Having taken off last week because there was so little to report from the week before (a holiday week), I now have quite a bit to offer from the two weeks combined . . . so here goes!
NEW WHITES:
Oxford Landing 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $7.99
zesty notes of freshly cut grass and kiwifruit, with lively varietal flavors of gooseberry and hints of tropical fruit punch and passionfruit
(back) Perelada NV Blanc Pescador @ $8.99
a tremendously popular wine when we first discovered it last spring, a vino de aguja (needle wine) from Catalonia that is clean, fresh, crisp, dry, and slightly sparkling wine with a pleasant fruity aroma
Marques de Montemor 2009 White @ $9.99
from Portugal's Alentejo province, a blend of native varietals that is fresh and intense, made in a modern fruity style
Bourdiniere 2009 Muscadet @ $10.99
lively, fresh, and very dry, with a little sparkle on the tongue from natural carbon dioxide
(new vintage) Grant Burge 2008 Benchmark Chardonnay @ $11.99
a fruit-driven Chardonnay with excellent balance, a rich and generous palate with good acid balance
Lafayette-Reneau NV Seyval-Chardonnay @ $11.99
Oxford Landing 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $7.99
zesty notes of freshly cut grass and kiwifruit, with lively varietal flavors of gooseberry and hints of tropical fruit punch and passionfruit
(back) Perelada NV Blanc Pescador @ $8.99
a tremendously popular wine when we first discovered it last spring, a vino de aguja (needle wine) from Catalonia that is clean, fresh, crisp, dry, and slightly sparkling wine with a pleasant fruity aroma
Marques de Montemor 2009 White @ $9.99
from Portugal's Alentejo province, a blend of native varietals that is fresh and intense, made in a modern fruity style
Bourdiniere 2009 Muscadet @ $10.99
lively, fresh, and very dry, with a little sparkle on the tongue from natural carbon dioxide
(new vintage) Grant Burge 2008 Benchmark Chardonnay @ $11.99
a fruit-driven Chardonnay with excellent balance, a rich and generous palate with good acid balance
Lafayette-Reneau NV Seyval-Chardonnay @ $11.99
a flowery nose with subtle apple aromas, smooth and crisp with ample fruit and a lush texture
Estezargues Les Grandes Vignes 2009 Cotes du Rhone @ $12.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, a sunny white blend with low acidity and muted aromatics
Del Rio 2009 Pinot Gris @ $16.99
a luscious white from Oregon's Rogue Valley, with aromas and flavors are of pear, apple, guava, apricot and fresh fig
(new vintage) Norton Ridge 2009 Chardonnay @ $17.99
lots of big, crisp fruit flavors with just a hint of creamy, buttery oak
Migration 2008 Chardonnay @ $30.99
a classic Chardonnay from Duckhorn's Anderson Valley outpost, a bright and elegantly balanced wine with enticing white flower, Meyer lemon, white fig and almond blossom aromatics, alongside a subtle oak-inspired note
Clos des Fees 2009 Blanc @ $34.99
100% old-vine Grenache Blanc, a full-bodied wine with amazing layers of apricot, peach, honey, grapefruit, cut hay and a beautiful freshness
Leroux 2008 Auxey-Duresses @ $42.99
only the second vintage under Benjamin Leroux's own label, an elegant white Burgundy with rich, round middle-weight flavors that are supple and forward, all wrapped in a tangy, dry, clean finish
Estezargues Les Grandes Vignes 2009 Cotes du Rhone @ $12.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, a sunny white blend with low acidity and muted aromatics
Del Rio 2009 Pinot Gris @ $16.99
a luscious white from Oregon's Rogue Valley, with aromas and flavors are of pear, apple, guava, apricot and fresh fig
(new vintage) Norton Ridge 2009 Chardonnay @ $17.99
lots of big, crisp fruit flavors with just a hint of creamy, buttery oak
Migration 2008 Chardonnay @ $30.99
a classic Chardonnay from Duckhorn's Anderson Valley outpost, a bright and elegantly balanced wine with enticing white flower, Meyer lemon, white fig and almond blossom aromatics, alongside a subtle oak-inspired note
Clos des Fees 2009 Blanc @ $34.99
100% old-vine Grenache Blanc, a full-bodied wine with amazing layers of apricot, peach, honey, grapefruit, cut hay and a beautiful freshness
Leroux 2008 Auxey-Duresses @ $42.99
only the second vintage under Benjamin Leroux's own label, an elegant white Burgundy with rich, round middle-weight flavors that are supple and forward, all wrapped in a tangy, dry, clean finish
NEW REDS:
DeLoach 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $9.99
an easy-to-drink Cabernet, classic in style, with aromas of black currant intermingling with fresh herbs de Provence
D'Arenberg 2009 Stump Jump @ $11.99
a perennial house favorite, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, aromatic, fresh and lively with an abundance of ripe fruit
LAN 2006 Rioja @ $12.99
100% Tempranillo, fresh and balanced with a generous yet delicate texture
Estezargues 2008 Domaine Gres St. Vincent @ $13.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan with a deep and luxurious palate expressive of ripe black and red fruit flavors
Estezargue 2009 Grandes Vignes Cotes du Rhone @ $13.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, an unusual Cotes du Rhone made 100% from Cinsault, rich with ripe cherry and berry flavors and a mineral note that is followed by supple acidity and velvety tannins
(back) La Vinsobraise 2006 Vinsobre @ $14.99
from a 60-year-old coop in the Rhone that comprises 250 growers, a Grenache-Syrah blend, rich and chewy with good balance and acidity
Tabali 2008 Syrah @ $14.99
a Syrah from Chile's northern desert region, juicy, silky and smoky with a long finish
Norton Ridge 2009 Merlot @ $15.99
a California Merlot with flavors of dark berries, plum, and hints of mocha and coffee that finishes nicely with soft tannins
(back) Old Parcel 2008 Zinfandel @ $15.99
an old-vines Zinfandel from California's Central Valley with flavors of dark plum and blueberry with a touch of earthiness, and dark chocolate
(new vintage) Buscareto 2008 Lacrima di Morro d'Asti @ $15.99
100% Lacrima Nero, ruby red in color, with the nose dominated by faded rose petals and small savory bush fruit with a light spicy and woody fragrance
Domaine du Tracot 2009 Beaujolais Villages @ $15.99
made naturally and without sulfites, and from THE Beaujolais vintage of recent history, a crisp, light red bursting with fruit
Ruchel 2009 Mencia Valdeorras @ $17.99
made from the Mencia grape, native to western Spain, a richly-colored red with a concentrated fruit nose and flavors of bright red fruit and allspice
Zerbetta 2009 Barbera del Monferrato @ $17.99
a Barbera from biodynamic producers in Piedmont, rich in fruit and with medium tannins
Clos des Fees 2008 Les Sorcieres @ $17.99
from former resterauteur and journalist Herve Bizeul, now making wine in the Cotes du Roussillon, a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah from 40-80-year-old vines, a soft, round, highly fruited wine with wide appeal
Cousin-Leduc 2009 Rouge @ $19.99
made by Loire Valley organic producer Olivier Cousin, a wine that is 100% old-vines Grolleau, gentle on the palate yet tart and edgy
Johnson Family 2009 Pinot Noir @ $19.99
a cool-climate Pinot Noir from Carneros, a finished wine that offers pure Pinot aromatics, deep red and black fruit flavors, plus plenty of acidity and tannin for structure
Bogle 2007 Phantom Red @ $19.99
a blend of Petite Syrah and Zinfandel with a little Mourvedre thrown in, with robust flavors, driven by fruit and tannins in a big, bold style
Champ des Treilles 2003 Bordeaux @ $22.99
a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, a mature wine with a garnet red color, aromas of berries, licorice and spice
Paige 23 2007 Pinot Noir @ $22.99
a distinct, delicious Pinot Noir from a relative newcomer in Santa Barbara County, with rose petal, tea leaf and raspberry and cassis tones combined with bright acidity and terrific minerality
Collemattoni 2007 Rosso di Montalcino @ $22.99
100% Sangiovese from the Brunello clone, juicy and bright on the palate, yielding red fruits and lively acidity but with an earthy undercurrent
Erbaluna 2008 Barbera @ $23.99
an organic Barbera from the Oberto brothers, super concentrated yet vivacious, with an abundance of ripe, succulent fruits
Rollan de By 2008 Medoc @ $24.99
a Bordeaux of great structure and complexity, ripe but restrained, with nicely sinewy embedded, structure carrying solid black currant, black cherry and fig fruit
Bergevin Lane 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $27.99
a Columbia Valley Cabernet made in a deep, dense style, intense yet elegant, with aromas of blackberry, smoke, and black pepper and a velvety-smooth palate
Les Vins de Viennes Terres de Viennae 2008 Sotanum @ $29.99
from the Villard/Cuilleron/Gaillard team committed to the renaissance of the ancient vineyard of Seyssuel in the northern Rhone, a 100% Syrah that is rich and supple, fruit-forward and easy drinking
Lignier 2008 Bourgogne @ $29.99
a fresh, fruity young Burgundy with good structure and balance
Les Vins de Viennes Terres de Viennae 2008 Heluicum @ $33.99
from the Villard/Cuilleron/Gaillard team committed to the renaissance of the ancient vineyard of Seyssuel in the northern Rhone, a bright, fresh Syrah with a brisk core of kirsch and blackberry fruit backed by snappy tobacco and mouthwatering mineral notes
Neyers 2008 Merlot @ $34.99
a rich, concentrated wine with textbook Merlot flavors like wild cherry, tobacco leaf, and cinnamon
Chandon de Briailles 2008 Pernand-Vergelesses @ $38.99
elegant, refined, pure and intense, great Burgundy from a consistently reliable producer
Smith Madrone 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $43.99
soft, silky, and elegant, classic Napa Cabernet with a sturdy structure and long finish on the palate
Spring Mountain 2007 Syrah @ $49.99
from an outstanding vintage for California Syrah, a balanced and well structured wine with an elegant finish
Neyers 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $56.99
ripe and robust, intense and concentrated, with a full-bodied mix of black cherry, plum, berry, mineral, anise and sage
Clos des Fees 2006 Clos des Fees @ $86.99
from former resterauteur and journalist Herve Bizeul, now making wine in the Cotes du Roussillon, a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan, a wine of great concentration and power with a touch of residual sugar and well integrated oak
DeLoach 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $9.99
an easy-to-drink Cabernet, classic in style, with aromas of black currant intermingling with fresh herbs de Provence
D'Arenberg 2009 Stump Jump @ $11.99
a perennial house favorite, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, aromatic, fresh and lively with an abundance of ripe fruit
LAN 2006 Rioja @ $12.99
100% Tempranillo, fresh and balanced with a generous yet delicate texture
Estezargues 2008 Domaine Gres St. Vincent @ $13.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan with a deep and luxurious palate expressive of ripe black and red fruit flavors
Estezargue 2009 Grandes Vignes Cotes du Rhone @ $13.99
from a southern Rhone cooperative, the only coop in France to make and promote "natural" wines, an unusual Cotes du Rhone made 100% from Cinsault, rich with ripe cherry and berry flavors and a mineral note that is followed by supple acidity and velvety tannins
(back) La Vinsobraise 2006 Vinsobre @ $14.99
from a 60-year-old coop in the Rhone that comprises 250 growers, a Grenache-Syrah blend, rich and chewy with good balance and acidity
Tabali 2008 Syrah @ $14.99
a Syrah from Chile's northern desert region, juicy, silky and smoky with a long finish
Norton Ridge 2009 Merlot @ $15.99
a California Merlot with flavors of dark berries, plum, and hints of mocha and coffee that finishes nicely with soft tannins
(back) Old Parcel 2008 Zinfandel @ $15.99
an old-vines Zinfandel from California's Central Valley with flavors of dark plum and blueberry with a touch of earthiness, and dark chocolate
(new vintage) Buscareto 2008 Lacrima di Morro d'Asti @ $15.99
100% Lacrima Nero, ruby red in color, with the nose dominated by faded rose petals and small savory bush fruit with a light spicy and woody fragrance
Domaine du Tracot 2009 Beaujolais Villages @ $15.99
made naturally and without sulfites, and from THE Beaujolais vintage of recent history, a crisp, light red bursting with fruit
Ruchel 2009 Mencia Valdeorras @ $17.99
made from the Mencia grape, native to western Spain, a richly-colored red with a concentrated fruit nose and flavors of bright red fruit and allspice
Zerbetta 2009 Barbera del Monferrato @ $17.99
a Barbera from biodynamic producers in Piedmont, rich in fruit and with medium tannins
Clos des Fees 2008 Les Sorcieres @ $17.99
from former resterauteur and journalist Herve Bizeul, now making wine in the Cotes du Roussillon, a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah from 40-80-year-old vines, a soft, round, highly fruited wine with wide appeal
Cousin-Leduc 2009 Rouge @ $19.99
made by Loire Valley organic producer Olivier Cousin, a wine that is 100% old-vines Grolleau, gentle on the palate yet tart and edgy
Johnson Family 2009 Pinot Noir @ $19.99
a cool-climate Pinot Noir from Carneros, a finished wine that offers pure Pinot aromatics, deep red and black fruit flavors, plus plenty of acidity and tannin for structure
Bogle 2007 Phantom Red @ $19.99
a blend of Petite Syrah and Zinfandel with a little Mourvedre thrown in, with robust flavors, driven by fruit and tannins in a big, bold style
Champ des Treilles 2003 Bordeaux @ $22.99
a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, a mature wine with a garnet red color, aromas of berries, licorice and spice
Paige 23 2007 Pinot Noir @ $22.99
a distinct, delicious Pinot Noir from a relative newcomer in Santa Barbara County, with rose petal, tea leaf and raspberry and cassis tones combined with bright acidity and terrific minerality
Collemattoni 2007 Rosso di Montalcino @ $22.99
100% Sangiovese from the Brunello clone, juicy and bright on the palate, yielding red fruits and lively acidity but with an earthy undercurrent
Erbaluna 2008 Barbera @ $23.99
an organic Barbera from the Oberto brothers, super concentrated yet vivacious, with an abundance of ripe, succulent fruits
Rollan de By 2008 Medoc @ $24.99
a Bordeaux of great structure and complexity, ripe but restrained, with nicely sinewy embedded, structure carrying solid black currant, black cherry and fig fruit
Bergevin Lane 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $27.99
a Columbia Valley Cabernet made in a deep, dense style, intense yet elegant, with aromas of blackberry, smoke, and black pepper and a velvety-smooth palate
Les Vins de Viennes Terres de Viennae 2008 Sotanum @ $29.99
from the Villard/Cuilleron/Gaillard team committed to the renaissance of the ancient vineyard of Seyssuel in the northern Rhone, a 100% Syrah that is rich and supple, fruit-forward and easy drinking
Lignier 2008 Bourgogne @ $29.99
a fresh, fruity young Burgundy with good structure and balance
Les Vins de Viennes Terres de Viennae 2008 Heluicum @ $33.99
from the Villard/Cuilleron/Gaillard team committed to the renaissance of the ancient vineyard of Seyssuel in the northern Rhone, a bright, fresh Syrah with a brisk core of kirsch and blackberry fruit backed by snappy tobacco and mouthwatering mineral notes
Neyers 2008 Merlot @ $34.99
a rich, concentrated wine with textbook Merlot flavors like wild cherry, tobacco leaf, and cinnamon
Chandon de Briailles 2008 Pernand-Vergelesses @ $38.99
elegant, refined, pure and intense, great Burgundy from a consistently reliable producer
Smith Madrone 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $43.99
soft, silky, and elegant, classic Napa Cabernet with a sturdy structure and long finish on the palate
Spring Mountain 2007 Syrah @ $49.99
from an outstanding vintage for California Syrah, a balanced and well structured wine with an elegant finish
Neyers 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $56.99
ripe and robust, intense and concentrated, with a full-bodied mix of black cherry, plum, berry, mineral, anise and sage
Clos des Fees 2006 Clos des Fees @ $86.99
from former resterauteur and journalist Herve Bizeul, now making wine in the Cotes du Roussillon, a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan, a wine of great concentration and power with a touch of residual sugar and well integrated oak
NEW ROSE:
Bonhoste 2009 Bordeaux @ $13.99
a bright, crisp blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with aromas of strawberries and rose petals and lots of ripe red fruit on the palate
Bonhoste 2009 Bordeaux @ $13.99
a bright, crisp blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with aromas of strawberries and rose petals and lots of ripe red fruit on the palate