3 Great Wines at Morelli’s Market in St. Paul

I have been a big fan of Morelli’s Market in St. Paul for years and while it is check or cash only the savings are the best in the Twin Cities Market. Check out these 3 great picks for your Holiday Season.

1. Sparkling Wine. Roederer Anderson Valley is the best US sparkling wine for the money. They have it for $19.97 which is the lowest price in the country. Here are some recent reviews from 3 Day.

• NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/2/2023)
  As the world leader in this NV wine this is the 2/2002 Disgorgement. This is really good with apple, chalk, pear, lemon and floral notes. Really a solid. Much better than the crap Veuve I tried today. (90 points)
• NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (11/24/2023)
  Another strong showing featuring dough, lemon, minerals, grapefruit and mild spice. Nice acidity and a solid again. (91 points)
• NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (10/24/2023)
  One of the better bottles and on day 3 none the less. Orange peel, sour apple, dough, minerals and spices. Very complex offering and much better than the base bottle of Veuve. (92 points)

2. Bordeaux Blend from the US. Alexander Valley Cyrus might be the best value in the Bordeaux Blend market in the US. While not a fan of their cheaper offerings this truly delivers. Cost $39.97 (Best price in the nation)

• 2016 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (9/30/2023)
  Day 1: Lots of sediment that I strained out on glass one. Not a bad thing! Bordeaux like with gravel, sour cherry, spice, earth, tobacco, rose petals and dust. Medium to long finish. Super concentrated, balanced wine. If only those Napa $200 wineries could produce something like this. 94 points (94 points)
• 2016 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (8/27/2023)
  Day 1: Another great showing of this wine. For $45 with tax can’t beat this in the true Bordeaux Style. Tobacco, gravel, sour cherry, minerals, spice, floral and earth. Good acidity and medium plus finish. Excellent value.
  Day 4: OK this will age as well as any Bordeaux in that $50 price range. Small glass left and off the charts. Vibrant and bright fruits, tobacco, spice, rose petals, gravel, dust and minerals. Medium plus finish and concentrated. Outstanding value! 95 points (95 points)

3. A great Blend from Spain. Have not tried the Clio in many years so thought I would revisit. This is off the charts and could help those who drink Caymus, Orin Swift and the Prisoner to move to a better wine. Cost $38.97.

• 2021 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio – Spain, Murcia, Jumilla (12/3/2023)
  Day 1: This is bursting with flavor. Don’t let the 15.5% alcohol fool you. Have not had this wine in a while and excellent. Pepper, boysenberries, tar, floral, exotic spices and red currants. Medium plus finish. 93 points
  Day 2: The perfect wine to get the Prisoner or Caymus drinker out of their bad habits. This is rich and robust but is real wine. Boysenberries, floral, pepper, exotic spices, plum, mild funk, stone and tar. Medium plus finish and powerful wine. 94 points. Day 3: This is excellent. Exceeds expectations. Vibrant fruit, crushed rock, boysenberries, spice, violets, pepper and floral notes. Medium plus finish. 94 points.
  Recommendation: more for sure. (94 points)