Featured Wines - March 2006

The 1999 Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva is testimony to just how great the 1999 vintage is for Vino Nobile. “A stunning Tuscan treat,” was how one member of the panel described this wine. And just for the record, this particular offering received unanimous approval from the panel. We only wish there was more of it to go around. From its deep purple robe that bears the glint of precious garnet to its long, rich, flavor-packed fin...

Put aside all pre-conceived notions of Riesling, and prepare yourself for the glory of Alsace and the essence of a noble varietal in the 2001 Gustave Lorentz Altenberg de Bergheim Riesling Grand Cru. First, this is not a sweet wine. Secondly, it bears very little relation to its German counterparts that flourish just across the border. Thirdly, it is complex, long, and downright racy. Fourthly, with wines like this, why have Americans taken s...

With an intensely purple robe the color of a perfectly ripe plum, a knock out nose, and oodles of flavor, it is easy to see why the 2004 R Enver Salman Vineyard Petite Sirah is simply the finest Petite Sirah we have ever tasted. Likewise, it takes no great acumen to comprehend why each of the last four vintages of Jeff Runquist’s Salman Vineyard Petite Sirah have garnered so many top honors at California’s most prestigious wine fairs, including ...

The 2004 De Angelis Bianco Lacrima Christi captures every bit of the flavor and complex tones that volcanic soil can impart to a dry white wine. Consequently, there is nothing wimpy about this zesty full flavored wine that springs from the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius. From its bright golden color to its long lusty finish, the 2004 De Angelis Bianco Lacrima Christi beams with vitality as well as a touch of exotica. In the bouquet, a heady pe...

Juicy and supple, the 2004 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Colli Senesi Chianti ranks as one of the most forward and disarming of all Chiantis, a novelty for a wine known more for its elegance and style than its warmth and charm. Le Calcinaie’s 2004 Colli Senesi is already quite forward and aromatic; its ripe friendly scents recall a visit to the strawberry patch or a walk through northern woodlands. Pure and very easy to drink, Simone’s Chianti possesses ...

Light, bright, and refreshingly clean, the 2004 Dopff au Moulin Pinot Blanc woos with its ultimate balance and charm. In the nose and on the palate, subtle creamy fruit wends its way through an underpinning of crisp refreshing acidity. This allows Dopff’s Pinot Blanc to remain forever light, lovely, and eminently quaffable. It is on account of this carefree quality that the tasting panel preferred it to the host of Pinot Blanc pretenders we tr...

At last, a Malbec with charm, personality, and style along with the usual Malbec might. Make no mistake about it; the 2003 Salentein Malbec has plenty of up front flavor and grip, but it, also, possesses Bordeaux like finesse. Deep, dark, and foreboding in color, one could easily mistake the 2003 Salentein Malbec for just another well made tannic Malbec – at first glance. However, the 2003 Salentein Malbec is worth more than a mere second look...