Back on a weekly schedule but a few days late, due to my computer acting up . . . looks like I'm in for a new one shortly. But on to what's new!
NEW WHITES:
Boxhead 2010 Chardonnay @ $10.99
sourced from some of the best vineyard sites across South Australia, a fairly steely Chardonnay with notes of citrus and apple, good grip and a restrained palate
Grinalda 2010 Vinho Verde @ $11.99
a blend of three grapes native to the region, Trjadura for elegance and softness, Loureiro for intense aroma, and Alvarinho for a long persistent finish
Jacky Renard 2009 Bourgogne Aligote @ $13.99
crisp citrus aromas with underlying mineral notes, medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, with flavors of lemon, grapefruit and apple that are balanced by bright acidity
Airfield 2010 Chardonnay @ $13.99
a Washington state Chardonnay with a delicate, creamy mouthfeel with aromas of pear, melon, a hint of butterscotch, and subtle notes of coconut
Red Newt Cellars 2010 Riesling @ $13.99
slightly sweet yet crisp, with forward fruit flavors of angerine and apricot, overtones of citrus and honeysuckle
(new vintage) Joel Gott 2010 Chardonnay @ $15.99
a clean, crisp, delicious Chardonnay unfettered by toasty oak or buttery lactic acid flavors
Chateau Marjosse 2009 Bordeaux @ $17.99
a textbook apéritif wine, with tasty thyme, lemon peel and fleur de sel notes and a bright, breezy finish
Barth 2007 Pinot Gris @ $17.99
big and rich, with great fruity pear and fig flavors and a long dry finish
(new vintage) Batasiolo 2009 Gavi di Gavi @ $17.99
a subtle, fruity white, with apple, lemon and melon character, medium-bodied and fresh
(new vintage) Ponzi 2010 Pinot Gris @ $17.99
vanilla, mango and papaya notes offset by strong green pear and floral aromatics, full and broad on the palate with a refreshing hit of lemon custard
Atwater 2010 Gewurztraminer @ $18.99
a dry Gewurz from the Finger Lakes, distinctively aromatic, with notes of rose petal, honeysuckle and spice
Keller 2010 Riesling @ $19.99
made by one of the most respected winemakers in Germany, Klaus-Peter Keller, who almost single-handedly put the Rheishessen region on the map, a very dry wine with notes of apple, pink grapefruit, chalky minerality and orange peel, medium- to full-bodied with bracing acidity
Roth 2010 Chardonnay @ $20.99
from cool-climate sites in the Sonoma Coast appellation, a rich ripe Chardonnay with some French oak influence
(new vintage) Cloudy Bay 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $29.99
substantial, citrusy and refreshingly clean, with fruit flavors that are tart and complex, aromas of grapefruit pith
Boxhead 2010 Chardonnay @ $10.99
sourced from some of the best vineyard sites across South Australia, a fairly steely Chardonnay with notes of citrus and apple, good grip and a restrained palate
Grinalda 2010 Vinho Verde @ $11.99
a blend of three grapes native to the region, Trjadura for elegance and softness, Loureiro for intense aroma, and Alvarinho for a long persistent finish
Jacky Renard 2009 Bourgogne Aligote @ $13.99
crisp citrus aromas with underlying mineral notes, medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, with flavors of lemon, grapefruit and apple that are balanced by bright acidity
Airfield 2010 Chardonnay @ $13.99
a Washington state Chardonnay with a delicate, creamy mouthfeel with aromas of pear, melon, a hint of butterscotch, and subtle notes of coconut
Red Newt Cellars 2010 Riesling @ $13.99
slightly sweet yet crisp, with forward fruit flavors of angerine and apricot, overtones of citrus and honeysuckle
(new vintage) Joel Gott 2010 Chardonnay @ $15.99
a clean, crisp, delicious Chardonnay unfettered by toasty oak or buttery lactic acid flavors
Chateau Marjosse 2009 Bordeaux @ $17.99
a textbook apéritif wine, with tasty thyme, lemon peel and fleur de sel notes and a bright, breezy finish
Barth 2007 Pinot Gris @ $17.99
big and rich, with great fruity pear and fig flavors and a long dry finish
(new vintage) Batasiolo 2009 Gavi di Gavi @ $17.99
a subtle, fruity white, with apple, lemon and melon character, medium-bodied and fresh
(new vintage) Ponzi 2010 Pinot Gris @ $17.99
vanilla, mango and papaya notes offset by strong green pear and floral aromatics, full and broad on the palate with a refreshing hit of lemon custard
Atwater 2010 Gewurztraminer @ $18.99
a dry Gewurz from the Finger Lakes, distinctively aromatic, with notes of rose petal, honeysuckle and spice
Keller 2010 Riesling @ $19.99
made by one of the most respected winemakers in Germany, Klaus-Peter Keller, who almost single-handedly put the Rheishessen region on the map, a very dry wine with notes of apple, pink grapefruit, chalky minerality and orange peel, medium- to full-bodied with bracing acidity
Roth 2010 Chardonnay @ $20.99
from cool-climate sites in the Sonoma Coast appellation, a rich ripe Chardonnay with some French oak influence
(new vintage) Cloudy Bay 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $29.99
substantial, citrusy and refreshingly clean, with fruit flavors that are tart and complex, aromas of grapefruit pith
NEW REDS:
Bucatini 2007 Red @ $10.99
a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc, with rich fruit, complex flavors, and peppery spice notes
Alpha Box & Dice 2008 Tarot Grenache @ $12.99
made from fruit sourced from some of the oldest and best vineyard sites in South Australia, New World Grenache at its best, with great purity of fruit balanced with plenty of acidity
Bera 2006 Dolcetto Bricco della Sera @ $13.99
from a great Piedmont vintage, a single-vineyard wine, organically farmed, with uncommon finesse and depth for a Dolcetto
Passedouro 2008 Tinto @ $13.99
powerful yet elegant, with great ripe fruit packed into a firm structure, and a delicious juicy character that balances acidity and tannins
Decero 2009 Malbec @ $14.99
opaque and dense with aromas and flavor, with pronounced aromas, solid but affable tannins, fragrant fruit and supple spice
Schiavenza 2010 Dolcetto @ $14.99
a pure, vibrant, elegant expression of the grape from a producer using traditional methods and organic viticulture
Helfenbein 2010 Syrah @ $14.99
a pure expression of Syrah from a very impressive newcomer in the Rhone
Casematte 2009 Figliodiennenne @ $15.99
a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nocera from Sicily, rich, ripe and robust
Clos de Noi 2009 Montsant @ $15.99
100% Carignan from 50-60-year-old vines, a lightly oaked blend of the three different soil types in the vineyard, each terroir lending its own expression to the wine, giving it balance, structure and elegance
(new vintage) Walden 2008 Cotes du Rousillon @ $15.99
a blend of Carignane, Grenache, and Syrah, bright and zesty with a core of vibrant fruit; rich and complex yet surprisingly easy to drink
Wilson Daniels 2010 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
from California's Santa Maria Valley, a Pinot with berry and Asian spice flavors, a silky body and a smooth finish
Airfield Estates 2009 Bombshell Red @ $17.99
mostly Syrah and Merlot with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Cab Franc from Washington State, round and full-bodied, with lingering flavors of dark fruit and toasted oak on the palate
Gonzalez-Suner 2009 Mantonegro @ $17.99
a soft, fruity blend from Mallorca made primarily from the indigenous Mantonegro grape with some Collat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah blended in, with plenty of earth and berry flavors, crisp acidity, well balanced
Filliatreau 2009 La Grande Vignole @ $19.99
a Loire red that is elegant and deeply fruited with excellent focus and structure
Roth 2009 Merlot @ $20.99
from Sonoma's Alexander Valley, a rich ripe Merlot, densely structured. with generous fruit flavors, chewy tannins, a smooth mouthfeel, and a long gracious finish
(new vintage) Cousin-LeDuc 2010 Le Cousin @ $20.99
100% Grolleau, an ancient red grape variety indigenous to the Loire, rich and complex yet soft and gentle
Alessandria 2010 Verduna Pelaverga @ $20.99
a light, bright, peppery Piedmontese red made from the Pelaverga grape found only in the town of Verduno, fresh and pure in the mouth, with attractive sweetness and plenty of character to the red berry, herbal and mineral flavors, only 750 cases made
Tavijn 2010 Grignolino @ $21.99
a local specialty of the Monferrato hills in Piedmont, made by Nadia Verrua, the "padronina" of Cascina Tavijn, a light red with the bitter cherry flavor characteristic of the grape
Pombal do Vesuvio 2007 Douro @ $21.99
a smooth, supple red from a great Port house, displaying black plum and fresh raspberry fruit flavors on the palate, with silky and refined tannins carrying through to a long stylish finish
Querce 2007 Il Guado Bolgheri @ $22.99
a Cab/Merlot/Syrah blend from southern Tuscany, big and broad with ripe tannins and tons of fruit
Henry's Drive 2008 Dead Letter Office Shiraz @ $22.99
a blend of Padthaway Shiraz and McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Henry's Drive vineyards in both regions, ripe, round and mouth-filling, with fine soft tannins and fresh acidity
Le Gode 2008 Rosso di Montalcino @ $22.99
from the same vineyards that yield the winery's Brunello but aged a shorter period of time, full-bodied, fruitforward, with sublte mineral undertones
Alpha Box & Dice 2008 Dolcetto @ $24.99
an early-drinking style red that has the fresh acidity one would expect from a white wine but with soft, round fruit flavors that are vibrant and full of life
Ponzi 2009 Tavola @ $24.99
a Pinot from one of Willamette Valley's pioneering wineries, with a perfumed nose of spiced cherry, red raspberry, clove, licorice and sandalwood, and a bright mouth of red currant and plum that leads to a soft, lingering finish
Chapelle de Calon 2006 Saint-Estephe @ $26.99
the second wine of Chateau Calon Segur, full-bodied but well balanced, with a pleasantly herbal finish
Mount Eden 2007 "Domaine Eden" Cabernet Sauvignon @ $29.99
from the old Cinnabar winery, renamed Domaine Mount Eden this year by new owner Mount Eden Vineyards, a true Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with small additions of Petit Verdot and Malbec, with complex aromas and muted tannins and acidity
Grassi 2007 Valpolicella @ $31.99
made in a style that favors elegance and detail over sheer power, a voluptuous Valpolicella that flows with layers of dark cherries, herbs and smoke
Silverado 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $39.99
a classic Bordeaux-style blend, well structured, with intense aromas of crushed blackberries and blueberries that follow to a full body, with lots of fruit and a velvety tannin structure
Sister Moon 2007 Toscana Rosso @ $64.99
the top of the line from Sting's Tuscan winery, an elegant, harmonious blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, with beautiful aromatics, deep and intense fruit and spice, and a gorgeous, elegant structure
Cosimi 2006 Terra Rossa Brunello @ $69.99
handcrafted Brunello from a small single vineyard, a classic wine with great structure, ample red fruit and sweet tannins, soft and succulent
Bucatini 2007 Red @ $10.99
a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc, with rich fruit, complex flavors, and peppery spice notes
Alpha Box & Dice 2008 Tarot Grenache @ $12.99
made from fruit sourced from some of the oldest and best vineyard sites in South Australia, New World Grenache at its best, with great purity of fruit balanced with plenty of acidity
Bera 2006 Dolcetto Bricco della Sera @ $13.99
from a great Piedmont vintage, a single-vineyard wine, organically farmed, with uncommon finesse and depth for a Dolcetto
Passedouro 2008 Tinto @ $13.99
powerful yet elegant, with great ripe fruit packed into a firm structure, and a delicious juicy character that balances acidity and tannins
Decero 2009 Malbec @ $14.99
opaque and dense with aromas and flavor, with pronounced aromas, solid but affable tannins, fragrant fruit and supple spice
Schiavenza 2010 Dolcetto @ $14.99
a pure, vibrant, elegant expression of the grape from a producer using traditional methods and organic viticulture
Helfenbein 2010 Syrah @ $14.99
a pure expression of Syrah from a very impressive newcomer in the Rhone
Casematte 2009 Figliodiennenne @ $15.99
a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nocera from Sicily, rich, ripe and robust
Clos de Noi 2009 Montsant @ $15.99
100% Carignan from 50-60-year-old vines, a lightly oaked blend of the three different soil types in the vineyard, each terroir lending its own expression to the wine, giving it balance, structure and elegance
(new vintage) Walden 2008 Cotes du Rousillon @ $15.99
a blend of Carignane, Grenache, and Syrah, bright and zesty with a core of vibrant fruit; rich and complex yet surprisingly easy to drink
Wilson Daniels 2010 Pinot Noir @ $16.99
from California's Santa Maria Valley, a Pinot with berry and Asian spice flavors, a silky body and a smooth finish
Airfield Estates 2009 Bombshell Red @ $17.99
mostly Syrah and Merlot with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Cab Franc from Washington State, round and full-bodied, with lingering flavors of dark fruit and toasted oak on the palate
Gonzalez-Suner 2009 Mantonegro @ $17.99
a soft, fruity blend from Mallorca made primarily from the indigenous Mantonegro grape with some Collat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah blended in, with plenty of earth and berry flavors, crisp acidity, well balanced
Filliatreau 2009 La Grande Vignole @ $19.99
a Loire red that is elegant and deeply fruited with excellent focus and structure
Roth 2009 Merlot @ $20.99
from Sonoma's Alexander Valley, a rich ripe Merlot, densely structured. with generous fruit flavors, chewy tannins, a smooth mouthfeel, and a long gracious finish
(new vintage) Cousin-LeDuc 2010 Le Cousin @ $20.99
100% Grolleau, an ancient red grape variety indigenous to the Loire, rich and complex yet soft and gentle
Alessandria 2010 Verduna Pelaverga @ $20.99
a light, bright, peppery Piedmontese red made from the Pelaverga grape found only in the town of Verduno, fresh and pure in the mouth, with attractive sweetness and plenty of character to the red berry, herbal and mineral flavors, only 750 cases made
Tavijn 2010 Grignolino @ $21.99
a local specialty of the Monferrato hills in Piedmont, made by Nadia Verrua, the "padronina" of Cascina Tavijn, a light red with the bitter cherry flavor characteristic of the grape
Pombal do Vesuvio 2007 Douro @ $21.99
a smooth, supple red from a great Port house, displaying black plum and fresh raspberry fruit flavors on the palate, with silky and refined tannins carrying through to a long stylish finish
Querce 2007 Il Guado Bolgheri @ $22.99
a Cab/Merlot/Syrah blend from southern Tuscany, big and broad with ripe tannins and tons of fruit
Henry's Drive 2008 Dead Letter Office Shiraz @ $22.99
a blend of Padthaway Shiraz and McLaren Vale Shiraz from the Henry's Drive vineyards in both regions, ripe, round and mouth-filling, with fine soft tannins and fresh acidity
Le Gode 2008 Rosso di Montalcino @ $22.99
from the same vineyards that yield the winery's Brunello but aged a shorter period of time, full-bodied, fruitforward, with sublte mineral undertones
Alpha Box & Dice 2008 Dolcetto @ $24.99
an early-drinking style red that has the fresh acidity one would expect from a white wine but with soft, round fruit flavors that are vibrant and full of life
Ponzi 2009 Tavola @ $24.99
a Pinot from one of Willamette Valley's pioneering wineries, with a perfumed nose of spiced cherry, red raspberry, clove, licorice and sandalwood, and a bright mouth of red currant and plum that leads to a soft, lingering finish
Chapelle de Calon 2006 Saint-Estephe @ $26.99
the second wine of Chateau Calon Segur, full-bodied but well balanced, with a pleasantly herbal finish
Mount Eden 2007 "Domaine Eden" Cabernet Sauvignon @ $29.99
from the old Cinnabar winery, renamed Domaine Mount Eden this year by new owner Mount Eden Vineyards, a true Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with small additions of Petit Verdot and Malbec, with complex aromas and muted tannins and acidity
Grassi 2007 Valpolicella @ $31.99
made in a style that favors elegance and detail over sheer power, a voluptuous Valpolicella that flows with layers of dark cherries, herbs and smoke
Silverado 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $39.99
a classic Bordeaux-style blend, well structured, with intense aromas of crushed blackberries and blueberries that follow to a full body, with lots of fruit and a velvety tannin structure
Sister Moon 2007 Toscana Rosso @ $64.99
the top of the line from Sting's Tuscan winery, an elegant, harmonious blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, with beautiful aromatics, deep and intense fruit and spice, and a gorgeous, elegant structure
Cosimi 2006 Terra Rossa Brunello @ $69.99
handcrafted Brunello from a small single vineyard, a classic wine with great structure, ample red fruit and sweet tannins, soft and succulent