June 21, 2013

News from Heights Chateau

NEW WHITES:

Hugues Beaulieu 2012 Picpoul de Pinet @ $9.99

fine aromas of grapefruit and exotic fruit, lime flavors with typical focusing acidity that are hallmarks of this grape

Broadbent Vinho Verde @ $9.99

fresh and spritzy, consistently one of the finest vinho verdes on the market

Count Karolyi 2011 Gruner Veltliner @ $10.99

zingy with crisp acidity, bone dry, with aromas of green apples and gooseberries, balanced on the palate by a delicate fruitiness

Bourdiniere 2011 Muscadet @ $10.99

classic Muscadet, full of finesse, fresh and fruity, a blend of wines from various parcels in the chateau's vineyards

Red Tail Ridge 20111 Chardonnay @ $11.99

from the first LEED gold-certified green winery in New York, an unoaked Chardonnay with clean, crisp fruit on the palate and distinctive minerality

La Croix Belle 2011 Les Champs des Lys @ $11.99

a blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier from the Languedoc, bright, crisp and fresh-tasting, with a firm structure and plush texture
(new vintage) Wiemer 2011 Frost Cuvee @ $11.99
bright and crisp, primarily Riesling and Gewurztraminer with a little Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Gruner Veltliner blended in
(new vintage) Waterbrook 2012 Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.99
from Washington's Columbia Valley, a refreshing palate of grapefruit, passion fruit and limeade, with hints of citrus that linger on the finish and balanced acidity

Libenzi 2011 Verdicchio @ $12.99

smooth and balanced, with floral aromas and a dry but not astringent fruit flavor with a slight bitter finish
(new vintage) Healdsburg Ranches 2011 Chardonnay @ $11.99
a stainless-steel version, with racy green pineapple, green apple and a touch of tropical fruit, all sustained by crisp, lively acidity

Varanda do Conde 2010 Vinho Verde @ $12.99

a blend of Alvarinho and Treixadura with elegant fruitiness, fresh and delicate yet quite full bodied in the mouth with a slight, tiny bubble

Sabrego 2011 Godello @ $12.99

a complex white with copious aromas of poached pears, spring flowers, white corn along with crisp, elegant flavors
(new vintage) Dom Diogo 2012 Arinto @ $12.99
richer and riper than most vinho verdes, with a crisp, citrus minerality from the granite soil, reminiscent of a sparkling apple cider, with a creamy mouthfeel

Murola 2012 Grechetto @ $14.99

from a family-owned winery in the Marche region of Italy, a crisp, clean, refreshing white perfect for the summer
Ramspeck 2011 Pinot Grigio @ $14.99
captures the essence of the variety, from its depth and complexity of flavors to its minerality and perfect peach color

Bellier 2011 Cheverny @ $14.99

a blend of 80 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 20 percent Chardonnay, aromas of grapefruit, lime, lemongrass and bell pepper that lead to flavors of green apple, preserved Meyer lemon
Gunther Steinmetz 2011 Riesling @ $14.99 (Liter)
very fine Riesling from a great Mosel vintage, a mouthful of fruit, minerality and lovely juicy acidity

Mas de Cadenet 2012 Cotes de Provence @ $16.99

100% Rolle (a.k.a. Vermentino) from Provence, with a citrus bouquet typical of the grape, bright and fresh with good length on the palate
(new vintage) Wiemer 2012 Riesling @ $17.99
a blend of grapes from three different estate vineyards, with hints of lime and orange blossom on the nose, a succulent palate of apricot and grapefruit and the Wiemer trademark minerality

Brandborg 2012 Pinot Gris @ $18.99

aromas of Asian pear and other tropical fruit, flavors of apricot and Meyer lemon, with good acidity, a lush mouthfeel, and a long finish

Sautereau 2012 Sancerre @ $19.99

soft and mellow, beautifully rounded, with acidity, freshness and balance, intensely yet elegantly flavored with some spicy notes

Miner 2011 Sauvignon Blanc @ $22.99

fermented and aged in stainless steel, aromas of stone fruit and freshly cut herbs, followed by grapefruit and melon flavors on the palate
La Petite Frog 2012 Picpoul de Pinet @ $29.99 (3L box)
from the same coop that produces the Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul, with fresh and fine aromas of grapefruit and exotic fruit, lime flavors with typical focusing acidity that are hallmarks of this grape

Melville 2012 Chardonnay @ 46.99

round and fleshy, with a complex core leading to a silky and bright finish
 
NEW REDS:

Boissan Cuvee des Sommeliers @ $9.99

pure Grenache, light, dry and brisk, with a nose and palate of bittersweet cranberry, sour cherry, and cassis and a crunchy, crisp finish that shows high acidity, herbs and minerals

Latente 2012 Bonarda @ $11.99

fruit-forward and full-bodied, with medium tannins and a long finish

Bacco 2010 Primitivo @ $11.99

an earthy, chewy red from Puglia, crafted especially for the wine list at Manhattan's I Trulli restaurant

Marques de Montemor 2011 Tinto @ $11.99

a three-grape blend from the Alentejo region of Portugal, young and fruity with pleasant nuances of red fruit, soft and velvety with pleasant acidity

Latour 2011 Bourgogne Gamay @ $13.99

a blend of 85% Fleurie, Chénas and Régnié with 15% Burgundian Pinot Noir completing the cuvee, notes of fruit and pepper on the nose lifted by a light oakiness, fresh on the palate with pleasant tastes of red fruit

Chateau Vialade 2009 Corbieres @ $14.99

a blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, very spicy, elegant, complex and racy with ripe tannins and red fruit aromas

Murola 2011 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo @ $14.99

a supple, distinct red with notes of leather, roasted mushroom and incense backed by sun-dried plum, cherry and currant and  silky tannins that frame the tangy finish, which lingers with an aftertaste of game and spice

Vissoux 2011 Beaujolais Cuvee Traditionelle @ $16.99

from a small family-run estate, made from very old vines, well balanced, with sweet dark berries and a strawberry character

Montalbera 2011 Ruche @ $17.99

widely regarded as the finest interpretation of this grape, with a lush floral and spicy nose, a rounded mouthfeel, balanced acidity and crushed velvet tannins

Chateau des Tours 2011 Brouilly @ $17.99

a delightful intense bouquet of violets and raspberries, lively on the pa;ate, rich, balanced, and tender with an immediate appeal

St. Francis 2010 Old Vines Zinfandel @ $19.99

a classic old vines Zinfandel with deep aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries laced with spice and toasted oak notes, full-bodied, with velvet tannins and a long finish

Mellot 2010 Menetou Rouge @ $20.99

100% Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley, with red and black fruit on the nose, well integrated tannins, and exceptional length
(new vintage) Au Bon Climat 2011 Pinot Noir @ $21.99
a well balanced, nicely textured, brightly fruity wine that seems to go with everything

Uccelliera 2011 Rosso @ $22.99

aromas of crunchy dark cherries and black currants, compounded by smoky and tobacco notes,  pure and unctuous in the mouth with loads of fruit and glycerin, finishes with balance and ripe tannins

Farmlands 2011 Pinot Noir @ $23.99

produced by Oregon's Johan Vineyards and made entirely from estate-grown fruit, with scents of fresh, pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, more berries, spice, and fresh turned earth in the flavor, finishing smoothly with a hint of vanilla

Marques de Vitoria 2005 Rioja @ $23.99

notes of ripe wood berries and stewed fruit underscored by well-integrated hints of coffee and cocoa, meaty and tasty, with prominent notes of ripe fruit and sweet tannins against a toasty background
(new vintage) Bolmida 2011 Barbera @ $24.99
rich, chocolaty and dense yet fresh and lively, full of rich, ripe Barbera flavor

Champy 2010 Cotes de Beaune Villages @ $24.99

from a Burgundy estate with a long history, a Pinot Noir of great balance, elegance, and purity of fruit
(new vintage) Four Graces 2011 Pinot Noir @ $24.99
enticing, vibrant, dark ruby-purple in color, presenting ripe pomegranate and cranberry on the palate, laced by an earthy spiciness
(new vintage) Miner 2010 Sangiovese @ $25.99
readily approachable with bright plum-currant flavors and hints of cedar on the palate

Ridge 2011 Zinfandel Three Valleys @ $28.99

featuring briar fruit, dried herbs, clay earth, sweet oak, fresh raspberry and cherry, with moderate acid, round tannins, savory oak spice, a medium body, and a lively finish

Berthet-Rayne 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape @ $38.99

mostly Grenache with a little Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault blended in, with aromas of plums, cassis, and cherries presented in a medium-bodied, spicy style with beautifully pure fruit, a savory mouthfeel, moderate but ripe tannins, and a long finish

Pride Mountain 2010 Merlot @ $61.99

a thick, dense wine with plenty of stuffing, weight and extraction, with heady notes of bright blue fruit on the nose and the palate
(out of cellar bondage) Cosini 2006 Brunello @ $69.99
boasts aromas of spice cake, milk chocolate and blackberries, great structure, ample red fruit with sweet tannins, a soft, succulent and very classic wine

Pride Mountain 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $75.99

a blend of grapes from Napa and Sonoma, 75% Cab with the rest Merlot and Petite Verdot, a seamless mesh of velvety tannins with vibrant acidity and undulating layers of fruit, tobacco and spice notes
 
NEW ROSES:

Casal Garcia NV Vinho Verde Rose @ $8.99

produced from Azal Tinto, Barraçal, and Vinhao grapes, slightly effervescent, fresh, invigorating, with just a hint of residual sugar to balance out the red fruit, acidity, and fizz

Borsao 2012 Rosado @ $8.99

100% Garnacha, fairly dry, with herbs, dried strawberries, and red currants on the nose and palate

Bacco 2012 Rosato @ $10.99

from Puglia, made from the Negroamaro grape, rich and spicy, crafted especially for the wine list at Manhattan's I Trulli restaurant

Bois de Brignon 2012 Cote du Rhone @ $10.99

Cinsault and Grenache from the Rhone, dry, elegant, and a touch spicy

Corone 2012 Cerasuolo @ $12.99

a sturdy, intense rose with bright cherry notes, pleasantly tannic

Unger NV Rose @ $12.99

from Austria, made with the Zweigelt grape, dry and elegant, freshly scented, with soft tannins

Le Moure de l'Isle 2012 Tavel @ $12.99

a Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache blend from the Rhone, silky, full-flavored, with soft tannins, Kosher

Sean Minor 2012 Vin Gris @ $15.99

100% Pinot Noir, bright and vibrant, with cherry, strawberry, and ripe watermelon aromas and flavors

Cave de Donnas 2012 Larmes du Paradis @ $16.99

from Italy's Valle d'Aosta, mostly Nebbiolo, fresh and brightly fruited

La Garenne 2012 Sancerre @ $22.99

Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley, delicately fruity, elegant, quite correct

 
ALSO NEW AND NOTEWORTHY:

Ayala NV Rose Majeur @ $47.99

A  rose Champagne that is racy and precise, with lively rred fruits on the nose and bright berry flavors