It must be the holiday season since we're starting to look around the shop to find deals for you.  Our 30^th anniversary way of saying "thanks" for your years of loyal support.  Also a way to try to move some wine that we have a bit of an oversupply of.  SATURDAY ONLY, we are knocking $5 off the price of the 2004 Yangarra Estate Shiraz  McLaren Vale, Australia, was $29.99, Saturday only price: $24.99 .   From Wine Spectator 88 points :  "Not an over the top Shiraz, but one that finds a balance between its ripe blackberry and smoke flavors, fitting them into a modest structure that lets the finish sail on nicely against grainy tannins."

We feature two other wines from the McLaren Vale, from Razor's Edge:  their 2006 Unwooded Chardonnay ($15.99), one of our favorites of this crisp, unoaked style, and at a fabulous price.  Wine Spectator (88 points) notes:  "Lively, generous and focused, with peach and melon flavors galore. Well-balanced, with hints of lime and spice."

Also, their red companion, the outstanding 2006 Razor's Edge Grenache/Shiraz ($15.99.  Wine Spectator 91 points:  "Polished, round and expressive. A gorgeous mouthful of ripe blackberry, plum, cherry and exotic spices, with hints of leather and brown sugar nibbling at the edge. The finish rolls on and on against superfine tannins."  There's not a better value proposition of a Grenache/Shiraz that we've found yet.

Finally, Saturday we offer another wine some of the proceeds of which go for a good cause (besides supporting Randall and Ren). Military families have always paid a steep price. Their sacrifices and the loss of their loved ones serving in our armed forces should be honored. One in 75 American troops who have gone to war has never returned. 4,735 souls have perished in the struggle for peace and security in the war in Iraq (according to the Washington Post). Those heroes leave behind more than a legacy of honor and courage. In many instances, children are left without moms and dads, some never even getting to know their fallen parents. That is why ONEHOPE donates 50 per cent of the profits garnered from the sale of every bottle of ONEHOPE Zinfandel towards the Troops and their families.  The 2007 One Hope Zinfandel  California $14.99. Crisp red berry and current flavors accented by vanilla and sweet spice notes.  Perfect with pizza, burgers, barbeque and a wide variety of other meats.

 Donation

For a $5.00 donation to benefit The Avery County Humane Society, we will be pouring the wonderful 2006 Tenuta di Biserno "Insgolio del Cinghiale" Tuscany, $34.99 .  Wine Advocate 89 points:  "The 2006 Insoglio del Cinghiale possesses inviting, super ripe aromatics that lead to notes of earthiness, smoke, black pepper and ripe dark fruit that develop in the glass. This supple, plump red is a great example of the bold, racy wines that were made in Tuscany in the 2006 vintage. Insoglio del Cinghiale is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2008 to 2012."  Tenuta di Biserno is the new project being headed by brothers Lodovico and Piero Antinori.  Winemaking is overseen by Helena Lindberg with the consulting services of Michel Rolland.