Sorry to be a day late this week; rather a lot new to cope with, and I was feeling a bit under the weather as well. Trust you will find something of interest on the extensive list that follows!
NEW WHITES:
Maculan 2009 Pino & Toi @ $11.99
from the Veneto, a blend of Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Friulano that is intensely perfumed, offering refreshing notes of citrus and apples
Barking Hedge 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $13.99
a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough's Crichton Estate, vibrant and aromatic with flavors of ripe tropical fruits
(new vintage) Joel Gott 2009 Chardonnay @ $15.99
only the fourth release of Monterey Chardonnay from this stellar winemaker, clean and crisp, stainless-steel fermented to allow for the fruit to display its inherent characteristics
Qupe 2009 Marsanne @ $16.99
mostly Marsanne with 15% Roussanne blended in, a medium- to full-bodied white with aromas of honey, citrus, flowers, and stone minerality
Verdad 2009 Albarino @ $17.99
delicately floral, crisp and minerally, this California version has more body than some Spanish Albariños, plus a lovely finish
Clinton Vineyards 2009 Tribute @ $18.99
named in honor of founder Ben Feder who passed away last year, the winery's signature version of Seyval Blanc, crisp, light and balanced with purity of fruit and underlying accents of citrus and apple
Montchovet 2009 Bourgogne Aligote @ $19.99
from an outstanding young biodynamic producer in Burgundy, an Aligote that is light and fresh with aromas and flavors of green apple and citrus
(new vintage) J. J. Vincent 2009 Pouilly-Fuisse @ $22.99
from the Maconnais in southern Burgundy, a creamy Chardonnay with flint and mineral undertones and lots of body and acidity
Pine Ridge 2007 Chardonnay @ $23.99
from Napa's Stags Leap District, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay that combines delicacy and complexity, with bright acidity that lifts the vibrant fruit flavors
Cakebread 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $27.99
a classic expression of the varietal, with aromas and flavors of fresh pink grapefruit, minerals, and stone fruit
(new vintage) Jordan 2008 Chardonnay @ $35.99
from the cool climate and gravelly soils of the Russian River valley, an understated Chardonnay with bright fruit, crisp acidity, and a lingering minerality
Maculan 2009 Pino & Toi @ $11.99
from the Veneto, a blend of Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Friulano that is intensely perfumed, offering refreshing notes of citrus and apples
Barking Hedge 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $13.99
a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough's Crichton Estate, vibrant and aromatic with flavors of ripe tropical fruits
(new vintage) Joel Gott 2009 Chardonnay @ $15.99
only the fourth release of Monterey Chardonnay from this stellar winemaker, clean and crisp, stainless-steel fermented to allow for the fruit to display its inherent characteristics
Qupe 2009 Marsanne @ $16.99
mostly Marsanne with 15% Roussanne blended in, a medium- to full-bodied white with aromas of honey, citrus, flowers, and stone minerality
Verdad 2009 Albarino @ $17.99
delicately floral, crisp and minerally, this California version has more body than some Spanish Albariños, plus a lovely finish
Clinton Vineyards 2009 Tribute @ $18.99
named in honor of founder Ben Feder who passed away last year, the winery's signature version of Seyval Blanc, crisp, light and balanced with purity of fruit and underlying accents of citrus and apple
Montchovet 2009 Bourgogne Aligote @ $19.99
from an outstanding young biodynamic producer in Burgundy, an Aligote that is light and fresh with aromas and flavors of green apple and citrus
(new vintage) J. J. Vincent 2009 Pouilly-Fuisse @ $22.99
from the Maconnais in southern Burgundy, a creamy Chardonnay with flint and mineral undertones and lots of body and acidity
Pine Ridge 2007 Chardonnay @ $23.99
from Napa's Stags Leap District, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay that combines delicacy and complexity, with bright acidity that lifts the vibrant fruit flavors
Cakebread 2009 Sauvignon Blanc @ $27.99
a classic expression of the varietal, with aromas and flavors of fresh pink grapefruit, minerals, and stone fruit
(new vintage) Jordan 2008 Chardonnay @ $35.99
from the cool climate and gravelly soils of the Russian River valley, an understated Chardonnay with bright fruit, crisp acidity, and a lingering minerality
NEW REDS:
Vin Ordinaire NV Cheap Red Wine @ $7.99
a blend of Charbono, Carignan, Cab, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, medium-bodied with fruity flavors, a fine everyday red
La Goutere 2009 Bordeaux @ $9.99
from a property near St. Emilion, a blend of 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc with an intense ruby in color and a fruit-driven bouquet and round, soft tannins on the finish
Martinez 2009 Tempranillo @ $9.99
a totally affordable, easy-drinking Tempranillo from La Mancha
Coltibuono 2009 Chianti Cetamura @ $10.99
a full and well-balanced Chianti from a prestigious estate, soft but tasty, with good structure
Riello delle Balze 2008 Chianti Colli Senesi @ $11.99
ripe red berry and cherry fruit flavors offset by classic Sangiovese notes of earth, mushrooms, and leather
Chateau Julien 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $11.99
from Monterey County, soft and well-rounded with notes of violets, cherry, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla and cedar
Zin 91 2009 Zinfandel @ $12.99
classic old vines Zinfandel, with spicy notes, as well as black cherry and cassis flavors
(back) Barroubio 2007 Minervois @ $12.99
dark and concentrated yet elegant, with black pepper and violet aromas and flavor notes of black cherry and black raspberry and lingering notes of spice in the finish
Clos Siguiers 2007 Cahors @ $12.99
very light, almost delicate, with raspberries, flowers, and good acidity
Latitude 50 2007 Pinot Noir @ $12.99
a Pinot Noir from the Rheingau, purple and nearly opaque, somewhat dense with chewy sweet tannins
Kermit Lynch 2008 Cotes-du-Rhone @ $13.99
a delicious, natural tasting blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre, with just the right amount of cracked black pepper and other spices to make it very interesting on the palate
(new vintage) Herzog 2008 Jeunesse @ $14.99
a stainless steel-fermented Cabernet with a soft texture and fresh berry and cherry aromas, Kosher
De Forville 2009 Dolcetto d'Alba @ $14.99
a traditional Dolcetto with a palate of chocolate, spices, herbs and medium tannins
Schreiner 2008 Blaufrankish @ $15.99
from Austria's Burgenland, a juicy, spicy red that is exceptionally food friendly
Cardova 2007 Rioja @ $15.99
1000% old-vines Tempranillo, with a nose of ripe wild berries and balsamic, Kosher
La Cardonne 2003 Medoc @ $15.99
aromas of crushed berries, chocolate and smoke on a medium-bodied palate
Marques de Montemor 2008 @ $15.99
from a small producer in the Alentejo region of Portugal, a rich, earthy blend of Aragonez and Alicante Boschet
Domaine Rimbert 2009 Saint Chinian @ $15.99
a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Carignan from one of the rising stars of the Languedoc, with smooth black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of raspberry, red cherry, pepper and spice
Chateau Virgile 2007 Cuvee l'Eneiade @ $15.99
a Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre bland from the Costieres de Nimes, juicy and polished on the palate with a long, subtle finish, made more memorable by stony underlying notes and hints of floral perfume
Chateau Beauregard Ducasse 2006 Graves @ $16.99
from a property in the north of the Graves family-owned and -run since 1850, a deeply-colored Bordeaux with roasted tobacco and cassis and great length
Apollonio 2004 Salice Salentino @ $16.99
a concentrated Negroamaro with intense blackberry and licorice aromas, a full-bodied palate, rich fine tannins and a medium finish
Domaine de l'Echevin 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages @ $16.99
a 50/50 Grenache/Syrah blend from a biodynamic producer in the Rhone, complex and concentrated with great fruitiness, fleshiness and texture
Terra Andina 2007 Altos @ $17.99
a blend of Carmenere and Carignane from a top Chilean producer, dense and complex with an expressive range of blackberries, blueberries, cherries and pomegranate flavors with hints of sweet spices and cedar
Pittnauer 2008 Zweigelt @ $17.99
from a biodynamic Austrian winemaker specializing in red varietals, a light, bright wine that is a great alternative to Pinot Noir
(back) Corte alla Flora 2007 Rosso di Montalcino @ $18.99
essence of Tuscany, well-balanced and complex with striking freshness, with perfumes of ripe fruit, particularly blackberries and raspberries
Craggy Range 2008 Te Kahu @ $19.99
a Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand, with a dark, gravelly, sweetly fruited, minerally nose that's brooding and rich
Girard Vollot & Fils 2008 Bourgogne @ $19.99
from one of the oldest domaines in the Cote d'Or, an elegant, supple Pinot Noir made for early drinking
Rollin 2008 Bourgogne Hautes-Cote-de-Beaune @ $19.99
an intense and captivating Pinot, perfumed with raspberry and summer fruits yet with a weighty palate backed by soft and supple tannins
Au Bon Cllimat 2008 Pinot Noir @ $21.99
quintessential Santa Barbara Pinot, with aromas and flavors of plum, strawberry and cranberry burnished by brown baking spices
GrosJean 2009 Gamay @ $21.99
from Italy's Valle d'Aosta, light, bright, and focused, with a well-integrated tannic structure and a racy, lifting acidity nicely carrying the fruit
GrosJean 2008 Torrette @ $21.99
from the sanme producer, a harmonious, soft, easy drinking red with crisp, dry, red fruit flavors
Apollonio 2004 Valle Cupa @ $22.99
a blend of 50% Negroamaro and 50% Primitivo, a rich, layered, full-bodied red bursting with black fruit
Gilbert 2008 Menetou-Salon @ $24.99
Pinot Noir from the Loire, elegant and fresh with aromas of bright red fruits, spice and floral hints, suave with wonderful balance and a silky mineral infused finish
Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme 2006 Haut-Medoc @ $25.99
dark and glossy, with a nose of dark, sweet, slightly high-toned and perfumed fruit and lots of flesh on the palate, covering a ripe but very firm and upright structure
Rombauer 2008 Zinfandel @ $30.99
rich, juicy fruit loaded with ripe wild berries, plum, fig and black cherry flavors, with supple tannins and smooth oak notes in a lush, mouth-filling finish
J Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir @ $30.99
floral, cherry fruit aromaa with a hint of milk chocolate; medium-full body; elegant, crisp, tightly wound, red berry and cherry fruit flavors; medium tannins, and a lingering aftertaste
Senard 2005 Chorey-Les-Beaune @ $31.99
from a producer known for Pinots of color, individuality, and excellence, a light, bright, soft fruity Burgundy to drink and enjoy now
Zeni 2007 Amarone @ $32.99
an Amarone with great intensity and persistency of flavors, chewy and slightly sweet with velvety fruit, called "a value hunter's dream"
Convento San Francisco 2005 Ribera del Duero @ $32.99
from an outstanding vintage in the region, a wine of substantial body featuring ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors with supporting and integrated tannins
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir @ $32.99
Wright's first "Willamette Valley" designated Pinot Noir in more than fifteen years, a gift of the high-quality high-quantity 2009 vintage, fresh, juicy, vibrant, balanced to perfection
Occhipinti 2008 Il Frappato @ $34.99
from an organic producer in southern Sicily, fragrant and aromatic with pretty floral and red fruit notes
Freemark Abbey 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $34.99
a classic Bordeaux blend from Napa with a dense fruit core supported by bright acidity and fine tannins
Planeta 2005 Merlot @ $39.99
from Sicily, a limited-production Merlot, intense ruby red with refined scents of black currant, ripe prune and violet, with a whisper of mint chocolate
Corte Rugolin 2005 Amarone @ $48.99
impeccably balanced and rich, with layers of coffee, toffee, nuts, berries and earth, from a raising star of the region
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir "Shea" @ $55.99
a single-vineyard wine from Oregon's preeminent Pinot Noir specialist with a unique profile that rides the fence between black and red fruit characteristics, textured without being heavy
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir "McCrone" @ $55.99
another single-vineyard wine from Oregon's preeminent Pinot Noir specialist, this one elegant and vibrant on the palate with plenty of racy fruit
Ragnaie 2004 Brunello di Montalcino @ $60.99
complex spice aromas, ripe red fruit, structured and balanced,a compelling bottle of Barolo and an excellent value
Caymus 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $74.99
beautifully perfumed and subtle with great depth and concentration, with a long persistent finish that keeps repeating the core themes
Tua Rita 2007 Giusto di Notri @ $75.99
a super-Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, full-bodied, with rich, sweet tannins and a jammy texture, a stunning wine with great aging potential
Williams Selyem 2007 Pinot Noir @ $75.99
100% from the Vista Verde vineyard in San Benito county, with a highly perfumed nose and flavors of concentrated ripe fruits, and rich and slightly aggressive tannins that help to carry the balanced acidity that follows long into the finish
Opus One 2007 Red @ $199.99
from one of Napa's finest vintages ever, opulent with impressive precision and depth, 95 points from Mr. Parker who says it could be cellared for 25 years
Vin Ordinaire NV Cheap Red Wine @ $7.99
a blend of Charbono, Carignan, Cab, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, medium-bodied with fruity flavors, a fine everyday red
La Goutere 2009 Bordeaux @ $9.99
from a property near St. Emilion, a blend of 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc with an intense ruby in color and a fruit-driven bouquet and round, soft tannins on the finish
Martinez 2009 Tempranillo @ $9.99
a totally affordable, easy-drinking Tempranillo from La Mancha
Coltibuono 2009 Chianti Cetamura @ $10.99
a full and well-balanced Chianti from a prestigious estate, soft but tasty, with good structure
Riello delle Balze 2008 Chianti Colli Senesi @ $11.99
ripe red berry and cherry fruit flavors offset by classic Sangiovese notes of earth, mushrooms, and leather
Chateau Julien 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $11.99
from Monterey County, soft and well-rounded with notes of violets, cherry, blackberry, chocolate, vanilla and cedar
Zin 91 2009 Zinfandel @ $12.99
classic old vines Zinfandel, with spicy notes, as well as black cherry and cassis flavors
(back) Barroubio 2007 Minervois @ $12.99
dark and concentrated yet elegant, with black pepper and violet aromas and flavor notes of black cherry and black raspberry and lingering notes of spice in the finish
Clos Siguiers 2007 Cahors @ $12.99
very light, almost delicate, with raspberries, flowers, and good acidity
Latitude 50 2007 Pinot Noir @ $12.99
a Pinot Noir from the Rheingau, purple and nearly opaque, somewhat dense with chewy sweet tannins
Kermit Lynch 2008 Cotes-du-Rhone @ $13.99
a delicious, natural tasting blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre, with just the right amount of cracked black pepper and other spices to make it very interesting on the palate
(new vintage) Herzog 2008 Jeunesse @ $14.99
a stainless steel-fermented Cabernet with a soft texture and fresh berry and cherry aromas, Kosher
De Forville 2009 Dolcetto d'Alba @ $14.99
a traditional Dolcetto with a palate of chocolate, spices, herbs and medium tannins
Schreiner 2008 Blaufrankish @ $15.99
from Austria's Burgenland, a juicy, spicy red that is exceptionally food friendly
Cardova 2007 Rioja @ $15.99
1000% old-vines Tempranillo, with a nose of ripe wild berries and balsamic, Kosher
La Cardonne 2003 Medoc @ $15.99
aromas of crushed berries, chocolate and smoke on a medium-bodied palate
Marques de Montemor 2008 @ $15.99
from a small producer in the Alentejo region of Portugal, a rich, earthy blend of Aragonez and Alicante Boschet
Domaine Rimbert 2009 Saint Chinian @ $15.99
a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Carignan from one of the rising stars of the Languedoc, with smooth black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of raspberry, red cherry, pepper and spice
Chateau Virgile 2007 Cuvee l'Eneiade @ $15.99
a Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre bland from the Costieres de Nimes, juicy and polished on the palate with a long, subtle finish, made more memorable by stony underlying notes and hints of floral perfume
Chateau Beauregard Ducasse 2006 Graves @ $16.99
from a property in the north of the Graves family-owned and -run since 1850, a deeply-colored Bordeaux with roasted tobacco and cassis and great length
Apollonio 2004 Salice Salentino @ $16.99
a concentrated Negroamaro with intense blackberry and licorice aromas, a full-bodied palate, rich fine tannins and a medium finish
Domaine de l'Echevin 2007 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages @ $16.99
a 50/50 Grenache/Syrah blend from a biodynamic producer in the Rhone, complex and concentrated with great fruitiness, fleshiness and texture
Terra Andina 2007 Altos @ $17.99
a blend of Carmenere and Carignane from a top Chilean producer, dense and complex with an expressive range of blackberries, blueberries, cherries and pomegranate flavors with hints of sweet spices and cedar
Pittnauer 2008 Zweigelt @ $17.99
from a biodynamic Austrian winemaker specializing in red varietals, a light, bright wine that is a great alternative to Pinot Noir
(back) Corte alla Flora 2007 Rosso di Montalcino @ $18.99
essence of Tuscany, well-balanced and complex with striking freshness, with perfumes of ripe fruit, particularly blackberries and raspberries
Craggy Range 2008 Te Kahu @ $19.99
a Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand, with a dark, gravelly, sweetly fruited, minerally nose that's brooding and rich
Girard Vollot & Fils 2008 Bourgogne @ $19.99
from one of the oldest domaines in the Cote d'Or, an elegant, supple Pinot Noir made for early drinking
Rollin 2008 Bourgogne Hautes-Cote-de-Beaune @ $19.99
an intense and captivating Pinot, perfumed with raspberry and summer fruits yet with a weighty palate backed by soft and supple tannins
Au Bon Cllimat 2008 Pinot Noir @ $21.99
quintessential Santa Barbara Pinot, with aromas and flavors of plum, strawberry and cranberry burnished by brown baking spices
GrosJean 2009 Gamay @ $21.99
from Italy's Valle d'Aosta, light, bright, and focused, with a well-integrated tannic structure and a racy, lifting acidity nicely carrying the fruit
GrosJean 2008 Torrette @ $21.99
from the sanme producer, a harmonious, soft, easy drinking red with crisp, dry, red fruit flavors
Apollonio 2004 Valle Cupa @ $22.99
a blend of 50% Negroamaro and 50% Primitivo, a rich, layered, full-bodied red bursting with black fruit
Gilbert 2008 Menetou-Salon @ $24.99
Pinot Noir from the Loire, elegant and fresh with aromas of bright red fruits, spice and floral hints, suave with wonderful balance and a silky mineral infused finish
Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme 2006 Haut-Medoc @ $25.99
dark and glossy, with a nose of dark, sweet, slightly high-toned and perfumed fruit and lots of flesh on the palate, covering a ripe but very firm and upright structure
Rombauer 2008 Zinfandel @ $30.99
rich, juicy fruit loaded with ripe wild berries, plum, fig and black cherry flavors, with supple tannins and smooth oak notes in a lush, mouth-filling finish
J Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir @ $30.99
floral, cherry fruit aromaa with a hint of milk chocolate; medium-full body; elegant, crisp, tightly wound, red berry and cherry fruit flavors; medium tannins, and a lingering aftertaste
Senard 2005 Chorey-Les-Beaune @ $31.99
from a producer known for Pinots of color, individuality, and excellence, a light, bright, soft fruity Burgundy to drink and enjoy now
Zeni 2007 Amarone @ $32.99
an Amarone with great intensity and persistency of flavors, chewy and slightly sweet with velvety fruit, called "a value hunter's dream"
Convento San Francisco 2005 Ribera del Duero @ $32.99
from an outstanding vintage in the region, a wine of substantial body featuring ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors with supporting and integrated tannins
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir @ $32.99
Wright's first "Willamette Valley" designated Pinot Noir in more than fifteen years, a gift of the high-quality high-quantity 2009 vintage, fresh, juicy, vibrant, balanced to perfection
Occhipinti 2008 Il Frappato @ $34.99
from an organic producer in southern Sicily, fragrant and aromatic with pretty floral and red fruit notes
Freemark Abbey 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $34.99
a classic Bordeaux blend from Napa with a dense fruit core supported by bright acidity and fine tannins
Planeta 2005 Merlot @ $39.99
from Sicily, a limited-production Merlot, intense ruby red with refined scents of black currant, ripe prune and violet, with a whisper of mint chocolate
Corte Rugolin 2005 Amarone @ $48.99
impeccably balanced and rich, with layers of coffee, toffee, nuts, berries and earth, from a raising star of the region
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir "Shea" @ $55.99
a single-vineyard wine from Oregon's preeminent Pinot Noir specialist with a unique profile that rides the fence between black and red fruit characteristics, textured without being heavy
Ken Wright 2009 Pinot Noir "McCrone" @ $55.99
another single-vineyard wine from Oregon's preeminent Pinot Noir specialist, this one elegant and vibrant on the palate with plenty of racy fruit
Ragnaie 2004 Brunello di Montalcino @ $60.99
complex spice aromas, ripe red fruit, structured and balanced,a compelling bottle of Barolo and an excellent value
Caymus 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $74.99
beautifully perfumed and subtle with great depth and concentration, with a long persistent finish that keeps repeating the core themes
Tua Rita 2007 Giusto di Notri @ $75.99
a super-Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, full-bodied, with rich, sweet tannins and a jammy texture, a stunning wine with great aging potential
Williams Selyem 2007 Pinot Noir @ $75.99
100% from the Vista Verde vineyard in San Benito county, with a highly perfumed nose and flavors of concentrated ripe fruits, and rich and slightly aggressive tannins that help to carry the balanced acidity that follows long into the finish
Opus One 2007 Red @ $199.99
from one of Napa's finest vintages ever, opulent with impressive precision and depth, 95 points from Mr. Parker who says it could be cellared for 25 years