2007 Sauvignon Blanc - Chalk Hill $19.95
Sonoma, North Coast 90 Points Parker Wine # 180   Dec 2008
“Two super efforts from the Sauvignon grape include the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, which offers notes of honeyed grapefruit and white citrus in a medium-bodied, fresh, lively style with good texture as well as a crisp finish.”

2005 Barolo,Monvigliero - Mauro Sebaste  $36.95
Piedmont, Italy 93 Points Wine Spectator: Jul 31, 2009
“Plum jam and berry character follows through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a soft finish. Round and very pretty. Would love to drink it now, but needs time. Best after 2012. 1,100 cases made. –JS”

2008 Chardonnay - Mezzacorona $4.95
Vigneti delle Dolomiti, NE Italy
Apple character, with hints of minerals and green leaf, follow through to a medium body, with good acidity and a fruity finish.  Nice every day chard.

2006 Barbaresco -Stefano Farina $26.95
Piedmont, Italy 90 Points Wine Spectator: Sept. 30, 2009
“Ripe berry and plum aromas, with hints of spices, lead to a full-bodied palate, with sweet fruit and hints of vanilla, cinnamon and honey. Long and flavorful. Delicious already. Best from 2014 through 2016. 1,000 cases made. –JS”

2008 Albariño, Rias Baixas- Burgans $11.95
Galicia, Spain 89 Points Tanzer's Sep/Oct 09
“Light, bright yellow. Lively lemon and lime aromas are complemented by melon, pear and salty minerals. Juicy and focused, offering brisk citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a late note of smoky herbs. Gains sweetness with air and finishes with an appealing note of fresh pineapple. I like this wine's blend of sweetness and cut. (Eric Solomon Selections, Charlotte, NC) 89 points

2008  Pinot Grigio, Italo Cescon $13.95
Veneto, Italy
A new vintage of our favorite Pinot Grigio with it’s appealing fresh aromas of white peach, white pepper, citrus, stones, mineral and vanilla. In the mouth similar flavors, with refreshing acidity and minerality all wound up with a soft, but crisp, finish. This is the bottle with a vine cutting tied to it’s label.

2008 Pinot Noir - Santa Barbara Wine Co. $14.95
North Canyon Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County The Santa Barbara Wine Co., an arm of a giant Premium producer, is what we would call a “Wine Glut Operation” producing well made wines from premium fruit that are priced way under their well known labels. Their first Pinot at $14.95 offers a wonderful value for fans of top quality Santa Maria Valley pinots . We also have their excellent 2008 Chardonnay at $12.95.

2008 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley – Byron $18.95
Not yet rated, the 2007 got 90 Points from Parker
The Byron Estate is located on Santa Barbara’s first commercial vineyard planted in 1964 by Uriel Nielson. The 2008 is concentrated yet bright, with cherry and plum character, hints of rose, smoke and cookie spices. Earthier at its core than the nose would hint, the wine is still loaded with juicy cherry and plum fruit accented by smoke and spice and framed by fine tannins.

2007 Syrah, L’Appel des Sereines – F. Villard $14.95
Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes in the Condrieu appellation of the northern Rhône.
Medium garnet in color. In the nose, there are aromas of blackberry, wet mushrooms, fat and cold cuts. The wine is dry, medium bodied with very good acidity. It is spicy, with loads of  black fruits and a slight hint of Licorice. This wine comes from vineyards in a non-classified vineyard north of Cote Rotie around the city of Vienne. Francois Villardis one of the top producers of  Condrieu.

2007 Cote du Rhone V, Cairanne-D.etD. Alary $19.95
Cairanne, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone, France
89 Points Parker #183 June 2009
“The 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne is a powerhouse. Earthy with a hint of weedy tobacco interwoven with creme de cassis and kirsch, lots of body, and remarkable freshness as well as exuberance, this is a full-bodied red with considerable power (14.5% alcohol), layers, and richness. It will be even better in 1-2 years, and should keep for adecade or more.”

2007 Pic Saint Loup - Zumbaum Tomasi $19.95
Languedoc-Roussillon  Syrah 80%, Grenache
92 Points Wine Spectator Nov 15,2009
“Very plush, with an array of crushed red fruit flavors, including raspberry, dark cherry and boysenberry. The finely honed finish of dark chocolate, peat and spice is long and powerful, filled with plenty of peppery notes. Best from 2010 through 2015. 300 cases imported. –KM”

2005 Cabernet, Rutherford –Wm Harrison $34.95
Napa Valley
Made by Phillip Titus, winemaker at Chappellet and Titus.This is a  big, bold, intensely flavored wine. Tiers of rich currant and black cherry mix with the cedar, tobacco and earth notes. In the mouth, dark-red fruit flavors mix with leather and licorice, while the toasty oak finish lingers on the palate with moderate tannins.

2009 Viognier, Bicycle – Cono Sur $7.95
Colhagna Valley, Chile
Sweet fruity notes of apricots, citrics and peaches combine with a hint of grape fruit on the final taste.Fresh and lively in mouth, this Viognier with concentrated stone fruits, is fresh tasty, full and savoury. A wine of great character, density and structure, with a good acidity level and great persistence.

2004 Bordeaux - Ch. L’Abbaye de St. Ferme $7.95
Bordeaux Supérieur
Earth, soil and dark cherry, roasted plum are framed by aromas of spice and wood. Classic Petit Chateau Bordeaux from the Abbaye de Saint-Ferme. 100% Estate bottled and aged in French oak barrels for six months

2005 Shiraz, Reserve - Jacobs Creek $6.95
When this wine was rated in 2008 it was judged 89 Points by Wine Enthusiast and 88 points from Wine Spectator. Both called it a Best Value with a release price of $12!  You can find this wine at $9.99 and up in our area.

Here is what was reported: “The Reserve wines from Jacob’s Creek continue to offer excellent value. No, it’s not the most intense and concentrated Shiraz, but this medium-bodied wine offers silky tannins, plenty of blackberry and blueberry fruit touched with dried spices and a supple finish.”    “Lithe and appealing for a sense of delicacy to go along with the focused cherry and plum flavors, lingering against refined tannins. Drink now through 2012. “

2007 Cabernet, Special Select- Caymus Please call for price.
WS 94pts. - Tasting Notes - Deep garnet color. Beautifully concentrated dark berry and cassis aromas lead to flavors of black cherry, blueberry, ripe currant and cocoa, nicely balanced with toasty oak. The wine has a lush, expansive mouthfeel with soft tannins and firm texture. The long, velvety finish carries powerful impressions of fruit to the end.

2005 Chateau Mazeris, Canon Fronsac  - $19.95
Wine Access tasting Notes from the Tasting in NYC
"Deep purple color to the edge. Fine purple and red fruit aromas with plenty of cut. Slightly closed from the early days of primary fruit opulence. Fine, slick approach on the palate with excellent intensity and subtle layers of purple and red fruit. Excellent structure and balance, arguing for at least a decade of graceful aging. Drink now with winter fare (great with meats, stews and cheese), but make sure to set a few bottles aside for 2011 and beyond."

2007 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills- Belle Pente $25.95
88 points Stephen Tanzer , May/Jun 09  Oregon
($29) Light, hazy red. Redcurrant and strawberry aromas are complemented by notes of white pepper and dried herbs. Light-bodied and a touch dry, offering brisk red fruit flavors and no apparent tannins. This easy-drinking pinot finishes with good clarity and sweetness.

With over 2,800 California Wineries (395 more than in 2006!) it’s not easy to find the best quality wines. At a tasting the CARR wines stood out. Here are 2 of their fine Pinots:

2007 Pinot Noir, Three Vineyards - Carr  $ 29.95
93 points Pinot Report: $40 list 7/15/09 Santa Rita Hills
“ Deep ruby color; deep, concentrated berry and spice aromas; deep, complex, intense berry flavors with spice and pepper notes, some tannin and toasty oak; good structure and balance; long finish. Deep fruit-forward Pinot with good structure. Needs some time to open up. 303 cases made." This wine is a blend of three of the finest vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills: Turner Vineyard, Yard Vineyard & Lindsay's Vineyard.

2007 Pinot Noir, Turner Vineyard - Cass $ 32.95
92 points Pinot Report: $43 list 7/15/09 Santa Rita Hills
“Luscious aromas of caramel, butterscotch, strawberries and red currants are followed by rich tannins, silky textures and a spicy, long finish. 250 cases made.”

Very nice white Rhone at a friendly price:

2008 Galets Dores - Ch. Mourgues du Gres $11.95
Grenache, Roussanne, Rolle, Marsanne and Clairette
Costieres de Nimes, Languedoc Roussillon, France
88 Points Parker #183 June 2009
“This elegant white wine offering, the 2008 Les Galets, offers notes of honeyed grapefruit and buttery citrus along with fresh acidity, medium body, plenty of flavor, and a dry, crisp finish. It should be drunk over the next year.”

2008 Gros Manseng Reserve - Cassagnoles $9.95
 Côtes de Gascogne  France  87 Points Parker #184 Aug. 2009
“By far the most interesting of several 2008 vintage releases of Domaine Cassagnoles that I tasted, Gilles Baumann’s 2008 Cotes de Gascogne Gros Manseng smells of peach and narcissus, with musk melon and lemon joining in on an oily-textured palate, and with an engagingly juicy finish in no way compromised by the roughly 20% of this wine that was fermented in new barriques. The 1,000 cases of this wine destined for the U.S. can serve as an excellent introduction to the rather mysterious, musky character of a grape, Gros Manseng, best known from nearby Jurancon.”

2008 Sauvignon, Touraine - Dom Charmoise $12.95
Loire Valley France
Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley by Henri Marionnet’s  Domaine Charmoise. A lovely nose here, minerally and chalky, underneath the slight pepper and subtle fruit. Quite a soft and rounded palate on entry, with lots of typical Sauvignon character. Good grip and acidity too. A very nice style overall.