De Angelis Lacrima Christi Delvesuvio Rosso
90 points, Wine Advocate
“The 2009 Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio Rosso (Piedirosso, Aglianico) screams with character. A blast of tar, earthiness, game and smoke leads to ripe wild cherries and herbs. The wine gains richness and juiciness in the glass, but lways remains a touch rustic. Still, with hearty fare the Lacrima Cristi will provide superb drinking. It is a fabulous value.”

2010 Sitios de Bodega Con Class Verdejo
90 points, Wine Advocate
“The 2010 Con Class Verdejo (100%) was made from 80-120-year-old organically farmed vines planted onpure chalk. Jasmine, mineral, stone fruit, and tropical notes
inform the nose of this spicy, intensely flavored, nicely proportioned offering. This lengthy effort will provide pleasure for another 2-3 years. Verdejo does not get much better than this.”

2010 Altovinum Evodia (New Vintage!)
Altovinum’s 2010 Evodia is 100% Garnacha sourced from the highest elevation vineyards of Garnacha of any DO in Spain. It offers up a slightly exotic nose of earthy
minerality, mocha, black cherry, and black raspberry. Savory, concentrated, and
with a forward personality, this great value will deliver pleasure over the
next 3-4 years.

Gini Soave
Golden-hued and medium-bodied, this wine is a superlative expression of Garganega, the indigenous Northern Italian grape varietal used to make Soave Classico. With
white blossoms and delicate fruit on the nose – golden apple, pear, a tinge of ripe lemon — it features stony minerality, bright, refreshing acidity and lingering notes of honey. (Due Bicchieri Gambero Rosso)

Tarot Grenache 89+ pts. International Wine Cellar
“Bright ruby. An intensely floral nose features red berry preserves, rose, jasmine and candied licorice. Juicy and perfumed in the mouth, with a silky touch to the intense raspberry and floral pastille flavors. Youthfully fruity wine, with tangy acidity that needs a little time to harmonize with the primary fruit. The note of candied flowers carries through the long, sappy finish.”

Heron Pinot Noir
This handcrafted Pinot Noir is an elegant composition of sustainably farmed grapes from several of California’s cool, marine influenced micro-climates. Ripe red berry and black cherry fruit balance its delicate spiciness. The wine is generous on the palate with nice forward fruit and well-balanced oak — in a word, elegant.”A pretty Pinot Noir, dry and silky, with plenty of flavor… offers a pleasant range of cherries, raspberries and
sandalwood.” –Wine Enthusiast

Dr. L Riesling   88 points, Wine Spectator
“There’s a snappy acidity to the peach, apple and Bosc pear flavors. This offers plenty of freshness on the finish, with hints of glazed citrus.”

Chateau du Donjon Minervois   88 points, Wine Advocate
This dark ruby wine offers a complex aromatic blend of ripe red fruits and spice. It is powerful, well-structured and supple with a long aromatic finish.

Naked Grape Winery sits 1000’ atop a hill near the famous red hills of Dundee, Oregon and is naturally exposed to the elements of the climates.
The name “Naked Grape” is attributed to a poem written by a soldier stationed at a Pacific Northwest Fort around 1900. He wrote that being in the Northwest exposed him to 300 types of rain and other weather.

Cova dels Vins Ombra Montsant
89 Points Wine Advocate
“The 2007 Ombra was sourced from a single vineyard and aged in barrel for nine months. It is equal parts Garnacha, Carinena, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark ruby-colored, it reveals a perfumed nose of black licorice, fennel, underbrush, earth, black cherry, and blackberry. Ripe, forward, and succulent, this easy-going ,well-balanced effort will drink well over the next four years. It is an outstanding value. “

Gessami Gramona - 89 pts. Wine Advocate
“The 2009 Gessami Blanco is an exotic blend of Muscat d’Alexandria, Muscat de
Fontignan, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer raised in tank. It delivers a kinky bouquet of wet stone, spring flowers, baking spices, honey, and peach. The aromas suggest sweetness but on the palate the wine is dry, crisp, fruity, and very refreshing. It would make a great match with Asian cuisine over the next 12-18 months.”

Vignale Pinot Grigio
A smooth and dry wine, it has hints of citrus and apple fruits and a refreshing finish. An extremely successful excellent-value Pinot Grigio from northeastern Italy – a real wine of the moment.

Barocco Rosso
Ripe cherry fruit with some light spice. Nicely balanced with a warm smooth finish.
Well made wine from the Negroamaro variety.
________________________________________
Wine Tasting with John King of Executive Wines
Friday, August 12, 4-7pm      O’Darby’s Galleria (O’Darby’s Too)

Markovic Pinot Noir – 87 points, Wine Advocate
…great acidity and fruit balance.

Marlborough Grace Sauvignon Blanc
Pale straw colour. An intense lifted nose of passion fruit and mineral characters with an underlying flinty note. The aromas extend to the palate offering intense flavours of passionfruit, lime and grapefruit. A pleasing mineral note leads to a long lingering lemon finish.

Backhouse White Zinfandel
Backhouse offers consumers fruit forward varietals of exceptional value that are ready for immediate consumption. These wines are ideal as an aperitif and compliment everyday meals as well as special occasions.

Mercer Estates Dead Canyon Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe dense berry with chocolate dipped cherry and loaded with spice. Rich full-bodied mouth with firm but ripe tannins make this an excellent accompaniment to a rib-eye steak.

Sur del los Andes Malbec Reserva
This Malbec has an aromatically complex nose of blueberry, mint, berry fruits and  mineral/wood/ earth tones. Focused and intense, it shows fine depth and a sunny  disposition. Underneath there is plenty of fruit and it expands with air.  Precise and zesty.
“Excellent nose of smoke, lavender, incense, and black cherry; succulent fruit, pleasure-bent.” –Wine Advocate, 91 points.

James Creek Napa Valley Zinfandel
Classic notes of black pepper and spice highlight the lush fruit aromas of James Creek  Zinfandel. On the palate, silky layers of blackberries unfold with intriguing coffee and vanilla nuances.

Joseph Drouhin Laforêt Bourgogne Chardonnay
“Fruity and full of life. This is a classical white Burgundy and a good entry level  wine for Burgundy in general. The colour is golden yellow, with a greenish  glint. The aromas are reminiscent of fresh grape and green almond. Elegant texture”.
Ochoa Viura Chardonnay
Displays  bright floral aromas with notes of ripe citrus. The palate is refreshing with flavors  of tangerine, white peach, and almond.

Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza
Wine Spectator Top 100, #44
Wine Spectator Best Buy, 90 points
$17.99 reg. $16.69 club
100% Tempranillo. Aged in American and French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by several months in the bottle. Brilliant red cherry with violet hues. Elegant ageing aromas with hints of fruit.
“Fresh and balanced, this red brims with cherry, spice and licorice, with light, firm tannins and vibrant acidity. The texture is generous yet delicate. Not heavy, but vivacious.” (Wine Spectator)

Independent Producers Chardonnay $15.99 reg. $13.99 club
The Independent Producers Chardonnay is as close to a Chablis style white as you
can find on the west coast. The wine sees no oak, and is a true definition of
terroir winemaking, highlighting the beautiful vineyards of Sagemoor Farms,
specifically the Dionysus Vineyard. Independent Producers is a project directed
by Christophe Hedges, bringing to the table some of the more compelling
Columbia Valley AVA vineyard sites.

Trentadue Petite Sirah $25.99 reg. $20.99 club
This Petite Sirah is very consistent and easy to recognize by the massive blueberry
aromas and the slight bay leaf like aroma. The dark purple/red color leads to a
very aromatic wine with typical blueberry, blackberry and plum aromas followed
by creamy toasted oak and maple nuances. The mouth feel is substantial with
massive but engagingly soft tannins. Balanced acidity throughout the mid pallet
leads to a long and juicy, full bodied finish that lasts seemingly forever.

Broadbent Vinho Verde  $12.99 reg.  $9.99 club
Wine Spectator White Wine Value
Wine & Spirits Best Buy
Food & Wine  “Summer’s Best Wines”
Wine Enthusiast “Good Value Wine”