CLUBVino ~ Start your own membership
any day of any month!

Join CLUBVino - For the Annual Membership of $149.99 you get to choose one bottle of red or white each month. Club members can purchase either wine throughout the month at a 25% Discount! You save over $100.00 throughout the course of the year... that's a savings of over 65%!

The wines included with your membership will range in value from $14.99 to $29.99. Wines will consist of new vintages, allocated wines, and special release library selections.

Also: Search our archives for past months, we just might have a few bottles left!

A Modern Taste of Mendoza!

(left to right) Licy Fredrickson with Cheval Blanc’s Pierre Lurton,
Ken Fredrickson and winemaker Roberto de la Mota

The word “añoro” has no direct English translation. In Spanish, añoro refers to the act of
reminiscing or dreaming of a special time in one’s past. Añoro is a partnership between longtime friends Master Sommelier Ken Fredrickson and his wife Licy, and Ed Lehrman and Nick Ramkowsky, founders of Vine Connections who import the wines. Together they aim to produce some of Argentina’s finest small-production wines.

Añoro wines are made by Argentine-born and trained Roberto de la Mota, who established the critically acclaimed Terrazzas de los Andes wine program for Bodega Chandon in 1996. He was also winemaker for the prestigious Cheval des Andes label, a joint venture between Chandon and Bordeaux’s Château Cheval Blanc, and he is currently the winemaker for the internationally acclaimed wines of Bodega Mendel. Did you get all that straight?!?

To put it simply: what you get is an ultra modern style of quality-driven Bordeaux-influenced wines... love ‘em!

We’ll have this stellar duo open for your palate’s pleasure all weekend long! I dare you to find another South American Malbec or Chardonnay for 15 bucks that come close to the quality and depth of these wines... let me know when you do!

Frank's December CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $179.89...That's 50% Off!

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Añoro 2008 Malbec
(Regularly priced at $29.99)
$14.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

100% Malbec from the 15 year old vines in the 3600' elevation Alto Agrelo Vineyard. 50% of the wine spent 12 months in Taransaud barrels of which 1/3 were new, 1/3 used and 1/3 third-use... the other 50% was kept in stainless before the final blend. Intensely red with violet tones, with earthy, forest floor and bittersweet chocolate aromas. Elegant and smooth with black cherry liqueur on the edges and a touch of vanilla from the oak. It is well-structured but graces the palate with soft, sweet tannins and good acidity on a closely-knit frame. This isn’t a summer sipper for by the pool—grab a real cloth napkin, a knife and fork, and put on some music so you can complete the mood for a great eating/drinking experience. 1,525 cases were produced.

91 Points, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

"The opaque purple 2008 Malbec was aged in a mix of new and seasoned French oak and in tank. It displays a superb aromatic array of cigar box, cinnamon, incense, black cherry and plum. Medium- to full-bodied, on the palate it is smooth-textured, round, dense, and layered, The fruit is succulent and the wine has excellent depth and length. Drink it over the next 4-6 years."

Frank's December CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $179.89...That's 50% Off!

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Añoro 2009 Chardonnay
(Regularly priced at $29.99)
$14.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

100% Chardonnay from high atop (4400 feet!) the Tupungato 17 year old vineyards. Before bottling the wine was aged for 10 months in 30% new French oak and 70% stainless steel tanks. Aromas of fresh pineapple, golden apples, and a hint of honey continue on the palate where mouthwatering acidity, dry mineral flavors and creamy oak notes work in harmony towards a complex but subtle finish - a perfectly balanced complement to a thoughtfully prepared dinner and an irresistible liquid that will leave the bottle drained before you know it. A measly 1200 cases were produced!

92 points Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

"The nose reveals a touch of oak, mineral, poached pear, white peach, and a hint of tropical aromas. Medium-to full-bodied on the palate, it is a harmonious effort with good integration of the oak and acid. Spice notes and round, savory flavors coat the palate leading to a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. At the asking of $28, it is a super value in Chardonnay for drinking over the next 5 years. Drink: 2009 - 2014"

Frank's December CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $179.89...That's 50% Off!

Would you want these guys at your dinner table?

Shit yeah I would!

Yup that's Paul Cullen on the far right. Who's that, you ask? The former bassist for Bad Company - one of the most acclaimed bands of the 70's classic rock era. The Rehoboth Beach resident rocker has toned things down a bit... starting with his hair, thankfully!

On tour with Bad Co. in the early 90's, Paul played in front of over 2 million people. Since then, Paul has followed his true passions of playing nylon string acoustic guitar with a cool, jazzy vibe and developing Sonata – his very own California wine label from the Sierra Foothills. Along with being the food editor for Coastal Style Magazine, Paul's love of cooking has produced recipes that pair perfectly with his Sonata Vino. Unplugged and Uncorked is a fusion of Paul's passions!

Come Meet & Taste & Jam with Musician/Winemaker/Foodie
Paul Cullen HERE at FranksWine!

This Sunday, November 6th Paul Cullen will be at the shop with guitar pick in one hand and corkscrew in the other! Stop in to taste through his 2 latest releases from California's Amador County while he strums his guitar to the sounds of his newest wine sippin' release "Eleven Sundays". We've made his Sonata 2010 Rosé and 2009 Rosso our CLUBVino selections for November because they'll be perfectly in tune with your Thanksgiving Dinner! Pick up Paul's 12-Pack Sampler Case at a great price through November... we'll have his selections open for tasting all week at the shop leading up to his jam session on Sunday!

Frank's November CLUBVino 12-Pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Sonata Rosso & Rose for Only $129.99!
(You Save $49.89...That's 28% Off!)

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Sonata 2009 Rosso
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$10.79 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Sonata Rosso is a Lush Fusion of Syrah, Zinfandel & Cabernet
Franc from the Sierra Foothills on the eastern side of California.
A rich and well balanced red. Fruity, Spicy, Hints of Clove, Vanilla
with soft tannins. This Bold daily drinker pairs well with anything
grilled to your favorite pizza. Especially perfect with Braised Short ribs,
Cheesy Polenta & Thanksgiving Turkey!

Frank's November CLUBVino 12-Pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Sonata Rosso & Rose for Only $129.99!
(You Save $49.89...That's 28% Off!)

Sonata 2010 Rosé
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$10.79 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Sonata Rosé is a cool blend of Petite Syrah and a rare Italian
Grape Fiano from the Sierra Foothills on the eastern side of California.
A dry and spicy Rosé with Crushed Raspberry bouquet, this can be sipped
by itself or pair it with Antipasti
... or excellent on Turkey Day!
It's not your Grandmom's Rosé... It's a serious wine that is NOT sweet!

Frank's November CLUBVino 12-Pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Sonata Rosso & Rose for Only $129.99!
(You Save $49.89...That's 28% Off!)

Meet & Taste with the Ladies of Le Fonti a San Giorgio!

Pictured with me at my shop are Cristina Rinaldi and Piera Giovanelli of Tuscany's Le Fonti a San Giorgio

TASTE THEM ON:
Saturday & Sunday, October 1st & 2nd

Just yesterday Cristina Rinaldi - winery tour guide - came by FranksWine with proprietor/winemaker Piera Giovanelli on their way to our Tuscan Wine Dinner at Caffe Gelato... wish I coulda hung out with these ladies all night! Their smiles are as warm and inviting as their wines. For three generations the Giovanelli family winery Le Fonti a San Giorgio has stood on the beautiful Tuscan hill of Saint Lorenzo, in the Municipality of Montespertoli (Florence) surrounded by colorful Tuscan hills.

Situated in the heart of Chianti halfway between the cities of Florence and San Gimignano the farmhouse consists of an old country house subdivided into eight charming apartments, an old deconsecrated Chapel converted into an Inn with 15 rooms, two swimming pools, a restaurant reserved for their guests, and a wine cellar where the family produces and ages their wines. Yep... I got the invite! Now I gotta make the time to escape... but meanwhile I'll just drink their wonderful wines like the guests at Caffe Gelato did last night.

Wine Importer Tom Weisler, Janice Tayor of FranksWine with Cristina & Piera at Caffe Gelato

Maybe you'll get the invite? Stop by the shop on Saturday from 11am - 3pm to meet and taste with Cristina and Piera! Wine Importer Tom Weisler will be here as well to introduce you and do his best to translate. The Rosso and Bianco are our October CLUBVino Selections... I've added a 2nd 12pack Sampler this week to include the Chianti and Riserva. Hope to see you in the shop... ciao!

Frank's October CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Rosso & Bianco for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

Frank's Le Fonti 12-pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $89.89...That's 33% Off!)

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Le Fonti a San Giorgio 2010 Bianco
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

This brilliant blend of 60% Malvasia, 30% Trebbiano and 10% Chardonnay is explosive on both the nose and the palate with notes of peach, apple, pear, white cranberry and almond, as well as flowers and crushed sea shell. Chill it, pop it and enjoy it... the crisp acidity should make this Tuscan white continue to evolve for another year or two in the bottle. Perfect wine with mussels or clams!

Frank's October CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Rosso & Bianco for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

Frank's Le Fonti 12-pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $89.89...That's 33% Off!)

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Le Fonti a San Giorgio 2009 Rosso
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

This gutsy blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Caniolo has an intense ruby red color with hints of violet, aromas of wild berries and a rich, smooth, full-bodied taste, marked by earthiness, fruit, intense structure, a spicy finish, and ripe, rounded tannins. A natural for rich saucy pasta dishes!

Frank's October CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Rosso & Bianco for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

Frank's Le Fonti 12-pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $179.99!
(You Save $89.89...That's 33% Off!)

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Half Off Napa Valley's "Stealth" Archstone Vineyards!

Another one of the “stealth” labels FranksWine has discovered! Archstone gets a great deal on excess juice from major wineries, and creates high quality wines that cost far less than their siblings with the more famous labels. A little inside scoop on whose juice this may be: the label is owned by Diageo who also owns Sterling Vineyards and BV Vineyards both of Napa Valley. Duh. That tells me one thing... these wines are declassified Sterling Napa Valley Chardonnay and BV Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery or Diageo won't tell you that but I just did!

I've thrown these 2 wines under our Xselections
Program which means you can mix or match 'em to get

20% Off by the Bottle $19.99 - $4.00 = $15.99
33% Off by the 6-pack $19.99 - $6.60 = $13.39
50% Off by the 12-pack $19.99 - $9.99 = $9.99

We'll have these 2 Napa beauties open all holiday weekend for your palate's pleasure!
We love these wines so much here at FranksWine that I made them our September CLUBVino Selections... members' choice!

Read more

Frank'sSeptember CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $119.89...That's 50% Off!)

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Archstone Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
(Regularly priced at $19.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Tight and focused fruit; aromas of dark earth, berry and black cherry dominate the nose. Opening onto the palate are hints of spiciness, a bit more earth and chocolate truffles. Nicely weighted on the finish, which presents more dark fruit and a touch of integrated tannins. A superb value in Napa Cabernet from the stellar 2007 vintage!

Frank'sSeptember CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $119.89...That's 50% Off!)

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Archstone Vineyards 2008 Napa Valley Chardonnay
(Regularly priced at $19.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

This is an excellent value for a Napa Valley Chardonnay even at $20! Golden in color, the wine has savory notes of tropical fruit on the nose. Creamy in texture; the flavors of banana, pineapple and papaya come through, with a nutty toastiness on the finish. This would be a delightful wine to pair with pasta primavera with scallops and asiago cheese.

Frank'sSeptember CLUBVino 12-pack!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $119.89...That's 50% Off!)

Cool Off with these Summery French Sparklers!

TASTE THEM ON: Saturday & Sunday, August 6th & 7th

The Jaillance label is no newbie to the wine world. In 1950 266 winegrowers from Diois, France formed a cooperative and produced a non-Champagne sparkler that took Paris by storm. Clairette de Die Cuvee Imperiale was introduced and priced at about 1/2 their Champagne counterparts, and Parisians loved the fact they could afford an everyday sparkler. Jaillance let wine drinkers know that they didn't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy quality bubbles. That still stands true today but with one exception: the Clairette de Die Cuvee Imperiale and their latest wine Cremant de Bordeaux Cuvee de L'Abbaye are now 1/4 the price of Veuve Clicquot or Moet... and I challenge you to compare these side by side with your favorite true Champagne. If you don't like it, bring 'em back and I'll drink them!

Even though these 2 wines share an explosive pop when opened they are made quite differently... let Paul explain!

VIDEO ~ Two methods of winemaking
Paul Vallot, Technical Director

Scott Biggs introduced these 2 beauties to me about a month ago and I adored them so much that I decided to make them my August CLUBVino selections! He'll be in the shop this Saturday from 11am - 3pm pouring them and I'm sure you'll be equally as impressed! If you miss him - no worries - Michael and Karl will have them open all day Sunday from 12noon - 4pm... CHEERS!

Frank's August CLUBVino 6Pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $79.99!
(You Save $39.95...That's 33% Off!)

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Jaillance NV Clairette de Die Cuvee Imperiale
(Regularly priced at $19.99)
$13.39 with 6-pack Sampler Purchase!

Clairette de Die thrives in the sunny conditions of the Drome me Valley, sheltered by the foothills of the Vercors, where it has been established as an Appellation d'Origine Controle since 1942. The vineyard is made up of chalky clay soil in small plots, rising to some 2,000 feet above sea level. Jaillance's winemakers take meticulous care of their vines, and grapes are harvested by hand.

The wine is made from their 2 top cuvees, specially selected by the Cellarmaster... a harmonious blend of 2 grape varieties: predominantly Muscat with a little added Clairette.

Lustrous pale gold in color with fine gleaming bubbles. Lychee, tea leaves, and citrus zest make up the lively bouquet. A creamy mousse with good balance on the palate combines freshness and elegance. Fruity but not sweet... really nice balance and deliciously crisp. Excellent aromatic persistence... love this wine, and at only 7% alcohol it's perfect for brunch... or delicious with foie gras or even chocolate!

Frank's August CLUBVino 6Pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $79.99!
(You Save $39.95...That's 33% Off!)

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Jaillance NV Cremant de Bordeaux Cuvee de L'Abbaye
(Regularly priced at $19.99)
$13.39 with 6-pack Sampler Purchase!

Hand-picked grapes from the Jaillance vineyards near the Graves region of Bordeaux. The blend is 70% Semillon and 30% Blanc de Noir.
Pale gold in color with a tinge of crimson which shows the elegant stream of fine bubbles. The bouquet is elegant and complex with white flowers, sweet almonds and marjoram, and just a touch of wild strawberry. Good attack on the palate with a creamy mousse and pleasing balance; initial aromas are carried forward to the palate; excellent persistence, with brioche notes on the finish. This bubbly makes a perfect match for a meal based on seafood and shellfish, or fish dishes such as herbed salmon. At 12% alcohol it'll be easy on you in the morning!

Frank's August CLUBVino 6Pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Sparkling Wine for Only $79.99!
(You Save $39.95...That's 33% Off!)

These Cali Reds are Sure to Fool Your Wine Snob Friends!

Frank's July CLUBVino 6pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $29.99*!
(You Save $59.95...That's 67% Off!)

Somewhere along the way wine became snooty. I don't know how or why. But we should probably blame the French...

All of us have some image buried deep in our minds of the stereotypical snooty wine guy. He is older, balding, cheesy moustache, pretentious accent, using wine words like he's the founding member of some secret society, glaring at us because of our choice of wine. Sadly, this person does exist in many forms. He or she can suck the life out of the simple pleasure of enjoying wine faster than you can say another glass of wine please.

As a wine lover, there are certain region/varietal combinations that I hang my hat on. Dry Creek Valley is good for Zinfandel, Russian River Valley is good for Pinot, Malbec in Argentina, Chardonnay in Burgundy, the list goes on. It serves as a blueprint for making wine selections. But sometimes I can get so bogged down by these preconceptions that I fail to see the larger picture. It has led me to be unfairly judgmental at times, something that I'm not proud of. These are the moments when wine lovers can get that bad reputation. It's the moment when wine "lover" turns to wine "snob" because these concepts turn from points of guidance to points of judgment. So I love when some of my deep-rooted dogmas are challenged.

40 miles East of San Francisco lies that thriving wine country known as Livermore Valley..... bwahhhhahahaha!

The joke was on me after I tasted the wines from Tamas Estate with the winery reps! Any laughter coming from the room was simply in our enjoyment of these two wines that had really surprised us, humbling a group of snobs.

I love being proven wrong like that. It forces you to recalibrate your stigmas or perhaps, abandon them altogether. I was caught in a wine snob moment. And I was wrong! If you have the same reaction whenever you hear Livermore Valley then I invite you and your wine snob friends to taste this delicious duo of Summer reds... I like them so much I decided to make them my CLUBVino Selections for July!

*Besides the 50% Discount I'm offering on a 6-pack (6 x $14.99 - 50% = $44.99) the winery is throwing in a $15 mail-in rebate which brings the 6-pack price down to $29.99 or $4.99 per bottle... holy $hit, that's insane!

Frank's July CLUBVino 6pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $29.99*!
(You Save $59.95...That's 67% Off!

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Tamas Estates 2008 Double Decker Red
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$4.99 with 6-pack Sampler Purchase after Mail-in Rebate!

Double Decker Red is an delicious blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petite Sirah and 12% Barbera which creates an adventurously robust yet smooth red wine with mouth-filling flavors of blackberry, black cherry and plum, and a smooth, spicy finish. The grapes were fermented in upright stainless steel tanks at a cold temperature to retain aromatics and fruit flavors. The components of this blend were aged separately in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel tank.

Frank's July CLUBVino 6pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $29.99*!
(You Save $59.95...That's 67% Off!)

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Tamas Estates 2009 Zinfandel
(Regularly priced at $14.99)
$4.99 with 6-pack Sampler Purchase after Mail-in Rebate!

This 100% Zinfandel has flavors of raspberry, strawberry jam, cherry and vanilla. With a rich mouthfeel, integrated oak and a long fruity finish, this wine complements a variety of meat selections and spicy foods. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks, and pumped over twice daily. The wine was aged for 13 months in French, American, Eastern European, and neutral oak... and is a whopping 15% alcohol!

Frank's July CLUBVino 6pack!
You Get 3 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $29.99*!
(You Save $59.95...That's 67% Off!)

Sileni Estate Sauvignon & Pinot!
Frank's CLUBVino Selections for April

Sileni Estates is a major vineyard and winery development in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's oldest established vineyard area. The first vintage was in 1998 and since then the wines have won world wide acclaim.
Sileni Estates is named after the Sileni who featured in Roman mythology alongside Bacchus, the god of wine. They celebrated good wine, good food and good company... kinda sounds like us all here at FranksWine!

Sileni boasts a state of the art winery designed to crush over 1500 tons of grapes. The Winemaking Team has honed their winemaking skills in Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Chile and Oregon and they strive to maintain high standards in environmentally sustainable viticultural and winemaking practices. Sileni Estates produce hand crafted wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the vineyards.

I recently tried their latest lineup of wines and was instantly sold on their Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough and their Pinot Noir from Hawke's Bay... two incredible wines for the money!

Frank's April CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $139.99!
(You Save $69.89...That's 33% Off!)

Grant Edmonds, Chief Winemaker
After graduating with the B.Sc from Auckland University, Grant completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Winemaking at the University of South Australia (Roseworthy). With over 20 years experience in the New Zealand wine industry, including the position of Chief Winemaker for the Villa Maria Group and Esk Valley Estates.

Grant is passionate about Merlot, an affair beginning at Esk Valley Estates and further fuelled by working the vintage at Chateau Pavie in St Emillon in 1990. This spurred Grant on to develop his own label Redmetal in 1996 and to join founder Graeme Avery to create Sileni Estates from the ground up in 1997.

CLUBVino members get to choose which wine they want this month... my suggestion is that you pick your freebie and buy the other!

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Sileni Cellars 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ~ Marlborough
(regularly priced at $14.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Sileni Sauvignon Blanc comes from the cool Marlborough valley of New Zealand. Here the grapes mature slowly, giving them complexity and a vibrant zing, reminiscent of your grandma’s lemon chiffon cupcake. The flavors are integrated, delighting the senses with Meyer lemons, Key limes and a finish that awakens the appetite. This wine pairs well with oysters on a half shell or with a rich and succulent Lobster Risotto... mmm!

Frank's April CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $139.99!
(You Save $69.89...That's 33% Off!)

Sileni Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir ~ Hawke's Bay
(regularly priced at $19.99)
$13.39 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Sileni uses both barrel and tank fermentation with a mix of new and older French oak. This Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir is an elegant cool climate pinot noir at its best. Fragrant, soft and flavorful with aromas of ripe cherries, plums and gentle sweet fruit tannins to provide serious structure and length. Complex aromatic profile of wild berries, rose tea, underbrush, savory spice, and oak. Light but pleasing core of cherries, cranberries and pomegranates and the tannins are nicely tamed and the mouthfeel is soft on the finish.

Frank's April CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $139.99!
(You Save $69.89...That's 33% Off!)

WTF are these Austrians thinking?
Zum Martin Sepp from Austria goes funky...
thankfully the wine is solid!

Yup... that's a beer cap you're seeing there! If you go by packaging standards these two wines from Zum Martin Sepp are not wines to buy to impress your friends. However, if you can look beyond the crown top closure you'll find a full liter of classic, spicy Grüner Veltliner and charming Zweigelt. I actually fell in love with these bottles before I even tasted them! How ballsy is it to put beautiful wine into such a ridiculous package? Well, all I can say is you know it's gotta be great juice for them to do that!

"Innovation, stubbornness and a little bit of madness.” This, according to Michael Martin, the young wine making dynamo of Weingut Martinshof, is the secret to his success. The trend to buck conservative thought was started even by his great grandfather, who insisted on growing Burgundian grapes many years before they were popular in Austria. After his death however, his cherished Weissburgunder was pulled up in favor of higher yielding varieties. The Martin family has owned and operated the Heuriger “Zum Martin Sepp” for generations, and it still remains one of the most prominent and popular wine taverns of Vienna’s Grinzing district. As Michael took over the winemaking in the late 80s, it was his desire to bring the Martinshof brand back from quantity to quality. Now alongside the classic, spicy Grüner Veltliner and charming Zweigelts, Michael Martin is producing Pinot Noir and Weissburgunder with structure and finesse. “Food friendly” is the first thought that comes to mind when sipping any of the Martinshof wines. Whether light and elegant or rich and structured, all of Michael’s wines scream for food.

Meet Michael Martin on youtube and hear his spiel!

Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt and an inclination towards Burgundies - this represents Michael's interest in wine. He haven't always been praised when he started growing Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc at the end of the 1980s. But what's the alternative to Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt if you have a winery in the Weinviertel? The road to an Austrian Burgundy is still pretty rocky.

Frank's March CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

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Zum Martin Sepp 2009 Zweigelt
(regularly priced at $14.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Black cherry, purple plum, almond, and fresh fig inform this generous, invigoratingly spicy and saline wine, a faint hint of cherry pit bitterness helping to add contrast to the penetrating, stimulating finish. Concentrated, sappy, primary fresh fruit and distilled fruit overtones make a superb case for the potential of this indigenous red crossing and for this vintage, as well as offering excellent value. Later bottlings - with more time to evolve on the lees - should be even better. This wine can be enjoyed for at least 2-3 years from bottling.

Frank's March CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

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Zum Martin Sepp 2009 Gruner Veltliner
(regularly priced at $14.99)
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

Pale yellow in color, this wine is purely aromatic and lively! Lovely aromas of fresh apples and citrus, this wine surprises on the palate with great spice components as well as exotic fruit and a refreshing acidity. To be enjoyed either on its own, as an apertif or with light dishes. Glad it's in a full liter bottle... more to go 'round!

Frank's March CLUBVino Selection 12-pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $119.99!
(You Save $59.89...That's 33% Off!)

I'm Still HOT on Chile...
Here are the TOP 2 Wines from My Trip.

Cristiano Andrade huggin' a tank of Cucao 2010 PX... I feel your love, Cristiano!

I'm going to make it my mission to convert all you New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Italian Pinot Grigio drinkers to start sippin' PX!! Pedro Ximenez is a white grape that's widely grown in Elqui Valley mainly for the purpose of making Pisco, a Chilean brandy. It also makes a beautifully crisp and fragrant white wine that is as cool to drink as it is to ask for when you're out and about! It'll be your new Spring and Summertime favorite around the pool or patio... and perfect with oysters!

Frank Pagliaro snorting some Palin 2009 Carmenere... no straw needed!

When the Palin '09 Carmenere is bottled and release to the US market it'll have a new name thanks to the flakiness of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin... seriously! The huge backlash of sales with all the media surrounding Sarah forced the winery to change the name to Cerrillos. Kinda crazy if you ask me! Winemaker Alvaro Espinoza has single-handedly put Carmenere on the map in the wine world when it was he that studied the uneven and early-ripening of some the Merlot vines planted in Colchagua Valley. His revelation was that most of what he and other Chilean winemakers thought was Merlot was actually Carmenere! I guess Alvaro's studying at Chateau Margaux taught him a thing or two about the Bordeaux varietal that his peers didn't know. He makes the Palin/Cerrillos Carmenere from start to finish... from tending to the organic vines to blending the final wine in the barrel.

Winemaker Alvaro Espinoza pouring us wine at his San Lorenzo Estate in Maipo Valley!

I challenge each and every one of you to taste the Palin 2007 Carmenere next to your favorite $25 - 50 bottle of California Merlot, Cabernet or Meritage. You WILL be shockingly surprised of it's mass, complexity and balance! If you don't 100% agree, bring it back and I'll refund you... then I'll finish off the bottle myself! I'm confident that you'll start buying this by the case and will break it out to blow away your friends!

Team Chile in the organic Carmenere vineyards of Palin/Cerrillos Winery

This weekend you'll get to taste my TOP 2 wines of Chile all day Saturday from 10am until 9pm and on SuperBowl Sunday from 12noon until 4pm! CLUBVino members get to choose which wine they want this month... my suggestion is that you pick your freebie and buy the other!

Frank's February CLUBVINO Selection 12-Pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!
(You Save $61.89... That's 32% Off!)

Palin 2007 Organic Carmenere ~ Colchagua Valley
(regularly priced at $16.99)
$11.49 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

100% organically grown Carmenere grapes were manually harvested at the end of April. After being picked they had a cold soak period that lasted between 5 and 7 days. Fermentation then took place naturally. Part of the wine was kept in barrels for 6 months while the rest in stainless steel tank and blended just before bottling.

Its aroma reflects ripe black fruits perfectly balanced with sweet and toasted notes given by barrel aging. A touch of spice on the palate with a lush mouthful of jammy fruit and balance balance balance... OMFG, I love this wine!! 980 cases produced.

Frank's February CLUBVINO Selection 12-Pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!
(You Save $61.89... That's 32% Off!)

Cucao 2009 PX ~ Elqui Valley
(regularly priced at $14.99)
$10.19 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!

One of the oldest grapes varieties in Chile is Pedro Ximenez. It was originally introduced and developed in the north of Chile for producing Pisco.

Extremely rustic, it has survived to the very extreme conditions of soils (show in photo above) and temperature with an extraordinary generosity, providing grapes with hard skin, great perfume and succulent juice.

Cucao PX is a unique wine from the Elqui valley that delivers freshness and fruitiness with a very well balanced acidity and fruit concentration. All vinification was done in stainless steel tanks to preserve its flavors and aromas. Ideal to be served as an aperitif or with sea food. I luuuuuuv this wine!! 2,300 cases produced.

Frank's February CLUBVINO Selection 12-Pack Sampler Case!
You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!
(You Save $61.89... That's 32% Off!)