Murphy Goode Wild Card 2003 – Chosen
by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
Three varietals were used to produce the Murphy
Goode Wild Card 2003 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
and Petit Verdot) all grown in the Alexander
Valley where the flavor profile of these grapes
lend a lush black-fruit backbone. Wild Card is
an apt description for this "Bordeaux varietal
blend" as the term allows the flexibility to
"play" each varietal to create a "winning hand".
Fragrant nose, blackberries, violet, rose hips
produce a delicious full-bodied wine with nice
integration of acidity and tannins, red berries,
hint of apple, and relatively good restraint on
the oak. The dense, full-palate delivers complex
flavors of black cherry and fresh herbs and
finishes with a sweet oak impression. The 2003
Wild Card Claret is a luscious wine,
complementing grilled meat and all manner of
duck preparations.
Manager's Favorite --
October 13, 2008
Silver Oak Napa Valley 2003 – Chosen
by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian – 89 Points –
Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate
The 2003 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon is a complex and concentrated wine
that deftly balances intensity and finesse and
is a highly expressive wine that displays great
complexity due to the multifaceted climatic
conditions of the harvest season. The wine has a
dark garnet color with a deep purple edge, and
displays aromas of blackberry jam, dark
chocolate, rose petal, black pepper and cedar.
In the mouth, the attack is quite rich,
expressing notes of brown sugar and nutmeg, and
the flavors proceed seamlessly to a long finish
of fruit and ripe tannins. Properly cellared,
this wine should give drinking pleasure until
2027.
Manager's Favorite --
October 6, 2008
Swanson Merlot 2003 Napa Valley – Chosen
by Wine Specialist Peter Sandoval
The heart and soul of Swanson Vineyards, the
Swanson Merlot 2003 is sourced from Oakville
Cross Road and Schmidt Ranch Vineyards,
retaining the weight and texture of the New
World, with the nuances and complexity of
Pomerol. It is enhanced with sensible yet small
additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, also
estate grown and aged 20 months in a combination
of new and old American and French oak. The nose
exhibits dried cherry, raspberry and a smoky
blackberry, with the flavors in the mouth
echoing this impression nicely. Behind the fruit
are notes from the oak: a sweet cocoa, vanilla,
and some baking spice. The fine-grained tannins
for which Swanson Merlots are known provide the
round, ripe texture of this wine. While drinking
surprisingly well today, the 2003 Swanson Merlot
will improve and be enjoyable for at least the
next 6 to 8 years.
Manager's Favorite --
September 29, 2008
Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages
Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 – 90 Point Wine
Spectator & Wine Enthusiast -Chosen by Wine
Specialist Pete Sandoval
Fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was selected
from the finest Bordeaux variety vineyards in
Sonoma County: 37% from Alexander Valley, 36%
from Sonoma Valley, 23% from Knights Valley, and
4% from Dry Creek Valley to assemble a wine that
showcases Sonoma County. The Alexander Valley
grapes highlight bright berry with back notes of
dried herbs, while the Sonoma Valley fruit is
from our home vineyard - the St. Jean Estate
Vineyard, and brings black and dense mountain
fruit to the blend. The Knights Valley fruit
adds a firm mouthfeel and pronounced tannins and
the Dry Creek Valley grapes tend toward dark,
dense black cherry and berry fruit flavors with
a rich finish.
Manager's Favorite --
September 22, 2008
Hess Collection 19 Block Cuvee 2005-
Chosen by Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
The aroma first expresses sage and black
licorice combined with cherry and milk chocolate
followed by complex notes of cedar and pepper.
The palate is concentrated and shows some of its
mountain Cabernet backbone with generous
tannins. Cherry flavors resonate through the mid
palate leading to a firm finish. Block Cuvée is
named for the vineyard blocks from the Veeder
Summit Vineyard. From the highest elevations of
the vineyards, early ripening red varietals have
been planted for their compatibility with the
vineyards specific growing conditions. The
result is a layered complex Cabernet Sauvignon
based wine with significant amounts of Syrah,
Merlot and Malbec.
Manager's Favorite --
September 15, 2008
Signorello Estate Cabernet 2003 -
Chosen by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
The Signorello Estate Cabernet 2003 is the
signature wine of the Signorello Vineyards in
Napa. The estate vineyards planted in 1990 on
the Napa Valley hillsides east of the Silverado
Trail, provided the grapes and a variety of
exposures increased the wines complexity. At
first the nose opens to black currant, vanilla
and hints of cedar. A lush full-bodied palate
continues with flavors of ripe cassis and
vanilla and the long and intense finish are
accentuated by the young velvety tannins.
Expressing characteristics of plums and tobacco,
this wine is one to enjoy with dark chocolate or
a great steak.
Manager's Favorite --
September 8, 2008
Bogle Phantom Old Vine 2005 - Chosen
by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
Three unique varietals, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel,
and Mourvedre combine lush berry and fierce
spice into a full-bodied wine. Intensely fruit
forward on the entry, this deep ruby apparition
begins with aromas of blueberries, violets and
chocolate-covered cherries, dusted with touches
of black pepper. From the deep dark depths,
subtle notes of spice, clove and mocha emerge
and compliment the concentrated fruit characters
of this wine. Aging for two years in 1, 2 and 3
year-old American oak barrels has yielded a
vexing array of toasty oak aromas to Phantom.
Though this wine is remarkable now, aging this
unique wine in the bottle will only integrate
the three distinct varietals even more.
Manager's Favorite --
September 1, 2008
2006 Far Niente Chardonnay- Chosen
by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
This wine is the rare combination of clean and
elegant that offers more richness and layering
with age. Aromas of melon, hazelnut, citrus, fig
and spice are complemented by toasty notes in
the nose. The palate offers a full entry with
floral notes that lead through layers of fruit
that give structure and complexity. The length
and balance are impressive as they lead to a
mouthwatering finish. Far Niente Chardonnay is
a careful blend of estate vineyards that grow in
the cooler southern areas of the Napa Valley.
Numerous clones and rootstocks are matched to
the sites to best bring out the flavors and
structure that are a hallmark of Far Niente
Chardonnay.
Manager's Favorite --
August 25, 2008
Markham Chardonnay 2006-Chosen by
Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
Markham Chardonnay vineyards consistently yield
amazing tropical fruit components that jump out
of the glass faster than you can write them
down. This is a wine sure to delight both the
dessert lover and the jaded Chardonnay drinker.
Wonderfully fragrant aromas of apricot, roasted
nuts and butterscotch will make this wine a huge
crowd pleaser from the start. The 2006
Chardonnay shows both tropical and golden
delicious apple fruit at its core, which is
wrapped in creamy texture of vanilla and caramel
flavors. It is balanced enough to enjoy alone as
an aperitif, yet it also works as a perfect
match to grilled fish because of the touch of
orange zest on the finish.
Manager's Favorite --
August 18, 2008
2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley
Reserve Tapestry – Robert Parker 90 Points
-Chosen by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
This blend of all five Bordeaux varieties is
consistently one of Beaulieu's most interesting
but overlooked wines. The Tapestry shows classic
black-ruby color typical of this blend. Ripe,
brambly, coffee and black cherry aromas showcase
the varietal, while black olive and dark cocoa
scents suggest the wine’s Rutherford origin.
Medium full-body and firm structure dominant,
with the cherry-plum and herb Merlot adding
nuance in the finish, and chewy tannins, fine
minerality, and vanilla oak-spice adding an
elegant touch of sweetness. You can enjoy this
now with everything from grilled lamb to
dry-rubbed baked salmon.
Manager's Favorite --
August 11, 2008
Alaina Joy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon &
Syrah 2006- -Chosen by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
This week’s Manager’s Favorite offers a great
opportunity to discover two distinct and
fabulous wines from a boutique vineyard in Paso
Robles at an amazing price point. The grapes are
harvested from the select family-owned vineyards
in the Paso Robles micro-climates, a unique wine
region blessed with optimal grape growing
conditions. The fruit is hand picked under
supervision of the winemaker, naturally
processed, aged in French oak barrels and kept
unfiltered. The result is a complex and balanced
wine with excellent aging potential.
Manager's Favorite --
August 4, 2008
Orchid Hill Paso Robles Pinot Noir
2005 -Wine Enthusiast Points- 90 Points -Chosen
by Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
Don't miss an opportunity to experience this
ultra-limited production gem from Orchid Hill.
Dense, ripe & quite full-bodied for a Pinot
Noir, the 2004 Orchid Hill Pinot Noir is packed
with vibrant cherry flavors framed by complex
earth & vanilla undertones. Insiders know Paso
Robles has a hot east side and a cooler west
side. This lovely Pinot comes from the latter,
specifically the Templeton Gap, where Pacific
breezes find their way through the mountain
passes.
Manager's Favorite --
July 28, 2008
Tait-The Ball Buster Shiraz 2006
-Wine Advocate & Robert Parker – 92 Points-
Chosen by Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
Previous vintages of this wine have been smash
hits and the 2006 The Ball Buster continues this
trend. Basket Pressed, a labour-intensive
process not commonly associated with a wine in
this price category, the wine is composed of 78%
Shiraz, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot
and aged 12 months in used French and American
oak. It offers a dense purple color in addition
to a big, rich perfume of blackberries, plums,
chocolate syrup, and subtle wood in the
background. Supple, ripe and soft on the palate,
this seamless crowd pleaser of a wine can be
enjoyed now and over the next several years.
Manager's Favorite --
July 14, 2008
2006 Silver Unoaked Chardonnay-
Chosen by Wine Specialist Al Meymarian - Wine
Enthusiast 92 points
This yummy summer wine is a light gold color
with a pale green tint. Clean, lively aromas of
honeydew melon and green apple carry over to
delicate tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and
papaya, balanced with crisp mineral notes. Wine Enthusiast noted it is a stunning
wine. Using Chardonnay grown in special blocks
of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in the Santa Lucia
Highlands of Monterey County, the grapes are
harvested when just fully ripe, their gold color
hued with green, expressing clean aromas of
Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity. The
brilliantly illuminated flavors produce a full
texture that lasts through a luxuriously long
finish.
Manager's Favorite --
July 7, 2008
Louis M. Martini 2006 Sonoma County
Cabernet Sauvignon- Chosen by Wine Specialist
Pete Sandoval
The 2006 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon was
crafted from several of Sonoma County’s most
prestigious appellations and blended seamlessly
to bring together the unique characteristics of
each, creating a superbly balanced Cabernet
Sauvignon. The wine offers many layers,
featuring aromas and flavors of red cherry,
blackberry and fresh sage with an underlying dry
creek dustiness. Subtle herbal notes are
complemented by additional layers of chocolate
and vanilla, resulting in a complex, yet easy
drinking, wine.
Manager’s
Favorite -- June 30, 2008
Waterstone
Cabernet 2004 - Chosen by Wine
Specialist Pete Sandoval
This week’s Manager’s Special is a
2004 Cabernet from Napa Valley.
Aromas of cedary oak, currants,
black cherries and ripe plums
suggest the fruit flavors to come,
as does the intense, deep red color
of the wine. Dense, mouth-filling
cherries, plums, chocolate and
tobacco marry with the oak nuances.
The firm tannins underlying the
wine’s core provide balance, leading
to a long, lingering finish.
Well-established hillside vineyards
are the foundation of this wine,
giving the finished blend its
intense inner core of fruit.
Manager’s
Favorite -- June 23, 2008
Alaina Joy
2006 Cabernet and the Alaina Joy
2006 Reserve Syrah - Chosen by Wine
Specialist Al Meymarian
This week’s Manager’s Favorite is an
exclusive offering on two distinct
wines from a boutique vineyard in
Paso Robles. The grapes are
harvested from the select family
owned vineyards in the Paso Robles
micro-climates, a unique wine region
blessed with optimal grape growing
conditions. The fruit is hand picked
under supervision of the winemaker,
naturally processed, aged in French
oak barrels and kept unfiltered. The
result is a complex and balanced
wine with excellent aging potential.
Manager’s
Favorite -- June 16, 2008
Special
Broadside Margarita Vineyard
Cabernet 2006 – Chosen by Wine
Specialist Al Meymarian
On the palate this luscious cabernet
has flavours of boysenberries, black
currant, and vanilla, and produces
aromas of dark fruit, cedar and even
a little alcohol. A 100% Cabernet
Sauvignon, it is sourced exclusively
from the Margarita Vineyard in the
southern most vineyard in the Paso
Robles Appellation. Located just 14
miles from the Pacific Ocean at an
altitude of more than 1000 feet,
Broadside Margarita Vineyard has
perfect conditions for growing
Cabernet Sauvignon with warm days
and cool nights. The resulting wine
has an abundant intensity of fruit,
but still maintains freshness and
great tannins to give it a long
finish.
Manager’s
Favorite -- June 9, 2008
Mer Soleil
Silver unoaked Chardonnay 2006 –
Wine Enthusiast 92 points – Chosen
by Wine Specialist Pete Sandavol
Using Chardonnay grown in special
blocks of the Mer Soleil Vineyard in
the Santa Lucia Highlands of
Monterey County, the grapes are
harvested when just fully ripe,
their gold color hued with the
green, expressing clean aromas of
Chardonnay fruit and firm acidity.
Light gold color with a pale green
tint, clean, lively aromas of
honeydew melon and green apple carry
over to delicate tropical fruit
flavors of pineapple and papaya,
balanced with crisp mineral notes.
The full texture lasts through a
luxuriously long finish.
Manager’s
Favorite -- June 2, 2008
2005 Barrel
27 Central Coast Syrah - Chosen by
Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
Barrel 27's newest release is out!
Mac's and Russell's considerable
winemaking talents combined with one
of the best growing seasons ever on
the Central Coast, have resulted in
the best B27 Syrah yet. The 2005
exhibits a deep garnet-purple color,
with seductive aromas of raspberry
jam and crème de cassis, sweet
cherry, black plum and blood orange
fruit, with rose petal, anise/black
licorice, vanilla and Asian spices
adding layers of complexity. The
mouth is round and dense, with a
full mid-palate lifted by excellent
acidity. The long finish begins with
rich, red fruit and ends on a
trailing spicy note that goes on and
on. The best structured of Barrel
27's Syrahs yet, it will add weight
and even more complexity over the
next 2-3+ years and hold.
Managers
Favorite-- May 27, 2008
Hess Mountain
Cuvee 19 Block Cuvee 2005- Chosen by
Wine Specialist Al Meymarian
From the highest elevations of the
Hess Mount Veeder Vineyards, early
ripening red varietals have been
planted for their compatibility with
this vineyard’s specific growing
conditions. The result is a layered
Cabernet Sauvignon based wine with
significant amounts of Syrah, Merlot
and Malbec that is inherently
complex. The aroma first expresses
sage and black licorice combined
with cherry and milk chocolate,
followed by complex notes of cedar
and pepper. The palate is
concentrated and shows some of its
mountain Cabernet backbone with
generous tannins.
Manager's
Favorite -- May 19, 2008
2003 Silver Oak
Alexander Valley- Chosen by Wine
Specialist Pete Sandoval
The 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon is an elegant, highly
expressive wine that displays great
complexity due to the multifaceted
climatic conditions of the harvest
season. The wine is dark ruby with a
purple to red edge. This succulent
cab produces bright aromas of black
cherry, dark chocolate, black tea,
allspice and ginger. In the mouth it
offers a full-bodied attack, a round
but balanced mid-palate redolent of
cherry preserves, brown sugar,
caramel and an extremely long finish
of savory ripe fruit. Properly
cellared, it should give drinking
pleasure through 2026.
Manager's
Favorite -- May 14, 2008
2006 Director's
Cut Cabernet Sauvignon- Chosen by
Wine Specialist Pete Sandoval
In 2006, Francis Ford Coppola
purchased a new home for his winery
in Sonoma County. In honor of this
move, he created a new line of
all-Sonoma wines called Francis
Coppola Director’s Cut, named after
the version of a film. They produced
a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon rather
than blend in other varietals so
that it could create a real terroir
wine with pure varietal flavor. As a
result, the Director's Cut Cabernet
delivers enticing aromas of cola,
cherry, and eucalyptus before
revealing dark, rich berries, cassis
and clack cherries, which is typical
of fruit grown in the illustrious
Alexander Valley.
