V·I·N·E·A - City of Wine

 Geoff's Picks

                                                                                      
Marquis Philips Shiraz - $17.99
Australia McLaren Vale
David Ortiz is the most feared hitter in baseball and the most prolific postseason offensive weapon ever.  He is the best of the best.  This shiraz is the David Ortiz of the bunch.  Aromas of cedar, blueberry and blackberry highlight the intense flavors of this wine.  My absolute favorite bottle in the store, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Marquis Philips Shiraz.  (Or if I didn't have Big Papi!)

Trapiche Broquel Malbec - $16.99
Argentina Mendoza
Tom Brady:  Can't imagine the team without him.  How could I NOT have this wine in my picks?  It is the perfect blend of deep color with intense flavor, it looks good and plays good, just like Tom.  Hints of vanilla and smoke add just the right touch to this slight tannin red.

In Situ Carmenere Winemakers Selection - $14.99
Chile Aconcagua
I drank this wine and immediately wanted to add it to my favorites.  It reminds me of Curt Schilling, an old dog with new tricks.  The carmenere (car-men-YEHR) used to be one the SIX grapes that made up a Cabernet blend, but became increasingly hard to grow and was feared extinct.  A easy to drink carmenere (car-men-YEHR), this little Chilean carries a wonderfully balanced tannin and marries it with all of the dark red fruits that you find in Chilean wines without having a lot of the vegital undertones.

The Macallan 12 Year - $56.99
Scotland
Cal Ripken, Jr.:  An irreplaceable standard that is brilliant every time.  Ripken redefined the position of short stop and lit up the record books along the way.  Macallan Scotch is THE scotch (in my opinion) that does the same for it's followers.  From Craigellachie, Scotland, Macallan's is an incredibly smooth libation worthy of the Scot's, full of dried fruit and sherry flavors with a sweet toffee finish.  Not surprisingly, The Macallan gets better with age.  (Hint: If you like the 12 year try the 17.....)

Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet - $17.99
Washington Columbia Valley
Peter LaFleur:  A true underdog story.  The 2004  Columbia Valley Cabernet is grown in the Cascade Mountain region of Washington State where the soils are very dry.  The dryness allows for intense grape ripening and flavor development.  The nose is absolutely tantalizing with strong scents of fresh berries and the taste of rich dark fruits and cherry give you a flavor your palette will thank you for.

Bertani Pinot Grigio - $15.99
Italy
This wine reminds me of Jonathan Papelbon.  Papelbon came on the scene and quickly showed that the Sox couldn't go wrong when he's in the game, just like this Pinot.  This is a really fun, hip and refreshing white.  The kind of white that is zesty enough to keep your taste buds jumping, and yet carries enough flavor that you'll keep coming back to it night after night.  Hints of peach and golden apple with a smooth aftertaste.

                                                                    

Miranda’s Picks

                                                                 

 

Hawks Nest -$19.99
Matakana New Zealand                                                                                                                                 Dark crimson red, ruby-hued, almost (but not quite) opaque, the nose is scented with the appealing fragrance we expect from these varieties- think violets and spice and hints of pencil box cedar. Finely textured with creamy cedar, spice, hints of mint, dusty blackberries and meaty tannins, the earthy depth of Malbec grapes takes the final bow and leaves a scent of cedar and violets in its wake. Absolutely delicious with Sumac rubbed rack of lamb.

Rombauer Zinfandel -$29.99
Amador California

More fruit than previous years, but really well balanced between fruit and spice. I can really taste blackberry in this on really a nice Zinfandel. The fruits really come out in this blend. It complemented the hanger steak I had for dinner, but drank well after the steak was gone! Lot of good deep fruity smells. Wow. This winery rocks!                                                                                                                                                            

The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz- $17.99
South Eastern Australia                                                                                                                               Wow, what a treat. Great taste with a little bit of tartness and a rich fruity finish. A real fun wine that goes great with chocolate and BBQ (but not BBQ chocolate). I would definitely recommend this wine. Watch out when you take off the cork though, I about killed my friend.

Anselmi -$13.99
Italy                                                            
Very nice wine. Nose has hints of apple, banana, citrus, and mineral. Very strong banana after the wine has had time to open up/aerate. Very nice sweet hint with full palate acidity. Strong citrus mineral flavor.

 

Hopler Gruner Veltliner -$14.99
Austria
A rich white, offering peach and nut flavors. Citrus and mineral emerge toward the finish. Very balanced, with moderate length.

 

Broadbent Vinho Verde -$11.99
Portugal

Broadbent Vinho Verde is the only Vinho Verde imported on a refrigerated container.   The result is the freshest tasting Vinho Verde on the market.  An ideal warm weather wine, excellent for lunch and picnics, this wine is equally as lovely as an evening aperitif. It makes a brilliant pairing with any fish, shell fish and poultry.

                                                            Brads Picks
                                               
Moon Mountain 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon -$16.99

Sonoma California

This is my easy drinkinCabernet. It just happens to also be Biodynamically produced. This is a medium bodied Cab. With just enough red cherry and currant flavors to keep the most avid Cab. fan occupied, but enough bright fruit flavors to sway the attention of lighter red wine connoisseurs. I think this is a great party wine and it delights me no end that they maintain this level of depth and flavor in a 100% organic winery. Try it! Drink it! You’ve got Wine! Yay!!!

Nelm’s Road Cabernet Sauvignon -$21.99

Washington State                                                                                                                                             Two years ago I mistook this winery’s Merlot for a Cabernet in a blind testing. Instantly I was struck with the overall ripeness of fruit and thought if they make a Cabernet it would be perfect. It turns out they do and it is! Deep, dark purple in color with expressive fruit characteristics of black cherry, plum, and black berries. Medium to full bodied the tannins remain silken and suggest melted dark chocolate in the mouth. There are many reasons to love this wine but the thing that stands out is the weight and texture. The thick extraction method the winemaker employs results in a milky, viscous quality to the mouth feel that truly is silky and velvety. This is a perfect example of how I wish all my wine felt like and an even better example of what Washington wines are quickly evolving into.

Chateau La Nerthe -$49.99

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone

 One of the oldest and most highly regarded appellations in the Southern Rhone region, Chateau La Nerthe, is my pick for a solid, always pleasing Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Blended from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault the 2004 is bolder than the 2003 vintage with more pronounced features that needs decanting to allow it some extra elbow room. The color of this wine is a deep ruby/purple with more complex aromatics than the 2003. Full-bodied with notes of blackberry, truffle and savory spices this wine is a wonderful assault of the senses with a lengthy, lingering finish.

Chateau Pesquie Terrases -$19.99

Rhone Valley-Ventoux France

 A wine I refer to as a miny Chateauneuf-du-Pape is my next pick. Derived from a blend of 70%Grenache and 30%Syrah this wine is from a family owned winery that was brought into first vinification in 1990with a bang! Not only has this winery been producing world-class wine from its inception but there is archaelogical proof that vine cultivation was present at Chateau Pesquie two thousand years ago. Not knowing what kind of wine was being produced at that time I can only imagine the similarities that might be shared with current vintages. I do know that you will find complex layers of red fruits, purple fruits and a strong presence of garrigues aromas. That’s Geek Speak for the dense thickets of aromatic lime-tolerant herbal shrubs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, wild thyme and artemesia that dominate this coastal scrubland. All of these and more will be found in abundance in Ch. Pesquie’s Terrases evoking visions of tunic clad peasants wandering aimlessly in awe and wonderment of the bounty the vine has bestowed upon us all.