2007 Vina Robles Winery Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles Jardine Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 88 Tasting Note: Medium- full-bodied dry white wine; pale straw. Aromatic, delicate and delicious scent of almond and melon, with a fairly insistent banana note that emerges as the wine opens. Favors pick up stone fruits (peach and apricot) and white melon. Think honeydew. Ripe, clean, refreshing. Done entirely in stainless steel. Long, crisp finish. More residual sugar than I would have thought (.6); but balanced by good acidity and dead on in the middle ph (3.45). Highish alcohol, but it doesn't disturb the pleasure. Very important not to overchill, so keep it around 50-55ºF (10-15ºC). Suggested Food Pairings: Delicate and simple foods: seafood mousses; oysters with lemon; baked crab-stuffed flounder, or tilapia crab cakes; grilled or sautéed garlic shrimp; creamy tarragon chicken salad (Publix); grilled scallops with rémoulade sauce; fresh clams linguine with fresh herbs; linguine with pesto; fried catfish with tartar sauce. Georgia Distributor: Ultimate Distributors $18.00 2005 Fattori Sauvignon bianco delle Venezie I. G. T. Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 91 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry white wine; pale gold. Aromas blend almond and fruit, then it morphs into flowers and finally grapefruit, while flavors pick up minerals (a rich chalky character) with the fruit and (a citrus note) and good acidity. Clean, brisk, and very long finish, which ends with a touch of grapefruit. Silky texture. The very soul of balance. This is one you could sip poolside, hang the food. But in true Italian style, it sure does like food. Italy calls its version just Sauvignon. Suggested Food Pairings: Simple foods: Creamy fresh goat cheese with minced green olive, crab cakes; grilled scallops with lemon and capers; vitello al limone (veal scaloppini with lemon); pasta with fresh herbs and a crumbly fresh cheese (like Boursin); cocktail potatoes stuffed with Boursin; fish bakead with butter and garlic, then minced fresh herbs on top; chicken with lemon and olives (Whole Foods); creamy chicken-tarragon salad (Publix). No raw oysters, please. Georgia Distributor: Ultimate Distributors $18.00 2005 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc Sonoma County Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Medium- full-bodied dry white wine; pale yellow. Delicate, clean scent of fresh white flowers, a little note of citrus peel. Clean, delicious white fruits—melon and a touch of grapefruit—unite in a rich flavor experience. Long, clean, crisp, mouth-watering finish. Wine just loves food, but also drinks very nicely on its own. One of the consistent leaders in the genre. Very gentle oak. Serve just nicely cool, about 60ºF (15ºC); in tulip-shaped white wine glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Goat cheese; pistachio-herb encrusted scallops, sautéed in olive oil; shrimp sautéed in olive oil, butter and white wine (hold the garlic); frito misto or fried calamari with lemon or herbed aioli (tasted at Medici); tarragon chicken or shrimp salad (a real winner!); veal scaloppini with lemon and very rich buttery mashed potatoes; Thai or Vietnamese-style salads with green papaya, green mango, cilantro and a light Asian-style dressing; crab cakes; King crab legs with lemon butter. Georgia Distributor: Georgia Crown $16.00 2004 Eventide Cellar Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Wellington Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 88 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry red wine; deep, opaque purple red. Fine aromas of black currant, with rich, deep black currant flavors. In about three hours, a lovely smokiness emerges. A certain richness fills the mouth, and the tannins are sweet and soft. The finish reads high alcohol, although it’s just 14 %. Still a bit tight, so decant two to three hours or so before serving. In tight-grained French oak for 12 months. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice value. Suggested Food Pairings: Patak’s smoked liverwurst; Port wine and gorgonzola-stuffed ravioli with nuts, butter and minced chives; roasted veal; ok with grilled duck breast, American lamb, standing rib; barbecue (ribs or pulled pork with medium-bodied not-too-spicy barbecue sauce, Fox Bros.); rich, aged cheeses, such as year-old sheep’s milk Manchego. Do a South Afriacan braai (barbecue) with this one. Georgia Distributor: Atlanta Wholesale Wine/NDC $19.00 2005 Gravitas Wines Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 90 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium pale lemon yellow. Aromas are classic NZ: gooseberry; lime zest; flavors hit heavily on tropical fruits (again gooseberry, some passion fruit). Finish is long and fruit-dominated, and good acidity makes for a mouthwatering experience. Silky, round texture likely due to a bit of residual sugar (maybe .2). Slowly, a fine richness emerges. Clearly Kiwi, but not overblown. Stainless steel fermentation at moderate temperatures; then on lees for 3-4 months. In screw cap. Don't overchill, about 55-60 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Chicken salad with mango; seafood cooked in parchment with mild Asian seasonings (mirin, sesame oil, Ponzu sauce) and julienned vegetables; butternut squash salad with red onion; chicken with lemon and olives; crab cakes; Vietnamese-style spring rolls; seafood or chicken with lemongrass. Hold the heat on Asian dishes; not enough residual sugar for that. Skip oysters. Georgia Distributor: All American (f/k/a Bibb Distributing) $19.00 2006 1 + 1 = 3 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose Penedes Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 88 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry rosé wine; deeply colored but light red. Aromas of red fruits (strawberries, red cherries, currants and raspberries), rose petal note; complex, ripe, red fruit flavors. Some spice adds interest. Has some tannin. Well-structured wine. Alcohol is a bit obvious, but give it rich foods and you won’t mind. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t overchill, so keep at about 50ºF (10ºC). Suggested Food Pairings: Piquillo peppers stuffed with chorizo and served with a garlicky cream sauce (tasted at Cuerno in Midtown); pork ribs or pulled pork with a slightly spicy light-bodied barbecue sauce (Fox Bros.); fajitas de carnitas (Los Bravos); Thai steak salad (STATS); chicken breast baked with full-bodied tomato sauce (I used DeKalb Farmers Market’s tomato sauce); chicken salad with mango (Publix). Georgia Distributor: United Distributors $15.00 2004 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 91 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium-deep purple red. Somewhat shy initial aromas hint at black currants and black raspberries, then rich, ripe black fruit flavors enhanced by refined, fruit-derived tannins and a silky texture. Vibrant fruit and a hint of spice lead to a long fruit-filled finish. Very well balanced. Nice work. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Complexity comes from 20 months in oak, 80% French; of which 30% was new oak, and 20% new American oak, but the latter does not overwhelm the fruit as it so often can. SErve at cool room temperatures, 60-65ºF (15-1ºC) in large tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Port and gorgonzola-stuffed ravioli with walnuts, butter and chive sauce; peppered liver pâté; roasted pork rib chop or smoked pork ribs; roast chicken, duck or Cornish hen; steak with blue cheese sauce; lamb steak with herbed lamb jus; sweetbreads or kidneys and mushrooms “a la parrilla” (on the grill); rich, creamy blue cheeses (Fourme d’Ambert, for instance). Georgia Distributor: Atlanta Wholesale Wines/NDC $20.00 2004 Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek Grey Label Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 87 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; very deep inky black purple red. Classic Langhorne Creek aromas of dark fruit touched by a slight eucalyptus/mint character, which intensifies as the wine opens. Deep berry flavors behind the eucalyptus. How much you’ll like this wine will depend on how much you like eucalyptus, but it’s for sure correct Langhorne Creek Cab. Suggested Food Pairings: Collard greens with country ham and roast pork; rice and dried fruits-stuffed pork chop, gamier New Zealand lamb chop; pulled pork barbecue with mild slightly spice sauce (Fox Bros.) firm, rich, aged cheeses; such as year-old sheep’s milk Manchego; cave-aged Gruyère. Georgia Distributor: United Distributors $32.00 2004 Bookwalter Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 92 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; medium deep dark cherry red. Initial aromas seem shy, and the wine is tight and closed, but two days later (no kidding) it yields warm aromatic brown spices and intense dark fruits with a raspberry and black currant emphasis. The flavors segue straight into this profile, and the finish, while showing a little heat, is long and satisfying. The texture suggests it has not been filtered. Fruit-derived tannins. This is a must decant for several hours ahead of serving. Like all of our red wines, our 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is aged exclusively in hand selected, small French oak barrels that are meticulously chosen for their richness and suitability for a particular variety of wine. Aged for 20 months in oak. Suggested Food Pairings: Grilled meats, especially lamb; braised meats, such as slow-cooked garlic-studded chuck roast; oxtails or lamb shanks cooked in red wine; roast duck; Thai-style beef salad (make sure its dressing is not too hot); legume dishes with pork; some firm aged cheeses, such as year-old Manchego. Georgia Distributor: Grapefields $32.00 2004 Niner Wine Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Boot Jack Ranch Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Medium- full-bodied dry red wine; medium-deep dark garnet red. Aromas of brown spice and dark fruits. Flavors blend perfectly, seamlessly fresh dark fruits with fruit-derived elegant tannins. Aromatic brown spices (especially clove) add interest. Exquisitely balanced, with tannins, fruit, acidity all in synch. Substantial alcohol, leaving a bit of heat in the finish, but the fruit throws its weight against the alcohol, and the texture is silky. Has 15% Cabernet Franc. Terrific value. Late-arriving news: Alpharetta resident Mike Musso is Niner's president and general manager. Suggested Food Pairings: Potpie of braised beef short ribs; Thai-style beef salad (both STATS); fajitas de carnitas with sautéed onions and bell peppers (Los Bravos); stews including root vegetable stew with pancetta or country ham; smoked pork rib; grilled Cornish hen brushed with black currant jam glaze; grilled ham, beef or lamb steak; well-aged creamy bleu cheese (Fourme d’Ambert, for example). Georgia Distributor: Prestige Wine Wholesale $25.00 2005 Roth Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Estate Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 92 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; deep purple red. Aromatic brown spice blends with fresh read fruit characters fruit. Pretty firm tannins, but fruit derived; alcohol shows a bit in the finish. This one benefits substantially from being decanted, as it's quite tight when first opened. Jammy red fruit flavors seem simple initially, but acquire depth with decanting, and the quite firm tannins perform beautifully as they integrate with the fruit. Tasted over four days, and it was best on the last one. Unfiltered. 15% Merlot. In French oak for 18 months. Suggested Food Pairings: Peppered liver pâté; gently smoked meats; Patak's smoked liverwurst; roast pork loin with fruited stuffing; prime rib with gentle horseradish sauce; roast rack of lamb or leg of lamb, mildly spicy salami such as Rosette de Lyon, braised meats with garlic, caramelized onions and natural juices. Georgia Distributor: Ultimate Distributors $40.00 2004 Château La Bardonne Bourdeaux Superieur Moelleux Review Date - 3/1/2008 Score - 89 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied sweet white wine; medium pale yellow. Delicate but complex clean aromas of candied citrus peel and exotic spice (a suggestion of ginger) and a slight spearmint note. Sweet citrus-tinged fruits on the palate, with a clean, long, fruit-focused finish. Lemon drop joins gentle grapefruit notes throughout. Could use a little more acidity. Not as viscous as a Sauternes, but that's not a flaw as this is what it is. In fact, the lighter body may appeal to many consumers who don't care for rich sweet wines. Grape: Sauvignon Blanc. The wine shows the grape's versatility to perfection. Serve moderately chilled, around 50-55ºF in tulip-shaped white wine glasses. Lovely value. Serve in tulip-shaped white wine glasses at about 50ºF (10ºC). Suggested Food Pairings: Seafood-stuffed "Beggars purses" with curry sauce from Eurasia Bistro in Decatur; similar slightly spicy Asian fare with chicken or seafood; wine can handle medium but not excessive heat; creamy blue cheeses; pears stuffed with creamy bleu cheese; lemon crème cookies (ooooooooh!); plain cheesecake; simple cookie; biscoti with lemon, lemon squares, mousse of foie gras. Georgia Distributor Bacco Fine Wine $22.00