October 2026
WINE OF THE MONTH
Every month we give a little spotlight time to a hidden treasure, a wine we think you should meet (and hopefully fall in love with). To encourage the introduction, we offer the wine at 25% OFF the bottle price for the given month.
Sagemoor 2021 Estate Red Blend • Columbia Valley, Washington • Reg $19.99 | 25% OFF = $14.99
Merlot 92%, Cab 7%, cab franc 1%. Nose of dusty black raspberries, dark plums, herbal notes. Medium-bodied. Black & red plums, blue- and blackberries. Earthy, herbal. Acidity is good. Complexity is good. Cocoa, mocha, dark chocolate on the finish. Terrific $20 WA red!! Even better at $15.
Note: we ordered a Rioja for our October WOM, but we are still waiting for it come in. We’ll switch out the wines when it arrives. In the meantime, enjoy the sale price on this wine.
JENS’ TOP PICKS
Every month Portalis owner Jens Strecker picks 8-12 wines that he thinks are outstanding … for any reason he chooses. Here are his October Picks — made with fall weather and fall dinners in mind.
Chateau Gloria 2022 Saint-Julien • Bordeaux (Left Bank), France • Reg $84.99 | Mixed Case $67.99
Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (35%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Aged in barrels (40% new). 'A dark, toasted nose full of chocolate and coffee scents. Concentrated yet packed with cool blueberry and cola. Still quite massy, the tannins are to the fore, but they’re fine rather than overly chewy or plush. Nicely controlled with focus and persistence, and still juicy on the finish, which is so appealing. Mint, wet stones and a touch of bitter orange peel at the end." –Decanter. Drink 2026-2042.
Have a special dinner coming up or need a special gift? Keep this wine in mind.
Uccelliera 2022 Rosso di Montalcino • Tuscany, Italy • Reg $36.99 | Mixed Case $29.59
100% Sangiovese Grosso. This grape is the youthful, less-oaked sibling of Brunello di Montalcino. Medium-bodied. Translucent in your glass. Red berries, red cherries, a little herbal note, soft earth with a note of balsamic on the finish. This wine needs rich winter fare to balance the tannins. Enjoy with prime rib, a hearty beef lasagna, mushroom bourguignon, or the beef short ribs pictured below.
Lorelle 2023 Pinot Noir • Willamette Valley, Oregon • Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
A Pinot Noir blend from 5-6 vineyards. Small family producer. Surprising blueberry on the nose. Almost blueberry jam. Hint of raspberry. Flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, blueberry. Spicy finish. Great acid. Good food wine. Paired above with mushrooms over polenta.
Pollard 2020 Red Wine • Yakima Valley, Washington • Reg $43.99 | Mixed Case $35.19
Bordeaux blend of Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 50/50. Aged in Taransaud French oak barrels. 13.2% alcohol. Nice, dark blue & black fruit with a little herbal note. Flavors add in cassis, black- and blueberries. Medium bodied, smooth fruit with a pleasantly dry finish.
Photo: Robin Pollard with Morgan Lee buying grapes for Two Vintners
Henri Champliau Crémant de Bourgogne Brut • Burgundy, France • Reg $39.99 | Mixed Case $31.99
Pinot Noir 85% & Chardonnay 15%. Pale peach hue on this white bubbly. Apple, pears, floral on the nose. Palate adds in citrus. Fresh, good body. Good, long finish. Magnificent crémant. Unless you drink a lot of Champagne, you’ll think it is one.
Lamblin 2023 Chablis • Burgundy, France • Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
100% Chardonnay. Stainless steel aged. On the nose very minerally from the late Jurrasic Kimmeridgean clay. Lime, citrus, apple... super inviting nose. Flavors of ripe yellow apples, citrus, limestone. Wonderful Chablis. Don't store it. Drink it now!
Pictured: Lamblin family
Scotto Cellars 2022 Zinfandel • Lodi, California • Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Family-owned by the Scotto family — 3 brothers and a sister (pictured) — making delicious, well-priced, food-friendly, light- to medium-bodied Zinfandel. Raspberries, note of black cherries & spice on the nose. Not super jammy. Very well-balanced. Great acidity. Not a powerful Zin. It’s just an easy, delicious, soft wine. Flavors of raspberries, blackberries, red & dark cherries with beautiful, peppery notes — but subtle. A LOT of wine for the money.
Património 2024 Vinho Tinto • Lisboa, Portugal • Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
60% Syrah - 40% Alicante Bouschet. Aromas of dark raspberries, dark plums & plum butter (like apple butter, but with made with plums... a German delicacy called Pflaumenmus). Flavors include jammy blackberries, blueberries, dark plums. Spicy, smoky and notes of dark chocolate on the finish. Not heavy though at all. 12.5% alcohol. Would be perfect with richer meats, especially dishes with spicy and/or smoky notes like the pulled pork dish below. Drink now to 3 years.
Photo credit: Vinhos de Lisboa
Lavau 2024 Côtes du Rhône Villages • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39
50/50 Grenache-Syrah. Very nuanced garigue (Rosemary, thyme) with red & dark raspberries Flavors add in plums, herbs, soft spices with blackberry acidity on the finish. Followed by super pleasant soft tannins. Absolutely great wine for the price.
Landesweingut Laimburg 2021 Musis Weißburgunder • Südtirol-Alto Adige, Italy • Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
100% Weißburgunder = Pinot Bianco in Italian. Clay, rocky soils with wildflowers & apple on the nose. Luscious body. Absolutely wonderful acidity. Flavors of pear, apple, citrus with dried pineapple on the long finish. It’s what makes this wine! Pairings? So many. Südtirol = speck, sausages, knödel. PNW = seafood, grilled salmon, Dungeness crab.