Staff Wine Picks for Spring
It was a tough job tasting all the wines to come up with these gems. You can find the selection upstairs on the wooden wine rack, labeled Staff Picks at Argonaut Wine & Liquor.
2011 Chateau Greysac – Medoc – Rated 90 points Wine Advocate. The Greysac 2011 has a very pleasant bouquet with scents of boysenberry jam, raspberry, cedar and tobacco that is cohesive and more intense than its Medoc counterparts. The palate is medium bodied with fine tannins, well integrated oak and a focused, linear, very precise finish. This is one of the best Cru Bourgeois you can buy.” Neal Martin
2013 El Pedrosal Ribero del Duero - Rated 91 points Vinous "Assertive aromas of dark berries and peppery spices, with hints of vanilla and potpourri in the background. A suave, appealingly sweet midweight that features sappy, smoke-tinged blackberry and cherry compote flavors accented by white pepper and anise.”
2015 J Vineyards Pinot Noir Black Label - The 2015 J Vineyards Pinot Noir has aromatic notes of exotic spice, cherry preserves and black tea. The palate is plush, jammy and ripe with flavors of spicy black pepper, cola and plum. Enjoy this wine with roasted leg of lamb with a balsamic-fig reduction or cranberry-glazed roast turkey breast with creamy mushroom risotto. (70% MONTEREY COUNTY, 26% SONOMA COUNTY, 4% SANTA BARBARA COUNTY)
2015 Jean Reverdy Sancerre - The wine is ripe and soft, with a style that is more towards tropical fruits. So apricots, ripe pears are cut with crisp acidity. The wine is tangy at the end with orange zest flavors. Drink from 2017.
2015 Babylonstoren Babel Red - Babylonstoren uses their winemaking philosophy of "truth and simplicity" to make natural wines that are true to the shale and granite soils of the slopes of Western Cape, South Africa. Babel, a dry full bodied red of 39% Shiraz, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot, is a fusion of red berry and chocolate flavors with a chewy mouth-feel and juicy, lingering finish.
2014 Raeburn Russian River Chardonnay – Rated 91 points Tasting Panel Light gold color. Delicate aromas of pineapple cake and baked apples with a satiny, bright, dryish medium body and a smooth, breezy honey butter and nuts finish with fine tannins and light oak. A polished, elegant styled Chardonnay.
2013 Mas Des Bressades Viognier/Roussanne – Vanilla and flowers on the nose. Ripe apricot and peach flavors come together with toasted almond on the finish. A lot of concentration and exuberance.
2013 Aviary Cabernet Sauvignon - Winemaker Note - "Our 2013 Aviary Cabernet Sauvignon is dark garnet in color with aromas of dried plums, blackberry jam, cassis and cherry cola. The nose has undertones of almonds, smoke, and a dusty tobacco leaf. The round palate features flavors of dried plum, blueberry pie, dark chocolate, and a subtle tea leaf that lingers. Enjoy this wine on it's own, with food, or curled up by a fire with loved ones."
2015 Trefethen Estate Chardonnay – Rated 90 points Wine Advocate. The Wine Advocate - "The 2015 Chardonnay Oak Knoll District offers loads of crisp white peach, honeysuckle, apple blossom and citrus oil notes followed by a zesty, well-balanced and impeccably clean and fresh Chardonnay with the oak barely noticeable whatsoever. This is a medium to full-bodied, beautifully rendered Oak Knoll Chardonnay to drink over the next 7-8 years."
2016 Huia Sauvignon Blanc - This wine harmoniously blends hints of cut grass and struck flint with pink grapefruit. It's medium in body, not at all overdone, delivering the long citrus and berry finish with the precision of cut crystal. 15% of this Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in neutral French oak.
2015 Franciscan Equilibrium – Wine Enthusiast. A lighthearted combination of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscat, this white offers a lychee-like nose, the Muscat shining through most. With zesty acidity and low to no oak imprint, this pretty wine is perfect for apéritif sipping.
2014 Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon is a well structured, full bodied wine. Juicy, rich, bold, and filled to the brim with decadent black fruits. A hint of sweet vanilla and spice, this wine is smooth sailing but finishes with a punch of tobacco and toffee. Layered with notes of chocolate and savory spice, this wine is the perfect complement to a well cooked beef let. Drink now or enjoy over the next several years.