Baer Merlot 2016
Columbia Valley, Washington State
Cash Price $34.99
Baer Winery is producing some absolute rocking Red wines. I’ve had the Ursa blend over the years and jumped at the opportunity to bring these wines back into our portfolio. Erica Orr is the winemaker for these single vineyard wines. She worked her first harvest with Cathy Corison! The wines are all single vineyard from Stillwater Creek Vineyard on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman hills. The vineyard has quickly earned a reputation as one of Columbia Valley’s Top Vineyards. Thankfully, Merlot is making a comeback with the American palate. This wine is 100% Merlot and was aged in 40% New French barrique for 21 months. The wine has a plush nose. Flavors of plum, dark cherry and lavender enter the palate with medium intensity. The mid palate is soft and inviting with hints of crushed rocks. The finish is smooth and easy with hints of vanilla, cedar, and red roses. You’d be remiss if you didn’t get this beauty in your basket! Barlow Score: 92 Points
The Auctioneer Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Napa Valley, California
Cash Price $29.99
The Auctioneer is affectionately named after Michael Broadbent, the 24th Master of Wine, whose career is steeped in tradition and history. He partnered with Robert Mondavi in 1981 to start the Napa Valley wine auction. It is becoming increasingly hard to find $30 Napa Cabernet on the shelves, so it’s a pleasure to be able to offer this one with such history behind it. The wine offers medium intensity with flavors of cassis and blackberry flowing from the start. Notes of juicy plum and black cherry show in the mid palate with easy tannins. The finish is gracious with whiffs of graham cracker, vanillin, and toasted cedar that becomes long and alluring. Auctioneer was aged in 60% new French oak for 15 months. Barlow Score: 91 Points
Brooks Pinot Noir 2021
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Cash Price $29.99
This winery is fully sustainable with most being organic or biodynamic. The wines offers purity and finesse that make this winery one of the top producers in the United States. They are also one of the first wineries in the United States to partner with 1% for the Earth. One Percent of all their sales goes straight back into making our Earth a better place. But enough about the winery! This smashingly vibrant Pinot offers bright flavors of strawberry and pomegranate on the nose with a rich cherry texture and pie crust filling the mid palate. The finish is amazingly complex with notes of dried rose petals, hints of forest floor and crunchy red fruit that lingers on the palate for a delightfully long time. Enjoy! Barlow Score: 92+
Blue Rock ‘Baby Blue’ Cabernet Based Red Blend 2020
Alexander Valley, California
Cash Price $32.99
I am always excited to offer wines for the passionate and hard working Kenny Kahn and Company. For Kenny it truly is a labor of love and a life passion to grow grapes in the picturesque Alexander Valley. Blue Rock winery has gained a reputation for producing silky smooth reds from their 100 acre estate in the famed AVA of Alexander Valley. This wine is a 44% Cabernet Sauvignon/32% Merlot/10% Syrah/4% Malbec/9% Petit Verdot/1% Cabernet Franc blend that is aged for 12 months in French oak and dangerously approachable from the pop of the cork. Sleek flavors of blackberry and currant run into the silky smooth palate that offers a core of milk chocolate. The tannins are elegant and integrated with easy acids that play into the gracious amount of fruit. Notes of toasted oak and vanilla sink into hints of black tea and espresso. The finish is soft and plush with a plethora of fruit and oak. This wine is built to be delicious from start to finish! Barlow Score: 91 Points
The Escape Artist Red Blend 2020
Alexander Valley, California
Cash Price $23.99
Nick Goldschmidt continues to produce outstanding value wines from Alexander Valley. He is one of the best wine makers in the world with an amazing list of wineries that he has dealt with over the years. He lives right near Alexander Valley and farms several vineyards in the area. I am pleased to offer this new project from him called ‘Escape Artist’ Red Blend. It is a blend of 71% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec that has been aged in French oak. This vibrantly intense wine offers red fruit on the palate with hints of black cherry and blueberry. The mid palate is well balanced with a supple roundness. The finish is smooth and enticing with hints of tobacco leaf, vanilla, and exotic spice. Barlow Score: 91 Points
Dusty Nabor ‘NSO’ Syrah 2018
Sta. Rita Hills, California
Cash Price $18.99
I love good value Syrah. Dusty Nabor is rocking this beauty for under $20. The wine is from the cool climate of Sta. Rita Hills and fermented 30% whole cluster in large foudre barrels for two years. The wine is quite energetic and bursting with nervy fruit. Flavors of pomegranate and raspberry pump into the palate with licks of blue fruit enticing the palate. The mid palate offers classic Syrah notes of peppercorn and spice that stick to the bones of the wine while letting the fruit flow freely throughout. The finish tapers a bit while showing whiffs of lavender and wild flowers. He doesn’t make a lot, so make sure to get this in your basket early and often! Barlow Score: 90 Points
The Diver Brut N/V
California
Cash Price $19.94
California bubbles are on the rise! This California sparkler is 80% Chardonnay/14% Sauvignon Blanc/6% Gewurztraminer sourced from Monterey and Mendocino made in Charmat method. The wine has pale straw color with loads of citrus on the palate. Notes of white flowers and lychee are prevalent on the nose. The palate offers green apples and pear with hints of biscuity goodness. The finish is clean and floral with a vibrant intensity. Fun and Fresh. Barlow Score: 88 Points
Cru Vineyard Albarino 2021
Edna Valley, California
Cash Price $18.99
I love Albarino. The variety offers an explosion of fruit flavors while retaining nice acidity and typically being unencumbered by oak. This deliciously fresh white offers zingy flavors of grapefruit and melon flowing into alluringly fresh acidity caused by the micro climate of Edna Valley which allows for the ocean’s influence to create a long, cool growing season. Touches of mango and papaya pop into the mid palate with a crisp clean finish of lemon lime. YUM! Barlow Score: 91 Points
Republic of Pink Dry Rosé 2020
Central Coast, California
Cash Price $16.99
This delicious Dry Rosé has become my ‘Go To’ pink wine for hot weather! The winery only makes 1 wine. The wine is not done Saignee. These grapes were specifically chosen to be made into a Rosé. This Rhone style (Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah) blend hails from the several single vineyards in the Central Coast. The color of this wine is pale salmon, much like the Rose’s of Provence. Ripe cherries and strawberries burst into the palate with a light creamy core on the mid palate. Taut acidity makes this a great food wine as the finish shows touches of candied watermelon and citrus zest. This wine is downright gulpable! Barlow Score: 90 Points
Barnard Griffin ‘Rob’s Red’ Red Blend 2020
Columbia Valley, Washington State
Cash Price $14.99
I am extremely excited to have this winery in our portfolio! This is one of the original winery’s in Washington State. Rob Griffin started in Washington State in 1977. He and his wife, Deborah Barnard, started the iconic winery in 1983. The winery is still family owned and run with their daughter, Megan Hughes at the helm as head winemaker. The wines are still value based and really over deliver for the price! This Cabernet Sauvignon based red blend is harvested from 6 unique vineyards and aged for 16 months in oak. Ripe flavors of racy cherry and red currant pop into the palate with medium intensity. The core of the wine is quite juicy with plenty of fresh red fruit on the palate with nice acidity and tannins. The finish shows a medley of toasted oak, vanilla, and exotic spices which sits on a palate for a beautifully long time. Barlow Score: 90 Points
Frey Winery ‘Slow Roads’ Organic Red Blend 2021
Mendocino, California
Cash Price $15.99
As you all know, I love to champion a winery that farms with a nod to the environment. This Organic red is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The wine is Certified Organic and has no added sulfites. This savory and robust red offers flavors of plum and black currant on the palate with medium intensity. The mid palate softens into an easy creamy sensation with hints of dusty tobacco. The finish is soft and pleasurable with hints of blackberry, dark cocoa, and black tea. Barlow Score: 89 Points
Shannon Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Lake County, California
Cash Price $14.99
Sauvignon Blanc is on FIRE! Many consumers are now experimenting with this delicious variety over Chardonnay due to its easy accessibility and crushable nature. Lake County is making some of the best priced Sauvignon Blancs in the entire United States. This Sauvignon Blanc is jam packed full of citrus fruits. Perky and fresh flavors of lemongrass and gooseberry tingle into medium intensity and tickles of exotic fruits. The mid palate is mouth watering with tangerine and orange blossom flowing into a crispy finish of papaya and grass. Delightfully refreshing. Barlow Score: 90 Points
Barnard Griffin Chardonnay 2021
Columbia Valley, Washington State
Cash Price $13.99
I was enjoying this wine just last week. I’ve found that I really enjoy good Washington State Chardonnay as they allow the delicious eccentricity of the Variety to come forward while retaining the necessary acidity to give the wines structure and sense of place. This 100% Chardonnay is harvested from 4 vineyards and aged in neutral oak barrels for 9 months. The wine exudes a bright citrus flavor profile with green apple and lime popping into the palate with medium intensity. The mid palate offers vibrant acidity while showcasing wisps of melon, apple, and just a touch of cream. The finish is fresh and appealing with notes of wild flowers and butterscotch. Yum! Barlow Score: 91 Points
Thank you,
James C. Barlow, CWE, CSS
Spec’s Fine Wine Buyer