Esquin Specials

If you subscribe to Esquin Wine & Spirits emails, you will receive messages almost every day offering special deals that are not to be missed. Most of them are written by Arnie Millan, the Wine Buyer or David LeClaire, the Wine Ambassador. Here are some recent offerings that I had shipped to me.

2020 Celilo Falls Chardonnay, Columbia Valley ($12.99 - Regular $17) - Produced from organically grown grapes, this shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear-apple, peach, citrus, apple blossoms and whiffs of butterscotch and white incense. The flavors are well fruited, with notes of grape skins, peach stones and minerals. The back picks up pear liqueur and lemon zse, followed by a crisp finish. 18/20 points.

2020 Basel Cellars "Old Vine" Chenin Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, McKinley Springs Vineyard ($19.99 - Regular $30) - This presents a light lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear, peach, Casaba melon, citrus, pear blossoms, honeysuckle, lemongrass and green incense. The flavors are bright and vivid, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and saline minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, melon rind and lime zest, followed by a well fruited dry finish. 19/20 points.

2018 Boomtown Syrah, Columbia Valley ($14.99 - Regular: $21) - Produced by Dusted Valley, this offers deep ruby color and rich aromas of blackberry, cranberry, currant, black roses, sweet tobacco, sagebrush and spiced incense. The flavors are direct and varietally correct, with notes of licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and earth. On the back, the wine turns generously textured with pressed fruits, roasted nuts and preserves, followed by a savory moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points."Way overdelivers," says David LeClaire. 

2020 Domaine de la Jousselinère Rosé, Val de Loire ($12.99 - Regular: $18.99) - Produced from the Gamay grape, grape, this displays a light copper-pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, red currant, tangerine, pink roses, cherry and orange blossoms and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with fresh, light fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and alluvial minerals. The back picks up fraise and cerise liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a pleasing dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Moulin de la Roque Bandol Rosé ($24.99 - Regular: $31.99) - This is a lovely Rosé. Composed of 52% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache and 26% Cinsault, it displays a brilliant copper-pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, red currant, watermelon and tangerine. with scents of pink roses, pink lavender and orange incense. The flavors are vivid and mouth filling, with notes of grape skins, pomegranate seed and calcareous minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with fraise and cassis liqueurs, melon rind and recurring tangerine peel, followed by a lingering deliciously juicy yet dry finish. 19/20 points. "My favorite Rosé of the year,' says David.

2020 Marquis de Goulaine Chinon "Haut Presle" ($17.99 - Regular $21.99) - This is a bright young Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. It displays a purplish-ruby color and aromas of black raspberry, cherry, blueberry, black roses, juniper berry, sage and incense. The flavors are thick and generous, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, black tea and alluvial minerals. The appeal continues on the back with macerated berries, toasted almonds, framboise and cerise liqueurs, followed by a juicy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. "Drop dead gorgeous," says Arnie Millan. 

2019 Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent, "Les Michelons" ($23.99 - Regular: $27.99) - This Cru Beaujolais features a deep ruby color and rich aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currants, crushed roses, bayberry and wild violets. The flavors are supple yet vigorous, with red and black fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, roasted nuts, mocha and crème de cassis, followed by a savory, ripe moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Saint-Galet Châteauneuf du Pape ($24.99 - Regular $29.99) - Composed of 80% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah, this displays a deep purplish-ruby color and seductive aromas of raspberries, black currants and plums with scents of crushed roses, sweet tobacco, garrigue, wild violets and spiced incense. The flavors are medium bodied yet mouth filling, with copious red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and earth. On the back, the wine thickens with framboise and cassis liqueurs, mocha and soft charcoal, followed by a supple ripe tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points. "I'll buy a case," says Arnie.

2020 Muga Rioja Rosé ($17.99 - Regular: $19.99) - This Spanish Rosé is produced from Garnacha and Viura with 5 hours maceration. It shows a light copper-apricot color and attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, orange peel, cherry and orange blossoms and whiffs of orange incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, with notes of grape skins, cherry stones and saline minerals. The appeal continues on the back with sensations of strawberry and cherry liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a dry, finely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Fuso Terre Siciliane Red Wine, "Vini Quotidiana" ($15.99 - Regular: $18.99) - "Vini Quotidiana" means "Daily Wine." Produced from Nero d'Avola and a a bit of white grapes, this is a tasty young red. It shows a brick red color and rich aromas of raspberries, cherries, plums, red roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, oregano and incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with ripe red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa and limestone minerals. On the back, the wine invigorates with pressed fruits, roasted nuts, raspberry liqueur and plum preserves followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points. "Outstanding example of a bravura wine," says Arnie.

Pouilly-Fuissé

Pouilly-Fuissé was one of Dr. Frasier Crane's favorite wines. It is one our favorites, too. It comes from the Mâconnais region of Burgundy and is produced entirely from the Chardonnay grape. The sloped vineyards are nestled under the granite outcroppings of the Rocs de Soulutré (which we climbed in 2014) and Vergisson. It is the limestone soil that makes Pouilly-Fuissé distinctive. There are excellent Pouilly-Fuissés from Burgundian négociants such as Louis Jadot and Louis Latour, but the best ones come from individual vignerons and come from old vines. Here are three examples that I purchased from wine.com.

2018 Dominique Cornin Pouilly-Fuissé, "Les Chevrières" ($41.99) - From a grower in Chaintré, this offers a brilliant lemon-gold color and lovely aromas of Anjou pear, white peach, Casaba melon, pear tree blossoms, verbena, lemongrass and green incense. The flavors are vivid, almost laser-like, with yellow and green fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and limestone minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, melon rind and lemon zest, followed by a slightly nutted finish, marked by precise fruit acids. 19/20 points.

2018 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé, "Vignes Blanches" ($43.99) - From a grower in Vergisson, this displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, grapefruit, apple blossoms, acacia flowers and green incense. The flavors are exquisitely wrought, pure Chardonnay, with notes of grape skin, peach stones and calcareous minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of creme fraiche and almonds, followed by a lingering, precise finish. 19/20 points.

2018 Château Fuissé Pouilly-Fuissé, "Tête de Cuvée" ($44.99) - From select parcels, this is an exquisite Pouilly-Fuissé. It displays a brilliant gold color and perfumed aromas of Bosc pear, white peach, Crenshaw melon, citrus, pear blossoms, acacia flowers (a trait of Mâconnais), lemon verbena and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are silky yet well delineated, with varietal purity, marked by peach stones and minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of hazelnut and oak, followed by an, again, exquisite finish. 19/20 points.