The Cheap & Cheerful 6-Pack...


Our "Cheap & Cheerful" special selection offers exciting wines of great value. And your Cheap & Cheerful six pack box is worth .50 cents if you recycle them here!

>> RED  Cheap & Cheerful

>> WHITE  Cheap & Cheerful

September 2010 Cheap & Cheerful 6-pack: $61.65

In this month’s hand-picked Cheap and Cheerful Six packs are incredible wine values from Spain, Argentina, California and Australia. The price reflects 10% off if you buy the following six wines — your reward for trusting me. These wines are easy, ready and waiting for you to pick-up! Mix the white and red up if you wish! Don’t forget to reuse your 6 pack boxes and save $.50 off your next 6-pack!  Also, become a fan of Santiam Wine on Face Book.

• 2007 Sledgehammer Zinfandel, California: $13. Intense aromas of blackberry, black pepper, toasted oak and a hint of brown spice. In the flavor there's raspberry and blackberry with vanilla and toasted oak from aging in small barrels. Berries, brown spice, and oak complexity continue in a long finish.
• 2007 Glorioso Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain: $10. This very approachable Tempranillo falls under the Crianzawhich means by Spanish wine law it must be aged a minimum of two years, and one of those years must be aged in the barrel. It presents significant red fruit and leather with exotic spices, cocoa, Tabasco and ample peppery tones. The plate is bright led by smoky fruit and spice flavors. A very easy drinking wine that will partner nicely with tapas or aged cheeses.
• 2004 Shingleback Show Reserve Shiraz, Australia $13. Dark and spicy, with a strong licorice note running through the black cherry and pepper flavors, lingering on the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2015 87 Points Wine Spectator
• 2004 Anciano Tempranillo Riserva, Spain: $10. The 2004 Riserva Aged 5 Years is a bit more deeply colored while revealing aromas of damp earth, mocha, tobacco, and black cherry. On the palate it is sweetly fruited, easy-going, and nicely balanced leading to a seamless, fruity finish. Drink this excellent value over the next 6 years. 88 Points Robert Parker
• 2008 Bodegas y Vinedos O. Fournier Urban Uco Malbec Argentina: $12.50. Fresh and pure, with a juicy beam of dark raspberry and boysenberry fruit intertwined with floral and anise hints. There's a nice supple finish. Delicious. Drink now. 89 Points Wine Spectator
• 2008 Renwood Cabernet Sauvignon, California: $10. Loaded with great flavor a nice smooth touch of oak you could enjoy this wine with a hamburger or one glass at a time! This winery is well known for great Zinfandel and good value wines.

September 2010 White Cheap & Cheerful 6-pack: $63.00

• 2009 Ostatu Blanco, Spain: $13. The 2009 Ostatu Blanco is 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia fermented and raised in stainless steel. Light straw-colored, it delivers aromas of spring flowers, lemon, and baking spices. Smooth-textured, ripe, and spicy, it is meant for drinking over the next 2-3 years.87 Points Robert Parker
• 2008 Luna Pinot Grigo, California: $!3. The 2007 Pinot Grigio is a light golden color. The nose is scented with grapefruit and pear, and on the palate orange fruits come to the forefront. Mango and orange zest are accented by notes of guava and a pronounced minerality. The wonderful acidity and full-bodied texture carry through a delicious lemony finish with hints of apricot. This wine will be at its peak from now through the end of 2010.
• 2008 Domaine Reine Juliette Picpoul de Pinet Fance $9. Terrific value dry, elegant white from Languedoc. Picpoul is not the world's best known appellation controlee area or grape, but once you've tried a chilled glass of this, you'll be back for more! Drink: Now to 2012 Drink with: Aperitif, salads, fish, shellfish, olives and nuts.
• 2009 Cameron Hughes Lot 145 Santa Barbara Chardonnay CA. $13. This medium-bodied Chardonnay presents the enticing fragrance of a violet-scented candle followed by green apple and melon aromas. A symphony of farmers market fruit—including pineapple, kiwi, and white peach—married with slight toasty oak flavors and a fresh star fruit finish. You know what we're talking about if you've ever tasted fresh star fruit in Hawaii. Will pair well with grilled halibut, fish & chips, or even a Hawaiian pizza.
• 2009 In'ka Sauvignon Blanc, Chile: $10. The Mapuche Indians are the indigenous people from the southern areas of Chile & Argentina that held onto many cultural traits over the centuries, in particular their language and metal working practices. In’Ka, meaning companion in the native Mapuche language, pays homage to these people who developed a strong silver working tradition that evolved around 1550 when the Mapuche melted and crafted jewelry from the Spanish & Chilean silver coins that were in circulation throughout the region. Pale straw in color, the 2009 In’Ka Sauvignon Blanc explodes in the nose with aromas of citrus, grass, & hay. Honey tangerine is the dominant aroma with fleur de sel wafting in underneath. These aromas carry over to the palate, especially the honey tangerine component, where it is joined by brisk minerality. The crisp acidity keeps everything together & creates a perfectly balanced wine. Salud!
• 2009 Castelli Di Jesi Verdicchio, Italy: $12. This wine is fruity, fresh and simply delicious and scores rather well in all the departments especially in its citrus fruitiness and balanced acidity making it vivacious. It is a DOC wine. Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (pronounces Ye-zee) simply means it is from the castles (actually there are several hills and hilly areas) of a town called Jesi, near the capital city of Ancona. Classico indicates it is from a specially designated area- usually such wines are slightly more concentrated in flavours and perhaps a tad higher in alcohol level, by law or by design.