Good to be back and writing about wine! I like my sports but it’s no fun when something breaks. Looks to be another great skiing season, though… Yikes, there he goes again!

Didn’t neglect to keep up on good and drinkable wine at affordable prices:

Domaine du Montru Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2010 is such a creature: Limpid pale straw in the glass, with notes of lemon in the nose and crisp mineral, citrus and hints of scone in the mouth. Medium on the end. $8.99/750ml.

From the foothills of the Pyrenees in SW France Chateau Jolys Jurançon Sec 2010 is a 50/50% blend of Gros Marseng and Petit Marseng. The grapes in Jurançon are grown in clay and limestone soils covered with small pebbles located on steep slopes. Light green in the glass, with citrus perfume, wet stone in the mouth layered with lemon and hints of ginger and a bone dry finish. $17.79/750ml.

The Vaucluse department of France is centered in Avignon but named after the village of Vaucluse. One of my favorites, L’Ameillaud Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2010 is back in stock. Basically a Cotes du Rhone. The winery is located just outside of Cairanne. Cepage is Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. Very dark in the glass. Violets showing in the perfume. Pepper, hints of anisette, and some prune provide layered flavors in the mouth and grip on the finish. $9.49/750ml.

The run-up in pricing on Bordeaux doesn’t extend below the classified growths and it’s still possible to buy great wine from the region without having a huge bankroll. Chateau Hauts de Plaisance 2009 Haut-Medoc is case in point. Ruby red with a dark core and transparent rims, notes of rose and cedar in the perfume, layered cedar, gunmetal, and black cherry with an undercarriage of tannin that knits it all together. $14.79/750ml.

Buy of the week:

Domaine Albin Jacumin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007: Loaded with layered kirsch, rosemary, baked clay and enough tannin to scorch the insides of your cheeks. A masterpiece of the southern Rhone valley that keeps on improving after opening for several days of delightful quaffing. An incredible buy at $24.99/750ml. This one won’t last long at this price. 15% discount on cases of 12/750ml. Eat your heart out, Trader Moe!