New Wines Gracing Our Racks!
February 28, 2007
New wines are gracing our racks!! Six will be
selected to sample at the tasting bar this Saturday.
Please let me know what you would like to taste. Don't miss
it! Lineup posted at the virtual tasting bar page
every Friday afternoon > http://www.thewineconsultant.com/tastingbar
Check out the new photographs from our January trip
to Chile at the webstore's "photo gallery" page > www.thewineconsultant.com
California
2005 Valdez Family Sauvignon
Blanc - Sonoma - $22.95 ($20.20)
Ulises Valdez, vineyard manager
extraordinare for Paul Hobbs, Marc Aubert, Jeff Cohen and Kent Rosenblum,
selects fruit from his favorite and choicest parcels in Alexander
Valley and Rincon Valley (Santa Rosa). Paul Hobbs makes the
wine. Racy, bright, mineral, lime and grapefruit with hints of
honeydew melon rind. 500 cases
2005 Auteur - Chardonnay
"Donum",
Carneros-Sonoma - $44.95 ($39.56)
Old Wente Clone planted in 1974. Over the top!
Sur lie tropics! Unfiltered and unfined. Deep apricot/ripe peach,
honeysuckle, citrus rind, long, penetrating mineral finish. 171
cases.
2005 Brown Estate Zinfandel - Napa
Valley - $34.95 ($30.76)
Cult followed! Tenth harvest anniversary. Full
bodied, voluptuous, jammy berry fruit with hints of orange zest, dried
apricots, toffee, and asian spice. 15.4% Alcohol.
2004 Villa Creek - Mas de Maha, Paso Robles - $29.95 NET
Stelvin closure. "Tasted from both screw cap and
cork-finished bottles is the 2004 Mas de Maha, a blend of 65% Tempranillo, 30%
Grenache, and 5% Mourvedre. This earthy, spicy, dark ruby-tinged 2004 offers up
scents of plums, cherries, herbs, and soil undertones in a broad, flavorful,
immediately appealing style. Once again, the screw cap bottling revealed more
intense aromatics, with the cork-finished wine displaying more muted
notes. - 91 points" - Robert Parker,
Wine Advocate - Very modern, high toned fruit.
Chile
2004 Vina Montes "Purple Angel" -
Colchagua Valley (Apalta and Marchigue) - $62.95 ($55.40)
Ultra premium Carmenere from one of Chile's most modern,
cutting edge producers! Designed to compete with neighboring Casa
Lapostolle's luxury blend Clos Apalta. Blended with 8% Petit
Verdot. Aged 18 months in new French oak and American oak (50%
each). Very collectible. WORTH IT! Not rated at this
time.
2005 Matetica
Vineyards, Pinot Noir, San Antonio Valley - $30.95
($27.24)
From this small coastal region just south of the
Casablanca Valley, it is easy to draw comparisons with best Pinot Noir
being produced in the maritime influenced coastal regions in
California and Oregon. Fine Pinot Noir from Chile? You
bet!! Penetrating black cherry
fruit, floral spiciness. Freshness and vibrancy provide
balance. MUST TRY!!....or you'll never
know!
2005 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc -
20 Barrels Limited Edition,
Casablanca Valley - $23.95 ($21.08)
"The best 20 barrels!" First time designated for
this leading producer of white varietals and pinot noir. Vibrant, briny
gooseberry/citrus fruit is softened with a little creamy oak. Name by
Decanter magazine as the "Best Sauvignon Blanc Over $20." 93 points
by Wine and Spirits magazine. Perfection with a roasted salt-crusted seabass with grilled
peppers at the Santa Cruz Hotel in the town of Santa Cruz in Colchagua
Valley.
Argentina
Every producer in Mendoza is experimenting with
proprietary blends. Of course, Malbec is usually the springboard for these
creative juices. Here are two of our favorite best value
"signature" blends. The Carlos Puenta includes a great portion
of Malbec in the blend, while the Luigi Bosca exemplifies Mendoza's serious
potential with other key Bordeaux varietals.
2003 Carlos Puenta Vistalba - Corte B -
$23.95 ($21.08)
42% Malbec, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Bonarda, 10%
Merlot. Twelve months in medium toast new French oak. Great texture,
concentration and flash! Mocha and blackfruits. Underated by the
Wine Spectator at only 90 points. This became our "go to" wine when
we would spot it on a wine list at a traditional parrilla restaurant (grill
or asado). All purpose with grilled sweetbreads, kidneys. entrails,
chorizo and blood sausage, and BEEF!
2003- Luigi Bosca GALA
2 - $32.95 ($29.00)
Unfiltered - Cabernet Sauvignon 80% Cabernet Franc 15%
Merlot 5% - 14 months new French oak. Mesmerizes with its cache
of very appealing spicy Cabernet Franc perfume. Black fruits in total
harmony and balance. Serious, with a long and steady
finish. A wonderful pairing with a wood
burning oven roasted baby goat at Francis Mallmann's 1884 Restaurant in
Mendoza.
Spain
2004 Juan-Manuel Burgos - AVAN Concentracion, Ribera del Duero - $62.95
($55.40)
Introducing this region's hottest new
superstar producer. 80 year old Tempranillo vines grown at 3,000 feet
produce low yields designed to express terroir. Darkly
colored, powerfully aromatic, with intense and concentrated
flavors; black olive, soy sauce and mineral. Great
structure. No flacid wines allowed. Only 250 cases
produced. 2004 is a great vintage!
2004 Mas Doix - "Salanques" - Poboleda, Priorat - $41.95
($36.92)
PRIORAT VALUE ALERT! Second wine of Mas Doix
- 65% Garnacha, 20% Carinena, and equal parts (5%) Syrah,
Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged 14 months in French oak. Inky purple, the
wine has a lovely perfume of mineral, truffle, pencil lead, kirsch, black
currant, and blueberry. Ripe and full-bodied, the wine has a velvety texture,
superb depth, and gobs of flavor. Drink this pleasure-packed wine over the next
8-10 years. - Wine Advocate - 94 points.
Germany
2004 Emrich-Schonleber Riesling
Spatlese Monzinger Halenberg, Nahe (NET) - $52.95 NET
Scintillating aromas and flavors of berries, citrus,
vanilla and stone highlight this elegant, intense Riesling. An amazing range of
flavors packed into a light-weight frame, with a vibrant structure that
resonates through the finish. Terrific, complex aftertaste. Drink now through
2025. 365 cases made. - 95 WS
2005 Von Simmern Erbacher
Marcobrunn Riesling, Kabinett - Rheingau - $23.95
A kabinett on steroids. Sweet and intense, with dried
pineapple, peach, citrus and loads of mineral aromas and flavors. Impressive, if
a bit rich for the category, but that's what 2005 delivered. Best from 2008
through 2020. 400 cases made. 93 WS
Austria
2004 Schwarz Burgenland Rot
Zwigelt (Hans Schwarz, Alois Kracher & Manfred Krankl) - $74.95
NET
In the Burgenland community of Andau, the charismatic Hans
Schwarz, a butcher by occupation, crafts this powerful, richly textured red
wine - the "Schwarzrot". The latter clearly beat competitors even from
Piedmont and Australia at the Hamburger Weinsalon 2001. The 2003 vintage was our
choice for one night in the Sierra's at Loon Lake last summer as it had the
texture and flavors of a great Pinot Noir. Perfection with bacon wrapped Fillet
Mignon grilled over an open camp fire. Winemakers
extraordinare Manfred Krankl and Alois Kracher team to consult for
Schwarz on vineyard and cellar management.
2004 Kracher TBA #7 - Zwischen den Seen Welschriesling
- Burgenland, Austria (375 ml) - $89.95 NET
Deep golden yellow. Intense honey,
elegant tobacco, juicy stone fruit, and a hint of grapefruit. Powerful and juicy
fruit with flavors of nougat, white pepper, tea, and spice that coat the entire
mouth. This opulent wine is a perfect representative of the vintage. Very good
length and an eternal finish. Exceptional aging potential.
Hungary
2001 Arvay "Sweet Life" Tokaj - Hungary (500 ml.) -
$49.95 ($43.96)
Imported by Paul Hobbs- The "Sweet Life" offers
orange marmalade and kiwi, with tropical overtones, followed by bold minerality
that refreshes the palate and mingles with the lingering fruit flavors over a
long finish. It is viscous but not heavy, slightly sweet but
quenching and crisp. From 3 prominent white grapes used to make wine
in the Tokaj region using the Aszu process: furmint, muscat, and harslevelu (we
will be testing you on this, so please pay attention!).
France
Very Limited! Order
NOW!
2004 Domaine de Saumarez,
"Aalenien" Coteaux du Languedoc -
$25.95 NET
65% Syrah and 35% Grenache - "Luscious, rich and
full-bodied, with layers of dark plum, chocolate, cassis and brandied cherry
flavors. Muscular structure, with plenty of smoke and bittersweet chocolate on
the finish. Needs some time in the cellar. Best from 2007 through 2012. 450
cases made." - 92 WS
2003 Chateau
Camplong, Le C
de Camplong, Corbieres - $29.95 NET
Suave, full-bodied red with ripe, rich and thick flavors
of dark plum, cherry, cassis and roasted meat. Powerful tannins yet still juicy.
Silky. Finish is filled with cocoa and espresso notes. Syrah, Grenache,
Carignane and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2012. - 93 WS Top scoring
wine of the region. 630 cases made by the famous Burgundian and Rhone team
of Laurent and Tardieu.
Of course, order
by the bottle(s) if you wish, but COMBINE ANY 12 OR MORE BOTTLES TO RECEIVE A
12% DISCOUNT. "NET" WINES ONLY BUILD FOR DISCOUNT, BUT DO
NOT DISCOUNT. ACTUAL 12% DISCOUNT PRICE IS SHOWN IN
PARENTHESES.
SOME WINES ARE LIMITED TO
STOCK ON HAND AND CAN NOT BE REORDERED. ALL ORDERS WILL BE
CONFIRMED BY REPLY E-MAIL WITH INVOICE ATTACHED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND
REFERENCE.
CASSONE MALBEC DELIVERY
UPDATE: The
odyssey continues! Buenos Aires to a New Jersey
port via freighter. Then cross country by truck to The Wine
Consultant. The recent snow storm in the Sierras has once again
delayed the delivery scheduled for today. NOW, delivery
is newly promised to arrive this Friday, March
2nd. Please, let it be!! Our best apology
for this unexpected delay.
Eric Stumpf
The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
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