Featured Wines - March 2008

A sensuous, downright sumptuous wine from the hills just west of the historic town of Oakley in Contra Costa County, the 2005 Rosenblum Cellars Planchon Vineyard Zinfandel is a tour de force in winemaking. Derived from head pruned, dry farmed vines up to a century old, this hedonistic Zinfandel is about as good as it gets. Exotic, almost mesmeric scents of berry, bramble, currant, and smoke caress the nose, but the wine's amplifying olfactory is ...

A lush, hedonistic Super Tuscan, the 2004 Moro is a tribute to Marco Razzauti's talent and testimony to the bounty of the outstanding 2004 vintage throughout Italy. Ripe, round, and packed with flavor, the 2004 Moro is the finest rendition of this outstanding offering to date. It is filled with a heady perfume of violets, black cherry, cocoa, and more. And in the mouth Moro is all plush fruit, married to ripe tannins and the feel and texture of t...

The 2006 Château Thieuley Bordeaux Blanc is an excellent example of what dedicated growers in Entre-Deux-Mers and the surrounding Bordeaux appellation can fashion from the region's three traditional grape varieties. In the case of the 2006 Château Thieuley Blanc, Francis Courselle has created a bright, cheerful white wine that slips down the gullet with ultimate ease. Concentrated, but not thick or heavy, and 2006 Château Thieuley is both scented...

The style of wine produced at Château Gloria has as much to do with the gregarious nature of its late proprietor as it does the patchwork of St. Julien vineyards from whence it comes. In fact, Martin's focus on charm, forward fruit and the classic tenderness of St. Julien helped revolutionize Bordeaux and how consumers view top red wines from the world's largest and most renowned wine region. At a time when many St. Julien producers were content ...

Napa Cellars has in recent years emerged as one of the top purveyors of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Bold and beautiful, the 2006 Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc embodies a thrilling cornucopia of appealing flavors. And this most recent Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Cellars is simply chocked full of the scents and savors: melon, fig, quince, tropical fruit, and fresh citrus gush from the glass. Actually, it is hard to imagine a better California Sauvign...

The 2006 Zantho Zweigelt provides more than ample testimony to the much heralded quality of the 2006 vintage in Austria. It, also, pays tribute to the enological acumen of Umathum and Peck. In short, Zantho's 2006 Zweigelt captures all the juicy red fruit, subtle spice, and lively refreshment that well-bred Zweigelt has to offer. Although somewhat reminiscent of Grand Cru Morgon or a serious village Burgundy, the 2006 Zantho Zweigelt offers plent...

A classic Côteaux-du-Layon, the 2004 Domaine des Baumard Carte d'Or shines from the glass like the morning sun. Already, it glints of gold and the nectar within, but time will deepen this hue and bring forth a true elixir. Yet, the 2004 Baumard Carte d'Or is already brimming with flavor and is beautiful to drink now. It offers up a beguiling floral scent that smacks of clover, quince, spring flowers, and honey, but hang on for the real treat. In ...