NV Ramon Canals 'Mont Paral' Reserva Selecion Brut Cava

A Reserva Cava out of the Penedes region of Catalonia, Spain, made from 50% Parellada, 30% Macabeu (Viura), and 20% Xarel-lo. Has some nice preserved fruit, like candied orange peel / balanced with bright acidity, fresh fruit flavors of Granny Smith apple & white grape. Clean & pretty lean and snappy, a nice option. We first started carrying it in June of 2011, and it is very consistent from release to release. Bubbles are good.

Our Price: 13.97

2010 Bodegas Francisco Casa "Tochuelo"

Tempranillo-Garnacha. Founded 1942, 4th generation. Fruit forward, with clean, fresh cherry juice character, brighter raspberry notes. Acid from Tempranillo counters the roundness of the Grenache very nicely. From Madrid (Sorry Barcelona fans). Higher elevations, big diurnal temperature shift. Long and complex finish with raspberry, plum, anise / licorice, pepper for the (tiny amount of) money. This is a great party wine. Party.

Our Price: 8.97

2006 Terra Alta Cataregia Gran Reserva

(Tempranillo / 30% Cabernet Sauvignon) (Catalonia, Spain). Made in better vintages, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007. Perfectly crazy to have a Gran Reserva on offer for under $15. Clean & warm nose with black & red cherry, cigar box, spice box, cocoa, scrub, vanilla. Pretty light and bright. Structured. A huge amount of wine for the money. Intense mineral. One of the best values in the shop. Gran Reserva - Exceptional vintages, Two years required in cask, Three years required in bottle. I love this wine. (Sam, lover of Cataregia).

Our Price: 13.57

2010 MonteBro Priorat Crianza

(Crianza - 2 years tank / barrel & bottle, most DOs require one of the years to be in oak). Vanilla, cocoa, ripe cherries - balanced & soft, mature oak on the finish. (Grenache / Carignan / Cabernet Sauvignon). Full bodied, nicely balanced, ripe tannins. Great with steak, great with lamb. The staggering price increases as people discovered the interesting non-indigenous blends and geology / micro-climate of Priorat made us very happy to find one we could put on the shelf under $15, especially for a Crianza. Check it out!

Our Price: 14.57