Last Bottle's marathon delivers again! The offerings were not as good this time, but I was able to cherry-pick a few. Then I had to worry about my box getting here after LB notified me that it had shipped it but UPS tracking said for days that it wasn't moving, and LB would not reply to my inquiries. But here it is!
Happy to get more of the Xavier Vins Arcane L'Etoile Beaumes de Venise NV (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre) The Arcane Etoile is a multi vintage blend from 2015-2016-2017. 95 points, Jeb Dunnack. At this point, I could afford 4. I am wanting a case, though! This is said to be a one-off blend from only these years, so when it is gone, it is gone. I was blown away by my first two. Dark and deep, just like I like.
2018 Levo Under the Gun Grenache from the Central Coast in Paso Robles (94 points, Jeb Dunnack), flanked by a pair of 2019 South African Lubanzi proprietary rhone reds (75% Syrah, 18% Grenache and 7% Mourvèdre). I have had the Lubanzi before and it is a decent everyday wine that is available here at $19.95. These cost $14. This will be my first trial of Under the Gun, which I have seen priced as high as $46.99. I got this one for $29.
2014 Dievole Chianti Classico (90, Wine Spectator), 2019 Gran Maestro Rossi Puglia IGT, and 2018 Pope Valley (Napa Valley) Merlot (75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec). The Pope Valley seems to be a wine drinker fav, ranking an average 4 or 5 stars on various sites. I have seen it priced as high as $89, and $48 seems to be an average. This one was $24.
Summer is looking good down in the cellar.