The red wines from the Southern Rhone follow a recipe that emphasizes Grenache. The wines of this flight highlight this underdog grape. Unti Dry Creek Valley Grenache 2005 Pretty funky at first opening but after an hour, the smell improved to show...
Fratelli Revello Barolo DOCG 2003 This is the Revello’s regional bottling and it’s no slouch. Tasted earlier in the year, I wrote: spot on for the price, with new world styling of chocolaty oak and ripe fruit along with massive tannin and classic...
Robert Hall Paso Robles Margaret's Vineyard Orange Muscat 2006 A lighter version of dessert wine that is perfect with fresh raspberries. With only 4.3% RS and a light mouthfeel, this wine could do double duty with spicy prawns in a Thai curry...
Cantina Terlano Alto Adige DOC Lagrein Rose 2006 The previous vintage of this wine was crisp and vibrantly fruity. The 2006 is evolved but still tangy and refreshing. Estate Bottled in Terlano 13% $15.99 at Traverso's Cantina Terlano
Verget du Sud Vin de Pays du Vaucluse Roussanne 2006 Jean-Marie Guffens' impressive work with the grapes of Burgundy continues with grapes sourced further south, in this case from the Vaucluse, a department on the east side of the river Rhone which...
This flight features 3 dry Zins and one for dessert that were each big winners at the recent Harvest Fair in Sonoma County. Francis Ford Coppola Presents Dry Creek Valley Director's Cut Zinfandel 2005 The clear favorite of the flight. This wine is...
This flight features a range of vintages of Gold country wine, from 2000 to 2003. Karly Amador County Buck's Ten Point Zinfandel 2000 Evolving, sweet raisined fruit - a very supple wine that is warm and complex. At its peak to enjoy now. P&B in...
D'Argenzio Russian River Valley D'Loiodice Zinfandel Rosa 2005 Lots of toasty oak - This is a very rich and creamy style of rose. Pressed after a 24 hour soak, this wine was then fermented in US oak, 50% of it new, with full ML Bottled in Santa...
Nothing wakes up your palate and straightens me out after a day of coffee drinking like a glass of sweet vermouth. Carpano, Punt e Mes, Vermouth nv Stunning and on a par with the Quady Vya Vermouth; this is very concentrated and not for the faint...
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2006 Like the previous vintage, this is quite acidic in a light-bodied package with minerality and a touch of herbaceousness. Bot in Castiglione Falletto, Alfredo Currado began working w/ Arneis in 1967 13% $15.50 at...