Featured Wines - July 2007

If ever there were a poster child for the muscular, deep down Barolo wines of Castiglione Falletto, it would be the 2001 Cavallotto Bricco Boschis. Deeply robed and packed with flavor, this majestic Barolo offers up layer upon layer of black cherry fruit, menthol, spice, and tar, all of which flow seamlessly from the aroma into the wine's palate profile. And in the mouth, one can feel the power and weight of the glorious 2001 vintage as the wine ...

The 2005 Lusco do Miño Albarino is a serious white wine: bone dry, full-bodied, and naturally made. In short, there is no wimp in this wine. The 2005 Lusco Albarino sports a bright sun struck robe, which emits hints of pale green and a golden gleam. In the wine's expressive perfume, scents of apricot, pear, honeysuckle, and slate issue from the wine's deep stone fruit and mineral core. A classic Albarino, the 2005 Lusco recalls the essence of spr...

The 2006 Maven Pinot Noir is a stunning example of just how far the Marlborough appellation has come in thirty years. The product of a single, handpicked vineyard from the prized Rapaura area of Marlborough, the 2006 Maven Pinot Noir is a tour de force in winemaking. Mike Just's latest success is a sleek, textured Pinot that can outshine many a fine Premier Cru from Burgundy. This wine is positively loaded with scent and savor. Moreover, it posse...

Classical elegance, pure ripe fruit, and subtle minerality are the watchwords of von Othegraven's lovely Saar offerings. The 2005 Maria v. O. Riesling Kabinett possesses all of the Saar's finest attributes, including an amplifying nose that is redolent with the essences of ripe apple, pear, and quince. Add a nice balance of acidity and a touch of mineral from the estate's noble terroir, and the bouquet of the 2005 Maria v. O. reflects the complex...

The 2005 Alta Vista "Premium" Malbec is a beautiful, medium-bodied Malbec that drinks smooth and claret like, even at the tender age of two. Young Malbec is not always the tenderest of young reds in its youth, but the Alta Vista "Premium" is a welcome respite from the multitude of harsher, less expensive versions of the mercurial Malbec variety, many of which have flooded the wine market in recent years. In this Alta Vista offering, plum and asso...

The 2005 Zemmer Alto Adige Pinot Grigio is a bright, clean, full-bodied Pinot Grigio that amplifies both the grape varietal and the style of wine for which Alto Adige is justly renowned. In other words, Zemmer has once again hit the mark with his 2005 Pinot Grigio and demonstrated why Alto Adige remains Italy's premier DOC for Pinot Grigio. Wrapped in a sunny yellow robe, Zemmer's exemplary 2005 Alto Adige Pinot Grigio exudes a beguiling bouquet ...

The 2005 Burford & Brown Amador County Barbera continues the great success these two guys have had with Barbera. This recent offering from Burford & Brown is a bacchanalian delight; it is a plush, juicy Barbera that highlights the rich fruit of the very fine but sometimes persnickety Barbera varietal. Red fruits, soft vanilla tones, and oodles of seductive flavor are the keys to this wine's success. One panel member aptly described the Burford & ...