The Wine Messenger

CHIANTI CLASSICO — $63.00
We can never repeat it enough that Castello San Polo in Rosso is one of the best Chiantis and has the lowest price among the top twelve best Chiantis. We have been very lucky to have this wine as an exclusive for three years, but now the wine has become so well known in Italy that the large American-Italian distributors who reign over the U.S. market cannot tolerate not having this winery on their already very long list of Italian Chiantis sold by them. They have convinced the owners of this fabulous...

LE LUPINAIE — $63.00
In the region of Maremma (between Chianti and the Mediterranean), Sangiovese is often called "Morellino"… but it is a derivative of Sangiovese. This area, which was still 15 years ago a grazing land, is now planted with many vines to satisfy the immense demand for Italian wines. The region is quite hilly and the roads there are terrible and the soil is very poor. MORELLINO is now quite famous among Italian wine connoisseurs. The Riserva from Le Lupinaie spends a full year in French oak casks...

ROSSO DI MONTALCINO — $63.00
BASICALLY, ROSSO DI MONTALCINO is a young BRUNELLO, and if you have never tried this outstanding Italian wine, this is a good way to start. MONTALCINO is a village perched on an enormous hill about 600 meters altitude. The problem is that the flanks of the hill only amount to about 3,000 acres of vineyards and such vineyards cannot meet the demand for Montalcino wine. The Brunello DOCG appellation requirements are very stringent since they demand 4 years of aging in large oak barrels plus a minimum...

QUINCY — $57.00
QUINCY (the French do not pronounce the "U") is a little known white wine from the Loire… it is worth discovering this AOC because it is not very far from Sancerre and its wines share many of the same characteristics. Like Sancerre, the predominant varietal is the Sauvignon Blanc; the soils in the two areas are similar (limestone and sand) and date from the same geological age, but Sancerre lies on the left bank of the Loire River, while Quincy is on the left bank of one of its tributaries called...

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO - | Italy — $63.00
The estate of Signore Sesti is called Castello di Argiano, not to be confused with Banfi Argiano. Signore Sesti, who is a Renaissance man with many interests, studied wine for 15 years before making his first Brunello. He went around and spoke to the farmers to see how they make their wine. Signore Sesti, being a very competent astronomer, manipulates his wines as little as possible and respects the influence of the moon. 1998 was a much drier year so the wine suffered, but Sesti picked the grapes...

CHABLIS — $57.00
The price of premium Chablis has risen in 2003; fortunately, 2003 is as good as 2002 and this is a good bottle of Chablis. You should try this Chablis which is very different from Domaine des Malandes; you will see that Chablis can be very different depending on who makes the wine. Soon, we will also introduce you to a 1° cru from Lamblin, which won a bronze medal in Macôn.

CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA — $63.00
The grapes are the right clones and the exposure of the vineyards is ideal. The wine making is top class and the aging is made in large Slovenian oak barrels (the traditional method). This domaine, well known in Italy, has not enough wine for much export… it is therefore unknown in the U.S. Take advantage of this low price because this wine compares favorably with the best Chianti Riservas you can find (including those selling around $35/bottle!).

HERMITAGE — $57.00
THE AOC rules are very strict for such high-end wines. Maximum authorized yield is 2.2 tons/acre. Harvest is done by hand with strict grape selection and destemming. The fermentation and aging of this wine is made in new oak barrels for up to 70% of the harvest and the rest remains in stainless steel vats to reinforce the fruit flavors. The White Hermitage from Cave d'Empi is 100% Marsanne. This is a wine all in finesse. It is balanced and fat, and will age as long as a top white Burgundy…...

Almagre Rioja 2003 — $19.75
Almagre Rioja is Vina Ijalba's least expensive wine, a Tinto with 6 months aging in American oak. It is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo (the local name for Carignan). The vines are more than 10 years old and have been tended organically since 2000. After harvest, the grapes undergo a long 20-day maceration that gives the wine its good fruit concentration. 2003 was a good year in Rioja. This wine has benefited from a year’s bottle aging and shows very well now. A great everyday Spanish...

LE CORTI DON TOMMASO - CHIANTI CLASSICO — $49.00
The Corsini family is one of the most prestigious in Tuscany with some of the highest lords of nobility and quite a few cardinals in their family (dating to the 14th century). Duccio Corsini, one of the heirs to the name, decided to live in the beautiful Villa le Corti and, with the help of the oenologue, Carlo Ferrini, he makes a great Chianti. The 2000 Don Tommaso received 2 Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso. It is a delicious wine, which you will enjoy and you can keep for 4 to 5 years.

CARLIN — $63.00
Carlin is a blend of Nebbiolo - 60% (the Ghisolfi family has some of its best exposed vines in the Monforte area), and the little known varietal called Freisa - 40%, a popular grape from Piedmont making a sweet and slightly "frizzante" wine. It is surprising that the "Noble" Nebbiolo varietal would blend so well with this lesser grape and give such a delicious wine. Here, one plus one really equals three, and we think that the talent of Marco has a lot to do with the final result. Marco keeps...

DRAPEAU — $35.00
Looking for good values, The Wine Messenger has a hard time finding great opportunities in California! Fortunately, with Drapeau Merlot we have found one. This wine comes from a well known California winery that had set aside a particularly good cuvée of 1998 with a view to create a premium Merlot wine under their own label. The volume of wine available turned out to be insufficient for them to launch another line. We were offered this good 1998 Merlot at a great price ... but we had to create...

LUDDITE — $95.00
Neils is a very traditional winemaker who lets the wine "make itself" without all the modern techniques which he rejects. The evocation of Luddiam is, therefore, very appropriate. The final product is there to show that he knows what he is doing. His 2001 Shiraz is even more fruity than his 2000 and compares favorably with a good Hermitage. It can be drunk right away and is a more cheerful wine than Hermitage. It can also be compared with Australian Shiraz. In this case, it has an elegance...

MOULIN A VENT — $110.00
WE usually offer Beaujolais wines in the spring and summer since they are traditionally light wines. Gamay, the varietal of Beaujolais, can be very light in color as well as in taste. However, there is one exception among the 10 Beaujolais Crus; it is MOULIN A VENT. Moulin à Vent is one of the 10 Crus. It is located on the northern part of the vast Beaujolais territory, near Mâcon. The name comes from a very old wind mill which was in the area (see picture) and still exists.

CROZES-HERMITAGE — $110.00
One can say that Hermitage is a bit of an anomaly. The Rhône River, when it reaches the Hermitage area, is constrained by steep mountains on each side and the area which is actually called Hermitage. Because of very poor soil on that hill, only grapes could grow there. Hermitage was so named because a small chapel was built there in the 14th century to honor the Chevalier de Sterimberg, the owner of the vines. The area received, some millions of years ago, huge alluvial deposits carried by the...

PEEL ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON — $59.00
The Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 is a very big wine with a depth of character and long life. The fruit flavors are typically Cabernet - mulberries, blackberries, and herbaceous undertones, but there is a richness in Peel Cabernet which develops after a short time in the bottle into a luxurious suppleness... a hallmark of the style. Almost every year, the Cabernet Sauvignon from Peel wins as Western Australia’s best red. You will like this wine!

CHATEAU MAYLANDIE — $57.00
Jean & Anne-Marie Maynil have been running this estate since 1975. Over the years, they have renovated older, high production plantings with higher quality, traditional varieties. The vines benefit from maximum sun exposure on rocky south facing slopes. White Corbières is fairly uncommon, and well-made examples are even rarer. The Maynil’s wine is made of an equal blend of White Grenache and Bourboulenc. Overnight maceration on the skins followed by temperature controlled fermentation provide...

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO LA LECCIAIA — $49.00
It is interesting to note that Brunello di Montalcino is a relatively new wine. It was started by Biondi-Santi just at the turn of the 20th century and, for a long time, there were only a dozen producers of Brunello. Brunello is Sangiovese; it is a special clone which has bigger berries than Sangiovese. It is found mainly on the Hill of Montalcino, and there are now more than 150 producers of Brunello di Montalcino in the DOCG.

BOURGOGNE — $110.00
IF you like Bourgogne but refuse to pay the prices of Côtes d’Or villages (or even more for the crus vineyards), this is the wine to buy. It is quintessentially “Burgundy” and, given the fact that its grapes come from a single vineyard, it has a lot more character than the blended multivineyard “Burgundies”... but with character also comes complexity. This wine has many of the attributes of Pinot Noir including its rapid evolution in the glass. Fruity but closed at first, it requires a good half...

SAUMUR — $48.00
Situated on the south side of the Loire around the Town of Saumur, this region has been making wine for at least 13 centuries. The family Hugues Guy, owners of La Renière, trace back their title of property to 1631. The region has very poor soil but is rich in sea fossils and calcar. The vines are 98% Cabernet Franc and 2% Sauvignon; they have an average age of 40 years. The wine is not very tannic and has delicious aromas of ripe red fruit and delicious flavors of red fruit. Perfect as accompaniment...

VIRÉ-CLESSÉ - | France — $57.00
Deep golden color. Aromas of apple blossom and vanillin (although the wine never sees the interior of a barrique!). Medium-bodied with good structure and good grip. Nice fruit flavors (green apples). Long finish. Can be cellared for 3 to 4 years. Ideal with quiches, white meats or served as an aperitif.

Querceta Brunello di Montalcino 2001 — $32.00
The grapes for Querceta’s Brunello di Montalcino are hand harvest and fermented slowly for two weeks under temperature control. The wine spends three years maturing in Slavonian oak barrels – a year more than the two year minimum for most Brunellos. The outcome is a textured wine with many complex layers of flavor. Querceta also sells its wines under the Tenuta di Sesta label in Europe, which consistently receives 2 Bicchieri in the Gambero Rosso.

CHABLIS DOMAINE DES MALANDES — $57.00
Chablis is a part of Burgundy, but it is about 100 miles closer to Paris than the Côte d’Or. Chablis is located in a valley created through the centuries by the Serein river, a tributary of the Seine. The soils of Chablis are a white chalk formed in a specific period of the Jurassic period called Kimmeridgian. This soil is the bottom of an ancient ocean filled with ancient fossilized sea shells. The result is a soil that is perfect for a grape vine to grow long roots to extract minerals from...

DOMAINE DES MALANDES - CHABLIS — $57.00
Only the grand domaines have these 4 appellations. The Domaine des Malandes only produces wine of the highest quality and has been awarded with medals. The Wine Messenger started with Mr. and Mrs. Marchive eight years ago, and we have had a great relationship with them. We have increased our purchase from them about 5 times, and we have reached a point where they cannot give us more wine. Their wines are among the best of Chablis and soon we will have the Côte de Lechet and some premier crus...

CHATEAU TOUR DE MIRAMBEAU - BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR — $34.00
Chateau Tour de Mirambeau is just one of the small Bordeaux chateaux owned by the dynamic Despagne family. Although it is only a Bordeaux Superieur, its quality approaches that of a premium Bordeaux appellation wine. While not as good as the superlative 2000 vintage, 2001 produced some very good wines. Since prices did not rise to lofty heights, there are many values to be had among the 2001s.

LE LUPINAIE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO — $63.00
Morellino Di Scansano is a varietal that comes from the Sangiovese. It grows mainly in Maremma, the region near the sea near Grossetto. The region was, until about 8 years ago, a region where cattle were grazing but, since the price of land in Chianti was so high, the viticulturists began to buy land in Maremma and planted vineyards. The soil of Maremma is prevalently calcarous and, in some areas one finds volcanic soils; the small town of Scansano is about 25 miles inland and also 500 meters...

CHATEAU THIBEAUD MAILLET - Pomerol - | France — $110.00
Pomerol with Pétrus, le Pin, la Conseillante, and Vieux Certan has become the most aristocratic (and the most expensive) AOC of the Rive droite. Pomerol is a sandy plateau where Merlot does very well... so all Pomerols are mainly Merlot. Another characteristic of Pomerol is that the soil is rich in iron deposits which clearly has an impact on the flavors of the wine. Chateau Thibeaud Maillet is next to Chateau l’Evangile and Chateau Gazin. It is ridiculously small (4 acres!) but the vines are...

LE CORTI CHIANTI CLASSICO — $63.00
Villa Le Corti is on another scale. It is a very large Domaine with an imposing villa and beautiful gardens around it. The CORSINI family has owned it since the 14th century. Duccio Corsini, the current owner, has taken the enormous task of keeping up this huge 15th century villa as well as making what is now considered one of the best Chianti Classico. Besides Chianti Classico, he also has a Riserva called Cortevecchia and a super Tuscan called Don Tommaso. Don Tommaso is now among the best...

Domaine d'Uby Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Sauvignon Blanc 2007 — $14.50
Uby's Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are planted in a distinctive mix of alluvium and tawny sands. This mixture of well-drained soils produces a refreshing and zesty Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest took place at night to preserve the grapes’ aromas and flavors from the oxidizing effects of the hot summer sun. The juice was then macerated with the skins and fermented at a low temperature to preserve the fresh flavors.

LE LUPINAIE AD INFINITUM - MORELLINO DI SCANSANO — $49.00
Morellino di Scansano is a small DOC in the Maremma, the more rugged and less populous southern part of Tuscany near the sea. No longer a haven for cattle grazing, you can now find Sangiovese vineyards in some areas, like Scansano which has volcanic soils. The region produces red wines with an interesting bouquet and complexity that has created a following for the wines of Scansano. These very concentrated wines are a little sweeter and have more charm than the more austere Chiantis from the north...

LE LUPINAIE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO RISERVA — $49.00
Morellino Di Scansano is just behind Grosseto. This was the first deployment of wine outside of Chianti 15 years ago. Now it has been bypassed by the Maremma, which is also in the same region. Morellino is Sangiovese, grown on top of smooth hills. It costs less than Chianti and, since it has the same taste, the Florentines became interested by Morellino. The region of Morellino has not had yet the advantage of new roads. The existing roads are all turns, and it takes you one hour to drive ...

Senhora do Convento Vintage Port 1999 — $39.50
The techniques here are ultra-modern and a small number of European oenologues assist in making Ports that win many gold medals in Portugal and abroad. The skins of the grapes tend to be thicker and the Ports have a stronger overall structure, particularly noticeable in the young vintaged declared wines like this one.

CHATEAU TOUR DE MIRAMBEAU, BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR - | France — $110.00
Very deep black/ruby color. Nose is very intense and concentrated. Black fruit (plums and cassis) and toasty oak dominate. Full bodied with great fruit concentration and extraction. Rich, round and supple on the palate with great balance and depth. Tannins are powerful yet silky. Very long finish. Can be cellared for 10 more years. A real discovery!... a Garage wine!

PODERI STEFAN GIESEN - SANGIOVESE — $49.00
You may see that this wine has two labels. When the wine was imported, we were sued by a company that had the name of the first label. We called the winemaker and asked him to send us a new label, and he decided to give his name to the wine. Stefan Giesen is a German who used to make the wine of San Polo in Rosso but the owners decided to stop making wine. But Stefan has made a good reputation for himself and moved to Maremma, the new region, and he made wine in Montecucco. This wine comes from...

CHATEAU TOUR DE MIRAMBEAU - BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR - Merlot - | France — $34.00
Aromas of cassis, well concentrated Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tannins are young. Strong ethyls. Wait 2 or 3 more years for its peak. Good tannins and lots of fruit with a good finish. Ideal with roasts and venison.

CHATEAU CLOS DU CADEOS MARGAUX — $34.00
Unfortunately, Margaux is very much in demand and all Margaux are expensive. Clos du Cadéos is a very small estate in Soussans. It is the 5th generation to make the wine. Some of the vines are 100 years old and give very little yield. Only 3,600 bottles were produced in 1999, and we bought a great portion of it. The wine is a blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine can age another 10 years in a cool cellar.

LENTON BRAE CHARDONNAY - Chardonnay - | Australia — $57.00
This wine was rated in Australia Top Gold Chardonnay Class in the 2002 awards. It is a top Australian white! Margaret River is in the west, and this is an area where you can find small producers really interested in quality. Ed Tomlinson, the son, is now the winemaker and he estimates that this wine is at its best until 2006-2007. The grapes are picked by hand on the domaine. It is then fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 11 months before being estate bottled in February 2002.

SESTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO - | Italy — $63.00
First, about the wine: it is rated 97 by Steve Tanzer, given 5 grapes (the top) by the Italian Sommeliers, and rated among the 5 best 1997 Brunellos by about everybody who knows Brunello. This wine is outstanding and The Wine Messenger is the only one to have it. Castello di Argiano, not to be confused with Banfi Argiano, is owned by Guiseppe Sesti, an astronomer, an Opera buff and, in fact, a Renaissance Man. He bought vineyards and an old medieval castle 25 years ago and he is re-building this...

DOMAINE DES LAURIERS VIOGNIER — $25.00
Viognier needs cold weather in winter and most of the Viognier planted in Pays d'Oc tastes more like Chardonnay than Viognier. You can find good Viognier in Ardéche (very cold in winter) and in some cool valleys in the Alps. At The Wine Messenger, we do not like the Viognier from Pays d'Oc because it does not taste like Viognier. We have to make an exception for Domaine des Lauriers because this Viognier tastes like Viognier (it has peachy aromas, apricots, etc...). This wine is made by independent...

Domaine d'Ardhuy Côte de Nuits Villages 'Clos des Langres' Monopole 2005 — $189.00
Located between Ladoix and Corgoloin, Clos des Langres has been recognized for the quality of its products since the 11th century. This is a beautiful, single-vineyard cru from the Côte de Nuits. Grown in limestone atop pearly flagstone soils, the Pinot Noir grapes are hand-harvested, vinified, and then aged in French oak barrels (one third new) for a year before bottling.

VALDUERO RIBERA DEL DUERO - GRAND RISERVA - Tempranillo - | Spain — $33.75
Grand Riserva 1995 is still one of the best Ribera del Duero. Only the 2004 vintage is as good as the 1995. Grand Riserva means that it has been aged in barriques for 4 years. You need a strong wine to stay 4 years in a barrique, but Valduero can do this because of Tempranillo. This wine can still be kept 4 or 5 years in a good cellar, but it drinks very well now.

VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE COLOMBANO — $63.00
The 3 varietals in VALPOLICELLA are traditionally Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Corvina is the dominant grape (70%) and a quality varietal too. It produces fruity red wines with attractive floral scents and a certain almond taste. Harvest takes place in the second half of September; the picking is done exclusively by hand. The grapes are left to dry up on straw mats for 2 months. They lose 20% of their weight by evaporation and become, of course, far more concentrated. This method of ...

CASA DE SANTA EUFEMIA - TAWNY AGED 10 YEARS — $39.50
Port is now produced in many wine regions of the world but the top Ports still come from the Douro Valley in Portugal. We have found some small growers whose quality rivals, and even surpasses the big commercial names. "Port" is a fortified wine; when about half of the sugar has been converted into alcohol during fermentation, about one fourth of the volume is added in 70o proof Aguardente (a natural distilled alcohol also made from the Douro grapes). With the Aguardente, the fermentation process...

CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 1° CRU MORGEOT - | France — $57.00
Chassagne-Montrachet is probably the best white of Côte d'Or in Burgundy. The whites of Chassagne range from Villages, Premier Cru and Grand Cru, and the characteristic of Chassagnes are their steely power.

Le Corti Don Tommaso Chianti Classico DOCG 2003 — $49.00
Don Tomasso is a blend of the estate’s best selection of Sangiovese (85%) and Merlot (15%). After a slow fermentation, the wine spends 18 months aging in new Allier oak barriques and a further 6 months in bottles. Compared to past examples, the 2003 is richer and more powerful since the estate is focused on developing Don Tommaso into a more robust and complex wine with a longer aging potential to challenge the finest Chianti Classico.

IL MOLINO DI GRACE - CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - Sangiovese - | Italy — $49.00
The vineyards are at 400 meters of altitude and face south on a marl and limestone soil with some pockets of clay. Harvesting is made by hand and collected in small baskets. Matures in barriques of French wood for a period of 10 to 12 months. This is the best wine from this domaine.

Baron D'Ardeuil Buzet 2005 — $19.75
Buzet lies only 60 miles inland from Bordeaux, along the left bank of the Garonne River. Unlike other great wines of the Southwest (like Cahors and Madiran), Buzet is made from the traditional Bordeaux grapes. These hearty wines, darker and fruitier than Bordeaux, were favorites with the English as far back as the 13th century, and became popular in the French colony of New Orleans. Unfortunately, this region, like much of the Southwest, was hit hard by the Phylloxera epidemic at the end of the ...

DOMAINE DU TARIQUET — $57.00
Yves Grassa blended two of the white varietals planted in the area: Ugni blanc 65% and Colombard 35%, and he assembled them at cold temperature in stainless steel. After 5 months rest, he bottles them after a very coarse filtration. The final product is an unpretentious wine full of freshness, savor and fruitiness (and only 11% in alcohol!). Yves Grassa is not an unknown grower. He is also the maker of "Coté Tariquet", one of the best wines of the South of France. Robert Parker wrote in his...

WORDSWORTH CHENIN BLANC — $54.00
Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile white grapes ranging in style from bone dry to the great sweet Vouvrays from the Loire. Wordsworth Chenin Blanc is just a little bit off-dry with a touch of residual sugar. Tim Mortimer, Wordsworth's winemaker uses very advanced New World techniques. A portion of the wine was fermented in new French oak barrels and left to mature on the lees for 10 months. The rest was fermented very cold over six weeks, stressing the yeasts and produced distinctive characteristics...

Château Haut Selve Graves Blanc 2007 — $25.00
A stellar white Graves made from Semillon (50%), Sauvignon Blanc (35%), and the rare Sauvignon Gris (15%). Made from hand-picked grapes that underwent extended skin contact maceration to obtain the highest quality of free-run juice. Aged 9 months in oak barrels before release. The Bordelais cousin of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris lends its denser, richer, and more full-bodied fruit flavors to this unique wine.

TRABUCCHI AMARONE - Corvina - | Italy — $59.00
Amarone is very much appreciated in Italy around the Christmas Holidays. It is an expensive wine because the grapes are dried for 6 months and 40% of the juice evaporates. Trabucchi Amarone is then crushed, fermented and aged for 18 months in new oak barrels; it is made principally of Corvina and Rondinella grapes. The 1999 vintage is superior to the 1998, and this wine can age for 10 to 15 years. Trabucchi is a small estate in Illasi, and it already has 2 Glasses in Gambero Rosso; its 1997 Amarone...

Domaine des Coteaux des Travers Rasteau Cuvée Prestige 2005 — $32.00
Deep ruby red color. Aromas of berries, plums, anise, chocolate and cocoa explode on the nose. Full-bodied supple, and round with excellent fruit extracts (plums) and smooth tannins. A densely-layered, chewy and complex wine with a long finish. Best with big dishes like game, stews, casseroles, roasts, and strong cheeses. Great now but can be cellared 5 to 6 more years.

TERRATO TOSCANA - IGT — $49.00
A very good "Super Tuscan" at a very low price. Terrato is the Super Tuscan of Azienda Agricola "Il Mandorlo". "Il Mandorlo" is in San Casciano, near to Firenze. Il Mandorlo has many vineyards in the region and makes many wines here; Terrato is the best wine made in the estate. It is 70% Sangiovese (from very old vines) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fermentation lasts 10 days and the wine is then put in new French barriques for 18 months and 6 months in bottles before commercialization. This...

LA CRAU DE MA MERE - Grenache - | France — $39.50
Domaine du Père Pape, who makes La Crau De Ma Mère, makes a modern, richly fruity wine to be drunk during its first 12 years of life. La Crau is one of the hottest and most precocious terroirs of the appellation, a terroir shared with the Vieux Tèlègraphe. The Grenache stock is 45 years old. After fermentation, the wine is aged half in tuns and half in barriques bordelaises. This wine is "really worth its price!"

Domaine du Tariquet Gros Manseng 2005 - Gros Manseng - Southwest | France — $18.75
This Gascogne winery has had its share of critical acclaim. Yves Grassa, the winemaker at Domaine du Tariquet, was called "one of the most talented winemakers in France's Southwest" by Robert... Read more

Corton Grand Cru Charlemagne - Burgundy | France — $195.00
Clive Coates M.W., the most knowledgeable international journalist on Burgundy, calls Frank Follin, proprietor of Follin-Arbelet, a "rising star". Follin has about 12 hectares of top vineyards around Aloxe Corton and... Read more

Principe Dei Conte Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie IGT 2008 — $12.00
This straw yellow colored wine with hints of green displays an ample, rich bouquet with hints of almond. The taste is dry, smooth, and harmonious, with flavors of citrus and apple with nice crispness and minerality on the finish. It goes great with fish, white meats, salads or just on its own. Drinking well now through 2011.

LES FIEFS DE LAGRANGE - St Julien - | France — $110.00
This is the second wine of Chateau Lagrange. St. Julien is, of course, a Médoc AOC. The soil here is richer in clay and the wines, in general, show a concentration of black fruits with rich flavors which allows them to age a long time. Most St. Juliens cost, on average, $40/bottle. This St. Julien represents great value and has all the characteristics of the AOC. The blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged 18 months in the second barriques of the first...

LA CAPPELLA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2001 — $49.00
Lawrence D'Almeida, the winemaker, is a very sophisticated American who is just as much at ease playing chess and listening to Mozart as he is making this delicious Chianti. Villa Casale is a small estate of 22 acres just north of Greve in Chianti. It has well-exposed vineyards on various hills. Lawrence has also replanted vines with new clones of Sangiovese which will begin to produce in a couple of years. Villa Casale produces a Chianti Classico and a premium Chianti called "La Cappella". We...

California Collector Sampler — $352.00
California is very geologically diverse region and is equally varied in the range of climates and terroirs that can be found. This Sampler showcases the classic California grapes like Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and also includes a special blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot.

Piane Di Maggio Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC 2007 - Montepulciano - Abruzzo | Italy — $19.00
Agriverde is one of the stars of Abruzzo. The estate has converted completely to organic viticulture under the leadership of Giannicola Di Carlo. He combines traditional Abruzzo winemaking with the very best modern techniques including a state of the art winery built to the most rigorous eco-friendly standards. Piane di Maggio’s Montepulciano grapes come from south-facing vineyards at 1,000 ft of elevation; the cooler nights lead to the development of thicker skins and more robust flavors in the...

Le Gode Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2001 — $32.00
Greek settlers first planted vineyards in Italy sometime around 800BC. Since then, wine has been entrenched in the Italian culture, ‘as common as water on the dinner table’. ... Read more

CHIANTI COLLI SENESI - Sangiovese - | Italy — $49.00
La Pacina is one of the most famous Colli Senesi and we think that for the many aficionados of Tuscan wines, it is time that you discover the sweetness of the Sangiovese in Siena. It is in a way a more cheerful wine than most of the Chianti Classico. Like the best Chiantis, this wine spends one year in botte and also Allier Barriques (1/3) and is, therefore, quite a serious wine. It is bottled almost unfiltered to keep its texture and its aromas. Lovers of Italian wines... you will love this...

Domaine Parent Pommard La Croix Blanche 2005 — $64.00
Intense bright ruby color. A concentrated nose with aromas of wild cherries, blackcurrants and mushrooms. Well-rounded and balanced with great finesse. A wine to be drunk 6 to 8 years after the vintage. Ideal with game, red meats, and mushrooms.

LA CAPPELLA CHIANTI CLASSICO — $49.00
Lawrence D'Almeida, the winemaker, is a very sophisticated American who is just as much at ease playing chess and listening to Mozart as he is making this delicious Chianti. Villa Casale is a small estate of 22 acres just north of Greve in Chianti. It has well-exposed vineyards on various hills. Lawrence has also replanted vines with new clones of Sangiovese which will begin to produce in a couple of years. Villa Casale produces a Chianti Classico and a premium Chianti called "La Cappella". We...

CASA DE SANTA EUFEMIA - TAWNY AGED 40+ YEARS — $39.50
Port is now produced in many wine regions of the world but the top Ports still come from the Douro Valley in Portugal. We have found some small growers whose quality rivals, and even surpasses the big commercial names. "Port" is a fortified wine; when about half of the sugar has been converted into alcohol during fermentation, about one fourth of the volume is added in 70o proof Aguardente (a natural distilled alcohol also made from the Douro grapes). With the Aguardente, the fermentation process...

VALLE FRIO CHARDONNAY — $11.75
Pale golden color. Aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. Dry, light-bodied and lively on the palate. Nice Chardonnay finish (green apples, citrus etc…). Perfect as an aperitif or with salads.

QUINTA DO PACO - TAWNY — $39.50
Port is now produced in many wine regions of the world but the top Ports still come from the Douro Valley in Portugal. We have found some small growers whose quality rivals, and even surpasses the big commercial names. "Port" is a fortified wine; when about half of the sugar has been converted into alcohol during fermentation, about one fourth of the volume is added in 70o proof Aguardente (a natural distilled alcohol also made from the Douro grapes). With the Aguardente, the fermentation process...

SAUMUR CHAMPIGNY — $110.00
Medium ruby color with bright red reflections. Nose is open and intense, bursting with aromas of crushed raspberries and strawberries with hints of crushed herbs underneath. Irresistible! Medium bodied and dry on the palate, the tannins give backbone and structure to the fruit. Nice clean finish. Not overly concentrated or complex, but the fruit is extremely flattering and enticing. Drink over the next couple of years with something simple like pasta or pizza. A perfect everyday wine.

Ca' Lunghetta Veneto Pinot Grigio 2008 — $10.50
Italian Pinot Grigio's attractive combination of refreshing acidity and apple, pear, citrus and stone fruit make it a perennial best-seller. In fact, it now accounts for 1 in 6 bottles of wine imported to the US. Ca’ Lunghetta’s example comes from the Veneto – the vast vineyard area between Verona and Venice. The wine undergoes a cold maceration to extract zesty fruit flavors before fermentation and careful storage to preserve Pinot Grigio’s fruit and freshness.

Casal Caeiro Albariño 2006 — $19.75
This is a beautiful, pale yellow wine with touches of gold. It offers an evocative, highly aromatic nose dominated by ripe, juicy stone fruit (peaches, plums & apricots) and floral notes. A very refreshing wine with good acidity, it balances peach and apricot flavors with a hint of caramel and herbs. The clean and refreshing palate leads to a nice finish. It is ready to drink now, and can be served with any and all fish and shellfish dishes (especially spicy ones), or as an aperitif.

DOMAINE LA CROIX BELLE NO. 7 - RED — $95.00
Very concentrated with delicious aromas of overripe fruit. The wine is full-bodied with multilayers of very ripe grapes. Smooth with smooth tannins and a long finish (20 seconds) on delicious aromas of great wine. This is a wine that can be put in a good cellar for 4 or 5 years. A big wine to drink with big meats, barbecues, or pork and great cheese.

TRABUCCHI TERRE DEL CEREOLO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE — $59.00
Terre Del Cereolo is their best cru. They use quite a large variety of local grapes: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Negrara, Croatina, and Rossignola. All these grapes are native of the area and each brings complexity to the wine. At harvest time, all the grapes are put on straw mats in sheds that are very well ventilated and they stay there until the end of October. By then, they have lost 25% of their weight but, of course, the juice is much more concentrated. They are then pressed...

TERRATO TOSCANA IGT — $49.00
Il Mandorlo is now a well recognized Chianti and Chianti Classico Reserva. Il Terrato is, in fact, a "Super Tuscan". It is the best Sangiovese of all the vineyards of Mandorlo, mixed with 30% of Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet is not a wine authorized in Chianti so, where you use such a varietal, your wine can only be called IGT (which means indicazione geographica tipica). All the Super Tuscans are IGT and, unfortunately, the IGT are often more expensive than the Chiantis because they spend a long...

Domaine Loew Tokay Pinot Gris Bruderbach Clos Marienberg 2004 — $22.00
Deep golden color. A delightfully fresh nose of apples, pears, peaches and citrus with honey and floral notes precedes a rich, round and soft palate with good concentration of citrus and white fruit flavors. The wine ends with a fresh finish with a hint of sweetness and pepper spice. The blend of finesse and complexity makes this an ideal wine for spicy cuisine (Thai, Mexican, Indian), foie gras, Roquefort, and even fresh fruit. Capable of aging for 2 to 4 more years.

CHATEAU PUY LA ROSE PAUILLAC — $49.00
Pauillac is known as the top AOC of Mèdoc, probably because two premier crus are located here. Unfortunately, all Pauillacs command a premium on their price and you probably will not find a decent Pauillac cheaper than Puy La Rose. Puy La Rose is the neighbor of Grand Puy Lacoste and not far from Mouton-Rothschild. The domaine has only 18 acres of vines and the final blend is 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The harvest is done by hand and, in 2000, the...

CHAMPAGNE DE SAINT GALL — $85.00
JEAN-JACQUES RACHOU, owner of La Côte Basque, has chosen Champagne de Saint Gall to make a full bodied Champagne for his restaurant. Every 3 star chef now demands a Champagne to his own particular taste as they find most famous brands too commercial. Cuvée Côte Basque is made exclusively with grapes from Premier Cru vineyards.

Domaine des Lauriers Viognier 2005 — $19.75
A pale yellow-golden colored wine. The intense nose is dominated by acacia flower, anise, peach, apricot, lychee, and other exotic fruit aromas. Fresh exotic fruit (lychee again) and peach flavors combine to give this wine a fragrant, full-bodied, yet mellow mouthfeel with great complexity and a very soft finish. The quintessential aperitif, Viognier is also great with shellfish, fish with sauce, poultry dishes, and moderately spicy foods. Serve chilled; drink over the next couple years.

WOODSIDE VALLEY - THE BAUDIN - CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Cabernet Sauvignon - | Australia — $59.00
On October 20, 1800, the largest scientific mission ever left le Havre for Australia aboard the Geographe. Napoleon was attempting to restore the scientific prestige of France; the expedition had no political agenda. Captain Thomas Baudin and his second in command, Alexandre Le Bas, explored South and Western Australia. They mapped the country with such precision that their charts are still valid today! They also brought back plants and animals and offered them to Josephine (Napoleon's wife)...

COTES DU RHÔNE SEIGNEUR DE LAURIS - | France — $110.00
Dark and opaque garnet color. Nose of red berries, réglisse and tar. Medium bodied, smooth, supple, round, and concentrated. Long finish opening up on ripe cherries. Suitable to drink as aperitif (and the price is right!). It will accompany mild Chinese cuisine (Mu-Shu-Pork), pasta, cold cuts and simple cheeses. To drink before 2004 (that will not be difficult!). Great value here.

Feudo S. Nicola Negro Amaro 2007 — $16.00
Located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, and just across the Ionian Sea from Greece, Puglia has a rich history. Grapes have been grown here for millennia, and the region was... Read more

Woodside Valley Estate Baudin Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 — $59.00
Intensely concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, chocolate, coffee and lightly toasted French oak predominate on the nose. Very smooth and round on the palate with black fruit (especially cherry), chocolate, and vanilla oak flavors. Soft chewy tannins and a very long finish. Can age for 10 or more years. Accompanies beef dishes, lamb with herbs, pasta Bolognese, and even kangaroo.

AVARUS SAUVIGNON BLANC - | France — $57.00
Bright yellow. Toasty aromas of balsam and floral notes. Medium bodied and dry. The acidity counterbalances the richness provided by the oak fermentation. The finish is long with delicious acidity and green flavors. Chicken in Tarragon sauce or dry goat cheeses would be delicious with it!

PODERI STEFAN GIESEN — $63.00
Montecucco lies at altitude on top of a big ridge. There is always a strong wind coming east off the Mediterranean that serves to dry the grapes and prevent any rot. Ever since the Super Tuscan Sassicaia called attention to this region southwest of Chianti, a new generation of quality Maremma wines have been eagerly anticipated.

SAN OSVALDO IMPERO - | Italy — $63.00
San Osvaldo is a beautiful estate in Veneto in Lisón Pramaggiore. They make a very good Pinot Grigio also offered in this brochure and some unique Reds aged a long time in oak. "Impero" is a typical northern Italian red which blends Merlot, Refosco (a local varietal with a tangy taste) and Cabernet Sauvignon. 14 months in Allier barriques blends these 3 varieties harmoniously. Of course, in the great 1997 year, all grapes were healthy and at full maturity.

CHATEAU SAINTE EULALIE - MINERVOIS — $110.00
Chateau Sainte Eulalie is made by Madame Coustal, who begins to have a good reputation among all the men who make great wine in Minervois. This wine is her premier wine. It is different than her wine from La Livinèire which is a grand vin. The wine is made with old Carignan and some Syrah, and it is very good for the price. The old grapes are grown on calcar soil, well oriented and at 700 feet of altitude. This wine goes through a long cuvasion and is raised in cement vats. It is not filtered...

DUNICO PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA — $32.00
Dunico 2000 is, in our opinion, the best wine made by the Accademia. It is not cheap. If you know how it is made, you will see that it is rightly priced. The wine is made from 60-year old Primitivo grapes planted in the sand on a beach. Production per 2.5 acres of vines is 5,000 kg of grapes (very low!), and harvest is done by hand. After fermentation, the wine is raised for 8 months in big casks of Slavonian oak (plus 3 months in bottle aging). This wine has a complexity aromatic due to the...

CHATEAU LA GRAVE — $95.00
Minervois is a vast AOC area in the south of France. Geologically, it is one of the most fractured soil you can find. This means that no field has the same soil composition. Soils are very poor with huge deposits of rocks left by glaciers in the Quarternary period. Vines with long roots manage to go deep in the soil until they find nutrients and water. This is a region where the growing season offers in excess of 2,600 hours of sunshine per growing season, so you can be sure that the four varietals...

DOMAINE LUDOVIC GAUJAL — $57.00
The Gaujal Family has been growing grapes and making wine in the region since 1744. The Wine Messenger has selected their top of the line cuvée named after Ludovic Gaujal, the grandfather of the current owners. This wine is made from their oldest vineyards grown on limestone soils (perfect for white wine grape varieties). The wine-making process uses classic cold fermentation techniques, which allow the wine to fully express the grape variety and its terroir. Malolactic fermentation is blocked...

Château Piada Sauternes 750ml 2003 — $33.00
Château Piada's vineyards are planted on gravely terraces near the Garonne river. In the autumn, the grapes are left on the fine to develop Botrytis or "Noble Rot." Fermentation takes place in oak barrels and the wine spends a further 12 months aging in oak before bottling. The 2003 vintage produced extremely ripe and heady Barsac and Sauterns.

Le Lupinaie Morellino Di Scansano Riserva DOC 2000 — $49.00
Very dark garnet color with delicious aromas of ripe fruit, oranges and réglisse. Medium-bodied with delicious fruit and many layers of aromas. A long finish (20 seconds) on nice fruit. Ideal with big roasts, barbecues, stracotto, and big cheeses.

Domaine Parent Corton Grand Cru Les Renardes 2003 — $119.00
Intense, bright garnet-red colour. A dense nose with blackberry, forest mushrooms and herb aromas. Powerful and substantial with balanced fruit flavors and complexity. Long lngering finish. A great accompaniment to the finest meat and game dishes. Great now, but will continue to improve with 5 to 10 years ageing.

Don Tommaso Le Corti Chianti Classico 2000 — $49.00
The 2000 Don Tommaso received 2 Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso. It is a delicious wine, which you will enjoy and you can keep for 4 to 5 years. It is, in fact, a super Tuscan because it has the best selection of Sangiovese (90%) plus 10% Merlot grown on the 490-acre estate. After a slow fermentation, it is raised for 15 months in new Allier barriques and 6 months in bottles; only 900 cases are produced. This wine is also imported by others in the U.S., but they sell this bottle at $32/bottle; The Wine...

Oloroso Tradicion Sherry/Jerez VORS 30 year old NV — $59.00
After many years, the liquid of the lowest barrel is ready for release. A third of it is taken out and is replaced by the same volume from the barrique just above (which is a later vintage). The liquid taken from the second barrel is replaced by the same volume from the 3rd row of barrel, which is even more recent. By recent, we mean 30 years. Each bottle is individually numbered and comes with a cork stopper for use after breaking the initial wax seal on the top of the bottle.

CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE - GRAND CRU (ROUX) 1998 - | France — $57.00

GAILLAC PASSION WHITE — $57.00
You may wonder how two famous paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec ended up on our bottles of wine? Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the famous turn-of-the-century painter, was born in Albi, in the Southwest of France. Unlike most painters of the time, he was well off and did not have to sell his paintings to survive. When he died, his family donated more than 1,000 of his works to the Museum of Albi, which instantly became, by far, the richest of all museums on this particular painter. Henri liked Gaillac...

QUINTA DE SANTA EUFEMIA TAWNY - AGED 30 YEARS — $39.50
The Quinta de Santa Eufemia, founded in 1894 by Bernardo de Carvalho, is situated on the left bank of the river Douro at an altitude of 900 ft between Peso de Regua and Pinhão in the most valued terroir of the Douro. The Carvalho family still owns the estate and younger generations are ready to continue the tradition (see picture!). The domaine has 95 acres of vineyards grown on schist terraces. 80% of the vines are Tinta Barroca, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, and Tinto Cão...

DOMAINE ST AMANT LA TABARDONNE - VIOGNIER — $25.00
The Wine Messenger is pleased to have the U. S. exclusive for the wines of this estate. Rarely do we taste Viognier with as much depth and concentration (except, perhaps in Condrieu, but as many of you know, a good Condrieu is at least $35/bottle). La Tabardonne is consistently one of the best whites we offer at under $20/bottle. Unfortunately, Viognier is not a varietal to store for long since it quickly loses its fruitiness; do not age it more than 2 years. The domaine of St. Amant is at 4...

RIOJA SOLAR VIEJO - | Spain — $33.75
$15.00 for a 1995 Reserva is an exceptionally low price given the fact that 1995 was the best year in Rioja over a decade (rated 5 Stars!). 1995 Reservas are now rare to find! Santamaria Lopez is a well established winery in Rioja Alavesa, the best area. This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano.

RED GATE SAUVIGNON BLANC — $25.00
Red Gate is a well-known Margaret River independent quality vineyard started in 1976 by Bill Ullinger when he sold his engineering firm and decided to become a winemaker. His domaine has now grown to 55 acres under vines and he has planted about a dozen of different varietals. Red Gate became famous because in 1982, at the Adelaide Wine Show, his Cabernet was elected the best Cabernet of the show. Bill is now helped by his son Paul, who takes care of the vines in the field. Since 1995, Red Gate...