Featured Wines - April 2010

The deeply colored 2005 Montecastro Ribera del Duero is as charming and sophisticated as its creators and the hallowed terroir from whence it springs. It is also every bit as ingratiating as the estate’s knockout 2003 and 2004 Ribera del Duero offerings, which remain some of the region’s most compelling wines. Montecastro’s 2005 Ribera del Duero offers an extremely deep, satisfying nose, intense, polished flavors, and a long finish that seemingly...

Creamy, sensuous, and eminently drinkable, the Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale is exquisite Champagne crafted for an intimate evening. Imbued with a golden glow from the late evening sun and a delicate mousse of tiny sensual bubbles that crown the glass, Cuvée Royale is indeed a Champagne fit for kings and queens. Soft scents of acacia, daffodil, and citrus peel tantalize the nose. In the mouth, Cuvée Royale caresses the palate with balanced precisio...

The 2005 Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon happily follows in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessors. In fact, it may be the finest estate Cabernet to date. The 2005 Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet possesses the telltale inky black robe and haunting aromatics for which this estate’s Cabernet is renowned. Enticing aromas of blackberry, chocolate, and sandalwood well up from the glass to tantalize the nose. And in the mouth...

A golden, sun-drenched robe, pure ripe fruit, and subtle minerality and spice are the calling cards of von Othegraven’s 2006 Maria v. O. Riesling. In short, this Maria v. O. is classic Saar Riesling, replete with an amplifying nose redolent with the essences of freshly picked apple, pear, and quince. Add perfect acid balance, freshness, and touches of mineral and slate from the estate’s noble terroir, and the bouquet of the 2006 Maria v. O. refle...

Pazo de Arribi is no ordinary winery, nor is Mencia a typical grape variety, so fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride. Produced from 30 year old Mencia vines, the 2007 Pazo de Arribi offers the taster a special wine experience. For openers, Pazo de Arribi’s deep ruby and violet tinged robe imbues this Mencia with a mystical air, not unlike the land of Bierzo itself. However, what is most intriguing is the celestial set of aromas and flavors tha...

Rare among Tuscan white wines for its flavor, freshness, and longevity, Vernaccia di San Gimignano owes its 800 year reign as the region’s most lauded white wine to the predominance of the relatively rare Vernaccia clones that thrive in the environs of San Gimignano. Whereby most Tuscan whites rely upon the more innocuous and ubiquitous Trebbiano and Malvasia grape varieties, Vernaccia di Gimignano must be comprised predominantly or entirely of V...

A robe of deep violet red glints in the glass and hints at the warmth and sparkle of Carma’s 2007 Colchagua Carménère. The aroma of freshly picked raspberries and mulberries, along with notes of cherry, herb, and roasted coffee beans, confirm the initial impression. However, it is not until one sips and savors the 2007 Carma Carménère, with its mélange of fruit, spice, and dark chocolate tones that conviction sets in. Indeed, this wine is unique:...