WTN: A couple from Kermit Lynch

Domaine de Fonsainte - 2005 Corbieres
This was a lovely bottle of very drinkable wine. Not too much to think about here - just a nice partner to a hearty bowl of lentil soup. Very purple in the glass, it has interesting aromatics, grip and character on the palate, and was fun to drink, especially considering its $12 price tag

Canonica e Cerreto - 2003 Chianti Classico
somewhat tasty, but forgettable bottle of Chianti - a bit too ripe for my tastes, plummy, with some heat on the finish

Do you pruchase wines online from Kermit Lynch often? If so, what is your overall experience and how is the pricing?

Ronica, I do purchase wine from Kermit on a regular basis, though it is not on line - only because he does not have a very effective web presence.
If he did, I'd likely be spending three times as much with him as I do now.

I receive his newsletter via US mail on a monthly basis. From those selections, I usually mix up a case. I call directly and talk with a human being - yeah, crazy, I know.
His selections marry well with my palate preferences, for the most part, and I find his prices more than fair.

Many times he offers a pre selected mixed "value" case, priced at less than $200. That might be a good introduction for you, to see if his wines hit your sweet spot.

Good luck.

[Robin Garr]

Ronica, I do purchase wine from Kermit on a regular basis, though it is not on line - only because he does not have a very effective web presence.
If he did, I'd likely be spending three times as much with him as I do now.

If I'm not mistaken, Kermit sells retail only in California. As an importer, he sells only through distributors in the other 49 states, and consciously declines to sell online in order not to compete with his wholesale operation.

(I concur in your praise of him, though, and for similar reasons. I'm glad his line is well represented here.)

Like John, I receive KL's witty newsletter. And I have ordered often from him. And, yeah, each time I call, I talk to someone who is handwriting my order, but they have never failed. Shipping is amazingly cheap, <$2/bottle by the case.

I have found that his case offerings and case specials are unbelievable buys...usually with savings of 20-40%. I have bought full cases in the $120 range. My only disappointment was, ironically perhaps, with a Kermit Lynch Selection (a bottling he has made special for him) Cotes du Rhone.

You can look at KL's newsletters at http://www.kermitlynch.com

Another place for on-line, often bargain purchases, is North Berkeley Imports. I have bought their bargain case specials, often $99/case, and have never had a bad wine in them... and sometimes (like a Mont Olivet CdP) they are flaming bargains. Check them out at http://www.northberkeleyimports.com/home

And if you want to really get crazy about on line stuff.. http://www.garagistewine.com

Robin, Lynch may have changed his policy since you last checked. Take a look at http://www.kermitlynch.com/pgshipping.html

My notes show that I purchased a case by FedEx several months ago -- don't remember if it was through the shop or with an outside shipper though. But I paid KL for the wine.

Regards, Bob

[Robin Garr]

Robin, Lynch may have changed his policy since you last checked. Take a look at http://www.kermitlynch.com/pgshipping.html

Definitely a change, Bob ... looks like the old "reciprocal states" make their okay-to-ship list. I thought the Supreme Court ruling knocked out "reciprocity" as collateral damage in the shipping decision, though, since those old reciprocal agreements by definition discriminated among states.

I haven't looked at the portfolio in a few years, but hasn't it gone through a bit of a thinning? Zind-Humbrecht is one notable loss but I believe there are others as well. Anyone know?

I haven't looked at the portfolio in a few years, but hasn't it gone through a bit of a thinning?

And expansion as well. I keep meaning to go over there but haven't, so I don't know for myself, but apparently he is picking up more and more new producers, and there are rumors of a reinvogorated "energy" in the operation.

I completely agree with you on the Domaine de Fonsainte - 2005 Corbieres. It is one of my favorite wines that he stocks (though when I bought it, it was less than $12 ....US Buck is falling again....)

While I do travel a lot to Berkeley and try to drop in when I can (especially since I love Cafe Fanny and ACME Bakery, his neighbours), They are distributed in MA are are available at Marty's in Newton which is where I now get it versus shipping it across the country