WINE CLUBThe Enthusiast
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DEFINITIVE SYRAH NAPA 2005, California Definitive is the second-label project of Ken Bernards, who is better-known as the owner and winemaker of Ancien Wines. He produces small lots of elegant wines from exceptional sites including Carneros, Sonoma Mountain, Napa Valley, Russian River, and even Morey St. Denis in Burgundy. Prior to focusing on his own label, Ken made acclaimed wines for producers like Domaine Carneros and Truchard.
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CORIOLE SANGIOVESE SHIRAZ MCLAREN VALE 2005, Australia Coriole has been one of the main proponents of Sangiovese in Australia since 1985. Sangiovese-Shiraz has proven to be a very successful blend with the Shiraz adding full plummy fruit yet keeping a wine with a dominant savory style. The aromas suggest distinct red fruits and cherry. Hints of licorice and spice lead into a warm juicy palate that displays dark berries and chocolate. There is a rich mouth feel with a typical dry Sangiovese finish. We love the versatility and freshness of this wine!
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Vina Alicia PASO DE PIEDRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON LUJAN DE CUYO 2006, Argentina This tiny property in the Lujan de Cuyo area of Argentina’s Mendoza region turns out about 1,500 (six-bottle) cases of almost completely red wine – they just introduced a white wine – of amazing purity and intensity. The wines are not cheap, priced at $60 or $80, and they’re produced in teeny-weeny amounts. In addition to launching a white wine, Viña Alicia offers a second label, Paso de Piedra Reserva, to sell at half the price of its primary line. The color of this Cabernet is deep, dense ruby; the bouquet delivers penetrating aromas of creme de cassis, black raspberry and black cherry permeated by licorice, dried flowers and smoke. In the mouth, minerals with an edge of charcoal take over, walnut shell and underbrush, palate-coating tannins, all encompassing a luscious yet dry core of bittersweet chocolate-covered currants and raspberries.
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Roger Perrin is one of my favorite producers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhone. Here they may not be making CdP, but the quality and care that goes into the top of the line is certainly felt at this level with this mouthwatering interpretation of the classic CdR. A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah - the flavor coming from this bottle/glass is huge. Bursting at the seams. It's almost too big for the glass. 2007 is living up to the hype - at least with this wine. Great with middle eastern dishes. |
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Kir-Yianni, which means "Sir John" in Greek, was founded in 1997 as a premium spin-off of the Boutari Group. Though the first vintage was 1990, it was not until the 1995 vintage that the wine was bottled under the Kir-Yianni name. More than half of their labels are single vineyard growths on the eastern and western slopes of Mt. Vermio in Macedonia. They grow indigenous Greek grapes as well as some international ones such as Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. The native grape Xinomavro is most commonly compared to Nebbiolo from Italy's Piemonte, or Pinot Noir. High acidity and bright red fruits with a bit of cinnamon and pepper spice characterize this unique wine. Delightful with pasta dishes- both vegetarian and meat or poultry variations.
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A winegrower since 1980, Jean-Michel Guillon heads up his domaine of 11 hectares of vines, situated on the slopes where the reputation for the great wines of Burgundy was made. This simple pinot noir, made from grapes harvested a stone's throw from Gevrey Chambertin, has great complexity and age-worthiness. Certainly drinkable now, but could be put away for 3-5 years. The fruit allowed in the appellation Bourgogne may be sourced from anywhere in the region classified as Burgundy. Typically producers will use grapes from (or from nearby) their single-vineyard and cru holdings, thus lending a certain relativism to their production. |
