Try wines from the Republic of Georgia, the earliest winemaking culture! These wines present a tremendous value.
Taste our favorite wines for the month of June, all chosen to present good value for the price and to pair with seasonally available food! We’ll sample six on Saturday and six on Sunday this weekend.
Tasting Saturday
Paco y Lola 2011 Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain (Carolyn)
As the quintessential summer wine, Albariño is wonderful to try if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc but are looking for something new and refreshing! This goes particularly well with foods of this region of Spain, including seafood, fish, and shellfish stews. Rated 93pts by Decanter, “Peachy and stony, with warmth, ripeness and lovely, savoury greengage fruit on the mid palate which has a pristine feel. Final taste is of roasted lemons and herbs, with a stony, almost mineral note.”
Regularly: $14.99
Mills Club: $12.59
Case Price: $11.19
Yalumba 2014 Organic Chardonnay, South Australia (Andres)
For those searching for a delicious yet affordable organic Chardonnay, look no further. This is a light and crisp style of Chardonnay, with aromas of lemon and pineapple along with hints of stone fruit, ripe peach and melon. Peach and melon continue on the palate with rich pannacotta and a long finish. Wonderful with seafood or chicken dishes through the summer!
Regularly: $18.99
Mills Club: $17.09
Case Price: $15.19
Domaine de Montfin 2015 Rose, Corbieres, France (Pat D.)
This very small yet top pedigree Corbieres estate boasts 60-85 year old vines and very low yields. This is a blend of 60% Cinsault, 35% Grenache, 5% Syrah, hand harvested and fully organic. A delicious value! Try with grilled pork dishes, or a salad with grilled chicken!
Regular Price: $14.99
Mills Club: $12.59
Case Price: $11.19
Bodegas San Valero “Particular” 2014 Garnacha, Carinena, Spain (Pat D.)
This is a clean, intense Garnacha with bright red fruit overtones. The cross on the label is a nod to how winemakers in bygone times would make a cross on the bottle differentiating one bottle from the other with their thumb. Garnacha can be a great summertime wine, not too overbearing and mild enough to pair with lighter summer fare such as poultry and heavier fish, but can also stand up to sausages on the grill.
Regular Price: $13.99
Sale Price: $11.19
Grochau 2013 Commuter Cuvee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon (Carolyn)
John Grochau fell in love with wine in his early 20s while racing for a French bicycle team in the Loire Valley. Returning to his hometown of Portland, Oregon, he spent a decade working in fine dining before turning to winemaking. Work with Erath and Brick House preceded his first vintage as owner/winemaker at Grochau in 2002. He sources grapes from 15 different organic and sustainably farmed family-owned vineyards across Oregon to make his fabulous wines-primarily Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. This is a delicious yet affordable Oregon Pinot Noir that we thought had similar attributes to an aged Burgundy. Excellent with salmon!
Regular Price: $22.99
Mills Club: $20.69
Case Price: $18.39
Protocolo 2013 Tinto, Spain (Pat H.)
Try this juicy Tempranillo with beautiful aromatics of coffee, vanilla and toast and fresh ripe fruit character. Medium bodied and balanced, this Tempranillo would pair wonderfully with pork or chicken dishes or grilled vegetables.
Regularly: $11.99
Mills Club: $10.79
Case Price: $9.59
Tasting Sunday
Meinklang 2015 Burgenland Organic White Blend, Austria (Tim)
This is an overwhelmingly refreshing white blend of Gruner Veltliner, Welchriesling (no relation to Riesling) and a small proportion of Muskat. Boasting exotic aromatics of white summer blossom and orange peel, the palate remains surprisingly light on its feet. Perfect as an aperitif or to enjoy with white fish or light appetizers. Rated 90pts by Wine Enthusiast and a designated “Best Buy”!!!! This estate is run by the Michlits family, and they have achieved organic and biodynamic certifications for their wines.
Regularly: $13.99
Mills Club: $12.59
Case Price: $11.19
Mader 2014 Riesling, Alsace, France (Jessica)
We always like to carry Jean Luc Mader’s Riesling and just received this lovely new vintage! A nose of ripe lemon and lime zest accompanies a palate full of stone fruit, dried citrus and mineral notes. This is an incredible value for a very well-made organic Riesling. Rated 92pts James Suckling and Excellent + by Washington Post. Serve with seafood, charcuterie or Asian spiced dishes.
Regularly: $19.99
Mills Club: $17.99
Case Price: $15.99
Yannick Amirault 2012 “Les Quartiers” Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France (Jen & Jerry)
Jen visited the Yannick Amirault estate in early May, meeting with son and fourth generation winemaker Benoit, who has been farming the estate alongside his father since 2003, certified organic since 2009. “Les Quartiers” grapes are hand harvested from 45 year old vines in a small vineyard known as “la terre a blanc” due to the white, chalk soils, then spend 30 months in barrel. This elegant Cabernet Franc has mouth filling flavors of dense, textured dark fruits and is savory and intense. Decant for an hour or so, and pair with grilled lamb or beef dishes. Rated 91+pts by View From The Cellar.
Regularly: $26.99
Mills Club: $24.29
Case Price: $21.59
Duca Carlo Guarini “Burdi” 2013 Primitivo, Puglia, Italy (Tim)
The Guarini family arrived in Salento in 1040. Puglia has come a long way, for awhile being known for bulk production of not very high quality wines, Guarini is a producer that has changed that perception, by reducing yields and making premium quality wines. This Primitivo has wonderful cherry fruit flavors but is soft enough to accompany a pasta dish.
Regular Price: $14.99
Mills Club: $13.49
Case Price: $11.99
Bookwalter’s “Notebook” 6NV Columbia Valley Red, Washington (Jessica)
We were wowed by this Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend that will be perfect with barbecued steaks. Loads of black cherry, plum, and black currant fruit are followed by a cocoa, coffee, tobacco-laden finish. Grapes are sourced from a variety of vintages to make this wine (called vertical blending) and a variety of AVAs, which translates to value for the consumer.
Regular Price: $18.99
Mills Club: $17.09
Case Price: $15.19
Crow Vineyards 2013 Dessert Vidal Blanc, Kent County, Maryland (Jen & Jerry)
This wine was made from all estate grown grapes in Kent County Maryland, hand harvested at peak ripeness. On the nose, it displays brilliant aromas of dried apricots, orange blossom honey, and gardenia, while on the palate well-structured acidity balances flavors of ripe pear, toasted hazelnuts and golden pineapple. This would be excellent with a cheese plate, fruits, or fruit-based pastries or cakes.
Regular Price: $27.99/375ml bottle
Mills Club: $25.19
Case Price: $22.39
Tasting Sunday
Meinklang 2015 Burgenland Organic White Blend, Austria (Tim)
This is an overwhelmingly refreshing white blend of Gruner Veltliner, Welchriesling (no relation to Riesling) and a small proportion of Muskat. Boasting exotic aromatics of white summer blossom and orange peel, the palate remains surprisingly light on its feet. Perfect as an aperitif or to enjoy with white fish or light appetizers. Rated 90pts by Wine Enthusiast and a designated “Best Buy”!!!! This estate is run by the Michlits family, and they have achieved organic and biodynamic certifications for their wines.
Regularly: $13.99
Mills Club: $12.59
Case Price: $11.19
Mader 2014 Riesling, Alsace, France (Jessica)
We always like to carry Jean Luc Mader’s Riesling and just received this lovely new vintage! A nose of ripe lemon and lime zest accompanies a palate full of stone fruit, dried citrus and mineral notes. This is an incredible value for a very well-made organic Riesling. Rated 92pts James Suckling and Excellent + by Washington Post. Serve with seafood, charcuteries or Asian spiced dishes.
Regularly: $19.99
Mills Club: $17.99
Case Price: $15.99
Yannick Amirault 2012 “Les Quartiers” Bourgueil, Loire Valley, France (Jen & Jerry)
Jen visited the Yannick Amirault estate in early May, meeting with son and fourth generation winemaker Benoit, who has been farming the estate alongside his father since 2003, certified organic since 2009. “Les Quartiers” grapes are hand harvested from 45 year old vines in a small vineyard known as “la terre a blanc” due to the white, chalk soils, then spend 30 months in barrel. This elegant Cabernet Franc has mouth filling flavors of dense, textured dark fruits and is savory and intense. Decant for an hour or so, and pair with grilled lamb or beef dishes. Rated 91+pts by View From The Cellar.
Regularly: $26.99
Mills Club: $24.29
Case Price: $21.59
Duca Carlo Guarini “Burdi” 2013 Primitivo, Puglia, Italy (Tim)
The Guarini family arrived in Salento in 1040. Puglia has come a long way, for awhile being known for bulk production of not very high quality wines, Guarini is a producer that has changed that perception, by reducing yields and making high quality wines. This Primitivo has wonderful cherry fruit flavors but is soft enough to accompany a pasta dish.
Regular Price: $14.99
Mills Club: $13.49
Case Price: $11.99
- Bookwalter’s “Notebook” 6NV Columbia Valley Red, Washington (Jessica)
We were wowed by this Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend that will be perfect with barbecued steaks. Loads of black cherry, plum, and black currant fruit are followed by a cocoa, coffee, tobacco-laden finish. Grapes are sourced from a variety of vintages to make this wine (called vertical blending) and a variety of AVAs, which translates to value for the consumer.
Regular Price: $18.99
Mills Club: $17.09
Case Price: $15.19
Crow Vineyards 2013 Dessert Vidal Blanc, Kent County, Maryland (Jen & Jerry)
This wine was made from all estate grown grapes in Kent County Maryland, hand harvested at peak ripeness. On the nose, it displays brilliant aromas of dried apricots, orange blossom honey, and gardenia, while on the palate well-structured acidity balances flavors of ripe pear, toasted hazelnuts and golden pineapple. This would be excellent with a cheese plate, fruits, or fruit-based pastries or cakes.
Regular Price: $27.99/375ml bottle
Mills Club: $25.19
Case Price: $22.39
Taste beers by Abita and enjoy 15% discount on Abita beers should you choose to purchase. This is a complimentary tasting, no reservations required.