Chardonnay

#30503 Domaine Serene "Cote Sud" Chardonnay '02 12/375 $18.25/Bottle

Arguably the oldest planting of Dijon Clone chardonnay in Oregon (1992) and is a combination of Dijon clones # 75, 76, 78, 95 and 96.  Very citrusy with spicy tarragon and caramel notes.   Averaged 2.8 tons/acre.  Aged 15 months sur lees with moderate battonage (lees stirring) in small, French oak cooperage, of which 40% was new. 100%  malolactic fermentation.

 

#9701 Saintsbury Chardonnay "Carneros" '03 24/375 $8.50/Bottle

An elegant, restrained style that offers ripe, rich, complex flavors focused in a tight beam centered around green pear, mineral, citrus and spicy notes. Light oak folds in nicely on the finish. European minerality and oak playing a minor role, makes this a refreshing and food-friendly alternative to other California chardonnays...

 

#4907 Miner Family "Napa Valley" Chardonnay '04 $14.00 /Bottle  

Using fruit from four Napa Valley vineyards, the 2004 Chardonnay is well-polished package. Spiced pear, melon and hazelnut notes are all tied together with toasty vanilla.  Great Chardonnay should speak to you. It should make you think, and draw you back into the glass for further contemplation and exploration of the senses. At Miner, we hand craft our Chardonnays in the Burgundian style, using carefully selected fruit from low yielding, hillside vineyards for great natural acidity. The result is a clean, fresh wine that continues to evolve in the glass, over a meal, or over a lifetime in the cellar.  Aged 11 Months 40% New French Oak.  2,508 Cases Made.

 

#7902 Landmark "Overlook" Chardonnay '04 $12.20/Bottle

The 22 separate vineyards that comprise this year's Overlook include such distinguished growers as Sanganciomo, Bien Nacido, Martinelli and Lorenzo. All the wine in the Overlook bottling is barrel fermented using indigenous yeasts and undergoes full malo-lactic fermentation. The wine is aged sur lie for nine months in Burgundian barrels and racked to tanks for blending.  The aromas of toasted almonds, caramel and coconut are followed by crisp green apple and lemon rind flavors that convey certain minerality. 

 

Other White Varieties

#39342  Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2005 $11.45/Bottle

One of the few “Napa Valley” Sauvignon Blancs left... Duckhorn’s preference for barrel fermentation (30%) and the addition of Sémillon (25%) results in a unique, full-flavored Sauvignon Blanc with balanced acids and bright fruit flavors. Aged for 6 months sur lie in 100% French oak.

 

#4922 Miner Family Viognier Simpson Vineyard, California '04 $9.50/Bottle

Maybe California's best viognier! Intensely tropical and fresh, ripe and racy (Stainless Steel Fermented) --a wine designed for summertime sipping or anytime enjoyment. With glowing lucidity, a nose full of honeysuckle blossoms and plush peach tones, this Viognier finishes with a refreshing tang that won’t disappoint its fans (and will surely convert the cynical).Whole cluster pressed to perfection and stainless steel fermented… always delicious. 3,332 Cases Made. 

 

#9530 Gunderloch Nackenheimer Rothenberg "GKAus"2004 $35.25 / Bottle

95 Points: Wine Spectator.  “Botrytis adds a dimension of concentration and exotic spice and honey notes to this apricot- and pineapple-infused Riesling. It's intense, with a vivid acidity that crackles and pops with energy. This needs time to integrate. Best from 2009 through 2030. 75 cases imported. (BS)”

 

#9530 Piesporter Goldtropchen “Spatlese” 2004 $16.75Bottle

#9698 Zilliken Saaburger Rausch GKA $58.50/Bottle

#9636 Zilliken Saaburger Rausch Kabinett 2002 $19.05/Bottle

 

#9522 Robert Weil Estate "Spatlese" '03  $18.50 / Bottle

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The World’s Greatest Wine Estates”:  In his newest book Robert M. Parker, Jr. includes Weingut Robert Weil in his profiles of the world’s 175 leading wine estates. Along with Kunstler, the greatest Rheingau estate --- a fixture in every great restaurant throughout Europe and the U.S.

 

#9664 Wehlener Sonnenuhr "Spatlese" F. Weins Prum '02 $11.90/Bottle

Wine Spectator "... sweetness and vibrant acidity meld together with the peach and apricot notes. Nice mouthwatering finish. Best from 2006 through 2012. (BS)"

 

#9570 Kiedrich Grafenberg "Auslese", Robert Weil '03  $45.25

96 Points: Wine Spectator (April 30, 2005).  "A superfine texture and pure flavors of apricot, orange and honey mark this silky auslese. Beautifully balanced and full of finesse, this has the structure and concentration to age for decades. Terrific length. Drink now through 2030. (BS)"

 

"Stickies"

#8618 Yalumba "Museum Muscat" NV, Barossa Valley $13.75/Bottle

My“best kept secret”... 98 points: Robert Parker: #161, October, 2005“The non-vintage Museum Reserve Muscat is exotic, full-bodied, rich, and sweet. It spent 7 years in wood, and was bottled from a solera system. This amber-hued, rich, unctuously-textured effort boasts luscious aromas and flavors of marmalade, figs, chocolate, melted caramel, toffee, and prunes. Once again, Australia proves this country is hard to beat when it comes to their fortified after-dinner wines, which still sell for a song.”

#8618 Yalumba "Antique Tawney" NV, Barossa Valley $13.75/Bottle

96. Points —Robert Parker. The medium amber-hued non-vintage Museum Reserve Antique Tawny, which has had more than 15 years of oak aging, is a sensational fortified that could easily be confused with a high quality, 20- to 25-year-old Tawny Port. Delicious notes of prunes, sweet raisins, over-ripe strawberries, and caramel soar from the glass of this incredibly intense wine. #2477 Veraison Port $38/Bottle

 

 

Pinot Noir

#4803    Pinot Noir “Carter Vineyard” 2005    12/375                   $222/Case    $18.50/Bottle

Located just 1 mile from Canary Hill in the Eola Hills, Carter Vineyard is lower on the hillside yet has a leaner and less fertile soil. It is mainly Nekia soil, which is formed from weathered basic rock. It lies at an elevation of 325' and was planted in 1983. This bottling is comprised of the Wadenswil, Dijon 777, Dijon 667, Dijon 115, and Pommard clones. The wine is firmer than Canary Hill in its youth but evolves beautifully after a few years in bottle to show black fruits and fresh, healthy earth scents. Approximately 650 cases are produced. The vineyard is owned by Jack and Kathleen Carter, and managed by Mark Gould.

 

#4817    Pinot Noir “Savoya Vineyard” 2005    12/375                   $222/Case    $18.50/Bottle

Any visitors to Ken's home have seen the Savoya Vineyard --- it's  essentially his backyard.  Part of the new AVA: Yamhill-Carlton  District.  The sites in the area were planted mostly in the late  1980’s and early 1990’s. The primary soil of this area is called Willakenzie, named after the Willamette and McKenzie rivers. It is a  sedimentary soil with a sandstone base rock. The sand content is  quite high and the soil therefore very well drained. The sites are  generally on the lower slopes of a volcanic ridge. Wines of the area  possess aromas of red and black fruits, with added elements of cocoa,  leather and fresh-turned earth. Acidity levels are generally lower than other regions, prompting these wines to be lush and agreeable in their youth.  This is the first vineyard directly owned and developed by Ken Wright Cellars. The vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton  District northeast of Carlton. Planting began in 1999 with 4.5 acres  of clones 777 and 115 on phylloxera resistant rootstock.. Total  planted acreage as of spring 2002 is approximately 17 acres. Vine  spacing is 6.5’ x 4’ and the elevations averages 450’. The soil is  comprised of marine sediments known as Wellsdale and Willakenzie.  These are sandy soils which drain quickly and hasten the ripening  process. Ken's first commercial crop was the 2002.  Savoya in it's  short history has produced  muscular wines that have aromas of dense  black fruit, seared meat, cedar and anise. Approximately 240 cases are produced. Ken and Karen Wright are owners. The vineyard is  managed by Mark Gould.

 

#9701 Saintsbury Pinot Noir "Carneros" '04 $12.10/Bottle

These guys put pinot noir and Carneros on the map --- they’ve been making it, growing it and experimenting with Carneros Pinot for more than 25 years.  Their “Carneros” bottling delivers varietal and regional integrity.  Those lots that show a balance of tannin and acid, fruit flavors that while rich, dark-red and complex, are not overblown or leaning toward the burnt jam style of Pinot you sometimes see. Saintsbury’s Carneros bottling delivers distinctive Pinot Noir character in a wine of power, grace and elegance.

 

Merlot

#39349 Duckhorn "Napa Valley" Merlot 2003 $22.75/Bottle

The Napa Valley Standard for Merlot is a blend of several individual vineyard lots, utilizing fruit from their own Estate Vineyards and from independent growers throughout the Napa Valley. The final wine is an expression of the Napa Valley itself, reflecting the unique microclimates and soils of the entire appellation. Blended to offer the complexity and balance of a young wine and reflective of the Napa Valley appellation. This vintage is full-bodied and layered with fruit and well-integrated tannins that lead to a lingering finish. The aroma is dominated by ripe fruit-blackberry, plum, and cherry-and is accented by notes of toasted oak, vanilla, cedar, and tobacco. The flavors are rich with chocolate, blackberry, blueberry, plum, cassis, white pepper, and dried herbs. A blend of: 81% Merlot,10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.  Aged 16 months in 40% new, 60% second vintage French oak.  Alcohol: 14.5%.

 

#40891 L'Ecole #41 Merlot “Columbia Valley” ‘03 $13/Bottle

L'Ecole No 41 is indisputably best known for Merlot, their principle red variety since 1983. Fermentation control is carried out in a traditional Bordeaux style, with small lot fermentations punched down by hand for optimal color and flavor extraction. When the fermentation is completed, the must is gravity fed into the press. The wine is gently racked into a combination of new and older French and American oak barrels and aged for 18 months. With rich blackcherry and berry fruit flavors in balance with the tannins, traditionally bottled unfined and unfiltered.

 

 

Cabernet Sauvignon & Bordeaux Blends

#39523 Chappellet Signature Cabernet  ‘03 $20.75/Bottle

Chappellet is one of those “great values” --- with neighbors like: Colgin, David Arthur, etc., Chappellet’s a “Cult Cabernet” without the price tag. The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been their flagship wine for more than three decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and ageing potential, yet seductively forward in its concentrated varietal character. The Signature grapes struggle to grow in the dry, rocky soils of Pritchard Hill with little or no irrigation. and flavor complexity.  Big, rich Cabernet characters of dark fruits, herb and cedar expand on the palate. Firm but balanced tannins give structure and texture to the mouth as the flavors flow seamlessly into a long chocolaty/berry finish. A blend of: Cabernet Sauvignon 81%, Petit Verdot 9%, Merlot 5% , Malbec 3% , and Cabernet Franc 2%.

#39323 Duckhorn "Napa Valley" Cabernet Sauvignon $25.35/Bottle

A personal favorite from Duckhorn, their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied and elegant wine with smooth, velvety tannins that are nicely integrated. The aroma exhibits classic Cabernet character with dark chocolate, cassis, blackberry, tobacco, and a hint of dried herbs. On the palate flavors of vanilla, oak, caramel and toasted almonds combine with the essence of ripe black cherry to create a wine to savor. Ready to drink upon release, this wine will age well for the next 10-15 years.  A blend of: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon,15% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and1% Cabernet Franc.  Aged 19 months in 78% new, 22% second vintage French oak.. Alcohol: 14.5%.

 

#9102 Worthy Napa Valley Red '02     $13.95/Bottle 

Dynamite stuff that has been a hot seller for the last two years thanks to a 93-point review in Wine Spectator magazine. With some wines, you can smell class and that's the case with the Worthy, with a big dose of brambly fruit, anise and pepper on the nose and elegant, balanced flavors of spice, brambly fruit, cinnamon and allspice. This is a wine you want to linger over. Excellent.

 

#88064 Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon '01         $20.25/Bottle

A guy doing all of the right things --- one of our best kept secrets!  Low yields, unfined/unfiltered, native yeast.  Elegantly styled, with understated currant, mineral, cedar and tobacco scents, Lush on the palate, great finish and full of soft tannins. Best from 2006 through 2011. 2,650 cases made. 

 

Happy Holidays!

Alan