Chalk Hill is one of the original Sonoma Valley pioneers, in the sense that they, along with others such as Rodney Strong and Ridge helped move Sonoma Valley wines to the forefront of quality on the world stage. They consistently produce high quality wines at prices often half those you find in neighboring Napa Valley. The 2007 Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay is another in a long line of great offerings from Chalk Hill, and it has been rewarded with 93 point from Wine Spectator. Bold, rich and full-boded, with succulent fig, apricot, smoky oak and roasted marshmallow flavors that are complex and distinctive, finishing with a long, intricate finish and subtle flavor notes. Don’t miss this one, it is sure to end up in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 and will disappear quickly!

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Chalk Hill’s potential as a world-class wine estate began eons ago in the geologic timeline that lifted, folded, fractured, and weathered this terrain on the slow march to terroir.

Grape growing on Chalk Hill began by the 1860s with the first pioneering family to homestead this land, Sarah and John Rich. After John’s death Sarah married widower Lorenzo D. Latimer, a successful local lawyer, whose lofty legal duties often drew him away from the ranch. Sarah invested her sturdy spirit in their successful family farm, and their Glen Valley Resort developed by the family around the natural hot springs - the vestiges of which are at Chalk Hill. In the early 1900s, travelers and the San Francisco elite, made the full day rail-and-wagon journey to share the bucolic calm of its healing waters.

One of Latimer’s sons, Lorenzo P. Latimer, grew to appreciate the vistas and redwoods, becoming a renowned landscape artist. A special collection of Latimer paintings are on display at the Chalk Hill Winery and others are on loan to art exhibitions in California.

Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2007

Tags: Chalk Hill, Chardonnay, Estate Bottled, Sonoma Valley

And now for my “I don’t have time to look for the perfect Champagne, I just need a really nice one for the evening….no special occasion” Champagne….Gloria Ferrer Brut. I know, I know, we (Americans) drink Champagne for ‘events’ and ‘occasions’, but that is a real shame. Champagne is just another kind of wine, treat it that way. If you are just using Champagne to toast, you are wasting all the great food/wine pairings that make Champagne shine. Spicy Thai, smoked salmon, geez, even the old standby of crackers and good cheese…Champagne comes into its own. I love the real deal, and a great vintage Rose from Veuve Cliquot gets great mileage from sushi..really great mileage, but if I’m grabbing sushi on the way home, and there is a grocery store (California) next door, I inevitably look for Gloria. Round and full-bodied, with rich, ripe apple, pear and honeydew melon flavors, this complex sparkler has a nice touch of yeast and doughy aromas that give it added flavor, turning creamy with a touch of vanilla. 90 points Wine Spectator…for about 8 years running now. Try it, you won’t ever be disappointed. And stop using it just for toasts!

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For more than 20 years, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards—the first sparkling wine house in the Sonoma Carneros region—has invited visitors to discover cool-climate wines served with warm Spanish hospitality.

Owned by the Ferrer family, whose wine experience is rooted in 19th century Spain, our winery is a vibrant blend of Catalan and California mission design. We cultivate fruit for our premium quality sparkling and still wines in our 335 acres of estate vineyards distinguished by warm days, cool nights, summer fog and a long growing season that coaxes grapes to maturity slowly and consistently, with balanced sugar and acidity. Our Vineyard Manager Mike Crumly and Winemaker Bob Iantosca, both of whom have worked for Gloria Ferrer from its inception, have devoted more than two decades to identifying the diverse soil types, microclimates and specific needs of every vine in their care.

In 1991, inspired by the quality and character of our estate fruit, we began crafting still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In subsequent years, our winegrowing team meticulously matched dozens of clones to the diverse growing conditions in our estate vineyards with their sights on the highest quality grapes with more intense flavors and characteristics. As pioneers of sparkling wine-based clonal research, we have studied more than 40 different clones to date. Today, this longtime and dynamic relationship of discovery with the land is revealed in balanced wines of earth and opulence.

Gloria Ferrer is located in the picturesque Sonoma Carneros region, 40 miles northwest of San Francisco.

Gloria Ferrer Brut NV

Tags: Brut, Carneros, champagne, Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma

It is no secret that I love all things labeled “Rhone Blend” and this offering from E. Guigal (one of the regions best) perfectly illustrates why. The 2006 E. Guigal Gigondas is all creme de cassis, blueberries, crushed rock, pepper, and hints of lavender. Incredibly muscular, this wine is finally coming around to its “drinking-range”. Enjoy it with a nice steak, or a robust cheese…aged gouda is a great choice. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years. 92pts Robert Parker.

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The GUIGAL family owns vineyards in Condrieu and in the Côte-Rôtie with illustrious plots producing wines such as ‘La Doriane’ in Condrieu, the famous growths of the Côte-Rôtie ‘La Mouline’, ‘La Turque’ and ‘La Landonne’, Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis, Hermitage ‘Ex-Voto’, produced only in the great vintages and Saint-Joseph ‘Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph’ in red and white, as well as the famous Saint-Joseph red « Vignes de l’Hospice ». These wines have each become flagships of their appellations.

In the cellars of the GUIGAL estate in Ampuis, the northern appellations of the Rhône Valley are produced and aged. These are the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage. The great appellations of the Southern Rhône; Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Tavel and Côtes-du-Rhône are also aged in the Ampuis cellars.

E. Guigal Gigondas

Tags: Cote-Rotie, Gigondas, guigal, Landonne, Mouline, Rhone, Turque

I usually know what I want to drink with any particular dish I am eating. I say usually. Occasionally I either can’t quite figure out what would be best, or I just plain don’t care! This often happens when I grill a great burger and want a nice red to accompany it. Lately I have been reaching for Bennett Lane Maximus for my “burger wine”.  A Bordeaux-style blend, the Maximus is firm, rich and intense, with ripe, vivid blackberry and wild berry fruit and a mix of currant and raspberry. Keeps a tight focus on the long, layered finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 90pts Wine Spectator.

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Follow Napa Valley’s Route 29 north to Calistoga, and then keep going just 2 1/2 more miles. You’ll arrive at the pinnacle of the Napa Valley - the northernmost wedge where the Vaca mountain range meets the Mayacamas range. Here you will also find Bennett Lane Winery, sitting snugly at the edge of its own well-maintained Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard.

Owners Randy and Lisa Lynch purchased the property only five and a half years ago, but Bennett Lane is already making a splash in wine country with its lush textured Cabernet Sauvignon and a no-nonsense red wine varietal blend called Maximus, composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The winery has garnered an incredible thirteen 90+ Point Scores from Wine Spectator in four short years.

Maximus leads the way in Bennett Lane’s quest to produce high quality Napa Valley red wine. The 2002 Maximus was named the Top Value Napa Valley Cabernet for the 2002 vintage by Wine Spectator’s James Laube and the 2003 Maximus made a splash with a 90 Point rating from the Wine Spectator. Our newest vintage, 2005 Maximus, was also awarded 90 Points by Wine Spectator and was named an “Outstanding Vallue”.

Bennett Lane Maximus

Tags: Bennett Lane, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Calistoga, Maximus, Merlot, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Syrah

There are few wines more versatile than Riesling for pairing with food. I particularly find them perfect for my favorite take-out, Pad Thai! The cool, refreshing minerality and the sweet nose compliment spicy Asian food like butter compliments toast. The 2008 Spy Valley Riesling, from New Zealand is both light and tart, with a gingerbread undertone to the lime, guava, mineral and floral flavors, lingering on the expressive finish. Try it with your favorite spicy dish today. 90pts Wine Spectator.

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More information on Spy Valley Winery:

The Spy Valley winery is one of the most advanced winemaking facilities in New Zealand.

Designed to its maximum capacity and stage built from 2003 through to full production in 2007, the buildings comprise separate red and white winemaking facilities, full temperature control on every wine making vessel and in every room, bottling line and temperature controlled warehousing.

The winery is sited in the middle of the estate vineyards ensuring the best possible handling of nearby fruit. As well as a stunning winery the facility incorporates an award winning cellar door and all company administration.

The winery itself has been awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects supreme commercial award and the landscaping has been awarded the Marlborough Environment award.

Tags: malborough, New Zealand, Riesling, Spy Valley

Two Hands, while relatively new, has been turning out consistently outstanding Syrah-based wines from the Barossa Valley every single year. Five wines in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 and 2 in the Top 10! The just-released 2008 vintage of Two Hands Angel’s Share Shiraz continues this excellence with a big, bold and expressive red, with some unexpected transparency to the black cherry, raspberry, red plum and Asian spice aromas and flavors, lingering on the open-textured finish. The aftertaste just keeps coming. Enjoy before it gets rated and disappears!

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Two Hands Angel's Share

Tags: Angel's Share, Ares, Australia, Barossa Valley, Bella's Garden, Shiraz, Two Hands

Schramsberg long ago established themselves as the preeminent California Champagne maker with such offerings as their Reserve and J Schram bottlings. The new Mirabelle Brut Rose NV continues the streak of great wines, just with a significantly lower price. A rosé with serious intentions, this has a delicate pink hue and floral strawberry and spicy yeast roll aromas. The flavors show good focus, offering raspberry, Gala apple, ginger and fig flavors. Drink now through 2012 - 93 pts Wine Spectator. This bottle makes a fabulous choice for ringing in the New Year, or any other occasion that you may want to celebrate, even if that is only surviving a brutal Tuesday. Enjoy!

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In 1862, German immigrants Jacob and Annie Schram established Schramsberg as the first winery with vineyards planted on the hillsides of the Napa Valley. With the help of Chinese laborers, vineyards replaced scrub oak, and a network of underground caves was tunneled into the soft, volcanic rock.

In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies assumed stewardship of the winery with the mission to produce America’s first methode champenoise sparkling wines, using the noble grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the classic, old-world tradition. Each vineyard would be vinified separately to create small, individual lots of base wine, then painstakingly selected and handcrafted into America’s artisan sparkling wines.

The spark that ignited the American sparkling wine industry in 1965 continues to burn in the second generation of the Davies family to helm the winery. Today Hugh Davies, winemaker and general manager of Schramsberg, is devoted to carrying on his parent’s vision: to create America’s premier sparkling wines. Our winemaker’s passion for constant refinement of vineyard sources and winemaking techniques is captured in each bottle. The resulting refinements to our original vision are evident each year in our new releases. We invite you to share in this American tradition by enjoying our proudly crafted sparkling wines.

Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose

Tags: champagne, Mirabelle, Napa Valley, Rose, Schramsberg, Sparkling Wine

Ah, Tempranillo and cold-weather…as a current resident of Southern California, I miss the later (occasionally) and use the former to remember it. For years, I drank copious amounts of Tempranillo with the hearty, comfort dishes my wife would make during the loooong, cooooold Upstate New York winters, and nothing quite takes me back in the same way.  Tempranillo can sometimes be a difficult wine to pair, especially for the uninitiated.  Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots….Tempranillo, oooh…Beef Shishkabobs…Tempranillo! The hearty, rustic qualities of the wine compliment similar characters in the food. Give it a try if you haven’t yet, you will see the light! The 2005 Bodegas LAN Crianza has light scents of crushed rose petals and frisky cherry tomato flavors give this a bright, zesty tone. The tannins are also light, with a gravelly feel. 90pts Wine & Spirits.

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More information on Bodegas LAN:

To be on vanguard of Rioja and in constant attitude of improving requires passion for wine and a constant search for perfection. In Bodegas LAN, to respect our vocation, we grow our own vineyard: a privileged 70 hectare estate on the banks of the Ebro River: Viña Lanciano. In it we grow 60 hectares of the Tempranillo variety and 10 hectares of Mazuelo - which define our great reserve wines-.

Grapes accepted by BODEGAS LAN must be exceptional because the parameters that we demand from the winegrower must meet our demands, and it is checked with an analytic control at the grape.

In LAN, we put the most advanced technology to the service of the traditional procedure of elaboration of wine, and that way we achieve our objective, which is to get more fruited wines, with more body, more colour, more tannic and more structured.

American, Allier French and central European oak casks are used for ageing wines to get its plenitude, roundness and sharpness, assembling all the wine’s own characteristics, which will highlight its fruity character when tasting it.

Our wines LAN CRIANZA, RESERVA and GRAN RESERVA are elaborated with the most thorough selection of grapes of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo variety from our historic suppliers.

Bodegas LAN Crianza 2005

Tags: Bodegas LAN, crianza, Rioja, Tempranillo

Huge fan of Rhone blends…always have been, most likely always will be. My problem is I drink so many from the Rhone Valley that I crave change. That is why I love the fact that so many other countries are experimenting with these blends at all different price-points. My latest discovery is from the famed Australian winemaker Ben Glaetzer. Ben Glaetzer Shiraz/Grenache “Wallace” 2007 is a blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Grenache aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak. Deep crimson-colored, it reveals a fragrant bouquet of cedar, scorched earth, pencil lead, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate it has an elegant personality with racy, slightly tart, fruit flavors, good concentration, and a silky finish. Drink this excellent value through 2017. 90 pts Robert Parker.

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Winemaking patriarch Colin Glaetzer established his own label to create wines he’s passionate about - limited quantities of benchmark Barossa Valley reds. It is the pinnacle of Colin’s 30-year career with achievements such as his creation of the revered Barossa Valley Estates E & E Black Pepper Shiraz.

Colin and his winemaker son Ben have a shared philosophy. Both firmly believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Their belief in “terroir” and an understanding of the ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district of the Barossa is evident. Exceptional fruit from a loyal group of third and fourth generation Barossa grape growers is the backbone of Glaetzer wines. With minimal intervention, Colin and Ben make the unique, elegant wines which are regarded as classics and unmistakably Barossa Valley.

Ben Glaetzer Wallace 2007

Tags: Barossa Valley, Black Pepper, E & E, Ebenezer, Glaetzer, Rhone blends, Shiraz/Grenache, Wallace

Henry’s Drive, with their terrific winemaker Chris Ringland, are turning out some of Australia’s most exciting and highly rated wines, with a stable that includes Dead Letter Office, Pillar Box, and Parson’s Flat Shiraz/Cabernet. A blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% American oak, of which 80% is new. It is an in-your-face, exuberant, flamboyant Aussie red boasting loads of espresso roast, toasty oak, blackberries, cassis, and licorice. Full-bodied, opulent, and voluptuous, with oodles of glycerin and depth. 93pts Robert Parker.

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Named after the proprietor of the 19th Century mail coach service which once ran through their property, Henry’s Drive Vignerons is the winery of the Longbottom family of Padthaway, South Australia.

Padthaway is part of the Limestone Coast in the South East of South Australia - an area rich in beautiful beaches, unique caves, the mysterious Blue Lake, world class produce and six wine regions.  The region was once covered by sea, as can be evidenced by the limestone surface lying beneath rich red loamy soil and the sandy ridges running parallel to the now distant ocean.

Given the soil and the climate (good winter rains and mild, sunny summers), padthaway is ideal for viniculture and the first vines were planted there in 1964.  In 1992, third-generation pastoralist Mark Longbottom and his wife Kim (who hails from the famed Marlborough wine region of New Zealand) carefully selected sections of their properties for the planting of vines.  Four years later, a dream was realized with the release of their first wine, coinciding with another life affirming moment - the birth of their first child.

Since then, Henry’s Drive Vignerons has grown in the size of its vineyards and output, as well as in stature.  The vines the Longbottoms have planted in Padthaway (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Verdelho) cover over 500 acres and the resulting wines of great depth of color, flavor and aroma that have been praised by most of the best wine writers and critics in Australia and the U.S. These wines are a testament to the Longbottoms’ dedication and to the growing awareness of Padthaway as one of the world’s great wine regions.

In 2006 Henry’s Drive Vignerons purchased 30 acres of Shiraz vineyards in McLaren Vale, situated on Willunga Hill.  The grapes from this vineyard are blended with Shiraz from the Henry’s Drive Padthaway vineyards to produce Dead Letter Office.

The Pillar Box line, which was unveiled in the 2004 vintage, is named for the ubiquitous red Pillar Boxes (mailboxes) that first appeared in the Padthaway region in the 1850s when the modern postal service was brought to Australia with the introduction of the postage stamp.  The Longbottoms brought in the consulting winemaker Chris Ringland to help in the creation of this highly praised, value-priced line.

The Longbottoms carried the postal theme of the names through to the labels.  Henry’s Drive Shiraz and Reserve Shiraz have a sepia-colored rendering of the mail stagecoach traveling the Henry’s Drive Trail, while the Parson’s Flat Red Blend had a depiction of the Parson himself on the label.  The Pillar Box wines feature a modern rendition of the actual front of the Pillar Box (with slot for letters).

Parson's Flat Shiraz/Cabernet

Tags: Cabernet, Chris Ringland, Henry's Drive, Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Parson's Flat, Shiraz