In This Email:
Better Late than Never 
Great Wine and Gifts 
OK, Time to Get Serious 
Wine Team Picks 
Subscribe to Decanter's Fine-Wine Tracker -- and Save 
Outfit Your Cellar Through Wine & All That Jazz -- and Get a 
Free Gift 


Better Late than Never

There's still time for some of you to order from our collection of 
Champagnes and sparkling wines for New Year's, or to score that 
perfect last-minute choice from our selection of red wines, white 
wines, and dessert wines. If you happen to be hosting a party, go for 
our mixed case of house reds, or create your own -- we offer a 10 
percent discount on case orders, and a 5 percent discount on 
half-case orders. Most importantly, when it comes to the fruit of the 
vine, December 25 is hardly a drop-dead date for enjoying -- or even 
gift-giving, for that matter. In the aftermath of the holidays, many 
people appreciate wine even more. 

To learn more about each item listed below, simply click on its name.
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Great Wine and Gifts

Dom. J. Laurens Cremant de Limoux Brut Blanc de Blancs, 
France, $11.00
This bubbly was made by Michel Dervin, a young, dynamic winemaker who 
also makes wine under his own name in the Champagne region farther 
north. Whether you're looking for bubbly for a crowd or a dry 
sparkling wine that won't break the bank, this is a great choice. 

Vino Tre Colore, $34.00
This Italian three-pack includes a white wine from Umbria, a red 
Chianti Classico from Tuscany, and an Alto Adige sparkler so brisk 
and refreshing that (to complete the match with the national flag) it 
could almost be called green. Comes in a handsome wine.com gift box. 

Skagen Brushed Steel Wine Tool Set, $48.00
Clean, contemporary Danish design, top-notch technical craftsmanship, 
and an elegant presentation box enhance these fabulous and functional 
"showoff" tools. The set includes a corkscrew, an opener, and a 
bottle stopper. 

1998 Weinstock Chenin Blanc Contour, Clarksburg, California, $11.00
A kosher wine appropriate for Passover, but whether or not that 
designation is important to you, you'll find it a crisp and pretty 
white marked by stone fruit, green pear, and floral notes. It will 
pair nicely with a variety of dishes or soft cheeses and fresh fruit, 
or you can serve it chilled as an aperitif. 

Melange a Trois, $42.00
Zee French have a way with zee wine. This three-pack includes a crisp 
Muscadet from the Atlantic coast, a luscious Syrah blend from the 
sunny Mediterranean south, and a supple Cabernet blend from Bordeaux. 
Comes in a handsome wine.com gift box. 

1998 Yering Station Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley, Victoria, 
Australia, $13.99
An easy-to-drink Cabernet with bright, refreshing texture and ripe 
flavors of cassis, plum, and sweet vanilla oak. Minimal tannins make 
for near-term enjoyment with rich succulent foods such as roast pork 
ribs, pot roast, or hearty vegetarian dishes. 

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OK, Time to Get Serious

With the Big Ones almost upon us, it's time to quit fooling around. 
When it comes to food and wine for Christmas and/or New Year's Eve, 
"special" is the name of the game. We think a perfect menu for either 
occasion is Louise Fiszer's Putting on the Ritz -- a sublime 
progression on the palate: 

?Cucumber and Golden Caviar Canapes 
?Smoked Salmon and Golden Caviar Roulade 
?Crab Crostini 
?Crab and Goat Cheese Beggar's Purses 
?Oysters on the Half Shell with Horseradish Cream 
?Mini Sandwiches of Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn Crust 

Since this menu sets a standard for elegant indulgence (or indulgent 
elegance), it's a perfect showcase for quality sparkling wines. Any 
of these will go nicely with the seafood and shellfish dishes: 

?Maison Guinot Cremant de Limoux Brut Cuvee Imperial,
??France, $15.00
?Henri Germain Brut Tete de Cuvee, Champagne, France, $29.95
?1993 Robert Hunter Brut de Noirs Extended Tirage, Sonoma Valley,
??California, $34.00
?Lechere Cuvee VSOE Orient Express, Champagne, France, $49.95
?1985 G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut Champagne (1.5 L), Reims,
??France, $119.95

With the beef tenderloin, however, a special red is in order -- for 
example, the 1997 Chateau Leoville-Barton St. Julien, Bordeaux, 
France, $49.95. 

Bear in mind that a built-in aspect of any great wine is its ability 
to age; so, even if you miss our shipping deadlines for the holidays 
in question, don't despair. These bottles will be even better this 
time next year. 

Happy Holidays! 

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Wine Team Picks: Diana Jacklich's Wines to Keep Your Gal Happy

If men are from Mars and women from Venus, here are a few vinos sure 
to foster intragalactic harmony: 

?1997 Dolce (375 ml), Napa Valley, California, $68.00
?1997 Daniel Bocquenet Nuits-St. Georges Aux St. Julien,
??Burgundy, France, $45.00
?1997 TVine Red Table Wine T, Napa Valley, California, $39.95
?1993 Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Seduction, France, $48.00
?1997 Lynmar Pinot Noir Five Sisters, Russian River Valley,
??California, $69.95

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Subscribe to Decanter's Fine-Wine Tracker -- and Save

Do you ever wonder about the cash value of aged wines -- those stored 
in your cellar, or those that others are offering for sale? Well, 
www.decanter.com -- the online arm of Decanter, the United Kingdom's 
fine-wine magazine -- now charts and compares the prices of over 
2,500 wines, including many of the most famous names of France, 
California, Italy, and Portugal. As a visitor from wine.com, you can 
subscribe to this service at a special rate of $30 a month -- or, if 
you sign on for a year, receive three free months and save over $100. 
Moreover, the first 100 subscribers from wine.com will receive a free 
copy of the Oxford Companion to the Wines of North America, edited by 
Bruce Cass and Jancis Robinson -- a $45 value. 

If you're looking for a last-minute gift for a wine lover (or 
collector), this is a great choice. Simply click here to take 
advantage of this exclusive offer (which ends March 31, 2001). 

Please note: Prices have been converted from British Pounds to U.S. 
Dollars and are approximate. 

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Outfit Your Cellar Through Wine & All That Jazz -- and Get a 
Free Gift

Wine.com is pleased to announce that we've just partnered with Wine & 
All That Jazz, offering the world's finest selection of wine-cellar 
accessories, racks, and wine-related gifts, now available at the 
touch of a fingertip. Check out this top-flight accessory shop and 
receive a free gift with any purchase. 

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