Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, January 23, 2010

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

My buddy, Mark Sullivan of Regal Wines, has agreed to fill in for me this Saturday and will be pouring some of his favorite California Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels.  Mark is very personable and all to willing to expound upon some of the many fine wine companies he represents.  He is also known in the trade as a heavy pourer, so be sure to tell him when you have had enough.  I am joking, of course.  Really, there is the occasional sobriety check point in our area and I went through the last one recently.  I passed with flying colors, even though there was a six pack of beer in the seat next to me.  Honestly.  Please do guide yourselves accordingly.

I will return from vacation the next week and be here for yet another tasting event.

See you then.

2007 Cambria Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Katherine’s Vineyard

List price 19.50; our price 15.95

Connoisseur Guide lists this wine a “Good Value”:  “This one may be a few dollars less pricey than [others], but we like its more open, fruity style and its mix of Meyer lemon, vanilla and chalky notes.  Its flavors are delivered along with a pleasantly supple entry impression, and if the wine firms up a bit at the back, that is to its good as well in that it invites service with dishes ranging from the sweeter white fishes like Sole Amandine to baked chickens with pan gravies”.

2007 Byron Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

List price 23.00; our price 17.95

Staying true to the consistent nature of Chardonnay from this cool coastal appellation, Byron’s Chardonnay combines vibrant fruit character with a rich texture and a silky finish. Aromas of orange blossom, Anjou pear and hazelnut are accented by hints of mineral and toasty oak.  On the palate, the wine is well balanced with traces of peach, mandarin orange and toasty brown spice with a long, lingering finish.

2006 Stonestreet Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.99

Wine Advocate gave this wine a 92 point rating: “The 2006 Chardonnay Alexander Valley is a beautiful wine that exhibits notes of honeysuckle, poached pear, and tropical fruit in a medium to full-bodied style, with crisp acidity and a long, very subtle, smoky oakiness.  Drink through 2010.”  We put aside some cases of this wine to let it evolve in the bottle and the payoff has arrived…delicious!

2008 Byron Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley

List price 24.00; our price 19.99

In 1964 Uriel Nielson planted Santa Barbara County’s first commercial vineyard, and the Byron estate is located on the same site as those original plantings.  All of the fruit for this Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir comes from that estate’s sandy loam soils.  A combination of older and younger vine fruit, the 2008 is concentrated yet bright, with cherry and plum character, hints of rose, smoke and cookie spices.  Earthier at its core than the nose would hint, the wine is still loaded with juicy cherry and plum fruit accented by smoke and spice and framed by fine tannins.

2006 Taft Street Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

List price 22.00; our price 17.99

The grapes for this wine were selected from the 100+ year old Cobblestone Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, located on the gentle rolling hills east of the town of Windsor.  This is amazingly good rich and plumy old vine Zinfandel for the price.

2007 Edmeades Vineyards Zinfandel, Shamrock V., Mendocino Co.

List price 32.50; our price 28.99

At 2,800 feet, Shamrock Vineyard is one of the highest elevation vineyard sites in Mendocino County, on the northern border of Humboldt County. The vineyard sits on a small 2.1-acre site perched high above the fog line and is a true mountain grown Zin.  Van Williamson has been the winemaker since 1994 and is preeminent on the subject of Zinfandel.  At first, the aromas hit you with mixed berries covered with a cherry liqueur with hints of floral, citrus and black pepper.  In the mouth you get chocolate, dried cherries, vanilla spice and notes of earthiness.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Join us Saturday when Stacy Manley of Anders-Lane Artisan Wines introduces some of the fine wineries she represents.  The four wineries we will be discussing we have carried on and off in the past and revisiting the brands now is simply a continuation of a respectful love affair.  All the wines are exceptional and priced in range from 10.00 to 25.00.

2008 Mahoney Vineyards Vermentino, Las Brisas V., Carneros

List price 16.00; our price 12.95

Vermentino, also known as Rolle in France, commonly comes from the island of Sardinia off the coast of Italy, where it produces light white wines redolent of lemon and lime leaves with an almost salty mineral twang.  Francis Mahoney formerly the owner of Carneros Creek Winery, appointed Ken Foster, veteran Pinot Noir winemaker, to oversee production at Mahoney Vineyards in June, 2002.  Foster, the winemaker/production manager from David Bruce winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains had been making wine there for 15 years.  This California version from Las Brisas Vineyard exhibits white peaches and citrus flavors with lovely floral notes and a refreshingly crisp finish.

2006 Mahoney Vineyards Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 24.00; our price 18.99

The best of 40 lots of Pinot Noir from Mahoney Ranch and Las Brisas Vineyard are blended into this complex wine, showcasing seven distinct clones grown in diverse microclimates and soils.  The wine displays wonderfully structured mouthfeel accompanied by layer upon layer of abundant red fruit flavors and varietal spice.  It won a double gold medal (Best of Class) at the 2009 West Coast Wine Competition.

2007 Waterstone Vintners Pinot Noir, Carneros

List price 25.00; our price 21.00

Waterstone Vintners is a collaboration formed in 2000 between veteran winemaker Philip Zorn and longtime wine executive Brent Shortridge.  The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine were grown on hillside vineyards in the cool Carneros region.  Dark plums, cherry, cola and leather are present in this wine’s aroma.  The soft vanilla tones from the oak blend perfectly with the intense fruit core and soft tannins, providing complexity and balance, leading to a lingering finish.  This wine was awarded the Chairman’s Award, Unanimous Gold at the 2009 Riverside International Wine Competition.

2006 Mandolin Merlot, Central Coast

List price 12.00; our price 9.95

The vineyards for this wine were selected to give the wine a desired complexity and flavor.  20% of the merlot was sourced from the Carneros region, contributing intensity and richness to the balance, which was sourced from Lodi.  It is a fruit-forward wine softened by aging in small oak barrels.  Ripe cherry, currant, and black berry fruit lead to a lingering finish in this rich wine.

2005 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

List price 27.00; our price 23.00

While a majority of grapes were sourced from Oakville and Rutherford, vineyards from Coombsville to Diamond Mountain contributed to the final blend (88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot).  The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months (80% new barrels).  Aromas of cedary oak, currants, black cherries and ripe plums are rich and concentrated on the palate.  The firm tannins underlying the wine’s core provide balance, leading to a long, lingering finish.

2005 Haywood Estate Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Sonoma

List price 28.00; our price 24.00

The grapes of Los Chamizal are grown on rock terraces in the Mayacamas Mountains high above the town of Sonoma.  In 1991, during a shaky period in the industry, Peter Haywood chose to sell his wine brand to an international corporation.  In early 2008, Peter Haywood reacquired the brand, this time from Beam Wine Estates.  Spectator writers Jim Laube and Tim Fish awarded the 2005 Los Chamizal 93 points and selected it among their 13 favorite zinfandels of the vintage. Laube had previously described Los Chamizal as “Great Zinfandel from a special site.”

Saturday, April 25, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This Saturday we will once again be visited by a representative of importer Quintessential Wines.  Our host on this occasion will be Michael Vlasquez.  He will be pouring and discussing wines from France and Argentina, and, as the company represents some California wineries as well, we’ve chosen a big red from Sonoma County and another from Napa.  This event displays little rhyme or reason, just an appreciation of some fine wines and excellent values. 

2007 Les Jamelles Cinsault Rosé, Vin de Pay d’Oc, France
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
Les Jamelles has been producing handcrafted varietal wines in the Pays d’Oc, in the South of France, since 1991.  The Pays d’Oc (Languedoc-Roussillon), the biggest vineyard region in the world, boasts a wide range of geographic features, from the sunny beaches on the Mediterranean Sea to the plains of Béziers, to the banks of the Rhône to the Pyrenees Mountains. As in Burgundy, the region offers numerous terroirs and microclimates, allowing for a wide range of wines to be produced.  This rosé is made in the saignée method from the Cinsault grape and features cherries, raspberries and orange blossoms yet remains fresh, tart and dry.

2007 Les Jamelles Pinot Noir, Vin de Pay de l’Aude, France
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
From the cool slopes of the Aude Valley comes this well made Pinot reminiscent of raspberries and prunes.  It has a lush roundness moving towards cherry notes and features a lingering finish of jam with a hint of anise.  It is a versatile wine for service with chicken, game, duck and pork.

2008 Elsa Bianchi Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
The classic Malbec aromas of ripe plum and violets are evident in the nose, along with hints of vanilla. The beauty of the Malbec in Argentina is its ability to combine a rich, weighty mouth feel with a soft silkiness normally associated with lighter wines. Elsa Malbec takes the promise of the nose through to the palate, with pleasing fruit that mimics the aroma. The soft, supple palate leads to a lingering finish that cries out for more.

2003 Source-Napa Meritage, “Heritage Sites”, Napa V.
Regular price 38.00 Our price 29.50
Partners Bill Davies and Tom Gamble met on the first day of nursery school in the Napa Valley in 1965.  On the label is a picture of the two boys at play at that nursery school.  Forty years later the two find themselves partners in a winery that produces Bordeaux styled wines.  The Davies family owns Schramsberg Vineyards and Tom Gamble’s family has farmed in Napa Valley since 1916.  The blend in this bottling is Merlot 74%, Cabernet Sauvignon 24% and Cabernet Franc 2%.  There is a sweet spiciness in the nose, and in the mouth there is lots of leather, cedar and oak to go with the red fruit.

2006 Eponymous Red Wine, Macallister Vineyard, Sonoma V.
Regular price 45.00 Our price 29.95
Eponymous means “one for whom something is named”.  When the Robert Pepi family sold their winery in Napa, the exclusive use of the name went with the winery; thus the name on this label.  The grapes come from a single vineyard, MacAllister Vineyard, near the ridge of the Mayacamas Range on the Sonoma side of Mt. Veeder.  The wine displays cassis, spicy oak notes, orange peel, slight camphor, raspberries and hints of vanilla and cloves as it opens.  It has excellent body and structure with the flavors following the aromas and added nuances of chocolate and allspice.  The mouthfeel has the elegance and balance that is the hallmark of a fine red Bordeaux blend with a lush entry and continuing through the mid-palate and on to a long, pleasing finish.

Valentine Bianchi White Wine, “New Age”, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
We asked Michael to repeat a pouring of this wine because it is quite charming.  It is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (50%) and Malvasia (50%). The fruit is hand picked followed by crushing, cooling of crushed grapes, and pressing. Fermentation begins by inoculating with selected yeasts.  Halfway through the fermentation process, the wine is centrifuged (spun) to halt fermentation, creating a slightly sweet, semi-sparkling wine. It exhibits aromas of fresh flowers and fruit, crisp, yet soft in the finish.  Try serving on the rocks with a slice of lime.

Saturday, April 18, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This Saturday we are featuring an assortment of very fine Northern California wines at substantial discount; reflecting at the least a savings of 25%.  Three whites and three reds, all different varietals, will make up the tasting event.�
Next week we will once again be visited by a representative of importer Quintessential Wines.  There will be wines from France and Argentina, and, as the company represents some California wineries as well, we’ve chosen a big red from Sonoma County and another from Napa.

2008 Chateau Julien Pinot Grigio, Carmel
Special price 11.95
The winery began producing Pinot Grigio with the first Estate Vineyard harvest in 1998. It has been growing in popularity ever since.  Cold fermented using Pris de Mousse yeast and bottled directly from stainless steel tanks six months after harvest, this wine is consistently clean and straightforward upon release.  It is a pleasant fruit-forward wine with fresh melon and lively peach aromas to complement crisp citrus flavors.  Its full texture is ripe through the finish with good acidity and balance.

2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc, Sonoma
Special price 9.99
At first swirl, the 2007 vintage presents intense aromas of lemon-lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh cut grass.  After a couple of minutes in the glass, more subtle hints of kiwi and guava begin to reveal a complex wine.  On the palate, this wine is truly delicious with excellent viscosity and length showing more fresh fruit flavors and a very balanced acidity.  This amazing wine won the Sweepstakes Award for white wines at the prestigious Sonoma County Harvest Fair.  Imagine this ten dollar wine outclassing all the great Northern California Chardonnays.

2005 Silverado Vineyards Chardonnay, Vineburg, Carneros
Special price 19.99
This is the second vintage for Silverado from this wonderful vineyard.  The winemaker created a food friendly Chardonnay by fermenting in stainless steel barrels and stirring the lees weekly, to retain freshness and build mid-palate texture.  Up front the wine shows apple and orange blossom aromas proceeding to vanilla and oak in the background.  Stone and mineral aromas echo on the palate.  The balanced acidity and a silky mid-palate lead to a zesty finish that leaves you wanting more.

2007 Ramsay Winery Pinot Noir, North Coast
Special price 14.99
The very excellent winemaker for this wine is Kent Rasmussen of Napa.  The Ramsay label is actually his second label but the wine in the bottle is a good indicator of what he can do with this grape.  The nose shows classic Pinot Noir notes of raspberry and cherry, with lots of earthiness and lovely toasty oak.  The mouth explodes with blueberry, Bing cherry, anise and toast.  Even more striking is the depth and richness of the mouth-feel. The wine is very fruity, with blackberry characters and a big, rich, tarry and solid balance. The warm mantle of oak is refined and quite opulent.

2001 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Special price 24.99
The history of Freemark Abbey began in 1886, when Josephine Marlin Tychson became the first woman to build and operate a winery in California.  The historic site where Josephine’s winery, Tychson Cellars, once stood is now known as Freemark Abbey. The 2001 Cabernet displays nuances of dark cherry and nicely-integrated oak with a background of black currant and cassis.  It has a very fruitful entry, is crisp, with a long finish, and promises a long life of enjoyment.

2006 August Briggs Zinfandel, Old Vine, Napa
Special price 27.00
Owner August “Joe” Briggs started out as a Pinot Noir specialist first at Alpine Vineyards in Oregon and then at La Crema in Sonoma County.  In 2002 Joe located a small parcel of land on the southern edge of Calistoga, and built a simple but state-of-the-art winery there that is his home today. This Zin is very fragrant with rose, perfume, and black cherry as well as hints of leather and cedar. On the palate it is flashy and expressive with flavors of wild berries, currant, and mocha. The finish is long and chocolaty.  This is classic California Zin from two old and venerable vineyards in Napa Valley.

Saturday, April 4, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Founded as a vineyard company in 1973, Sonoma-Cutrer’s foundation was built upon a selection of several key vineyard properties in the marginal benchlands, hillsides and rocky foothills in what later became recognized as the Sonoma Coast Appellation, an area with long, even growing seasons due to the cool and foggy coastal climate.  Initially, the company planted several different grape varieties.   By the end of the ’70s, Sonoma-Cutrer’s Chardonnay grapes had a reputation for exceptional quality and were in great demand by premium wineries.  It was not long before the idea for a winery was floated and eventually built, under the guidance of some of Sonoma County’s finest winemakers and growers.  Ground was broken for a new winery in 1981.  Today, Sonoma-Cutrer’s flagship wine, Russian River Ranches, is the number-one-selling Chardonnay in America’s finest restaurants according to the annual Wine & Spirits magazine.  Lisa Wherry, of Youngs Market Company, and I welcome this opportunity to bring you this interesting side by side tasting event of this fine company’s wines.

2006 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Russian River Ranches
19.99
Russian River Ranches is a cuvée crafted from several estate vineyards, each contributing its own distinct personality. The gentle elevation, moderate temperatures and fine sandy clay loam of Vine Hill make it ideal for growing Chardonnay. Owsley Ranch stands closest to the Pacific and is influenced by cooling fog pushing through Bloomfield Gap each day. The soils at Shiloh reflect an ancient seabed and volcanic ash that changed the topography eons ago, while Les Pierres is situated atop an old rock quarry that imparts a flinty mineral character.  Vines rooted in clay at Kent Vineyard are cooled morning and night by fog, allowing for extended maturation, while the vines at the Cutrer Vineyard struggle through soils marked by the eruptions of Mt. St. Helena.  Pretty aromas of jasmine and rose petal give way to tropical fruits like pineapple and mango. Roasted hazelnut joins nougat and almond butter, finishing with a touch of lime and lychee. Medium-weight and clean with a wonderful acid backbone, the wine expands in the glass, offering up grapefruit, lemon, pear and kumquat with subtle vanilla bean and herbal mushroom.  The lingering finish displays hints of minerality, along with apple, lime and a surprising kiss of strawberry.

2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
23.50
Distinct aromas of ginger and lemon zest are joined by toasty coconut, melon and caramel alongside a mineral, flinty cedar chest oakiness overlaid by notes of honeysuckle.  Well-balanced with a solid acid backbone, the wine is rich and medium-heavy with a broad, yet firm, mid-palate.  The long, lingering finish displays a touch of spice and lively acidity.  Flavors of lemon, apple, pear, pineapple and cantaloupe, join a nutty, spicy, lightly oaky profile.

2004 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, The Cutrer
29.95
Planted on what was once an ocean floor, The Cutrer Vineyard stands hardly a dozen miles from the Pacific shore.  Intense aromas of ripe apple are dotted with cinnamon and clove, as hazelnuts bathed in cream join fragrant notes of acacia blossoms.  In the mouth, the wine is dense and concentrated, while simultaneously offering a softer, sensual side.  Flavors of baked apple appear alongside glazed pineapple and fresh tangerine, as a hint of clove entertains the taste buds.  The wine is in perfect balance given its backbone of acidity.

2004 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Les Pierres
36.50
Sitting atop gravelly clay loam in an ancient riverbed thick with cobblestone, Les Pierres enjoys a long growing season, allowing for full maturation and ripening, by virtue of the daily fog shroud from San Pablo Bay.  Full of deep, complex flavors that speak to the leanness of the soil, and the cool weather ripening and maturation, the wine displays distinct aromas of spice and lemon-lime over a pronounced flinty mineral backbone typical of the vineyard.  Signature flavors of green apple and lemon evolve to dried lemon peel and lime zest, while floral notes recall acacia flowers.  A broad mid-palate reveals a touch of spun honey.  Judicious oak aging and fermentation impart a hint of fresh-baked bread crust.  The wine’s structure is firm, focused and elegant, and the remarkably long finish is classic Les Pierres: tight, lemon-mineral, extending with great acidity.

2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
32.00
This wine is not shy.  Aromas of black cherry and currants leap from the glass, quickly followed by notes of cedar and allspice.  A strong floral component marries the fruit bouquet, while leaving room for the subtle influence of the new French oak. In the mouth the first impression is all berries, with raspberry, blueberry and blackberry all enjoying a turn.

Saturday, January 31, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

       Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

On Saturday I will be introducing to you Alison Sokol Blosser, the co-president of Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon.  This charming lady is a font of information on the subject of the wine grapes of Oregon and specifically the Dundee area.  She will be happy to discuss recent scientific reports confirming the health benefits of resveratrol, a powerful antioxident present in red wine and especially the red wines of Oregon (due to its more humid environment).  There is an added benefit here: the wines are delicious.
When Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser planted their first vines in 1971 there was no wine industry in Oregon.  Today there are over 300 wineries and more than 13,000 acres of vineyards.  This remains a family owned and operated business with Alison and her brother, Alex, functioning as co-presidents.  The estate vineyards are farmed organically under full USDA organic certification.  The family is impressive in that it pursues environmentally friendly practices in all phases of the business.  In 2006 a 25kW photovoltaic solar panel system was installed furnishing the winery with 33% of its total energy needs.  What I want to know is why does Oregon see the benefits of solar panels while we in the desert employ pitifully few?

2006 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Dundee Hill, Oregon
34.50
The 2006 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is extremely concentrated yet delicate and elegant.  It is soft, supple, harmonious, and packed with intense black cherry and berry fruit, mocha, and their distinctive Jory soil forest-floor earthiness.  (You will have to ask Alison about soils that are of a “Jory” nature.)

Nv Sokol Blosser Meditrina
14.95
Meditrina is a fine blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that’s juicy, rich and full of fruit.  The aromas of red fruit and berries are followed by a taste that is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry.  It is an unusual blend but one that truly works beautifully.

Evolution #9, Oregon
13.50
Every new bottling of 9 grapes has its own subtle and fresh personality. The blend consists of Pinot Gris, Müller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Muscat Canelli, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sylvaner.  The 9 varietals blend together perfectly, creating a smooth, off-dry white wine with tropical fruit and a crisp finish.  It is extraordinarily food friendly, from light salads to the hottest fusion-style cuisine.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Pinot Noir comes in many forms, but most bottlings are perfect for aperitif service and dining during the long summer.  We will begin with a rosé of Pinot Noir and proceed through California examples with a Burgundian and a Chilean Pinot to follow.

2006 Fleur de California Vin Gris, Carneros
10.95
Owner, Francis Mahoney founded the Carneros Creek Winery in 1973 and sold the winery in 2004.  Fleur de California is his new venture using fruit from his original Carneros District vineyards.  This rosé of Carneros Pinot Noir is a fine expression of a bright, fresh, and flavorful rosé wine.  Made in a crisp, dry style designed to accompany food, the wine displays aromas of strawberry and honeysuckle while exhibiting a mouthwatering finish that cleanses the palate. 

2006 Aquinas Pinot Noir, Napa
9.99
Aquinas Napa Valley is named for Patron Saint Thomas Aquinas which is fitting, considering the wine inside delivers “truth and divinity, reason and revelation, refinement and expression, all at a vow-of-poverty price”, so sayeth the boys over at Don Sebastiani and Sons.  The aroma is of cherry, pomegranate and strawberry fruit framed by lightly smoky oak seasoning and earthy nuances.  The wine is well-structured, a middleweight Pinot that is tart and possesses fine tannins.  The ripe cherry/red berry flavors combine with citrus rind and a bit of sweet spice before finishing very dusty dry like its valley of origin.

2005 Irony Pinot Noir, Monterey County
11.95
The grapes for this Monterey Pinot Noir were primarily sourced from the San Bernabe Vineyard where there are seven different blocks of Pinot Noir.  Each block features different soils, rootstocks, clones and trellises, which serves to add complexity to the finished wine.  It offers a balance of heady fruit notes and savory characteristics.  Layers of sweet cherry, fresh raspberries, cola and earthy mushrooms make up the profile in this medium-bodied wine.  There are vanilla and mineral notes in the lingering, soft finish.

2005 Bernardus Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vyd, Santa Barbara
19.95
While the Marinus Estate near Carmel produces the Bordeaux-style red wine is the centerpiece of owner Ben Pon’s reason d’être, the vineyard here is the truly wonderful Bien Nacido, in Santa Maria Valley.  Cooling sea breezes protect the grapes that yield the intense red-fruit aromas and flavors, ideal for Pinot Noir.  There are aromas of ripe cherries and red plums in the glass.  Notes of spice and pepper, so typical of this vineyard, accent these aromas.  On the palate are ripe, full, and intense flavors that mirror the aromas along with toasty oak nuances.  The long, velvety structure promises a rewarding future, should you choose to age the bottle for several years.

2004 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Cote de Beaune
18.75
Vincent Girardin is part of a winemaking family with roots back to the 17th century.  He began his winemaking career in 1982 with only 2 hectares of vines.  When his father retired, Vincent took over several additional hectares in Meursault while sourcing other varietal grapes throughout the Cote de Beaune.  There is neither filtering nor fining of his wines which serves to capture the maximum expression of fruit and terroir.

2006 Cono Sur Pinot Noir, 20 Barrels, Casablanca Valley, Chile
21.95
This project strives to emulate the French method for fine Pinot Noir production.  Although most of the method is modern, the grapes are still foot trodden which further enhances the old world character of Cono Sur’s wines.  The name refers to the best 20 barrels set aside for this bottling each year.  This is a full and rich wine with excellent fruit and elegant spicing from the 100% French Oak.