You never know how some little moments in your life can turn into monumental sea change for the future. Let’s go back in time, shall we? So here I am eight and a half years ago. I work in the financial services industry. I have several contemporaries who are equally passionate about wine as I am, but I always get the list when it comes to the business dinners. A very good friend has been living overseas for two years and has just returned. “Pete, I need you to come wine shopping with me. It’s time I get my cellar going”, he said to me. Though there is no consultation fee, I do know the benefits of helping friends choose wine. On the drive he instructed me that we were not to buy any domestic wine. This was interesting because before he left, all the wine we drank together was domestic. While in London, he lived near a Nicolas wine shop, and would stop in from time to time and let the staff guide him on a vinous tour of France. When we got to the first stop, we came upon a Chateauneuf-du-Pape from a well known producer for around $25. I started to sell him on the virtues of CDP, and he surprised me by knowing more about it than I did. From that moment forward, we have helped each other dive deeper into the French wine world. That was just one moment in the summer of 2001; but that one moment may answer the question, as David Byrne once asked, How did I get here?

2005 Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf du Pape Red Wine; Rhone Blend; Rhone; SALE $26.95 Reg. $44.99

Fast forward to today. I work in the wine industry. I have several contemporaries who are as passionate about wine as I am, but I wouldn’t dream of getting the list at any business dinner. My friend who lived overseas is still here and is a good customer of The Wine House! We dine together often and still help each other dive deeper into the world of wine.

I’m on a real Wine House high today. Our “Prelude To a Sale” premium Rhone wine blowout has us moving and shaking at a frantic pace, and management notices when we’re swamped. So yesterday, as a reward, it was suggested we taste one of these Rhone beauties. It turned out to be the 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine Font de Michelle. I’ve very much enjoyed their wines from other vintages, and excitedly anticipated closing time. We popped it after work, and it was singing straight away. Classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape here folks. Cherries, and cherries, and licorice, and cherries, and that unmistakable garrigue. It took me right back to the early days of discovering the wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape for the first time! I remembered my wine shopping experience with my buddy, and in spite of my adoration for Bordeaux, it very well may be that Chateauneuf-du-Pape had a hand in getting me here typing these emails every fortnight for you.

Another facet of my Wine House high happened today as a first time customer walked in. I greeted her and gave her the 101 about who we are. She thanked me, and wanted to browse. As she was browsing, several friends of the shop stopped by; one to pick up a pre-order, another to find a fascinating Burgundy deal, another to inquire about the sale wines, and a couple who were not only picking up, but buying as well. This first time customer eventually came to the counter with a few bottles, and as she did, one of our friends was leaving. I had just remembered that this customer’s nephew had purchased one of the Rhone deal wines the previous day, and excused myself for a moment to run after her and ask how she liked it. As I returned to ring up our first-time customer, I explained all this to her, and her reaction was remarkable. She said she observed all that happened during her visit. She mentioned the rapport with other customers; knowing their names and the kind of wines they liked, and was moved by the experience. I don’t want to gush on and on, but hearing things like that will put a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. We cherish our relationships with all of you. With that head of steam, I then sat down to remember my dinner last night, complete with the rest of the 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine Font de Michelle! -Peter Zavialoff

Our Rhone blowout sale will end Sunday, but we will honor the sale price on this wine through the week, ending October 31. Feel free to email me about French wine, domestic wine, or anything else you may want to bring up: peter.winehouse@sbcglobal.net

New! See our Dirty Dozen archive here on our blog

October 2009 Dirty Dozen – Mixed Case Sampler $109.00

My oh my, where does the time fly? First, it was the Y2K thing, and now, here comes 2010! As we hitch on to the home stretch of the decade which will never be known as “the oughts” (technically, it will end on December 31, 2010), we look ahead to indoor season. There will be family gatherings and parties with friends coming up soon. No matter how you entertain, grab a Dirty Dozen as there is something in this box for everyone!

Reorder Special !!! 20% off 6 bottles or more of any one regularly priced Dirty Dozen wine! Or 10%/Net Wines – 5%/ Sale Wines

Click here to purchase the Dirty Dozen for $109.

2008 Rosé, Domaine Gournier – $9.69, $7.75 reorder
Whether you bask in the waning sunshine of Indian summer, or work four burners in a hot kitchen, there is always a time and place for a cool, crisp glass of Rosé. Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot are all involved in the blend and the result is pure magic. Complex and spicy, this would be a great wine to serve along side a Thai salad al fresco.

2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Thracian Valley, Vini – $6.98 net price, $6.28 reorder
We try to open new doors for y’all, accessing wine regions that one wouldn’t necessarily seek out. Bulgaria is a beautiful country, with picturesque craggy mountains and vistas, ornate monasteries, sandy beaches, and some of the oldest vineyards in the world. We recently tried some of their wines, and wow! They are a whole new level of wine value. You be the judge. Na’zdravy!

2008 Chenin Blanc, Good Hope – $11.69, $9.35 reorder
Get that passport back out, we’re off to South Africa! Wine has been made here since the 17h century. Maybe it’s the ocean facing vines and decomposed granite slopes that contribute to the goodness of what is in this bottle. Plenty of tropical notes on the nose; stuff like pineapple, apricot, and melons which continue through the palate and finish with a mineral crispness.

2008 Hors Saison, Domaine la Hitaire – $11.79, $9.43 reorder
In Bordeaux, it is common for the cru classé dry whites to be composed of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. This copycat from Gascogne marries the same two varieties, but for much less. Serve it with baked sole, or sand dabs, or halibut.

2006 Montravel Blanc, Chateau Calablre – $5.95 sale price, $ 5.66 reorder
For this month’s taste-off, here’s a similar blend from the outskirts of Bordeaux. Montravel is due east and further up the Dordogne valley from St. Emilion. The white wines from here benefit from the cool nights and temperate daytime temps. Daniel Hecquet blends a little Muscadelle here for added complexity. It goes with any white fish, but it really shines with fish tacos!

2005 Muscat, Rene Mure – $21.99, $17.59 reorder
It is safe to say that this wine comes from a winemaking family. After all, they are on their 13th generation winemakers here. The Muré wines tend to show a strong mineral component to compliment the Alsatian fruit. This Muscat brings all of the blossomy, tropical fragrances typically associated with this grape. Be simple in your pairing here and stay away from garlic.

2006 Cotes du Rhone Cuvée Sabrine, André Brunel – $14.59, $11.67 reorder
We’ve gone on about André Brunel before, but for good reason. A celebrity in the Rhône (and here at The Wine House), Brunel’s wines offer amazing value. We mean it when we say some of his Côtes du Rhônes have the stuffing to be confused with others’ Châteauneuf du Papes. Deep, dark fruit, herbs de Provençe, and earth make it a cinch to pair with an herb encrusted pork roast.

2007 Rossa ‘Scaia’, Tenuta Sant’Antonio – $10.98 net price, $9.88 reorder
Essentially, what we have here is declassified Valpolicella. We bought this wine specifically for the Dirty Dozen as it packs a mountain of quality for its modest price. Zingy cherry/berry fruit with a medium bodied, herbal profile. Terrific pizza wine.

2007 Terre d’Ardoise Carignan, Mas Lavail – $12.59, $10.07 reorder
If you receive our emails, you are familiar with this gem. This wine is the choice of many a chef or winemaker, as we found out by looking over the list of customers who bought it. Old vine Carignan is the grape; the complexity is what keeps ‘em coming back.

2005 Touraine Rouge, Domaine des Corbillieres – $13.49, $10.79 reorder
You may have heard that 2005 was the greatest vintage for Loire valley reds “that anyone can remember”. We concur. This Cabernet Franc got just what it needed to thrive. Ideal weather created a fine balance of ripe fruit with Loire valley Cabernet’s signature herbal woodsiness. A couple of years of bottle age has this uber-bargain in a perfect place. Lamburgers would be nice.

2005 Syrah ‘Numa’, Chateau Guiot – $20.99, $16.79 reorder
The ‘Special One’ of the Dirty Dozen, only a few hundred cases of this wine were made. This is Guiot’s top of the line Syrah. Severe grape selection is employed, and the wine is vinified in new oak for one year before bottling. The result: Dense, rich, concentrated Syrah full of complexity. It can be popped now, and will stand up strong to a juicy steak!

2004 Grenache/Syrah, Mas Carlot – $10.39, $8.31 reorder
This may as well be known as ‘the little wine that keeps giving and giving’, as it has done nothing but please wine loving palates since it was first released. The perfect all-purpose red, it is great on its own, with pasta, hamburgers, or ratatouille.

Check Out Our Complete Inventory at WineSF.com

Reorder Special !!! 20% off 6 bottles or more of any regularly priced Dirty Dozen wine! Or 10%/Net Wines 5%/ Sale Wines

Click here to purchase all 12 wines for $109!

Venturing into new territory-Spain

2006 Dehesa de Rubiales Alaia Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon Red Wine; Red Blend; Other Spain; $11.98

With The Wine House’s emphasis on French wines with forays into Italy, Argentina, Germany, Austria, and of course, local wines, there is precious little time to explore Spain’s offerings. Customers often ask if we carry any Spanish wines, which we do from time to time, but it’s obvious from this example that we need to delve in deeper! Now, as I’ve intimated, I am no expert on Spanish wines but I know what tastes good. I was browsing through one of my favorite wholesaler’s pricebook when the name Alaia popped on the page. The name conjured up images of tight strips of fabric snuggly hugging 80’s Supermodels courtesy of fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa. No relation here, but still I was determined to taste the 2006 Alaia from Dehesa de Rubiales. I’m glad I did. It’s always satisfying to find a wine that has character, depth and, well, is reasonably priced. I ordered the wine for the store, mostly to satisfy my own selfish craving for a new taste sensation. After relishing in several bottles, it finally dawned on me that I had it all wrong. What was I thinking hoarding this wine all to myself? I work in wine retail precisely for opportunities like these: to get delicious, quality wine into the hands of many, making life-long friends along the way. Even my kindergartener knows SHARING IS CARING!

The 2006 Alaia is a blend of Prieto Picudo and Tempranillo with a smidgeon of Merlot. The wine comes from the region of Castilla y León in northern Spain. The terrain is described as harsh with extreme climate. Summers are hot but short with nighttime temperatures dipping low. I’m guessing Prieto Picudo is a varietal that can persevere in this environment. My wine library came up empty with good information about this grape, hence relying on intuition (maybe not a good thing!). What I do know for certain is that the aromas of blackberries and notes of spicy black licorice captivated my senses like the gentle wind that stirs up the scent of drying blackberries and oily Eucalyptus leaves on my walks to pick up my daughter at school in the late summer heat. What came next was a warm stew of red fruits laden with spice. Not unlike a very toned-down Zinfandel. The flavors are vivid and persist through the finish. The last time I opened up a bottle was at home with a ho-hum dinner. The meal was probably leftovers, definitely unmemorable, but the wine was not. I kept hounding my husband urging him to take one more whiff of wine out of my glass, as if his was somehow less aromatic. “Isn’t this great? Don’t you just love it?” Even though I could tell he was getting a tad irritated at my enthusiasm, he was in complete agreement. I’d love to serve this next time with a piece of meat seasoned with Spanish Pimentón. I think the smoky paprika would compliment the spice and fruit-driven Alaia nicely. There’s a whole wide world of wine to explore. The 2006 Alaia is a welcome addition to the Wine House line-up. Anya Balistreri

2006 Dehesa de Rubiales Alaia Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon Red Wine; Red Blend; Other Spain;

$11.98