With orders of $100, use coupon code “veraton” and receive a bottle of the 2005 Alto Moncayo Veraton as a bonus ($32 value). Alto Moncayo is one of Aussie winemaker’s Chris Ringland’s Spanish projects (in addition to the El Nido and El Nido Clio wines). It’s 100% Garnacha (that’s Grencache to us English speakers), and sees 17 months in American and French oak (not sure how much is new).

The Veraton is actually the entry level wine from the Alto Moncayo series, and we think that the QPR at $32 is not to be beaten. It may have a bit more palpable structure and grit than the next level up, the $47 Alto Moncayo, but we like the sensation of the tannins and acidity, and think that it’s built to last. Also, given the 33% discount in price from its big brother, the Veraton still proves a better value, even if silky-smooth-vanilla-oak is more your speed. The Veraton has plenty of these qualities without tipping the balance and becoming an unctuous wine. For us, that’s a good thing.

We have a limited number of bottles available so go place your orders ASAP and get this Spanish beauty as a bonus. Don’t forget to use the coupon codes…when the wine runs out, the code will stop working.

Simon of Larchmont Wine & Spirits sends us his monthly dispatch. He didn’t send us the price, though, so we’ll have to get back to you on that one. We think that it’s probably in the $12 a bottle range, plus or minus a buck or two. Not widely available, so call Simon at (323) 856-8699 to pick up a bottle. In the meantime, Simon says:

OK so a Cotes-du-Rhone red may not be the most startling or original choice for our monthly promo, but this wine is one of an increasing number of lovely offerings from this area that will banish the memories of rather rough, peasanty stuff that carried the name in the past. Of course there is still a lot of filthy muck out there under the Slopes of the Rhone appellation, but we found this new-to-this-market example to be just what we look for in this category.

This is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah by a small family-run winery that sources fruit from 80 year old vines just outside Gigondas in the southern Rhone valley.

Deep purple in color, the nose is forward and stuffed with red and dark berries, red plums, liquorice, smoke and soft spices. Full bodied and complex, the wine has plenty of stuffing on the palate, good length and ample ripe fruit.

As we ease into the fall, this can take care of any heatwave-induced barbeque fare. If we get a chilldown, warming comfort foods like cassoulet or a game stew will match just perfectly with a wine like this. –SC

We were wondering why this CdP wasn’t selling. Ummm, that would be because we completely forgot to enter it into our inventory. Well, now, after 6 additional months of perfect storage for you, it’s that much more ready for the drinking. Lots of garrigue and goodness in this one. Parker says Truffles, and we wouldn’t disagree.La Cote Ronde, s’il vous plait!

Qupé is a top California Central Coast producer, and this Grenache shows off the best of what the Rhone Rangers are doing. It’s red and juicy, with good acidity and tannin that will give it a nice long life. But it’s ready to drink now, and would be terrific with almost any food we can think of. This is a pure pleasure to drink, and with under 250 cases produced, this is boutique winemaking at its best. Buy me for $36.99