October 26, 2009

news ot the week

Apologies for being late with this again, but as you will see from the following listing, the number of new wines is again at 70+ and, as a result, it took some time to pull all the information together. Hope you find the notes useful. Check out our web site, www.heightschateau.com, for a calendar of upcoming events, including in-store tastings. And there are several new samplers available in the store (and check out the samplers listing on the web site: I've done an all-New York one, Matthew has a Greek sampler and suggestions for Thanksgiving, and Tara checks in with a "Dirty dozen." Oh yes, the barrel of Eagle Rare bourbon has arrived and sits in front of the counter; do check it out!
 
NEW WHITES:
Aramis 2008 Ugni Blanc/Colombard @ $8.99
 Lively citrus fruit, clean with some earth, a great value
Rabbit Ridge 2008 Chardonnay @ $9.99
 Central Coast grapes, crisp, fruity, flavors of apple and pear
Fazi Battaglia 2008 Verdicchio @ $9.99
 Clean fresh fruit with a lively minerally finish, great value
Reserve President 2008 White Corse @ $10.99
 100% Vermentino from Corsica, clean, fruity, good acidity
Walnut Block 2008 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
 Classic Marlborough, herbaceous with a ripe round middle and a clean citrus finish
(new vintage) Grisy 2007 Bourgogne @ $12.99
 From near Chablis, medium body, white fruit flavors, a touch of vanilla
Millbrook 2008 Tocai Friulano @ $14.99
 Hudson River region, medium body, bright citrus and melon
Gentilini 2008 Aspro @ $14.99
 A blend of Robola, Sauvignon Blanc, Tsaoussi and Muscat from the island of Cephalonia, ripe  and rich with touches of minerality and a crisp finish
Sartarelli 2008 Verdicchio @ $14.99
 Well rounded, soft on the palate with a hint of almonds
Strauss 2008 Welschriesling @ $14.99
 A refreshing dry white with a nose of green apples, good acidity and a crisp finish
Manciat Poncet 2007 Macon @ $14.99
 Light, fresh, classic Macon
(back) Scheu 2007 Grauer Burgunder Kabinett @ $15.99
 German for Pinot Gris, rich and full-bodied
(new vintage) Mercer 2007 Pinot Gris @ $15.99
 From Washington's Columbia Valley, with pear, melon, and peach flavors backed by minerality  and good acidity
(new vintage) Foxglove 2008 Chardonnay @ $15.99
 The second label of Varner winery, fruit from Edna Valley, stainless steel, clean and edgy with  lots of tropical fruit
Chaume2007 Pouilly Fume @ $16.99
 Clean fresh nose, some citrus flavors, earthy finish
(new vintage) Girard 2008 Sauvignon Blanc @ $17.99
 Clean, fresh, and crisp, with lemon and grapefruit notes
(new vintage) Anton Bauer 2008 Riesling @ $17.99
 A classic Riesling with concentrated orchard fruit, a distinct mineral note, and a clean finish
Cornin 2007 Beaujolais Blanc @ $18.99
 A clean, fresh Chardonnay from a biodynamic winery (and woman winemaker) in the Beaujolais
Taft Street 2007 Chardonnay @ $19.99
 A bit of oak in the nose, creamy and bright with a long finish, a baby Chassagne
Domaine d'Ardhuy 2007 Bourgogne @ $19.99
 No wood, tropical fruit, long flavorful finish
Morey Coffinet 2006 Bourgogne @ $20.99
 Bright and fresh, with a mouthful of ripe apple and pear fruit and spice
Vietti 2008 Arneis @ $21.99
 Fresh floral and citrus aromas with hints of almonds
(back) St. Paul's 2007 Pinot Bianco @ $22.99
 Full, lush, and tangy from the Alto Adige
Manciat Poncet 2007 Pouilly-Fuisse @ $22.99
 Full and rich with a great minerally acidity
(new vintage) Vincent 2007 Pouilly Fuisse @ $22.99
 Fresh and round, with apple, melon and honey flavors and just a hint of oak
(new vintage) Merry Edwards 2008 Sauvignon Blanc @ $41.99
 Russian River grapes, barrel-fermented, in French oak, rich and intense
Hanzell 2008 Chardonnay @ $50.99
 Even, mineral dry, with savory aromas and a taut style
 
NEW REDS:
(new vintage) Terra Andina 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $7.99
 Full-flavored, fruit-driven, easy drinking with a long, smooth finish
(new vintage) Le Sciare 2007 Primitivo @ $8.99
 From Puglia, with aromas of cassis and blackberries, concentrated fruit, and smooth tannins, a  great value
Aramis 2008 Tannat/Cabernet @ $8.99
 Youthful ripe fruit, almost gamy, with a long fruity finish
Porca de Murcu 2006 Tinto @ $8.99
 Traditional grape varieties from the Douro, rich, plumy, deep, needs food
(back) Trois Couronnes 2007 Cotes du Rhone @ $9.99
 Fruit-forward, a complex wine with a rich, spicy character
(back) Miquel 2007 Syrah/Grenache @ $8.99
 A 75/25% blend from the Languedoc with red berry and cocoa flavors and a smooth finish
Le Lapin NV Petit Sirah @ $9.99
 A new second-label release from Rabbit Ridge, grapes from Paso Robles, made to drink now
Rabbit Ridge 2008 Zinfandel @ $9.99
 Central Coast grapes, smooth and rich, with lots of blackberry and spice
Darby and Joan 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $10.99
 Ripe plums on a soft, round palate, with lingering sweet tannins
Hatzimichaelis 2000 Naoussa Xinomavro @ $10.99
 Made from 100% Xinomavro, shows bottle complexity through soft fruit aromas of spice, leather  and tobacco, very elegant with a soft plum cherry finish
Domaine Regusse 2008 Pinot Noir @ $10.99
 VdP des Alpes de Haute Provence, round with soft cherry fruit, clean finish
Chasing Lions 2006 Napa Red @ $11.99
 A Merlot-based blend with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah and Petit Verdot,  medium-bodied with a rich, lush nose and flavors to match
Aldigheri 2008 Valpolicella @ $11.99
 Bright fruit with good structure and backbone
(new vintage) McManis 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $11.99
 Juicy black fruit flavors, creamy vanilla, well integrated tannins
Boxhead 2008 Shiraz @ $11.99
 Deep, full, rich, with chocolate and black raspberry on the finish
Castillo Perelada 2006 3 Fincas Crianza @ $11.99
 From the Costa Brava, a blend of Grenache and Carignane with a little Cab and Merlot, round  and full with cedar and cherry
Stephen Vincent 2007 Crimson @ $12.99
 A delightful smooth blend of Cabernet and Syrah, made in a Rhone style, with lots of black fruit  and soft tannins
Manarine 2006 Cotes du Rhone @ $12.99
 An unusual CDR, made 100% from Grenache Noir
Hauner 2007 Salina Rosso @ $12.99
 A blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nero d'Avola, earthy, ripe, spicy, great depth
Cave du Rocher 2006 Saumur Champigny @ $12.99
 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire, aromatic and supple
(new vintage) Grisy 2007 Bourgogne @ $13.99
 Elegant and graceful, with dark cherries, herbs and spices
De Bortoli 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $13.99
 South Australia, deep and full, almost Sonoma-like, with a clean dry finish
De Bortoli 2006 Petit Verdot @ $13.99
 Soft black fruit, black raspberry and violets, clean dry aftertaste
Strauss 2008 Blauer Zweigelt @ $14.99
 Harmonious, elegant, gentle, smooth, medium-bodied, with ripe black cherry and subtle mocha
Gulfi 2007 Rossojbleo 2007 Nero d'Avola @ $15.99
 Chunky, rustic, with lots of fruits, flowers, licorice, herbs and spice
Apex 2006 Cabernet @ $16.99
 From Washington, sweet ripe berry fruit, supple and complex, with a little Merlot and Cab Franc  blended in
(new vintage) Juveniles 2006 Syrah @ $16.99
 Made by Francois Tardy in Crozes-Hermitage, from grapes selected by Tim Johnson, owner of the  Juveniles wine bar in Paris, rich, ripe and juicy
(new vintage) St. Andrieu 2005 Vallongue @ $16.99
 A supple wine from the Languedoc, mostly Carignane, made for immediate drinking
(new vintage) Wyatt 2008 Pinot Noir @ $17.99
 Great Pinot richness, with a line of balancing acidity to keep it fresh
Coulonge 2007 Bordeaux Rouge @ $17.99
 Round, soft, earthy, ripe cherries and spice
Monte Maggiore 2006 Bardolino @ $18.99
 Slightly smoky, light cherry fruit and a soft cherry aftertaste
Villa St. Anna 2005 Chianti Colli Senesi @ $19.99
 A classic Chianti from a limited-production estate in southern Tuscany
(new vintage) Martin Ray 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $19.99
 A blend of grapes from Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties, with ripe plum, lush vanilla,  exotic spice and black currant fruit
Robin 2007 Crozes-Hermitage @ $24.99
 Soft palate with hints of white pepper over plums, well balanced, clean finish
(back) Paveil de Luze 2006 Margaux @ $29.99
 Rich truffle and red fruit bouquet, balanced and elegant
Cain NV6 Cuvee @ $33.99
 A classic (but non-vintage) Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and  Petit Verdot, with a broad smooth base, great structure, and aromatic complexity
(back) Freemark Abbey 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $34.99
 Black cherry, currant, and dried cranberry on the nose with flavors of cedar, cinnamon, and dark  chocolate
Girard 2006 Artistry Blend @ $34.99
 A proprietary blend of five Bordeaux grapes, complex and firmly textured
Robert Michel 2004 Cornas @ $46.99
 Pungent, floral, fresh and lively
Amapola Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $52.99
 The new venture of iconic winemaker Richard Arrowood, from vineyards certified organic, a concentrated velvety Cab with layers of flavor