UPDATED AS OF November 3, 2011
RAMEY
2008 Russian River "Ritchie Vineyard"
CHARDONNAY $5.70/taste
If you're unfamiliar with
one of the great California Chardonnays vintners,
become familiar with Ramey...then check out their "Ritchie Vineyard"
bottling...It's a
Grand Cru-level wine in our opinion.
CASTILLO YGAY 2004 RIOJA GRAN RESERVA $5.50/taste
Spain's Rioja produces some outstanding wines...some are even
reasonably-priced...
Castillo Ygay is the Gran Reserva from Marques de Murrieta, and its 2004 is
stellar.
POLIZIANO 2007 VINO NOBILE di MONTEPULCIANO $2.80/taste
We like their 2007 very much...classic Tuscan Sangiovese.
Well-priced, too.
MINER FAMILY 2009 Napa CHARDONNAY $3/taste
While the Ramey wine posted above is complex and profound...this wine
will appeal
to those who prefer something a bit less subtle. Lots of toasty oak and
creamy notes...
TRAMIN 2010 PINOT GRIGIO $1.40/taste
Our friend Willi Sturtz makes some fabulous white wines...this
simple
Pinot Grigio is medium-bodied and dry with lovely aromatics.
NEAL FAMILY 2007 Napa CABERNET SAUVIGNON $4.50/taste
Lots of dark fruit notes and a mild oak tone to this full-bodied,
satisfying Napa
Cabernet Sauvignon.
LONG MEADOW RANCH 2005 Napa CABERNET $4/taste
Low octane, good, old-fashioned Napa Cabernet. Very fine.
POJER & SANDRI 2009 MULLER-THURGAU $2/taste
From vineyards near their mountain winery, this is a mildly citrusy,
lightly
herbal and bone dry Muller-Thurgau.
CHATEAU MONTELENA 2008 Napa ZINFANDEL $2.60/taste
Unusually light in color...rather close to a Pinot Noir...but nicely
berryish Napa
Zinfandel.
ARGIANO 2006 BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO $5.60/taste
A fine example of Brunello, being in between the traditionally-styled
old-timers and the
modern-styled young whippersnappers...
TRENTADUE 2009 "OLD PATCH RED" $1/taste
Sonoma's Alexander Valley -- Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and
Sangiovese.
Great spaghetti red...
HONIG 2008 Napa CABERNET $3.00/taste
The new bottling from Honig is a good example of the vintage and a
marvelous value in
ready-to-drink, showy, Napa Cabernet.
BORSAO "Tres Picos" GARNACHA $1.60/taste
Fresh, berryish Garnacha from Spain, this bottling has a bit of oak.
BURGESS 2007 NAPA CABERNET $3/taste
Beautifully balanced and drinkable now, this is a medium-bodied,
nicely
oaked Napa Cabernet.
ISABEL 2010 Marlborough SAUVIGNON BLANC $1.80/taste
Dry, crisp New Zealand Sauvignon that's made with integrity...
STORRS 2007 Santa Cruz Mtns PINOT NOIR $2.40/taste
Storrs is one of the top Santa Cruz Mountains' wineries and their
Pinot Noir is
amongst the best of the region.
PACHER HOF 2009 KERNER $2.30/taste
Italy's Alto Adige can be full of surprises.
Here's a fruity, peachy dry white made of Kerner.
WM AUGUSTUS 2009 Oregon VIOGNIER/MARSANNE $1.50/taste
Southern Oregon seems to be well-suited to Rhone grape varieties and
this
Viognier is unusually good.
CHATEAU MONTELENA
2007 Napa CABERNET $4.30/taste
Mildly
tannic, intense, typical Montelena Cabernet....medium-full-bodied...
DOMAINE PINSON 2010 CHABLIS $2/taste
The Pinson brothers make some lovely Chablis wines...their entry
level bottling
is routinely a good value and a fine example of stony, chalky Chardonnay from
that vaunted appellation.
DOMAINE PONSOT 2009 RULLY BLANC $2.50/taste
This young fellow is making some classic white Burgundy in a
relatively
unheralded appellation (unless you're "in the know")...Rully is just a
few miles
south of Chassagne Montrachet and "well south" in terms of price.
SWEET
WINES OPEN TODAY:
CHATEAU HAUT-MAYNE 2008 SAUTERNES $3.80
You're not alone...nobody knows this fine little domaine...
JM da FONSECA 20 YEAR SETUBAL (Moscatel) $6/1 ounce pour
Hugely famous in Portugal and around Europe, they're a mystery to most
wine consumers in the US. Remarkable wine, though.
SEPPELTSFIELD 10 YEAR PARA "PORT" $4.00/taste
A legendary sweet wine producer in Australia, this is a marvelous dessert
wine
along the lines of a Colheita Port.
SMITH WOODHOUSE 1999 LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORTO $3/taste
Savvy wine buyers know this brand from the Symington Family (Graham's, Warres,
Dow's)
for its killer LBV Port...If you have taste for hundred buck bottles of Vintage
Port and are
on a budget, check out this delicious Porto!
LA MAGENDIA Jurançon $3.60/taste
From master winemaker Jean Bernard Larrieu comes this stellar sweet wine
which is
balanced by laser-sharp acidity.
CARMES DE RIEUSSEC 2005 SAUTERNES $3.50/taste
A second wine from the famous Chateau Rieussec, this is nicely honeyed and
rather affordable...
BARBADILLO 30 YEAR AMONTILLADO SHERRY $5/taste
When we pour a taste of this stellar Sherry, its perfume permeates the entire
shop...nutty
and very fine with an after-taste which lingers for a very long time.
NIEPOORT 1988 COLHEITA PORTO $5/1 ounce Pour
Dirk Niepoort is a leading light in Portugal and he makes some top Colheita
(single vintage tawny) Ports. Here's a nicely aged bottling...old,
but not too old and not too young...
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