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They
say $14 (Wine Advocate), we say $9+, when bought by the case!
..... 90 points too!!
Curiously, we had this wine at one of our weekly staff Wine Dinners, and
yes, it passed the nodding head test! The nodding head test? ..... you know,
when you look around the room when a wine is being tasted and everyone's
head is nodding with a smile on their face. Then we came upon this
review..... and they've got it right on! All for $9+, when bought by the
case..... 90 points too!
"The 2007 Merlot Reserve is a glass-coating opaque purple. The nose
offers up coffee, mocha, and cherry leading to a wine with no hard edges and
plenty of character. If all Merlots offered this much pleasure, Pinot Noir
would never have become so popular." ($14)
90 points, The Wine Advocate, June 2009
2007
Santa Ema Merlot, Reserve, Maipo Valley, Chile, 750ml
$12.69 - Good Wine Stores
$11.42 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$10.15 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$114.21 - Pop's Case Price
"It's
rare when you can buy 11 year old Bordeaux under $20.....
"That's the game plan at Chateau Simard.
The famed Chateau Simard, whose name dates back from the counts of Simard,
an important family of Saint Emilion during the 16th century, consists of a
vineyard of 85 acres of south facing, sandy, gravelly soils. Simard is a
very well-tended vineyard with excellent exposure. This winery typically
ages Chateau Simard wines for at least 10 years before releasing them.
The 1999 Chateau Simard, which is now a beautifully developed brick-red
color, offers intriguing notes of tobacco and smoke on the nose.
Medium-bodied and elegant, with earthy, fruit flavors.
One of the few sophisticated Bordeaux in this price range that's actually
ready to drink.
They make wine every year and hold onto it until they feel it's ready to be
consumed.
1999 was a very good year... and the SIMARD drinks quite nicely. Mostly
Merlot, this blend is always a crowd favorite for providing a quality aged
wine for not a lot of $$."
Ted Clark, Certified Value Finder, Pop's Wines & Spirits, August, 2010
1999 Chateau Simard, St Emilion, 750ml
$25.65 - Good Wine Stores
$23.08 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$20.52 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$230.85 - Pop's Case Price
They
say $13 (Wine Enthusiast), we say $10+, when bought by the case!
..... 91 points too!!
..... and read this review, it made me bite!
"One of the best value-priced, big and rich wines you're likely to find.
The nose impresses with potent blackberry, cedar and marzipan aromas, and
the palate bridges the gap between power and elegance. Tastes great, with
herbal black cherry and cola leading the way. Very ripe but really well
made." ($13)
91 points,
Wine Enthusiast, September, 2010
2008 Casa
Lapostolle Carmenere, Rapel Valley, 750ml
$13.59 - Good Wine Stores
$12.23 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$10.87 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$122.31 - Pop's Case Price
$100
grapes...... $17+ bottle, when bought by the case!
"Relativity Vineyards is a collaboration by two friends, Bob
Enslein Jr., and Erik Ekstein who had a vision.
When they set out to create Relativity, they wanted to make a really good,
full bodied Cabernet that was approachable, not something you needed to put
down for 10 years to enjoy. So they enlisted a close friend who is the
winemaker at a premiere Napa vineyard and asked for his help. He said,
"Okay, but you can't use my name. I don't want to lose my job." After they
promised that under no circumstance would they reveal his identity (no
matter how much under the influence of his delicious juice they would be),
he talked to his friends at other top-notch Napa vineyards and one of them
came through. They were able to source the same grapes that the vineyard
used for their $100 Cabernet!
After a number of iterations of the wine, Bob, Erik and their unnamed friend
came up with a final blend.
This is a high quality, full-bodied Cabernet, with beautiful dark fruit. The
wine has strong notes of blackberry, cassis, and plum, with soft tannins.
The wine is well rounded. This is a ripe, well-structured wine that we
believe delivers great quality. A wonderful buy for the money!
So that's the deal. Two friends scored a big time winemaker, big time
grapes, but no big time price. Give Relativity a try. We think you'll be
just as happy as we are."
Victor Doyle, General Manager, Pop's Wines & Spirits, August, 2010
2007 Relativity Vineyards Quantum Reserve, California , 750ml
$23.55 - Good Wine Stores
$21.19 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$18.84 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$211.95 - Pop's Case Price
$8+
when bought by the case & Ted likes it!
Now here is the consummate wine connoisseur & collector
recommending a wine at $8+ when bought by the case...... you seeing what I'm
seeing?
"Malbec has been the GO-TO Grape over the last 2 years. So, What's the #1
Best Selling Malbec at Pop's???? This was a shock to me... I would've
guessed.... Trapiche? Alamos? Bodegas Norton? Gascon? #1 Malbec sold at
Pop's is Maipe!!
Maipe was the Lord of the Winds for the ancient Andean people. Argentineans
still invoke his name to clear the skies after a heavy rain or to temper the
summer heat. Produced in the Luján de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza by the
Pelizzatti family, Maipe wines are an expression of the deep rich soils and
a commitment to excellence by the young winemaker, Liliana Iannizzotto, and
consultant Alberto Antonini.
Classified among the best areas within the province of Mendoza, year-long
sunny and dry conditions permit almost organic viticulture practices. A
great daily thermal amplitude, with mild days and cold nights that allow a
particular richness of polyphenols that improve the wines’ flavors and
color.
The 2009 Malbec has a deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum,
fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins,
excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with
game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza. Don't miss out....."
Ted Clark, Certified Value Finder, Pop's Wines & Spirits, August, 2010
2009 Maipe Malbec, Andean Culture, Mendoza - Argentina, 750ml
$10.89 - Good Wine Stores
$9.80 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$8.71 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$98.01 - Pop's Case Price
".....to
find wines from these expensive lands in the TEENS was unheard of. Until
now....."
"Australian wines are in a state of flux right now. That said, there are
a number of AWESOME VALUES popping up. Big brands like Yellow Tail,
Rosemount, Lindeman's... they sell well. Cutesy labels under $20 sell well.
The problem is anything over $20 a bottle...
There are a tremendous number of estates who scrambled to plant vines for
the expansion of exports to the United States during the 2000-2005 years. It
takes 3 years for new vines to build up the strength to produce grapes for
winemaking. Unfortunately, a lot of those wineries are just now getting up
to speed - able to begin producing really good wines now - but now no one
cares to pay $30 plus per bottle. What this all ads up to - there's a lot of
juice out there that was meant to be sold for $30-40 that's being re-sold
and packaged in cute-sey labels, at prices consumers ARE willing to pay.
McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley are the two best regions in Australia for
premium shiraz, kind of similar to the Napa Valley & Sonoma Valley
relationship in California. This is where the land prices are the highest
and only the most coveted wines are produced here.
And to find wines from these expensive lands in the TEENS was unheard of.
Until now...
The 2008 "Cycle Buff Beauty Malbec/Shiraz" I emailed about last week was one
example... An explosively rich Malbec/Shiraz blend with glass staining
velvety sex appeal, not to mention two hot blondes on the label. (Single
Bottle: $16.29 / Mixed Case: $14.48 / Solid Case: $13.57 / $162.90). Lots of
cases disappeared of this one - but there is a little bit left...
This week's example is a killer 2008 vintage 100% Shiraz from the esteemed
McLaren Vale region in Australia called "Barrel Monkeys."
Englishman Tony Laithwaite bought an old bar called Red Heads in McLaren
Vale, Australia and renamed it Red Heads Studio. He outfitted it with
winemaking equipment and invited young, fresh out of college winemakers to
try their hand at making small batches of wine with grapes that are usually
very ripe from various sources in the region.
The attraction is that these new winemakers usual starting jobs are working
in wineries as "Barrel Monkeys" whose job is to move hoses and barrels
around in a winery. The Studio gives them the opportunity to make wine which
is what they really went to school for!
Barrel Monkeys is the latest one of these small lot creations. The 2008
features grape lots from the Willunga Foothills and the valley floor of
McLaren Vale with intense flavor and richness that were fermented and then
aged in American oak barrels (50% new).
The wine shows mouth-filling character of blackberries, plum, clove,
cinnamon and vanilla, densely layered. Beautiful now but will continue to
unfold for 5 or more years. Limited!
Five years ago, the 2008 Barrel Monkeys 100% Shiraz McLaren Vale would sell
in the $35 range, but in today's economic climate - it's $13+ By The Case!
Ted Clark, Certified Value Finder, Pop's Wines & Spirits, August, 2010
2008 Barrel Monkeys Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 750ml
$18.10 - Good Wine Stores
$16.29 - Pop's Single Bottle Price
$14.48 - Pop's Mixed Case Price
$162.90 - Pop's Case Price |
