Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Zinfandel 2018

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $45.99

I am super pleased to be able to offer you all this Iconic winery! They haven’t been in the Texas market for several years and I’ve been able to bring back one of the best Zinfandel producers in all of Napa Valley. Storybook Mountain is located at the top of Napa Valley on the eastern slope of the Mayacamas Mountains. Famed Wine Critic Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) once described Storybook wines as ‘representing the pinnacle of wine quality in California’. They are consistently highly rated and have been awarded the prestigious honor from Wine & Spirits as being one of the ‘TOP 1OO Wineries in the World’! The vines are organically farmed and they produce some of the most prestigious wines in Napa Valley. The wine is not bombastic in the least for a Zinfandel. Ripe, refined flavors of dark cherry and blueberry flow gracefully into the palate with medium intensity and a silky purity. Notes of cola, mocha chocolate, and just a whiff of anise show on the mid palate. The finish is long and intense with loads of exotic spice, vanilla bean, and cardamom. TLC (Textured-Layered-Complex) Barlow Score: 96 Points

Devil’s Candy Red Blend

California

Cash Price $29.99

This wine has been scorching hot in our portfolio. The blend is primary Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon with a smidge of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono sourced mainly from Oakville and Calistoga. The wine is nearly opaque in the glass. Rich, hedonistic flavors of blueberry and bramble pound into the palate with medium intensity. Neon purple fruit round into the mid palate with hints of exotic spice. The finish is thick and rich with plenty of blackberry and touches of cedar and vanilla. Barlow Score: 90 Points

Etesian Blanc de Noirs Brut Sparkling Rose NV

Sonoma, California

Cash Price $18.99

Etesian is an excellent sparkling wine for us from an extremely reputable winery (It’s a secret!) that we’ve been able to procure at a great price point. Coming from a bubble head, I’ll tell you that these sparklers are absolutely delicious! This sparkler comes from Carneros on the Sonoma side. The wine is 58% Pinot Noir/42% Chardonnay produced Method Champenoise (Champagne!) and aged on the lees for 2 years before release. Flavors of white cherry and citrus flow into tight, clean bubbles. The mid palate shows notes of lemon and orange peel that sink into tingles of raspberry cream. The finish is light and refreshing with whiffs of lemon meringue and chocolate truffles. Barlow Score: 91 Points

Ca’Momi Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $21.84

Ca’Momi Napa Valley Cabernet has consistently been one of our best selling Cabernet’s for many years.  This American winery with Italian roots produces excellent value wines across the board.  This 100% Cabernet is wonderfully complex with flavors of ripe cassis and black cherry.  The wine has been aged for 18 months in oak and it shows on the palate.  Notes of spice integrate through the balanced tannins and acids.  The finish offers plush hints of currant, cream and toasted oak.  Chocolate mocha sits on the palate for a good long time.  This is a great value Cabernet Sauvignon!  Barlow Score: 89 Points

Kiona Vineyards Chardonnay 2022

Columbia Valley, Washington State

Cash Price $19.94

I’m proud to announce that we’ve joined into a partnership with Kiona Vineyards! They are the original winery on the famed Red Mountain AVA in Washington State. They are family owned and 3rd generation farmers. Although this wine is labeled Columbia Valley, it is 100% Estate Red Mountain fruit from the oldest plantings in the AVA. The wine is beautifully textured and offers delicious flavors of pineapple, melon, and lemon meringue with medium intensity. The mid palate is plush, offering ripe tree fruits that meld into a soft creamy core. The finish is soft and enticing with hints of hazelnuts, toasted oak, and wet stones. There is a real sense of place to this wine. Yummy! Barlow Score: 92 Points

Chateau Ampelia Red Blend 2016

Cotes de Castillon, France

Cash Price $19.94

Castillon borders St. Emilion on the right bank of the Garonne River.  The region is primarily devoted to Merlot and is considered the value version of the right bank.  This wine is 95% Merlot with the remainder being Cabernet Franc.  Ampelia is medium bodied and peaking right now.   Flavors of blueberry and black currant flow seamlessly through medium tannins and acids.  Notes of cedar and vanilla play through the finish with tinges of plum.   Ampelia is tailor made for a thick steak and always give a Bordeaux wine its proper due by decanting it for awhile.  This wine is peaking now!  Barlow Score: 91 Points

Mer Soleil Pinot Noir 2019

Santa Lucia Highlands, California

Cash Price $18.49

Mer Soleil continally shows excellent quality without breaking the bank. Santa Lucia Highlands is becoming an increasingly popular area to produce stellar Pinot Noir. This winery is owned by Chuck Wagner (Caymus) but he does not give this wine a heavy hand. Delightfully fresh flavors of red cherries and cranberry pop playfully into the palate with medium intensity. Notes of exotic spice and hazelnuts flow freely into the mid palate. The finish is clean and fleshy with hints of cola and raspberry tea. Barlow Score: 90 Points

Single Lot #01 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Alexander Valley, California

Cash Price $15.99

I immediately asked how much I could buy when I tried this Cabernet. It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE these days to great Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for this price! This wine is like the ‘Block Estate’ wines in that once it sells out….it’s GONE forever. Bold, powerful flavors of blackberry and cassis sink into a voluptuous mouthfeel. The mid palate is rich and enticing with notes of milk chocolate and blueberry pie crust. The finish is long and sensual with lush notes of vanilla bean, toasted oak, and circus peanuts. GREAT VALUE! Barlow Score: 92 Points

Oregon 99West Pinot Gris 2021

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cash Price $14.99

Oregon Pinot Gris is often lost in the white wine world due to the popularity of its Italian counterpart.  Pinot Gris from Oregon is slightly heavier with more viscosity and fleshier fruits than Italian Pinot Grigio.  This wine displays racy flavors of peach and apricot in a completely un-oaked atmosphere.  The wine has a round mouthfeel with medium acids that sink into notes of citrus and pear blossoms.  The finish is mouth watering with hints of tropical fruits and apple blossoms. We’ve been short on this wine for awhile. So I’m quite happy to be able to offer this wine again!  Barlow Score: 89 Points

Shannon Ridge Wrangler Red Blend 2018

Lake County, California

Cash Price $14.99

Lake County is continuing to build momentum and garner praise for rock solid reds in the region north of Napa Valley.  Shannon Ridge was awarded the ‘Top Winery’ at Houston’s Uncorked Wine Competition in 2015 and their sales have exploded ever since.  This winery is releasing a stellar red blend based on Zinfandel and Rhone Varietals.  Wrangler Red is a silky smooth Zindandel, Syrah blend that screams fruit from the onset.  The wine has been aged in French and American oak for 18 months.  Intense flavors of black cherry and black raspberry seep through the full blackberry with medium tannins and acids.  Notes of graham cracker and cinnamon are prevalent on the mid palate with touches of sweet tobacco and milk chocolate.  The finish is creamy and velvety with smooth lingering tones of rich fruit and spice.  Best Daily drinker that money can buy!  Barlow Score: 89 Points

Barnard Griffin Dry Rosé of Sangiovese 2021

Columbia Valley, Washington State

Cash Price $13.99

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 delightfully refreshing Rosé is bursting with flavor. Racy strawberries and fresh cherries explode into the palate with medium intensity. Notes of melon show on the mid palate with hints of white pepper and garrigue. The finish is crisp and shows nice acidity with touches of candied red lollipops and watermelon. Barlow Score: 90 Points

Girasole Organic Pinot Blanc 2021

Mendoncino, California

Cash Price $14.99

This ORGANIC value winery has been a lightning rod in our portfolio. It is rare to get organic wine at such a great price point. Pinot Blanc is a white variety in the Pinot family.  It is arguably one of the purest expressions of the variety.  The wine is pale straw in color and offers flavors of freshly squeezed lemons and fresh cut melon with medium intensity.  The mid palate shows nectarines and honeysuckle with just a whiff of wet rocks.  The finish is lovely with tinges of white flowers and tree fruit.  Perfect summer white!  Barlow Score: 90 Points

Barnard Griffin Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Columbia Valley, Washington State

Cash Price $12.99 BUT ON SALE THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH FOR ONLY

$11.97

I recently visited Washington State and made it a priority to get these wines into 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! Their Sauvignon Blanc has always over-achieved in my opinion. The grapes are grown on some of the oldest vines in Washington State. The wine typically has a smidgeon of Semillon to soften out the crisp acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc. This wine boasts popping flavors of pear, apple, and citrus lime with medium intensity. The mid palate is juicy while still exhibiting a deliciously pure backbone of acidity with just a kiss of honeydew melon. The finish is crisp, refreshing, and begs for another sip! YUM! Barlow Score: 91 Points

Thank You,

James C. Barlow, CWE, CSS

Spec’s Fine Wine Buyer