Tag Archives: red

Wine of the Week 03/07 – 03/13

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Glory Days Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $9.95
Overview: Aromas of black cherry with underlying notes of toasted warm coffee and cassis. A touch of cedar folds seamlessly into a rich opulent black fruit core; layers of oak with a velvety long finish.

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi Appellation – California


Caves De L’Angevine Rose D’Anjou 2008 $9.95
Overview: Gorgeous salmon pink color and fresh, enticing aromas of raspberries and strawberries. The palate is packed with ultra-ripe fruit – Summer berries, cherry, white peach – and there’s a subtle hint of sweetness that makes this oh-so-easy to drink! Perfect apéritif or seafood partner.

Grapes: Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris, and Cabernet Franc
Region: Loire Valley – France

Wine of the Week 02/28 – 03/06

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Van Ruiten Vineyards ‘Old Vine’ Zinfandel 2007 $16.95

Overview: After years of playing second fiddle to the so called “King” Cabernet, Zinfandel has finally become trendy, and in Lodi is the undisputed champion among champions. This Zinfandel fruit was hand selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruiten planted over 50 years ago and is among the families most prized grapes. Our 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel is packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam with barrel flavors contributing aromas of coffee, cedar, and finishing with anise.

Grapes: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi Appellation – California

Leitz ‘Eins Zwei Dry’ Riesling Trocken 2008 $14.95

Overview: This bottling comes from the Rosenberg vineyard in neighboring Geisenheim, long famed for its rose-scented Rieslings. In recent years, this site just hasn’t had a great grower working it. Johannes has leased a winery just below the vineyard to give him more space to work, and with the winery came old vines on the steepest section of this vineyard. In years to come we may once again hail the Rosenberg for the great site it is! A wonderfully dry but not mouth searing style of Riesling for those who love the delicate attributes of the noble riesling varietal but aren’t keen on any residual sugar.

Grapes: Riesling
Region: Rheingau – Germany

Wine of the Week 02/21 – 02/27

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Domaine Mathieu Chateauneuf du Pape 2001 $14.95
Overview: The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits classic kirsch liqueur and licorice aromas in a sexy, round, medium to full-bodied style with no hard edges. Plump and plush, it will provide pleasure over the next 8-10 years.

Domaine Mathieu is one of the few producers that use all 13 grape varieties for their wines with the philosophy of Grenache and Cinsault for sweetness, warmth and mellowness. Mourvèdre, Syrah, Muscardin and Camarèse for robustness, maturity, colour and a thirst-quenching taste. Counoise and Picpoul for vinosity, charm and a special bouquet. Clairette and Bourboulenc for finesse, fire and brilliance.
88 Points – Robert Parker

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Muscardin, Cournoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan, Vaccarese
Region: Rhone Valley – France

Paul Dolan Chardonnay 2007 $9.95
Overview: Old vine Chardonnay? The vineyards that provided grapes for this wine were planted in the early 1970s, with low-yielding older varietal clones. A cool-site vineyard north of Lake Mendocino, and a warmer-site vineyard near the Russian River in Hopland, combined to make this elegant wine. Pear and winter citrus fruit character is complemented by creamy vanilla spice.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Mendocino County – California

Wine of the Week 02/14 – 02/20

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Buzzard Tree Petite Sirah 2005 $13.95

Overview: An enticing wine with brambly notes of blackberry raspberry, and spicy overtones of pepper and cinnamon. Medium-bodied, it has intense black-fruit flavors and a creamy, chocolaty finish. Serve with spicy red meat entrees such as rack of lamb or steak au poivre. Enjoy now or cellar age until 2012.

Grapes: 83% Petite Sirah, 17% Mourvedre
Region: Paso Robles – California

Alta Vista Premium Torrontes 2006 $10.95

Overview: This Premium Torrontes comes from Alta Vista’s winery in the northern Argentinean region of Salta. The region of Cafayate in Salta is particularly famous for its unique microclimate, high altitude and excellent soil drainage and is confirmed as the best place in the world to grow Torrontes. Alta Vista was one of the first to invest in Torrontes vineyards in this now famous area.

After a brief maceration on the skins, Alta Vista Premium Torrontes is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and does not undergo malolactic fermentation or oak aging. With a bright yellow color and delicate floral aromas, the wine is fresh and lively with excellent balance and vibrant acidity.

GRAPES: 100% Torrontes

REGION: Salta – Argentina

Wine of the Week 02/7 – 02/13

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Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele 2008 $7.95

Overview: A Venetian favorite! It is crisp and dry, rich and spicy with hints of peach and honey…perfect with salads, pasta, chicken and fish! Musaragno is an organic wine estate near Venice, Italy.

Grapes: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Lison Pramaggiore – Italy

Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes Du Rhone 2008 $11.95

Overview: Purple-tinged garnet color. Aromas of fresh berries (wild raspberry, blackcurrant, blackberry) and spices. The palate is full-flavored, with silky-smooth tannins. The finish offers notes of licorice and pepper.

Grapes: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Region: Rhone Valley, Bordeaux – France

Wine of the Week 01/31 – 02/6

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Bodegas J C Conde “Vivir Vivir” 2007 $11.95

Overview: The 2007 Vivir, Vivir is 100% Tempranillo sourced from 20- to 60-year-old vines in La Horra. It was aged for ten months in tank prior to bottling. Dark ruby-colored, it features racy aromatics of mineral, spice box, black cherry and blackberry. Silky on the palate with no hard edges, this tasty wine will provide pleasure over the next three years.

Wine Spectator 90 points

Grapes: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Ribera del Duero – Spain

 

Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde 2008 $15.95

Overview: A low-alcohol, low-priced treat of a wine. Crisp, and clean and tasty. A light, fragrant nose with aromas of sweet pears that leads into pears and tropical flavors in your mouth. The wine has a crisp effervescence which adds weight and texture and goodness. A great aperitif wine- serve it nice and cold. If you haven’t tried a Vinho Verde, pick up a bottle of Encostas Do Lima; you won’t regret it.
 
Grapes: 80% Loureiro and 20% Trajadura
Region: Colheita – Portugal

Wine of the Week 01/24-01/3

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D’Arenberg “The Stump Jump” Shiraz 2008 – $11.95

Overivew: A Best Value designation and one the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009: “Ripe and open- textured, this is impressive for the way it packs in the cherry, blackberry and raspberry flavors and doesn’t take the foot off the gas pedal until the mineral-inflected finish has played through. Drink now through 2018.”

Wine Spectator 90 points
Grapes: 100% Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale – Australia

 

Babich 2008 Sauvignon Blanc – $15.95

Overview: The aroma of lantana and wild herbs combines with tropical fruits and green apple. The palate is exuberant and intense -fruit salad, nettles and fresh herbs burst into existence and continue through the length of the palate, joined at the end by lime/citrus and mineral notes. A powerful and lengthy Sauvignon.

Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough – New Zealand