Give the gift of our Somm 6 club without the commitment!
The SommSelect team tastes hundreds of wines each month, but only six are chosen for our Somm 6 club subscription. Our main criteria? That they be the wines we most want to take home for ourselves.
Somm 6 is for wine lovers who crave variety and new sensations. It’s also for anyone who appreciates authenticity and value. Our expert team curates a diverse selection of artisanal wines, provides detailed information on each bottle, then ships the whole package right to your door.
This one-time Gift Pack option is a great choice for the curious connoisseur in your life. Here’s what’s in the box*:
Luigi Maffini, Cilento Fiano “Kratos”
Campania, Italy 2020
The Maffini family’s first vines were planted in Cilento in the 1970s, but the winery/brand dates to 1996, when namesake Luigi Maffini began bottling wines from native varieties—focusing on the white Fiano and red Aglianico. Two vineyard sources provide the Fiano for “Kratos”: One which overlooks the sea in Castell’abate, and the other, at about 350 meters of elevation, in Giugnano—near the Paestum archeological site. Fermentation is carried out with only ambient yeasts in stainless steel tanks, followed by about four months of tank aging before bottling. The wine carries a “Cilento” DOP designation.
Ladeiras do Xil, Valdeorras Branco “Gaba do Xil”
Galicia, Spain 2019
Ladeiras do Xil, so named for the terraced hillsides above the Sil River, is an excellent example: It is the brainchild of a winemaking “dream team” that includes well-known consultant Telmo Rodriguez, with a focus on “vineyards first, winery second.” The Ladeiras do Xil team has assembled a collection of old-vine parcels in the Valdeorras DO and a making wines of remarkable character—whites and reds alike—at shockingly affordable prices.
Château de Cérons, Graves Blanc
Bordeaux, France 2019
Château de Cérons is so named for its home village along the Garonne River. The estate’s 17th-century manor house, surrounded by ancient stone walls, is situated in the heart of the village. The estate draws on 26 hectares of vineyards, with vines averaging an impressive 30 years of age. Soils are the classic Graves mix of gravel and sand over limestone bedrock. This wine is a blend of Sémillon (55%), Sauvignon Blanc (45%) and Sauvignon Gris (5%) that is gently pressed for a native-yeast fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel. It was aged for about six months in steel tanks, undergoing frequent bâtonnage (lees-stirring) during that time.
Domaine Michel Sarrazin & Fils, Givry “Sous la Roche”
Burgundy, France 2019
Finding wines like this is the key to indulging a Burgundy habit without going broke, and our appreciation for the tiny Michel Sarrazin & Fils domaine grew much deeper after our visit there in 2019. Brothers Guy and Jean-Yves Sarrazin aren’t content to be judged alongside the best of Givry, but the best of Burgundy, period, and that ambition shows in their wines. This one, sourced from a 40-year-old parcel planted at one of the highest elevations in the appellation, is an exceptionally smart buy. It’s delicious now and poised to get better!
Domaine du Terme, Gigondas
Rhône Valley, France 2019
Because Gigondas’ vines sit as much as 700 meters higher than those in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the sites here are buffeted more intensely by the famous mistral winds. The result is a loftier, higher-toned, savory Grenache blend that nonetheless thrums with the rounded power Châteauneuf is famous for.
Casa Castillo, Jumilla “Vino de Finca”
Murcia, Spain 2019
For anyone who has thrilled to the dark, exotic, Mourvèdre-based reds of France’s Bandol region, Jumilla is the Spanish analog: Here they called Mourvèdre “Monastrell” and those old vines showcase the variety in all its lavender-scented, purple-fruited glory. This is a big, bold, juicy Spanish red to uncork alongside some barbecued ribs and other grilled meats.
