OBC/Corkscrew

Greetings!
I've been extremely busy lately, and I've tasted a ton of wine that I hope to be telling you about within the next week.
I'll also try to break it all up in easy-to-digest pieces...

First up, I've found an additional place for you to pay for and pick up your wine.
Besides Houston Wine Merchant, you can now ask me to order your wine through Houston's newest wine bar, The Corkscrew! (1919 Washington Ave. near downtown)
The pros: it's close to downtown and open later than HWM AND open on Sunday. Additionally, the price through them will be about 4% less than at HWM.
The cons, they'll need to pay for the wine when it arrives at the store, so you'll need to provide your credit card info when placing your order, but they won't run your card until the wine actually arrives.
Their webpage isn't open yet, but I'll include it at the bottom of this e-mail. In the meantime, you can get some info at http://houston.citysearch.com/profile/41892832/?brand=smx_bar-c#sponsorTop

So for now, I'll use a chart to show the prices you'll be paying.

...and now for some wine from Old Bridge Cellars, one of America's premier Australian wine importers.(You can read about the wineries and check out the labels at http://www.oldbridgecellars.com/)

I recently tasted almost 70 Australian wines from this importer, and felt that almost all of them were good values. I also felt that some of them were EXTREMELY good values! Here they are:

2003 Zonte's Footstep Cab Malbec – Ratings in the high 80’s from Stephan Tanzer, the Wine Spectator, and Robert Parker, who gave this wine a “Best Buy”, saying “Readers looking for more structure, leather, tobacco, and herb-tinged black currant and berry fruit should check out the 2003 Cabernet Malbec. Well-made, richly fruity, soft, and supple, it is the ideal choice for pizza, hamburgers, and picnics.” I would be happy paying up to $33 for this wine, but your price is less than $14!
2004 Zonte's Footstep Shiraz Viognier – Another “Best Buy” from Robert Parker, and Stephan Tanzer said “Bright ruby. Sweet aromas of cassis, ripe plum and blackberry, with subtle dried flower and herbal nuances. Velvety and round, showing a distinctly lush dark berry personality accented by fennel, lavender and a hint of camphor. Closes juicy and softly tannic.” I’d be happy paying up to $35 for this wine, but your cost is less than $15!
2003 Penley Estate Phoenix Cab Sauv – 91 points from Food and Wine magazine, and a “Best Buy” from Robert Parker, who gave it “Best Buy”, saying “Dark ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of cigar smoke, black currants, dusty earth, and a hint of road tar. Structured, with outstanding depth and purity as well as a long finish” I’d be happy paying up to $45 for this wine, but your cost is under $18
2003 Innocent Bystander Shiraz Viognier – A ‘Best Buy” rating from Robert Parker, who said “Offers an exotic marmalade and black currant-scented nose, medium body, no hard edges, plenty of fruit, little oak, and a lovely finish” I thought this was a $50 wine, but your cost is less than $18
1999 Leeuwin Estate "Prelude" Cab Merlot – I couldn’t find any published reviews on this wine, but I was struck by the depth and balance of this complex wine. Plums, chocolate and coffee were a few of the notes I wrote down. I’d be happy paying up to $60 for this wine, and your cost is well under $30!
2004 Leeuwin Estate "Prelude" Chardonnay – Once again, I couldn’t find a published review on this wine, but of the winery, the Wine Spectator has said “Leeuwin is the benchmark (Chardonnay producer), not only for the region, but for the country as a whole”. I have to admit that I found this Chardonnay rich and complex with notes of fig and fresh fruit. A very intriguing wine that I’d be happy paying up to $50 for. Your cost is about half that!
2004 d'Arenberg "Stump Jump" Riesling/Sauv Blanc/Marsanne – Yet another “Best Buy” from Robert Parker, who said “The value-priced cuvees include the 2004 The Stump Jump Riesling/Marsanne/Sauvignon Blanc, a tank-fermented and aged blend offering crisp, elegant aromas of citrus, grapefruit, apples, and lemon zest. Drink this light-bodied, fresh, tasty white over the next year.” I thought that this wine could sell for over $20, but you could buy TWO bottles for that price!


Prices…
Wine/My wine value/Spec’s price/Your price at HWM/Your price at the Corkscrew
2003 Zonte’s Footstep Cab/Malbec/$33/NA/13.75/13.25
2004 Zonte’s Footstep Shiraz/Voignier/$35/NA/14.25/13.75
2003 Penley Estate Phoenix Cab/$45/$18.57 (2001)/17.50/17.00
2003 Innocent Bystander Shiraz/Viognier/$50/$19.84/17.50/17.00
1999 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Cab/Merlot/$60/NA/26.00/25.00
2004 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay/$50/$27.85/26.00/25.00
2004 d’Arenberg Stump Jump White/$20+/NA/10.00/9.75

If you'd like any of the above wines, or something else, just let me know and I do what I can to get you your wine as soon as possible.
As always, thanks for your time, and enjoy your wine.
Cheers,
Chuck