Amazing: 2012 Caymus for $38.90/btl [Regional, Targeted, and YMMV]

If there's one thing this deal hound loves it's stackable opportunities. By stackable, I mean discounts which can be combined in a single transaction to maximize savings.

An equally enthusiastic deal hound friend in New Hampshire recently pointed out a number of opportunities which can be combined to get some amazing deals on domestic wines right now. Including 2012 Caymus for the amazingly low price of $38.90/btl if you've got the right coupons.

This is an amazingly low price for Caymus when compared to historical pricing for this bottling in prior vintages in the $60-$70 range. We've seen the 2012 offered in the low-$50s recently, but sub-$40 takes this to a whole new level.

Caymus is of interest because it's probably the Napa Cab most reliably rated 91+ by Wine Spectator that costs less than $100. The release price is $72. The wine is typically quite fruit driven, but a scan of early tasting notes for the 2012 indicates it's even riper than most vintages of Caymus. This is a style of wine a lot of people are looking for, so to be able to find it for less than $40 is noteworthy.

Here's how to do it...

First, the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet is running a 15% off mixed case sale through June 29th, 2014.

Second, they're running a sale on Caymus currently, offering it for $59.99. 15% off this as part of a mixed case brings the price down to $50.99/btl.

Note that although the NH Liquor Store site lists inventory for each store it isn't always accurate, and they don't list vintages. So call before going.

Next, in conjunction with a new store opening in Manchester (#10) they sent out targeted coupons to New Hampshire mail boxes for $10 off per bottle of Caymus. Note that this applies after the 15% off so this brings the price down to $40.99/btl. The only way I'd know to get one of these is to ask friends and family in New Hampshire. They didn't send these out to people on their email list.

Finally, there are some $25 off $150 coupons floating around for this location as well that say they can't be combined with other offers but in practice they can. Depending on how you round out your mixed case this brings the price down even further.

Say you bought 6 bottles of the Caymus, and 6 bottles of more affordable wine. That would bring your per-bottle cost of the Caymus down to something around $38.90/btl. An amazingly low price.

And remember, there's no sales tax on wine in New Hampshire (nor Massachusetts at the moment).

What a deal.
A huge shout out to my friend about the heads up on this one.

Question of the Day: Any success replicating this deal? Have you received these coupons? Any tips on where to find them? Any other angles for maximizing this deal?

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Patz & Hall Wine Dinner at Legal Harborside

Legal Seafoods is hosting a four-plus-course paired wine dinner featuring Patz & Hall co-founder Donald Patz at their flagship Legal Harborside restaurant in Boston.

I've come to know Patz & Hall's Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir bottling as one of the most reliably outstanding mid-priced California Pinot Noirs. It's fully of vibrant flavor, balanced and elegant, and for my palate always delicious. It retails for $46 but if you can find it south of $35 I'd highly recommend it as a value play. This dinner provides an opportunity to go deeper into Patz & Hall's single vineyard bottlings and explore some wines with age as well.

See also: Jorge Ordoñez Wine Dinner at Legal Sea Foods Framingham, MA

WHAT: On June 24, Legal Harborside will team up with Donald Patz, Co-Founder & National Sales Director of Patz & Hall, for an exclusive four-plus-course dinner. Founded in 1988, this California winery has a celebrated portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. Patz & Hall uses the very best small, family-owned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards in California with the talented winegrowers who farm these world-class sites. Built on a shared commitment to quality, these partnerships have led to the rich diversity of the wine portfolio, contributing to acclaimed cuvées and sought-after single-vineyard wines.

The menu will be presented as follows on Legal Harborside’s scenic second level overlooking the Boston Harbor:

HORS D’OEUVRES

Fried Green Tomato, King Crab Salad, Smoked Tomato

Compressed Watermelon, Soy and Yuzu Marinated Tuna, Shiso

Black Bass Crudo, Tear Drop Tomato, Shishito Peppers, Lemon Thyme

Yakitori-style Grilled Octopus, House-made Ponzu, Asian Pear

Patz & Hall Sparkling Wine 2010 

FIRST COURSE

Chilled Corn Soup

Roasted Summer Squash, Lobster Medallion, Opal Basil

Patz & Hall, Dutton Ranch 2012 – Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Patz & Hall, Alder Springs Vineyards 2003 – Mendocino Chardonnay

SECOND COURSE

Skate Wing with Gnocchi al Nero

Tomato Confit, Grilled Calamari, Spicy Brodo di Mare

Patz & Hall, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2012

THIRD COURSE

Roasted Lamb Loin

Braised Lamb Belly, Baby Artichokes, Graffiti Eggplant, Summer Beans

Patz & Hall, Jenkins Ranch 2012 – Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Patz & Hall, Hyde Vineyard 2000 – Carneros Pinot Noir

DESSERT COURSE

Maine Blueberry Tart

Sweet Corn Ice Cream

Patz & Hall, Late Harvest Wine 2011 – California

WHERE: Legal Harborside at Liberty Wharf
270 Northern Avenue, Boston

WHEN: Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30pm

COST: $135 per person (excludes tax & gratuity)

MORE INFO: Reservation required by calling 617.530.9470 or visiting www.legalseafoods.com.

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5 Amazing Wineries to Visit in Tuscany

This summer we're headed to Tuscany for vacation so I've been thinking of which wineries to visit. As luck would have it I recently came to know Jennifer Gentile from VinoTravels - a Boston-based wine blog focused on Italian wines. I was quick to ask her advice on wineries to visit.

Coincidentally we're planning to stay at the same place where she got married (Iesolana if you're curious - I'm looking very forward to it). I hope you enjoy this list of Tuscan wineries...

If you have ever been to Italy you will understand how many wineries there are and places to taste wine and olive oil. It can be overwhelming which one to stop in at. I've always been one to stop in at the names that I don't recognize from the states. These are the vineyards that you can't easily access and where you will sometimes be surprised by the quality of the producer, but they may not export large amounts due to their production or it may be hard to find in your market. It is also pretty neat though to stop in at the well known wineries as well and to see the operations and meet the folks that work hard to produce the wines that we fortunately get to enjoy.

Today I'm going to cover 5 of the wineries that I have visited that I would recommend stopping in and tasting the wines in the region of Tuscany.

Montalcino

Fattoria dei Barbi

I visited the Fattoria dei Barbi estate in 2007 in the town of Montalcino. The Colombini family that owns and manages the estate started making the famous Brunello with Biondi Santi in the 1780's. I toured their facility where they produce 800,000 bottles a year with 200,000 of those being Brunello. Their average vines are about 15-30 years old. In exploring their cellar they had bottles dating back to the 1870's that were tucked away under dim red lights, but the Fattoria dei Barbi estate opened their doors in the 1950's. 

This estate has a long history and many firsts in the industry, including the first Super Tuscan. They are valued for their quality throughout the world. In fact, I'm still sitting on my bottle I brought back, 2000 Brunello di Montalcino. 

Poggio Antico

Poggio Antico started off in the late 1970's. I visited them back in 2004 before I developed my strong sense of love for italian wines, but you know quality when you taste it. Poggio Antico has about 80 acres of vineyards planted here with the great majority planted to sangiovese and the rest cabernet sauvignon. Their fermentation room had 26 vats full of brunello di montalcino, rosso di montalcino and their super tuscan, called madre, made of 50% sangiovese and 50% cabernet with the first vintage in 2001. They hand select their grapes and produce very low yields so that they can ensure the best quality is displayed through their wines. Poggio Antico produces about 95,000 bottles a year. 

Montepulciano

Poliziano

I visited Poliziano in 2007 in the town of Montepulciano not too far from Montalcino, about 30-40 minutes. Lots of drinking going on for my 2007 trip for sure. How can you not?

Poliziano was started off in the 1960's. Everything is done by hand on their 250 acres estate. The owner, living above the cellars, at that time of my visit was just arriving back from the US and I toured with the export manager. The newer vineyards at that time were solar powered.

Inside the winery they had two temperature controlled rooms in addition to the enormous vats where they produce about 600,000 bottles a year. 

There is a special parcel of land they have, called Asinone, where they only bottle the wine in years they feel produce high quality. They also produce Vin Santo, but not enough that they market out to the public. I picked up a bottle of their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, but their newer plantings, a year old, of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet were also very good.

Chianti

Vignavecchia

On my recent visit last October I stopped in at Vignavecchia in Radda. The workers were outside eating lunch when I arrived. The Wine Director, Stefano, was so pleasant and I tasted everything from their rosato, chardonnay, chianti classico as well as their chianti classico riserva, super tuscan and finished with Vin Santo. They were all very enjoyable. 

My favorite really was the 2009 Vigneto Odoardo Beccari, which is their Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva that was a blend of 90% sangiovese and 10% canaiolo. It takes the workers two weeks with 10 people to harvest. In Stefano's opinion 2007 and 2008 were the best vintages. They produce about 80,000 bottles a year. The winemaker stopped in briefly, but since this was harvest season she was a busy lady. You can view further information on my blog about Vignavecchia.

Castellare di Castellina

Another winery I visited this past October in the Chianti Classico region, that is more well known, was Castellare di Castellina in the town of Castellina. This winery has received a number of awards for their wines. I entered a small tasting area to taste the wines. Here my favorite was the 2008 I Sodi di San Niccolo, which is their super tuscan, but I had tried all of their chianti classicos and chianti classico riservas.

After the tasting I was fortunate to watch the workers putting the newly picked clusters through the destemmer and the juice and grapes were being shot through a tube to the tanks. This winery has 30 workers during the harvest time and it takes them about 6-7 weeks to finish picking their grapes. They make about 200,000 bottles and 85% of their production comes from sangiovese grapes. You can view further information on my blog about Castellare di Castellina.

Of course there are many more wineries I could discuss, but I tried to mention some of the ones where I had an enjoyable experience. When I open some of my bottles that I still have from this list I will absolutely share them with you on my blog, Vino Travels. I would love to hear of your favorites from this region so drop me a note.

Question of the Day: If you've visited wineries in Tuscany, what are some of your favorites? If not, which wineries would you want to visit based on their reputation and your experience enjoying their wines?

Many thanks to Jen for this post!

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Quick Deal: 2012 Caymus for $52/btl [MA only]

Retailers seem to be bashing themselves over the head trying to offer the lowest price on the planet for the 2012 Caymus Cabernet. And when retailers compete, consumers win.

It's surprising to see Caymus in particular going so low. I seem to recall them raising their price the last couple vintages as the recession lifted and premium wines were selling more briskly. Whereas you could find the 2009 and earlier for $59.99 at discount retailers, the 2010/2011 were selling for a bit more - say in the upper $60s.

There have been quite a few offers for the 2012 in the $54.99 range but I spotted one today for just $52/btl when you buy a 12 bottle case. That's a rather amazing deal especially considering there is no sales tax on wine in Massachusetts.

Go here to check out the deal

You can ping @RooftopGourmet on Twitter for more info.

Subscribe to The Wellesley Wine Press for future deal alerts.

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