I will be MIA again next week, off to Fire Island for a bit of R&R; catch up with you all in two weeks time. Meanwhile, be sure to check our web site for news of upcoming events and click on "the Focused Palate" for some interesting comments/reflections from our staff.
NEW WHITES:
Las Lilas 2010 Vinho Verde @ $7.99
well defined apple and peach flavors joined by rich, smoky notes, elegant and fresh with a creamy finish
(new vintage) Zaleo 2009 Pardina @ $8.99
made from a grape native to Spain's Extremadura region, with nuanced fruit balanced with excellent acidity
Tablelands 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
from Martinborough, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, bright and refreshing with moderate intensity, balancing fleshy ripeness and refreshing acidity
(new vintage) Marques de Alella 2010 Alella @ $12.99
100% Pansa Blanca, a grape native to the Penedes, with intense fresh and fruity aromas and a long, distinctive, slightly bitter finish
Louvetrie 2010 Muscadet @ $13.99
100% Melon de Bourgogne, farmed organically, dry, clean, fresh and minerally
(new vintage) Schreyer 2009 Edelzwicker @ $13.99
a fun, easy-drinking blend from Alsace, with bright fruit and intense aromatics
(new vintage) Zenato 2010 Lugana @ $14.99
single-vineyard Trebbiano from the southern shores of Lake Garda, with notes of peach, citrus, banana and herbs, accompanied by a crisp acidity and supple body on the palate
Telmo Rodriguez 2010 Gabo di Xil Valdeorras @ $14.99
100% Godello, a dry white with hints of peaches, apricots, and honeysuckle, no obvious oak, a terrific texture, medium to full body, and wonderful purity as well as length
Fess Parker 2009 Chardonnay @ $15.99
classic Santa Barbara Chardonnay, partially barrel-fermented, approachable but with an excellent body
(new vintage) Cloudy Bay 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $29.99
the new vintage from the winery that put New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the world wine map, a Sauvignon Blanc of vibrant intensity with floral and tropical fruit aromas and a weighty texture balanced by an acidic backbone
Las Lilas 2010 Vinho Verde @ $7.99
well defined apple and peach flavors joined by rich, smoky notes, elegant and fresh with a creamy finish
(new vintage) Zaleo 2009 Pardina @ $8.99
made from a grape native to Spain's Extremadura region, with nuanced fruit balanced with excellent acidity
Tablelands 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
from Martinborough, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, bright and refreshing with moderate intensity, balancing fleshy ripeness and refreshing acidity
(new vintage) Marques de Alella 2010 Alella @ $12.99
100% Pansa Blanca, a grape native to the Penedes, with intense fresh and fruity aromas and a long, distinctive, slightly bitter finish
Louvetrie 2010 Muscadet @ $13.99
100% Melon de Bourgogne, farmed organically, dry, clean, fresh and minerally
(new vintage) Schreyer 2009 Edelzwicker @ $13.99
a fun, easy-drinking blend from Alsace, with bright fruit and intense aromatics
(new vintage) Zenato 2010 Lugana @ $14.99
single-vineyard Trebbiano from the southern shores of Lake Garda, with notes of peach, citrus, banana and herbs, accompanied by a crisp acidity and supple body on the palate
Telmo Rodriguez 2010 Gabo di Xil Valdeorras @ $14.99
100% Godello, a dry white with hints of peaches, apricots, and honeysuckle, no obvious oak, a terrific texture, medium to full body, and wonderful purity as well as length
Fess Parker 2009 Chardonnay @ $15.99
classic Santa Barbara Chardonnay, partially barrel-fermented, approachable but with an excellent body
(new vintage) Cloudy Bay 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $29.99
the new vintage from the winery that put New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on the world wine map, a Sauvignon Blanc of vibrant intensity with floral and tropical fruit aromas and a weighty texture balanced by an acidic backbone
NEW REDS:
Castano 2009 Monastrell @ $8.99
from the leading producer in Yeclas, Spain, 100% old-vines Monastrell (Mourvèdre) with a nose of blueberries, raspberries, and chocolate, loads of fruit, sweet tannins, and a long, ripe finish
Zaleo 2008 Tempranillo @ $9.99
a perfect balance between fruit and oak, all with the delicate overlay of licorice that characterizes top oak-aged Extremaduran wines
(new vintage) D'Arenberg 2009 The Stump Jump @ $11.99
a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from Australia's McLaren Vale, with delicate fruit, a touch of dried herbs, and fine lifted tannins that provide a long finish
Alamos 2010 Malbec @ $11.99
a soft and supple Malbec, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather and a long persistent finish with soft, sweet tannins
(new vintage) Station 2009 Cabernet @ $13.99
a great value Cabernet with a heavy fruit presence, spicy aromatics, and firm tannins
(new vintage) Steltzner 2008 Claret @ $14.99
a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, medium-bodied, velvety and elegant, with aromas of black cherries, black currants and licorice
D'Arenberg 2004 d'Arry's Original @ $20.99
a classic 50/50 blend of Grenache and Shiraz from McLaren Vale, soft, generous and full-flavored with great fruit character and a long, spicy finish
L'Octavin 2009 Arbois @ $23.99
made 100% from Poulsard, a versatile grape native to the Arbois, by a practicing biodynamic producer, light and delicate yet with intense aromas and flavors and a firm tannic structure
Sinskey 2008 Pinot Noir @ $43.99
classic Carneros Pinot Noir, with ripe tannins, an elegant texture, soft and velvety, with a great balance between flavors, tannins, and acidity
Castano 2009 Monastrell @ $8.99
from the leading producer in Yeclas, Spain, 100% old-vines Monastrell (Mourvèdre) with a nose of blueberries, raspberries, and chocolate, loads of fruit, sweet tannins, and a long, ripe finish
Zaleo 2008 Tempranillo @ $9.99
a perfect balance between fruit and oak, all with the delicate overlay of licorice that characterizes top oak-aged Extremaduran wines
(new vintage) D'Arenberg 2009 The Stump Jump @ $11.99
a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from Australia's McLaren Vale, with delicate fruit, a touch of dried herbs, and fine lifted tannins that provide a long finish
Alamos 2010 Malbec @ $11.99
a soft and supple Malbec, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather and a long persistent finish with soft, sweet tannins
(new vintage) Station 2009 Cabernet @ $13.99
a great value Cabernet with a heavy fruit presence, spicy aromatics, and firm tannins
(new vintage) Steltzner 2008 Claret @ $14.99
a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, medium-bodied, velvety and elegant, with aromas of black cherries, black currants and licorice
D'Arenberg 2004 d'Arry's Original @ $20.99
a classic 50/50 blend of Grenache and Shiraz from McLaren Vale, soft, generous and full-flavored with great fruit character and a long, spicy finish
L'Octavin 2009 Arbois @ $23.99
made 100% from Poulsard, a versatile grape native to the Arbois, by a practicing biodynamic producer, light and delicate yet with intense aromas and flavors and a firm tannic structure
Sinskey 2008 Pinot Noir @ $43.99
classic Carneros Pinot Noir, with ripe tannins, an elegant texture, soft and velvety, with a great balance between flavors, tannins, and acidity
NEW ROSES:
Sincerite 2010 Pinot Noir @ $9.99
from the eastern Loire Valley, 100% Pinot Noir, lush and full on the palate with scents of vanilla and orange peel
La Selve 2010 Maguelonne @ $10.99
from an organic producer in the Ardeche, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, with red and white fruit aromas, elegant and delicate with great freshness
Houchart 2010 Cotes de Provence @ $11.99
a crowd-pleaser year in and year out, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, fresh and light with crisp red fruits on the palate with a hint of citrus and floral notes
Clos Beylesse 2010 Cotes de Provence @ $29.99
fresh and juicy offers light strawberry and watermelon flavors with lemon acidity
(back) Sinskey 2010 Vin Gris @ $31.99
100% Napa Valley Pinot Noir, savory as much as fruity, rich and weighty on the palate, with abundant flavor notes of strawberry and watermelon
Sincerite 2010 Pinot Noir @ $9.99
from the eastern Loire Valley, 100% Pinot Noir, lush and full on the palate with scents of vanilla and orange peel
La Selve 2010 Maguelonne @ $10.99
from an organic producer in the Ardeche, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, with red and white fruit aromas, elegant and delicate with great freshness
Houchart 2010 Cotes de Provence @ $11.99
a crowd-pleaser year in and year out, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, fresh and light with crisp red fruits on the palate with a hint of citrus and floral notes
Clos Beylesse 2010 Cotes de Provence @ $29.99
fresh and juicy offers light strawberry and watermelon flavors with lemon acidity
(back) Sinskey 2010 Vin Gris @ $31.99
100% Napa Valley Pinot Noir, savory as much as fruity, rich and weighty on the palate, with abundant flavor notes of strawberry and watermelon