Featured Wines - August 2006

A dense, rich, full throttle Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2002 Folie à Deux St. Helena Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is what the best Cabernet Sauvignon offerings from Napa Valley are all about. This is a heady concoction that marries the distinctive aromas of chocolate, mint, and eucalyptus to plush, ripe Cabernet fruit. From the moment the cork exits the bottle, every sip of the majestic Folie à Deux Estate Cabernet Sauvignon caresses the pa...

Considering the quality quotient under which Angel Rodriguez has always operated and the consistency he has displayed in varying vintages, it is indeed hard to believe that each successive vintage of his beloved Martinsancho has been an improvement over the one that preceded it. The 2004 Martinsancho, the most recent release from Angel Rodriguez, is a clear knockout and a tour de force in white winemaking. It is also totally organic. This latest ...

The 2000 Château du Gaby Canon-Fronsac provides more than ample testimony to the commitment to excellence brought by the new ownership at this estate and to the splendor of the outstanding 2000 vintage. This Grand Cru style claret sports a deep, nearly impenetrable robe that makes it almost as beautiful to look out as to drink. Better still is the wine's amplifying nose that contains all the juicy black fruit flavors like blackberry, cassis, and ...

The words light, lovely, pure, and exuberant aptly describe the delicious 2005 Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir. Ruby bright and heavenly scented with the redolence of unencumbered Pinot fruit, which recalls the essences of strawberry and raspberry, this latest Marlborough release from Kim Crawford should leave the vast majority of French producers of village Burgundy shaking their heads and quaking in their boots. No doubt about it, this is o...

Belondrade Y Lurton 2003 Verdejo is a stunning, flavorful white wine from the Rueda region of Spain. A golden hue catches the eye with a purity that points to the seamless quality of this wine. Floral and fruit notes mingle in the nose: light honeysuckle soothes the mind and joins with a hint of pineapple and spice to pique the interest. Consisting of 100% Verdejo, a native varietal of the Rueda, this wine is loaded with charm and interest. Initi...

A consistent performer from their very first vintage, Altos Las Hormigas sets the standard for Malbec. The estate's 2005 Malbec is a balanced, splendidly endowed wine.; It bears a rich, royal robe, and it offers a beautiful aroma of raspberry, black cherry, and sandalwood. Traces of bacon fat or what the French refer to as gras tantalize the nose as well. On the palate, the Altos Las Hormigas is as smooth and refined as any young Malbec can possi...

The 2005 Kim Crawford Unoaked Marlborough Chardonnay is New Zealand's answer to Pouilly-Fuissé, and a darn good one at that. It possesses a pretty robe and a soft seductive nose that reminds us of fresh apples, spring flowers, beeswax, and fresh baked bread straight from the oven. It is pure and gentle, but oh so flavorful. From the first sniff to the very last sip, the 2005 Kim Crawford Unoaked Marlborough Chardonnay makes one wonder why it took...