First, a big thank you to all of you who came out for our Italian tasting at Christ Church Friday night; so far we've had nothing but compliments (and I personally think the venue added greatly to the tenor of the evening), but if you have any thoughts as to how we can improve these events we would be happy to hear from you (htschateau@aol.com).
NEW WHITES:
Grand Palais 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $9.99
Light, floral and fresh, with citrus and grassy notes and a medium finish
Maxwell Creek 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
Pear and pineapple on the nose, with lots of lush tropical fruit
Sonoma Acres 2008 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
Made from five prominent appellations in Sonoma, nicely balanced, with a round tropical fruit creaminess
(new vintage) Schloss Muhlenhof 2008 Muller-Thurgau @ $11.99
Moderate intensity, with green apples, minerals and lime
Santa Maria La Palma 2009 Vermentino "Aragosta" @ $11.99
From Sardinia, a fresh, lively Vermentino, well balanced, with a rich almond backdrop
Kuentz-Bas 2007 White @ $12.99
A blend of Sylvaner, Muscat, Auxerrois, and Chasselas, bone-dry with smoky and citrus aromas and flavors
(new vintage) Schmitges 2008 Rivaner @ $13.99
100% Muller-Thurgau from the Mosel, clean, fresh and zesty with vivid acidity and pronounced mineral notes
Corte alla Flora 2008 Podere del Giuggiolo Bianco @ $14.99
A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Incroce Manzoni from Tuscany, easy drinking with light citrus notes
Belisario 2007 Verdicchio @ $14.99
Estate-grown grapes providing lovely floral notes, palate-cleansing acidity, and a steely finish
Mulderbosch 2009 Chenin Blanc @ $14.99
Citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors, and a touch of late-harvest juice to add richness and complexity
I Greco 2008 Filu @ $16.99
Made 100% from the Greco grape, distinct, rich, well balanced
Villa Simone 2007 Frascati @ $16.99
Bright, floral, and slightly citrus, from a producer known as a beacon of quality in the region
Argillae 2008 Grechetto @ $16.99
Intense, direct, and rich, with almond and mineral flavors and the intriguing aromas typical of this grape
Schafer 2007 Riesling @ $17.99
Racy, lively, and pure, a classic dry Riesling
Palmina 2009 Pinot Grigio @ $19.99
A bouquet of cloves and lime blossoms, a silky yet tart texture, and a clean refreshing finish
(new vintage) Pernot 2008 Bourgogne @ $21.99
Bright and elegant, with characteristic Puligny minerality and citrus notes at the finish, a classic white Burgundy
Colloredo 2008 Biferno Bianco @ $19.99
A blend of Trebbiano and Bombino, intense and aromatic with good body and a hint of lime at the finish
Altavia 2008 Vermentino "No Name" @ $22.99
Light-bodied, crisp, lively and fresh, an Italian white "to silence the snickers," as the NY Times recently put it
Bruno Giacosa 2009 Roero Arneis @ $31.99
Remarkably intense and rich, this has been described as "one of the most glorious white wines made in Italy"
Grand Palais 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $9.99
Light, floral and fresh, with citrus and grassy notes and a medium finish
Maxwell Creek 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
Pear and pineapple on the nose, with lots of lush tropical fruit
Sonoma Acres 2008 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
Made from five prominent appellations in Sonoma, nicely balanced, with a round tropical fruit creaminess
(new vintage) Schloss Muhlenhof 2008 Muller-Thurgau @ $11.99
Moderate intensity, with green apples, minerals and lime
Santa Maria La Palma 2009 Vermentino "Aragosta" @ $11.99
From Sardinia, a fresh, lively Vermentino, well balanced, with a rich almond backdrop
Kuentz-Bas 2007 White @ $12.99
A blend of Sylvaner, Muscat, Auxerrois, and Chasselas, bone-dry with smoky and citrus aromas and flavors
(new vintage) Schmitges 2008 Rivaner @ $13.99
100% Muller-Thurgau from the Mosel, clean, fresh and zesty with vivid acidity and pronounced mineral notes
Corte alla Flora 2008 Podere del Giuggiolo Bianco @ $14.99
A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Incroce Manzoni from Tuscany, easy drinking with light citrus notes
Belisario 2007 Verdicchio @ $14.99
Estate-grown grapes providing lovely floral notes, palate-cleansing acidity, and a steely finish
Mulderbosch 2009 Chenin Blanc @ $14.99
Citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors, and a touch of late-harvest juice to add richness and complexity
I Greco 2008 Filu @ $16.99
Made 100% from the Greco grape, distinct, rich, well balanced
Villa Simone 2007 Frascati @ $16.99
Bright, floral, and slightly citrus, from a producer known as a beacon of quality in the region
Argillae 2008 Grechetto @ $16.99
Intense, direct, and rich, with almond and mineral flavors and the intriguing aromas typical of this grape
Schafer 2007 Riesling @ $17.99
Racy, lively, and pure, a classic dry Riesling
Palmina 2009 Pinot Grigio @ $19.99
A bouquet of cloves and lime blossoms, a silky yet tart texture, and a clean refreshing finish
(new vintage) Pernot 2008 Bourgogne @ $21.99
Bright and elegant, with characteristic Puligny minerality and citrus notes at the finish, a classic white Burgundy
Colloredo 2008 Biferno Bianco @ $19.99
A blend of Trebbiano and Bombino, intense and aromatic with good body and a hint of lime at the finish
Altavia 2008 Vermentino "No Name" @ $22.99
Light-bodied, crisp, lively and fresh, an Italian white "to silence the snickers," as the NY Times recently put it
Bruno Giacosa 2009 Roero Arneis @ $31.99
Remarkably intense and rich, this has been described as "one of the most glorious white wines made in Italy"
NEW REDS:
(new vintage) Line 39 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $10.99
From cooler-climate Lake County, an elegant, easy-drinking Cabernet with subtle tannins
Cartier 2008 Cabernet Franc @ $12.99
From the Loire, classic Cab Franc notes of coffee and chocolate with bright lively acidity
Di Majo Norante 2005 Aglianico @ $14.99
Estate-grown, certified organic Aglianico, full-bodied and spicy with a lingering velvety finish
Corvidae 2008 Rook @ $14.99
A new label for Owen Roe, a Merlot/Syrah/Cab blend with lots of ripe fruit flavors, a real crowd-pleaser and a great value
St. Michael Eppan 2008 Lagrein @ $15.99
From one of the best wineries in the sudtirol, a warm yet intense wine with a velvety softness
Chad 2008 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
A top-notch Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot at a bargain-basement price, bursting with ripe cherries, fine and long on the finish
Sonoma Acres 2008 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
A small-production Pinot from the Russian River Valley with bright strawberry aromas and a lush, silky finish
I Greco 2006 Cata @ $16.99
Made 100% from the Gaglioppo grape native to Calabria, rich and fresh, well balanced, with sweet supple tannins
Corte alla Flora 2007 Rosso di Montepulciano @ $18.99
A clean-cut red with berry aromas and flavors, medium-bodied, with a clean, slightly spicy finish
Esprit de Preuillac 2005 Medoc @ $19.99
A classic Cab/Merlot blend from the Medoc, with lively tannins and great length
Marco Felluga 2007 Refosco @ $21.99
Combines plum and fig flavors with gripping tannins and mouth-watering acidity
Wilkes 2008 Pinot Noir @ $22.99
A hand-crafted Santa Maria Valley Pinot, balanced and elegant, with a clearly spice-driven essence
Colpetrone 2006 Montefalco Rosso @ $25.99
An Umbrian blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot, full-bodied yet drinkable and soft
Vietti 2007 Nebbiolo Perbacco @ $26.99
A beautiful Langhe wine made by one of Piedmont's stars, with aromas of wild cherries and hints of spice
Emilius de Trimoulet 2005 St. Emilion @ $28.99
The second label of Chateau Trimoulet, a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon made in a soft, easily accessible style
Altavia 2007 Dolceacqua @ $29.99
Made 100% from Rossese, an unusual red varietal native to Liguria, light, fresh and fruity with a distinctly herbal character
Torre dei Beati 2007 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo @ $31.99
A single-vineyard Montepulciano from a biodynamic estate run by two former sommeliers, plum and cherry flavors, refined without being overly polished
Villa Simone 2004 Ferro e Seta @ $34.99
A modern red from near Rome that blends the pride and strength of Sangioves (ferro = iron) with the color and elegance of Cesanese (seta = silk)
Melville 2008 Pinot Noir @ $34.99
From a small operation in California's Santa Rita Hills, deep, rich, textured, pure, and profound
Selvagrossa 2007 Poveriano @ $39.99
From Italy's Adriatic coast, 100% Cabernet Franc, complex and fruit-driven but well balanced with soft tannins and seductive herbal notes
(new vintage) Line 39 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $10.99
From cooler-climate Lake County, an elegant, easy-drinking Cabernet with subtle tannins
Cartier 2008 Cabernet Franc @ $12.99
From the Loire, classic Cab Franc notes of coffee and chocolate with bright lively acidity
Di Majo Norante 2005 Aglianico @ $14.99
Estate-grown, certified organic Aglianico, full-bodied and spicy with a lingering velvety finish
Corvidae 2008 Rook @ $14.99
A new label for Owen Roe, a Merlot/Syrah/Cab blend with lots of ripe fruit flavors, a real crowd-pleaser and a great value
St. Michael Eppan 2008 Lagrein @ $15.99
From one of the best wineries in the sudtirol, a warm yet intense wine with a velvety softness
Chad 2008 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
A top-notch Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot at a bargain-basement price, bursting with ripe cherries, fine and long on the finish
Sonoma Acres 2008 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
A small-production Pinot from the Russian River Valley with bright strawberry aromas and a lush, silky finish
I Greco 2006 Cata @ $16.99
Made 100% from the Gaglioppo grape native to Calabria, rich and fresh, well balanced, with sweet supple tannins
Corte alla Flora 2007 Rosso di Montepulciano @ $18.99
A clean-cut red with berry aromas and flavors, medium-bodied, with a clean, slightly spicy finish
Esprit de Preuillac 2005 Medoc @ $19.99
A classic Cab/Merlot blend from the Medoc, with lively tannins and great length
Marco Felluga 2007 Refosco @ $21.99
Combines plum and fig flavors with gripping tannins and mouth-watering acidity
Wilkes 2008 Pinot Noir @ $22.99
A hand-crafted Santa Maria Valley Pinot, balanced and elegant, with a clearly spice-driven essence
Colpetrone 2006 Montefalco Rosso @ $25.99
An Umbrian blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot, full-bodied yet drinkable and soft
Vietti 2007 Nebbiolo Perbacco @ $26.99
A beautiful Langhe wine made by one of Piedmont's stars, with aromas of wild cherries and hints of spice
Emilius de Trimoulet 2005 St. Emilion @ $28.99
The second label of Chateau Trimoulet, a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon made in a soft, easily accessible style
Altavia 2007 Dolceacqua @ $29.99
Made 100% from Rossese, an unusual red varietal native to Liguria, light, fresh and fruity with a distinctly herbal character
Torre dei Beati 2007 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo @ $31.99
A single-vineyard Montepulciano from a biodynamic estate run by two former sommeliers, plum and cherry flavors, refined without being overly polished
Villa Simone 2004 Ferro e Seta @ $34.99
A modern red from near Rome that blends the pride and strength of Sangioves (ferro = iron) with the color and elegance of Cesanese (seta = silk)
Melville 2008 Pinot Noir @ $34.99
From a small operation in California's Santa Rita Hills, deep, rich, textured, pure, and profound
Selvagrossa 2007 Poveriano @ $39.99
From Italy's Adriatic coast, 100% Cabernet Franc, complex and fruit-driven but well balanced with soft tannins and seductive herbal notes
NEW ROSÉS:
Cantele 2009 Rosato @ $10.99
100% Negroamaro from Puglia with intense berry aromas and flavors
Mas Carlot 2009 Provence @ $11.99
A blend of Grenache and Syrah from the west bank of the Rhone, a splendid melange of strawberries, spring flowers and spice
Triebaumer 2008 Blaufrankisch @ $11.99
100% Balufrnakisch (a.k.a. Limberger or Blue Franc), a clear and brilliant pink, light and fresh with aromas of fresh-cut lilacs
Muga 2009 Rioja @ $12.99
A blend of Grenache, Viura and Tempranillo with a nose of strawberry and rhubarb and a palate that is dry and crisp
Prestige des Granges 2009 Chusclau @ $14.99
A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from the Rhone with a nose of wild strawberries and pink grapefruit, fresh and well balanced
Fleur 2009 Vin Gris @ $14.99
100% Pinot Noir from California, bright, fresh and flavorful and made in a crisp, dry style
Domaine de la Sauveuse 2009 Provence @ $16.99
From a certified organic producer in Provence, a delicate, crisp blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault with tangy flavors of strawberries and a lovely floral nose
Cantele 2009 Rosato @ $10.99
100% Negroamaro from Puglia with intense berry aromas and flavors
Mas Carlot 2009 Provence @ $11.99
A blend of Grenache and Syrah from the west bank of the Rhone, a splendid melange of strawberries, spring flowers and spice
Triebaumer 2008 Blaufrankisch @ $11.99
100% Balufrnakisch (a.k.a. Limberger or Blue Franc), a clear and brilliant pink, light and fresh with aromas of fresh-cut lilacs
Muga 2009 Rioja @ $12.99
A blend of Grenache, Viura and Tempranillo with a nose of strawberry and rhubarb and a palate that is dry and crisp
Prestige des Granges 2009 Chusclau @ $14.99
A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from the Rhone with a nose of wild strawberries and pink grapefruit, fresh and well balanced
Fleur 2009 Vin Gris @ $14.99
100% Pinot Noir from California, bright, fresh and flavorful and made in a crisp, dry style
Domaine de la Sauveuse 2009 Provence @ $16.99
From a certified organic producer in Provence, a delicate, crisp blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault with tangy flavors of strawberries and a lovely floral nose