Staff Picks - Favorite Wines 2017
Favorite wines for gifting and special occasions
2014 Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir - From MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND - Flavors of savory dark berry fruit with integrated, toasty notes and good oak balance. The fruit on the palate is framed with soft, well-rounded tannins to provide a wine with lushness, structure, and a generous finish. FOOD PAIRING - Perfect with mustard & herb-crusted rack of lamb or char-grilled tuna.
$23.99
2015 Bedrock Zinfandel - 93 points, Wine Spectator. "Rich and supple, this is an explosion of pure, decadent fruit. Floral huckleberry and Chinese five-spice powder aromas open to layered blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice flavors that linger." Drink now through 2026. Organic
$28.99
2014 Talbott Kali Hart Pinot Noir – Rated 90 points Wine Enthusiast. This well-priced bottling offers Italian herbs on the nose, from oregano to marjoram, alongside tart red cherries, dried tobacco, cola and a touch of smoke. Graphite minerality frames the sip, which shows red cherries cooked with thyme and bay leaf as well as rustic sagebrush. It's complex, tense and lingering.
$22.99
2014 Bodegas Cepa 21 Tinto Fino Ribera del Duero – Rated 91 points James Suckling. Slightly reductive nose of blackberries, cherries and some capsicum undertones. Full and rich with ripe and soft tannins that follow through to a long, salty finish. Warm alcohol notes. Drink now.
$25.99
2015 A to Z Essence of Oregon Pinot Noir – Rated 90 points Wine Enthusiast. Bottled to celebrate the brand's 15th anniversary, this "Essence of Oregon" blend includes grapes from 35 different vineyards. It's a lively lovely wine, with spicy raspberry and cranberry fruit, framed in dark chocolate. Balancing acids keep it fresh and focused, and it has some of the lush jamminess of the better 2015 Beaujolais.
$26.99
2013 Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Rated 90 points Wine Enthusiast. Good winemaking lies at the heart of this wine, which also blends in smidgens of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, the grapes from a range of estate-grown sites. Balanced fruit and dusty tannins accent a generously expansive palate that is rich but not overly concentrated, shining in berry, cherry and mocha tones.
$26.99
2012 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Brilliant ruby red color with a tendency to garnet. Aromas of ethereal, extraordinarily elegant with hints of violet and wood. Dry, harmonic, fruity and velvety, with an elegant texture and long finish. Pairs well with aged cheeses and game, especially wild boar.
$31.99
2014 Canoe Ridge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Ripe with blackberry aromas and accents of spicy-cedar oak on the nose lead to a smooth palate with hints of licorice, finishing with a delicate balance of tannins complimenting the sweet finish.
$22.99
2005 Muriel Gran Reserva Rioja – Rated 93 points James Suckling A very attractive, quite traditional-styled wine which still has fine fruit in spite of more than a decade of age. Ideal all type of grilled and roasted meats. It also pairs well with strong fish and all kind of cured cheeses. Tasty with chocolate desserts and puddings.
$30.99
2014 Gibbs Carneros Pinot Noir - Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition We would describe this wine as a fairly full-bodied Pinot, with lots of raspberry, cherry, and strawberry flavors. Also a hint of vanilla, nutmeg and forest, with a nice flora bouquet. This wine has all the wonderful characteristics of a high-priced Pinot Noir, but at a fraction of the price you would expect! And it is so well balanced, it would pair really well with almost any dish.
$28.99
2014 Breca Garnacha – Rated 91 points James Suckling. Very rich, ripe and plush dark plum and cherry fruits on the nose with chocolate pan forte on the palate. It pushes smooth and even.
$19.99
2012 Cune Gran Reserve – Rated 93 points Wine Spectator. This sleek red offers cherry, licorice, mineral and smoke flavors that mingle harmoniously over light, firm tannins, driven by lively acidity through the savory finish. Discreet, but shows depth and intensity. Drink now through 2025.
$38.99
2013 Bleasdale Frank Potts Langorne Creek Bordeaux Blend Rated 92 pts Tanzer/Vinous (raised for a year in large French oak barrels, 27% of them new): Bright violet color. Powerful smoke- and spice-accented aromas of fresh blueberry, cherry-vanilla and cured tobacco, with a floral nuance building with air. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering sappy dark berry preserve flavors with suggestions of candied flowers, licorice and mocha. Supple, slow-building tannins provide grip to the impressively long finish, which leaves boysenberry and smoky mineral notes behind.
$30.99
2014 Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - Aromas and flavors of ripe currant, black cherry, rich dark chocolate and fresh spearmint. Full-bodied with soft tannins, a velvety mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. Rated 90 points Tasting Panel. Smooth, juicy with clean with ripe plum and berry fruit; silky and bright, balanced and long.
$35.99
2012 Massolino Barolo Seralunga d'Alba – Rated 93 points Wine Enthusiast. This fragrant, juicy red opens with scents of perfumed blue flower, ripe black-skinned berry, leather and dark baking. The chewy palate offers fleshy black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, star anise and a hint of mocha alongside well-integrated tannins. Drink 2019–2024. Cellar Selection.
$47.99
2014 Honig Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Rated 90 points Wine Spectator. Wine Spectator - This is direct and charming given the size and density, but the supple texture makes the core of currant, blackberry, graphite and licorice easier to warm up to. Features a tannic backbone alongside a measure of grace and finesse. Drink now through 2028. 15,840 cases made.
$40.99
2015 Sanford Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills - The 2015 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is a beautiful straw gold color. On the nose, it offers intriguing aromas of grilled citrus, stone fruits and roasted almond. In addition to the bright fruit, the palate has racy minerality, great structure and a long finish. This Chardonnay makes a nice complement to most seafood, poultry and pasta with lighter sauces, and makes and excellent pairing with mushrooms (especially chanterelles and morels).
$24.99
2016 Stags Leap Sauvignon Blanc Aveta - AVETA is a water goddess often depicted carrying fruit. It is a fitting moniker to express the vibrant fruit flavors and minerality of Stag's Leap's Sauvignon Blanc which offers inviting aromas of citrus, guava, lemongrass, orange blossom and hints of boxwood and tangerine. On the palate, the wine is fresh and bright with citrus flavors and a lingering finish with a touch of bright acidity. The weight, flavorful texture and acidity make this a versatile food wine. Try pairing AVETA with grilled oysters with mignonette sauce, grilled prosciutto-wrapped shrimp or fresh fish ceviche with cilantro.Blend: 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Sauvignon Musque, 2% Semillon, 1% Muscat
$26.99