February Rave Picks
The Sum 2007
75% Cabernet 15% Syrah 10% Petit Sirah
North Coast, California,
USA
“The real star, and a great bargain, is the 2007 The Sum – The Seventy-Five Wine Company. This is an absolute steal when it comes to high-class wine. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 10% Petite Sirah, there are 5,200 cases of this wine, which is truly outstanding and an amazing value. Sweet blue and black fruits, camphor, and spice box all jump from the glass of this dense, medium to full-bodied, juicy, supple wine, which is a hedonist’s dream come true. This is a beauty to drink over the next 4-5 years. California and Napa Valley need wines like this. Don’t dare pass it by!” Wine Advocate
$20.00
Saint Gregory Pinot Noir 2006
Pinot Noir
Mendocino, California,
USA
Mendocino County’s cool climate produces a very elegant and rich style of Pinot Noir with balanced acidity, dark color, full tannins and very fruity flavors. This wine is medium garnet in color. Burgundian in style; with rich, full and attractive aromas/flavors of ripe black cherries, toasty oak and hints of earth.
$18.50
Caves de Buxy Chardonnay 2008
Chardonnay
Montagny, Burgundy,
France
This is a dry but full-flavored Burgundy that really delivers in terms of richness of flavor, length and value. Good burgundy at a reasonable price is very hard to find, but this wine really pulls it off. Cave de Buxy is one of the largest landholders in Montagny.
$18.50
Alto Almanzora Este 2007
Monastrell,Tempranillo,Syrah,Grenache...
Almeria, ,,
Spain
“A blend of 45% Monastrell, 25% Tempranillo, and the balance Syrah, Garnacha, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is sourced from the little-known DO of Almeria located in eastern Andalucia in the south-east of Spain. The wine was aged for six months in French and American oak. Deep purple in color (remarkably dense for its humble price), it offers up a kinky, full-blown nose of smoke, spice box, and wild blueberry. Ripe, succulent, and layered, this bargain-priced, hedonistic effort totally over-delivers. Buy it by the palette load and drink it over the next three years.” Wine Advocate
$10.00
Killer Red Syrah 2004
Syrah
Columbia Valley, Washington,
USA
The second label from Terra Blanca in Walla Walla offers value wines that more than deliver on style. Typical of Washington State the wine is full of up-front fruit. This Syrah, with nice bottle age, has deep and dark flavors of ripe black cherry, tobacco and toasty-spice. Simply good wine for the price.
$13.00
Tangent Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Sauvignon Blanc
Edna Valley, California,
USA
"With no oak, this polished wine shows only pure varietal flavors of pineapples, lemons, limes, green apples and vanilla. It’s pure and clean, with brilliant, mouthwatering acidity, and totally dry. One of the best unoaked white wines in California." Wine Enthusiast
$15.00
Dexter Lake Red 2007
Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot and ???
., California,
USA
What’s in it, you will ask? Well, we know there is Petit Sirah and Petit Verdot. That’s all we know. But we think there may be some cabernet and some merlot as well. Here’s a red blend different from the others. Big aromas on the nose, forward fruit on the palate yet very dry. This is a rather tasty sipper we call “red”. Try it, you’ll like it.
$16.00
Camaleon Malbec 2008
80% Malbec 15% Cabernet 5% Merlot
Tupungato Valley, Mendoza,
Argentina
The grapes for this wine are grown at nearly 4000’ elevation. Thus cool nights, with warm days. This temperature shift allows the grapes to “rest” at night thus the fruit to ripens at a slower rate - meaning the fruit has time to develop fantastic flavors! A big aromatic nose is followed by a highly structured wine. Certified organic there is 15% Cabernet and 5% Merlot blended in.
$15.00
Tamaya Syrah Reserva 2008
Syrah
Limari Valley, ,,
Chile
An earthy nose that is very typical of Chilean fruit (hints toward a touch of Carmenere in the blend). This wine is not a jammy style of Syrah, rather it is well-balanced with a touch of acidity yet full of blue and red fruit flavors. I would call this a more “Old World” style of Syrah, or, not today’s typical full-blown fruit-bomb!
$17.00
Woollaston Pinot Gris 2008
Pinot Gris
Nelson, ,,
New Zealand
Do you know they are making Pinot Gris in New Zealand? I did not, but have tasted 3 different ones this month alone! The best of them is this - Woollaston. Nelson is the warmest and sunniest growing region of New Zealand and this wine shows it. Ripe, round and soft. There is a flintiness on the nose that leads to a “quite interesting” flavor on the palate. Sustainably grown, any lover of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc or Rhone Whites should try this new entry to the Chicago market.
$20.00