Delicious wines to enjoy while you are spending time at home.
Abbazia di Novacella Kerner 2018
A particular specialty of the Valle Isarco. Greenish to bright yellow in color. Peaches, apricots, and tones of tangerines on the nose. Very lively, juicy, and sleek on the palate, with a mineral-rich finish.
White rose, orange zest and alpine herb aromas make up the intense fragrance. Vibrant and focused, the racy palate delivers juicy yellow peach, tangerine and white pepper framed in crisp acidity that lends balance and tension. Editor's choice. (Wine Enthusiast - 92 points)
This is a pure and naked expression of the Kerner grape that has few parallels in northern Italy. The Abbazie di Novacella 2018 Alto Adige Valle Isarco Kerner is silky and long with pristine aromas of white flower, honey, latex rubber and more polished, glossy aromas to follow. An enthusiastic food pairing would involve some sort of Thai dish with cilantro or lemongrass flavors. An ample 140,000 bottles were produced. (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 91 points)
Region: Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Varietal: 100% Kerner
Price: $21.99
Bodega Chacra "Sin Azufre" Pinot Noir Rio Negro 2018
Founded in 2004 by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta (grandson of the famed creator of Sassicaia), Chacra’s mission is to express the unique microclimates of Rio Negro through organic farming and biodynamic principles.
Sin Azufre is a handcrafted personal project by Piero himself. It is an experiment of making wine without science, using only the eyes, nose, palette, and reasoning as tools. These organic and biodynamic grapes are harvested from a special section of the Cincuenta y Cinco vineyard. In 600L barrels, the fermentation begins spontaneously on day 3 to 5 of maceration. At the end of the fermentation cycle (usually 15 to 21 days), the must is placed in used barriques for 11 months, without the inclusion of pressed wine. Sin Azufre characteristics are soft, balanced, lively, transparent, and extremely energetic with pronounced minerality and well integrated soft tannins. Pairs universally.
This has crushed red flowers, some deeper, darker, brambly fruit and a stony-graphite edge that delivers a core of red-cherry and berry aromas and flavors in a very unfettered, open-knit and complete mode. The texture is ethereal and plush, really fresh and concentrated. Needs some air and turns floral as it opens. No sulfur added. Drink now. (JS) (3/2019) (96 points - James Suckling)
Region: Patagonia, Argentina
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir. Natural and unfiltered, organic and biodynamic.
Price: $35.99
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Seleccion Especial 2010
Medium-high intensity, garnet–red with a cherry rim. The nose stands out for its fresh, spicy character, with hints of sweet cherries, red currants and ripe strawberries assembled with notes of black pepper, sweet liquorice, nutmeg, coffee, mocha and cinnamon. Intense and well-balanced in the mouth, with a soft freshness, nice structure, and delicately elegant tannins. Silky finish, with a good aftertaste, where sweet red fruit and balsamic notes give it a broad ending. Pair with roasted lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, spicy fish casseroles, smoked and aged cheeses. (Winemaker’s Notes)
2010 was a great vintage in Rioja in general and seems to be exceptional here, with a 2010 Viña Ardanza Selección Especial (what used to be Reserva Especial) that can challenge any of the recent vintages and hopefully can develop in bottle to reach the heights of years like 1973 or 1964. The wine is expressive, aromatic, very elegant and clean, with classical Rioja aromas of long aging in barrel and slow oxidation through the years in wood. The palate is polished and sleek but shows plenty of energy, with very fine, mostly resolved tannins and very good harmony and persistence. There is great complexity, and you could start smelling spice and smoke to move to earthy tones, hints of beef blood, cherries in liqueur, curry, diesel, old furniture and forest floor. A great Viña Ardanza! They have managed to produce 600,000 bottles of this—and apparently in one single lot. It was bottled in May 2015. (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 95 Points)
Polished and graceful, balanced and lively, this red offers cherry, dried strawberry, cedar, spice and vanilla flavors that mingle over light, firm tannins and orange peel acidity. The silky texture and juicy flavors find a graceful middle ground between the traditional and modern styles. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2025 (Wine Spectator - 94 points)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
Price: $32.99
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2018
Pale and vibrant in color. The Pascal Jolivet Sancerre is fresh, clean and screaming with racy acidity. On the palate it is fresh and tightly wound; acidity is tempered by very subtle residual sugar; very clean; alive, racy, youthful. Overall, a dry and elegant wine. (Winemakers Notes)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $36.99
L'Umami Pinot Noir 2017
Vibrant and zippy acidity that leads with red cherries, plums, black tea and raspberries and finishes with bright red fruit, cloves, and vanilla. (Winemakers Notes)
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $18.99
Matthiasson 2018 Napa Valley White Wine
This wine is our conception of a mythical “ideal” wine…a California wine with a spiritual connection to Friuli, Italy, but also drawing inspiration from the great whites of the Loire, Burgundy, Graves, Alsace, the Rhone, old-school Napa and Sonoma…actually the list of great whites we are inspired by goes on and on, and it is all wrapped up in this wine. This wine is an attempt at getting at the core of what white wine is all about, the archetypal “white wine,” thus the name. It’s a very intentional blend of four varieties from two vineyards.
The Sauvignon blanc brings a clean fresh citrusy acidity and some tropical character. The Ribolla gialla brings seashell minerality, nuttiness, and structure to the blend. The Semillon contributes viscosity and waxiness that adds gravity and weight. The Tocai friulano adds spicy aromatic notes. The acidity and fruit expression is balanced by a rich lees character and a faint backdrop of creamy oak. There is interplay in the wine between lightness and richness, and focus and complexity.
The 2018 White Wine has its trademark spice and mineral quality, and the perfect season helped the wine deliver plenty of acidity and freshness. Trademark flavors include white peach, kafir lime, lychee nut, beeswax, ripe fig, and pineapple, with prominent wet stones, flint, oyster shells, and freshly baled straw. (Winemakers Notes)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot
Price: $40
Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2016
Palacios achieves from his family's estate in Alfaro. Juicy notes of cherry, raspberry and orange peel meld with herbal undertones to create a wine that is balanced, bright and lively. 92% Garnacha, 8% Other red grapes. (Winemakers Notes).
I returned to the 2016 La Montesa once it had been in bottle for almost eight months. It has all the rosemary, thyme and aromatic plants in the Monte Yerga in Alfaro. It has a note of incense. It's super juicy Garnacha with citrus freshness. It's incredible to have this quality at this price and almost unbelievable that they produced 690,000 bottles of it. A steal! (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93 points)
This polished red offers cherry, tangerine and vanilla flavors, with a fruity sweetness, backed by gentle tannins and sweet-tart acidity. Not a big wine, but harmonious and graceful. Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2024. (Wine Spectator - 90 points)
Region: Rioja, Spain
Varietal: 92% Garnacha, 8% other red grapes
Price: $17.99
Paradigm Merlot 2015
This 2015 is a deep ruby color with aromas of red and black plums, cherry, dried herbs, and light toasty oak. Flavors match the aromas. A mouth-filling, seamless silky wine across the palate. Clean yet layered with light dusty tannins. Wonderful mid-palate texture with good length. Somewhat more concentration, typical of the 2015 vintage. Should age well for 10-15 years or more. (Winemakers Notes)
Region: Oakville. Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Merlot
Price: $54.99
Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Intensely aromatic and lively with flavors of passion fruit and guava underpinned with aromas of fresh herbs and blackcurrant this is a great wine to enjoy as an aperitif, or match with seafood. The palate is vibrant with zingy fruit that is balanced with a long, crisp mineral finish. (Winemaker’s Notes)
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $12.99
Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Viña Cobos is the inspired vision of Paul Hobbs, a pioneer who took on the challenge of crafting world-class wines on a level never before achieved in Argentina.Over the past twenty years, Hobbs and his team at Viña Cobos have dedicated themselves to seek out, study, and develop vineyard sites in the two premier growing regions of Mendoza: Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. Through meticulous vineyard management and minimal intervention in the winemaking process, the wines express the true essence of their terroir with finesse, complexity, and authenticity. Since the first vintage release in 1999, Viña Cobos has pushed the boundaries of quality for malbec and for Argentina, striving to continuously set the standard for excellence in the region.
Pure varietal expressions serve as a vibrant introduction to Mendoza, sourced from rigorously selected vineyards throughout the region’s top quality growing areas - Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco - imparting distinct fruit profiles to the wines. (Winemakers Notes)
The nose shows ripe-currant, walnut and violet character. Medium to full body, firm and chewy tannins and a hazelnut undertone to the dark fruit. Always a go-to cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold. (James Suckling - 92 points)
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $19.99
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2018
The 2018 Joel Gott California Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of mango, ripe peach, orange peel and a hint of lime. On the palate the wine opens with bright, fruit flavors, followed by crisp, refreshing acidity and a long, clean, balanced finish. (Winemaker’s Notes).
Vibrant passion fruit, Key lime and orange sherbet flavors show terrific intensity and tangy acidity, with details of lemon verbena and lemon zest on the finish. Drink now. (Wine Spectator)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $13.95
Izadi Rioja Reserva 2015
Shiny ruby color. Rich aromatic intensity with a nice balance of red fruit, licorice and spices and smoked hints in the background. Elegant and round in the palate with a long after state that brings back floral and fruity memories. (Winemakers Notes)
Dark cherries, raspberries, lemons and orange peel spring out of the glass here, making for a fresh and enticing impression. Tight-grained and sleek on the medium-to full-bodied palate, which packs in just the right amount of acidity. Driven and focused on the finish. (James Suckling - 93 points)
Region: Rioja, Spain
Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Price: $19.99
Alexander Valley Vineyards Gewurztraminer 2018
This is an aromatic wine with an enticing floral, almost sweet nose and initial aromas of grapefruit, citrus, tropical lychee, pineapple, melon, rose and pear. The 2018 Gewürz is a silky, rich wine with spicy flavors of apple, pear, grapefruit and nice acid balance on the finish. (Winemaker’s Notes)
Region: Mendocino, California
Varietal: 100% Gewurztraminer
Price: $19.99
COS Pithos Rosso 2017
Immediately open and generous from the start, the 2017 Vittoria Pithos Rosso (60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato) does not need much coaxing before it releases its pretty aromas of wild berry, rose hip, pressed violet and moist earth. This vintage is contained, considering the heat and dryness of the growing season with a lovely sense of elegance and deep inner poise. That pretty floral signature is especially defining in this vintage. It's almost as if the warm year has produced even greater elegance and finer lines. It's counterintuitive for sure, but the results are there. This is a real treat. Serve it alongside some chopped fried eggplant, salt and rosemary. About 12,000 bottles were made. (Robert Parker - 93+)
Region: Sicily, Italy
Varietal: 60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato
Price: $31.99
Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2018
Herrenberg is comprised primarily of red slate soil. This exquisite Kabinett exudes aromas of fresh strawberries, blood orange, stone fruits and a smoky nuance from the slate. Only 8% alcohol. Slightly sweet in the classic Kabinett style, the flavors focus on golden delicious apple, yellow peaches and wet stone. Great acidity. (Winemakers Notes)
Very attractive aromas of limes, fresh wild herbs and slate. All nicely played, very fresh and fragrant. The palate has a very smooth delivery of fine, sweet limes and honey and white peaches to close. Neatly balanced. (James Suckling - 93 points)
Very hoppy on the nose, with jasmine and saffron notes extending on the palate, followed by a richly spiced core of peach and persimmon flavors. Hints of cream and tangerine zest emerge, revealing a bit of grip toward the finish. Complex, invigorating, elegant and beautifully balanced, this is a terrific expression of the category. Drink now through 2033. (Wine Spectator)
Region: Mosel, Germany
Varietal: 100% Riesling
Price: $34.99