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$47.95
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WA 91
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
10
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price!
(We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
91 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2008 Sangiovese shows plenty of varietal character in its expressive red cherries, licorice and tobacco but with Napa Valley warmth and shape. The wine’s volume and depth should allow it to drink beautifully for a number of years. This is an impressive California Sangiovese, something I can’t say too often. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. (Dec 2011)"
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$19.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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Producer notes: "Ferrari-Carano's Italian heritage is reflected in this Sangiovese-based, easy-sipping blend. Select lots of grapes are chosen from our vineyards in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys to create a beautifully-balanced and medium-bodied wine. SIENA has delicious aromas and flavors of fresh-picked blackberries, raspberry jam, cola, cinnamon and clove. Sweet oak notes of vanilla and butterscotch complement lingering tart cherry, cranberry and strawberry. A wine with nice acidity and refined, elegant texture, SIENA has tannins that are showy and evenly coat the palate. 74% Sangiovese, 14% Malbec, 8% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon."
The Tasting Panel: "Ripe! Sweet dark chocolate, blueberry, anise and peppermint create a full palate and the flavors persist to its long finish. Earthiness and a garden of violets also set the stage for this lengthy red. (Mar 2013)"
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$74.95
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RP 93
IWC 91
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
9
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price!
(We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
93 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 La Tierra de Jonata (97% Sangiovese and 3% Syrah) was fashioned from yields of 1.2 to 1.9 tons of fruit per acre, which explains why it blows away virtually every other Sangiovese made in California. High quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, cedar, sweet, meaty porcini mushrooms, cassis, cherries, and graphite are all present in the spectacular aromatics and rich, full-bodied flavors. There is not a hard edge to be found in this refreshingly vibrant, fruity red. Enjoy it over the next 3-5 years. (Aug 2009)"
91 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(includes 3% syrah) Vivid ruby. Sexy aromas of cherry, spicecake and vanilla bean, with a subtle smoky undertone. Juicy red fruit flavors are given a firm edge by notes of cherry pit and licorice and pick up a musky note of dried flowers in the mid-palate. Finishes silky and lively, with lingering notes of candied cherry and rose. This drinks well now but has the depth to reward more patience. It's also one of the best non-Tuscan examples of this variety I know. (Nov/Dec 2010)"
Producer notes: "This wine combines all the joys of sangiovese: earth, salami and leather come out with air behind the initial aromas of perfumed, fresh crushed raspberries and strawberries. The palate is bright, robust and rustic, showing incredible density for this often shy grape. What starts with fruit moves to savory as it rolls across the palate, exhibiting anise, earth, dried flowers and cured meats all held in check by mouth coating tannins."
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$69.95
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WA 91
IWC 90
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
5
available
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91 points David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate): "I confess that my heart sinks a bit whenever I read the name of this grape variety on an American wine label because I've tasted one disappointment after another, but the Leonetti 2009 Sangiovese transported me smilingly straight to Tuscany before gently reminding me that it had a distinctly delicious personality, thank you, needing no Old World validation. (Its 8% Syrah component is not novel, though not all growers of Sangiovese would own up to that.) I don't think there is much mystery about what makes this wine so expressive and successful. Gentle fermentative extraction in open-top wooden uprights is followed by maturation in large ovals and demi-muids rather than barriques...and not too many of them new, either. This cepage had been in the Leonetti line-up since 1995, so when the decision was made to move into estate-bottling mode, a place was found for it both in the Seven Hills and Loess vineyards. Roasted chestnut, game, violet, and lightly-cooked cherry rise from the glass, then inform a palate whose sense of tannic grit is not at all coarse but sufficient to add invigoration and almost certainly enhance this wine's adaptability at table. While I strongly suspect that low-level brett is responsible for some of the personality on exhibit here - and in consequence I'd monitor stocks carefully if planning to cellar any - it, for now, in no way lacks for lip-smacking primary juiciness that extends all the way through a vibrant, saliva-liberating finish. And the liveliness here, incidentally, isn't on account of any acid adjustment (though Figgins did add tartaric to selected lots of Cabernet and Merlot in this vintage, as he says he typically will one year in three). "We love what Sangiovese does," says Gary Figgins, "but viticulturally it's a challenge. We found, for instance, that interior berries weren't getting good exposure, so now we go through right after bloom with a hair comb" to remove one third or more of the embryonic fruit within each cluster. (Dec 2012)"
90 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good bright deep red. Lively aromas of strawerry and raspberry. Tight, juicy and on the lean side, but with excellent cut to the blueberry and strawberry flavors. This very young wine is currently dominated by its firm tannic spine but should expand with several years of bottle aging. Chris Figgins told me that 2009 brought a huge crop, noting that 'a lot of '09s show tea leaf and dried fruit character due to machine harvesting.' He left 35% of his fruit hanging on the vines after the sharp frost on October 10, when the temperature plunged to 24 degrees. (Nov/Dec 2012)"
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$18.95
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IWC 91
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $24.00
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91 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$24 list] Vivid ruby. Heady, flamboyantly perfumed bouquet evokes candied red fruits, potpourri and anise, with a spicy overtone. Silky, palate-caressing raspberry and cherry flavors show impressive vivacity and become spicier with air. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, which is all about sappy red fruits and flowers. This wine's nose alone is worth the price of admission. (Nov/Dec 2012)"
'Highly Recommended,' California Grapevine: "[$24 list] Medium ruby; attractive, toasty, dark berry fruit aroma with spicy notes and hints of white pepper and orange peel; medium-full body; sharp herbal, black cherry and boysenberry flavors with an underlying citrussy component; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. 14.6% alcohol; 1,452 cases; released March 2012. (Apr 2013)"
Producer notes: "A deep ruby color with amethyst highlights shines in the glass, and the first swirl leads to aromas of blackberries, black currant and toast with jam. These dark berry notes are mirrored on the palate, and joined by interesting nuances of blood orange, a hint of dried cherry and spicy components -- Chinese Five Spice, white pepper and a suggestion of violets. Young mission figs, black cherries and a bit of black strap molasses are balanced by firm and bright acidity. The wine is mouth-filling and yet refreshing, with a crisp acidity and a pleasing finish replete with soft mocha-like tannins. 2010 Barbera is delightful on its own, but craves a meal! The balance of fruit and natural acidity make this wine an extension of the plate, enabling you to feel satisfied and happy during and at the end of a meal."
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$15.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $20.00
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Producer notes: "2010 Dolcetto is a blend of grapes from three exemplary vineyards. The Honea Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley lends big berry notes, soft tannins and roundness to the wine, the Walker Vineyard right across the street from Honea layers in dark, soft berry aromas and flavors, and the grapes from the cooler Zotovich Vineyard in the Sta Rita Hills add spice and lively acidity. Malolactic fermentation occurred in neutral oak barrels, where the wine aged for five months. A final blend was determined and married in a stainless steel tank prior to bottling in the Spring of 2011.
Tasting Notes: The dark, purple-violet color of the wine still shines with an exuberance and brightness -- it simply shouts of its playfulness from the glass. On the nose, a bouquet of blackberries and white clover, mingling with olallaberry jam. On the palate, soft tannins and more berry notes of black cherry, blackberry compote and boysenberry that linger and finish with a lovely bitter almond note. Smooth and balanced, this is simply delightful, delectable Dolcetto. Enjoy now, or within the next 1-2 years."
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$26.95
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WA 90
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $30.00
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90 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$30 list] The 2007 Nebbiolo is a blend of fruit sourced from Sisquoc Vineyard planted with the Michet clone (60%) and from Stolpman Vineyard planted with the Lampia clone (40%). It possesses striking dark fruit and plenty of varietal character, but with an extra degree of textural density from these Central Coast sites. It is one of the finest Italian-varietal wines I have tasted in California. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. (Aug 2011)"
Producer notes: "Sporting a beautiful crimson color with ruby edges, the 2006 release boasts the deepest color in years. The concentrated color then leads to bursts of berry aromas that mingle with intriguing garden notes of rose and warm, stony soil. The first sip glides across the palate with elegant, long, sweet rising tannins delivering texture, beautiful bright acidity and layers of fruit that range from wild raspberry to deep, dark plum. A deep molasses thread, interlaced with an entire cadre of spice that spans the spectrum of cinnamon to allspice to clove runs through the wine, enhancing rather than overpowering the elegant and lingering fruit characteristics."
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$14.95
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CGV 89
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
3
available
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List $18.00
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89 points California Grapevine: "[$18 list] Light yellow; attractive, floral, apple and pear aroma with notes of citrus and an initial trace of sulfur; medium body; citrus and pear flavors that appeared a bit austere on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. 12.5% alcohol; 2,200 cases; 0% barrel fermented; 0% malolactic fermentation; released Spring 2012. (Aug 2012)"
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$15.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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Producer notes: "[$18 list] Pale, pale gold in color, 2012 Pinot Grigio is crystal clear and brilliant in nature. A bouquet of citrus peel, wild arugula and honeysuckle tease the senses. A sip astonishes with crisp and refreshing acidity delivering white peach, Bosc pear and Fuyu persimmon flavors, all mingling with a stony, flinty character. Beautifully balanced, the wine lingers on the palate with nuances of nectarine and almond. This is a firm, focused wine with a beautifully dry finish that acts as its own worldwide ambassador for the perfect Pinot Grigio climate and soils of Santa Barbara County. The low 12.5% alcohol and screwtop finish make this the perfect picnic wine."
Not yet reviewed; 2011 vintage rated 89 points by California Grapevine: "Light yellow; attractive, floral, apple and pear aroma with notes of citrus and an initial trace of sulfur; medium body; citrus and pear flavors that appeared a bit austere on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. 12.5% alcohol; 2,200 cases; 0% barrel fermented; 0% malolactic fermentation; released Spring 2012."
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$15.95
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IWC 90
WA 89
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Green-tinged straw. High-pitched aromas of citrus fruits, cherry pit and minerals, with a subtle floral quality in the background. Tightly focused and light on its feet, with very good energy and cut to its bitter pit fruit and orange zest flavors. Finishes dry and precise, with very good length and resonating florality. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
89 points Atnonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$18 list] The 2010 Tocai Friulano Honea Vineyard, on the other hand, shows plenty of varietal character. It is a pretty, graceful wine laced with white peaches, flowers and mint. A long finish rounds things out nicely. In an amusing, ironic twist, producers in Italy can no longer use the name Tocai Friulano, while the successor denomination Friulano isn’t recognized yet by the TTB! Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. (Aug 2011)"
Producer notes: "Planted expressly for Palmina in 2002, the Honea Vineyard consists only of Italian varietals. One of the earlier ripening varietals in the vineyard, Tocai Friulano was harvested by hand, and whole cluster pressed to stainless steel tanks just a few short hours after being picked. A long, cool fermentation under controlled temperatures captured the pure essence of the grape -- delicate aromatics, beautiful balance and an elegant fruit profile. Malolactic fermentation was inhibited to showcase the classic and pure notes of the Tocai Friulano varietal. A pale yellow, straw-like color with almost transparent edges gleams as the 2010 Tocai Friulano is swirled in the glass. A reminder of the nearby sea is noted in the bouquet, with fresh and briny aromas mingling with nuances of wildflowers and garden herbs. Just ripe apricot flavors mingle with limón, kiwi, mineral notes and hints of almonds on the palate. Fresh and refreshing, 2010 Tocai Friulano has a pleasing, lively and vibrant finish. Enjoy this with your favorite asparagus dish -- really!"
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$15.95
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WE 87
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
9
available
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87 points Wine Enthusiast: "Quite a success for a California Sangiovese. It’s dry and silky, with light tannins and a good crunch of acidity to brighten the cherry pie, anise and pepper flavors. 1,495 cases produced. Alcohol 15%. (May 2010)"
Producer notes: " Initial aromas of dark fruits and savory spices suggest blueberries, cherries and hints of anise. Our Sangiovese strives to be aromatically complex, deep in flavor and structured with balanced acidity and ripe tannins. It pairs well with red or mushroom-based sauces, pasta, grilled fish and meats."
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$18.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Fruit forward and fresh on the nose with an elegant medium bodied palate and Italian tannin structure. Dry farmed since 2001, Stolpman Sangiovese offers New World intensity with Old World refinement. Aged 10 months in neutral oak."
James Suckling: "Attractive berry cherry character with hints of rose petals. Medium body with a slightly austere palate and a light finish. Drink now. Screw cap. (5/25/12)"
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$19.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "The wine balances ripe, concentrated fruit and a supple texture with the firm, crisp acidity inherent in Barbera. Inviting dark cherry, blackberry and coffee aromas lead to bright, ripe, mouth-filling plum, berry and black cherry flavors with hints of spice, and a touch of almond and chocolate. The balance and acidity make it a versatile wine for a wide range of foods. 520 cases produced. Alcohol 14.9%.
This vineyard is in Wooden Valley, in the southeastern part of the Napa Valley appellation, on benchland near two streams. It mainly produces high quality Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, but a block of Barbera represents an inspired match of climate and clone. The main Barbera clone has small, loose clusters and small berries, in sharp contrast to much of the Barbera grown in California, which typically has much larger clusters and berries. The clone is so obscure it doesn't have a formal name that we know, so we refer to it with the name of the UC Davis professor who maintained it. What we do know is that its grapes translate into consistently deep color and concentration."
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$15.95
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WE 88
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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88 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$18 list] A full hit of blackberry and black cherry kick things off right in this Lodi Barbera, followed by flavors of Dr. Pepper-like spice and chocolate, with a silky, smooth finish. This lovely wine would be happy served alongside a heaping plate of lightly herbed, red-sauced pasta and pizza. 901 cases produced. Alcohol 13.5%. (Aug 2012)"
Producer notes: "97% Barbera and 3% Nebbiolo. Rich and structured; bright berry aromas and flavors, plus stone fruit flavors of cherries and plums; which is followed by a lively, fruity and clean finish."
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$13.95
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United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Perfumed and intriguing; lively flavors of candied ginger and ripe tropical fruits like mango, papaya and star fruit. We harvested these grapes very late in Oct and without any botrytis - yet still at a relatively low brix level with the result being both aromatic and flavorful - versatile as an aperitivo or wine dessert, with lower alcohol and with some residual sugar - a very interesting and expressive wine. It was cold fermented using a yeast strain selected for this style of wine and without a malo-lactic conversion. Alcohol 8.4%. Residual sugar 73 g/l."
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$11.95
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WE 93
United States
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Italian Varietals
In stock,
3
available
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93 points and 'Best Buy,' Wine Enthusiast: "Anyone intrigued by the array of alternative whites being produced in California right now should know about this wine, an incredibly priced, low-alcohol sipper that’s also complex enough to pair with a range of lighter foods. Its aromas of apricot and sweet peach are most inviting, and the wine also has a saltiness layered around its acidity that hits in the midpalate and then finishes dry. A complex, medium-bodied, layered white that tastes of the sea. 2,016 cases produced. Alcohol 12%. (Feb 2012)"
L'Uvaggio is a Cal-Ital specialist that just recently began producing this Vermentino, an aromatic white with origins in Liguria, Sardegna, Corsica and southern France.
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