All August Picks | Scott | Janet | Kelly | Mallory | Carl
Staff Picks for August 2008
Janet
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
The first thing that grabbed me about this wine was the color: a dark, inky purple-red that just glowed in the glass. It is meaty and rich, without being overly heavy, and sings with notes of pepper, plums, blackberry, blueberry, violets, and warm earth. Try it with bratwurst!
Carl
2007 Can Feixes Blanco Selecio, Penedés
$16.99
This white Spanish wine is from Penedés, located high in the mountains, and is blend of Parellade, Macabeo and Chardonnay. The nose is blend of citrus and apple, and carries through on the palate with spiciness and a stoney minerality. I like this wine because the blend makes it a nice change from other well known whites. The tartness makes it a great candidate for seafood dishes, rich white sauces, and wonderful creamy cheeses.
2005 Château Jalouise, Bordeaux Supérieur
$12.99
Being only a Bordeaux Supérieur, this one is fantastic and the vintage was excellent. Rich opulent flavors of spice, red fruit, and a slight understated earthiness greet the nose, and follow through on the palate to the very end. The tannins are soft, making this wine immediately approachable. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely delicious and a delight to drink. Any red meat pairing would be wonderful, but I think I would enjoy it on its own to sip for what it is ------fantastic!
Kelly
2003 Vieux Telegraphe "La Crau", Chateauneuf-du-Pape
$48.99
How often do you come across a white Chateauneuf-du-Pape? Not too often, for me, anyway. This blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Roussanne comes from 12.5 acres of 35 year-old vines, and is fermented partially in tank, and partially in barrique. This lovely wine has a fuller mouthfeel, with balanced flavors of lemon, apple, white pepper, minerality, and a slight hint of pineapple and parmesan cheese. Try it alongside chicken breast with brown butter sauce, or a plate of French cheeses - heaven!
2005 Spring Valley Vineyards "Frederick", Walla Walla
$49.99
Washington State makes such great wine - I love it! This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Petit Verdot is richly resonant with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and black pepper, with hints of cocoa butter and black truffle. The pairing here is definitely grilled steak with sage butter - don't forget that baked potato - Wow!
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Our Staff
The Seattle Cellars staff is dedicated to delivering the best wines we can find from all corners of the world. We taste over 500 wines a month (yes, we know, a tough job!) and bring in only about 20-30 that we are delighted to tell you about. Please ask us any questions you may have. We are happy to do anything we can to help you learn as much as you’d like about wine.
