Fleming's Wine
Collection

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. Organic

SEGURA-VIUDAS
Brut Cava Aria Estate Spain NV
Just a short drive from joyous Barcelona, the first gentle pressings of Spain’s three signature grapes are blended and crafted in the traditional Méthode Champnoise. 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 as you toast your special occasion. 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 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, lemon and cola splashing through the lively bubbles.

SCHRAMSBERG
Blanc de Blancs North Coast, 2006
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, and Ronald Reagan once served it to Margaret Thatcher. It’s been tickling the palates of celebrities, notables and dignitaries for centuries. And for good reason: its dry crispness is a perfect counterpoint to its vibrant, fruity flavors. Sustainable

HEIDSIECK
Brut Champagne Blue Top France NV
Legend has it that this very bubbly was the champagne poured aboard the Titanic, and that the bottles recovered among the wreckage still tasted delicious. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, it is elegant and expressive, offering floral, pear and toffee flavors and a creamy texture. From the house that has been producing fine champagne since 1785, and has, over the centuries, tickled noses at the royal courts of Prussia, Germany, Sweden, England and Russia.

MÖNCHSHOF
Riesling Spätlese Mosel Slate Germany, 2008/2009
Mönchshof, or “Monk’s House” has a history dating back to 1177. The monks grew grapes and produced wine for centuries, and then built the estate and cellars in about 1500. They kept working at it until the estate was sold in 1804 to the family who still runs the operation, making wines like this Riesling Spätlese. Its dense aromas of peach and raspberry jam, dark blue slate, and creamy lemon harmonize like a heavenly chant.

LOOSEN BROS.
Riesling Mosel Dr. L Germany, 2008
“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 apricot, lime and mango on the palate. Organic/SustainableB

BERINGER
White Zinfandel California, 2008/2009
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. Sustainable/Biodynamic

CONUNDRUM
California, 2008
Oh, the problems of being too delicious. Poor Conundrum. Its powerful aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, vanilla and lime zest punctuate core flavors of tropical fruit, peach and honeydew, 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. Biodynamic/Sustainable

VON BUHL
Riesling Pfalz Medium-Dry Jazz Germany, 2008
Cue Joachim Kühn’s Yellow Earth, pour a glass of this Riesling, and notice that like the avant-garde pianist, the Von Buhl winery has created an artistic impression of the German landscape — with aromas that evoke the minerality of the soil from which it springs. Peach, apple and pear greet the nose, and flavors of white peach sparked with ripe citrus. Organic

BODEGAS LA CANA
Albariño Rias Baixas Spain, 2008/2009
Where the steep hillside vineyards meet the tranquil coast of Galicia, towns still close down for siesta between 2 and 4:30 pm, and people go home to share long, multi-course lunches and carafes of regional wine like this one. Offering lush aromas of white peaches and ripe pears followed by flavors of pineapple and bright citrus, the wine finish is crisp and dry, like a leisurely autumn afternoon in the vineyard.

CANTINA TERLANO
Pinot Grigio Alto Adige Italy, 2008
This winery is tucked up in the Italian alps, just yodeling distance from Austria, Germany or Switzerland, depending on which direction you face. Its one of those places where languages and cultures blend into a unique hybrid, like the distinctive sandy igneous and crystal soil that gives Cantina Terlano’s wines their particular elegance and complexity. With aromas of ripe melon and apple, and flavors of pineapple, Bartlett pear, apple and orange zest laced with almond notes, this Pinot Grigio echoes in your mind like a call across the mountains.

MASO CANALI
Pinot Grigio Trentino Italy, 2008
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 lemon and apple, this wine is as charming as a round-cheeked Italian child.

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 lemon, lime and peach, a medium body, and citrus melon and herb flavors that linger like the long notes of an Andean flute.

MULDERBOSCH
Stellenbosch South Africa, 2009
There’s a guy in South Africa who’s called “Mr. White Wine” (although he also answers to Mike Dubrovic). He’s widely acknowledged to be the most talented winemaker in the country, and he puts his stamp on every bottle of this luscious Sauvignon Blanc. With its tropical nose packed with guava, green fig, granadilla and a hint of floral — and its complex character of nettle and freshly cut grass — every glass is a window into Mr. White Wine’s imagination.

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 and New Zealand herbs. 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 points this time around. Sustainable

CLOUDY BAY
Marlborough New Zealand, 2009
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 latest release earned 92 points from Wine Enthusiast 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.

RUFFINO
Toscana Libaio Italy, 2008
Tuscany. You can barely even get that word out of your mouth without a wistful sigh — one that takes you on a mental journey to a glowing landscape, dotted with medieval towns like Monteriggeoni, where Ruffino makes the wines people have been enjoying on the lawns of Tuscan villas since 1916. The people at Ruffino are masters of classic winemaking techniques, which they now blend with new styles to create conversation-opening wines like this light, refreshing, complex pear- and citrus-flavored Chardonnay. It’s delicious as an aperitif, and moves gracefully to the table for dinner.

CANYON ROAD
California, 2009
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

MERRYVALE
Napa Valley Starmont, 2008
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 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 smack of fruit. Sustainable

JORDAN
Sonoma County, 2007/Russian River Valley, 2008
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 reflect the winery’s old-country inspiration. But Sonoma gives the grapes their own ideas. Richly aromatic with crisp acidity, this is a Chardonnay born of classic techniques and California allure. Sustainable

SONOMA-CUTRER
Sonoma Coast Russian River Ranches, 2008
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: straightforward at first, then, like an old soul, evolving, developing and finishing gracefully.

KENDALL-JACKSON
California Vintner's Selection, 2008
Using estate-grown 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 crafts this wine that's garnered bunches of devotees. With its signature creamy, velvety texture, it's a sip of pure California. The venerable Robert Parker recommends it as a remarkable value. Sustainable

SANFORD
Santa Barbara County, 2007/2008
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

DMZ
Western Cape South Africa, 2008
350 years ago, The Ming dynasty held power in China. King Louis XIV was running things in France. King Charles II ruled England. And down in South Africa, De Morgenzon cellars was making wine. The world has shifted and changed a lot since the 1600s, and De Morgenzon has evolved to release its first vintage under the label DMZ. This enticingly modern Chardonnay, with its core of lush citrus and tropical fruit flavors, is laced with delicate hints of vanilla, toast and spice, all backed by bright acidity and a beautiful minerality.

BENZIGER
Carneros Sangiacomo Vineyard, 2007
The Sangiacomo West Rows are located in “the sweet spot” of Carneros — above the harsh winds from the Pacific Ocean. This elegantly crafted Chardonnay seems to demonstrate appreciation for its ideal location by offering beautiful citrus and apple flavors, subtle minerality, a textured mid-palate, and a finish as long as a California summer evening on a terrace with an ocean view. Biodynamic

NUGAN
Riverina Australia, 2008
From Valencia, Spain, to a corner of South Eastern Australia called Willbriggie, in the Riverina. It’s a long way to move a business operation. But back in the 1940s, Alfredo Nugan knew a good thing when he saw it. Now, his family makes what is known all over as Australia’s highest quality, best value wines. With lively aromas of citrus, melon and cinnamon, and zesty flavors of citrus and pineapple, this Chardonnay is a lively expression of down-under terroir.

ARROWOOD
Sonoma County Reserve, 2006
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

A to Z WINEWORKS
Oregon, 2008
“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. Biodynamic/Sustainable

MARK WEST
California, 2008
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, fresh cherry pie and cola berry on the palate. Sustainable

MACMURRAY RANCH
Sonoma Coast, 2008
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. Sustainable

SCHUG
Sonoma Coast, 2007
A native of Germany's Rhine river valley, Walter Schug grew up in the world of wine. In fact, he was raised on the region's only Pinot Noir estate. He once crafted Joseph Phelps’ flagship Insignia Cabernet. But 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 are reminiscent of berry, cherry and spice. Sustainable

STICKS
Yarra Valley Australia, 2008
Standing at six foot six, winemaker Rob Dolan was given the nickname “Sticks” during his days as a dual premiership player for the Port Adelaide Aussie Rules Football Club. His Pinot is a big winner, too. Vibrant, bright red with purple tones, with dark cherry, plum and red berries at the nose and flavors of red berries, mulberry and spice, it took “Best Pinot Noir” in its class at the prestigious 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Big cheers all around.

BELLE GLOS
Sonoma Coast Meiomi, 2008
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 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. Joe Wagner, you’ve done Grandma proud. Biodynamic/Sustainable

REX HILL
Willamette Valley, 2007/2008
This wine springs from land that’s been farmed by caring families since 1920 — the same land that once nurtured plums, pears, walnuts and hazelnuts. From its perfect Pinot Noir color to its aromas of red raspberries, violets and Bing cherries, to its flavors of Asian plum, wet stones, clean earth and huckleberry, this wine displays its relationship to the land, and its desire to please the people who work it.

RITUAL
Casablanca Valley Chile, 2008
The San Francisco Examiner calls this region “Pinot Noir Heaven.” And a sip of this Pinot evokes an image of extremely happy grapes. Wine consultant Paul Hobbs helped craft this wine with flavors of black cherries, raspberry and plum on the nose, and a palate that is round, soft and elegant — almost angelic, really. Rich, yet restrained tannins provide depth and lead to a luxurious finish. Dare we say it? A glass of paradise.

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 tannins are graceful, and in general, it exhibits exquisite Pinot Noir manners. Sustainable

BYRON
Santa Barbara County Nielson Vineyard, 2007
This vineyard’s sandy loam soil keeps the plants from growing too vigorously. Because some things are better done slowly. Like, for example, breathing in the aromas of dark cherry and plum, accented by hints of rose petals, brown spice and smoke that rise from the glass of this Pinot. Or taking a sip of its cherry-layered-with-dark-plum fruitiness, taken so carefully that you can taste the hints of earth and brown spices. The vines take their time with this vintage. We suggest you do the same.

PALACIOS-REMONDO
Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2008/2009
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.

MASI
Veneto Campofiorin Italy, 2006/2007
Since the 18th century, the Boscaini family has made wines in Italy’s storied wine region. Like your own private tour guide of the Verona area, this wine points out the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese grape varieties, and the local mastery of the techniques of “appassimento” or semi-drying technique. It’s rich, round, velvety, full of baked cherry and plum flavors, and quite simply, bellissimo.

PASCUAL TOSO
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2008
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.

FAMILIA ZUCCARDI
Malbec Mendoza Q Argentina, 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 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 longevity. Organic/Sustainable

CATENA
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2007
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. It’s an ambitious wine — one that earns 91 points from Wine Spectator.

VALL LLACH
Priorat Embruix Spain, 2006
Founded in 1992 by the famous Catalan singer Lluís Llach and his childhood friend, Enric Costa, the winery produces nothing short of music in a glass. With its bewitching scarlet color and amethyst halo, the wine’s succulent fruit harmonizes with dark minerals and sweet spices, punctuated by a few notes of nutmeg and fennel. As complex and full as a passionate serenade.

MORSE CODE
Shiraz Padthaway Australia, 2006/2008
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.

OTTIMINO
Zinfandel Sonoma County Zinfinity, 2006/2007
In 1913, Ottimino (“Little Eight” because he was the 8th child in his family) Christiani left a war torn Italy to start a new life in America. This wine springs from the soil that was once his apple orchard, sustaining him as he worked the land year after year, harvest after harvest, and crush after crush. Aromas of blueberry, orange rind and ripe raspberry announce the wine’s big, velvety entrance, which opens to flavors of blackberry jam, cranberry and blueberry, and a long finish that makes your mouth want to say, “Thanks Ottimino, for following your dream.”

PETER LEHMANN
, Clancy's Barossa Australia, 2005/2007
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

BLACK PEARL
Oro Paarl South Africa, 2007
Tended by a conservation-oriented father-daughter team originally from New Hampshire, the vines of Black Pearl grow in the same fields that produced the world’s first gladiolus bulbs. With its aromas of dark berries, chocolate and eucalyptus, and flavors of juicy cranberries and pomegranate, each glass of this limited-production wine is as bright and beautiful as the flowers that foreshadowed it. Sustainable

CHAPOUTIER
Crozes-Hermitage La Petite Ruche France, 2008
Seven generations of the Chapoutier family have communed with this Rhône Valley soil, learned its viticulture and translated it all into beautifully expressive wines. With this one, winemaker Michel Chapoutier puts his twist on generations of Syrah tradition, dispatching swirls of red fruits, black currant and raspberry to greet the nose, and creating a fresh, round experience in the mouth. The finessed finish brings flavors of stewed fruits. An amazing pairing partner for any kind of meat or poultry. Biodynamic

VINUM
Petite Sirah Clarksburg PETS Wilson Vineyards, 2007/2008
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-tinged wine has the potential to become your best friend. Its tannins are lusciously thick, and wonderful spicy notes swirl with a hint of fresh cracked black pepper. Sit. Savor. Sustainable

SEGHESIO
Sonoma County, 2008
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. 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. Sustainable

MEYER
Syrah Mendocino County, 2005/Yorkville Highlands, 2006
Matt Meyer (son of Justin Meyer of Silver Oak fame) and his wife Karen are living what some might see as a romantic dream. First, Matt and Karen made delicious things emerge from wineries all over the world. Then they married, created their own eponymous winery, and now work at the craft of blending their eclectic expertise into an impressive whole. Blasting red plums and boysenberries, sweetened with cassis, with deftly controlled tannins polished by 20 months in oak, the intense Syrah fills your mouth easily, lasts long on the palate, and nods to a passionate partnership. Organic/Sustainable

ORIN SWIFT
The Prisoner Napa Valley, 2008
While this alchemy of 48% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Charbono isn't the typical contemporary Napa red, it has nevertheless garnered a cult following. It might remind you more of a “field blend,” enjoyed by good friends with hearty laughs at sun-bleached picnic tables decorated with jelly jars full of wildflowers. This big, fruity wine locked up a spot in Wine Spectator’s Top 100, and an exultant 90 points from Robert Parker. Once you get a hold of it, you won’t let it go.

RED DIAMOND
Washington, 2007
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, 2005/2006
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 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.

MARKHAM
Napa Valley, 2006
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. It’s a cherry bomb, layered with sweet espresso notes standing next to firm, lush tannins. It partners especially well with meats — 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.

CHÂTEAU DE BELLEVUE
Lussac St.-Émilion France, 2006/2007
People say if you mix sunlight and water in Bordeaux, you get wine. It sounds so simple, and yet each vintage mysteriously becomes its own entity, unlike any other. Every microclimate in the Bordeaux region holds the promise of new terroir interpretations, and this wine has its own unique French tale to tell — one involving black currant fruits with scents and flavors of underbrush after a gentle summer’s rain and Merlot’s telltale mossy texture.

FROG'S LEAP
Rutherford, 2007
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

FLORA SPRINGS
Napa Valley, 2007
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, 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/Sustainable /Biodynamic

RODNEY STRONG
Sonoma County, 2006
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

OBERON
Napa Valley, 2006/2007
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. Named after the Shakespeare character, it’s the kind of wine you can either sip on a dreamy midsummer’s night by an outdoor fire, or pair with an elegantly prepared steak on a white tablecloth. Its diversity of flavors makes this wine ideal in just about any setting.

CAIN
Cuvée Napa Valley, NV6/NV7
This Merlot begins life as a daredevil. Springing from a vineyard that clings to the sides of a bowl, spectacularly and improbably sited along the crest of the Mayacamas Range, it defies physics as boldly as it defies classification. The cuvée includes a portion of the previous year’s vintage, so its blend is 55% from 2006 and 45% from 2005. Made of 49% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, it’s a silky, complex wine that does vibrant acrobatics on the palate.

14 HANDS
Washington, 2006/2007
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 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, 2007
It’s evening, after a long working day. You pour yourself a glass of this ruby red Cab. You close your eyes as you allow the liquid essence of the Napa landscape to permeate your senses, its lush fruit aromas of raspberry and Bing cherry, hints of cedar box, bright mint and spicy cinnamon elevating each sip to a moment of epiphany. With this wine, there is no such thing as an ordinary meal. More reason to try it: Robert Parker has described Rutherford Ranch wines as “best value in Napa Valley.” Sustainable

SENSUAL
Mendoza Argentina, 2009
Long lunches, dinners and relaxing siestas enfold Argentineans into a sensual way of life. This winery’s name suggests we take a cue from our friends in the southern hemisphere, and take our time with this modern Cabernet — to savor every tongue-tingling sensation its black pepper, cedar, berry and slight herbal flavors have to offer, and to fully experience the magic they perform when paired with a perfectly grilled steak.

GREG NORMAN
Cabernet-Merlot Limestone Coast Australia, 2007
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, 2007
Not far from Barcelona, three generations of winegrowers carry on the work that began in 1790 at Parés Baltà. Pollinated by the family’s own bees, the Cabernet and Garnacha (Grenache) grapes for this vintage grow on five estates around the winery, in a diverse mixture of soils and microclimates, 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 estate itself. Organic/Sustainable

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION
Claret California Black Label, 2007/2008
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 nobility. Organic/Sustainable

B. R. COHN
North Coast Silver Label, 2007
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—since the 70s, the proprietor’s night job has been managing The Doobie Brothers. Rock on, Bruce Cohn. Sustainable

AGUSTINOS
Aconcagua Valley Maitén Chile, 2007/2008
From the base of the highest mountain in the Americas comes a wine that aims high, defies convention and achieves quite an altitude of success. Surprising the palate with provocative flavors like tobacco, chocolate, black fruit and coffee, this wine is, like the climbers who visit this area, bold and persistent. Organic/Sustainable

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE
Columbia Valley Indian Wells, 2007/2008
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 — ripe, jammy and comforting, yet layered with fascinating complexity. Rated 90 points and a “Smart Buy” by Wine Spectator.

CHÂTEAU GREYSAC
Médoc France, 2005/2006
As you approach, the chateau’s elegant gray stone façade speaks of the hundreds of seasons it has been through. Inside, the strikingly modern silver-gray tanks and uniform oak barrels point to the seasons yet to come. It’s a place where old and new techniques combine to bring out the true character of this lively bit of French earth. This vintage, with its flavors of red fruits, epitomizes for many of us what Bordeaux is and always will be all about.

YALUMBA
Barossa Valley The Scribbler Australia, 2007/2008
Being Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, there’s some history here. Back in 1962, this winery’s showcase Cab-Shiraz was called “The Signature.” The Scribbler is its modern correspondent — with its flavors of dark fruit, spice, licorice and dark olives. Loyal to the classic ways, and yet forward thinking, this generation definitely expresses itself in its own style.

HESS
Napa Valley Allomi Vineyard, 2007
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. Ripe cherry, plum and currant mingle with flavors of nutmeg and graphite. 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

TREFETHEN
Double T Napa Valley, 2007
“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 goes on to suggest. We couldn’t agree more. Sustainable

CHATEAU MONTELENA
Napa Valley, 2006
It was a year with a split personality at Chateau Montelena. Early on, there was intense heat, which gave the grapes their concentration and firm tannins. Then, by June, things cooled down considerably, allowing the grapes to hang longer and develop an elegant profile. So the two ends of the spectrum ended up creating the best of both worlds in this complex and anything-but-unbalanced Chardonnay. It smells like a green apple pie — bright and a little citrusy. The palate is nice and smooth, with classic Chardonnay flavors of apple and kiwi, and a finish that leaves the palate refreshed, and yet wanting more.

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 proposed winery’s visitor center was 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, and a Wine Spectator score of 94 points. Organic/Sustainable

DUCKHORN
Napa Valley, 2006
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 black currant, dark cherry, plum and raspberry flavors, touched with mint and black olive, and it all comes back. Oh, yeah. That’s why this wine is consistently ranked as one of the top California Cabernets.

CHAPPELLET
Napa Valley Mountain Cuvee, 2007/2008
Spurred by the notion that Bacchus loves the hills and that mountain fruit would make superior wine, Chappellet’s vines were planted on the rocky eastern slopes of Pritchard Hill in the Napa Valley. The second winery to be established in the Napa Valley after Prohibition, Chappellet would have Bacchus partying down with this expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. With aromas and flavors of plums, figs and cherry cola, its depth and intensity are a reminder of both the vineyard’s rugged terroir, and its focus on offering pure pleasure.

FAUST
Napa Valley, 2006
One taste of this bold and powerful, yet elegant and concentrated Cab might lead you to imagine that you, like Dr. Faust, have sold your soul for a life in paradise. No, it’s simply the work of the venerable winemaker Agustin Huneeus, whose talent, experience and fervent belief in terroir creates the most diabolically delicious wines. A core of dense concentrated cassis surrounded by a layer of smooth berry fruit and integrated oak demonstrates that, indeed, the devil is in the details.

INNISKILLIN
Vidal Pearl Icewine Niagara Peninsula Canada, 2006
Karl Kaiser, the studious, Austrian-born chemist, and Donald Ziraldo, the Italian-Canadian agriculturalist teamed up to become the founding fathers of Canadian wine. And in that climate, it was only natural that they would try their hands at creating icewine. The fruit hangs on the vines until winter and freezes. The frozen berries are crushed, yielding a syrupy juice. This concentrated, super sweet syrup gets fermented, and the result shines with flavors of nectarine, papaya, lychee, tangerine and orange blossoms as delicious and rich as the desserts they complement so well.

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

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.

RENWOOD
Zinfandel Amador County Amador Ice, 2008
Remember when you were a kid and the ice cream truck would come around, playing its little song, and your mouth would water at the thought of the cool sweets you might be able to have? Well, imagine if that truck had a live symphony orchestra on the back, playing the finale to a great symphony. Now imagine the driver passing out glasses of dessert wine laced with the flavors of a cherry rainbow sorbet and fresh strawberry. That’s this wine. A sophisticated after-dinner fruit treat for grown-ups.

MÖNCHSHOF
Riesling Spätlese Mosel Slate Germany, 2008/2009
Mönchshof, or “Monk’s House” has a history dating back to 1177. The monks grew grapes and produced wine for centuries, and then built the estate and cellars in about 1500. They kept working at it until the estate was sold in 1804 to the family who still runs the operation, making wines like this Riesling Spätlese. Its dense aromas of peach and raspberry jam, dark blue slate, and creamy lemon harmonize like a heavenly chant.

LOOSEN BROS.
Riesling Mosel Dr. L Germany, 2008
“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 apricot, lime and mango on the palate. Organic/SustainableB

MASO CANALI
Pinot Grigio Trentino Italy, 2008
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 lemon and apple, this wine is as charming as a round-cheeked Italian child.

RUFFINO
Toscana Libaio Italy, 2008
Tuscany. You can barely even get that word out of your mouth without a wistful sigh — one that takes you on a mental journey to a glowing landscape, dotted with medieval towns like Monteriggeoni, where Ruffino makes the wines people have been enjoying on the lawns of Tuscan villas since 1916. The people at Ruffino are masters of classic winemaking techniques, which they now blend with new styles to create conversation-opening wines like this light, refreshing, complex pear- and citrus-flavored Chardonnay. It’s delicious as an aperitif, and moves gracefully to the table for dinner.

KENDALL-JACKSON
California Vintner's Selection, 2008
Using estate-grown 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 crafts this wine that's garnered bunches of devotees. With its signature creamy, velvety texture, it's a sip of pure California. The venerable Robert Parker recommends it as a remarkable value. Sustainable

BELLE GLOS
Sonoma Coast Meiomi, 2008
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 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. Joe Wagner, you’ve done Grandma proud. Biodynamic/Sustainable

PALACIOS-REMONDO
Rioja La Vendimia Spain, 2008/2009
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.

PASCUAL TOSO
Malbec Mendoza Argentina, 2008
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.

CHAPOUTIER
Crozes-Hermitage La Petite Ruche France, 2008
Seven generations of the Chapoutier family have communed with this Rhône Valley soil, learned its viticulture and translated it all into beautifully expressive wines. With this one, winemaker Michel Chapoutier puts his twist on generations of Syrah tradition, dispatching swirls of red fruits, black currant and raspberry to greet the nose, and creating a fresh, round experience in the mouth. The finessed finish brings flavors of stewed fruits. An amazing pairing partner for any kind of meat or poultry. Biodynamic

RED DIAMOND
Washington, 2007
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.

14 HANDS
Washington, 2006/2007
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 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, 2007
It’s evening, after a long working day. You pour yourself a glass of this ruby red Cab. You close your eyes as you allow the liquid essence of the Napa landscape to permeate your senses, its lush fruit aromas of raspberry and Bing cherry, hints of cedar box, bright mint and spicy cinnamon elevating each sip to a moment of epiphany. With this wine, there is no such thing as an ordinary meal. More reason to try it: Robert Parker has described Rutherford Ranch wines as “best value in Napa Valley.” Sustainable