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$29.95
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Spain
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White
In stock, 12+ available
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List $34.00
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Producer notes: "[$34 list] The 200 Cestos is a single-vineyard selection from A Coroa. The name comes from the 200 baskets, or cestos, that are harvested from this vineyard every year. Tasting Notes - The wine has a lemon tint with aromas of fresh grass, yellow plum and honeysuckle. In the mouth it is powerful and rich with bitter fennel and lemon verbena infusion characteristics. Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel with 6 months aging on the lees."
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$18.95
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IWC 90
Italy
-
Trentino-Alto Adige
In stock,
3
available
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90 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "Pale, bright yellow. Lively aromas of green apple, thyme and white pepper are enlivened by a delicate minty quality. Very good Muller-Thurgau, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes bright and clean; a little more fruit density and it would have merited an even higher score. Still, this is a very attractive wine; try it with something unusual, like buffalo mozzarella or pasta with mussels (sans tomato). (Sep/Oct 2011)"
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$33.95
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WE 94
IWC 91
WS 91
United States
-
Chardonnay
In stock,
5
available
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94 points Wine Enthusiast: "Abeja’s Chardonnays are as certain to hit their target as a Kobe Bryant slam dunk, and the style remains consistent vintage after vintage. Spicy, nutty, based around stone fruits and melon, they do not shy away from the toasty flavors that derive from barrel fermentation in 40% new French oak. The underlying minerality and well-balanced acidity mark this as Washington fruit, most of it from the outstanding Conner Lee vineyard. Alcohol 14.1%. 690 cases produced. (Apr 2012)"
91 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Bright straw-yellow. Aromas of apricot, peach, citrus peel, wild herbs, spearmint, butterscotch and lees, with a floral lift that reminded me of viognier. A fresh, lively midweight with stone fruit flavors complemented by vanillin, toasty oak. There's a savory sake-like quality and an umami texture at work here that go nicely with the wine's restrained sweetness. Finishes smooth and long, with noteworthy concentration. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
91 points Wine Spectator: "Refined, elegant and tightly wound, with a good tension as the pear and spice flavors play against earthy and minerally nuances on the finish. Drink now through 2014. 690 cases made. (5/31/12)"
Producer notes: "This vintage of Chardonnay offers the elegant, balanced style for which our Chardonnay is known. Pears, star fruit, kiwi, and vanilla combine with moderate, integrated oak flavors, beautiful complexity, and pleasant acidity. Production of this wine is just half of our usual case quantity. Vineyard sources: Mill Creek Vineyard & Conner Lee Vineyard. 100% French oak (40% new, 60% one-year-old). 100% barrel fermentation. 100% malolactic fermentation."
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$34.95
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United States
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Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
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$28.95
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FWR 91
IWC 89
Germany
In stock,
10
available
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Terry Theise: "(discernible but not obtrusive sweetness) SOMMELIER ALERT! This has the purest fragrance of old-school Mosel Riesling. It"s why we love it with a heart almost childlike, one we hardly know we own. This is sleeker than most recent vintages -- a 'mere' 87° with 10.8g acidity, which is not unnoticeable, but the slightly arch charm is beautiful for its angularity, and the wine shows absurd length."
91 points Fine Wine Review: "The Dhron Hofberg Kabinett displays yellow peach fruit but with restraint and also shows good length to go with some sweetness. 8.0% stated alcohol. (Issue #135/136; 2012)"
89 points Joel B. Payne (International Wine Cellar): "Fresh bouquet of pear and apple blossom. Delicately sweet on the palate, offering a nice interplay of apricot and luscious citricity. The persistent finish offers lipsmacking elegance. An exemplary kabinett. (Jan/Feb 2012)"
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$16.95
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IWC 91
PG 89
Spain
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White
In stock, 12+ available
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List $23.00
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91 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$23 list] Pale gold. High-pitched aromas and flavors of orange, green apple and fresh fig, with a gingery topnote. Lithe and precise, with excellent finishing clarity and lingering floral notes. This suave, seamless wine would work with light as well as with richer foods, or all by itself. (Sep 2012)"
89 points Peñín Guide: "(100% godello). Colour: bright straw. Nose: fresh, fresh fruit, white flowers, fragrant herbs. Palate: flavourful, fruity, good acidity, balanced. (2013)"
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$26.95
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United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
9
available
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List $35.00
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Producer notes: "Roussanne 63%, Grenache Blanc 37%. The combination of richly textured and perfumed Roussanne with the bright edginess of Grenache Blanc resulted in balanced flavors, alternating between the unctuous-ity of beeswax and the crisp bite of Asian pear. As the wine approaches room temperature one experiences an unfolding of the full range of its complexities, ranging from the fragrant bouquet of hibiscus to the layered flavors of a peach and quince compote dusted with cardamom spice. Enjoy now through 2015. Barrel aged 10 months in 100% neutral French oak. 392 cases produced. Alcohol 14.8%."
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$26.95
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United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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$18.95
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France
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Rhone
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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Not yet reviewed; 2010 vintage rated 91 points by Wine Spectator: "This offers a lovely creamy feel, as enticing Cavaillon melon, pear and fig flavors are offset by hints of tangerine and bitter almond on the richly layered finish. Drink now through 2013. 50 cases imported."
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$14.95
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RP 90
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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90 points Robert Parker: "The 2010 La Grange Daniel Blanc Vin de Pays d'Orange is a tank-aged 100% Roussanne that sells for a remarkable $15 a bottle. It is a challenge to make good Roussanne as the skin has considerable tannin and any skin contact can result in an astringently flavored wine. However, that's not a problem with this Roussanne fruit bomb. Notes of waxy orange marmalade and honeysuckle jump from the glass of this light gold-colored 2010. Alary's oenologist, Olivier Roustang, is also the oenologist for the Chave family in Hermitage, which may help explain the brilliance of this white wine. Drink it over the next 12 months. (Aug 2011)"
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$17.95
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IWC 88
WA 87
France
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Alsace
In stock, 12+ available
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List $24.00
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88 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "(14% alcohol, 24 g/l r.s. and 4.4 acidity) Pale, green-tinged yellow. Varietally expressive aromas of lichee, smoked meat, brown spices and rose petal. Silky-smooth and sweet, with spice and meat flavors similar to the aromas. An easygoing and open-knit wine of good but not outstanding clarity and intensity, finishing with a light dusting of tannins and alcohol under control. (Nov/Dec 2010)"
87 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "[$24 list] Overtly sweet even at 14% alcohol, the Mann 2009 Gewurztraminer incorporates much of this year’s crop from the Altenbourg. Celery seed, litchi, rose petal, and saline, marine breeze in the nose lead to a full, subtly creamy, palpably low-acid, but fortunately persistently juicy palate, finishing somewhat simple and obviously sweet. Jacky Barthelme insists 'this is too good for a generic,' and I sympathize in terms of his willingness to declassify cru material, but in terms of the wine’s performance, it seems to me to have been classed correctly. Drink it over the next several years. (May 2011)"
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$13.95
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WS 88
IWC 87
WA 87
France
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Alsace
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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88 points Wine Spectator: "This displays fine balance between earth and salt notes and lemon curd, white peach and white pepper flavors. It's subtly juicy, with good layers of flavor set in a light-bodied frame. Drink now through 2012. 900 cases imported. (4/30/11)"
87 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Straw-yellow. Musky soft citrus fruits, hazelnut and spring flowers on the nose. Fat, supple and slightly sweet, but with good shape to its creamy stone fruit and spice flavors. A persistent, easygoing midweight with modest complexity. (Nov/Dec 2010)"
87 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "[$18 list] A roughly 70-30 Auxerrois-true Pinot blend as usual, the Mann 2009 Pinot Blanc is juicily laden with honeydew and musk melon, soft in feel, and attractively tinged with herbs and orange zest. Enjoy it over the next 12-18 months. (May 2011)"
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$17.95
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WS 90
IWC 88
WA 88
France
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Alsace
In stock, 12+ available
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List $24.00
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90 points Wine Spectator: "[$24 list] A pretty, aromatic white, this finds a fine fit for its delicate flavors of honeydew melon, peach, orange zest and spice. Dry and tangy, with lovely purity of flavor and balance. Drink now through 2016. 150 cases imported. (2/28/11)"
88 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "[$24 list] Bright light-medium yellow. Aromas of yellow peach, ginger and smoke, with a spicy component building with air. Moderately sweet (9 g/l r.s.) but with a sound, nicely buffered spine of acidity lending support. Shows the fruity side of the variety and finishes off-dry, with good dusty persistence. (Nov/Dec 2010)"
88 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "Lemon, orange and basil scent the Mann 2009 Riesling Cuvee Albert in a Muscat-like manner -- a resemblance that persists on a pungent, yet generously juicy palate. There is a melon-rind bitterness that -- along with a hint of cinnamon basil -- add to the stimulation of the finish, and a good balance has been struck between 9 grams of residual sugar scarcely noticeable as such and a moderate 13.2% alcohol. (May 2011)"
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$14.95
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WA 87
United States
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Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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87 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$18 list] The 2011 Chardonnay Estate is a relatively rich, buttery wine for the year and appellation, but it nevertheless shows good balance and depth, especially within its price range. Orange blossoms, nectarines and sweet spices are some of the aromas and flavors that wrap around the juicy finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2015. (Apr 2013)"
Producer notes: "There are aromas of apple, pear, butterscotch, toasted oak and a little minerality in the glass. This is a Chardonnay with a lush, rich, creamy mouthfeel, tropical notes and flavors of apple, pear and citrus, with just a touch of acidity on the finish. To retain the natural acidity we harvested 70% of our Chardonnay at night when the grapes are coolest, then cold ferment those lots in stainless steel, without malolactic fermentation or barrel aging to highlight the citrus and green apple flavors. To add balance to the wine, we whole cluster press 30% of the best fruit and barrel ferment that portion in French Oak barrels. The barrel fermented lots undergo malolactic fermentation and age on the lees for 8 months to develop roundness and body. Alcohol 14.5%."
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$13.95
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Italy
-
Trentino-Alto Adige
In stock,
10
available
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Producer notes: "Brilliant straw yellow with a green shimmer. Quite pronounced and expressive aroma with flowery and somewhat spicy notes. Rich flavored in the mouth, with a slight smokiness at the back and a good, fresh finish. When properly cellared, this will drink well for 2 to 4 years. Suggested food: starters (both fish or meat), pâtés and terrines, fish and shellfish, poultry, white meat and mushrooms. Alcohol 13.0%."
Not yet reviewed; 2010 vintage rated 88 points by International Wine Cellar: "Straw-yellow with a golden tinge. Musky aromas of peach and pear are lifted by an herbal topnote. Broad, rich and almost sweet, with some residual sugar conferring a smooth, supple mouthfeel. The orchard fruit flavors are less intense than the aromas on the medium-long finish."
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$19.95
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France
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Burgundy
-
Cote d'Or White
In stock,
3
available
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Amiot-Servelle produces fruity wines in which balance and elegance prevail, and this 2010 vintage is no exception. Fresh and nicely aromatic. Expressive aromas of white flowers, brioche, hazelnut and a hint of vanilla. Nice amplitude in the mouth, with a lovely intensity of white flowers, hazelnut, pear and vanilla. Elegant and refined, this Bourgogne blanc offers a harmonious balance, a hint of minerality and a very pleasant finish.
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$19.95
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RR 92
IWC 90
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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92 points Rhone Report: "[$25 list] Zingy and lively, the 2011 Andrew Murray RGB Camp 4 Vineyard is a blend of equal parts Roussanne and Grenache Blanc that was aged both in stainless steel and neutral oak. Showing classic aromas of juiced pear, citrus rind, buttered almond, mineral, and a subtle hint of honey, it is decidedly fresh and pure on the palate, with a medium-bodied, detailed, and weightless texture, integrated acidity, and a dry, clean finish. All around beautiful stuff, it can easily stand on its own, or would also be the perfect starter to a meal. Give bottles a quick decant, and drink them over the coming year or two. (Dec 2012)"
90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(a 50/50 blend of roussanne and grenache blanc): Light yellow. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes orange zest, ginger and honeysuckle, along with a dusty mineral overtone. Vibrant nectarine and citrus flavors show very good focus and energy, picking up spiciness with air. Finishes dry and refreshingly bitter, with excellent intensity, focus and length. Very grown-up in style, with no excess fat. (Nov/Dec 2012)"
Producer notes: "The RGB is named for the blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, which is a typical white wine blend found in and around the small villages in the south of France. Typically Roussanne, which is more difficult to ripen and thus more rare, takes a backseat to the Grenache Blanc, which is a more neutral tasting grape. We like to richen up this blend a bit and include more of the robust Roussanne. The resulting blend is nearly a 50-50 balance between the two varieties. The grapes were whole cluster pressed and then fermented and aged together in a small, temperature controlled stainless tank. This early blending allowed the flavors to come together more completely. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to neutral French Burgundy barrels to allow a bit more oxygen into the wine, which acted to soften and round out the final wine. The aroma of this wine explodes with white flowers, green apple, a tropical/banana note, and a flinty/minerally note. The aromas find their way onto the palate where you will sense a long, round, viscous mouthfeel made complex with a racy acidity. The RGB is clean, fresh, and ready to drink. It should, however, improve over the next couple of years. 300 cases produced."
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$19.95
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Austria
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Fine spice of herbs and mineral aroma of stone-fruit and honey-dew. Very clear, straight, lively acidity, gripping and a long lasting mineral-base, a granular and almost spicy style, a very long sustainment on the palate. Alcohol 13.5%."
Not yet reviewed; 2007 vintage rated 93 points by Wine Spectator: "Concentrated tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple fill this rich Riesling. There's a ripe appley note as well, with intriguing savory herbal elements. This really hums on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2015. 267 cases made."
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$17.95
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WA 89
Portugal
In stock, 12+ available
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List $24.00
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89 points Mark Squires (Wine Advocate): "[$24 list] The 2010 Alvarinho 'Muros Antigos' was a warm vintage wine. A bit elevated in alcohol (13.5% here compared to 12.5% for the 2009 and 13.0% for the 2008), it is deep and powerful, fresh and clean. Its depth makes it immediately impressive, but despite the minor differences, I did think the alcohol showed just a bit here and there, at least in comparison to other vintages. It is still very fine. The 2011 looks like a step up, a sure fire 90 pointer, but at the time seen, it was so unevolved that I thought it was a bit unfair to review. Drink now-2017. (Dec 2012)"
Importer notes: "Alvarinho went from zero to 60 in terms of market penetration and now there are many indifferent examples available along with benchmarks like Soalheiro. Anselmo makes a number of different styles of Alvarinho and we selected his entry level for its precise rendition of the form and all around lip-smacking goodness. The new vintage shows even more zesty tropical fruit than the 2009."
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$29.95
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WA 92
United States
-
Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $35.00
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92 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$35 list] Antica’s 2011 Chardonnay is laced with lemon peel, white flowers, spices and crushed rocks. In this vintage, the estate’s Chardonnay is especially rich and powerful, largely because the irregular flowering lowered yields by 50%. This is an unusual Chardonnay that is bright in its aromas and flavors but fairly broad-shouldered in style. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. (Dec 2012)"
Producer notes: "The 2011 Napa Valley Chardonnay has richness, yet remains elegant and delicate. There are generous flavors of pear, melon, and nectarine that are pure, focused and lingering on the palate. The finish on the wine is complex, adding to the wine's persistence and freshness."
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$47.95
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WE 93
Italy
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Umbria
In stock, 12+ available
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Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso (2013).
93 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "From Antinori’s Castello della Sala estate, this landmark white helped to shine the spotlight on Umbria’s untapped enological potential. A blend of Chardonnay and Grechetto, this is smooth, creamy, complex and long lasting. It offers a beautiful bouquet of vanilla, apricot, exotic fruit and honey, with a subtle touch of exotic spice. Alcohol 13%. (Oct 2012)"
Producer notes: "The wine is a straw yellow in color with greenish highlights and expresses intense aromas of white flowers mixed with notes of flint. On the palate, savory mineral sensations blend perfectly with toasty and citric notes. The 2010 Cervaro della Sala is marked by a long persistence and a mineral character and is headed for excellent evolution and aging ability over time."
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$9.95
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Italy
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Umbria
In stock, 12+ available
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'Wine of the Week,' Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Grechetto 60%, Procanico 40%. In the glass: Santa Cristina Bianco is a fine, pale almost clear citrine-yellow color with a star-bright core going out into a very faint, nearly glass-clear meniscus with medium viscosity. On the nose: Fresh, crisp and tangy are things that immediately spring to mind here for this highly aromatic wine, with lots of zippy kiwi, pomelo and general citrus zest; also white currants, crushed cloudberries, hints of honeysuckle and orange blossom, then zucchini flowers and crushed fine granite for minerality. On the palate: It is very aromatic as it hits the center palate with loads of zesty pears, citrus rind, Granny Smith apples and excellent acidity to carry that backbone in the wine right through the relatively soft and supple midpalate into a finish that is chock-full of vibrant white currants, stone fruit and kiwi crush with just a touch of minerality. It is entirely clean and crisp to the end. Odds and ends: The Antinori family has been making wine in Tuscany for more than six centuries in an unbroken line of 26 generations since 1385. I think it is fair to say that this qualifies them to know how to make great wine. And yet the family was one of a handful of great winemakers that knew a modern approach was needed for Italian wine to succeed worldwide. The Antinori portfolio now counts a tremendous lineup of great wines, not just from Italy, but also Napa Valley, Chile and Hungary, to name a few. It is a dynamic, engaged and globetrotting winemaking family that excels at their craft. They're also some of the nicest people in the business. From their top legendary wine Solaia right down to this delicious and superb spring white wine, it's all great... a fabulous alternative to pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. Drink it with sauteed shrimp scampi or a seafood salad. The wine is good now through 2014."
Producer notes: "Straw yellow in color, the wine is intense and complex in aroma with notes of bergamots, orange flowers, and sweet spices such as cinnamon. On the palate it is soft and savory, with a return of the aromatic notes of the nose on the finish and aftertaste. Grape varieties: Principally Grechetto and Procanico."
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$14.95
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France
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Rhone
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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Robert Parker: "[$18 list] The 2010 Cotes du Rhone Clementia Blanc, an innovative blend of 45% Viognier, 45% Roussanne and 10% Clairette, exhibits a light gold color (probably due to the Roussanne) as well as good freshness, elegance and straightforward, medium-bodied flavors... (Aug 2011)"
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$7.95
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United States
-
Chardonnay
In stock,
2
available
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Producer notes: "Ariel Chardonnay is fermented cold at 50ºF (10ºC) in both stainless steel cooperage and small French oak barrels to dryness. Once fermentation is completed, the wine is blended and receives additional oak aging. Just prior to bottling, the alcohol is gently removed by cold filtration. Ariel 2006 Chardonnay grapes are carefully chosen from a variety of regions in California, with vineyards selected for Chardonnay exhibiting an emphasis on tropical fruit aromas. Ariel Chardonnay has a distinctive combination of buttery apple and butterscotch characteristics, combined with a toasty French oak bouquet, and should continue to develop complexity as it ages. It can be enjoyed immediately, or held three to five years. Enjoy Ariel Chardonnay with richer seafood, veal, duck and cream pasta dishes."
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$7.95
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United States
-
Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $9.00
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Producer notes: "Ariel Chardonnay, with its tropical fruit character and subtle oak from barrel aging, has a distinctive combination of buttery apple and butterscotch flavors, combined with a toasty French oak bouquet. This is a non-alcoholic wine that will continue to develop complexity as it ages. Try it with spaghetti carbonara, mango mahi-mahi, sautéed scallops, crispy duck. Less than 0.5% alcohol by volume."
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