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 2011 Chateau Malausanne Bordeaux
reg. $6.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 14%
Bordeaux isn't always made to be aged, and Chateau Malausanne is proof. It's designed to offer classic Bordeaux style right away, and at a price that you can enjoy right away, too. And we know - we taste hundreds of inexpensive Bordeaux samples each year, and only buy the best.
 2011 Feudo Arancio Stemmari Nero d'Avola
reg. $7.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 25%
Nero D'Avola is Sicily's native red, known for its plush berry and pomegranate fruit, powerful tannins and violet perfume. Stemmari is usually a great deal, but at this price, how can you say no?
2012 Domaine des Cassagnoles
Cotes de Gascogne Blanc
reg. $7.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 6%
Why doesn't California make wine like this? Crisp, dry and refreshing. Fresh notes of lime and grass make this a perfect option for adventurous fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
 2011 Corbillieres Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
reg. $12.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 15%
Drinks like a Sancerre at a fraction of the price. Sauvignon blanc from the heart of the Loire, a region known for vibrant whites. Fresh, floral and crisp, pair this with seafood pasta with cream sauce.
2011 Hahn Meritage
reg. $15.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 18%
Hahn combines the classic profile of Bordeaux grapes with the ripeness of California's Central Coast. Deep red fruits framed by coffee and vanilla notes, in a blend that is more than the sum of its parts.
 2010 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec
reg. $15.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 12%
America's answer to Cotes du Rhone? A blend of syrah, grenache, mourvedre and counoise. It's a charming and fun red with bright berry notes and complex spicebox. Exotic, but not too exotic.
2010 Vietti Nebbiolo Perbacco
reg. $23.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 8%
The same grape that makes Barolo, and from some of the same hills, but without the word"Barolo" on the label, you can afford a bottle. This wine has that hauntingly complex nebbiolo nose - orange peel, game, anise.
 2011 Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve
reg. $34.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 20%
What California chardonnay should be. Big, full, in your face fun chardonnay. Plenty of vanilla, ripe fruit. Goes right to the pleasure center of the brain.
Find more Best Buys in the Binny's May Wine Sale: Binny's May Wine Sale. Prices valid through 5/31 with your Binny's Card. |
 The 2012 Bordeaux en premier campaign is upon us. That means right now is the time to secure your 2012 Bordeaux allocations at what will probably be the lowest prices. Bottles should arrive between a year and two years from now. We have offerings starting at twelve bucks a bottle, going all the way up to $500.
The 2012 vintage is turning out to be a buyer's vintage. It was a tricky year for growers and winemakers. Late summer heat and autumn rain made for uneven ripeness, causing low yields and labor-intensive grape sorting. Fans of traditional, classically styled Bordeaux should like this year. Expect focused wines with less heavy fruit and leaner tannins. Also, fans of less expensive wines should like this year, as prices have dropped compared to previous vintages.
At first, it didn't look like Binny's was going to load up on many 2012's, but as the campaign continues, we're finding more and more hidden values: well-reviewed wines at prices too good to pass up. So be sure to check out the 2012 Bordeaux Futures Binny's is offering, and be sure to check back often as more 2012's become available!
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For this month's Staff Picks, we turned to Plainfield Binny's Wine Manager Tim Evans. Tim's lifelong wine career has literally taken him around the world. Tim's Picks are interesting wines, some obscure, so you won't find them all at every Binny's. If you don't see it, be sure to ask! |
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2012 Elio Perrone Bigaro
Binny's Price: ...
This sweet rose is made from moscato and brachetto blended together. It screams summer party - think of wild strawberries soaked in a light syrup - with a hint of sparkle and a bit of Chantilly cream.
 2011 Emilio Bulfon Piculit Neri
Binny's Price: ...
This grape almost disappeared until Emilio Bulfon brought it back from near extinction. Aromatic, with fresh raspberries, strawberries, and currants and a slight whiff of smoke. On the palate, mouthwatering flavors of berries combine with dusty tannins, white pepper and spice. Try it with salami, burgers, wild boar and antipasto dishes.
2011 Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend
Binny's Price: ...
Still as good as ever, with one slight difference - it is now from Spain and not Australia. Sarah's Blend is intensely ripe and fruit driven, lying thick on the palate with almost a jam like concentration. Caramel, coffee, and dark spice bracket the fruit, balancing against the fruit. The finish is long and intense with a wisp of creamy smoke slowly ebbing into the background.
 2011 Baby Blue
Binny's Price: ...
A gutsy wine to pair with ribs, burgers, salmon or lamb with Moroccan spices. Big fruit - cherry, black and red currant, plus white pepper, sage, vanilla and chalk. Finishes with coffee, caramel, toffee and blue fruit. It's a delicious Bordeaux blend with an extra dollop of syrah.
Yalumba Museum Reserve
Binny's Price: ... /375mL
Yalumba is the oldest family owned winery in Australia, and they know how to make great wine! Caramel, toffee, candied orange, marzipan, dried plum, and so much more. So much going on, the flavors just bombard your palate. One of my favorite dessert wines of all time. When I need a wine to go with Dark Chocolate or Pecan Pie, this is it.
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Born and raised in the UK, Tim has been around wine and food his whole life - from his family's restaurants, to some of the best hotels and retailers in the world. Tim married and moved to the US, working with wine and food from Nantucket to Washington State. Now he's the Wine Manager at the Binny's in Plainfield! Drop Tim a line at tevans@binnys.com. |
Walla Walla, Washington Binny's recently sent a small group of Wine Consultants and Managers to Walla Walla, Washington. Their mission, to explore the region and discover some great wines. Jon Kaiser, Wine Manager at Binny's Bloomington, reports from the road:
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The vineyards in Walla Walla have to be in elevation above 600 feet to avoid damaging frost when the vines start to bud. A primary characteristic of these valleys that create such rich and full bodied cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and cabernet franc is that during the warmer months the valley floors get very warm but the vines enjoy drastically cooler nights. The sun warms the soil during the day so that it radiates heat throughout the night, keeping the vines active even when the temperature cools. Average rainfall in Walla Walla is only 17 inches per year, so most of the agriculture in the area is dry farmed wheat while vineyards utilize drip irrigation.
Several of the wineries we visited in Walla Walla are located on the property of the Walla Walla Regional Airport. It was an Army Air Base during World War II where pilots learned to fly B-17 bomber aircraft. While the airport still flies small commercial planes, The Port of Walla Walla overtook ownership of the property in 1989 and the older barracks, firehouse, hangars, and buildings associated with the base are now home to 20 plus wineries including three of the biggest. We got a chance to visit Tamarack Cellars, Buty, Dunham. The quality and volume coming out of these small facilities is astounding, with production on the scale of both very large and very small. From 100,000 case production wines to just a few thousand. We tasted barrel samples at many of the wineries we visited, and one of our favorites was at the Long Shadows vineyard. Customers will love Michel Rolland's 2012 Pedestal Merlot when it finally hits the shelves at Binny's - in a few years.
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See more photos from the trip on the Binny's Blog.
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With our 23 climate-controlled wine cellars, Binny's has a library of rare and collectable wines. We asked our cellarmaster to highlight one special selection that you don't want to miss. |
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"One of the bright new producers in Cornas...."
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate In a marginal climate like the northern Rhone, Syrah vines struggle to yield ripe fruit. But should they do so, such wine will offer a breathtaking range of flavors. Enthusiasts of this French varietal know of Cote Rotie and Hermitage, legendary northern Rhone hillside appellations where some of the world's finest wines are found. But in recent years, Cornas and its wines have re-emerged, offering those same breathtaking range of telltale flavors but at a small fraction of the cost, say, of a Chave Hermitage or a Guigal single-vineyard Cote-Rotie. This Cellarmaster's Selection, a wine made by Vincent Paris, is as classic as they come with its suggestions of black cherries and violets. Delicious now, today's offer can age for a decade or more, gaining in complexity with suggestions of smoked meat and tobacco, should you have the patience.
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 2011 Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30
reg. $34.99 ... w/Binny's Card
"The fabulous 2011 Cornas Granite 30 is one of the great wines of the vintage. Elegant, with a black/blue color, sweet tannin and loads of spring flowers, crushed rocks, smoked game and blackberry fruit, this textured, loaded, supple, accessible 2011 should drink nicely for 15 or more years."
Reviewed by Robert Parker, 93-95 The Wine Advocate
This Cellarmaster's Selection is highly collectable and in limited supply. It will not last long. |
Focus on Oregon Pinot Noir Put away the big cabernets and the rich malbecs, and grab some red wine that works better with the warmer weather. These light, refreshing and restrained pinot noirs of Oregon are perfect for afternoon picnics wine for nights on the deck.
|  2010 Firesteed Pinot Noir
Binny's Price: ...
A great value made in a light, fruity, easy to drink style. Firesteed prides itself in making quality Pinot Noir from Oregon at a reasonable price.
2011 A to Z Pinot Noir
reg. $17.99 ... w/Binny's Card - Save 11%
This winery likes to say they offer "aristocratic wines at democratic prices." They certainly make a ton of quality wine, and this pinot is one of our most popular wines from anywhere. Stock up on this one while it's on sale.
2011 Elk Cove Pinot Noir
Binny's Price: ...
Elk Cove has been on a roll lately, earning rave reviews from the wine press. Their Willamette Valley offering is a serious wine at a reasonable price. If you want to know what Oregon pinot is all about, grab a bottle.
 2011 Adelsheim Pinot Noir
Binny's Price: ...
One of the pioneers in Oregon, the first vintage of Adelsheim's pinot was made in 1979. Intense and elegant. This would pair perfectly with salmon.
2009 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve
Binny's Price: ...
Another founding Oregon winery, the Ponzi family came to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960's and decided to grow Pinot Noir. Save the reserve for special occasions! It will show you how far this region has come in the past 40 years.
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 Maybe the closest Chinese cuisine to the American palate is bao. Those steamed buns can be filled with literally anything, from ham and cheese to lamb tagine. But it's most commonly associated with Char Siu, or Cantonese barbecued pork. Here's an easy recipe that you can try at home. |
The Dough
| Ingredients 1 cup warm water
3 tbsp sugar
2-3 tsp dry yeast
3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp corn or canola oil
1/2 tsp salt |  | Directions Combine water, yeast and sugar in a bowl and let sit covered for 10 minutes. Slowly stir in all the other ingredients. Once you have formed a dough, knead until it takes on a shiny, smooth consistency. Let sit in a covered, oiled bowl for an hour or until it has doubled in size. |
The Filling
| Ingredients 1 lb meat, traditionally pork
1 tbsp Five Spice Powder
1 cup Scallions, chopped
3 tbsp Hoisin sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt | | Directions Rub meat with five spice powder and cook on a grill pan, turning occasionally for about twenty minutes or until the meat reaches a temperature of 160F. Give the pork a slight char on the outside. Once cooled, mince the pork and combine with all other ingredients. Refrigerate until the dough is ready.
Once the dough has risen punch it down, roll out and slice into what should be around 10 golf ball sized pieces. Roll these flat, about 4 inch diameter, then fill each with 1/4 cup filling, bringing up the sides of the dough and pinch tightly to form a small, flattened pouch.
You now have Bao! Steam them on cabbage leaves in a bamboo steamer (or a vegetable steamer if you don't collect odd cooking implements) until they puff. Serve hot with soy sauce and a delicious bottle of wine. We recommend: |
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 2011 Kurt Angerer Gruner Veltliner Kies
Binny's Price: ...
A longtime favorite. Fruity, medium bodied and easy drinking. It is fresh and pleasant with enough citrus fruit, lemon and grapefruit flavors, with nice acidity and a spicy kick on the finish. Great food wine that can be enjoyed with poultry or seafood dishes.
 2011 Ress Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus
Riesling Kabinett
Binny's Price: ...
A textbook example of German riesling from Rheingau. The nose shows fresh cut flowers, loads of peach and limestone. On the palate it has power without being heavy, and more of that peach, limestone and a hint of bright crisp citrus peel and mint flavors.
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Breaking news and reviews on your favorite wines.
Contact wine@binnys.com or call 1-866-975-6188 with questions, comments, & special requests.
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*Prices valid with Binny's Card until May 31st, 2013, or while supplies last. Not responsible for misprints or typographical errors. Advertised items limited to quantities on hand. Sizes 750ml unless otherwise stated. Not all wines are available at all Binny's locations. |
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