The Top 25. MAS SORRER Carinena 2014 Green s Cash Sale Price:

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1 The Top 25 A new year and a new Top 25 to start all those resolutions off on the right foot, especially if they re of the spend less money kind as always value is the focus. This also remains a format where we can showcase breadth of selection as opposed to any particular theme; in its current incarnation we feature wines from Spain, Chile, California, Portugal, France and South Africa, and there s even a sake thrown in for good measure. So bundle up and drink some wine to stay warm. Cheers! MAS SORRER Carinena 2014 The Mas Sorrer Carinena is just another example of the unbeatable wine values available throughout Spain. Grown on the steep slopes of the Carinena DO within the Aragon region (where, confusingly, the variety of the same name is rarely seen, even though it is where the grape originated), this is a 50% split of Tempranillo and Garnacha, and offers up rich, spicy notes of red fruit, grilled meat, savory herbs and earth.

2 ROOT 1 Carmenere 2013 Rediscovered in Chile in 1994, from vines that were long thought to be Merlot (Carmenere in fact originates from southwest France, where it was once a major variety in the Bordeaux blend), Carmenere has since then assumed the mantle of being Chile s flagship wine grape. While higher-end bottles certainly exist (check out the Lapostolle Clos Apalta for one exquisite example), this wine occupies the other end of the price spectrum, showing food-friendly, intense notes of plum, blackberry, bell pepper and tobacco leaf. MERCER Chardonnay 2013 A strong, vibrant Chardonnay value from the Columbia Valley. Fresh and open-textured, with a hint of bitterness playing against the ripe pear and nectarine flavors, lingering on the finish. Drink now through Wine Spectator LAGAR Amalgama 2013 This Chilean wine comes to us from the Rapel Valley within Cachapoal, and is a blend of estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Remarkably complex given the price point. Firm, with plenty of acidity behind the dried plum and wild berry flavors. Green pepper notes appear on the finish. -Wine Spectator TYKU Cucumber Sake A cucumber-infused Junmai sake, this is a spicy food pairing as good as any other, but works just as well as an aperitif or within a cocktail. Delicate and refreshing, with the cucumber elements a perfect complement to the refinement of the sake base. Completely gluten and sulfite-free.

3 QUARA Torrontes 2013 Torrontes has gained its own following due to its opulent, Muscat-like fragrance, and is considered by some to be the Argentinean white grape counterpart to Malbec in terms of reputation. The Torrontes is stainless steel fermented and raised. It delivers a fragrant perfume of honey and spring flowers with a hint of tropical fruits. Crisp, dry, and intense on the palate, this is an ideal aperitif wine for a hot summer day as well as a super value. -Wine Advocate 19 CRIMES Red Blend 2014 A play off of the genesis of Australia as a colony in short, convicts guilty of one of 19 specific crimes were shipped off from Great Britain to the penal colony of Australia, thus becoming the first settlers of the continent this is in reality a crowd-pleasing red blend that offers up notes of black cherry, raspberry and vanilla. REAL CAMPANIA DE VINOS Tempranillo 2012 The main varietal of Spain, the provenance of this wine is north-central Spain, and features the typical characteristic of youthful Tempranillo red berries, violets, and tea leaves. This is midweek wine at its best, with both a wonderful retail price and the versatility to pair with different styles of food most appropriately, perhaps, is to think of it as a wine to go with one tapas after another.

4 PIQUITOS Moscato 2014 A different style of Moscato than that of Moscato d Asti, this is drier and more alcoholic (in a good way), perhaps more akin to the classic definition of wine than the classic Asti version itself. 100% Muscatel in composition and made sparkling by the Charmat method (think Prosecco frizzante), this wine serves up a prominent perfume of violets, peach, and of grapes themselves both an ideal aperitif or accompaniment to a fruit-based dessert. ROTATION Red Blend 2012 In truth this could represent the quintessential California throwback wine the blend here is 60% Merlot, 30% oak-aged Zinfandel, and 10% back-vintage Ruby Cabernet, the latter being a crossing (Cabernet x Carignan) developed to thrive in the desert conditions of the state s central valley. A rich, fruit-forward wine, this is not a bottle for contemplation but simply one to pop and enjoy among friends. ASTICA Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Coming to us from the Frederick Wildman portfolio, the Astica wines represent not just unparalleled value within the realm of Argentinean wine but all wine in general; our selections feature two international varietals Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon that are prominent within Argentina if not quite within the greater wine world. Fresh and fruit-forward, the QPR here is unbeatable.

5 CASA DE LA REINA Rioja Crianza 2011 The most youthful expression of traditional Rioja, this is still nonetheless a showcase denomination for the complementary effects of aging wine in oak. The Casa de la Reina Crianza (has) 12 months in American oak. It has a leathery, undergrowthscented bouquet with dusty black fruit and a hint of peppermint. The palate is nicely balanced, with a fleshy entry, soft tannins and a simple, dry, leather and mocha-tinged finish. -Wine Advocate WOODWORK Merlot 2013 A full-bodied, juicy Merlot from the Central Coast, with notes of plum, cherry, coffee and cedar. Merlot is making somewhat of a mini-resurgence these days, as to be honest there is a generation of young wine drinkers who have never tried it due to perception. The Woodwork is a good place to start. And for those who are fans of the Woodwork Cabernet Sauvignon that we carry you won t be disappointed. BEAULIEU VINEYARD Coastal Pinot Noir 2013 A well-made, very affordable offering from the one of the most iconic estates within Napa Valley. As we ve mentioned before worthy, affordable Pinot Noir is always challenging to find Strawberry, spice and ripe plum tones have good depth, with pretty vanilla notes and soft structure. -Wine Spectator

6 WENTE Riverbank Riesling 2013 A domestic Riesling from the Arroyo Seco AVA within Monterey, and from one of the oldest producers in California. Grown at the southern edge of a ravine created from the flow of the Arroyo Seco rivers down from the Santa Lucia Mountains, this wine gives bright, fresh notes of honeysuckle, lychees and grapefruit. A Gold medal at the San Francisco Wine Competition (Jan 2015). ALLIANCE LOIRE Cabriole Saumur Blanc 2014 From the heart of the Loire Valley, this young, fresh Chenin Blanc (100% varietal) boast notes of citrus fruit, straw, and honeysuckle, and mineral complexity, with the concentration and acidic backbone to ensure at least a few years of meaningful development. The perfect place to start ones discovery of Loire Valley Chenin, as this grape links together some of the most underappreciated provenances in the world. LICEIRAS Douro 2010 A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Tinta Cao in short, reflective of what would be a traditional field blend from the Douro this is the second wine from the estate, and thus predictably meant to be in an earlier-drinking style. That being said, this is wine that is already five years from vintage, and the vibrancy of fruit red berry, plum, baking spice speaks to its pedigree. CODICE Tempranillo 2011 A Green s 2014 Top 10 selection. The 2011 Codice Tinto (10,000 cases of 100% Tempranillo) spent six months in tank followed by six months in French and American oak. The result is a fruity, dark berry-scented and flavored, medium-bodied wine with soft tannins and good purity as well as texture. Drink it over the next several years. -Wine Advocate PRESSOIR DE LABASTIDE Gaillac 2009 Gaillac is an appellation of southwest France, and as such features both Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon as well as indigenous ones Duras, Fer & Servadou. This wine is nonetheless in the mold of its more lustrous northern neighbor, featuring precise notes of plum, bramble, tobacco leaf, coffee and herbs. This, in short, is a stunning value.

7 NEDERBURG Pinotage 2012 Pinotage is a South African crossing of Pinot Noir x Cinsault, its name based on the erroneous assumption that the latter grape is an ingredient in the great Northern Rhone wine of Hermitage (it isn t). Nonetheless, the grape is rightly considered South Africa s own, and results can be eyeopening. Consider this an introduction to the style, giving us distinctive characteristics of blackberry, coffee, leather and game. HONORO VERA Rueda & Garnacha 2014 Known perhaps as much for their eye-catching labels as the wines themselves, the Honoro Vera line comes to us from the Juan Gil estate of Jumilla, Spain. While Monastrell (the Mourvedre of southern France) is their signature varietal (and the Juan Gil Jumilla we also carry is a wine not to be missed), it is these keenly-priced varietals we chose this quarter to further demonstrate the winemaking prowess of the estate. AGRICULTURA Alentejano 2012 A long-time customer favorite. A seductive red wine made from the classic Portuguese varietals Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Trincadeira, the unoaked, fleshy, dark ruby-colored 2012 Agricultura displays copious fruit, low acidity, ripe, sweet tannin and an expansive, fleshy mouthfeel. It is the ideal bistro red to drink with an assortment of cuisines. -Wine Advocate

8 CASAL GARCIA Vinho Verde Arguably one of our most consistent sellers year-round, and for good reason. This wine, representative of the style, is one of the most versatile in the game. A crisp white, with fresh-cut apple flavors that are supported by juicy citrus notes. Shows hints of peach on the finish. Drink now. -Wine Spectator Copyright 2016 Green's Beverages, All rights reserved.