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Den, Dulk & Siddle (DDS) - DDS Driefontein Shiraz 2004
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Our Price: $34.00
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Rich, dark color. Huge wild nose with dark fruit, coffee, leather, and hazelnut. Smooth and silky mid palate with a berry fruit blast. Lingering finish that returns to the nose in profile. Big wine that balances the sophistication we expect from a De Toren wine, and the fruit we want from a southern hemisphere Shiraz.
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Château Rol Valentin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2008 (750 ML)
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Our Price: $57.00
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From Wine Spectator
Dense, chunky, and muscular, but not revealing much delineation, precision, or character, I suspect this wine is just finishing malolactic. A blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc made from low yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, it is a full-bodied, but rustic, disjointed effort.
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Terra D'Uro - Toro Selección 2007
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Our Price: $39.00
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Very dark, almost black in the glass. The nose makes an immediate impression of power with black raspberry, mocha and oak spice. Full bodied in the mouth with firm tannins that are immediately balanced by refreshing acidity that leads back to the dark fruits and spices on the nose. Leathery and seductive throughout with a stick to your teeth finish that lingers. Drink now through 2015 with full flavored red meat. 750 cases produced.
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Bodegas Exopto - Exopto 2007
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New Arrival! $44.00
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Deep purple in the glass with an immediately expressive nose that can be detected as the wine is being poured. The nose has layers of blackberry, tobacco, mineral and graphite. The wine is dense on the palate as the high viscosity and firm tannin make an impact. As intense as the wine is, the texture is silky and soft with a touch of vanilla in the middle. Balance is exquisite as the tannin immediately yields to a mouthwatering finish that lingers and brings back the many flavors that contribute. French oak is used in an intense yet integrated way as a touch of wood is present from the nose to the finish. Drink now or cellar for 10+ years. 250 cases produced.
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Château des Trois Origines - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2009 (750 ML)
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Our Price: $39.00
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Dark ruby-red with perfumed aromas of black cherry, licorice and a touch of smoke. Fruit-driven, with juicy liqueur flavors and serious depth for a Saint-Émilion wine without the Grand Cru designation. There are notes of cigar box and pomegranate throughout, with a touch of earthy coco. The finish exhibits broad flavors whose tannins are soft and expressive. This wine will stand-up to full flavored foods such as beef, short ribs, or stews. The soft tannin will provide appeal to a broad range of palates, and the wine and color cling to the glass. Drinking great now after a decanting and should easily last another 7-10 years. 300 Cases produced.
Also available in 1.5L Magnum
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Château Rol Valentin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2007
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Our Price: $57.00
Sale Price: $40.00
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Like the 2006, the 2007 Rol Valentin requires patience. I suspect that for the next 12-24 months the wine will taste like a very young Bordeaux when the bottle is first opened: some oak, loads of tannin and just a little fruit. However, after 2-4 hours in the decanter (translate to 3-5 years in the cellar) the game is changed. The nose becomes inviting with notes of berry, cigar and spice. The mid-palate is deep and complex. The flavors of the bouquet are augmented by a mineral component that speak to the quality of much heralded vineyard. The finish is long and gripping with tannin, spice and seriousness that one expects from a top right bank producer. Serve with an elegant full flavored beef dish as the wine can stand up to significant richness. 2,000 cases produced and will cellar well for 15+ years without worry.
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Bodega Uribes Madero - CS 1000 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - Magnum (1.5L)
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Our Price: $119.00
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This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is named for the elevation of the estate's small cabernet vineyard, which is at almost exactly 1,000 meters above sea level. The wine is dark, almost black in the glass. A bold nose of black cherry and vanilla are immediately present joined by tobacco and spice after the wine has a moment to open. Huge impact on the palate with stick to your teeth dark fruit flavors. The finish is full of ripe, but present, tannin and great balance that allows the wine to stay with you for some time. Given the structure of this wine, it should age wonderfully for another 10+ years, but it's drinking very well know after just a quick decanting. Enjoy with full flavored roasted meats. 75 cases produced.
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Piero Busso - Barbaresco "Gallina" 2007
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Our Price: $79.00
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The 2007 Barbaresco Gallina is a more muscular, dense barbaresco. It presents a richly-textured core of dark red fruit and strawberry framed by sweet toasted oak, along with notes of smoke, tobacco and licorice that emerge with air. The finish reflects the ripe tannin and earthy notes with mushroom and smoke. This is a distinctly large-scaled Barbaresco from Piero Busso. 70 cases made.
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Quintodecimo - Vigna Quintodecimo "Reserva" 2004
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Our Price: $140.00
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The wine is best described as intense, concentrated, layered and balanced. Flavors on the nose of cherry, flowers, plum and spice persist from beginning to end. Flawless finish that is structured but round and memorable. Drink now for special occasions after a decanting or cellar for 10+ years. Serve with full flavored, but elegant dishes of sauced lamb, duck or beef.
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Domaine du Tix - Cuvée de Bramefan 2007 (Red Blend)
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Our Price: $24.00
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Forward nose of jammy fruits that reflect the syrah and berry Grenache. Slightly firm, but ripe and focused, with racy dark berry fruit, sweet spice and applewood notes, followed by a long, tarry finish. Opens nicely in the glass. Drink now through 2012. Very versatile with food, ranging from heavy poultry dishes through lighter meat and pasta dishes. 1,500 cases made.
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Domaine de l'A - Côtes de Castillon 2008 (1.5 L)
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Our Price: $98.00
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This fresh, focused, medium-bodied red is supple and polished, with black cherry and currant fruit. The toasty oak is well-integrated in this harmonious wine, as are the light, firm tannins. Serve with lean cuts of beef, pasta, or roasted pork. Drink now after a decanting or cellar through 2016.
Note: This is a 1.5L Magnum
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Château Rol Valentin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2008 (1.5 L)
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Our Price: $105.00
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The 2006 Rol Valentin requires patience. I suspect that for the next 12-24 months the wine will taste like a very young Bordeaux when the bottle is first opened: some oak, loads of tannin and just a little fruit. However, after 2-4 hours in the decanter (translate to 3-5 years in the cellar) the game is changed. The nose becomes inviting with notes of berry, cigar and spice. The mid-palate is deep and complex. The flavors of the bouquet are augmented by a mineral component that speak to the quality of much heralded vineyard. The finish is long and gripping with tannin, spice and seriousness that one expects from a top right bank producer. Serve with an elegant full flavored beef dish as the wine can stand up to significant richness. 2,000 cases produced and will cellar well for 15+ years without worry.
From Wine Spectator
Dense, chunky, and muscular, but not revealing much delineation, precision, or character, I suspect this wine is just finishing malolactic. A blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc made from low yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, it is a full-bodied, but rustic, disjointed effort.
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Bodega Uribes Madero - Gran Calzadilla 1.5L Magnum 2006
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Our Price: $115.00
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Ripe fruit aromas of raspberry and cherry with tobacco and minerals. It has some appealing notes of aromatic plants such as rosemary and thyme completed with some toast. The Cabernet Sauvignon shows through the Tempranillo to provide the wine a familiar tone and structure. The balance of French and American oak serve to add interest, while the long aging in the bottle at the winery enables earlier drinking for the wine enthusiast. Elegant fine tannins lead to a blockbuster finish of cherry and cigar box flavors. Production: 1,100 cases. Will continue to improve through 2015, but drinks wonderfully now.
Note: This is the 1.5L Magnum
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Maison Alex Gambal Vineyards - Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Cuvée les deux Papis" 2008
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Our Price: $30.00
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From Alex Gambal Winery:
We were hit by a severe hail storm on Saturday afternoon July 26 and lost 50% of our crop. The only positive out of this situation was that it was early in the season and the damaged grapes dried and fell off prior to harvest. As a result we produced only 24 HL/HA. After a prolonged malolactic fermentation we bottled the wine in September 2009. The result is a wine that is predominated by black fruits, with a pure nose and long finish. We only made 600 cases in 2008 with 15% new oak.
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Viña Tuelda - Black Label 2005
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Our Price: $52.00
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Almost black in color reflecting the ripe vintage. Oak spice with 100% French oak on the nose to go along with a complex blend of spice, blackberry and earthiness. Tannin is present immediately mixed with the raspberry and cherry flavors. Great balance is evident as the tannins release the plate and are replaced with a second wave of flavors that linger for some time. A complex wine reflecting the 60+ year old vines and a ripe vintage. Drink now with a good decanting (two hours plus) or cellar for 3-8 years. 150 cases produced.
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Melville Vineyards - Santa Rita Pinot Noir 2009
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Our Price: $34.00
Sale Price: $30.60
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The Melville Santa Rita Highlands Pinot Noir from 2009 is darker in the glass pushing opaque and tips the scales at 14.1% alcohol. It smells of dark cherry, almost cherry cola in nature, and violets. It has a mouth-coating texture. The full fruit and full body make a dramatic impact on the palate and the finish is more akin to a heavier red wine with some polyphenols that stick to one’s teeth. It has some astringency from tannin as well. The flavors are ripe fruit, a little leather, tobacco and spice. The finish here is big and upfront. This pinot requires full flavored foods, even a lean steak off the grill. Drink now or cellar for 3-5 years.
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Novelty Hill - Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
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Our Price: $28.00
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A classic, full-bodied Cabernet with dark fruit aromas and a hint of spice. Generous layers of fresh currant, black cherry and ripe blackberry gain concentration across the palate before leaving a balanced, richly-textured impression that lasts. Mike Januik, Winemaker
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Château Rol Valentin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2006
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Our Price: $55.00
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The 2006 Rol Valentin requires patience. I suspect that for the next 12-24 months the wine will taste like a very young Bordeaux when the bottle is first opened: some oak, loads of tannin and just a little fruit. However, after 2-4 hours in the decanter (translate to 3-5 years in the cellar) the game is changed. The nose becomes inviting with notes of berry, cigar and spice. The mid-palate is deep and complex. The flavors of the bouquet are augmented by a mineral component that speak to the quality of much heralded vineyard. The finish is long and gripping with tannin, spice and seriousness that one expects from a top right bank producer. Serve with an elegant full flavored beef dish as the wine can stand up to significant richness. 2,000 cases produced and will cellar well for 15+ years without worry.
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Jean-Michel Gerin - Côte-Rôtie "Les Grandes Places" 2007
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Our Price: $125.00
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Another big wine and great example of Côte-Rôtie with 100% syrah. Note is powerful with notes of violet, currant and anise with plenty of smokey minerals. The wine is full and powerful and will stand-up to full flavored meats, mushrooms and game. The layered flavors attach the palate and the finish is long with smoke, olives and ripe tannin. This is a wine for the cellar as it will age well for 15+ years. However, it's drinking very well now due to the ample fruit in the ripe vintage. 325 cases produced.
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Piero Busso - Barbaresco "San Stefanetto" 2007
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Our Price: $69.00
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True to the typical San Stefanetto cuvee, the 2007 vintage is a firm, yet generous wine endowed with notable purity and depth in its dark, ripe and abundant fruit flavors. Truffles, worn-in leather, spices and cherry round out this harmonious, beautifully balanced Barbaresco. Though undeniably drinkable today, the wine will benefit from time in bottle to help soften the ripe but firm tannins. 480 cases made.
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