breadline cafebreadlinecafe.com/~rjbteam/breadlinecafe.com/files/...year: 2010 vine: guyot price:...
TRANSCRIPT
Breadline Cafe
Wine Guide
Regions
ITALY
ROSSO
La Quercia Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2011 28.00
Poderi Elia Barbaresco Serracapelli 2007 62.00
Bocelli Rosso Toscana Sangiovese 2011 28.00
Travaglini Gattinara 2005 40.00
Guiseppe Lonardi Valipolicella Ripasso 2010 32.00
Renato Ratti Barbera D'Asti 2010 32.00
Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2007 172.00
Palama Salice Salintino 2010 32.00
BLANCO
Edi Simcic Rebula Reserva 2011 27.00
This Montepulciano is a great example of what can happen when you match low-yield winemaking expertise with a prolific growing zone, and constantly cut, cut, cut back the vines. Made by winemaker Antonio Lamona, the result is one of the best quality, most expressive and balanced Montepulcianos around. This wine is also 100% organic, and delivers as a wine that takes no shortcuts. (www.enjoysmall.com)
La Quercia
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Location: Abruzzo, Italy Residual Sugar: 6.5 grams per liter
Estate: La Quercia Soil: Mixed Clay
Year: 2011 Vine: Guyot, Tendone
Price: 28.00 Barrel: no barrel aging Varietals: 100% Montepulciano Vinification: fermentation
controlled in temperature controlled stainless steel barrels
Acidity: 5.8 grams per liter Maturation: No Aging
Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating: Not Rated
Poderi Elia
Barbaresco Serracapelli
From the heart of Barbaresco country in Neive comes this stunningly elegant Barbaresco from Poderi Elia. The Stella family has been making wine since 1890, but only recently have garnered international attention–it is easy to understand why. This spectacular Barbaresco bouquet offers tones of red currant and Morello cherry over a layer of toasty oak; the structure is marble-solid, with fine grained tannins that perfectly compliment the Nebbiolo fruit. (www.enjoysmall.com)
Location: Piedmonte, Italy Residual Sugar: 2.0 grams per liter
Estate: Poderi Elia Soil: White tufo (clay & sand)
Year: 2007 Vine: Guyot
Price: 62.00 Barrel: 1st passage French Allier Oak
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo Vinification: fermentation controlled in temperature controlled tanks for 25-27 days
Acidity: 6.1 grams per liter Maturation: 24 months in barrel 10 months in bottle
Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: 89/100
Bocelli
Location: Morellino, Tuscany, Italy
Residual Sugar: 1.5 grams per liter
Estate: Palazzo della Torre Soil: River stones & quartz
Year: 2011
Price: 28.00 Barrel: French oak
Varietals: 100% Sangiovese
Acidity: 5.2 grams per liter Maturation: 20% aged in French oak for 1 year and 4 months
Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating: 89/100
Made from Tuscany’s noble varietal, the Bocelli family’s passion and expertise are on full display in this exceptionally bright, lush, and appealing Sangiovese.With grapes hand-harvested from some of the best vineyard sites in Morellino, the fruit is deliciously ripe and smoky, with notes of marasca cherry, granite, and rhubarb compote.The finish is long and suitably dry, with admirable acidity that makes the palate taut and pleasing. (www.bocellifamilywines.com)
Rosso Toscana Sangiovese
Travaglini
Location: Piedmonte, Italy
Estate: Tre Donne Soil: Rocky soil on the hills
Year: 2005
Price: 40.00 Barrel: French oak barriques & Slavonian oak casks
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo Maturation:
12 months in French oakbarrel 18 months in Slovenian oak casks 6 months in bottle
Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating: 88/100
Gattinara
Displays very ripe fruit, with notes of dried red fruits and plum and hints of slightly green wood. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins. There's a little too much wood, but this should come around nicely. Best after 2010. 15,000 cases made. –JS (www.winespectator.com
Valpolicella Ripasso
Guiseppe Lonardi
Location: Veneto, Italy Residual Sugar: 3.5 grams per liter
Estate: Giuseppe Lonardi Soil: Dense Clay
Year: 2010 Vine: Spurred Coron. Tendone.
Price: 32.00 Barrel: Second passage French barrique.
Varietals: 75% Corvina 20% Rondinella 5% Molinara
Vinification: 10 day maceration in temp. controled stainless steel. Second fermentation on Amarone Skins for 10 days.
Acidity: 5.5 grams per liter Maturation: 24 months in barrel 6 months in bottle
Alcohol: 13.5% by volume Rating: Not Rated
Ripasso refers to the re-passing of Valpolicella Classico through the pressed, raisined skins used for Amarone. These skins are aromatic, high in alcohol and flavor, and are very valuable; that is why true Ripasso is a small production wine. Some brands attempt to short-cut the process by adding residual sugar–but not Giuseppe. This offering from Lonardi has lush cranberry notes with chocolate that epitomizes the lovely characteristics of Corvina. (www.enjoysmall.com)
Renato Ratti
Location: Constigliole d’Asti, Italy
Estate: Villa Pattono Soil: Clay with steaks of sand Year: 2010 Vine: Guyot
Price: 32.00 Barrel: French oak barriques Varietals: 100% Barbera Vinification: Thermo controlled in
steel tanks.
Acidity: 5.2 grams per liter Maturation: 12 months in barrel Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: 90/100
Renato Ratti Barbera d'Asti is intense, ruby red. There is a bouquet of ripe fruit with an undercurrent of spices. A full-flavored wine, with long persistence. Since 2009 vintage Renato Ratti decided to bottle part of Barbera which comes from Villa Pattono vineyards in Costigliole d'Asti separately. The wine is a classic Barbera d'Asti, full-bodied and with a typical acidity suited for traditional Mediterranean cooking. (www.renatoratti.com)
Barbera d‘Asti
Renato Ratti
Barolo Marcenasco Location: La Morra, Italy
Estate: Marcenasco Soil: Toronian
Year: 2007 Vine: Guyot Price: 172.00 Barrel: Part in Slovenian oak
casks, part in old barrels
Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo Vinification: Thermo controlled in steel tanks
Acidity: 5.7 grams per liter Maturation: 12 months in barrel
Alcohol: 14.5% by volume Rating: 93/100
Noble and generous, glory of old Piedmont, a wine suitable for long aging, Barolo is the absolute master of the table. It conquers the palate with the conviction of strength, harmony and fullness and holds its sway at length. Barolo Marcenasco has ancient origins. There are historical documents from the "Rigestum Comunis Albae" that bear witness to the cultivation of the Nebbiolo vine in the "Marcenascum" area already back in the 12th Century. Barolo Marcenasco is smooth, balanced, elegant and faithfully reflects the typical characteristics of the La Morra sub zone. (www.renatoratti.com)
Tenuta la Marchese
Gavi Location: Piedmonte, Italy Residual Sugar: 3 grams per liter
Estate: La Marchesa Soil: Clay-Loam
Year: 2011 Vine: Guyot & Spur-pruned Cordon
Price: 28.00 Barrel: Stainless Steak Tanks
Varietals: 100% Cortese Vinification: Thermo controlled in steel tanks
Acidity: 5.9 grams per liter Maturation: 3 months in tank 1 month in bottle
Alcohol: 12.4% by volume Rating: 87/100
The story goes that as the family was making preparations for the marriage of a daughter, the bride-to-be let slip that the family home was not quite as she had hoped for the wedding. The Marques immediately decided to build a lavish villa in the middle of the property. He called this landmark "La Marchesa," and today, this name is borne by all the wines coming from the estate. The grapes for the La Marchesa Gavi White Label are pressed immediately following the harvest without adding any sulphites. Light straw-yellow in color, aromas of ripe apples and tree fruits complement undertones of wildflowers and herbs. On the palate, it is fresh and lively with a dry finish that is underscored by minerality. (www.winebow.com)
Edi Simcic
Rebula Reserva
Location: Goriška Brda , Slovenia
Residual Sugar: 2.6 grams per liter
Estate: Edi Simcic Soil: Ponca Year: 2011 Vine: Double-Cane Guyot
Single- Cane Cordon
Price: 27.00 Barrel: 1st, 2nd, 3rd passage French oak
Varietals: 100% Rebula Vinification: Fermented at ambient temperature
Acidity: 5 grams per liter Maturation: 12 months in barrel 16 months in bottle
Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating: Not Rated
Virtually unknown in the U.S., the Rebula varietal is one of the oldest grapes from the Goriška Brda area, and it represents 35% of all vineyards in the zone. Not known for its breath-taking aromatics when young, Rebula shows subtle white blossoms on the nose, but with bottle aging, becomes simply remarkable, presenting pleasing citrus and apple on the nose. In fact, it is one of the finest ageworthy white wines we have ever come across, and will be even better in 10 years. In classic Simcic style, the wine is full of character for the terroir. (www.enjoysmall.com)
Alois Lageder
Pinot Grigio Location: Goriška Brda ,
Slovenia Residual Sugar: 2.6 grams per liter
Estate: Edi Simcic Soil: Ponca Year: 2011 Vine: Double-Cane Guyot
Single- Cane Cordon Price: 32.00 Barrel: 1st, 2nd, 3rd passage
French oak Varietals: 100% Müller
Thurgau Vinification: Fermentation in
stainless steel tanks Acidity: 5.2 grams per liter Maturation: 12 months on the fine
lees
Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating: Not Rated
Brilliant straw-yellow colour with a green shimmer. Pronounced, fruity, forward varietal aroma with a delicate muscat note. Medium-bodied, elegant, grapey flavour with a crisp, refreshing finish. When properly cellared, this wine may be kept for at least 2 – 4 years. (www.aloislageder.eu)
Palama
Salice Salintino Location: Puglia, Italy Residual
Sugar: 0.5 grams per liter
Estate: Palama Soil: Medio impasto Year: 2011 Vine: Alberello Price: 32.00 Barrel: No barrel aging Varietals: 80% Nergoamaro
20% Malvasia Nera Vinification: Classic
fermentation in concrete
Acidity: 6.0 grams per liter Maturation: 3 months in bottle Alcohol: 13% by volume Rating:
Since 1936, the Palamà family has been making wine on their small estate in the warm climes of the deep South of Italia, in Puglia. This wine is expressive, rich, and robust on the palate, with an elegance that comes only from small productions and expert craftsmanship. With aromas of steeped plums, cracked pepper, blackberry confit, and cinnamon it is a heady, delicious experience. (www.enjoysmall.com)
WASHINGTON
REDS
K' Vintners Milbrandt Syrah - Wahluke Slope 2011 42.00
Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 42.00 Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte 2009 36.00
Baer Arctos - Columbia Valley 2009 64.00
Longshadows Feather Cabernet 2008 76.00
Gorman Zachary's Ladder 2009 42.00
Gorman Evil Twin 2009 85.00
Gorman The Bully 2009 62.00
Gorman The Albatross 2008 120.00
Reininger Syrah - Walla Walla 2009 44.00
Reininger Cabernet - Walla Walla 2010 43.00
Reininger Carmenere 2007 45.00
Smasne Old Vines Cabernet 2008 42.00
Thurston Wolfe Zinfinel "Howling Wolfe" 2011 29.00
Townshend T3 32.00
Gilbert Cellars Tempranillo Port 2008 38.00
Giant Wine Co. Ghost of 413 2009 26.00 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 150.00
WHITES Alexandria Nicole Shepherd's Mark 2011 29.00
K Vintners
Milbrandt Syrah Wahluke Slope
Location: Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington
Estate:
Sundance & Northridge Vineyard
Year: 2011 Residual Sugar: none
Price: 42.00 Barrel: French Burgundy Barrels
Acidity: .62 grams per liter Maturation: 11 months in barrel Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: Not Rated
Complex and brooding. Black cherry, plum, fresh herbs and cool earth completing the plushness with an elegant, long lingering finish that expresses minerality and wet stone. Classy and edgy, this is one for the ages. —Charles Smith
(www.charlessmithwines.com)
Low yield, high quality. Think black raspberry, white pepper, Asian spice, cured meat. Floral nose, full on the palate. The best Milbrandt to date.
(www.kvintners.com)
Amavi Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon Location: Walla Walla Valley,
Washington Barrel: 88% French, 12% American;
25% New, 75% Used Estate: 52% Pepper Bridge
30% Seven Hills 12% Les Collines 6% Goff
Varietals:
76% Cabernet Sauvignon 19% Merlot 3% Syrah 2% Cabernet Franc
Year: 2009 Alcohol: 14.1% by volume Price: 42.00
Full aromas of ripe mixed berries complement earthy notes of cedar and wet stones. On the palate, layers of black cherries and blackberries mingle with hints of dark chocolate, mint and spice. Gentle tannins create a supple mouthfeel, leading to a powerful yet refined finish. The 2009 vintage is the result of a roller coaster growing season. Mother Nature could not make up her mind! A wet, cooler spring gave way to early, hot summer days in May, leading to a late bud break. Then it cooled off once again ― and then proceeded to warm up again. All of this weather change made for an exciting harvest of smaller berries with amazing, concentrated fruit and polished tannins. Incredible dark garnet color, great fruit intensity and subtle minerality make our 2009 vintage exceptionally structured, perfectly balanced and a joy to drink. (www.amavicellars.com)
Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte
Quarry Butte is an elegantly expressive five varietal blend that packs a punch for the value, capturing the unique terroir of Destiny Ridge. It’s loaded with aromatics of black cherry, vanilla, peppercorn, dried herbs and leather. The palate is ripe with blackberry, cherry, rich supple tannins, hints of cedar and elegant oak-spice that lead to a balanced structure and lengthy finish. Our Estate Vineyard was historically called Quarry Butte and was slated to become a rock quarry. (www.andrianicolecellars.com)
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
Estate: 100% Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Maturation: 20 months in barrels
Year: 2009 Rating: 89/100 Price: 36.00 Barrel: French & American
Oak Varietals: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon
19% Merlot 17% Syrah 6% Malbec 2% Petit Verdot
Baer
Columbia Valley
A refined style, with meaty cherry and dried herb aromas and flavors on a lithe frame, persisting against crisp tannins. This has deft balance and lingers impressively. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2019. 391 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 14.5% by volume Estate: Stillwater Creek Vineyard Barrel: 100% French Oak Year: 2009 Maturation: 19 months in barrel Price: 64.00 Rating: 91/100
Varietals: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 17% Petit Verdot 13% Cabernet Franc 6% Merlot
Dark and brilliant in color. An aromatic wine with abundant dark fruit, toasty oak spices, floral notes, and raspberries. The palate is full of ripe fruit flavors and abundant oak spices with chalky tannins. Finishes a bit dry. (www.wawinereport.com)
Arctos
Longshadows
Feather Cabernet
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Acidity: 57 grams / 100ml
Estate: 40% Wahluke Slope 20% Dionysus 10% Pepperbridge
Alcohol:
14.2% by volume
Year: 2006 Maturation: 2 months in barrel
Price: 76.00 Barrel: 90% new Vicard French oak barrel
Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vinification: Thermo controlled in steel tanks
Rating: 91/100
Impressive for its intensity and elegance, the 2008 Feather offers generous aromas of ripe blueberries, black fruit and mocha with smoky notes of cedar and tobacco. A complex palate of dark plum, cherry, clove and licorice glides smoothly over refined tannins and creamy oak nuances. (www.longshadows.com)
Youthful and a bit raw, but lively with juicy blueberry, currant, bay leaf and crème brûlée flavors that are nicely knit as the finish lingers with moderate intensity. Drink now through 2016. 1,874 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
Zachary’s Ladder
Gorman
Juicy, focused and concentrated, with rich blackberry, plum and currant fruit, sliding smoothly over polished tannins as the finish picks up intensity. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2018. 450 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 15% alcohol by volume
Year: 2009 Barrel: Once-used French oak Price 42.00 Maturation: 21 months in barrel Varietals:
59% Syrah 39% Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 91/100
Editors choice. Exceptionally ripe and yet beautifully proportioned, this has a gravelly base under bright red currant and raspberry fruit. Tight and tart initially, it opens into a lush, superripe wine that finishes a bit hard and green but with bright, intense baking spice highlights. - Wine Enthusiast
The Evil Twin
Gorman
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 15% alcohol by volume
Estate: Red Mountain
Year: 2009 Barrel: 100% new French oak Price 85.00 Maturation: 21 months in barrel Varietals:
70% Syrah 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating: 95/100 - 5 years running
The 2009 Gorman Winery Evil Twin is an absolute monster of a wine, it's dense, rich and concentrated with a hefty dosage of freshly crushed dark currants, cassis, plum reduction, smoke, chocolate, peppered beef, wet rock, violets and some warm toasty notes. An unbelievable display of depth and power with a unique mouth coating texture that finishes off ultra-long, juicy and absolutely delicious. This is a mouthful of Red Mountain fruit and needs a few hours of air time to really unwind. (Best 2013-2025) - November, 2012 (JD) (www.internationalwinereport.com)
The Bully
Gorman
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 15% alcohol by volume
Estate: Red Mountain
Year: 2009 Barrel: 100% new French oak Price 62.00 Maturation: 21 months in barrel Varietals:
90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Petit Verdot
Rating: 92/100
The Bully is a dense wine chock-full of power and grace from the heart of Red Mountain. (www.gormanwinery.com)
Dark and juicy, with a bright edge to the red berry and black cherry flavors, hinting at chocolate and chile pepper as the finish rolls on easily against crisp tannins. Best from 2014 through 2019. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 560 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
The Albatross
Gorman
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 15% alcohol by volume
Estate: Red Mountain
Year: 2009 Barrel: 100% new Taransaud French oak
Price 120.00 Maturation: 21 months in barrel Varietals:
80% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Petit Verdot
Rating: 95/100
A cab blend with this much power can only be achieved in WA state with Red Mountain fruit. (www.gormanwinery.com)
Vivid and broad, delivering a vibrant mouthful of berry, cherry, mulberry, red chile pepper and tangy spices on an open-textured frame. The finish sings a whole chorus. This has depth, persistence and charm. Best from 2013 through 2020. 150 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
Reininger
Syrah Walla Walla Valley
Polished, lithe and distinctive for its smoke, sassafras and spice notes, which swirl through the huckleberry and black fig flavors, lingering effortlessly. Drink now through 2019. 392 cases made. –HS (www.winespectator.com)
Location: Walla Walla, WA Alcohol: 14.8% alcohol by volume
Estate: Pepperbridge, Seven Hills
Varietals: 100% Syrah
Year: 2009 Barrel: French oak
Price 44.00 Rating: 93/100
Displays a rustic character of leather, earth, mushroom and spice reminiscent of traditional Malbec; perhaps it’s the maturity of the nine year old vines. Finely ground white and black pepper, dried fig, pomegranate, black currant with ripe blackberry flirting in the background satiates my palate along with hints of cocoa and vanilla beans, osso Boccu, braised lamb shanks, hearty stews, and rustic country vegetables are yearning for this Malbec. (www.reiningerwinery.com)
Reininger
Cabernet Walla Walla Valley
Location: Walla Walla, WA Alcohol: 14.5% alcohol by volume
Estate: Pepperbridge and Seven Hills Vineyards
Varietals: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon 11% Malbec 6% Cabernet Franc 5% Petit Verdot
Year: 2010 Barrel: 94% French 6% Russian (67% new)
Price 43.00 Rating: unrated
Man, this is a Muscular, Charles Reininger Atlas, Anaconda, Steak house, lick the tannin off my teeth Cab. Dense, volume expanding, weighty. Black raspberry, Black currant (cassis), Black plum, black berry, Black licorice, Black earth, toffey. It’s a good thing the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body. (www.reiningerwinery.com)
Reininger
Carmenere Location: Walla Walla, WA Alcohol: 13.7% alcohol by volume
Estate: Seven Hills Vineyards Varietals: 100% Carmenere
Year: 2007 Barrel: French Oak (32% new) Price 45.00 Rating: Unrated
Like a steamy Danielle Steele novel, our Carmenere is bound to make your heart race. Aromas of forbidden stewed fruits, fresh, dQecadent strawberries, and spicy black pepper pique your interest as you then delve deeper into the big, ripe, blackberry, rich black cherry, and peppercorn on your tongue. Swoon over the incredibly smooth mouthfeel as the flavors coat your tongue and coax you into ecstasy. (www.reiningerwinery.com)
Old Vines Cabernet
Smasne
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Alcohol: 13.5% Estate: Upland Vineyard
Year: 2008 Barrel: 32 months
Price 42.00 Maturation: French & American Oak
Varietals:
100% Cabernet Sauvignon Rating: 92/100
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from three of my favorite vineyards, Coyote Canyon, Lawrence and Upland. It is an extreme Cabernet that is focused on a wine of exceptional value. Spending 32 months in new oak barrels, rotating into a second set of new oak barrels after 24 months the resulting wine is full bodied with classic cabernet flavors, oak highlights and an amazing finish. It opens with bright fruit, mocha and berry flavors with a lush, solid framework that lingers with spice, black currant and boldness. (www.vineyard2door.com)
Thurston Wolfe
‘Howling Wolfe’ Zinfindel
Location: Horse Heaven Hills
Estate:
Zephyr Ridge Vineyard
Year: 2011 Alcohol: 15.5% Price: 29.00 Barrel: American & Europen
Oak Varietals: 100% Zinfindel Maturation: 14 months
The 2011 Howling Wolfe Zinfandel is our 11th vintage from the Zephyr Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Harvested in early October, the wine was fermented to dryness on the skins and aged in a mixture of American and European oak for 14 months before bottling in December 2012. Enjoy now with prime rib, rack of lamb or port-glazed pork loin or age through 2021. (www.thurstonwolfe.com)
Townshend
Location: Columbia Valley, WA Price: 32.00 Alcohol: 13.5%
T3
A non-vintage Bordeaux restaurant blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 17% Cabernet Franc. (www.townshendcellar.com)
Gilbert Cellars
Location: Whaluke Slope Columbia Valley, WA
Residual Sugar: 9.6
Estate: 24K Vineyard Acidity: 5.3 Year: 2008 Alcohol: 19%
Price: 38.00 Barrel: Aged oak Varietals: 100% Tempranillo Maturation: 16 months
Tempranillo Port
This seductive wine from our 24K Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope was made in a traditional Portuguese style using Tempranillo grapes. Tempranillo is known in Portugal as "Tinta Roriz" and is the second most planted variety in the Douro Valley, the region where "Port" originates. This Tempranillo offers bright red fruit, luscious tannins and pleasant sweetness and pairs well with dark chocolate, cheesecake, and other rich desserts. (www.gilbertcellars.com)
BRONZE MEDAL WINNER
Washington State Wine Competition
Giant Wine Company
Location: Columbia Valley
Varietals: 90% Cabernet Sauvingon 10% Syrah & Merlot
Year: 2009 Alcohol: 13.9%
Price: 26.00
Ghost of 413
Based in Woodinville, Washington, Giant Wine Co. is a collaboration between Chris Gorman (Gorman) and Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan) aimed at producing delicious blends in the image of their respective cult labels but styled and priced for everyday consumption. Spinning off the name of Gorman's original winery, "413", they produce a family of wines sourced from purchased fruit under "The Ghost of 413" label. The 2009 Columbia Valley Red is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Merlot and Syrah. It is big, brooding, and dark, full of rich blackberry and cassis aromas and flavors with notes of dark chocolate, lavendar, and baking spice. According to Gorman and McNeilly, it's got "plenty of stuffing to scare wines at twice the price." This is freaky good stuff, if you ask us! (www.klwines.com)
Alexandria Nicole
In the early 1900’s, pioneering sheepherders left their mark on the Horse Heaven Hills in the form of Rock Monuments. These monuments, some still standing along the ridge line of our Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard were used for marker identification, recreational pastime, artistic expression, and even as simply as to leave ones mark on the world. We dedicate this Rhone style blend to all the pioneers of the Horse Heaven Hills and continue our efforts to leave our mark on the world through the artistic expression of our wines. This unique and flavorful white wine boasts floral notes of lavender, layered with pineapple, fig, lemon zest, all leading into a delicious mix of citrus and white peach, and a viscous yet crisp mouth-feel that lingers to a refreshing finish. (www.alexandrianicolecellars.com)
Location: Columbia Valley, WA
Estate: 100% Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Year: 2011 Price: 29.00
Alcohol: 13.5% by volume Varietals: White Rhone Blend
68% Roussanne 16% Marsanne 16% Viognier
Barrel: Stainless Steel
Shepard’s Mark
Doubleback
The 2010 vintage may prove to be a benchmark for years to come. The long, late growing season produced deeper, darker fruit than in past vintages. In the glass, the classic ruby color we love is joined by a hint of purple. The nose exhibits the high-toned floral notes we have made a hallmark while also showing plum, maraschino cherry, vanilla and Asian spice notes. On the palate the wine exhibits the balance we continue to strive for; nicely integrated tannins, crisp acidity and beautiful Walla Walla Valley fruit. The bright red fruit is married nicely this year with some darker fruit flavors. The finish lasts and lasts. This is a wine that will reward with some bottle age but, if you must dive in, please decant for a couple of hours to allow it to really shine. (www.doubleback.com)
2010 Location: Walla Walla Valley Varietals: 87% Cabernet
Sauvignon 13% Merlot
Estate: McQueen, Loess, Seven Hills, LeFore, & Pepper Bridge
Barrel:
67% French Oak 33% neutral French Oak
Year: 2010 Maturation: 20 months Price: 150.00 Alcohol: 14.4%
SPAIN & PORTUGAL
ROJO
Porto Rocha L.B.V. 2006 35.00
Condado De Haza Ribera Del Duero 2009 30.00
Vina Amezola Crianza Rioja 2007 29.00
Quinta Dos Roques Vihno Tinto 2009 27.00
BLANCO
Sete Cepas Albarino 2011 27.00
Porto Rocha
L.B.V. Location: Douro,
Portugal Year: 2006 Price: 35.00
LBV is intended to provide some of the experience of drinking a vintage port but without the need for lengthy bottle aging. To a limited extent it succeeds, as the extra years of oxidative aging in barrel does mature the wine more quickly.
Typically ready to drink when released, LBV ports are the product of a single year's harvest and tend to be lighter bodied than a vintage port. Filtered LBVs can improve with age, but only to a limited degree; whereas the unfiltered wines will usually be improved by extra years in the bottle. Since 2002, bottles that carry the words "bottle matured" must have enjoyed at least three years of bottle maturation before release.
Ribera Del Duero
Condado de Haza Location: Ribera del Duero,
Spain Barrel: American oak barrel
Year: 2009 Maturation: 15 months Price: 30.00 Rating: 91/100 Varietals: 100% Tempranillo Alcohol: 14%
In 1972, Alejandro Fernández and his wife, Esperanza, initiated the renaissance of Spain’s Ribera del Duero appellation with the area’s first modern wire-trained vineyard, their Viña Alta in Pesquera. In the mid-1980s as Tinto Pesquera was assuming its place among the most intriguing and powerful icons in the world of wine, Alejandro spied a neglected slope along the Duero River which had the appearance of being the most ideal vineyard site in the region, perhaps in all of Spain. Abandoned for years, the slope consisted of hundreds of small parcels with separate and stubborn ownership. Three years of continuous negotiation beginning in late 1986 resulted in the first planting of just over 100 acres in 1989. (www.drinkriberawine.com)
Bodegas Amezola de la Mora
Vina Amezola Crianza Location: La Rioja, Spain
Year: 2007 Price: 29.00
Varietals: Tempranillo
Alcohol:
14%
A little bit of toasted oak on the nose may indicate that it is a wine something 'modern', but that impression is soon belied by the freshness of red fruit, with some cedar and cranberry, so characteristic of the great classic rioja. Very pleasant. (www.elmundovino.elmundo.es)
Location: Dao, Portugal Barrel: New & seasoned barriques
Year: 2009 Maturation: 6-9 months
Price: 28.oo Rating: Not Rated
Varietals: blend Alcohol: 13.5%
Quinta dos Rogues
Deep ruby in colour, the nose features aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, underbrush, plum, cedar, coffee and ground pepper. It's dry, medium full-bodied, smooth-textured and mouth-filling with ripe black fruit flavours and a toasty edge. For all it's smoothness there is an appealing rusticity to this wine's character. Juicy but balanced by lively acidity and youthful, though light tannins; it would make a nice match for roast pork tenderloin, pasta with sausage in tomato sauce or lamb. (www.winesfromportugal.com)
Vihno Tinto
Location: Rias Baixas, Spain Alcohol: 12%
Year: 2011 Maturation: Fermented in stainless steel
Price: 27.00 Varietals: Albarino
Carballal Albarino
Sete Cepas
Bright, straw yellow color. Aromas of pome fruit, citrus and wild reminiscences. With appealing flavors and texture, the acidity is refreshing and the suggestive finish invites a tasting. In the coupage, the aromatic notes of the Loureiro and the delicacy of the Treixadura are accented. (www.carballal.net)
AUSTRALIA
Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2011 40.00
Mollydooker
The Boxer Shiraz
Location: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Residual Sugar:
2.4 grams per liter
Estate: Mollydooker Vineyards Varietals: Shiraz
Year: 2011 Barrel: 60% new American oak
Price: 40.00 Maturation: 11 months in barrel
Alcohol: 15.5% by volume Rating: 88/100
Wow, this wine is definitely punching above its weight, and no wonder - the Fruit Weight is 73%, so it is almost at Party wine level! The power of the fruit is so enjoyable. It has a massive array of flavours, and awesome intensity but the thing that really finishes the wine off is the creamy layers and smooth mouth feel. It’s so voluptuous. ~ Peter & Andrew Sweet, multi layered fruit, chocolate, fresh plum - a complete flavour spectrum. Excited to hold it in my mouth. ~ Sparky (www.mollydookerwines.com)
FRANCE Rhone
Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2009 28.00 Domaine de la Cote de l'Ange Chateauneuf Du Pape 2010 56.00 Domaine de la Cote de l'Ange
Chateauneuf Du Pape 'Vielles Vignes' 2010 92.00
Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf Du Pape Traditional 2010 50.00
Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf Du Pape 'Cuvee Baron' 2010 62.00
Domaine Boisson Cotes Du Rhone 'Cairanne' 2010 32.00
Le Veiux Donjon Chateauneuf Du Pape 2009 56.00
Bourdeaux
Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2009 178.00
Burgundy
BLANC
Domaine Michel Vire Clesse 2009 35.00 Domaine Lionel Bussy Chablis 2009 32.00
Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Grand cru 'Les Clos' 2011 156.00
Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Grand cru 'Les Preuses' 2011 156.00
ROUGE Domaine Joseph Roty
Bourgogne ' Grand Ordinaire' 2009 35.00
Cotes Du Rhone
Guigal
Location: Rhone Valley, Eastern France
Soil:
Varied soil, sediment, limestone, granite. Pebbles and Alluvia
Estate: Guigal Vineyards Vine: Average age of vines-35 years
Year: 2009 Barrel: Oak casks Price: 28.00 Vinification: temperature controlled
fermentation Varietals: 45% Syrah, 52%
Grenache, 3% Mourvèdre
Maturation: 1.5 years in barrel
Alcohol:
13.5 % by volume
Rating: 88/100
Eye : Deep and dark red. Shiny. Nose : Fresh fruits with red berries and spices. Palate : Full, round and racy. Rounded and smooth tannins. A full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine. Overall : Full with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit. (www.guigal.com)
Chateauneuf du Pape
Domaine de la Cote de L’ange
Location: Rhone, France Estate: Chateauneuf du
Pape Year: 2010 Price: 56.00 Varietals: 70% Grenache,
20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah
Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: 93/100
A muscular, dark style, with a baker's chocolate note up front that slowly gives way to thickly layered plum sauce, blackberry paste and dark current fruit flavors. Ganache, espresso and roasted alder fill in the finish, which will need some cellaring to stretch out fully. Best from 2015 through 2025. 6,000 cases made. (www.winespectator.com)
Chateauneuf du Pape
Viellies Vignes
Domaine de la Cote de L’ange
This is gorgeous, with a stunning, velvety mouthfeel that lets layer upon layer of braised fig, melted licorice, boysenberry preserves and cherry confiture glide along, while extra pastis, ganache and Turkish coffee notes fill in the background. Features a long, dense, but polished and poised finish. Best from 2015 through 2030. (www.winespectator.com)
Location: Rhone, France Soil: Sandy & limestone soils
Estate: Chateauneauf du Pape
Vine: 80 year old vine
Year: 2010 Barrel: Foundres & small oak casks Price: 92.00 Alcohol: 14 % by volume Varietals: 85% Grenache
15% Mourvèdre Rating: 96/100
Chateauneuf du Pape ‘Tradition’
Chateau Fortia
Location: Rhone, France
Estate: Chateauneuf du Pape
Year: 2010 Price: 50.00 Varietals: Grenache, Syrah,
Mourvedre
Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: 93/100
"Lots of roasted mesquite and apple wood notes jump to the fore, with bay leaf, chestnut leaf, dark fig and blackberry fruit and a long finish tinged with wood spice and brick dust. A rock-solid, old-school version, with the tannic spine of the vintage. Best from 2014 through 2025. 9,000 cases made.“ (www.winespectator.com)
Chateauneuf du Pape ‘Cuvee
Baron’
Chateau Fortia
Location: Rhone, France
Estate: Chateauneuf du Pape Year: 2010 Price: 62.00 Varietals: Grenache
Alcohol: 14% by volume Rating: 92/100
"A superb 2010, showing ample heft to its core of crushed fig, plum and blackberry fruit, beautifully laced with espresso, bay leaf and warm stone notes, and then all carried by the racy precision of the vintage, with ample but sleek structure and a long, seamless finish. Best from 2014 through 2027. 10,000 cases made.“ (www.winespectator.com)
Domaine Boisson
Cotes du Rhone “Cairanne”
Location: Rhone, France
Estate: Cotes du Rhone Villages Year: 2010 Price: 32.00 Varietals: 50% Grenache
20% Syrah 10% Carignan 20% Mourvedre
Alcohol: 15% by volume Rating: 89/100
Colour: cherry color burlat, deep and brilliant. Nose: The nose is powerful and elegant, characterized by a complex aroma combining ripe fruit kernels (cherry), with notes of fresh fruit (cassis) transcription by nuances of
liquorice. Palate: The attack is round, rich. The wine has a crisp fruit (cherry, strawberry) enhanced by hints of pepper and liquorice. The finish is velvety and smooth. (www.domaineboisson.com)
Le Veiux Donjon
Location: Rhone, France Varietals: 75% Grenache 10% Syrah 10% Mouvedre 5% Cinsault
Estate: Chateauneauf du Pape
Year: 2009 Alcohol: 14% by volume Price: 56.00 Rating: 93/100
Chateauneuf du Pape
“ The 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape is dominated by Grenache with major amounts of Mourvedre, Syrah and other authorized varietals. Its dense ruby/plum color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, roasted Provencal herbs, a gamy character and lots of kirsch, black currant and blue fruits. Rich and full-bodied, it is softer than most young vintages of Vieux Donjon tend to be, and should drink well for 12-15 years.” (www.skirnikwines.com)
Sauternes
This is a bird of a different feather, with an exotic, vibrant aroma of toasted coconut, followed by an almond cream note that gives way to the core of green fig, papaya, Cavaillon melon and honey. There's stunning richness and mouthfeel, with the power to be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage. Very impressive. Best from 2015 through 2040. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 11,000 cases made. –JM (www.winespectator.com)
Chateau Guiraud
Location: Bordeaux, France Soil: sandy gravel for 80% of the surface and clay gravel for the remainder
Estate: Sauternes Vine age: 35-40 years Year: 2009 Barrel: 50% new oak, 50% used
oak Price: 178.00 Alcohol: 13.5% by volume Varietals: 65% Semillon
35% Sauvignon Blanc Rating: 96/100
Domaine Michal
Vire Clesse
Location: Macon, Burgundy, France
Vine: Average age 50 years
Year: 2009 Vinification: fermentation controlled in temperature controlled stainless steel barrels
Price: 35.00 Maturation: 12 months
Varietals: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.5% by volume Rating: 88/100
"Tremendous follow up to last year's superb buy. Bright, fresh and complex, with good body balanced by great acidity. Plenty of life ahead of this one too!“ (www.winelibrary.com)
Domaine Lionel Bussy
Location: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Year: 2009
Price: 32.00
Varietals: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12.5% by volume
"This is one of the fastest up and coming producers of Chablis. These wines have terrific weight and density to match to great acidity and minerality. The flavor spectrum is fantastic for a wine of this price. It's showing great now, so why wait!“ (www.winelibrary.com)
Chablis
Vincent Domaine
Dauvissat’s 2011 Chablis Les Clos is hauntingly beautiful. It shows gorgeous precision in its aromas and flavors, with all the elements in the right place. A rich tapestry of green pears, flowers, spices and crushed rocks caresses the palate. The integration of fruit, acidity and minerality is seamless. In other words, this is textbook Clos. Anticipated maturity: 2014+ (www.vineyardbrands.com)
Chablis Grand cru Les Clos
Location: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Year: 2011
Price: 156.00
Varietals: Chablis
Alcohol: 13% by volume
Vincent Domaine
The 2011 Chablis Preuses is the first wine in this lineup of 2011s that is deeply expressive in its bouquet. Salt, crushed rocks, graphite, stone fruit and smoke come alive in the glass as this vivid, textured wine shows off its class and pedigree. There is an inner strength, intensity and salinity in the Preuses that is marvelous. I can’t wait to see how this develops over the coming year. Anticipated maturity: 2014+ (www.vineyardbrands.com)
Chablis Grand cru Les Preuses
Location: Chablis Burgundy, France
Year: 2011
Price: 156.00
Varietals: Chablis
Alcohol: 13% by volume
Bourgogne ‘Grand Ordinaire’
Location: Burgundy, France
Year: 2009 Price: 35.00
Varietals: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12% by volume
Entry level Roty but charming none-the-less with purity and elegance in abundance This is anything but ordinaire. Despite the appellation laws allowing the inclusion of Gamay, Roty's grand ordinaire is 100% Pinot Noir, from vines over 30 years old, planted by Joseph Roty himself. Limpid ruby in colour, bright and pretty, this offers slightly caramelised, strawberry fruit on the nose - immediately appealing in its primary fruit simplicity on attack, sweet, floral and ripe. The palate is similarly perfumed yet has a mineral edge, well-integrated, which adds definition and hints towards its Gevrey-Chambertin origins - definitely an insider’s wine. (www.corneyandbarrow.com)
Domaine Joseph Roty
CALIFORNIA
Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel 2010 36.00
Rezonja Cabernet Alexander Valley 22005 49.00
Rezonja Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon
Location: Sonoma, California
Estate: Alexander Valley
Year: 2005 Price: 49.00 Alcohol: 14.1% by volume Rating: 80/100
Color: Dense, dark crimson. Aromas: Black raspberries, dried rose petals, plums and whispers of sage and thyme. Flavors and Texture: Classic “Mountain-style” Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated, fruit-driven, and focused. Bold tannins, layers of cassis, dusty cocoa, and blackberry with whispers of vanilla oak. Food Pairing: New York steak.... yum. (www.guigleyfinewines.com)
Ridge
Location: Sonoma, California
Estate: Three Valleys Year: 2010 Price: 36.00 Varietals: 72% Zinfandel
12% Carignane 12% Petite Syrah 2% Syrah 1% Grenache 1% Alicante Bouchet
Alcohol: 14.4% by volume
Three Valleys Zinfandel
Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards - winemaking - at it's finest. Zinfandel determines the wine's varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah spice, depth of color, and firm tannins; grenache brings briary fruit and lively tannins. (www.ridgewine.com)