INSIDER DEAL All-Stars Red Wine Intro Pack 3.0 (2024 Edition)

Welcome to version 3 of our extremely popular Insider Deal All-Stars Red Wine Intro Pack! SAVE 62% on four bottles of our highest rated, best-selling, most requested wines from our most popular wineries while you can!

[UPDATE 5/31/2024: This deal is now sold out! Our next intro pack will be on the way soon.]

We’re delighted to be back with another Insider Deal All-Star Intro Pack. Our first two Red Wine Intro Packs and “Perfect 10” Packs were very popular but are now sold out. And while version 2 of our White Intro Pack is still going strong, it’s time to launch version 3 of a red wine pack, and it’s better than ever!

As a refresher, these collections are designed to introduce you to some of our best-selling wineries, allowing you to try some of the very best wines we’ve offered in one deal.

Here’s what the All-Star Red 3.0 4-Pack includes:

• The Desert Wind Sandstorm Series Zephyr Red Blend from the Wahluke Slope of Washington State. This wine retails for $80 a bottle and just 125 cases were produced!
• A ridiculously tasty, 91-93 point, Bulk Buy rated, single vineyard Zin that spends 20 months in oak barrels from reader favorite Peterson Winery. Produced using the winery’s “Zero Manipulation” philosophy.
• A dreamy 91-93 point blend of Merlot and Petite Sirah from Handley Cellars. Big, rich and a bit tannic, this is utterly delicious. Aged 18 months in French oak, just 405 cases were produced.
• A classic, cool-climate example of single vineyard Syrah from reader favorite Wrath Wines. 92-points and just 299 cases produced.

All told these four wines have a combined SRP of $157. We’re selling them for just $59.95 ($14.99/bottle) which means you’re saving over 62% ($97!) through our Intro Pack. Not to mention the additional savings from our very reasonable shipping.

Besides the fact that we’ve got 4 different wines from 4 different wineries in today’s deal, one of the other big differences versus our normal deals is that this is not a flash sale format. This means this offer does not expire and can be purchased as long as inventory is available. (Vintages may be updated depending upon supply.)

In order for as many people as possible to take part, we’ve also expanded the ship states for this offer to just about every state we can possibly ship to – which means some of you will be able to try the wines from these wineries for the very first time.

Get the 4 bottle (1 bottle of each wine) Insider Deal All-Stars Red Wine Intro Pack 3.0 for just $59.95, a savings of 62%!

SOLD OUT

This 4-pack deal is available to ship to the following states: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI and WY. (These states are dependent on the individual licenses of the offering winery and are not representative of all our deals. Every deal can have different, sometimes more, sometimes less, states available.)

Shipping is a flat $6.99 per order, no matter how many 4-packs you buy. Packages ship in cardboard (no styrofoam). Read on for our full reviews.

Clicking on the Add To Cart button above will take you to our checkout at shop.reversewinesnob.com.

Up first, let’s take a look at the 2016 and 2017 Desert Wind Sandstorm Series Zephyr Red. You will receive one bottle of one of these two vintages, depending on supply. The 2016 is 37% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc and the 2017 is 33% Merlot, 28% Malbec, 23% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Carmenere and 1% Syrah. Both are from the Desert Wind Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope of Washington State.

Using the best fruit from the vineyard, this wine is not to be confused with the base level Desert Wind wines that do not have the “Sandstorm Series” designation and are much less expensive. Aged 19-20 months in French oak with 40% new barrels, only around 125 cases were produced of each vintage.

From the winery:

The Desert Wind ‘Sandstorm Series’ is carefully crafted from the best lots of wine from each vintage, all sourced from Desert Wind Vineyard. The Zephyr is a Bordeaux-style red blend that features five of the traditional Bordeaux varieties. Each variety was fermented separately in open top bins and then blended and aged for 19 months in French oak, with 40% new barrels. The resulting wine is bold, yet elegant, with velvety tannins and intense notes of vanilla, caramel, cherry, blackberry, and black currant.

14.5% Alcohol
Cork

The 2016 Desert Wind Sandstorm Series Zephyr opens with a very pleasing aroma of dark fruit, dusty spice, vanilla and a little licorice. It’s a fabulous start.

Taking a sip reveals a smooth, juicy, really delicious red blend with great balance. It does need a lot of time to open up but your patience will be greatly rewarded.

It ends dry, long and a bit grippy and chewy with spice and licorice under the long-lasting dark fruit. It was just as good on day two.

The 2017 Desert Wind Sandstorm Series Zephyr opens with a very pleasing and harmonious aroma of dark fruit, dusty spice, vanilla and a little licorice. It’s a savory, fabulous start.

Taking a sip reveals a smooth, juicy, really delicious red blend with great depth and balance and well-integrated spice. A bit chewy at first, this young wine does need some time to open up, but your patience will be greatly rewarded.

It ends dry, long and a bit grippy and chewy with spice and licorice under the long-lasting dark fruit. It was even a bit more savory on day 2. We like the 2017 even better than the we did the 2016, as this vintage just seems to be even more harmonious with everything working together wonderfully.

Next, best-seller, reader favorite and previous Insider Deal All-Star Peterson Winery is back! And they’ve brought with them another excellent wine from QPR Central, aka the Tollini Vineyard in the Redwood Valley of Mendocino.

Our previous Peterson Tollini offers on the Barbera and Zero Manipulation Red have been some of the most popular on the site so today we’re following it up with their 2018 Old School Zin which contains 89% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah and 4% Carignane. The wine spends 20 months in barrel comprised of 10% new American oak and 90% 4- to 10-year-old neutral oak. Just 650 cases were produced. Unfined and unfiltered, the wine is produced using the winery’s “Zero Manipulation” philosophy:

Zero Manipulation is a combination of intention as well as practice. Each year is slightly different, and our goal is to express that variation (while still making a wine that tastes good), and not having a preconceived notion of the wine being exactly the same each year. We don’t add enzymes, tannins, acid, etc., and don’t fine or filter these wines (or treat with velcorin, or lysozyme, or gum arabic, or or or…). SO2 is used after fermentation and at bottling though with switching to screw caps and lower oxygen pickup, we can get away with less.

The less you do in the course of a wine’s tenure in the cellar, the more of the grape’s, vineyard’s, and vintage’s essence you’ll have to bottle. Every time you do something to a wine, you take out a little of what you started with.

From the winery:

Old School is sometimes described as our “Easy Drinking, No Thinking” Zin, but don’t let that make you think it’s any less serious of a wine than our other bottlings.

After nearly ten years putting together a value priced Zin blend from various Sonoma County grapes, our friend and grower in Mendocino, Alvin Tollini, let us know he had a mature Zinfandel vineyard coming available, and would we be interested in the fruit. We took the opportunity to create a new wine in our line of Tollini Vineyard designated offerings that would showcase what juicy Zin grapes from the hills of Mendocino’s Redwood Valley could produce.

Old School has a style that is full of flavor and character, but not over the top. We want a wine that is refreshing and “highly drinkable” and satisfying. The type of Zin you can either open on a weeknight or take to a party without hesitation. One you can think about and savor…but you really don’t have to.

By blending in percentages of Carignane and Petite Sirah from the same grower, we complement the fruit and jam of the Zin with structure, balance, and spice, without overwhelming the singular terroir of this special place.

Tasting Notes: Vivid ripe red berry aromatics burst on the nose as traces of white flowers and sarsaparilla add complexity. A full, rich entry reveals blackberry mingled with raspberry and pomegranate. Bright acidity bathes the palate balancing the juicy fruit essence, while toasty oak and hints of black pepper, brown spices and floral notes add interest and depth. The lush intense flavors fuse near the finish as the wine lingers.

This is the perfect Zin to pair with Italian braised pork shoulder ragu, or a meat lover’s pizza.

89% Zinfandel harvested Sept. 28 & Oct. 4, 7% Petite Sirah harvested Oct. 17, 4% Carignane harvested Oct. 19
Vineyard: 100% Tollini Vineyard
Appellation: Redwood Valley, Mendocino
pH: 3.42
TA: 0.65g/100ml
Barrel Aging: 20 months
Cooperage: 10% new American oak barrels 90% 4-10 year-old neutral oak barrels
Bottling Date: July 21, 2020 (unfined & unfiltered)
Closure Type: Screwcap – Janson capsules – Saranex liner
Release Date: March 2023

Produced and Bottled by Peterson Winery
15.2% Alcohol

The 2018 Peterson Tollini Old School Zinfandel opens with plenty of brambly and almost raisin-y fruit aromas. Black pepper, spice, licorice and vanilla round things out on the very aromatic and attractive nose.

Hello! Wow, this is a unique and flavorful Zin that wakes your taste buds right up. Harmonious and balanced, it features black cherry, lots of cola notes, loads of licorice plus some black pepper and touches of spice and vanilla wrapped up in a smooth mouthfeel. This is a great example of Zinfandel!

It ends dry, a bit grippy and quite long and lasting with lingering peppery spice. We found it to be at its best after a few hours of air and it was even a bit better on day 2. This is crying out to be paired with BBQ ribs!

The third wine in this 4-pack is dreamy red blend that is aged 18 months in neutral French oak. It comes from the small, family-owned Handley Cellars but this no small wine. Big, rich and a bit tannic, this is both delicious and fun to drink.

From the winery:

Handley Cellars is a small, family-owned winery in California’s Mendocino County. Bonded in 1982, we produce around 9000 cases of wine a year. Our quality starts with our CCOF Certified Organic Estate Vineyards in Anderson Valley. We are located at the northwest end of the Anderson Valley on 59 acres of the original Guntly Ranch. Still standing on the property is the now-refurbished ranch house which was constructed in the early 20th century.

Produced in limited quantities, our Ranch House red varies vintage to vintage and is always much anticipated by our club members. This version is a blend of Merlot (75%) and Petite Sirah (25%).

On the nose this wine exudes warm briary dark fruit, new leather, and hints of sage. Rich flavors of olallieberry pie, black plum, tomato, and basil. It is full on the palate with chalky tannins and tart acidity on the finish that lifts the fruit and encourages you to take another sip. This vintage of Ranch House Red is very approachable and as always, food friendly.

Varietals: 75% Merlot, 25% Petite Sirah
Appellation: Mendocino County
Aged 18 months in all neutral French oak barrels
Cases Produced: 405
Titratable Acidity: 6.5 g/L
pH: 3.55
Alcohol: 14.2%
Cork

The 2017 Handley Ranch House Red Blend opens with a very attractive aroma full of dark fruit, leather, licorice and spice plus a hint of a floral and dried herb note. It’s a great start.

The wine tastes smooth and rich and offers great depth on the abundant dark berry fruit plus plenty of well-integrated spice notes. I would have thought there was more Petite Sirah in here but the 25% works perfectly with the Merlot. It’s a bit of a unique blend but these varietals go together amazingly well. Big, rich and a bit tannic, this is both delicious and fun to drink.

It ends dry, grippy and long and was similar on day 2. I love it! And while it is drinking wonderfully right now, it also has several more years of peak drinking ahead of it.

And last, but certainly not least we have a classic, cool-climate example of Syrah from Wrath Wines and their estate San Saba Vineyard. Comprised of 3 different Syrah clones, it is structured and flavorful with that signature Syrah meatiness.

And this wine has quite a pedigree too. Not only does it come from Wrath, who we have featured multiple times in All-Stars and Perfect 10 packs, but it is also the little brother to the highly acclaimed wine from the same vineyard, which scored 95 points from Wine Enthusiast for the 2020 bottling.

As the winery describes it, it is a “less oaky version of its bigger brother, San Saba Vineyard Syrah”, which has about 30% new oak, compared to only 20% new oak in this one.

International Wine Review scores the 2021 Ex Syrah we are offering here at 92 points and we agree. Only 299 cases were produced.

From the winery:

Vineyard Notes: Our Estate San Saba Vineyard is set in a sheltered nook just below the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. This is a cool site with little rainfall and one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Our soils, Arroyo Gravelly Loam and Hanford Gravely Sandy Loam, provide a low-vigor, well-draining, disease- and pest-free medium for our vines. They also impart a subtle mineral quality to our wines. To preserve our local ecosystem, we have worked with viticultural consultant Steve McIntyre to develop a CCVT certified sustainable farming program (SIP) tailored to our estate. In addition to protecting the local environment, we believe it allows us to produce wines that are more authentic and specific to our terroir.

Estate grown fruit is hand picked and hand sorted before crushing and aging in French oak barrels, 20% of the lot is given whole cluster fermentation to add aromatics and moderate acidity. The flavors in this wine exemplify cold weather grown syrah…dark fruit flavors of boysenberry and blackberry are balanced with savory notes of black pepper, meatiness and a touch of smoke; silk tannins and a long, lingering finish pull you back in for another sip.

Certified Sustainable
Composition: 100% Syrah
Vineyard: San Saba Vineyard
AVA: Monterey
Clones: 46% 174, 20% Noir, 34% 877
Oak: 100% French oak, 20% new
Cases produced: 299

Produced and Bottled by Wrath Wines
Alcohol 14.5%
Cork

The 2021 Wrath Wines EX Syrah opens with lots of cola notes plus dark berries, black pepper, oaky spice, black licorice, a touch of smoked meat and even more as it has time to breathe. This is a great start for a classic, cool-climate Syrah.

The wine tastes wonderfully similar to the nose with a little more of the meatiness coming through on the palate. Fresh and juicy, it also has a wonderful smooth, lush mouthfeel. Very well structured and flavorful, this is a great example of the variety. Yum!

It ends with a dry and a bit grippy on the long and lingering finish. It was at least as good if not slightly better on day 2 where the fruit turned a bit more dark and tart. This is truly excellent, especially at this price!

Here’s what people are saying about our Insider Deals:

“I have been buying your Insider Deals for about 3 years now and we have enjoyed every one of them. They are wines that we never would have found on our own… ”

“the wine is, in a single word, superb! as have been all other wines offered and purchased since I first learnt about you…”

“love them all so far…Glad we ran across you. Too bad we can not order them all. ”

“Also your prices are pretty amazing. ”

“Hey Jon! You do great work. I’ve bought a bunch of the Insider Deals and probably 80% of the wine I drink comes from them. Great values! ”

“Jon, this is a wonderful wine all around. You have become our go-to person for wonderful wines and wine values. Please keep up the excellent job that you’re doing! Regards, a very satisfied customer. ”

“I opened up our first bottle last weekend and was blown away. ”

“Wow!! Just got my shipment. It is absolutely tremendous. ”

“Hi Jon, Best thing I ever did is buy wine thru you…not been disappointed with any of them! Thank you SO MUCH!”

“Would you happen to be offering this one again anytime soon? I regret not buying more. This was exceptional!”

“I am seriously considering having the Insider Deals as my primary go-to. Why did I not do this sooner? Thank you”

“The only thing I have ever been disappointed in with an Insider Deal is that I didn’t purchase more.”

“I love this wine I bought from you!!!! Thanks for doing what do do!!!”

“This an absolutely amazing wine, Jon…You’ve outdone yourself!”

“Thanks Jon. We already drank all 6 of the first order so we were ecstatic to see you offering it again. My wife and I both love it.”

“You are a man after my own heart. I have always looked for the best and least expensive wine and you just made it easier. Cheers!”

“Hi Jon, well, I did something people have warned about – bought 6 bottles and should have bought 12!”

“Have had nothing but great bottles since I started ordering your recommendations. Thanks so much! ”

“We’ve gotten in on three of the deals and have been VERY happy with the value. I originally was going to do a wine club thing but the insider deal appeals to me much more.”

“The shipping on the Insider Deals is another great part of the deal. We recently paid $27 to a winery in California to ship 6 bottles (same packaging as the insider deals)….yikes!”

“Just got my 6 bottles and having my first glass. WHY, WHY didn’t I buy a case??!!”

“I really missed the boat by only getting four bottles of this offer last month. Should have bought least at a case.”

“My wife and I have really enjoyed getting to know new wines (and better than we used to buy!)​ Thanks for what you do and providing this service!​”

“Jon – you have to stop offering all of these amazing deals. My self discipline is fading fast!!”

“I recently took advantage of your offer. So glad I did, and now sorry I did not buy more (like all those quotes on your website!)”

“The wine is outstanding. I am so glad I bought a case.”

“ I only drink Reverse Wine Snob wine, it actually doesn’t make sense to buy from a store. You don’t get anything interesting, unique, and full of value otherwise.”

“Jon, I should have bought more! Delicious!!”

“I am a Certified Specialist of Wine. I love your deals. You pick great wines!! Kudos to you for getting us great deals!”

“Wish I would have ordered more!! It was great. Looking back, I wish I didn’t open it at our annual pool party. It’s gone. **Sob**”

“Hi Jon, just had to let you know that I love this wine!!!! Thanks for doing what you do.”

“I have purchased many times over the last several months and loved the wines!”

“Seriously amazing deal!!! I love a bold red, and Reverse Wine Snob delivered!!! Perfect for a rainy night!!”

“AMAZING!! Damn, I should have bought a CASE!!”

“WOW. Just… wow. Absolutely delicious. If I knew it was going to be this good, I would have bought a case… or two. This was dead-center in the sweet spot of what I like. Thank you!!”

“I have loved all my RWS deals, can’t wait to get this one.”

“I know that you don’t need to have ‘customers’ email you every time they like a wine that you have suggested/rated, and I have enjoyed many of your recommendations. But this Tannat was spectacular! Wow! That was amazing!”

“I finally opened a bottle of this and it did not disappoint. Delicious!!!”

“Thanks for a great service! We’ve been loving your emails and wine deals!”

“This insider deal is a great wine!!! So glad I got it!!”

“My Insider Deal arrived just in time for my celebration tonight and it’s absolutely delicious! Cheers!”

“Wish I had doubled my order!”

“I’ve gotten quite a few of these and loved them all — keep them coming!”

“Wow – this wine is amazing!!! Glad I have two more bottles of it!!”

“Bought a case wish I had purchased 2-3 cases. Fantastic buy for the price.”

“This Insider Deal was the best ever. This wine is amazing!!! Strongly recommend.”

Get the 4 bottle INSIDER DEAL All-Stars Red Wine Intro Pack 3.0 while you can!

If you have more questions or any trouble ordering, please check out our FAQ! As of 9/3/2023 we have moved to our new, improved checkout system. Previous accounts have NOT been transferred, but no account is necessary to save your info for future orders or to checkout. GPay and Apple Pay are also now enabled.

Cheers,
Jon