"Sneak Peak"
Wines to be Tasted Monday, March 8, 2010
2008 Fortress Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills Vineyard, Lake County, California
100% Musque Clone
The Musque clone produces a Sauvignon Blanc reminiscent of a fine white Graves. This wine is crisp and clean with bright acidity and notes of kiwi, honeydew melon and ocean brine.
“Fortress is piling up quite an impressive record for good Sauvignon Blanc at a fair price. Their 2008, which is unoaked, combines crisp acidity and extreme dryness with complex flavors of lemons, grapefruits and gooseberries. Sommeliers should scoop this one up.” 90 points Wine Enthusiast
$13.99 per bottle
$143.00 per case
2008 Matane, Primativo, Apuglia, Italy
Fruity, spicy and intense bouquet with notes of plum, cherries, rosemary and vanilla. Full, mellow and well balanced.
Food Pairing: Roast Pork, Baby Back Ribs and Garbanzo Bean Soup
$10.99 per bottle
$112.00 per case
2007 Chateau Fontanes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Languedoc, France
A fresh, rounded, user-friendly, impeccably vinified. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright notes of raspberry and cassis, silky tannins, and hints of spice and garrigue.
$11.99 per bottle
$122.00 per case
2006 Chateau La Roque, Pic St. Loup, Languedoc, France
“Vibrant and focused, delivering concentrated red fruit and spice flavors that are joined by dark chocolate notes, with medium-grained tannins on the firm, peppery finish. Drink now through 2012” 89 points Wine Spectator
Food Pairing: Mediterranean Influenced Cuisine
$15.99 per bottle
$163.00 per case
2008 Russian Jack, Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand
Gorgeous chocolate and plum notes on the nose leading to silky smooth tannins with layers of dark fruits coming through on the palate. The fruit for this wine was all hand harvested from vines ageing up to 27 years, which are some of New Zealand’s oldest.
Food Pairing: Grilled Salmon and Roast Leg of Lamb
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
Table 2
2008 Simonsig, Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa
This delicious Chenin shows beautifully expressive sweet fruit aromas of yellow Golden Delicious apples, ripe pears and floral notes dominate the bouquet. A tropical fruit salad of melons, guavas and pineapples fill the palate. Sun-ripened Chenin has a subtle honey and raisin flavor which adds to the layered complexity and smooth silky texture on the finish.
$12.99 per bottle
$133.00 per case
2008 B.R. Cohn, Chardonnay, Sonoma, California
Packed with pear, apple and citrus aromas, and shows exceptional depth and body. It offers rich flavors of green apple with a hint of lemon, and is surrounded by toasty French oak, followed by a clean, crisp, lingering finish. This Chardonnay is fermented in French oak barrels and aged sur lies. It is a blend of the best Chardonnay vineyards in Sonoma’s cool growing regions.
Food Pairing: Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with your favorite grilled seafood or poultry.
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
2007 Laurence Feraud, Seguret, Cotes du Rhone, France
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (WA): 90 "The outstanding 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Seguret is a brilliant wine as well as a fabulous bargain. Aromas of licorice, lavender, cassis, and kirsch emerge from this dense ruby/purple-hued offering. Full-bodied and pure with the sweet tannins that make this vintage so impressive, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years.”
$16.99 per bottle
$173.00 per case
2007 Kilikanoon, Killerman’s Run, Grenache/Shiraz, Australia
Rich and powerful in both fruit flavor and palate persistence the ‘Killerman’s Run’ Shiraz offers outstanding value to those seeking a wine that will accompany a range of meats and fine foods. Small batches of Shiraz were selected from a range of premium South Australian vineyards then vinified by traditional winemaking methods and matured for up to two years in small French and American oak casks before careful blending and bottling unfiltered
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
2007 B.R. Cohn, Silver Label, Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2007 Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon reflects a blending of grapes grown from the B.R. Cohn Olive Hill Estate Vineyard and select North Coast vineyards. This combination offers full, rich flavors of berry, cassis and black cherry with hints of vanilla in the background. Aging with French oak adds complexity and depth, resulting in a high quality Cabernet Sauvignon with great value.
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
Table 3
2008 Vietti, Arneis, Piedmont, Italy
Pale yellow color with fresh floral aromas, citrus and melon and hints of almonds. Dry wine with medium body and fresh acidity. Well balanced, elegant with good complexity and long finish.
$21.99 per bottle
$112.00 per case
(6 bottles per case)
2008 Erath, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon
“Swirl this glass of sunshine and invoke bright fresh aromas of banana and honeydew melon. Savor the tropical fruit, lemon and floral notes that are seamlessly balanced with a clean lift of acidity, enlivening the palate and encouraging a gratifying length of flavors.” Gary Horner, Erath Winemaker
$13.99 per bottle
$143.00 per case
2007 Vietti, Barbara d’Asti, Tre Vigne, Piedmont, Italy
Ruby red with hints of vanilla and minerals. Wine with medium body, fresh acidity and soft tannins. Very well balanced with good complexity.
$23.99 per bottle
$122.00 per case
(6 bottles per case)
2006 Northstar, Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington State
this wine is concentrated and yet elegant, with aromas of cherry, plum, raspberry and blackberry, finishing off with flavors of toasted oak, vanilla, coconut, mint and toffee. Enjoy and celebrate!” David “Merf” Merfeld, Winemaker
$28.49 per bottle
$145.00 per case
(6 bottles per case)
2005 Conn Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
“Plums, coffee and wood spice aromas are nicely integrated. Mocha chocolate flavors and a lively, dried cranberry mid-palate lead to a bight cherry lingering finish.” Mike McGrath, Winemaker
$20.99 per bottle
$214.00 per case
Table 4
2008 Provenance, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California
91 points and #56 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Key lime, passion fruit, melon and nectarine flavors are ripe, juicy and fleshy, with great intensity, a vivid acidity and terrific focus and clarity. Drink now." (Aug. 31, 2009) And from the Wine Enthusiast: "A very nice Sauvignon Blanc that shows Sancerre-like minerality. Pleases for its crisp acidity and firm steeliness that anchors he Meyer lemon, lime, vanilla and honeysuckle flavors. A touch of Semillon adds fatter notes of cashew." (12/09)
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
2007 Chalone, Estate, Chardonnay, Monterey, California
92 points and one of the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009: "Exhibits a complex mix of subtle pear, mineral, pleasant earthy notes and floral scents. Tight and full-bodied, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2012." (06/09) If the name Chalone sounds familiar, it's because they've been around for along time, a fantastic producer who has led the way for many Central Coast producers. Chalone has seen its ups and downs, but the last couple of vintages have shown they're back on track - the quality has skyrocketed. The 2007 Chardonnay is a medium-bodied wine that shows great balance of pear and apple fruit along with hints of minerality, crème brulee and apricot. This is not your run-of the-mill Central Coast Chardonnay, but an affordable wine to savor. (Mike Jordan, K&L Wine Merchants)
$31.99 per bottle
$326.00 per case
2007 Orogeny, Pinot Noir, Green Valley, Sonoma, California
Focused aromas of raspberries and cherries with cinnamon spice overtones lead to luscious, mouth filling flavors of berries, cherries and a touch of vanilla. The finish is velvety, with silky tannins.
Food Pairing: Game, Lamb and Steak with Wild Mushroom Sauce
$26.99 per bottle
$275.00 per case
2006 Jade Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
On the nose, you will find intriguing aromas of violets, chocolate, mocha and red fruits. A wave of ripe fruits such as Marionberries, blueberries and red cherries combine with a hint of leather and vanilla to add complexity. The refined varietal taste, which comes from core flavors of fruit enhanced by oak spice and minerality, is supported by solid tannins and heightened by a lasting finish.
$11.99 per bottle
$122.00 per case
2006 Beaulieu Vineyard, Tapestry, Napa Valley, California
This elegant, balanced blend has a rich, complex style and expressive aromas and flavors. It was conceived as a delicious complement to the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
$29.99 per bottle
$306.00 per case
Table 5
2008 Anselmi Ca’Stella, Pinot Grigio, Fruili, Italy
Pale golden hue with heady aromas of fresh citrus fruit, crushed flowers and some notes of pear. On the palate, refreshing and vibrant, with ripe green flavors, a touch of minerality and good acidity.
Food Pairing: Seafood Salads, Fish, Shellfish and White Meats
$9.99 per bottle
$102.00 per case
2008 Casa de Mouraz, “Mica”, Vinho Verde, Portugal
This wines bracing acidity, softened by intense minerality, and balanced by layers of fruit, makes this every bit as refreshing as traditional Vinho Verde. But with its elegance and unique intensity it has taken the genre to an unrecognizably high level: a reminder that Vinho Verde is a region—not a style.
$16.49 per bottle
$168.00 per case
2007 Patrick Lesec, Costieres de Nimes, France
The 2007 Lesec Costieres is predominately Syrah, with Grenache an a tiny bit of Mouvedre. This wine has enough lush, dark fruit to speak to New World palates, but has the lively spice, elegant tannin and dry finish that appeals to Rhone aficionados. This delicious, medium-bodied red is truly the best of both worlds, and a unique and beautiful expression of Syrah’s best nature: blackberry, pepper and smoke.
Food Pairing: This wine is light enough to be a Spring and Summer favorite—barbecue wine extraordinaire, but perfect for cool nights and elegant dinners too.
$12.99 per bottle
$133.00 per case
2006 Domaine de Deurre, Vinsobres, Rhone, France
70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mouvedre
A very silky feel to this wine - the fruit has a lovely purity as well which is a good counter point to all the dark meaty spice both on the nose and palate. It is quite macho gripy but this seems to fit the wine well. A glorious dark bitter chocolate finish. A wine of interesting contrasts.
$19.99 per bottle
$204.00 per case
2007 Muri-Gries, Lagrein, Alto Adige, Italy
This wine is fermented in steel tanks and afterwards it is pressed wither in high-grade tanks or in big wood barrels. It is an every-day wine, featuring dark red shades and a fresh fruity smell. It tastes spicy, elegant with a soft, velvet-like tannic body.
$16.99 per bottle
$173.00 per case
