Some new wines to report, and we're back on a regular schedule with our in-store tastings, so check the calendar on our website, www.heightschateau.com, to see who's joining us when.
NEW WHITES:
Bacalhoa Catarina 2010 Branco @ $10.99
a Portuguese blend of Fernao Pires and Chardonnay, medium- to full-bodied, complex, with a lingering finish
(new vintage) Bonterra 2010 Chardonnay @ $13.99
made from 100% organic grapes, notes of pear, apple, tangerine and minerals on the nose, smooth and creamy in the mouth
(new vintage) Paumanok 2011 Festival Chardonnay @ $16.99
a blend of three separate blocks of Chardonnay, fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve the character of the grape, crisp and lively, with apple, melon and lime flavors
Wind Gap 2010 Trousseau Gris @ $19.99
from a relatively new Sonoma Coast winery, the only (so far) American version of an Alpine French variety, with a strong citrus character and hints of flowers and spices
(new vintage) Pernot 2010 Bourgogne @ $21.99
bright and elegant, with characteristic Puligny minerality and citrus notes at the finish, a classic white Burgundy
(new vintage) Jolivet 2010 Sancerre @$22.99
fresh, clean, with racy acidity and lots of flint framing the lime, chive, and saline notes
Dauvissat 2008 Chablis St. Pierre @ $25.99
a pristine Chablis scented with fresh lime and white peach, with an engaging and refreshing palate
Bacalhoa Catarina 2010 Branco @ $10.99
a Portuguese blend of Fernao Pires and Chardonnay, medium- to full-bodied, complex, with a lingering finish
(new vintage) Bonterra 2010 Chardonnay @ $13.99
made from 100% organic grapes, notes of pear, apple, tangerine and minerals on the nose, smooth and creamy in the mouth
(new vintage) Paumanok 2011 Festival Chardonnay @ $16.99
a blend of three separate blocks of Chardonnay, fermented entirely in stainless steel to preserve the character of the grape, crisp and lively, with apple, melon and lime flavors
Wind Gap 2010 Trousseau Gris @ $19.99
from a relatively new Sonoma Coast winery, the only (so far) American version of an Alpine French variety, with a strong citrus character and hints of flowers and spices
(new vintage) Pernot 2010 Bourgogne @ $21.99
bright and elegant, with characteristic Puligny minerality and citrus notes at the finish, a classic white Burgundy
(new vintage) Jolivet 2010 Sancerre @$22.99
fresh, clean, with racy acidity and lots of flint framing the lime, chive, and saline notes
Dauvissat 2008 Chablis St. Pierre @ $25.99
a pristine Chablis scented with fresh lime and white peach, with an engaging and refreshing palate
NEW REDS:
Los Nevados 2010 Malbec @ $9.99
a deep, dark, Malbec, peppery and earthy, rich dark fruit with some hints of chocolate
Chais Saint-Laurent 2010 Chinon @ $10.99
from Foucher-Lebrun, a small French negociant specializing in wines from the Loire valley, old-vines Cabernet Franc that is bright, fresh, and aromatic
Bracamonte 2010 Ribera del Duero @ $11.99
a Ribera del Duero from Grupo Yllera, clean, relatively unoaked, rich, fruity, and ready to please
Belingard 2010 Bergerac @ $11.99
a Bordeaux-style blend from right next door to Bordeaux, medium-bodied with notes of dark fruit and sweet spice
Spellbound 2009 Petite Syrah @ $12.99
made from grapes sourced from Lodi and Central Coast vineyards, opulent and juicy yet easy-drinking, with intense berry character and great texture
Castellinuzza e Piuca 2010 Toscana @ $13.99
an old-style Chianti blend (meaning some white grapes included), light and zesty on the palate, with lively sour cherry fruit supported by tannins that have a warm savory bite
Michel Torino 2011 Malbec @ $14.99
showcases a nose of fresh raspberry and blackberry followed by a juicy palate of dark fruit, spice, ripe acidity and a soft finish
(new vintage) Sebastiani 2009 Pinot Noir @ $17.99
a Sonoma Coast Pinot, less extractive and more elegant than many, emphasizing perfume, balance and complexity
(new vintage) St. Amant 2009 Zinfandel @ $18.99
Los Nevados 2010 Malbec @ $9.99
a deep, dark, Malbec, peppery and earthy, rich dark fruit with some hints of chocolate
Chais Saint-Laurent 2010 Chinon @ $10.99
from Foucher-Lebrun, a small French negociant specializing in wines from the Loire valley, old-vines Cabernet Franc that is bright, fresh, and aromatic
Bracamonte 2010 Ribera del Duero @ $11.99
a Ribera del Duero from Grupo Yllera, clean, relatively unoaked, rich, fruity, and ready to please
Belingard 2010 Bergerac @ $11.99
a Bordeaux-style blend from right next door to Bordeaux, medium-bodied with notes of dark fruit and sweet spice
Spellbound 2009 Petite Syrah @ $12.99
made from grapes sourced from Lodi and Central Coast vineyards, opulent and juicy yet easy-drinking, with intense berry character and great texture
Castellinuzza e Piuca 2010 Toscana @ $13.99
an old-style Chianti blend (meaning some white grapes included), light and zesty on the palate, with lively sour cherry fruit supported by tannins that have a warm savory bite
Michel Torino 2011 Malbec @ $14.99
showcases a nose of fresh raspberry and blackberry followed by a juicy palate of dark fruit, spice, ripe acidity and a soft finish
(new vintage) Sebastiani 2009 Pinot Noir @ $17.99
a Sonoma Coast Pinot, less extractive and more elegant than many, emphasizing perfume, balance and complexity
(new vintage) St. Amant 2009 Zinfandel @ $18.99
a big, brawny, full-of-blackberries single-vineyard Zin from Zinfandel specialists in California's Central valley
(new vintage) A to Z 2010 Pinot Noir @ $20.99
spicy on the nose with aromas of apricots, blueberries, and Bing cherries, refreshing acidity on the palate with silky tannins and rich flavors mirroring the aromatics
Domaine Barnier 2009 Vacqueyras @ $21.99
a Grenache/Syrah blend made in cement, with rich pure fruit and firm structure, refreshingly racy
(new vintage) Paumanok 2010 Cabernet Franc @ $26.99
aromatic, with flavors of ripe cherries and spices, a medium-bodied red with soft, fleshy tannins
Prevostini 2007 Inferno @ $27.99
100% Nebbiolo from the Valtellina region of Lombardy, with aromas of ripe raspberries and a palate of candied fruit and hazelnuts
Chateau de Trignon 2007 Gigondas @ $28.99
from an excellent southern Rhone vintage, a Grenache-driven blend, nicely rounded, with a solid core of plum and dark currant flavors kept lively by nicely integrated acidity and a long, mineral-filled finish
(new vintage) Ayres 2010 Pinot Noir @ $28.99
a blend of estate-grown fruit with grapes from the Eola Hills district; with spice and violets on the nose and high tones of Bing cherries, roasted plums, and raspberries on the palate
(new vintage) Porter Creek 2008 Pinot Noir @ $35.99
from the Russian River valley, classic Pinot Noir with bright red fruit on the nose, a rich palate, and nice mineral notes on the finish
spicy on the nose with aromas of apricots, blueberries, and Bing cherries, refreshing acidity on the palate with silky tannins and rich flavors mirroring the aromatics
Domaine Barnier 2009 Vacqueyras @ $21.99
a Grenache/Syrah blend made in cement, with rich pure fruit and firm structure, refreshingly racy
(new vintage) Paumanok 2010 Cabernet Franc @ $26.99
aromatic, with flavors of ripe cherries and spices, a medium-bodied red with soft, fleshy tannins
Prevostini 2007 Inferno @ $27.99
100% Nebbiolo from the Valtellina region of Lombardy, with aromas of ripe raspberries and a palate of candied fruit and hazelnuts
Chateau de Trignon 2007 Gigondas @ $28.99
from an excellent southern Rhone vintage, a Grenache-driven blend, nicely rounded, with a solid core of plum and dark currant flavors kept lively by nicely integrated acidity and a long, mineral-filled finish
(new vintage) Ayres 2010 Pinot Noir @ $28.99
a blend of estate-grown fruit with grapes from the Eola Hills district; with spice and violets on the nose and high tones of Bing cherries, roasted plums, and raspberries on the palate
(new vintage) Porter Creek 2008 Pinot Noir @ $35.99
from the Russian River valley, classic Pinot Noir with bright red fruit on the nose, a rich palate, and nice mineral notes on the finish