Featured Wines - June 2008

Born in one of the finest vintages in Spain in recent memory, the 2001 Guelbenzu Lautus is deep in color, displays a store of aromatic fireworks, and is packed with a beguiling array of flavors. Reminiscent of classified Bordeaux, the aroma of rich ripe Cabernet Sauvignon is the first scent to dazzle the nose, but hardly the last. An artful blend of 50% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Garnacha, Lautus reveals well-endowed...

The 2006 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino possesses a pale, straw colored robe that radiates the warmth of the southern Italian sun. With a slight tinge of green that dazzles the eye and a complex set of aromatics, the mere appearance of Colli di Lapio's outstanding Fiano di Avellino foreshadows its destiny and the goodness it is prepared to pour forth. A layered, multifarious nose of flowers, angostura spice, dried honey, and freshly picked summ...

The Gnarly Dudes Shiraz is one of Two Hands' flagship offerings. The name Gnarly Dudes refers to the old gnarled dry farmed Shiraz vines from whence the wine comes. As Twelftree and Mintz are fond of saying, "Shiraz grapes, mature vines and the Barossa Valley, there is nothing quite like it." And they're right. The 2006 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz exhibits a deep, saturated purple robe that appears nearly black; and from this deep brooding potion rise th...

Crafted by Rosenblum Cellars winemaker and longtime veterinarian Kent Rosenblum, the Château La Paws series of wines is produced as a tribute to the animals that bring us so much joy. In the case of the 2006 Château La Paws Côte du Bone Blanc, Kent Rosenblum has fashioned a vibrant, hedonistic concoction from a host of mostly white Rhône varietals. Highly aromatic and delightfully fruit driven, the 2006 Côte du Bone Blanc contains a bit of the ex...

Somners Vineyard is a four acre vineyard well known for its superlative Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. The vineyard's unique combination of slope, exposure, and soil type are an ideal match for Petite Sirah. They provide sufficient heat to the vineyard during the day, followed by rapid night time cooling, and the results are aptly displayed in Miro's 2005 Somners Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah. Inky purple, deep, and aromatic, this is Petite...

Fresh, light, jaunty and uplifting, the 2006 Château de la Chesnaie Sèvre-et-Maine captures all of the good cheer and easy drinking that the fine wines of Muscadet can proffer. And to add to its appeal, this delightful Sèvre et Maine from Chéreau-Carré also possesses a beautiful draught of stony fruit and a persistent mid palate appeal from spending four months sur lie (resting on its skins, etc.) prior to bottling. Moreover, a pleasant taste of ...

Altos Las Hormigas has been one of the benchmark producers of Malbec in Argentina for nearly a decade, fashioning balanced, flavorful wines that set a high standard of excellence. However, the estate's 2007 Malbec has once again raised the bar several notches. Unequivocally, the 2007 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec is the finest regular bottling of Malbec that this estate has made to date, and it is richly deserving of the great critical acclaim it has...