Flaio Primativo

*Rich’s Pick

"Great Wines Under $10" 

In my ongoing effort to deliver quality for value, I went back and visited an old friend in Flaio Primativo, and rediscovered how great this wine is. The best part is that it is still under $10. Primativo is a grape that is basically the equivalent to the American Zinfandel grape. This wine has all the big jammy fruit and spice, with a more in check 13.5% alcohol(some California Zins are hitting 16 and 17%). So as the warm weather approaches, and we get into barbeque and burger season, try this great Italian red. You wont be disapointed in the price or quality. 750ml

Tolenus Rosso Piceno

*Ellyn's Pick

An excellent value from Central Italy, this offers a lot of wine for your dollar. A blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes, Tolenus has spice, berries, dried herb flavors amd a long, concentrated finish. It goes well with anything grilled or roasted and is a must-try for fans of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. 750ml

Cline Cashmere

*Rich’s Pick

I love wines with a great story behind them, and this one has a good one. Cline Cashmere is a Rhone style blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedre. It has a rich, lush mouthfeel that is like velvet on the palte. Flavors of blueberries and earth, with a touch of spice and cocoa linger on the palate. The cool story with this wine is that in addition to the wine being outstanding, a large portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine are donated to Breast Cancer, which makes it even more worth every penny spent on it.  750ml

Raimat Tempranillo

Rich's Pick

Every now and then a wine comes along that really grabs you and this is one of them. For the money, this may be the best expression of Tempranillo I have tasted. If you are already a fan of the great wines from Rioja then you are already familar with the Tempranillo grape, as it is the predominant grape in those wines. For under $10($9.99) this stands upto and surpasses evn some Crianza wines that I have tasted. This wine is estate grown and bottled, then aged for 18 months in oak barrels, which is longer than most Crianza wines. Its flavors and plum and sweet spice on a rich and elegant palate will absolutely amaze you. This is also a versatile food wine as it will accompany dishes ranging from spanish rice dishes, to roasted meats , or even just burgers on the grill. Did I mention that it's less than $10 a bottle.

Try it with this burger recipe.

Pacific Rim Dry Riesling

Rich's Pick

This has always been one of my "go to" wines. This is a drier style Riesling as it has just a hint of sweetness to it. It has great tropical fruit and floral flavors with a nice refreshing acidity. It is an absolutely perfect wine to pair with sushi or any other Pacific Rim cuisine.

Mulderbosch Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon

Steve's Pick

 Wine makers notes-"This sexy, sophisticated dry rosé possesses a beautifully fragrant nose, offering alluring aromas of rose petal, strawberry, and cherry. It dances on the palate with fresh, crisp flavors of wild strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate accented with delicate floral and herbes de provence notes."

Check out this recipe to go with this wine

Austin Liquors is in no way affiliated with the Food Network.

Dom Fouassier Sancere

Ellyn's Pick
Available in the Shrewsbury store

From France's bucolic Loire Valley, this delicious and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc has more body than Sancere typically has. Gentle lemon-apple flavors with mineral undertones make this the perfect wine to pair with all types of seafood, pesto dishes or goat cheese.

Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier

Rich's Pick

This wine is collaboration of two great wine minds, Michael Chapoutier of the Rhone Valley and Andrew Terlato, a Napa Valley Vintner, working in the Victoria region of Australia to create this amazing bottle, based on the traditonal Cote-Rotie style. Spicy Shiraz from vineyards in Central Victoria are given a beautiful aromatic boost from the addition of Viognier, to create a full bodied and well balanced masterpiece. The previous vintage of this wine made Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of the year.This is the last few cases of this vintage, and I was able to get my hands on a very small amount at a great price, so grab it while you can before it is gone, because when the new vintage arrives, it will go back up to its deserving price at almost $30 a bottle.

Moulin De Gassac Le Mazet

Rich's Pick

Here is proof that you can still get a great bottle of wine, with old world character, for under $10. This wine has been a mainstay here at Austin Liquors(when we can keep it in stock) for quite some time, and I am disapointed in myself for taking so long to give it a try.  The Languedoc region of France, with its stony and sunny slopes, offers up many great value wines, but I have yet to taste one that offers so much for so little. Made from grapes grown on 25 to 50 year old vines, this robust wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault. Immediately you get aromas of black fruit, spice, and the herbs of the French countryside. Flavors of black fruit and hints of black pepper, sit elegantly on the palate, and then finish soft and smooth. At under $10 a bottle, this wine could quickly become your everyday red, and when you have company, they will think you spent a whole lot more than you did. And with our 20% case discount, a 12 bottle case of this wine is less than $90!

Ch Pennautier Cabardes

RICH'S PICK

From the recently recognized AOC of Cabardes, this wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cot(Malbec), Grenache, and Syrah. It has an intensely dark color and an aroma of ripe fruit. This is a well structured wine that is loaded with intense red fruit, spice and earthiness. It will drink well over the next three years. 

Salvalai Pinot Grigio

Santa Ema Sauvignon Blanc

RICH'S PICK

"GREAT WINES UNDER $10"

Every wine in the Santa Ema line up tastes like it should be more expensive. This Sauvignon Blanc has bright, clean flavors of citrus fruit and grassiness, with refreshing acidity and more body than most of its more expensive competitors.

Notro Sangiovese/Bonarda

EDDIE'S PICK

"Offers aromas of ripe, red berrries on the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate, with soft, supple tannins and plenty of juicy, red fruit flavors"

d'Arenberg Stump Jump Red

RICH'S PICK 

A Rhone style blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre, it is soft and light in texture with fresh black fruit and spice flavors, balanced with a nice acidity and then finishes with soft tannins. It is easy to see why Wine Spectator just give this wine 90 points.

Cono Sur Riesling

DisTinto Tempranillo/Syrah

ELLYN'S PICK

From the vineyards of Valencia in southeastern Spain, roughly 35 miles from the sea. Here the sandy, limestone soil and moderately warm climate are perfect for ripening Syrah and Tempranillo....Flavors of black cherries, pepper, dark chocolate and bay leaf.... for fans of Shiraz, Cotes Du Rhone, and Zinfandel.

August Perll Riesling

ELLYN'S PICK

This was a real gem among a number of very good Riesling's we've tasted this year. The Feurlay vineyard has steep, south facing slopes plus slate and volcanic soil. The region, the Mittlerhein, is as spectacularly picturesque as the Mosel Valley, and its wines are considered the most "Mosel-like" in all of Germany. These wines are also heavier, drier, and more wallet-pleasing than Mosel wines.
So here is what you'll find in this excellent dry Riesling: plus peach and apple fruit, a rich creamy texture and a whisper of almond and ginger.
Enjoy it with spicy Asian food, ham, poultry, and cold meats.

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon

RICH'S PICK

 This is the first wine I fell in love with in the McManis lineup. For under $15 this wine drinks like a $20 or $25 Cab with its aromas of cocoa and smoke, flavors of berry and vanilla, and balanced tannins that lead to a long, smooth finish. It's no wonder Robert Parker asked why there are so few California Cabs that taste like this.

90 Plus Cellars Lot 11 Chardonnay

ELLYN'S PICK

The folks at 90+ Cellars have come up with another winner!   They bought up the remaining Chardonnay inventory of a prominent McClaren Vale winery and were able to negotiate such a good deal,  that we are able to offer it for $5 a bottle less than what the prominent winery’s exact same wine sells for.  So you get a very good deal on a very well-made Chard that has flavors of ripe apple, butterscotch and figs with smoky, toasty undertones from partial oak fermentation. 

Red Newt Cellars Riesling

FINALLY!!
For years my customers have been asking me for wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York, but they have mostly been unavailable, which is why I got excited when this wine was presented to us here at Austin Liquors. When I tasted the wine I got even more excited. It has all the great tropical fruit flavor you would expect from a nice German Riesling. It is not cloyingly sweet, but does have a touch of sweetness, which gets balanced by a cleansing, soft tingly acidity on the finish.  If you like Riesling, you have got to try this wine.

Mandrarossa Fiano

ELLYN'S PICK

A terrific under $10 value in dry white wine and a great alternative to Pinot Grigio. It's full of minerality, lemon and pear flavors with a hint of almonds. Enjoyable with cream-based pasta dishes, seafood, and pork.

Montinore Pinot Gris

RICH'S PICK

The climate in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is perfectly suited for Pinot Gris, reminiscent of an Alsatian style. Clean and crisp flavors of pear and apple lead to a finish that lingers with mouthwatering acidity. It’s hard not to pick your glass right back up after each sip.

Montinore Pinot Noir

 RICH'S PICK

This is a Burgundian style Pinot Noir, for a fraction of the cost. This wine is all about style and finesse, with soft flavors of cherries, strawberries, and a hint of cocoa, then finishes with a light amount of acidity and soft tannins.  This wine reminds you how good Pinot Noir is, and how elegant it can be.

Ch Valentin 2005 Premieres Cotes de Blaye

Ellyn's Pick

Ch Valentin is in the Cotes de Blaye region, home to many of Bordeaux's best red wine values. It has a gorgeous bouquet and all the multi-faceted flavors you get from a five year old bordeaux from an excellent vintage: smoky/gravely underpinings, with smooth plum, herbal, and licorice flavors. (70% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 13% Petit Verdot)

BV Napa 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

RICH'S PICK

The last two vintages of this wine got 90 points and this vintage seems sure to keep that tradition going. It was once said that only Bv could produce Napa Cab this good for this price, and whoever said it was right. Right off the bat, its deep purple color is striking. It has a nose of boysenberries, oak and a hint of lavender. What follows is a soft and almost creamy palate of cocoa, oak, and black fruits that are harmoniously intergrated. There is a light amount of acid, and while thier isn't alot of tannins, what is thier is pretty firm. I say grab some of this while you can because I have a feeling that once the ratings come out on this one it is going to disapear fast. 

AnimaUmbra Grechetto

RICH'S PICK 

Montgras Quatro

RICH'S PICK

This has been a favorite of mine for a few vintages now and it seems to get better each year, with this vintage finally being rewarded with a 90 point score from Wine Enthusiast.

Perrin Cotes Du Rhone Villages

ELLYN'S PICK

The whole wine staff loved this wine from the stellar 2007 vintage. Its not hard to see how it got 90 points from wine Spectator.

Healdsburg Ranches Chardonnay "Unoaked"

RICH'S PICK

Healdburg Ranches Cabernet Sauvignon

RICH'S PICK

Raimat Albarino

RICH'S PICK 

If your looking for that "something different" white wine to sip on this summer, then give Raimat Albarino a try. Before you do though, you need to realize that you are being spoiled with this wine because you will not find another Albarino that is this good for this price, especially not one that is estate grown and bottled. Using grapes that are night harvested (which preserves thier freshness and aromas) this Albarino has a fruity citrus character with some sweet vanilla flavors the finish cleanly with a touch of tingly acidity. Try this wine with shellfish, creamy cheese sauce pasta dishes, or even with just a fruit and cheese platter.

Chateau Claud La Chappelle 2007 Cotes de Castillon

ELLYN'S PICK
Every now and then, we discover a wine that is so underpriced, we feel the need to herald its arrival. Well, sound the trumpets, Ch Claud La Chappelle is here! Its home is Bordeaux' Cotes de Castillon, a sub-region rich in history and great-value red wine. Here, next door to St Emiilion, Merlot vines are predominant, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc playing supporting roles. The wines of this area are similar to Saint Emillion, but tend to be lighter, smoother and considerably less expensive.
This 2007 is a top value of the vintage, featuring dense flavors of smoky oak, leather and mint overlaid with dark berries and tongue-coating tannins. From the originator of the "garage movement", Jean Luc Thunevin, this is a must try for Bordeaux enthusiasts or lovers of rich red wines.

2007 Santa Ema Reserve Merlot

RICH'S PICK 

This is an absolutely amazing bottle of wine for an even more amazing price. Once you taste it, it's not hard to figure out how it got a 90 point rating from the Wine Advocate.

"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."

Permutation Pinot Noir

Ellyn's Pick

Victoria’s Yarra Valley is THE place for Australian Pinot Noir.  Here the cool climate allows Pinot to ripen slowly and evenly resulting in perfectly mature grapes.  Add all-star winemaker William Downie’s expertise,  and you end up with an elegant, smooth great value.   With its strawberry, smoky, slate aromas and gorgeous black cherry, herbs, spice and vanillin flavors, this will match well with chicken in red wine, salmon, tenderloin and pork dishes.

Santa Carolina Reserva Carmenere

RICH'S PICK

Carmenere is a grape that is on the cusp of seeing the same popularity as its cousin Malbec has in Argentina. This wine is full bodied and rich with bitter-sweet chocolate, dark berries, and a hint of bell pepper that finishes incredibly smooth. A perfect pairing with any sort of beef dish from elegant steaks to taco night.

d'Arenberg Stump Jump Shiraz

RICH'S PICK 

Like all the d’Arenberg wines, this wine displays an incredible elegance and balance. It has a slightly creamy mouth feel that is packed with bright, ripe bery flavors, hints of white pepper, and a minerality that comes out on the finish. It’s no wonder that it got 90 points from Wine Spectator and made #82 on the magazine’s top 100 wines of the year.

Clockspring Zinfandel

Rich's Pick 

This is an incredible Zinfandel, from the prime region of Amador Country, made with organically grown grapes.

"This one shows very ripe blackberry, cherry, tangerine, cola, and date flavors, and is dry. The tannins are intricate, with a jalapeno finish"-Wine Enthusiast