Featured Wines - Sept 2011

Whether it is an indigenous white grape variety like Trebbiano or one of the region’s traditional reds, a bottle of Caldora wine is always a satisfying hedonistic experience. For starters, Caldora’s Trebbiano delights from the moment it is poured. It captures the eye with a brilliant clarity and a glint of sunshine. And then there is the wine’s fresh alluring bouquet – an aroma resplendent with the soft scents of orchard fruits, minerals, and liquid sunshine.

The 2008 Tiki Sound is a beautiful New Zealand Pinot Noir that captures the essence of Pinot Noir in an elegant, flavorful format that just won’t quit. Given Tiki Sound’s luminous garnet color, we were fully expecting to encounter a graceful, ethereal wine, which we did get along with a whole lot more. From this bright, medium-bodied Pinot Noir emerges a savory perfume reminiscent of crushed cherry, plum, lavender and spice.

The 2006 Poggio del Falco from Morazzano is a sophisticated, organic offering that embodies a wealth of flavor. In short, this pure Super Tuscan red from an exceptional vintage convinces us that sometimes dreams do come true: wine of this caliber is hard to come by and typically sells for three times the price of the Poggio del Falco. The 2006 Poggio del Falco epitomizes all that is good about the finest Tuscan reds and the haunting landscape fro...

As a bright, clean, immensely refreshing wine, the 2009 Emile Beyer Tradition Pinot Blanc marries balance and charm to exceptional flavor. It exudes an intriguing aroma of crisp mountain apples, pears, and cheese that makes sniffing the wine as much fun as drinking it. On the palate Christian Beyer’s Pinot Blanc comes alive with finely toned fruit flavors, pinpoint minerality and a subtle hint of spice, all wrapped up in a caressing texture that makes it easy to drink and enjoy.

La Frosca’s cheerful, golden robe is the first indication that an aromatic, luscious, downright irresistible wine is to follow. In short, there is Soave and then there is La Frosca. La Frosca sits in a class by itself. It offers a beguiling bouquet of apricot, peach, cherry blossom, and dried honey, but there’s more to this wine than a heavenly scent. On the palate, Gini comes across as pure magic; its velvety fruit and dry, subtle minerality fill the mouth and satiate the senses.

Giovanni Manzone’s 2005 Le Gramolere Barolo combines elegance with power in a way few other Barolo wines can, thereby achieving the rare distinction among Barolo of being enjoyable to drink in its youth as well as in maturity. Deeply colored, multi-layered in bouquet and flavor, it doesn’t take the 2005 Le Gramolere long to reveal its latent charms. Unique in aromatic profile, it offers up pleasing scents of currant, cherry, wild roses, and spring woodlands.

The 2008 Château Sainte-Eulalie Minervois La Livinière La Cantilène is without a doubt the finest Minervois we have ever tasted. To say that it is deeply colored and highly expressive in bouquet and flavor would be silly understatements. Thanks to La Cantilène’s extraordinary terroir and Isabelle Coustal’s consummate skills, the 2008 La Cantilène positively sings from the glass.