Featured Wines - August 2015

A deep purple potion made in the style of Italy’s legendary Amarone, the 2013 Nugan Estate Alfredo Dried Grape Shiraz not only sports the deep, nearly impenetrable robe and power of traditional Amarone, it trumps many of Italy’s more renowned Amarone in both aroma and depth of flavor. With only a few minutes of aeration, Nugan’s Dried Grape Shiraz offers up an electrifying perfume of blackcurrant, dried cherry, rose petal, and forest...

“It tastes like Puligny-Montrachet,” quipped one panel member. “Are you sure this wine comes from Tasmania?” asked another. The 2014 Josef Chromy Tasmania Chardonnay does taste like Premier Cru white Burgundy and it is indeed from Tasmania, presently the source of many of the greatest Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines from the Land Down Under. The 2014 Josef Chromy offers up a brilliant robe, savory scents of ripe apple and peach...

From the moment the 2012 Yardstick Ruth’s Reach Cabernet is poured, seductive scents of blackberry, cassis and currant mixed with a touch of cedar and smooth vanilla oak greet the nose. Once in the mouth, this youthful Cabernet first comes across as an easy to drink, medium-bodied wine that offers up pretty varietal flavors in a silky smooth, supremely balanced format, all of which is true. But not so fast… with a bit of aeration, the 2012...

The 2013 Nidia Rueda Verdejo continues Nidia’s great success with Verdejo and establishes Nidia and as one of the finest and most consistent boutique producers of this varietal. The 2013 Nidia Verdejo first catches the eye with its attractive color, a pale bright yellow that reflects the vibrant Castilian sun. Verdejo such as this recalls an illuminated Spanish countryside with its undulating rows of vines and olive trees that shimmer and...

The 2012 Aldeya Garnacha is a friendly, quaffable red wine whose only fault may me be that it goes down too easily. Sporting a vivid purple color with a ruby rim it immediately attracts the eye. The 2012 Aldeya follows up with an inviting nose of cherry, raspberry and plum fruits, which are well-integrated with soft oak and gentle spice tones. In the mouth, Aldeya comes across as medium-bodied as it exhibits plenty of smooth, satisfying...

Cru’s 2011 Appellation Series Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay earned a Gold Medal at the San Diego International Wine Competition, and for good reason. The wine highlights the quality and unique characteristics of a single vineyard and appellation. More importantly, it’s delicious. Made from hand-picked fruit and barrel fermented, this mature Chardonnay offers an enticing nose of green apple, tangerine, melon and freshly baked bread. It...

Madame Coustal has fashioned an aromatic, seductive 2014 Château Eulalie Plaisir d’Eulalie Minervois. Soft, round and beautifully textured for such a young wine, this Plaisir d’Eulalie highlights the qualities of Grenache in Minervois in the 2014 vintage. The 2014 opens up with aromatic fireworks from the moment it is poured: black cherry and strawberry fruit mingle with violet and dried Provençal herbs to delight the nose. Yet, what has...