A medium to full-bodied crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma in CA.
Technical Data: 100% Sauvignon Blanc also known as Fumé. A small portion of the wine was aged on oak, 57% French and 43% American, 6% new.
Description: Light bright gold color. Nose of medium intensity, showing off tangerine, citrus fruits and spices. Quite floral at the very end. The palate is quite an echo of its nose, with flavors of tangerine, orange zest and white flowers interwoven with white peach, white pepper and a touch of oak.
Food Pairing & Service: Will pair with a wide range of food, from spicy food, quesadillas with chicken, seafood, salad with blackened shrimp, to a bowl of fruits’s salad.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 3 more years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $14.99
A medium to full-bodied elegant Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from California.
Technical Data: Cabernet Sauvignon Blend. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Nine months in French and American oak, 17% new.
Description: Bright garnet red in color with purple hues. Intense red and black fruits nose laced with oak and old leather. Rich mouth-feel expressing flavors of ripe cherries, plum and black berries interwoven with oak, spice and leather. Elegant supple tannins with a chocolaty long lasting finish and a hint of dried herbs. This wine has some texture to it.
Food Pairing & Service: Will pair with a wide range of food. Best with BBQ-ed meats and roasted veggies.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 2 more years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $24.99
A medium to full-bodied refined, supple and elegant Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in California.
Technical Data: 100% Pinot Noir, 10 months in 100% French oak.
Description: Bright ruby red in color. Elegant nose of red berries well integrated to rose petal and violet aromas as well as oak and spice. On the palate, the wine is lush and elegant with smooth tannins, concentrated ripe cherries backed up by rose petal flavors, plum, cedar and a touch of liquorice. Quite a wonderful program all at once!
Food Pairing & Service: Will pair with a wide range of food.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 3 more years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $25.99
A full-bodied creamy style Chardonnay from Sonoma County.
Technical Data: 100% Chardonnay, 60% of the wine was aged 4 months only in French oak to add some creaminess to it.
Description: Bright gold color. Clean nose with aromas of baked apple, lemon, pear and soft oak. On the mouth, full-bodied creamy style Chardonnay expressing flavors of pear, baked apple, a pinch of pineapple entwined with some spicy notes and a touch of toasty oak. Very long lasting finish with a well balanced acidity.
Food Pairing & Service: A crisp and refreshing wine which will pair well with a creamy style cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Burgundy in France and is called Délice de Bourgogne, this pairing will delights you! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well, if like me, you like a flavorful and full bodied Chard. You could also paired this wine with creamy dishes, strong fish and shellfish. Serve chilled.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: This wine should be drunk now or over the next couple of years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $17.79
A medium-bodied crisp and fruit forwards Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County.
Technical Data: 100% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% of the wine was aged a few months only in oak. twist off cap, no cork.
Description: Light gold color. Intense nose of tropical and green fruits aromas. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and shows some minerality and herbaceousness along with fruity flavors such as pear, citrus and pineapple. Crisp and refreshing with a nice acidity.
Food Pairing & Service: A crisp and refreshing wine which will pair well with a Goat cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Vermont and is called Coupole, this pairing will knocks you socks off I guarantee it! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well, or paired with salad and mild fish. Serve chilled.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: This wine should be drunk in its youth.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $16.29
A silky smooth Merlot Blend from Napa Valley (Yountville South). Just so you know, this wine is quite a charmer!
Technical Data: 99% Merlot and 1 tiny % of Cabernet Sauvignon, just to say there some in there:-). 16 months in 60% French and 40% US Oak barrels, 25% of were new.
Description: Ruby red in color with purple hues. Intense cherry and plum aromas backed up by light oak. Elegant and full-bodied palate showing off very soft tannins and refine characters of cherry and plum, with some tobacco, a hint of black pepper and some earthiness on top of oaky flavors. The wine is textured and jammy as well as well balanced and long lasting.
Food Pairing & Service: Will accompany really well the French cheese called Chaumes as suggested by my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in. Also due to the richness of this wine it will go wonderfully with some hearty dishes or even a steak.
Score: 9/10. I have to say, I am not usually a Merlot Lover but this one got definitely into me!
Ageing Potential: Up to 5 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $26.99
Light to medium-bodied Napa Sauvignon Blanc from the Famous Franciscan Winery. Quite a surprising Sauvignon Blanc, reminiscent of one from New Zealand for the flavors it displays.
Technical Data: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. A very small portion of the fruit was fermented in neutral French oak barrels on the lees for a very short time to lend more texture to the wine.
Description: Pale straw yellow in color. Intricate nose exuding grapefruits and lemon zest aromas. Crisp and delicate palate for this refreshing Sauvignon Blanc showing off grapefruits flavors well mingled with lemon zest, grass, lime and limestone. A bit of minerality, a nice acidity, some texture and a good balanced round up this wine.
Food Pairing & Service: A crisp and zingy Sauvignon Blanc to pair with a goat cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Poitou region in France and is called Chabichou du Poitou, I could never have enough of that pairing! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well, or paired with light spicy food, creamy linguine and the usual shellfish and mild fish. Serve chilled.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $22.49
Full bodied Napa Chardonnay from the Famous Franciscan Winery. This wine has long been one of their Flagship.
Technical Data: 100% Chardonnay. 8 months on the lees, French and US Oak. The grapes for this wine are originated from Carneros and South Napa Valley.
Description: Bright pale yellow in color. Fragrant nose for an appealing wine, baked apple and pear with a touch of sweet aromas mingled together with a slight touch of oak from its light barrel ageing on the lees. Very focused palate, lots of honey flavors at first, followed by pear and baked apple, a touch of white pepper, some buttery flavors and a hint of oak, for a long lasting, creamy style, mouth watering Chardonnay. The wine has intense flavors but is still very round and soft.
Food Pairing & Service: A delightful Chardonnay wine which will pair well with a creamy/buttery type of cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Burgundy in France and is called Délice de Bourgogne, I could never have enough of that pairing! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well if you are like me and love a full of characters Chard. by itself, or paired with creamy linguine and shrimp/shellfish or even better, my favorite would be with salmon on the plank nicely rub with herbs. Serve chilled.
Score: 9/10. Great find, stack it up.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $25.99
A dry but smooth and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Alexander Valley re-known for being “The” best place to produce “Cabs” in California.
Technical Data: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 4% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 14 months in 38% new French oak and 25% new American oak.
Description: Dark garnet color with ruby hues. Charming plumy nose exuding also candied black fruits aromas enticed with black pepper and cedary notes. On the palate, lush, fresh berries flavors and ripe plum are dominant, backed up by a hint of roasted tobacco, a touch of cedar and very ripe smooth tannins for a velvety long finish.
Food Pairing & Service: I can imagine sipping this wine while enjoying red meat or tomato based hearty dishes.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Easily up to 8 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $30.99
A spicy and elegant Merlot blend from Sonoma County in CA.
Technical Data: 93% Merlot blended with 4% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 13 months on oak.
Description: Ruby red color. At first, aromas of spicy cloves are dominant then,the rich fruity aromas are coming forward and the wine shows an intricate nose of cassis, plum and ripe black cherries all laced together for creating a very pleasuring bouquet. Elegance is what comes to mind when sipping this wine, again a lot of complexity here, the palate is rich and exudes ripe black fruits in general and more particularly black cherries and black berries, you will find as well smooth tannins thru and thru, some cedary notes, a hint of leather and a great balance for a velvety finish.
Food Pairing & Service: I can imagine sipping this wine while enjoying red meat “in sauce” or with a square of dark fine rich chocolate.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Easily up to 6 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $22.99
