Fine Wine Bargains
by Kermit Lynch
Kermit Lynch
© Jimmy Hayes
Kermit Lynch
© Jimmy Hayes
Fine Wine Bargains
by Kermit Lynch
Remember Dylan’s line? “I started out on Burgundy, but soon hit the harder stuff.” Well, I soon hit the cheaper stuff.
Over the years I’ve been called a Burgundy specialist, a Rhône specialist, a curmudgeon, a natural wine specialist, an anti-filtration fanatic—but no one has yet called me a Fine Wine Bargain specialist. Why not? I wonder. Once I left Burgundy and began exploring elsewhere, I noticed that France and Italy produced incredible bargains, especially if one looked where no one else was looking. Nothing makes me prouder (commercially speaking, anyway) than returning home with yet another fine wine bargain for you.
** This was first published in our October 2012 newsletter.
Wines In The Collection
Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont
The unique blend of Favorita, Moscato, Arneis, and Chardonnay is dry but not tart, fruity but not cloying, and held together with a gentle effervescence.
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
Grenache is joined by Syrah and a drop of Mourvèdre to create this delightful everyday red scented of herbes de Provence and ripe black cherry.
Henri Perrusset France | Burgundy
A longtime personal favorite for the weeknight go-to blanc, citrusy fresh with just the right hint of salted butter to round it out.
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
A fresh, pure entry point to the Rhône’s great reds with aromas and flavors of black cherries, stones, and a hint of black olive.
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont
Real refreshment, plus a serious side and good concentration from old vines in chalky marl soils.
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto
The 2022 has a sweet nose with summery whiffs of peach and apricot, a silky mid-palate, and a lovely citrus and mineral finish.
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
There is a strangely beautiful harmony between earth, sun, and man.
Château La Roque France | Languedoc-Roussillon
There is something timeless to La Roque’s Pic Saint Loup, its herbal bouquet and rich, fleshy texture, all free from any hint of modern trappings.
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish.
Italy | Piedmont
The unique blend of Favorita, Moscato, Arneis, and Chardonnay is dry but not tart, fruity but not cloying, and held together with a gentle effervescence.
France | Southern Rhône
Grenache is joined by Syrah and a drop of Mourvèdre to create this delightful everyday red scented of herbes de Provence and ripe black cherry.
Italy | Veneto
A spritzy rosato with scents of frutti di bosco and wildflowers.
France | Burgundy
A longtime personal favorite for the weeknight go-to blanc, citrusy fresh with just the right hint of salted butter to round it out.
France | Southern Rhône
A fresh, pure entry point to the Rhône’s great reds with aromas and flavors of black cherries, stones, and a hint of black olive.
Italy | Piedmont
Real refreshment, plus a serious side and good concentration from old vines in chalky marl soils.
Italy | Veneto
The 2022 has a sweet nose with summery whiffs of peach and apricot, a silky mid-palate, and a lovely citrus and mineral finish.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
There is a strangely beautiful harmony between earth, sun, and man.
France | Alsace
New to Alsatian wine? This is the perfect place to start.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
There is something timeless to La Roque’s Pic Saint Loup, its herbal bouquet and rich, fleshy texture, all free from any hint of modern trappings.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish.
Italy | Piedmont
A quintessential house wine from Piemonte’s less-traveled side.
More Collections
Beaujolais
“Beaujolais must be the most inspired invention in the history of wine. What a concept, downing a newborn wine that has barely left the grape, a wine that retains the cornucopian spirit of the harvest past. It even serves to remind us of the first time man tasted fermented grape juice and decided it was an accident worth pursuing.
Who invented Beaujolais? We don’t know, but some of the revisionist winemakers who quite recently snuffed it out are very well known indeed.” –Kermit Lynch, Adventures on the Wine Route, page 181
Very Vieilles Vignes
This collection features wine produced mainly from vines planted before 1950, with some going as far back as 150 years—these twelve wines are truly very old-vine gems! Don’t miss some of France and Italy’s greatest viticultural treasures.…
Introducing Domaine Thillardon
Beaujolais may be a lighter wine, but we at KLWM don’t take our Beaujolais lightly! Our appetite for bright, pure-fruited Gamay has been insatiable ever since Kermit’s first trip exploring the region in 1974. It has been our joy to introduce you to benchmark domaines such as Lapierre, Foillard, and Château Thivin, and now there is a new name to remember…
A Trio of Spring Samplers
Even if you generally like to buy individual bottles, our latest collection of curated sampler packs offers a great opportunity to discover new wines in categories that you already know and enjoy…
Nebbiolo by Another Name
In December of last year, the excellent wine blog, “Opening a Bottle,” likened one of our wines to Shohei Ohtani, the 30-year-old Japanese phenom who has changed the game of baseball and might go down as the greatest player of all time. I’ve thought about this comparison nearly every day since, wondering each time I take a sip of red Burgundy, Barolo, or Côte-Rôtie, “Could this also be considered the Shohei Ohtani of wine?”
I finally tasted a worthy contender—or set of contenders—last month...
Rosé with Pizza?
Here in California where I grew up, pizza used to be a tough crust oozing with the cheapest cheese money could buy and a tomato sauce so raunchy it took a dose of macho red wine to wash it down. Cleanse the palate, as we gourmets say today. But the pizza scene has evolved…
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.