Andrea Oberto - Barolo, del Comune di La Morra,

Piedmont, Italy 2016

WA93/V91

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93 Points "The Andrea Oberto 2016 Barolo del Comune di La Morra offers immediate aromas with floral intensity all backed by delicate tones of dark fruit, tar and licorice. Those floral tones recall rose, lavender and a touch of fragrant lilac. The wine is graceful, slender and enduring. It just keeps humming along with streamlined but focused intensity."

Newsletter Special - $29.95

*lowest online price in the country!

"The 2016 Barolo is fleshy, succulent and super-expressive, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, mint and rose petal all flesh out in the glass, while soft, silky tannins give this forward Barolo plenty of near and medium-term appeal. This is such a delicious wine." Antonio Galloni, 91 Points

The Oberto winery got its start in 1959 when the Oberto family bought a farmhouse in La Morra, right in the heart of Barolo country. Back then wine was not enough of a business to support the family, so they, like many others, made their living growing peaches and raising cows in addition to growing grapes. When Andrea, a second generation family member came of age there wasn't enough income for him to solely work on the farm,  so he went to work as a truck driver. Then, in 1978 Andrea’s father unexpectedly passed away and Andrea inherited the farm. He decided to leave his job and work full-time on the farm, and as the wine market improved in the 1980's, began focusing solely on grapes and wine making.

The 2016 Barolo is from his estate vineyards in La Morra, a site known for producing Barolo with softer, plush fruit and rounder supple tannins. This wine captures those elements perfectly. The grapes are hand harvested after a careful selection of the bunches, crushed and destemmed within hours. After a long maceration (about 300 hours) the juice is then racked into wood casks, where the natural malolactic fermentation takes place. It spends 24 months in oak, 2 months in stainless steel vats, and 6 months in bottle before release. Oberto's style leans towards a modern, more approachable style in its youth, offering everything you'd expect from a Barolo with immediate pleasure. Not to mention we have this at the best price in the country!

Chateau Gloria - St-Julien, Bordeaux 2018

WE94/JD94/JS94

If you're looking for the most bang for your buck Bordeaux, Chateau Gloria delivers all the quality of premium Left Bank Bordeaux without the hefty price tag. This is one of my favorite recommendations for Bordeaux lovers, full-bodied and dense, rich in blue and black fruit, wild herbs, cigar box, and violets. One thing I love about this wine is how approachable it is in its youth, and it will continue to develop in the bottle well for at least a couple decades. Highly Recommended.

Newsletter Special - $45.99

Presqu'ile Winery - Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, 2020

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points - This countywide blend must be coming from the couple of select vineyards that this winery uses regularly. That explains the snappy cranberry, raspberry, thyme, bay leaf and green-peppercorn aromas of the nose. The palate dances with tantalizing acidity, offering more bay leaf, game and woody forest fruits, leading into an incense-spiced finish. Editors Choice

Newsletter Special - $23.99

Cheers! -Alex

Alexander Knechel - Certified Sommelier

Wine Sales Manager - Plucky Wines

alexanderknechel@pluckywines.com