CALIFORNIA , CHILE, OREGON & WASHINGTON Reds

December 2008

CABERNET

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 Buehler Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - $270.00 cs/12 ($22.80) - Wine Spectator 90pts. "Well proportioned with hints of spicy currant, blackberry, cedar and mineral notes, picking up a hint of anise on the finish. NAMED AN "OUTSTANDING VALUE PRODUCER"  Winery comments: Comprised of 100% cabernet sauvignon, our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from grapes grown on our estate hillside vineyards (35%) in conjunction with grapes from other mature, high-quality, low-yielding Napa Valley cabernet vineyards located on the valley floor. We've found the resulting blend to produce a wine that displays a broad spectrum of aromas, flavors, and textures that cabernet can show in the Napa Valley. The wine is brimming with fruit aromas and flavors biased to the black fruit end of the cabernet spectrum: plums, blackberry, black currant. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, this cabernet drinks well on release but will soften and develop with additional age.

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."

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."

2005 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."

2004 Etude Napa Cabernet - $95.00* bottle - Parker 94pts.(up graded from 91pts. in issue #174)  "The classic, deep ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa offers aromas of tobacco leaf, cedar, black currants, tar, licorice, and espresso. Full-bodied, powerful, and opulent, it can be drunk now or cellared for 15+years."

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 mouthfeel, with bright and rich cherry flavors supported by smooth but strong tannins and a very nice finish.

2001 Harbison Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - $750.00 cs/6(125.00).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 - $399.99 cs/7 - 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."

2005 Honig Cabernet Napa - $349.99 cs/12(29.17) - "Honig's 2005 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 - $750.00 cs/3 - 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."

2004 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa - $59.99 bot. - Parker 93pts."a 3,650-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot reveals a Pauillac-like creme de cassis note interwoven with notions of charcoal, incense, scorched earth, and graphite. Powerful, full-bodied, and opulent, it is a rich, elegant, pure Cabernet with layers of fruit. It can be enjoyed over the next 15+ years. 2004 and 2005 could not be more different, with the 2004s flashy, flamboyant, and opulent, even voluptuous, and the 2005s linear, restrained, and more discrete, with slightly more austere tannins.  

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 - $499.99 cs/12(41.67) - 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.

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

2003 Prevail Back Forty - $39.99 bot. - "Sumptuous aromas of white chocolate, dried herbs, and loamy soil in its full-bodied, expressive style. Lovely fruit, texture & sweet tannin." Parker 91pts. The Wine: 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 mouthfeel that is beautifully concentrated and supple with a long, lingering smooth finish.

2003 Prevail West Face - $49.99 bot. - "It exhibits an earthy, mineral, monolithic character not unlike a chunky St-Estephe. With plenty of tannin, good ripeness, dried herb, cherry, berry...terroir-driven."   Parker 90pts.  The Wine: Superior Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes are grown on the steep slopes of LookOut Mountain to create this premier California-style red blend. Ideal western exposure allows the tiny berries to ripen evenly, producing a wine with intense concentration of fruit flavors.

2005 Schrader Cellars “CCS” Cabernet Sauvignon ToKalon - $175.00*bot.

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."

2002 Silver Oak  Napa - $119.50*bot. - Parker 91pts. Not surprisingly, my favorite Napa bottling is the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot. Aromas of olive-tinged, creme de cassis intermixed with sweet vanillin and smoky oak lead to a sweet, chunky, ripe, cedary wine with an attractive texture, an expansive, fruit-forward style, and a spicy finish. Should drink well for 10-12 years."

2003 Togni Napa Cabernet - $135.00 bot.- 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 TURNBULL Cabernet Sauvignon - $59.99*bot. - ***Connoisseurs' Guide - 95pt.- 3 Puffs "Real expectation and excitement are raised by this well-made youngster's concentrated aromas of cassis, smoke, mint, dark soils and dried cherries, and its expansive, deeply-filled flavors fully live up to promise. Already praiseworthy both for its real range of character, its luscious fruit and for the way its many pieces fit together, the wine is solidly structured and shows no shortage of youthfully gruff tannin. It is built to get better for a number of years, and it comes with a recommendation for five to eight years of cellaring."

2004 Viader Napa Magnum $199.99 each -Tanzer 92pts.

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 - $280.00 cs/12(23.34) "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

2003 Cardinale Napa Red Meritage - $150.00 bot. - Parker 95pts."The brilliant 2003 Cardinale, from Jess Jackson?s vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Stags? Leap, and the Oakville corridor, is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a beautifully perfumed nose of creme de cassis, smoke, cedar, licorice, and spice box. A sweet, expansive, full-bodied attack is followed by impressive purity, elegance, and concentration as well as layers of flavor and ripe, well-integrated tannin. It can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years."

2002 Chateau St.Jean Cinq Cepeges - $49.99 bot. (375mls.) - Parker 92pts."Impressive! It boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as aromas of cedar, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, and smoky oak. Medium to full-bodied, authoritatively flavored, elegant and impressively long with a velvety texture, it is already delicious and evolved but should drink well for at least another 12-14 years. There are some terrific values in the Chateau St. Jean portfolio. People complain, with justification, about the high prices of the finest California wines, but this winery releases some offerings that are actually under priced for what’s in the bottle. The values in this portfolio seem obvious, and the winery is to be applauded for that."

2003 Pirouette Washington Cabernet - $350.00 cs/6(58.34) Parker 93pts."A Long Shadows consortium winery, Pirouette has two men at its helm, Agustin Huneeus, Sr. (Veramonte and Concha y Toro of Chile, as well as California’s Franciscan Oakville Estate, Mount Veeder, Estancia, and Quintessa) and Philippe Melka (Marston, Seavey, Constant, Lail, Caldwell, Quintessa, 100 Acre, Vineyard 29, and Metisse). The 2003 Pirouette (500 cases), a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, reveals a super nose of sweet black fruits, tar, and licorice. An immensely broad wine, it unleashes creamy waves of black fruits on the palate that are powerfully flavored and linger throughout its extensive finish. An immensely lush, engaging effort, it reveals excellent tannin and ripeness. Drink it over the next 12-14 years."

2004 Insignia Phelps Napa - $1,116.00 cs/6 - Parker 94-96pts."soft,opulent already seductive and lush. Offering abundant quantities of casis, incense, graphite, plums, blackberries, and black currants. It will be hard to resist young, but should age effortlessly for 2 decades or more."

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."

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."

MERLOT

2003 Pedestal Merlot Washington - $350.00 cs/658.34) - 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."

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.

2005 Figge Cellars Syrah - $45.00 - $450.00 - SALE $399.99 cs/12(33.34) - Sycamore Flat Vineyard, Arroyo Secco "more Cote Roti like than a Hermitage, it has a big nose with a blast of blackberry and boysenberry followed by dark coffee and subtle smokey toast notes. In the mouth it is very fresh and lively. It stays open through the finish showing pleasant but firm tannins. This is still quite young and needs hours of aeration (over night if left in the bottle), but when it opens, look out as it will wow you !"

2006 Figge Syrah Sycamore Flat Vineyard Arroyo Secco - SALE $499.99 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 HdV Belle Cousine - $325.00 cs/6 -

2005 Lucia Pisoni Syrah Susan's - $50.00*bot. - Parker 94 pts."A brilliant offering from Lucia, the 2005 Syrah is a full-bodied effort revealing dense ruby/purple colors, and sweet blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with licorice and spring flower notes, good opulence and acidity, a 30-second plus finish, and plenty of full-bodied texture and length. The Pisoni Vineyard appears to be slightly more complex with an extra layer of meatiness and a smoky bacon fat component to its black fruit character. This is a beautiful Syrah to drink over the next 7-10 years."

2004 White Oak Syrah $250.00 cs/12(20.84)

PINOT NOIR

A P Vin 06 Kanzler Pinot Noir - $47.50*bot. - Wine Spectator 93pts."Savory, rich and complex, with loamy wild berry, huckleberry and boysenberry flavors that are concentrated and polished, with a long, vibrant, persistent finish. Drink now through 2012. 275 cases made."

2006 Archery Summit Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir Oregon - Retail $49.99 - $250.00 cs/6 - SALE $225.00 cs/6 ($37.50) - BEST PRICE in the USA - "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." 

2005 Figge Cellars Pinot Noir - Retail $59.99 - $599.99 cs/12(49.99) - Paraiso Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands "is truly a Pommard look a like, rich, vibrant layers of cherry, spice and roses. In the mouth, bright and balanced with raspberries coming forward with a nice spicy note and tons of ripe fruit on the finish. Again this is not your typical California Pinot Noir (over loaded with fruit), but is an extremely elegant Pinot Noir with natural red & black fruit flavors,  again only framed (not dominated) by the oak. This also is a California Pinot Noir which can be enjoyed with your meal."

2006 Figge Pinot Noir Paraiso Vineyard - $59.99 bottle - $599.99 cs/12 - "Vivrabt 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.

2006 Figge Pinot Noir Peilo Vineyard - $59.99 bottle - $599.99 cs/12 - "Truly French Burgundy in style with soft, velvety fruit aromas. IIIIn the mouth very softly oaked with light deleciated balanced fruit flavors."

2005/2006 Figge Cellars Assortment – SALE $399.99 cs/12 total bottles Chardonnay, Pinot, & Syrah, PLUS a$50.00 per case discount on your next purchase of a case of any Figge RED wine!

2005 Freeman Russian River Pinot Noir - $50.00*bot. - 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."

2005 Gainey Limitd Select Pinot Noir - $49.99*bot. - "our 2005 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir is a dramatic departure in style from the 2004. Where the latter was ultra-ripe and fleshy, the cool 2005 vintage gave us a more classically styled Pinot with fresher, purer fruit, higher acidity and more elegant structure and balance, qualities endearing to the winemaker and, I should think, to Pinot Noir purists. "The 2005 boasts pristine red raspberry and Bing cherry flavors accented by the intriguing Asian spice scents that imbue Pinot Noir with much of its allure. Compact and seamless on the palate, with firm, but supple tannins, it offers delicious red fruit and spice flavors balanced by judicious French oak tomes and bright acidity. "Enjoy this Côte-du-Beaune-style beauty over the next 2-3 years and roasted game birds, simply prepared lamb dishes and lightly sauced pastas."Winemaker Kirby Anderson.

2004 Golden Eye Pinot Duckhorn - $375.00 cs/6(62.50) Connoisseurs' Guide 93pts."nice start but even better with air, the multi-faceted aromas of this rich and fully ripened Pinot Noir open to show enticing elements of caramel, cherries, cocoa and cola with accents of dried flowers off to the side. A deep and fleshy wine in the mouth, its follows with like-minded flavors whose richness and range more than compensate for a tag-end of heat. It makes no claim to elegance, but it comes with the stuffing to back up its bluster. It will sing when partnered with well-seasoned lamb."

2005 Le Cadeau Oregon Pinot Noir Cote Estate - $52.00*bot. - 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."

2005 Loring Clos Pepe Pinot Noir - $49.99*bot. - Wine Spectator Top 100 - 92pts. "Good intensity, richness and concentration, with excellent depth to the earthy, loamy wild berry and blueberry flavors, ending with firm, integrated tannins. Takes some time to open up, but once it does it's compelling. Drink now through 2011."

2004 Lynmar Pinot Noir Russian River - $399.99 cs/12(33.34) - The bright and youthful color of this vintage is particularly notable, with greater depth and more violet than either 2002 or 2003. Fragrant red fruit aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, and pie cherry are complexed by accents of cola, cocoa, and subtle herbal notes. A dark fruit quality and some exotic spice are also beginning to emerge. The acidity is balanced and typical of the crisp Lynmar house style, yet with a softer “feel” that will allow the wine to show off on its own or with food. Tannins are round at entry with a proper mild grainy grip in the finish that bodes well for short-term cellaring. We encourage those with patience to stash a few bottles and enjoy its evolution over the next 2-3 years." Consulting Winemaker Paul Hobbs

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."

2006 Pali Shea Vineyard Oregon Pinot Noir - $54.00*bot. - Wine Spectator 91pts. & Tanzer 89pts. "Amazing depth and concentration - the finished wine is very Shea-like, meaning that it's a bit brighter on the nose than other Oregon vineyards, with bigger and brighter fruit on the palate. Still very Oregon, it shows a deeper black fruit profile than the 2005 California wines, which tend toward red fruit profiles in 2005. The Pali Shea is very elegant, dominated by its spice and shows a bit of oak right now that should integrate nicely during the upcoming year."

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. "

ZINFANDEL

2005 Cosentino The Zin & Cigar Zin - $25.00*bot - $250.00 cs/12(20.84)

2005 Ridge Lyton Springs - $299.99 cs/12 ($24.99) - Tanzer 92pts."(77% zinfandel, 17% petite sirah and 6% carignane) Deep red. Sweet dark berry and kirsch scents are complicated by musky herbs, dried flowers and minerals, with a suave undercurrent of oak spice contributing sweetness. Powerful cassis and bitter cherry flavors are firmed by youthful tannins, which add grip to the finish. Possesses the focus, balance and concentration to repay a decade or more in the cellar."

* = 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!