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LATE SUMMER WINE SALE
(Published only on the web this time)
Now thru October 12
U.S. |
CABERNET SAUVIGNON |
| LSU-103. 05 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS COLUMBIA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Wine & Spirits 91: ‘This finely poised cabernet brings out the best of Washington State, forward but never over the line. Its dark and generous cassis aromas are accented by mocha, while a mineral tension allows the wine to retain a fineness. For leg of lamb.’ |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-104. 06 L DE LYETH SONOMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 13.99 sale: 10.99 each [12/cs] 10.44 w/cs disc Good, deep, warm, dark, powerful northern Alexander Valley wine of place A lot of ripe, purple fruit. Boy, for a second wine, this is first rate. Really intense./ Very abundant black fruit and nice light oak savor. Lovely 06 combo of 04 ripeness and 05 framing. 90+/100. |
| sale: 10.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-105. 05 LYETH MERITAGE SONOMA RED list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc More serious, more 3-D than the L de Lyeth cabernet, more wood but not too much./ Lively, feisty, forthcoming. An ample, reliable, always-generous value in meritage. 91/100. |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-106. 06 ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Classy and accomplished. Well tuned and proportioned ALV cabernet raspberry with wood borders. Yes, plentiful sweet red fruit. And the oak plays nicely; it’s more than just woody. There’s coffee, mocha./ Yes, well balanced, finely tuned, nicely stated. Delectable fruit presence. And spices. Good acid, tannin. Should fill out continually over the coming months to emulate the style and quality of the 04 and 05. Actually, it’s more accessible now than was the 05 at the same age. 92+/100. |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-107. 04 RODNEY STRONG ESTATE ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 24.99 sale: 19.99 each [12/cs] 18.99 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 92: ‘A very nice Cabernet, with a rich vein of tannins that gives it a crunchy texture, and forward black currant, cherry, and plum flavors that are as juicy as they come. It feels upscale and plush in the mouth, and gets better as it warms in the glass. Fair price of a Cab this good. $25.’ |
| sale: 19.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-108. 05 MERRYVALE STARMONT NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 29.99 sale: 23.99 each [12/cs] 22.79 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 92 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘Very rich and balanced, and shows fine Napa Cabernet character in the intense focus of cassis, enriched with new French oak. It’s not an ager, but showcases very high napa quality for immediate drinking.’ |
| sale: 23.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-109. 06 SEAN MINER FOUR BEARS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Lovely 06 Napa cab, with blackberry, black currant, Napa and 06 stylishness, good oak highlights. Nicely managed tannins. A well crafted, reasonably priced wine expressive of variety, place, and time. 91+/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-110. 06 VEDETTE NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Love these 06 red wine fruit proportions. Style all their own. Napa style and class here too. Not overboard on the oak./ Good cabernet fruit presentation. Nicely polished. More blackberry, briar, bramble than black currant. Young still. Good acid. Plenty of form, grip. Fruit needs some time to fill out, round out, load up. Tannins present but fine, well managed. Nicely poised cabernet. 91/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-111. 02 SCHWEIGER SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 28.99 sale: 22.99 each [12/cs] 21.84 w/cs disc 02 showing fatter, richer fruit than Schweiger’s 01, with great oak-fruit harmony and complexity. Not as firmly framed as the 01. This pair is a classic study in 01 versus 02, each wine equally desirable. 95+/100. |
| sale: 22.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-112. 03 SOQUEL PARTNERS’ RESERVE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Deep and big. Stout hearted, power laden mouthful of SCM cabernet. Lots of class. All the special qualities of SCM cabernet. Size, beauty, nobility, terroir./ Great oak, meatiness. Stout hearted, power laden mouthful of SCM cabernet. Nice forward nature of the vintage. 94/100. |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-113. 07 J. CYPRESS CENTRAL COAST CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 8.99 sale: 7.49 each [12/cs] 7.12 w/cs disc Sweet and nutty opening evolving to berries and vanilla. A certain warmth and style that suggests San Benito origins. In tune with previous vintages./ The fruit is darker and cooler on the palate, and a nice range of wood spices comes forth too. Also Cavendish tobacco with fruity casings. Really great acidity, plus fine-grained tannin adding texture. Good effort. 89+/100. |
| sale: 7.49 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-114. 06 J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS PASO ROBLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Good, ripe Paso cabernet. Cassis, plum, blackberry, fruit creme. And oak offerings: wood spices, dill, vanilla, mocha./ Rich cherry-berry and oak flavor sets. Fine, sweet tannins. Another Lohr standard. Attractive now, and will improve. 91+/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-115. 05 J. LOHR HILLTOP VINEYARD PASO ROBLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 33.99 sale: 26.99 each [12/cs] 25.64 w/cs disc Quarterly Review 5 Stars - EXTRAORDINARY: ‘Big, rich, velvety, black fruit, spice and nutty oak flavors. $35.’ Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘The aroma of rich blackcurrant-like fruit merges with soft lush tannin perfectly balanced to complement roast meats and flavorful vegetarian dishes like eggplant parmigiana.’ |
| sale: 26.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
MERLOT |
| LSU-117. 05 BERINGER THIRD CENTURY NORTH COAST MERLOT list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Food & Wine - CLASSIC: ‘Succeeds mightily in showcasing this all-too-often immodest grape’s charms, channeling its near-term pleasures in a number of unexpectedly delicious ways. With a tannic structure framed more sturdily than that of most of its peers, this North Coast offering manages to taste fruity and ripe without compromising its sophisticated ‘I’m for grown-ups’ style. Elegant from start to finish, it wouldn’t be embarrassed by Napa and Sonoma cousins costing much, much more.’ |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-118. 04 FIELD STONE ALEXANDER VALLEY MERLOT list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc The initial vintage from the new Tchelistcheff Block, developed under the guidance of Chateau Ausone’s winemaker and vineyard manager, Pascal Delbeck. Rich, open, and powerful expression of 04 and Alexander Valley./ Ripe black cherry and blackberry. Nice, cool floral and cedar airs give complexity and lift. Lots of stuffing here. Very rangy, entertaining, and generous for the price. 91+/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-119. 01 GIANNI PAOLETTI NAPA VALLEY MERLOT list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Wow! Deep and powerful. Plum pudding, brandy, wood extracts, incense. A stunner!/ A complex and savory potpourri of ripe fruits, cedar, tobacco, and spices. The balance and intensity of 01 personified. More powerful, more dramatic than the lovely 02, with more bouquet development. Huge value. When the group’s Europhiles declare a California wine The Wine of the Tasting, you know it’s got something special going for it. 93/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-120. 04 LUNA NAPA VALLEY MERLOT list: 36.99 sale: 29.99 each [12/cs] 28.49 w/cs disc Connoisseurs’ Guide 93 - TWO ROSETTES: ‘Never anything less than wonderfully fruity, it exhibits extraordinary richness and depth. It is all Merlot in its supple tactile impressions, and yet it shows a nice spine of supporting tannin that brings just the right bit of back-palate grip. There is not let up in either richness or ripe-cherry fruit in its lingering finish, and it promises to keep nicely for up to a half-dozen years providing that its considerable short-term temptations can be overlooked. $40.’ |
| sale: 29.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-121. 05 NAPA LANDING NAPA VALLEY MERLOT list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Wow! Open, sweet, sexy oak potpourri of spices and ripe, sweet fruit to counter. Real power too./ Rich, large, sweet, powerful, expansive. Unlike many a merlot in its price range, nothing tame or herbal about it. Will compete with merlots three times the price. 91/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-122. 04 WHITE OAK NAPA VALLEY MERLOT list: 24.99 sale: 19.99 each [12/cs] 18.99 w/cs disc Connoisseurs’ Guide 91 - TWO ROSETTES: ‘Long on very deep and defined fruit, and showing complexing suggestions of olive and sweet spice, this gutsy youngster is a bit gruff and tannic just now (11/07) but stays firmly fixed on its fruity course from front to back. Even while finishing a bit tougher than classic Merlot is wont to do, it keeps ripe black cherries in sight, and, given its noteworthy impression of extract and its evident depth, we feel safe in predicting a fine future for this bottling some four to six years hence. $26.’ |
| sale: 19.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-123. 06 J. LOHR LOS OSOS PASO ROBLES MERLOT list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Fine sweet, ripe, and sassy fruit and oak. Lohr and Paso styles personified. Nice merlot plumpness. Very expressive. A fine vintage here, like 04./ Full oak melange of mocha, caramel, and warm spices–typical of Lohr merlot and cabernet. Fine tannins. Great texture, really. Long and sweet aftertaste. 91+/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
PINOT NOIR |
| LSU-125. 06 MONTOYA MONTEREY PINOT NOIR list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Montoya is the second label of Talley. Lovely cherry and tea pinot. Purity, buoyancy, beauty, finesse. Just a light touch of toasted oak./ Delicious pinot fruit sweetness. Less tart and tight and woody than the 05. Inviting Monterey pinot noir. 91/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-126. 06 PRAXIS MONTEREY PINOT NOIR list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Fresh. Very rich for Monterey. Good acid cut too. Handsome, fleshy, spicy, smoky, perfumed nose./ Good fruit and game flavors. Pinot suavity, with just enough acid to keep it lively. Well priced. 91/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-127. 05 CALERA 30TH ANNIVERSARY VINTAGE RYAN VINEYARD MOUNT HARLAN PINOT NOIR list: 49.99 sale: 39.99 each [12/cs] 37.99 w/cs disc Wine & Spirits 94: ‘At 2,400 feet, Ryan Vineyard’s vines are the highest on the limestone ridges of Mt. Harlan. Altitude plays a clear role in the creation of this wine, which expresses its wild raspberry fruit character in a brisk combination of acidity and minerality. The wine continues to evolve as it takes on air, filling out the structure. A fine, elegant pinot noir, this could be cellared for up to a decade or decanted now to enjoy with roast quail.’ |
| sale: 39.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-128. 06 GREG NORMAN SANTA BARBARA PINOT NOIR list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘This Pinot has incredible depth of flavor. Strawberry, persimmon and herbed tea melt in to very gentle tannin. Serve it with salmon, swordfish and poultry.’ |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
SYRAH |
| LSU-130. 05 VALLEY OF THE MOON SONOMA SYRAH list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Quarterly Review 5 Stars - EXTRAORDINARY - BEST VALUE: ‘Big, rich, ripe, juicy, black fruit and nutty oak flavors.’ |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-131. 06 BIG HOUSE THE SLAMMER CENTRAL COAST SYRAH list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Fleshy, ripe, and full bodied; a Syrah with ripe fruit character (blackberry, plum, cassis), and spicy oak character. Great value. 2009-2011.’ Our notes: Boy, that’s ripe purple fruit and fruit creme. Black raspberry puree. Identifiably syrah in the rich, ripe, meaty, and generous New World style./ Cool, purple Central Coast fruit with some garrigue (thyme). Smooth and good. 91/100. |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-132. 04 MICHAEL-DAVID SIXTH SENSE LODI SYRAH list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Quarterly Review 5 Stars - EXTRAORDINARY - BEST VALUE: ‘Rich, ripe, pure, bold, well-concentrated, blackberry, coffee and vanillin flavors.’ |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
ZINFANDEL |
| LSU-134. 06 CELLAR NO. 8 CALIFORNIA ZINFANDEL list: 11.99 sale: 9.49 each [12/cs] 9.02 w/cs disc Sweet, solid, dark, slightly roasted fruit expressive of its southern Mendocino-northern Sonoma origins. California appellation, but a wine of place, and that place is the Asti-Cloverdale area of the northern Alexander Valley, where the winery is located. Very nice baking spice and toast oak savors are a bonus./ Yes, pleasing toasty, sweet-spicy oak and warm-roasted, vigorous zinfandel character. More three dimensional than the 05. Super value. 90+/100. |
| sale: 9.49 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-135. 06 RANCHO ZABACO HERITAGE VINES SONOMA ZINFANDEL list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Oh, fabulously deep and purple, with plenty of spicy oak flair. Less open and ripe than the 05 a month back. Likely due to youth more than vintage. Cooler too. Good power./ Yes, really full and forthcoming black raspberry flavor classic to zinfandel, and fine oak augmentation too. This is intense! Well liked by the group. 91+/100. |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-136. 05 ROSHAMBO THE REVEREND DRY CREEK VALLEY ZINFANDEL list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 92 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘Picture-perfect Dry Creek Valley Zin. So lush, so delicious, you just can’t get enough. Power-packed with cherry, raspberry, cassis, chocolate, licorice, tobacco, oak and spice flavors, the wine’s structure is beautiful, with elegant tannins and brisk acids. $25.’ |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-137. 04 WAUGH CELLAR RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ZINFANDEL list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Very cool. On the elegant side. RRV shows. A classy, clarety zin. Floral airs and peppercorn too./ Dense, ripe berry with firm acid strength. Big but balanced fruit. Fills the mouth in a hearty manner but remains elegant in flavor and style. 91/100. |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-138. 06 RAVENSWOOD LODI ZINFANDEL list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Tanzer 90-91: ‘Jammy raspberry and blackberry on the nose, with notes of fresh rose and baking spices adding complexity. Sappy dark berry flavors show liqueur-like intensity and depth but are also enlivened by juicy acidity. Impressively fresh, focused zinfandel with excellent finishing lift and thrust, leaving behind floral pastilles and smoky minerals.’ |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-139. 06 CARTLIDGE & BROWNE DEAVER VINEYARD AMADOR ZINFANDEL list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Amador Dark Roast. Good, warm plums and peels. Dry, powerful, and real Amador style./ Full and strong. Body and glycerol. And extract, acid, and build. It’s the heft, acidity, structure, and dryness that separate this from the softer, sweeter Lodi style above. Classic Amador zin at a bargain price. 90/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-140. 05 MONTEVINA TERRA D’ORO AMADOR ZINFANDEL list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Whoa! Lush but also exquisitely framed, firmly laced. Perfect form, really. And the sweet berry fruit and oak in such fine harmony./ Yes, harmony prevails. Clear and elegant fruit statement with Amador darkness and ripeness. Better composed than the nice 04–less ripe and powerful. But not 05 contrite at all. Very popular with the group. 92/100. A month later: Wonderful. Not a trace of 05 contriteness. Comes right at you with heady, roasted raspberry Amador zin fruit and plenty of oak trimmings, especially the warm spices and mocha-chocolate-coffee stuff./ Big richness and presence in the mouth. Even more open and forceful than on past occasions. 93/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-141. 06 SOBON ESTATE OLD VINES AMADOR ZINFANDEL list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Sweet, sassy, and jammy. The blackness of the fruit and the power speak of Amador./ And the dryness and pepperiness too. Nice blueberry touch. Very zin. Yes, a real and powerful old vines Amador zin that’s a little contracted now because of youth, but I expect it will sweeten up and fill out more over the coming months. 90+/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
OTHER U.S. RED |
| LSU-143. 05 CONCANNON LIMITED RELEASE CENTRAL COAST PETITE SIRAH list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Fine boysenberry aroma of only the better pets comes on with full expressiveness. Black pepper too./ Yes! Flowers, purple berries, peppercorns. Delicious. Upholds its reputation as one of the best values in petite sirah. Since 1968, the first vintage, and California’s first varietally labeled petite sirah wine. 91/100. |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-144. 06 WINDMILL LODI PETITE SIRAH list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Connoisseurs’ Guide Rosette - GOOD VALUE: ‘There are times in our tasting when we unwrap the wines and stare in wonder at what has been unearthed, and such was the case when we saw a $12 wine emerging that had shown us all of the balance and richness, spice and polish we would expect from something twice its price. Clearly, the folks at Windmill are on to something here, and if you are looking for a wonderfully reliable red that smacks of berries and smoked meats, and has the depth and beauty to stand up to most any dish, here it is.’ |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-145. 05 SUMMERS NAPA VALLEY CHARBONO list: 31.99 sale: 25.99 each [12/cs] 24.69 w/cs disc Majestic. Deep, purple, broad, velvety. My goodness! Fine oak, unique fruit. 05 purple qualities but not a bit of contriteness./ Wonderful barrel aging, the oak a beautiful dressing. No oak tannins. Well balanced. Majestic indeed. 93/100. |
| sale: 25.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-146. 05 KIONA RED MOUNTAIN LEMBERGER list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘Offers complex aromas of berries, cherries, spice, clove, and a touch of oak. It sustains the balance of fruit and acidity with dry, but soft tannins. Enjoy this delightful wine with red meats, game, grilled pork or lamb chops, sausages and even pasta.’ |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-147. FESS PARKER LOT 81 FRONTIER CALIFORNIA RED list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Rhonish, sweet, vigorous./ Fruity, fresh, forward. Meaty too. Plenty forthcoming; the fruit just gushes out. Good job. 89/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-148. 05 EDMUNDS ST. JOHN ROCKS AND GRAVEL CALIFORNIA RED list: 24.99 sale: 19.99 each [12/cs] 18.99 w/cs disc Tanzer 91 - RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP: ‘Syrah, grenache, mourvedre and counoise from disparate sources. Seductively perfumed bouquet of red berries, cherry, minerals and dried flowers; smells like a Burgundy. Understated strawberry and raspberry flavors are deep but lively, with zesty minerality adding urgency. An impressively pure, spicy wine, with terrific focus, poise and finishing thrust.’ |
| sale: 19.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-149. 05 TABLAS CREEK COTES DE TABLAS PASO ROBLES ROUGE list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Parker 91: ‘43% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah, and 15% Counoise. Aromas of smoke, roasted herbs, meat juices, black currants and cherries are followed by a delicious wine displaying beautiful purity, fruit, and depth. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.’ |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-150. 02 GIANNI PAOLETTI LA FORZA NAPA VALLEY RED list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Sangiovese, cabernet. Neat. There the black core of cabernet and the race, spice, and red fruit qualities of sangiovese, plus some nice sandalwood barrel contributions too. Cherries, including maraschino, and black currants. Shows a Super Tuscan nature. This is good now and has a future too. What a deal at a supplier’s clearance price! Original price: $37. 92/100. VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES; SPECIAL END-OF-BIN PRICE. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-152. 07 FREI BROS. REDWOOD CREEK CALIFORNIA SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 6.99 sale: 5.49 each [12/cs] 5.22 w/cs disc Soon after receiving Wine Enthusiast 89/100 - BEST BUY commendations, the 2006 sold out quickly. I got to sample it at the Ann Arbor Wine Club tasting and could see where Enthusiast was coming from. Most California sauvignon blancs in this price range are soft and sweetish. This one was decidedly dry and Euro-oriented. A few days later, I got to taste its successor, the 2007. Preferring my sauvignon blancs as fresh as possible, I like the 07 even better. It upholds the same dry, Loire styling of the 06, while offering a brighter, newer sauvignon aromatic profile. I could mistake it for a sauvignon blanc from Touraine. Delightful, versatile, and very useful for service throughout the summer. 89/100. |
| sale: 5.49 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-153. 07 CARTLIDGE & BROWNE DANCING CROW VINEYARD LAKE COUNTY SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Wonderful combo of racy and rich that is Lake County sauvignon. Sweet pear, gooseberry, spring grass, pink grapefruit./ Yes, plump and pretty. Lots of pear and melon. Very showy. Couldn’t be more exemplary. 91/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-154. 07 ST. SUPERY NAPA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 23.99 sale: 18.99 each [12/cs] 18.04 w/cs disc California Grapevine 90 - VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; Quarterly Review 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL; Wine & Spirits 91: ‘The powerful green fruit of this sauvignon needs air to settle down, or a year or two in the bottle to mellow. It has the scent of an exotic desert succulent plant, while lime and mineral character develops in the glass. For chicken schwarma and other spicy white meats.’ Our notes: Bright and intense gooseberry and pink grapefruit with tropical fruit highlights too. Altogether complex and high toned, and rich as well./ Yes, rich and racy and flavorful. And full bodied. Fine effort here once again. 92/100. |
| sale: 18.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-155. 07 JUSTIN PASO ROBLES SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Full bodied, supple, and ripely flavored, this is an excellent Sauvignon, with apple, lemon peel, grapefruit, and pineapple aromas/flavors. Long finish. No malolactic, unwooded. 2008-2009.’ |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
CHARDONNAY |
| LSU-157. 07 BLACK STAR FARMS ARCTUROS SUR LIE LEELANAU PENINSULA CHARDONNAY list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Michigan Wine Competition - GOLD MEDAL. My notes: Great varietal clarity, purity. Crisp apple bite. No oak. Just the added dimensions of aging on the lees. Mouthwatering meal-time wine. 92/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-158. 07 CHATEAU ST. JEAN SONOMA CHARDONNAY list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Very fresh and revealing apple and oak aromas (toast, vanilla)./ Rich caramelly oakiness coupled with good, appley chardonnay fruit character. It’s young but already well balanced. In fact, it’s a tasty little butterball right now. Long finish. I’ve never tasted one of these CSJ chardonnays so young. The overall freshness is most welcoming. 90+/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-159. 06 STUHLMULLER ESTATE ALEXANDER VALLEY CHARDONNAY list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Connoisseurs’ Guide 91 - TWO ROSETTES - GOOD VALUE: ‘Stuhlmuller continues its recent string of Chardonnay successes with yet another winner. From its fresh, carefully oaked aromas of well-defined apples to its deep and gregarious young flavors, it is not only rich in fruit but shows, even at its tender age, a bit of expansion and suggestions of complexity to come. Very well-balanced and long on the palate, it finishes with a fruity flourish and, while thoroughly enjoyable now, it has the clear capacity to develop for several years. Its price makes it all the better.’ |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-160. 06 CHAPPELLET NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY list: 34.99 sale: 27.99 each [12/cs] 26.59 w/cs disc Wine Spectator 92: ‘A rich, creamy, yet elegant wine, with a seamless mix of ripe pear, apple and creamy, toasty oak flavors that provide a nice balance between fruit and oak. Has a long, persistent finish. Now-2012.’ Connoisseurs’ Guide 92 - TWO ROSETTES: ‘Here is a wine whose elevated ripeness poses no problems simply because its generous fruit and supportive acids have brought it into impeccable balance. To be sure, when a wine is blessed with deep character and full body, it is one to use with savory, fleshy fishes, richly sauced chicken, even a lighter veal dish. And, with the right setting, This delicious bottling will reward from first sniff to long-lasting aftertaste.’ |
| sale: 27.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-161. 06 NAPA CELLARS NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Food & Wine - CLASSIC: ‘In seeking out grapes from the fog- and breeze-cooled southern portion of the Napa Valley, Napa Cellars gets the benefit fo fruit that is ripe for the picking, but a touch lower in sugar (and bit higher in acid) than Chard grapes grown in warmer climes a dozen miles to the north. What this translates to in their mostly barrel-fermented 2006 Chardonnay is a near-kaleidoscopic array of aromas and flavors ranging from mouthwatering honeydew melons and fresh-cut pears to allspice, scraped vanilla beans and toasted coconut. Pair it with richer fish like swordfish and salmon, cream and butter sauces, and even a hot basket of fried chicken. Extra points if you join it with buttery corn-on-the-cob.’ Our notes: Bold, brassy, sweet, and wood-savory. Powerful, open hearted display of ripe apple and citrus and wood savors and spices./ Yes, a heady mouthful that shows all its 14% alcohol and a creamy thickness from some malo–but not entire. The acidity rings clear, and wood tannin adds a foil to the fatness. Wants poultry. 92/100. |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-162. 05 HDV CARNEROS CHARDONNAY list: 61.99 sale: 49.99 each [6/cs] 47.49 w/cs disc Tanzer 92: ‘Wild aromas of lemon thyme, melon, beeswax and talc. Savory rather than sweet, with a saline character and solid underlying minerality to the brisk, dusty flavors of ginger, orange oil, chalk and game. Distinctly pungent, soil-inflected chardonnay that I never would have picked as coming from California. Finishes with good chewy density and excellent subtle length.’ |
| sale: 49.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-163. 06 TALBOTT LOGAN SLEEPY HOLLOW VINEYARD MONTEREY CHARDONNAY list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Beverage Dynamics 93: ‘Creamy, rich and smooth; smoky oak and hints of butterscotch; long finish; exceptional quality.’ Wine Enthusiast 91: ‘Richly oaked, fantastically ripe in long hangtime fruit, this Chard has exotic flavors of golden mangoes, nectarines, passionfruit, pineapple jam and kiwis. Oak adds extra layers of buttered toast, creme brulee and smoky vanilla. For all the honeyed sweetness, it’s totally dry, a tour de force that’s at its best now.’ |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-164. 06 ROBERT MONDAVI SOLAIRE SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS CHARDONNAY list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 4+ Stars - EXCELLENT-EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Fragrant and full bodied, this is a finely flavored Chardonnay, with good balance and a long finish, tasting of pear, peach, lemon zest, and roasted nut. Great value. 2008-2009.’ |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-165. 05 FOLEY RANCHO SANTA ROSA STA. RITA HILLS CHARDONNAY list: 33.99 sale: 26.99 each [12/cs] 25.64 w/cs disc Quarterly Review 5 Stars - EXTRAORDINARY - BEST OF SHOW: ‘Deep, dense, well-concentrated, nougat, toast, pear and citrus flavors. $30.’ |
| sale: 26.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-166. 06 GNARLY HEAD LODI CHARDONNAY list: 13.99 sale: 10.99 each [12/cs] 10.44 w/cs disc Food & Wine - CLASSIC: ‘If you like rich tropical fruit and toasted oak flavors that characterize the typical California style of Chardonnay, this is a good-value wine that’s worth trying. This wine enters the mouth with a rich, somewhat sweet impression that leads to succulent flavors of citrus and a rich, viscous texture. This is a big, full-bodied Chardonnay that can use substantial, flavorful foods, such as blackened fish, chicken quesadilla or cassoulet.’ |
| sale: 10.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
PINOT BLANC/GRIS/GRIGIO |
| LSU-168. 07 FORTY FIVE NORTH LEELANAU PENINSULA PINOT GRIS list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Oh, that brilliant, brittle northern pinot gris. Nice cedar overtones, and I’m not sure it’s coming from wood./ Pear, stone fruits, minerals, light glycerol. Cool crystalline clarity. 91/100. |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-169. 07 KING ESTATE SIGNATURE OREGON PINOT GRIS list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Pungent attack on the nostrils. Insistent, ventilating, titillating. Lovely, cool apple, pear, melon set./ Full, with richness and glycerol to counter the full acid cut. Fabulous showing. 92/100. |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-170. BAREFOOT CELLARS CALIFORNIA PINOT GRIGIO magnum list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [6/cs magnum (M )] 11.39 w/cs disc Wall Street Journal - GOOD/VERY GOOD: ‘Crisp, clean and well conceived, with tangy fruit and vibrant flavors of white peaches, lime and some earth. This is a steal.’ At Wine Club: As perfumed as grigio gets, possibly from some aromatic grape support. But it’s not flowery, really. More like an aromatic apple variety. Certain plump, and also cool./ A rich mouthful that is indeed plump and not entirely dry (.8?). Good acid though. My compliments to the winemaker. 90/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-171. 07 MONTEVINA TERRA D’ORO SANTA BARBARA PINOT GRIGIO list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Well scented. Not a shy grigio, though it’s Santa Barbara cool. Stresses apple and firm pear./ Lightly waxy texture is nicely in tune with the varietal. Dry and of good strength and presence in the mouth. Balanced and accommodating. Welcomes food. 91/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
OTHER U.S. WHITE |
| LSU-173. 06 L’ECOLE NO. 41 COLUMBIA VALLEY SEMILLON list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Parker 90: ‘Contains 15% Sauvignon Blanc. It was barrel-fermented in 20% new oak and 40% was sur-lie. It offers fresh aromas of melons and honey. Smooth-textured, concentrated, and balanced, this lengthy effort would be a fine match for sea bass or rockfish.’ |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-174. 07 CHATEAU FONTAINE WOODLAND LEELANAU PENINSULA WHITE list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘Made from the Auxerrois grape, this finely made wine features a fine quince/Bosque pear aroma. Steely, but generous mouth feel finishes long and fresh. Enjoy it with perch, pike or whitefish.’ Michigan Wine Competition - GOLD MEDAL. My notes: 100% auxerrois. Oh, lovely! Lemon creme. Apple creme./ Rich, and full of textural play of acidity, astringency, and glycerol. Right. 91/100. |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-175. 06 TABLAS CREEK COTES DE TABLAS PASO ROBLES BLANC list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Parker 90: ‘Of 59% Viognier, 32% Marsanne, and the rest Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, it exhibits aromas of tropical fruits, lemon blossom, grapefruit, crushed rocks, and quince. This dry, personality-filled white is best consumed over the next 2-3 years.’ |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-176. 06 LUNA FREAKOUT NAPA VALLEY WHITE list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Tanzer 90: ‘41% chardonnay, 38% sauvignon musque, 14% pinot grigio, 8% ribolla gialla. Musky aromas of flowers, orange peel and marmalade. Batter and more exotic than the Luna pinot grigio but also quite dry and youthfully bitter-edges, with musky floral and spice flavors as well as some chardonnay-driven smoke and earth low tones complicating the pineapple fruit. Very distinctive white. $18.’ |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-177. 06 TREANA MER SOLEIL VINEYARD CENTRAL COAST VIOGNIER-MARSANNE list: 30.99 sale: 24.99 each [6/cs] 23.74 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 94: ‘Treana has enjoyed great success with this, which is one of the best Rhone-style white wines in California. The main reason is the source of the grapes. The vineyard, owned by the Wagners of Caymus, is stellar. The ‘06 is as rich and crisply acidic as ever, with fantastically complex, honeyed tropical fruit, apricot and floral flavors that taste like they have a touch of botrytis.’ |
| sale: 24.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-178. 07 FORTY FIVE NORTH LEELANAU PENINSULA WHITE list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Michigan Wine Competition - GOLD MEDAL. My notes: All cayuga. Fresh, crisp apple and blossom./ Blossomy flavors fill the mouth. Great texture. Fine sweet-acid balance. The best Michigan cayuga ever. 92/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-179. 07 CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE OLD MISSION PENINSULA DRY RIESLING list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Unusually perfumed for this cuvee. Floral, exotic, almost musky. Maybe there are still fermentation odors. With aeration, settles into a nice apple and peach riesling set./ Sweet and plump on entry, but then states its dryness and juiciness in the middle. Lovely interplay of both sides of the story. Some mineral salts on the aftertaste. Meal-worthy. Commendable. 91/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-180. 06 THOMAS FOGARTY MONTEREY GEWURZTRAMINER list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 90 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘The best Fogarty Gewurz ever. From two well-known vineyards, Ventana and Scheid, it has the weight and racy acidity of a Sauvignon Blanc, but with the distinctive Asian spiciness of Gewurztraminer, along with nuances of rose petals, water chestnuts, pineapples and sweet green baby peas.’ |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-181. 06 MONTEVINA TERRA D’ORO CALIFORNIA MOSCATO list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Extraordinary floral perfume. Lily of the valley. Couldn’t be better focused./ Nectarous yet balmy and botanical. Some sweetness but not too much for use at the table with some Asian cuisines. 95/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-183. 06 CRIOS DE SUSANA BALBO MENDOZA CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Parker 90: ‘It has an excellent bouquet of cedar, spice box, cassis, and black currants. This leads to a wine with a smooth texture, intense dark fruit flavors, and excellent depth. There is enough silky tannin to support 2-3 years of bottle age although it can be enjoyed now.’ |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-184. 06 FABRE MONTMAYOU GRAN RESERVA LUJAN DE CUYO CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc 30 year old vines. Fabulous oak and fruit depth. Serious, Grand Cru claret-like fruit-oak complex. Lily of the valley and black licorice highlights. Ripe, but not too ripe/ Wow! Grand oak and fruit presentations, complex and sophisticated and generous. Real power, with acidity to balance. Rich, broad, deep, chewy, well padded with fruit. Fine tannin. Loaded, complete. One of the best straight cabernets from Argentina that I’ve tasted. Super. 92+/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-185. 06 BODEGA DEL FIN DEL MUNDO RESERVE PATAGONIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Shows some time in barrel. A nuttiness. Plus good fruit intensity, body, and power./ Blackberry, vanilla, chocolate, and mocha flavors. Complex, balanced, enticing, nicely defined. A class act. 91+/100. |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-186. 06 ALTA VISTA PREMIUM MENDOZA MALBEC list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc More blackness, more oak, more depth than the Los Cardos. Lovely floral overtones. This is a more serious wine that’s in tune with the style and quality of the 05, just less forthcoming as yet due to its youth./ Yes, it’s relatively quiet in youth, especially when tasted after the Los Cardos fruit bomb. But it comes on with airing to become sturdy, forceful, and concentrated in the mouth. Rich, full, gripping texture. Plenty of material here. Well liked by the group. 92+/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-187. 07 DONA PAULA LOS CARDOS MENDOZA MALBEC list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Wow! Big, billowing fruit and oak demonstration that swells the nostrils with its volume and etches the membranes with its texture. Warm spices and cherry creme./ Wow! Cherry creme with violets overtones. And chocolate. This recalls chocolate-covered cherry creme Easter eggs. Succulent. Full, rich texture. Yow! Just how rich do they get? An Atomic Fruit Bomb. Orders taken. 91/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-188. 05 LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA LUJAN DE CUYO MALBEC list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 91 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘This wine is much better than most in its class. The blackberry, graham cracker and exotics spice notes are particular to Bosca, while additional notes of bacon, chocolate and nutmeg add to the pleasure. For anyone looking for quintessential Argentine Malbec at a good price, we say start here.’ Wine Spectator 91 - SMART BUY: ‘A big, broad-shouldered wine, with muscular layers of black fig, coffee, bittersweet cocoa and dark licorice piled on top of hefty cedar-tinged tannins. A bit of a brute in style, but cellaring should soften its edges enough. Now-2010.’ |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-189. 05 GRAFFIGNA CENTENARIO SAN JUAN MALBEC list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Wine News 90 - BEST VALUE: ‘Viscous garnet hue with a fuchsia rim. Heady aromas of maraschino cherry, cedar and menthol. Tart cherry fruit, balanced tannins and lively acids. Lengthy, fruit-driven finish with a lingering mineral nuance. Malbec is the prized grape of Argentina and this wine tells us why: flavor and price.’ |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-190. 06 FABRE MONTMAYOU GRAN RESERVA LUJAN DE CUYO MALBEC list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Blacker, firmer, less oak revealed than the cabernet. But oak is there and it’s good./ Meaty, juicy, fruity, fully packed. Touch of brett, and it’s positive, complexing. Full of the goods but needs time to show more of them. 91+/100. |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-191. 07 VISTA DEL SUR HIGH NOTE ELEVATED UCO VALLEY MALBEC list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 4+ Stars - EXCELLENT-EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Supple, full bodied, and well balanced; an appealing Malbec, with smooth texture, moderate complexity, and a long finish, tasting of plum, licorice, pepper, and toast. Excellent value. 2008-2009.’ |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-192. 07 CRISTOBAL 1492 FINCA LA PINTA MENDOZA VERDELHO list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Delicately scented version of the native Iberian white variety verdelho, not at all warm and splashy like some Aussies. White fruits, tropical fruits, flowers. Crisp./ Dry, good acidity. Light play of viscosity versus astringency. Nicely textured. Good now; will turn heavier with age. 90/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-193. 08 CRISTOBAL 1492 FINCA LA PINTA MENDOZA TORRONTES list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc The perfumed Iberian native torrontes has become Argentina’s signature white varietall Mmm! Nice, ripe peach-apricot-mango aroma set. Plump but cool; not at all gushy./ Fully dry. Light viscosity. Nice acid vigor. Touch of astringency. Flavors are well rounded but also well contained. Nicely poised. Will fill out positively over the coming months. 91+/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-194. 07 BODEGA COLOME VALLE CALCHAQUI TORRONTES list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL: ‘An amazing value. Very aromatic, full bodied, intensely flavored, dry, and very long on the finish, tasting of apple, jasmine, honeysuckle, lemon peel, and guava. 2008-2009.’ |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
CHILE |
| LSU-196. 07 CONO SUR COLCHAGUA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Clearly cabernet sauvignon, clearly and sweetly New World. Open and sweet aromas of black currant and pepper. Cherry and boysenberry notes too./ The nose is fruit dominated, but the palate shows a melange of attractive and complexing wood spices. The fruit is direct, posh, and clear, so this is already attractive. No stinginess like a lot of young, inexpensive South American cabernets. 90/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-197. 05 MONTGRAS QUATRO RESERVA COLCHAGUA VALLEY RED list: 20.99 sale: 16.99 each [12/cs] 16.14 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 91: ‘In every vintage this blend of Cabernet, Malbec, Merlot and Carmenere gets a little better, and the 2005 is the best yet. It’s a ripe one for sure, with licorice, kirsch and earthy warmth on the nose. The body is big and the wine tastes of berry jam, licorice and chocolate. Balanced and long, with bitter espresso on the finish. Now-2010.’ |
| sale: 16.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-198. 05 COUSINO MACUL FINIS TERRAE MAIPO VALLEY RED list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc 60% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot. Red-black color./ Heady, woody, intense, sort of old time, long in barrel openness, forcefulness. Lots of ripe, roasted black fruits./ Big and forceful on the palate too. Lush fruit and toast-mocha wood with good, fine tannin to counter. Rangy and powerful, lasting, full of material. 93+/100. A month later: Wow again! Cassis, baking spices, nuts, toast with cinnamon and brown sugar. Intense and exotic./ Sweet and spicy. Rangy and deep and powerful. Dense and structured. Plenty of cabernet vigor and merlot roundness to complement. More giving than the 04. Complete Super Chilean. I want my Maipo! 93+/100. |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-199. 07 TERRA ANDINA VALLE CENTRAL CARMENERE list: 9.99 sale: 7.99 each [12/cs] 7.59 w/cs disc Wow! Full, sexy oak incense and sandalwood. Great power. Gobs of ripe fruit; riper and more generous than the 06. And, like the 06, no earth, animal, herb, or funk, like some inexpensive carmeneres./ The palate is simply enveloped by oak spices and sweet fruit. This is carmenere with all its inherent abundance and none of its shortcomings. Well proportioned, well crafted. Great value. Wow! Well liked by the group. 91/100. A month later: There it is again, only now even more ebullient and beautiful. The sweet berry, the exotic oak aura. Unbelievably complex and sophisticated presentation for the price./ Yes, sandalwood, incense, cedar, and bright berry fruit. Totally modern and upbeat. Good acid. Some wood as well as fruit tannin. 92+/100. |
| sale: 7.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-200. 07 CONO SUR COLCHAGUA VALLEY CARMENERE list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Bordeaux expatriate carmenere has become Chile’s signature red varietal. It behaves like merlot on steriods. A fruit forward, fruit bomb of a carmenere, all the way. Good oak toast and spice augmentation./ Delicious fruit fulfillment. Big black cherry flavor. Fine oak. Follows the pattern of the eager-to-please 07 cabernet. I don’t remember the previous vintages’ Bordeaux reds of Cono Sur being quite so demonstrative, quite so succulent in youth. 91+/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-201. 07 CONO SUR VISION CASABLANCA VALLEY PINOT NOIR list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Deeper, more elegant, more significant than the regular cuvee. May be some wood in the complex. It’s subtle and integrated. Nice. 91/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-202. 07 SANTA RITA RESERVA CASABLANCA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 14.99 sale: 11.99 each [12/cs] 11.39 w/cs disc Pungent, even explosive. Sweet citrus: tangelo. Also pear, apple, grass./ Rich, almost sweet citrus taste. No oak apparent. A plump delight. Richer than the Santa Rita 120 sauvignon. Different food applications. 91/100. |
| sale: 11.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-203. 07 VENTISQUERO RESERVA CASABLANCA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 15.99 sale: 12.99 each [12/cs] 12.34 w/cs disc Wine & Spirits 91: ‘Intense herbal aromas play off a deep core of mineral flavors in this refreshing sauvignon. It’s light and smooth, with the depth of fruit to match grilled skate in lemon sauce.’ Our notes: Nice, creamy aromas of lemon meringue, key lime juice, green melon, apple custard, and ripe pear. Soft floral accents. Wow! Just keeps coming forth./ Richly textured, with good acid carriage. Great body, pungency, power, depth. A clear winner. 91/100. |
| sale: 12.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-204. 07 CONO SUR LIMITED RELEASE BIO BIO VALLEY RIESLING list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Bio Bio’s in the cool south–riesling territory. Wonderful and totally fresh. Flowers and fruits and perfumes. Cool and limey. Commendable. 91/100. |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
NEW ZEALAND |
| LSU-206. 05 VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN HAWKES BAY MERLOT-CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 16.99 sale: 13.99 each [12/cs] 13.29 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Delicious: supple, full bodied, extremely fruity in character (cherry, blueberry, black currant), with light oak character. Well balanced and long on the finish. Great value. 2007-2009. $16.’ |
| sale: 13.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-207. 06 KIM CRAWFORD MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Beverage Dynamics 93: ‘Black cherry and currant on the nose; beautiful ripe cherry and red fruit; well balanced with light but sturdy tannins and a hint of oak; a great bottle alone or pairs well with roasted duck or partridge.’ |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-208. 05 VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION HAWKES BAY SYRAH list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Restaurant Wine 5 Stars - EXCEPTIONAL: ‘Outstanding, and tastes like a fine Cote Rotie. It is full bodied, complex in aroma/flavor (pepper, aniseed, roasted nut, cedar, toast, blackberry), crisp, and very long on the palate, with a persistent finish. Top value. 2008-2010.’ |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-209. 07 CROSSROADS MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 19.99 sale: 15.99 each [12/cs] 15.19 w/cs disc Wine Spectator 90 - SMART BUY: ‘Lithe and refined, with good intensity and balance to the lime, narcissus flower and grapefruit peel flavors highlighted by savory herb and crushed stone accents. Grass, graphite and a pretty peach note linger on the finish.’ |
| sale: 15.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-210. 07 MOUNT NELSON MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 23.99 sale: 18.99 each [12/cs] 18.04 w/cs disc Decanter 4 Stars - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: ‘Complex and herbaceous with hints of dried apple. Lovely texture. Layers of building flavours, long and intense.’ |
| sale: 18.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-211. 07 STARBOROUGH MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC list: 18.99 sale: 14.99 each [12/cs] 14.24 w/cs disc This one has me coming and going. It’s at once plump and crisp. Surely racy. Grass, lime, grapefruit, tropics, bell pepper./ Again, you get the tropical and stone fruit ripeness and the citrus fruit briskness. Facets smooth, and facets chewy. Good acidity. A good value; pleasant all the way. 90/100. |
| sale: 14.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
AUSTRALIA |
| LSU-213. 07 R WINES EVIL SE AUSTRALIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON list: 13.99 sale: 10.99 each [12/cs] 10.44 w/cs disc Good fullness, texture, presence. But not much fruit character formed yet. Strong. With air, more fruit comes forth. Red berries and rosemary. Some ‘cedary’ oak. Frank, direct./ Rich texture and flavor. Yes, this is satisfying and generous. A little more aging will bring forth more aroma. 89+/100. |
| sale: 10.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-214. 06 PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL SE AUSTRALIA CABERNET-MERLOT list: 11.99 sale: 9.99 each [12/cs] 9.49 w/cs disc Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘Spicy oak, red currant and plum aromas with a palate full of jammy fruit. The flavors linger on the palate; you can still taste it minutes later. Rich, red beef comes to mind first but it would also complement a hearty stew; or celebrate outdoors with grilled hamburgers. The aromas will entice the neighbors, so have plenty on hand.’ |
| sale: 9.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-215. 06 RED HEADS STUDIO YARD DOG SE AUSTRALIA RED list: 11.99 sale: 9.99 each [12/cs] 9.49 w/cs disc Tanzer 89: ‘55% petit verdot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 15% merlot. Powerful cherry and plum aromas are brightened by minerals and dried flowers. Strong bitter cherry and dark berry flavors are nicely framed by dusty tannins and pick up a bitter fruit pit quality on the back end. Finishes with youthful tannic grip and impressive persistence. More serious and structured than just about any other wine at this price I tried this year. Believe it or not, this will reward a few years of bottle aging.’ |
| sale: 9.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-216. 06 PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL SE AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ-CABERNET list: 11.99 sale: 9.99 each [12/cs] 9.49 w/cs disc Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: ‘Lovely fruit and easy drinking while marrying the spiciness of Shiraz and the blackberry complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Made for meat off the Barbie.’ |
| sale: 9.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-217. 06 BULLETIN PLACE SE AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ list: 10.99 sale: 8.99 each [12/cs] 8.54 w/cs disc Wine Spectator 87 - BEST VALUE: ‘Firm in texture, with a swarm of fine tannins around a ripe core of blueberry and plum fruit, persisting on the finish. The fruit wins in the end. Now-2012.’ |
| sale: 8.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-218. 05 KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ list: 26.99 sale: 21.99 each [12/cs] 20.89 w/cs disc Parker 92: ‘Unbelievably good. It possesses terrific blackberry and cassis fruit, hints of charcoal, licorice, and earth, and an opulent, voluptuous personality. Enjoy this super-sexy Shiraz over the next 3-4 years.’ |
| sale: 21.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-219. 05 WAKEFIELD CLARE VALLEY SHIRAZ list: 21.99 sale: 17.99 each [12/cs] 17.09 w/cs disc Wine Enthusiast 91 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘Wakefield seems to be on a roll. This is a complex, multidimensional Shiraz laced with nuances ranging from mulberry and plum to meat and spice and on to coffee and black olive. Its tannins are supple enough to make it approachable right away.’ |
| sale: 17.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-220. 06 CHARLES CIMICKY TRUMPS BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ list: 24.99 sale: 19.99 each [12/cs] 18.99 w/cs disc Intense, deep, compact black fruits. Barossa roast and meatiness and complementary oak seasonings./ Yes, deep, dense, substantial fruit. Form as well as filling. Barossa richness nicely controlled but surely present. Good oak lacings complete the palate picture too. 91+/100. |
| sale: 19.99 each How Many bottles/singles: |
| LSU-221. 06 MR. RIGGS THE GAFFER MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ list: 24.99 sale: 19.99 each [12/cs] 18.99 w/cs disc Tanzer 91: ‘Pungent blackberry aroma is complicated by fresh |