2005 Schloss Schonborn Riesling Kabinett Rheingau Erbacher Marcobrunn Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied slightly off-dry white wine; pale lemon yellow with greenish highlights. Intense aromas of citrus peel (kumquat, tangerine) with a palate focused on fleshy pear, green apple and nectarine. Complex and juicy, with a long, crisp finish and a note of sweet Fuji or Gala apple in the close. Beautiful solo sipper, and beautiful with food. Alcohol: 10%. Owned by the von Schönborn family since 1349, the operation controls more than 185 acres, making it the largest privately held estate in the Rheingau. Located in Hattenheim, its vineyards are planted with more than 85% Riesling. Serve moderately chilled, about 55ºF (13ºC) in medium-sized tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: What versatility! Smoked salmon and smoked salmon mousse; smoked whitefish; grilled sausages and sauerkraut; braised pork or roast pork loin, roast veal, dishes such as veal chops or chicken breast with cream sauce, sautéed pork steaks with cream and mustard; sockeye salmon steak, grilled halibut with mustard and crumbs or poached in beer and served with a mustard Béchamel sauce. Also all manner of Asian food. Atlanta Distributor: Northeast Wholesale $25.00 2006 J Pinot Gris Russian River Valley Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 90 Tasting Note: Full-bodied slightly off-dry white wine (but showing luscious fruit sweetness); medium gold. Aromatic white fruit characters, pear, Asian pear/apple, exotic apples (Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious), with flavors that move seamlessly from the aromas. Lemon drop and honey notes in the finish. Just delicious. Stainless steel, but still voluptuous as opposed to edgy or racy. Serve moderately cool, roughly 50ºF (10ºC) in tall tulip-shaped glassware. Note: The coming 2007 vintage is completely different: pale straw; lean; complex; racy acidity; less residual sugar--score 93--and would go with completely different foods with less exotic seasoning. Suggested Food Pairings: Needs spice and exotic flavors: chicken on rice or noodles with a a creamy curry-sauce; curried chicken salad with raisins; Country Captain (but leave out the tomato); Chinese dishes with seafood, chicken or pork; brined and braised pork butt with caramelized onions; grilled chicken 0aooke sausage with caramelized onions and mashed potatoes; grilled chicken salad with mango and other fresh fruits; grilled bacon-wrapped scallops with mustard mayonnaise; honey-ginger pork kabobs. Atlanta Distributor: National Distributing Co. $25.00 2006 Vina Robles Winery Red 4 Huerhuero Paso Robles Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 88 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; deep but translucent dark ruby red. Aromas start off with a slight caramel oak, suggesting the use of some American oak. On the palate, big chocolate-coated cherries lead to dark fruit flavors--plums especially--and black cherry. Fruit is sweet and tannins are soft. A clean, long finish ends with another suggestion of dark chocolate cherry. Grape types: Petite Sirah 53%; Syrah 38%; Tannat 7% and Touriga 2%. Alcohol (14.2%) shows just a mite, so be very sure to serve cool, about 65ºF (17ºC), in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Very fine value. Suggested Food Pairings: Southern pork barbecue with mildly spicy tomato-based, medium-bodied sauce; smoked chicken with white barbecue sauce; smoked beef brisket with either sauce (all from Fox Bros BBQ), roast duck game, grilled red meats, grilled chicken with black bean salsa; blue cheese, dark chocolate (mole poblano?) Atlanta Distributor: Ultimate Distributors $16.00 2002 Alpha Domus The Navigator Hawkes Bay Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 88 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied dry red wine; garnet red. .Aromatics favor an almost Bordeaux character, with leather and sweet tobacco notes emerging from the dark fruit characters. On the palate, dark plum and black currant flavors. Very silky tannins. Bordeaux-like--fruit flavors quite evolved. Alcohol: 13.5%. A classic Bordeaux blend: Merlot (43%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%), Cabernet Franc (11%) and Malbec (10%.). Varieties were fermented and aged separately for 12 months in mostly French oak Then blended and matured another six months in oak. Winery suggests it will cellar well until 2010. Serve at cool room temperature, about 65ºF (18ºC ), and use a tall tulip-shaped Bordeaux glass. Suggested Food Pairings: Rough-textured liver and mushroom terrines; smoked baby back ribs, beef ribs, beef brisket, chicken with either mildly tangy tomato-based sauce or slightly spicy white barbecues sauce; grilled meats; sausage. Not good with sausage Doesn't seem to like either cheeses or chocolate. Atlanta Distributor: Grapefields $24.00 2006 Yangarra Estate Grenache McLaren Vale Old Vine Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 94 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; translucent dark cherry red color. Aromas of spice and dark fruits, with supremely complex flavors that reprise the spice and dark fruit aromas, but adding a slight dried fruits character. Complex, persistently interesting. Elegant, with easy fruit-focused tannins. Amazing given the alcohol (15%), proving again you can't go by the numbers. Best to cool slightly, to about 60-65ºF (15-18ºC). Suggested Food Pairings: Loves food: Smoked liverwurst; grilled chicken kabobs with onions and peppers; grilled chicken/apple sausages; Asian-influenced meat dishes; barbecue; braised pork (brine first) with caramelized onions; grilled lamb or ham steak; roasted vegetables with goat cheese; grilled, Bourbon marinated butterflied boneless leg of lamb, roasted or grilled duck with a sprinkling of five-spice powder. Atlanta Distributor: United Distributors $25.00 2004 Mischa Estate Shiraz Wellington Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; opaque dark purple red. Aromas of red fruits with some spice, but on the palate the red fruits bloom, with good acidity and richness, yet nothing is over the top. Supple tannins, evident but not aggressive, making the wine perfect with rich foods. Lovely integration of all components. Balanced, sure-footed and restrained. Delicious. A John Platter four star in the 2007 guide. Serve at cool temperatures, about 65ºF (17ºC0 in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Pasta with mushrooms; rough-textured terrines; her- or pepper-coated salamis; smoked chicken (Fox Bros. BBQ) with (or may be best without) white barbecue sauce; braised chuck roast of beef cooked in beef stock and seasonings; sausage lasagne; big beef rib smoked with medium-bodied, not-too-tomato-y sauce. Do a South African braai for this one. Not a good cheese wine, but wonderful with moderately high cacao (about 55%) dark chocolate. Atlanta Distributor: Atlanta Wholesale Wine/NDC $25.00 2004 Thomas Fogarty Winery Lexington Meritage Santa Cruz Mountains Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 94 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; deep dark purple red. Aromas of sweet, cured tobacco; flavors kick in with black currant and other sweet dark fruits. Compelling, complex, rich. Firm fruit tannins. Very long finish. Grapes: Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Lasts like crazy after being opened. Very likely a long-term keeper. Suggest decanting several hours before serving at cool room temperature, about 65ºF (18ºC), in large tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Spicy salami; smoked liverwurst; roasted duck or Cornish hen brushed with black currant jam thinned with some of the wine; braised and grilled meats; firm, aged cheeses, dark chocolate. Atlanta Distributor: Quality Wine & Spirits $45.00 2007 Marchesi di Gresy Moscato d'Asti La Serra Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Medium-bodied slightly sweet white wine; very pale straw. Refreshing light floral perfume, with hints of citrus blossoms. Fresh fruits of all sorts on the palate, namely pear, pear apple, with a clean, crisp finish. Sweet in a fresh fruit manner but not at all cloying. Refreshing, palate awakening, and lively. Slightly spritzy. La Serra is a vineyard planted chiefly to Moscato. Serve moderately chilled, about 55ºF (13ºC) in small tulip-shaped flutes or glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Fresh fruits, especially strawberries and other seasonal berries; cheesecake; egg custard, custard pie, fruit tarts, soft, mild cheeses (Mascarpone), banana cream pie, simple cookies, all by itself as dessert. Atlanta Distributor: Quality Wine & Spirits $15.00 2004 Clos Troteligotte Cahors CQFD Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 93 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; opaque inky ruby red. Beautiful, complex, and ever-evolving aromas of aromatic brown spices initially, then fresh cured tobacco, dark fruits, a hint of soy. Deep, sweet dark fruit flavors, with soft tannins. In French oak 12 months, but the oak doesn't run (or ruin) the fruit. Beautifully balanced. Just 13% alcohol. Grape: Malbec 100%. One of the classic Bordeaux grapes, Malbec also is a mainstay for Cahors, which offers some of France's loveliest scenery in addition to interesting wines. The late music director and conductor emeritus of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw, was said to have been a serious fan of Cahors (the region and the wine). Suggested Food Pairings: Smoked liverwurst and other smoked meats; coarse-textured meat terrines (pàté forrestier with mushrooms); meat-filled raviolis with butter and grated Parmesan cheese; oven- or wood-roasted spice-rubbed pork sirloin; wood-roasted dark meat turkey or duck; aged semi-soft cheeses, such as Zamorano. Atlanta Distributor: Peach State Wine & Spirits $42.00 2004 Prevail West Face Alexander Valley Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 91 Tasting Note: Big, full-bodied but balanced dry red wine; medium deep purple ry red. Aromas and flavors focus on forward fruit, with black currant (cassis) and black plum leading. Aromas pick up a scent of flowers, and flavors focus on the delicious fruit without adding much to the mix. Fairly straightforward. A "guy wine" that even the gals will like for its balance, so they probably won't complain that it's "too thick," (that's "girl" speak for over-the-top, alcoholic, over-extracted powerhouse wines that lack finesse). Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah. Serve cool, about 60-65F (15-18ºC) as the alcohol is a bit high, although the finish isn't "hot." Use large tulip-shaped Bordeaux-style glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Likes braised meats rather than grilled, so pork butt (brine first) braised with caramelized onions and garlic; roast leg of lamb; steak with blue cheese sauce; roast duck; grilled lamb steak, creamy blue cheeses (melt some to go on a steak, too), and dark chocolate. Atlanta Distributor: Georgia Crown $65.00 2004 Domaine des Creisses Les Brunes Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 92 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; inky dark ruby red. Aromas of dark chocolate and dark fruits; on the palate, plums and black currants are supported by firm but fruit-sweet tannins. Texture reveals lack of filtration. Hefty alcohol, 14.5%, but only a little heat in the finish, which rich foods will round off. .Substantial, with plenty of heft, but not overwhelming. Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Syrah (20%). Serve cool, about 60ºF (15 ºC) in generous-sized tulip-shaped glasses. Suggested Food Pairings: Rough-textured terrines coated with aspic; herb-coated salamis and other cured meats pasta filled with veal and sage and topped with melted butter and grated Parmesan cheese, grilled meats, leg of lamb (skip the mint thing and leave it just pink); barbecued Bourbon-marinated leg of lamb, firm aged cheeses. Atlanta Distributor: Peach State Wine & Spirits $52.00 2005 Silver Webs Merlot Adelaide Hills Review Date - 6/1/2008 Score - 90 Tasting Note: Full-bodied dry red wine; fairly deep inky red. Aromas of white pepper (curiously), but then red fruits emerge, and you get a whiff of strawberry and red raspberry. Dark fruits (plums) dominate flavors with a finish reminiscent of malted milk balls. Nice balance. Very silky, fruit-derived tannins. Just a smidge of heat in the finish, but not much; certainly nothing rich foods can’t handle. A bit dumb when first opened; so decant several hours ahead of serving at cool, room temperature [65ºF (18ºC)] in large tulip-shaped glasses. A potential long-term keeper. Still tasty several days after being opened. Just south of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills produces excellent wines. This is a Merlot specialist. Miles would like this one. Owners Jan and John Smeaton live in Athens, GA, but fly home each season to work the harvest. Suggested Food Pairings: Roast duck or Cornish hen with black currant red wine glaze; smoked pork, grilled lamb chop or lamb steak; roast pork tenderloin with dark dried fruit and Vidalia onion stuffing; mild curries, Roaring ‘40s blue (King Island, Australia) or creamy blues, caramel-filled milk chocolate or medium-high (about 55%) dark chocolate. Atlanta Distributor: Linda Allison Selections $20.00