Pullin' Corks

We are posting new notes and recent reviews nearly every day.  This page has been requested to help people identify those new items added to the site or find recently reviewed wines.  Though we taste in an organized way every Friday morning those notes are posted as the taster turns them in and we find time.  We also taste incidentally through out the week and those notes will be added too.  So you can expect to see new items often.

Pedroncelli Russian River Pinot Noir 2008
Not surprisingly this wine is really yummy and an especially good value. The grapes are from the Russian River Valley, northern California's best Pinot Noir tends to come from here. Then you've got one of the oldest wineries in California making the wine.
The nose is wet ocean beach sand, dried roses and spices like cinnamon; plenty of fruit as well! Another mouthfull and I'm back to yummy. Really balanced, the flavors just float in your mouth and linger on your palate. Lots of cherry that expresses itself with just the right tartness. A great food wine for casual dinners, lunch. I'd drink this any ol' time.
- wine tasting note by LAC, February 2010
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(posted 2/12/10)

Sierra Cantabria Tinto 2007
A very classy wine starting with its fragrance then following right through the finish. Dark color, ruby, beautiful. The nose is raspberry preserves spread on warm brioche or even toasted brioche. In the mouth everything is in harmony; the fruit, the acid, the wood; everything - really good wine making. The flavors are like pork loin with plum sauce. This wine gives one the taste of the elegance and harmony of the really great expensive wines at a fraction of the cost! - Wine tasting note by LAC, February 2010
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(posted 2/12/10) 

St. Innocent “Vitae Springs” Pinot Gris 2008
The nose greets with aromas of vanilla, orange peel and gentle wood spice.  There’s a great creaminess to the mid-palate and a citrus-y spice to the finish.  A really Substantial wine.  Owner/winemaker Mark Vlossak explains that he makes this as a single vineyard Alsatian to be a “main course wine” to pair with choucroute and birds.  It’s picked late, has great concentration and texture, texture, texture.
-Wine tasting note by DYB, February 2010
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(posted 2/08/2010)

Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet 2008
It is totally amazing to me that, in a vintage so horrific for Loire vintners that many refused to make a wine with their name on the label, this wine emerged and is not just okay, but perfectly delicious.  The nose is all you look for in Muscadet – fresh herbs   (like the stems of fresh parsley and cilantro) floral notes and lemongrass.  There’s a bit of preserved lemon on the finish with plenty of zing that leaves your mouth watering for more.
-Wine tasting note by DYB, February 2010
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(posted 2/08/2010)

Drouhin Laforet Pinot Noir 2007
Bright, floral aromas segue to plum and cranberry on the palate.  This is a clean, refreshing, Pinot Noir that would be great at cocktail hour and a good match for lighter meats that are complimented by bright red fruit and acidity. -Wine tasting note by DYB, February 2010
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(posted 2/08/2010)

Quinta do Noval BLACK Port
BLACK - the color of the intensely concentrated grapes, bursting with flavors of juicy red fruits and sweet spice, that endow this port wine with its seductive personality.  Enjoy Noval Black chilled before dinner or as an indulgent treat with dark chocolate at any time.
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(posted 2/03/2010)

Cliff Lede 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
91 Points - "Deep and abundant ripe-melon fruit lies at the heart of this very well-balanced wine, but its complexing elements of fresh herbs, sweet grasses and deft oaky spice take it to another level as far as interest and serious achievement are concerned. Moderately full-bodied, supple and slightly fleshy in feel, it is an accessible Sauvignon of substance, and it will make first-rate drinking with meaty seafoods or herbed poultry."
-Wine Review by Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, February 2010
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(posted 2/01/2010)

Chasing Venus 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
There's plenty to like about the 2008 Chasing Venus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.  While being fresh and lively, it's also ripe and mouth-filling.  Lemon zest, peach, pear and melon flavors are complimented by a spiciness that's delicious.  It's a wine that provides everything you can appreciate about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
-Wine tasting note by CM, January 2010
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(posted 2/01/2010)

Evesham Wood Pinot Noir 2007 Illahe Vineyard
A very pretty color, garnet, translucent. The nose has some red fruit but to me is dominated by alarmingly fresh crushed parsley stems, mint, cinnamon. Yum, bring on the tuna steaks. This is the kind of Pinot I love so dearly bu find in America so infrequently; light but persistent and absolutely complete. Delicate but you'll be brought to an Ah-ha moment when 30 seconds after a sip you realize the finish is lingering.
-Wine tasting note by LAC, 1/21/2010
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(posted 1/25/2010)

Mohua Pinot Noir 2008 - NEW TO OUR PORTFOLIO from New Zealand
Youthful and fresh with excellent balance and a lithe character. Spice and smoke on the nose with a hint of lavender. The mouth is soft and forgiving – not unlike what I would expect from Central Otago – a little silky and delicate. A wonderful food wine. I expect this one to develop even further as time goes on.
-Wine tasting note by SL, January 2010
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(posted 1/25/2010) 

Tedeschi Amarone Classico 2005
Hazelnut. Yes, I know Amarone is supposed to smell like bitter almond, but my take on this wine is very much hazelnut. Coffee, tar, molasses, black plum, and toast fill in the rest of the nose. The mouth has a nice balance of the sweetness and ripeness matched with a little bitter component you would expect of Amarone. This is a big wine with a lot of alcohol and weight to keep you warm on those long winter nights. A baby, this wine can be enjoyed now with big, roasted meats, or in decades to come with more modest cuisine.
-Wine Tasting notes by WB, January 2010.
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(posted 1/07/2010) 

Ascheri Barbera Fontanelle 2007
Very dark red but perhaps a bit muddled. Beautiful nose of raspberry danish and blueberry cream with, as it opens, a gushing of crushed plums or slivovitz! In the mouth all the fruit is there as a texture yet its flavors are expressed as brilliant and fresh; really mouthwatering! Watermelon soaked or rather drowned in port but without the alcohol, then sprinkled with fresh ground black pepper and cardamom. This is really complex and big, just like Matteo!
-Wine Tasting Notes by LAC, January 2010
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(posted 1/07/10)

Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Whoa! What a mouth full of Cabernet! Very textured without being high in alcohol, 13.9%. This certainly speaks to its origins...Santa Cruz Mountains.
Beautiful bouquet; black walnuts, nutmeg and cassis which is the predominate flavor. Lots of intense but soft fruit; this is a wine to share with serious friends or when you are cooking for yourself, being your own best friend.
-Wine Tasting Notes by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 1/05/10)

Gran Sasso Sangiovese 2008
Deep purple color. The nose is very nice, it doesn't scream Sangiovese, some black pepper but predominantly Italian plum. The flavors are mouthfilling with a distinctly boysenberry flavor. Nicely balanced with the flavors running well into the finish. A real bargain.
-Wine Tasting Notes by LAC, December, 2009
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(posted 1/05/10)

Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
It shows wonderful complexity in the nose, followed by black berry and raspberry fruit and dusty tannins to finish.  There is also a pleasing amount of acidity on the finish, making this wine accessible to lots of holiday food pairings.  The wine is still showing a bit young today, but should mature nicely in the coming months.
-Tasting notes by CM, December 2009
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(posted 1/05/10)

Elsa Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
The nose has yet to develop anything beyond simple primary aromas but in the mouth the wine is wildly flavorful. Lots of cassis, black berries and an undercurrent, a riptide of cherries. The finish is much the same though there is also some crushed mint and clove. The nose is the weak link, otherwise the wine gushes with flavor.
-Wine Review by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 1/05/10)

Four Vines Naked Chardonnay 2008
Delicious Santa Barbara grapes offer classic flavors of the region…pineapple, pear, sweet pea and tangy mango. And while this offering is un-oaked, it has all the body you expect in a Chardonnay from this region (and for half the price).
-Wine Tasting Notes by CM, December 2009
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(posted 1/04/10)

Four Vines Maverick Zinfandel 2007
Flavors of licorice, sweet roasted meat and black cherries are predominant. The surprise in this wine is how pleasantly food friendly this wine is, as it’s fairly high toned in the finish. In the world of high octane, bigger is better Zinfandel, this one is a class act.
-Wine Tasting Note by CM, December 2009
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(posted 1/04/10)

Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2007
Absolutely delicious. For Central Coast appellation I find it to be better than some producers’ best single vineyard Pinot Noirs. Wild and lively in the nose and mouth with strawberry and raspberry fruits, complimented with lots of tasty black pepper spice. Consistently one of our best Pinot Noir producers.
-Wine Tasting Notes by CM, December 2009
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posted 1/04/10)

Ricasoli Chianti Rocca Guicciarda 2005 -NEW TO THE PORTFOLIO
Smoky, toasty, alluring and polished on the nose with great clove and wine braised short ribs bouquet. Nicely smooth on entry with soft black cherry, coffee, and black molasses. This is a really nice Chianti! Smoky, spicy, complex and integrated right now. Textbook Sangiovese with superb refinement. Yum!
-Wine tasting notes by WB, December 2009
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(posted 12/23/09)

Ricasoli Chianti del Barone 2007 - NEW TO THE PORTFOLIO
Thyme, caramel dipped cherries and a little grilled bread on the nose. It's clear we're in Tuscany here. The mouth is savory and juicy all at once. Great black cherry and toasted herb flavors co-mingle with lovely crisp tannins and acidity. This is a light to medium bodied wine with real character and stuffing.
-Wine tasting notes by WB, December 2009
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(posted 12/23/09)

La Massa La Massa 2007
Soft, smooth, sweet, black licorice and sugar plums on the nose. Luscious. The mouth is medium to full bodied with a great balance of black fruit, the tannins, and crisp acidity. This is a wine drinking very well right now but clearly has the structure for medium term cellaring as well. Classy and full of finesse without lacking any stuffing at all. Super!
-Wine review by WB, December  2009
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(posted 12/23/09)

Elderton Shiraz 2006
Blackberries, coffee, toffee, bittersweet chocolate, chocolate dipped cherries and grilled peppercorns...this is a very alluring nose which is actually not as "big" as it reads above. The mouth is tightly framed by crisp acidity and firm tannins. More peppermint and plum in the mouth. This is a wine built for steaks and the cellar.
-Wine Review by WB, December  2009
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(posted 12/23/09)

Jean-Noel Haton Champagne Classic Brut Non-Vintage
Really active mousse, like a snow globe in the hands of a 3 year old. The nose is so gorgeous; one will occasionally make notice of baked bread but this is a magnitude beyond that. Lovely baked goods with almond paste. As light on the palate as a snow flake on the tongue; a delicious wine, freshly cut melon and, don't let this put you off 'cause its really great, a mimosa nuance. This is one of the great bargains in real Champagne.
-Wine review by LAC, December 21, 2009
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(posted 12/21/09)

Calera Viognier 2008
Peach and apricot nose with acacia and tight grained oak. This is a peach pit wine; no surprise because that's classic Viognier, but the Calera is not simply text book, not even prose, it is poetry. Elegant, defined with a length like the peel of a bell. Terrific wine!
-Wine review by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 12/18/09)

Fattori Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Really attractive, sweet green citrus fruits on the nose - key lime, meyer lemons, lemon zest, fresh thyme. This is very pretty. The mouth is juicy and fresh. It carries the same citrus fruit alongside a crisp minerality. This wine does an admirable dance along the razor's edge of cool climate Sauvignon Blanc, between tart fruit and green herbs. It could easily be mistaken (and enjoyed) as a good quality Sancerre.
-Wine Tasting Note by WB, December 14, 2009
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(posted 12/15/09)

Marcel Deiss Pinot Blanc 2007
Baked bread and Golden Delicious apple on the nose. This wine is bottled so freshly that the mouth still has a little spritzy CO2 trapped in it as of December 2009. In the mouth, baked apple/pear and an intensely leesy quality today that I expect to soften into a richer, broader texture in the coming months. Clean and dry.
-Wine tasting notes by WB, December 14, 2009
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(posted 12/15/09)

Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone 2007
Red meat, robust black plums in the dramatic nose. Big and chewy in the mouth, black pepper and red fruits. The blend is Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah.
It's snowing right now; the first real snow of the season and what a perfect wine to warm the spirit.
-Tasting notes by LAC, December 9, 2009
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 (posted 12/10/09)

Cono Sur Riesling 2009
This Riesling is very light hued. The nose is roses, peach, and white flowers. The flavors are delicate lemon flavors but not lemon tart, minerals and a pleasant green apple acidity.
-Tasting notes by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 12/10/09)

Juan Gil 2007
The color is deep; the nose is prettier than most of this varietal which gives one not only pause but pleasure. The fragrances are of crushed blackberries or blueberry pie with a hint of mint. Th flavors are cassis, walnuts, white pepper and cardamom all couched in a luxurious rich texture. A real plus is that the alchohol is really subdued even though its 15 percent.  -Wine tasting notes by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 12/10/09)

Rocca di Tufo Orvieto Classico 2008
Pretty brilliant golden color. Attractive nose of white flowers, pears and fresh peeled birch bark (legal of course). More intense than the 2007; almond butter and lemon zest flavors and crabapple tartness leaves a lasting pleasant sensation. -Tasting notes by LAC, December 2009
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(posted 12/10/09)

Steininger Gruner Veltliner Kabinett 2008
All bright peach, citrus, fresh thyme, peppergrass, in the nose. Smells "zingy". The mouth is crisp in a "sweet tart" candy kind of way. Juicy, zesty, and makes me pucker a little bit in an entirely enjoyable sense. Super refreshing but much more than that too.
-Tasting notes by WB, December 1, 2009
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(posted 12/07/09)

Perrin et Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2006
Classic, classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape nose; I so like that. Stone dust, dried flowers, dried and composted black fruits, duck prosciutto. What a mouthfull, rich, tarry, anise, pear stewed in big red wine. The length of flavors make for an impressive finish.
-Wine review by LAC, December 1, 2009
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(posted 12/07/09)

Perrin et Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2007
This wine is a great booster for the Rhone vintage; it's very impressive. The texture is luscious and flavors so perfect for being coached in such sensuousness. There is black fruit, tar, roasted cranberries; a perfect balance of tannins, fruit and acid. Buy a case!
-Tasting Notes by LAC, December 1, 2009
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(posted 12/07/09)

La Vieille Ferme Rouge 2008
As I sit here making notes, I say to the taster across the table that if the taste of this wine delivers on what the nose promises it will be the best La Vieille Ferme I've ever tasted. It does and it is. The nose is blueberries, black currants, and a little bit of alcohol showing but forgivable in context. Medium to medium-light bodied with killer fruit; black raspberries, sauteed but still crunchy celery, and a nice cumin, coriander cacophany.
-Tasting notes by LAC, December 1, 2009
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(posted 12/07/09) 

2008 Tablas Creek Vineyard Cotes de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles
90 Points -  "Bright gold. Mineral-driven aromas of lemon, apple and peach pit, plus a strong note of gingerbread. Less exotic than the viognier content would suggest, offering taut citrus and orchard fruit flavors and good mineral snap. Finishes with an echo of peach and very good clarity and persistence. (42% viognier, 26% roussanne, 21% marsanne and 11% grenache blanc)"
-Wine Review by Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 09
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(posted 11/25/09)

2006 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Santa Cruz Mountains
94 Points - "Bright yellow-gold. Fresh orange, fig and pear skin aromas are complemented by tarragon and cinnamon, with a suave note of marzipan coming up with air. Juicy and fresh, with sweet citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a stony underpinning. Gains flesh and richness on the strikingly long finish while maintaining vivacity. This is delicious now but is balanced to repay at least six to eight years of patience." 
-Wine Review by Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 09
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(posted 11/25/09)

2007 Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Beaucastel Paso Robles
94 Points -  "Vivid red. Impressively complex bouquet melds raspberry, cherry pit, cassis and incense, with smoky Indian spice and herbal qualities adding complexity. Rich, palate-coating red and dark berry preserve flavors verge on decadent but are nicely framed by velvety tannins. A sweet floral note come up with air and carries through the strikingly long, juicy and spicy finish. I'd serve this powerful, deeply fruity wine with braised lamb. (44% mourvedre, 29% grenache, 21% syrah and 6% counoise)"
-Wine Review by Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 09
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(posted 11/25/09)

2006 Tamarack Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
88 Points - "Good deep red. Redcurrant and sweet, cedary oak aromas are complicated by graphite and minerals. Spicy and plump in the middle, with good sweetness of material to support its oak element. Finishes with nice breadth and persistence." 
-Wine Reveiw by Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 09
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(posted 11/25/09)

Paitin 2007 Barbera Serra Boella
I was first served this blind in a restaurant by one of those folks who do that to people in the business. I couldn't pick it out at the time except that it was really pretty and when unveiled a total surprise, a delightful one.  Barbera is a wine for which I have a great fondness. The nose is black cherry, black pepper and a lovely cumin; the more air it gets the more anise comes forward.  The flavors are stunning as is the length. The flavors are similar to the nose but also raspberry and cranberry. Well balanced, medium-bodied; a charming wine!
-Wine Review by LAC, November 9, 2009
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(posted 11/10/09)

Solena Pinot Gris 2008
Really ripe, striking nose of peach, cantaloupe, and tart lemon curd. There is a crisp mineral quality around the outside that keeps it fresh. The mouth carries a lot of fruit weight moving into an almost orange/tangerine level of ripeness. Bright acidity tempers the fruit nicely.
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-Wine Review by WB, November 2009
(posted 11/10/09)

Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Greves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus 2006
91 Points - "Bright medium red. Musky spices, strawberry, cherry and tobacco on the nose. Silky-sweet and dense, with excellent breadth and volume to the suave red fruit flavors. Offers a rather refined texture and finishes with very smooth tannins. Very classy Beaune wine."
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-Wine Review by Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
(posted 11/10/09)

Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV
94 points & Editor’s Choice - "A beautifully fine mousse indicates the class of this finely crafted wine. It has some weight, flavors of green apples, with hints of fresh apricots. There is extreme freshness here, the style dry but rich. This bottling tastes young and would be worth aging six months."
-Wine Review by The Wine Enthusiast, December 2009
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(posted 11/10/09)
 
Champagne Henriot Blanc Souverain NV
93 points - "This is a great champagne, in the bottle-aged Henriot style. It's a classic Chardonnay, ripe, creamy, packed with yellow fruits, and finely balanced with a great waft of toast. A high percentage of older vintages in the blend gives this wine richness, maturity, without ever losing its crisp edge."
-Wine Review by The Wine Enthusiast, December 2009
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(posted 11/10/09)
 
Champagne Henriot Rosé NV 
93 points & Cellar Selection - "The discrete Henriot labeling is echoed in this elegant wine. Like so many Henriot Champagnes it has good bottle age, shows toast as well as light red fruits. There is a depth of flavor here, the texture of yeasty mousse and apple skins going right through the taste. Ready to drink, but worth aging."
-Wine Review by The Wine Enthusiast, December 2009
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(posted 11/10/09)

Green & Red Zinfandel Napa Valley Chiles Canyon Vineyards 2007
92 Points - "Ripe yet sleek and briary—just about everything you want in a Zinfandel. Offers aromas of cherry and smoky sage, with flavors of wild blackberry, loam and licorice that finish with lively tannins. Drink now through 2015." -wine review by T.F., Wine Spectator Advance for 12/15/2009
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(posted 10/30/09)

Bodegas Ateca 2007 Atteca
90 Points - "The 2007 Atteca was sourced from 80 to 120 year old head pruned Garnacha vines and aged fro 10 months in seasoned French oak. Deep purple colored, it exhibits an impressive nose of crushed stone, black cherry, and plum. This is followed by a full bodied wine with layers of savory fruit, spice notes, and silky tannin."
-Wine review by J.M., Wine Advocate, Issue 181
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(posted 10/30/09)

Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja 2008
89 Points (Best Value) - "This firm red offers ripe black cherry and boysenberry fruit, backed by notes of smoke, mineral and herb. The tannins are well-integrated, and floral and smoke notes linger. Drink now through 2013."
-T.M., Wine Spectator Advance, 11/30/09
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(posted 10/26/09)

Volver La Mancha 2007
90 Points - (Smart Buy) "This muscular red shows beef and iron notes, with plum and prune fruit in a thick texture. A bit blunt, but distinctive, with enough acidity to keep it all lively. Tempranillo. Drink now through 2014." 
-Wine review by T.M., Wine Spectator Advance, 11/30/09
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(posted 10/26/09)

Errazuriz Estate Chardonnay, 2008
 In "Wines of the Month", Decanter, November 2009
"Slick, rounded Chardonnay from the Errazuriz stable, made with fruit grown 20km from the Pacific coast. The nose has an attractive nutty quality, with the palate showing minerality, creamy weight and well-harnessed, toasty oak. The structure is there, too, along with very decent length."
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(posted 10/26/09)

Philipponnat, Royal Reserve Brut, Champagne NV
"Sparkler of the Month", Decanter, November 2009
"The Philipponnat family has had roots in Champagne since the 16th centruy. This, its most recent release of Royal Reserve, is a round, generously fruited fizz, with white flowers, minerality and citrus fruit lifting its strong structure, prior to a clean and zesty finish."
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(posted 10/26/09)

Mount Eden Estate Pinot Noir 2006
Dusty garnet color. Spicey blackcherry nose with hints of  smoke, mushrooms and earth. Pretty fruit is balanced by a fresh acidity and softer tannins ending with a pleasant finish. -Wine review by PC, August 2009
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(posted 10/16/09)

Marques de Gelida
With a colorful, shrink wrapped package reminiscent of those Easter eggs children dip into boiling water, this Cava is already poised to remind you of the first warmth of Spring. The nose charms with aromas of tangy tangerines and distant croissant au beurre baking from one of the neighbors. Pear and tangerine dance on the palate with a pleasant mousse that leads to a retro nasal finish of roast hazelnuts. Playful, entirely different and delicious, this is bound to grace the brunch tables about town and add festive cheer to any garden party. Tasting review by Nicholas Livingston (August 07, 2009)
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(posted 10/16/09)

Lava Aglianico 2007
As a black, tannic varietal, Aglianico can really whollop a whack of texture and throw its weight around but Lava is only harvested once fully ripe and so retains a wondrous character of floral aromas, tangy plums, taut red fruit, a pinch of nutmeg and some shavings of chocolate.  Tasting review by Nicholas Livingston, August 07, 2009
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(posted 10/16/09)

Cain Cuvee NV6
49%Merlot 36% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Cab. Franc 5% Petit Verdot. Dense Deep Purple. Violets Smoked bacon graphite,cedar, Blackberry reduction with a hint of thyme. Big fleshy fruit center with a velvet jacket softness. A long and pretty finish. -Wine review by PC, August 2009
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(posted 10/16/09)

Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel 2007
Lovely youthful violet color. Fresh spice and boysenberry meets lush juicy red fruit. Good open tannins and refreshing acidity. Pound for pound my favorite zinfandel in the book. -Wine review by PC, September 2009
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(posted 10/16/09)

La Place Aramis Rouge 2007
60% Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Tannat. Deep African Violet color. Plum, Cassis, sandlewood, wild strawberry and spice on the nose. Fruit forward and sinewy grip in the mouth with a lovely plump midpalate. Inviting acidity with a clean finish. I really like this pleasant and honest wine. -Wine review by PC, September 2009
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(posted 10/16/09)

Blanchet Pouilly-Fumé Silice 2008
Faint pale straw color. Vivid lemongrass, lime, wet stone and spring grass on the nose. In the mouth a pure laser beam of acidity with lemon zest,chalk and the slightest hint of fresh savory. Crisp and lovely finish. A perfect example of why this part of the world makes lovely Sauvignon Blanc. -Wine review by PC, October 2009
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(posted 10/16/09) 

Steininger Zweigelt Novemberlese 2007
Named such because the fruit for this Zweigelt is harvested in November. Red cherry fruit and a little smokiness on the palate. Pretty, fleshy texture with a finish that is long and fresh. -Wine tasting notes by DH, July 2009
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(posted 10/16/09) 

Decero Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Kid gloved treatment makes all the difference when you have a site worth celebrating.  All fruit from the Remolinos vineyard is hand harvested, gently pressed and gravity fed to preserve every nuance of terroir.  Showing all the telltale cassis one anticipates from a good Cabernet Sauvignon, this goes much further to complement the copybook charms with a tension of tannin, ripe red fruits and a forthright acidity.  Marcel Fernandez and Paul Hobbs foster so much concentration from these vines that the fruit is bold enough to spend 16 months in French oak barrels (30% new) and in the end the wine is the very picture of balance and food compatible.  Enjoy this tonight or for years to come.  -Tasting review by Nicholas D. Livingston,  July 5, 2009
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(posted 10/15/09)

Pedroncelli Chardonnay 2008
Pedroncelli seems to be doing something really right lately to be making Chardonnay this good. The nose gives apples, lemon, lime and a touch of chalk. On the palate it’s bright and fresh with more ripe apple skins, a touch of vanilla and just enough minerality to give it depth. -Wine review by JL, September 2009. 
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(posted 10/14/09) 

Alexis Bailly Voyageur 2008
In the past this wine was reminiscent of Mourvèdre combining the charms of floral notes and earth tones and an alluring fruit both bright and ripe. 2008 is in many ways the same but the floral and earthen aromas are dominated by meeker raspberries. It is concentrated, full bodied and well balanced with flavors of creamy raspberries, blackberries and rounded out by a creamy, toasted oak texture. Unlike anything else out of Minnesota, this is a blend made from 35 year old Leon Millot and Marechal Foch combined with local varietal Frontenac. -Tasting review by Nicholas Livingston, August 07, 2009. 
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(posted 10/14/09) 

Four Vines Loco Tempranillo 2005
90% Tempranillo with the rest Syrah and Grenache. Fruit forward bouquet. Massive wine with a deep purple color. Intense flavors of black fruit and a very long finish. Calls for a big steak!
-Wine review by DH, October 2009. 
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(posted 10/14/09)

La Massa Giorgio Primo 2006
94 Points - "The 2006 Giorgio Primo is a totally different animal. It is a powerful, rich and intense wine loaded with dark fruit, earthiness, tobacco, tar and smoke, all of which come to life on a structured frame. Despite its size, the wine reveals tons of clarity and precision, all it needs is a few years to come together. In 2006 Giorgio Primo is 30% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021." -Wine Review by The Wine Advocate. 
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(posted 10/14/09)

La Place Aramis Blanc 2008
The La Place family bought this 20 hectare plot in Auche for the specific purpose of producing this delicious white quaffer. The grassy nose shows notes of lemon and grapefruit. The mouthwatering palate delivers more of the same with a zingy texture and more grapefuit and hints of fresh parsley on the finish. -Wine review by DYB, September 2009 . 
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(posted 10/14/09)

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
Year after year this wine is tight as a drum on release. Surprisingly, the 07 is anything but. Rarely do you find Oregon Pinot Noir this soft and seductive this young. The wine is classically dark fruited with black cherries, raspberries and cranberries with an inviting, slightly dusty mid-palate. The finish lingers nicely. This is already showing better than the 2006. -Wine review by JL, 10/2/09.  
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(posted 10/14/09)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2007
Juicy and flinty – a wonderful first impression with elegant and showy dark strawberry and cranberry flavors with high toned fruits to back them up. A soft and plush example of this grape. Flowing gracefully on the tongue and just staying there . . . welcomingly. It truly makes me want to have another glass. Serve with goat cheese fondue!
-Wine review by SL, September 2009. 
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(posted 10/14/09) 

MAN Vintners Chenin Blanc 2009
Nearly transparent in the glass presenting aromas of honeydew melon and grassy-in-a-good-way.  Clean and slightly honeyed on the palate, this Chenin should satisfy anyone who wants sweetness in fruit, not sugar.  Cool, clean and tropical.  Very refreshing.  -Wine review by JN. 
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(posted 10/09/09)

La Conquette Pomerol 2004
Deep, dense color and rich, concentrated currant, plum, herb and spice flavors that are sharply focused. Intense and lively, with unique depth and richness. Silky long finish with firm but subtle tannin. Over delivers for the price.
-Wine review by KS.
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(posted 10/09/09)

Four Vines Anarchy 2007
31% Syrah, 31% Zinfandel, 38% Mourvedre. 15% alc. A west coast take on the classic GSM Rhone blend, this wine might be as well be called a ZSM for the California substitute of Zinfandel. If you did not think the Rhone wines could get any bigger, allow me to introduce you to a 600 pound gorilla that got loose in an orchard at harvest and has had his way with the ripest fruit. Aromas of brown sugar, rendered plums and heady vanilla lead you quickly to a smooth palate with a mild acidity, polished tannins and rich, ripe fruit that linger and last. This is not about nuance or patience. This is animal, shocking and satisfying. Living proof that wine should not always be about subtleties, Anarchy presents a dose of welcomed chaos. Next time you look for that winter warmer for the fireside or a bear hug in a bottle, look no further.  -Wine review by NL. 
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(posted 10/09/09)

Chateau Tour des Gendres Bergerac Rouge 2007
Ah Bergerac!  So often people mistakenly assume Bergerac will always resemble their Bordelais neighbor further down the Dordogne.  They may grow the same grape varieties in Bordeaux but Bergerac boasts unique soils that yield unique wines and Tour des Gendres is bearing the torch of this distinct appellation with aplomb.  On their southern slope of Montbazillac, the ground shifts and the soil changes to a lighter colored, powdery limestone marl.  Such soil fosters different qualities from the same grapes.  Here the winery chooses not to fine or filter their wine to keep everything they get from the vine in the bottle and for that I am grateful.  With 70% Merlot and 30% Malbec, this shows lovely aromatics or ripe fruit, spice, hardwoods and a wisp of smoke.  Plum skins, ample tannins and a cheeky texture work the palate making this a natural with a wide array of cuisine. -Wine review by NL
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(posted 9/30/09)

Joseph Drouhin Morgon 2007
Drouhin has always made a nice selection of Beaujolais Villages wines, and the Morgon offering continues to be one of the better.  Delicate and perfumey in the nose, the wine displays plenty of cranberry and cherry fruit, followed by nice snappy acidity on the finish. -Wine review by CM
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(posted 9/21/09)

Chateau Eugenie "Tradition" Cahors Etiquette Noire 2005
Spicy blackberry, cinnamon, wild strawberry, blueberry and cloves come together in the nose. It's not an overpowering nose but very compelling. The mouth is very compelling. The mouth is very polished right off the bat but finishes with a really nice grippy texture. Nice juicy strawberry/blueberry fruit. A lot of wine for the $.
80% Malbec, 20% Merlot.
-Wine review by WB, September 2009
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(posted 9/21/09)

Finca Decero Malbec Agrelos Remolinos Vineyard 2007
91 points- "Ripe but sleek, with a racy beam of dark blackberry and raspberry ganache flavors backed by hints of coffee and spicecake. The finish is long and supple. Rock-solid. Drink now through 2010." 
-Wine Spectator Insider Aug. 12, 2009, J.M.
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(posted 9/03/09)

Corteforte Valpolicella Classico 2008
Best Valpolicella I’ve ever had bar none. Do we have a touch of beginner’s luck with their first release? Impossible; Corteforte is regarded as a master of the appasimento Amarone and Recioto styles –casting a balanced equilibrium of pronounced aromas, purity of fruit, counter-tenor acidity and ample cherry pit tannins, these take Valpolicella to a new echelon and your palate to the echoing heights of hedonism. No surprise really; Corteforte intimately knows the land, its varieties and the local traditions as good as any denizen. Gently rolling hills with ideal exposure foster the best ripening. If you don’t yet know Corvina, etch it into your memory as the unquestioned chief among the varieties of northeastern Italy and Valpolicella in particular lending a marzipan come fresh almond charm to the finest wines of the area. Molinara is the heir apparent bringing to the blend a vivacity of acid structure. Rondinella calms the intensity and allows what might be too pungent to discern to surface as floral aromas that pull up memories of opening the florist’s cooler door to be struck by a cool and humid impression of petals on high. Unlike the dried alternative that concentrate the other wines in their portfolio, Corteforte’s Valpolicella is nimble, so fragrant with fine dry cherry pit tannins checked by a juicy acidity that keeps surfacing with almonds, strawberries, cherries and a texture that makes your lick your glossy teeth. The gauntlet has been thrown and I doubt any could possibly take it up. -Wine Review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 8/31/09)

Nederburg, Lyric, 2009
Very, very bright fresh citrus nose with lime zest, kiwi, and a nice pithy quality balancing the fruit and a little bit of residual sugar. It's actually very tasty and patio friendly at a "try me" price.
-Wine review by WB, June 2009
(posted 6/29/09)

Darnaud Crozes Hermitage les Trois Chenes 2006
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Crozes Hermitage,Northern Rhone,Rhone,France
90 Points - "Another new estate for me, Darnaud’s 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chenes stood out in my
tastings. It boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as notes of licorice, camphor, spring flowers, and
black currants, supple tannins, medium to full body, a lovely texture, beautiful concentration, and
outstanding purity and length. Drink it over the next 7-8 years."
-Wine Review by Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 182 (Apr 2009)
(posted 6/09/09)

Gran Sasso Primitivo 2007
For those who have ever mistaken Primitivo not to be the cousin to Zinfandel from California, you’d better check this wine out!  Very high toned and fruity in the nose, with bright cherry and cranberry fruit.  On the palate the wine displays a real mouthful of rich chocolate combined with a weighty (almost thick) ripeness.  While many Italian primitivo’s also exhibit an earthiness that represents terroir, this one is as fruit driven as can be! -Wine review by CM, June 2009
(posted 6/08/09)

Le Caselle Chianti, Fucecchio, Tuscany, Italy 2007
Think of Ferragamo shoes, Gucci bags, Ferraris – anything stylish and sleek and the Italians probably invented it.  Good Chianti smells like that – stylish and sleek.  The fruit hangs on perfect structure and acidity – in this case dark plums and black cherry with a bit of dried herb to spice things up.  And there’s still plenty of fruit on the finish and lift to carry your meal.  You know the dessert island question – if you could only have one wine?  It would be a chianti. -Wine review by DYB
(posted 6/03/09)

Bodegas Alto Moncayo 2006 Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja
93 Points - "Deep ruby with a bright rim. Impressively complex, seductive bouquet of dark berry preserves, tobacco, graphite and smoky Indian spices. Pliant black raspberry and candied cherry flavors are enlivened by zesty minerals and firmed by fine-grained tannins. An exotic floral pastille quality emerges with air and carries into the finish, which is strikingly sweet, lively and persistent. I can't believe that this wine bears the touch of the same guy who is partially responsible for inflicting Australia's R wines on us."
-Wine review by Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct 08
(posted 6/03/09)

Man 2007 Pinotage, Coastal Region, South Africa 14%
Perhaps the most complex Pinotage at this tier, Man’s 2007 is wonderful for its refreshing balance, variegated fruit, and herbal complexity.  In a time when Pinotage has sadly come to mean reeky Biltong and roasted rubber tires, it is crucial that South Africa follows Man’s example.  Sage, thyme and rosemary lend a savory complexity to the supple red cherries and mellow ripe plums on the palate.  With just a touch of that smoky forest floor so often found on Pinotage, this makes a sure hit with any, and I mean any, flesh or veggies bearing grill marks. 
-Wine review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 6/02/09)

Dog Point 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Inhale fresh cut yellow grapefruit with just enough pith to add depth.  I love the faint grassy quality on the attack –it’s that refreshing vernal snap that lures so many to New Zealand.  Clean lovage like herbaceous qualities give way to bright citrus that refreshes as only Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc can.  Need an outstanding aperitif?  Look no further.  -Wine review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 6/02/09)

William Fevre Chablis “Fourchaume” Premier Cru 2007
Beautiful bright smoke and preserved lemon in the nose, fragrant with a touch of yeast and toast.  On the palate there is more lemon with a subtle toasty spiciness.  Texturally it is rich and broad with classic minerality and acidity and amazing length. -Wine review by DYB
(posted 6/02/09)

Domaine Pichot 2008 Vouvray, Loire Valley
So often honeyed, this is a refreshing alternative truly.  With aromas of seashells, citrus and white peach blossom, this shows how low yields bring out the best of Vouvray which is beyond question the best of Touraine.  Chenin Blanc as a variety can offer up myriad scents and tastes but Pichot shows its playful, sprightly side.  With a clean, bright, polished peach and taut mouthwatering mineral on the palate, it is round in the mouth and charms you with an everlasting aroma of white peach on the polished finish.  Is there anything Chenin Blanc can’t do? 
-Wine review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 5/20/09)

Bergström 2007 Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir
Truly Pinot Noir, this serves as a dreamy example for anyone searching after the honest varietal aroma.  The honesty of Oregon Pinot Noir is legion but the Cumberland Reserve seems elemental.  Not in any way simple but rather free from any distracting features that pull the mind from what it is essentially.  This Pinot exudes scents I only find on Pinot with something best but inadequately described as a faint herbal spice, taut cherries and freshly fallen leaves.  Not yet that dry duff that tugs at memory but given time this will surely age to become a seasoned wonder.  - Wine review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 5/20/09)

Bouchard 2004 Gevrey-Chambertin 
Pronounced grilled, leafy forest floor on the nose with floral cedar berry, a touch of blood, cherry and raspberry.  The palate shows a firm grip and a promising longevity.  It is rich and full making the ducts salivate for all the bright fruit it holds –delicious, fragrant and earthy through the end.  How about pan seared goose breast during its youth and a Madeira sautéed mushroom sauce over a simple filet in another five years?  -Wine review by Nicholas Livingston
(posted 5/20/09)

Chateau Montelena 2007 Chardonnay
91 points - "Bright yellow. Musky peach, pear and apple fruit aromas and flavors are complicated by flowers and herbs. Concentration and precise, with a dusty impression of extract and very good length. Quite strong for this no-malo chardonnay. Bo Barrett is now vinifying with a higher percentage of whole clusters and getting less bitterness as a result. "So now we don't need as much new oak to compensate," he noted, adding that 2007 was an outstanding vintage for chardonnay as there was no heat stress."
 -By Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 09
(posted 5/14/09)

Joseph Drouhin, 2007 Vero, Burgundy
Lovely cherry driven Pinot Noir.  Smells of red and black cherries and that Burgundian sap that pulls your face back into the glass.  Juxtapose a waxy, sappy texture with a taut cherry compote with fresh, bright herbal high notes and you’ve caught a glimpse at delicious Burgundy at an astounding value.  With a double entendre at play, Vero is both a nick name for Veronique, and a “true” expression of Burgundy as a whole as this is a blend of the great villages for which Burgundy is known.  -Wine Review by N.L. May 2009
(posted 5/13/09) 

Slatestone Riesling (Red Label) 2007, Mosel, Germany 9.5%
Perhaps the world would be delightful if all people, like this wine, grew up in the Mosel’s warm climate and long growing season.  I certainly get along with this darling and delightful drop.  No need to argue; it’s Riesling, it’s balanced, it’s from the Mosel, it’s low in alcohol, it’s aromatic and only a touch sweet.  Cumin and thyme top notes add much to the pear, apricot and lime aromas.  All these resonate on the palate like a clear pealing campanile with melon rind acidity and a slate minerality to support fresh herbs on honeydew melon.  Once again: the Mosel matters.  - Wine Review by N.L. May 2009
(posted 5/13/09) 

Txomin Etxaniz 2008 Txakolina, Getaria, Spain
Cho-MEEN Ay-cha-NEESE is a telling example of the best of CHA-co-LEEN-ah.  This Basque beauty (arguably the best Txakolina out there) is lithe and quick with a faint effervescence that adds to its immediate appeal.  Crisp honey dew and lime blossom come right up to the nose and soon you’re admiring the light palate, chalky mineral and an alert acidity –like biting into a lime wedge.  Txakolina is all its own and this is the best I’ve had.  Next time you feel like a generously limed gin and tonic but are in the mood for wine, pour this as your aperitif and while you’re at it cross off Hondarribia from that list of varietals you had yet to try.  Have another glass; it’s only 11%. -  Wine Review by N.L. May 2009
(posted 5/13/09) 

William Fevre Champs Royaux Chablis 2007
"William Fèvre is one of the Chablis elite. While I haven’t tasted the top-level Fèvre 2007 wines, its ’07 Champs Royaux, made from purchased grapes, is a delicious Chablis for about $25, with mineral flavors that I could think of only as limestone scrapings, along with a bit of lemon, honey and herbs. "
-Eric Asimov, New York Times, "The Pour", May 5, 2009
(posted 5/13/09)

Javillier 2006 Clos du Cromin, Meursault
Lemon yellow coruscates like a canary gem stone –it’s the most beautiful color I’ve seen in weeks and what a relief and joy it is when its personality is even more striking and unforgettable.  A Meursault from one of the men of Meursault.  Clos du Cromin proves its mettle as a mid-slope, single vineyard.  A cornucopia of aromas invokes a sense of opulent plenty.  Then comes the palate: a deluge of aromatic, creamy lemons saturated with baked apples, fennel and pears.  If its beaming visual beauty was wasted on you, its final impression will etch itself on your mind as a stimulating Chardonnay its roots and Burgundian pride.  This is the voluptuous yet firm rather than obese and viscous like so many of the new world attempts.  But such a trite metaphor and any words for that matter cannot possibly sum up the joy of this Meursault.  - Wine Review by NL
(posted 4/27/09) 

Evesham Wood 2007 La Grive Bleue, Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
My life would lack a massive amount of joy if it weren’t for the Eola-Amity Hills and Evesham Wood has a lot to do with this passion.  My nose enjoys floral notes over good tilled earth with ripe red cherries.  In the mouth this wine is the very picture of elegance poised on that slender thread between those primary cherries and an uplifting cranberry note.  Here is yet another argument for organic and biodynamic methods.  Beyond the many principled reasons for supporting these causes, which are sound in their own right, the most compelling might be that the wines truly show more focus, greater verve and a livelier spirit –all without any need for brawn.  La Grive Bleue is delightful.  - Wine Review by NL
(posted 4/27/09)

Clonakilla Shiraz 2006
New South Wales has the potential to impress, even though the climate can be moody if not full-on manic-depressive.  This NSW Icon has been making some purportedly outstanding stuff for almost 40 years.  This is no Joey-come-lately (I couldn’t resist!)  Remarkably “Croze-Hermitagey” in depth and substance with Raspberry, lilac, black pepper, smoked pork belly and cardamom.  Shockingly good stuff.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 4/27/09)

Roco Private Stash Pinot Noir 2004
This is the little boutique label of Rollin Soles of Argyle.  It is mouthwateringly delicious stuff from arguably the coolest winemaker in Oregon (and brother, I know of cool…) it is a mélange of ripe Oregon berries, juicy, floral and full-throttle.  If you are the kind of person who complains about ‘Weakling Pinot Noir’, grab your Pinot and pour yourself a glass.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 4/27/09) 

Clos du Mont-Olivet 2006 La Cuvée du Papet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
At its best, Châteauneuf-du-Pape will show the resplendent array of the aromas and flavors I find here: dried clove high notes of mulled orange peels, all sorts of fruits that echo later against the palate, and the spicy charms that Châteauneuf-du-Pape seems to parent year after year; some places have the knack.  Lovely and dry with tannins this reminds me of other exceptional Châteauneuf-du-Papes in their promising youth.  Charming and apt, this tough little Châteauneuf-du-Pape is growing before your eyes and on your palate; spouting off plum skins and spice, raspberries and seasoned hardwoods.  La Cuvée du Papet shows its earthen complexity and rich breadth –imagine once it reaches its sweet spot!  - Wine Review by NL
(posted 4/27/09) 

Lang & Reed, 2004 Right Bank, Napa Valley
Cabernet Franc!  Hurrah!  Deep perfume, sweet and savory, ripe and fresh, clove and nutmeg all contribute to a rich chorus of aromas.  An earthen cedar grounds a lifted plum with floral notes.  The palate is dense with extremely fine polished tannins that settle onto the palate to keep the fruit and spice sailing through the finish.  Chiefly Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this has been fortified with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to leave a solid impression of a west coast wonder inspired by the right bank of the Dordogne.  A delicious drop! 
 - Wine Review by NL, (posted 4/27/09) 

Navarro Lopez Garnacha Gran Rojo 2007
Deliciously juicy, offering bright and fresh strawberry, cherry and vanilla flavors up front.  Tangy acidity follows, making it a rather food friendly Grenache.  A nice choice for lighter summer fare! - Wine Review by CM
(posted 4/27/09)

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2007
A bright, crisp, juicy, unwooded white from the La Mancha district of central Spain. The Verdejo grape brings ripe citrus and tree fruit flavors to the glass while keeping the edges clean and fresh. - Wine Review by WB
(posted 4/24/09) 

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2006
91 points -  "Elegance is the keyword for all the wines of DDO, with the added bonus of structure that almost begs for cellaring. This lovely Pinot Noir effortlessly captures the essence of the grape without any heavy-handed oak, alcohol or over-ripeness. Truly Burgundian, a moderate 14% alchohol, it offers seamless integration of berry and plum fruit, natural acids and lightly applied oak accents of sandalwood and toasted cracker."
-P.G., The Wine Enthusiast, April '09
 (posted 4/20/09) 

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Laurene 2005
92 points - "This is essentially DDO's reserve Pinot Noir; it requires some patience at first, because it is quite tight, almost inscrutable. With many hours of breathing it fleshes out and opens up, revealing a wine with interesting nuances of cured meat, mushroom and light earth. The fruit is a notch more concentrated and full than the regular DDO, but retains a sense of tart berry and light cherry rather than being sweet or jammy. This absolutely must be decanted well in advance."  - P.G., The Wine Enthusiast, April '09
(posted 4/20/09) 

Protocolo Blanco 2008
Made from two of the most widely planted white varietals in Spain, Macebo and Airen. Airen is a fresh, light base wine in many blends. The nose is of apple blossom and carnation which is not a fine floral fragrance in abundance but as with so many things a little bit is interesting. Fresh, fruity not unlike many Pinot Grigios. - Wine Reveiw by LAC
(posted 4/14/09)

Chateau d'Aydie, Ode d'Aydie Madiran 2005
Madiran for a long while was an enigma for me. I'd read about it as a wine pairing for certain dishes from Southwestern France, to me a gastronomic heartland, but I knew nothing of it. I'm grateful to Chateau d'Aydie for leading me to understanding. This wine is mouthfilling; dark, nearly bakers' chocolate and Italian plums. There's plenty of tannin but as always the meaty sort. - Wine Review by LAC
(posted 4/14/09)

Marques de Caceres White Rioja 2007
Lovely, pale straw color. Pears, lemon zest, a bit briney. Fresh fruit balances great acidity for this pleasant summer wine. -  Wine Review by PC
(posted 4/10/09)

Lava Taurasi 2003
Really dark yet youthful color for a 6 year old wine. Blackberry, minerals (seems like a volcano), cedar, smoke, leather, dust. In the mouth perfectly balanced with great depth and complexity. Very long, rich, subtle, textural finish. - Wine Review by PC
(posted 4/10/09)

Bethel Heights Pinot Gris 2008
Wonderfully ripe spiced pear and caramelized apple on the nose. Definitely a more fruit forward style than the 2007 but still balanced very nicely by crisp acidity and a little chalky minerality. Really amazingly balanced. Young right now (4/10/09) but even a couple of months will add a lot of flesh here. It's really good. - Wine Reveiw by WB
(posted 4/10/09)

Mount Eden Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard 2007
91 points - "Ripe and floral, with fleshy peach, nectarine, melon and spice. Full-bodied, focused and elegant, with a long, persistent finish that emphasizes the ripe fruitiness. Drink now through 2012."
-J.L., Wine Spectator Insider April 1, 2009
(posted 4/02/09)

Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2003
Black spice and super ripe black licorice on the nose. This wine is really big aromatically with really sweet black fruit. The mouth is powerfully tanic as you would expect. Today it has a much browner more caramelized fruit than the black purity of the nose. A giant of a wine that demands time or perhaps a braised short rib. - Wine Review by WB
(posted 3/31/09)

Paitin Nebbiolo D’Alba ‘Ca Veja’ 2004
This is of cherry pit, dried and smoldering rose-petals, tobacco, raw-hide, tar, ash, blood and old-spice.  Basically, it is like bottled cowboy. Good, varietally-labeled Nebbiolo is like men’s cologne: Rustic, gritty, swashbuckling and brash.  Good stuff all.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Gaillard Faugères ‘Transhumance’ 2006
50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
A tidal wave of juicy syrah fruit, pitted plum and black raspberry fruit with a healthy dose of lavender and Garrigue, but in a rather shiny package.  This is good wine that only needs a little give and take.  It’s no surprise that the Northern Rhone’s great Pierre Gaillard would bring some manners to wild Faugères in the Languedoc.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Tour des Gendres Bergerac Sec 2007
50/50 Sauvignon and Semillon
Be warned!  This is one of those ‘back-up-the-truck’ wines that you might just need to buy a case or two of to get you through the spring and summer.  Lemon and grapefruit, sesame, caraway, cool capsicum, green bean and mucho mineral with great acidity.  Bergerac has traditionally been seen as a bargain-basement to the Bordeaux penthouse just down-river, but Chateau Tour des Gendres has been one of the hottest tickets in the entire Sud-Ouest for producing extraordinary wines using Biodynamic practices.  Delicious, refreshing, and totally versatile on the deck or in the kitchen this is a must have.  BIODYNAMIC - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Perrin Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007
50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Bourboulenc, 10% Marsanne, 10% Rousanne, 10% Viognier
This is one of those wines that amaze me every time I drink it.  It can so effortlessly please, satisfy, and bring together the most polarized of wine drinkers and welcome them to common ground.  It is creamy AND lively at once, is endlessly food-friendly, offers unique and engaging flavor, and is quite simply delicious.  Peach and tropical fruit, orange, apricot, honeycomb and apple-blossom in a medium-weight wine made to give comparably-priced Chardonnay a beat-down.  That it is made by the undisputed masters of Southern-Rhone white wine, the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel, is hardly surprising.  What is surprising though, is the bargain price.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Steininger Zweigelt Sekt 2006
This red bubbly (and full-on fermented in bottle bubbly it is) is all about fresh cherry fruit, and a bittersweet chocolate note (like Schwarzwalder Kirsch Torte), rose petals, and a lively and tart brightness and pop –Sparkling Dolcetto someone said (or even a Cru Beaujolais-sparkling Chiroubles?)  Do you remember five or six years ago when people where asking for Australian (not AUSTRIAN) sparkling Shiraz?  The same rules apply here (but with better results):  Serve the wine a few degrees warmer than Champagne (like over 50F), open the bottle and let the mousse calm down for a few minutes before drinking it (this will also help the come-hither aromas to escape.)  Enjoy!  You’ll be one of the few people on the planet to experience the wonder of sparkling Zweigelt.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Cliff Lede Napa Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This has to be in the running for the best California Sauvignon Blanc I know.  It’s very nice.  Citrus, pineapple, orange marmalade, peaches and cream and lip-smacking acidity. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Argyle ‘Spirithouse’ Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2007
Whoa!  This is without doubt the most voluptuous and voluminous Pinot Noir I’ve tasted from Oregon.  It isn’t obscene like some of the California Pinots out there, but it is X-rated for sure (This is not Children’s Pinot Noir.)  She is a total bombshell of juicy strawberries, rose petals, and cola with brown-spice and maple. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Anton Bauer ‘Cuvee 11’ 2006
40% Blaufränkisch, 35% Zweigelt, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot
This could, I suppose, be coined an ‘Über-Donaulander’ for it’s inclusion of the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet and Merlot.  The Wagram wines have been distancing themselves from the pack in recent years from the rest of the Donauland and Anton Bauer has been one of the top ambassadors here in the US for the region.  He is passionate about producing red wines from an area historically most famous for its white.  The results are quite convincing.  Bauer makes delicious Pinot Noir and full-bore Cabernet from the loess and gravel soils of the Wagram on the north bank of the Danube.  This is the home of Austria’s famous ‘Kellergasse’, rows of cellars built into the wind-blown soil.  The Cuvee 11 will thrill lovers of Loire Cabernet Franc and Chilean Carmenère.  It is quite herbal with cherries, blackberries, sweet roasted red peppers and zucchini, tomatoes, molasses, white pepper and anise.  It is vegetal, but also spicy, floral and aromatic.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 3/31/09)

Château Eugénie 2001 Haute Collection, Cahors, France 14%
-Winner of the Concours Mondial Bruxelles Médaille d’Or 2004-
Immortal Cahors?  Château Eugénie’s top release gives meaning to the historic mention of “inky black Cahors” –even at 8 years old there is no visual pooling and the wine looks opaque to the rim.  Were you late in buying wine to mark the year of your marriage or to mark the birth of your child?  Even in its relative youth this shows herbs including tarragon, cassis paste, cherry pit and sassafras.  The palate stops everything you’re doing with ferrous acidity, cherry pit, anise, clove and black tea leaves.  What was it I was busy doing?  Here’s a glimpse at immortality with a staying power that will endure decades more and show the very best of the Malbec varietal.  The wine can last in bottle but at this price, the bottles we have will not last long.  Lucky are the few that snap these up. - Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Montelena 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 14.2%
Elegant, lush and refined, this is very classic in style with layers of fruit, cassis, hints of raspberry and blackberry and a faint mint.  Rich without force, full without excessive weight and offering a fruit that spreads over the palate, this wine is wonderful.  The palate shows thick skinned berries that rear up with a cedar, mineral and mint.  Long and extended growing made 2005 a terrific year to showcase a breadth of flavors.  This may be the cab to unite all my friends that all harbor their own firm preferences because I find so much for everyone and yet nothing in excess. - Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Man Vintners 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coastal South Africa 14%
Big roasted reds seldom show as many cabernet currants and blackberries.  Faint eucalypt notes and a lifted summer green lend even more to the mix.  Massive leathery fruit show the palate a mouthful of dried currants and blackberries again with nice ripe, chewy tannins.  Tellingly South African because of its roasted and reduced fruit, this Cabernet Sauvignon rounds out with a nice spice and a pleasant finish. - Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Remelluri 2004 Rioja, Spain 13.5%
Dry, dusty earth opens the stage for charred red fruits, including every sort of raspberry, to combine with an herbal tarragon and a hard English toffee.  Remelluri offers us classic Rioja with the best hardwood incense, sandalwood, and cinnamon all billowing out of the glass.  Bright, lively, round and layered, this Rioja shows distinct fruit and spice in a captivating way by letting each element surface and then drop below allowing another element to come up for air. - Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

La Playa 2006 Merlot, Estate Reserve, Block № 10, Colchagua, Chile 13.5%
Heady aromas of rich fruits baked with vanilla bean include red and blackberries as though they’ve been baked on a buttery vanilla crust.  It’s dry and full but round and supple and rich with plums rolling over the tongue.  Balanced by a nice plum skin acidity the structure is further enhanced by well ground tannins and a vanilla nuance above the deep crushed fruit. -Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Gaillac Blanc Sec Grande Réserve des Bastides 2007, France 12%
Coming from the local grapes Mauzac and Loin d'œil, this is full of fresh cut apples, has a good structure that is not at all sharp.  It is so nice to have a 12% alcohol wine in this era of ridiculous alcoholic gravity.  This is a wine for any occasion because it isn’t dishonest with oaken flavors or synthetic fruit –this is bright, uplifting with green melon and crisp cut apples.  Thoroughly enjoyable at a weight that is perfect for spring picnics and garden meals en plein air, this Gaillac will make a fine alternative to any zippy Sauvignons, Viuras or Grüner Veltliners.
- Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Sierra Cantabria 2005 Crianza Rioja, Spain 14%
Doing Rioja proud with classic aromatics, this crianza shows what a year in oak will lend and tease out of Tempranillo.  At first a faint and ferrous almost sanguine low note rings out that serves as the bones to uphold the ripe red fruit flesh and lifted floral and cedar berry aromas.  An amazing aromatic palate with pronounced fruit and spice is carried along a stream of bright acidity weaving a remarkable texture that braids all the flavors long after that sip.  Another wine with endless food pairing opportunities, try a chorizo and sun dried tomato paella and fall into an elaborate calm of sensory pleasure. - Wine Review by NL, March '09
(posted 3/25/09)

Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc 2005
This wine is intended as an homage to the great and ageable Sauvignon Blanc driven wines of Bordeaux.  It is barrel fermented and aged to create a very different version of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc than anything else you have tasted.  The nose is big, deep, and powerfully spicy.  Full of intensely ripe key lime and honeydew melon with a little pastry cream behind it all.  The mouth is full bodied and borders on viscous, but it is actually impressively balanced with enough acidity and verve to match the density of fruit and unctuous texture.  This is a very impressive wine.  It may not be for everyone in the room, but if you’re looking for Sauvignon Blanc that’s “turned up to eleven” this is the wine for you. - Wine Review by WB (tasted February 2009)
(posted 2/23/09)

Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc 2007
Showing clear and brilliant red color with youthful violet on the edge, the aromatics of this vintage clearly shout Cabernet Franc with late summer herbs and bright red cherry fruit mingling with typical Franc floral characteristics. On the palate savory and tarragon combine with floral essence buttressed with dried cherry and currant fruit flavors. The gentle tannins are nicely punctuated by lively fruit acid, which lead into a finish that is fresh and mouthwatering. - Wine Review by LAC (tasted 11/08)

Retasted by LAC 02/09:
The colour hasn't changed; well perhaps a little less bright at the edges. The nose has evolved beautifully, the fruit is still very much in evidence but there is now a aroma of bresola, air dried beef, adding wonderful depth to the nose. In the mouth the wine has broadened a lot, the flavours are more compelling which makes me want to drink this now and often. Let me get back to you on this in a few more months or better yet buy a case and watch it evolve or drink it before it goes any further. Splendid wine. - Wine Review by LAC (tasted February 2009)
(posted 2/10/09)

Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer 2004
Gewurztraminer just wouldn’t be Gewurztraminer if it weren’t so alluring and come-hither, and this wine from superstar Jean-Michel Deiss is certainly that.  But amazingly, its charms don’t quickly fade and take a turn to the obnoxious and arrogant like so many others.  Though there is plenty of extract and aroma, it is so well balanced (and a mere 13% alc) that you will definitely reach for another glass.  Delicious peach cobbler, litchi, apple and pineapple, even banana with a lovely perfume of lilies, rose-petals and potpourri.  BIODYNAMIC  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 2/09/09)

Bethel Heights Estate Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2007
83% Dijon Clone, 17% Wente
WOW!  Vintage after vintage this is THE Oregon Chardonnay to beat.  Look out below when I’m drinking it, because expletives will be a droppin’!  If more Oregon producers made Chardonnay like this, California would be in serious trouble.  Crisp apple and pear fruit, with a bit of creamy crème brulee and little notes of Spanish olive-oil.  The texture is supple and the finish persistent.  This is (with Calera Mt. Harlan), one of our two best domestic chards at any price. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 2/06/09)

Joly ‘Clos de la Sacrés’ Savennières 2005
Nicolas Joly’s wines need tasting notes like a tiger needs an owner or the sun needs a pilot.  BUT, to give you some sense of what you will be putting in your mouth, are you smart enough or lucky enough to taste these wines, something should be said!  The Clos de la Sacrés is the littlest brother of the three wines that Joly makes (or that his vineyards allow him to make.)  This is so far from ‘basic’ Savennières, that it too should have its own appellation.  It is indeed Chenin Blanc, but not merely Chenin Blanc.  It is a firm but also fleshy white wine that tastes like lemon, Asian pear, aloe and starfruit, chestnuts, a bit of wool and sea-salt.  It is familiar to oxygen.  So delicious and terrifying!  This is like your first roller-coaster ride as a kid.  It scared the hell out of you, but you just kept on craving more.  Well, buckle up!  There are bigger coasters to come…BIODYNAMIC.  - Wine Review by BH 
(posted 2/06/09)

Joly ‘Clos de la Bergerie’ Savennières-Roche-Aux-Moines 2005
The Roche-Aux-Moines is a special site in Savennières.  It’s steepness, its schist soil, and it’s proximity to the Loire river produce some of the most ripe and full-bodied Chenin Blanc wines in the entire valley.  Here we take this already exceptional vineyard and add to the recipe one Nicolas Joly.  The result is magical.  If it is difficult or sacrilegious to put into words a description of the Clos de la Sacrés, it goes double for the Clos de la Bergerie.  This is where Chenin Blanc’s color darkens and its flavor deepens.  It is of ripe, bruised oranges and tangerines, peanut brittle, toffee, it is sappy, seductive; there are nuances of bourbon and Madeira.  The wine is a blur of focus.  It is a great wine of on its own accord, and yet only half-prepares you for what will inevitably come, the La Coulée de Serrant.  BIODYNAMIC.  - Wine Review by BH
(posted 2/06/09)

Montelena Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Beautiful purple color. This is so lovely; it is invigorating but in a beautifully gracious style. The wine is as tight as Mikhail Baryshnikov's leotard and just as provocative. It's surprisingly and delightfully long and supple; surprising because it still has a promising future. Lots of black fruit and some tobacco in the flavors. Again, its flavors just last and last in the mouth. A real treat! - Wine Review by LAC (tasted January 2009)
(posted 2/01/09)

Brandal Albarino 2007
Soft, silk, and lemon in the nose. Ripe with citrus and a little lees and mineral. The mouth is juicy with the same ripe citrus, tangerine quality. It has great crisp acidity nicely matched with a surprisingly rich mid palate. This is a super Albarino with a great long, crisp finish. - Wine Review by WB (tasted January 2009)
(posted 2/01/09)

Giesen Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Lots of kiwi, lime, mango and dusty mineral in the nose. It's not as sharp as many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs show in the nose. The mouth is juicy and surprisingly round for Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has good acidity but the plumpness of the fruit keeps it in nice balance. - Wine Review by WB (tasted January 2009)
(posted 2/01/09)

Gaillard St Joseph Blanc 2006
A rich gold color matches the honey, waxy, Asian spiced citrus in the nose.  The mouth is big and intense. Lots of dry spice notes to go with a very barrel aged quality. This is a wine for smoked duck and heavy cream cheeses.
- Wine Review by WB (tasted January 2009)
(posted 2/01/09)

Martin Ray "Stag's Leap" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Spicy, dark and intense blackberry in the nose with smokey coffee wrapped all around it.  The mouth is big but supple and full of candied black licorice, graphite and macerated blueberries. Still young right now; it should flesh out nicely in the coming years.  - Wine Review by WB (tasted January 2009)
(posted 2/01/09)

Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
In a classic Oregon vintage, this wine is a true blend of both the vintage and the style.  Smokey dark cherries with bright intensity.  Complex with forest and oak spice with subtle Jory soil notes.  Bright and full in the mouth with a grace and femininity of supple cherry and blue fruits.  Soft integrated tannins with an excellent longevity of fruit and gentle well balanced silky spices.  Outstanding! - Wine review by SL
(posted 1/28)

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2001 DOCG
By tradition and law, Brunello lives for 3 long years in large Slavonian and French oak casks before it is bottled, so it takes many years in bottle for Brunello to shed its austere and even fierce husk of tannins and reveal its inner graces. This wonderful example of the top-ranked 2001 vintage is now turned from purple to garnet and begins to show tawny orange at the rim – an advertisement that the aromas that follow will be mature. What glorious smells they are! Roasted game, wild mushrooms, sweet currents, dried flowers, rich prunes, gentle smoke – a beguiling array of scents that are generous and satisfying but not a bit over-ripe or oxidized. The flavors are sinewy and mouth-filling, almost majestic, and yet there is no heaviness here; this wine has evolved to become surprisingly gentle, detailed, and even graceful. The red-berries fruit still shows as fresh, not stewed, and for all of its power this Brunello is refined and haunting rather than aggressive. You need be in no hurry to drink this; a Brunello of this vintage and quality should live for another decade.  - Wine Review by PD
(posted 1/27/09)

Nine Stones Barossa Shiraz 2007
This wine, for it’s price point, actually delivers more of what most Aussie Shiraz’s don’t...complexity.  Along with the very pleasant boysenberry and blueberry scents you might expect from this grape, there is also a touch of sage.  In the mouth is the real surprise, with nice pleasant acids to complement good tannin structure.  All in all, a solid effort! - Wine Review by CM
(posted 1/19/09)

Fairview Pinotage 2007
Good youthful garnet hue. Good brambley red fruit and dusty currant. Medium weight, good soft tannins. A friendly wine great with grilled veggies and pork. - Wine Review by PC
(posted 1/19/09)

Eyrie Chardonnay 2006
Lovely deep straw color, very clear. Great poached pear and cooked apple with lemon zest. Very sublime and fresh open fruit. Great acid to fruit balance. Very Burgundian! - Wine Review by PC
(posted 1/16/09) 

William Fevre Champs Royaux 2007
This is Fevre’s nervous little negociant wine.  The 2007 is oh so satisfying and back to form after a disappointing 2006.  Snappy, crackly lemon and lime, capsicum, chalky mineral and very ‘Sauvignon-esq.’  Even this ‘beginner’ Chablis makes the case that if all Chardonnay was grown in northern limestone vineyards, we would have less use for Sauvignon. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 1/09/09)

Gaillard St. Joseph Rouge 2006
It seems that Pierre Gaillard is really finding his groove up here in the Northern Rhone.  He used to make quite dense, tannic, chewy wines year in and out.  Now, the confidence and wisdom of age has tempered his skills and he is now turning out very elegant, vintage specific wines.  It is a style that I’m happy to see.  The world has too many Godzilla-style Syrah wines already.  This is all rose petals, white pepper, lilac and boysenberry.  Loads of style -kind of a Pinot noir lovers Syrah. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 1/09/09)

Gaillard St. Joseph ‘Clos de Cuminaille’ 2006
In some vintages, the Clos de Cuminaille vineyard (famous since the days of Roman Gaul) produces wines that can be best described as baby Cote-Roti.  The terroir seems to have emerged with it’s own identity this year, not Cote-Roti, but certainly not mere St. Joseph either.  It shows such gorgeous perfume and intricate herb and spice (like bouquet garni) mixed with blackberry fruit and ripe cherries with firm and upright tannin.  Your best bet would be to buy a couple of bottles and forget about some of them for a few years. - Wine Review by BH
(posted 1/09/09)