Wine of the Week

Wine of the Week for 12 July 2010

2007 Primarius Pinot Noir Oregon $16.99 Light garnet in color, this Oregon Pinot Noir offers jammy raspberry aromas with subtle spice notes. Light and elegant on the palate, it delivers tart berry flavors followed by a lingering finish. Perfect for a summer meal Enjoyed with a cheese and arugula frittata.

Primarius Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 21 June 2010

Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Monterey County 2008 $15.99 Garnet in color, this Pinot Noir has an attractively subdued berry nose. Soft and light bodied, it delvers plenty of tart red-berry flavors, a mix of raspberry and wild cherry. It has a lingering finish with notes of smoke and spice.

Chalone Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 31 May 2010

De Loach Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008 $19.99 A bit up there in price, but worth it if you enjoy an elegant, restrained California Pinot Noir. Light ruby in color, this wine has an alluring spicy black berry nose. Light to medium bodied, it’s velevty on the palate with rich jammy black-fruit flavors. Itlingers on the finish with subtly sweet fruit notes. Great with rpast lamb or grilled salmon.

De Loach Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Wine of the Week for 3 May 2010

Ridge California Sonoma County Three Valleys 2008 $17.99Wow. Always one of my favorite producers from California, Ridge delivers an outstanding wine, and value, with this Zinfandel-based blend. A mix of Zinfandel (74%), Petite Sirah (11%), and lesser amounts of Carignan, Mataro, Syrah, and Grenache, this wine is deep opaque-ruby in color. The nose is all about rich berry and crushed blacked pepper. Medium to full bodied, it delivers loads of rich. jammy fruit along with intense flavors of blackberry, currants, and licorice. On the finish, nice notes of spice. Perfect for grilled meats or semi-aged cheeses.

Ridge Three Valleys

Wine of the Week for 26 April 2010

Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec Mendoza 2009 $7.99 Opaque ruby in color, this value-priced Argentinean has a cigar-box and black-fruit nose. Light to medium bodied, it delivers spicy black-cherry flavors and finishes with blue plum. Adequately structured, but a bit hot with alcohol that might be tamed with a thick steak or some grilled sausage.

Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec

Wine of the Week for 19 April 2010

Vietti Dolcetto D’Alba Tre Vigne 2008 $17.99Intense ruby in color, this Piedmontese red has an intriguing red-berry nose with strawberry notes. Medium bodied and dry, it is well structured with supple tannins and offers tart blue-plum flavors. The finish is lingering, dry, and earthy. A perfect match for grilled meats.

Vietti Dolcetto D'Alba Tre Vigne

Wine of the Week for 5 April 2010

MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2008 $18.99Deep, dark ruby in color, this Sonoma Pinot Noir has a smokey berry bouquet. On the palate, it’s refreshingly light and delicate with tart berry and cherry flavors followed by a long, persistent cherry finish. Perfect with lamb or simply grilled salmon.

Mac Murray Ranch Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 22 March 2010

Francesco Montagna “Viti di Luna” Bonarda Oltrepo Pavese DOC 2007 $16.99This playful red from Lombardy is opaque ruby in color. The nose is earth with black fruit. On the palate, it’s lightly frizzante and light bodied and offers sweet fruit and berry flavors. Refreshing. Great with brunch fare, cured meats, and the like.

Wine of the Week for 15 March 2010

Cline Cashmere California 2008 $18.99 This California blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah has a faint nose of berries and earth. On the palate, it’s medium bodied with juicy flavors of spicy berry, black-pepper, and cherry. There’s a lingering finish to this elegantly structured wine. A nice match for pork tenderloin with rosemary.

Cline Cashmere

Wine of the Week for 8 March 2010

Wyatt Pinot Noir California 2008$17.99 Vivid garnet in color, this enticing California Pinot Noir sports a woodland-berry nose. Fuller bodied yet elegant, this is a dry Pinot Noir packed with with tart berry flavors. The finish is jammy and lingering. A mix between old- and new-world Pinot Noir. Perfect for lamb.

Wyatt Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 1 March 2010

A by Acacia Pinot Noir California $15.99 Bright ruby in color, this value Pinot Noir has a forward berry nose with some nice floral notes. Smooth and tightly structured, it is light to medium bodied. It delivers tangy black-cherry flavors supported by supple tannins and juicy acidity followed by a lingering finish with some vanilla notes.

A by Acacia Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 8 February 2010

Castello Monaci “Maru” Negroamaro Salento IGT 2007 $14.99 This southern Italian red is dark garner in color and has an intense nose of strawberries and other red berries. Medium to full bodied, with rich, ripe-berry flavors and notes of vanilla, it is well structured  and has a nice, crushed-black-pepper finish. Great with lamb or beef.

Castello Monaci "Maru" Negroamaro

Wine of the Week for 1 February 2010

Cline Sonoma County Syrah 2007 $13.99Ruby in color with purplish hues. On the nose, aromas of berries and crushed black pepper. Smooth and medium-bodied on the palate, with blackberry and spice flavors, along with hints of vanilla. A persistent, spicy finish. Good value that was excellent with roasted lamb.

Cline Sonoma County Syrah

Wine of the Week for 25 January 2010

Paul Jaboulet Aine Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone 2007 $12.99Dark ruby in color, this classic Cotes du Rhone (60% Grenache, 40% Syrah) has a berry and black-pepper nose Lighter in body yet packed with tart-cherry flavors followed by blac-pepper spice on the finish. An enjoyable red for lamb, beefo, or semi-aged cheeses. A good value as well.

Jaboulet Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone

Wine of the Week for 18 January 2010

Palestra Vinho Tinto Douro DOC 2007 $9.99Purple in color, this Portuguese red has a subdued, rustic berry nose with some spice notes. Lighter bodied with dry yet juicy berry and cherry flavors, it is a gulpable red. Nicely structured with supple tannins and good fruit on the palate. There are cherry notes on the tart/spicy lingering finish. At this price, an outstanding value.

Palestra Douro

Wine of the Week for 11 January 2010

Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend Zinfandel California 2007 $10.99Garnet in color, this well known California Zinfandel as a forward nose of red fruit and raspberry. Medium bodied, it is packed with spicy fruit and balsamic flavors. It has a lingering, tart-fruit finish. Moe fruit tans spice, but still very nice. Good with a grilled pork tenderloin.

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel

Wine of the Week for 4 January 2010

Fattoria del Cerro Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG 2007 $10.99Deep ruby red in color, this Chianti has a vivid blac-cherry nose. Light bodied, it has the typical spity berry flavors of a Colli Senesi. It finishes with tangy fruit flavors. A good match for red sauced pastas.

Fattoria Del Cerro Chianti Colli Senesi

Wine of the Week for 28 December 2009

Vigne Irpine Aglianico Irpina 2006 $14.99Deep, dark ruby in color, this Aglianico from Campania has an earthy black-fruit nose. Medium bodied and silky smooth, it offers plum and tart blackberry flavors with an underpinning of black-pepper spice. Nicely structured with good acidity, it has good fruit on the finish. Perfect for roast lamb or goose.

Vigne Irpine Giubilo

Wine of the Week for 21 December 2009

Terredora Greco di Tuffo “Loggia della Serra DOC 2008 $19.99Golden yellow in color, with an alluring honey-suckle nose, this southern white has heft on the palate and delivers rich dry flavors of dried apricot with a distinctive minerality. Lingering dry finish. A perfect complement to linguine with white clam sauce.

Terredora Greco di Tufo Loggia della Serra

Wine of the Week for 14 December 2009

Terredora Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso DOC 2006 $19.99Deep ruby red in color, this southern Italian has a complex nose of earth and berries. Medium bodied, it offers flavors of ripe red fruit complemented by hints of licorice. The finish is adequate with spice and some lingering jammy notes. I tried this with a simple grilled steak and thought it was not a good match. I think it be far better with white meats or a red-sauced pasta with capers. This is a fine example of this Campagna classic made solely from Piedirosso.

Terredora Lacryma Christi Ross

Wine of the Week for 7 December 2009

David Bruce Petite Sirah Central Coast $16.99Ain’t nothing “petite” about this bold wine, starting with its deep opaque ruby color and then its unrestrained earthy mushroom nose with hints of toffee. On the palate, it’s full bodied, smooth, and silky and it offers plenty of bold, black fruit and plum flavors. It has a long dry somewhat tannic finish with plum and cedar notes. A great accompaniment to grilled sausage or steaks.

David Bruce Petite Sirah

Wine of the Week for 30 November 2009

Monte Antico Toscana IGT 2007 $10.99This Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by Franco Bernabei for Neil Empson is crimson red in color and has a forward red-berry, earthy mushroom nose. Light to medium bodied, it offers bright berry and cherry flavors and is well structured with good acidity for dining. There’s good length to the red-fruit finish.

Monte Antico Toscana IGT

Wine of the Week for 23 November 2009

Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel Dry Creek Calley 2007 $13.99Deep dark purple in color, with berries and cinnamon spice on the nose. This interestingly named zin is medium bodied with tart raisin and boysenberry flavors. There’s good length to the spicy finish. Another option for your Thanksgiving table or enjoy with roasted red meats.

Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel

Wine of the Week for 16 November 2009

Saintsbury Pinot Noir Garnet Carneros 2008 $19.99Looking for a fruit bomb? Look elsewhere. This is an earthy, subtle Pinot Noir from Carneros. Vivid red in color, with a subdued nose of berries and earth. Dry and lighter bodied with cranberry flavors and subtle hints of oak. A persistent tart and spicy finish. This is the perfect Pinot Noir for grilled salmon; too light for red meat.

Saintsbury Pinot Noir Garnet

Wine of the Week for 9 November 2009

Zen of Zin Old Vine Zinfandel California 2007 $12.99This zin, blended and bottled by Ravenswood, is deep dark ruby in color, verging on purple. It has a smokey, earthy nose that hints of spice. Medium bodied, it delivers jammy blueberry and cocoa flavors, followed by a lingering spicy finish. Enjoyed with a simple roasted chicken. For more reviews of Zinfandels, see our November feature, Savoring Zins.

Zen of Zin California Zinfandel

Wine of the Week for 2 November 2009

Tormaresca Neprica Puglia 2008 $12.99This southern Italian red blend of NEgroamaro, PRImitivo, and CAbernet Sauvignon (NEPRICA) from Puglia is deep purple in color and has a smokey plum nose. Medium bodied and well structured, it’s packed with plenty of tart cherry and plum flavors. A persistent spicy finish. A WOW wine. Great with grilled sausages and steaks

Tormaresca Neprica

Wine of the Week for 26 October 2009

Prunotto Dolcetto D’Alba $15.99Deep ruby in color. Smokey cherry aromas. Light to medium bodied, it provides tart cherry flavors embedded in supple tannins with good acidity. There’s some good spcie on the finish. A true classic. Perfect with pork tenderloin.

Prunotto Dolcetto D'Alba

Wine of the Week for 19 October 2009

Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana IGT $17.99Purple in color, with a wild-berry nose. Light to medium bodied, this wine offers plenty of tart fruit flavors rminiscent of blue plums. Structured with soft tannins and good acidity. A persistent tart berry finish.

Casamatta Toscana IGT

Wine of the Week for 12 October 2009

La Corte “Solyss” Negroamaro Puglia IGT $13.99Deep dark garnet in color. This southern Italian red has a smokey, beefy nose. On the palate, it’s medium to full bodied with tart berry flavors, hints of tobacco, and sweet tannins. Well structured with good acidity and a spicy long finish. Perfect with grilled steaks or aged cheesed.

La Corte Solyss

Wine of the Week for 5 October 2009

Reserve Perrin Cotes du Rhone 2007 $12.99Deep ruby in color, this classic Rhone red offers aromas of spice and earth. On the palate, it’s light to medium bodied and packed with currant and crushed black pepper flavors. The finish is persistent again with pepper and spice. Perfect for roasted meets and stews or with aged cheeses.

Reserve Perrin

Wine of the Week for 27 September 2009

Tenuta Luisa Refosco del Peduncolo Rosso Isonzo di Friuli 2006 $16.99Opaque purple in color, this clasic Friulian red has a smokey, floral nose. It delivers earthy plum and black pepper flavors. Well structured, it is light bodied, with a long dry earthy finish..

Tenuta Luisa Refosco

Wine of the Week for 20 September 2009

Angeline Pinot Noir California 2008 $14.99Deep garnet in color, with a forward smokey, raspberry nose. Light bodied and nicely structured, this California Pinot Noir offers berry flavors complemented with notes of baking spices. A persistent allspice finish.

Angeline Pinot Noir

Wine of the Week for 13 September 2009

Domaine des Terres Dorees  (J.P. Brun) Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes $18.99An old vines, Beaujolais? “Worth a try,” I thought, and I’m glad I did. Bright garnet in color, this wine has a sensuous bouquet of fresh strawberries. Light bodied and beautifully structured, it offers juicy ripe-berry flavors and has a persistent finish with a hint of spice. Yum! Serve slightly chilled. Enjoyed with roasted Cornish hen.

Terres Dorees Beaujolais

Wine of the Week for 6 September 2009

Roberto Ferraris Barbera d’Alba 2007 $15.99Deep ruby in color, with black-cherry and mushroom aromas, this classic Piedmontese wine is medium bodied and has a silky mouthfeel. Elegantly structured, with tart and sweet cherry flavors with hints of pepper spice. A pleasant tart finish. Wonderful with roast chicken or grilled red meats.

Roberto Ferrari Barbera D'Asti