Fleming's Wine Collection

SEGURA-VIUDAS
Brut Cava Aria Estate Spain NV
Just a short drive from joyous Barcelona, the first gentle pressings of the three Spanish grapes are blended and crafted in the traditional Méthode Champenoise. The Macabeo grape provides a fine, honeyed aroma. Parellada lends subtle elegance, and Xarel-lo provides the backbone. The result is this deliciously dry, sparkling Aria, ringing out in an emotional range of pineapple, honey, almond and straw notes. Sustainable

SIMONNET-FEBVRE
Brut Crémant de Bourgogne
France NV
A Brut-lover’s cup bubbleth over. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in France’s Chablis region and crafted in the Methode Champenoise, this bubbly bottle of perfection is a reason to celebrate in and of itself. The profound bouquet yields aromas of ripe yellow fruit, and the super-fine bubbles gather for a long-lasting effusion. Here’s to this wine’s score of 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, and its coveted spot on their list of Top 100 values. Sustainable

GLORIA FERRER
Blanc de Noirs Sonoma County NV
Vibrant vines and sparkling wines spring to mind at the mention of the name Gloria Ferrer, whose creations have brought back more than 100 glittering gold medals in the last six years. This hand-harvested Pinot-based wine is ever so faintly pink, creamy and complex, with bright strawberry and black cherry flavors up front, and a lush mix of cherry, lemon and cola splashing through the lively bubbles.

CHANDON
Brut Rosé Napa Valley NV
Thank you, Pinot. Thank you for the pretty blush you’ve given this bold, vibrant sparkling wine. Thank you for the structure you add that provides the wine with backbone. Thank you for creating a flavor that pairs perfectly with seafood, shellfish and lamb. And thank you for, well, for your pinkness. It adds just the right bit of romance to a special evening’s celebration. Biodynamic/Sustainable

LOOSEN BROS.
Riesling Mosel Dr. L Germany, 2007
“I want to taste the depth of the old vines. I want to experience the character of the vintage. I want authenticity; without it, a wine is simply another beverage.” These are the words of winemaker Ernst Loosen. He and his brother Thomas created this elegant and racy Riesling, evoking the steep, slate-soil vineyards of the Mosel Valley. Aromas of flowers, lime, nectarine and peaches burst forward in the nose, making way for sumptuous peach and melon on the palate. A perfect German translation of terroir. Sustainable, Organic

Beringer
White Zinfandel California, 2007
You’ve got to love a great pink wine. It doesn’t apologize. It doesn’t make excuses for itself. It simply moves beyond any preconceived notions you may have of its kind, and lavishes you with brilliant flavors and aromas—fresh raspberry, citrus and melon. It pairs beautifully with all kinds of foods, and keeps its head held high. (Whether it’s blushing, however, well, that we really don’t know.) Biodynamic/Sustainable

ZILLIKEN
Riesling Mosel Butterfly Germany, 2007
In Saarburg, a picturesque medieval town in Germany, the Zilliken family has been making Riesling wines for 260 years. Glowing and fresh as the sky on a late spring evening, this wine makes a great aperitif. A lovely nose of peach and apricot introduces flavors of citrus, herb and vanilla. Light but creamy, its apple-spiked finish lingers in your mouth and tickles the tongue with the lightness of a butterfly’s wing — a sensation that inspired its name. Sustainable

CONUNDRUM
California, 2007
Oh, the problems of being too delicious. Poor Conundrum. Its powerful aromas of green apple, tangerine zest and honeysuckle punctuate core flavors of apricot, melon, pear and light vanilla, while balancing with the sparkling acidity of citrus fruits. A lush, creamy mouth-filling texture brings along luscious floral and bright tropical fruit notes as it roars through to its beautiful finish. Honestly, the biggest conundrum with this wine is trying to decide whether or not to uncork another bottle. Biodynamic/Sustainable

REDBANK
Pinot Grigio Victoria The Long Paddock Australia, 2008
The Long Paddock is the old outback term for the open road, where “drovers” were allowed to let their animals graze during a drought if their own land was too dry. What doesn’t kill you builds your character, as they say. What didn’t kill these Pinot Grigio grapes built a high-spirited, light- to medium-bodied wine with a mouth-watering, crunchy citrus mid-palate balanced with fruit sweetness and minerality, and aromas of spice, herbs, nashi pears and fresh white flowers.

PONZI
Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, 2007
In all their winemaking activities, the Ponzi family shows the utmost respect and dedication to the Willamette Valley. And in 2007, the Valley returned that respect in the form of an absolutely spectacular, couldn’t-possibly-have-been-more-perfect set of climatic conditions for producing Pinot Gris. The result: spicy aromatics of clove, grilled pineapple, beeswax and yellow pear, then a full, creamy mid-palate with notes of green apple, quince and lemon zest, and a dreamy slide into the long, clean finish. Nice job, Willamette Valley. Sustainable

MASO CANALI
Pinot Grigio Trentino Italy, 2007
There’s a saying in Trentino: “Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino” It means “bread and wine make a beautiful baby.” Kind of gives you a sense of the importance of wine in this region, and the life-enhancing qualities of these grapes—a portion of which local winemakers dry on racks to concentrate the sugar and the flavors. With a brilliant, light gold color and flavors of pink apricot, lemon and pineapple, this wine is as charming as an Italian child.

PARDUCCI
Sustainable White Mendocino County, 2007
From tree-free papers and soy-based inks to solar energy, biodiesel tractors, recycled water and organic grapes growing on family farms, Parducci is creating a model of quality and environmental sustainability with their zero carbon environmental footprint. At the same time, they’re creating a heavenly white, laced with the fresh flavors of citrus and melon. Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat and Friulano grapes commune in this bottle of crisp, clean, “green” vintage. Sustainable

VERAMONTE
Casablanca Valley Chile, 2008
The wilds of Patagonia lie to the south. The Andes mountains rise to the east. To the west, the Pacific Ocean pounds the coastline. And somewhere in the middle of all that geological excitement, the Veramonte estate graciously hosts Sauvignon Blanc grapes, making sure they enjoy the ideal cool temperature to produce an aroma of fresh stone fruit accents of herbs and white flowers, a medium body, and citrus melon and herb flavors that linger like the long notes of an Andean flute.

JOLIVET
Loire Attitude France, 2007
You’re sitting in a wrought iron chair on the stone patio of a centuries-old chateau, taking in the sunset as it glows over the vineyards of the Loire. You’re sipping a brilliant, pale straw-gold glass of Sauvignon Blanc, noticing its aromatic nuances of lime, grapefruit, green apple and kiwi, and savoring its fresh flavors on your palate. You’re thinking, “Ah, the French. They certainly do have extraordinary Attitude.”

KIM CRAWFORD
Marlborough New Zealand, 2007
Kim Crawford thinks small. Grape-sized, to be precise. His goal is to be there at the moment when the grape is at its peak, preserve that moment in the bottle, and have it come alive in the glass. The Sauvignon Blanc grape that comes alive here must have been a straw-green one, with aromas of ripe tropical fruits, citrus, and freshly mown grass. With its fruit salad of juicy flavors, this wine snagged a spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 last year and fetched a score of 91 this time around. Sustainable

FRITZ
Russian River Valley, 2006
Like a brilliant yellow ray of sunshine, this ebullient wine explodes with fruit — aromas of pineapple, lemon and honeysuckle mingle with flavors of citrus, passion fruit and ripe melon. Refreshing, crisp and as lovely on its own as it is paired with light foods, this wine’s bright-as-day personality belies its beginnings in this family winery built underground. Sustainable

TURNBULL
Napa Valley, 2007
The Turnbull name goes back to the early 1300s when a court member of Robert the Bruce saved the king’s life by “turning” a ferocious bull that had threatened to gore the king. (“Turning” was apparently a medieval term for “wrestling it to the ground.”) With the name, the king bestowed a crest, emblazoned with the motto: Audaci Favet Fortuna, or “Fortune Favors the Bold.” How true this motto is today as a descriptor of Turnbull’s bold Sauvignon Blanc, with its bright, forward aromatics, delicate viscosity, and crisp, clear finish. Sustainable

RUFFINO
Toscana Libaio Italy, 2007
Near the medieval town of Monteriggeoni, Ruffino makes wines that bridge the old world and the new. Official wine supplier to the Italian Royal Court since 1916, they are masters of classic winemaking techniques, which they now blend with new styles to create conversation-opening wines like this light and refreshing, complex pear- and citrus-flavored Chardonnay. Well balanced, it’s delicious as an aperitif, and moves gracefully to the table for dinner with seafood or poultry.

KUMEU RIVER
Village New Zealand, 2006
Founded by a Croatian man and his wife who started a new life in New Zealand during WWI, Kumeu River winery was born of reinvention. Their philosophy on winemaking has to do with constantly evolving the balance between art and science. This vintage underscores the concept, with its lifted fruit aromas and its oh-so-Chardonnay touch of nuttiness. A nice, peachy ripeness on the palate complements the crisp, flinty character for a refreshing, cleansing quality. Lovely with fish and shellfish.

CANYON ROAD
California, 2007
As you drive down the meandering country roads of the California wine country, you need a soundtrack. A mellow, but exciting bit of road music — one that anticipates the beauty that waits around each curve. This Chardonnay is inspired by that kind of music. Its aromatic spice notes evoke the browns of the earth. Ripe lime in the mid-to-late palate recalls the bright greens of the vineyards and the dappled light on the grape leaves. Enjoyed on its own or paired with favorite foods, it’s a wine that leads to beautiful adventures. Sustainable

SANFORD
Santa Barbara County, 2007
The grapes for this wine might as well be growing at the intersection of Paradise and Nirvana. Their happiness is the result of an unusual east-west mountain valley that runs from the vineyards to the Pacific Ocean, making way for a meteorological ebb and flow between mountains and sea that’s ideal for cool-climate varietals. Intense but balanced, Sanford’s flagship Chardonnay is bursting with citrus and tropical fruit, with hints of crème brûlée. Smiles all around. Sustainable

PICKET FENCE
Russian River Valley, 2006
Like a perfect childhood in a sweet house with a picket fence, this winery gives its grapes an ideal start in life, with the gentlest guidance as they develop. Warm days, cool nights and foggy mornings mean slow ripening for sophisticated flavor. Hand harvesting at night allows acidity and crisp flavors to maintain their natural character. Full of lemon, apple and pear, this balanced wine is subtle, elegant and a neighborly partner for food. Sustainable

NEWMAN'S OWN
California, 2006
Twenty-five years ago, Paul Newman bottled his first product — salad dressing — in a wine bottle. With this product, he came full circle, back to wine bottles, only these are filled with wine. No pretenses, just real, great wine, for real, everyday folks. That is, everyday folks who appreciate a rich, complex Chardonnay with exceptional balance, ripe apple, pear and citrus flavors with a hint of sweet vanilla oak, and a crisp, dry finish. Profits from this wine benefit thousands of charities worldwide. Sustainable

MERRYVALE
Napa Valley Starmont, 2006/2007
Made from the hand-selected jewels of vineyards throughout Napa Valley, here’s a Chardonnay that truly shines. It’s aged in oak for 10 months sur lie (on top of dead yeast…hmmm, could this be where the term “surly” comes from?) to round out the texture and enhance complexity — while still delivering a great big smack of fruit. Sustainable

JORDAN
Sonoma County, 2006
The Jordan winery began in the early 70s, when fine wine in California was in its infancy. Back then, the model wine estate was in Europe. So Jordan set about to emulate the European traditions of winemaking. Classical architecture, landscaping, and gardens inspire the winemakers to stay true their old country ideals. But the Russian River Valley gives the grapes their new world brilliance. A Chardonnay born of old-world techniques and California freshness, this wine strikes a delicious balance between rich, aromatic fruit and crisp acidity. Sustainable

SONOMA-CUTRER
Sonoma Coast Russian River Ranches, 2007
he Chardonnay grapes of the Russian River Ranches must have done something good in a past life. Otherwise, they would never have been blessed with such perfect growing conditions. So the winemakers of Sonoma-Cutrer have created a world-class Chardonnay that reflects the grapes’ privileged soil, climate and vintage. It’s a study in elegance and complexity: straightforward at first, then evolving in the glass, developing new character, and gliding through to a long, exquisite finish with beautifully balanced fruit and acidity.

KENDALL-JACKSON
California Vintner's Selection, 2006
Using grapes from Santa Barbara for their tropical fruit flavors, grapes from Monterey for their lemon-lime flavors, and grapes from Napa and Sonoma for their apple and pear flavors, Kendall-Jackson handcrafts this beloved taste of California, with its signature creamy, velvety texture. The venerable Robert Parker recommends it as a remarkable value. Sustainable

GLEN CARLOU
Paarl South Africa, 2008
Forty minutes from Cape Town, at the heart of South Africa’s Paarl Valley, the summers are dry, the winters are cold and wet, and the Chardonnay grapes live a charmed life. Tended by winemakers who balance technological expertise with good old-fashioned instinct, these grapes lead to wine with fresh lime green and yellow color, green fruit-butterscotch aromas and refreshing, full-bodied flavor with a mouth-watering citrus and light oak finish. Sustainable

LANDMARK
Sonoma-Santa Barbara-Monterey Counties Overlook, 2006
Founded by the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere (yes, that John Deere), this winery has the love of land in its DNA. Named after beloved Deere family homes, Landmark and Overlook represent generations of passion for what wine people call terroir. Arguably their finest Overlook Chardonnay to date, this vintage enjoyed an ideal growing season, and the balanced acidity and creamy, fleshy texture suggest its ability to keep aging beautifully. Sustainable

A to Z WINEWORKS
Oregon, 2007
“Hello, my name is Oregon Pinot,” this wine screams. Blended from the fruits of at least sixteen different Oregon Pinot Noir vineyards, A to Z lets the personality of the region’s Pinot grapes shape this wine in their own image. Deep, pure and overflowing with berries, it gives you the earth, the smoke, the spice and the lacy violets of its home turf, while negotiating a truce between richness and power. Biodynamic/Sustainable

PAUL DOLAN
Mendocino County, 2006
With aspirations of being America’s Greenest Winery, the partners of Paul Dolan run an operation where flora and fauna thrive on the land, and the land thrives because of its flora and fauna. Grapes aren’t the only ones who love this kind of environment. In fact, Paul Dolan was recently named Winery of the Year by the California Travel Association. Can’t experience the winery in person? Then experience it in this interplay of wild berry, cherry, toasted oak and vanilla flavors splashing together in a glass. Certified Organic

MACMURRAY RANCH
Sonoma Coast, 2007
Remember Fred MacMurray? The single dad in the TV sitcom, My Three Sons? This ranch was once his property. Instead of grazing cattle, vines now grace the land, but the wrought iron gate MacMurray made still greets his daughter Kate every day when she comes to work at the winery — reminding us that raising good grapes is like raising good kids — it takes patience and a sense of humor. Aged in American and European oak barrels, bright ruby-colored and redolent with ripe fruit flavors, this rich, beautifully finessed Pinot was definitely raised right. Sustainable

MARK WEST
California, 2005
Pinot for the People! This is Mark West’s rallying cry. This winery believes that great, affordable Pinot — one that’s equally at home on a celebration table as a picnic table — is not a luxury, but a right. And so their revolution has brought us this vintage, worthy of the name California, with its fruity-fruit-fruit aromas and flavor profile — rich cherry pie, raspberry preserves and ripe plum on the nose, and juicy dark red raspberry, jammy strawberry and baked peaches on the palate. Sustainable

LOUIS JADOT
Pinot Noir Bourgogne France, 2006
Harmonious and balanced, with a plump fruitiness and a silky texture, this Pinot is French silk, woven of grapes from all over the Burgundy region. Complex because of its blend of grapes from the Côte d'Or, including Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Côte Chalonnaise, and Auxerrois, this elegantly structured, medium-bodied Pinot Noir is like a Tour de France for the senses. Sustainable

IRONY
Monterey County, 2006
As kids, Chris and Jay Indelicato worked the family vineyard’s harvest because their parents made them do it. They grew up, went off to college, and forged careers that took them far from the land their grandfather planted in 1924. The irony is that today, they enjoy fulfilling lives working side by side in the family vineyard and winery. This smooth, nicely layered Pinot Noir — with its aroma of berries galore and flavors of those berries, laced with toast and vanilla — is perfect for toasting life’s unexpected twists and turns.

BELLE GLOS
Sonoma Coast Meiomi, 2007
Not everyone can honor their grandmother by distilling the purest essence of a vineyard into an elegant expression of California Pinot Noir. But winemaker Joseph Wagner is the grandson of Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, a winemaker herself, and co-founder of Caymus Vineyards. The name of the winery is a tribute to her. This Pinot’s black tea, black cherry and licorice on the nose and flavors of tea, ripe cherry, cola and black licorice swirl together in a mix of tradition and innovation. The medium-long finish is an experience to be savored. Mr. Wagner, you’ve done Grandma proud. Biodynamic/Sustainable

SCHUG
Sonoma Coast, 2007
A native of Germany's Rhine river valley, Walter Schug was raised in Assmannshausen, on the region's only Pinot Noir estate. And although he formerly crafted Joseph Phelps’ flagship Insignia Cabernet, Pinot Noir has always held a special place in his heart. Schug’s Pinot passion is evident in this deep, complex blend, a gold medal winner in the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Its vibrant flavors, reminiscent of raspberry and cherry, pair exquisitely with any kind of grilled meat. Sustainable

CAMBRIA
Santa Maria Valley Julia's Vineyard, 2007
This pretty Pinot, named after the winemaker’s youngest daughter, exhibits all the qualities of a confident, captivating young lady. It blends cherries, blueberries, strawberries and cranberries with dashes of cinnamon and vanilla, to the delight of all who taste it. Cloaked in velvety texture, it arranges floral components beautifully. Its acids are balanced, its tannins are graceful, and in general, it exhibits exquisite Pinot Noir manners. Sustainable

PALACIOS-REMONDO
Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2007
Spain’s Rioja region has been producing wine since the 16th century, when Spain was the most powerful country in Europe, experiencing its most artistically prolific period. Made by Spain’s celebrated winemaker, Alvaro Palacios, this red wine layers plum and lavender aromas with flavors of fruit and florals, allowing you to channel the nation’s aesthetic sensitivity, past and present.

d' ARENBERG
The Stump Jump South Australia, 2007
No, the Stump Jump isn’t named after an Australian dance craze or indigenous ritual. It has to do with a very handy South Australian invention—the Stump Jump plough which can ride over stumps and gnarled Eucalyptus roots. Very important when one is anxious to put one’s grape vines in the ground. In honor of this marvelous device, this rich, ruby red blend gives a nose of ripe juicy red fruit mixed with notes of dark cherry, Christmas pudding (seriously!), green and white pepper corns, plum and boiled rhubarb. The palate is ripe, juicy and easy drinking—dominated by a mix of red berries. The more it opens up, the more its dark rich concentrated fruit characters evolve.

PASCUAL TOSO
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2007
In the 1880s, Pascual Toso left his home in Italy and put down his roots in Argentina. Now the oldest and most prestigious winery in the nation, Toso works with famous Sonoma winemaker Paul Hobbs, crafting premium and super-premium wines. A Wine Enthusiast Top 100 pick, this 100% Malbec puts you on a breezy rooftop deck above a flat in Buenos Aires, enjoying its deep, colorful charms over a great conversation with friends.

VOLPAIA
Chianti Classico Italy, 2005
Fifty-two people, four churches, no priests, and a medieval winery cleverly built into, around and through a tiny Tuscan hill town that dates from the 11th century. Welcome to Volpaia. Here, the decomposing sandstone creates a soil condition the hand-harvested grapes obviously appreciate. The vivid red wine, with its notes of red fruit and hints of cherries, captures the flavor of the grapes, as well as the extraordinary flavor of the place.

TENIMENTI ANGELINI
Toscana Tuttobene Red Italy, 2006
Everyone loves Tuscany. Even if you’ve never had the good fortune to visit the place, the mere mention of its name awakens your senses—preparing you for the pleasures of food, wine and the human experience. It is the essence of Tuscany itself that winemaker Mario Calzolari has managed to capture in this bottle. You can taste its sunny days, its warmth and Mediterranean flavors. The wine is named Tuttobene, a happy Italian word that means "all is going well." Try it, and you’ll agree.

FAMILIA ZUCCARDI
Malbec Mendoza Q Argentina, 2006/2007
Argentina is a cultural blender—practically everyone is of some kind of European descent, living a vibrant Latin American lifestyle. This Argentinean wine reflects that melting pot atmosphere, integrating complex aromas of red and black ripe fruits like plums, blackberries, cherries and dried figs on the nose. And on the palate, notes of vanilla, coffee, leather, eucalyptus and tobacco live together in harmony. A full-bodied wine with sweet tannins and well-balanced acidity, good structure and longevity. Amazing with a good steak and a great group of friends from different places. Organic/Sustainable

PETER LEHMANN
Clancy's Barossa Australia, 2005
Peter Lehmann has a nickname. He’s known as Australia’s “Baron of Barossa.” A fifth-generation Barossan and a winemaker for more than thirty years, he’s been called a “legend in his own lifetime” by wine writer James Halliday. And Clancy’s blend has become legendary as well, having been selected to Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines of the Year” no less than four times, and named to its inaugural list of the “World’s Top 100 Wine Values.” An exceptional, food-friendly wine that’s easy to drink and easy to love. Sustainable

PILLAR BOX
Red Padthaway Australia, 2006
Imagine blue and dark berries twining around licorice vines, spearmint leaves and weaving in and around a cigar box. Okay, that’s this wine’s nose. Now picture black currants, ripe blueberries, freshly grated orange rind, and dark chocolate, beautifully arranged on a slab of smoky oak. That’s the flavor. The tannins are full, the palate is round, and the finish is a long, harmonious moment of enjoyment that enhances the flavor of any kind of meat.

QUPÉ
Los Olivos Cuveé Santa Barbara County, 2007
Oh, remember the buzz about this wine when it debuted in 1988? It made a big splash in its first glass, and has been maintaining its critically acclaimed momentum ever since. Now in its 20th vintage, it’s rich without being heavy, fruity without being cloying, and structured without being tannic. With its flavor driven by the attention-craving Syrah and Mourvèdre varieties, Grenache is the trusty grape that holds it all together. Perennial greatness in a glass. Organic/Biodynamic/Sustainable

COLUMBIA
Syrah Columbia Valley, 2006
Columbia’s winemaker emeritus, David Lake, has been called the “Dean of Washington Winemakers” by both Wine Spectator and Decanter Magazine. Dean or no dean, you’ll want to take the time to study this fine example of American Syrah, and take note of its distinctive complexity and character. If you like Australian Shiraz, you’ll love the berry bowl aromatics and the jamminess of this vintage, not to mention the way it complements a steak. Another great wine to add to the Dean’s list.

VINUM
Petite Sirah Clarksburg Pets Wilson Vineyards, 2007
This Petite Sirah grape is nicknamed "Pets" by the veteran grape growers at Wilson Vineyards. So Vinum dedicated this wine to Ken Wilson’s pet dog—Tanker. Dark colored, long legged and bold, this juicy, zesty, boysenberry-inflected wine has the potential to become your best friend. Drink it tonight, or a few years from tonight, and enjoy the thick tannins, wonderful spicy notes and hint of fresh cracked black pepper. If you had a tail, this wine would make you wag it. Sustainable

MEYER
Syrah Mendocino County, 2005
Matt Meyer, son of famous winemaker Justin Meyer of Silver Oak fame, is married to Karen Meyer. They love each other. They also love making wine. Between them they have logged oenological experience in Australia, New Zealand, Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, and Yorkville Highlands. The latter location is where they’ve chosen to stay, and their winery, Meyer Family Cellars, blends their eclectic experience into an impressive whole, as this vintage proves. Aromatically intense, it blasts red plums and boysenberries, sweetened with cassis. The edges of the naturally ripe tannins have been polished by 20 months in oak, so the wine fills your mouth easily and lasts long on the palate. Organic/ Sustainable

XYZ
Zin 10 California, 2007
They may be the toughest letters to deal with in Scrabble®. But when it comes to Zinfandel, XYZ goes down nice and easy. Ruby red with the flavor of tree-ripe cherries, the wine opens with an aroma of rose petals, juicy pomegranate and warm brown sugar. Strawberry and plum fruit storm the entry, leading to a plush mid-palate avalanche of dark cherries and mulberries. You’ll sense some sandalwood, fresh bay leaf, and chocolate in there, too. XYZ describes their approach to this Zinfandel as combining “the best of the old with the most alluring of the new, in pursuit of the divine.” This description seems accurate to the letter.

MEDUSA
Amador County Deaver Ranch Pig Pen Vineyard, 2006
The son of Robert and Isabel Mondavi, Rob Mondavi spent his childhood playing among the gnarled, twisted vines that must have reminded him of the legend of Medusa, with her snakelike hair. Now that Rob has returned to the vineyards of his youth, the Zinfandel vines represent the absolute antithesis of evil, producing magical wines. Despite its name, given for the fencing that keeps the wild boar from feasting on the luscious fruit of the old vines, Pig Pen offers a pretty rose petal bouquet, and lots of ripe Rainier cherry flavor.

SEGHESIO
Sonoma County, 2007
The story of this wine begins in 1886, when Edoardo Seghesio departed his family’s vineyards in Piemonte, Italy, for a new life in America. He purchased a modest property in the Alexander Valley, and planted the family’s first California Zinfandel vines in 1895. Today, the Seghesios share their great-grandfather’s passion for what is now their 400 acres of vineyards, creating wines like this Northern Sonoma Zinfandel, which has made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World three times. Well-defined, outgoing fruit in both the aromas and the full, fleshy flavors give counterpoint to notes of dry spices and briar.Sustainable

RED DIAMOND
Washington, 2006
We could spend a sentence or two comparing this Merlot’s clarity and color to that of a sparkling gem, but let’s just cut to the chase here: Wine and Spirits calls this one of the Top Ten Merlots in America. Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca has crafted a wine that celebrates this exquisite grape for the individual that it becomes in the Pacific Northwest—with cherry and cola on the nose, and red cherry, caramel and mocha on the palate. Silky, approachable and easy to drink.

CHÂTEAU SAINT SULPICE
Bordeaux France, 2006
Chateau Saint Sulpice doesn’t have a website. They don’t have a blog, or an online shop or even a fan page on Facebook. Why? Because Pierre and Christophe Duberge, the father and son winemaking team who run the Chateau, are too busy making their amazingly full, fruit-centric, dense-in-the-mouth Bordeaux wine, thank you very much. A toast to life’s great offline pleasures.

CLOS DU BOIS
North Coast, 2005
Clos du Bois translates to “enclosures in the woods”—an image this big, juicy wine might conjure. With its velvet touch, its taste might remind you of a gingerbread house, with its flavors of vanilla and spice. Its shingles are made of tobacco leaves. Red currants, black cherries and plums ripen in profusion around the cottage. An evocative Merlot with a loooong finish.

HOPE ESTATE
Hunter Valley Australia, 2007
Michael Hope was a pharmacist who dreamed of refilling something more interesting than prescriptions. And so in 1994 he became a winemaker, and now wine lovers all over the world are refilling their glasses with his wines, of which this luscious Merlot is a stellar representative. Every drop of the wine comes from grapes grown on his estate—grapes that speak of plums and berries from within a dense, well-rounded palate of cherry, chocolate richness sparked with spicy, integrated oak characters. Sustainable

MARKHAM
Napa Valley, 2005
Everyone needs a best friend. One you want to spend time with no matter what kind of mood you’re in. This Merlot is that much fun, that interesting and that easy to get along with. Layers of dark fruits with toasty vanilla oak notes standing next to firm, lush tannins partner especially well with meats—and seem even more appealing when you know that part of the proceeds help Hurricane Katrina victims.

FROG'S LEAP
Rutherford, 2006
Dedicated to caring for the land and drawing the best from it without irrigation, Frog’s Leap is a terroir lover’s dream. Natural pleasures abound in this elegant, balanced and restrained wine, with its bright aromatics of ripe plum and cocoa, flavors of cherry and currants laced with cigar box and dried herbs. Plush tannins sail through to a smooth finish, making this one frog any Merlot lover would be willing to kiss. Certified Organic/Biodynamic/Sustainable

CHELSEA GOLDSCHMIDT
Dry Creek Valley, 2006
Legendary winemaker Nick Goldschmidt makes premium quality artisan wines in New Zealand, Australia, South America and California. Between supervising northern and southern hemisphere harvests, he likes to spend quality time with his family. This powerful, beautifully finessed Merlot is named after his oldest daughter, Chelsea, who, according to Nick, is as red headed as the wine. It presents aromas of red cherry and blueberry, with sweet, ripe fruit flavors and long, silky tannins. Sustainable

OBERON
Napa Valley, 2006
Which do you love more, chocolate or blueberries? Don’t answer that. You can have them both in this wine, a lucky beneficiary of Napa’s ridiculously perfect growing season of 2006. It’s the kind of wine you can either sip by an outdoor fire on a summer night, or pair with an elegantly prepared steak. Its diversity of flavors make this wine ideal in just about any setting.

ROBERT SINSKEY
Los Carneros, 2004
A late summer heat wave intensified the flavors in 2004’s crop, making it a fruit-forward year. And while this Merlot’s first line is fruit, there’s so much more there. Complexities of earth, dried herbs, cocoa powder (and fruit, fruit, fruit) make this eminently agreeable wine deceivably easy to drink up now. The fact that the winery switched to solar energy and reduced its carbon output makes it taste even better. Certified Organic/Biodynamic/Sustainable

FLORA SPRINGS
Napa Valley, 2005
Like a perfect Napa Valley evening, this all-occasion wine is warm and soft and glowing with earthly pleasures. It reaches out to you with flavors of strawberries, chocolate-covered cherries, raspberries and spice—layered with souvenir notes from French, American and Eastern European oak. From a winery that’s been growing vines for decades, and knows precisely where Merlot’s favorite soils are found. Yes, life is good. Certified Organic/Biodynamic/Sustainable

RODNEY STRONG
Sonoma County, 2005
Rodney Strong’s first love was dance. After years of performing in Paris, his head filled with the flavors and aromas of so many French wines, he brought his grace and energy to winemaking. Here in Sonoma County, where growing conditions allow picky Merlot grapes to relax and do their thing, winemaker Rick Sayre once more created a soft, rich Merlot with plenty of backbone. Plum, blueberry and toasty spice play on the palate as if choreographed. Sustainable

14 HANDS
Washington, 2006
Named after the height measurement of the wild horses that once made their home on what are now their vineyards, 14 Hands produces truly spirited wines, of which this Cabernet is a stellar example. Grapes from the Horse Heaven Hills and other areas of the Columbia Valley give this wine its special fleshy quality. Aromas of cherries and currants with subtle hints of spice and dried herbs. Fresh flavors of red fruit accompany a touch of cocoa galloping through to a finish marked with fine, round tannins.

RUTHERFORD RANCH
Napa Valley, 2006
Robert Parker is to wine as Warren Buffett is to finance—people listen to what he has to say. And according to Mr. Parker, Rutherford Ranch wines are “the best value in Napa Valley.” In this bottle of complex and balanced fruitiness, the ruby-colored Cabernet gushes with currants, warm cinnamon spice and a dusting of cedar at the nose. The concentrated flavors are the perfect match with steak.

GREG NORMAN
Cabernet-Merlot Limestone Coast Australia, 2006
Greg Norman’s name on a bottle means Greg Norman’s taste is represented in that bottle. So one can safely assume that golf’s “Great White Shark” likes his Cabs on the purple side, with a clean, powerful nose of cloves and a dusty dash of Aussie eucalyptus. He prefers his Merlot with aromas of red berries, vanilla and violets—and a palate that confirms the nose of this blend—medium-full body, and ripe tannins. Like the man it’s named after, this wine is determined, easygoing and full of character. Biodynamic/Sustainable

PARÉS BALTÀ
Cabernet-Garnacha Penedés Mas Petit Spain, 2006
Not far from Barcelona, three generations of passionate winemakers carry on the work that began in 1790 at Pares Balta. The Cabernet and (Garnacha) Grenache grapes for this vintage grow on five estates around the winery, in a diverse mixture of soils and microclimates, pollinated by the family’s own bees, and cooled by the breezes off the Mediterranean. It all combines to create a deep red Cabernet blend bursting with black currant and black cherry fruit, a lush mid-palate, a supple finish, and a personality as unique as the place from which it springs. Certified Organic/Sustainable

ERNIE ELS WINES
Guardian Peak Frontier Western Cape South Africa, 2007
"Wine is like golf,” says Ernie Els, the winery’s eponymous proprietor, famous for his super-stellar career in the sport. “In both endeavors, nature has the last ruling." This wine, made from grapes grown high up on Helderberg, yet within range of the salty Atlantic breezes, reflects nature’s touch in its warm fruit flavors. Made to appeal to the outdoor enthusiast, it’s a Cabernet that’s crafted to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION
Claret California Black Label, 2006
Open on a British drawing room. An elegant couple is sipping dark red glasses of Claret beneath a portrait of their ancestors. Cut to the home’s exterior. We see that we are actually in California wine country. And the wine, as it turns out, is a pure, ultra-premium California Cabernet blend—modeled after famous Bordeaux. Mocha and crème brûlée aromas precede flavors of crushed berries, cassis, vanilla and wood. Full-bodied and dry, it’s not just a drink, old chap. It’s a glass of history. Organic/Sustainable

B. R. COHN
North Coast Silver Label, 2006
Mellow and fun loving, this true Sonoma-style Cab fills the senses with all that feels good. It weaves notes of vanilla through lusciously full, rich berry and cassis fruit flavors. It adds complexity from its aging in French oak, and it parties down with food, especially steak. No wonder—the proprietor has been managing the Doobie Brothers since the 70s. Rock on, Bruce Cohn. Sustainable

PRETTY SALLY
Cabernet-Shiraz Victoria Australia, 2004/2005
Pretty Sally was a feisty one. Remembered for operating an illegal bar on the western slope of Big Hill where the grapes for this wine grow today, Sally was far from the cute little thing her nickname calls to mind. Rather, she was a sturdy woman of about 250 lbs. In her honor, this Estate vintage is a big-boned gal of a Cab, blended with a spicy streak of Shiraz—offering rich, dark fruit aromas that give way to a richly textured palate of plum, black currant, and baking spices with shades of pepper and cumin. Perfect for those who like ‘em full-bodied. Organic/Sustainable

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE
Columbia Valley Indian Wells, 2006
Like Rudolf Valentino in The Sheik, this big charmer of a Cab emerges from the desert full of sweetness and star quality. Far from Seattle’s rainy climate, the dry Columbia Valley nurtures the Chateau’s mature vineyards with warm days and cool nights. Winemaker Bob Berthau elicits from them this lovable hunk of a wine—comforting, yet layered with fascinating complexity.

DAN AYKROYD
Alexander Valley, 2007
Like good comedy, a good wine works best when it takes you by surprise. Dan Aykroyd’s Cabernet, though produced in Sonoma, has the unexpected elegance and complexity of a classic Bordeaux. He adds Merlot for the soft, fleshy berry and plum flavors, and Carmenère to balance the tannins. Then it ages in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels for more complexity and concentration. Surprise! The former Blues Brother, Ghostbuster and Saturday Night Live cast member presents an approachable, flavorful vintage that Cab lovers can take quite seriously.

HESS
Napa Valley Allomi Vineyard, 2005
An art lover and collector, Donald Hess has created a wine that’s an artwork in itself. During this cool year with an above-average crop size, fruit ripened slowly and hung on the vine a long, long time, which gave the grapes great balance. The wine’s smooth, soft, round tannins mean patience is no longer required. This classic California Cabernet will be perfect tonight with steaks, chops or lamb. Sustainable

CHÂTEAU SÉNÉJAC
Haut-Médoc France, 2006
A sip of this ruby potion is transportation to one of those turreted stone chateaus in Bordeaux, surrounded by fields of vineyards and sunflowers. The wine tells stories of generations past, when the bread was baked in the wood-fired oven, and served with vintages like this one—in velvet-curtained drawing rooms where people whiled away their evenings singing to each other and playing the harpsichord. A distinctly old-fashioned wine, it has the brightness of cherries and berries, a slightly tough edge, and plenty of persistence.

TREFETHEN
Double T Napa Valley, 2006
“A lot of wine,” says Wine and Spirits magazine of this Bordeaux blend, with its plummy, jammy nose, its cherry-berry flavor profile, and its smooth, chocolate-covered finish. Its name, Double T, derives from the configuration of the vines on their trellises, but with a bit of imagination, one begins to envision it as the brand of an old-time California cattle ranch. “Order a glass at a steakhouse,” the magazine goes on to suggest. We couldn’t agree more. Sustainable

HALL
Napa Valley, 2006
Kathryn Hall has been an ambassador, a corporate attorney and an activist. Craig Hall is an entrepreneur, an art collector and author. Their winery’s visitor center is designed by Frank Gehry. Not surprisingly, their artisanal wine is a highly aesthetic, yet outspoken mash-up of rich, intense aromas and flavors. Currant, blackberry and cherry on the nose. Leather, nutmeg, plum and vanilla on the palate. Organic/Sustainable

BEAULIEU VINEYARD
Tapestry Napa Valley, 2005
From the winery that is part of the very fabric of Napa Valley wine culture, BV’s Tapestry weaves five classic varietals—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec—into an elegant, beautifully balanced wine. Deep berry and cassis flavors are the background of the blend, while Merlot adds round, black cherry and cocoa notes. The Cabernet Franc lends hints of violets and the Petit Verdot and Malbec dot the foreground with the color of rubies. This wine makes a delicious foil for grilled steak. Sustainable

CHATEAU MONTELENA
Napa Valley, 2005/2006
It was a year beyond expectation at Chateau Montelena. We’re talking a veritable tsunami of Cabernet grapes—473 tons, to be exact. And every drop delivered the quality, the flavor and the chemistry that it takes to create the classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—the region’s original Big Kahuna. Dark, savory, deep and fruity, with that old-school firmness that put California Cabs on the map.

DOMAINE PINNACLE
Apple Ice Wine Canada
The unique combination of ideal summer apple growing conditions and cold Canadian winters allows this family-owned orchard and cidery to create a wine like nothing else you have ever tasted. Using a select blend of hand-picked apples, harvested after, frost and their juice extracted naturally over the winter months, Apple Ice Wine is a bottle of stunning richness, complexity and balance. Equally wonderful as an aperitif, and with desserts of all kinds.

INNISKILLIN
Vidal Pearl Icewine Niagara Peninsula Canada, 2006
Karl Kaiser, the studious, Austrian-born chemist, and Donald Ziraldo, the Italian-Canadian agricultural graduate teamed up to become the founding fathers of Canadian wine. In this northern climate, it’s only natural that they would try their hands at creating delicious icewine—the rare vintage so-named because the fruit hangs on the vines until winter and freezes. The frozen berries are crushed and yield only a syrupy juice, leaving behind the ice crystals. It’s this concentrated, super sweet syrup that gets fermented. The result is as delicious and rich as holiday sweets, so its natural complements are fruit-based desserts. Shining with flavors of nectarine, papaya, lychee, tangerine and orange blossoms.

YALUMBA
Tawny Port Barossa Museum Release Antique Australia NV
Five generations and more than 150 years have passed since Yalumba, Australia’s oldest winery, began making fortified wines. Four decades ago, the winemaker began putting aside a few barrels of each year’s production of deluxe tawny ports. These wines are left to quietly mature in various corners of Yalumba’s marble cellars for an average of fifteen years. The master port blender, David Doc Zimmermann, then painstakingly assembles from them a rich tawny port, with its finely balanced sweetness and unique flavor. Sustainable

FONSECA,
Reserve Porto Bin 27 Portugal NV
Bin 27 is the kind of port that elicits knowing smiles from port lovers at the mere glimpse of its black label. The winery’s family has been enjoying this special port for more than a century, but the public has only had the opportunity to partake since 1972. Its fine structure, full, velvety body and lush black currant and cherry notes add a grand finale to any evening. Sustainable

CROFT
Tawny Port 10 year old Portugal NV
Back in the 17th century, this winery was one of the first to fortify wine for the long trip back to Britain—a journey that was too much for flimsier wines of the time to withstand without losing their integrity. True to its long pedigree, this bottle of Croft promises seductive nuances of walnuts and hazelnuts, interlaced with dried fig, plum and apricot on the palate. Each glass overflows with flavorful reminders of adventure on the high seas.

TAYLOR FLADGATE
Tawny Port 20 year old Portugal NV
While a vintage port matures almost entirely in the bottle, an aged tawny evolves entirely in the cask—in contact with oxygen. A Tawny Port is blended from many harvests, and sits in large casks for many years before being bottled for its consumer’s enjoyment. The average age of the wines blended in this Tawny is 20 years. Taylor Fladgate cellars its tawnies in Portugal’s cool Vila Novo de Gaia area rather than the hot Douro valley, and the difference in climate creates a lush, rich, silky wine that pairs with cheese, nuts, coffee and chocolate desserts in ways your palate has never experienced before.

SEGURA-VIUDAS
Brut Cava Aria Estate Spain NV
Just a short drive from joyous Barcelona, the first gentle pressings of the three Spanish grapes are blended and crafted in the traditional Méthode Champenoise. The Macabeo grape provides a fine, honeyed aroma. Parellada lends subtle elegance, and Xarel-lo provides the backbone. The result is this deliciously dry, sparkling Aria, ringing out in an emotional range of pineapple, honey, almond and straw notes. Sustainable

Loosen Bros
Riesling Mosel Dr. L, 2007
“I want to taste the depth of the old vines. I want to experience the character of the vintage. I want authenticity; without it, a wine is simply another beverage.” These are the words of winemaker Ernst Loosen. He and his brother Thomas created this elegant and racy Riesling, evoking the steep, slate-soil vineyards of the Mosel Valley. Aromas of flowers, lime, nectarine and peaches burst forward in the nose, making way for sumptuous peach and melon on the palate. A perfect German translation of terroir. Sustainable, Organic

Beringer
White Zinfandel California, 2007
You’ve got to love a great pink wine. It doesn’t apologize. It doesn’t make excuses for itself. It simply moves beyond any preconceived notions you may have of its kind, and lavishes you with brilliant flavors and aromas—fresh raspberry, citrus and melon. It pairs beautifully with all kinds of foods, and keeps its head held high. (Whether it’s blushing, however, well, that we really don’t know.) Biodynamic/Sustainable

REDBANK
Pinot Grigio Victoria The Long Paddock Australia, 2008
The Long Paddock is the old outback term for the open road, where “drovers” were allowed to let their animals graze during a drought if their own land was too dry. What doesn’t kill you builds your character, as they say. What didn’t kill these Pinot Grigio grapes built a high-spirited, light- to medium-bodied wine with a mouth-watering, crunchy citrus mid-palate balanced with fruit sweetness and minerality, and aromas of spice, herbs, nashi pears and fresh white flowers.

PONZI
Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, 2007
In all their winemaking activities, the Ponzi family shows the utmost respect and dedication to the Willamette Valley. And in 2007, the Valley returned that respect in the form of an absolutely spectacular, couldn’t-possibly-have-been-more-perfect set of climatic conditions for producing Pinot Gris. The result: spicy aromatics of clove, grilled pineapple, beeswax and yellow pear, then a full, creamy mid-palate with notes of green apple, quince and lemon zest, and a dreamy slide into the long, clean finish. Nice job, Willamette Valley. Sustainable

PARDUCCI
Sustainable White Mendocino County, 2007
From tree-free papers and soy-based inks to solar energy, biodiesel tractors, recycled water and organic grape growing on family farms, Parducci is creating a model of quality and environmental sustainability with their zero carbon environmental footprint. At the same time, they’re creating a heavenly white, laced with the fresh flavors of citrus and melon. Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat and Friulano grapes commune in this bottle of crisp, clean, “green” vintage. Sustainable

VERAMONTE
Casablanca Valley Chile, 2008
The wilds of Patagonia lie to the south. The Andes mountains rise to the east. To the west, the Pacific Ocean pounds the coastline. And somewhere in the middle of all that geological excitement, the Veramonte estate graciously hosts Sauvignon Blanc grapes, making sure they enjoy the ideal cool temperature to produce an aroma of fresh stone fruit accents of herbs and white flowers, a medium body, and citrus melon and herb flavors that linger like the long notes of an Andean flute.

RUFFINO
Toscana Libaio Italy, 2007
Near the medieval town of Monteriggeoni, Ruffino makes wines that bridge the old world and the new. Official wine supplier to the Italian Royal Court since 1916, they are masters of classic winemaking techniques, which they now blend with new styles to create conversation-opening wines like this light and refreshing, complex pear- and citrus-flavored Chardonnay. Well balanced, it’s delicious as an aperitif, and moves gracefully to the table for dinner with seafood or poultry.

CANYON ROAD
California, 2007
As you drive down the meandering country roads of the California wine country, you need a soundtrack. A mellow, but exciting bit of road music — one that anticipates the beauty that waits around each curve. This Chardonnay is inspired by that kind of music. Its aromatic spice notes evoke the browns of the earth. Ripe lime in the mid-to-late palate recalls the bright greens of the vineyards and the dappled light on the grape leaves. Enjoyed on its own or paired with favorite foods, it’s a wine that leads to beautiful adventures. Sustainable

PICKET FENCE
Russian River Valley, 2006
Like a perfect childhood in a sweet house with a picket fence, this winery gives its grapes an ideal start in life, with the gentlest guidance as they develop. Warm days, cool nights and foggy mornings mean slow ripening for sophisticated flavor. Hand harvesting at night allows acidity and crisp flavors to maintain their natural character. Full of lemon, apple and pear, this balanced wine is subtle, elegant and a neighborly partner for food. Sustainable

NEWMAN'S OWN
California, 2006
Twenty-five years ago, Paul Newman bottled his first product — salad dressing — in a wine bottle. With this product, he came full circle, back to wine bottles, only these are filled with wine. No pretenses, just real, great wine, for real, everyday folks. That is, everyday folks who appreciate a rich, complex Chardonnay with exceptional balance, ripe apple, pear and citrus flavors with a hint of sweet vanilla oak, and a crisp, dry finish. Profits from this wine benefit thousands of charities worldwide. Sustainable

GLEN CARLOU
Paarl South Africa, 2008
Forty minutes from Cape Town, at the heart of South Africa’s Paarl Valley, the summers are dry, the winters are cold and wet, and the Chardonnay grapes live a charmed life. Tended by winemakers who balance technological expertise with good old-fashioned instinct, these grapes lead to wine with fresh lime green and yellow color, green fruit-butterscotch aromas and refreshing, full-bodied flavor with a mouth-watering citrus and light oak finish. Sustainable

MARK WEST
California, 2005
Pinot for the People! This is Mark West’s rallying cry. This winery believes that great, affordable Pinot — one that’s equally at home on a celebration table as a picnic table — is not a luxury, but a right. And so their revolution has brought us this vintage, worthy of the name California, with its fruity-fruit-fruit aromas and flavor profile — rich cherry pie, raspberry preserves and ripe plum on the nose, and juicy dark red raspberry, jammy strawberry and baked peaches on the palate. Sustainable

IRONY
Monterey County, 2006
As kids, Chris and Jay Indelicato worked the family vineyard’s harvest because their parents made them do it. They grew up, went off to college, and forged careers that took them far from the land their grandfather planted in 1924. The irony is that today, they enjoy fulfilling lives working side by side in the family vineyard and winery. This smooth, nicely layered Pinot Noir — with its aroma of berries galore and flavors of those berries, laced with toast and vanilla — is perfect for toasting life’s unexpected twists and turns.

PALACIOS-REMONDO
Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2007
Spain’s Rioja region has been producing wine since the 16th century, when Spain was the most powerful country in Europe, experiencing its most artistically prolific period. Made by Spain’s celebrated winemaker, Alvaro Palacios, this red wine layers plum and lavender aromas with flavors of fruit and florals, allowing you to channel the nation’s aesthetic sensitivity, past and present.

d' ARENBERG
The Stump Jump South Australia, 2007
No, the Stump Jump isn’t named after an Australian dance craze or indigenous ritual. It has to do with a very handy South Australian invention—the Stump Jump plough which can ride over stumps and gnarled Eucalyptus roots. Very important when one is anxious to put one’s grape vines in the ground. In honor of this marvelous device, this rich, ruby red blend gives a nose of ripe juicy red fruit mixed with notes of dark cherry, Christmas pudding (seriously!), green and white pepper corns, plum and boiled rhubarb. The palate is ripe, juicy and easy drinking—dominated by a mix of red berries. The more it opens up, the more its dark rich concentrated fruit characters evolve.

PASCUAL TOSO
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2007
In the 1880s, Pascual Toso left his home in Italy and put down his roots in Argentina. Now the oldest and most prestigious winery in the nation, Toso works with famous Sonoma winemaker Paul Hobbs, crafting premium and super-premium wines. A Wine Enthusiast Top 100 pick, this 100% Malbec puts you on a breezy rooftop deck above a flat in Buenos Aires, enjoying its deep, colorful charms over a great conversation with friends.

TENIMENTI ANGELINI
Toscana Tuttobene Red Italy, 2006
Everyone loves Tuscany. Even if you’ve never had the good fortune to visit the place, the mere mention of its name awakens your senses—preparing you for the pleasures of food, wine and the human experience. It is the essence of Tuscany itself that winemaker Mario Calzolari has managed to capture in this bottle. You can taste its sunny days, its warmth and Mediterranean flavors. The wine is named Tuttobene, a happy Italian word that means "all is going well." Try it, and you’ll agree.

PILLAR BOX
Red Padthaway Australia, 2006
Imagine blue and dark berries twining around licorice vines, spearmint leaves and weaving in and around a cigar box. Okay, that’s this wine’s nose. Now picture black currants, ripe blueberries, freshly grated orange rind, and dark chocolate, beautifully arranged on a slab of smoky oak. That’s the flavor. The tannins are full, the palate is round, and the finish is a long, harmonious moment of enjoyment that enhances the flavor of any kind of meat.

COLUMBIA
Syrah Columbia Valley, 2006
Columbia’s winemaker emeritus, David Lake, has been called the “Dean of Washington Winemakers” by both Wine Spectator and Decanter Magazine. Dean or no dean, you’ll want to take the time to study this fine example of American Syrah, and take note of its distinctive complexity and character. If you like Australian Shiraz, you’ll love the berry bowl aromatics and the jamminess of this vintage, not to mention the way it complements a steak. Another great wine to add to the Dean’s list.

VINUM
Petite Sirah Clarksburg Pets Wilson Vineyards, 2007
This Petite Sirah grape is nicknamed "Pets" by the veteran grape growers at Wilson Vineyards. So Vinum dedicated this wine to Ken Wilson’s pet dog—Tanker. Dark colored, long legged and bold, this juicy, zesty, boysenberry-inflected wine has the potential to become your best friend. Drink it tonight, or a few years from tonight, and enjoy the thick tannins, wonderful spicy notes and hint of fresh cracked black pepper. If you had a tail, this wine would make you wag it. Sustainable

XYZ
Zin 10 California, 2007
They may be the toughest letters to deal with in Scrabble®. But when it comes to Zinfandel, XYZ goes down nice and easy. Ruby red with the flavor of tree-ripe cherries, the wine opens with an aroma of rose petals, juicy pomegranate and warm brown sugar. Strawberry and plum fruit storm the entry, leading to a plush mid-palate avalanche of dark cherries and mulberries. You’ll sense some sandalwood, fresh bay leaf, and chocolate in there, too. XYZ describes their approach to this Zinfandel as combining “the best of the old with the most alluring of the new, in pursuit of the divine.” This description seems accurate to the letter.

RED DIAMOND
Washington, 2006
We could spend a sentence or two comparing this Merlot’s clarity and color to that of a sparkling gem, but let’s just cut to the chase here: Wine and Spirits calls this one of the Top Ten Merlots in America. Winemaker Juan Munoz Oca has crafted a wine that celebrates this exquisite grape for the individual that it becomes in the Pacific Northwest—with cherry and cola on the nose, and red cherry, caramel and mocha on the palate. Silky, approachable and easy to drink.

CLOS DU BOIS
North Coast, 2005
Clos du Bois translates to “enclosures in the woods”—an image this big, juicy wine might conjure. With its velvet touch, its taste might remind you of a gingerbread house, with its flavors of vanilla and spice. Its shingles are made of tobacco leaves. Red currants, black cherries and plums ripen in profusion around the cottage. An evocative Merlot with a loooong finish.

HOPE ESTATE
Hunter Valley Australia, 2007
Michael Hope was a pharmacist who dreamed of refilling something more interesting than prescriptions. And so in 1994 he became a winemaker, and now wine lovers all over the world are refilling their glasses with his wines, of which this luscious Merlot is a stellar representative. Every drop of the wine comes from grapes grown on his estate—grapes that speak of plums and berries from within a dense, well-rounded palate of cherry, chocolate richness sparked with spicy, integrated oak characters. Sustainable

CHELSEA GOLDSCHMIDT
Dry Creek Valley, 2006
Halfway to the glass, the nose detects fennel-laced pure plums, vanilla cassis, violets and bay leaves. Tip the glass, and the palate is wrapped in their clean fLegendary winemaker Nick Goldschmidt makes premium quality artisan wines in New Zealand, Australia, South America and California. Between supervising northern and southern hemisphere harvests, he likes to spend quality time with his family. This powerful, beautifully finessed Merlot is named after his oldest daughter, Chelsea, who, according to Nick, is as red headed as the wine. It presents aromas of red cherry and blueberry, with sweet, ripe fruit flavors and long, silky tannins. Sustainable

14 HANDS
Washington, 2006
Named after the height measurement of the wild horses that once made their home on what are now their vineyards, 14 Hands produces truly spirited wines, of which this Cabernet is a stellar example. Grapes from the Horse Heaven Hills and other areas of the Columbia Valley give this wine its special fleshy quality. Aromas of cherries and currants with subtle hints of spice and dried herbs. Fresh flavors of red fruit accompany a touch of cocoa galloping through to a finish marked with fine, round tannins.

RUTHERFORD RANCH
Napa Valley, 2006
Robert Parker is to wine as Warren Buffett is to finance—people listen to what he has to say. And according to Mr. Parker, Rutherford Ranch wines are “the best value in Napa Valley.” In this bottle of complex and balanced fruitiness, the ruby-colored Cabernet gushes with currants, warm cinnamon spice and a dusting of cedar at the nose. The concentrated flavors are the perfect match with steak.

PARÉS BALTÀ
Cabernet-Garnacha Penedés Mas Petit Spain, 2006
Not far from Barcelona, three generations of passionate winemakers carry on the work that began in 1790 at Pares Balta. The Cabernet and (Garnacha) Grenache grapes for this vintage grow on five estates around the winery, in a diverse mixture of soils and microclimates, pollinated by the family’s own bees, and cooled by the breezes off the Mediterranean. It all combines to create a deep red Cabernet blend bursting with black currant and black cherry fruit, a lush mid-palate, a supple finish, and a personality as unique as the place from which it springs. Certified Organic/Sustainable

ERNIE ELS WINES
Guardian Peak Frontier Western Cape South Africa, 2007
"Wine is like golf,” says Ernie Els, the winery’s eponymous proprietor, famous for his super-stellar career in the sport. “In both endeavors, nature has the last ruling." This wine, made from grapes grown high up on Helderberg, yet within range of the salty Atlantic breezes, reflects nature’s touch in its warm fruit flavors. Made to appeal to the outdoor enthusiast, it’s a Cabernet that’s crafted to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.