Les Garrigues Grenache Blanc 2011 – 14.57 – White – The Les Garrigues Grenache Blanc is a gentle, oaked wine, with layers of orchard and stone fruit and a fabulous texture. Hand harvested, de-stemmed and crushed, before 12 hours of cold maceration with the skins. Pressed and 80% racked to stainless steel tank, the remaining 20% to 1 year old French oak barrels for fermentation at 17-18C. Aged on the lees for 3 months. The nose shows floral notes, yellow plums, peach and hints of oak. The palate is quite rich and has a lovely texture, with flavors of golden delicious, peach and spice and a fine crisp finish. Tropical and white fruit notes, lead by white peach, guava and mango. Lush, spicy finish features plenty of vanilla and cream. “A pale yellow colour, hints of citrus fruit and oak. This expressive wine reveals its full potential on the palate.”

Uvica Viognier 2010 - 13.57 – White – Vignerons Ardéchois regroups 21 cellars and 1,500 growers in Ardèche, a region straddling the Rhône valley and the mountainous landscape of the Massif Central. Situated west of the Rhône river, Ardèche has seen a culture of winemaking for over 2,000 years. Sunny & fresh & with some of the richness that you expect from Viognier, balanced by mineral. Great as an aperitif, with fresh water fish, or poultry with cream based sauces. Some nice orange citrus notes here, and a hint of ripe sweetness, without being overly perfumed.

Vieux Logis Cairanne 2008 - 13.57 – Red – From Cave de Cairanne, the local wine cooperative. Renovated in this vintage. Le Vieux Logis Cairanne – Juicy acidity and ripe black fruit, with ripe tannins & a nice bitter mineral note that reigns in the fruit a bit on the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Carignan & Mourvedre. Hand-picked. While it was a hard vintage, we are liking this wine from the cooler Mediterranean portion of the Rhone, in a village that should get promotion to Cru status. Fruity, big, herb & spice, garrigue. Cairanne ends up being the more feminine counterpart to Rasteau, with varied soils & clay.

Ch. Gillet AOC 2010 – 11.97 – Red – is an unoaked merlot-dominated blend from Bordeaux’s less-fashionable area of Entre-deux-Mers. Some licorice on the nose, smooth. It’s also very dry with flavours of tobacco, pepper and some red fruits. This 2010 blend is mostly Merlot, and is unoaked. It has a restrained nose of plum with a little hint of a cherry edge. On the palate it is dry, savoury and classic ‘luncheon claret’; it is on the lean, perhaps even austere side and needs food, but it has elegance and medium-bodied refinement with a hint of graphite that is very Bordeaux. Not one for the lovers of big, oaky New World style, but lovely in its modest way.

Barnard Griffin Rosé 2012 – 13.57 – Brand new, as the 2012s start to arrive… From Washington – Sangiovese based – Ripe strawberry, tangerine citrus on the nose. Bright acidity. Maraschino cherry and candied orange peel on the palate, lengthy. South-Central WA where the Yakima, Columbia, & Snake Rivers come together. Sangiovese grown specifically for the rose. Crisp & lean, with ample fruit. Highly lauded since the first vintage in 2002, winery founded 1983.

Laurier Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 – 18.97 – Cooler climate California fruit – Los Carneros – 6 months in American oak, +4% Shiraz. Soft, with lots of black cherry, strawberry & plum. Floral nose, with spice (clove) & vanilla from the oak. Ripe tannins, crisp acid on the finish. Pretty elegant CA Pinot Noir, making for a very versatile food wine.

Sierra Peaks Pinot Noir 2010 – 19.97 – Made for Leon Sierra (Mid-State Wines) by Chateau Bianca Winery – Small tonnage on own-rooted vines, small open top barrel fermentation, 15 months in French oak. Classic dark Pinot Noir fruit from the small but classically styled 2010 vintage. Fruit, spice, oak toast, yummy. 387 cases produced. Killer.

Camaraderie Cabernet 2008 – 20.57 – With a small percentage of Merlot to soften meaty, but soft tannins, grapes are from Fred Artz’ vineyard on Red Mountain and Paul Champoux’ vineyard at Mercer Ranch. Both are small vineyards, in Washington State’s dry east side, and are near legend in Washington for varietal character and superior management.

Camardarie Cellars specializes in Bordeaux-style blends of red and white wines from some of Washington State’s finest vineyards. Their wines are known for full-flavors and complexity meant to complement a wide-range of cuisine. Production is somewhere between 2,000 cases and 3,000 cases annually (across all of their offerings).

Antinori Tignanello 2009 – 94.57 – Sangiovese, Cab, Cab Franc Super Tuscan, showered w/ praise. Fennel pollen & dark floral notes, cherries.

Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2010 – 69.97 – Sold out vintage, complex and fancy stuff. Floral, mushroomy for CA. Fine, cool climate. Some.

Hirsch San Andreas PN 2010 – 62.57 – signature. Cool vintage, 29 blocks, restrained, serious. Cellar worthy. Pomegranate, bergamot. Bright.

Zidarich Vitovska 2008 ● – 52.57 – rare & ancient grape, fr Carso. Orange, skin-ferment, mineral, hay, citrus peel, density. Funktacular.

Bressan EGO 03 Sciop/CF ● – 46.57 – Vin de nature, with herby note from Cab Franc, high acid but smooth, from the iconoclastic Fulvio B.

Bressan Pinot Grigio 06 ● – 39.57 – floral & concentrated, with increasingly nutty – walnut / almond character developing. Current vintage!

Ch La Coste Margaux 2010 º – 36.97 – Young vines + fruit from Ch. Paveil de Luze – young & purple, black fruit, cassis, spice. Full, velvet.

Dom Drouhin P. Noir Oregon 2010 – 36.57 – Classic, lengthy, with black & dried cherry, red fruit. Focus, bright acid. Floral layers of good

J. Swan PN Cuvee 3 2010 – 34.97 – Great RRV fruit, softer acid than usual, flowers, raspberry. Light spice, pure cherry, loveable stuff.

Arnot Roberts Luchsinger Vyd Trousseau 2011 – 34.97 – The last little bit – great raspberry juice color, blood orange, rose petal, great!

Villa da Filicaja Vin Santo del Chianti 01– 34.57 – 500ml – Trebbiano – Malvasia, nectar, aged in new oak. Inexpensive for this. Pretty.

San Sano Chianti Classico Riserva 06 – 34.57 – Great example, with depth, morello cherries, spice, balsamic. Meaty and structured, stony.

Rombauer Zinfandel 2010 – 32.97 – Big fat version – berry & spice, black everything – cherry, berry, boysenberry. Baking spices. 15.9%.

Donkey & Goat Stone Crusher Roussanne 2011 – 31.97 – Watch 4 next – I bought the last myself. Floral / orange pith “orange wine”. Delicious.

Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza Red 05 – 30.57 – Excellent vintage, 3 years in barrel, bright, fennel, mouthwatering, great food wine.