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!
Shadow Chaser 2012 Grenache
Regularly priced at $19.99 $13.29 with 12-pack Sampler Case!
This 100% Grenache hails from two 40+ year old high altitude vineyards. McMurtrie Rd is in the McLaren Vale sub region (central), has Biscay soils and crops at 3 tons to the acre, Willunga Old is in the sub region of Willunga (southern) on silt/clay/loam soils and crops at 2.5 tonnes to the acre. Harvest for both of these vineyards was in late March.
This is fragrant red with aromas that are redolent of violets and red berries with an underlying earthiness. A medium-bodied, well-balanced wine full of varietal flavors like raspberries and cherries with a savory finish.
Shadow Chaser 2012 Chardonnay
Regularly priced at $19.99 $13.29 with 12-pack Sampler Case!
Fermented and stored in stainless steel tanks using typical burgundian techniques such as wild yeast fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation. This allows for the wine to express the characteristics of the vineyards from which the fruit was sourced. Approximately 5% of the wine was subject to the influence of French Oak adding subtle complexity to the wine.
The fruit for this wine is from 4 vineyards across the McLaren region, comprising 3 sub regions (McLaren Vale – central, Blewitt Springs and Seaview – northern). Altitude varies from 200 to 500 feet above sea level, and soil types vary greatly; biscay, clay, sand, silt & ironstone. The age of the vineyards are between 11 and 34 years. Cropping at 4 -5 tons per acre and harvested from early to mid March. All of this variation from vineyard to vineyard helps to give the wine complexity through individual site expression. It should also be noted that a very mild growing season (summer) resulted in wonderful quality fruit.
"The 2012 Chardonnay gives notes of green apples, grapefruit and white peach with a touch of lanolin. Light to medium-bodied ... simple apple and pear flavors, balanced acid and a medium length clean finish. Drink it now to 2014."
Oh go ahead... try again!
Okay, lemme help: (book - n - howds - kloof).
Better?
I usually have to say it aloud 3 times before I get it right. That's fine, I'll wait...
Boekenhoutskloof
Boekenhoutskloof
Boekenhoutskloof
There. You got it.
Boekenhoutskloof was established in 1776. Located in the furthest corner of South Africa's beautiful Franschhoek Valley, the farm's name means "ravine of the Boekenhout." Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furnitur e making. The 7 chairs that adorn most of the winery's labels are made from this sturdy tree.
In 1993 the farm and homestead was bought and restored and a new vineyard planting program was established that includes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon and Viognier.
Marc Kent is the chief winemaker and driving force behind the dynamic farm. A maverick spirit, Marc is unafraid to experiment with the unconventional, but his principal commitment is to quality on every level and in every detail.
One of Marc's favorite projects is his Wolftrap label. When the farm was founded, the Franschhoek Valley was far wilder than it is today. The mountains were alive with indigenous animals including the majestic leopard. Although no evidence of wolves has ever been found, Marc created this wine to remind the people of South Africa of the mysteries and legends of days gone by... he's artsy like that!
I've stocked these wines here at FranksWine on North Union Street for the last 3 vintages... they're always pretty solid. It amazes me that the prices have never increased since I first brought them in, but the quality continues to do so over the years. This release of the 2012 White and 2011 Red are the best I've tasted when I chugged them back with importer Danny Haas of Vineyard Brands last month.
They were so good that I felt it necessary to load up and spread the good word! I've made this duo my FranksWine CLUBVino Wine of the Month selections for April... stop in anytime throughout the month and I'll be sure to pop a bottle for you to taste!
Wolftrap 2011 Red
Regularly priced at $13.99 $8.39 with 12-pack Sampler Case!
Syrah 65% | Mourvèdre 32% | Viognier 3%
Sourced from Malmesbury in the Swartland the Syrah provides the spice and weight while the Mourvèdre adds structure and aroma to the blend. The pungent Viognier component boosts the perfume profile. French oak matured with the Viognier blended prior to bottling.
It has an intense red color with a purple rim. On the nose is a spicy profile with ripe black fruit and violets. Smooth and rich on the palate with soft tannins, good density and a hint of oak. A well balanced, unpretentious wine made for easy drinking. A lot of wine for the money here! 2,800 cases produced. FranksWine WOLFTRAP 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $99.99!!
You Save $67.89... That's 41% Off!!!
Wolftrap 2012 White
Regularly priced at $13.99 $8.39 with 12-pack Sampler Case!
Viognier 57 % | Chenin 32% |Grenache Blanc 11%
The Wolftrap White is taking the world by storm! With only the third vintage bottled it has become South Africaʹs "super quaffer" according to Platters (the Wine Spectator of SA). The Viognier grapes are sourced from a dryland vineyard in Malmesbury, the Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch and the Grenache Blanc from the Piekenierskloof near Citrusdal. Blended and aged in French oak these components deliver a wine of outstanding quality.
Complex flavors of fruit blossom, dried fruit and spice. Rich creamy texture with some minerality and elegant oak nuances. Balanced natural acidity with concentrated flavors that lingers on the palate. It's my favorite Spring wine so far! 1,240 cases produced.
If you flip a wine bottle over and see this mark on the back label you know you've got a winner in your hands. Dan Kravitz's Hand Picked Selections are just that... selections picked by Dan in his travels to the many regions of the wine world. There are a handful of notorious importers who seem to attract buyers that shop solely by the back label: Peter Weygandt, Robert Kacher and Dan Kravitz. I've witnessed it in my shop over and over... guy comes in, grabs a cart, walks over French section and turns bottles over looking for their favorite importer's stamp of approval and places it in the cart without even looking at the front label. It's pretty funny to see and shows an amazing sign of loyalty and trust to the importer's palate.
No relation to Lenny Kravitz, however Dan, too, has reached rock-star status in my book. I don't go as far as to closing my eyes and pointing my finger to wines listed in his portfolio and say "I'll take that one," but I pretty much know whatever I taste is going to be pretty solid.
So when good friend in the biz Scott Biggs returned from a wine trip to France sponsored by Hand Picked Selections he stopped over on North Union Street with a bagful of samples... I flipped the bottles over, smiled, and grabbed my corkscrew.
Here are the 2 wines that excited me the most and thought they would be perfect March selections for the FranksWine CLUBVino Wine of the Month... not a member yet? It's the best deal in town... I'd love to have you join and sample what jazzes my palate!
Cuvee de Peña 2009 Rouge (Regularly Priced at $16.99)
$11.69 per bottle with 12-pack Purchase!
Dan Kravitz has had his hand in the making of this wine for the last 20 vintages making it one of his longest-standing and most popular red wine in his portfolio. It's from a small village in the Roussillon region of the Southern France. It's a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 20% Carignan all from vines averaging 40 years old.
It's tank-fermented and never sees the sight of oak which makes it perfect for pairing for everyday foods like pizza, pasta, and burgers as well as Mediterranean fare such as ratatouille, cassoulet, and stuffed tomatoes.
It's a medium-bodied red offering aromas of black cherries and light spicy, smoky notes with soft, silky tannins on the palate.
Here's what Robert Parker has to say about it: Wine Advocate ~ 90 Points
"The as usual Carignan-based red 2009 Cuvee de Pena is simply the finest of its illustrious bargain-priced breed that I have tasted (and I go back 20 years with this cuvee and its predecessor), which also makes it a mind-boggling value! Clean and polished, concentrated but unexaggerated, this delivers sweet fruit with soil and soul. Ripe cherry, black raspberry, and purple plum are shadowed by their distilled counterparts in a high-toned nose and practically gush on the palate. Pungent, resinous herbs, smoky black tea, toasted pecan, brown spices, and crushed stone all serve for aromatic and gustatory interest, leading to a brightly juicy yet deeply rich finish. Buy it by the case, or buy it by the bag-in-box; delight and - if you dare reveal its price - amaze your guests over at least the next couple of years, though quite possibly longer. (And we wine snobs need to stick this into some blind tastings to put quality-price rapport into perspective, and perhaps some prejudices to rest.)"
Puydeval 2010 Rouge (Regularly Priced at $16.99)
$11.69 per bottle with 12-pack Purchase!
This distinctive blend of 62% Cabernet Franc, 28% Syrah and 10% Merlot is crafted by winemaker Jeff Carrel with vines located in the cooler microclimates of the generall hot Languedoc region of Southern France. Cab Franc tends to thrive in those conditions.
This wine seriously blows me away, but I've been loving Cabernet Franc lately and have even expanded our California selection to a half a dozen, you gotta check it out! This new world-style red will complement elaborately-topped burgers, grilled portabella and lamb kabobs. It's big, rich, concentrated and intense. A ripe, polished well-balanced wine offering spicy aromas of black cherry and blackberry with hints of anise and a touch of earthiness.
Pretty cool how they finish off the blend in this wine: the juice is matured 10 months in 1 and 2 year old oak barrels. Jeff uses American oak for the Merlot and French oak for the Cabernet Franc and Syrah... and he makes sure it's all unfiltered for added complexity. Genius wine.
I want to make sure you football fans attending Super Bowl
parties don’t fumble a chance to class up traditional tailgate cuisine.
I realize that not all wine is consumed by candlelight and white china in a romantic setting with the one you love. I know what it’s like in the Pagliaro household, and I’d bet most wine is consumed in sweatpants with the kids yelling and you stealing their chicken nuggets while you’ve got a glass of wine in one hand frantically trying to get the kids settled and their lunches for the next day made. Sound familiar? This red and white duo from Sonoma County is perfect for chaotic evenings... and SuperBowl parties!
Not much to think about here... just pleasant, easy-drinking, everyday wines for about 8 bucks a bottle that’ll go with everything from Corn-dogs to Doritos to spicy wings and that artery-clogging John Wayne dip. Go Ravens!
This twosome will be open all weekend for your palate’s pleasure... actually we’ll have ‘em open throughout the month since they’re the February selections for FranksWine CLUBVino Wine of the Month... take a drive over to North Union Street!
Beaulieu Vineyards ‘09 Red Blend Regularly Priced at $16.99
$8.49 with 12-pack Purchase!
BV’s 2009 Red Blend offers rich, concentrated fruit and a smooth silky mouthfeel. It’s made with Zinfandel, Merlot, Barbera and Petite Sirah and barrel-aged for 6 months in American oak. The wine is full of ripe, slightly sweet blackberry, blueberry and raspberry liqueur and highlighted by lifted oak notes.
Snap Dragon 2010 Chardonnay
Regularly Priced at $14.99
$7.49 with 12-pack Purchase!
Elegant, with spicy tangerine, nectarine, pear and honeydew melon fruit and a hint of toastiness on the nose. On the palate it’s pure, refreshing and well-balanced with pear, pineapple and apple notes with delightful hints of creme brûlée from the 6 months of barrel aging ... yum!
Okay, so this is part brag email, part grab the dog-lover's attention email and part wine email.
I'll start with the dog-lovers part: More than likely you've been in the shop when wine rep Fred Simonds has been here to peddle his goods... you would know if you have because he always has his sidekick, Roo, in tow. (Dog-lovers info:Roois a 14 year-old half Jack Russel and half Cairn Terrier) Now how lucky is Roo that he gets to drive around all day with his master going from wine shop to wine shop accepting treats and getting attention from all the pretty ladies! I want that job.
Now I get to brag a bit: Feel free to scroll down to the wine part if you're still in "brag-letter overload" from the Holiday mail (I think most peeps are getting the idea - we only received 2 this year). So that's my oldest daughter Amelia pictured with Fred and Roo. Back in November Fred hired her to paint her first commissioned piece of art... it's a beautiful day when your 17 year-old starts earning an income! If you've ever popped in my office you see her art covering my walls... feel free to walk back and check it out next time you're in. (insert brag photo here)
Now onto the wine part: You can meet Fred & Roo this Saturday from 11am - 3pm... they'll be here at FranksWine on North Union Street pouring our January CLUBVino Selections:
Cameron Hughes 2009 Lot 224 Syrah
Cameron Hughes 2010 Lot 339 Field Blend
There is a glut of wine all over the world-an oversupply so significant that it's compelled Australian winemakers to plow up their vineyards, forced French producers to turn wines into ethanol and brought wealthy Napa vintners if not to their knees then to their bankers in search of refinance. The reasons are various-new vineyard plantings by ambitious producers, increased productivity at a time of plummeting demand, winemakers who have overleveraged their brands.
The bulk wine market-which encompasses everything from wine in the barrel to finished wines in unlabeled bottles, aka "shiners"-may absorb some of this excess but with prices as low as $1 a gallon, it's not going to help winemakers raise very much money, let alone make them rich. Except in the case of Cameron Hughes. He takes the $100 California Cabernets that have gone begging for buyers and sells the very same wines under his own labels for $25 a bottle and less. He packages them in generic-looking bottles with names like Lot 224 Syrah and 339 Field Blend... as I'm writing this a box of Lot 404 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon rolled through the door!
Cameron says that nondisclosure agreements with wineries prevent him from naming his sources, and each wine is accompanied by a "Cameron Confidential" hinting at its exalted-yet unnameable-origin that necessitated a number instead a name. "We sourced this wine from the vineyard of a famous Cabernet producer," is the typical Cameron come-on for a $22 bottle. Another Cab was from "an $85-a-bottle program" in Napa's Atlas Peak appellation.
Whether or not the Cameron Hughes business model is sustainable remains to be seen. The wine business goes in cycles, after all. Cameron said he hopes to "get closer to the ground" and buy his own vineyards one day. (And to be part of the next glut cycle?) In the meantime Cameron has managed to keep his mouth shut and produce some really good wines at prices that are almost too good to be true.
Here's a pair of Rhone-style wines that Fred and I recently tasted... without a doubt these are the two finest reds in their section at this price point. I can say that for most of the Cameron Hughes's Lot wines.
Cameron Hughes 2009 Lot 224 Syrah Regularly Priced at $17.99 $12.49 with 12-pack Purchase
Taste...
Lot 224 leaps forth with sensational floral aromas integrated with black fruit, licorice, roasted meat and cassis. This wine is finely built with underlying concentration and mouthwatering richness. With great old-world qualities and incredible acid, this wine represents great winemaking and the excellent terroir of High Valley.
Cameron Confidential...
Lot 224 2009 Syrah is sourced from the High Valley AVA of Lake County. The vineyards for this project start at 1800 feet and run up to 3,000 feet above sea level. It's an incredibly remote property that has remarkable vineyards. They recently brought in a new winemaking team and a deservedly famous consultant to turn around the winemaking, they are turning out lush and inviting wines. Winemakers often espouse that they are just guardians of the terroir and their job is simply to stand back and let the wines make themselves - nonsense. Winemakers matter and Lot 224 proves it.
Cameron Hughes 2010 Lot 339 Field Blend Regularly Priced at $17.99 $12.49 with 12-pack Purchase
Taste...
Lot 339 is fresh and aromatic with black fruits, peppers, cherries and red plum notes. Integrated tannins frame a chewy finish meshed with exotic spice notes.
Cameron Confidential...
Field Blends are the result of a certain way of propagating vineyards in early 20th century California Viticulture wherein various vines were planted in a vineyard and the underperformers had their heads lopped off to be replaced by budwood from the best performers.
Lot 339 combines Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre for a tasty California spin on these famous Rhone varietals. This wine is the best of the old-world and the new, the classic and the updated...Purity of essence if you will.
JF Fonseca 2009 Periquita Red Regularly Priced at $14.99
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
Periquita is considered the national wine of Portugal. It's a blend of mostly Castelão Frances grapes, which thrives in southern Portugal, plus Trincadeira and Tempranillo. This European gem is from the Terras do Sado region in the southwestern part of the country. This delicious red has a vibrant bouquet that is rich in red fruits and spicy with nutmeg notes. On the palate you'll get red berries and cigar box notes... love it! The tannins are soft and it provides a nicely balanced drink with an enjoyable finish... a perfect kick-back-and-chill red!
JF Fonseca 2011 Periquita White Regularly Priced at $14.99
$9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
For more than 150 years, the landmark Periquita brand from the southwestern coast of Portugal has been a welcome guest at the tables of discerning wine drinkers and an international ambassador for fine Portuguese wines. Created by J.M. da Fonseca in 1850 and trademarked in 1941, Periquita has the distinction of being the oldest Portuguese table wine brand.
Periquita 2011 White is the newest member of the Periquita range. Modern and fresh, it is a harmonious blend of 30% Moscatel de Setubal, 30% Viognier, 30% Verdelho and 10% Viosinho. It is perfumed with a bouquet of lychees, ripe pineapple and mango... bam! On the palate it's medium-bodied with an excellent balance of fruit and acidity. It's excellent as an aperitif or serve with seafood dishes... love it!
2 Delicious $10 Italian Reds! Tasting the entire weekend...
A long-time CLUBVino member complained to me last month that I haven't had an Italian selection for our Wine of the Month Club since October 2011... che cazzo! That's WTF in Italian. Thank you, Diane, and shame on me for being so inconsiderate to my heritage!
It just so happened that last week Franceen Kahng of VIAS Imports and local wine celebrity Kevin Mullarkey visited my shop with a bag-full of Italian wine bargains. Susan, Michael, and I tasted through nearly a dozen wines and unanimously nailed these 2 as our favorites... talk about professional consistency!
Both are modern-style juicy reds - one from Apulia and the other from Piedmont. Perfect for pizza, your favorite BYO, Thanksgiving dinner, or just knocking back after a long day at work.
Franceen Kahng of VIAS Imports will be at the shop on Friday from 5pm - 8pm... if you want a quick ABC of Italian Wines she's the go-to in the biz with a wealth of knowledge! Kevin Mullarkey will be pouring here from 11am - 3pm on Saturday, and Sunday from 12noon - 4pm FranksWine's own Gregg & Matt will be hosting!
FranksWine Italian 12-pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 119.99!!
You Save $83.89... That's 41% Off!!!
Cantele 2009 Primitivo ~ Apulia
Regularly Priced at $16.99 $9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
Here's what Wine Spectator columnist Harvey Steinman had to say about the 2009 Primitivo by Cantele, tasted last year at one of his favorite San Francisco pizzerias, Gialina!
My local pizzeria, Gialina in San Francisco, offers a short list of a half-dozen simple Italian wines to drink with such terrific pizzas as one with nettles and pancetta and another with winter squash, fresh ricotta and ricotta salata. One can wish for better glasses than the tumblers the restaurant uses, but the wines are not complex, just solid and fruity, and suffer little harm.
As a change of pace from my usual choice of Salice Salentino, my wife and I decided to try a new wine on the list, Cantele Primitivo 2009 in a 500ml carafe. Made from the grape called Zinfandel in California, it's a winner. Neither too rich nor too light, it brims with dark plum and blackberry flavor on a soft, supple frame, finishing on a creamy note. 89 points, non-blind.
FranksWine Italian 12-pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 119.99!!
You Save $83.89... That's 41% Off!!!
Araldica 2009 Barbera d'Asti ~ Piedmont
Regularly Priced at $16.99 $9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
Here's what yourfavorite wine merchant had to say about the 2009 Barbera d'Asti by Araldica, tasted last week at one of my favorite Kennett Square pizzerias, Sovana Bistro!
This 100% Barbera from the Piemonte commune of Asti is just what you want in a versatile, keep-a-case-or-two-on-hand, everyday red. If you choose to dig into it, you'll notice it open with aromas of dark black cherries, clove, fresh leather and dark flowers. Then, in your mouth, it's medium-bodied and very juicy fresh with nicely concentrated flavors of sweet cherry and strawberry accented by a dash of spice and red plum. As you swallow, your mouth will start to water a bit as the sweet red fruit flavors go "bang" and linger nicely as notes of violets and just a hint of fresh leather emerge over soft, easygoing, tannins.
Don't feel like paying attention to all of that? Then take a sip and notice how you feel a big sense of "yum!" whether you're having a glass at a party or slaking your thirst after a bite of pizza, spicy Mexican food, or zingy pasta. The kind of wine you can open while cooking dinner, enjoy during the meal, and then keep on sipping all evening long. This will be one of our "go to" everyday reds for a while, but not at this great price!
FranksWine Italian 12-pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 119.99!!
You Save $83.89... That's 41% Off!!!
Many of you have emailed, called and stopped in to see where I've been the last two weeks. "Is Frank okay? I haven't seen an email promo from him these last couple of weeks" was the typical question.
It's nice to be missed. I gotta admit, though, I generally don't give a shit when my typical weekly/daily spam doesn't make it to my inbox. So it makes me feel even more special! So what's up? Well, a lot. Outside renovations are still ongoing but should be wrapped up in the next 3 weeks... complete with a new fresh look! Sneak peak on the above header with our new logo and name, FranksWine. After 26 years I decided to shorten the former "Frank's Union Wine Mart" and keep it simple.
The last two weeks were also spent on our final training... the FranksWine.com Marathon Team ran the Wineglass Marathon in New York's Finger Lakes region this past Sunday. It was a success all around... together our team of 19 wine-drinking runners raised $15,077 for Girls on the Run of Delaware!
I finally got the BQ monkey off my back and nailed my qualifying time to run in the Boston Marathon... Kathy Nguyen hit her planned sub-4 hour... Leisa Campbell ran a PR... Chris Linzey successfully ran his first Marathon... and Betty Olmstead ran the Half in her planned time. In other words the FranksWine.com Marathon Team kicked some serious Corning glASS!
I'm STILL Incognito!
Sticking with the theme here it just so happens that I tasted the entire lineup of Michael David Wines from Lodi, California with Jason Mantis last week. Those are the guys who make those well-known wines 7 Deadly Zins, Petite Petit, Earthquake, Windmill, Freakshow, and the mighty bold Lust Zinfandel which was the top-selling wine
at Frank's Golden Wine Event this past March.
My two favorite wines of the lineup have got to be the Rhone-influenced Incognito 2010 Rouge and Incognito 2010 White Blend. I'm diggin' them so much that I made them the FranksWine CLUBVino Selections for the month of October!
Jason Mantis will be in the shop on Saturday from 11am - 3pm pouring this duo... and I'm sure I can convince him to pop a cork on that Lust Zinfandel!
If you can't make it in to taste just go ahead and place your order for the "FranksWine INCOGNITO 12pack Sampler Case" for only $159.99 via this Secure Online Order Form and I'll take care of the rest!
FranksWine INCOGNITO 12pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 159.99!! You Save $79.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Michael David 2010 Incognito Rouge
Regularly Priced at $19.99 $13.34 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
The wine making team at Michael David has worked up two intriguing blends. Both wines are blends of multiple complimentary varietals each showing the complexity and balance... check out the blend on the Rouge: 40% Syrah, 14% Carignane, 13% Mourvedre, 12% Souzao, 8% Tennat, 7% Cinsault, 4% Petite Sirah, and 2% Merlot!
If you're not afraid to experiment with various grapes this wine shows nice cherry, plum and toasty oak aromas with medium tannins and long finish. It just plain 'ol freakin yummy!
FranksWine INCOGNITO 12pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 159.99!! You Save $79.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Michael David 2010 Incognito White
Regularly Priced at $19.99 $13.34 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
This wine was awarded "Best Rhone in the World" as a Roussanne at the 2000 Los Angeles International Wine Competition. However, using DNA testing, U.C. Davis later determined that this unique grape is a rare clone of Viognier that mysteriously appeared in California during the past decade and is not, in fact, a Roussanne after all!
The phantom clone originated somewhere in theChateauneuf du Pape region of the Rhone Valley in France, then mistakenly sold to the Lodi grower - the talented Mr Ripkin - as Roussanne, who, finally, sold the resulting grapes to Michael David Winery.
The rest is history!
This oddball blend of 63% Viognier, 21% Chardonnay, 7% Muscat, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Roussanne is ripe and crammed with tons of fruit! It has aromatics of honey, citrus, apricots, and summer melons. This full-bodied white is pure and unoaked, leaving only the expressions of the blended varietals showing.
FranksWine INCOGNITO 12pack Sampler Case! You get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only 159.99!! You Save $79.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Most wine shops celebrate the new year's harvest with the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau. But at FranksWine we always tend to be one step ahead!
Not sure why it excites us the way it does, but it's pretty damn cool to be sipping a wine with "2012" slapped on the label while Gamay grape clusters are still hanging on the vines in Burgundy.
It's the white wine to the right that made us "ooh" and "ahh" last week. After tasting it I immediately knew I had my FranksWine CLUBVino selections for September picked out: El Libre 2012 Torrontes & El Libre 2010 Malbec... two beauties from Mendoza, Argentina that I'll have open all week and through the weekend for you to taste! CLUBVino members:
you get to choose white or red this month...
If you can't make it in to taste just go ahead and place your order for the "FranksWine Mendoza 12pack Sampler Case" for only $99.99 via this Secure Online Order Form and we'll take care of the rest!
FranksWine Mendoza 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $99.99!!
You Save $97.89... That's 50% Off!!!
El Libre 2012 Mendoza Torrontes
Regularly Priced at $14.99 $7.49 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
Enticing aromas that are strikingly similar to Viognier, with hints of peach pit, white pear, flowers, and orange citrus fruit. On the palate, it has beautiful structure and acidity similar to Sauvignon Blanc along with enticing fruit flavors that keep you coming back for another sip and plenty of body for a wine that shows such delicate aromas and flavors. Fruity, floral and yet still quite dry, this wine has to be tasted to be believed. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, and seafood... especially crab!
FranksWine Mendoza 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $99.99!!
You Save $97.89... That's 50% Off!!!
El Libre 2010 Mendoza Malbec
Regularly Priced at $17.99 $8.99 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
More 'red' in style, with bright cherry and raspberry aromas leading to a fresh, racy palate with tons of cherry and plum flavor along with a hint of cola and cherry Ludens cough drop! Clean and lean on the finish, with no excess weight or oak. The real deal in terms of freshness and purity of fruit.
FranksWine Mendoza 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $99.99!!
You Save $97.89... That's 50% Off!!!
It hasn't been a g'day for the Aussies in the wine biz lately. With the glut of juice available at wineries and consumers that seem to be stuck on cheap, grocery store-quality plonk it seems many of the top Australian winemakers seem to be having a tough time working through what I call the Yellow Tail Effect. It's no wonder that here at FranksWine we're cutting our Australian wine section in half and discounting all Aussie Whites 33% and all Aussie Reds 22%... we're in our Final Week!
More on that later... let's talk about Europe's Austrian wines! Without of doubt these are some of the most food-friendly wines in the shop. Bright fruit, balanced minerality, fresh, crisp, racy and lean is how I like to describe Austrian wines.
At last week's Frank's Summer Tasting at Caffé Gelato in Newark we offered up 38 selections from various wine regions of the world... of those the wines of Austria ROCKED THE HOUSE! Scott Biggs and Klauss Wittauer of Select Austrian Wines poured their lineup and our 75 guests kept going back for more.
The 2 top selling wines of the night were from the same winery in Austria - Anton Bauer... that type of market research tells me one thing: FranksWine CLUBVino selections for August are set!
Scott Biggs will be in the shop on Saturday from 11am to 3pm pouring this pair of gru-v wines as well as a few others from Austria...
If you can't make it in to taste I've put together the
FranksWine Gru-V 12pack Sampler Case
at a great discount that I can get to you!
The FranksWine Gru-V 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!!
You Save $61.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Anton Bauer 2011 Grüner Veltliner
Regularly Priced at $14.99 $9.99 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
Anton first introduced this single-vineyard Gmörk Gruner to celebrate the latest round of upgrades to the winery. Although Grüner Veltliner has been grown in what is now Austria since Roman times, the grape has only become well-known in the past 25 years. While Grüner can be made in a wide range of styles - from crisp, simple, quaffing wines to creamy, oak-aged, versions that resemble fine white Burgundy - it should always deliver a mouthful of ripe orchard fruits, floral notes, and at least a little touch of spice resembling white pepper.
The 2011 Gmörk succeeds admirably! Delicate aromas of wet limestone, apple skin and white flowers emerge from the glass. In the mouth, the wine bursts with gravelly apple and green peach fruit, loads of citrusy acidity and sweet white flowers. A touch of white pepper emerges on the long, juicy, finish. A great wine to enjoy on its own or with seafood, salads, and lighter fare. Just delicious!
The FranksWine Gru-V 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!!
You Save $61.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Anton Bauer 2010 Zweigelt
Regularly Priced at $16.99 $11.39 with 12-pack Sampler Purchase!
Zweigelt just don't get no respect. True, this is hardly a grape of ancient heritage - it was "invented" in Austria in 1922 by crossing the not-so-famous Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent varieties. But, on the right sites and in the right hands, Zweigelt produces a tremendously delicious and useful wine. Think slightly more weight than red Burgundy with a flavor profile somewhere between Malbec and Zinfandel. In other words, a wine that's just perfect for drinking on its own or with a wide range of weeknight meals.
Anton Bauer's take on Zweigelt is just classic. The wine is bursting with crunchy black cherry fruit complicated by notes of mocha and peppery spice. Local importer Klaus Wittauer always buys Anton's Spring bottling of this grape to get the maximum amount of juicy fruit in every bottle. This struck me as a cross between a delicious young red Bourgogne and a more robust Rhone red. Pizza, burgers, grilled chicken, salmon - goes with just about anything!
The FranksWine Gru-V 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!!
You Save $61.89... That's 33% Off!!!
Domaine Houchart is owned by Geneviève, the wife of Jérôme Quiot, having been originally acquired by her great-grandfather. During the period of the 1850's, Aurelien Houchart was an energetic proprietor and negociant in wine, and created one of the largest domaine in Provence. Amongst the friends of Aurelien Houchart was the famous painter Cezanne, who frequently came to visit.
Domaine Houchart has fifty hectares (123 acres) of vines situated at Puyloubier at the foot of the famed Mont Saint Victoire only 11 miles east of sunny Aix en Provence.
The grape varieties used are those traditional to Provence and balanced to give the best possible results, with ages of 30 to 50 years. The vines are left untrelised on the ground in the traditional "gobelet" fashion, other than the Syrah and young vines, which are trained on wires. Harvests are picked entirely by hand for the white wines, half for rosé and reds.
Domaine Houchart 2010 Rouge Regularly Priced at $16.99
$10.89 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon this unfiltered beauty sings of Provence. The nose is of pepper, anise, leather and dark berries, with just a hint of the wild herbs (thyme, rosemary and savory) which grow abundantly around the vineyards. On the palate, the tannins are firm but ripe and well integrated (no stems here) into the massive fruit that this wine exhibits. Full-bodied, but with finesse and focus, we would drink this with pastas, grilled lamb, hearty stews and just about anything else that screams for a big, bold red wine that has plenty of finesse.
Frank's Provence 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!!
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Domaine Houchart 2011 Rosé Regularly Priced at $16.99
$10.39 with 12pack Sampler Purchase!
Rosés in general are always a staff favorite here at FranksWine, where rosé season can extend well into November. (Have you ever had rosé at Thanksgiving? It's great with turkey and all the fixins'!) A blend of Cabernet, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault, this dry pink is evocative of citrus and cherries on the nose, while the palate is more reminscent of summery peaches and apriocts. Clean, crisp and refreshing, this wine is perfect for grilled fish, with olives and capers or just lounging around in the sun. I love the electric pink color of this beauty!
Frank's Provence 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $129.99!!
You Save $73.89... That's Over 36% Off!!!
As summer approaches it is always a good idea to prepare your repertoire of summer sippers, and one of the best places to do that is the Loire Valley.
When I tasted this duo of 2011s from Domaine Joseph Mellot last week they're brightness, freshness and lean raciness airlifted me above his Chateau and vineyards as if I was in a hot air balloon... sounds corny I know, but wine tends to take me places.
The Mellot winery was founded in Sancerre almost five centuries ago by Pierre-Etienne Mellot and has stayed in the family ever since. Quickly growing esteem in the region by 1698 César Mellot was entrusted with the weighty task of advising King Louis XIV on his choice of wines! Throughout the years, each new generation has continued to enrich and perfect the family's winemaking skills.
The families properties now include a restaurant in Sancerre, Auberge Joseph Mellot, as well as wine bars in Paris and Sancerre. The restaurant opened in 1882 in the heart of Sancerre, and since then has welcomed many famous personalities, including the impressionist painter Claude Monet.
Today, Joseph Mellot is the only estate that owns vineyards in all the appellations of the region. The vineyard area now extends over 85 hectares: 30 in Sancerre, 24 in Pouilly-Fumé, 14 in Quincy, 11 in Reuilly, 2 in the Coteaux du Giennois and 4 in Menetou-Salon. The family’s passion for excellence and dedication to wine of the Loire is palpable.
The Mellot name has gained and sustained a high reputation for 5 centuries, a feat that speaks volumes to the quality of their wine which is why I made these two selections the Frank’s CLUBVino choices for June... we’ll have ‘em open all weekend for tasting. A FREE “Frank’s Loire Valley 12pack Sampler Case” will be given to anyone who arrives at the shop via Hot Air Balloon... we’ll have the anchors ready!
Joseph Mellot 2011 Sincérité Sauvignon Blanc
Regularly Priced at $16.99 $9.99 with 12pack Sampler Case Purchase!
100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from a variety of the Joseph Mellot vineyards across their vineyards. This “Baby Sancerre” displays an attractive aromatic nose combining floral notes with bright citrus. Full and expressive on the palate with a clean and crisp finish of fresh minerality. An extremely appealing wine that’s great with summer salad and flaky white fish or perfect as an aperitif on the patio! Order Frank’s Loire Valley 12pack Sampler Case! You Get 6 Bottles of Each Wine for Only $119.99!!
You Save $83.89... That’s Over 41% Off!!!
Joseph Mellot 2011 Sincérité Pinot Noir Rosé
Regularly Priced at $16.99 $9.99 with 12pack Sampler Case Purchase!
This wine’s clear and luminous salmon pink hue is typical of Pinot Noir rosés. This 100% Pinot Noir starts off with floral notes and opens up to aromas of blackcurrant buds. Round on the palate with freshness and good length this delightfully dry wine stands out for its freshness and aromatic finesse. Very refreshing and a little too easy to drink! It’ll go well with charcuteries, white meats on the grill and spicy Asian cuisine. Love it!
