Test driving a one-click case
Reader Jeff J wrote in yesterday asking for a case of wine, probably red, about $150 – $200 to give to a friend in New York who recently got married.
Great question! And thoughtful gesture! Some retailers put together pre-fab cases but I have generally approached them with skepticism. Why? I probably don’t want one or two or three of the wines in the set case. And I suspect there’s something in there that the store might be trying to move for reasons other than necessarily serving the consumer.
But I put my skepticism aside and decided to put my money where my mouth is. I recommended Jeff check out Chambers Street Wines, which has a selection of pre-fab cases at $100 and $200 both red and mixed. I also recommended the mixed “Memorial Day” case at Le Du’s Wines in the West Village. Maybe it was the thought of grilling this weekend but for some reason I found myself clicking “buy now.”
Tuesday I clicked and Wednesday my doorbell rang. I have to confess a certain amount of excitement pulling out bottles I’ve never tried before. Even if I don’t know the producers’ names, the back labels sport the names of some very solid importers–Neal Rosenthal, Jon David Headrick, Classical Wines among others. And they were selected by the knowledgeable staff, headed by Jean-Luc Le Du, formerly the sommelier at the restaurant Daniel.
But the best part? $145.99! Free delivery in New York State. I’ll keep you posted on how the one-click convenience works out in the glass. The list follows below for your perusal. But if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go put a bottle in the fridge since it is heading to 84 degrees today…
Sparkler
Giovinale Moscato d’Asti 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Moscato – Piedmont, Italy
Rosés
Docetanidos Rosado 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Tempranillo/Albillo/Sauvignon Blanc – Cigales, Spain
Commanderie de Peyrassol 2006 (find this wine at retail)
Cinsault/Mourvedre/Grenache/Syrah – Provence, France
Whites
Ermita Veracruz 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Verdejo – Rueda, Spain
Domaine Ogereau 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Chenin Blanc – Anjou, France
Desierto 2006 (find this wine at retail)
Sauvignon Blanc – Argentina
Chateau Virgile 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Marsanne/Rousanne РCosti̬res de Nimes, France
Reds
San Romano 2004 (find this wine at retail)
Dolcetto – Piedmont, Italy
Burch Hall Winery 2003 (find this wine at retail)
Cabernet Sauvignon – Lodi, California
Camp Galhan “Les Perassières” 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Syrah/Grenache – Languedoc, France
Fonseca Periquita 2004 (find this wine at retail)
Castelḥo Frances РTerras do Sado, Portugal
Vina Gormaz 2005 (find this wine at retail)
Tempranillo – Ribera del Duero, Spain
