With so little new coming into the store these days, I again combined the past two weeks; things should get back to normal very shortly! Remember: September is national bourbon month, and we have scheduled multiple in-store tastings; check the calendar on the store web site (www.heightschateau.com) for details.
NEW WHITES:
(new vintage) St. Felix 2009 Cuvee Pierre Martin @ $9.99
a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino from the south of France, with citrus and almond notes and surprising weight and length
(new vintage) Jean Rosen 2009 Pinot Blanc @ $10.99
from the highly esteemed Paul Blanck vineyards, a crisp, fruit-forward Pinot Blanc that is an excellent value
Thierry-Weber 2009 Gruner Veltliner "Animo" @ $11.99
from the Kremstal region of Austria, light, delicate, very clean, with a slightly peppery finish
(new vintage) Mosel St. 2009 Riesling @ $13.99
from Weingut Ernst Clusserath, a traditional Mosel-style Riesling that is juicy, lively and refreshing
(new vintage) Rocken 2008 Riesling @ $13.99
from sustainable producer Weingut Carl Erhardt, a classic Rheingau Riesling, medium-bodied, with excellent balance and firm acidity
(new vintage) Damilano 2009 Arneis @ $14.99
from a superstar Piedmont winery, a medium-bodied white with great floral notes and lemon, grapefruit and wet stone on the palate
Belisario 2009 Verdicchio "Vigneti del Cerro" @ $14.99
a classic Verdicchio from vineyards set back from the Adriatic, full of stone-fruit concentration with a touch of complexity
(new vintage) Cloudline 2008 Pinot Gris @ $15.99
tank-fermented to emphasize the varietal's freshness, acidity, and floral aromatics, with abundant notes of citrus fruits and white flowers
Fefinanes 2009 Albarino @ $17.99
consistently rated one of the best Albarinos produced, round, clean and pleasant on the palate with notes of honey and lemon
Venier Clos de Carteries 2009 Cheverny @ $18.99
Sauvignon Gris blended with a little bit of Chardonnay, from a cult organic producer in the Loire, only 250 cases made
(new vintage) Craggy Range 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $19.99
grassy as a newly-mowed lawn, with round ripe fruit, snappy acidity, and a dry elegant finish
(new vintage) Ameztoi 2009 Txacolina @ $19.99
bright briny sea salt combined with lemon-lime notes, fresh and eminently quaffable
(new vintage) Txomin Etxaniz 2009 Txacoli @ $19.99
the prototype of this Basque specialty, fresh and slightly sparkling with a nose of white peach and green apple
Vier Jahreszeiten 2009 Riesling (3-liter box) @ $27.99
fruity, balanced, and harmonious, from a dependable co-op in the Pfalz
(new vintage) St. Felix 2009 Cuvee Pierre Martin @ $9.99
a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino from the south of France, with citrus and almond notes and surprising weight and length
(new vintage) Jean Rosen 2009 Pinot Blanc @ $10.99
from the highly esteemed Paul Blanck vineyards, a crisp, fruit-forward Pinot Blanc that is an excellent value
Thierry-Weber 2009 Gruner Veltliner "Animo" @ $11.99
from the Kremstal region of Austria, light, delicate, very clean, with a slightly peppery finish
(new vintage) Mosel St. 2009 Riesling @ $13.99
from Weingut Ernst Clusserath, a traditional Mosel-style Riesling that is juicy, lively and refreshing
(new vintage) Rocken 2008 Riesling @ $13.99
from sustainable producer Weingut Carl Erhardt, a classic Rheingau Riesling, medium-bodied, with excellent balance and firm acidity
(new vintage) Damilano 2009 Arneis @ $14.99
from a superstar Piedmont winery, a medium-bodied white with great floral notes and lemon, grapefruit and wet stone on the palate
Belisario 2009 Verdicchio "Vigneti del Cerro" @ $14.99
a classic Verdicchio from vineyards set back from the Adriatic, full of stone-fruit concentration with a touch of complexity
(new vintage) Cloudline 2008 Pinot Gris @ $15.99
tank-fermented to emphasize the varietal's freshness, acidity, and floral aromatics, with abundant notes of citrus fruits and white flowers
Fefinanes 2009 Albarino @ $17.99
consistently rated one of the best Albarinos produced, round, clean and pleasant on the palate with notes of honey and lemon
Venier Clos de Carteries 2009 Cheverny @ $18.99
Sauvignon Gris blended with a little bit of Chardonnay, from a cult organic producer in the Loire, only 250 cases made
(new vintage) Craggy Range 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $19.99
grassy as a newly-mowed lawn, with round ripe fruit, snappy acidity, and a dry elegant finish
(new vintage) Ameztoi 2009 Txacolina @ $19.99
bright briny sea salt combined with lemon-lime notes, fresh and eminently quaffable
(new vintage) Txomin Etxaniz 2009 Txacoli @ $19.99
the prototype of this Basque specialty, fresh and slightly sparkling with a nose of white peach and green apple
Vier Jahreszeiten 2009 Riesling (3-liter box) @ $27.99
fruity, balanced, and harmonious, from a dependable co-op in the Pfalz
NEW REDS:
Alto Tierruca 2009 Pinot Noir @ $9.99
from Chile's Lontue Valley, a Pinot with aromas of freshly crushed red cherries and berries and a palate that combines cherry and earthy flavors
Vina Ijalba 2008 Rioja "Livor" @ $9.99
from the first organically-certified estate in Rioja (1994), a stainless-steel Tempranillo with lush red berry and rustic spicy flavors
(new vintage) Mas des Collines 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone @ $11.99
from a great Gigondas producer, a gentle but full-bodied red with aromas and flavors of plums, prunes, leather and smoke
Chateau Cambon 2008 Beaujolais @ $15.99
from the Morgon region, an unfiltered, unchaptalized, unfined, unsulphured wine that is a pure expression of Gamay fruit
Michael David 2007 Petite Petit @ $20.99
a blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Syrah from Lodi, lush and velvety but with ample acidity and flavor notes of pepper, nutmeg, and cocoa
(new vintage) Ridge 2008 Three Valleys @ $23.99
Zinfandel-driven, with small amounts of old-vine Carignane for bright fruit and acidity, Petite Sirah and Syrah to add peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins, and Grenache for briar fruit and liveliness
Alto Tierruca 2009 Pinot Noir @ $9.99
from Chile's Lontue Valley, a Pinot with aromas of freshly crushed red cherries and berries and a palate that combines cherry and earthy flavors
Vina Ijalba 2008 Rioja "Livor" @ $9.99
from the first organically-certified estate in Rioja (1994), a stainless-steel Tempranillo with lush red berry and rustic spicy flavors
(new vintage) Mas des Collines 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone @ $11.99
from a great Gigondas producer, a gentle but full-bodied red with aromas and flavors of plums, prunes, leather and smoke
Chateau Cambon 2008 Beaujolais @ $15.99
from the Morgon region, an unfiltered, unchaptalized, unfined, unsulphured wine that is a pure expression of Gamay fruit
Michael David 2007 Petite Petit @ $20.99
a blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Syrah from Lodi, lush and velvety but with ample acidity and flavor notes of pepper, nutmeg, and cocoa
(new vintage) Ridge 2008 Three Valleys @ $23.99
Zinfandel-driven, with small amounts of old-vine Carignane for bright fruit and acidity, Petite Sirah and Syrah to add peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins, and Grenache for briar fruit and liveliness
NEW ROSES:
Chateau Penin 2009 Bordeaux @ $12.99
a Cabernet-Merlot blend, fresh and fruit-forward yet rich and elegant
Audoin 2009 Marsannay @ $17.99
"eye of the swan" color, with a fragrant, unmistakable Pinot Noir nose and a dry clean finish
Chateau Penin 2009 Bordeaux @ $12.99
a Cabernet-Merlot blend, fresh and fruit-forward yet rich and elegant
Audoin 2009 Marsannay @ $17.99
"eye of the swan" color, with a fragrant, unmistakable Pinot Noir nose and a dry clean finish