Wine Unfiltered

Labor Day is finally here. To quote Futurama,” That phoney baloney holiday cooked up by fat cat union gangsters…hot damn a day off!”

Well, if it weren’t 96 degrees in San Fernando Valley today as I write this, I’d definitely want to celebrate the soon-to-be fall season and pop open the blackest red wine I would find, and while I’m dreaming, I may as well stroll around my giant castle and sip it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t stock up for when I can finally have some clouds in the sky that aren’t brush fire based. Here are some Bevmo and Wine.com tasty sales to cellar on this Labor Day weekend dealtasm.

Keep deep in fortress cellar:

Rubicon Estate Cask Cabernet ‘05  Regular Price: $79.99    ClubBev: $49.99

Bevmo: “Lots of new, smoky oak that stands out; give it a little time in a decanter before you drink; should develop for a decade.”

Casanova di Neri Brunello Di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2003  Price: $75.00 $42.99  Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

Wine.com: “Intense aromas of blackberry, licorice and black cherry. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a chewy finish. Has impressive structure for the vintage. Very well-made. Best after 2011.”

Decant in the light of dusk:

Yangarra Estate Cadenzia ‘05 Regular Price: $27.99    ClubBev: $19.99

Bevmo: ”Notes of chocolate brownies fresh from the oven that mingles with ripe raspberry-strawberry fruit; rich, round, supple and velvety on the palate.”

Aalto 2003 Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Spain  Price: $55.00 $34.99

Wine.com: 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) from 40-100 year old vines. “Ripe fruit flavors of black cherry and fig are sweetened by vanilla oak in this plush, jammy red. The tannins are big, ripe and well-integrated. ”

Open the drawbridge:

Teusner Shiraz Riebke ‘06 Regular Price: $29.99    ClubBev: $15.99

Bevmo: ”Shows complex aromas of cedar, violets, bacon, smoked meat and blueberry; structured with succulent flavors, ripe tannins, and a long finish.”

Cuvee Mythique Reserve 2004  Price: $22.00 $14.95 Rhone Red Blend from Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Wine.com: ”Beautiful strong purple color tinged with violet. The nose, associating aromas of black cherry and a touch of cacao, follows on when decanted with a suggestion of roast chestnuts. There is good length to the wine which is full and really luscious, with assertive but well-ripened tannins. Aromas of spice and plum mark an engaging finish.”