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Janet's Picks

May 2010

2008 Chateau La Croix du Duc, Bordeaux
$12.99

This is simply the best inexpensive Bordeaux I've found this year; the kind I would expect to pay closer to $20 for. It opens with a nose of cherry, tobacco, and cedar, then follows through on the palate with plum, blackberry, mineral, and a little smoke. The creamy, silky texture and its minerality really set it apart from others at this price. Perfect for roast chicken, veal, or mushroom and brie pizza.

2008 Cepas Antiguas Tempranillo, Rioja
$15.99

Modern yet elegant sums up this wine for me. It opens with a nose of earth, cinnamon, nutmeg, black cherry, and chocolate shavings, then follows through on the palate with a little blueberry, vanilla, and blackberry. Taberna del Alaberdero served this at an April wine dinner with a sirloin carpaccio, inventively garnished with peach sorbet. This would also be brilliant with duck, served in a dark berry reduction.

April 2010

2009 Domaine Sorin Rosé, Côtes de Provence
$12.99

Hooray for rosé! This one from Provence is a perennial favorite, and I think this vintage is even better than last year. It is dry, with notes of strawberry cream, peaches and raspberry, but it's the texture that really makes this sing. The mouthfeel reminds me of a perfectly ripe peach. Who needs sunshine when it's all in the glass?

2000 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva, Rioja
$39.99

For me, an older bottle of Rioja delivers an incredible blanace of fruit, spice, and texture, and this one is exceptional. It smells of coffee, plums, and cocoa powder, then delivers all of that plus mineral, tea leaves, and aged balsamic. Add that to a rich, velvety texture, and we have a subtle, elegant wine that is rocking my world!

March 2010

2008 Pala "Triente" Cannonau di Sardegna
$21.99

This is one of those wines that's almost dangerously delicious. I can't quite put my finger on exactly what it is that captures my attention, but it certainly does. The nose is explosively fragrant with cherry, strawberry, and black raspberry fruit, then there's licorice, roses, and spices as well. The palate follows through with a wine that isn't too heavy, tannic, sweet, or spicy - just right! Bring on the chicken with sundried tomatoes!

February 2010

2003 Matayac, Cahors
$12.99

This French Malbec had my name all over it, from the moment I put my nose in the glass. It smells of the French countryside - some funky barnyard, warm earth, mineral, violets, and fresh hay. On the palate it's rustic, rich, meaty, and hearty, with notes of blackberry, black tea, and mineral. Perfect for a lamb stew or a hearty cassoulet.

2006 Umberto Cesari Riserva, Sangiovese di Romagna
$20.99

We had this charmer at a recent tasting and it was a clear winner for me. It's full-bodied and rich, and makes me think of cherries dipped in dark chocolate, and rolled in cocoa nibs, with a little fresh-ground espresso lingering on the finish. It's time to dust off my mom's lasagna recipe.

January 2010

2007 Can Blau, Montsant
$17.99

This is a real head-turner of a wine, with zesty blackberry and blueberry fruit segueing into spice notes of cinnamon, clove, and allspice. There is a nice minerality that keeps this wine from being simply "pretty" as well. Rich and satisfying without being overly dense or chewy.

Lustau East India Solera, Jerez
$28.99, or $12.99 for 375ml

Had a good glass of sherry lately? Didn't think so! I think we all forget how wonderful sherry can be. This one is off-dry and wonderfully complex, with notes of orange crème brulée, toffee, dried apricot, orange marmalade, roasted nuts, and that wonderful brine note that makes sherry... well... sherry! Who needs dessert when you have this?

December 2009

1999 Luna Beberide Tinto, VdT de Castilla y Leon
$25.99

This wine is one that just speaks. I swear I was still thinking about it two days later. It starts earthy and rich with a nose of tobacco, leather, and anise, then contonues with gorgeous blackberry and black currant fruit, with flashes of licorice over a core of leather, mineral, and spice. The holidays have arrived early for me!

2003 Pietro Nera "Sorèl", IGT Rosso Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio
$16.99

Nebbiolo is probably my favorite grape in the whole world. Aromatic, subtle, complex, yet with a sense of power and movement as well. This wine is fascinating with a nose of leather and ground spices. The longer it sits, the more things I can tease out of it; cherry, strawberry, cinnamon, clove, orange peel. I am fascinated!

November 2009

2007 Couly-Dutheil "La Baronnie Madeleine", Chinon
$25.99

Have I ever got an obsession with Loire Valley Cab Franc right now! These wines have the structure and personality to go with so many things, without being heavy or overbearing. This one is wonderfully earthy, with lots of pine floor, pencil shavings, and tobacco, supporting strawberry and black cherry fruit. Ive got my Turkey Day wine!

Albert Bichot Brut, Crémant de Bourgogne
$ 21.99

If you've got Champagne taste on a beer budget like I do, look no further than the Crémants from Burgundy like this one. Crémants are French bubblies made in the traditional Champagne method (2nd fermentation in bottle), and those from Burgundy are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominant, just like Champagne. This one has a rich, creamy texture that marries perfectly with flavors of golden apples, caramelized pears, honey, buttered croissant, and lightly toasted almonds. Try the marvelous pairing with triple-crème cheeses or a bleu cheese-and-pear tart with caramelized onions.

October 2009

2008 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini
$18.99

This is perhaps the most fascinating white wine I've had in ages! The nose opens with a stony, smoky gunflint note, and then opens into honeysuckle, ornage and peach. It is crisp and dry, with orange zest, peaches and mineral. It really invites you to take another sip... and another... and another...

2001 Castello di Cacchiaro Chianti Classico Riserva
$39.99

This wine is something really special, probably the best Chianti I've had in the last year. It's the kind of wine I could smell all day long, and once I do take a sip, the finish is long and lingering. The wine is dense and concentrated, with plenty of dark cherry, orange pekoe tea, leather, dried rose petals, and gorgeous minerality. I'm going to dream about this one!

September 2009

2007 Donnafugata Sedara Nero d'Avola, Sicilia
$15.99

Nero d'Avola is a grape native to the island of Sicily. It is full-bodied and spicy, and perfect for the cooler weather we're starting to see. It shows gorgeous wild berry fruit, rounded out with spice notes of cinnamon and allspice, then a bit of mineral. If you're not craving duck by now, I sure am!

2003 Colle Secco Rubino Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
$15.99

The cooler weather has got me thinking about richer, heavier wines, and this one is a true find! If you've ever wondered how wine changes as it ages, this is your chance ot find out without either spending a fortune or tying up your cellar space. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is usually a juicy, fruit-forward wine with a bit of spice that pairs perfectly with pizza. This one has had a few years to mellow and get a bit more oak to start with. It is textural and full of rich earthy notes of mushrooms, leather, cigar box, and beef bouillon. I can see the bowl of beef stew with hearty chunks of potato and carrot and springs of thyme... mmmmmm........

August 2009

Italo Cescon Marca Trevigiana Prosecco, Roncadelle di Ormelle
$14.99

Prosecco and summertime go together like, hmm... peanut butter and jelly. The gentle bubbles are refreshing, and the flavors of sun-warmed peach, golden apples and honeysuckle are perfect for sipping by itself or pairing with food. Try it with grilled peach and goat cheese salad, or pork, chicken, or fish topped with a fruit salsa.

2007 Marques de Irun Verdejo, Rueda
$14.99

This is one of my perennial favorites, especially in the summer. Verdejo is a grape that I like to characterize as similar to Sauvignon Blanc, but a little weightier and more tropical, and a bit less aggressively grassy. This one is crisp and creamy at the same time, with notes of lemon zest, lemon meringue, kiwi, and fresh herbs.

July 2009

2008 Chateau de Lancyre Rose, Pic Saint-Loup, Coteaux de Languedoc
$19.99

Meet my new favorite rose! 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Cinsault, this beauty is crisp and dry and offers notes of raspberry, papaya, and lemon zest, rounded out with lavender and thyme. This is a serious, elegant rose, suitable for year-round enjoyment - brilliant with grilled ahi tuna.

2007 Cerreto "Blanghe" Arneis, Langhe
$21.99

Arneis is a grape from the piedmont region of Italy that was nearly allowed to die out. I for one, am grateful that it has been making a comeback. Crisp, dry, and delightfully fresh, it tastes of apples, fennel, white peaches and sunshine. Try it with pan-seared scallops in a light herb butter sauce over a watercress salad!

June 2009

2004 Veglio Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba
$11.99

Dolcetto is one of those Italian grapes that always seems to get lost in the shuffle. This one is a rustic charmer with its blackberry, olive and mineral notes. It has just enough grip to give it personality - bring on the bratwurst!

2007 Apolloni "Laurine" Pinot Noir, Willamette
$21.99

This is the most exciting Oregon Pinot I've tasted at this price. Rich, dark, and earthy, with notes of wood flowers, smoke, and bitter chocolate on the nose, followed by a savory, mushroomy combination of black fruit and spice on the palate. Talk about bang for the buck!

May 2009

2007 Berco do Infante Reserva, Estramadura
$9.99

Portugal is quickly making a name for itself with big flavors and small price tags, and this wine is a stellar example! Bold, meaty, and smoky, with tons of black fruit and spice, rounded out with earth and fresh herbs - bring on the mesquite, baby!

Trocadero Brut Blanc de Blancs, Savoie
$11.99

Gotta love finding bubbles this good at this price! Coming from Savoie, near the Swiss/French border, this sparkler is a blend of Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. It smells of apples, apple blossoms, and minerals, followed on the palate with perfectly ripe, just-peeled apples and pear, with a hint of honey. Ripe, round, and utterly delightful!

April 2009

2007 Cave de Vire, Macon-Villages
$16.99

This fabulous unoaked Chardonnay from southern Burgundy has got me thinking of warmer days. Beautifully layered with fresh apple, pear, almond and flint notes, the fruit is focused and bright, with a dry stony finish. This wine was a perfect match to king crab legs.

2007 Comerc Old Vine Garnacha, Carinena
$11.99

... and Spain continues to excite as a place for values right now. This wine is made from Grenache vines of 40+ years. The nose made me want to crawl right in, with its explosion of baked berries, vanilla, violets and spice. The palate followed through, reminding me of a wild berry tart. Coupled with juicy acidity and a silky mouthful, this is truly a flirt of a wine!

March 2009

2006 Dufouleur Pere et Fils Cuvee Napoleon, Bourgogne
$16.99

This is such a wonderful value for white Burgundy - I had forgotten how much I liked it until I took it home the other night, and served it with a chicken breast sauteed with bacon, apples, and mushrooms. It is unoaked and medium-weight, with flavors of apples, fresh ripe pears, cinnamon, and grilled bread.

2004 Chateau Les Grands Marechaux Premieres Cotes de Blaye, Bordeaux
$12.99

This is one of my favorite values from Bordeaux. The nose is very traditional, with notes of cedar, tobacco, cassis, and mocha. The palate opens with juicy blackberry and coffee, followed by dried herbs and earth. It is fresh and earthy at the same time, yet very smooth and easy to drink. Pair it with grilled pork chops or lamb.

February 2009

2005 Bastide du Claux Malacare, Cotes du Luberon
$18.99

55% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 20% Carignane. This beauty from the south of France is lush and lively with notes of cherry licorice, pepper, spice, and lavender. Its enthusiastic acidity makes it a natural for pairing with all sorts of food. I had it with an herb-rubbed lamb shank, but it would also go well with pork loin or a rich tomato sauce.

2007 Le Pigeoulet en Provence, VdP de Vaucluse
$21.99

This wine is made by the same Brunier family that makes Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Carignane. Elegantly structured with notes of blackberry, white pepper and licorice, finishing with a suggestion of lavender and thyme. Perfect for chilly winter nights.

January 2009

2005 YellowHawk Cellar "Solstice", Columbia Valley
$24.99

67% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah. This winery in Walla Walla specializes in Italian varietals, and this one is definitely an old world style, with lots of bright cherry, damp earth and olive notes. It finishes with creamy blackberry and a touch of spice. Perfect for pasta or roast pork with rosemary.

2002 Raspay Primitivo Quiles Reserva, Alicante
$25.99

This Monastrell comes from the Alicante region in southeastern Spain, and is absolutely fascinating! Flavors of mincemeat, dates, molasses, golden raisins and brown sugar ex-PLODE across your palate and warm you from the inside out. This wine is one to pour with a slow-cooked roast or perhaps a molé dish.

December 2008

J. Dumangin Fils Brut Rose Premier Cru, Champagne
$39.99

The holidays are the perfect time for bubbles, and this one is my choice. Not only is it the best value in Champagne right now (roses are normally more expensive), but it reminds me of the Billecart-Salmon Rose, which is one of the finest I've had. It is elegant, with a soft texture and aromas of dried cherries, roses, and spice cake, followed on the palate with more strawberry, spice, and breakfast pastry. Santa, I've been good - really! Also available in 375ml for $26.99

2004 Chateau Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Moulis en Medoc
$34.99

This Bordeaux is nearly half and half Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and is drinking just beautifully right now. The tannins are fine and well-integrated and support the rich flavors of earth, leather, tobacco, black currants and mushrooms. Its savory elegance makes it a perfect match for prime rib. Also available in 375ml for $17.99.

November 2008

2007 Wolfberger Gewurztraminer, Alsace
$ 21.99

If your only exposure to this grape has been sickly sweet, you owe it to yourself to try this elegant example. It is dry and richly textured, with plenty of peach, lychee, ripe pineapple, cinnamon, ginger, and the finish seems to last forever. Perfect for Turkey Day!

2000 Chateau Redortier Beaumes-de-Venise, Cotes du Rhone Villages
$ 20.99

This wine has had a few years to mellow and develop some complexity, which I think will make for a lovely pairing with Thanksgiving dinner. The nose opens with leather, violets, plum and cinnamon. On the palate it is rich and deep, not overpoweringly heavy and spicy. Gorgeous blackberry fruit, leather, and spice. Mmmmmmm!

October 2008

2000 Mas de Bazan Crianza, Utiel-Requena
$ 14.99

I'm definitely on a Spanish kick lately!  These wines deliver so much flavor for the money, it's hard to go wrong.  This one is a blend of 90% Bobal and 10% Tempranillo.  Earth, leather. balsamic, dates, mushroom, vanilla, clove, cinnamon...the list goes on.  Just delicious!

1996 Beronia Gran Reserva, Rioja
$ 29.99

How I love a properly aged wine that didn't take up my cellar space.  This is rich, elegant, refined, and yet neither shy nor retiring.  It tastes of strawberry and cherry, but the fascination is with the notes of leather, smoke and roasted mushrooms.  Try it with a simply-prepared steak topped with sauteed mushrooms and see if your toes don't curl up too!

September 2008

2005 Bodegas Ercavio Tempranillo Roble, VdT Castilla
$12.99

Oh my, do I ever love wine with big flavors and small price tags! This Spanish wine will set your senses reeling with notes of cola, black cherry, dates, cinnamon and clove. The bold flavors will pair well with BBQ or Greek- and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

2004 Mas de Bazan Tempranillo Crianza, Utiel-Requena
$19.99

The cooler days recently have got me craving warm, earthy wines, and this one delivers in spades. The palate warms with savory notes of mushroom and sawdust, layered with bright blackberry and cherry, then finishes with balsamic and vanilla. Try it with steak in a mushroom demi-glace. Yum!

August 2008

2003 Joh. Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese
$33.99

If you've spent years thinking Riesling was just a sugary sweet wine suitable only for sorority girls, it's time to revisit! German Riesling grown on the slate soils of the Mosel Valley is the epitome of balance and finesse, and this one is no exception. Loaded with mineral, peach, apricots, and honey, the texture is rich and somewhat weighty. This wine is perfectly balanced, with the sweetness adding richness and depth, rather than being simply sweet. It paired perfectly with a simple chicken breast finished with nectarine chutney.

2005 Mas Basile Syrah/Grenache "Les Combes", Costieres de Nimes
$14.99

July 2008

Ruggeri & C, Prosecco, Gold Label, Valdobbiadene
$19.99

This delightful, dry bubbly really layers the flavors with fresh, sunwarmed peach, pastry dough, almonds and a hit of brown sugar. Lively, fresh and richly textured.

2007 Bastianich Rosato, Venezia Giulia IGT
$14.99

June 2008

May 2008

2005 Li Veli Passamente Negroamaro, Salento
$11.99

Dark, earthy and rich were the first words that came to mind when I tasted this 100% Negroamaro from Italy.  The texture is smooth, with lots of dark fruit and savory notes going on.  This wine is perfect for rich mushroomy sauces or a demi glace.  Just say yum!

2005 King Estate Vin Glace Pinot Gris, Oregon
$19.99

Wow!  This ice wine form Oregon is absolutely gorgeous!  It is spicy, with intense flavors of apricot, peach, honeysuckle, honey and ginger, and enough acidity to keep it from being sticky sweet.  Lovely with a simple bowl of fresh peaches topped with crumbled amaretti cookies!

April 2008

2006 Albert Mann Pinot Blanc, Alsace
$19.99

Pinot Blanc is one of those delightful white grapes that don't get nearly the respect they deserve. This gem from Alsace is just beautiful, with notes of peach, apricot, and ripe pear, layered with a hint of honey and wonderful minerality. Perfect as an aperitif or with scallops!

2000 Poggio Antico Altero Brunello di Montalcino
$67.99

Had a transcendent wine experience lately? Treat yourself to this amazing Brunello! Made in the traditional style, this is a meaty, rich, complex wine with lots of leather, earth and cherry, and a finish that lasts for a week! I served this with a lamb shank and thought I'd died and gone to heaven...

March 2008

2003 Vina Santurnia Crianza, Rioja
$16.99

Rich and earthy with notes of strawberry and black cherry, along with some dark chocolate and intriguing flavors of blasamic reduction. Delicious with steak!

2005 Livia Fontana Langhe Arneis
$18.99

This white from Piedmont is just delightful. There is a beautiful minerality undre flavors of golden apples, herbs, fennel, and almond. Great with a simple grilled chicken or light pasta dish.

February 2008

2005 Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas
$19.99

65% Monastrell. 20% Cabernet, 15% Tintorera (also known as Tempranillo).  The Monastrell vines that produce this wine are over 100 years old, and the complexity really comes through in the glass.  Blackberry fruit wraps around a core of tar and earth, with fig and clove notes on the finish.  This is a wine to pair with boldly flavored meats like lamb or an herb-rubbed steak.

2004 Masseria Frattasi Aglianico di Caudium, Aglianico IGT Beneventano
$26.99

And my fascination with Aglianico continues!  The nose opens with notes of dark berry, pepper, violets and woodspice, and the palate delivers in spades.  Sweet blackberry, black cherry, mincemeat spice, raisins, vanilla, lavender and earth, make you want to disappear into a dark corner and get to know this wine much better.

January 2008

2005 La Aldea Monastrell, Jumilla
$9.99

This is a wine to warm you from the inside out with its spicy flavors of licorice, clove, dried fig, and blackberry jam - all of this at a price that won't break the bank!

2006 Colosi Nero d'Avola, Sicilia IGT
$17.99

Nero d'Avola is another one of those unique Italian (Sicilian, specifically) grapes that you never hear of growing anywhere else. This version is smooth, with notes of fig, anise, blackberry, and an intriguing hint of dried cranberry. Pasta Bolognese anyone?

December 2007

Bertrand Delespierre Brut Premier Cru Champagne
$51.99

This small-production grower Champagne is a rich, full-bodied wine with notes of roasted cashew and croissant, along with a touch of honey and almond on the finish. I can't wait to toast the New Year with this!

2003 Terrabianca Campaccio, Toscana
$37.99

This Supertuscan is 70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet and all delicious. The palate sings with lovely spice notes over cherry, strawberry, and a rich earthiness. It has lightness on the palate without lacking depth or structure. Try it with pork or chicken in a cherry glaze or mushroom sauce.

November 2007

2001 Rottlan Torra Torroja del Priorat Reserva
$21.99

Priorat is one of my favorite regions of Spain, but the wines tend to be rather expensive; I was very pleased to find this affordable choice. The nose entices with notes of spicecake, earth, plums, and chocolate. The palate delivers a soft, approachable texture wrapped around flavors of plums, dates, and chocolate infused with cinnamon and nutmeg. This is wonderful with middle eastern-inspired dishes, as well as with basic roast chicken. 50% Grenache, 25% Carignane, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.

1997 Tomas & Giesen Taurasi
$24.99

It's always a treat to find an affordable wine with some age on it (that I did not have to cellar myself). This wine is full of savory notes of earth, leather, mushrooms, and dried black fruit with a haunting suggestion of rose petals and violets. Try it with a beef roast or stew. 100% Aglianico (one of those weird and wonderful grapes grown only in Italy).

October 2007

Veuve du Vernay Sparkling Rose
$9.99

This is a sparkling wine I could drink all day long! Full of beautiful ripe strawberry and raspberry, the bubbles are silky, and the minerality under the fruit keeps it from being too tutti-frutti.

Antica Osteria Rosso
$8.99

This is a blend of 50% Montepulciano and 50% Sangiovese. It has pretty cherry and raspberry notes, paired with lovely savory and mushroom notes. Perfect for pizza and pasta!

September 2007

2003 Vieux Clocher Cairanne "Secret de Terroirs"
$9.99

70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre. Plum and blackberry notes layered over dried figs, along with hints of earth and violets, make this delightful wine a match for everything from steak to grilled chicken.

2005 Juan Gil
$14.99

Yowza! Here's my favorite grape Monastrell again. This is a big wine, dense and dark, with lots of spice, fig, and smoke notes. It just begs for a big steak, especially with a red wine reduction!

August 2007

2003 Esporao Touriga Nacional
$17.99

Touriga Nacional is one of the primary grapes used for making port, so this is a great chance to taste it on it's own. Lots of red fruit and spice on the nose is followed by spicy fig, anise, black plum and licorice. It has beautiful balance and structure. Try it with steak or lamb.

2005 Bastianich Rosato
$14.99

Not just a juicy sipper on the patio, this fabulous Italian rosato has lots of personality. It is loaded with tart cherry and rhubarb, and dried herbs with a pretty, creamy texture on the mid-palate. A perfect match with grilled salmon or an antipasto plate.

www.bastianich.com

July 2007

2005 P 15 Picada
$9.99

This fascinating wine comes literally from the far ends of the earth-Patagonia, Argentina. It is a wonderfully spicy wine that starts out on the nose with smoke, earth, licorice and dried herbs followed on the palate with lots more dark earthy notes, cocoa powder, black fruits and almost a chili powder spiciness. Need something to go with your marinated steak on the grill? This is it!

Malibran Prosecco Valdobbiadene D.O.C.
$14.99

The beauty of prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy, is that you can afford to drink everyday. This one shows notes of lemon and orange peel over a stony minerality, with a beautiful creaminess on the palate- most unusual for a wine at this price. Hey, it's OK to crack open a bubbly just because it's a Tuesday!

June 2007

2002 Pierre Soulez Savenniers Roche-aux-Moines
$29.99

Chenin Blanc is one of the most underrated grapes out there, yet when treated with care, makes multi-layered wines that can age for years. Sauvenniers is an appellation in the Loire Valley in France that produces crisp,dry,serious Chenin Blancs. Roche-aux-Moines is a small (less than 18 acres) area within Savennieres-essentially a Grand Cru. This wine comes from one of only three producers in this very special area. This is a complex, multi-layered wine with notes of stony minerality, honey, apricot, white peach, and quince. It has a pleasant weight on the palate with a long, savory finish.

2005 Prestige des Lauzeraies Tavel
$17.99

Tavel is an appelation in the Rhone Valley of France where only Rose is made.These are some of the few rose's that are still interesting after 2 or 3 years. This is a dry fuller bodied style, with beautiful cherry-almond flavors. First impression?...............Cherry Twizzlers!  Perfect with grilled salmon, ham, or pate.

May 2007

2005 Pala Crabilis Vermintino di Sardegna (Italy)
$13.99

This white wine from the island of Sardinia has everything an acid freak like me needs! It has a stony minerality layered with apple and ripe pears, then a note of honey on the mid-palate, followed by a bit of brine. If you aren't dying for shrimp in a lemon caper sauce by now...

2003 El Palacio Rojo (Spain)
$19.99

This dense wine is from the area of Jumilla, Spain. This area is quickly gaining a reputation with one of my favorite grapes, Monastrell. This wine is earthy and rich, with loads of dark fruit, dried fig, spice, and something reminiscent of a balsamic reduction. Savory and rich.

April 2007

2005 Carchelo Monastrell (Spain)
$7.99

This is a lot of wine for the money! Made from old vine Monastrell (the Spanish name for the Mourvedre grape), it is a rich, full-bodied wine with lots of fig, raisin, and date notes along with some pretty earth and spice. Yum!

2004 Barranc des Closos Priorat (Spain)
$19.99

This is an exciting and unusual find. Priorat is a region in Spain that is justly famous for its red wines. This white Priorat is a blend of white Grenache, Macabeo, and Muscat. Its gorgeous aromatic nose is followed by flavors of tangerine, citrus, peach, and mineral. This would pair beautifully with grilled chicken, fish, or pork.