The first offer is for the annual release of the Beaujolais Nouveau in mid-November; we’ve secured some Georges Duboeuf so you can take part in this fun, unique, global rush to be amongst the first to serve this new wine.

The second offer is for two superbly priced and intriguing Verget du Suds Provencals – wines that if you tried in a wine store tasting, you’d probably impulsively buy a case of each there and then.

The third offer is for some superb Domaine Santa Duc from Gigondas – serious, beautiful wines in very limited quantities. As Santa Duc is widely considered the best producer in Gigondas, you may well be interested in the entry-level but seriously good Santa Duc Vin du Pays, which is all of $16.

Because these wines are limited, they are not on our website and are only available by ‘Replying’ to this email with your order, or calling us.

The offer:

• The first offer – for the Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau – will arrive and be dispatched in mid-November. It's available by the case only to speed up delivery.
• The Provencals and the Domaine Santa Duc are available now.
• Orders over $250 have free delivery.
• Just ‘Reply’ to place your orders for any or all of them and we’ll be in touch to confirm payment and delivery details.

At the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday of every November, France erupts in massive celebration in honour of the unveiling (or should we say uncorking) of the Beaujolais Nouveau wine. Beaujolais Nouveau, which is a young wine (only six weeks old) comes from a region south of Burgundy in France. This light-bodied, fruity wine has been brilliantly marketed – first, in France, now globally – as a great celebration of life, wine and a grand French tradition.

All over France, impressive celebrations have developed in honor of the release of the Beaujolais, with the biggest festival taking place in Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region. This little city springs to life, hosting a massive party called Sarmentelles. The party gets its name from the French word for cuttings from the canes of grapevines called sarments, which are burned in the center of town just prior to the grand midnight unveiling. Then huge wine barrels are opened to much fanfare and party-goers indulge in the new wine for the festival’s three day duration. Other areas in France also boisterously celebrate the arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau. Lyon hosts the Beaujolympiades (Beaujolympics), marking the release of the wine with music and fireworks followed by two days of sampling. In Paris, restaurants and bistros host their Beaujolais Nouveau parties, staying open through the night and uncorking hundreds of bottles after midnight.

It has become a worldwide race to be the first to serve this new wine of the harvest. In doing so, it will be carried by motorcycle, balloon, truck, helicopter, plane, elephant, runners and rickshaws to get it to its final destination (somehwat more prosaically, we use Australia Post ...) It is amazing to realise that just weeks beforehand this wine was a cluster of grapes in a grower’s vineyard. But by an expeditious harvest, a rapid fermentation, and a speedy bottling, all is ready at the midnight hour.

We’ve arranged for a shipment of Beaujolais from the biggest and best producer – George Duboeuf – to arrive in mid-November, for immediate shipment. To secure your allocation we need orders by this Friday 21st September. Join in the Beaujolais fun.

To despatch orders as soon as they arrive from France, this wine is available by the case only - $348 a dozen, including delivery.

My order is for _____ cases of the Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau at $348 case

The two wines below are far from your run-of-the-mill southern French offerings. These wines are crafted by wine provocateur Jean-Marie Guffens at his Provencal estate, Château des Tourettes, a few kilometres from the beautiful Roman market town of Apt, in the foothills of the stunning Luberon Mountains.

Not one known for doing it by the book, Guffens has purposefully ruffled the feathers of his neighbours and the AOC authorities of the sleepy Côtes du Luberon with his viticultural and winemaking ideas. He grew varieties, like Chardonnay, that were not permitted in the AOC and he made his rosé entirely from Syrah - sacre bleur! (Today it is a blend of Syrah & Grenache & Cabernet). He bottled the wines under screwcap and the coup de grâce that really got tongues wagging was when he released the multi vintage red “As time goes by...” that we offer below. For these sins Guffens cannot use the appellation name but he and we couldn’t care less.

The sheer deliciousness and value being delivered by the two wines below is staggering. Don’t hesitate.

NV Verget du Sud ‘Au fil du temps’ (As time goes by) Rouge - $23

We can't tell you the vintage of this wine because, well, it doesn't have one. We can't even tell you the exact blend of grapes except to say that it’s predominantly Grenache. We can tell you that all the fruit comes from Guffens ‘Tourettes’ Estate in the Côtes de Luberon which is planted to Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

We can also tell you that it is one of the best value reds we have come across from France in ages. It’s a fragrant, supple, super juicy and gluggable Provencal red packed with dark cherry, earth, garrigue, tapenade and subtle animale notes. The mouthfeel is juicy and tender with loads of character, pure flavours and lovely freshness. Most importantly it finishes cool and bright.

This is Versatile with a capital V and just ridiculously drinkable. We bought all we could and are working on getting more. It will still not be enough. Au fil du temps is an expression that could equally be translated as ‘As time marches on’ or, ‘In the course of time’, ‘Time waits for no one', ‘Through the years’ or, more directly, ‘Along the thread of time’. The idea behind the multi vintage blend is quite matter of fact. Guffens simply felt he could produce - from a palette of vintages - an inexpensive 'bistro' red that would taste greater than the sum of its parts. The wines are stored on lees in variable capacity stainless tanks and concrete tanks. This particular bottling is a blend of wines made from fruit harvested in 2007, 2008 and 2009. "Vin Juste!" says Guffens, denoting an honest wine reflective of its region without any make up or fabrication.

We say a lip-smacking, harmonious, refreshing and superbly priced creation. Try some.

My order is for _____ bottles of the NV Verget du Sud ‘Au fil du temps’ (As time goes by) Rouge - at $23 a bottle

2011 Verget du Sud Vaucluse $24

A must-try for those in the market for cracking value, Provencal, dry rosé.

This is, to be blunt, as good as many a Bandol.

It has a wickedly sexy, pulpy mid palate texture, thanks to the exclusive use of free run juice but the finish is crunchy dry and super savoury. You are left with a wildly floral and fresh herb scented perfume in your mouth that demands you take another sip. The light colour belies the intensity of this wine but does hint at its remarkable seductiveness.

Wines that deliver such pure yumminess for low dollars are like manna from heaven as far as we are concerned. Unlike previous bottlings of this wine where Syrah was the hero, the 2011 is made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet. But such details are truly irrelevant once you had a sip of this wine. Pure Provence – that’s what you get here.

My order is for _____ bottles of the 2011 Verget du Sud Vaucluse at $24 a bottle

Lastly, we are very pleased to offer some stunning high-rating Gigondas wines from Domaine Santa Duc, including some very rare Magnums.

"One of the long--time benchmarks for superb Gigondas is Yves Gras’ estate on the high plateau several kilometres outside the entrance to this old Roman village. He has also expanded into the negociants end of the business with his Santa Duc Selections, which are very reliable wines worth a serious look." Robert Parker

Yves Gras of Domaine Santa Duc is a legendary producer of Gigondas. He lives in a section of Gigondas known as the garrigue. The garrigue is the arid, rocky section of vineyards that run north and south mid-slope between the Ouvéze and the Rhône Rivers. The roasted, dry soils are decomposed rock and the area is characterized by wild herbs, sage and cedar.

Domaine Santa Duc was founded in Gigondas in 1874 and had been passed down through four generations. Yves Gras, who is a charming, handsome and completely hands-on oenologist and the brains and talent behind this operation, took over from his father in 1985. He is one of the great characters of the region and is renowned for producing wines which are powerful examples of the local terroir.

Gigondas has been a wine area of great repute since the Gallo-Roman period thanks to the immense character of its red wines.

Gigondas wine-growers make themselves abide by a strict set of rules: a maximum yield fixed at 36 hl per hectare, sorting of the grapes so as to keep only the best… The Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault grape varieties of Santa Duc grow in two types of earth: the one being on the calcareous marls of the Cretaceous period on the area of land behind Vieille (the hillside behind the old hospices of the village); the other being on the poor red stony clay soils of Quaternary period ; these areas are the Hautes garrigues, les Carbonnières, les Rocassières, Santa Duc, les Pailleroudas, les Goujard and Plane. The combination of these contrasting soils gives balanced wines, both full-bodied and yet elegant.

Those that know Gigondas well know Yves Gras and Domaine Santa Duc. A living legend of the Southern Rhone and the reference for quality Gigondas – indeed, many say that Domaine Santa Duc is the benchmark producer and wines from Gigondas don’t get any better.

And, thanks to the Euro, these Santa Ducs are the most affordable in years.

2010 Les Plans VdP $16

Amazing value for this Vin De Pays de Vaucluse from the best Gigondas producer. It’s a blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (25%), Merlot (15%) and Cabernet (10%).

My order is for _____ bottles of the 2010 Les Plans VdP at $16 a bottle

2009 Rasteau Vielles Vignes ‘Les Blovac’ $30

“Readers looking for a blockbuster wine from the negociant end of this business should check out the 2009 Rasteau Les Blovac. Both of these huge, massive wines are classic Rasteaus, made from old vines and possessing loads of chocolate, scorched earth, roasted herbs and layers of kirsch and even blacker fruits, with massive body and some tannins to shed. They are not for everybody, but they are intriguing wines that are faithful to their appellation.” 90 Points -- Drink 2010--2020 Robert Parker --‐ Wine Advocate #197

My order is for ____ bottles of the 2009 Rasteau Vielles Vignes ‘Les Blovac’ at $30/bottle

2009 Gigondas $44

“(75% grenache, 15% syrah and 5% each of mourvedre and cinsault): Glass-staining ruby. Vibrant raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by Asian spices and candied lavender. On the palate, sweet black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors are energized by white pepper and spice nuances. The long, gently chewy finish features fine-grained tannins and lingering florality.” 92 Points – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar , January 2012

My order is for _____ bottles of the 2009 Gigondas at $44 a bottle

My order is for _____ MAGNUMS of the 2009 Gigondas at $98 a bottle 

2009 Gigondas ‘Prestige Des Hautes Garrigues’ MAGNUM $189

"A true whopper, and one of the great examples I have tasted from Yves Gras is his 2009 Gigondas Prestige Les Hautes Garrigues. It possesses 16.5% natural alcohol, and the level of concentration is remarkable. Inky purple to the rim, this wine, which is aged 20% in new oak casks and the rest in older wood and foudres, has a stunning nose of lead pencil shavings, incense, camphor, barbecue smoke, blackberry, cassis and kirsch. Its smorgasbord of aromas follow through in the mouth. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre, with ripe Mourvedre giving structure and a meaty complexity to the wine, this is a massive Gigondas that will hit its stride in 2-3 years, and last for two decades. I am not exaggerating its aging potential, as I still have bottles of the 1989 Prestige Les Hautes Garrigues that are fully mature, but gorgeous."
96 Points – Drink 2013--2033 Robert Parker  Wine Advocate #197

"(80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre): Deep ruby. Sexy blackberry and blackberry scents verge on liqueur-like, with bright mineral and spice notes providing energy. Lush, creamy and smooth, with densely packed dark berry flavors lifted by a spicy nuance. Supple tannins add shape to the very long, sweet, clinging finish. Incidentally, the 2006 version of this wine is drinking wonderfully, based on a bottle that I tried in New York in December. It is just hitting its plateau of maturity and will provide great pleasure for at least the next few years.’93 Points - International Wine Cellar, January 2012

My order is for _____ MAGNUMS of the 2009 Gigondas ‘Prestige Des Hautes Garrigues’ at $189 a bottle