Sales and Events

Open regular hours for Memorial Day weekend.   10 to 7 Friday, Saturday and Monday and closed on Sunday.

 

Go, Boise State!   Monday, September 6^th, take 15% off any wine with a predominantly blue or orange label.

 

This Month’s Deal of the Century

2008 Hardys, Chardonnay “Stamp Series”, Australia  Sale $3.99 Reg. $6.99  or $42.00 per case

2007 Hardys, Shiraz “Stamp Series”, Australia  Sale $3.99 Reg. $6.99  or $42.00 per case

2005 Hardys, Shiraz “Nottage Hill”, Australia   Sale  $6.99  Reg. $9.99    “A pleasant surprise, Hardys’ 2005 Nottage Hill Shiraz offers plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors and touches of vanilla. There are even some coffee, meat and spice nuances on the finish, unusual for a wine in this price range”  Best Buy Wine Enthusiast

2006 Hardys, Cabernet Sauvignon “Stamp Series”, Australia  Sale $3.99 Reg. $6.99 or $42.00 per case  “Delivers the goods promised by its modest price, providing clean, easy drinkability. There’s a touch of confected character to the black cherry and cassis fruit and a frankly soft finish.”  Best Buy Wine Enthusiast

 

New From Idaho

Huston Vineyards – The premier release from a great new Idaho Winery.

2008 “Chicken Dinner” White  $15.99   Named after Chicken Dinner Rd., where the winery is located. This Viognier-based white blend is really pretty, showing all of the aromatic gymnastics that Viognier has to offer.

 

2008 Huston Vineyards, Private Reserve Red, Snake River Valley   $39.99

No, it’s not inexpensive, but this Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah blend is stuffed with flavor.  If you are looking for that special bottle from Idaho, this is the one.

 

Sale Wines

2007 Toasted Head, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast   Sale  $9.99 or $50.00 per 6pk  Reg. $15.99

2008 Nobilo, Pinot Noir “Icon”, New Zealand  Sale  $11.99 or $60.00 per 6pk  Reg $11.99  90pts Wine Spectator “Bright and juicy, with fleshiness to the raspberry and cherry flavors, finishing with coffee and cream notes as this lingers. Drink now through 2015”

 

2006 Jaboulet, Syrah VdP  Sale   $9.99  Reg. $14.99  87pts Wine Spectator  “Fresh and light-bodied, with enticing red and black cherry fruit mingling with floral and sanguine hints. Has an elegant, pure finish. Drink now. 800 cases made”

 

2008 Tardieu-Laurent, Cotes-du-Rhone “le Bec Fin”  Sale $11.99 Reg. $20.99  88pts Wine Spectator  “Fresh and driven, with a lovely beam of raspberry and red cherry fruit laced with sweet spice notes. The finish is long and supple. Drink now.”

 

2007 Simi, Zinfandel, Sonoma    Sale  $14.99  Reg. $19.99  90pts Wine Enthusiast  “Robust, lively and likeable, a very good Zinfandel with great structure. Dry and spicy, it has the lush mouthfeel of a fine Cabernet or Merlot, yet with Zin’s wild berry, spice and tobacco richness. Drink now.”

 

2007 Girard, Zinfandel Old Vines, Napa  Sale $13.99  Reg. $21.99  88pts Wine Advocate “Another up-front, fruit-forward wine with lots of pepper, earth, and gamy, meaty notes is the 2007 Zinfandel Old Vine (which includes small amounts of Charbono and Mourvedre in the blend). Reminiscent of a Rhone Valley red, it exhibits a robust, peppery, herbal, meaty character. Drink it over the next several years.”

 

Triumphant Returns

2007 Bogle “Phantom”, California   $16.49   

The new vintage of this Old Vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah Blend is back…. And should sell out by the holidays.    Just as spicy and smoky as ever.

 

2009 Sensual, Malbec, Mendoza   $6.99   Best Buy Wine Spectator

This was a This-Month’s-Deal-of-the-Century a few months ago… and my distributor was able to buy enough so the price actually went DOWN.   “Juicy and forward, featuring nicely rounded mint and raspberry notes, with a solid, medium-weight finish. Drink now.”

 

2007 40 Nights Red, Columbia Valley  $9.99

Another TMDOTC, I wasn’t expecting any more of this wine to arrive but I should have a few more cases next week.

 

Tobin James Winery.   It’s been a few years for this winery from Paso Robles but we finally have access again.

2007 "Chateau le Cashflo", Red Blend   $11.99

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon “Bodacious”   $15.99

2007 Zinfandel “Ballistic”   $15.99

2007 Petite Sirah “Bodacious”   $24.99

2008 Chardonnay “Radiant”   $15.99

All are worthy with the Petite and the little red blend being the standouts in my book.

 

Other Odds-and-Ends

2009 Loredona, Viognier, Lodi   $7.99   Leaning to the fruity style with peach, pineapple, honey, wildflower flavors and crisp acidity.

 

2009 Maison Nicolas, Bordeaux Merlot  $10.99   In a good vintage (and 2009 is a GREAT vintage), basic Bordeaux can be a good value.   This one is bright and fresh, with crunchy strawberry and cherry flavors.    Great for the Shakespear Festival and a picnic spread.

 

2008 San Marzano, Primitivo (Zinfandel), Puglia   $13.99    When I say “crunchy” in the review above, I mean the taste of fresh fruit… crunchy like biting through the skin of fresh fruit.   This wines tastes more like “crunchy” raspberries than any wine I can remember.  Delicious.  

 

2006 Concha y Toro, Winemaker’s Lot, Chile  $9.99  89pts Wine Spectator  “The deep crimson-colored 2006 Winemaker’s Lot is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenere, and 10% Syrah. Spice box, blackcurrant, plum, and blueberry make for an alluring perfume. Round, toasty, ripe, and sweet on the palate, this plush, extroverted wine over-delivers for its modest price. Drink it over the next five years.”

 

2007 Waterbrook, Merlot, Reserve, Columbia Valley  $19.99  92pts Wine Spectator “ipe, pure, focused and beguiling for its balance, offering blueberry, raspberry and plum fruit at the core, layered with hints of red pepper, clove and peach fuzz as the finish extends extraordinarily well. Drink now through 2017”

 

2007 Aia Vecchia, Lagone, Toscana  $15.49  88pts Wine Advocate “Aia Vecchia’s 2007 Lagone is a wonderful entry-level red from Tuscany’s Maremma. A blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the Aia Vecchia emerges with dark red berries, grilled herbs and spices, showing lovely vibrancy and freshness all the way through to the finish. This is a great value and a fabulous introduction to the wines of Bolgheri. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014.”

 

2008 Bruni, Morellino di Scansano “Martetto”   $15.99  88pts Wine Advocate “The 2008 Morellino di Scansano (85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot) reveals lovely inner perfume in a relatively big, full-bodied style of Morellino. Ripe black cherries, leather, licorice and a host of other darker aromas and flavors come together nicely in this powerful Morellino. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013.”

 

 

Collector’s Corner – SALE EDITION

2007 DuMol, Chardonnay, Russian River “Isobel”  Sale $39.99  Reg $59.99  ($200.00 per 6pk)  95pts Wine Advocate  “Slightly more color is evident in the medium-straw/light gold-hued 2007 Chardonnay Isobel. It took nearly a year for this cuvee to finish its malolactic fermentation, and it reveals more roasted hazelnut, tropical fruit, honeysuckle, peach jam, and marmalade characteristics. Made from fruit grown in the Charles Heintz Vineyard (the source of terrific Chardonnays from other producers such as Williams-Selyem), DuMol’s offering possesses very good acidity, and is a candidate for a decade of aging.”

 

2008 Jordan, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley  Sale  $24.49  Reg. $27.99

 

2005 Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon , Alexander Valley  Sale $47.99 Reg. $64.99  ($518.40 per case)  Don’t tell the winery I have the price this low…… haven’t seen it at this price in a decade.

 

2003 Silverado, Cabernet Sauvignon “Solo”, Stag’s Leap District  Sale $44.99 Reg. $74.99    93pts Wine Enthusiast   “Silverado’s estate 2003 Cab is a worthy followup to their ’02. So classy, only Napa makes Cabs this balanced, rich and ageworthy, and this one from Stags Leap defines Tchelistcheff’s description of an iron fist in a velvet glove. Great now, although young, and will age effortlessly for at least 10 years, probably longer.”

 

2002 Silverado, Cabernet Sauvignon “Limited Reserve”, Napa Valley  Sale   $59.99  Reg.  $89.99   93pts Wine Enthusiast  “With a preponderance of Stags Leap fruit, this 100% Cabernet is aggressive in tannins. It’s not at all ready to drink now, so astringent and dusty is it. But the core is rich in black currant and cherry fruit, and the wine should develop, despite being low in acidity. Best after 2009.”

 

Collector’s Corner – Washington Edition

2007 Colombia Crest, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Columbia Valley  $39.99  The 2005 vintage of this wine was the Wine Spectator’s wine of the year but was long sold out before it was blessed by that title.   No reviews yet on the 2007 but it might be the best vintage yet for Washington.   Don’t miss out.

 

2007 Woodward Canyon, Cabernet Sauvignon “Old Vines”, Colombia Valley   $56.99 94pts Wine Advocate  “The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines is 100% varietal with the fruit sourced from the Champoux (74%) and Sagemoor (26%) vineyards. It was aged in 100% new French oak. Deep purple-colored, it gives up a brooding bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, truffle, Asian spices, incense, violets, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, incipiently complex, silky textured, and impeccably balanced. Give it an additional 5-7 years of bottle age and drink it from 2016 to 2032.”

 

2007 Woodward Canyon, Cabernet Sauvignon “Art Series, Colombia Valley  $39.99  93pts Wine Advocate  “The purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series contains 1% Petit Verdot. The fruit was sourced primarily from the famous Champoux Vineyard in which the winery is a partner and the Sagemoor Vineyard, one of the oldest in the state. The Sagemoor fruit for this wine was taken from vines planted in 1972. The wine delivers a splendid nose of smoke, mineral, Asian spices, violets, black currant, and blackberry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with a velvety texture, excellent depth, savory flavors, plenty of volume, and a lengthy finish. It will continue blossoming for another 3-4 years and should provide pleasure through its 20th birthday.”

 

2007 Andrew Will, Sorella, Columbia Valley  $64.99  96pts Wine Advocate  “Andrew Wills' flagship wine is called Sorella; the 2007 Sorella, sourced entirely from the Champoux Vineyard, one of Washington's finest sites, is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of toasty oak, espresso, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry lead to a firmly structured wine with impeccable balance and serious aging potential. This pleasure-bent offering will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032, perhaps longer.”

 

2007 Andrew Will, Champoux Vineyard, Columbia Valley  $55.99  94pts Wine Advocate “The 2007 Champoux Vineyard is a bit more deeply colored. A blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot, it is also denser, richer, more plush, and longer in the finish. Give it 4-6 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2014 to 2027.”

 

2008 Andrew Will, Cabernet Sauvignon “Black Label”, Columbia Valley  $26.99  90pts Wine Advocate “The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon comes down on the darker side of the spectrum. Asian spices, incense, violets, black currant and blackberry aromas lead to a moderately structured, friendly Cabernet with good depth and length that can also be enjoyed over the next 6-8 years.”

 

2007 Betz, Cabernet Sauvignon “Pere de Famile”, Columbia Valley $59.99  95pts Wine Advocate “The 2007 Pere de Famille is made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA with small contributions from Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley. Purple/black in color it reveals a brooding aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, pencil lead, violets, black currant and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate, it is a bit more dense, opulent, and succulent than the Clos de Betz, admirably combining elegance and power. The pure finish lasts for over 60-seconds. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2027.”

 

2006 Fidelitas, Optu, Columbia Valley   $36.49  93pts Wine Advocate “The 2006 Optu Red Wine was sourced from 6 of the state’s finest vineyards and aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. It is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Medium purple in color, it sports an already complex perfume of Asian spices, incense, sandalwood, mineral, black cherry, and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, voluptuous wine with a seamless palate feel and exceptional length. This sexy offering has enough structure to evolve for several years and offers a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2026.”

 

2007 Fidelitas, “Cabernet Sauvignon “Champoux Vineyard”, Columbia Valley  $55.99  95pts Wine Advocate  “The 2007 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) was aged for 24 months in 50% new French oak. It is purple/black in color with a superb nose of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, tobacco, incense, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Full-bodied, voluptuous, and succulent on the palate, this pleasure-bent offering will continue to blossom for several more years and drink well through 2032.”

 

2007 Januik, Cabernet Sauvignon “Champoux Vineyard”, Columbia Valley 94pts Wine Advocate $44.99  “Even better is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard, perhaps eastern Washington’s finest site for this varietal. Purple/black in color, it sends up a soaring nose of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, licorice, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Full-bodied, dense, smooth-textured, layered, and plush, the tannins and oak are totally integrated, and there is at least 7-8 years of aging potential. Give this large-scaled offering 5-7 years of cellaring, and drink it through 2032.”

 

2007 Gramercy, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley  $39.99  94pts Wine Spectator  “The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from three vineyards. and aged for 22 month in 40% new French oak. Purple/black in color, it is a layered, Rubenesque offering with loads of succulent fruit, incipient complexity, enough underlying structure to evolve for 3-5 years, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Its drinking window will extend from 2013 to 2027.”

 

2007 l’Ecole no. 41, “Apogee”, Walla Walla  $36.49  94pts Wine Advocate “The fruit for the 2007 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard matured 2 weeks later than the Seven Hills fruit. It is an almost identical blend with the exception of 6% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Franc and was aged in 50% new oak. Aromas of toasty oak, tobacco, leather, Asian spices, black currant, and black cherry leads to a more structured offering that will require 4-6 years of cellaring. Well-balanced, intense, and mouth-filling, it will amply reward those with patience.”

 

Wine Advocate

Erickson Fine Wines

150 Riverside DR. Eagle, ID 83616