"Antinori Solaia 2004 is clearly one of the highlights of this great vintage. Endowed with massive amounts of concentration as well as structure, it is a big, powerful Solaia that does not sacrifice elegance or balance in its full-bodied personality. Packed with the essence of blackberries, chocolate, tar, smoke, cassis and menthol, this layered beauty exhibits great length and a persistent, warmly alcoholic finish. It has been stunning on the three occasions I have had it so far and is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024. " - Robert Parker 96 points
Blend:
75% Cabernet Sauvignon
20% Sangiovese
5% Cabernet Franc
This Washington cabernet delivers power, structure and rich concentrated black fruit. Chateau Ste Michelle Canoe Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 offers dense aromas of boysenberry and brown sugar spice with layers of fruit with nicely integrated, yet very age-worthy, tannins. The juice for the classic cabernet is sourced from 30 year old vineyards.
Annie's Lane Copper Trail Shiraz 2002 is deep rich and ripe. A fullbodied, full-flavored wooded wonder, the Clare at its best. Intense blackberry and chocolate fruit flavors framed about by charry oak. Sinuous tannins. Balanced and beautifully integrated, a wine for lovers of the big and the bold.
Primitivo comes from the heel of Italy in the region of Puglia. A long lost cousin of zinfandel this hearty southern Italian red wine has big intentions yet remains lighter and easier to drink than the average California zin. The alcohol percentage is a touch lower than most domestic zinfandels. This brings freshness to the wine and enables it to pair with food more easily. Primaterra Primitivo 2007 is a ripe and fruity wine with notes of plums, blackberries, and cherries with good concentration, balance and length. This is a fine Italian import to enjoy with your Thanksgiving turkey.
Justin Savant 2007 is dark ruby in color with a slight crimson hue. Aromas of dried flowers, wet earth, cocoa and caramel surround plum and black cherry in this barrel fermented red blend. The entry is soft and supple, filled with sweet fruit that layers in the mouth. The wine's mid palate balances the bright fruit of Syrah with the power and acidity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Structured, integrated tannins from the 68% new oak evolve into a lush velvety finish garnished with flavors of coffee, vanilla and butterscotch.
Blend:
62% Syrah
34% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Malbec
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008 appears as pale green in color. Aromatics of tropical fruits combined with the traditional nettle and herbaceous aromas of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Firm acidity is surrounded by tropical fruits and herbaceous notes with hints of citrus sneaking in. A whopping mouthful of wine.
Ruby purple color Vietti Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne 2005 displays ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.
"Mollydooker Two Left Feet 2007 is a blend of 68% Shiraz, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Merlot aged in 50% new oak for 11 months. A glass-coating opaque purple, it offers up a complex aromatic array of violets, scorched earth, smoke, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, layered, and concentrated, with loads of spicy, savory blue and black fruits, silky tannin, and a very long finish. It will continue to unfold for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2017." - 93 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Named in honor of the hill upon which the first Ash Hollow vineyard sits, this delightful estate melange of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot really stands out in a crowd. Hand-picked fruit from Ash Hollow's two estate vineyards, 75% Ash Hollow and 25% Bella Terra, make this wine rich and complex. Ash Hollow Nine Mile 2006 is comprised largely of the "king" of red grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon makes this wine big, bold, and ideal for cellar aging; however the wine is excellent to drink now. The complex nose is full of earthy scents, the most noticeable being smoked cedar, cocoa, and wild rose. This earthiness continues on the palate with cocoa, leather, and tobacco along with wonderfully dark and lush Northwest fruits. Well proportioned balance and body build to a delicate tannic finish that is both smooth and bright with subtle notes of blueberry and pine.
For the price it is impossible to find a Champagne that compares to Bisol Jeio Prosecco Brut NV. Luckily, for those that love bubbles but need to watch their budget, this Italian wine maker has been producing quality juice since 1542. The resulting sparkling wine has yeasty bread, flowers and citrus scents. In the mouth the juice displays pear and apple flavor. The finish is thick and creamy- not your typically light Prosecco.
Seven Hills Pentad 2005 vintage is the most dense and full of the four Pentad vintages released to date. It offers a seductive roundness and weight, accenting a warm, ripe tones and expansive fruit characters. Dark ripe plum dominates the nose, interwoven with tropical passion fruit and hints of cassis. Sweet cooking spice and light notes of fennel and violets round out the aroma. In the mouth, expect red and black plum, vanillin, dried herb and light smoky notes. The structure is broad, balanced, and bright yet very persistent and generous. Overall a beautiful representation of this moderately warm vintage in the Walla Walla Valley.
What a sensational value! Made by Trevor Jones in partnership with importer Dan Philips, Jonesy Old Tawny Port NV is a blend averaging 46 years in age. Its light to medium ruby hue is accompanied by an extraordinary bouquet of sweet candied fruit intermixed with notions of maple syrup, earth, and hazelnuts. This gorgeous tawny delivers plenty of pleasure.Score: 93. —Robert Parker, October 30, 2005.
On the palate, Montoya Monterey Pinot Noir 2008 has a soft texture with a nice finish. A fruity aroma gives way to soft cherry and raspberry flavors with a soft tannin structure. Overall this is a lovely wine with the food, dominated but not overwhelming; an easy drinking California wine with everything working in harmony.
Silverado Sangiovese 2006 averaged 11 months in 100 percent French oak barrels, 3% new. The result is a lively California wine. Abundant aromas of perfectly ripe cherry, earth, vanilla, green tea and clove. The resulting Sangiovese is loaded with flavors of juicy cranberry fruit on the palate, and caramel on the finish.
Cakebread Chardonnay 2007 displays vibrant citrus blossom, ripe apple, sweet melon and white peach aromas, with subtle butter-cream, baked bread and toasty oak scents adding complexity. Rich, fresh and creamy on the palate, with beautiful underlying structure, the wine delivers sleek, succulent, ripe peach, yellow apple and lemon zest flavors buoyed by a vein of refreshing minerality, which enlivens the crisp, flavorful finish. Boasting the purity and harmony emblematic of a great white wine vintage, this classic Napa Valley Chardonnay is delightful now, but will age gracefully in bottle for another 3 to 5 years.
Estancia Chardonnay 2007 opens with bright tropical notes. Stone fruit is then accented by nuances of citrus and crème brulee. The wine is rounded out with soft touches of toasty oak and cream which accentuate the lingering finish.
Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock Shiraz 2003 is spectacularly concentrated. This wine represents an exceptional expression of cooler climate Australian Shiraz. The 2003 Shiraz Georgia's Paddock exhibits an inky/blue/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of lead pencil shavings interwoven with charcoal, blackberries, cassis, licorice, all brought together with a touch of oak. The result is a larger than life, multi-layered, intense, pure Shiraz which possesses supple tannin, giving it a certain accessibility. Still, this wine has 10-15 years of aging potential.
Marques de Arienzo Reserva is made only in exceptional vintages. 100% Tempranillo, only the best of the estate vines are allowed to make this Spanish wine. The result is a classic aged Rioja with spicy notes and a velvety texture. The wine is aged 2.5 years in American oak and more 5 years in bottle. Best with white and red meats, roasts and big and small game.
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay 2006 has a light straw color with a hint of pale green it the glass. The fruit for this wine was sourced from premium South Australian vineyards. Careful canopy management including light summer pruning ensured fruit was evenly exposed to sunlight. The resulting juice opens with tropical fruit aromas of melon and peach that drift up to the nose and then develop into lively varietal fruit characteristics on the palate. These fruity flavors are balanced by a clean acidity, subtle oak influence and good length.
Juicer plum, spicier clove and fuller in body than ever before. Michael David Earthquake Lodi Zinfandel 2006 leaves taste buds in upheaval. The suede-like tannins churning together with vanilla and toasted raspberry cobbler. This California wine has a loooong, smooth finish that leaves the palette in a state of aftershock.
Antinori Peppoli 2006 is characterized by intense red fruit aromas with light hints of vanilla and coffee. A well-structured wine with smooth, sweet tannins of nice length with fruity flavors. This Italian chianti is made to be enjoyed fairly young, while the fruit is at its fullest expression.
Beautiful pale-gold color with enticing aromas of lemon crème, baking spices and some tropical fruit notes. The aromas carry through to the palate, and are joined by hints of tropical fruit, spiced baked pear, and a stony/mineral flavor that creates a stylish Chardonnay that seems part New and part Old World wine. Luca Chardonnay 2006 finishes long with just a kiss of oak.
Tamarack Firehouse Red 2007 tastes like really, really good red wine. Which varietal is lending which notes? Who cares? Rounded, lush, layered and lovely, the ultimate food wine, pairing well with everything from pasta and pizza to grilled meat and roasted chicken. Bright raspberry, currant, mocha, a touch of pepper spice, soft tannins and a lingering finish… year in and year out, it’s like partying with an old friend.
Aromas of black cherry, berry and dark chocolate fuse with smooth notes of vanilla and spice. Intense fruit character and mature tannins deliver uncompromising finesse and style. Rich and balanced on the palate, Col Solare 2005 finishes with long, lingering flavors of cocoa, black fruits, and vanilla.
Blend:
71% Cabernet Sauvignon
25% Merlot
4% Cabernet Franc
Produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, this champagne, full of finesse and elegance. Serveaux Brut Blanc de Blancs NV has an attractive yellow color with green highlights and a very fine ring of bubbles. Its fresh, open and striking nose reveals wonderful balance and allows its mineral aromas to come trough at their best. This excellent French champagne has delicious aromas of white fruit and acacia blossom. Biscuit and wheat toast notes pick up hints of honey in this rich, creamy Champagne.
