Explorers' Seasonal Value Pack: Winter - Hearth Warmers

Great Wines Don't Have to be Expensive!

The Winter Seasonal Value Pack 

This sampler is focused on fuller and rounder wines, wines that are vibrant, balanced, and generally with moderate acidity. These bottles are certainly not exclusively for winter, but they do lend themselves nicely to stews, braises - hearty and robust fare. And for the all-season grillers, a few of these will feel right at home with fire-cooked morsels any time of year!

There are two white wines, and both are blends. The first is from Tuscany, Italy and is mostly Trebbiano with some Malvasia, which adds aromatics and a little body. The second is from Bairrada, Portugal and is comprised mostly of Bical with some Arinto thrown in for good measure.

The four reds are an eclectic bunch. There are two blends and two made from a single variety. Regardless of the make-up, these four gems couldn't be more diverse. From Greece, an organic Agiorgitiko from Pelopenese. From the US we have a red blend with Zinfandel as the main attraction. I understand why some folks have come to dislike this grape, but this is not a jammy, one dimensional example of excess. Here we have a fruit-forward wine with complexity that finishes dry. From Australia we have a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River. The last wine is from France, and while many people have had Côtes du Rhône, this one is from Ventoux which is actually from Provence but is made from the same grapes as you would find in the southern Rhone.

This is our 6th Winter pack! And since it is winter, it is skewed toward the red selections, but the wines show a wide range of styles and weights to offer diversity for various tastes.

While some folks have had these grapes or wines from these places before, others have not, or maybe these particular bottles are new to you. This is the point of the Explorers' Packs: to try something you haven't had before - whether it is a wine you are completely unfamiliar with or whether the wine is a from a familiar grape or place but perhaps from an unfamiliar wine-maker; these packs aim to offer something different.

This Explorers' Pack is discounted at over 15% off regular prices. No further discounts apply.

	Casa Di Monte 2023 IGT Toscana “Biancospino” 85% Trebbiano and 15% Malvasia. Citrus flowers, pineapple, nectarine, tangerine, sage brush, with a slight mineral/wet stone nuance. Light-bodied, with an elegant freshness and a round mouthfeel. This fairly simple, but satisfying wine with its low acidity is perfect for a simple dinner of broiled scrod or sautéed shrimp and pasta. Or just sip and relax with friends or a book.
	Pato, Filipa 2024 Bairrada Branco Bical & Arinto 'Dinamica-DNMC' 80% Bical and 20% Arinto. Pear, citrus, thyme and a mineral note. Medium-bodied with a dry and zippy finish, the quality sneaks up on you with every new sip. It has surprising concentration and a beautiful long finish. Almost creamy in texture, this complex and unusual white is a pure charmer and will pair very well with fowl, and, maybe not so surprisingly, tinned fish on crackers.
	Stamnaki 2024 Peloponnese Agiorgitiko 100% Agiorgitiko. Sour cherry, sweet plums, smoke, and violets. Medium-bodied red from the southern most tip of Greece. Balanced with light and easy tannins, the wine drinks very well for a young red. Over-all juicy and fruit-forward. Try this with some homemade moussaka (or takeout), meat and pasta dishes, or shish kebab. Organic.
	Forlorn Hope 2023 Queen of the Sierra Red Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Trousseau, and Mondeuse. Boysenberry, cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, floral, and stoney. This medium-bodied red is deliciously juicy and lip-smackingly crushable. Fermented in separate lots and blended, aged in stainless steel and used oak, no new oak is used. Pairs well with chicken, burgers, ribs. Organic.
	Vasse Felix 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon “Filius” Margaret River 85% or more Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Malbec blended in. Cranberry, black currant, savory herbal notes, cedar, and a hint of cacao. Medium+ bodied but with excellent balance and poise. Spot on aromas and flavors make this forward and effortless Aussie Cab a fairly inexpensive treat.
	Labadens 2024 Ventoux Rouge “Fanny” 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan. Red and black berry fruits: raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, and cherry. Very ripe notes without much of the dried or cooked fruit that accompanies many southern Rhône reds. Juicy with a round character, supple texture, and a delicious concentration of flavors. Pairs with braises, roasts, and flavorful Mediterranean food. Organic.