MAS FI
Brut Cava Spain NV
The Romans began growing grapes in Spain over 2000 years ago. And the Masachs family has been cultivating vineyards and producing fine Spanish Cava just 25 miles south of Barcelona since the 1920s. From the heart of “El Penedes,” the ancient wine region that breathes Mediterranean air and spreads north to the Montserrat mountain range, this straw-yellow sparkler displays scents of white flowers, ripe fruit and citrus. With fine, persistent bubbles, it offers fresh stone fruit, citrus and pleasant creamy flavors. Caesar would be proud!

MIONETTO
Extra Dry Prosecco di Valdobbiadene NV
Francesco Mionetto didn’t just leave his grandsons a winery. He also left them his longstanding - relationships with the vineyard owners of the Valdobbiadene area. These time-fused relationships are what assure that to this day Mionetto gets the region’s top quality Prosecco grapes. (Old man Mionetto must have popped a lot of corks and poured plenty of bubbly for one and all.) Straw colored with brilliant reflections, the wine overflows with classic Charmat-method Prosecco-ness — and fruit flavors of crisp apple and peach.

SCHRAMSBERG
Blanc de Blancs North Coast, 2007/08
Talk about a storied winery. It’s been declared a monument by the California Historical Society. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about the place in his book Silverado Squatters. President Ford and Queen Elizabeth II once kicked off a state dinner with a toast over a bottle of this Blanc de Blancs (literally, “white from white”), and Ronald Reagan once served it to Margaret Thatcher. It’s been tickling the palates of celebrities, notables and dignitaries for decades. And for good reason: its dry crispness is a perfect counterpoint to its vibrant, fruity flavors.

DOMAINE CHANDON
Brut Étoile Napa-Sonoma Counties NV
The pop! It shoots a smile onto the face of anyone within earshot. Next, this sparkling version of the classic Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend brings tickling treats to the nose—ginger and spice and everything nice. It follows with a soft, voluptuous entrance on the front palate with flavors of baked apple, honey and cinnamon (mom’s apple pie!). The flavors build and build into a long, lingering, creamy caramel finish. Beautiful with food, the mere act of opening it is cause for celebration.

ROEDERER
Brut Rosé Anderson Valley NV
Vibrant vines and sparkling wines spring to mind at the mention of the name Roederer, the Napa estate of the French Champagne house that produces the sublime Cristal. This hand-harvested Pinot Noir-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 and lemon splashing through the fine bubbles. An extra measure of Chardonnay contribute elegance and balance to the fruitiness of the Pinot.

RIFF
Pinot Grigio della Venezie Italy, 2010/11
This winery, started in 1823, is tucked up in the southern part of the Alto Adige appellation and the northern area of Trentino, just yodeling distance from Austria or Switzerland, depending on which direction you face. It’s one of those places where languages and cultures blend into a unique hybrid, like the distinctive sandy igneous and gravelly limestone soil that gives Alois Lageder wines their particular elegance and complexity. With aromas of flowers and spice, and flavors of pineapple and pear laced with smoky notes, this Pinot Grigio echoes in your mind like a call across the mountains.

BERINGER
White Zinfandel California NV
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.

LOOSEN BROS.
Riesling Mosel Dr. L Germany, 2010/11
“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 vibrant Riesling, evoking the steep, slate-soil vineyards of the Mosel Valley. Aromas of luscious pear, peach and apples burst forward in the nose, making way for refreshing and juicy flavors of pear, apricot, lime and mango.

PACO & LOLA
Albariño Rias Baixas Spain, 2009/10
Classic winemaking meets contemporary Spanish style. From the rooftop lounges of Madrid, to the avant-garde restaurants of Barcelona, and the chic bars of Ibiza, Paco & Lola’s seductive mix of style and quality captures the flavors and spirit of modern Spain. A beautiful straw-yellow wine, this Albariño leads with notes of citrus, green apples, herbs and flowers on the nose. The fresh fruit flavors are balanced with a lively acidity that makes for a pleasurable and crisp finish that is wonderful when paired with poultry, pork and veal.

ZILLIKEN
Riesling Medium-Dry Mosel Butterfly Germany, 2008/09
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 pear and cassis introduces flavors of white peach, orange, and lemon. Light but creamy, its tart and clean finish lingers in your mouth and tickles the tongue with the lightness of a butterfly’s wing—a sensation that inspired its name.

MASO CANALI
Pinot Grigio Trentino Italy, 2010
There’s a saying in Trentino: “Pane e vino fanno un bel bambino.” It means “Bread and wine make a beautiful baby.” This 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 nectarine and citrus, this wine is as charming as a round-cheeked Italian child.

BOREALIS
Northern Whites Willamette Valley, 2010
As unique and extraordinary in the bottle as its namesake lights are in the northern sky, Borealis is composed of four cool climate grape varietals grown in the far north of the Willamette Valley. The aroma practically covers the full fruit spectrum with notes of papaya, quince, yellow apple and hints of grapefruit and lime made all the more exotic with whiffs of jasmine and sandlewood. On the palate it starts with a slightly sweet expression of ripe fruit with a crisp acid balance and evolves to a delicious fresh finish of grapefruit and lime. This is a great wine as an aperitif or paired with a fresh green salad.

CONUNDRUM
California, 2010
Oh, the problems of being too delicious. Poor Conundrum. Its powerful aromas of honeysuckle and vanilla punctuate core flavors of tropical fruit, herbs, spice and honey, while a lush, creamy mouth-filling texture brings some acidity along for support 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.

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE-DR. LOOSEN
Riesling Columbia Valley Eroica, 2009/10
A true blending of Old and New World, Eroica is a labor of love between the 200-year-old Dr. Loosen estate in Germany and the premier winery in the state of Washington. For the last ten years, the product of this inspired collaboration is one of the finest Riesling’s produced in the U.S. Named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony, this dry white wine exudes mandarin orange and sweet lime aromas and flavors with subtle minerality that lends a crisp acidity and a medium long finish. Truly inspiring.

VIÑEDOS TERRANOBLE
Central Valley Chile, 2010/11
Noble earth, indeed! With the Atacoma Desert to the north, Patagonia to the south, the Andean Range to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, a Mediterranean climate has blessed Chile’s Central Valley with almost perfect conditions for growing grapes, particularly Sauvignon Blanc. Pale lemon green in color, this sublime white shows intensely aromatic notes of lemon citrus, pineapple and fresh cut grass. On the palate, it is brimming with citrus green apple notes along with vibrant acidity and a long finish.

KIM CRAWFORD
Marlborough New Zealand, 2010/11
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 ripeness, preserve that moment in the bottle, and have it come alive in the glass. Derived from the French word sauvage ("wild") and blanc (“white”), the Sauvignon Blanc grape comes alive here with a color of straw-green, and aromas of ripe citrus, tropical fruits and New Zealand herbs. With its consistent palate of juicy tropical flavors, this wine has snagged a spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 the past few years.

CLOUDY BAY
Marlborough New Zealand, 2010/11
At the top of New Zealand’s South Island, mountains soar, and valleys lay in broad stripes at their feet, crisscrossed by idyllic waterways and dotted by vineyards. Here, the Sauvignon Blanc vines of Cloudy Bay channel the characteristics of their spectacular surroundings. This release earned kudos for its vibrant aromatics, fine structure and layers of pure fruit flavors. With its scents of grapefruit, orange zest, mango and a sweet green fruit character, the pleasures of Cloudy Bay are, well, clear.

CAKEBREAD
Napa Valley, 2009/10
One of the true pioneers in Napa Valley, the Cakebread family has been producing superb wines since 1973. They sourced the majority of grapes for this remarkable white from their own Napa vineyards in Rutherford, Calistoga and Carneros. It displays bright, sun-kissed aromas of fresh guava, grapefruit, lime and mineral, with hints of honeydew melon and golden apple. On the sprightly palate, brisk white grapefruit, guava, melon and lemon-lime flavors display a mouthwatering verve, with hints of pineapple and kiwi fruit on the long, refreshing finish.

CANYON ROAD
California, 2010/11
Inspired by the scenic roads that wander through California’s stunning wine country, this is the wine to take on a summer excursion with the convertible top down. This friendly Chardonnay has wonderfully fresh aromas of ripe green apple and citrus. The mouthfeel is creamy and rich yet refreshing, giving way to notes of vanilla, Meyer lemon, and tropical fruit flavors. Road trip!

VILLA MARIA
Marlborough Unoaked New Zealand, 2009/10
Selected as one of the Top 50 wine producers in the world by Wine Spectator magazine, family-owned Villa Maria has been the most awarded winery in New Zealand over the last 30 years. Crafted in a Chablis fruit-driven style full of ripe peach and stone-fruit flavors, this bright white is finely balanced with just an edge of minerality.

MERRYVALE
Napa Valley Starmont, 2009/10
Made from the hand-selected jewels of vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including the Oak Knolls District and Carneros, here’s a Chardonnay that truly shines. It’s aged in oak for 9 months sur lie (on top of spent yeast…sometimes we wonder how these techniques were ever discovered) to round out the texture and enhance complexity — while still delivering a great big mouthful of lip-smacking fruit.

EVENING LAND
Arroyo Grande, 2009/10
With hearts in Burgundy but feet planted firmly in the great coastal wine regions of America’s West Coast, Evening Land has crafted this Burgundy-style Chardonnay entirely from the great Talley estate in Central California’s Arroyo Grande Valley. A rich golden-yellow color, this sensuous Chard dazzles with aromas and flavors of lemon zest, green apple, and hints of mint and nutmeg. Brilliant!

JORDAN
Sonoma County, 2009/10
The Jordan winery began in the early '70s, when fine wine in California was in its very 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 reflect the winery’s old-country inspiration, complemented by the new cutting-edge winemaking techniques of Sonoma. Richly aromatic with crisp acidity, this is a Chardonnay born of classic techniques and California allure.

SONOMA-CUTRER
Sonoma Coast Russian River Ranches, 2009
The Chardonnay grapes of the Russian River Ranches must have done something good in a past life to have been blessed with such perfect growing conditions now. The privileged soil, climate and vintage create a Chardonnay that is a study in elegance and complexity: aromas of baked apple, jasmine and honey balanced with vibrant flavors of green apple, lemon cream, and pineapple. Straightforward at first, then, like an old soul, evolving, developing and finishing gracefully.

KENDALL-JACKSON
California Vintner's Selection, 2009/10
There is a reason this is the leading selling Chardonnay in America for the last 20 years running. Beautifully integrated tropical flavors such as pineapple, mango, and papaya with citrus notes explode in your mouth. These flavors delicately intertwine with aromas of vanilla and honey to create depth and balance throughout. Robert Parker recommends it as a “remarkable value.”

SILVERADO
Napa Valley, 2008/09
The winery’s name comes from the abandoned mining town at the top of the Napa Valley made famous in Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Silverado Squatters. Today, the land is still “prospected” for wine — the kind of wine that made California famous. Consistent with Silverado’s retro-California style, this Chardonnay has aromas of citrus, vanilla, pineapple with floral undertones and a crème brulée note thanks to a generous helping of oak. A light to medium body with vanilla and apple flavors round out the moderately long finish.

FRANCISCAN OAKVILLE EST.
Napa Valley, 2009/10
From famed Oakville region in Napa Valley, this venerable winery reaches back over more than three decades of excellence. Committed from the beginning to the artisanal approach of small-lot winemaking, Franciscan estate vineyards are located in the sweet spots of southern Napa Valley. This rich and round Chardonnay has vibrant aromas of Fuji apple, ripe pear and nectarine with hints of vanilla and hazelnut. Bright pear-apple notes with citrus and honey flavors display rich, crème brulee highlights that lead to a creamy, lingering finish.

FESS PARKER
Santa Barbara County, 2009/10
Who knew that Daniel Boone was such a wine aficionado? Well it’s our good fortune that when Fess Parker retired from show business, he decided to jump into the wine business. This food-friendly charmer, from one of the most beautiful wine regions in California, tastes of all that is great about Central Coast vineyards in the golden state. Aromas of ripe red apple, pear, pineapple, and white flowers combine with flavors of citrus, Fuji apple, honey and lemon. Pure California.

A to Z WINEWORKS
Oregon, 2009/10
“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 minerals, the spice and the red and blue berries of its home turf, while negotiating a truce between richness and power.

VIÑA LEYDA
Central Valley Classic Chile, 2010/11
Just to the west of bustling Santiago lies the lovely Leyda Valley on the western edge of the Coastal Mountains. Like all the best Pinot Noir from around the globe, the vineyards selected for this easygoing red are situated in a cool-climate growing region. Bright and intense, the fruit-driven bouquet boasts plum, cherry and a soft smokiness, fresh flavors of cherry fruit and spices along with soft, sweet tannins.

MARK WEST
California, 2009/10
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 it is on 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, fresh cherry pie and cola berry on the palate.

THREE SAINTS
Santa Maria Valley, 2009
The “Three Saints” represents the three California Central Coast appellations where this family-owned boutique winery has vineyards: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills, and the Santa Inez Valley. This delicious Pinot comes entirely from estate grown grapes in their Santa Maria Valley vineyard, where the cool ocean breezes extend the growing season and allow for more complex flavors to develop while the grapes slowly ripen. Wild strawberry and delicate lilac aromas are framed by green tea leaf, echinacea and goldenseal nuances. Likewise on the palate, a striking savory character balances the fresh strawberry flavors for a more classical, old-world appeal.

MACMURRAY RANCH
Sonoma Coast, 2008/09
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 currant and berry flavors, this rich, beautifully finessed Pinot was definitely raised right.

EVENING LAND
California Blue Label, 2009/10
“The Evening Land” has long been a symbol of the mythical quest for the perfect garden. From ancient Greek mythology to now, it represents romantic adventure that today has led Evening Land Vineyards to the extremes of America’s West Coast vineyards. Featuring Pinot Noir sourced from three of California’s best AVAs – Santa Rita Hills, Edna Valley and the Sonoma Coast – this wine opens with aromas of fresh red fruits and savory herbs. Flavors of cranberry, pomegranate and Bing cherries lead to a fruit-filled finish. Consider the quest fulfilled.

MIGRATION by DUCKHORN
Anderson Valley, 2008/09
You just might find yourself migrating back to this wine again and again. Like all the specialty labels of Duckhorn Vineyards, Migration has a specific focus and purpose – to explore Pinot Noir from the finest cool-climate winegrowing regions in Napa. This delicious red has all the fruity, spicy goodness you expect from a top-notch Pinot. The nose displays bright cherry, strawberry compote, violet and rhubarb layers, alongside more exotic elements of Asian spice, hickory and earth. These aromatics are echoed on the palate, and further supported by juicy acidity and notes of strawberry, plum, toffee, pie crust and a hint of white pepper.

BELLE GLOS
Sonoma Coast Meiomi, 2009/10
Not everyone can honor their grandmother by distilling the purest essence of a vineyard into an elegant expression of a 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 spicy aromas and bright berry flavors 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.

CAMBRIA
Santa Maria Valley Julia's Vineyard, 2008/09
A three-hour drive north of the glitter and bustle of Los Angeles lie the golden-hills and sun-drenched vineyards of the Santa Maria Valley. Pinot Noir grapes thrive in the unique soils and cool, maritime microclimate of this distinctive estate vineyard, named for owner Barbara Banke’s youngest daughter. This enticing red has aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, cranberry and fresh blueberry fruit. On the palate, red fruit, vanilla, and cinnamon are balanced with subtle earthy flavors and a long, silky finish.

PALACIOS-REMONDO
Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2009/10
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 a hint of wild fennel, allowing you to channel the nation’s aesthetic sensitivity, past and present.

TIAMO
Chianti Italy, 2009/10
Italians believe Sangiovese’s name is derived from sanguis Jovis meaning “the blood of Jove (Jupiter)” and its beginnings are thought to predate Roman times. A wine must be at least 80% Sangiovese to be classified as Chianti. Intensely ruby-red in color with garnet tones around the edges, this Tuscan beauty has aromas of red and black fruit with hints of cassis and spice. Lush and full in the mouth with good acidity and balanced tannins, this is a wine Jupiter would gladly imbibe.

MASI
Veneto Campofiorin Italy, 2007/08
A wine by any other name… In Northern Italy just to the west of Venice, along the foothills of the Southern Alps, lies Verona (of Romeo & Juliet fame) and Masi Winery. Masi invented a technique called double fermentation for this unique red wine. A portion of each vintage’s grapes are dried and pressed and then added to the young juice resulting in a finished wine of deeper color, more elegant tannins and more complex aromas and flavors. Delizioso!

PASCUAL TOSO
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2010/11
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. This excellent Malbec puts you on a breezy rooftop deck above a flat in Buenos Aires, enjoying its lush, ripe fruit flavors over a great conversation with good friends.

LANGMEIL
Three Gardens SMG Barossa Australia, 2009/10
A wonder from Down Under. With the designation of “Three Gardens,” this Rhone-style blend combines three of Australia’s original pedigree varietals. This medium crimson charmer begins with a nose of fresh summer berries and hints of vanilla bean and sweet spice. With luscious flavors of sweet juicy fruit and lovely hints of briar, the finish is long and soft and spicy.

JEAN-LUC COLOMBO
Côtes-du-Rhône Les Abeilles France, 2009/10
Hailed as the winemaking wizard of the Rhone, Jean-Luc Colombo has dazzled with his innovative wines. Shunning the status quo, Colombo has introduced modern winemaking techniques in the Rhone Valley, creating wines of a more accessible style with an exuberance of fruit and depth of expression showcasing the full potential of the Syrah grape. This intense purple blend has aromas of red fruit, leather and spice with flavors of dark fruit, licorice and just a hint of sweet spice.

FAMILIA ZUCCARDI
Malbec Mendoza Q Argentina, 2009/10
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 bunches of flowers and baskets of berries. And on the palate, notes of plum, chocolate and black currants live together in harmony. A full-bodied wine with sweet tannins, good structure and a long, lush finish.

CLINE
Cashmere California, 2010/2011
Cline bears the reputation of producing some of the finest Rhone-style wines in California. Some of Cline's oldest (80 to 120 years old) and most rare vineyards are used in this silky-smooth blend that is as luxurious as the Gobi desert wool it is named for. This wonderful red wine is big and dark with lots of black cherry and raspberry fruit concentration, and chocolate notes with hints of cracked black pepper and plum.

ZACA MESA
Z Cuvee Santa Ynez Valley, 2007/08
Zaca Mesa was the first Central Coast winery to appear in Wine Spectator’s Top 100, back in 1995. A year later, President Bill Clinton served Zaca Mesa wines at a state dinner for French President Jacques Chirac. This special blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Grenache represents the very best of their estate-grown vineyards, resulting in an exceptional wine of deep garnet color and rich, lush layers of red and dark berry fruit flavors and aromas. Hail to the Z!

CATENA
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2008/09
Like the winery’s founder, Nicolas Catena, who sailed from Italy to Argentina in 1898 to escape the famine in Europe, this wine is a serious sort. Driven, you might say, to make a place for itself in your wine consciousness, with its dark violet color and deep bluish-black tones. The nose offers ripe, concentrated dark fruit aromas with delicate floral notes and traces of vanilla and mocha. On the palate, it’s rich and lush, with spices, tobacco and a touch of leather.

LE VOLTE by ORNELLAIA
Tuscany Italy, 2009/10
Picture a patio on the Tuscan coast overlooking a low, hilly landscape with the heavy-scented perfumes of the Mediterranean in the air, and dense woodlands sloping gently to the sea. This is the winery estate of Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia. And this delicious Tuscan red is as dreamy as the setting is stunning. Aromas and flavors of rich, intense fruit and spice notes are enchanting. A smooth, velvety mouth feel, with fine tannins and a lively, crisp acidity, both contribute to its impressive balance. It concludes with a lengthy and lovely finish.

PETER LEHMANN
Clancy's Barossa Australia, 2008/09
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.” 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.

MORSE CODE
Shiraz Padthaway Australia, 2009/10
Named for Australia’s postal telegraphists, whose Morse signals connected the remote continent with the rest of the world during the 1800s, this wine manages to connect all the dots. The grapes are grown in the very same limestone soil that once provided the Potaruwutj tribe of Aborigines with water, food, and the shade of big gum trees. The bouquet signals a flavorful blend of berries, cherries, licorice and spice. The mid-palate leads to a long finish that you could describe as simply dashing.

ORIN SWIFT
Zinfandel California Saldo, 2009/10
Saldo has many different meanings in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. But one of the meanings in Spanish is “here and there.” And that is precisely the description for this unique Zinfandel from vineyards all across Northern California – grapes from Napa, Sonoma, Amador, Mendocino, and Contra Costa counties. The best of the best lots. Full-bodied and ripe, with black cherry, bramble fruit, and spice aromas and flavors, Saldo will take you to Zin heaven.

MILBRANDT
Syrah Columbia Valley Traditions, 2008/09
Some grapes have a chameleon-like ability to take on the characteristics of the surrounding countryside. Syrah, especially when grown in Washington’s Columbia Valley, is one of those grapes. The vineyards for this powerful red come from the Wahluke Slope AVA that imparts aromas and flavors of cassis, currants, ripe blueberry, raspberry jam, spice and tobacco. A dark and dense stunner.

PARDUCCI
Petite Sirah Mendocino True Grit, 2007/08
Want a wine that is swaggering, brash, rugged and confident? True Grit is something special: big and bold, but with plenty of heart. It’s dark, intense, peppery, and a little rough around the edges. Heady aromas of ripe fruit, white pepper and vanilla are followed by an intense rush of fresh blackberry, dark chocolate, pepper and caramel flavors. True Grit is a natural for perfectly seared steak.

SEGHESIO
Zinfandel Sonoma County, 2009/10
When Edoardo Seghesio left his family’s vineyards in Piemonte, Italy, for a better life in America, he found himself a modest property in the Alexander Valley, and planted the family’s first California Zinfandel vines in 1895. Generations of Seghesios later, the vineyards have expanded to 400 acres and the family’s wines are world-renowned. And this Northern Sonoma Zinfandel, with its outgoing fruitiness and notes of dry spices and briar, has made Wine Spectator’s "Top 100 Wines of the World" three times.

RED DIAMOND
Washington, 2009/10
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 & Spirits calls this one of the "Top Ten Merlots in America." Winemaker Laura Sorge has crafted a wine that celebrates this exquisite grape for the individual that it becomes in the Pacific Northwest — with tea, molasses and cassis on the nose, and figs, vanilla and a touch of caramel on the palate. Silky, approachable and easy to drink. And easy to love.

CLOS DU BOIS
North Coast, 2008/09
Clos du Bois translates to “enclosures in the woods” — an image this big, juicy wine might conjure from the very first enticing sip. With a velvety mouthfeel, its taste might remind you of a gingerbread house, with flavors of vanilla and spice, plum and cherry. Aromas of red currants, black cherries and toasty oak fill the cottage. This delicious Merlot from California’s best North Coast vineyards is a wine you will happily return to, again and again.

MARKHAM
Napa Valley, 2007/08
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 interesting and that easy to get along with. It’s a raspberry/cherry bomb layered with vanilla, dark chocolate and cream soda notes standing next to firm, lush tannins. It partners especially well with lamb and peppered steak — and seems even more appealing when you know that proceeds help fund grants to individuals or organizations committed to the betterment of their neighborhoods, cities or towns.

FROG'S LEAP
Rutherford, 2008/09
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 rich blackberry and cocoa, and flavors of ripened red berries and cherry accentuated by delicate notes of mocha, herbs and spice. Plush, soft tannins sail through to a smooth finish, making this one frog any Merlot lover would be willing to kiss.

RODNEY STRONG
Sonoma County, 2008/09
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. In Sonoma County, where growing conditions allow picky Merlot grapes to relax and do their thing, winemaker Rick Sayre has created a soft, rich Merlot with plenty of backbone. Plum and blueberry flavors with a touch of dried herb predominate in this soft, rich, mouth-filling Merlot, and are enhanced by aging in small oak barrels for a toasty, spicy vanilla character, and a lingering berry-cream finish.

PENLEY
Coonawarra Gryphon, 2008
Continuing a family tradition of Australian winemaking spanning five generations, Penley was established in the heart of Oz’s most famous wine region, Coonawarra, in 1988. Coonawarra is particularly known for producing world-class red wines. The Gryphon Merlot is deep cherry-red in color. The bouquet is rich and complex with hints of violets, plums, red cherries and a just touch of spice. Medium-bodied with a flavor blend of florals and berries, the texture is mouthfilling with integrated smoky vanilla oak and a refined medium finish.

TWOMEY
Napa Valley, 2006
Those who think of Merlot as a mere varietal to add to Cabernet Sauvignon have obviously not tasted this distinctive red from the wine family of Silver Oak Cellars. Not only does this Merlot display the complexity normally associated with its more famous brethren, winemaker Daniel Baron has created a Merlot with a true French sensibility. Robust yet elegant, it fills the mouth with its expressive aromas, luscious flavors and opulent texture.

GREG NORMAN
Limestone Coast Australia, 2008/09
With grapes from the wine region called the “Bordeaux of Australia," this wine impresses with deep ruby color and garnet hues. Aromas of blackberry and red cherry are backed with spicy notes of cedar box and roasted coffee beans. This medium-bodied wine tastes of dark mulberry fruit and brown spice flavors with long velvety tannins. An elegant structure and texture add distinction and a finish as long as a Greg Norman tee shot.

FRANCIS COPPOLA
Claret California Black Label, 2009/10
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 the famous style of Bordeaux. Cherries, currants and anise aromas precede flavors of crushed blackberries, plums, dark chocolate and toasted oak. Full-bodied and dry, it’s not just a drink, old chap. It’s a glass of nobility.

LIVIO FELLUGA
Vertigo Venezie Giulia Italy, 2009/10
Conjure a nighttime gondola ride through the historic canals in Venice. The only sounds are of the water quietly lapping against the aged buildings and the gondolier’s paddles gently slapping the water’s surface. Intense, fruity aromas and flavors of cherries, blackberries, and currants, with hints of herbs and sweet spices linger. Enjoying this vibrant, well-structured Cab-Merlot blend is a little like that gondola ride — smooth and effortless, and more than a little magical.

TREFETHEN
Double T Napa Valley, 2008/09
“A lot of wine,” says Wine & 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 suggests. We couldn’t agree more.

BERINGER
Meritage Alexander Valley, 2008/09
With wine, older is often better. But that also goes for wineries. And in Napa Valley, no winery is older and more exalted than Beringer. Started in 1876, it’s the oldest continuously operated winery in Napa Valley. No wonder that Beringer produces unforgettable wines year in and year out. This marvelous Meritage has aromas of baked cherry and plums, candied violets and cinnamon. It is marked by a ripe, generous palate of plum spices and mocha, rounded out by a lush, lingering finish.

CRAGGY RANGE
Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Hawkes Bay New Zealand, 2009/10
Craggy Range’s motto is “Expect An Experience.” And with Te Kahu the experience is that of a classic Right Bank Bordeaux. A surprisingly opulent and structured Merlot is the base of this traditional Meritage blend. Deeply garnet colored, its blackberry and briar notes are combined with cedar and tobacco to form a classic aromatic profile. Fine, dusty tannins are supported by luscious layers of elegant, ripe dark fruits. The incredibly long finish continuously builds in intensity. This wine is perfect with rich, red meats.

KENDALL-JACKSON
Summation California Vintner's Reserve, 2007/08
With this wine, the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Smoother than Cabernet Sauvignon, richer than Merlot, more balanced than Zinfandel, this red wine blend of grapes grown in California’s cool coastal climates, is a perfect synergy of classic red varietals. Beautifully layered with enticing aromas and flavors of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, black cherry and pomegranate. In sum, it’s delicious.

CAIN
Cuvee Napa Valley NV7/NV8
This may be the classic sports car of Napa Valley reds – sleek, complex and superbly balanced. A blend of some of the best and most interesting hillside and valley floor vineyards from the 2007 and 2008 vintages (hence the NV7 and NV8), this vibrant wine is at once lively and captivating. A classical red wine Napa style - lush, aromatic and accessible.

14 HANDS
Washington, 2009/10
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 lush quality. Aromas of raspberries and red currants with subtle hints of spice. Fresh flavors of spiced cherry and plum accompany a touch of cocoa galloping through to a finish marked with fine, velvety tannins.

RUTHERFORD RANCH
Napa Valley, 2009/10
Often referred to as the best value in Napa Valley, Rutherford Ranch is located along the scenic Silverado Trail in one of Napa’s most renowned sub-appellations, Rutherford District. The district is known for producing unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon and other premium varietals. This Cab entices with aromas of ripe boysenberry and currant with vanilla spice and hints of forest floor. They open to big and delicious flavors of boysenberry, toasty caramel and cranberry. A delightful young Cabernet.

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT
Alexander Valley Crazy Creek Vineyard, 2009/10
If you think that Crazy Creek is an odd name for a vineyard, then you obviously don’t know young Katherine Goldschmidt. This single-estate Cabernet from the renowned Alexander Valley is as unique as owner Nick’s vivacious daughter Kate, who is known to challenge the status quo and go off in her own direction. This powerful, inky-red charmer tastes of blackberry, black pepper and plum flavors enveloped in nicely sweet oak. The medium finish is silky smooth with just a bare hint of spice. Crazy good.

RAYMOND
Napa Valley Sommelier Selection, 2008/09
You’ve heard of blind taste tests, right? Well, this wine was crafted from the results of taste tests by seven influential sommeliers and the Raymond winemakers. Bordeaux varietals from Napa, Sonoma and Lake County were blended by five teams of two. All the teams used the same varietals, but each team chose how to combine them. A blind tasting and voting revealed the winning blend. And what a winner it is – full-bodied, elegant and brimming with blackberry, cherry and cassis flavors. Absolutely ideal to pair with prime steak.

LADERA
Napa Valley, 2007/08
A tale of two vineyards — it is the best of vines and the very best of vines. With grapes from two mountain estate vineyards separated by the floor of the magical Napa Valley, Ladera has created an exquisite Cabernet that is truly the best of both. This Bordeaux-style beauty has aromas of blackberry, cocoa, anise, red licorice and vanilla. The wine bursts with bold dark fruit flavors of plum and brambleberry leading to a full, yet soft and lush finish. So, are two vineyards really better than one? A single taste of this gorgeous Cabernet and you’ll be shouting from the mountaintops, Yes!

B. R. COHN
North Coast Silver Label, 2008/09
This Cab is the wine equivalent of a rock ’n roll power ballad: melodic and smooth with a soaring finish. And why not? It comes from the Sonoma Valley winery of Bruce Cohn, longtime manager of 70s rock icons, The Doobie Brothers. A blend of grapes from B.R. Cohn’s award-winning Olive Hill Estate Vineyards, as well as select North Coast Cabernet vineyards, this Silver Label Cabernet produces full, rich flavors of berry, cassis and black cherry with hints of vanilla in the background. It hits all the right notes.

HESS
Napa Valley Allomi Vineyard, 2008/09
Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess likes fine wine and fine art. Both meet at his Napa Valley winery, which houses an impressive museum of contemporary art. A fourth generation wine family, Hess is all about wine expressing the uniqueness of its terroir. That’s exactly what this extraordinary single-vineyard Cabernet delivers. It begins with aromas of boysenberries, black cherries, vanilla and sage. Ripe flavors of blackberry mix with hints of cedar and graphite. The wine is lush in the mouth with a pleasant, lingering finish.

YALUMBA
Coonawarra Menzies The Cigar Australia, 2009/10
Named for the unique cigar-shaped strip of rich, red terra rossa soil which defines Coonawarra’s wine region, this young Cab from Down Under is crimson-red with aromas that fill the senses. There are floral high tones of violets and lavender underscored by bass notes of cherries and dark chocolate. The wine is bright with fresh red fruit flavors of cherries and currants followed by the melted chocolate texture of soft, lush tannins. The finish lingers pleasantly, like an Aussie summer evening.

VIÑA KOYLE
Colchagua Valley Royale Chile, 2008/09
This is a quintessential Chilean Cab that will blow the corks off many “old world” reds. Many think of Chile as one of the new wine regions of the world, but this venerable Chilean winery goes back six generations. Blended from the very finest lots from estate-grown vineyards, this high-quality Cabernet is intense — a dark ruby color and vivid aromas, along with flavors of black current, blackberry, violet and black pepper. It finishes long and expressive, and near the top of South American reds.

HALL
Napa Valley, 2008/09
Kathryn Hall has been an ambassador, a corporate attorney and an activist. Craig Hall is an entrepreneur, an art collector and author. Together they are creating an unrivalled destination in the Napa Valley on 500 acres of estate-grown Bordeaux varietals. Not surprisingly, their stunning Cabernet Sauvignon expresses the unique and diverse characters of Napa’s soils and climate. This deep purple wine beguiles with rich, intense aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, blackberry puree, licorice, dark chocolate and briar fruit.

CARPE DIEM
by Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, 2008/09
Seize the day! Carpe Diem is another triumph for Christian Moueix, owner of Dominus Estate and co-owner of the legendary Chateau Pétrus in Pomerol . This is 100% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French barrels. Crafted in a fruity, elegant style, this delightful wine is meant to be savored in all its youthful, vibrant glory with abundant fresh fruit flavors, aromas of wild strawberries and soft, velvety tannins. Seize the wine!

DUCKHORN
Napa Valley, 2006/07
Quality. Craftsmanship. A reflection of the unique character of the vineyard. You hear these phrases so often and you’ve heard them for so long, they begin to lose their meaning. Until you taste the classic "Franco-Napa Cab-ness" of this universally-beloved wine, with its aromas of ripe currant, spearmint, marzipan and tobacco. Its intense flavors of blackberry and black cherry all add nuance and depth to the long finish. No wonder this wine is consistently ranked as one of the top California Cabernets.

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE
Columbia Valley Indian Wells, 2009/10
Washington State’s oldest and most acclaimed winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle is the Northwest’s King of Cab. Like Rudolf Valentino in The Sheik, this ripe, jammy New World 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, sunny days and cool nights. Winemaker Bob Berthau elicits from them this lovable hunk of wine — fruit-forward blackberry and cherry flavors layered with fascinating complexity and dark fruit aromas.