’10 Bellow’s Rock Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape
Winery: Bellow’s Rock Style: White Wine Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc Region: South Africa What Pale bright yellow. Pungent aromas of gooseberry, lemon and lime, plus a hint of fig. Juicy and fairly intense, with a slightly sweaty, varietally typical aspect to the gooseberry and curry powder flavors. The uncompromising finish is quite dry and a bit [...]
‘09 Airlie Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Winery: Airlie Style: White Varietal: Pinot Gris Region: Willamette Valley “A fresh, mineral-driven white wine, this offers light fruit flavors of green apple and gooseberry. What gives it lift and life are the vivacious acids and the mouth-coating minerality. “ 87 points – WE $14.99 Bottle, $13.49 Case Price
08 Airlie Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Winery: Airlie Style: Red Varietal: Pinot Noir Region: Willamette Valley “Elegant aromas of black cherry and cedar and a hint of chocolate combine with flavors of cassis, black berries and plum. Chewy tannins and bright acid give this wine structure and vitality leading into a lingering finish.” $19.99 Bottle, $17.99 Case Price
07 Airlie Gewurztraminer, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Winery: Airlie Style: White Varietal: Gewurztraminer Region: Willamette Valley “A true Alsatian style wine, this dry Gewürztraminer is loaded with honeysuckle and orange blossom. The literal translation is “spice grapes” and with well balanced acidity and hints of apple and pear the meaning rings true. This Thanksgiving favorite is also a great food match for [...]
‘09 Airlie Riesling, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Winery: Airlie Style: White Varietal: Riesling Region: Willamette Valley Medium-dry style. “The nose of this wine is full of lime zest and floral notes with touches of mineral and the palette is full bodied and complex. Don’t let the sugar on the label turn you off, there is plenty of acid making this a well-balanced [...]
09 Arbor Crest Sangiovese Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Wahluke Slope
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Red Varietal: Sangiovese Region: Wahluke Slope “… intense aromas of ripe strawberry jam, plum and cassis.” Winemaker notes Dionysus Vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards in Washington State. Very small production, a collector’s dream. John Morris’ personal pick! $17.99 Bottle, $16.19 Case Price “If I were forced to name a [...]
10 Arbor Crest Riesling Dionysus Vineyard, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: White Varietal: Riesling Region: Columbia Valley “… bright pineapple, lemon and honey characters that unfold on the palate as peach and almond. Finished slightly sweet to balance natural acidity.” Winemaker notes 91 points –“ Top Shelf Best Buy #12 Top 100 Best Buys” Wine Enthusiast $12.99 Bottle, $11.69 Case Price “If [...]
09 Arbor Crest Syrah Three Vineyards, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Red Varietal: Syrah Region: Columbia Valley “The 2009 Syrah Three Vineyards was aged for 24 months in 40% new oak. It is a glass-coating opaque purple color with an alluring bouquet of smoked meat, game, pepper, lavender, and blueberry. Succulent and layered on the palate, it has the structure to blossom [...]
2008 Arbor Crest Dionysus Meritage Red Blend, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Blend Varietal: Meritage Red Blend Region: Columbia Valley “The flagship Dionysus cuvee is made only in what Arbor Crest considers to be the better vintages (the last two being 2002 and 2005). The 2008 Dionysus is made up of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc with the balance Merlot, Malbec, and [...]
09 Arbor Crest Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Red Varietal: Cabernet Franc Region: Columbia Valley “The 2009 Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard (100%) offers up a panorama of herbs and spices, floral notes, cassis, and black currants. In the glass it opens to reveal its elegant personality along with layered savory flavors, good balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. [...]
09 Arbor Crest Merlot Four Vineyards, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Red Varietal: Merlot Region: Columbia Valley “The 2009 Merlot Four Vineyards spent 20 months in 40% new French oak. This purple wine’s nose is currently dominated by its oak. Aside from that, it reveals plenty of spice, layered fruit, and enough structure to evolve for several years. If the oak integrates, [...]
10 Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc Bacchus Vineyard, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: White Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc Region: Columbia Valley Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Fresh herbs, cut grass, grapefruit, and floral aromas inform the nose of a vibrant, lively, refreshing Sauvignon that will provide enjoyment over the next 12-18 months. It is an outstanding value. 90 points Robert Parker’s WA $12.99 Bottle, [...]
09 Arbor Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Five Vineyards, Columbia Valley
Winery: Arbor Crest Style: Red Varietal: Cab Sauvignon Region: Columbia Valley “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Five Vineyards (100%) spent 20 months in 40% new French oak. It is a glass-coating opaque purple with an alluring nose of cedar, leather, tobacco, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Dense, ripe, layered, and structured, this concentrated offering will evolve [...]
2007, Stratageme Basalte, Red Blend, Coteaux de Languedoc
This wine is produced under the umbrella of Le Prieure Saint Sever by negotiant and winemaker Thierry Rodriguez. Stratageme is a collection of closely guarded proprietary blends intended to capture the essence of place more than expression of fruit. It is likely the blend includes some amounts of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and/or Cinsault. The translation [...]
2005, Les Granges de Gazin, Red Blend, Pessac-Leognan, Graves
Talking points: Les Granges de Gazin is produced by Chateau Gazin-Rocquencort. The property was purchased in 2006 by the Bonnie family, of Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere fame. Michel Rolland is one of two consulting winemakers overseeing the winemaking process. Tasting notes: This wine shows aromas and flavors of crushed blackberry, raspberry and currant with toasty oak notes. [...]
2005 La Closerie de Camensac, Red Blend, Haute-Medoc, Bordeaux
Talking points: This is the “second wine” of Chateau Camensac. Chateau Camensac (the first wine) is a Fifth Growth of the 1855 Classification. The property which is owned by the Forner family, borders on the Saint-Julien appellation. Of interest, the Forner family is best known for the modern-style wines made at their winery called Marques [...]
2002 Chateau Lanbersac, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion
Talking points: Francoise and Philippe Lannoye, owners of Chateau Ambe Tour Pourret, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru; Chateau Lanbersac, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion; and Chateau Lamour, Cotes de Castillon and Chateau Moulin de Clotte. The winemaker is Francois Despagne. The owners’ and winemakers’ intent is to produce wines that “express the soul of their terroir”. Chateau Lanbersac was the [...]
2008 Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux Superieur, Rouge
Talking points: The appellation Bordeaux Superieur applies to wines from the Bordeaux district containing 1% more alcohol than the requirement for the appellation of Bordeaux. What this means is the wine will be slightly more full-bodied as a result of the increased alcohol level. The teaching point here goes back to the formula for making [...]
2008 Stratageme, Argile, White Blend, Coteaux Du Languedoc
Talking points: This wine is produced under the umbrella of Le Prieure Saint Sever by negotiant and winemaker Thierry Rodriguez. Stratageme is a collection of closely guarded proprietary blends intended to capture the essence of place more than expression of fruit. In this white, the Argile refers to the clay soils and resultant terroir. Calcareous [...]
NV Claudio Sangria, France
Talking points: Sangria is a traditional beverage most closely associated with Spain and Spanish restaurants. Sangria can be based on either red or white wine. The Claudio is based on red wine. Tasting notes: This juicy red Sangria is light, fruity and refreshing with a touch of sweetness. Serving suggestions: Although refreshing right out of [...]
NV Glimmerglass Proprietary Red Cuvee, California
Talking points: See NV Glimmerglass Proprietary White above for background. Tasting notes: A blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah. This medium-bodied red is soft and lush with the red fruit characters of Merlot in the lead finishing with cassis like qualities from the Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of spice from [...]
2008 Block 7, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Talking points: For Block 7, fruit was used from the super-premium Deerfield Ranch Vineyards to produce the limited quantity of 360 cases exclusively for Wine World. Tasting notes: This wine is exceptionally balanced, pure, and fresh showing pleasant plum and cherry aromas and flavors. Serving suggestions: Richer seafood, poultry and white meat dishes as well [...]
NV Glimmerglass Proprietary White Cuvee
Talking points: We have featured this wine previously and it is one of our early Wine World Direct products. In summary, however, this wine was actually made by Markham of Napa Valley. Originally intended to be sold exclusively on Amazon.com’s startup wine club, the Glimmerglass Proprietary White and Red Cuvees fortuitously fell to us when [...]
2007 Stratageme Galets, Coteaux du Languedoc
Talking points: This wine is produced under the umbrella of Le Prieure Saint Sever by negotiant and winemaker Thierry Rodriguez. Stratageme is a collection of closely guarded proprietary blends intended to capture the essence of place more than expression of fruit. It is likely the blend includes some amounts of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and/or Cinsault. [...]
