Grapevine Gazette November 2009
November 4th - December 1st
Have you ever wondered what kind of wines the Pilgrims would have served at their first Thanksgiving affair? Accepting historical lore that turkey was offered at this first meal, perhaps the ever serious John Smith would have opted for the always convenient and enjoyable chardonnay, pinot noir or merlot, while the gregarious Miles Standish would have insisted on some really distinctive varietals, such as riesling or sangiovese. But then Pocahontas throws the whole affair into a dither when she shows up with a fat goose, a plump duck, a crown roast of pork (couldn’t wait for Christmas) and a spiral ham. Now what to pour? Not that the above wines wouldn’t make a pleasant choice, but there are certainly other enticing selections that will enliven your favorite family holiday feast. I hope Miles and his fellow pilgrims would find favor with this chosen assortment. And as always, enjoy and drink outside the box.

Henriot Brut Souverain
Reg $44.99 Gazette Special $39.99
With the holidays coming up, there is no better time than now to pop open a bottle of bubbly. This French Champagne is composed of 40% chardonnay and 60% pinot noir which gives it a light and crisp style with lively acidity and flavors of green apples, pears, limes and nectarines. On the finish there are notes of cream and vanilla. It is wonderful as an aperitif or to drink throughout an entire meal.
Brian Moore-Wine Specialist Newport Beach

Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis AC
Reg $19.99 Gazette Special $16.99
Here's a classic wine from a fourth generation of vine growers who continue to produce memorable Chablis. The unique mineral flavors associated with the district's wines are beautifully graced in a harmonious balance of subtle fruit notes and crispness complimented with a charming, clean, lingering finish. No need to keep this gem in an ice bucket, as over cooling will mask all these beautiful notes. A real treat on its own to toast good friendships or to enhance baked trout or a nice chilled platter of oysters and cracked crab.
Alex Brideau-Wine Specialist Beverly West

Dom. Jaeger-Defaix Rully Blanc 1er Cru Mont Palais
Reg $29.99 Gazette Special $24.99
Rully, situated just south of the Côte de Beaune in the Chalonnaise, is a new rising star and kind of underdog in the realm of Burgundy. Crafted from a small Premier Cru parcel, one of a small fraction achieving this status, this chardonnay is juicy, rich and showy, yet has a firm, linear underpinning of acidity and firm yet ripe tannins. The flavors are reminiscent of peach and nectarine, with a supple textured, creamy, fleshy character, framed with a note of citrus and green apple tartness that holds it all together. This wine seems to have it all in check. Whether you like a bold, over the top or a balanced racy style, this should be a crowd pleaser. And it is a darned good example of how Rully put itself on the map. Ideal with rich seafood, poultry, or even braised veal chops.
Geoff Nicoll-Director Beer, Wine and Spirits

Brancott Sauvignon Blanc Reserve
Reg $14.99 Gazette Special $11.99
Need a good and affordable sauvignon blanc? Brancott, hailing from the world famous Marlborough region, is impeccably made and delicious. Located at the northern end of the South island, this picturesque area of New Zealand is world-famous for great sauvignon blancs. Barrel-fermented,with a well-integrated acidity, this young wine is slightly dry, smoky, aromatic and very complex. Ripe and rich, with a spicy finish, matching well any fish and seafood dish, this lovely white is really a great wine for a great price. Enjoy!
Constantin Zaharia-Wine Specialist Rolling Hills

Trefethen Estate Dry Riesling
Reg $19.99 Gazette Special $16.99
In 1968, Eugene Trefethen had the foresight to purchase 600 acres of land in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. The land was littered with walnut, pear and plum trees, as well as old vineyards and the rundown relic of 19th century wine-production that was the Eshcol winery. Like a good Austrian riesling, this elegant white, is for lovers of gravelly, mineral flavors rather than overtly fruity wines. This riesling is tremendously food-friendly, thanks to its unusual combination of weight, acidity and intense flavor without a trace of oakiness. I can vouch for its ability to pair well with sushi, tomato salads, grilled vegetables, chicken sausages and most importantly turkey. Right there you have enough pairings to take you through the rest of the holidays.
Michael Gregory-Wine Specialist Beverly West

Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Riesling
Reg $12.99 Gazette Special $9.99
Are you one of the many who enjoy deep-fried turkey during the holidays? Well, cozy up to this perfect partner for your holiday fowl. Coming from the famed winery in Washington, this charmer shows off aromas of passion fruit and lemon spritz along with tropical fruit-forward flavors that are harmoniously balanced with a hint of minerality and acidity and a rich, mouth-coating finish. If deep-fried turkey is not on the menu, this wine will also pair really well with clove-studded ham.
Mario Salas-Wine Specialist Palm Desert

Von Hovel Oberemmeler Hutte Riesling Kabinett
Reg $22.99 Gazette Special $19.99
When I think of riesling, it makes my mouth water. Others however, cringe at the thought equating them to sticky, sweet and flabby mass produced bulk whites. While they can be the latter, a well made dry riesling can really tantalize the taste-buds and reveal a whole new level of enjoyment. One of the most strictly monitored and labor intensive harvests in the world, German Pradikat wines are often hand picked by workers tethered to the hill to prevent them from falling to their peril. The drier end of the spectrum is the Kabinett level, which is an early picked version. Von Hovel’s Kabinett boasts flavors redolent of stone fruits, citrus and melon with a brisk green apple tartness entwined with mineral and notes of stones. While simply delicious on their own, and dangerously good, they make a perfect compliment to a holiday bird, sweet potatoes and of course, spicy Asian cuisine. As an added bonus, the alcohol levels are lower then the norm, making it more enjoyable throughout the day.
Geoff Nicoll-Director Beer, Wine and Spirits

Sokol Blosser Evolution Number 9
Reg $16.99 Gazette Special $13.99
For this Thanksgiving, why not evolve to a more engaging white wine. Sokol Bloser came up with this wine a few years back and created an instant classic. A blend of nine different grapes gives this wine wondrous aromas of peach, rose petal, lime, quince, Bartlett pear and mango. On the palate the entry is floral but the finish is crisp making it the perfect foil with all the variety of foods that will be on the table. So when it comes to which wine to pour, evolution is the logical choice.
James Johnston-Wine Specialist Valencia

Levendi Cold Creek Chardonnay
Reg $38.99 Gazette Special $29.99
One of the great, “Ladies of California wines”, Alison Doran is the wine maker for Levendi and she is proving that great chardonnays can be made without malolactic fermentation. Brilliant honey gold in color, the creamy pear and caramel apple flavors give way to beautiful vanilla, lemon nuances that leaves you with an elegant crisp finish. Make your holidays special with dinners from Bristol Farms and Levendi chardonnay.
David Yaquinto-Wine Specialist Palm Desert

Tantara Bien Nacido Chardonnay
Reg $16.99 Gazette Special $12.99
Tantara is a fabulous winery that, to use the timely baseball term, hits it out of the park with just about everything they make. This beauty offers up a rich streak of mineral that gives the ripe tropical fruit tremendous backbone, along with mouth watering extract and weight. The long, impressive finish is addicting by teasing your palate with crushed stones, smoky oak, citrus blossoms and zesty acidity. A superb match with most holiday fare.
Michael Cristillo-Corp Wine & Spirits Buyer

MacRostie Carneros Chardonnay
Reg $22.99 Gazette Special $19.99
The grapes went direct to press as whole clusters in order to maximize quality, and were gently pressed. After settling, most of the juice was racked to French and Hungarian oak barrels for fermentation, 20% of which were new. The barrel-fermented lots were aged on the lees for six months, with occasional stirring to increase richness and body. A few lots, however, were tank fermented and then barreled down later to emphasize the fruit and aromatics. Beautiful pale straw in color, the aromas are reminiscent of lime oil and crème brulee. In The mouth there is lush baked apple and ripe mango, with a hint of cinnamon toast. It finishes with a good deal of weight, but is still light on its feet. This wine will pair well with shellfish or light pasta.
Jose Cortes-Wine Specialist South Pasadena

Saintsbury Carneros Chardonnay
Reg $24.99 Gazette Special $21.99
Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir
Reg $34.99 Gazette Special $30.99 It’s turkey time! As we meet family and friends for feasting, we cross our fingers in suggesting and crafting wine and food together for another spectacular holiday. I would like to offer a lovely pair for this holiday season from Saintsbury. Made in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, their chardonnay, with a focus on complexity and great balance, offers hints of subdued oak and fruit components that are not overpowered by the buttery additions through malo-lactic fermentation. Pair this chardonnay with your turkey and light entrees. For those dark meat turkey trotters, Saintsbury pinot noir can do no wrong. Saintsbury has been in Napa since 1982 experimenting and mastering this tender yet temperamental grape to achieve a great addition to your holiday list. The acid is balanced against tannins, and with rich black cherry fruit combined with spice nuances, I hope you enjoy this pair as much as I do.
William Buford-Wine Specialist Westlake Village

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Reg $39.99 Gazette Special $35.99
Domaine Drouhin consistently produces a beautiful Burgundian-style pinot noir, made with 95% estate-grown grapes and aged in 20% new oak barrels, custom-made in Burgundy using wood from France’s finest forests. On the palate, the wine shows classic Dundee Hills character with loads of spice and cherry red fruits. The mid-palate shows concentration and a smooth silky texture. Veronique Drouhin-Boss (Winemaker) has crafted the wines at Drouhin from it’s inception. She is very proud of the 2007 vintage and says to drink now or age 5-8 years, even longer. Perfect for your holiday feast.
Matt Hopkins-Wine Specialist Valencia

Fess Parker Parker Station Pinot Noir
Reg $12.99 Gazette Special $10.99
This medium bodied pinot made by Fess Parker exhibits luscious cherry and plum flavors on the nose and palate. Wonderfully balanced and very drinkable for all occasions, this light hearted friendly red is ideal with Holiday fare including ham, turkey and of course cranberries.
Michael Contreras-Wine Specialist Westwood

Lynmar Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Reg $38.99 Gazette Special $34.99
The color this year is immediately bright and youthful with an attractive violet hue and translucence that boldly declares this is not another “over-extracted” syrah-like pinot noir. Aromas begin with an assortment of wonderfully forward red fruit such as pie cherry, strawberry, and cranberry. These up front fruit characters are accented by complex notes of baking spice, deeper dark fruits, and orange blossom. There is also a subtle earthiness that evokes the local coastal forest and the breezes coming in from the Pacific, giving this wine a heightened sense of place. On the palate, cleansing, ”zippy” acidity results in a taut, yet balanced, structure with flavors that truly linger and draw you back. Enjoy with seafood and turkey.
Jose Cortes-Wine Specialist South Pasadena

Phillipe Colin Chassagne Montrachet Les Chenes Rouge
Reg $45.99 Gazette Special $39.99
Chassagne Montrachet may be familiar to most Burgundian aficionados as one of the great whites of that appellation, but the vineyard site of Les Chenes produces a wonderfully unique red wine as well. A hint of wood frames this pinot noir with bright aromas of raspberry and cherry that dissolve into rich black cherry, licorice and leather flavors. This particular vintage, 2005, is tendered more for the American palate due to its rich concentration of sweet fruit and a long spicy finish that adds overall balance to the moderately firm tannins. When you want to add a special touch to your holiday feast, this wine will certainly please your hard core and neophyte wine lovers alike.
Michael Cristillo-Corp Wine & Spirits Buyer

Mormoraia Chianti Classico Colli Senesi
Reg $14.99 Gazette Special $12.99
This red Tuscan wine is lush and mouthwatering. The enticing aromas of plum and spice carry on to the palate leading to flavors of warm cherry fruits, hints of tobacco and leather with a long savory finish that invites another sip. Medium body with good structure and a slight spicy bite that makes this wine ideal with a juicy roast or Lasagna.
Cheryl Dash-Wine Specialist Manhattan Beach

Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva
Reg $36.99 Gazette Special $32.99
Considered by many to be one of the best wines coming from the Chianti Classico region, this lovely organic blend of 90% sangiovese and 10% canaiolo is only produced in worthy vintages and is sure to impress! The fruit comes from estate grown vines that are 25-35 years old and represent aromas and flavors that are a true emblem of the Chianti territory. It has an intense deep ruby color with shades of violet, and beautiful aromatics full of red berry, floral and spice notes. Lively, yet soft and seductive on the palate, boasting well balanced fresh fruit flavors, well integrated tannins and spice nuances that mimic the nose on the persistent and lengthy finish. A very versatile food wine, enjoy it with anything from a simple red sauced pasta dish to your favorite hearty cut of beef or game.
Fernando Damasco-Wine Specialist Hollywood

Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Merlot
Reg $29.99 Gazette Special $26.99
In 1993 the Leonardini Family took control of Whitehall Winery. They immediately started a new barrel-aging program and started a general upgrading of the winery. The estate now consists of six prime vineyards each of which is ideal soil for its primary varietal. This merlot is a particularly fine example. The grapes were sourced from five different merlot vineyards. The wine is gently pressed and aged for 17 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The wine is blended with cabernet sauvignon to add structure and fruit and a bit of syrah to enhance the bouquet and add complexity. What you get is a wine that has a somewhat exotic blend of dark cherry and blackberry notes. You also get hints of violet and lavender, combine that with a long silky finish and you have a great match for barbequed steak or a flavorful dish of red sauce pasta. Enjoy!
Dick O’Connell-Wine Specialist Newport Beach

Domaine Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape
Reg $32.99 Gazette Special $24.99
The origin of the name Lazaret, which means hospice, dates back several centuries when “Lazaret” monks offered comfort and shelter to the sick and the needy in the French countryside. The buildings fell into disuse and were sold by the Commune during the 19th century to the Quiot family and used as agricultural buildings. Obviously now, the present family offers its own sort of comfort with this excellent and very well priced Chateauneuf du Pape. Wonderful raspberry, blackberry, and sweet cherry notes intermixed with spring flowers, licorice, and smoky notes abound. This is a full-bodied Rhone red that has a lush texture, acidity, and very ripe tannin on the finish.
89 points Parkers’ Wine Advocate 2005
Michael Cristillo-Corp Wine & Spirits Buyer

ZD Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Reg $41.99 Gazette Special $37.99
Quoting the press release, “Who says you can’t find an intense, powerful cabernet sauvignon that is also balanced, drinkable and nuanced?”. This beautiful wine has aromas of ripe plums, cassis and black cherries complemented by hints of cocoa, anise, and sweet toasty oak. Enjoy this vintage now with any grilled, well-marbled meat. I have found most things with “Z D” initials are consistently good.
Don Ziehm-Wine Specialist Newport Beach

Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel
Reg $35.99 Gazette Special $29.99
Originally a little-known Croatian grape with an unpronounceable name, then a minor player in southern Italy, it found its way to the United States in the mid-19th century, and eventually became known as zinfandel. It now makes up ten percent of California total vineyards and is a true immigrant’s success story. Zinfandel thrives in many places around California but I think none better than in Dry Creek Valley, a 16 mile-long stretch of valley floor, bench lands and hillsides. Teetering on a narrow ridge above the fog line, Rockpile Road Vineyard produces some of the best zin in this valley. Deep purple in color and a veritable blackberry pie of a wine, it is ultra ripe and layered with satisfying vanilla and cocoa flavors. I would drink this red with beef stews or very flavorful roasted meats.
Rob Hill-Wine Specialist Hollywood and Westchester

Brown Estate Chaos Theory Proprietary Red
Reg $36.99 Gazette Special $32.99
One of Napa Valley’s great unknowns, Brown Estate is perched high upon a slope in the Chiles Valley in the eastern reaches of Napa County. The Brown Estate is truly a family affair, and a marvelous success story. Each aspect of the vineyards and winery is assumed by a family member, from winemaking to vineyard management to sales and marketing. Approaching their 30th anniversary, Brown Estate has supplied some of the best known wineries with their astonishing zinfandel and cabernet, and of course has produced their own for more than a decade. The newest in the stable, is the Chaos Theory, which is an unlikely blend of estate grown zinfandel and cabernet. As they say, the product is greater than the sum of its parts, and then some. This wine is full and fleshy provided by the prominence of zinfandel, but it is without the clumsiness that often accompanies. The cabernet component rounds out the offering by softening the jamminess and adding a little more structure and firmness. Flavors of black and blue fruits are accented by notes of cedar/cigar box, dried herbs, chocolate and fleeting notes of spice. I would put this against any cut of beef, roast or winter stew. 490 cases produced.
The 2006 is not yet rated but 2005 was rated 94 points by The Wine Insider.
Geoff Nicoll-Director Beer, Wine and Spirits

Seghesio Home Ranch Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Reg $37.99 Gazette Special $32.99
The Seghesio family has been growing grapes since 1895 and boy do they have it down. This offering overflows with raspberry and currant aromas and flavors. Balanced with tannins and pepper, this big zin will complement anything you grill but especially our mildly spicy Dakota Prairie Buffalo Sausage.
Don Ziehm-Wine Specialist Newport Beach

Dolin Vermouth Blanc, Dolin Vermouth Dry, Dolin Vermouth Rouge
Reg $15.99 Gazette Special $13.99
We now have the worlds benchmark vermouth that should be the standard bearer for your finest cocktails and concoctions. Since 1821 the Dolin family, hailing from the alpine region of Chambrey, have been making these outstanding vermouths, which has a long standing tradition of being served at the local resorts. The Dolin's use fifty four herbs and plants to make these fine sippers and the recipe is a closely guarded secret. Considerably lighter than commercial brands, with a subtle and complex palette, pour a couple of ounces in a glass with ice and some fresh citrus juice and you have the perfect aperitif.
Alex Brideau-Wine Specialist Beverly West

Jonesy South Australian Port
Reg $10.99 Gazette Special $8.99
Australian Wine Importer/Guru Dan Philips and celebrated winemaker Trevor Jones joined forces to create this delicious, every day, easy-drinking, shockingly luscious Tawny Port that sells at an amazingly reasonable price. Deliciously sweet, it is made primarily with Pedro Ximenez, and is blended along with shiraz, grenache and semillon. The wine is medium ruby in color with an extraordinary bouquet of sweet candied fruit intermixed with maple syrup and hazelnuts. The grapes are baked in the sun to give it that caramel, toffee, dried fig flavor that is so pronounced. Enjoy this wine after dinner or as an accompaniment to roasted pear with walnuts and all blue vein cheese.
Michael Pagh-Wine Specialist Redondo Beach

Manso & Contreras Brandy de Jerez
Reg $69.99 Gazette Special $62.99
Just as the finest Scotch Whiskey demands only the best barrels for its slow aging process that ultimately give the finished liquor its bouquet, flavor and color, so indeed does fine Spanish Brandy. In fact, Manso & Contreras blender Sancho Romate uses the same deep rich Oloroso Sherry oak barrels that will eventually hold Scotland’s finest nectar. With a sweet brown sugar nose it’s only differentiated from rich sherry by the rising alcohol. The first taste is smooth, not that cowboy movie type smooth where they sip bourbon while squinting their eyes and puckering their faces like staring into the sun while eating grapefruit. Smooth like velvet and as rich and sweet as pecan pie. Flavors of fig, toffee and Brule sugar abound. A true after dinner sipper that would absolutely be a solid match with either your favorite cigar or a traditional Spanish sampling of manchego cheese with fig paste.
Teo Santocono-Wine Specialist La Jolla