Chile
Valdivieso Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Chile, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: This single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made by New Zealander Brett Jackson from hand-picked grapes. Jackson’s influence is one of the primary reasons that Valdivieso has picked up many awards at international wine competitions of late. With its dark red color and its ripe, juicy flavor, this wine is an excellent example of a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. My note: Gorgeous and vibrant aromas of ripe, red fruit. A touch tannic so decant for 1-2 hours. Valdivieso Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: grilled steak, roast beef. 32110 13.5% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Vina Maipo Viña Maipo Carménère Reserve 2006, Rapel Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: Chile has embraced the Bordeaux variety Carménère, and Viña Maipo has done it great justice in this vintage. The Rapel Valley presents exceptional terroir for the grape with loam, clay and sandy soils. Expect a rich red with leather, black fruit, mint and earth notes. My note: Fantastic value in the full-bodied wine. Delicious layers of luscious dark fruit on the nose. Viña Maipo Carménère Reserve food pairings: rare steak, pasta with meat sauce. 663047 13.5% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Viña Requingua Toro De Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Curicó Valley, Chile: Dive head first into a glass of this lovely wine. Layered aromas of delicious plums and berries. 39362 14% D 750 mL $16.75 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
France
Louis Jadot Santenay Clos De Malte 2005, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: 2005 is being heralded as an outstanding vintage in Burgundy, perhaps the best since 1990. The mark of a truly outstanding vintage is consistent quality through all price ranges. This village Santenay shows the ripe cherry fruit and firm structure that you expect from a good Burgundy. My note: A medium to full-bodied wine. It is juicy and packed with cherry flavors and a grounding of earth and spice. Decant this wine for 1-2 hours. Louis Jadot Santenay Clos De Malte food pairings: salmon, pork. 47811 13% XD 750 mL $37.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Henry Simon Clos Bagatelle Veillée D'automne 2003, Ac Saint-Chinian, France: Vintages Wine Panel: Veillée d’Automne is an excellent example of the well-priced, quality wines that are coming out of Languedoc’s sub-appellations. This cuvée is made up of mostly Syrah, with Mourvèdre, and and Carignan in support. With its rich flavor and aromas of black fruit and coffee beans, this is a serious wine. My note: Such an interesting red. Break out of your Aussie shiraz habit and try this robust, delicious number. 41863 13% XD 750 mL $20.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Domaine Mourchon Seguret Côtes Du Rhône-Villages Tradition 2005, Ac, France: A great price for this robust, rustic wine with aromas of sage and cherries. Drink: 2007 - 2009 915439 14% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Domaine Brusset, Vign. Tradition Le Grand Montmirail Gigondas 2005, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: The soils of Gigondas closely resemble those of illustrious neighbour Châteauneuf-du-Pape, allowing it to produce wines similar in style and quality but at a more affordable price. This wine has a big, rich mouthfeel with flavors of red and dark berries. My note: A hulking big wine with black fruit flavors and a pleasant tarry finish. Tradition Le Grand Montmirail Gigondas food pairings: rare steak. Drink: 2007 960104 13% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Château Du Trignon Sablet Côtes Du Rhône-Villages 2004, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: The vineyards in the commune of Sablet are situated alongside the Gigondas AC. This classic Southern Rhône wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. It has rich red berry flavours with a hint of roasted herbs and a soft, round texture. A straight forward and approachable Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a great crowd-pleasing wine, soft enough to drink on its own and tasty enough to enjoy with casual fare. My note: This is a vibrant, lip-smacking good wine. Château Du Trignon Sablet Côtes Du Rhône-Villages food pairings: hamburgers, grilled meats. 33878 14% XD 750 mL $20.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Jérôme Quiot, Vign. Domaine Duclaux Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2004, Ac, France: Lovely with concentrated aromas of cherries and raspberries highlighted by a cedary underbrush. Domaine Duclaux Châteauneuf-Du-Pape food pairings: stew, steak. 722264 14% XD 750 mL $38.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Aimé et Pascal Fayolle, Prop.-Récolt. Seigneur Des Coteaux Hermitage 2004, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: Syrah grown on the steep cliffs of Hermitage is capable of producing some very distinctive wines. Seigneur des Coteaux aims for elegance and richness in the finished wines, rather than weight and intensity. That way they preserve the individual characteristics of the vineyards. This red has classic aromas of blackberry, violets, pepper, a hint of dried meat and a touch of toasty oak. The balanced acidity and tannins adds elegance to this exquisitely made wine. My note: A stunning wine of incredible liveliness. Rich, ripe aromas of plums and cassis with a finish as long as Route 66. Seigneur Des Coteaux Hermitage food pairings: roast beef au jus. Drink: 2007 - 2012 33860 13% XD 750 mL $59.95 Score: 93/100. September 2007. Favorite Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Domaine des Ondines Gabriel Liogier Montpezat Vacqueyras 2005, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: The wines of Gabriel Liogier are now made by his daughter Marie-Pierre. Their Vacqueyras is made up of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It has a deep purple color, with primary aromas of black berries and kirsch with a hint of black pepper. My note: A solid wine with good balance and robust, dark red fruit aromas. Drink: 2007 - 2011 33795 13% D 750 mL $20.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Germany
DR. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett 2006, Qmp, Bernkasteler Alte Badstube Am Doctorberg, Estate Btld., Germany: Vintages Wine Panel: A dense, rich yet delicate wine filled with apricot, orange and nectarine aromas and flavors. It is medium in sweetness with a long, concentrated finish that is ably balanced by a streak of acidity. My note: Gorgeous concentration of ripe pears and peaches. Has an underlining silver thread of acidity. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling Kabinett food pairings: spiced seafood dished, chicken vindaloo. 912220 9% M 750 mL $24.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Favorite White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Greece
Domaine Dereskos Chardonnay 2006, Regional Wine Of Messinia, Greece: Vintages Wine Panel: The fruit for this Chardonnay is sourced from Dereskos’s own vineyards. The juice is fermented and matured in new French barriques. The resulting wine is fruity/smoky/oaky with a good crisp acidity for balance. My note: A strange but enjoyable take on chardonnay - sort of like when opera diva Sarah Brightman sings pop tunes. Domaine Dereskos Chardonnay food pairings: chicken gyros, marinated octopus, shrimp stir-fry, lemon/garlic roasted potatoes. 642454 13% D 750 mL $13.95 Score: 87/100. September 2007. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Italy
Tommasi Tommasi Vigneto Fiorato Recioto Della Valpolicella 2004, Doc, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: The deep dark red color of this Recioto leads to an intense nose of dried plums, cocoa and rose petals. The palate features a viscous backbone of baked plums and chocolate. The grapes underwent five months of ‘apassimento’ or drying before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is then
aged in Slavonic oak barrels for one year prior to bottling. My note: A rich, luxurious dessert wine with aromas of jammy raspberries. Tommasi Vigneto Fiorato Recioto Della Valpolicella food pairings: biscotti, panettone, black forest cake. 36236 13% MS 375 mL $43.00 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Favorite Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
New Zealand
Kim Crawford Dry Riesling 2006, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Vintages Wine Panel: This dry Riesling is made in a distinctively New Zealand style. It has zesty lime and grapefruit characters with an underlying minerality. The palate is clean and vibrant, with good depth of flavor and acidity. My note: Refreshing and bone dry. A little austere, so it's best consumed with food. Sealed with a screwcap. Kim Crawford Dry Riesling food pairings: shellfish like clams, scallops and mussels.. 626408 12.5% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Spain
Bodegas y Viñedos o Fournier BLASÓN DE SAN JUAN CRIANZA 2002, Do Ribera Del Duero, Spain: Vintages Wine Panel: The Ribera del Duero appellation is quickly establishing a reputation that is probably only second in quality to that of Rioja. This rustic red shows earthy and gamey notes followed by big tannins. There is a core of cherry fruit on the mid-palate. My note: A full-bodied wine with aromas of black fruit. Blasón De San Juan Crianza food pairings: olives, grilled chorizo with hearty bread. 40790 14% D 750 mL $22.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
United States
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Innisfree Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Napa Valley, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: The grapes for this wine come from the same vineyards as Phelps’ more famous cult wine Insignia. Innisfree Cab is a forward and approachable wine with aromas and flavors of mulled spices, red fruit, coffee and cedar, with a long, concentrated finish that lingers on the palate. Ten months in French and
American oak give it a slight smokiness. My note: A fantastic price from a fabulous producer. Rich, full-bodied with aromatic notes of cassis and black plums. Run don't walk to the liquor store for this one. Innisfree Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: grilled red meats. 38125 14% D 750 mL $41.75 Score: 91/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Frog's Leap Frog's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Napa Valley, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Frog’s Leap does it again with this ripe, deeply concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of currant, blackberry and spice are picked up immediately. Dried, black fruits, cedar, leather and a touch of olive are featured on the palate. My note: Terrific balance from this full-bodied wine. Decant for 1-2 hours and enjoy. Frog's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: pepper steak, hearty risotto. Drink: 2007 - 2001 27254 13.5% D 750 mL $53.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart