Two Under $12 (Plus An Even Better Deal)

Who can believe the doldrums of February are just around the corner? When it's this cold outside we crave heart-warming, easy-drinking reds to sip in front of a roaring fire. A good bottle of red wine goes a long way toward keeping a brave smile on our face, even when the north wind blows.

We're pleased to offer two new delicious reds for your immediate consumption, both of which are exceptional values.

In our book that = delicious + easy on the wallet.

Plus one really fantastic offer which is only good until the end of the month (yikes, that's next week!).

With this frigid weather weighing heavily upon us, is anyone else out there thinking Cassoulet?!? Do any of you make it at home? If so, send us an email and let us know about your experience. If you're going to make Cassoulet or any other hearty dish soon, you really should check out this next wine.

Domaine Laroque Carcassonne 2011

Fellow foodies rejoice. We found a wine born to serve with Cassoulet (a favorite treat to warm the bones when the weather is so very cold). Domaine Laroque hails from the ancient walled city of Carcassonne, which is in fact world famous for its delicious Cassoulet.

The walled city of Carcassonne (photo by Kevin Plumb)

Domaine Laroque, which means "the rock," is located in the hills of the famous fortified city of Carcassonne in southern France. We were introduced to this wine by an elite fine wine buyer from a brilliant wholesaler. He speaks rather quietly, so we listen carefully. His comment on Domaine Laroque was "fine wine discovery of the year?" -- naturally we jumped on it.

We'll be the first to admit we're not normally enamored with Cabernet Franc on its own. We love it as a blending grape in Bordeaux, but Chinon has never finds its way to our table. It's something about that black olive, green tobacco leaf vibe that turns us right off.

This Cabernet Franc is quite different.

Domaine Laroque is a medium-bodied, fresh and fruity wine with flavors of red berry and vanilla. Even if you aren't making Cassoulet, this wine would be great with pasta, lamb or chicken. Do us a favor, though, and whip out that aerator (or at least decant it for a bit). The result will be a rather smooth and tasty tipple.

$11.99/bottle or $115/12 pack case ($9.58/bottle) or just $9.58/bottle in a mixed case of wine.

Laurent Miquel Pere et Fils Syrah Grenache 2009

We adore wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern France. In fact, some of the best values in the world can be found here for a fraction of the price you would normally pay in the Southern Rhône.

This adorable red is made with 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. Think of it as a quaffable Côtes du Rhone wanna-be. And at this price, you can afford to drink it every day.

"Dark plum, currant and pemmican flavors dominate this ripe, full-bodied red. Pepper and smoke mark the sinewy finish. Drink now. 9,000 cases made." (Wine Spectator)

Wine Spectator: 87 points

Did anyone else have to look up pemmican? :o)

$11.99/bottle or $115/12 pack case ($9.58/bottle) or just $9.58/bottle in a mixed case of wine.

So, where's that fantastic offer we mentioned???

Purchase two bottles of either the Domaine Laroque OR the Laurent Miquel for the special price of just $16 ($8/bottle) -- that's over 32% savings!!! For a limited time only. Sorry no mix and match on this one (our software won't allow for these kind of shenanigans). This offer expires on Thursday, January 31 at 9 pm.

What a nice opportunity to sample some new wines with a whopping 32% savings. Take that old man winter.

* Wine & Spirit Education Trust Certified *

Town Center Wine & Spirits Cape Cod's Most Trusted Wine Merchant

Location 4550 State Highway North Eastham, MA 02651 (Next to the Royal Thai Restaurant in the Town Center Plaza) Tel: 508 255 3660 Fax: 508 255 6736

Winter Hours Mon-Sat: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday: 12. to 6 p.m.   We're open year round. Closed only on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.