|
Wine Spectator Online Daily Wine Picks
|
|
 |
|
Jacob's Creek Shiraz South Eastern Australia 2006 $8 (Wine Spectator)
Tight and grainy, with a chalky edge to the berry and dried cherry flavors. Drink now through 2012. 90,000 cases imported. |
Pierre André Bourgogne White Réserve 2006 $15 (Wine Spectator)
Fresh and rich, showing peach, apple and citrus flavors matched to a bright structure. Nicely balanced, this lingers a little on the finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases made. |
Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan White 2006 $38 (Wine Spectator)
There's lovely toasted coconut, apple pie and lemon cream character on the nose. Full-bodied, with bright, lively acidity and a long, clean, almost minerally finish. Drink now. 2,500 cases made. |
Cline Viognier California 2007 $10 (Wine Spectator)
Tasty peach, apricot and citrus peel notes are light-bodied and refreshing, yet still balanced with focus and concentration. Drink now. 24,116 cases made. |
Water Wheel Memsie White Bendigo 2007 $15 (Wine Spectator)
Ripe and spicy, with a wet hay edge to the pear, pineapple and cream flavors. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Roussanne. Drink now. 3,000 cases imported. |
Les Tourelles de Longueville Pauillac 2006 $35 (Wine Spectator)
Black currant and dark chocolate aromas follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins, very good fruit and an aftertaste of tobacco and berry. Structured and rich. The excellent second wine from Pichon-Baron. Best after 2012. 8,150 cases made. |
Charles Smith Chardonnay Columbia Valley Eve 2007 $12 (Wine Spectator)
Light and floral, with bright pear and apricot fruit shaded with hints of carnation and lavender. Drink now. 15,000 cases made. |
Achával-Ferrer Quimera Mendoza 2007 $48 (Wine Spectator)
Racy and pure, with creamy raspberry and boysenberry fruit that's nicely driven from behind by graphite and spice notes. The long, lingering finish lets a black tea note chime in. Delicious. Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2011. 5,280 cases made. |
Merryvale Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Starmont 2008 $18 (Wine Spectator)
Ripe, fleshy peach, tangerine, Asian pear and apricot flavors are up front, with great intensity, mouthwatering acidity and a nicely spicy finish. Drink now. 6,620 cases made. |
Bodega Norton Malbec Mendoza Barrel Select 2006 $13 (Wine Spectator)
Bright, with a high-toned floral whiff leading the way for dark plum, licorice, pastis and black tea notes. The long, round, very juicy finish lets a dash of minerality peek in. Delicious. Drink now through 2011. 90,000 cases made. |
Henri de Lanzac Tavel Château de Ségriès 2008 $20 (Wine Spectator)
Big, with very juicy watermelon, red currant and cherry notes laced with mineral and herb notes, followed by a long, fine finish. Drink now. 2,000 cases made. |
Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Reserve 2007 $50 (Wine Spectator)
Tight and compact, with dark, potent, concentrated fruit that fleshes out, with mineral, dried dark berry fruit, spice and tobacco notes, gaining body and complexity. Drink now through 2013. 2,635 cases made. |
Vignerons de Caractère Vacqueyras Vallon des Sources 2007 $19 (Wine Spectator)
Very juicy, with licorice and red plum fruit flavors laced with a tangy sanguine hint and a long, black tea– and mineral-infused finish. Ripe and rich, but very stylish in the end. Drink now through 2011. 5,000 cases made. |
Pacific Rim Riesling Columbia Valley 2008 $14 (Wine Spectator)
Soft, open-textured and appealing for its pretty pear and floral flavors, remaining focused through the light, sweet finish. Drink now through 2011. 65,000 cases made. |
Beringer Chardonnay Napa Valley Private Reserve 2007 $35 (Wine Spectator)
Intense and vibrant, rich and full-bodied, with a complex mix of ripe pear, honeysuckle and honeydew melon. Gains depth and nuance, with a subtle mix of flavors on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 21,900 cases made. |
Sebastiani Chardonnay Sonoma County 2007 $13 (Wine Spectator)
Fresh floral, honeysuckle and honeydew melon aromas fold over to the palate, where they're focused and full-bodied, ending with a creamy aftertaste. Drink now. 82,130 cases made. |
Domaine de l'Echevin Côtes du Rhône-Villages St.-Maurice 2006 $17 (Wine Spectator)
Broad, with toast, smoked mesquite and fig notes followed by hints of bittersweet cocoa and tar on the muscular finish. Drink now. 1,250 cases made. |
La Poussie Sancerre 2006 $36 (Wine Spectator)
A lengthy, pure, unadorned style, with a beam of citrus peel and floral notes that is backed by hints of straw, wet stone and mineral. The finish is long and very stylish. Drink now through 2010. 1,550 cases imported. |
Fincas Patagonicas Malbec Mendoza Zolo 2008 $12 (Wine Spectator)
Very ripe and juicy, with lush crushed plum, fig sauce and macerated black cherry fruit flavors gliding over rounded structure. The finish is long, creamy and toasty. Drink now through 2010. 16,000 cases imported. |
Domaine du Séminaire Côtes du Rhône-Villages Valréas NV $20 (Wine Spectator)
This is ripe, with raspberry and boysenberry fruit, but also racy, with a nice graphite edge and lingering spice notes. Very tasty. Grenache and Syrah. From the 2007 harvest, but label printed without the vintage. Drink now. 9,000 cases made. |
The Hess Collection Chardonnay Mount Veeder 2007 $35 (Wine Spectator)
Sleek and focused, with a tight, rich mix of minerally green apple, lime and honeysuckle. Full-bodied and cleansing, this keeps the focus on the fruit. Drink now through 2013. 1,900 cases made. |
De Bortoli Shiraz-Cabernet South Eastern Australia dB Selection 2008 $9 (Wine Spectator)
Bright and jazzy, offering a lively mouthful of raspberry and roasted red pepper flavors that remain appealing on the light finish. Drink now. 35,000 cases made. |
Château La Confession St.-Emilion 2006 $36 (Wine Spectator)
Shows aromas of berries and lavender, with a hint of mahogany. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and bright acidity. Long and juicy. Very attractive now. Best after 2009. 980 cases made. |
Cave de Roquebrun St.-Chinian Terrasses de la Mouline 2008 $15 (Wine Spectator)
A hearty, full-bodied red, showing concentrated cocoa and mocha flavors, with beefy notes that lead to the chunky, peppery finish, which features hints of olive. Drink now through 2012. 29,000 cases made. |
The Magnificent Wine Company House Wine White Columbia Valley 2007 $10 (Wine Spectator)
Soft and easy, with pretty pear and herb flavors. Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat. Drink now. 22,000 cases made. |
M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche 2007 $15 (Wine Spectator)
Fleshy and ripe, with blackberry and macerated currant fruit giving way to toast, cedar and licorice hints on the finish. Nice acidity keeps this lively. A super value. Drink now. 19,000 cases imported. |
Baer Ursa Columbia Valley 2006 $39 (Wine Spectator)
Smooth, polished and generous with its layers of currant, plum and white pepper aromas and flavors, with a whiff of herbs. Persists easily into the long, deftly balanced finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2014. 1,724 cases made. |
Domaine La Florane Côtes du Rhône-Villages Visan À Fleur de Pampre 2007 $13 (Wine Spectator)
Very rounded, offering delicious raspberry and blackberry fruit laid over creamy, embedded tannins, followed by a long, spice- and licorice-filled finish. Drink now. 2,915 cases made. |
Bodegas Frutos Villar Toro Muruve Reserva 2005 $20 (Wine Spectator)
This plush red shows sweet raspberry and boysenberry fruit, with vanilla and licorice accents. Ripe, well-integrated tannins keep it focused, and lively acidity keeps it lively. Drink now through 2014. 17,500 cases made. |
Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley The Ranch 2006 $40 (Wine Spectator)
Dense, concentrated, firm and structured, with a core of earthy currant and sage, slowly unfolding to offer greater depth and focus. Young, tight and tannic. Best to cellar. Best from 2010 through 2017. 1,200 cases made. |
Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris Columbia Valley 2008 $13 (Wine Spectator)
Light and silky, with pretty peach, almond blossom and grapefruit flavors that linger easily on the open-textured finish. Drink now. 100,000 cases made. |
Domaine de Montvac Vacqueyras 2007 $21 (Wine Spectator)
Really fresh, with a solidly built core of red cherry, red currant and plum fruit woven with incense, briar and pastis hints. The long, fleshy finish stays racy and focused. Delicious. Drink now through 2012. 5,000 cases made. |
Freeman Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2006 $44 (Wine Spectator)
The most complex and complete of the 2006 Freemans, this is fragrant, with wilted rose petal, blackberry and wild berry and hints of loamy earth. Both supple and firm on the finish. Drink now through 2014. 1,680 cases made. |
Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône 2006 $14 (Wine Spectator)
Lovely currant and damson plum jam aromas and flavors are backed by garrigue , mineral and graphite notes that leave a mouthwatering feel on the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise. Drink now through 2010. 4,580 cases made. |
Sbragia Family Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley Home Ranch 2007 $26 (Wine Spectator)
Sleek, elegant and refined, offering a beam of lemon, citrus, spicy pear, honeysuckle and hazelnut fruit that's focused and pure, with a long, clean finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,657 cases made. |
Bookwalter Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Foreshadow 2006 $40 (Wine Spectator)
Sleek and supple, with a distinct minerality to the ripe berry and currant flavors, lingering effortlessly on the open, generous finish. This has depth and personality, and it doesn't quit. Drink now through 2018. 1,813 cases made. |
|
|
|
