Richard Stetler's Fine Wines & Tastings

The Best Cellar  *  New Location - June 1, 2009 - 1408 NE 26th St..  *  Wilton Manors, FL  *  33305
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EACH WEEK WE TASTE 7 - 9 DIFFERENT WINES + BONUS WINES
LISTED BELOW IS JUST A SAMPLING OF THE WINES WE HAVE TASTED IN THE PREVIOUS WEEKS


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Wine Tasting - December 28 ~ 31, 2011

2005 Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc (Napa, California)
91 points, Wine Enthusiast: Napa Valley and Sauvignon Blanc aren't always the best combination, but this is a superior wine that shows how a great winery can perform when it takes things seriously. With 10% Semillon, barrel fermented and aged sur lees, it's a marvelously complicated wine, dry and crisp in acids, with impressive citrus, peach and honeysuckle flavors.

2010 Mas Oller (Spain)
91 points, Wine Advocate: Made up of 50% Syrah, 30% Garnacha, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 3 months in French oak. Notes of game, Asian spices, lavender, and black fruits. A savory, full-flavored, bargain-priced offering.

2006 Calma Rioja (Spain)
International Wine Cellar:Inky ruby. Deep, brooding aromas of cherry compote, cassis, fresh blood and leather. Chewy, youthfully backward dark fruit flavors slowly unfold, picking up more sweetness and an exotic floral quality. A serious wine for the money, with good finishing grip and a lingering note of bitter cherry skin.

2008 Polkura Syrah (Colchagua, Chile)
97% Syrah with traces of Viognier, Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Mourvedre added for complexity. From a single hillside vineyard with yellow decomposed granite soil. Barrel fermented, aged 12 months, 34% new, 87% French and 13% American. Very aromatic, with bright fruit and acidity, intense but elegant. The earlier 2007 vintage got 91 points in the Wine Advocate.

2009 Trentadue La Storia Estate Petite Sirah 40th Anniversary 2009
This is a classic coastal California Petite Sirah. Nearly black in color, full-bodied, very dry, with high alcohol framing massive flavors of blackberries, black currants, dark unsweetened chocolate, coffee and spices.

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Wine Tasting - December 21 ~ 24, 2011

2010 Don Rodolfo Torrontes (Cafayate Valley, Argentina)
Of the previous 2009 vintage, 90 points, Wine Advocate: Fragrant, peach, apricot, tropical aromas; lots of spice, intense, mouth-filling, great value.

2007 Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)
#47 on Wine Spectator Top 100, 90 points, Wine Spectator: This is what Chianti should taste like, with plenty of dark cherry and floral aromas and flavors that say Sangiovese. Fresh and fruity. Drink now.

2009 Desierto Pampa Cabernet Franc (La Pampa, Patagonia, Argentina)
Matt Kramer, Wine Spectator:A lovely, pure Cabernet Franc, with little or no oak taste, from a new isolated winery in the middle of a desert 200 miles from nowhere.  Bright cherry with an herbaceous touch.

2008 Owen Roe Cabernet Franc Rosa Mystica (Yakima Valley, Washington)
In the 1980s David Lake of Columbia Valley Vineyards released separately bottled Cabernet Franc from Red Willow Vineyard, which is a rocky high altitude vineyard above Yakima Valley. That wine was proof positive that Washington State could make great wines competitive with California. This Owen Roe Cabernet Franc comes from both Red Willow and Erickson Road Vineyards. It captures two of the most fascinating dimensions of Cabernet Franc – intricate aromatics and non-fruit complexity. As you linger and sip, pick up and follow crisscrossing trails of cranberries, rhubarb, roasted peppers, purple flowers, star anise, evergreen needles, wood cedar, and composting soil.  Grown this far north and this high up, Cabernet Franc features lively and punchy acidity, a lattice of tannins, and bright purple raspberry, tart cherry, and black currant fruits, with the body and sleekness of a gazelle. The previous 2007 got 92 points in the Wine Spectator and the previous 2006 got 92 points in the Wine Enthusiast.

2007 Tetra (Napa, California)
Aged 12 months in small French oak barrels. Each grape came from a different vineyard. 94 points, Wine Advocate: Stunning. Opaque purple-colored, with plenty of creme de cassis, creosote, camphor, incense, subtle toasty oak, licorice and oodles of black fruits, the wine has superb purity, full bodied texture, beautiful richness and depth, and a finish that goes on for at least 40+ seconds. Blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Should age nicely for 15-20 years.

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Wine Tasting December 14 ~ 17, 2011

Non-Vintage Mumm Napa Brut Rose (California)
A rose is made by including color and tannins from red wine grapes. 93 points, Wine Enthusiast:What a roll Mumm Napa is on with their new releases. Shows the level of richness and elegance the winery has achieved lately. Made from 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay, deliciously forward flavors of raspberries, strawberries, gingersnap cookies and vanilla lemon custard, with the bubby froth and tart yeastiness of a fine sparkler.

NV Louis Roederer Brut Premier (Champagne, France)
91 points, Wine Specatator: Light and lively, featuring apple, toast, ginger and light vanilla flavors. Balanced and on the dry side, with a creamy texture and a lingering butter pastry aftertaste.

NV Gosset Excellence Brut (Champagne, France)
92 points, Wine Spectator:The NV Brut Excellence is a terrific effort at this level. A fragrant, open bouquet leads to deep, layered core of fruit. The wine shows gorgeous complexity, nuance and a multi-dimensional personality that is simply compelling. The Brut Excellence is 45% Pinot Noir, 13% Pinot Meunier and 42% Chardonnay. The significant presence of red grapes gives the wine much of its breadth and richness on the palate.

2002 Laurent-Perrier Brut (Champagne, France)
2002 is a strong candidate for the greatest vintage in Champagne since 1996. 94 points, Wine Enthusiast: Very structured and dry, in the Laurent-Perrier house style. Crunchy green apples are supported by richness and a complex texture. With nine years in the cellar, it has already gained some maturity, but needs aging. 92 points, International Wine Cellar: Light, bright yellow. Fragrant, complex scents of Meyer lemon, pear, peach pit and toasty lees. Juicy and precise, with very good depth to its spice citrus and floral flavors. The deeper pear and peach notes come back on the finish, which lingers with serious smoky intensity. Has the density and focus for cellaring.

2010 Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche (Loire, France)
The Loire is at the northern edge where red wines still get ripe. By planting in sites that are not susceptible to frosts, get the most summer sun, and hand sorting the clusters and grapes for ripeness, vintners increasingly get fine Cabernet Franc wines with blackberries, bright acidity and drying tannins, without being lean, tart, or astringent.

2006 Antigal Aduentis Classic (Mendoza, Argentina)
Intense ruby red appearance, with aromas of exotic black fig, raspberries and ripe boysenberry, with notes of pepper, vanilla and caramel. Generous and large on the palate with ripe tannins and integrated oak adding to this very structured wine.

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Wine Tasting December 7 ~ 10, 2011

2008 Lucia Chardonnday Santa Lucia Highlands (California)
Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. 435 cases made.  93 Points, Wine Advocate: From the Pisoni Vineyard. 80% new oak and full malolactic fermentation. Mostly the old Wente clone of Chardonnay, with some newer clones. Peach blossom, citrus oil, white currant, honeysuckle, and orange jump from the glass. About 50% new French oak, A fruit-laden, full-bodied style of Chardonnay, with well-concealed oak, a layered texture, good acidity, and striking minerality.

2009 Matteo Coreggia Barbera D'Alba Marun (Italy)
Great wine from an unpromising vineyard with sand, silt, and a small amount of clay. Close planting and trimming back of green grape bunches help concentration. Aged in small barrels of new French oak. 91 points, Wine Advocate:Shows fabulous intensity in its radiant dark raspberries, flowers, licorice and French oak. Juicy and silky with tons of polish and sheer sexiness.

2006 Illuminati Zanna Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (Italy)
Zanna is single hillside vineyard near the Adriatic Sea, 938 feet high, with thin soil and low yields. The grapes are 100% Montepulciano, which makes a dark and tasty wine even with higher yields. This is a famous, top of the line version that is deeper, longer, and more mouth coating, with refreshing acidity, noticeable tannin, ample fruit, and a savory complexity. You would never guess from this wine that Montepulciano is considered to be inferior to Sangiovese. 91 points, Wine Advocate: Impressive depth of fruit. Everything comes together beautifully in this vibrant, dark Montepulciano. Succulent cherries, violets, spices, new leather and minerals.

2006 Lamadrid Malbec Gran Reserva (Argentina)
94 points, Wine Advocate:Sourced from a single estate vineyard with 81-year old vines. Fermented with native yeasts with malolactic in barrel followed by 16 months of aging in new French oak. Purple in color with a fabulous perfume of exotic spices, incense,balsamic, lavender, black cherry, and truffle. Complex  on the palate with  superior depth, concentration, and balance. Layered, plush, and hedonistic. Will evolve for several more years but will take great restraint to keep from drinking it sooner.

2008 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Sheridan Vineyards (Washington)
95% Cab from Sheridan, plus 3% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot from Alice Vineyard. Barrel fermented and aged 34% in new French oak. Lush, layered, and lingering, with coffee, cocoa, cherries, and blackberries.  Grapes are from the best block in the vineyard. A strong candidate for the greatest wine made by Powers.

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Wine Tasting November 30 ~ December 3, 2011

2010 Jose Maria Fonseco Vinho Verde (Portugal)
This is a huge producer of wines under many labels, including Lancers. This Vinho Verde is a crisp, citric, slightly spritzy wine with a smell of juicy fresh cut grass, that is both clean and refreshing.

2010 Buehler Zinfandel (Napa, California)
Just released. Of the earlier 2009 vintage, 91 points, Wine Spectator: Elegant and beautifully focused, offering floral raspberry and fresh sage aromas and complex, balanced flavors of cherry and vanilla, with a hint of spicy oak on the finish. Drink now through 2016.

2010 Odfjell Armador Carmenere (Maipo Valley, Chile)
100% Carmenere. Lightly oaked, no new, only 30% in used oak for only 4 months. Winemaker's Notes: Alluring red purple color with intensive aromas of black fruits and licorice together with spicy notes such as black pepper and cloves, finishing with vanilla and hints of bitter chocolate. The palate is long and refreshing with soft, ripe fruit and a touch of spices.

2008 Chateau Tenunda Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
#33 in Wine Spectator's Top 100, 92 points:Dense and juicy, opening out to a lively texture under the cherry, fruitcake and spice flavors. Offers ripeness and intensity, without a lot of weight.

2005 Chateau St Jean Cinq Cepages (Sonoma, California)
92 points, Wine Enthusiast:Always pretty, always polished. A solid red wine that drinks well now and should develop with a few years in the cellar. It's dry and firm in tannins, with flavors of blackberries, cassis and new smoky oak, marked by a soft texture of finely ground tannins.
 

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Wine Tastings November 23, 25, & 26, 2011

2008 Hogue Riesling Columbia Valley (Washington)
Includes 6% Gewürztraminer and1% Muscat Canelli. Aromas of apricot, peach, melon, lemon-lime, and a drizzle of honey. The flavors are a delicate blend of apricot and tangerine, with a pleasing mineral edge and crisp, refreshing acidity. Slightly sweet, excellent serve with fresh spring rolls, spicy curries, or grilled halibut.

2008 Chateau Tanunda Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
92 points, Wine Spectator: Dense and juicy, opening out to a lively texture under the cherry, fruitcake and spice flavors. Offers ripeness and intensity, without a lot of weight. Drink now through 2018. 5,500 cases made.

2009 Polkura Syrah (Colchagua, Chile)
97% Syrah with traces of Viognier, Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Mourvedre added for complexity. From a single hillside vineyard with yellow decomposed granite soil. Barrel fermented, aged 12 months, 34% new, 87% French and 13% American. Very aromatic, with bright fruit and acidity, intense but elegant. The earlier 2007 vintage got 91 points in the Wine Advocate.

2006 Prodigo Malbec Reserva (Valle de Uco, Argentina)
Winery Notes: Bright and deep red color, with violet tones. Aroma: complex and elegant fruity cherry, plum and blackcurrant, balanced with light vanilla flavor. Full-flavored with a lots of fruit coming through the palate, soft tannins and velvet texture. Long and pleasant finish.

2008 Antigal Uno Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
Each bottle comes in a cylindrical box that makes a very nice gift. Each bottle has an impressive large bronzed "1" on it. The wine inside is big, bright, and fruity, with blueberry and blackberry, coffee, oak, and tobacco.

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Wine Tastings November 16 ~ 19, 2011

2008 Santa Rita Reserva Medalla Real Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Chile)
The Medalla Real is Santa Rita's top Sauvignon Blanc, made to be not what they produce at some price level, but the best they make. From Leyda Valley, closer to the cool Pacific as opposed to being in the sunnier and hotter interior. Very lightly tinted, with aromas of grass and grapefruit. A clean and juicy acidity, with a rounded edge. Has a greater fullness in the mouth than the less expensive reserve.

2010 Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche (Loire, France)
The Loire is at the northern edge of the range where red wines still get ripe. By planting in sites that are not subject to frosts and get the most summer sun, and hand sorting the clusters and grapes for ripeness, vintners increasingly get fine Cabernet Franc wines with blackberries, bright acidity and drying tannins, without being lean, tart, or astringent.

2009 Zuccardi Tempranillo Q Series (Mendoza, Argentina)
Fruitier, juicier, and more openly delicious than most Spanish versions of Tempranillo, with black raspberry, coriander, cocoa, and bright acidity.

2010 L'Aventure Stephan Ridge Red (Paso Robles, California)
Stephan Ridge is a vineyard in western Paso Robles planted by a Frenchman with Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Verdot. The red blend resembles the much more expensive Optimus of L'Aventure, at a much lower price. Has very little new oak, and starts ready to drink. 70% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. 700 cases made.

2009 Zuccardi Malbec Q Series (Mendoza, Argentina)
91 points, Wine Enthusiast:A home run in middle-tier Malbec. Excellent power and balance are on display. Firm, minerally and tight, but with generous berry and cassis aromas and flavors along with ample spice and mocha qualities. Impressive, especially given the price tag. Drink now through 2014.

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Wine Tastings November 9 ~ 12, 2011

2007 J C Cellars First Date (Santa Barbara, California)
75% Roussanne / 25% Marsanne Both Northern Rhône varietals add great perfume and a certain delicacy. The  added richness and body to the wine. The wine represents fruit harvested in the peak of ripeness, displaying honey & spiced peach cobbler, full-bodied and backed up with a core of minerality and acidity which allows it to pair nicely with richer foods.

2007 Mt. Defiance Brimstone (Columbia River Gorge, Washington)
Despite the name, this wine does not smell of sulfur nor is it cooked or fire damaged. The name is an ironic toss back at a hellfire preacher who espoused Prohibition and Creationism. Cassis, berries, ripe red plums and pomegranate show brightly in the nose, complemented by moderate smoke and spice from barrel aging along with attractive roasted coffee bean notes. The medium-full body unfolds to expose layers of plum, berry and dark chocolate flavors completed by a long, solid finish kissed with oak. 52% Syrah, 25% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Pinot Noir .

2007 Pedroncelli Zinfandel Mother Clone (Sonoma, California)
Tim Fisk, Wine Spectator (Dec 2009): A real beauty. This family-owned Sonoma winery has been producing reliable Zins at a fair price for the better part of a century. Harvested from hillside vineyards that range in age from 40 to 100 years, with the trademark Pedroncelli bright raspberry and blackberry fruit, laced with pepper, but with more flesh and stuffing than usual. It's just ripe enough, with 14.4 percent alcohol, and still supple, lively, and easy on your wine budget.

2005 Penley Estate Cabernet Reserve (Coonawarra, Australia)
93 points, Wine Advocate: Delivers aromas of toasted bread, pencil lead, mineral, black currant, and blackberry jam. Full-flavored, savory, and plush on the palate, with enough stuffing to evolve for several more years. At its best from 2011 to 2022.

2007 Mettler Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi, California)
Purple color and fruit, decent intensity, followed by drying tannins. Very young and not yet integrated. For a somewhat contrary view, Wine Enthusiast: A good, rich Cabernet, made in the modern style of softness, ripe fruitiness and slight sweetness. It's a gentle wine, with savory flavors of blackberries, currants, cocoa and cedar.

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Wine Tasting November 2 ~ 5, 2011
"ZINFEST"

2007 Terraces Zinfandel (Napa, California)
One of the best makers of Zinfandel. Concentrated, complex, and well-defined flavors, which avoid raisin, sweetness, and overripeness. Like many best wines, the flavors spike upon swallowing. The acids are refreshing and the tannins are soft in texture but become more noticeable and drying on the finish. Dependably excellent every vintage. Very low yields on hillside vineyards. Previous vintages got up to 93 points in the Wine Advocate. The 1998 vintage remains astonishingly good 12 year later.

2007 Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zinfandel (Dry Creek, California)
93 points, Beverage Testing Institute: Deep garnet violet color. Classic aromas of mashed raisins, dried raspberries, and cracked pepper follow through on a supple, plush entry to a fruity medium-full body with great depth, mouthwatering acidity and a high-wire balance of alcohol. Finishes with a long, pure, craisin and plum skin cascade. A delicious, textbook example of Dry Creek zinfandel.

2007 Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel (Alexander Valley, California)
93 points, Wine Advocate: The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Zinfandel Home Ranch offers sumptuous aromas of truffles, earth, blackberries, briery mountain fruits, and spice. Broad, rich, and opulent, with an exuberant, flashy style as well as a long finish, it promises to drink well for 7-8 years.

2007 Gia Domella Zinfandel Reserve (Russian River, California)
Only 73 cases made. 120 year old vines. A wine you can almost never buy, and even less taste. Blackberry jam with even refreshing acidity.  Impressively delicious, deep, smooth, and balanced.

2009 Orin Swift Prisoner (California)
51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, 1% Malbec. Plum, blackberry, dried cranberry, black cherry; vanilla, pepper and chocolate-covered coffee beans. The finish is long and hot.

2009 Micheal and David Earthquake Zinfandel (Lodi, California)
A wine from Lodi that for years delivers a style very popular with Zinfandel lovers: high in alcohol, sweet, ripe, dense, soft, and red fruit jam. With some Petite Sirah and Syrah. Plum, cinnamon, black raspberry vanilla, pie crust and mocha.

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Wine Tasting October 26 ~ 29, 2011
Cabernet Festival

2010 Jose Maria Fonseco Vinho Verde (Portugal)
This is a huge producer of wines under many labels, including Lancers. This Vinho Verde is a crisp, citric, slightly spritzy wine with a smell of juicy fresh cut grass, that is both clean and refreshing.

2008 Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
Uses purchased grapes to hold down costs. Consistently excellent and improves with age, and a best value for Cabs from Napa. Winemaker's Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot, primarily from Rutherford and Oakville. Earth, olive, and cherry on the nose. Smooth, velvety, and elegant, but balanced by acid and tannin.

2007 Titus Cabernet Napa Sauvignon (Saint Helena, California)
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec, 1% Merlot 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged  22 months in 80% French oak and 40% new oak. Blackberry, black currents, coffee, smoke, black cherry, violets, and cedar. There is also a reserve for $20 more.

2004 Gia Domella Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, California)
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Singe vineyard from Passalacqua. Aged 23 months in French and American oak. Gold Medal, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 450 cases made. Classic firm drying tannins with blackberry and black currants and a touch of evergreen.

2007 Rustenberg John X Merriman (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. 91+ points, International Wine Cellar: Bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, minerals, graphite, licorice and mint. Big and rich but firmly structured and tight. Finishes savory, solidly tannic and long. Lay this down and forget it for a good seven or eight years [or open now several days in advance of drinking].

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Wine Tasting October 19 ~ 22, 2011
We had a  Special Guest on Wednesday:  Michelle Geber, Chateau Tanunda, Barossa Valley

2009 La Brisas (Rueda, Spain)
Made in stainless steel. Breezy and refreshing, citrusy, with a touch of grassiness. From a higher altitude and cooler area of Spain. 50% Verdejo, 30% Viura, 20% Sauvignon Blanc.

2009 Clos La Coutale Malbec (Cahors, France)
Cahor is an upriver, hilly interior region of France and is the homeland of the Malbec grape, historically famous for its dark color and richer flavor. This is the winery's entry wine that blends in up to 20% Merlot to soften the tannins and texture of the Malbec and make it better drinking sooner. Compared to Malbecs from Argentina, it is firmer and dryer, as much black currant as boysenberry, less jammy, and more exhibits subtle non-fruit flavors like tobacco, mint, and earth. The 2007 got 90 points in the Wine Spectator.

2007 Tolaini Valdisanti Toscana (Italy)
90 points, Wine Spectator:A chewy and layered red, with blackberry and toasty oak. Though there's a little too much new oak, this is rich and impressive. Best after 2010. 9,165 cases made.

2007 Schug Heritage Merlot Reserve (Carneros, California)
Includes 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in oak, 22% new French. Has polished tannins, blackberry with the red cherry, and a touch of leather and cocoa.

2007 Titus Zinfandel (Napa, California)
Includes 15% Petit Sirah. Barrel fermented and stored in American oak barrels for 16 months, 20% new. Winemaker's Notes: Ripe aromas of spicy, briary red fruit are wrapped in exotic spices on the nose and translate through to the palate with the addition of candied raspberries and cherries. The mouthfeel is full bodied and lush and offers hints of sweetness on the palate. This Zin's long spicy finish is enhanced by vanilla, licorice and toast notes imparted by the American oak used to age this wine.

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Wine Tasting October 12 ~ 15, 2011

2010 Don Rudolfo Torrontes (Cafayate Valley, Argentina)
Of the previous 2009 vintage, 90 points, Wine Advocate:Fragrant, peach, apricot, tropical aromas; lots of spice, intense, mouth-filling, great value.

2007 Altos Las Hormigas Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda (Argentina)
An unusually dark, dense, and flavor packed wine at this price. For years the Bonarda grape was Argentina's go-to grape for inexpensive reds on the domestic market, but the push to export, plus the determination of winemakers with old vines to make something better, has elevated Bonarda to a wine the Decanter magazine repeatedly recognizes as Argentina's best value red in its International Competition. Plum and boysenberry fruit.

2008 Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
Uses purchased grapes to hold down costs. Consistently excellent and improves with age, and a best value for Cabs from Napa. Winemaker's Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot, primarily from Rutherford and Oakville. Earth, olive, and cherry on the nose. Smooth, velvety, and elegant, but balanced by acid and tannin.

2007 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley (Washington)
Only a few places produce Merlots that are consistently better than Cabernet Sauvignon, including Bordeaux and Washington. 93 points, Wine Enthusiast (12/31/2010): From a superb year, this wine saw all French oak, but an ongoing reduction in exposure to new barrels brought the percentage down to 60%. Young and muscular, the blend of black fruits, sweet oak and toasty spice is focused and compelling. Pure fruit flavors include black cherry and plum, smooth and concentrated, with a smoky kick in the lingering finish.

2004 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz (Australia) 
The premium wine of this estate. 94 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2008: Extremely powerful, with layers of black fruits sandwiched between layers of tannin and French oak; the fruit will win out, but take 10 years to do so.

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Wine Tasting October 5 ~ 7, 2011
Special White Wine Only Tasting Saturday October 8 (See Details Below)

2009 Man Vintners Chenin Blanc (South Africa)
Man mainly markets good value varietal wines. The Chenin Blanc uses only free run juice and has extended lees contract to give a richer mouth feel. The grapes come mostly from older dry farmed bush vines not on a trellis. Guava and melon, with a light sweetness and refreshing acidity.

2009 Henry's Drive Pillar Box Red (Australia)
One of the world's top values. Made from a type of blend that Australia perfected: 68% Shiraz, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon & 7% Merlot. Stored in 75% French oak barrels and 25% American. Deliciously flavorful and surprisingly full bodied and complete, with a soft texture and gentle but supporting tannins, blackberry, plum, and cherry fruit, with a hint of mint. Named after colorful metal boxes the Australian postal service put up to conveniently collect mail in the 19th century.

2009 Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
100% Shiraz. Named after the owner's experience of working as a lumberjack in Scotland. Designed to be so immensely pleasant as an introduction to the red wines for Torbreck, that you just have to try the higher priced ones to see what could possibly be better. Walks a difficult line between power, purity, and elegance. Made from the younger vines.

2007 Qupe Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard (Santa Maria, California)
Qupe specializes in Rhone grapes grown in an ocean cooled climate in Santa Barbara County. 100% Syrah. Poor fruit set greatly reduced yields, and a cool growing season pushed harvests into October, but made the wine intense, concentrated, and spicy. 15% of the clusters were fermented whole with stems. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, pepper, and lavender, with a gamey, smoked meat aspect. Long and luxurious in the mouth, with great structure and acidity. Can be drunk young for its exuberant fruit, or aged for complexity and meatiness.

2005 Aramis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
This wine came in 1st in a blind tasting of Cabernets from all around the world for a panel of 12 experienced tasters, beating much more expensive ones. Nails that black currant and blackberry flavor that Cabernet Sauvignon is famous for. Vigorous, refreshing, mouth coating, and tannic.

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Special White Wine Only Tasting Saturday October 8

2010 Don Rudolfo Torrontes (Cafayate Valley, Argentina)
Of the previus 2009 vintage, 90 points, Wine Advocate:Fragrant, peach, apricot, tropical aromas; lots of spice, intense, mouth-filling, great value.

2009 Elena Walch Gewurztraminer (Alto Adigio, Italy)
The Elena Walch estate arguably makes Italy's best Gewurtraminer that frames the wine with an unusually bright acidity, minerality, and fatty texture, along with the unique spiciness, rose petal, and lychee flavors of this grape. The Gewurztraminer grape grows best in a wide arc surrounding the Alps, through Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Alsace in France, and most of the great estates are German in heritage. Delightful with spicy sausage.

2009 Rombauer Chardonnay (Carneros, Califoria)
Rich, layered, and complex, with cream, vanilla, and lemon zest,oil, and juice. A 3-P wine: peach, pear, and pineapple. Great with lobster, crab, or shrimp in butter sauce.

2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Sonoma (California)
PJwine.com: Luscious, peach-and-apple scented Sonoma Chard from great California producer, Patz & Hall. It's got the body and acidity to stand up to butter, and the minerality to make any shellfish sing.

2008 Lucia Chardonnday Santa Lucia Highlands (California)
Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. 435 cases made.  93 Points, Wine Advocate: From the Pisoni Vineyard. 80% new oak and full malolactic fermentation.. Mostly the old Wente clone of Chardonnay, with some newer clones. Peach blossom, citrus oil, white currant, honeysuckle, and orange jump from the glass. About 50% new French oak, A fruit-laden, full-bodied style of Chardonnay, with well-concealed oak, a layered texture, good acidity, and striking minerality.

2010 Tualatin Muscat Frizzante (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Even fruitier than Carmen Moranda's hat. If you ask 6 people what they taste, you will over 12 different fruits. The cornucopia includes lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, raspberry, blueberry, pineapple, guava, peach, pear, apple, papaya, and mango. Low alcohol and pleasantly sweet, with enough acidity to be bright and refreshing. Keeps fine for at least two years, and can be kept open in the refrigerator for over a week. A great flavor additive sprinkled over a salad.
 

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Wine Tasting September 28 - October 1, 2011

2008 Craggy Range Fletcher Family Vineyard Riesling (New Zealand)
Craggy Range is one of the great producers in New Zealand, very focused on single vineyard wines, and this Riesling has mouth watering lime and lemon, citrus blossom, orange tea, vibrant acidity, and a light sweetness.

2009 Sequana Sundawg Pinot Noir (Green Valley, Russian River, California)
The best Pinot Noir at the 2011 Food and Wine Trade Show at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood Florida. Dark in color; a velvet texture that caresses the mouth; plum, black cherry, and raspberry fruit; and a dry finish laced with tannin. The Green Valley area was one of the places that Champagne makers selected as most suitable for production of sparkling wines in California for dependable cool nights, limestone and granite soils, and lack of heat spikes. Wines like this demonstrate that the area also has select sites capable of making great non-sparkling Pinot Noirs.

2009 Boekenhoutskloof Wolf Trap Red (South Africa)
A strong candidate for the best value wine at the September 25 Food and Wine Trade Show. 65% Syrah, 32% Mourvedre, and 3% Viognier. Wolf Trap is the value label from this winery, and features easy drinking, smooth tannins, and tasty fruit without the rubber and alkali taste many South African wines have, and without the thinness or bitterness wines this inexpensive often have.

2007 Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)
The Chanti part of Tuscany was one of the early successes of Italy to export to the United States, built on affordable Sangiovese. Today many Sangiovese producers in Tuscany have shifted to producing high quality but expensive wines. While the following review properly appreciates this wine for its immediately appealing fruit brightness, affordability, and plentiful supply, it misses how additional age adds more smoothness and complexity. 90 points, Wine Spectator:This is what Chianti should taste like, with plenty of dark cherry and floral aromas and flavors that say Sangiovese. Fresh and fruity. Drink now. 50,000 cases made.

2006 Powers Meritage Reserve (Washington)
A strong candidate for the best Powers wine. Balanced, layered, and complex with black plum, blackberry, and cherry, plus vanilla and caramel.   31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 18% Petite Verdot, 21% Malbec, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Only 247 cases produced.

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Wine Tasting September 21 - 24, 2011

2008 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo (Irpinia, Italy)
Greco di Tufo is a grape admired in ancient Roman times and rescued from near extinction by this winery. Of the next 2009 vintage, 90 points, International Wine Cellar: Pale straw. Serious, sexy aromas and flavors of poached pear, candied ginger and orange jam. Fat, sweet and suave, with enticing firming acidity giving shape to the wine. Plenty of stuffing here for an entry-level greco. Finishes minerally, spicy and persistent, with good spine and verve.

2006 Small Vines Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, California)
Sonoma Coast means the vineyards are planted near the Pacific Ocean, which is cooler and cloudier. The wine has a tannic firmness with a supple texture and complex fruitiness of cherry, raspberry, and plum. 92 points, Wine Spectator. 92 points, Wine Enthusiast. 95 Points, Pinot Report: Complex Pinot with great structure and flavor. It's tough to decide whether to drink it or cellar it.

2004 Castello di Querceto La Corte Colli della Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy)
www.thewinedoctor.com:100% Sangiovese, made entirely from the fruit of the 4 hectare La Corte vineyard. The nose has cherries and bacon, with a note of sweetened cranberry. A good texture on entry, fresh but well held together, quite broad savory and rounded, but with plenty of smoky, cranberry-like acidic fruit too. A firm style, gently tannic, good with food.

 2009 Michael & David Sixth Sense Syrah (Lodi, California)
Of the previous 2008 vintage, 93 points, Editors Choice, Wine Enthusiast: A ridiculously hedonistic bottle of Syrah, this hits you first with its heady aromas of strong black olive, tobacco and bacon, then seduces you further with layers of rich berry fruit topped by Syrah-proper pepper. Blended with Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot and fairly high in alcohol (15.5%) this is one for those who love good Syrah.

2004 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon  (Coombsville, Napa)
94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Merlot. Aged 21 months in French oak. Located high on a hill in the Coombsville area of the Napa Valley. 90 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, April 2008: Lovely ripe plum and clean generous flavors; lovely with a long, seamless finish that provides complexity and charm. 3 Stars, Decanter, January 2008: Sweet, jammy, cherry and blackcurrant, smoky oak. Good concentration. Spicy with quite good length. Drink 2009-2016. Gold Medal, Orange County Fair Wine Competition, 2008.

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Wine Tasting September 14 - 17, 2011

2008 Lucia Pisoni Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
93 points, Wine Advocate: The 2008 (which goes through full malolactic) comes from the Pisoni Vineyard. Much of this is made from the old Wente clone of Chardonnay, with some from newer clones. Notes of peach blossom, citrus oil, white currant, honeysuckle, and orange jump from the glass of this fruit-laden, full-bodied style of Chardonnay, with the oak well-concealed. (About 50% new French oak is used.) The wine has a layered texture, good acidity, and striking minerality. Drink it over the next 3-5 years.

2008 Fog Dog Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, California)
A complex and concentrated wine with sour cherry, black tea, earth, and evergreen flavors. The texture picks up a lovely silkiness a day after the bottle is opened. Pinot Noir, which originated in France, distinctly grows better in a cloudier and cooler climate with cool nights, found along the Pacific Coast as opposed to the hotter and sunnier interior locations in California. "Fog dog" refers to a brighter, emerging spot in lifting fog, which is artfully shown on the label by fading to white along the bottom.

2009 Delas Cote du Rhone St. Esprit (Rhone, France)
90 points Wine Advocate: Amazing. 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache.  Northern Rhone oriented, but loaded with spice and black fruits, an opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity. This great northern Rhone negociant, spearheaded by their brilliant oenologist and winemaker, Jacques Grange, has consistently made fabulous wines from the northern appellations, but only recently upgraded the quality of their southern Rhone selections. These are the finest southern Rhones they make, and their Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit ranks alongside the offerings from Guigal and Chapoutier.

2007 Campo Negro Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina)
www.underthegrapetree.com: Lots of complexity and concentration for a wine at this price. Dense and concentrated with cedar, mocha, black currant, blackberry, plum, and a plush quality that suggests something from Napa.  Mountain fruit, aged in oak, the price of this wine would be staggering if it came from California. Instead, it's from Argentina, and costs you a song.

2005 Keller Estate Syrah La Cruz Vineyard (Sonoma Coast, California)
Grown in Petaluma Valley on the Sonoma Coast, doubly cooled by ocean breezes and fog, but harvested at the end of October. Unusually close to a Northern Rhone for a California wine. Finewinehouse.com: Opaque black with a vibrant, bluish edge. The powerful aromas include blackberry and plum, clove, vanilla along with notes of black pepper, toasty oak and herbs. As the wine opens, it gains a floral quality. The wine is most impressive in the mouth, where it is lavish, velvety, rich, thick, mouth coating, long and concentrated. Delicious now and rewards storing.

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Wine Tasting September 9 & 10, 2011

2008 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington)
One of the most successful efforts to make a top notch Bordeaux white in America. 93 points, International Wine Cellar (Nov/Dec 2009):  Sexy aromas of orange blossom and almond, plus a whiff of Rainier cherry. Sweet, concentrated and fat, with a subtle honeyed quality to the sexy fruit and smoke flavors. A leesy complexity adds to the wine's appeal. This boasts terrific intensity for Washington State white wine and finishes with superb persistence. The percentage of new oak used for this cuvee has declined steadily from 100% in 2005 to 60% in this 2008, and I applaud this strategy.

2004 Morlanda Crianca (Priorat, Spain)
60% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  90 points, Wine Spectator: Alluring morello cherry, wild herb and mineral notes mingle in this rich, firm red. Not showy, but harmonious, delivering balance and freshness. Drink now through 2012. 105 cases imported.

2008 Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon (North Coast, California)
A wine originally designed for restaurants, meaning that the bottle is stylish and attractive, and the wine has a good dark color, an inviting nose, moderate price, and tastes good drunk young right after it is opened and poured, as opposed to a wine that is backward, tannic, or needs to be stored for years for it to get good. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley), 11% Cabernet Franc (Mendocino County, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley), 4% Merlot (Mendocino Valley, Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley ), 3% Petite Sirah (Mendocino County, Rutherford), 2% Petit Verdot (Alexander Valley). Stored in oak barrels, very accessible and drinkable without being bland or flabby. The bottle design is very Florida.

2008 Post House Missing Virgin (South Africa)
An usual blend of 70% Pinotage and 30% Petit Verdot grapes. Dark, saturated color with a bluish tone. Violets, bright acidity, blueberry, and earth flavors. The name refers to the virgin Christian martyr who gave her name to the Virgin Islands, and a famous rare stamp from that country that unintentially omitted her image.

2006 Stonestreet Cabernet (Alexander Valley, California)
Made from higher altitude mountainous vineyard.92 points, Wine Enthusiast:A lovely, complex and flavorful Cab, but also tannic, giving it a lockdown feeling. There's a rich core of blackberries, black currants, spices and herbs, while new oak gives it a savory smokiness. Better after 2010, and should glide through 2014. 

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Wine Tasting August 31 - September 3, 2011

2006 HDV De La Guerra Chardonnay (Carneros, Napa)
A French interpretation of California Chardonnay fruit, from the combination of the Hyde family vineyards and the Villaine family in Burgundy that makes the most famous Pinot Noir wines in the world. Here the silky texture, an oaky vanilla, and a strong fruit are not so huge that they overwhelm any sense of minerality, floral accents, steely acidity, delicate tea tannin, and pear skin.  The overall taste is not sheer power but a harmonious savory complexity.

2007 Terra D'oro Home Vineyard Zinfandel (Amador County, California)
Dark ruby in color rather than black, with a nose of cranberry and raspberry, a touch of cocoa, and orange peel. Medium bodied with a light raisin and cinnamon taste counterbalanced by bright acidity and tannins. The Home Vineyard in the Sierra foothills was grafted over to a very old clone that has unusually loose clusters that ripen much more evenly than most Zinfandels. 

2008 Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva (Mendoza, Argentina)
Of the earlier 2006 vintage, 92+ points, Dick Scheer, Village Corner (Michigan): A beauty. Shows not only oak complexity and integration but also strong Cabernet traits of black currant and blackberry. Nice, warm maturation tones from the gran reserva regimen of 4 years in oak and bottle. Fabulous, quite dry, and yet reserved on the palate. A class act that will get better and better. 

2007 Rustenberg John X Merriman (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. 91+ points, International Wine Cellar: Bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, minerals, graphite, licorice and mint. Big and rich but firmly structured and tight. Finishes savory, solidly tannic and long. Lay this down and forget it for a good seven or eight years [or open now several days in advance of drinking].

2007 Michael & David Rapture Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi, California)
Best of Class Award at the 2011 American Fine Wine Competition. Blackberry, plum, tobacco, leather, and cedar. This wine demonstrates the potential of Lodi to make great Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 30 months in French oak barrels. Includes 9% Petite Sirah, which makes wines as dark, tannic, and ageworthy as Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2004 Rapture also earned an impressive Best of Class Award at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 

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Wine Tasting August 24, 26 & 27, 2011

2009 Fess Parker Chardonnay Santa Barbara (California)
Wilfred Wong (BevMo): A well handcrafted wine that represents the best of Santa Barbara; ripe apple and toasted butter flavors with a hint of citrus on the finish. Of the previous 2008 vintage, 93 points, Wine Enthusiast (7/1/2010): Run, don't walk to buy up cases of this beautiful, well-priced Chardonnay. It's rich and sumptuous in vanilla oak and lees-inspired flavors of pineapples, pears and lime tart. Easy to find, with production of 17,496 cases.

2006 Izadi Reserva (Rioja, Spain)
90 points, International Wine Cellar: Ruby-red. Highly fragrant, displaying scents of blackberry, incense and dark chocolate, with a spicy overtone. Creamy in texture and deep in black and blue fruit flavors, with supple tannins adding shape and gentle grip on the back. Becomes smoky and more floral with air and finishes on a sweet candied violet note. Drinking very well right now; this would be great with braised lamb or a dish containing mushrooms.

2005 Bodegas y Vinedos de Cal Grau La Ninota Priorato (Priorat, Spain)
Importer's Notes: 10% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo (Carignan, locally known as Cariñena), 20%  Syrah, 10% Merlot, 20% Cabernet  Sauvignon, 30% Tempranillo. Temperature controlled  fermentation for 7-10 days in stainless steel tanks. Cold maceration for 24-48 hours. Post-fermentative maceration: 7-10  days. Aged 3 months in French oak barrels of 500 Liters, then in tank.  Fruity, full  bodied, round and concentrated wine with sweet notes in the mouth, hints of vanilla. Attractive and elegant.

2007 Qupe Bien Nacido Syrah (Santa Maria Valley, California)
Qupe specializes in Rhone grapes grown in an ocean cooled climate in Santa Barbara County. 100% Syrah. Poor fruit set greatly reduced yields, and a cool growing season pushed harvests into October, but made the wine intense, concentrated, and spicy. 15% of the clusters were fermented whole with stems. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, pepper, and lavender, with a gamey, smoked meat aspect. Long and luxurious in the mouth, with great structure and acidity. Can be drunk young for its exuberant fruit, or aged for complexity and meatiness.

2008 Barossa Jack Estate Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
Owned by Hundred Acre. Named after Jack Russell dogs, who protect the people from fearsome snakes. 91 points, Wine Enthusiast: This wine hides its 14.9% alcohol well under layers of plush cassis and blueberry fruit. Cedar, vanilla and cinnamon add to its complexity, enhanced by hints of cracked pepper and marinated beef. This is supple in texture and broad in the mouth without being overly weighty. Drink now–2017.

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Wine Tasting  August 17 - 20, 2011
"Zinfest"

2007 Terre D'oro Home Vineyard Zinfandel
Winemaker's Notes:The nose is dominated by cranberry and raspberry and spiced with cinnamon, Mexican chocolate, and candied orange peel. The body is able to support a good amount of toasty oak. Knockout fruit and richly spiced flavors and aromas settle into a surprisingly soft subtle finish.

2007 Hendry Block 28 Zinfandel (Napa)
A wine that laces its fruit with bright acidity and firm tannins. The vines are planted on the rocky and thin outwash (called benchlands) from the mountains. Aged 15 months in French oak, 65% new, rather than the sweeter and sappier American. For a Zinfandel, an unusual combination of black currants, blackberry, stick cinnamon, and cocoa Hendry wines use oak subtly and restrain ripeness in order to express terroir.

2009 Scouts Honor Red Wine Napa
55% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, 14% Charbono and 9% Syrah — all from 30 to 60 year-old vines. The small individual lots of fruit were destemmed and whole-berry fermentation took an average for 12 days in tank. Aged for 18 months in 60% new American Oak from Missouri. Deep and concentrated black cherry, briary raspberry, cinnamon, clove, pepper, spice, smoky dark chocolate and dried blueberry.

2009 Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel
Of the previous 2008 vintage, 92 points, Wine Enthusiast: An awesome Zinfandel that shows how delicious the variety can be in the right hands. The wine is unusually complex for Zin, showing not only its briary wild berry flavors, but deeper terroir-driven notes of minerals. The tannins are strong but very fine, while crisp acidity provides balance. Definitely hot in the finish, but fiery barbecue will be a perfect pairing.

2008 Martinelli Vineyards Zinfandel Vellutini Ranch (Russian River)
Planted on steep slopes in 1999. One of the few wineries to sell Zins for over $100 a bottle.92 points, Wine Advocate:Medium dark garnet-colored.  Peppery incense notes intermixed with smoked meats, herbs, kirsch, figs and wood spice. Rich, full-bodied, and impressive.

2008 Michael & David Lust Zinfandel (California)
A high end Zin from Michael & David.  Has a soft texture and decadent mouthfeel, with flavors of creme de cassis, caramel cream, melted milk chocolate, tangerine zest, and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread.

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Wine Tasting August 10 ~ 13, 2011

2010 Jose Maria Fonseco Vinho Verde (Portugal)
This is a huge producer of wines under many labels, including Lancers. This Vinho Verde is a crisp, citric, slightly spritzy wine with a smell of juicy fresh cut grass, that is both clean and refreshing. For a limited time, it also comes with an attractive matching plastic bag strong enough for ice cubes to keep the bottle cool.

2010 Carchelo C (Jumilla, Spain)
Forty percent Monastrell, 40% Syrah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Elaborated separately, these three varieties come together to shape a  well structured, concentrated, and intensely aromatic blend. Good  structure, mouth filling, powerful, black fruit and spiciness from  Syrah, juicy and fresh.

2006 Calma Rioja (Spain)
International Wine Cellar:Inky ruby. Deep, brooding aromas of cherry compote, cassis, fresh blood and leather. Chewy, youthfully backward dark fruit flavors slowly unfold, picking up more sweetness and an exotic floral quality. A serious wine for the money, with good finishing grip and a lingering note of bitter cherry skin.

2007 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (California)
One of the highest rated wines for its price from the entire 2007 vintage in California. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Syrah. 1% Petit Verdot.  94 points, Wine Enthusiast (5/1/2011):A terrific wine that proves you don't have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It's a deeply flavored, brooding young wine, filled with exciting blackberry, cassis and mineral flavors. Big in tannins, yet with a very refined, classy mouthfeel, it should begin to hit its stride after 2014.

2004 Hanna Bismark Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma, California)
From a wind swept high altitude vineyard that has a view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge 25 miles away, that produces very small grapes which make especially intense wines. The Cabernet is dry and tannic, with strong flavors of black currants and blackberries. The greatest wine made by Hanna, that comes in a sturdy wooden box.

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Wine Tasting August 3 ~ 6, 2011

2008 Trimbach Riesling (Alsace, France)
Made from purchased fruit. Has a lively combination of sage, white pepper, and stony aromatic pungency and textural bite, all embedded in a bright matrix of fresh lime and finishing with lift and refreshment.

2004 Baron de Magana (Navarra, Spain)
90 points, Wine Advocate: A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Tempranillo aged for 14 months in 70% new French oak. Inky purple, with an alluring perfume of pain grille, pencil lead, wood smoke, blackberry, and black currant. Ripe, sweet, and more structured than the Dignus, it merits 3-5 years of additional cellaring and should drink well through 2018.

2005 Carol Shelton Karma Zinfandel Rue Vineyard (Russian River, California)
Double Gold and Best Zin at the January 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 85% Zinfandel with 15% mixed field blend of other varietals interplanted with the Zinfandel. Aged 11 months in 62% new wood barrels. Very complexly layered spice and black fruits, pretty blueberry fragrance, creamy oak, vanilla, dark chocolate, and nutmeg, with no raisiny taste. 

2008 Michael & David Sixth Sense Syrah (Lodi, California)
93 points, Editors Choice, Wine Enthusiast:A ridiculously hedonistic bottle of Syrah, this hits you first with its heady aromas of strong black olive, tobacco and bacon, then seduces you further with layers of rich berry fruit topped by Syrah-proper pepper. Blended with Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot and fairly high in alcohol (15.5%) this is one for those who love good Syrah.

2008 Michael & David Petite Petit ( Lodi, California)
85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petite Verdot. The "petite" refers to the small size of the grapes. Laced with sugar sweetness. Violets and purple raspberry jam. 89 points, Wine Advocate: A joyous explosion of color and fun. A substantial, dense, full-bodied, whopper style of wine loaded with pure black fruit flavors that coat the palate. Remarkable richness for a wine at this price.

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Wine Tasting July 27 - 30, 2011

2008 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo (Irpinia, Italy)
Greco di Tufo is a grape admired in ancient Roman times and rescued from near extinction by this winery. Of the next 2009 vintage, 90 points, International Wine Cellar:Pale straw. Serious, sexy aromas and flavors of poached pear, candied ginger and orange jam. Fat, sweet and suave, with enticing firming acidity giving shape to the wine. Plenty of stuffing here for an entry-level greco. Finishes minerally, spicy and persistent, with good spine and verve.

2005 Terrabianca Campaccio (Tuscany, Italy)
92 points, Wine Advocate: 70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Needs time to develop its full potential, but even at this early stage it is a generous, full-bodied wine imbued with dark fruit, tobacco, earthiness, licorice and toasted oak. The tannins build on the finish, but the wine appears to have the requisite fruit to provide balance. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. 

2007 Altos de la Hoya (Jumilla, Spain)
91 points, International Wine Cellar: Inky purple color. Strongly floral nose displays a seductive bouquet of dark berries, lavender, rose and smoky Indian spices. Vibrant blackberry and candied cherry flavors are lifted by zesty minerals, becoming deeper and sweeter with air. The impressively brisk and focused finish features pure berries. Here's another crazy value.

2004 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon  (Coombsville, Napa)
94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Merlot. Aged 21 months in French oak. Located high on a hill in the Coombsville area of the Napa Valley. 90 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, April 2008: Lovely ripe plum and clean generous flavors; lovely with a long, seamless finish that provides complexity and charm. 3 Stars, Decanter, January 2008: Sweet, jammy, cherry and blackcurrant, smoky oak. Good concentration. Spicy with quite good length. Drink 2009-2016. Gold Medal, Orange County Fair Wine Competition, 2008.

2004 Hanna Bismark Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma, California)
From a wind swept high altitude vineyard that has a view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge 25 miles away, and produces very small grapes that make intense wines. The Cabernet is dry and tannic, with strong flavors of black currants and blackberries. 

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Wine Tasting July 20 - 22, 2011
(Special White Wine Only Tasting Saturday)

2008 Thomas Fogarty Gewurztraminer (Monterey, California)
100% Gewurztraminer, which is one of the supremely aromatic grapes. Fom the Viento Vineyard, which has great shale and limestone soil. Fogarty produces a delightful one with traditional rose petals, lychee nuts, and spice, only with a distinctive California twist – more brightly citric and delicious, fermented cool, with a touch of residual sugar that tames the bitterness that Gewurztraminer often has. ¾ of the grapes were fermented whole brunch with stems. Wonderful with Oriental foods, but especially Thai.

2009 Chateau de Macard Bordeaux Superieur (Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France)
50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot. From the part of Bordeaux likely first planted with grape vines 2,000 years ago, with gravel and limestone soil, near the river, and excellent natural drainage, unlike much of then swampy Bordeaux. 90 points, Wine Spectator: Ripe and dense, but fresh, with silky-textured plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit carried by sweet spice and tobacco notes. The fleshy finish shows nice drive. Drink now through 2011.

2004 Castello di Querceto La Corte Colli della Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy)
www.thewinedoctor.com:100% Sangiovese, made entirely from the fruit of the 4 hectare La Corte vineyard. The nose has cherries and bacon, with a note of sweetened cranberry. A good texture on entry, fresh but well held together, quite broad savory and rounded, but with plenty of smoky, cranberry-like acidic fruit too. A firm style, gently tannic, good with food. 

2007 Qupe Bien Nacido Syrah (Santa Maria Valley, California)
Qupe specializes in Rhone grapes grown in an ocean cooled climate in Santa Barbara County. 100% Syrah. Poor fruit set greatly reduced yields, and a cool growing season pushed harvests into October, but made the wine intense, concentrated, and spicy. 15% of the clusters were fermented whole with stems. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, pepper, and lavender, with a gamey, smoked meat aspect. Long and luxurious in the mouth, with great structure and acidity. Can be drunk young for its exuberant fruit, or aged for complexity and meatiness.

2005 Penley Estate Cabernet Reserve (Coonawarra, Australia)
93 points, Wine Advocate: Delivers aromas of toasted bread, pencil lead, mineral, black currant, and blackberry jam. Full-flavored, savory, and plush on the palate, with enough stuffing to evolve for several more years. At its best from 2011 to 2022.

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Special White Wine Only Tasting ~ Saturday, July 23

2010Domaine du Salvard Cheverny (France)
Importer's Notes: Made all in stainless steel from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Fresh-mown grass, dried thyme and tarragon, roasted lemon and lime, and ripe pear. Juicy and spicy, but dry, stony, steely, deftly balanced between scintillating acidity and a delicately ripe, rich texture.

2010 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
A consistently excellent wine, which shows that machine harvesting to hold down costs can have  excellent results. Winemaker's Notes: Fermented at very low temperatures to help preserve fruitiness. Captures the classic New Zealand profile of vibrant currant-leaf, citrus and gooseberry aromas, with freshly cut herb undertones. Medium bodied but full flavored, with an abundance of currant and gooseberry flavors that linger on the dry, clean finish.

2002 Zind Humbrecht Herrenweg Gewurztraminer (Alsace, France)
93 points, Wine Spectator: Exotic, this is full of dried tropical fruit and citrus, with an undercurrent of mineral. Full-bodied and dense, yet stays light on its feet courtesy of the vibrant structure, a hallmark of the vintage. Lingering passion fruit aftertaste. Drink now through 2012.

2007 Martinelli Vineyards Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch (Russian River, California)
92 points, International Wine Cellar:Light gold. Pungent aromas of iodine, anise, Meyer lemon, smoky lees and dried flowers. Broad, palate-coating citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by smoked meat, hazelnut and tarragon qualities. Becomes spicier on the finish, with the lees and iodine notes echoing. Impressively complex and powerful enough to handle shellfish, poultry or cheeses.

2009 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay (Washington)
Barrel fermented, 8 months in one year old French oak. 616 cases made. There also is a 98 case Walla Walla estate Chardonnay that got 94 points.  96 points, Wine Enthusiast: Luscious, rich, balanced and intensely fruity, this stunning effort may well be the best Chardonnay ever produced in Washington. Two-thirds old- vine Celilo vineyard grapes are blended with estate-grown fruit from even older vines that were planted in 1976. Candied citrus, especially Meyer lemon, lemon verbena and other fruity herbs, stone fruits and subtle layers of caramel and toast burst from the glass. But the most amazing thing is that this wine stays fresh after being opened for literally days, much like a grand cru Burgundy.

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Wine Tasting July 13 - 16, 2011

2007 Cuvaison Chardonnay S Block (Carneros, Napa, California)
93 points, Wine Enthusiast:Butterscotchy oak plays a supporting role, allowing the pineapple, pear, guava and mineral flavors to shine. Beautiful and elegant.

2007 The Paring Pinot Noir (Santa Rita Hills, California)
Fairchild's Market (New Jersey): A dizzying array of dark chocolate, cake batter, black licorice, lifted black cherry, plums, black pepper, thyme and cured meats. Floral and perfumed. Velvet fruit on the entry. Plum skin. Bright red fruit and spice dominate on the palate. Pure cherry lingers on the finish.

2007 Palliser Pinot Noir (Martinborough, New Zealand)
92 points, Wine Advocate:Conservative on the nose with notes of underbrush, forest, and a touch of cigar box. Firm tannins, backward, nice weight on the middle, building towards some lovely pure dark fruits on the sappy finish. Improves the longer it is left open. Excellent. Bob Cambell (wine critic who systematically tastes through all New Zealand wines): Strong red and black cherry with ripe plum flavors supported by classy oak. An elegant, supple wine that shows more concentration than in past vintages. Silken-textured Pinot Noir with a lingering finish.

2009 Bodegas Altovinum Evodia (Calatayud, Spain)
Black color, dense body, and sweetly fruity. Grapey young and licoricey. Tank fermented with no oak. 90 points, International Wine Cellar: Sexy, high-pitched aromas of strawberry preserves, black raspberry, minerals and pungent flowers. Concentrated but not at all heavy; sweet raspberry and blackberry flavors are lifted by a hint of violet. Very suave, especially at this price; finishes with silky tannins and excellent clarity. No jam here, which is pretty rare for inexpensive garnacha. These vines are planted at 850 to 1,100 meters altitude on slate and are more than 100 years old.

2007 DeLille Cellars Doyenne Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington)
94 points, Wine Advocate: 2% Viognier. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of bacon, game, incense, blueberry, and plum. Rich, layered, and loaded.

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Wine Tasting July 6 - 9, 2011

2008 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc (Columbia Valley, Washington)
One of the most successful efforts to make a top notch Bordeaux white in America. 93 points, International Wine Cellar (Nov/Dec 2009):  Sexy aromas of orange blossom and almond, plus a whiff of Rainier cherry. Sweet, concentrated and fat, with a subtle honeyed quality to the sexy fruit and smoke flavors. A leesy complexity adds to the wine's appeal. This boasts terrific intensity for Washington State white wine and finishes with superb persistence. The percentage of new oak used for this cuvee has declined steadily from 100% in 2005 to 60% in this 2008, and I applaud this strategy.

2007 Loring Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River, California)
92 points Wine Spectator (03/09): Sleek and trim, with tight, concentrated black cherry and wild berry flavors that are compact, focused and medium-bodied, keeping the emphasis on the dark, vibrant, juicy fruit. Drink now through 2014." Alex Pross, K&L Wine Merchants: Keefer Ranch vineyard in Green Valley really shines here. Focused high-toned cherry aromas and flavors, a vineyard signature, with hints of forest floor and sweet oak on the palate, will please many a Pinot lover. An excellent pairing for springtime morels, grilled meats and fall/winter braises. A great value.

2006 Yangarra Cadenzia (McLaren Vale, Australia)
Yangarra makes deliciously fruity wines. 68% Grenache, 27% Shiraz, 5% Mourvédre. Lavender, cherries, beets, and cocoa. 91 points, Wine Spectator: Bright and jazzy, offering a riot of flavors, including plum, blackberry, floral and licorice notes that swirl through the finish against fine tannins.

2008 Chateau Saint Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope, Washington)
90 points and a Smart Buy, Wine Spectator (October, 2010): Polished, round and generous, offering a plush mouthful of blackberry, cherry and mint flavors that ride easily over fine tannins through the long, expressive finish. Best Cabernet Sauvignon under $20, Seattle Magazine - April 1, 2011: From one of Washington's warmer AVAs, the Wahluke Slope, this New World style Cabernet Sauvignon (with a bit of Syrah, Malbec and Merlot) is great for the price. Full of blackberry, dried cherry and cassis flavors, plus vanilla and smoke aromas, its mouth-filling lushness is precisely what many Washington Cabernet drinkers seek.

2006 Vinifera Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
95 points, Wine Enthusiast: A young, vital, impressive 100% Cabernet, that is dry, full-bodied and rich in classic flavors of blackberries, black currants, graphite and minerals, wrapped into silky tannins. Superb oak integration lends notes of vanilla and sandalwood. Just gorgeous in the mouth, filled with class and elegance. Now through 2014, at least.

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Wine Tasting June 29 - July 2, 2011

2009 Las Perdices Syrah (Mendoza, Argentina)
Included 7% Viognier, which is co-fermented with the Syrah. From a vineyard over 3,300 feet high. Very clear flavors of blueberry and raspberry.

2004 Pretty Sally Shiraz (Victoria, Australia)
96 points, SOMM Selections / Vintrust (Spring 2008) (A trade publication that submits recommended wines to be reviewed by 30 of US top professional sommeliers): Aroma: black pepper, pencil lead, black fruit. Flavor: blackberry compote, fennel, dark earth. Structure: integrated, firm tannins, full bodied. Length: long finish of black currant and licorice. Balance: full body streamlined by minerality. 91 points, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: Ruby-red. Smoky aromas of fresh blackberry, cassis and candied cherry lifted by sweet licorice and bright minerality. The flavors offer a compelling combination of power and focus; raspberry and blackberry notes build and sweeten through the finish but there's also juicy quality providing vivacity. Finishes supple and sweet, with lingering flavors of dark fruit liqueur. A rather graceful style of shiraz, with impressive concentration.

2006 Antucura Calcura (Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina)
Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Malbec 10%. 91 points, Wine Advocate: An intense brilliant ruby-red color. Nose of mature fruit, vanilla and spices. Great concentration and round tannins which give it a silky sensation. The finish is persistent and well-balanced.

2006 Arns Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
From parcels about 800 feet high, just below the Howell Mountain Appellation. 100% Cabernet. 93 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2011): Few Cabernets get riper than this. It's fruity sweet in the mouth, with generous blackberry and cherry flavors, while charred oak lends a buttery, pie crust sweetness. Yet the wine is totally dry. Strong, refined tannins lend the necessary structure to make this a remarkable Cabernet. Fine now, and should develop over the next 6-8 years.

2003 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Mountain, California)
This winery was sold in March 2011 to Bettina Sichel and other investors, which brought in a new team to make the wine. The best wine of this high altitude, mountain estate in the tiny Sonoma Mountain Appellation. Resolutely made in a French style with higher acidity, more tannin, significant non-fruit flavors, and ageworthiness, rather than the big bodied, very fruit forward, softened, enjoy now style typical for Napa. 100% Cabernet, that got smoother, more complex, and mouth-filling after being opened in the bottle for four days. Squarely centered on the briary, black currant side of Cabernet, with blackberry, cola, pencil lead, and wood, that could easily pass for a fine Bordeaux from a ripe, rich vintage. Of the previous 2002 vintage, 95 points, Wine Enthusiast.

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Wine Tasting June 22 - 25, 2011

C.H. Berres Riesling Spatlese Urziger Wurzgarten 1997
Toppel Pinot Noir Monterey 2006
Grayson Cellars Cabernet 2009
Louis Martini Cabernet Sonoma 2006
Hedges Red Mountain Estate 2008
Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley 2007
Steven Kent Cabernet Livermore Valley 2006
Ventequero Grey Shiraz Chile 2003

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Wine Tasting June 15 - 18, 2011

2010 Villa Frattina Pinot Grigio (Friuli, Italy)
A single vineyard Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy but greater concentration, a refreshing citric acidity, and a more mouthfilling taste. From the Quartarezza Vineyard. A pale straw-colored yellow with a prominent fragrance of walnuts, fresh hay and wild honey. The taste is dry, flavorful and full with a fruity aroma and an elegant lingering finish of toasted hazelnuts. A fine complement served with antipasti, pasta dishes, omelets, fish, and light white meats.

2006 Small Vines Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, California)
Sonoma Coast means the vineyards are planted near the Pacific Ocean, which is cooler and cloudier. The wine has a tannic firmness with a supple texture and complex fruitiness of cherry, raspberry, and plum. 92 points, Wine Spectator. 92 points, Wine Enthusiast. 95 Points, Pinot Report: Complex Pinot with great structure and flavor. It's tough to decide whether to drink it or cellar it.

2007 Westberg Zinfandel (Paso Robles, California)
This small winery is higher up in Templeton Gap. Winemaker's Notes: Dark brilliant garnet color. Nose is dark ripe raspberry and white pepper with backdrop of French oak. The flavor is briary Zinfandel with layered berry and plum flavors. The tannins are well integrated with Westside style flavors and a long aftertaste. This wine matches well with spicy entrée's and grilled meats. It is also wonderful with cheese courses.

2008 Hedges Red Mountain Estate (Washington)
A consistent best value from the Red Mountain appellation in Washington State, blended across the winery's estate vineyards. Impressive concentration and fruit, yet with Bordeaux structure. Holds its own when compared with more expensive and prestigious Red Mountain wines.36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec. 50% new oak.

2009 Orin Swift Prisoner (California)
First vintage made by the new owners of the Prisoner line, Huneeus Vintners. 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, and 1% Malbec. K&L Wines:This is a take-no-prisoner-style blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and aged in a combination of new and seasoned oak. Burly, but somehow also elegant, it is teeming with red fruits and layers of tannic structure. It is the sort of red you want on a chilly evening, after a hard day, with something sustaining and equally delicious, like short ribs.

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Wine Tasting June 8 - 11, 2011

2009 Elena Walch Gewurztraminer (Alto Adigio, Italy)
The Elena Walch estate arguably makes Italy's best Gewurtraminer that frames the wine with an unusually bright acidity, minerality, and fatty texture, along with the unique spiciness, rose petal, and lychee flavors of this grape. The Gewurztraminer grape grows best in a wide arc surrounding the Alps, through Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Alsace in France, and most of the great estates making the best wine from Gewurztraminer are German in heritage.

2007 Flinders Bay Mayflower Malbec Merlot (Australia)
Named after a wrecked ship. A very distinctive wine made from 60% Malbec and 40% Merlot.  Lush mouthfeel with soft red fruit notes and exotic spices and mocha. Aromatic and delicious.

2006 Powers Meritage Reserve (Washington)
A strong candidate for the best Powers wine. Balanced, layered, and complex with black plum, blackberry, and cherry, plus vanilla and caramel.   31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 18% Petite Verdot, 21% Malbec, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Only 247 cases produced.

2003 Craneford Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
Fruity and well-balanced rather than overripe, hotly alcoholic, or over sweet. 90-93 points, Wine Advocate: A barrel sample of the 2003 Shiraz (14% alcohol) exhibits notes of black fruits, flowers, and damp earth along with a dense, full-bodied, opulent style. This offering will not be particularly long-lived, but it possesses a pure flavor, good texture, and offers a considerable value. 

2003 Haan Prestige Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
Winemaker's Notes: Inky black color here signifies a big, rich wine, and the aroma does not let you down. Intense spicy blackberries and subtle vanilla oak complexes with a heavy earthy aroma. The palate is big, with strong upfront fruits, generous mid palate and silky, dusty oak finishes. These attributes are the hallmarks of a great Barossa Shiraz. The long aging in oak imparts soft, silky tannins and a firm structured finish.

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Wine Tasting June 1 - 4, 2011

2010 Puro Uno Quadra Limitada (Mendoza, Argentina)
A new white wine that blends 39% Chardonnay, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, 17% Viognier, and 12% Torrontes. Undergoes natural malolactic fermentation without artificial introduction of bacteria. No new oak, 90% in stainless steel. Full bodied with complex flavors that dance across the palate.

2003 Lmdhorst Shiraz (South Africa)
Wine Enthusiast: Deep spice and pepper on the nose of this delicious Shiraz hint at the layers to come. The wine is a combination of firm tannins and earthy, smoky fruit. Its elegant, dry style will please fans of French wines and this is clearl/ya Shiraz with aging potential.

2009 Venge Scouts Honor (Napa, California)
55% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, 14% Charbono and 9% Syrah — all from 30 to 60 year-old vines – with complex and intense fruit.  Deep and concentrated black cherry, briary raspberry, cinnamon, clove, pepper, spice, smoky dark chocolate and dried blueberry. Lush and creamy.

2006 Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estate (Alexander Valley, California)
From a mountain vineyard 900 feet high.  92 points, Wine Enthusiast: A lovely, complex and flavorful Cab, but also tannic, giving it a lockdown feeling. There's a rich core of blackberries, black currants, spices and herbs, while new oak gives it a savory smokiness. Better after 2010, and should glide through 2014.

2007 Michael & David Earthquake Syrah (Lodi, California)
The Earthquake Series is this winery's value line of ripe, dark, and rich red wines that like Australian Shiraz, try to deliver a bigger and denser wine for the money. Winemaker's Notes: A blend of three Phillips family vineyards, the Earthquake Syrah is not for the faint of heart. Candied vanilla, blackberries, earth, and a myriad of spices on the palate. Full-bodied but still has elegantly pronounced tannins with a long silky finish.

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Wine Tasting May 25 - 28, 2011

2008 Baileyanna Grand Firepeak Cuvee Chardonnay (Edna Valley, California)
Gold Medal, 2011 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition. Of the earlier 2006 vintage (cooler like the 2008), 92 points, Wine Enthusiast: This is Baileyana's top Chardonnay, and the '06 defines what makes Edna Valley such a special place to grow it. Acidity and ripeness are the stars, with bright, explosive flavors of pineapples, pears, Meyer lemons, limes and kiwi fruits. The smoky, spicy oak is perfectly integrated into this delightful wine. 

2009 Ramspeck Pinot Noir (Napa, California)
Todd Smith, St Pete Winesmith: Tasted 03/08/11, 13.5% ABV. Spicy earth and black cherry scents. Zesty on the palate with lush raspberry and strawberry flavors. Finishes clean and dry with decent acidity and red fruits. Tasty, and a value for Napa Pinot Noir. 

Multi Vintage Stratton Lummis Riddler (Napa, California)
Todd Smith, St Pete Winesmith: Tasted 05/18/11, 15.2% ABV. We don't know what the blend is, but I'm guessing it's mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Syrah and Cab Franc. Smells like hot chocolate with some blackberries and spice thrown in. Firm and focused on the palate with blackberry, plum, black pepper, tea, leather and sweet tobacco flavors. Finishes dry with spicy tannins and sweet black fruits. Tasty. 

2008 Rowland Cellars Ramspeck Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
78% Cabernet, 9% Petite Verdot, 7% Merlot, and 6% Malbec. Very dark color, ground coffee, cedar, and black currants. Rowland Cellars is a one-person operation owning no vineyards but still manages the vineyard source of the grapes. The wines are usually closer to 13% in alcohol and do seek to be both delicious and expressive of the vineyard versus huge in size.

2004 Bon Cap Syrah (Robertson, South Africa)
Aged 14 months in oak barrels 70% French and 30% American. Delivers considerable flavor for the price. Winemaker's Notes: A stylish and elegant Syrah with loads of white- and black pepper and spicy flavors supported by ripe cherry and blackcurrant.

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Wine Tasting May 18 - 21, 2011
"ZINFEST"

2008 Seghesio Old vines Zinfandel
92 points, Wine Enthusiast:Extraordinarily rich and complicated in flavors, this wine come from vineyards that are at least 50 years old. It's dry and spicy, with textbook Zin notes of wild berries and currants, but also exotic minerals that come from the soil. Yes, the alcohol is high, but that is the signature of Seghesio's marvelous Zinfandels.

2007 T-Vines Napa Zinfandel
90 points Wine & Spirits: Cushioned blue fruit gives this wine a soft, gentle feel. There's some intriguing smoke and funk to the tannin driving the wine from underneath, a toughness to the structure that's elegantly rounded by the fruit.For roast lamb.

2007 Van Ruittan Old Vines Zinfandel (Lodi, California)
Best Zinfandel, Wall Street Journal: Made from 50-year-old vines – the first vines planted by winery founder John Van Ruiten. Big-bodied, aged in new American oak for 10 months, with deep jammy flavors of blackberries, blueberries, and cherries, along with coffee, cedar, and anise.

2008 Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel
92 points, Wine Spectator Insider: Big and loaded with jammy blackberry fruit, but there's a sense of elegance and focus in its full-bodied flavors. Layered notes of licorice, caramel, toast and sage lead to a finish of firm but ripe tannins. 

2007 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel 2007
91 points, Wine Advocate:A beautiful nose of sweet, jammy black cherries and raspberries, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, and an expansive, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel as well as lots of heady glycerin. This full-throttle, lusty, delicious, silky-textured wine cascades over the palate with no hard edges.

2007 Michael and David Sloth
Each year Michael and David bottle a limited production, high end, and expensive selection of their best Zinfandel, and name it after one of the 7 deadly sins. Befittingly enormous with over high alcohol, an inky color, a dense texture, copious blackberry and raspberry fruit, vanilla, and enough tannin to be dryer toward the finish.

 

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Wine Tasting May 11 - 14, 2011

2008 Biggio Hamina Pinot Grigio Cougars Mark Vineyard (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Biggio Hamina (Bee-zhee-o Ham-uh-nuh) is based on the last names of real people who own a small, new winery in Oregon, rather than on the crazed imagination of a sleepless marketeer desperate to come up with a fanciful name not yet copyrighted. The wine emphasizes perfumed aromas, citrus flavors, and a caressing texture. 

2007 Mt. Defiance Brimstone (Columbia River Gorge, Washington)
The name is an ironic toss back at a hellfire preacher who espoused Prohibition and Creationism. A blend of 52% Syrah, 25% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Pinot Noir, which sounds like a conflicting mishmash of leftovers but actually works well together. Cassis, berries, ripe red plums and pomegranate show brightly in the nose, complemented by moderate smoke and spice from barrel aging along with attractive roasted coffee bean notes. The medium-full body unfolds layers of plum, berry and dark chocolate flavors completed by a long, solid finish kissed with oak.  

2007 Col dei Venti Barbaresco (Italy)
94 points, Wine Spectator: Sleek, silky and harmonious, this exudes purity and precision. Medium-bodied, this sports cherry, rose, licorice and spice aromas and flavors. Shows terrific balance, with well-integrated tannins and a long, spice-filled aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2028. 520 cases imported.

2004 GiaDomella Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, California)
Gold Medal from the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. A dry and well structured style more common in French Bordeaux. From the Passalacqua Vineyard. Aged 23 months in French and American oak barrels. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruity but not dominated by it. Powerful and long but not heavy. Could easily be used as a ringer in tastings of Bordeaux wines. 

2006 Antigal Aduentis Classic (Mendoza, Argentina)
Intense ruby red appearance, with aromas of exotic black fig, raspberries and ripe boysenberry, with notes of pepper, vanilla and caramel. Generous and large on the palate with ripe tannins and integrated oak adding to this very structured wine.
 

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Wine Tasting May 4, 5 & 7, 2011
This Week We Hosted A Special White Wine Only Tasting On Friday (see listing below regular tasting notes)

2008 Casa de la Ermita Roble (Spain)
Seldom do you see an entry level wine like this made from 60 year-old, dry farmed, Monastrell and Petit Verdot. Both grapes are famous for their structured tannins and longevity when aged. This introductory wine scales back both the tannins and oak in favor of freshness, fruit, more immediate drinkability, and gentle pricing. Vibrantly ruby with cherry and plum, accented by violets, tobacco, and earth, and gets even better after being aged in bottle for a few years or opened for a day.

2009 Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Very fine balance of cherry and raspberry fruit with refreshing acidity and a silky entry that turns tannic and drying on the finish. Of the previous 2008 vintage, Anthony Galloni:A plump, juicy offering endowed with generous dark fruit and an inviting personality. There is a lovely richness and raciness to the fruit that flows effortlessly to the round finish. Readers in search of a delicious, entry-level Montepulciano will find much to admire.

2007 Villa Medoro Montepuciano D'Abruzzo (Italy)
The previous 2006 was one of the least expensive red wines that got a top 3 glass rating in Gambero Rosso. From a high altitude hillside single vineyard. Doug House, Cecile's Wine Cellar (McLean, Viriginia):Every bit as impressive as the 2006.  Following the vintage, the 2007 is a tad more elegant, a bit more floral, and definitely more silky-smooth than the robust 2006. The fruit remains front and center with loads of plum and crushed cherry. Scored Due Bicchiere Red, as a contender for Tre Bicchiere status and in the top 6% of all Italian wines tasted by Gambero Rosso.

2007 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville, California)
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in oak, 67% French, 28% new. 94 points, Wine Enthusiast (5/1/2011): A terrific wine that proves you don't have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It's a deeply flavored, brooding young wine, filled with exciting blackberry, cassis and mineral flavors. Big in tannins, yet with a very refined, classy mouthfeel. 

2007 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley (Washington)
After the lowest price I had ever seen for Northstar in 2006, here is the 2007 priced lower and rated higher. Only a few places produce Merlots that are consistently better than Cabernet Sauvignon, including Bordeaux and Washington. The much more expensive Walla Walla Merlot was rated 94 points. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot , aged 18 months in oak. 93 points, Wine Enthusiast (12/31/2010): From a superb year, this wine saw all French oak, but an ongoing reduction in exposure to new barrels brought the percentage down to 60%. Young and muscular, the blend of black fruits, sweet oak and toasty spice is focused and compelling. Pure fruit flavors include black cherry and plum, smooth and concentrated, with a smoky kick in the lingering finish.

Specail White Wine Only Tasting - Friday May 6

2008 D'Arenberg Hermit Crab (Australia)
A Rhone white blend of 72% Viognier and 28% Marsanne, from 92% McLaren Vale and 8% Adelaide Hills, combining abundant apricot, peach and pear fruit, with more subtle honeysuckle and orange blossom. The 2006 vintage was a Top 100 in the Wine Spectator. The 2007 got 90 points in the Wine Advocate.

2008 Elena Walch Gewurztraminer (Alto Adige, Italy)
The Elena Walch estate arguably makes Italy's best Gewurtraminer that frames the wine with an unusually bright acidity, minerality, and fatty texture, along with the unique spiciness, rose petal, and lychee flavors of this grape. The Gewurztraminer grape grows best in a wide arc surrounding the Alps, through Northern Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Alsace in France, and most of the great estates making the best wine from Gewurztraminer are German in heritage.

2009 Huber Gruner Veltliner (Austria)
This Huber is a good introduction to the grape, with a green and yellow tinge, pepper nose, hints of spice and herbs, and refreshing acidity with a citrus edge. Gruner Veltliner is the national white wine grape of Austria, which is the only country where it is widely grown and achieves its greatest potential and diversity. Most of the best wines are made dry with no residual sugar along with a taunt nervy acidity and a mouth coating core of minerality, The grape has an unusual complex of green flavors, including pea pod and asparagus, along with green skinned pears and plums and the  juiciness of the first cut of spring grass. It oft en is richly floral, with ginger, jasmine, and verbena, and includes a white pepper spice.

2009 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris (Alsace, France)
Zind-Humbrecht is the greatest producer in Alsace, which is the region that makes the greatest Pinot Gris. His introductory wine that blends across his estate vineyards. Has an oily texture that makes it incredibly good with salads and spicy foods. Of the previous 2008, 92 points, Wine Spectator: There's a nice salty minerality to this white, with crackling acidity supporting the white peach, quince and kumquat flavors. This has fine intensity and length, with a vibrancy that enlivens the wine and a long, smoke-tinged finish. Drink now through 2020. 

2008 Baileyanna Grand Firepeak Cuvee Chardonnay (Edna Valley, California)
Gold Medal, 2011 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition. Of the earlier 2006 vintage (cooler like the 2008), 92 points, Wine Enthusiast:This is Baileyana's top Chardonnay, and the '06 defines what makes Edna Valley such a special place to grow it. Acidity and ripeness are the stars, with bright, explosive flavors of pineapples, pears, Meyer lemons, limes and kiwi fruits. The smoky, spicy oak is perfectly integrated into this delightful wine.  

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Wine Tasting April 27 - 30, 2011

In addition to our regular tasting Wednesday evening, Eddie visited to pour wines from his Pezzi King portfolio.

2006 Calma (Rioja, Spain)
Bright aromas of cherries, cranberries, and roses. Layers of earthy spices, vanilla, and cocoa. Smoothly textured, creamy vanilla oak, jammy blackberry and black cherry, a touch of toasted oak. Earthy with a long, smooth finish with well balanced tannins. Layers of flavors and an elegant texture lead to a balanced finish that is softened by oak. 10% Graciano gives the wine some dark fruit and a shot of black pepper at the end. 

2006 Chateau Montaigut Cotes de Bourg (Bordeaux, France)
thewineryonline.com: Deliciously deep, rich wine has a dark ruby red color with full aromas of black and red berries, cassis. The palate is round and full with balanced tannins and flavors reminiscent of black cherry, currant and mocha with hints of vanilla and spices. Velvety texture and firm structure. If you need to add a dramatic touch to dinner, this wine will do it. 

2007 Canard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Aged 18 months in French oak, 40% new barrels. Prior to 2006, the grapes were sold to Ravenswood and Mondavi. Brian Graham, winemaker, comparing the 2007 to the 2006 vintage Cab: "200% better.". Medium to full bodied in density, massively structured, very aromatic, elegant but big, true to its varietal. 

2007 Mas Doix Salanques (Priorat, Spain)
93 points, Wine Advocate: The purple-colored 2007 Salanques is composed of 65% Garnacha, 15% Carinena, and the balance Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 14 months in French oak. Aromas of Asian spices, incense, mineral, plum and black cherry are followed by a plush, opulent, pleasure-bent Priorat that delivers awesome value for this pricy DO. Give it 1-2 years to fully blossom and drink it through 2022. 

2005 Thomas Fogarty Santa Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Thomas Fogarty is one of the few wineries in California that for over two decades has had only one owner and one winemaker. All their estate vineyards are high altitude sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their general Santa Cruz Mountains line that blends across their estate vineyards is consistently superb. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is black in color, full of black currants, wonderfully integrates smoky oak, and is well structured by firm and drying tannins. This wine improves in the bottle for well over 10 years.

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Wine Tasting April 20 - 23, 2011

2008 King Estate Pinot Gris (Washington)
90 points, Wine Spectator: Bright and lively, brimming with lemon meringue, golden raisin and green tea character. Finishes with zip. Drink now. 

2007 Etude Pinot Noir Carneros (California)
Very delicious, with tasty black and red cherry fruit, a ripe and rounded acidity, and a smooth texture.  So enjoyable that you keep on sipping it, and when you go to pour some more out of the empty bottle, you look around to see who else has been siphoning off your wine.

2007 Stags Leap Estate Merlot (Stags Leap, California)
The Stags Leap District in Napa is famous for its alluring and luscious Merlots from numerous producers.  This winery's version has cassis, blackberry, plum, and cherry, swaddled in silk.

2007 Fin del Mundo Special Blend (Patagonia, Argentina)
The best grapes from various vineyards. Blends 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec, and 20% Merlot. Aged 14 month in new French small barrels. Violets, plums, blackberries, vanilla, chocolate, and tobacco.

2007 Stags Leap Estate Petite Syrah (Rutherford, California)
Stags Leap is one of the few wineries where their Petite Sirah is a strong candidate for their best and most famous wine. The core of the wine is 30 year estate grown vines in the Stags Leap appellation on rocky, volcanic soil, but also includes grapes from other Napa Valley producers. Their signature taste is cocoa, blackberry, raspberry, and lavender with both intensity and lusciousness.

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Wine Tasting April 13 - 16, 2011

2007 Carabella Chardonnay Eve's Garden (Chehalem Mountains, Oregon)
Crisp juicy fresh apples, with some pear and a touch of butter on the very end. More fruit driven and less oaky than the typical California Chardonnay.

2007 Miguel Torres Celeste (Ribero del Duero, Spain)
From an acquired vineyard, with the first Torres release in 2003. Of the previous 2006, 91 points, Wine Enthusiast: Since Torres launched Celeste a few years ago, the wine has gotten better and better with each passing vintage. The 2006 is friendly and complete, with no outlying or iffy aromas or flavors. This is textbook Ribera; it has smoothness and size along with intriguing black cherry, plum, herbs, tea and tobacco. A bottling for pretty much any wine lover.

2007 Antigal Uno Malbec (Argentina)
Comes in an impressive bottle with a large bronzed "1" on it. The wine inside is big, bright, and fruity, with blueberry and blackberry, coffee, oak, and tobacco.

2007 Rustenberg John X Merriman (South Africa)
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. 91+ points, International Wine Cellar: Bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, minerals, graphite, licorice and mint. Big and rich but firmly structured and tight. Finishes savory, solidly tannic and long. Lay this down and forget it for a good seven or eight years.

2007 Vine Cliff Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
This estate consistently makes its best wines from Cabernet Sauvignon from its own vineyards in Oakville and Calistoga in Napa California, that range from very good up to strong candidates for the best in California.  The Cabs are deep, complex, and balanced. The general "Napa Valley" bottling blends across its holdings, and can be soaringly good in great vintages. Also makes an excellent Merlot.

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Wine Tasting April 6, 7 & 9, 2011
This Week We Hosted A Special White Wine Only Tasting On Friday April 8
(see listing below regular tasting notes)

2007 Starr Chardonnay Reserve (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
Wine Maker Notes: This delicious Chardonnay was stainless steel fermented to retain the pure fruit flavors and aged in French oak barrels for added complexity. Medium straw in color, the nose shows balanced elements of tropical fruits and fresh citrus. On the palate it exhibits ripe bananas, peach and just a hint of toasty oak. The long, crisp finish is soft with sweet yeasty overtones.

2006 Trinitas Zinfandel (California)
A more briary style of Zinfandel rather than raisiny. Clear and delicious fruit framed by acidity and tannin.

2005 Resalte Crianza (Ribero Del Duero, Spain)
94 points, Wine Spectator, 2010 #26 in TOP 100 List:  Fresh and focused, this firm red delivers ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, backed by espresso and licorice accents, finishing with alluring notes of sous-bois and mineral. This has depth and drive. Drink now through 2016.

2008 Rowland Cellars Ramspeck Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa)
78% Cabernet, 9% Petite Verdot, 7% Merlot, and 6% Malbec. Very dark color, ground coffee, cedar, and black currants.Rowland Cellars is a one-person operation owning no vineyards but still manages the vineyard source of the grapes. The wines are usually closer to 13% in alcohol and do seek to be both delicious and expressive of the vineyard versus huge in size.

2004 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon  (Coombsville, Napa)
94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, .5% Merlot. Aged 21 months in French oak. Located high on a hill in the Coombsville area of the Napa Valley. 90 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, April 2008: Lovely ripe plum and clean generous flavors; lovely with a long, seamless finish that provides complexity and charm. 3 Stars, Decanter, January 2008: Sweet, jammy, cherry and blackcurrant, smoky oak. Good concentration. Spicy with quite good length. Drink 2009-2016. Gold Medal, Orange County Fair Wine Competition, 2008.

Special White Wine Only Tasting - Friday, April 8

2009 Hogue Dry Riesling (Washington)
The winemakers recommend pairing the Riesling with a chef's salad, fresh spring rolls or sushi. Wine Best Buy, Enthusiast:  Round and easy-drinking, this pure varietal Riesling is centered on peach and apricot fruit flavors. It does not show a floral or mineral side, but does bring in some pleasing spice. It's very well balanced, classic Washington juice.

2009 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Top 100/Blue Gold Sydney International Wine Competition.  A consistently excellent wine, which shows that machine harvesting to hold down costs can make excellent results. Winemaker's Notes: Fermented at very low temperatures to help preserve fruitiness. Captures the classic New Zealand profile of vibrant currant-leaf, citrus and gooseberry aromas, with freshly cut herb undertones. Medium bodied but full flavored, with an abundance of currant and gooseberry flavors that linger on the dry, clean finish.

2008 Fess Parker Santa Barbara Chardonnay (California)
93 points, Wine Enthusiast (7/1/2010): Run, don't walk to buy up cases of this beautiful, well-priced Chardonnay. It's rich and sumptuous in vanilla oak and lees-inspired flavors of pineapples, pears and lime tart. Easy to find, with production of 17,496 cases.

2006 Eric Forrest Vergisson La Roche (Macon, France)
This wine shows how great modestly priced Chardonnay can be from France. La Roche is massive mountain of limestone, with a huge cliff face. Vergisson is a village nestled near the valley foot. 90 points, International Wine Cellar: Bright gold. Intensely perfumed nose offers a bright array of fresh citrus and orchard fruit scents. Spicy lime and orange flavors are impressively buoyant, offering impressive sweetness and surprising cut. Tangy lime pith and green apple qualities linger on the long, clean finish.

2008 Fess Parker Ashley's Chardonnay (Santa Rita Hills, California)
95 points, Wine Enthusiast: Drink this beauty a little warmer with your lobster, crab or scallops. It has the weight of a noble wine, with minerality and creaminess giving shape and texture to the leesy, yeasty flavors of pineapples, Key lime pie and ripe pear purée. Aged in 40% new French oak, California Chardonnay hardly gets any better than this.

2010 Tualatin Semi-Sparkling Muscat (Oregon)
A superb example of how low alcohol wines can be explosively and complexly fruity. This wine's refreshingly tangy acidity is balanced with sweet and exuberant peach, pear, mango, orange, and raspberry. The semi-sparkling bubbles also contribute to a stimulating mouthfeel. The finish is delicious, lively, and fresh, inviting another sip.

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Wine Tasting March 30 - April 2, 2011

2009 Leese-Fitch Chardonnay (California)
An affordable blend of Chardonnay with some Chenin Blanc and a bit of Viognier. The early harvested Chenin adds brightness and minerality. The Viognier adds a floral and peach touch. The central palette has Meyer lemons, green apple, grapefruit, integrated French oak, and a touch of spearmint.

2009 Delas Cote du Rhone St. Esprit (Rhone, France)
90 points Robert Parker: Amazing. 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache.  Northern Rhone oriented, but loaded with spice and black fruits, an opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity.. This great northern Rhone negociant, spearheaded by their brilliant oenologist and winemaker, Jacques Grange, has consistently made fabulous wines from the northern appellations, but only recently upgraded the quality of their southern Rhone selections. These are the finest southern Rhones they make, and their Cotes duRhone St.-Esprit ranks alongside the offerings from Guigal and Chapoutier,

2007 Jimenez-Landi Sotorrondero (Spain)
90 points, International Wine Cellar: Inky ruby. Mineral-accented cherry and blackcurrant aromas are complemented by violet and rose, along with a suave cola overtone. Deeply pitched dark berry flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity, with fine-grained tannins adding support. Manages to be both rich and energetic, finishing with strong sweetness and lingering spiciness.

2006 L'Ecole #41 Cabernet Sauvigon (Washington)
92 points, Wine & Spirits: Savory. Leads with scents of spiced plum and sun-dried tomato. The flavors have a smoked plum character. Mineral tannins guide the wine into a firm, long finish. Drinks well right now. For ribeye steak.

2007 Rustenberg John X Merriman (South Africa)
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. 91+ points, International Wine Cellar: Bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, minerals, graphite, licorice and mint. Big and rich but firmly structured and tight. Finishes savory, solidly tannic and long. Lay this down and forget it for a good seven or eight years.

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Wine Tasting March 23 - 26, 2011

2006 Small Vines Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, California)
Sonoma Coast means the vineyards are planted near the Pacific Ocean, which is cooler and cloudier. The wine has a tannic firmness with a supple texture and complex frutiness of cherry, raspberry, and plum. 92 points, Wine Spectator. 92 points, Wine Enthusiast. 95 Points, Pinot Report: Complex Pinot with great structure and flavor. It's tough to decide whether to drink it or cellar it.

2006 Sanctuary Mariah Vineyard Zinfandel (Mendicino, California)
93 points, Wine Enthusiast: This is a Zin for the cellar. It's fine now in rich fruit, but fairly tannic, and there's some tension of parts that 3–4 years should resolve. Shows very pure, focused black currant and cedar flavors, liberally dusted with peppery spices. The challenge with these big Zins is balance, which Sanctuary achieves.

2007 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses (Cotes du Ventoux, France)
91 points, Wine Advocate: A custom cuvee put together for importer Eric Solomon. Made from 60-year-old Grenache and 30-year-old Syrah, one-third is aged in small barrels and the rest in foudre and tank. A remarkable bargain. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of cassis, kirsch, lavender, pepper, and spice. The sweetness of the tannins, abundant glycerin, razor sharp focus, and wonderful depth make for a wine that transcends its humble price and bucolic appellation. Drink over the next 2-3 years. 

2007 Chateau Pesquie Quintessence (Cotes du Ventoux, France)
93 points, Wine Advocate: The late-released 2007 Quintessence (Pesquie's top cuvee) is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache aged 12 months in oak (40% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Its dense opaque ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of blackberries, blueberries, charcoal, and acacia flowers. Dense, thick, unctuously textured, exuberant, and ostentatious, this terrific wine can be enjoyed over the next 3-5 years.

2007 Campo Negro Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina)
www.underthegrapetree.com: Lots of complexity and concentration for a wine at this price.  Dense and concentrated with cedar, mocha, black currant, blackberry, plum, and a plush quality that suggests something from Napa.  Mountain fruit, aged in oak, the price of this wine would be staggering if it came from California. Instead, it's from Argentina, and costs you a song.

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Wine Tasting March 16 - 19, 2011

2004 La Soula Blanc (Cotes de Catalanes, France)
The top white wine of this high altitude estate, in the coolest part of this South France region. A vigorous and strongly flavored white wine with palette cleansing acidity, that shows no age yet. The mouth coating flavors center on dried spices and herbs rather than citrus or flowers. Excels with fish, salads, and pasta.

2005 Resalte Crianza (Ribero Del Duero, Spain)
94 points, Wine Spectator, 2010 #26 in TOP 100 List:  Fresh and focused, this firm red delivers ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, backed by espresso and licorice accents, finishing with alluring notes of sous-bois and mineral. This has depth and drive. Drink now through 2016.

2003 La Soula Rouge (Cotes de Catalanes, France)
A magnificent blend of 50% old vine Grenache with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown 1,200 feet high in South France on rocky soil with limestone and decomposed granite. A dark and muscular wine not yet its peak, still strongly structured by acidity and drying tannins. Other wines with this much Cabernet Sauvignon from South France have remained excellent for more over 20 years. After being opened for three days, the tannins softened and released copious amounts of blackberry and black cherry fruit. 

2008 Leese-Fitch Merlot (California)
80% Merlot, 15% Syrah, and 5% Zinfandel, from Monterey, Lodi, and Paso Robles fruit.  The Merlot was harvested late in November to allow tough tannins to ripen. Combines chocolate, Maraschino cherries, and cinnamon. Soft fruit finishes with vanilla, caramel, and coffee.

2007 Canard Zinfandel (Calistoga, California)www.thewinespies.wordpress.com:  Calistoga combines the hot days Zinfandel needs to ripen with cool nights that preserve acidity and tannin.Greets the nose with aromas of candied cherry, black cherry and blackberry that combine with cinnamon, clove and black pepper. Enters the mouth plushly, and then the tannins slowly and softly dry the wine. Has a jammy bigness and yet is complexly fruity, with black cherry juice, blackberry preserve, blueberry and raspberry. Trails off with subtle brown spice, burnt caramel and black pepper. 

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Wine Tasting March 9 - 12, 2011

2009 Hogue Riesling (Washington)
A best buy!  The winemakers recommend pairing the Riesling with a chef's salad, fresh spring rolls or sushi. Wine Enthusiast:  Round and easy-drinking, this pure varietal Riesling is centered on peach and apricot fruit flavors. It does not show a floral or mineral side, but does bring in some pleasing spice. It's very well balanced, classic Washington juice. (88 points)

2007 Joseph Phelps Freestone Pinot Noir (California)
This estate-grown Pinot Noir from Freestone Vineyards was aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels (65% new and 35% two- to three-year-old) to produce a wine Burgundian in style. Tanzer'sInternational Wine Cellar (6/2010): Good full red. Pungent herbs and spices lift blackberry and violet aromas. Juicy, ripe and spicy, with noteworthy energy to the red berry flavors. Nicely combines sweetness and grip, finishing long and bright, with suave tannins." (92 points)

2005 Bodegas y Vinedos de Cal Grau La Ninota Priorato (Spain)
This terrific bargain from Priorat is a blend of 30% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet, 20% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 10 % Mazuelo and 10 % Merlot. Columbia's Free Times: This deft blend yields a medium-bodied wine with smoky black fruit, and an earthy background that will go well with burgers, roasted game or grilled meats, and all at a price that belies its pedigree. Very nice with a little dark chocolate for dessert, too.

2004 GiaDomella Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, California)
Gold Medal from the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. From the Passalacqua Vineyard. Aged 23 months in French and American oak barrels. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit forward, powerful, and long.

2009 Bodegas Caro Amancaya Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina)
The alliance between the Argentinian CAtena family and the French Barons de ROthschild (Lafite) produces world-class wines presenting a harmonious balance between the Argentine and Bordeaux styles. Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (1-2011): The 70/30 blend is full ruby-red. Complex, Medoc-like nose combines redcurrant, nutty oak, leather, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Supple and suave, with a restrained sweetness and a fine-grained texture. The broad tannins reach the teeth. (89 points).

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Wine Tasting March 2 - 5, 2011

2009 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Top 100/Blue Gold Sydney International Wine Competition.  A consistently excellent wine, which shows that machine harvesting to hold down costs can produce excellent results. Winemaker's Notes: Fermented at very low temperatures to help preserve fruitiness. Captures the classic New Zealand profile of vibrant currant-leaf, citrus and gooseberry aromas, with freshly cut herb undertones. Medium bodied but full flavored, with an abundance of currant and gooseberry flavors that linger on the dry, clean finish.

2003 Ridgeback Cabernet Franc/Merlot (Paarl, South Africa)
Aged 16 months in French oak barrels. Selected from barrels of each grape. Full ripe fruit with juicy mid palate weight, good firm tannin structure. Upfront aromatics of plums, mulberries, black cherries with mineral and dark chocolate oak spice. Long elegant finish.

2004 Bon Cap Syrah (Robertson, South Africa)
Aged 14 months in oak barrels 70% French and 30% American. Winemaker's Notes: A stylish and elegant Syrah with loads of white- and black pepper and spicy flavors supported by ripe cherry and blackcurrant. This wine has a huge aging potential and will develop as the Northern-Rhone style of Cote Rotie & Hermitage.

2007 Michael & David Earthquake Syrah (Lodi, California)
The Earthquake Series is this winery's value line of ripe, dark, and rich red wines that like Australian Shiraz, try to deliver a bigger and denser wine for the money. Winemaker's Notes: A blend of three Phillips family vineyards, the Earthquake Syrah is not for the faint of heart. Candied vanilla, blackberries, earth, and a myriad of spices on the palate. Full-bodied but still has elegantly pronounced tannins with a long silky finish.

2008 Barossa Jack Estate Shiraz (Barossa, Australia)
Owned by Hundred Acre. Named after Jack Russell dogs, who protect the people from fearsome snakes. 91 points, Wine Enthusiast:This wine hides its 14.9% alcohol well under layers of plush cassis and blueberry fruit. Cedar, vanilla and cinnamon add to its complexity, enhanced by hints of cracked pepper and marinated beef. This is supple in texture and broad in the mouth without being overly weighty. Drink now–2017.

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Wine Tasting February 23 - 26, 2011

2007 Topel Grace Sauvignon Blanc (Mendocino, California)
Citrus and melon flavors. Fermented in stainless steel to focus on the fruit flavors and preserve freshness. Normally available only at the winery. Named for its graceful taste in the mouth.

2009 Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Blended from grapes purchased across California, with the goal of making a top value ready to drink wine. Best Buy, Wine Enthusiast:A solid Cabernet whose price makes it a great house wine. The wine is dry and fine, with blackberry, currant, carob and cedar flavors.

2006 Schug Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma, California)
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec. Oaked aged for 18 months, 20% new. A good example of a supple, tasty, and moderately priced California Cabernet Sauvignon.

2007 Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series (Napa, California)
Stratton Lummis gets its grapes from famous, higher priced wineries, primarily in Oakville and Rutherford. A blend of Cab with Petite Verdot. It improves with age, and features black currant, plum, and black cherry, with drying dusty tannins, vanilla and smoke.

2006 Antucura Calcura (Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina)
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Malbec. Aged 12 months in French oak barriques. In a blind panel tasting with 14 far more expensive and famous 2006 Napa wines, this wine came in 4th highest!  91 points, International Wine Cellar: Dark red. Explosively aromatic nose combines redcurrant, cherry, licorice and flowers, complicated by tobacco and dried herbs. Juicy, vinous and penetrating, with noteworthy energy to the sharply delineated flavors of redcurrant, spices, pepper and fresh herbs. Showing its cabernet side today. Very classy, aromatic wine with no shortage of volume. Finishes with a firm tannic spine and excellent length. This can be enjoyed now or held. An outstanding value.

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Wine Tasting February 16 - 19, 2011

2008 Frattina Pinot Grigio (Italy)
A single vineyard Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy but greater concentration, a refreshing citric acidity, and a more mouthfilling taste.

2009 Matiz Ribero Del Duero (Spain)
89 points, International Wine Cellar:Vivid purple. Deep black raspberry and cassis scents are complicated by potpourri, woodsmoke and a whiff of mocha. Sappy, sweet dark fruit flavors show good concentration and focus. Finishes with a lingering note of white pepper..

2008 Lacanosa Nummaria (Piceno, Italy)
30% Sangiovese and 70% Montepulciano. 12 months in oak barrels. Blackberry, plum, tobacco, and chocolate. High altitude vineyards over 1,000 feet. Piceno is on the Adriatic Sea side of central Italy.

2006 Powers Meritage Reserve (Washington)
A strong candidate for the best Powers wine. Balanced, layered, and complex with black plum, blackberry, and cherry, plus vanilla and caramel.   31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 18% Petite Verdot, 21% Malbec, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Only 247 cases produced.

2005 Arns Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (St Helena, Napa)
100% Cabernet, aged over two years in 100% new French oak. 700 cases made. The grapes come from a single vineyard that is 800 feet above the valley floor and just below Howell Mountain. Tiny berries the size of currants. Winemaker's Notes:Has a seamless finish with powerful aromatics. Rich in the mouth and accented by dark chocolate, blue violets, black fruits, and vanilla bean. Explosively fruity in the long deep finish.

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Wine Tasting February 9 - 12, 2011
ZINFEST

2007 Terraces Zinfandel
One of the best makers of Zinfandel. Concentrated, complex, and well-defined flavors, which avoid raisin, sweetness, and overripeness. Like many best wines, the flavors spike upon swallowing. The acids are refreshing and the tannins are soft in texture but become more noticeable and drying on the finish. Dependably excellent every vintage. Very low yields on hillside vineyards. Previous vintages got up to 93 points in the Wine Advocate. The 1998 vintage remains astonishingly good 12 year later.

2006 Sanctuary Mariah Zinfandel
93 points, Wine Enthusiast: This is a Zin for the cellar. It's fine now in rich fruit, but fairly tannic, and there's some tension of parts that 3–4 years should resolve. Shows very pure, focused black currant and cedar flavors, liberally dusted with peppery spices. The challenge with these big Zins is balance, which Sanctuary's '06 achieves.

2007 Canard Zinfandel Estate
Candard makes a big and powerful Zin from very old vines, but does not want the wine to be so heavy and ripe that the fruit is no longer bright, the body has no elegance, and the finish stays cloying sweet rather than drying out. The result combines a raspberry and blueberry fruit with subtle oak and a lush and smooth texture. 

2007 Michael & David Lust
Another high end Zin from Michael & David.  Has a soft texture and decadent mouthfeel, with flavors of creme de cassis, caramel cream, melted milk chocolate, tangerine zest, and cinnamon-spiced gingerbread.

2007 Gia Domella Zinfandel Reserve
Only 73 cases made. 120 year old vines. A wine you can almost never buy, and even less taste. Blackberry jam with even refreshing acidity.  Impressively delicious, deep, smooth, and balanced.

2007 Michael & David Gluttony
A limited edition, high end Zinfandel for this winery. Enormous with over 16% alcohol, an inky color, a dense texture, copious blackberry and raspberry fruit, vanilla, and enough tannin to be dryer toward the finish. All American oak. Ravenswood, Rosenblum and Ridge made similar Zinfandels since the mid 1980s which aged well and improved for at least 10 years.

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Wine Tasting February 2 - 5, 2011

2007 Starr Chardonnay Reserve (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
Wine Maker Notes: This delicious Chardonnay was stainless steel fermented to retain the pure fruit flavors and aged in French oak barrels for added complexity. Medium straw in color, the nose shows balanced elements of tropical fruits and fresh citrus. On the palate it exhibits ripe bananas, peach and just a hint of toasty oak. The long, crisp finish is soft with sweet yeasty overtones.

2006 Greenhough Nelson Pinot Noir (Nelson, New Zealand)
A medium bodied wine, purple in color, with bright acidity and cherry fruit, elegant, light on its feet, and unpretentious. The Nelson is their value Pinot, whereas the oldest vines in the best Hope Vineyard go into the Hope series, and there the Pinot Noir is darker, bigger, widely acclaimed, and much less affordable.

2009 Las Perdices Syrah (Mendoza, Argentina)
Included 7% Viognier, which is cofermented with the Syarh. From a vineyard over 3,300 feet high. Very clear flavors of blueberry and raspberry.

2006 Powers Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Washington)
Champoux Vineyard is the source for some of the best and most expensive wines made in Washington. The price of this Powers is a relative bargain, and is a strong candidate for the greatest wine Powers makes. Dark and deep, with greater complexity of flavors, including black plum, black cherry, blackberry and black currants. Mouth coating, long, and satisfying. Has 2% Petite Verdot from Columbia Valley and was aged 2 years in 100% new French oak. 975 cases made.

2004 Wolfblass Platinum Shiraz (Australia)
From the Eden Valley in Barossa. The premium wine of Wolf Blass at a fraction of its usual price. A great Shiraz demonstrating how intensity of flavor need not go with heaviness of body or syrupy sweetness. 94 points, Jeremy Oliver: Simultaneously sumptuous and elegant, this vibrant, dark-fruited Shiraz marries its brightly lit, spicy and peppery flavors of mulberries, blackberries, dark plums and blueberries with lightly toasty, chary and vanilla oak that suggests just a hint of caramel. It's musky and heady, while its lavishly sweet-fruited palate has a meaty and very slightly cooked aspect that compromises neither brightness nor intensity. Supported by fine-grained, powdery tannin, it's long, persistent and admirably balanced.

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Wine Tasting January 26 - 29, 2011

2007 Vin du Lac Pinot Gris  (Columbia Valley, Washington)
An interesting combination of weighty texture with mouth filling fruit flavors. Aromas of honeydew melon, pear, grapefruit, kiwi, and citrus. The mouth flavors include tangerine, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. Finishes with cleansing acidity. Made from Yakima Valley grapes.

2006 La Devise de Lilian (Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux)
An excellent example of how Bordeaux wines are different and interesting. From the first sip, the wine exhibits drying tannins flanked by bright acidity. The fruit is less upfront and obvious than California reds, but centers on dried cherry. The body is not as heavy or big as Australian wines, but correspondingly, the wine melds with rather than dominates foods. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Seldom sold outside of Belgium.

2007 Luna Sangiovese (Napa, California)
The Sangiovese grape thrives in Italy and consistently does poorly elsewhere. Luna's, however, is one of the best. Included 7% Cabernet and 3% Petite Sirah. 91 points, International Wine Cellar: Good full ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, bitter cherry, licorice and rose petal. The palate offers terrific juicy berry intensity with brisk framing acidity; reminded me of a top zinfandel from the days before this variety was routinely overwhelmed by new oak or blurred by overripeness. This sharply delineated fruit bomb finishes with substantial dusty tannins and noteworthy purity, cut and length, showing little sign of its 14.9% alcohol.

2009 La Puerta Alta Bonarda Famantina Valley (Mendoza, Argentina)
Dark, even chewy, with plum and coffee. Decanter 2010 Regional Trophy, Argentina wines, best red single varietal under ¥10 : Lots of primary fruit upfront. Damson plum, blackberry, black cherry, and spice. Gutsy and forceful with good complexity and tangy resonance.

2004 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon  (Coombsville, Napa)
94.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, .5% Merlot. Aged 21 months in French oak. Located high on a hill in the Coombsville area of the Napa Valley. 90 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, April 2008: Lovely ripe plum and clean generous flavors; lovely with a long, seamless finish that provides complexity and charm. 3 Stars, Decanter, January 2008: Sweet, jammy, cherry and blackcurrant, smoky oak. Good concentration. Spicy with quite good length. Drink 2009-2016. Gold Medal, Orange County Fair Wine Competition, 2008.

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Wine Tasting January 19 - 22, 2011

2002 Weinrieder Riesling Bockgärten II (Austria)
93 points, Falstaff (Austrian Wine Guide): Previous vintages of this wine have made their name on the international stage, but this one surpasses them all! Riesling – pure, elegant, dense, finely structured, marvelous residual sweetness. Fritz Rieder selects only super ripe berries for this late harvest in his premier Riesling vineyard. Light yellow, citrus and floral aromas, mineral and citrus notes. Lively style. This wine can age forever.

2005 Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series (California)
A long time favorite at Best Cellar. Demonstrates how Napa Cabernet can be special yet remain affordable. Cabernet Sauvignon plus a little Petite Verdot. Dark color, soft fruity entry, good intensity, tasty, and long, with drying tannins. Black currents with hints of chocolate and lavender. Aged 2 years in French oak. The grapes are from near Oakville and Rutherford, from wineries that charge much more for their Cabernets. Previous vintages since 2001 were all excellent and improved in the bottle.

2006 Schug Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma, California)
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec. Oaked aged for 18 months, 20% new. A good example of a supple, tasty, and moderately priced California Cabernet Sauvignon.

2004 Vilafonte C Series (South Africa)
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec. The 2006 version of this wine got 5 stars as one of the greatest wines produced in South Africa from Platter's 2009 Guide.  94 points, Wine Enthusiast: Series C is the Cabernet-dominated version of a wine that brings together the winemaking talents of California winemaker Zelma Long and her viticulturist husband Phil Freese, along with Warwick Estate's Mike Ratcliffe and San Francisco-based importer Bartholemew Broadbent. Coffee, chocolate and dark berry fruits dominate this brooding wine that shows intensity and power. Yet it never becomes heavy or overripe. A fine sense of balance lifts the wine, especially in the aftertaste.

2006 Steven Kent Cabernet Sauvignon Livermore Valley, California)
This 100% Cabernet was made separately from fruit grown on four sites, spanning the highest quality in the appellation.  Aged 24 months in 71% new oak barrels, and only a selection of the best barrels goes into this wine.  93 points, Wine Enthusiast:  Steven Kent Mirassou is practically single-handedly reviving Livermore Valley's historic reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine shows a wonderfully lush structure and impeccable tannins, framing slightly herbal, dusty flavors of blackberries, blueberries, cherries and cedar. Really fine, and a superb accompaniment for rich meats and cheeses.

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Wine Tasting January 12 - 15, 2011

2010 La Puerta Alta Estate Torrontes (Argentina)
Powerful honeysuckle and other floral aromas are characteristic of the Torrontes grape, grown almost exclusively in Argentina. It has an elegant pale yellow color with hints of green, while on the palate crisp acidity provides a cleanliness and platform for the citrus flavors to enhance the fresh fruit of apples and pineapple. Great balance and a clean and refreshing finish, with more floral hints.

2008 Dominio IV Love Lies Bleeding Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills, Oregon)
The name "Love Lies Bleeding" for a Pinot is a good indication of what happens when marketing people are left alone and untethered, but power to them if such a name actually increases sales. 91 points, Wine Barn (Orlando, Florida): Beautiful ripe red color followed by a nose of bing cherries, black raspberry, and crushed cranberries. Hints of vanilla, black truffle and overturned earth aromas intermingle with the fruit. The palate is soft and round yet still maintains a solid core of acidity.

2007 Familia Barberis Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
Wine Watch: Everything comes together handsomely in this elegant rendering of Argentina's premier red grape. A full, briary nose with dark-berry, earth and chocolate aromas opens to a smooth palate, with very good fruit to wood balance. The finish is solid and spicy, with tangy tannins and pepper notes. Very Good+.

2006 Robert Biale Petite Sirah Royal Punishers (Napa, California)
You might think that the name "Royal Punishers" would not be available for the winery to use, because it was previously trademarked by a dominatrix website in Britain, but apparently not. 92 points, Wine Spectator: An intense, focused mouthful of ripe blackberry, huckleberry and boysenberry flavors, with thick tannins and wonderful details of mineral, cedar, tobacco and spice box nuances that follow through on the long finish. Drink now through 2014. 700 cases made.

2006 Atauta Ribero Del Duero (Spain)
95 points, Wine Enthusiast: What a beauty! Masculine aromas of black fruits, cola and oak sit there begging to be sipped, while the lush, deep palate is home to dense blackberry, cassis and chocolate flavors. Lively but dense, with tannins, plenty of oak and a finish of black pepper, fudge and vanilla. Complex and exciting Spanish wine. Needs time; best from 2012 through 2018.

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Wine Tasting January 5 - 8, 2011

2006 HDV De La Guerra Chardonnay (Carneros, Napa)
www.vinography.com: Pale green-gold in the glass, with a nose of striking minerality wrapped in scents of buttered popcorn and hints of herbal tea. Gorgeously smooth on the tongue with taut, integrated flavors of pear, exotic citrus, and white flowers. Soaring over these perceptions of fruit is a steely mineral aspect that carries through the long finish of the wine, combining with hints of vanilla and oak. Certainly one of the better California Chardonnays I have had in some time.

2007 Three Petite Sirah (Contra Costa, California)
From century old vines. WineAccess.com: Deep black/purple color. Powerfully concentrated blackberry aromas. Pure fruit. Rich, saturated blackberry and purple fruit flavors, at the same time remarkably bright and vibrant on the palate (the Delhi sand at play). Fine, firm, perfectly balanced finish with plenty of backbone to freshen up the intense concentration. Drink now for the primary fruit hedonism or age for up to 5 years.

2006 Mauritson Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma, California)
A blend across about 10 vineyards, some owned by Mauritson, some by others. Has about 8% Petite Sirah and 15% alcohol. Features raspberry, blackberry, black pepper, vanilla, and a streak of tannin.

2006 Torbreck Struie (Barossa, Australia)
100% Shiraz. 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Sept/Oct 08): Opaque ruby. Exotically perfumed, pungent bouquet of dark berries, smoky minerals and floral oils. Sexy cola and vanilla flavors complement sweet black raspberry and cassis on the palate, with dusty tannins adding grip. The fruit ultimately sucks up the tannins on the finish, which is seductively sweet and very long. Appealing already but I'd give this deep, suave wine at least another four or five years in the cellar.

2007 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa, California)
92 points, Wine Advocate (Dec 2010): Among the finest "regular" Cabernet Sauvignons I have tasted from Cakebread. Dense ruby/purple color, stunning purity, subtle notes of smoke, black currants, blackberries, spring flowers and toast, good acidity and ripe tannin. Full-bodied yet graceful, deep, silky, and already irresistible. Will drink well for 15-20 years.


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