Favorite Wines
Just in time for the 2016 Holiday season, our staff has put together a list of current favorite wines to fit any budget. Enjoy!
2014 Siduri Russian River Pinot Noir – Rated 90-92 points Vinous Brilliant ruby-red. Sexy, spice-accented red fruits and rose pastille on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. Shows appealing sweetness and no rough edges, with a spine of juicy acidity adding structure. Quiet forward, with smooth, nearly invisible tannins lending shape to the wine's fruit on the long finish. $31.99
Taittinger Brut LaFrancaise – Rated 90 points Wine Spectator. Wine Spectator - "A mouthwatering version, with a fine, lacy mousse and delicate flavors of poached apple, blackberry, beeswax and lemon confit underscored by a streak of smoky minerality that echoes on the finish." Drink now through 2019 42.99
2013 Halter Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon - The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a classic profile with aromas of dark red fruits. Bright and rich on the palate, this wine is brimming with flavors of red currants and cassis and has an underlying minerality. A strong mid-palate and well integrated tannins lead to a long seamless finish. Delicious now, this wine will continue to develop for years to come. Pair with wood-fired pizza, braised game and roasted or grilled meats. 26.99
2011 Buoncristiani OPC - The Wine Advocate, the review boasts, “...an intriguing blend… Dense ruby/purple-hued with more meat, underbrush and barbecue notes than its siblings, it is fleshy and succulent with sweet tannins and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This successful blend can be drunk now and over the next 8-10 years” 32.99
2013 One Time Space Man Red Blend – The opening scene for the liquid Kung Fu movie you are about to experience begins with an all enveloping nose of black raspberry, blueberry, kirsch and Chinese dessert spices. You will experience flying kicks of sweet boysenberry, fruit preserves and cola. Flavors of sweet and sour pork will uppercut your senses and leave you defenseless before a focused, Super Saiyan one inch punch of berry liquor and fresh floral pastille finishes you off in this explosive Martial Arts cliffhanger. 20.99
2014 Torbeck Woodcutters Shiraz - Torbreck's Woodcutter's Shiraz is produced from hand-tended low-yielding vines. Bold and hearty it shows ripe sweet fruit flavors with supple tannins. Has quickly become a firm favorite of all the full-bodied Barossa red wine lovers out there. 21.99
2014 Elouan Pinot Noir - This 2014 Elouan Pinot Noir is richer and more full bodied than what is typical of Oregon Pinot Noir, which generally is very lean. Bright ruby red in color. Ripe cranberry, sweet cinnamon and fresh cherry create an inviting bouquet, with a subtle earthiness. The palate shows texture and weight with firm acidity that carries the flavor through. The flavor profile shows red plum, bright cherry, minerality, dusty earth, and a hint of sweet tobacco, creating rustic layers of flavor with soft refined tannins. Pairs best with pork loin, pan-seared salmon, Peking duck or veal with a mushroom sauce. 22.99
Duval Leroy Brut – Rated 91 points Wine Spectator. Wine Spectator - "A fresh, finely knit version that meshes a silky mousse and delicate acidity with a subtle flavor range, including rich hints of toasted brioche, blackberry, spun honey, lemon zest and smoked almond. A fine aperitif in terms of weight and balance, but in a slightly richer style. Drink now through 2020. " 49.99
2013 Crossbarn Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon – Rated 90 points Vinous Vinous / Antonio Galloni - "The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Crossbarn (Sonoma) is gorgeous. Black cherry, plum, graphite, lavender, smoke, licorice and crème de cassis abound in a plump, expressive wine that offers plenty of fruit intensity allied to minerality and bright acidity. The Sonoma Cabernet incorporates a good bit of fruit from Moon Mountain, one of the most pedigreed regions within the broaded Sonoma appellation. Dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Franc round out the blend." 41.99
2013 Luno Montsant – Notes of ripe dark fruits, blackberries and cherries lead to a balanced and supple wine that finishes smooth on the palate. 19.99
2005 Muriel Gran Reserva – Rated 90 points Wine Spectator Dried cherry, licorice, tobacco and tea flavors mingle in this maturing red. The texture is round and polished, with a light grip and bright, orange peel acidity. Harmonious and still vibrant. 30.99
2014 Domaine Sequin Pouilly Fume - This wine has extraordinary floral notes as well as aromatics of smoke, gun flint, lemon, and pink grapefruit with intense Sauvignon flavors. On the palate it has a round mouthfeel, and ends with a beautiful long finish. 26.99
2014 Matthew Fritz Cabernet Sauvignon - This Cabernet Sauvignon is a sexy, deep ruby color. Inviting aromas of blackberry, cherry, spicy licorice and smoked meat. The palate is an elegant expression of North Coast Cab, combined by dark fruits, brown spices, black salted olives and hints of smoke. Tannins are firm balanced with enough acidity to keep it fresh and pure.
2012 Franciscan Magnificat – Rated 95 points Tasting Panel "Aged for 20 months in 70% new oak, this is one of California's original Meritage blends, a wine produced since 1985 - and one of my all-time favorites. The 73% Cabernet Sauvignon (followed by Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc) is named for Bach's masterpiece. Dark fruit and dry coffee tannins align with its fine acidity which brighten and livens the nose and palate. An underlying earthiness with plum and cassis balances it out. Still so youthful - she will age with grace."
2013 Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz – Rated 91 points Wine Spectator. "Thick and velvety flavors of plum and cassis are ripe and generous, showing hints of black tea, mineral and herbs on the finish." Drink now through 2030.
Rated 94 points Australian Wine Companion - "Sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Langhorne Creek; matured for 12 months in used American hogsheads handed down from prior duties with Grange, Bin 389 and so forth. Healthy and deep colour, it has a rich bouquet with licorice, spice, dark chocolate and blackberry all in unison. Good stuff indeed, with the savoury/inky/graphite impact of the very long, balanced medium to fullbodied palate. This could well evolve into one of the great Bin 28s."
2014 Orin Swift Palermo - Rich aromas of seasoned oak meld effortlessly with ripe boysenberry and candied cassis. The entry of the wine is soft and delicate, but quickly evolves into a serious mid-palate replete with opulent and concentrated flavors of dark fruits. Black currant and kirsch provide background to lively raspberry and cherry notes that create a near endless finish.
Nicolas Feuilliate Brut – Rated 90 points Wine Spectator - "Chalky in texture and fresh, this version features a hint of smoky minerality underscoring the flavors of ripe pear, candied black currant and lemon meringue pie." Drink now through 2018.