Wines and Beyond

Red Wine by Tardieu-Laurent from Cote Rotie, France - Rhone. Very darkly coloured, we are back to a most typical Style of Cote-Rotie both on the nose and in the mouth. Violet and liquorice are dominant. The aftertaste impresses by an intense mineralite - mine de crayon. Terroir: Landonne, Moulin, Chavaroche, Vaillere from vines over 50 years old. Ruby-red. Highly aromatic nose combines bright raspberry and redcurrant scents, a strong violet note and subtle mineral tones. Fresh, silky and sweet, with brisk red fruit flavors carrying impressively through a long, juicy, gently tannic finish. This is delicious right now. -International Wine Cellar

Red Wine by Mount Veeder from Napa Valley, California. This fabulous mountain Cabernet blend is hefty in tannins, but its so delicious and balanced, it's totally dinkable now... - Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection This wine expresses the lush, concentrated fruit character of the Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the steep terraced slopes of our mountain estate. Refined tannins add texture and depth to the intense blackberry flavors of the wine.

Red Wine by Arrowood from Sonoma County, California. Arrowood 2002 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding California Cab from start to finish. In 2002, when the harvested grapes went through the press, Richard Arrowood noted the juice's intense black fruit flavors and unbelievable aromatics and colors. He foresaw a blockbuster year for this fabulous vintage and he was right on the money. The majority of fruit for the 2002 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on hillside vineyards in the Sonoma Valley; a region known to yield some of the most concentrated and balanced Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma County. After aging lots separately in seasoned French oak barrels and a small amount of American oak barrels for 23 months, only the finest was selected to blend and return to French oak barrels for another five months of aging. The resultant wine is a perfect vision of violet with purple hues and tones of brick-red around the edges. It shows certain richness and there is no shortage of complexity. Rich aromatics of black cherry, cassis and leather introduce the palate to a symphony of flavor profiles with black fruit in the forefront of undertones and overtones of plump, ripe fruit in this full bodied wine. The tannins are in harmony, bringing structure and balance with a long, lovely finish. This wine should evolve and age with grace throughout at least the next two decades. Arrowood 2002 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a true pleasure to enjoy on its own, and pairs well with many different foods. Serve it with grilled meats or seafood, or favorite pasta topped with a rich, bold red sauce.

Red Wine by Mollydooker from McLaren Vale, Australia.

Red Wine by Vall Llach from Priorat, Spain. In the rolling hills of Porrera, within the winemaking region of Priorat, grow the ancient vines of Celler Vall Llach. Dating back nearly 100 years, these vines supply Vall Llach's flagship wine with its elegant structure and individual character. Like the winery itself, Vall Llach's premium wine is named after one of the owners and founders, the famous Catalan singer Lluis Llach. This proprietary blend is deep cherry in color, with complex and elegant aromas that include nuances of the Mediterranean forest floor, blackberry jam, dried herbs, minerals, and spices. As it enters the mouth, this wine has magnificent flavors of condensed fruit and minerals with a tannin structure that is ripe, sweet, yet delicate. The end result is a long and profound finish with great concentration of aromas and flavors. 65% Cari?ena, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon Celler Vall Llach is fortunate in possessing a selection of magnificent old estates, or trossos, whose 60- to 90-year old Cari?ena vines assure an exclusive foundation for its flagship wine. Always striving to achieve the best quality, Vall Llach cultivates their old vines according to traditional methods. These succulent clusters, along with a strict selection of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, give this wine its distinctive character representative of the Priorat region.

Red Wine by Luce from Tuscany, Italy. Tuscany's 1999 vintage is acclaimed for red wines of long aging potential. The intense sun of the summer months encouraged early maturation of the berries, leading to Sangiovese and Merlot grapes of superior soft tannins and lower levels of acidity. The heavy rains of October did not compromise fruit quality, since the sunshine and constant breeze that shortly followed dried off any excess moisture. The grapes for Luce were brought to the winery in excellent condition with fully developed flavors and an ideal balance of sugar concentration and acidity. Luce, the signature wine of the Frescobaldi family of Tuscany and the Robert Mondavi family of Napa Valley, captures the unique terroir expression of a beautiful hillside vineyard in the famous region of Montalcino. Powerful, yet elegant, the 1999 Luce reflects the expertise of the two renowned winegrowing families with rich, complex layers of ripe fruit. The intense bouquet offers enticing aromas of raspberries and black currants layered with nuances of vanilla and cloves. On the palate, this wine shows its great consistency, perfectly integrated tannins and just the right touch of acidity. The vibrant flavors of blackberry and blueberry weave into a long, warm finish.

Red Wine by Luce from Tuscany, Italy. Blend: 50 % Merlot and 50 % Sangiovese Luce 2004 appears deep ruby with lovely purple highlights. Subtle suggestions of toasty oak appear first on the nose, over fragrant notes of blueberry and blackberry that seem to infuse the background; next to emerge is a complex of floral and mint nuances, followed by smooth impressions of vanilla and cinnamon. The palate is smooth and mouthfilling, with velvety tannins and a warm alcohol beautifully complemented by a crisp acidity. The finish is expansive and dynamic.

Red Wine by Dom. de Beaurenard from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Parcels of old vines 60-100 years in age, planted in soils of great character and complexity, provide the grapes for this wine. They are picked when fully mature and meticulously sorted by hand to further enhance concentration. These old parcels, in which different varieties are planted together, embody the symphony of 13 varieties, though Grenache predominates. The 2004 Boisrenard, their luxury cuvee, always shows some evidence of new oak barrique but doesn't lose its Chateauneuf du Pape soul. In most vintages it is a very long-lived wine, as the 1990 is just now hitting its stride. This is the more up-front style in 2004 with plenty of sexy, chocolatey pain grille notes interwoven with blackberry and cassis. It is layered, opulent, fleshy, and already very drinkable. Its medium to full body and lushness suggest drinking it over the next 8-10 years. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 90 Points

Red Wine by Brokenwood from McLaren Vale, Australia. Graveyard Shiraz has established itself as one of Australia's most sought-after red wines, displaying the best characteristics of super-premium Hunter Shiraz. Excellent color with youthful tints and quintessential Hunter Valley aromas: charry briarwood, clove and red cherry. Good weight to the palate, initially firm tannins but then red berry and spice flavors. Excellent structure that has earthy, briary, savory characters and grape/oak tannins. Developed characters should start to appear around the seven-year mark.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Monbousquet from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. From a mixture of sand, gravel, and clay soils, this unheralded terroir produces wines well-above its pedigree thanks to the extraordinary efforts of proprietors Chantal and Gerard Perse. The wines are given a 4- to 5-week maceration in both stainless steel and oak, and are aged sur-lie in new oak. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2003 offers up notes of smoky meats, melted licorice, jammy black cherries, spice box, earth, and cedar. This plump, fleshy, sexy, unfined, unfiltered wine represents a classic blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. -Wine Advocate An intense ruby-red colour. Delicate woody aromas with notes of toast and ripe fruit. In the mouth the attack is supple and full, the tannins refined and the structure very aromatic. The red fruit comes to the fore - blackberry and cherry. Excellent concentration and a fresh finish with good aromatic return of the fruit.

Red Wine by Mount Veeder from Napa Valley, California. Mount Veeder was the first winery in California to have one vineyard planted to all five Bordeaux varietals. The Mount Veeder Reserve is an elegant statement of the winemaking philosophy that blending creates a wine more than the sum of its parts. Crafted from small lots of exceptionally concentrated fruit from our three ranches, this distinctive red wine is the essence of power and finesse. Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Malbec Appearance: Dark garnet red Aroma: Very dense and brambly. The dark black fruit is complemented by sweet anise, sage, bay and toasty oak notes. Flavor: Rich, supple and dense, loaded with dark blackberry fruit and ripe mountain tannin. Chewy, big-boned and intense, the flavors fill the pallet and continue with blackberry and coffee notes rounding out the long finish.

Red Wine by Rubicon Estate from California. Rubicon Estate 2004 CASK Cabernet is a classic, grand style American Cabernet. It is loaded with ripe red cherry and rum raisin scents, which are telltale hallmarks of Rutherford Cabernet in a great year. Immediately accessible for its forward charm, the dense and supple tannins are inviting to experience but the rewards will come with three to six years of bottle age.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Ducru Beaucaillou from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. One can't say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien. An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate 93 points

Red Wine by Whitehall Lane from Napa Valley, California. This commemorative Reserve bottling celebrates Whitehall Lane Winery's 25 years of making outstanding wines in Napa Valley. The Reserve offerings have always represented the very best barrel lots from some of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. This classic, opulent Napa Valley Cabernet has aromas of black cherry, cassis and scents of creamy vanilla framed by toasty French oak. It has rounded, luxurious flavors of blackberry, mulberry and mocha. This delicious Reserve offering displays great balance, ripeness and offers a long, silky smooth finish. Enjoy to 2016.

Red Wine by Alta Vista from Argentina, South America. Alto is the quintessence of the best terroirs of Argentina. Deep ruby-red in color with complex aromas of black fruit, spice and hints of chocolate. On the palate it is elegant and full-bodied with silky tannins and a long, intense finish. Alto is a rich, complex and sensual wine with an excellent aging potential of 10-15 years.

Red Wine by Casa Lapostolle from Chile, South America. Grape Varieties: 84% Carmenere-Merlot, 16% Cabernet Color: Deep ruby with purple shadows. Nose: Very fresh and intense pure fruit. Aromas of ripe blueberries and concentrated black fruit dominate on an inviting, full and complex nose. Mouth: Plum on the palate, with toasty oak supporting firm acidity and integrated tannins. An elegant, well balanced, wine with deep, rich fruit, fine polish and a long finish.

Red Wine by Clarendon Hills from McLaren Vale, Australia. The 2004 Liandra Syrah, highlights the quality of the fruit that is produced from 100 year old vines, planted on a soil of clay and sand. Inky, glass staining purple in color, this wine is polished and aristocratic. Expansive floral bouquet of boysenberry, candied plum and kirsch. A generous expression of bright dark berries, cinnamon, subtle bacon and eucalyptus, gliding into a long, open finish.

Red Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Just beautiful California claret. -Wine Enthusiast Cinq Cepages (Five Varieties) is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. Each component is aged separately for two years in small French oak barrels (56% new) before blending. Once the wine is assembled, it spends six months in the bottle before release. Fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from the finest Bordeaux variety vineyards in Sonoma County: 60% from Alexander Valley, 15% from Sonoma Valley, 15% from Knights Valley, 6% from Russian River Valley and 4% Dry Creek Valley to assemble a wine that showcases Sonoma County. The Alexander Valley grapes highlight bright berry with back notes of dried herbs, while the Sonoma Valley fruit is from the St. Jean Estate Vineyard, and brings black and dense mountain fruit to the blend. The Knights Valley fruit adds a firm mouthfeel and pronounced tannins and the Dry Creek Valley grapes tend toward dark, dense black cherry and berry fruit flavors with a rich mouthfeel. The Russian River Valley brings exotic aromas and lush textures to complete the blend. A classic Cinq Cepages, the 2003 vintage offers the signature chocolate-covered cherry and boysenberry aromas that have come to define this flagship Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. Lush, elegant and gracefully balanced, the wine delivers sweet plum and dark berry flavors and an exotic floral note that wraps around big, juicy tannins. This highly concentrated wine has beautiful oak integration and a lushness throughout that leads to a lingering finish.

Red Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Cinq Cepages (Five Varieties) is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (9%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Malbec (4%), and Petit Verdot (3%). Each component is aged separately for two years in small French oak barrels (47% new) before blending. Once the wine is assembled, it spends six months in the bottle before release. Inviting aromas of boysenberry and violet define the nose of this flagship Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. A rich and dense entry begins with layers of black raspberry, mocha and hints of blueberry. The palate offers a graceful balance between fruit extract and fine-grained tannins. This deep, concentrated wine has a classic Cinq Cepages structure with beautiful oak integration and a lushness throughout that leads to a lingering finish. - Margo Van Staaveren, Winemaker

Red Wine by Beringer from Napa Valley, California. Bancroft Ranch Merlot has a quality I can only describe as all-around richness. Unlike some Merlots I've tasted, the wine from Bancroft has no hole in the middle. It delivers a consistent message from the first waft of its characteristic aromas through its long finish. I think this richness comes mostly from the concentrated blackberry and blueberry flavors but also partly from a kind of earthy quality typical of the vineyard. Underlying these flavors are more subtle notes of anise, tobacco and leather. Ive found that these flavors become more pronounced as the wine ages and evolves, which makes me eager to monitor this vintage well into the next century. -Ed Sbragia, Winemaster Aromas of currant, chocolate, coffee and truffle. Lush, sweet and deep for the vintage, with chocolate and smoke flavors dominating. -International Wine Cellar

Red Wine by Ch?teau Gruaud Larose from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. Well done. Good, dark color to this '99, with lots of plummy, berry and cassis character. It's medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Best after 2004. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Clarendon Hills from McLaren Vale, Australia. Kirsch liqueur in addition to ground pepper and white chocolate aromas jump from the glass of the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2003 Grenache Old Vines Hickinbotham Vineyard. Fruity, heady, and rich, with a stunningly textured mouthfeel, this is knock-out stuff. -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Feudi di San Gregorio from Southern Italy, Italy. Grape Varieties: 100% Aglianico di Taurasi, harvested in part from century-old pre-phylloxera vines. Vinification: Manual harvesting starts in mid-October and lasts until early November. After pressing, a long maceration on the skins takes place. Once malolactic fermentation is completed, the wine is aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels prior to release. Intense, persistent bouquet of rich wild cherries, toasted oak and warm vanilla. Soft, dense and well-balanced. The finish is long and pleasant, with flavors of red berries against a smooth background of toast and spice. Appealing scents of dried cherry, violets, licorice and new oak. Polished flavors of red fruit, tobacco, minerals, cedar and coffee grounds. Orange notes in the lip-smacking finish. -Wine News

Red Wine by Ruffino from Tuscany, Italy. Grape varieties: 60% Colorino, 40% Merlot Deep ruby red in color, with violet hues. Intense and complex, Romitorio de Santedame displays a voluptuous nose of black currant, cranberries and raspberries, highlighted by notes of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon. This impressive bouquet is echoed on the palate, where strong but velvety tannins complement the intense fruit character. Beautifully structured, the tannins, alcohol, acidity, and fruit find an ideal balance, leading to the lingering, smooth finish of coffee, hazelnuts, and mint chocolate. Romitorio di Santedame deserves a meal worthy of its richness and complexity. Enjoy it with veal or pork pate, Beef Wellington, a crown rack of lamb, moussaka, or roasted goose.

Red Wine by Clarendon Hills from McLaren Vale, Australia. The 2004 Moritz Syrah highlights the quality of the fruit that is produced from thirty-one year old vines, planted on a soil of ironstone. Dense dark purple in color the wine exhibits aromas of blueberry, black currants, cassis and game. On the palate, the wine is a mouthful of plums, blueberries, cured meat; finishing rich, silky and round. It comes across as a blend of Cornas and Hermitage. ...Gorgeous aromas of flowers, blueberries, cassis, and meat jump from the glass of this cuvee. With huge body and a rich, intense style, Bratasiuk claims it is his hypothetical blend of a Cornas and Hermitage, although it possesses more fruit than most of those wines. It should drink well for a minimum of 15 years. -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Darioush from Napa Valley, California. Composition: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot The 2004 Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Napa Valley vintage: ripe, lush and profoundly concentrated, yet epitomizing the stylistic profile and poise that is valued so highly by this winery. Naturally smaller yields and a warmer than average season conspired to produce berries with remarkable saturation and richness, while Darioush's more moderate-climate estate vineyards ensured the finished wine's fully-developed complexity and nuance are not lost beneath extravagant ripeness. Alluring floral and licorice aromatics combine with the sweet scent of crushed blackberries to introduce this seriously sexy wine. Finely-knit tannins support a rich, full-bodied mid-palate of creme de cassis, European dark chocolate, espresso, earth and exotic allspice. Though best decanted in its youth, this sophisticated beauty will age gracefully for the next decade.

Red Wine by Sterling from Napa Valley, California.