Atomic Liquors in Eagan (Former Cellars Wine Shop) is having their January Sale but it is only on International Wines. There should be some good deals as on Thursday you can get 31% off!
I know there are many more good deals throughout the store so happy hunting!
Check out Champagne prices as those could be good!
2013 Bodega Norton Privada Mendoza – Argentina, Mendoza (5/9/2018)
Drank this over the course of 3 days and here is the day 3 review. Concentrated wine with the classic funk you would only get from the Left Bank gravel fields. Fruit is evident with plums, boysenberries and dark cherries. Super complex wine with spices, ink and dark chocolate. Medium to long finish and just an amazing wine. For a wine to hold up this strong over 3 days says a lot. This is a top 5 wine candidate for 2018. Still have 4 bottles. I paid $17 with tax and the lowest price on Wine Searcher is $17.99 without tax. (93 points) $17 (all is probably gone but this wine is good every vintage. I have sampled this wine six times and is off the charts for the price.
2010 Château de Lescours – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (7/8/2018)
Day 1: Light purple. A very pleasant wine overall. Roasted chestnuts, dark chocolate, baking spices and plums. On the finish their is some nice smoke flavors and medium in length. Drink now or hold. 90 points
Day 2: A little more harsh on day 2. Not quite as complex and bitter chocolate character. Almost at times water downed. Based on this I would consume this wine on the sooner side. I will revisit day 3 but declined quite a bit. 85 points
Day 3: Similar to day 1. Much more intensity and showing some nice fruit including Bing cherries. My day 2 review was wrong on what aging potential this wine has. 90 points
Recommendation: Drink this wine now to 2022. (90 points) $24
2012 Bodega Colomé Malbec Estate – Argentina, Salta, Calchaquies (1/27/2018)
Opened the night before. More open for business today with bramble, subtle spices, blueberries, strawberries and a touch of shaved chocolate on the finish. On the nose it is more intense than the palate which is round and soft. It is a pleasing offering and at $17.50 a bottle certainly a very good QPR.
Day 3 Review: Nose is better. Blackberries, blueberries, floral notes and spices. Not an over the top effort and quite balanced. Should be enjoyed within the next few years. Similar score but a little different profile than day 1/2. 90 points (90 points) $17.50
2012 Kaesler Avignon – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/10/2018)
Day 1: Opened for about 3 hours. Nice Garrique, red currants, subtle spices and pine tar. This drinks more like a CDP than any other Aussie Grenache Blend I have ever tasted. An absolutely stunning value (won’t tell you what I paid for it). An early candidate for QPR of the year and will be hard to beat. Will be interested to see what this does on day 2 and 3.
Day 2: Still singing with similarities to day 1. Very intense wine with tons of flavors complexity. Long finish. A true find. Under the radar as I did not like the 2012 Bogan and gave it sub 80 points. Wow!!! 93 points (93 points) $19.50
Unfortantely most of the deals are their Domestic Wines.
Not Recommended (You don’t see this with Bill Ward, Jason Kallsen or Leslee Miller.
2014 Santa Ema Amplus One – Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley, Peumo (4/6/2018)
Day 1: Eucalyptus, stems, rose petals and dust. The palate and finish is bitter and very unpleasant. This is one of the worst wines I have sampled in years. A complete disaster. We will see what happens on day 2 and 3. The funny thing on this wine is James Suckling gave this wine 93 points. What was he thinking? 75 points
Day 2: Nose still similar but the palate is better. Less of the awful stem/bitter taste. Eucalyptus has died down some. More fruit showing. Much more drinkable but still an under achiever. 81 points
Day 3: Really has soften into a decant/drinkable wine. Jammy fruits, spice and way less bitterness. Short to medium finish. The best of the 3 days. 83 points (83 points) $16.65
2016 Achával-Ferrer Malbec – Argentina, Mendoza (5/5/2018)
Very mediocre for this producer. Fruit overload with some spices. Not balanced and nothing like the great efforts of previous vintages. (85 points) $15.87
2014 Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon Portrait – Australia, South Australia, Barossa (8/9/2018)
Day 1: Big wine and dark color. Smoke, dark fruits, eucalyptus and crushed rock. Not the most balanced wine but still tasty. 85 points
Day 2: Not good. Taste of earth and stewed fruit. Very poor on day 2. 80 points
Day 3: Even worse.
Recommendation: Pass on this wine. No life ahead and too many good Aussie reds for less money. (85 points)