Featured Wines - February 2018

Château Ducasse’s 2015 Graves is the finest example of Château Ducasse to date. A scion of the exceptional and much heralded 2015 vintage, the 2015 Château Ducasse Graves displays a deep purple robe and an enticing aroma that is classic Graves: a delightful array of black fruits, cassis, unsmoked tobacco and supple earth tones that greet the nose and enliven the palate. With 20-30 minutes of aeration in a glass or decanter this charming red...

Despite the spate of excellent Vermentino wines from Sardinia that have begun to lap upon our shores, Vermentino and Sardinian wine in general remain mysteries to most Americans. Hopefully, the 2016 Cantina del Mandrolisai DOC Vermentino di Sardegna will help dispel some of that mystery. Blessed with a rich straw color, a beguiling floral bouquet of spring and summer flowers girded with a gentle, sophisticated minerality, Cantina del...

The 2016 11 Piños Bobal Old Vines wears a deep purple, eye-catching robe. It continues its warm welcome with seductive aromas of cherry, plum and spice. And in the mouth, the 2016 11 Piños Bobal Old Vines truly shows its hand, exhibiting bold rich flavors. Cherry, plum, spice and hints of wood smoke grace the palate. This youthful Bobal offers plenty of concentration in a smooth, balanced frame with soft tannins. Mouth filling and persistent...

The 2016 vintage was another banner year for Italy’s Piedmont as growers, winemakers, and critics all rightly sing the praises of the vintage. Not surprisingly, Ottosoldi’s 2016 Gavi DOCG once again embodies the essence of the Cortese varietal – supreme elegance and impeccable balance. From the wine’s pale yellow sun-splashed robe to its long snappy finish, the 2016 Ottosoldi Gavi offers delightful drinking. Fragrant with floral scents and...

Valenciso continues to fashion one of the greatest of all Rioja wines, and we can say unequivocally that Valenciso’s 2010 Rioja Reserva is the finest in a string of great Rioja Reservas from this superbly run bodega, but don’t just take our word for it. Tim Atkins, Master of Wine, and Decanter magazine awarded the 2010 Valenciso Rioja Reserva 96 points. This comes on the heels of consecutive award-winning Reservas from Valenciso, including an...

An exceedingly impressive barrel fermented Chardonnay from a pioneering Walla Walla producer, the 2014 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay positively sings from the glass. The show begins with the wine’s attractive hue and follows up with tantalizing aromas of freshly picked apples and pears, brioche, and hazelnut. The bouquet on this wine alone sealed the deal for us. However, wait until this vibrant, complex Chardonnay has a chance to...

The 2013 Round Pond Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon truly reflects the estate’s highly prized terroir, the region’s signature Rutherford dust, as well as the inherent benevolence of the 2013 vintage in Napa Valley – certainly one of the finest vintages for Cabernet Sauvignon on record. Round Pond’s 2013 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec) embodies the best of all worlds, both old...