, blueberry, and red and black currant, with the fruit transferring beautifully from the nose to the palate. Touches of black pepper, roasted herbs, red licorice, olive tapenade, charcuterie, and violet join the nicely lingering finish of red and blue fruits. The plush fruit on the finish is balanced by a pleasingly savory thread of spice and garrigue.

This bold and vibrant red is a no-brainer with steaks and chops from the grill; however, the wine's ample freshness and lift allow it to pair with just about any meats.

Regular AWM Price - $29.99

Cesari is one of the most highly-regarded Amarone and Valpolicella producers in the Veneto. The estate began in the mid-1930s when Gerardo Cesari planted his first vines on the property. Cesari Amarone and Valpolicella Ripasso are certainly world-class wines; however, in true AWM fashion, today we're drilling down to their entry-level IGT Rosso. It's a fabulous Tuesday-Night gem that drinks like a baby Ripasso!

The 2019 Cesari Jùsto Rosso Veneto Appassimento is a smashing-good everyday wine and a red that's ready to please even the most varied palates of your friends and family. 'Jùsto' combines the Italian word 'giusto' with the English 'just.' According to the winery, it's their little play on words referring to this wine's production: "An elegant wine in which a fair balance of all elements has been achieved, identifying just the right amount of time drying the grapes and therefore just the right level of concentration."

Jùsto Rosso is a blend of 60% Corvina Veronese and 40% Merlot. After harvest in late September, the grape clusters are gently placed in single layers into drying boxes. The Appassimento process begins when the fruit is dried for 20-30 days resulting in partial evaporation of the grape's water content. This shriveled appearance of the grapes is handily noted by the line drawing on the label.

The magic of the Appassimento process occurs as the water evaporates; the juice becomes beautifully concentrated while the tannins remain silky-soft -- it's the same method used for Amarone and Valpolicella Ripasso, the two most famous wines of the Veneto.

If you're a fan of reds from the Veneto, especially Valpolicella Ripasso, Jùsto is right up your alley! In your glass, it's all about vibrant black cherry framed by notes of earth and brown spice. The palate sports a velour-like softness with just the right amount of tannin to keep the luscious fruit in check.

Jùsto is a terrific party red that your guests will love; however, it's wonderfully food-worthy as well and will shine with pasta, pizza, red sauce, roasted birds, and chops.

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

Change is one of the simultaneously fascinating and challenging aspects of the wine business. I can handle vintage changes -- most well-run properties roll nicely and almost seamlessly along with the changing vintages. Pricing and availability changes are a fact of life with wine; you just get used to it. Ownership change is another story altogether, and I'm inevitably petrified when I hear that one of my favorite personally sourced properties is changing hands. Such was the news from Domaine Palon during my last visit to the property.

I first visited Domaine Palon ten years ago with one of my broker friends, and after meeting the owners, Sébastien and Marie-Line Palon, I knew I wanted to work with this property. Sébastien and Marie-Line were an absolute joy and exuded pride and competence when speaking of their wines. The wines were simply outstanding and surprisingly very reasonably priced.

Over the years, Sébastien and Marie-Line's wines have remained solid AWM customer and staff favorites. Our visit to the Domaine during the 2017 AWM Customer Field Trip to the South of France was one of the trip's high points! Needless to say, I was saddened and concerned when I heard the property was for sale.

During my last visit with Sébastien and Marie-Line in 2018, Sébastien informed us that he and Marie-Line had to sell their estate due to health concerns. He was quick to say that he was sure we would be happy with the prospective buyers, and he felt that his family's estate would be in good hands. I was inclined to agree with Sébastien when I learned the buyer was the family who owned the venerable Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Château Malijay. The Palon family Domaine was indeed going to remain in good hands!

The 2019 vintage was the first of two transitional vintages for the estate, with Sébastien and Marie-Line working closely with the winemaking team from Château Malijay. It was a hugely successful collaboration, and I'm happy to say that for the 2019 release, it was impossible to perceive any difference in quality or style.

Domaine Palon Vacqueyras is a perfect example of how you can occasionally buy Chateauneuf du Pape quality for around half the price. Like their Gigondas, this Vacqueyras is a powerhouse of focus and precision. It shows the opulence and richness of fruit produced by the prolonged hot and dry growing season, yet it also remains in perfect balance, retaining great acidity and lift.

The blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah opens to a deep ruby-purple color that introduces aromas of black currants, black cherries, red licorice, and smoky roasted herbs. The broad, plummy palate finishes with nicely rounded tannins and spice notes framing the ever-present layer of garrigue.

Regular AWM Price - $26.99

For many years, Gigondas was one of the ultimate insider secrets of the Rhône Valley. Travelers to the region instantly fell in love with the quaint, picturesque village and had the pleasure of discovering stunning wines with a lineage of quality dating back to Roman times. However, wine from this previously under-priced and under-rated region has been widely discovered in recent years. Currently, it sports a price tag similar to most bottles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The 1200 hectares of vineyards in Gigondas are situated just east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the shadow of the rugged Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. The wines in Gigondas are similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, featuring the same silky, plummy dark red fruit, peppery notes, and classic Rhône Valley structure that allows for both immediate enjoyment and cellaring potential. Grenache is king here, with 80% required in the blend in addition to a minimum of 15% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre.

The 2019 Gigondas is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah & 5% Mourvèdre grown on a mixture of clay and calcaire soils that are topped with small, polished riverbed stones. The Grenache is vinified and aged in stainless steel, while the Mourvèdre and Syrah were aged in large wooden foudré. An intoxicating nose of sappy black fruits and leather introduces a powerful palate of dark berry, brimming with loads of spice, olive tapenade, and garrigue.

Regular AWM Price - $32.99

Bellula Chardonnay is a personal project sourced and made for our friend, local importer Jean-Philippe Bourgeois. It's a joint project Philippe produces along with the Languedoc estate of Château Saint-Jean D'Aumières. In addition to showcasing Philippe's talents at finding outstanding French wines, it features his remarkable ability to select and blend wines -- all of the juice for the Bellula wines are personally selected and blended by Philippe.

As always, I love posting Philippe's tasting notes:

We've stocked this terrific Chardonnay from Philippe for more than ten years now, and every year I'm dazzled by the quality presented at such a reasonable price. For my palate, this vintage is a tad denser and riper with a more pronounced leesy complexity. I would pair this with white meats, both seared and from the grill, and it will do very nicely with white-fleshed fish.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Marlborough, New Zealand

The Māori have lived in New Zealand for more than 1000 years, long before the British colonized the islands. During those years, the indigenous Māori have steadfastly adhered to their traditions and values while slowly cementing their place in New Zealand wine.

One of the most sustainable wine regions globally, 98% of New Zealand's vineyards are certified Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ). In addition to this credential, SWNZ also employs a highly regarded sustainability program --recognized worldwide. The foundational premise of this program comes from the Mãori concept of kaitiakitarnga -- the natural balance that occurs when caring for people and the land.

A growing number of Mãori-owned wineries appear each year, all focusing on traditional Mãori culture and values. Jef Sinnott, a member of the TUKU Collective (a group of Mãori-owned wine businesses), explains, "This relationship between the kaimahi waiana (grape grower), the whenua (land), and its kianga (expression), is what the French call terroir."

One of the country's most prominent Māori wineries is Kono, an agricultural company owned by Wakatū Incorporation. Wakatū, in turn, is a cooperative owned by more than 4,000 Māori families, descended from the traditional landowners of the region.

In your glass, you'll find the Kono to be nicely balanced between racy citrus and lush tropical nuances. There's a nice subtle beam of pink grapefruit that swims in harmony with notes of gooseberry, guava, and kiwi, leading to a vibrant and zesty finish. What I love most about Kono is the balance; not a note is out of place.

Kono is a no-brainer for the warm weather on the horizon; however, the more than ample richness will do well with cool spring evenings. Pair this with shellfish, white-fleshed fish, goat cheese, and poultry.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Alberto Conti is an outstanding collection of wines made by the Barbanera family. Altero Barbanera and his wife Maria established the family's primary estate in 1938 in the Tuscan commune of Cetona. Fourth-generation brothers Marco and Paolo Barbanera now run the family business and continue to expand the family's vineyard holdings.

We all love Super Tuscans; however, since most of us don't love their price, I'm always on the lookout for "Baby Super Tuscans." Once again, if you look at the wines produced by a well-regarded quality-oriented producer, nine times out of ten, their entry-level wines are not only a screaming deal, they're also crazy good for such a reasonable price. I like to refer to these wines as "Baby Super Tuscans" to note their lineage with a Super Tuscan producer, in addition to their impressive bang for the buck.

The 2019 Alberto Conti Toscana Rosso is once again a prime example of this type of quality-value ratio. It's a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Merlot, with the Sangiovese providing the earthy, rustic backbone and the Merlot offering the plush, velvety fruit.

You're greeted with dark berry and savory aromas in the glass leading to a palate brimming with red raspberry, dried cherry, plum, and herbs. There's plenty of rich, velvety, ripe fruit in this medium-bodied red; however, it also offers just the right amount of rustic savory notes to balance the fruit and remind you that you're sipping on a bit of Tuscany. I find the 2019 to be even more plush and round than the previous vintages. The right amount of lift and brightness on the finish makes this a great Red you can enjoy with BBQ and grilled meats and of course, pasta and pizza.

We had a glass on Saturday, along with another one of Hammond's excellent Lamb, Mushroom, and Cilantro Pizzas. As always, it was a stunning pairing!

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

Tucked away in the westernmost corner of Slovenia, Goriška Brda is more than likely the best wine region you've never heard of, that also just happens to be the wine capital of Slovenia. The gently rolling hills are dotted with hilltop villages that remain blissfully undiscovered by mainstream tourist traffic. The locals here focus on winemaking and olive oil production, and the oil and wine from here are very highly regarded.

With Brda's close proximity to both Italy and Austria, it's no accident that it shares elements of its neighbors' growing conditions. The climate here combines the best of Mediterranean and Alpine influences, providing perfect conditions for viticulture.

Goriška Brda is the smallest of Slovenia's four major wine regions; however, it's the most highly regarded of the four, earning more top medals every year in European wine salons. Klet Brga is the largest producer in Goriška Brda, and while most of the wine made in Slovenia is white, Klet Brga also focuses on a selection of excellent reds.

In your glass, the Klet Brda Krasno Pinot Noir opens with a brick-garnet color and features aromas of cherry, red berries, and subtle notes of wildflowers. It's gorgeously smooth on the palate, with ample brightness framing the supple fruit. I'm especially in love with the texture and polish of this wine -- the mouthfeel is absolutely stunning.

This lovely Pinot Noir will pair like a dream with duck breast, roasted birds, salmon, tuna, and the low alcohol (12.5%) makes it perfectly suitable for more delicate culinary creations.

The Krasno Pinot Noir comes to us from local Asheville importer and former AWM staff member Kate Stamps and you're supporting two local businesses when you buy this one!

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

Once deemed a new frontier in the wine world, Chile is now recognized as a well-established wine region, producing a bevy of tasty reds and whites. Certain cooler-climate areas in Chile are especially suited for Pinot Noir, and the folks at Cono Sur take full advantage of those microclimates.

Pinot Noir is a finicky varietal that does best in cool climates that feature reasonably low humidity, moderate day and night temperatures, and specific sun exposures. Chile's Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys provide this ideal combination of terroir, and Cono Sur's vineyards in these coastal valleys meet all the requirements to ripen Pinot Noir perfectly.

The bicycle motif found on Cono Sur's labels is more than just decoration. It represents the winery's dedication to operating in the most environmentally friendly ways feasible. The winery and vineyard staff eschew motor vehicles and opt for pedaling bicycles whenever possible.

In your glass, this smooth and suave Pinot Noir is bursting with earthy cherry and red berry on the nose. The supple red fruit on the palate is nicely balanced by ample acidity, and the deft use of French oak takes this wine to the next level. Interestingly, only half of the production receives oak aging, while the remaining half ages in stainless steel, allowing the wine to retain gorgeous freshness.

We'll especially enjoy this with grilled salmon, tuna, and pork chops, and it would also be marvelous with roasted chicken and game hens. With the Insider Deal, I find this one of the best buys of the year so far in New World Pinot Noir.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Cono Sur was founded in the early 1990s, and from the start, they've been dedicated to combining the best of the region's winemaking traditions with cutting-edge technology. -- all while being perfect stewards of the land.

On any given day, you'll see the vineyard and winery workers going about their business pedaling around on bicycles. In the vineyards, goose, sheep, and a unique selection of plants provide a unique symbiosis to keep the ecosystem healthy naturally. It's easy to see why Cono Sur is considered one of the most forward-thinking producers in Chile!

I find the Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay to be a lovely cross between New World and Old World styles. In your glass, there's just a whisper of oak on the nose coming from the 5% of the production that's aged in a combination of used and neutral barrels. Like their Organic Pinot Noir, it's superbly balanced with the fruit taking center stage. The palate features a nice dose of minerality and brightness, ensuring freshness all through the finish.

Pair this one with your favorite seafood dishes, chicken, and white meats.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Founded in 1856, Cousiño-Macul is the last 19th-century winery in Chile owned and managed by the original founding family. Years ago, during my first trip to Chile, I remembered being impressed by the estate's history and how the long succession of family members managed to keep the property remaining in the family.

There was clearly a lot to like about Cousiño-Macul. Their wines are made entirely with grapes sourced from the estate's vineyards in the Maipo Valley, one of the premier locations for growing Bordeaux blends. The conditions here at the foot of the Andes are nearly perfect, with snow melting in the spring and summer to provide an abundant source of pure fresh water for natural vineyard irrigation.

The Cousiño-Macul Finis Terrae is a gorgeous expression of Maipo Valley Terroir and a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. The grapes are sourced partially from the estate's iconic Lota and Antiguas Reserva vineyards, and I've always felt the wine represents the best elements of both wines combined.

In your glass, the Finis Terrae drinks like a Bordeaux that's taking a brief holiday in the new world. The estate's blend of classic French cooperage from Seguin Moreau, Demptos, Taransaud, and Saury adds a complexity rarely found in wines at this price point. Supple notes of blackberry, plum, leather, cocoa, and vanilla swim through the middle palate to a smooth finish with present, dusty tannins. It truly is Bordeaux in the New World.

Regular AWM Price - $29.99

-- Price is good while current supplies last.

Egon Grüner Veltliner is a young, fresh white made exclusively for New York City rockstar importer T Edwards and brought to North Carolina by our friend Kate Stamps. It's produced by a winery in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) by a family who has been making wine since 1869. It's reminiscent of the wines you would find in Austria's Heurige -- the taverns and restaurants located at the winemaker's estate.

This is our third vintage of Egon, and during a recent staff tasting, we all agreed it's the best one yet! There's a bit more richness and gloss on the fruit compared to previous vintages, while the finish remains clean, crisp, and mineral-driven.

Pair this delightful Grüner with chicken, seafood, vegetarian cuisine, and of course, the classic pairing of Schnitzel.

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

As we neared the end of 2021, there's no doubt that this had been another crazy year, and a lot of that craziness continued to filter down to the wine world. Ongoing issues due to the pandemic, global shipping difficulties, and more odd-ball weather-related problems continued to make this one of the most challenging years to keep the supply of our favorite beverage flowing. I have to admit; I was more than a little worried about Burgundy. Thankfully, those worries were unfounded, and most of our favorites made their way to the AWM shelves.

The Macôn is all about Chardonnay, and for me, it's the epicenter of affordable Chardonnay from Burgundy. The most famous Chardonnay from this region is Pouilly-Fuissé, produced in the area surrounding the two Macônnais villages of Pouilly and Fuissé.

There are other villages-designated wines named for their vineyard locations such as Mâcon-Chaintré, Mâcon-Fuissé, Mâcon-Vinzelles, and Mâcon-Charnay. Wines labeled Mâcon-Villages are regional wines from a broad area of the Mâcon and blended from village sites throughout the entire region.

The family vineyards were acquired years ago by Yannick's father, Jean-Paul Paquet, producing wines under the Domaine de Fussiacus and Domaine Jean-Paul Paquet labels. Their vineyard holdings stretch over gentle south-east facing hills, featuring clay and limestone soils. Organically farmed vineyards, hand harvesting, and natural yeast inoculation all add up to stellar quality Chardonnay!

After Jean-Paul passed management duties on to his son, Yannick became the third generation grower and winemaker at his family's property. Yannick is a true fanatic for detail in the vineyard and winery, and his meticulous devotion to quality leads to outstanding results in the bottle.

"Domaine de Granges" is an exclusive second label Yannick makes for our buying group.