Featured Wines - February 2007

Deeply colored and impressively endowed, the youthful 2003 Souverain Alexander Valley Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is already a show stopper and an unequivocal knockout. Once again winemaker Ed Killian has demonstrated why his Cabernets always make every serious critic's "California Dreaming" list of top wines. Heavenly scents of blackberry, cassis, currant, and smooth vanilla oak pour from the glass. On the palate, this pure, medium to...

The 2004 Steele Mendocino Lolonis Vineyard Chardonnay shines as an excellently crafted, intense, and lush example of California's most renowned white varietal. While holding a glass to the light, the wine's thick golden tones point to the luxuriousness of the wine and Jed Steele's signature gentle handling that continue to draw us toward his Chardonnays. Pleasurable and distinct aromas of wood, apple, and vanilla extract mingle and draw us inviti...

"A true winner, two thumbs up," is how one of the more fastidious members of the tasting panel described the 2003 Blason d'Issan du Château d'Issan Margaux. "Lovely, just beautiful," is another account, and the list goes on. And these accolades are simply par for the course: the 2003 Blason d'Issan is classic Margaux claret in all respects. It wears a deep purple robe and carries the unmistakable heaven scent of Margaux: blackberry, cassis, earth...

Vasse Felix makes a unique style of Australian Chardonnay. The 2005 Vasse Felix Adams Road Chardonnay blends all the buttery, fruit driven characteristics of New World Chardonnay with the pure, dry minerality of French Chablis – Burgundy's driest and most elegant Chardonnay. While butter, apple, and hints of tropical fruit dominate the nose of the 2005Adams Road Chardonnay, the flavor profile of this wine remains more reminiscent of Chablis, wher...

"A big, bold, substantial Barbera with soul" is how one panel member described Montevina's beautiful 2004 Terra d'Oro Barbera. Thankfully, this is one California Barbera that does justice to its noble Italian heritage. Montevina's 2004 Terra d'Oro is made in a juicy Italianesque style the recalls the glory of Italy's Piedmonte. In the nose, it bursts with ripe plum and cherry fruit, which are adroitly interwoven with a dash of spice and a dollop ...

The 2005 Gustave Lorentz Reserve Pinot Blanc is quite possibly the finest Pinot Blanc we have tasted in years. It is a bright, cheerful wine that offers up a smorgasbord of scents and savors. It possesses an intriguing nose of ripe apple, pear, and fresh, soft cheeses. In the mouth the 2005 Lorentz Pinot Blanc Reserve exudes soft, succulent fruit flavors, a gorgeous texture, and a hint of almond and spice. What makes this Pinot Blanc so intriguin...

The Margaret River style of Shiraz is typified by the deeply colored 2004 Vasse Felix Adams Road Shiraz. This sleek balanced Shiraz offers up a seductive nose of blackberry, plum, eucalyptus, pepper, and aniseed. On the palate, this medium to full-bodied red displays a lavish dollop of ripe, textured fruit that is suitably underpinned by natural acidity and a tight, balanced structure. Reminiscent of the great Syrah wines of France's Rhône Valley...