Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Hot New Wine Reviews: July 16th, 2009

Find the hottest newly reviewed wines on WineZap!


These are some of the highly regarded wine critics we listen to each week - Check out the latest wine reviews below and use WineZap to buy these great wines yourself.




WineSpectator Insider


July 15th, 2009


2007 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape: 97 Pts starting at $102.49


"Absolutely stunning, with a deep well of crème de cassis that’s thoroughly pure and captivating, while black tea, fig cake, hoisin sauce, incense and graphite notes weave throughout. The supervelvety finish lets blackberry, boysenberry and crushed cherry fruit take an encore-as if this needed any more fruit. A fantastic display of precision in a very opulent year."


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2007 Paul Autard Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee la Cote Ronde: 95 Pts starting at $43.50


"A stunner, combining the rich currant, fig and boysenberry fruit of the vintage with the region’s characteristic charred apple wood, graphite, aged tobacco and black tea notes. The long, invigorating finish is supported by riveting acidity and well-embedded grip. When power and finesse work together, it’s a beautiful thing."


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2007 Domaine Cristia Chateauneuf du Pape Renaissance: 95 Pts> starting at $64.99


"Very plump and ripe, with black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that verge on jammy before fresh spice, star anise and floral notes add definition and length. Flaunts the showy side of the vintage. Grenache and Mourvèdre."


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2007 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape: 94 Pts starting at $55.99


"Crackles with an urgency atypical for the vintage, with juniper, cassis bush and tobacco notes that manage to be more prominent than the well of dark plum and currant fruit in reserve. Racy and invigorating, with the fruit’s sappy intensity offset perfectly by the mouthwatering minerality."


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Robert Parker - Wine of the Day


July 15th, 2009


2007 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner Heiligenstein: 90 Pts starting at $18.94


"Hirsch’s 2007 Gruner Veltliner Heiligenstein features lentil and green bean with a slightly grassy and floral overtone. Bright and tart, yet silken in texture, cool and soothing on the palate, this well-concentrated Veltliner then finishes with tactile bite of lavender and white pepper. Deep notes of tobacco, nut oils, and wet stone well up as the wine opens, and this should make for fine and versatile drinking over the coming 5-6 years. Johannes Hirsch was already done harvesting in 2007 on October 8 (after starting September 13), not far behind the Nikolaihof. And there is another connection with that venerable estate which may or may not be vital: Hirsch has been passionately pursuing a biodynamic path. I did manage to get a smile out of him when I suggested that he consider replacing the pile of cow horns he had accumulated with much rarer and surely more efficacious antlers of elk (Hirsch). “The clusters were beautifully golden-yellow, perfect,” he relates, so there was no need to wait, which meant missing out on the mid-October rains."


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Wall Street Journal


From France, a Refreshing Steal
Muscadet, the Loire Valley white, is a treat with seafood -- and surprisingly affordable


July 10th, 2009

By Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher


Domaine de la Batardière Muscadet starting at $7.99


"Charming and easy, with plenty of fruit—in fact, John thought it was a little too fruity, but Dottie thought it tasted real and true."


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Château de la Chesnaie Chéreau-Carré Muscadet starting at $8.95


"Ripe, fresh and clean, with a very tasty roundness. Mouth-popping, with fresh, ripe citrus and tart and fleshy kiwis and lychees. Balanced and very easy to pair with food.



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SF Chronicle - Recommends: Summer whites for $15 and less


Sunday, July 12th, 2009 by Lynne Char Bennett


2008 Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc starting at $10.97


"New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a go-to summer wine, especially to pair with green vegetables. This balanced bottling - a midpoint between the grassy, pungent style and a more fruit-driven approach - holds its own with pricier wines."


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2007 Branger Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie starting at $12.99


"This Loire Valley white was produced from vines that are on average 35 years old. Muscadet - made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape - is generally a good value. Left on lees for at least six months this is almost austere with mineral, lemon and brisk acidity; a perfect wine for oysters."


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Wednesday, July 01, 2009



Find the hottest newly reviewed wines on WineZap!


These are some of the highly regarded wine critics we listen to each week - Check out the latest wine reviews below and use WineZap to buy these great wines yourself.




WineSpectator Insider


July 1st, 2009


2005 Silvio Grasso Barolo Ciabot Manzoni: 96 Pts starting at $72.00


"Wow. Wonderful plums and blackberries, with Indian spices. Full-bodied, with powerful, chewy tannins and a dense, rich fruit depth. Long and rich. A solid, powerful and beautiful wine."


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2006 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo: 93 Pts starting at $500.00


"Ripe and decadent, with prune, spice and blackberry aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and beautiful concentration. This shows structure, power and class."


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Robert Parker - Wine of the Day


July 1st, 2009


2006 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Vinas Viejas: 91 Pts starting at $13.88


"The old-vine cuvee, the 2006 Las Rocas Vinyas Viejas, was recently reviewed in the Value issue but is worth reprinting because the 2007 has yet to be released. Aged entirely in French and American oak, it is purple-colored with a cedary, spicy, cherry and cranberry bouquet. More structured than the “regular” bottling, it has layered fruit, savory flavors, excellent depth, and a fruit-filled finish. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. The Las Rocas label has become synonymous with value in recent years."


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SF Chronicle - Recommends: Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc


Sunday, June 28th, 2009 by Lynne Char Bennett


2007 Frei Brothers Reserve Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc starting at $12.99


"Founded in 1890 by Andrew Frei, this winery is now part of E.& J. Gallo. Perfumed nose of lemongrass, sweet citrus and melon; similar flavors with slight lemon zest on the finish. Approximately half steel and half barrel fermented and includes 7 percent Semillon."


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2008 Kunde Family Estates Magnolia Lane Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc starting at $9.95


"The Kunde family - in the wine business since 1904 - named this wine after the 100-year-old magnolia trees that border their Wildwood Vineyards. Nose of ripe pear, honeydew melon and sweet Meyer lemon plus slight herb and lemon blossom. Gentle lemony palate; long, finessed finish. Includes 6 percent Semillon and 3 Viognier."


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"2008 Teira Wines Woods Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc starting at $9.99

Daughters Thea and Keira inspired the name of this winery founded in 2002 by Daniel Donahoe and Alexis Woods, both of whom grew up around food and wine. The Woods family has grown Dry Creek Valley fruit for 35 years. Lemony citrus, slight green herb and hint of mineral; very tart acidity. Dry Creek Vineyards winemaker Bill Knuttel ferments it all in stainless steel."


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LA Times - Wine of the Week


By Ricardo DeAratanha


2006 The Ojai Vineyard Syrah starting at $23.99


"Everything you want in a Central Coast Syrah -- ripe, beautiful fruit, wonderful balance and structure, flavors of dark, juicy berries, wild herbs and a touch of smoke. Adam Tolmach's 2006 Santa Barbara County Syrah is a stunner. One of the original Rhone Rangers, he's no newcomer to Syrah and has distilled everything he knows about the grape into his wine. A true artisanal winemaker, for the past few vintages, he's been blending the Syrah with a touch of Mourvèdre and Grenache to terrific effect.


It's the perfect 'cue wine, standing up to strong flavors and bold seasonings. But you'll taste more of the wine if you keep things somewhat subdued, or serve it with simple grilled lamb chops."


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