INNISKILLIN ICE WINE,GIRARDET GEWURZTRAMINER ICE WINE,KIONA ICE WINE,BANFI FLORUS,ROZES WHITE PORT,DUTSCHKE SUN-DRIED SHIRAZ PORT....

Extremely limited Kosta Browne single-vineyard Pinot Noir

Kosta Browne's Outstanding 2008 Pinot Noirs

New reviews of 11 Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County's highly regarded Kosta Browne winery

James Laube
Posted: May 24, 2010

Fans of Kosta Browne Pinot Noir won’t be disappointed by the 2008s. This is another very strong vintage for this Sonoma County winery, with 11 outstanding wines that show the level of quality possible in what many considered a challenging year.

2008 Kosta Browne Winery Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Our 2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of three vineyards. Two of these vineyards, Gap’s Crown and Terra de Promissio, are located in the southern portion of the Sonoma Coast appellation lying directly in the path of the Petaluma Gap’s cooling influence. The third component is a new addition from the northwestern reaches near Annapolis, Walala. The wines from this region are rich in darkfruit, clean earth and broad texture. We recommend drinking this wine between 2011 and 2016.

Aromatics:

Mouthwatering, dense and mysterious. Intense black/ripe fruits, sage, and herbs de Provence. A dusting of bitter sweet chocolate and floral tones.

On the palate:

Judicious amounts of dark cherry grab your attention upon entry. Lively acidity and supportive tannins carry the rich fruit character towards the midpalate. The dark cherry tones gain intensity and focus. Once harmony is achieved, the flavors slowly melt into a supportive and silky finish. A beautiful fusion of intensity and grace.

90 points, Stephen Tanzer
May 2010
Deep red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, spicecake and white pepper, with building florality. Sappy and sweet, with palate-caressing red and dark berry preserve flavors and good spicy snap. The floral quality repeats on the long, juicy finish, adding an exotic touch. This is already drinking well.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Wine Spectator: Score: 90
Intense, with charry, toasty, cedary oak notes that fold into ripe plum and wild berry fruit. Full-bodied,
spicy and delicate, yet ending with firm tannins and a minerally note. Drink now through 2015. 3,554
cases made. —J.L.

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008

Our 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a blend of nine vineyards which lie in and around the central part of the Russian River Valley appellation (known as the Santa Rosa Plain). This area gives the wine a spicy red fruit core with a rich, velvety and supple character. The individual lots are all unique, giving the blend a load of complexity. We recommend drinking this wine between 2011 and 2016.

Aromatics:

Wild raspberry, lavender and soft notes of sarsaparilla. Layers of warm spices compete for attention with the rich berry and crushed ripe cherries.

On the palate:

This vintage of the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir permeates and awakens your senses. Pure, balanced and intense. Raspberry and a trace of nutmeg envelop the midpalate. The intense flavors build to a crescendo of dark red fruit, nuances of spice and traces of cola which slowly saturate the back palate. Traces of cream, bright/rich cherry and dark chocolate are revealed in the long, caressing and mouth filling finish.

90 points, Stephen Tanzer
May 2010
Bright ruby. Muskier and more brooding than the Sonoma Coast bottling, showing black raspberry, oak spice, cola and dried rose qualities. Round and sappy in the mouth, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and showing no rough edges. Pretty seductive already, with very good finishing cling and an echo of cherry-cola.

 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 

  Wine Spectator: Score: 94
Rich and extracted, showing full-blown sassafras, dried currant and berry fruit, with mineral, sage, black
tea and plum jam flavors that are well-focused, deep, concentrated and persistent. Drink now through
2016. 3,632 cases made. —J.L.

2008 Marquis Philips The Grail of Lisa Shiraz

About the Winery Marquis Philips
With veteran vigneron Chris Ringland now in charge of the winemaking, I can state unequivocally that this is the finest collection of Marquis Philips wines since the label was started in 2000. Nevertheless, these wines will be controversial because all but one of the non-Roogle wines is over 16% alcohol. The small but vocal crowd of Australia bashers will have a field day taking these wines to task as they do with the Mollydooker wines (which seem to sell out anyway). Ringland is concerned about flavor and balance which is what these wines are all about. Those seeking low alcohol, subtlety, and finesse should of course look elsewhere. Those who want a big mouthful of sensual pleasure should read on. The Roogle Series is meant to be a bargain-priced introduction to the Marquis Philips upper level wines. The Marquis Philips wines are predominantly sourced from McLaren Vale while the Roogle wines are multi-regional.

92 points, Wine Advocate
December 2009
The same can be said for the 2008 Shiraz The Grail of Lisa which carries 18,3% alcohol. Purple/black and brooding aromatically, it is thick, rich, and port-like on the palate but dry. It is a voluptuous wine with a 60-second finish. How something like this will evolve is anyone’s guess. I’d opt for drinking it over the next 4-6 years.

This wine is OUTSTANDING.
I compared this wine next to three top rated Shiraz today. After one taste of this wine, you could not go back to the others.
This is as concentrated as it gets.

The color on this Shiraz in the glass is near black, when swirled its the darkest shade of purple.

The aromas displayed intense clove, fresh burnt crème brulèe, a large selection of dark fruits, and the essence of fresh cocoa.

On the palate the term "rich and mouth-filling" would be an understatement. Ripe but not overly ripe fruits are the beginning of this amazing shiraz followed by layer after layer of coffee, chocolate covered Carmel, then gradually fading to a movie theater buttered popcorn, all accompanied by an elegant vanilla essence that lasts all the way through its perfectly toasted oak finish. This flavor profile I described lasts nearly 2 minutes.
This is one of the best wine's my palate has had the opportunity to try.

Don't let the 18.3% alcohol content mislead you, as it is undetectable while using a proper glass. I suggest using a 28-30 OZ Bordeaux, if you use a glass that is too small you will risk exposing the higher level of alcohol.

Montes Purple Angel(2006)

WS - 91 /  WA - 93  / WE - 92  / IWC - 92

Purple Angel is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot from the Colchagua Valley. Of this, half of the Carmenère comes from Montes’ La Finca de Apalta estate, bringing sophistication and elegance (the Petit Verdot also comes from this vineyard). The other half of the Carmenère comes from Montes’ Archangel estate in Marchigüe, adding potency and strength. The grapes are hand picked, normally early in the morning to make sure that cold temperature is achieved to crush the fruit. The clusters go through a berry selection, in which only good fruit is allowed into the tank. During the 18 months of barrel aging in new French (50%) and American (50%) oak, the wine is racked 3 times to get rid of lees, and allow some oxygen to interfere in the evolution and maturation of this wine.

When the final blend is made, if the wine is totally clear, and have no microbiological pressure, there is no need for filtration or fining so the wine goes unfiltered to the bottling process. The bottles are laid down for 1 year before releasing the wine to the market.

		Reviews: "A very ambitious style, with dark, exotic toast leading the way for fig sauce, currant paste and Turkish coffee flavors that manage to stay pure and driven. The long, very polished finish let a mineral note echo. Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2011. 11,000 cases made. –JM" -Rated 91, Wine Spectator "The 2006 Purple Angel is composed of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot (an increasingly important blending grape in Chile) aged for 18 months in new French oak before bottling without filtration. Purple/black in color, it has a splendid perfume of toasty oak, pencil lead, incense, sage, blueberry, and blackberry. Layered, bordering on opulent, this full-throttle wine has gobs of fruit, succulent flavors, and a long, pure finish. Cellar it for 5-7 years and drink it from 2015 to 2026. It is another example of just how good Carmenere can be when grown in the right terroir with extended hang-time. Aurelio Montes remains one of Chile's great innovators and quality leaders. His latest releases are first class from entry level to the top of the portfolio." -Rated 93, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "The nose of black olive, grilled beef and black fruit is made elegant via a floral perfume, and overall this big-boned Carmenère is beautifully balanced and loaded with cola, blackberry, licorice and chocolate. Dark as night on the finish, and ageable for a few years. — M.S. (9/1/2009)" -Rated 92, Wine Enthusiast "Glass-staining ruby. Pungent scents of red and dark berry preserves are complicated by musky herbs, cracked pepper and potpourri, with a suave undercurrent of oak spices. Sweet, pliant blackberry and candied cherry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and given a tangy edge by a bright minerality that builds on the finish. This will reward patience but is pretty delicious right now." -Rated 92, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Maynard James Keenan's wines

Caduceus Cellars Primer Paso 2007

78% Syrah, 8% Sangiovese, 8% Merlot, 6% Malvasia with 280 case production

Caduceus Merkin Vineyards "Chupacabra"2006
46% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon with 140 case production

Arizona Stronghold Nachise 2008

52% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 15% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvedre

Arizona Stronghold Tazi 2008

52% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Chardonnay, 19% Riesling, 8% Malvasia

CAKEBREAD CELLARS,CHATEAU MONTELENA,TANDEM,LANDMARK,SONOMA-CUTRER,COBBLESTONE,FERRARI-CARANO,CONUNDRUM,SANTA MARGHERITA,VILLA MARIA,HOOK & LADDER,RIFF,THOMAS HALBY,ST URBAN HOF, AtoZ,PAOLO SARACCO,SHANNON RD,POLKA DOT,GHOST PINE.....AND MORE

2008 La Sirena Moscato Azul

We wish all of you might have the chance to hang out with brilliant winemaker Heidi Barrett. For all of the 100-point scores on her resume (Dalle Valle Maya, Screaming Eagle) this is a lady with no pretentions! And now she's doing a superb dry Muscat that's fun, floral and downright zippy 

Dry Moscat Canelli from Calistoga, Napa Vally

DOM PERIGNON,MOET,GLORIA FERRE,HEIDSIECK MONOPOLE,GRUET,NINO FRANCO,PARINGA,ROSA REGALE.....AND MORE

BODEGAS BORSAO

TRES PICOS 2008

J. Kirkwood Napa Merlot

"Les Pommiers" draws its name from the apple orchards emblematic of the Russian River Valley's agricultural history. At once elegant and intense, Les Pommiers is the consummate blend of fruit from our vineyards located primarily in the Green Valley and upper Middle Reach areas of the Russian River Valley AVA. Our grapes are farmed according to organic principles and minimally handled at the winery. The wine is deftly shaped with a subtle combination of new and once-used French oak barrels. Les Pommiers captures aromatics of wild raspberry, black cherry, plum and floral notes that yield to mineral, spice and toasty oak. It has a juicy, coating entry, followed by more layers of raspberry and cherry fruit, and ripe, integrated tannins.