Clairette de Die,Tradition-Jaillance $8.95
Great for your Mother’s Day Mimosas,  Kir Royals or any mixed Champagne drinks. Made from 85% muscat blanc à petits grains and 15% clairette blanche this sparkling wine is light in alcohol (75% ) and has a fresh, soft and fruity flavor meant for your family enjoyment

The town of Die is a small village in the Rhône Valley dating back to 77 A.D. The wines are handpicked, fermented on natural yeasts and made naturally sparkling according to the 'method ancestral' in the region. Perfect for your special celebration.

A lovely Champagne style wine from Burgundy

Crémant de Bourgogne Brut – Jaillanc $9.95
This Crémant de Bourgogne is made principally with Chardonnay grapes, which give the wine its delicacy and subtlety. In order to obtain the necessary acidity, the grapes are picked just a little before full maturity. it has a pretty pale golden yellow robe and fine and abundant bead. Notes of citrus, autumn fruits and quince are mixed with the typical fresh butter notes of the Chardonnay.

Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Brut $36.95
90 Points  Stephen Tanzer  Nov2007
“ Light gold with a strong bead. Deep pear and orange aromas are brightened by pungent floral and mineral qualities and a jolt of white pepper. Racy and fleshy at once, offering impressively concentrated citrus flavors and taut minerality. This dry, focused Champagne finishes with excellent grip and a persistent lemon zest flavor.”

Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Blanc de Blancs $39.96
91 Points  Stephen Tanzer  Nov/Dec 07
“ Pale gold. High-pitched citrus pith, green apple and mineral aromas are wonderfully vibrant and pure. Nervy citrus and fresh orchard fruit flavors show very good energy, as well as a pungent mineral quality that pushes through the finish. This gains in depth on the back end, offering intriguing suggestions of wet stone and sea spray. “

 2005 Rubens-Bodegas Tikalo, La Mancha $7.95
89 Points Tanzer  Sep/Oct 07 (100% tempranillo)
“ Glass-staining purple. Fresh raspberry on the nose, with an exotic cinnamon quality adding verve. Silky in texture and strikingly pure, delivering remarkably vivid red berry flavors, with zero earth or animal qualities. Finishes spicy and with impressive punch. This is an absolute steal.”

2005 Ercavio, Roble - Mas Que Vinos $7.95
90 Points Parker # 169 Feb 2007
“The 2005 Ercavio Roble is a remarkable value. Produced from 100% Cencibel (Tempranillo), this is a custom cuvee selected by importer Eric Solomon, and was aged for 5 months in French and American oak. Purple colored, with fragrant spice box, tobacco, blueberry, and blackberry aromas, this full-bodied effort has gobs of ripe fruit, a firm structure, and a 40-second finish, not bad value for a sawbuck. Although this well-made wine will surely evolve for 2-3 years, who will have the patience? This is one to purchase by the case.”

Last call On Your Best Value French Rosé

2006 Cuvée Anna Rosé -Ch. Saint-Cyrgues $6.95
Last few cases of our Special Buy on a Premium Dry French Rosé. Classic pink color with a nose  of juicy fruits and a crisp, clean and thirst-quenching flavor from the blend of Syrah and Grenache. The domain of Château Saint-Cyrgues is located in front of Petite Camargue, on the southern slopes of Costières de Nîmes in the South of France. As a note of interest some of the Domain’s plots were named “Amérique” in the memory of a past owners son who was killed in the in the United States during the War of Independence.

2006 Les Ramieres-Dom. De Piaugier $7.95
A wine for those of you seeking great value from the Southern Rhone. The 2006 Les Ramieres (A VdP de Vaucluse which is a broad “vin de pays” designation for wines from the Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Ventoux, and Côtes du Luberon appellations) is a Med/Full bodied red made from a blend of Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault, and Carignan. It is vinified entirely in tank with the complexity of this wine coming directly from the earth and the vine—this is pure southern Rhône terroir.

2007 Cono Sur Pinot Noir $7.95
Simply the finest friendly price (Under $12.99) Pinot in the market! Bright red in color. Intensely aromatic. Fresh, juicy and crisp in the mouth, with notes of cherry, raspberry and strawberry intertwined with softer traces of plum and a subtle smokiness. Enjoy this Chilean wonder, and save $$

2006 Fritz Chardonnay, Russian River $16.95
This wine features a beautiful balance of tropical fruits, mineral notes, oak and bright lively acidity. A straw color is revealed as you pour it into the glass, and aromas of fresh fruit and white flowers envelope the senses. On the palate, layers of white peach, Bosc pear and crisp apple are tied nicely to the floral notes of honeysuckle and star jasmine. Good structure on the mid-palate, featuring balance between the acidity and alcohol, and a nice vanilla expression leading to the finish. Spectacular quality at this price! Enjoy now through 2012.”

2005 Gamba Zinfandel, Moratto $35.95
The Gamba winery produces big, pushing-the-envelope, fasten-your-seatbelt kinds of Zinfandel.  These are not for the faint of heart. Voluptuous layers of deliciously ripened and abundant fruit. Lavish color is a rich, deep crimson. Freshly crushed berries fill the nose, harmonizing with subtle notes of seductive sweet pipe tobacco and spice. Bright bing cherry, raspberry jam and plumy flavors merge into spicy, peppery notes. Finish is of spice and smoke infused with coffee. Firm structure of highly extracted and vibrant fruit over a solid frame that holds the balance. From dry farmed fruit planted in the 20’s. Parker gave the 04  93 points and claimed it on of the best of the vintage. This is a great follow up.

 2006 Optimist Creed Sauvignon Blanc $6.95
A wonderful summer white from the McDowell Valley AVA* with aromas of citrus, stone fruit and herb. The palate offers pink grapefruit, a hint of lemon rind, and a full rich texture finishing in herb and mineral. The acidity is firm but balanced allowing the wine to finish long, crisp and clean. There is no cut grass aroma in this wine. This is not the every day Sauvignon Blanc, when first tasted it could pass as a premium viognier. This is our recommendation for a fresh, new white other than Chardonnay or a typical Sauvignon Blanc for your Summer enjoyment. This wine was retailing for $14.95 ! We have it at $6.95 due to the economic forces that have led to the sad failure of it’s high spirited producers.

*The McDowell Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southeastern Mendocino County, California. The wine appellation is located on sloped bench land at elevations as high as 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level that overlook the Russian River to the west. McDowell Valley is slightly cooler than the surrounding areas of Mendocino County. 

2005 Hartford Court Chardonnay Four Hearts  SALE
91 points Parker #168 Dec 06
“A new offering, the 2005 Chardonnay Four Hearts is a stunning Chardonnay. Beautiful aromas of honeysuckle, peach blossoms, poached pears, and subtle wood are present in this well-made, elegant, crisp, aromatically expressive white. Medium to full-bodied, long, and pure, it should provide plenty of pleasure over the next 3-4 years.” 

2004 Mantra Alex Valley Cabernet $21.95
89 Points Parker # 168 Dec 2006
“ While still young and un evolved, the full-bodied 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley displays a deep ruby/purple color, and notes of black fruits, creosote, earth, and subtle oak. It will benefit from another year or so of bottle age, and last for 10-15 years.”

The bottle age , since Parkers review, has done wonders for this Premium Cab.

2006 Les Ramieres-Dom. De Piaugier $7.95
A wine for those of you seeking great value Reds from the Southern Rhone. The 2006 Les Ramieres (A VdP de Vaucluse which is a broad “vin de pays” designation for wines from the Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Ventoux, and Côtes du Luberon appellations) is a Med/Full bodied red made from a blend of Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault, and Carignan. It is vinified entirely in tank with the complexity of this wine coming directly from the earth and the vine—this is pure southern Rhône terroir.

WE HAVE The “PRISONER” in MAGNUMS!

2005 Gigondas – Dom. de Piaugier $21.95
89 Points  Stephen Tanzer  Jan/Feb 08
“Ruby-red. Spicy red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by cured meat and herbs. Lush and creamy, with dense dark fruit flavors, lightly chewy tannins and slow-building smokiness. This is already pretty complex and would pair very well with grilled lamb.”  (65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah from 40 year old vines)

2002 Don Gia-Antichi Vinai, Sicilia $5.95
If you enjoy Italian Reds be sure to try this blend of Nero D’Avola & Nerello Mascalese, 2 of Sicily’s  most prominent grapes. Medium bodied and an easy to drink red with an appealing mouth feel. The last 8 cases, won’t be around long at this price.

2006 Rosé – Ch. Mourgues Du Gres  $11.95
Each year one of our favorite Rosé wines. This is a dry rose made from syrah and grenache. It bursts with expressive ripe fruits, strawberry and raspberry.Wonderful aroma with a  surprising lightness and a superb fresh finish.

2004 Shiraz, Vineyard Estate-Ferngrove $5.95
A perfect middle bodied shiraz from Australia’s Frankland River that offers a fruity, smooth drinking red with a broad appeal. The alcohol is held in check by the balance that I feel is a result of  several years bottle age. Great summer red, and great value!

2007 Picpoul de Pinet – Ch. Font-Mars $9.95
Picpoul de Pinet is one of the named crus of the Coteaux du Languedoc, producing white wine exclusively from the Picpoul Blanc grapes. The wine is crisp, clean and wonderfully light and refreshing. It has hints of lime, fresh white fruit and clean minerals. Looking for something other than Chardonnay or Sauvignon blanc ? This is your wine! The wine produced is one of France's few varietally named AC wines.

2006 Rosé, Cuvee Anna-Ch. Saint-Cyrgues $6.95
Raspberry aromas and flavors with bright citrus finishing notes. Crisp, clean and thirst-quenching. Made with 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. The last 15 cases, don’t miss out on this unique value French Rosé.

2006 Bourgogne, Dom Collotte $16.95
“Cuvee de Noble Souche”
One of the nicest red Burgundies we have found. Nice pinot noir from the Northen Cote de Nuits. The French have a word (or 2) for it.

C’est un pinot noir issu d’une sélection de vieilles vignes (plantées en 1947 et 1951), au lieu-dit “En Champforey”, située sur Marsannay La Côte, au sol argilo-calcaire très peu profond, comportant beaucoup de cailloux et graviers favorables à un bon drainage naturel. C’est un vin fruité, gourmand et friand, d’une jolie robe, avec des aromes de fruits rouges, peu tanique, à consommer dans les 5 ans suivant l’embouteillage. 

2006 Macon, Morizottes-Larochette Manciat  $11.95
Tired of California Chards? Too much Oak? Too much Alcohol? Give this Chardonnay from Macon in Burgundy a go. It is great example of the Burgundy style chardonnay. from an expert:

“It has a certain creaminess that comes from the fruit rather than from oak. It is light, refreshing & delicious. When you compare this wine to other Chardonnays available in the same price range, it blows them away.”

Here is a Ridge Topper

2005 ZINFANDEL OLD VINE RESERVE - MANTRA $23.95
Here is an exciting Zin from the Alexander Valley. Parker gave the 2004 vintage 89 points, we bet the 05 will score higher! The fruit comes from their old-vine (55 + years), high elevation vineyard in Cloverdale. The vineyard is interplanted with small amounts of Petite Sirah (3 to 4%), is mostly dry farmed and has a modified head pruned trellis system. An extended cold soak and natural fermentation were used in small open top fermenters and then aged in Hungarian, French and American cooperage. The aromas of this wine jump out of the glass and evolve. Ripe dark fruits give way to raspberry, blackberry, cherry, chocolate and black pepper finishing with aromas of lavender, dried rose petals and spice. This is a rich and concentrated wine brimming with juicy flavors of briar fruits with clean acidity and a lengthy finish.

1997 Dominus Estate Red Wine Napa Valley $129.95
95 Points          Stephen Tanzer May/June 2000
“Saturated ruby-red. Multidimensional nose offers a panoply of scents: black plum, currant, leather, smoked meat, cigar ash, lead pencil, sandalwood, dark chocolate, licorice, brown sugar. Very bright and sharply defined; flavors of plum, leather, hot stones and lead pencil. An impeccably balanced wine of compelling sweetness, but rather dominated today by its structure. Strong, thoroughly ripe tannins spread out to coat the entire palate. Very long and subtle.”

1998 Oroppas Napa Valley – St. Clement $44.95
92 Points Wine Spectator Selection Oct 15, 2001
“Big, ripe, rich and chocolaty, this mostly Cabernet-Merlot blend delivers loads of polished currant, plum and black cherry flavors and pretty toasty oak notes, before finishing with broad, supple tannins and excellent length. Best from 2001 through 2007.”  –JL

2006 Condrieu - Dom. du Chene $43.95
Marc and Dominique Rouviere have some of the finest plots of land in and around Condrieu and they consistently win award after award. Here is a lovely example of this extremely difficult genre with the classic honeysuckle, floral nose, delicate, lifted fruit and bright acidity.  Great Condrieu doesn’t bowl you over, it seduces and haunts, and you’ve got that going on here. Lilting fruit, fresh and complex, Viognier only happens like this in Condrieu and then only once in a while.

We caught up with “The Prisoner”, its back. Best price.
2005 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Estate-Fritz  $15.95
Dry Creek in Sonoma and excellence in Zin are practically synonymous. This beauty spends the first six months in French and American Oak. Fruit expressly sourced from Dutcher Creek bestow a solid base with soft tannins and exploding spices. Cherry, raspberry and strawberry compote fill the mouth and segues to a finish of clove, anise and cedar. Bob’s favorite at a massive tasting. Super Zin!

2006 Barbera d' Asti-Stefano Farina  $9.95
Inexpensive and fun fruit-forward wine. Nice tight nose of dark berry. Deep purple color. Good fruity flavors that exuded youth. Spicy. A Barbera for any Italian meal. Give this some air and enjoy.

2006 Malbec - Sedna $5.95
Here is our choice for your fruit driven lighter red. Smooth and easy drinking  with some lovely Malbec qualities. David likes it with a bit of a chill , easy to enjoy no matter how you want to serve it. From Mendoza, Argentina.

2005 Régnié Vallieres - J. M. Burgaud $12.95
Jean-Marc Burgaud was named the #1 up-and-coming producer of wine in Burgundy by Clive Coates in Tom Stevenson's 2007 Wine Report. Here is one of his Cru Beaujolais that backs up this reputation. It is an elegant wine made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old gamay vines. After harvest, the grapes underwent both the traditional carbonic maceration process common in the Beaujolais, as well as 6 additional months of aging. Its color is a true ruby, and there are the pronounced varietal aromas of bing cherry and raspberries characteristic of gamay. These aromas are echoed in the flavors, along with a bit of carmelized brown sugar. 

2004 Merlot - Maestre de Campo $12.95
A complex Merlot grown in Mendoza, Argentina. Medium to full bodied with a nice hint of oak and a long sweet aroma of red fruits with a long sweet finish. Our friends way down South are making some quality wines at very friendly prices.

2005 Malbe c- Barricas $5.95
A budget red perfect for your BBQ affairs. Medium bodied with the Malbec contributing  its Bordeaux  heritage to this smooth wine. Nice value.

2004 Chianti Classico - Casaloste $18.95
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections. The bouquet is surprisingly fresh, with a mixture of violets and black currant at first swish, coupled with some delicate spice. Pleasant, in a soft key. The palate reflects the nose; there's ample soft black currant and plum fruit with just enough acidity to keep it from flab, and smooth sweet tannins that have slight cedary overtones that will fold in with time. If you enjoy Italian Sangiovese this is one you should try.

2004 Sangiovese, Napa - Altamura $32.95
90 points from Robert Parker: "Few people get Sangiovese right, but kudos go to proprietor Frank Altamura for putting out an attractive Sangiovese with plenty of sweet cherry fruit intermixed with some tobacco leaf and herbs. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, so this is as virginal an expression of this grape in California as one can find. The wine has medium ruby color and is impeccably well-made, with zesty acidity and loads of fruit. Drink it over the next several years." (Dec. 2007)

The very best domestic Sangivese to come or way!

A few older GEMS ready to enjoy…Limited Quantities!

1997 Von Strasser Cabernet Diamond Mountain Reserve $124.95
91 Points Parker # 141 Jun 2002
The opaque purple-colored, dense, full-bodied 1997 Reserve Diamond Mountain Proprietary Red (a blend of 40% Petit Verdot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 23% Merlot) is a blockbuster. The wine possesses loads of violet-tinged blackberry and cassis fruit with hints of graphite. This complex, concentrated, potentially long-lived classic will be at its finest between 2004-2020.

1994 CAYMUS CABERNET $129.95
91Points  Parker # 108 Dec 1996
“The sumptuous 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon appears to be one of the best Napa Cabernets Caymus has produced. Remarkably, there is plenty to go around - 25,000 cases, approximately the same production as Lafite-Rothschild and Margaux. The wine exhibits a dark purple color, and a sweet, jammy blackcurrant-scented nose. The lush, juicy, succulent texture is crammed with glycerin and extract. Surprisingly soft (a hallmark of this vintage), with a smooth texture, this full-bodied, oaky Cabernet should drink well for 10-12+ years.”

1992 CAYMUS  S S CABERNET $149.95
94 Points  Parker # 102 Dec 1995
“The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (a February, 1996 release) is superior to the 1991 and 1990. The 1992 displays an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by huge, full-throttle aromatics offering a blast of sweet, toasty new oak combined with exceptional red and black fruits. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with not a hard edge to be found, this low acid, fat, delicious Cabernet will be drinkable upon its release; it will last for 12-15 years.”

1994 CAYMUS S S CABERNET $179.95
95 Points Parker# 114  Dec 1997
This hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon's saturated purple color is accompanied by an exuberant, sweet, enveloping fragrance of smoky new oak, and jammy blackberry and cassis fruit. In the mouth, this lavishly wooded, black fruit-filled Cabernet is extremely full-bodied, with superb levels of fruit, glycerin, and extract. Like many 1994 Cabernet Sauvignons, it possesses extraordinary equilibrium, with the sweet tannin giving the wine considerable accessibility. The finish lasts for nearly 30 seconds. This will be a fun wine to drink young, but do not discount its aging ability as it should last for two decades. Tel. (707) 963-4204; Fax (707) 963-5958

1989 Château Lafite Rothschild $399.95
94 points Wine Spectator Feb 28, 2005Current Auction Price: $447
Wonderful berry and tobacco character, with chocolate and cedar. Full-bodied, yet elegant and silky. Beautifully long. This is always outstanding, but sometimes overlooked. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now. –JS

2006 Rosé , Sarabande- Mas de la Deveze $8.95
Anne-Lise and Oliver Bernsteinin moved to Roussillon from Burgundy in 2002, when they realized that the best way of satisfying their passion for wine was to grow it themselves. Their tiny estate near Tautavel is producing some nice value wines. Their Sarabande Rosé is a charmer, bone dry with a complex fruit driven underlining quality that only the French seem to achieve. Perfect for your weekend entertaining.This is a producer to watch

2005 Ch. Mourgues du Gres les Galets  $11.95
89 Points    Parker # 169  Feb 2007
“The 2005 Costieres de Nimes Les Galets Rouges, a blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Grenache, is another bargain-priced entry that is far better than its modest price suggests. It is deep ruby with some purple nuances with notes of cassis and black cherry intermixed with licorice and a hint of roasted herbs and earth. Deep, pure, silky, and a hedonistic in style, this wine should drink nicely for 3-4 years. This is one of my favorite estates in Southern France”

2004 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon  $63.95
94 Points Parker # 174 Dec 2007
“I was blown away by the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, which spent almost 34 months in 70% new French oak barrels. The wine is beautifully impressive, with a deep ruby/purple color and notes of loamy soil intermixed with creme de cassis, cedar, and licorice. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, but beautifully nuanced and nicely structured, with sweet, silky tannins. This wine should evolve for at least 20 or more years. The good news is that there are about 3,800 cases of this superb Cabernet They are located in Wooden Valley, which is mostly volcanic soils about nine miles northeast of Napa.”

Looking at the Cabernets Parker  scored from 92 to 95  we find Colgin (95), Screaming Eagle(95),  Scarecrow(95), Vineyard 29(95), Araujo Eisele (94), Merus (94),  Dalla Valle (93) , Lokoya (92), Paul HobbsCrane(92), and etc., wines averaging over $200. We have been telling our customers about the great quality/ price ratio of Frank Altamura’s wines for years. Nice to see Mr. Parker on board.

2003  Ch. Pipeau Saint-Emilion $26.95
90-92 Points Parker Wine # 152 Apr 2004
“One of my favorite St.-Emilions because of its sexy, exuberant, hedonistic style, Pipeau is the type of wine I would love to find more frequently at restaurants. In vintages such as 2000 and 2003, this unpretentious effort becomes bigger, more structured and muscular than it is in near-term drinking years such as 2001. The 2003 performed exceptionally well. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by impressive sweet black cherry fruit, good structure as well as tannin, medium to full body, and tremendous purity, weight, and ripeness. Give it 1-3 years to settle down, and enjoy it over the following decade.”

Many high quality reds from $5.95 and whites from $4.95.

We won’t name him but last week a Premium Napa Valley Producer left the Chronicle with 2 cases of Spanish red wine that cost him $5.95 a bottle. You should give them a try.

2006 Gros Manseng Reserve–Cassagnoles $8.95
One of our favorite Spring time whites. It has a appealing nose that reminds me of  some of the lovely wines from the Loire Valley. The 2006 Domaine de Cassagnoles Vin de Pays des Côte de Gascogne Reserve Cuvée Gros Manseng is a medium bodied wine that is all flowers on the nose, some lemon oil too. Clean and fresh tasting, it's refreshing, delicious, and a nice change from our heavier California whites. A winner from the South-West of France. 

A few of our Favorite Chardonnays, all from Burgundy
2006 Macon, Morizottes-Larochette Manciat  $11.95
Tired of California Chardonnays ?  Here is a great Burgundy  value from Macon.

You will find  this fresh and clean with restrained fruit and perfect balance. This is a great introduction to burgundy, give this a try and you might be hooked.The Burgundy Chards are lighter, some would say purer, without the excesses (wood-alcohol) so common in our Chardonnays. here is a review that we agree with:

“This is how Chardonnay should taste. The wine is delicate in the best sense of the word. It has a certain creaminess that comes from the fruit rather than from oak. It is light, refreshing & delicious. When you compare this wine to other Chardonnays available in the same price range, it blows them away.”

2005 Chablis,“Les Pargues” – Dom. Servin $17.95
89 Points Burghound  4^th Qt 2007  :” (bottled unfiltered). This is really quite ripe with moderately exotic fruit aromas preceding rich, full and mouth coating flavors that offer really lovely intensity and a powerful, focused and long finish. This is a big villages with only moderate Chablis character but attractive all the same. 89/2009+”

2005 Chablis, Butteaux 1er – Dom. Servin  $24.95
90 Points  Burghound  4^th Qt 2007 : “(from .84 ha parcel). An expressive and relatively high-toned nose of green fruit, white pear and distinct seashell notes combines with big, rich and spicy flavors that offer good power and a bone dry as well as explosive finish where the ample dry extract really coats and stains the palate. Worth a look. 90/2009+ 

2004 Chablis, Les Fourneaux 1er - Grossot $24.95
91 Points Burghound 4^th Qt 2006 : (partial wood élevage). This is riper still with the barest hint of pain grillé framing airy and bright green fruit and citrus aromas that complement beautifully the elegant, round yet precise medium full flavors that offer fine complexity and real finishing depth on the bone dry backend. There is a lovely mouth feel to this with ample minerality.  91/2009+