Lucien Albrecht Riesling Reserve'04, Alsace, France

A classic Riesling from Alsace, France.

Technical Data: 100% Riesling. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description: Pale golden color. Beautiful aroma suggesting white flowers and peach., On the palate, dry, racy with delicate fruit flavors such as citrus fruits, with mineral undertone and fresh honeysuckle notes. Creamy style Riesling with long lasting finish.

Food Pairing & Service: Will be a very good pairing with all Thai and Asian dishes in general. Also Ideal with lighter seafood dishes, particularly fresh water fish and those served in light sauces. Serve chilled.

Score: 8/10

Suggested Retail Price: $12.00 in DC

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Reserve'04, Alsace, France

A generous and delicious Gewurztraminer from Alsace, France.

Technical Data:100% Gewurztraminer. Until 1947, this varietal was called Traminer, then a new varietal selection was developed and named Gewurztraminer. In Alsace dialect, Gewurztraminer means literally spicy. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description:Bright Golden Color. Fresh fruity nose laced with floral notes. Full-bodied wine, lychees flavors dominate the palate along with honeysuckle, honey and passion fruit, very spicy mid-palate, luscious wine with a creamy texture. Long lasting finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Will be a very good pairing with all Thai and Asian dishes in general. Also with Roasted sea bass with tomato and fennel sauce, swordfish with orange, honey and soy or pork chops with spicy citrus marinade. Serve chilled.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$11.00 in DC

Lucien Albrecht Pinot Blanc Cuvee Balthazar'04, Alsace, France

Quite a fresh Pinot Blanc Special Cuvee from Alsace,

Technical Data:100% Pinot Blanc. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. Named after Balthazar Albrecht, who settled the Lucien Albrecht Estate in Orschwihr in 1698, the Family-Estate is still located at the same place since that time. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description:Bright pale golden color. Fresh bouquet expressing a slight minerality and fruity aromas. Light-bodied, dry yet very soft wine, quite refreshing loaded with ripe fruits such as apple, melon, peach and mango with subtle mineral notes. Clean long finish.

Food Pairing & Service:It is the wine to drink at home as an aperitif or with casual family meals. Drink now. Serve chilled.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$12.00 in DC

Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris Cuvee Romanus'04, Alsace, France

Technical Data:100% Pinot Gris. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. Named after Romanus Albrecht, the first wingrower of the Albrecht wine family in 1425. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description:Bright pale golden color. This Pinot Gris is a rich, powerful wine with aromas of grapefruit, peach and some lovely mineral notes. On the palate the wine is rich yet dry focused on mineral flavors, citrus fruits and spice. Creamy and velvety wine with a soft finish showing up elegance and balance for such a rich white wine.

Food Pairing & Service:Will be a very good pairing with all Thai and Asian dishes in general. Also great with seafood and fish. Serve chilled.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$19.00 in DC

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Cuvee Marie'01, Alsace, France

A luscious and elegant Gewurztraminer Special Cuvee from Alsace in France, crafted by Lucien Albrecht Estate, established and crafting wine since 18 generations.

Technical Data:100% Gewurztraminer. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. Named after Marie Albrecht, one of the two daughters of the current owner. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description:Bright straw-yellow color. A seductive nose with aromas of quince, pear, honey and spices. Sweet full-bodied wine expressing ripe luscious fruit flavors with tropical fruits and quince, hint of honey laced with white pepper and some nutmeg too. Creamy and luscious texture with a litchi’s aftertaste and a long lasting clean finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Will be deliscious with all creamy dishes or any Asian food. For Christmas Season pair it with Foie Gras, personally that will be my favourite choice on that kind of wine! Serve chilled.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$27.99 in DC

Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris Cuvee Cecile'01, Alsace, France

A wonderful and classic Pinot Gris Special Cuvee from Alsace, France. Dry wine.

Technical Data:100% Pinot Gris. This Special Cuvee is hand-crafted from exclusively domaine-grown fruit. Named after Cecile Albrecht, one of the two daughters of the current owner. This finely crafted wine is made from old-vine vineyards from a careful selection at the time of the harvest. Unoaked.

Description:Bright golden color. This Cuvee is dense and concentrated on both its nose and its palate. Ripe tropical fruits and citrus-like aromas on the nose. This full-bodied wine is rich and complex with ripe fruit flavors such as apricot, citrus fruits, pear and peach laced with spiciness and a slight minerality with a hint of Flintstone flavors, this Cuvee has also a lingering finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Will be a very good pairing with all Thai and Asian dishes in general. Also great with seafood and fish. Serve chilled.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$27.99 in DC

Ferrari Carrano Siena'02, Sonoma Valley, CA, USA

A Dry yet smooth Sangiovese Blend, kind of "Super TuscanBlend" but from Sonoma Valley.

Technical Data: Crafted from 84% Sangiovese and small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 16 months in 100% old French oak barrels to help to accentuate the fruits of the Sangiovese.

Description:Dark ruby-red color. On the nose, Sienna has unique aromas of strawberry and raspberry. Its palate is echoing its nose, exploding with ripe red fruits flavors mainly from Sangiovese. We noticed additional flavors such as spice and woods. Medium-bodied wine, dry yet smooth with a velvety texture, matured tannins and a silky aftertaste.

Food Pairing & Service:This wine goes well with hearty chicken dishes, duck, lamb, and braised pork, could also be paired with turkey or light beef dishes. It also pairs well with root vegetables, such as carrots, onions, or celery.


Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$21.99 in MD

Annie's Lane Riesling'04, Mc Clare Valley, South-Eastern Australia

Dry and smooth Riesling from Australia. Quite nice to pair with a wide range of food.

Technical Data:: 100% Riesling from South-eastern Australia. Unoaked.

Description:Bright pale golden color, with vibrant green hues. Its nose is expressing classic aromas from Clare Valley, lots of citrus and lime enticed with apricot, a hint of apple blossom and some minerality. On the palate, generous, dry and smooth, this elegant medium-bodied wine shows limey citrus flavors, pineapple and cream, fine and zesty lingering finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Easy drinking wine, enjoy as an aperitif or as the perfect accompaniment to Thai food, Asian fusion, chicken salad, seafood pasta or a dozen oysters.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$15.98 in MD

Château Sigognac'00, Medoc, Bordeaux, France

Soft Medoc from an exceptionnal vintage!

Technical Data:This wine is a Medoc that mean it is located on the northern part of the left bank in Bordeaux Region. It's a Cru Bourgeois from the classification of the early 1855 still recognize now. The blend is crafted from 34% Merlot and from 33% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Merlot grape is always the main grape in Medoc's blend. This particular wine is from the exceptional 2000 vintage and was aged 20 months in oak barrel. The 2000 vintage is considered in Bordeaux Region as an exceptional one, one of the very best vintages over 30 years.

Description:Bright purple color. This Cru Bourgeois shows spice, strawberry and chocolate aromas on the nose. Fine and elegant medium-bodied wine, its palate is echoing its nose. Some additional flavors such as ripe red fuits, oak and coffee bean are also present. We distinguish herbaceous undertones on the aftertaste laced with very supple tannins. A velvety texture and a voluptuous long lasting finish complete the description.

Food Pairing & Service:Might be a good idea to pair with bistro-food, pasta-tomato dishes and light meat like veal. This wine has a very good ageing potential, some says from the very best years it could age about 20 years without problem...I never age a Bordeaux for so long, usually I'm drinking it after at least 5 years of ageing so I can't say if this one will age that 20 years long.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$17.99

Col Des Vents'03, Corbieres, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Remember this one and most important don't forget to taste it, a very luscious and jammy blend from the Corbieres region (Languedoc-Roussilon, Southwest of France).

Technical Data:The "Col des Vents" refers to the hills of the Corbières region which are swept by night winds coming off the sea and cooling the vineyards. Typical wine from Corbières region it is made from 40% each Grenache & Carignan and 20% Syrah. This wine comes from a grower's cooperative located in Castelmaure The grapes themselves come from Durban-Corbières and Embre-et-Castelmaure. Unoaked.

Description:Dark garnet color. Powerful nose focused on ripe black fruits and spice. In the palate, a delicious and jammy medium-bodied wine expressing ripe black and blueberry flavors enticed with Garrigue's herbs and packed with black pepper. Excellent texture, overall balance and depth. Some minerality and earthiness on the after-taste. Impressive long lasting finish considering its price range.

Food Pairing & Service:It's vinified to be consumed relatively young. Best at room temp. Personally, because of its spice I will pair it with red meats. Not too far from the Corbières area, Carcassonne city is famous for its Cassoulet, meal wich might be also a good pairing with this type of wine.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$7.99 Great Value!