I am back on track for weekly bulletins; herewith the new arrivals for the week of 9/24!
NEW WHITES
(new vintage) Lagoalva 2011 Espirito White @ $10.99
from the Ribatejo region of Portugal, an original blend of 25% Sauvignon Blanc and native grapes Alvarinho, Verdelho, Fernao Pires and Arinto, fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the vibrant fruit character and refreshing acidity
(new vintage) Pomelo 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
the second label of Mason Cellars, with subtle hints of grapefruit and floral nuances in the nose and mouth along with honeysuckle, apple and fig
Le Raz 2011 Montravel @ $13.99
a Bordeaux-style white blend with notes of green fruit and pink grapefruit, with a tight, zingy finish
Sterling 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $14.99
bright and fragrant with passion fruit and floral aromas, with clean, tropical fruit and citrus flavors touched with a hint of grassiness that reflects the cool conditions of the vintage
Zemmer 2011 Riesling @ $17.99
a soft, flowery Riesling with scents of fresh peaches, dry and elegant with delicate acidity and a lively fullness
Blanck 2011 Riesling @ $17.99
from an esteemed Alsace producer, lightly floral on the rose, with flavor notes of minerals, lemon and pineapple
Mancinelli 2011 Verdicchio @ $17.99
rated one of the top wines of Italy's Marche region, dry, soft, flower-scented, with the classic lingering aftertaste of bitter almonds
Rodet 2010 Pouilly-Fuisse @ $18.99
deeply packed on the nose with aromas of fruits, nuts and flowers, on the palate soft and velvety with flavors of honey, brioche and white fruits
Macrostie 2010 Chardonnay @ $20.99
made from grapes from several top vineyards in southern Sonoma, with bright floral and citrus aromas, rich and creamy on the palate, with crisp apple and ripe pear flavors, spiced up with just a touch of toasty oak
Blakeslee 2011 Riesling @ $24.99
from an Oregon estate winery formerly known as Quail Hill Vineyard, exhibiting a complex flowery aroma of honeysuckle and jasmine with accents of apricot and nectarine, with acidity and flinty minerality that carry the wine on the palate for ever
Evening Land 2010 Chardonnay @ $25.99
barrel-fermented and aged in only 10% new oak, a creamy wine with plenty of bright apple, lemon zest, mint and nutmeg aromas and flavors
Zemmer 2010 Bianco Cortinie @ $29.99
a unique blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer, with a strong bouquet of ripe fruit, balanced and savory, with an interesting play of acidity in the mouth
(new vintage) Neyers 2011 Chardonnay @ $31.99
fresh floral scents, with notes of apple, pear, spice and light oak, leading to a full-bodied palate that is intense and vibrant
(new vintage) Lagoalva 2011 Espirito White @ $10.99
from the Ribatejo region of Portugal, an original blend of 25% Sauvignon Blanc and native grapes Alvarinho, Verdelho, Fernao Pires and Arinto, fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the vibrant fruit character and refreshing acidity
(new vintage) Pomelo 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
the second label of Mason Cellars, with subtle hints of grapefruit and floral nuances in the nose and mouth along with honeysuckle, apple and fig
Le Raz 2011 Montravel @ $13.99
a Bordeaux-style white blend with notes of green fruit and pink grapefruit, with a tight, zingy finish
Sterling 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $14.99
bright and fragrant with passion fruit and floral aromas, with clean, tropical fruit and citrus flavors touched with a hint of grassiness that reflects the cool conditions of the vintage
Zemmer 2011 Riesling @ $17.99
a soft, flowery Riesling with scents of fresh peaches, dry and elegant with delicate acidity and a lively fullness
Blanck 2011 Riesling @ $17.99
from an esteemed Alsace producer, lightly floral on the rose, with flavor notes of minerals, lemon and pineapple
Mancinelli 2011 Verdicchio @ $17.99
rated one of the top wines of Italy's Marche region, dry, soft, flower-scented, with the classic lingering aftertaste of bitter almonds
Rodet 2010 Pouilly-Fuisse @ $18.99
deeply packed on the nose with aromas of fruits, nuts and flowers, on the palate soft and velvety with flavors of honey, brioche and white fruits
Macrostie 2010 Chardonnay @ $20.99
made from grapes from several top vineyards in southern Sonoma, with bright floral and citrus aromas, rich and creamy on the palate, with crisp apple and ripe pear flavors, spiced up with just a touch of toasty oak
Blakeslee 2011 Riesling @ $24.99
from an Oregon estate winery formerly known as Quail Hill Vineyard, exhibiting a complex flowery aroma of honeysuckle and jasmine with accents of apricot and nectarine, with acidity and flinty minerality that carry the wine on the palate for ever
Evening Land 2010 Chardonnay @ $25.99
barrel-fermented and aged in only 10% new oak, a creamy wine with plenty of bright apple, lemon zest, mint and nutmeg aromas and flavors
Zemmer 2010 Bianco Cortinie @ $29.99
a unique blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer, with a strong bouquet of ripe fruit, balanced and savory, with an interesting play of acidity in the mouth
(new vintage) Neyers 2011 Chardonnay @ $31.99
fresh floral scents, with notes of apple, pear, spice and light oak, leading to a full-bodied palate that is intense and vibrant
NEW REDS
J. P. Ramos 2010 Loios Red @ $9.99
from Portugal's Alentejo region, made from grapes indigenous to the region, soft and easy to drink with lots of fresh fruit and a hint of licorice
(new vintage) Gouguenheim 2010 Malbec @ $10.99
dark red with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate and pepper, medium-bodied in the mouth with a round finish, a great everyday red wine
(new vintage) Tenuta Rapitala 2011 Nero d'Avola @ $10.99
shows an aroma of ripe fruit and a typical, deep, balanced flavor, a full bouquet that heralds a firm and powerful structure, a distinct but not intrusive amount of tannin, and a delicate acidity
D'Oh! 2010 Dolcetto @ $11.99
a modern interpretation of Dolcetto that opens with plush, meaty tones of black cherry and blueberry backed by power and concentration, with a finish that is short, clean and tight
Lagoalva 2009 Espirito Red @ $11.99
from the Ribatejo region of Portugal, a 50/50 blend of Touriga Nacional and Castelão grown on sandy soils, with black cherry aromas and flavors with a touch of earth and herbal scents, a pleasant and easy drinking wine with good depth of fruit flavors, ripe tannins and excellent balance
Parker Station 2010 Pinot Noir @ $12.99
from the Fess Parker winery,a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with cherry, plum and strawberry fruit flavors on the nose and palate complemented by nuances of spice, clove and herbs with a hint of toasty oak
LAN 2006 Rioja @@ $12.99
100% Tempranillo, fresh and balanced, with light firm tannins and balanced acidity
Bindi Sergardi 2010 Chianti Colli Senesi @ $13.99
a fresh, modern-styled Chianti with an intensely fruity and elegant bouquet, fresh, elegant, and pleasantly rounded on the palate
Variere 2011 Anjou @ $13.99
100% Cabernet Franc, soft, round, and easy drinking, a wine of great finesse and character
Tons de Duorum 2010 Douro @ $13.99
from the Douro, a young and vibrant red almost Port-like in its rich fruit, forward, juicy, and ready to drink
Croisille 2008 Cahors @ $13.99
an intensely aromatic Malbec very demonstrative of the Cahors terroir, with notes of red berries, sour cherry and pepper, full bodied on the palate with sturdy tannins and refreshing acidity, to be enjoyed relatively young
The Pinot Project 2011 Pinot Noir @ $13.99
the special "project" of NY importer/distributor Michael Skurnik, a California Pinot with pure aromas and flavors, black cherries kissed by oak and complemented by just the right amount of Asian spice
Ferdinand 2010 Chinon @ $14.99
from Domaine Nicholas Paget, a pure and grounded Cabernet Franc, a lighter-bodied wine for everyday drinking that interprets the region's gravelly soils expertly
Steltzner 2009 Claret @ $15.99
a classic Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, big and rich with floral and spice notes and hints of cloves, baking spices and sweet dark bing cherries
Barnard & Griffin 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $15.99
from Washington's Yakima Valley, a sleek red with deep, persistent dark cherry fruit, and a richness that nicely offsets its racy structure
Noble Tree 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $17.99
a Sonoma County Cab, soft and rounded on the palate, with savory flavors of raspberry and sweet cherry intermixed with hints of black pepper
Mas des Collines 2007 Vacqueyras @ $17.99
mostly Grenache, medium bodied, with elegant blackberry and cherry fruit and notes of spice, leather and earth
(new vintage) St. Amant 2010 Zinfandel @ $18.99
made from grapes from 60+ year-old Lodi vines, with intense aromas of raspberry and spicy blackberry that are repeated on the palate, with velvety smooth tannins and bright acidity
Uppercut 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $18.99
J. P. Ramos 2010 Loios Red @ $9.99
from Portugal's Alentejo region, made from grapes indigenous to the region, soft and easy to drink with lots of fresh fruit and a hint of licorice
(new vintage) Gouguenheim 2010 Malbec @ $10.99
dark red with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate and pepper, medium-bodied in the mouth with a round finish, a great everyday red wine
(new vintage) Tenuta Rapitala 2011 Nero d'Avola @ $10.99
shows an aroma of ripe fruit and a typical, deep, balanced flavor, a full bouquet that heralds a firm and powerful structure, a distinct but not intrusive amount of tannin, and a delicate acidity
D'Oh! 2010 Dolcetto @ $11.99
a modern interpretation of Dolcetto that opens with plush, meaty tones of black cherry and blueberry backed by power and concentration, with a finish that is short, clean and tight
Lagoalva 2009 Espirito Red @ $11.99
from the Ribatejo region of Portugal, a 50/50 blend of Touriga Nacional and Castelão grown on sandy soils, with black cherry aromas and flavors with a touch of earth and herbal scents, a pleasant and easy drinking wine with good depth of fruit flavors, ripe tannins and excellent balance
Parker Station 2010 Pinot Noir @ $12.99
from the Fess Parker winery,a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with cherry, plum and strawberry fruit flavors on the nose and palate complemented by nuances of spice, clove and herbs with a hint of toasty oak
LAN 2006 Rioja @@ $12.99
100% Tempranillo, fresh and balanced, with light firm tannins and balanced acidity
Bindi Sergardi 2010 Chianti Colli Senesi @ $13.99
a fresh, modern-styled Chianti with an intensely fruity and elegant bouquet, fresh, elegant, and pleasantly rounded on the palate
Variere 2011 Anjou @ $13.99
100% Cabernet Franc, soft, round, and easy drinking, a wine of great finesse and character
Tons de Duorum 2010 Douro @ $13.99
from the Douro, a young and vibrant red almost Port-like in its rich fruit, forward, juicy, and ready to drink
Croisille 2008 Cahors @ $13.99
an intensely aromatic Malbec very demonstrative of the Cahors terroir, with notes of red berries, sour cherry and pepper, full bodied on the palate with sturdy tannins and refreshing acidity, to be enjoyed relatively young
The Pinot Project 2011 Pinot Noir @ $13.99
the special "project" of NY importer/distributor Michael Skurnik, a California Pinot with pure aromas and flavors, black cherries kissed by oak and complemented by just the right amount of Asian spice
Ferdinand 2010 Chinon @ $14.99
from Domaine Nicholas Paget, a pure and grounded Cabernet Franc, a lighter-bodied wine for everyday drinking that interprets the region's gravelly soils expertly
Steltzner 2009 Claret @ $15.99
a classic Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, big and rich with floral and spice notes and hints of cloves, baking spices and sweet dark bing cherries
Barnard & Griffin 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $15.99
from Washington's Yakima Valley, a sleek red with deep, persistent dark cherry fruit, and a richness that nicely offsets its racy structure
Noble Tree 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $17.99
a Sonoma County Cab, soft and rounded on the palate, with savory flavors of raspberry and sweet cherry intermixed with hints of black pepper
Mas des Collines 2007 Vacqueyras @ $17.99
mostly Grenache, medium bodied, with elegant blackberry and cherry fruit and notes of spice, leather and earth
(new vintage) St. Amant 2010 Zinfandel @ $18.99
made from grapes from 60+ year-old Lodi vines, with intense aromas of raspberry and spicy blackberry that are repeated on the palate, with velvety smooth tannins and bright acidity
Uppercut 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $18.99
a Napa Cab with aromas of dark fruit, espresso, violet and spice, and smooth blackberry, black cherry and cocoa flavors that expand across the palate, revealing nuances of caramel and toffee from new oak barrels
(new vintage) Smith & Hook 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $19.99
a lush and textured Cabernet with gripping tannins, well-developed acidity and a lingering finish
Zemmer 2010 Pinot Noir @ $20.99
a mature, seductive bouquet of berries and sour cherries, harmonious, soft, and full-bodied with rich red fruit
(new vintage) San Felice 2010 Campogiovanni Rosso di Montalcino @ $20.99
(new vintage) Smith & Hook 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $19.99
a lush and textured Cabernet with gripping tannins, well-developed acidity and a lingering finish
Zemmer 2010 Pinot Noir @ $20.99
a mature, seductive bouquet of berries and sour cherries, harmonious, soft, and full-bodied with rich red fruit
(new vintage) San Felice 2010 Campogiovanni Rosso di Montalcino @ $20.99
a pure and savory glass of Sangiovese with nice velvety texture, good freshness and acidity, red raspberries and cherries married with Tuscan earth and sumptuous tannins
Zemmer 2010 Lagrein @ $20.99
complex and spicy, with a fresh perfume of wild berries and violets, very harmonious with a good lashing of tannin, a soft, velvety, round body with a light spicy finish
(new vintage) Fausse Piste 2010 Syrah @ $20.99
sourced from several top vineyard sites in Washington's Columbia Valley, modeled after the great northern Rhone wines but with the more prominent fruit element that you often find in New World wines
Evening Land 2008 Sorcerer @ $21.99
an exotic, spicy California blend of Cab, Syrah, Grenache, and Petit Verdot, inspired by the red blends of southern France but very Californian in heft
Helaurat 2008 Santenay @ $21.99
from a small producer in Santenay farming old vines organically, a light, elegant, aromatic Burgundy made for present drinking
Fiddletown Cellars 2009 Zinfandel @ $23.99
made from grapes from 40-year-old head-pruned vines in the Sierra Foothills, a cool-climate Zin bursting with pure fruit flavor yet showing astonishing polish and elegance
Double O 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $24.99
an award-winning Alexander Valley Cab, full-bodied and rich with just the right amount of oak, a serious over-performer at this price point
Bellus 2007 Girasole @ $25.99
a skillful blend of Sangiovese, Cab and Merlot sourced from the hillsides of Montalcino created by New York sommelier Justin Salcito, a wine full of vibrant, ripe and generous fruit but with great structure and balance
Ricasoli 2008 Chianti Classico @ $29.99
pure black cherry and blackberry flavors tinged with violet, toast and oak spice notes and a beam of acidity that keeps this fresh, lingering with a spice, berry and mineral aftertaste, only 1,000 cases imported
Seresin 2009 Pinot Noir @ $32.99
spicy and earthy aromas, a palate that is focused and concentrated with soft tannins supporting succulent fruits through to a lingering finish
(new vintage) Brewer-Clifton 2010 Pinot Noir @ $44.99
made 100% with whole clusters, an impeccable, layered Pinot Noir with great clarity, finesse, energy, and brilliance, acclaimed by Robert Parker as "a fabulous wine for the money"
Zemmer 2010 Lagrein @ $20.99
complex and spicy, with a fresh perfume of wild berries and violets, very harmonious with a good lashing of tannin, a soft, velvety, round body with a light spicy finish
(new vintage) Fausse Piste 2010 Syrah @ $20.99
sourced from several top vineyard sites in Washington's Columbia Valley, modeled after the great northern Rhone wines but with the more prominent fruit element that you often find in New World wines
Evening Land 2008 Sorcerer @ $21.99
an exotic, spicy California blend of Cab, Syrah, Grenache, and Petit Verdot, inspired by the red blends of southern France but very Californian in heft
Helaurat 2008 Santenay @ $21.99
from a small producer in Santenay farming old vines organically, a light, elegant, aromatic Burgundy made for present drinking
Fiddletown Cellars 2009 Zinfandel @ $23.99
made from grapes from 40-year-old head-pruned vines in the Sierra Foothills, a cool-climate Zin bursting with pure fruit flavor yet showing astonishing polish and elegance
Double O 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $24.99
an award-winning Alexander Valley Cab, full-bodied and rich with just the right amount of oak, a serious over-performer at this price point
Bellus 2007 Girasole @ $25.99
a skillful blend of Sangiovese, Cab and Merlot sourced from the hillsides of Montalcino created by New York sommelier Justin Salcito, a wine full of vibrant, ripe and generous fruit but with great structure and balance
Ricasoli 2008 Chianti Classico @ $29.99
pure black cherry and blackberry flavors tinged with violet, toast and oak spice notes and a beam of acidity that keeps this fresh, lingering with a spice, berry and mineral aftertaste, only 1,000 cases imported
Seresin 2009 Pinot Noir @ $32.99
spicy and earthy aromas, a palate that is focused and concentrated with soft tannins supporting succulent fruits through to a lingering finish
(new vintage) Brewer-Clifton 2010 Pinot Noir @ $44.99
made 100% with whole clusters, an impeccable, layered Pinot Noir with great clarity, finesse, energy, and brilliance, acclaimed by Robert Parker as "a fabulous wine for the money"