Free Wine Day
Now there's one that doesn't come around too often. But let's start from the beginning rather than in medias res. I ordered a half case of wine from the Wall Street Journal "wine of the month club" which, so far has delivered rather exceptionally for me. I wanted to try a nice looking 2009 Malbec and an intriguing Muscat so I ordered a half case, split between the two. I was probably more interested in the Muscat than the Malbec but I did want to try both. Said half case was delivered today by the smiling FedEx guy (who has a great lilting accent that may be Caribbean) yet, when it was opened actually contained the Malbec and three bottles of a 2009 Bordeaux. I called customer service and was first connected with a CSR who immediately launched into excuses. Strangely, that conversation was suddenly terminated (not at my end) before I could explain that substituting a Bordeaux for a Muscat was not a "like" swap had they run out of the Muscat.
Being charitable and cautious, I called back. This time I connected with a CSR who actually listened to me, checked to be sure the Muscat was indeed in stock and promised to send me the three bottles I had ordered. So, what becomes of the three bottles I didn't order? Well, just as with wines the customer doesn't like, if there are less than six bottles, customer keeps the bottles. I don't think it's economic to arrange and pay the return shipping. Woot!
This makes a total of six bottles I've not paid for as three bottles of a blush pinot grigio I did order were just ... nothing. Like Gertrude Stein's Oakland. Not just forgettable but not even notable when on one's palate. So they refunded my purchase price of those. That is the mark of real customer service as far I'm concerned. Oh, I must also say that I bought a case of this Limonetto and it's purely delightful. As refreshing and bright as any summer deck/pool wine could ever hope to be. Adult lemonade of the best kind.

Wherein I Buy Myself a Birthday Present
OK, honesty compels me to admit that I've already bought myself one thing (because it was on sale at The 'Zon), a cordless Dremel tool. I did not pay that much. But I was casting about for something else as a pure indulgence and what should appear in my in box but another communique from the Wall Street Journal Wine folks. To wit: the "Summer Rosé and Bubbly Case." With shipping and tax it works out to a shade under $14 per bottle and the wines I've gotten so far have been really good so far (and superb in one [half]case). These look really good for a hot summer evening on the deck:

French Fizz: Roche Lacour is a Champagne-quality favorite from the historic sparkling wine town of Limoux. Joyful PS is a gently sparkling Syrah rosé from Provence.

Italian Pink: High in the mountains of northern Italy, a gentle pressing of Pinot Grigio (a light red grape) gives a raspberry-scented rosé. You’ll enjoy two top finds.

Looks like it could be a pleasant summer. Come on over. We'll drink a bottle of rosé and talk of the world.

If You Like Wine
I am, as you who actually read this mess, no wine blogger. But I am "few glass a week" oenophile. To that end, I joined the so-called Wall Street Journal Wine Club which is sort of a "case of the quarter club" (as in "book of the month club"). The hook is a steeply discounted case of very good wines (you can choose reds, whites or a mixed case) and then the club member can opt for or out of future cases at a not as steep discount. They also hit you up with e-mails about special offers which leads me to call attention to this: 2006 Lionstone Selection Fritz Cabernet Sauvignon. I don't know how available it is out of the club and it's not particularly cheap (case lots will bring the per bottle cost down to under $25) but it is ... in a word: spectacular. Rich and smooth, a low tannin cab but with a tannin finish that gives a wonderful touch of astringency that almost rolls off the tongue. There is a lot of good wine in United States and there are incredible vineyards all over (Virginia, for example, has a vineyard called Naked Mountain that produces truly excellent wines).
I've never had hundred dollar bottles of wine because I ... well, I don't have the resources to put that kind of scratch into something that will last an hour or two and then be a memory. And I'm reluctant to drop even $25 on a bottle but I'm unutterably convinced that the half case I bought was well worth it. I'm even thinking of taking my supply up to a full case. If I had all the money I'd like to have, I'd keep a cellar full of this and drink it regularly.
Oh, and by the way, if you come over, I have several other bottles of good wine that will be deployed to your benefit. Don't be presumin' on my wines!