For those of you not sticking it out in the neighborhood during the summer months, a week ago Saturday was Dominique's last day with Heights Chateau; he has taken his family on a cross-country trip to the wet coast and from there goes on to a very different new life as a sommelier in Hong Kong. He made many friends with us, and I know all wish him well. Still not many new wines to report, so I took last week off and have lumped two weeks together . . . here goes.
NEW WHITES:
(back) Frenzy 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
zesty, aromatic and fresh with delicious flavors of peach, grapefruit, lime, melon and fresh-cut grass
(back) Tablelands 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
from the southern end of New Zealand's North Island, a Sauvignon Blanc with moderate intensity, mineral, grapefruit, herbaceous, with a medium finish
(new vintage) Cinquante-Cinq 2010 Viognier @ $12.99
from the south of France, light, crisp and floral, with aromas of peaches and pears
Basa 2010 Rueda @ $13.99
a Rueda from Telmo Rodriguez, Spain's up-and-coming enologist, a refreshing summer white made mostly of Verdejo with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc and Viura blended in
Setzer 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $14.99 (L)
light, clean, honest and a little grassy, with a few gooseberry notes from a cold September
Benito Santos 2010 Albarino @ $15.99
an organic wine from one of the original growers in the region, ripe and balanced, with notes of peaches, green apples, white flowers, and tropical fruit
Castello di Neive 2010 Arneis @ $15.99
from a beautiful estate in the Barbaresco zone of the Piedmont, a single-vineyard Arneis with an intense fruity nose of lemons and apples and a distinctive taste of almonds
(back) Collovray and Terrier 2009 St. Veran @ $17.99
an elegant French Chardonnay, intense, round, softly structured and lightly perfumed, with pronounced mineral notes
(back) Frenzy 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
zesty, aromatic and fresh with delicious flavors of peach, grapefruit, lime, melon and fresh-cut grass
(back) Tablelands 2010 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99
from the southern end of New Zealand's North Island, a Sauvignon Blanc with moderate intensity, mineral, grapefruit, herbaceous, with a medium finish
(new vintage) Cinquante-Cinq 2010 Viognier @ $12.99
from the south of France, light, crisp and floral, with aromas of peaches and pears
Basa 2010 Rueda @ $13.99
a Rueda from Telmo Rodriguez, Spain's up-and-coming enologist, a refreshing summer white made mostly of Verdejo with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc and Viura blended in
Setzer 2010 Gruner Veltliner @ $14.99 (L)
light, clean, honest and a little grassy, with a few gooseberry notes from a cold September
Benito Santos 2010 Albarino @ $15.99
an organic wine from one of the original growers in the region, ripe and balanced, with notes of peaches, green apples, white flowers, and tropical fruit
Castello di Neive 2010 Arneis @ $15.99
from a beautiful estate in the Barbaresco zone of the Piedmont, a single-vineyard Arneis with an intense fruity nose of lemons and apples and a distinctive taste of almonds
(back) Collovray and Terrier 2009 St. Veran @ $17.99
an elegant French Chardonnay, intense, round, softly structured and lightly perfumed, with pronounced mineral notes
NEW REDS:
(back) Li Veli 2008 Primonero @ $10.99
a fresh, intense blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro, with lovely fruit, lively acidity and sweet tannins
(back) Mahe 2008 Gourmandise @ $15.99
from an organic producer in the Loire, and one of the region's rising stars, a lush, ripe Cabernet Franc, snappy and fragrant yet open and soft, with spicy bell pepper aromas and bold ripe fruit on the palate
Castellodi di Neive 2009 Dolcetto d'Alba @ $18.99
from a beautiful estate in the Barbaresco zone of the Piedmont, a single-vineyard Dolcetto that is delicately perfumed, round with a pleasant bitterness, harmonious and well balanced with good body
(back) Layer Cake 2009 Shiraz @ $18.99
and creamy red that exmade from grapes sourced primarily from South Australia's McLaren Vale, a dark, dense Shirazthat explodes with flavors of ripe blackberry with a touch of cigar box
Amapola Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $59.99
a stellar Cab from California pioneer Richard Arrowood, concentrated and harmonious, with intense fruit aromas and weight, firm structure, and layers of flavors on the palate
(back) Li Veli 2008 Primonero @ $10.99
a fresh, intense blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro, with lovely fruit, lively acidity and sweet tannins
(back) Mahe 2008 Gourmandise @ $15.99
from an organic producer in the Loire, and one of the region's rising stars, a lush, ripe Cabernet Franc, snappy and fragrant yet open and soft, with spicy bell pepper aromas and bold ripe fruit on the palate
Castellodi di Neive 2009 Dolcetto d'Alba @ $18.99
from a beautiful estate in the Barbaresco zone of the Piedmont, a single-vineyard Dolcetto that is delicately perfumed, round with a pleasant bitterness, harmonious and well balanced with good body
(back) Layer Cake 2009 Shiraz @ $18.99
and creamy red that exmade from grapes sourced primarily from South Australia's McLaren Vale, a dark, dense Shirazthat explodes with flavors of ripe blackberry with a touch of cigar box
Amapola Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $59.99
a stellar Cab from California pioneer Richard Arrowood, concentrated and harmonious, with intense fruit aromas and weight, firm structure, and layers of flavors on the palate
NEW ROSES:
Chateau de Presle 2010 Rose @ $11.99
100% Pineau d'Aunis from a family-owned and -run estate in the Loire valley, with light pepper and spice overtones
Antichi Vigneti di Cantelupo 2010 Il Mimo @ $15.99
a fine, smooth wine from 100% Nebbiolo, with a delicate color and a captivating fragrance, fresh and fruity on the palate
Gobelsburger 2010 Rose @ $16.99
a blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent from the estate's cooler sites, lean and structured with fresh pungent acidity
Miraval 2010 Rose @ $21.99
from the Cotes de Provence, a blend of old-vines Cinsault and Grenache, light and dry with a rose-like bouquet
Unti 2010 Rose @ $25.99
a Dry Creek Valley blend of Grenache Noir and Mourvedre, rich and full-bodied with a completely dry finish
Chateau de Presle 2010 Rose @ $11.99
100% Pineau d'Aunis from a family-owned and -run estate in the Loire valley, with light pepper and spice overtones
Antichi Vigneti di Cantelupo 2010 Il Mimo @ $15.99
a fine, smooth wine from 100% Nebbiolo, with a delicate color and a captivating fragrance, fresh and fruity on the palate
Gobelsburger 2010 Rose @ $16.99
a blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent from the estate's cooler sites, lean and structured with fresh pungent acidity
Miraval 2010 Rose @ $21.99
from the Cotes de Provence, a blend of old-vines Cinsault and Grenache, light and dry with a rose-like bouquet
Unti 2010 Rose @ $25.99
a Dry Creek Valley blend of Grenache Noir and Mourvedre, rich and full-bodied with a completely dry finish