Folie a Deux Zinfandel 2007

So with Memorial Day coming so soon its about time to share a wine that goes well with grilling! Today's wine is the Folie a Deux Zinfandel 2007 from Armador County, CA. I've shared with you the Cabernet earlier and was equally impressed with this offering. Pouring a deep, rich purple this has black pepper, plum, raspberry jam and vanilla on the nose. A medium bodied effort that isn't quite jammy with blackberry, spice and cherry on the palate. With a medium length finish this wine is perfect for your Memorial Day gathering and washing down barbecue!

Bebe Prosecco

Today's wine is another Prosecco. Made from the Prosecco grape grown mainly in the Vento region of Italy, it is a great wine for toasts and cocktails like Bellinis and mimosas. The Bebe Prosecco is perfect for those and so much more. Pouring a light straw with a nose of lemon zest, pear and apricot. On the palate this is a light wine with well integrated carbonation and apple, nectarine and a touch of toast. This is a great wine and what really sets it apart from the many we have is its cap. It has a flip top like some beers have that make it perfect for use when you only want a glass or two. Pick this up today and enjoy on a nice summer day!

Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Today's wine is a fantastic summer wine. Coming from California, the Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc pours a golden honey with a huge nose of grass, melon and just a hint of citrus. On the palate this is a refreshing offering with kiwi, grass, grapefruit and a touch of white peach. The finish has great muted acidity which makes it perfect for a hot summer day. Pick some up today!

Domaine "La Garrigue" Cotes Du Rhone 2006

Today's wine comes from one of my favorite wine regions, Cotes Du Rhone. The wine is Domaine "La Garrigue" Cotes Du Rhone 2006 and its a beauty. Pouring a deep, dark purple with a huge nose of smoke, tobacco, licorice, blueberries and mushroom. On the palate this is a bit heavier than most Cotes Du Rhone's tend to be but not huge with great flavors of pepper, slate, blackberry and a touch of earth. The finish is nice and long with more fruit than expected and makes this an easy wine to drink and a great value. Pick this up and enjoy while we still have this vintage.

Napa Station Chardonnay 2007

Today's wine is a new one at the store. Brought to me last week, this is made by a family owned winery in Napa. As part of a family business, I definitely have a soft spot for others that are similarly owned and operated and this is a great wine as well. The Napa Station 2007 Chardonnay is a fantastic wine that pours a golden straw with citrus, Bartlett pear and a touch of honey on the nose. It was aged in stainless steel and partially in oak leading to a great mouthfeel and medium weight with green apple, tropical fruit and a hint of butter on the palate. The finish is long with ample acidity to pair with food. This would be great with brie, roast chicken or a hearty soup. Pick this up and see what Napa Valley can provide.

Crios Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Today's wine is another great South American value. Rated 90 points by the wine advocate, is great effort. Pouring a purple hue with red edges, it has blackberry, cedar, spice and raspberry on the nose. On the palate this is a medium to heavy bodied wine showing plum, black currant, dark chocolate and black fruit. The finish is long and smooth after its time in the bottle and really shows great. Pick up this wine and enjoy it as it matures.

Andrew Will Champoux 2006

Tonight I opened up a wine that I've been sitting on for a year or so. The wine is Andrew Will Champoux 2006. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine needed about 2 hours to open up and really show what a beautiful wine it is. Rated 93 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this wine is just amazing. Pouring a deep purple with almost black edges it has blackberry, smoke and blueberry on the nose. On the palate this has considerable weight showing dark berry, chocolate, cedar, nutmeg and earth. This has a long finish that has subtle tannin and showcases the dark fruit. A phenomenal wine, the Andrew Will Champoux is what you look for in a big, fruit forward red that has some length in the bottle. Pick some up and see for yourself!

Folie a Deux Merlot 2007

In an earlier post I brought you the Folie a Deux Cabernet and today's wine is their 2007 Merlot. This is a great example of what a Napa Merlot can be for under $20. Pouring a deep ruby it has cherry, herbs de Provence, and a floral note on the nose. With a velvety mouth feel and ample body this showcases cherry and currant, this is followed by chocolate and some cranberry. The finish is firm and long, leading me to believe this will definitely evolve int he bottle for a few years and reward your patience. Pick some up today!

Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2008

So today's wine is one that I've overlooked at the store for some time. With Mondavi being such a huge name in California wines and so many of them in the bargain price range I've noticed somewhat of a back lash against their wines. People are looking for the new and "cool" wines coming from Spain, South Africa and South America (myself included) and might be missing out on a fantastic value. The Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2008 really impressed me. It pours a light purple with red tint and has raspberry, cherry and wood on the nose. On the palate this is a lighter offering showing red cherry, a hint of chocolate and a dash of spice on the finish. This is an incredibly drinkable wine and great with salmon, pork, turkey or a semi soft cheese. Pick this up and see why the Mondavi vineyards have had such an impact on wine making in the United States.

Clos de los Siete 2007

The wine I want to share with you today is an Argentinian blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Syrah. Every year this wine is a great value and the 2007 vintage is no exception. Rated 90 points by the Wine Advocate and 88 by Wine Spectator, the 2007 Clos de los Siete is a huge wine at an affordable price. Pouring a dark almost black purple, it has toast, red berry, chocolate and spice on the nose. On the palate this is a huge wine that shows cinnamon, licorice, raspberry, cherry and raisin. With a long and velvety finish this wine evolves over the course of the evening and just blows you away. Pick up a case and drink some today and save a few for down the road.

Dragani Selva de'Canonici Montepulciano 2004

Today's wine is a fantastic value. Coming from the Abruzzo region in east central Italy, the Dragani Selva de'Canonici Montepulciano 2004 is a great wine that drinks like a much more expensive wine. Pouring a deep garnet, there is creme brulee, red berry and some dust on the nose. On the palate this is a velvety wine showing red cherry, hot chocolate and a hint of cinnamon. The finish is nice and soft with subtle tannin. This is a perfect wine for hearty red meat dishes, aged cheese and stew. Pick it up today!

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Today's wine is a staple of the New Zealand Wine scene. Almost a household name, Kim Crawford produces fantastic wines. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is another great showing, pouring a yellow green and has a huge nose of citrus and tropical fruit. On the palate there is the expected grapefruit, pineapple, some slate and a nice acidic finish. This is a great wine for light meals and appetizers. When the weather warms up pick up a bottle and cool down!

Firestone Gewurztraminer 2007

When picking what wine to review today I decided to pick one that paired well with my gourmet dinner of a Subway chicken sub. Not the hardest thing to pair with but not the best food for wine. I decided on the Firestone Gewurztraminer 2007 from the Santa Ynez Valley of California. Pouring a nice golden yellow with apricot, spice, and tropical fruit aromas on the nose. On the palate this shows grapefruit, kiwi, honey and spice. There is a great acidity on the finish that makes this great food wine. This wine is refreshing, crisp and a great summer wine. Paring great with anything from a simple chicken sub to spicy Asian food pick this wine up and enjoy!

Ino Semi Sweet Red NV

Today's wine is the first requested review! I bring to you Ino Semi-Sweet red wine. Coming from Greece, this is a favorite for many people who want red wine but don't enjoy the dryness often associated with them and those people in the Greek Community around town. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Carignan, it is definitely not the French version of a wine made from these grapes. Pouring a nice ruby, the nose has sweet raspberry, rose and strawberry. On the palate you taste really ripe red fruit with a nice sweetness and a velvety finish. With an 11.5% alcohol this is a fairly light offering that shows its best slightly chilled and the residual sugar allows it to be enjoyable for just about every palate without being cloying. Toss it in the fridge about 15 minutes before you decided you need it and pair it with just about anything and enjoy! What else would you like to see reviewed?

Font Mars Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Sorry for the few days off, Chicago was a bit busier than anticipated and the return to work is always hectic. The upside is that I picked up some amazing wines that I will open sometime and share with you. Today's wine is a great value from the Languedoc in France. A Cabernet that is definitely from France, it pours a dark purple with great depth to its color. With a powerful nose of rose, plum and red berry this wine really jumps out of the glass. On the palate the red fruit shows first balanced by a slight slate undertone and an herbal finish. There is subtle tannin that is soft enough for almost any palate. This wine is a great everyday Cabernet that pairs well with grilled meat, semi soft cheeses and tomato based soups.

Casa Lapostolle Clos Aplata 2007

So I just got back from dinner at Texas de Brazil in Chicago with my best friend Ryan and we had a phenomenal wine! My first choice was Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape 2005 but as expect when they went to get the bottle it was out of stock. After reviewing the immense wine list I noticed they had the 2004 Clos Apalta listed so I went ahead and ordered it. When the bottle came to the table it was the 2007 vintage, not what I was expecting but I wasn't disapponted either. For those of you who don't know, the 2005 vintage was Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year" for 2008 and all the vintages have scored in the mid 90's or above by that publication. While the blend changes every year, the blend for 2007 is 61% Carmenère, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Coming from Chile, this is one of those high end wines that just blows you away. Pouring a deep, almost black, purple there is a great nose to this wine with spice, black fruit, slate and vanilla. On the palate there are so many layers that each sip brings something new, there is raspberry, boysenberry, clove and chocolate that really drive this wine. The finish lingers with silky tannin and leaves you wanting more. This wine paired great with all the meats offered and would be great with a nice chocolate dessert too. I hope to get this in the store soon, we're still offering the 2006 vintage which is a very good bottle as well. I'll let you know when we get this in and you can enjoy it as much as I have!