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January 13, 2012
Sales and Events Yellow Tag Time Again! 15% off mixed cases of all yellow tag wines (10% discount on regular items) Remaining stock of previous Yellow Tags are included in the sale. Limited to stock on hand (same goes for many of the wines in the Top 100 section). First come, first served. This Month’s Deal of the Century 2007 Artesa, Cabernet blend “Elements”, Napa/Sonoma Sale $7.99 or $79.99 per case Reg $17.99. 88pts Wine Enthusiast “A really nice, classically structured Cabernet that can stand beside bottles costing far more. The blackberry and cherry flavors have a touch of sweet oak. With savory acidity, it’s good to go now.” More Yellow Tags 2007 Cade (by Plumpjack), Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Sale $11.99 Reg. $26.99 92pts Wine Enthusiast “A lovely Sauvignon Blanc that shows classic Napa balance, with a savory crispness that invites pairing with goat cheese, grilled veggies or roasted halibut. Dry and tart, it’s rich in pineapple juice, pink grapefruit, fig, green melon, honeysuckle, vanilla and pepper flavors.” 2011 Alice White, Pinot Grigio, South Eastern Australia, 6x1.5L bottles Sale $36.00 per case Reg. $60.00 2006 Taltarni, Cabernet/Merlot, Victoria, Australia Sale $9.99 Reg. $15.99 91pts Wine Enthusiast “This blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot features cassis and mint aromas, then bold flavors of cassis, chocolate and coffee. It’s reasonably full bodied, but its best attribute may be its thick, rich texture, which makes it a perfect budget-conscious choice to serve alongside your favorite steak. 2005 Three Rivers, Malbec/Merlot, Columbia Valley Sale $14.99 Reg. $24.99 89pts Wine Spectator “Supple, silky and distinctive for its pretty red berry and cherry flavors against a creamy note and a creamy-textured finish. Drink now. 834 cases made.” 2007 Dutton Estate, Chardonnay Kyndall’s Reserve, Russian River Sale $19.99 Reg. $29.99 88pts Wine Enthusiast “Superrich in pears, pineapples and green apples, and oaky, with butterscotch, buttered toast and buttered popcorn flavors. Massive and direct, but balanced with crisp acidity.” 2008 Dutton Estate, Sauvignon Blanc “Kylie’s”, Russian River Valley Sale $14.99 $18.49 89pts Wine Spectator “A fuller, richer, elegantly styled Sauvignon Blanc, with pretty mango, citrus, yellow apple and fig flavors. A floral note, refreshing acidity and fleshy texture give it extra dimension. Drink now. 227 cases made.” 2007 Pedroncelli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Sale $13.49 Now $5.99 Reg. $11.99 91pts Wine Enthusiast “A pure, very clean and utterly delicious Cabernet that’s perfect for drinking now. Shows real accomplishment in the ripeness of the blackberry, cherry, black currant and cocoa flavors, and in how well-balanced they are with tannins and oak. Just captivating, at a wonderful price.” 2008 Coeur d’Alene Cellars, Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Sale $13.99 Reg. $19.99 2008 Coeur d’Alene Cellars, Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Sale $13.99 Reg. $19.99 88pts Wine Enthusiast “Creamy and smooth, this barrel-fermented Viognier has peach and citrus fruit, with grace notes of ginger and nutmeg. There is even a hint of honey as it gathers strength in the back of the throat.” 2008 Coeur d’Alene Cellars, “Cloud Nine” Red Syrah/Viognier, Columbia Valley Sale $13.99 Reg. $19.99 2008 Coeur d’Alene Cellars, “No. 6” Red, Columbia Valley Sale $13.99 Reg. $19.99 89pts Wine Spectator “Supple, generous and soft-textured, with pretty currant fruit and vaguely herbal overtones, lingering gently. 75 cases made.” 2008 Frankland Estate, Dry Riesling “Rocky Gully”, Eden Valley Sale $13.99 Reg $16.99 90pts Wine Spectator “A sleek white, offering tangerine and lime accents to its green apple and peach flavors, which linger delicately. Drink now through 2018. 2007 Andeluna, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza Sale $9.99 Reg. $11.99 87pts Wine Advocate “Andeluna's 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby-colored with an attractively perfumed nose of cassis and cherry. Smooth, sweetly-fruited, and savory on the palate, it has no hard edges. Drink this easy-going, friendly wine over the next 4 years. 2008 Montes, Carmenere “Alpha”, Chile Sale $13.99 Reg. $17.99 91pts Wine Advocate “The 2008 Alpha Carmenere is a glass-coating opaque purple with a nose of damp earth, mineral, sage, thyme, tobacco, and blueberry. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, it reveals layers of ripe fruit, lots of spice, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2020.” 2006 Parducci, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino Sale $9.99 Reg. $11.99 List Mania Every year, the wine mags do lists of the best wines and best values. Here are some of my favorites that are still available. Some very limited. #2 Wine Spectator - 2011 2008 Hall, Cabernet Sauvignon “Katheryn Hall”, Napa Valley $84.99 96pts “Light straw colored, it displays a fragrant nose of mineral, white flowers, baking spices, and melon. Crisp, vibrant, and spicy, this nicely balanced effort displays reflects the excellence of the 2009 vintage in Rueda. Drink this excellent value over the next 12-18 months.” #1 Wine Enthusiast - 2011 2007 Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina Riserva “Nipozzano” $22.99 93pts “From Frescobaldi’s gorgeous Nipozzano estate, this Riserva Sangiovese (with small percentages of Malvasia Nera, Cabernet and Merlot for extra density and intensity) opens with impressive generosity and personality. It offers lingering flavors of cherry, chocolate and dark spice.” Wine and Spirits – Year’s Best Cabernets - 2011 2007 Mount Eden, Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate”, Santa Cruz Mountains, $44.99 98pts “Open every stop on your cabernet church organ: Pure cassis. Mountain freshness. Baking spice. The pencil lead of Graves in that less-than-overripe varietal character. This is unadulterated cabernet pleasure, three words that have never come together in my mind before. …Between the cool site, the exceptional vintage and pedigree of the vines, this is a true California classic. 2007 Mount Eden, Cabernet Sauvignon “Domaine Eden”, Sant a Cruz Mountains $29.99 95pts “Balancing bright berry notes with the earth tones of a cool cellar, this is a complex and forthright cabernet sauvignon. It includes merlot, france and small amounts of petit verdot and malbec—Mount Eden Vineyards estate fruit as well as grapes from three other vineyards in Saratoga and Los Gatos—all coming together in a wine that’s completely satisfying to drink. There’s suppleness to the texture, a silk brocade of strawberry-tinged fruit, wood, stem and earth. Brisk and mouthwatering, this is glorious California cabernet and an unbeatable value.” #13 Wine Spectator – 2011 2008 Mount Eden, Chardonnay, “Estate” Santa Cruz Mountains $44.99 95pts “Yet another in a line of great Chardonnays from this producer. Very rich and intense, deeply concentrated and perfumed, delivering detailed flavors of white peach, honeysuckle, fig and citrus. Full-bodied, sleek and leesy, with a long lingering finish. Drink now through 2018. 1,717 cases made.” #30 Wine Spectator - 2011 2009 Sineann, Pinot Noir “Resonance Vineyard”, Willamette Valley $42.99 94pts “Plush, deep and complex, yet graceful, offering a mouthful of mineral-accented cherry, raspberry, green tea and spice flavors that sail smoothly and serenely over refined tannins. This has richness with moderate weight. Drink now through 2019. 900 cases made..” #31 Wine Spectator – 2011 (and a personal favorite of mine nearly every vintage) 2007 Monsanto, Chianti Classico, Riserva $23.49 92pts Wine Spectator “This ripe, juicy red is full of sanguine notes, along with black cherry and blackberry flavors. The tannins are well-coated by fleshy fruit and it lingers with a long, spicy aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2022. #11 Wine Enthusiast - 2011 2008 Michael David, Syrah “6th Sense”, Lodi $15.99 93pts “A ridiculously hedonistic bottle of Syrah, this hits you first with its heady aromas of strong black olive, tobacco and bacon, then seduces you further with layers of rich berry fruit topped by Syrah-proper pepper. Blended with Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot and fairly high in alcohol (15.5%) this is one for those who love good Syrah. #58 Wine Spectator – 2011 2009 Catena, Malbec, Mendoza 91pts “A rich red, with ripe flavors of linzer torte, plum pudding and fig paste flavors by layers of mesquite, olive paste and grilled herbs. Grippy tannins add weight to the long, vibrant finish. Drink now through 2013.” #64 Wine Enthusiast - 2011 2010 Nautilus, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $14.99 91pts Wine “Winemaker Clive Jones has been steadily improving the wines at Nautilus, and the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc may be his best yet. Leafy, capsicum notes arise on the nose and persist through the finish, backed with just enough grapefruit to see them through. Lithe and refreshing. Wine and Spirits – Year’s Best Cabernets - 2011 2007 Pepperbridge, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla $50.99 95pts “Another testament to the majestic 2007 vintage, not to mention the talents of Jean-François Pellet, this elegant cabernet is in every way a classic: complex scents of mushroom and tomato skin adorn a fruit palette of deep black cherry and plum. That mélange carries over beautifully into the flavors, but the real story here is the wine's gorgeous texture—so supple it's as if the tannins have been ground to a mouthcoating fineness, lending the wine uncanny elegance and length. Drinking beautifully now, it will reward a decade's cellaring.” 2008 Waterbrook, Cabernet Sauvignon “Reserve”, Columbia Valley $19.99 92pts “A cabernet with classical restraint, this elegant red displays an old-school sense of proportion. Its black plum flavors and clean velvety texture feel sleek, driven by polished tannins. The finish brings to mind purple flowers. A posh red for beef bourguignon.” #41 Wine Spectator – 2011 2008 l’Ecole No. 41, Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla $30.99 93pts “Firm, focused and dense, with blackberry, cherry, sandalwood and grilled rosemary flavors, coming together seamlessly on the long, vivid finish. Drink now through 2018” #43 Wine Spectator - 2011 NV Gruet, Blanc de Noirs, Sparkling, New Mexico $14.99 90pts “Elegant and focused, with creamy vanilla and apple aromas and rich yet crisp flavors of baked pear and cinnamon bread. Drink now through 2014.” 100 Outstanding values – Wine Spectator 2009 Dona Paula, Malbec Mendoza $13.99 90pts “Ripe and flashy, but pulls it off, with gorgeous mouthfeel and loads of lush raspberry ganache, boysenberry and plum sauce notes, all kept going by a graphite streak on the lengthy finish. Drink now. 2010 Drylands, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $15.99 90pts “There's a distinct tropical note to the juicy pineapple, passion fruit, melon and citrus flavors, where a lime peel detail weaves in and out. Smooth, juicy and very appealing, with a long finish. Drink now. 15,000 cases imported.” 2009 Simonnet-Febvre, Chablis $15.99 90pts $15.99 “Aromas of oyster shell and wet stone overlay melon and ripe apple flavors in this round Chablis, which is open and supple, with a lingering, juicy finish that shows citrus accents. Drink now through 2014. 2008 Januik, Red, Columbia Valley $15.99 90pts “Dense and chewy, with layers of raspberry, cherry, mineral and spice flavors, finishing with pear peel tannins. Shows unexpected depth on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2016. 2,016 cases made.” Biggest Bargains: High Productions Valyes – Wine Spectator 2007 Monte Antico, Sangiovese/Cabernet/Merlot, Toscana $11.99 2009 Milton Park, Shiraz $12.99 2010 King Estate, Pinot Gris “Acrobat” $10.99 2010 A to Z, Pinot Gris, Oregon $11.99 2010 Yealands, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $10.99 2010 Four Vines, Chardonnay “Naked”, Santa Barbara $9.99 When the Wine Bug Bites…. Hard The Sullivan’s have been good customers of mine for a long time and they’ve just recently achieved their goal of making their own wine. Their first releases are two vintages of a Columbia Valley blend (and Idaho wine will be forthcoming). 2008 Telaya, “Turas”, Columbia Valley $31.99 50% Syrah, 25% Cabernet and 25% Merlot aged 22 months in new and used French and American oak barrels. 2009 Telaya, “Turas, Columbia Valley $31.99 66% Syrah, 17% Cabernet, 17% Merlot with the same againg regimen. The 2008 is more approachable now with the extra year of bottle age but, ultimately the 2009 will be the lusher wine. Both are great efforts. Gerard Bertrand This relatively new producer from the South of France has racked up importer of the year awards from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. They’ve just become available here in Idaho and they offer some fantastic value. 2010 Picpoul de Pinet $9.99 A fantastic light/medium wihte that’s totally dry but low alcohol. Perfect with a savory seafood dish. 2009 Corbieres $9.99 2007 Pic St Loup $15.99 2007 Tautavel $15.99 91pts Wine Spectator 2007 Chateau l’Hospitalet Reserve $16.99 All the reds come from different villages in the Languedoc-Roussion and are the traditional blends of Syrah, Grenache and Mouvedre. The Corbieres is the softest, the Tautavel scored the highest but the Pic St Loup was my favorite. More New Releases 2010 Morgan, Chardonnay “Metallico”, Monterey $16.99 91pts Wine Spectator “Fresh and lively, with attractive floral, honeydew and honeysuckle scents that are pure, ripe and refreshing on the palate, with a mix of white peach and nectarine. Drink now through 2017. 5,325 cases made.” 2008 Finca Sobreno, Toro (Tempranillo) $18.49 89+pts Wine Advocate “Finca Sobreno’s Crianza has been a perennial Best Buy in these pages and the 2008 is no exception. Made from 100% Tinta de Toro and aged for 7 months in American oak, this purple/black colored wine offers up a slightly restrained nose of cedar, violets, licorice, and blackberry. Ripe and layered on the palate, this powerful effort will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2020.” 2008 Milcampos, Ribera del Duero (Tempranillo) “Vinas Vijas” $13.99 91pts Wine Advocate “The 2008 Milcampos Vinas Viejas spent 10 months in new Hungarian and American oak. It is a glass-coating opaque purple color with an already complex perfume of brooding black fruits, violets, clove, cinnamon, and a hint of minerality. Firm on the palate with ample ripe tannin, it is loaded with flavor and character.” 2009 Kilikanoon, Shiraz/Grenache “Killerman’s Run” $18.49 90pts Wine “Smooth and velvety, this red is generous with its blackberry and tar flavors, hinting at smoke as the finish lingers enticingly. Drink now through 2015. 2,000 cases imported.” 2007 Kilikanoon, Shiraz “Testament”, Barossa Valley $35.99 No reviews on the 2007 yet but this wine has never scored under 94pts in the Wine Advocate. 2009 Tardieu-Laurent, Cotes du Rhone “les Becs Fins” $19.99 90pts Wine Spectator “A dark, sappy, winey core of blackberry, crushed cherry and currant paste fruit flavors are backed by maduro tobacco notes and a twinge of anise, with a mouthfilling finish. Drink now through 2012. 4,165 cases made.” 2010 Amancaya, Malbec-Cabernet, Mendoza The tried-and-true favorite is back with a new vintage. 2008 Patterson Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley $30.99 91pts Wine Advocate “The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is classy in every way. Enticing aromas of toasty oak, mineral, spice box, leather, violets, and assorted black fruits titillate the nose setting the stage for a ripe, savory, concentrated wine with excellent volume, aging potential, and length. Give it 3-4 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2014 to 2023 if not longer.” 2008 Storybook Mountain, Zinfandel “Mayacamas Range”, Napa $31.49 95pts Wine & Spirits “There's something about the way zin ripens in the east-facing hills north of Calistoga that appeals to me in my gut as much as in my brain. It has the freshness of blackberries picked on a hike in Point Reyes. That wild berry flavor tinges toward brighter fruit, layering vibrant strawberry, tart raspberry and cracked black pepper into a savory Napa Valley red. Yum may not be a technical term, but I wrote it twice in a 20 wine tasting, once for this wine and again for Storybook's Antaeus (reviewed on page 69). Balanced, sophisticated and elegant, this gains with air and would be delicious with simple roast leg of lamb.” Erickson Fine Wines 150 Riverside DR. Eagle, ID 83616 208.938.3698 |
Last Updated: 01/14/2012