Some new wines to report, check the calendar on our web site for in-store tasting listings, and while you're there check out the Focused Palate blog for my brief discussion of Port.
NEW WHITES:
Ferraton 2010 Cotes du Rhone Blanc @ $11.99
aromatic, broad, and richly flavored, with peachy stone fruit with a good balance of minerality and crisp acidity
Jacky Renard 2009 St. Bris @ $14.99
a Sauvignon Blanc from northern Burgundy, crisp and bone-dry, with an enticing minerality and a light touch of citrus
Collavini 2010 Friulano @ $15.99
lemony and apricot fruit with creamy texture and a hint of licorice, very spicy and crisp on the finish
Agape 2009 Pinot Blanc @ $16.99
a pure expression of Alsatian Pinot Blanc, with delicate aromas of white flowers and flavors of fresh fruit and minerals
(new vintage) Talbott 2010 Kali Hart Chardonnay @ $17.99
medium-bodied, refreshing and lively, it is fruit forward with lush flavors of tangerine and honeydew melon and a pleasing crisp finish
(new vintage) La Crema 2010 Chardonnay @ $18.99
layered tones of tropical fruit and a broad mouthfeel that balances a bright acidity and lingering lemon zest on the finish
Ferraton 2010 Cotes du Rhone Blanc @ $11.99
aromatic, broad, and richly flavored, with peachy stone fruit with a good balance of minerality and crisp acidity
Jacky Renard 2009 St. Bris @ $14.99
a Sauvignon Blanc from northern Burgundy, crisp and bone-dry, with an enticing minerality and a light touch of citrus
Collavini 2010 Friulano @ $15.99
lemony and apricot fruit with creamy texture and a hint of licorice, very spicy and crisp on the finish
Agape 2009 Pinot Blanc @ $16.99
a pure expression of Alsatian Pinot Blanc, with delicate aromas of white flowers and flavors of fresh fruit and minerals
(new vintage) Talbott 2010 Kali Hart Chardonnay @ $17.99
medium-bodied, refreshing and lively, it is fruit forward with lush flavors of tangerine and honeydew melon and a pleasing crisp finish
(new vintage) La Crema 2010 Chardonnay @ $18.99
layered tones of tropical fruit and a broad mouthfeel that balances a bright acidity and lingering lemon zest on the finish
NEW REDS:
(new vintage) Cycles Gladiator 2010 Pinot Noir @ $10.99
light and jazzy, with pleasing scents of red fruit and spice, showcasing the supple, fruit-driven style of California's coastal vineyards
Carrel 2010 Les Darons @ $12.99
a blend of Grenache, Carignane and Syrah from the Languedoc, packed with ripe, red and dark fruit aromas, with plenty of spice and a streak of underlying minerality
Rocca delle Macie 2008 Sassyr Rosso @ $12.99
s Sangiovese/Syrah blend from Tuscany with a succulent, supple well-structured palate with a silky smooth finish
(new vintage) Decenio 2009 Rioja Joven @ $13.99
a classically styled and earth-driven Rioja from the Alavesa region, heavily reliant on old vine Tempranillo
Cooper Hill 2010 Pinot Noir @ $14.99
an organic Pinot Noir from Oregon's Cooper Mountain Vineyard, with concentrated dark red fruit, good acid and a supple, velvety mouthfeel
(new vintage) Oberto 2009 Barbera @ $14.99
a classic Alba Barbera with chunky flavors and fine acidity, a nice earthy, almost balsamic, note hiding down deep and a finish that is long and refreshing
Ruffino 2009 Il Ducale @ $15.99
a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah, round, medium- to full-bodied, with smooth tannins
(new vintage) Wyatt 2010 Pinot Noir @ $17.99
aromas of wild strawberry, red plum and rhubarb, with a lovely savory earthy quality intermingled with the fruit
Carmel Road 2010 Pinot Noir @ $17/99
from Monterey, a supple red rich with flavors of red berries, warm spice, earth and mineral characteristics that are reflections of this cool climate region with a silky and long finish
Ijalba 2007 Graciano @ $19.99
a stainless-steel red made 100% from Graciano, a rare variety found only in Rioja, fruity, earthy, medium to full-bodied, well balanced, with great acidity
(new vintage) Talbott 2009 Kali Hart Pinot Noir @ $19.99
made to be bright and appealing upon release, with restrained oak and excellent acidity, rich flavors and a pleasing mouthfeel
Collemattoni 2009 Rosso Toscano @ $21.99
100% Sangiovese with a bouquet of violets, red cherries and blackberries, dry and well-balanced, an everyday wine from a highly recognized Brunello producer
Villa Ponciago 2009 Fleurie @ $22.99
from an ancient Beaujolais estate recently restored by the Henriot family of Champagne reknown, a good solid cru Beaujolais, rich and spicy, with round, direct flavors
Riviere 2008 Rioja Gangko @ $22.99
a fresh, fruit-driven blend of old-vines Garnacha and Tempranillo, zesty and lithe in it's juiciness and rich and serious in dark fruit character
Paolo Bea 2005 Pagliaro @ $81.99
a rich, sumptuous wine that totally covers the palate with dense, dark fruit, a fabulous wine from the unquestioned master of the Sagrantino grape
(new vintage) Cycles Gladiator 2010 Pinot Noir @ $10.99
light and jazzy, with pleasing scents of red fruit and spice, showcasing the supple, fruit-driven style of California's coastal vineyards
Carrel 2010 Les Darons @ $12.99
a blend of Grenache, Carignane and Syrah from the Languedoc, packed with ripe, red and dark fruit aromas, with plenty of spice and a streak of underlying minerality
Rocca delle Macie 2008 Sassyr Rosso @ $12.99
s Sangiovese/Syrah blend from Tuscany with a succulent, supple well-structured palate with a silky smooth finish
(new vintage) Decenio 2009 Rioja Joven @ $13.99
a classically styled and earth-driven Rioja from the Alavesa region, heavily reliant on old vine Tempranillo
Cooper Hill 2010 Pinot Noir @ $14.99
an organic Pinot Noir from Oregon's Cooper Mountain Vineyard, with concentrated dark red fruit, good acid and a supple, velvety mouthfeel
(new vintage) Oberto 2009 Barbera @ $14.99
a classic Alba Barbera with chunky flavors and fine acidity, a nice earthy, almost balsamic, note hiding down deep and a finish that is long and refreshing
Ruffino 2009 Il Ducale @ $15.99
a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah, round, medium- to full-bodied, with smooth tannins
(new vintage) Wyatt 2010 Pinot Noir @ $17.99
aromas of wild strawberry, red plum and rhubarb, with a lovely savory earthy quality intermingled with the fruit
Carmel Road 2010 Pinot Noir @ $17/99
from Monterey, a supple red rich with flavors of red berries, warm spice, earth and mineral characteristics that are reflections of this cool climate region with a silky and long finish
Ijalba 2007 Graciano @ $19.99
a stainless-steel red made 100% from Graciano, a rare variety found only in Rioja, fruity, earthy, medium to full-bodied, well balanced, with great acidity
(new vintage) Talbott 2009 Kali Hart Pinot Noir @ $19.99
made to be bright and appealing upon release, with restrained oak and excellent acidity, rich flavors and a pleasing mouthfeel
Collemattoni 2009 Rosso Toscano @ $21.99
100% Sangiovese with a bouquet of violets, red cherries and blackberries, dry and well-balanced, an everyday wine from a highly recognized Brunello producer
Villa Ponciago 2009 Fleurie @ $22.99
from an ancient Beaujolais estate recently restored by the Henriot family of Champagne reknown, a good solid cru Beaujolais, rich and spicy, with round, direct flavors
Riviere 2008 Rioja Gangko @ $22.99
a fresh, fruit-driven blend of old-vines Garnacha and Tempranillo, zesty and lithe in it's juiciness and rich and serious in dark fruit character
Paolo Bea 2005 Pagliaro @ $81.99
a rich, sumptuous wine that totally covers the palate with dense, dark fruit, a fabulous wine from the unquestioned master of the Sagrantino grape