Featured Wines - Sept 2008

A classic Margaux, the 2002 Château du Courneau embodies elegance, breed, and good taste. It also possesses a deep ruby color and a haunting scent – the calling cards of the finest wines of Margaux and the bolsters behind the commune's legendary status among Bordeaux drinkers. As one panel member remarked: "The bouquet of this wine is worth the price of admission." Yet the 2002 Château du Courneau is not content to simply beguile the eye and the ...

Sporting a beautiful bright copper-colored robe that is reminiscent of the finest Alsatian Pinot Gris and the increasingly rare, sublime examples of this varietal from Italy's Alto Adige, the Hans Marlborough Pinot Gris pushes the envelope on winemaking in New Zealand and makes the most compelling case of any New World producer for fashioning excellent, multi-faceted Pinot Gris. Fresh, vigorous, scented, and savory, there is nothing but pure drin...

The 2007 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris is another outstanding effort from this impeccable property. Produced from 90- and 100-year-old vines that are the oldest in Colchagua, the 2007 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris pays tribute to the superb but relatively obscure Sauvignon Gris varietal; and it alone offers ample reason to propagate more of this rare variety. As a relative of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris yields a dry, medium-weight wine with lots of a...

Soft, scented, and succulent in both bouquet and flavor, the 2007 Cape Rock Dry Red is an ingratiating blend of Bordeaux varietals that makes a compelling case for red wines in Robertson. Scents of crushed berries, cedar, and soft spring woods meld artfully with cacao and dark chocolate aromas to haunt the nose. And in the mouth, the Cape Rock Dry Red is both smooth and thoroughly captivating; it expands on the grateful palate and offers complex ...

A brilliant, golden-yellow robe highlights the sprightly 2006 Caves des Grands Crus Blancs St. Véran, which makes a fine first impression. More importantly, this lovely round St. Véran follows through on the nose and exhibits a pronounced bouquet of soft scents: white fruits, citrus, minerals, and melted butter. In the mouth, one is struck by the tactile feel and soft texture of this medium-bodied, un-oaked Chardonnay that caresses the palate wit...

An elegant, flavorful, finesse-driven Pinot, the 2006 Kenwood Russian River Pinot Noir captures the ethereal beauty of Burgundy's most illustrious grape. At the same time it highlights how far California has come in fashioning top-notch Pinot Noir. Reminiscent of good Burgundy, this Pinot displays a brilliant cherry, garnet-tinged robe with a huggable bouquet that offers everything from fresh berry fruit to a cachet of oriental spice. Soft and se...

Pinot Noir is perhaps the most demanding of all premium grapes to cultivate and the least forgiving wine of its creator. Woe to the winemaker who does not understand this finicky varietal and is unwilling to cater to her whims. And even if all is done in the cellar with the utmost care and attention, the idiosyncrasies of weather and terroir can easily wreak havoc and ruin upon the soul brave enough to tackle the task of producing world-class Pin...