Tag Archives: California

Wine of the week 1/22 – 1/28

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The Gaucho Club Torrontes 2009 $8.95
This Torrontes has a very intense nose of lychee, apricot and violets. The balanced acidity with flavors of lychee fruit and peaches linger. Torrontes is a native grape to Argentina that has the nose similar to Gewurztraminer.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with pork, chicken, roasted vegetables, bbq or fruit salad.

Grapes: 100% Torrontes

Region: Cafayate, Argentina

Into Zin 2008 $7.95

This is a crisp, red wine with plum, blackberry and black cherry influences.  Its spiciness is just the right amount to balance the fruit, so it isn’t too sweet or too dry.  Pairing suggestions include steaks, lamb, hamburgers and chicken marsala.

Grapes: 100% Zinfandel

Region: Lodi, California

Wine of the week 4/25 – 4/30

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Famega Vinho Verde $8.95
Refreshing, crisp with a tingly sparkle taste of apple tartness from the cool lucious Vinho Verde DOC region of North Western Portugal. Fâmega Vinho Verde has a delicate citrus flavor like the fragrance of a summer garden.

Pleasant and mellow, this young white wine will be the perfect accompaniment to all kinds of seafood, salads, mild cheeses, as an aperitif, or just by itself.

The alcohol content of Fâmega is 9.5% which makes it the ideal natural, low calorie white wine.

Grapes: Avesso, Azal and Pedernã
Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal

Trentadue Old Patch Red 2009 $11.95
Alexander Valley Estate Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Sangiovese. Nuances of brown sugar, maple and plums are showing with slight dose of oak and vanilla. On the mouth the wine is fresh and juicy with youthful brightness, finishing long and fruity. GOLD MEDAL 2011 SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE TASTING.

Grapes: 77% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane, and 1% Sangiovese
Region: Sonoma, California

Wine of the week 4/10 – 4/16

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Oveja Negra Chardonnay/Viognier 2009 $9.95
A light straw color in color. Rich fruity nose of apricot, banana and green apple with subtle mineral notes. Tropical fruits, apricot and green apple flavors with a medium body and soft, elegant finish. Pair with Thai food, seafood dishes and white sauce pastas

Grapes: 85% Chardonnay – 15% Viognier
Region: Central Valley, Chile

Santa Barbara Winery ZCS 2009 $15.95
In this synergistic blend, the Zinfandel from 50 year old vines lends the jammy fruit quality to the wine, the Carignane adds density and finish, and the Sangiovese shows off cherry aromatics and flavors. Oak aging takes place in neutral puncheons so as not to disturb the full fruit quality of ZCS. This is a very versatile, food friendly wine made to match a wide range of occasions and meals

Grapes: 70% Zinfandel, 21% Carignane, 9% Sangiovese
Region: Santa Barbara, California

Wine of the week 3/27 – 4/2

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Domaine de la Condemine Macon Peronne “Le Clou” 2008 $11.95
A light golden hue, floral aromas. Intense, clean and fresh on the palate. Citrus notes, bold acidity. Excellent match to seafood with butter or cream sauces or rich blue cheeses.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France

Lesse-Fitch Pinot Noir 2008 $9.95
With deep plum color, this 2008 Pinot Noir has an exotic nose of strawberry and raspberry jam with notes of fresh oregano and wild game. The palate starts with tart cherry fruit and then develops into layers of dried fruit; strawberry and figs, herbs; oregano and thyme, and earth; wild mushrooms. The acidity makes this wine very food friendly.

This wine would pair well with grilled flank steak with chimichurri and stir fried green beans with a black bean sauce, sautéed Salmon with creamed spinach and roasted parsnips, or roasted beet salad with fresh chevre, thinly sliced red onion, and arugula.

Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir, 5% Grenache, 5% Ruby Cab
Region: California

Wine of the Week 3/20 – 3/26

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Shoofly Viognier 2008 $9.95
Fragrant citrus blossom, classic apricot and fresh fennel on the nose. The palate is rich yet refreshingly crisp. Lovely ripe cantaloupe melds seamlessly with citrus peel and zingy acidity. A red drinkers white with a twist of orange pekoe tannin on the finish.

Grapes: 100% Viognier
Region: Australia

Terra d’Oro Syrah 2006 $8.95
The 2006 Terra d’Oro Syrah is a great example of the delicious Syrah that grows on our Burke Ranch. The wine has a deep, nearly black color and the nose teases with aromas of tobacco, eucalyptus, and toasty oak, with hints of dark ripe plum. The wine is a powerhouse of flavor and aroma, with a spine of minerality that holds the whole package together; truly an iron fist in a velvet glove. Try pairing the Syrah with roasted meats and hearty cheeses for a medieval feast.

Grapes: 100% Syrah
Region: Amador County, California

Wine of the Week 1/30 – 2/5

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Mackenzie Chardonnay 2009 $10.95
This Sonoma County Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel tanks and exposed to minimal oak contact after fermentation. This approach retains the bright, clean citrus and apple flavors, and makes this a particularly refreshing (not to mention value-packed) Chardonnay.

Grapes: Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma, California

Château de Ségriès, Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2009 $10.95
The wine is ripe, rich and round, with black raspberry, white pepper and spice flavors. True Cotes du Rhone in a Bistro style.

Grapes:50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Carignan
Region: Rhone Valley, France

Wine of the Week 10/17 – 10/23

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Shepherds Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $14.95
This crisp, mouthwatering New Zealand white has an irresistible lemon and lime flavor with enticing gooseberries, herbs and peaches combined together on the palate. It’s difficult to resist a second glass. While dry, this wine is deliciously rich

Rabbit Ridge Le Lapin Multiplicity (Non-vintage) $6.95
”Le Lapin” is French for rabbit. It is also the name of a new line from bargain meister Rabbit Ridge Winery of Paso Robles, CA. It is believed it is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. It is a plump, juicy red full of black cherry, blackberry, a little plum with spice notes.

Wine of the Week 04/11 – 4/17

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Luna Pinot Grigio 2006 $11.95
Overview: Pale yellow-gold color. Slightly yeasty aromas of yellow plum, pear and tropical fruits. Fresh and fruit-driven, with lively acidity giving the middle palate a firmness. I find the saline minerality and subtle florality here to be quite intriguing. Finishes firm-edged, almost tannic, but without bitterness. 90 pts. Stephen Tanzer

Grapes: Pinot Grigio
Region: Napa Valley – California

Col De Vents 2007 $8.95
Overview: This lush blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah is filled with notes of blueberry, plum and spice. A delicious example of Corbieres, whose vineyards are cooled by the night breezes off the hills, giving balance and richness to the Rhone-style wines. {Elegant, Blueberry, Red fruit, Medium-bodied}

Grapes: 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 50% Carignan
Region: Corbieres – France

Wine of the Week 03/07 – 03/13

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Glory Days Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $9.95
Overview: Aromas of black cherry with underlying notes of toasted warm coffee and cassis. A touch of cedar folds seamlessly into a rich opulent black fruit core; layers of oak with a velvety long finish.

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi Appellation – California


Caves De L’Angevine Rose D’Anjou 2008 $9.95
Overview: Gorgeous salmon pink color and fresh, enticing aromas of raspberries and strawberries. The palate is packed with ultra-ripe fruit – Summer berries, cherry, white peach – and there’s a subtle hint of sweetness that makes this oh-so-easy to drink! Perfect apéritif or seafood partner.

Grapes: Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris, and Cabernet Franc
Region: Loire Valley – France

Wine of the Week 02/28 – 03/06

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Van Ruiten Vineyards ‘Old Vine’ Zinfandel 2007 $16.95

Overview: After years of playing second fiddle to the so called “King” Cabernet, Zinfandel has finally become trendy, and in Lodi is the undisputed champion among champions. This Zinfandel fruit was hand selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruiten planted over 50 years ago and is among the families most prized grapes. Our 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel is packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam with barrel flavors contributing aromas of coffee, cedar, and finishing with anise.

Grapes: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi Appellation – California

Leitz ‘Eins Zwei Dry’ Riesling Trocken 2008 $14.95

Overview: This bottling comes from the Rosenberg vineyard in neighboring Geisenheim, long famed for its rose-scented Rieslings. In recent years, this site just hasn’t had a great grower working it. Johannes has leased a winery just below the vineyard to give him more space to work, and with the winery came old vines on the steepest section of this vineyard. In years to come we may once again hail the Rosenberg for the great site it is! A wonderfully dry but not mouth searing style of Riesling for those who love the delicate attributes of the noble riesling varietal but aren’t keen on any residual sugar.

Grapes: Riesling
Region: Rheingau – Germany