CALIFORNIA , CHILE, OREGON & WASHINGTON Reds

June-July 2009

CABERNET

2006 Angeline Alexander Valley Cabernet - $199.99 cs/12 ($9.99) - SILVER MEDAL WINNER! (Sonoma County Harvest Fair) "fashioned in a fruitforward, easy to drink style, yet it reveals admirable complexity and length. This wine has a deep garnet hue and aromas of lush fruit: black cherry, cassis and vanilla. The rich black cherry and plum flavors are layered with hints of vanilla, creamy oak and cassis that linger on the palate. The finish is smooth and satisfying, with soft tannins complementing the intense fruit."

2005 Block 19 Cuvée  - $349.99 cs/12 ($29.17)” from the highest elevations the HESS Mount Veeder vineyards, early ripening red varietals have been planted for their compatibility with these vineyards specific growing conditions. The result is a layered Cabernet Sauvignon based wine with significant amounts of Syrah, Merlot and Malbec that is inherently complex. This proprietary blend expresses red currant and supple texture. Wine & Spirts 92pts. "The aroma is concentrated and expresses vanilla, brown sugar and mint. On the palate the wine reveals flavors of boysenberry and espresso richly framed with ripe mountain tannins."

2005 Cocha Don Melchor Cabernet Puenta Alta - $350.00cs/6 - Wine Spectator Top 100 & 96pts."This is still very tight, but the tannins that lead the way now are sleek and refined, and should easily meld into the huge core of roasted chestnut, black currant paste, warm fig and tar. Has a long coffee-and-loam-tinged finish. Best from 2009 through 2019." (06/08) Puente Alto Vineyard is located in the highest, coldest region of the Maipo Valley. Don Melchor is harvested from 114 Cabernet Sauvignon hectares within this larger vineyard. In this section, vines are 20 years old on average and yield fruit of extraordinary quality. Don Melchor is a blend-wine, made with selected grapes harvested from carefully drawn plots. The 2005 has a nose expressive and complex where chocolate, black cherry and ripe plum notes mingle in a pot of coffee and cassis. The palate features a dense, full-bodied wine whose fine, ripe tannins extend the concentration and lead into a big, long and juicy finish."

2006 Cono Sur 20 Barrels Cabernet - $125.00 cs/6. TASTING NOTES: "Harvested from our very best Miapo vineyards,  only allowed to 5 tons yields per hectacre, this broad strapping cabernet delivrs intense plum, cassis, blueberies, and black pepper with softer earthy traces of menthol, vanilla, and smoke. "

2005 Continuum Proprietary Red Napa - $825.00 cs/6 - Parker 95pts."There are 1,000 cases of Tim Mondavi’s debut wine, a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is the first wine Tim has produced since Constellation purchased the Robert Mondavi winery. An excellent beginning, this 2005 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color followed by a beautiful nose of lead pencil shavings intermixed with creme de cassis, subtle wood smoke, and hints of bay leaves as well as spring flowers. Full-bodied with lovely purity, nicely integrated wood, tannin, acidity, and alcohol, and a long finish reminiscent of a classic Bordeaux Pauillac, while accessible, it should age effortlessly for 15+yrs."

2003 Cousino Macul Finis Terrae Maipo Chile - Retail $25 - SALE $165.00 cs/12. "This focus of Cousino-Macul’s Finis Terrae has always been on subtly and finesse. The blending together of Cousino-Macul’s finest lots of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are kissed with new French oak to add just enough character without detracting from the fruit and wine’s place of origin. The concept is let the terrior and fruit come forth without too much vanilla or toast characteristics. The result is wine with a medium fuller bodied frame possessing a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis fruit with nice shades of cocoa powder, cedar spice, as well as the regions loam and eucalyptus nuances. Sleek textured, playing on finesse over power with good structure and balance this conceptually is made to emulate a finer red Bordeaux wine. This exudes refinement and class displaying Old World leanings with a nice balance between earth, fruit and well integrated oak. Its normal price point makes it a solid buy in any ones book; at under $15 when you buy 6 bottles or more makes this an outstanding buy. Just now starting to show well, the extra bottle age has really fine tuned the tannins with The fruit, this should offer up a lot of drinking pleasure over the next 3-4 years."

2005 Coyam Vinedos Emiliana Chile – Retail $35 - SALE $239.99 cs/12($19.99) - Wine Spectator  “Concentrated, with a layer of creamy toast leading the way for blackberry and boysenberry fruit, dark cocoa, graphite and sweet tobacco. Has a lot of fruit in reserve, but also shows a nice note of terroir on the finish. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2009. 90pts. also Wine Advocate “composed of 45% Syrah, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 11% Carmenere, and 3% Petit Verdot. It was made with organically grown grapes and was aged in a mix of French and American oak. It exhibits an attractive array of pepper, vanilla, clove, cassis, and black fruit aromas. There is ample ripe fruit, very good flavors with some complexity, but the finish is quite firm bordering on hardness. Time is likely to round this wine out at which point my score will appear to be conservative. 90pts.

2006 Cru from Napa’s Vineyard 29 - $599.99 cs/12($49.99) - Parker 92pts."The 2006 Cru is cut from the same mould as the 2005, but softer, in a sexy, seductive, up-front style of Cabernet Sauvignon that is medium to full-bodied, classic Napa with cedar, black currant, smoke, and licorice. It should drink well for 10+ years. The impressive talents of viticulturalist David Abreu and winemaker/consultant Philippe Melka have turned Vineyard 29, owned by Chuck and Anne McMinn, into a bright new star of Napa."  Also Tanzer 92-94pts."Bright ruby. Pungent aromas of blueberry, blackberry, minerals and menthol, lifted by an exotic suggestion of white fruits. Dense, broad and large-scaled, but currently less filled in than the 2005. Brooding flavors of dark fruits and dusty brown spices. Quite full and dry, finishing with serious tannic spine."

2004 Dare Cabernet Franc Napa by Viader - $450.00 cs/12 100% Cab.Franc from a hillside in the Stagecoach vineyard in upper Oakville. An early drink wine with red plum, raspberry, and bing cherry with Indian spies. A Tanzer 90pts."

2006 Decoy Duckhorn Red Blend - $349.99 cs/12 - Winemaker Mark Beringer's Notes: "This approachable wine is layered with bright acidity and forward fruit balanced by well-integrated tannins. The aroma is distinct with raspberry, plum, black pepper, tobacco and black olive. The flavors are abundant with blackberry, bittersweet chocolate, cedar, toasty oak, and a caramel finish."

2005 Dominus 05 Proprietary Red Wine - $750.00 cs/6($125.00) - Parker 95+pts."The 2005 Dominus continues to strut its stuff, tasting like a Napa hybrid blend of a St.-Emilion and Pomerol. Its dark ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by notions of cedarwood, spice box, roasted herbs, sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, licorice, and truffles. Full-bodied with excellent fruit intensity, complex aromatics, supple tannins, and a long finish, this 7,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot should drink well for two decades or more. Christian Moueix, Dominus’ owner, has purchased the 35-acre Swanson Vineyard, which is situated between the well-known California bistros, Brix and Mustard’s. I suspect that will result in a third label from Dominus. At present, the production from these large holdings in Yountville is approximately 10,000-12,000 cases, with the second wine, Napanook, representing 3,500-4,000 cases, depending on the vintage. It is ironic that Christian Moueix, the great Merlot specialist at his flagship chateaux in Pomerol, especially Petrus, prefers the other Bordeaux varietals at his Napa property. Interestingly, when I visit Dominus, they always open a fresh bottle and serve it alongside a bottle that has been decanted for 24 hours. On each occasion, the more complex, open wine is the one that has had 24 hours of aeration, something buyers of this wine should take into consideration. These are the two strongest back to back vintages for Dominus since 1990-1991 and 2001-2002."

2005 Esca Cabernet – Retail $32 bottle – SALE $25.00 bottle - "A great Cabernet value! Esca means ‘allurement’ in Italian, and this alluring wine was made by Anna and Mario Monticelli who met at UC Davis while earning their degrees in Viticulture and Enology. Anna worked at Chateau Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion and Bryant Family in Napa, while Mario interned at Antinori in Tuscany before they began making their own wines (Cab and Syrah) in Napa. This is their third vintage using grapes grown on the western hillsides of St. Helena in the Spring Mountain AVA. Only 800 cases of this 100% Cabernet were produced. The wine spent 21 months in French oak. It is dark, rich, and concentrated. The nose reveals ripe currant and blackberry aromas intermixed with hints of cedar and sage. The wine is well structured with good acidity and soft tannins. And yes, it comes with a screw-cap! "

2003 Gargiulo Money Road Cabernet - $850.00 cs/12(70.84) - medium ruby in the glass, this wine has a nose of deep cherry aromas wrapped in leather and dried black tea aromas. In the mouth it has gorgeous acidity and mouth-feel, with bright and rich cherry flavors supported by smooth but strong tannins and a very nice finish.

2005 Groth Cabernet RESERVE Napa - $750.00cs/6 - Wine Spectator 94pts. "This has wonderful richness, density and focus, with tiers of smoky plum, currant, blackberry, loamy earth, sage and underbrush notes. Though firmly tannic, there's a measure of finesse and polish. Ends with a long, rich, persistent finish. The best Groth Reserve in years. Best from 2009 through 2015." -JL - winery notes: The 2005 vintage marks the return of Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon after a six vintage hiatus. For sixteen vintages the vines from Block 1, at our Oakville "home" vineyard, produced grapes that made exquisite and memorable Reserve wines between 1983 and 1999. The Reserve block was pulled out and replanted in 2000 with new rootstocks, new clones, new trellising system and a new vine row orientation. The result of this huge investment in time, energy and resources can be tasted in our 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon."

2001 Harbison Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $125.00*bottle. Limited availability (75 cases) specifically made for Childrens’ Charity Wine Auctions.

2004 Hess Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon - $450.00 cs/12 ($37.50) - 92pts. Wine & Spirits “tough, young, but has a soft underbelly of blueberry & black currant. The wine’s power lies in its tannins and minerality, infused from coniferous mountain soils…” and 92pts.Wine Enthusiast "Immediately drinkable for the soft purity of the tannins and complex cassis, chocolate and oak flavors, it has the sturdy structure to develop for some years, but it is best now for its elegant purity. Hess is on a real Cabernet roll, and is one of Napa’s overlooked stars.” As well as 90 pts. Connosieurs Guide “…energetic, well-focused aromas of cherries and currants assisted by a not unexpected veneer of oaky richness, supple, and ripe, moderately juicy flavors...”

2005 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet - $75.00*bottle - WS 94pts.+"Intense and concentrated, big and expressive, with layers of ripe currant, plum, sage, pencil lead and black cherry, all flowing rather seamlessly. Tightly focused, this is rich without being heavy, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2014." (05/08) Hewitt's winemaker, Tom Rinaldi, said" the hair stood up on the back of my neck, when he first walked the vineyard. A 60-acre site first planted to vine in 1880, legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff replanted in 1992, under the ownership of William Hewitt. Located on the Rutherford Bench in Napa's Maycamas Mountains, the site produces opulent wines like this 2005, full of black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit with underlying notes of anise, bittersweet chocolate and cedary spice. Smooth and graceful, the wine is kissed with a touch of classic Rutherford Dust and a muscular structure. Enjoy with full-flavored, hearty foods after decanting now or watch this gem gain in complexity with time in your cellar."

2006 Honig Cabernet - $349.99 cs/12($29.17) - "Honig's Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of fruit from Honig's own sustainably farmed vineyard in Rutherford and from local Napa vineyards. The vintage's long growing season allowed for plenty of hang time, resulting in a concentrated wine with balanced acids. On the nose it packs a one-two punch, with vibrant red fruit aromas followed by spice, vanilla and sweet tea. It is round on the palate, finishing with supple, cocoa powder tannins."  Producer notes: "Ripe red and black fruits with underlying cedar, cocoa and spice. Rich, supple mid-palate, with moderately firm tannins. Long, balanced, flavorful finish with well integrated oak. The fruit for this wine comes from both our sustainably farmed vineyard in Rutherford and from local Napa Valley vineyards. Fruit: 97% Cabernet, 3% Petit Verdot."

2005 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet $295.00*bottle - Parker 96-99pts."looks to be the finest Cabernet Sauvignon Jayson Woodbridge has yet produced, and has put on weight and complexity since I tasted it last year. Like all of his Cabernet Sauvignons, this wine is fermented in wood puncheons or demi-muids, and is a breathtaking example of plush, layered, complex Cabernet Sauvignon. A total thrill, this wine has absolutely awesome aromatics of creme de cassis, cedar, sweet cherries, spice box, as well as licorice and graphite. A caramelized sweetness to the fruit, loads of glycerin, unbelievable unctuosity and opulence a la Pomerol’s Le Pin or some of the legendary vintages of right bank Bordeaux leads into a full-bodied, concentrated, exceptionally pure wine that is a total delight to smell, contemplate, sip, and in my case, spit out. This is a wine that can be drunk young or cellared for 20+ years." Plus Tanzer 95pts."Bright, deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of sappy red fruits and menthol; reminded me of a Pomerol. Lush, deep and energetic, with terrific floral lift and detail to the superconcentrated raspberry, spice and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes lush and broad, with palate-staining persistence and terrific verve. This spent 40 to 50 days on its skins, according to owner Jayson Woodbridge. The best vintage yet for this lush and satisfying bottling."

2005 Jordan Cabernet Sonoma - $599.99 cs/12

2004 Lokoya Cabernet  Mt Veeder - $1,275.00 cs/6 - Parker 96pts."spectacular, a candidate for one of the vintage’s finest Cabernets. Gorgeous aromas of spring flowers, espresso roast, blackberries, cassis, and cedar are reminiscent of a Pauillac on steroids. Powerful, rich flavors are unctuously textured, low in acidity, high in tannin and glycerin. This sensational effort will be even better in 2-4 years, and should keep for two decades. 2008-2026."

2005 Melka "CJ" Cabernet Napa - $49.99*bottle. Philippe Melka Wines:  Surely you have heard of Bryant Family, Vineyard 29, Dominus, Lail, Hundred Acre, and Quintessa. Philippe Melka is or has been, the consulting wine maker for them all. His dedication to quality has made him one of the most sought after winemakers in California. His C.J.(Chole & Jeremy, his children) Cabernet is made from 100% Napa Cabernet which spends 18 months in Oak. An expressive wine, full bodied, with a deep red color. The aromatics are a mix of dark fruits, such as blackberry and currant, with subtle notes of oak and vanilla. It is rich with flavors of raspberry, chocolate, with a smokiness and mouthfeel and layers of complexity yet superbly balanced. It finishes smoothly with soft, polished tannins. This wine has all the complexity as the famous wines he makes at a fraction of the price, and best yet this bottling contains all of the juice normally reserved for his famed Metisse. Miss this limited production, only 1100 cases made, and you will regret it.

2004 Mondavi Reserve Cabrnet - $675.00 cs/6 -Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2007  "Weaves together a complex array of ripe, rich currant, anise, smoky oak and black cherry. Dense, concentrated and persistent, with great depth and focus, ending with an amazingly long, richly flavored finish. Best from 2008 through 2018."  Wine Spectator 95pts. "86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which mostly comes from To-Kalon, has a relatively small production in this vintage (7,500 cases). The wine has a dense purple color and a wonderful, sweet, almost St.-Julien like nose of licorice, red and black currants, cedar, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, but authoritatively flavored, this wine is still young, rich, and very fine." Robert Parker 92pts.

2004 Montelena Estate Cabernet - $150.00*bottle - Parker 94+pts."Chateau Montelena's sale to the owners of Bordeaux's well-known second-growth, Chateau Cos d'Estournel, fell through, no doubt because of the global economic crisis. It was unquestionably shocking that this Napa icon was on the block, and about to be sold to, of all people, the French, who Montelena had defeated in the famous Steven Spurrier tasting of 1976. Tasting through the wines with the ever reliable Bo Barrett is always a lesson in candor and honesty. Montelena's negociant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, from northern vineyards in the Calistoga area, is meant to represent a Montelena house style, but it is much softer and less ageworthy, thus is the ideal restaurant/steakhouse wine." on Dec. 2008, and on Dec. 2007 "The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from their old vineyards in Calistoga. This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure. Like nearly every vintage of their top Cabernet Sauvignon, it will last for 25 or more years. The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades." Drink 2007- 2037.

2005 NEYEN Espiritu de Apalta $70.00*bottle. The history of Neyen de Apalta has unfolded in an exceptional corner of the Colchagua Valley. Nestled into a horseshoe-shaped ring of hills, the winery produces a treasured red wine that reflects the fame of this terroir that is bathed by the Tinguiririca River, blessed by the sun, and sheltered by the coastal mountain range. For decades the vines supplied neighboring producers with high quality grapes. Today, 75 of the original acres of Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon have been reclaimed and provide the foundation for this ultra premium wine. Winemaker Patrick Valette, formerly of Chateau Pavie,  and vineyard manager, Eduardo Silva were charged with creating just one wine that would reflect the essence of the Apalta Valley. The maximum expression of the vines, the varieties, and the area’s privileged terroir are expressed in the native word for “spirit” with which the winery christened its first and only label—Neyen, Espiritu de Apalta. This new vintage release, 2005, has yet to be rated, however the 2004 received: Parker 92pts."a superb bouquet of pain grille, spice box, leather, blueberry, black currants, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate the wine has plenty of grip, oodles of layered black and blue fruits, ripe tannins, and terrific balance. The finish is long and pure." , Wine Spectator 90pts."Solid, and broad-shouldered, with tobacco, mineral, cedar, black currant and game notes held together by tightly grained tannins. Builds nicely on the finish and shows solid concentration as it opens in the glass.", Wine & Spirits Magazine 92pts., and Decanter Magazines high 5 Star rating.

2003 Prevail Back Forty $79.99*bottle. "Sumptuous aromas of white chocolate, dried herbs, and loamy soil in its full-bodied, expressive style. Lovely fruit, texture & sweet tannin." Parker 91pts. A classic Bordeaux-style wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes are grown on low-yielding vines on a 40 acre block on the back side of Rockrise Mountain in Alexander Valley. Affectionately called Back Forty, the wine displays deep aromatics of ripe blackberry and cherry with a rich mouth-feel that is beautifully concentrated and supple with a long, lingering smooth finish.

2005 Roy Estate Proprietary Napa Red - $750.00 cs/6 - Parker 95pts. “This 17-acre vineyard on the eastern side of Napa is owned by Charles and Shirley Roy. Located in what is known as the Soda Canyon area, the vineyard was planted under the direction of Helen Turley, but today’s winemaker is Philippe Melka. They have two wines in their cuvee, a Bordeaux blend and, of course, their Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite of the quartet of wines I tasted is the 2005 Proprietary Red, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot (1,500 cases produced). Of course, Soda Canyon is a southern Napa region and cool, much like its neighbor Stags Leap. This wine exhibits very Bordeaux-like notes of black currants, chocolate, underbrush, and some background oak. With beautiful sweet fruit, striking elegance, well-integrated acidity, and a dense ruby/purple color and medium to full body, this will be a long-lived wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.”

2004 Silver Oak Alexander - $699.99 cs/12 -"an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It displays bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it has a full-bodied attack, a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking pleasure until 2026."

2005 Spottswood Cabernet Sauvignon - $140.00*bottle - Parker 96pts."utterly profound (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc) will benefit from several years of bottle age, and should keep for 25-30 years. This extraordinary effort exhibits notes of blueberries, cassis, spring flowers, licorice, and forest floor. Beautifully pure and full-bodied with excellent overall harmony as well as superb purity, it reveals a Chateau Margaux-like personality. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2030. One of Napa’s most well-known landmarks, and its winemaking team, owner Beth Novack, and assistants Rosemary Cakebread and Jennifer Williams, represents a trifecta of talented young women. When the history of Napa’s great vineyards is written, the 40-acre Spottswoode Vineyard, tucked behind the quaint town of St. Helena, will be counted among the finest grand cru vineyards of the region. These wines have always been good, but over the last decade, the quality has soared, no doubt because of a much more strict selection in the vineyard as well as in the winery. A very fine second wine, Lyndenhurst, has also been introduced, which has increased the quality of the flagship offering, the Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. Like Bordeaux’s top chateaux, Spottswoode has gotten serious about turning out a very fine second wine that is softer and more accessible, yet represents their vineyard character."

2003 Togni Napa Cabernet - $135.00*bottle - Parker 95pts."Not surprisingly, Togni’s 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has put on weight, and is performing even better out of bottle than it did from cask. Its inky/purple color is accompanied by classic aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, black currants, blackberries, dried herbs, smoke, barbecue spice, licorice, and tapenade. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and concentrated, with firmly structured tannin. While our culture prizes immediate gratification, these beauties require bottle age, and I rarely touch a Togni Cabernet Sauvignon before age 8 or 10. The 2003 requires another 7-8 years of cellaring, and should last for three decades or more. As a postscript, I want to acknowledge a wine Philip Togni produced early in his career at Chappellet, the 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon. Recently, one of my dearest friends, Dr. Jay Miller, was feting his 60th birthday, and brought a bottle of this wine along with a collection of profound museum pieces. Togni’s ‘69 may be one of the greatest California Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted. Every bottle I have had seems to get better and better. This 36-year-old wine tastes like a 14- or 15-year-old adolescent except for the extraordinary soaring aromatics of creme de cassis, spice box, incense, and cedar. In the mouth, it’s gorgeously fresh, full-bodied, super-concentrated, and revealing no signs of age. It is both a monument to California Cabernet Sauvignon and an homage to a feisty British-born winemaker who continues to turn out some of the world’s most interesting wines."

2004 Togni Napa Cabernet - $1,350.00 cs/12(112.50) - Parker 95pts."Readers looking for more ripeness, opulence, and an extroverted character should check out the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which is actually a larger crop than 2005. This sensational dense purple-colored effort boasts delicious blueberry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and olive-like notes. In the mouth, there is more creme de cassis as well as background toasty oak, structure, and tannin. I don’t think there has ever been a vintage where Philip Togni has cheated anybody on flavor intensity or tannic structure as his wines always last, even in lighter vintages, for twenty or more years. The 2004 will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and should last for 25-30 years. It is, atypically for the vintage, front-end loaded. 2010-2036"

2004 Vina Almavina - $399.99 cs/6(66.67) - Winery joint venture of Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. "Delicate aromas of forest strawberries, raspberries, cocoa and wildflowers with overtones of honey and incense characterize the subtle nose. Very precisely fresh, pure and creamy with persistent and tannins. Flavors of peach pips, almonds and smoky mesquite blend together with vanilla and bright, fresh red and black fruit aromas throughout the exceptionally elegant finish. A remarkably graceful and pure wine. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Carmenère aged 17 months in new French oak."  WS 95pts. (Highly Recommended) - "Very dense, with loads of raspberry ganache, black currant and fig fruit layered with loam, tobacco, mineral and cedar notes. Lots of grip on the finish."  Wine Spectator 95pts. "This brick house of a wine shows plenty of Pauillac-like hints of iron, dried currant and cigar smoke, but also has layers of Chilean loam, blackberry, plum, spice and minerals. A powerful performance in a powerful vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2005 through 2012. 15,000 cases made."

2003 Volker Eisele Napa Cabernet - $499.99 cs/12(41.67) - Wine maker's Tasting Notes: "All fruit is organically grown in our estate vineyard, has 8% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot blended in for added structure and complexity. The vineyard is organically farmed, and has been since 1974. The grapes were harvested at their peak maturity in early October. The wines were barrel aged in 50% new oak from the center of France, all from the Treuil Cooperage. The wine is dark in hue, varietally distinct, and well balanced on the palate. This wine has a long future, but can be enjoyed today. Due to rigorous thinning, the long, cool growing season, and the harvesting of only mature ripe clusters, tannins, fruit, and acidity are robust and interactive with a resulting complexity. Thus, all of the Estate wines are full flavored and can be enjoyed alone or with food for an enhanced dining experience. Winemaker John McKay, has 30 years of experience in the Napa Valley, and has worked with Eisele grapes for over 10 years." Connoisseurs' Guide One puff "There is little wrong and lots right about this straightforwardly rich and ripe Cabernet. Its youthful fruit favors the black cherry end of the varietal spectrum, and its oak adds a creme caramel layer to the proceedings. A bit soft at its heart and finding grip in its moderate tannins, this one could be enjoyed now alongside a sturdy steak or aged for a bit."  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar  88pts. "Bright ruby-red. Black currant, cola, minerals, tar and licorice on the nose, along with an oaky component that grew with aeration.Initially tight and un giving if intense, this grew sweeter and more pliant as it opened in the glass. Finishes with substantial, slightly dry tongue-dusting tannins."

2004 Whitehall Lane Reserve Cabernet “SILVER ANNIVERSARY” - $375.00 cs/6 -Wine Spectator 92pts."Smooth, rich and fleshy, with concentrated currant, mineral and blackberry fruit that's supple and engaging. Well-proportioned, ending with dusty, cedary oak that adds a nice dimension. Best from 2008 through 2013."

2004 White Oak Cabernet Sauvignon - $300.00 cs/12(25.00) "96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc - Volcanic soils, strong gravel outcroppings and shale, at 1400 feet. The wine is minimally handled and processed. Bottled with light filtration allowing it to fully express the fruity character of the grapes. Tasting Notes: Dark, rich and concentrated, with earthy currant and dusty berry flavors that are tight, plush and complex, picking up a vanilla-mocha edge from oak. Long, concentrated aftertaste, echoing anise and coffee."

MERITAGE

2004 HdV Belle Cousine - $375.00 cs/6 ($62.50) - Tanzer 91+pts."Bright, deep ruby-red. Sexy, musky aromas of coffee, leather, game and fresh herbs, all lifted by an incense character; reminded me of syrah. Then juicy and light on its feet, with lovely flavor intensity and inner-palate vibrancy. Offers a restrained sweetness and a subtlety of flavor rare for ripe red wine in California. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and excellent grip. Still a baby."

2005 Jimmy Napa Red Blend in Magnum - $100.00 includes $25 Charitable donation in your name to the James Mancbach Foundation - Wine Spectator  "Southern Wine & Spirits' Fine-Wine Guru Jimmy Mancbach Dies at 56 - Larger-than-life wine salesman had long track record of discovering promising new wineries and building loyal followings for them in South Florida. Please don't let people say that I died young," Mancbach said from his hospital bed in a November 2006 conversation with Jean Arnold Sessions, president of Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma, with whom he'd worked on and off since they met in 1985. "I've lived a great life and truly enjoyed it all." A wine connoisseur with a penchant for unearthing hard-to-find and overlooked brands, Mancbach spent a great deal of time traveling in California and around the globe hoping to discover the next addition to Southern's Gems Collection, which he oversaw (it was often referred to as Jimmy's Gems). His expertise led Southern to endow him with broad autonomy to purchase wines according to his own distinguished palate."

2005 Paraduxx Napa Red Blend from Duckhorn - $599.99 cs/12.

St.Clement Oroppas Magnums - $150.00*each:

• 2001 Parker 93pts."2001 Oroppas, a superb, full-throttle, St.-Emilion-like effort built in a Napa Valley style. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, it is full-bodied, with an inky/purple color as well as beautiful aromas of Asian spice, incense, creme de cassis, licorice, and toasty oak. This complex, ripe, rich red reveals supple tannin and an explosive, voluptuous, mid-palate and finish. This glorious 2001 can be drunk now or cellared for 12-16 years. This is the finest portfolio of wines I have ever tasted from St. Clement. These are all serious, outstanding efforts that merit significant attention. St. Clement has never before made wines this dazzling, so readers should jump on the bandwagon before the prices go even higher."
• 2002 Parker 92pts. "composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. Its vivid blue/purple color is accompanied by a sweet perfume of incense, Asian spices, black currants, blackberries, and vanilla. There is terrific fruit on the attack, medium to full body, a sweet mid-palate, fine length, and nicely integrated ripe tannin. Consume it over the next 10-15 years."  and Tanzer 92pts. "60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc) Good deep red-ruby. Blackberry, violet and licorice aromas, complicated by leather and graphite. Wonderfully sweet, silky and suave, with an inner-mouth aromatic quality rare for the year. This very well-balanced blend is juicy, even a bit youthfully tight, and finishes with impressive perfume. Has the mid-palate sweetness to balance its firm tannic spine and offers a lovely combination of density and elegance. In comparison to this vintage, the 2003 release is more of an "upfront" wine, notes Viader, who pointed out that her flagship wine's cabernet franc element is more important to its aging potential than the sauvignon."

2005 St. Clement Oroppas - $250.00 cs/6 - Parker 91pts. "St. Clement’s proprietary red, the 2005 Oroppas, is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small quantities of Merlot and Petit Verdot included in the blend. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by notes of licorice, black currants, cedar, bay leaves, and toast. Ripe, round, medium to full-bodied, and opulent, it should drink well for 10-15 years."

MERLOT

2005 Chateazu Ste.Michelle Merlot Canoe Ridge – Retail $24.99 - $119.99 cs/6($19.99) - "The Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot is a refined and elegant Merlot with plenty of Washington concentration. The 2005 bottling exhibits complex aromas of black cherries and spice with dusty, restrained tannins. This is a medium-bodied versatile wine with food and will not overwhelm your meal or your palate, just your taste buds."

2003 Pedestal Merlot Washington - $69.99*bottle - Parker 93pts."Michel Rolland (famed Pomerol based consultant) & Allen Shoup (Washington State pioneer) team up to produce this limited release. Layers of rich currant and blueberry flavors, complimented by hints of mocha, cedar and spice."   Connoisseurs' Guide 3 Puffs - 95pts."As professional and polished a merlot as we have tasted in quite some time. This very deep, impeccably crafted effort from the Pacific Northwest easily outdistances the field this month and moves to the very head of the class.  From its rich and keenly composed aromas to its layered flavors of black cherries, loam and deftly fit oak, it is wine of real reach and complexity and never once resorts to simples ripeness.  It shows a fine spine of firming tannins  and will grow gracefully for 5-10 years."

2006 White Oak Merlot Napa - $260.00cs/12

PETIT SYRAH & SYRAH

2005 Copain Syrah Thompson - $50.00*bottle - Parker 94 pts."Thompson Vineyard (made famous by Ojai’s Adam Tolmach) is seriously endowed, with notes of licorice, ground pepper, incense, Chinese black tea, roasted meats, and copious quantities of blackberry and cassis fruit. Admirable stuffing, full-bodied power, and dazzling delineation make for an impressive Syrah, should drink well for 10-12 years."

2006 DuMol Syrah Russian River - $79.99*bot.

2006 Figge Syrah Sycamore Flat Vineyard Arroyo Secco -  $450.00 cs/12 - "Not unlike a northern Rhone with a big nose that blasts of blackberry and bosenberry followed by dark coffee and smoky toast noyes. Fresh and lively in the mouth full rich tannins."

2004 Jorian Hill Syrah – Retail $36 bottle – SALE $162.50 cs/6($27.09) - "displays a deep, inky purple color that hints at the wine's character and concentration. In the bouquet, the wine reveals elegant aromas of blueberry, blackberry, rose petal and cassis, along with understated notes of leather, pepper, cedar and cigar box.  On the palate, these enticing aromas are followed by layered flavors of purple plums, subdued fruit, coffee, cocoa and soft spice.  Though drinking beautifully now, this well-balanced Syrah's rich underlying tannins will ensure that it cellars well for the next five to eight years."

2004 White Oak Syrah $280.00 cs/12

PINOT NOIR

2006 Archery Summit Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir Oregon - Retail $49.99 - $250.00 cs/6 - "Scarlet red in color, the 2006 Premier Cuvée opens with lifted aromas of black cherries, rose petal, vanilla and a hint of savory spice. Pomegranate, currant floral notes notes mingle on the palate with mulling spices, anise, juicy plum and clean earth. The wine is sumptuous and bright with layers of mineral, flint and spice surrounding a seductive black cherry core. There is balance and good concentration here; tannins are rich but restrained, revealing a wine with depth of flavor and clean lines. Succulent and focused, this wine is ready for enjoyment now, however may improve with proper cellaring over the next five to eight years." 

2006 Auteur Pinot Shea vineyard - $79.99*bottle - "takes the taster to yet another level of purity and intensity. The first wine to achieve back to back 100 point scores from Vinfolio. The winery’s total production of 2006 Shea is 313 cases. Tasted over 48 hours, the wine continued to unfold revealing a complex interwoven mosaic: Lavender, cola, licorice with rich shadings of cherry and chocolate in the nose. The palate is abundantly smooth, richly sculpted lavender infused chocolate, plum and cherry. The finish is luxurious violet-hued, undulating Superfly velvet that lasts for nearly a minute. Drink 2008 – 2014". WINEMAKER'S NOTES: Rich, supple and graceful with explosive aromas of blackberry and bright cherry, perfumed with minerality, cinnamon stick and lavender oil with distinct loam undertones. An expressive, open textured palate is layered with succulent sweet garnet fruit with accents of peppercorn and spice. The refined and lithe tannins last beautifully with a poised and polished finish.

2007 Byron Santa Maria Pinot Noir - $269.99 cs/12($22.50) - "displays aromas of dark plum and dark cherry, accented by hints of brown sugar, brown spice, vanilla, and smoke, with flavors of dark cherry and dark plum with hints of clove and brown spices, backed by a smoky finish."

2006 Domaine Serene Yamhill Pinot Noir - $450.00 cs/12($37.50) - Parker 90pts."The entry level 2006 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee delivers an expressive nose of rose petal, red cherry and raspberry that leaps from the glass. This leads to a velvety-textured, medium-bodied Pinot with ample sweet fruit, good depth, and a fruit-filled finish. It lacks only complexity. Drink this pleasurable wine over the next 4-5 years. Domaine Serene has turned out its most successful set of Pinot Noirs in several vintages."

2005 Domaine Serene Winery Hill Pinot Noir in Magnum - $179.99*each

2006 Figge Pinot Noir Paraiso Vineyard - $450.00 cs/12 - "Vibrant layers of cherry, spice, and rose petal aromas. In the mouth it is bright and balanced showing cherry, raspberry and refined oak flavors. A spicy note with a ton of ripe, delicate fruit finish. Not typical California over ripe fruit style, but more elegant red and black fruits framed by the oak.

2007 Figge Pinot Noir Peilo Vineyard $450.00 cs/12 - "Truly French Burgundy in style with soft, velvety fruit aromas. IIIIn the mouth very softly oaked with light deleciated balanced fruit flavors."

2005 Freeman Russian River Pinot Noir - $50.00*bottle - Connoisseurs' Guide 1 Puff (90pts.) "Very pure, keenly defined, ripe-cherry fruitiness is given a nice boost in richness from a careful complement of creamy oak in both the nose and the flavors of this rich but wonderfully well-balanced bottling, and the wine tempers its richness with a fine sense of brightness and vitality. Medium-full-bodied and slightly velvety in feel, it sustains quite well at the finish and hits all the marks that fine Pinot should."

2006 J. Mauceri Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – Retail $32 bottle - SALE $249.99 cs/12(20.84) “This outstanding small-production Pinot Noir is the latest project of winemaker Bruce Regalia, who spent seven vintages as founding winemaker for Goldeneye in Anderson Valley. Regalia made this wine with fruit from two vineyards: the well-known Las Brisas vineyard in Los Carneros, and a vineyard off Vine Hill Road in Russian River Valley. He aged the wine in French oak barrels for eight months and gave it an additional year of bottle age to fully integrate. This is an elegant, sophisticated Pinot with well-balanced flavors of raspberry and bing cherry and notes of milk chocolate, violet, mint and blueberry.”

2006 Cristom Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard - $54.00*bottle - “a juicy, fruit-forward wine that is remarkably drinkable at this stage for a big Cristom pinot noir. Typically, Doerner's single-block wines are focused, tight, and begging for a couple of years of bottle age. However, for this bottling from this warm, ripe vintage, it's awfully nice now. The wine is loaded towards the red end of the fruit spectrum, and that fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and a hint of stem tannins that add complexity and dimension. It has more extract than other wines, and when tasted alongside other, good-quality pinots it stands out for an extra dimension of flavor and complexity and length. While drinkable now, this wine has enough stuffing for medium-term cellaring, too. Drink or hold.”

2006 Lane Tanner Julia's Pinot Noir – Retail $35 bottle – SALE $249.99 cs/12($20.84) "The ripest and most substantial of Lane Tanner's Pinot lineup. Dark cherries and black raspberries run through the mouth with dried spice that hovers like a cloud-thread of perfume. Full and lush yet soft and accessible." This vineyard is located three miles due east of the Bien Nacido Vineyard and Lane’s block is planted to the Martin Ray clone of Pinot Noir. · Dark crimson in color. Aromas of earth-dusted fruit, grilled meat and toasted oak lead to an attack of plush dark stone fruits which are earth-kissed. Layers of flavor interest with mushrooms, herbs and cola.. Dense on the palate but still silky in texture with a healthy tannic core that is not intrusive. This one will appeal to those who like the more sauvage style of Pinot Noir. Like Lane says, “ like the haunting other woman - rather scary.”

2005 Le Cadeau Oregon Pinot Noir Cote Estate - $52.00*bottle - Parker 90pts."The 2005 Pinot Noir “Cote Est” is nearly purple-colored, unusually saturated for this vintage. The nose offers expressive cedar, earth, black cherry and blackberry aromas. This is followed by a medium-bodied wine with gobs of dark fruit flavors, well integrated acidity and tannin, and superb depth and balance. It will evolve for several years and provide pleasure for 15-20 years. Le Cadeau is a 28-acre micro-estate owned by Tom and Deb Mortimer. Previously flying under The Wine Advocate radar screen, if the wines continue to perform as they did in 2005, Pinot fans everywhere will be jumping on this winery’s mailing list. The three wines are all estate grown and bottled."

2003 Marimar Torres Green Valley Pinot Noir – Retail $39.99 bottle – SALE $299.99 cs/12($24.99)

2006 Martin Ray Santa Barbara Pinot Noir in 375mls – Retail $12 bottle – SALE $99.99 cs/12($8.34) -  winemaker's notes: When it comes to Pinot Noir, they apply traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques. The key to their winemaking is the "intuitive" approach of understanding when to step back and not to over manipulate the wine. Martin Ray's goal is to allow the wine to develop its own depth and distinctive characteristics. The 2006 Pinot Noir has a brilliant garnet color and aromas of berries and vanilla. The palate is full and sensual with ripe raspberry and strawberry, elegantly balanced with vanilla. The mouth boasts creamy, supple texture and opulent fruit, fused with smooth but bright flavors on the finish. Try this Pinot Noir paired with poached salmon in cream sauce or braised pork.

2006 Migration Pinot Noir Duckhorn - $35*bottle - Connoisseurs' Guide  One Puff. "we would not argue with those who find this wine a little too ripe and ragged, but its richness and ample fruit simply cannot be ignored, and it is by all measures wonderfully tasty stuff. Full and fleshy, if still slightly too tannic, it fights successfully with a bit of last-minute heat, and, while it will never be the picture of prettiness, it will benefit greatly from a few years of age." "This medium-bodied wine has bright fruit complemented by ripe and broad tannins that provide great balance and a lengthy finish. The aroma features blueberry, plum, strawberry pie, and toasted oak. The flavors are focused and follow through with ripe strawberry, plum, and cherry, complemented by clove. A lighter style than our Goldeneye, this wine shows the range and suppleness of the Pinot Noir varietal."

2005 Pali Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Durell - $54.00*bot. - Wine Spectator 91pts. "Intense and focused, with dense, rich, concentrated wild berry and raspberry fruit that's well-centered, with loamy herb and spice nuances. Drink now through 2011. 430 cases made."

2005 Ponzi Pinot Noir Abetina – Retail $112.50 – SALE $495.00 cs/6($82.50) - "Aromas of black raspberry, white pepper and ripe cherry with hints of tobacco lead to a full, soft mid-palate laced with Italian plums, anise and cassis. The long finish is driven by blackberries and smooth tannins." Luisa Ponzi

2006 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Carneros – Retail $39.99 – SALE $29.99 bottle

2007 Sequana Pinot Noir Assortment - $275.00 cs/6 ($45.84) - 2 bottles of 2007 Sequana Sarmento Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir:  has a wild berry, Bing cherry, black pepper, mint, anise and clean earth flavors. It is somewhat fruit forward and finely textured, with a long, lingering finish with a touch of wood. 2 bottles of 2007 Sequana Sundawg Ridge Vineyard Green Valley Pinot Noir:  produces wines with a wide spectrum of rich aromas and flavors: wild berry, Bing cherry, cranberry, sweet spice and earthiness. This medium-bodied wine has layered soft tannins, bright acidity and a lingering finish. Located in the cool Green Valley (sub A.V.A. of the Russian River) sitting well above the morning fog line, and on rolling hills of gold ridge soil which is ideal for the slow growth of Pinot Noir. 2 bottles of 2007 Sequana Dutton Ranch Vineyard Green Valley Pinot Noir:  "Spice, wild berry, tea and sassafras provide a fragrant aroma. Tighter on the palate, rich and expansive, with layers of berry and dried currant." James Laube, Wine Spectator

2006 Shea Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir - $49.99*bot. - Tanzer 90pts."sees less new oak than the flagship wines. It is made in a more accessible and versatile format that will give pleasure early and over the medium term. The wine features notes of orange blossoms, cranberries, blackberries, sweet cream, cocoa, minerals, and has a markedly silky and supple mouthfeel."

2006 Soter Pinot Noir North Valley - $42.00*bot. - "lovely, elegant drinks wonderfully right now and will age for up to five years. All of the North Valley Pinots have a markedly silken texture. The sunshine of the 2006 vintage has given this wine a little more roundness than before; it is mouthcoating without being heavy in any way. It displays notes of red cherries, strawberry pulp, and a mysterious red fruit quality that reminds us of rose petals and guava. sees less new oak than the flagship wines. It is made in a more accessible and versatile format that will give pleasure early and over the medium term. The wine features notes of orange blossoms, cranberries, blackberries, sweet cream, cocoa, minerals, and has a markedly silky and supple mouthfeel. "

2006 Summerland Monterey Pinot Noir - $24.00*bottle - "Showing a bright ruby color and displaying an aroma of ripe Bing cherries; lush texture and smooth, earthy fruit with lovely, racy acidity; supple, elegant and long with grace, finesse and nervy style."

2006 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Black Label - $350.00cs/12 -"The aromas of boysenberry and dark cherries with hints of grahamcracker and carmel oak. Earth layers lie behind the fruit and will come forward with age. The flavors show cocoa, prunes, and barrel toast. The soft silky mouth feel is enhanced by a variety of ripe, juicy flavors. The finish is wonderfully balanced and lingers with long notes of fruit. This wine shows the promise of great depth and development with cellaring."

2006 Wente Reliz Creek Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco – Retail $29.99 – SALE $239.99 cs/12($19.99) - "This vintage of Reliz Creek Pinot Noir has aromas of cherry and vanilla, with hints of toasted oak, earth and cigar box. Flavors of black cherry and vanilla are followed by a smooth fruity finish, with undertones of earth and clove. ." It has been a VERY LONG TIME since we could RECOMMEND A WENTE WINE as well as give it our SATISFACTION GUARANTEE ! This drinks like a $30+ wine!

ZINFANDEL

2004 Ravenswood Barricia Zinfandel – Retail $32.99 bottle – SALE $239.99 cs/12($19.99) - Connoisseurs' Guide 91pts."25% Petite Sirah. An impressive Zinfandel in terms of its fruity depth, its range of complexity and its sturdy structure, this bottling ranks as the best of this year's successful Ravenswood lot. Long on extracted blackberries and filled out with enriching touches of coffee, dark earth and toasty oak, the wine serves notice on its alcoholic competition that ripeness and fruit and balance can indeed comfortably co-exist. True to the winery's motto, this is no wimpy wine, but it brings a welcome measure of real class to the style. Tanzer 90-92pts."Good deep red-ruby. Cool, claret-like aromas of currant, plum, coffee, minerals and menthol. Supple and sweet but understated, with a creamy texture and a flavor of dark cherry. Finishes with sweet, fine, building tannins.

2006 Ridge Zinfandel Paso Robles - $29.99*bottle - "is garnet in color with generous high-toned raspberry and red cherry fruits, violet-floral, candied plums, creamy oak, and a sweet appeal on the nose. Sweet and creamy cherry fruit, gentle tannins, medium body, gravelly earth. This is an approachable wine with a long finish. This vineyard's forward fruit and soft tannins have often dictated early bottling. In this vintage, however, our blind tastings confirmed the need for a full thirteen months of barrel age. Rich fruit and the spice of barrel aging are beautifully balanced in this accessible zinfandel. It will be at its best over the next five years." 

2006 Ridge East Bench Zinfandel – Retail $29.99 – SALE $249.99 cs/12($20.84) - "is the first the famed winery has made entirely from fruit grown on the bench-land that separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valley. Extended maceration has made this a gorgeous inky-purple color and added to the wine's depth and complexity. Classic Dry Creek, it is a structured, luxuriant zin full of briary fruit with chalky but balanced tannins. Enjoy now and over the next five years." One star from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines : "Sporting the heretofore unseen East Bench designation, this new offering from Ridge makes a fine first impression with its open, oak-sweetened aromas of vanilla and well-ripened berries and its polished, varietal-fruit flavors. It stiffens up and shows a few angles and edges as its early charms fade and its acids and tannins kick in, and there is no question but that it will it benefit from a few years of smoothing."   also Wine Spectator: "Offers a nice mix of rustic power and elegance, with black raspberry and roasted dill aromas that lead to dried cherry, cedar and cracked pepper flavors. Drink now through 2012.”

2007 The Prisoner by Orin Swift - $399.99 cs/12($33.34) - Wine Spectator 92pts. "Offers both style and structure, with lively aromas of black raspberry, cracked pepper and mocha, with plush and layered flavors of wild berry, fresh sage and licorice. Ripe tannins sneak in on the finish. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache. Drink now through 2014. Yet another beautiful vintage of the prisoner from Orin Swift. This is not a wine to put in your cellar. Big, bright and all about immediate drinking. With vineyards sources such as Duarte, Toffanelli and David Fulton, there is no wonder why this wine is so beautiful and powerful. 50% Zinfandel, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono and 1% Grenache."

* = Deduct 5% on 12 bottled assorted purchase

OUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE:When you purchase any FULL CASE from our inventory, you may return unused bottles for refund, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, valid for 60 days from purchase!