Belated wishes for a Happy New Year from all of us at Heights Chateau! As things have already settled down into the dull quietude of January, I have only a few new items to report, as follows:
NEW WHITES:
Jordan 2008 Chardonnay @ $35.99
crisp fruit and minerality from the cool climate and gravelly soils of Russian River Valley
Jordan 2008 Chardonnay @ $35.99
crisp fruit and minerality from the cool climate and gravelly soils of Russian River Valley
NEW REDS:
(new vintage) Borsao 2009 Garnacha @ $8.99
a bright, highly fruity wine, one of the best examples of the region known as "The Garnacha land of Spain," the lower part of the Ebro River
(new vintage) Nieto Sentenir 2010 Pinot Noir @ $10.99
a medium-bodied, well balanced Pinot with bright red fruit and a lot of style for the $$
(back) Padrillos 2008 Malbec @ $11.99
a classic Malbec with ripe, concentrated dark fruit aromas with hints of chocolate and black cherry
( new vintage) Crios 2009 Malbec @ $14.99
from stellar winemaker Susana Balbo, a Malbec with bold fruit, good structure, and plenty of acidity
Pala 2008 Cannonau @ $16.99
subtle spice and mature red-fruit aromas, a medium-bodied red with good structure and a lingering finish
Chateau de la Font du Loup 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape @ $29.99
from a family estate that dates from the Napoleonic era, a Grenache-driven Chateauneuf, full-bodied and well-structured, a steal at this price
Loring 2008 Pinot Noir "Aubaine" @ $29.99
a rich, ripe Pinot from Brian Loring, a confessed Pinot fanatic who makes small lots of wines from carefully chosen single vineyards
Eyrie 2008 Pinot Noir @ $35.99
from Oregon's pioneering Pinot Noir producer, rich, lively, and elegant with plenty of spicy red fruit
Uccelliera 2006 Rapace @ $39.99
a tiny-production super-Tuscan (Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet) from one of the top producers in Montalcino
Zenato 2006 Amarone @ $70.99
a blend of handpicked Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta grapes, which are left to raisin for several months, luscious and decadent, "the real deal" for Amarone
(new vintage) Borsao 2009 Garnacha @ $8.99
a bright, highly fruity wine, one of the best examples of the region known as "The Garnacha land of Spain," the lower part of the Ebro River
(new vintage) Nieto Sentenir 2010 Pinot Noir @ $10.99
a medium-bodied, well balanced Pinot with bright red fruit and a lot of style for the $$
(back) Padrillos 2008 Malbec @ $11.99
a classic Malbec with ripe, concentrated dark fruit aromas with hints of chocolate and black cherry
( new vintage) Crios 2009 Malbec @ $14.99
from stellar winemaker Susana Balbo, a Malbec with bold fruit, good structure, and plenty of acidity
Pala 2008 Cannonau @ $16.99
subtle spice and mature red-fruit aromas, a medium-bodied red with good structure and a lingering finish
Chateau de la Font du Loup 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape @ $29.99
from a family estate that dates from the Napoleonic era, a Grenache-driven Chateauneuf, full-bodied and well-structured, a steal at this price
Loring 2008 Pinot Noir "Aubaine" @ $29.99
a rich, ripe Pinot from Brian Loring, a confessed Pinot fanatic who makes small lots of wines from carefully chosen single vineyards
Eyrie 2008 Pinot Noir @ $35.99
from Oregon's pioneering Pinot Noir producer, rich, lively, and elegant with plenty of spicy red fruit
Uccelliera 2006 Rapace @ $39.99
a tiny-production super-Tuscan (Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet) from one of the top producers in Montalcino
Zenato 2006 Amarone @ $70.99
a blend of handpicked Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta grapes, which are left to raisin for several months, luscious and decadent, "the real deal" for Amarone