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Value Picks
Maryhill Winemaker's Red
StoneCap Syrah 2009
Murphy Goode Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cupcake Vineyards, Pinot Noir, 2008 (Central Coast, CA.) $14
Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (CA.) $11
complete list

Cellar Picks
Seven Hills Syrah Walla Walla 2008
The Magnificent Wine Company, The Originals Syrah, 2007 (Walla Walla WA.) $22
Apex, Merlot, 2006 (Sunnyside, WA.) $35
Penfolds, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (Australia) $33
Castello di Gabbiano, Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG, 2006 (Tuscany, Italy) $22
complete list

Wine Cellar Picks

  • Seven Hills Syrah Walla Walla 2008
    Producer: Seven Hills

    This has the best from both the old world and the new world…great up front fruit from the new world, yet has structure and is very dry, like the old world's version of a Northern Rhone. Excellent black raspberry notes, kirsch, lavendar and smoked meat, along with huge mouth-filling tannins make this Syrah from Walla Walla not to be missed! This is drinking great now, with a decanter, or cellar for 10 more years!

    Reviewer: Andy Campbell
  • The Magnificent Wine Company, The Originals Syrah, 2007 (Walla Walla WA.) $22
    Producer: The Magnificent Wine Company

    The Magnificent Wine Company, The Originals Syrah, 2007 (Walla Walla WA.) $22 Style: dry red; deep red color; aromas: raspberry with hints of jam, leather and rose petals; palate/flavors: hints of blueberry, hibiscus and cranberry; full body; dark fruit on the finish. (Alc. by Volume: 13.9%)

  • Apex, Merlot, 2006 (Sunnyside, WA.) $35
    Producer: Apex, Sunnyside, WA

    Apex, Merlot, 2006 (Sunnyside, WA.) $35 Blend: 76% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot; Style: dry red; dark red color; aromas: hints of warm vanilla and dark chocolate; palate/flavors: cherry with hints of earthy and mineral notes; medium body; balanced finish. (Alc. by Volume: 14.3%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Penfolds, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (Australia) $33
    Producer: Penfolds, Bin 407

    Style: dry red; dark red core color with a bright crimson rim; aromas: dark berry fruit with hints of lavender, musk, cinnamon and spice; palate/flavors: chocolate-mint and berry with hints of oak, cedar and vanilla; full body; firm, balanced finish. (Alc. by Volume: 14.0%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Castello di Gabbiano, Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG, 2006 (Tuscany, Italy) $22
    Producer: Castello di Gabbiano

    100% Sangiovese; Style: dry red; deep ruby color; aromas: floral notes of sweet violets with hints of cherry jam; palate/flavors: rich black currant and plums with hints of fragrant wood and licorice; full body; long finish. (Alc. by Volume: 13.3%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • King Estate, Domaine Pinot Gris, 2008 (Eugene, Oregon) $25
    Producer: King Estate, Eugene, Oregon

    Style: dry white; white gold/platinum straw color with light green hue; aromas: pear, cantaloupe, lime zest, tropical fruit, toast and spice; flavors: kiwi, orange blossom, banana, grapefruit and star fruit; medium body; soft, round, balanced finish. (Alc. by Volume: 13.0%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Graham’s 20 Year Tawny Port, NV (Portugal) $29
    Producer: Graham’s

    A delicate tawny color with green tinted edge it has marmalade, dried fig and almond aromas with a floral background. The palate shows flavors of sweet fruit and a rich, smooth, velvet texture. This is a full bodied Port with a balanced finish. Food Pairing: nuts, dried fruits and fruitcake or vanilla ice cream or crème brulee. (Alc. by Volume: 20%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Healdsburg, CA.) $25.
    Producer: Dry Creek Vineyard

    This is a delicious blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It has an inky dark red color, aromas of black cherry, cedar and chocolate. The palate is well-balanced with fine-grained tannins that are seamless and well integrated, great depth of body and a well balanced finish. (Alc. by Volume: 14.5%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Pommery, Springtime NV Brut Rose’ Champagne, NV (France) $65
    Producer: Pommery, France

    Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier; Style: French Champagne; delicate pale pink color; aromas and flavors: red berries, red currants, pomegranate and kiwis; medium body; pristine finish. Food Pairing: Springtime pairing with fresh fish or garden-fresh vegetables for brunch, or sip on its own. (Alc. by Volume: 12.5%) A special treat for Father’s Day!

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • King Estate Pinot Noir 2008 (Eugene, Oregon)
    Producer: King Estate

    Style: dry red; bright ruby color; aromas: earth, mushroom, cedar, raspberry, spice, dark cherry, leather; palate/flavors: soft entry, velvety tannins/cherry, strawberry, tobacco, vanilla; medium body; sweet, smoky finish. Great with strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. (Alc. by Volume: 13.0%)

    Reviewer: Nick Tomassi
  • Don Miguel Gascon Reserva Malbec
    Producer: Don Miguel Gascon

     This stuff rocks!  It has a huge nose of plum and cassis, with dark berry notes and bitter chocolate.  On the palate, a nice coating of plum and chocolate, with a long finish.  This is why people are flocking to Argentina these days, because if this were from the States, then it would be three times the price!  This can be put away for up to 5-6 years, if you can wait that long!

    Reviewer: Andy Campbell
  • Château Trimoulet St. Emilion Grand Cru 2005 (France) $35
    Producer: Château Trimoulet

    St. Emilion was not classified in 1855 like the wines of the Medoc on the Left Bank of the Gironde. Reclassification is done every 10 years with some chateaus moving up and others moving down! Trimoulet is 70% Merlot with Cabernet Franc 25% and Cabernet Sauvignon 5%. 2005 was a year that saw wines produced with massive fruit and plenty of tannin to match. At once opulent with plenty of cellaring potential, this was one of many recent vintages to be the best of the decade, century, or ever! The aroma is excellent with notes of red fruit, tropical flavors such as banana, and hints of licorice and spices. It is even more evident when tasting the wine. Plenty of decanting time is recommended. The wine can be cellared for many years, but is enjoyable if given enough air.

    Reviewer: Joel Dhanapal
  • Rosa Regale Red 2008 (Italy) $24
    Producer: Rosa

    This is a light-bodied, frizzante rose made from the Brachetto grape from the PiedmontBuy this at wine.com area. Sweet, but not sticky, the fruit of strawberry and cherry are sewn up by the crisp, bubbly finish. A very unique wine, worth searching out, this is amazing stuff even with the simplest dark chocolate.

    Reviewer: Andy Campbell
  • Waterbrook Merlot Reserve 2006 (Washington) $23
    Producer: Waterbrook

    This was one of the best tasting, most integrated and best valued Merlots that our group tasted during the “Spring Release” weekend the first weekend in May in Walla Walla of this year (see Tom Allan’s article named “Spring Release Diary at www.winesquire.com/articles/ta0904.htm for details on the weekend). I have been eagerly awaiting this fantastic wine. It is a lengthy wine, with layers of subtle, soft fruit and a finish that will linger; lasting so long you can’t wait for the next sip. This is perhaps the most outstanding reserve Merlot that Waterbrook has yet produced!

    Reviewer: Andy Campbell