Moving along, have you noticed the days getting longer? Pretty soon, we’ll be adjusting those clocks by exactly one hour, and the sun will be out until the Wine House staff gets home. To celebrate the longer days, March Madness, and not the least of all, St. Patrick’s Day, the Dirty Dozen is loaded with crowd pleasing favorites chosen with a wide eye of diversity and pairing ability. Having a tasting party using the DD? We’d love to hear all about it!!! 

2006 Chardonnay, Poppy – $9.98 net price, reorder $8.98
We talk a lot about the value represented by our French country wines compared to their new world counterparts. Well, here’s the exception. A nice, easy to sip California Chardonnay from cool climate vineyards that has just enough of everything to put a smile on your face. You can pair it with anything from shellfish to lemon chicken to rotisserie chicken with herbs.

2006 Bergerac Rosé, Château Calabre – $11.59, reorder $9.27
It is a common customer request when choosing a Rosé to ask for one that’s “dry and not too fruity”. Well here it is. Showing off its herbal aromatics, this is truly French Rosé! Great for a warm spring afternoon or as a way to keep your chef cool.

NV Crémant d’Alsace, Domaine Ehrhart – $16.98 net price, reorder $15.28
Rule #1: It’s always a good idea to have at least one bottle of sparkling wine around. Rule #2: When drinking your bottle of sparkling, see rule #1. The folks in Champagne must be cringing, as they continue to raise their prices, a market has been created for sparklers from other regions of France. Alsace has seized the opportunity! Great juice! Great price! Santé!

2006 Viognier, Domaine Gournier – $10.59, reorder $8.47
Here’s one for the ABC crowd. It’s a bright, fresh Viognier that shows all of the aromatic qualities of the variety without being overblown like many Viogniers on the market these days. In the mouth it is round with just enough acidity to keep that fruit in line. Top that off with a kiss of honey on the finish, and you’ve got springtime in a bottle! A lighter paté would be perfect here.

2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Montpezat – $11.29, reorder $9.03
Here’s one of the aforementioned country French wines that has no match price-wise in the new world! It’s made in a fuller style, showing more than a hint of tropical fruit, with a rich, balanced finish. An ideal accompaniment to all things spring. A fresh shrimp salad? Breaded filet of sole with capers? Or how about a tuna sandwich? It all works here.

2004 Riesling ‘Vieilles Vignes’, Domaine Ehrhart, $17.99, reorder $14.39
Okay, if we’re lucky, we have corned beef and cabbage more than once a year. But if we’re not, St. Patrick’s Day is a good reminder that this delectable combo is as harmonious as any CSN show. Ah, but if you add a nice fruity, yet dry Riesling like this one here from Domaine Ehrhart, it’s like adding Neil Young to the mix. Forget the beer, pour the Riesling!

2003 Visan “La Rocaille” Coste Chaude – $14.39, reorder $11.59
If you love a sturdy Côtes du Rhône Villages from a ripe vintage, here’s your wine. This one boasts of structure, purity, and terroir, all attributes of a fine Chateauneuf du Pape, yet leaves us with a price we like … a lot! It’s got the stuff to stand up to rich, savory dishes like lamburgers, Irish Stew, or Shepherd’s Pie. Place your reorders whilst you can!

2004 Corbières, Domaine Sainte Eugénie – $11.49, reorder $9.19
For those in the know, this wine needs no introduction. For those who don’t, you’ve got to try it. Medium in body, it offers complexity not found in this price range, anywhere! Its ability to pair with so many dishes, combined with its price, makes it one you’re going to want to go deep on. Just ask any of us what we think about this wine, we dare you!

2004 Cabernet/Syrah, Mas Carlot – $14.99, reorder $11.99
The recent sunshine may have skewed our perspective slightly, but the idea of barbeque has recently come into play here. This has been one of our favorite barbeque wines in past vintages, yet the 2004 could be the best yet! It shows some muscle, yet has a healthy dose of dark berry fruit and black tea that makes it perfect with whatever you may be grilling.

2005 Touraine Rouge, Domaine des Corbillières – $13.49, reorder $10.79
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, may we advise you that 2005 was an amazing vintage for Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. We’ve sung the praises of this wine before, and we will sing them until we can’t breathe anymore. This wine is stellar on its own, yet it is great with food. A slow cooked herb crusted pork loin would do the trick.

2005 Syrah de Fayel, Domaine Cantarelles – $10.29, reorder $8.23
Up until recently, this was a wine allocated to a local restaurant for their ‘by the glass’ selections. The good news for us is that they’ve changed up their wine list, and we not only can offer it to you, but we can drink it ourselves. Dark fruit, medium to full-body, it shows leather and earth, yet finishes with finesse. That being said, this goes great with a marinated tri-tip!

2004 Grenache/Syrah, Château Grande Cassagne, $6.95 sale price, reorder $6.60
Hands down, this is the biggest bargain in the shop! Medium in body, offering great balance and finesse, this is a steal! It drinks like something far more expensive and is the perfect every day sipper. Don’t hesitate to pop it with pizza or pasta.

Where’d January go? Oh well, never mind. The shortest month of the year is here and if you’re toasting your valentine, President, or just want to make a toast, may we suggest the Dirty Dozen. 12 different bottles, chosen for their diversity, from all over the world for a song. It’ll be a tight race as to which will fly by quicker, February or the Dirty Dozen! Reorder Special !!! 20% off 6 bottles or more of any regularly priced Dirty Dozen wine! Or 10%/Net Wines • 5%/ Sale Wines 

2006 Grüner Veltliner, Berger 1 liter – $11.98 net price, reorder $10.78
This Austrian white is crisp and clean showing lovely aromas of fresh herbs. This wine is extremely versatile. It’s great on its own, it works well with herbal salads, and is great with filet of sole. But if you want to catch it in all its glory, do it the Austrian way and try it with wiener schnitzel! Just in case that’s not enough, it’s in full liter format, no less, so you can fill more glasses!

2006 Fernão Pires, Quinta do Alqueve – $10.99, reorder $8.79
From Portugal with love, this white brings a multitude of fleshy fruit to the aroma and palate. Peaches, apricots, a hint of citrus, and a dry, crisp finish will have you putting the nix on Chardonnay next time you crave a fleshy white wine. (No offense, Chardonnay fans!) It’s like taking a walk in the orchard. If you’re going to pair it, keep it simple and away from garlic.

2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Gournier – $10.59, reorder $8.47
In this day and age of attention grabbing wine labels, Gournier bucks the trend. Sauvignon Blanc is all it says, and that’s what you get. Though it’s perfect with crab or scallops, it’s not just for dinner. Enjoy a cool glass on its own, and spring will be in the air.

2005 Pinot Gris Tradition, René Muré – $18.99, reorder $15.19
Yet another white wine we all should be drinking more of, this Pinot Gris boggles the mind with its pairing ability. In particular, the spiciness found in Tex-Mex, some Asian cuisine and Cajun all benefit from the soft, round mouthfeel. But while fuller flavored dishes tend to overpower most other white wines, this one has the fruit and acidity to pierce through those flavors and leave us grinning.

2006 Rosé, Mas des Bressades – $11.99, reorder $9.59
It’s not just for summer anymore. Face it. Rosé is great wine. It’s the great compromise between red and white. It’s great to sip while cooking, or you could pair it with savory poultry dishes. This one here delivers just the right amount of fruit to put a smile on your face. Granted, we all love Rosé on a hot day, but try it with your meal. You won’t be sorry.

2006 Hors Saison, Domaine La Hitaire – $11.99, reorder $9.59
You could almost get away with calling this the Marilyn Monroe of the Dirty Dozen. It’s a blonde and sexy blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that dazzles the palate with a two-pronged flavor profile that keeps it together throughout the tasting process. It’s very flexible for a Sauvignon Blanc. You can enjoy it with gnocchi in a white sauce, halibut, or a tuna sandwich!

2004 Barco Reale di Carmignano, Tenuta le Farnete – $8.95 sale price, reorder $8.50
This dynamite blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon has plenty of strength, yet plenty of finesse. The nose is full of dark fruit and mineral. In the mouth it is mildly tannic, level, and clean. Think rabbit pappardelle. Tutta la famiglia alla tavola!

2005 Tradition, Chateau de Valcombe – $10.59, reorder $8.47
Wearing the button that says ‘most complex’, this offering from Valcombe sports plenty of dark fruit along with notes of earthiness and leather. This is one of those wines that tastes different every time you take a sip. Decanting will help you notice the constant changing. Making a wine this good this inexpensively must be hard. In gear for a hearty stew with herbs? Here’s your wine.

2005 Merlot ‘Les Enclos’, Montpezat – $13.39, reorder $10.71
Showing great fruit and structure, this juicy little number is yet another smashing result of the 2005 vintage. Of course there are other factors at play here. Call it science or call it art. Hurry down and get some of this juice before it all runs out.

2005 Côtes du Ventoux ‘O Sud’, Domaine Fondrèche – $13.99, reorder $11.19
Sebastien Vincenti’s O’Sud blends are the wines that keep on pleasing. Plenty of lush, fruit, braced by medium tannins and just the right amount of zip make this one so easy to quaff that once you open it, you’ll swear someone came by with a Hoover and vacuumed.

2004 Hippolyte Rouge, Chateau Grande Cassagne – $15.99, reorder $12.79
Mad can mean angry, mad can mean insane, but we’ll tell you what mad is. Only someone mad would bypass this 100% Syrah from Grande Cassagne. It’s got it all. Dark fruit, structure, and spice from a moderate amount of oak treatment. Think hearty fare here.

2004 Malbec, Alberto Furque – $13.99, reorder $11.19
The heavyweight of the bunch, Furque’s Malbec is from the Mendoza Valley, and is sure-fire to be a favorite of those of you who love full-bodied reds. Rich and robust, showing deep dark fruit, this wine is not for the light-hearted. Suitable for rugged, hearty dishes, the lay-up pairing here is a sizzling rib-eye. Drinking well now, but it’s also one to put in your cellar.