This Friday we will be sampling some wines from Casas Del Bosque, which is a family boutique winery established in 1993 and is located 70km from Santiago, the capital of Chile. Its grapes come from the Casablanca Valley, the preferred place for premium wine production in Chile.

We’ll have Chuy Galvin who represents Casas Del Bosque joining us to share his knowledge of these inexpensive but yet excellent wines, including a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon.  We will culminate the evening with the Purple Angel Carmenère from Montes that received 93 Wine Spectator Points!

The people have spoken and on Saturday we will begin with a nice Sauvignon Blanc from winemaker Alex Sotello and then taste four different California Cabernet’s which all scored well in major publications.  We will begin with a wine Robert Parker has hailed as the best California Cab for under 20 bucks, the Louis M. Martini from Sonoma County.  After that we will taste three Napa Cabs- the 2010 Gallo Signature Series, a 2008 Von Strasser and then finally the Stephanie 2008, which all received a minimum of 92 points!

~ Jason Perry

Jonathan’s Market La Jolla Wine Tasting:

Friday, March 28th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 29th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

7611 Fay Avenue
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.459.2677
View Map

Friday, March 28th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Friday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring the wines of “Casa de Bosque”

2013 Sauvignon Blanc Gran Riserva ($17.99)

• All fruit was sourced from our own vineyard – located within the coolest, westernmost reaches of the Casablanca Valley.  On the nose intense notes of key lime, grapefruit and fresh ginger dominate with just a hint of salinity. In the mouth, bright flavors of ginger and citrus zest give way to a tight mineral backbone and rapier-like acidity.

2012 Pinot Noir Reserva ($17.99)

• Ruby red in color. On the nose intense aromas of red plum, bramble and cedar dominate with just a hint of nutmeg. In the mouth black cherry, allspice and a touch of leather are all in evidence. A well integrated oak backbone is backed-up by abundant, well-rounded tannins imparting excellent structure and length.

2012 Reserva Carmenere ($14.99)

• Intensely violet in colour, on the nose this wine exhibits heady notes of black pepper, black cherry with just a hint of fresh rosmary. In the mouth an initial attack of red plum, sweet tobacco and cinnamon gives way to just a touch of earthiness and ripe, red bell pepper. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity combine to give good balance and length.

2012 Gran Reserva Cabernet ($17.99)

• Intensely violet in colour, on the nose this wine exhibits heady notes of black pepper, black cherry with just a hint of fresh rosmary. In the mouth an initial attack of red plum, sweet tobacco and cinnamon gives way to just a touch of earthiness and ripe, red bell pepper. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity combine to give good balance and length.

2010 Montes Purple Angel ($74.99)

• A dark, ambitious red, with ample toast and mocha to the macerated plum skin, dark cherry and grilled fig fruit that pumps out layers of humus, iron and olive paste before the fruit returns for an encore on the finish. Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2020. 500 cases imported. –NW 93 Points – Wine Spectator

Saturday, March 29th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Saturday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring “California Cabernet”.

2012 Alma Mia Sauvignon Blanc ($17.99)

• At Levernoni Vineyards, Cooling afternoon winds and summer evening fog help create conditions that produce wines with classic acidity and structure, while displaying the lovely depth of flavor for which Carneros wines are renowned. This Wine has a nose of apricot, ripe pears, honey, and pineapple; The palate Shows rich peach, green apple, grapefruit, and green olives, with bright acidity crispy complex and well balanced finish.

2012 Louis Martini Cabernet ($19.99)

• “One of those great values is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah and the rest Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that achieved 13.9% alcohol). The wine’s pH of 3.8 probably explains its silky texture. There are 420,000 cases of this dense wine that exhibits lots of black currant and black cherry fruit intertwined with background earth and oak (it was aged in tanks with French and American staves). This medium to full-bodied Cabernet reveals excellent purity as well as lots of flavor intensity. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate 88 Points!

2010 Gallo Signature Series ($34.99)

• “Sadly, only 500 cases were produced. Another big-time winner is the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (9,000 cases produced), which comes from the William Hill Estate Ranch and Monte Rosso vineyards. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot aged 21 months in barrel, it tips the scales at 14.8% natural alcohol. Abundant aromas of black currants, unsmoked cigar tobacco, underbrush, cedar and Christmas fruitcake jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored, deep, full-bodied, rich wine. It should drink well for 10-15+ years.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92 Points!

2004 Von Strasser Cabernet Rainin Vineyard ($59.99)

• “The debut release for this cuvee, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Rainin Vineyard reveals a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a scorched earth, Graves-like bouquet displaying smoky red and black fruits in the background. Medium-bodied, tannic, firm, well-structured, and more masculine than the Post Vineyard, it, too, will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 10-12 years.” Wine Advocate 92 Points!

Hope to see you all out this weekend!

The “Why Not Us” Tasting!

Since we’re in the middle of the NCAA Basketball Tournament’s March Madness, let’s play along here during our wine tasting weekend. The coach of every underdog or overlooked team in the tournament is telling his players to ask “Why not us?” as the ultimate winners.

Well, we’ve got a few underdogs or overlooked wines in stock that we think are already champions and we’ll be sharing them with you this weekend. An Italian Chardonnay, a Cotes du Rhone, a couple of Napa heavyweights (Hello, Stephanie Blend!) and a top-rated zinfandel followed by a dark, broody Petite Sirah.

Please join Coach Bill Callahan this weekend in our own March Madness.

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, March 28th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 29th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

Featuring the “Why Not Us” Tasting

This weekends selections: $15.00

Terlan Alto Adige Italian Chardonnay 2009  ($19.00 During Tasting)

• “A pleasant Chardonnay, offering clean, juicy acidity bolstering white peach, gala apple and smoke notes. Light-bodied and easy to drink.  – 87 Points Wine Spectator

Domaine Le Grand Retour Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2005  ($15.99 During Tasting)

• Cotes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu wines are made mainly from the Grenache noir grape, blended with a minimum of 20% Syrah and Mourvèdre, yielding wines rich in the flavors of red-berry fruits and spices.

Stephanie Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2008  ($49.99 During Tasting)

• You loved Stephanie Cabernet Sauvignon and this Bordeaux-style blend is just as good.  “This wine is a masterpiece of balance and complexity.” – 97 Points Robert Parker

Richard Partridge Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005  ($49.99 During Tasting)

• The 2005 harvest was a long, moderate one, which allowed for a full flavor maturity and soft, balanced tannin structure. The wine was aged for 20 months in 100% French oak. Silver Medal, International Wine Competition.

Carol Shelton Karma Zinfandel 2009  ($21.99 During Tasting)

• For those who missed the special tasting we hosted, Carol Shelton is widely cited as the most awarded winemaker in the United States and specializes in terrific zinfandels like this Sonoma offering. – 92 Points Wine Spectator

See you all this weekend!

On Friday we have a special guest in store, Kelly Wilkinson, who represents Trinitas Winery.  Kelly has done tastings on a couple occasions in El Cajon, Del Mar, and once here last year at Jonathan’s.  All of them have been well received so this promises to be no exception.  The five wines we have from Trinitas are the Sauvignon Blanc, the Chardonnay, the Old Vine Zinfandel, the Mysterium red blend, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from the heralded 2007 vintage.

On Saturday we will taste wines from Australia.  Australia is well regarded for its wines made from Shiraz, but many other varietals perform particularly well.  We have two white wines on tap that are inexpensive but both received 90 Points and a smart buy designation from wine spectator.  The three reds for the evening look very promising.  A 93 Point Wine Advocate Shiraz from Gemtree and a pair of John Duval wines.  John Duval has scored over 90 points 25/27 times when reviewed by Robert Parker and the 2011 Entity and 2010 Plexus we have in store were no exception to the rule.

Jason Perry

Jonathan’s Market La Jolla Wine Tasting:

Friday, March 21st, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

7611 Fay Avenue
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.459.2677
View Map

Friday, March 21st, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Friday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring the wines of “Trinitas Winery”

2011 Trinitas Sauvignon Blanc ($22.99)

• The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc immediately shows itself as crisp and refreshing. Enjoy soft aromas of citrus fruits and hints of vanilla while taking in a mouthful of tropical flavors such as guava, pineapple, and with a kiss of honey on the finish. We split the fermentation into two portions: tank and barrel. By doing this we create complexity and balance.

2012 Trinitas Chardonnay ($27.99)

• The Trinitas 2011 Chardonnay is from the Los Carneros appellation of the Napa Valley. Barrel aging in American oak lends to aromas of toasty, sun- kissed straw. Under the toast, subtle hints of bright citrus, vanilla, and toffee will fill your glass. Secondary fermentation creates a mid-palate with rich flavors of creamy butter and caramel. The medium toasted barrels provide the caramel and butterscotch notes. The surprisingly bright finish lingers with hints of baked granny smith apple.

2007 Trinitas Zinfandel ($22.99)

• The two vineyards that make up the blend are JMR and Conrado Vineyards. Zinfandel like this is a great wine for backyard barbecues. Its juicy strawberry and blackberry fruit with an inkling of lavender and dark chocolate will work with barbecue sauces, especially those with a bit of sweetness. The fruit is kept fresh and lively with acidity, and the wine finishes with smooth, ripe tannins that make the wine a pleasure to drink.

2009 Trinitas Mysterium ($27.99)

• The five grapes comprising this wine are harvested then each varietal is separately fermented and barrel aged for 18 months. Doing this develops more complexity in each varietal and also allows for the very best blend to be assembled. The blend for the 2008 vintage is made up of Zinfandel (53%), Carignane (35%), Alicante Bouschet (6%), Petite Sirah (5%), and Black Malvasia (1%).The 2009 vintage was a usual Northern California vintage pushing bright red fruit.

2007 Trinitas Cabernet ($49.99)

• Our 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts distinctive flavors that were heightened by the 2007 growing season. It is deep and concentrated with balance and structure. Bright aromas of roses, tobacco and spice lead to a full palate of blackberries, cherries and cocoa. The mid-palate is full and leads to a bright long finish of cherries, caramel, spice, cassis and coffee. The mouth is full, supple, and rich. Flavors of chocolate, espresso, and plum add to the lengthy finish.

Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Saturday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring the wines of “Australia”.

2012 D’Arenberg The Hermit Crab

• Smooth and polished, balanced with lively acidity to set off the ripe pear, litchi and floral flavors, which persist beautifully on the long, deft finish. Drink now through 2008. 1,500 cases imported. –HS Wine Spectator 90 Points! “Smart Buy Designation”

2012 Robert Oakley Chardonnay ($19.99)

• “Polished, generous and expressive, weaving apricot and floral notes through the pear and citrus flavors, lingering easily on the open finish. Drink now through 2019. 4,200 cases imported.” –HS Wine Spectator 90 Points! “Smart Buy Designation”

2007 Gemtree White Lees Shiraz ($49.99)

• Gemstone’s flagship wine is the 2007 White Lees Shiraz which spent 28 months in new French oak. Saturated purple in color, it displays a distinguished aroma of Asian spices, smoked meat, blueberry, blackberry liqueur, and licorice. Structured for cellaring, it has outstanding depth and grip, incipient complexity, and layers of savory fruit. Give this lengthy effort 5-7 years to unwind and drink it from 2015 to 2027.” Jay Miller Wine Advocate 93 Points!

2011 John Duval Entity ($44.99)

• Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2011 Entity Shiraz is attractively scented of crushed blackberries, red plums and mulberries with underlying Szechuan pepper and Provencal herb hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a good concentration of red and black berry flavors in the mouth marked by an herbal streak and a vibrant acid backbone. It finishes long and chewy. Drink it now to 2020+.” Lisa Perotti-Brown Wine Advocate 90+ Points!

Hope to see you all out this weekend!

THE Z TO G TASTING

Okay, let’s play the alphabet soup game this week with an eclectic grouping of vowels and consonants from a sterling collection of wines to sample this week.

We’ll start of with a Chardonnay from ZD, where they really know how to work oak and then welcome the approaching summer with an Oregon Acrobat Rose of Pinot Noir.

We’ll stay in Oregon with a delicious Planet Oregon Pinot Noir, then move south with a 92-rated Sebastiani Secolo blend, a Press Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and finish with a luscious G Zinfandel from the Stagecoach Vineyards on Atlas Peak.

Please join us and bring your spellchecks.

Bill Callahan

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, March 21st, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 22nd, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

Featuring the “Z to G” Tastings

This weekends selections: $15.00

ZD Chardonnay 2012  ($29.99 During Tasting)

• Bright forward aromas of guava and tropical fruit are complemented by subtle hints of orange blossom and sweet vanilla. The palate is full bodied and lush with notes of pineapple, mandarin and lemon rind.

Acrobat Oregon Rose of Pinot Noir 2011    ($7.49 During Tasting)

• With a rush of summer fruit this is a great starter wine for those seeking to see what a well-crafted Rose can offer. Sweet, but not too sweet.

Planet Oregon Pinot Noir 2012     ($18.99 During Tasting)

• A delicious young Pinot Noir that is fresh, silky and suggestive of Oregon summer fruits… cherries and berries of all kinds.

Sebastiani Secolo Sonoma Red 2007     ($29.99 During Tasting)

• A Bordeaux-styled blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Verdot, 8% Malbec, 8% Merlot and1% Petite Sirah with flavors of gentle black cherry with notes of boysenberry and gentle oak. – 92 Pts WS

Press Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010     ($42.99 During Tasting)

• Crafted from grapes grown n the high slopes of Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain, this cab has Patrick Campbell’s stamp all over it with a great balance of acidity and sugars after 30 months of aging in French oak.

See you all this weekend!

Hi Friends.

I am looking forward to seeing you again after a week off.  On Friday we will be tasting wines from Italy.  All five wines on tap for the evening received a minimum of 88+ Points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.  We will begin with a nice Gewürztraminer that is truly built to last, the Terlano Lunare.  Our four reds encompass four different varietals from grown all over Italy.  I am particularly excited to taste the Amarone which has recently been reduced from its former price tag of $74.99.  Hope to see you all Friday.

Also a note: Fat Cat Beer Company will be sampling some of their great Microbrews inside the store from 5-8pm, including their Lager, Brown Ale, Wheat Beer, Pale Ale and IPA.

Saturday will be our first battle of a white wine, California Chardonnay.  I have chosen three high quality ones for our tasting pleasure- Ramey, Newton, and Talbott.  We do have a couple of nice reds on tap as well, and I plan to have a couple extra reds on hand for those who don’t appreciate good white wines, but Chardonnay will be the star of this show.  We have previously had battles of Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Malbec so this was a long time coming.

Hope to see many of you this weekend.

~ Jason Perry

Jonathan’s Market La Jolla Wine Tasting:

Friday, March 14th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 15th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

7611 Fay Avenue
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.459.2677
View Map

Friday, March 14th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Friday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring the wines of “Italy”

2006 Lunare Gewurztraminer ($49.99)

• “The 2006 Gewurtztraminer Lunare possesses intricate layers of passion fruit, mango, spices and vanilla. It is an exotic, full-bodied white loaded with personality and style. This, too, is a terrific effort from Terlano. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.” A.G. Wine Advocate 93 Points!

2009 Terredora Dipaolo Aglianico ($17.99)

• “Readers searching an Aglianico that won’t break the bank will want to check out Terredora’s 2009 Aglianico. There is plenty of varietal character in the dark wild cherries, underbrush, tobacco, tar, spices and cured meats. The tannins dry out a bit on the finish, but that is a relatively small criticism for a wine at this level. Three months in oak add body without marking the wine. This is a gorgeous wine, especially for the money. It will show at its best if given some aeration in advance. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.” AG Wine Advocate 88+ Points!

2006 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella ($59.99)

• “The 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella is a very pretty, harmonious wine made in a perfumed, mid-weight style. Dried cherries, flowers, tar, spices and leather are some of the nuances that emerge from this plump, generous Amarone. The aromas and flavors already show lovely complexity, making this an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018.” Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate 90 Points!

2005 La Spineta Il Colorino ($32.99)

• “The 2005 Colorino di Casanova is a dark and powerful of these three wines. A dark, plush core of wild cherries, plums, underbrush, leather and licorice hides behind a wall of imposing tannins. The wine needs a few years for the elements to meld together, but there seems to be quite a bit of potential here as the wine opened up beautifully with some time in the glass. Sweet menthol, spice and mineral notes linger on the long, satisfying finish. This is a beautiful effort from Giorgio Rivetti. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017.” Wine Advocate 90 Points!

2004 Cascina Morassino Ovello Barbaresco ($54.99)

• “The estate’s 2004 Barbaresco Ovello presents a much darker color as well as a heavier dose of oak than the Morassino. Ovello is one of the region’s most distinctive sites, so it is a shame to see much of its detail covered by the oak, which also contributes to the harder tannins on the finish. Still, this is beautifully made wine with a dark, spiced personality and plenty of style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.”Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate 90 Points!

Saturday, March 15th, 2014 – 4pm – 7pm

Saturday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring “The Battle of California Chardonnay”.

2010 Ramey Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($39.99)

• “Ramey’s 2010 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is laced with lemon, pastry, crushed rocks and mint. Beautifully delineated and focused the 2010 stands out for its energy and verve. This is a gorgeous entry-level offering. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Once again, I tasted an amazing range of wines with David Ramey. To me, the Ramey Chardonnays have a Chassagne-like richness that is quite appealing, yet they remain laid back in style by California standards.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92 Points!

2011 Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay ($59.99)

• “The 2011 Chardonnay Unfiltered exhibits notes of white peaches and honeysuckle, a beautiful, medium to full-bodied texture, superb purity, good acidity and a sensual finish. This highly successful 2011 can be consumed over the next 3-4 years.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93 Points!

2011 Talbott Diamond T Vineyard Chard ($54.99)

• “The 2011 Chardonnay Diamond T Vineyard is decadent stuff. All barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months on lees in 45% new French oak, it’s a rich, full-flavored effort that stays balanced and pure, with knockout detail and clarity on the palate. Offering up notes of grilled peaches, toast, honey, vanilla custard and flower oil, it’s a full-bodied, balanced white that has great underlying acidity and focus. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years. Drink now-2017.” Jeb Dunnuck Wine Advocate 94 Points!

2010 Turnbull “Old Bull” Red ($19.99)

• “This is a rich red similar to Marietta’s Old Vine Red, but with a more serious Napa Cab slant to it. Turnbull has really ratcheted up their wines recently, and this is another perfect example. This bold red blend is packed with dense, rich fruit and spice, but skillfully manages to balance its ripeness and alcohol like a much more expensive and serious wine. It’s a great quaffer for the big wine lover in your house!” Serving Suggestion: Gourmet burgers could really become decadent with this!

Hope to see you all out this weekend!

“THE FRENCH CONNECTION TASTING”

Hi, Folks!

Since we haven’t sampled much of the French stuff lately we’re putting out a very nice assortment of samples from some of the most important wine-growing areas in the world.

A Grand Cru Chablis, a White Burgundy, a Premier Cru Red Burgundy, a highly-rated Margaux from Bordeaux, a bargain-priced Cotes du Rhone and a fresh, fruity Chateauneuf du Pape fill this week’s wine list.

“A votre sante!” – Bill Callahan

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, March 14th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 15th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

Featuring the “The French Connection” Tastings

This weekends selections: $15.00

Piuze Blanchot Chablis Grand Cru 2008   ($64.99 During Tasting)

• “Crisp, bracing purity and freshness, and a sure sense of that distinctive Chablis tang. Drinking the wine, you can’t help but think of oyster shells and minerals.”  – New York Times

Henri Perrusett White Burgundy 2011    ($16.99 During Tasting)

• A lively wine that combines sweet and savory flavors with archetypical Macon-Villages grainy minerality as opposed to buttery California Chardonnays.

Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru Red Burgundy 2006     ($37.99 During Tasting)

• Frequently under-appreciated, Pernand-Vergelesses often over-delivers and offers Burgundy lovers attractive wines at reasonable prices. This Pinot Noir is delicious.

Paveil de Luze Bordeaux 2010     ($33.99 During Tasting)

• A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot this is a dense, ruby/purple-colored Margaux exhibiting notes of forest floor, spring flowers, blueberry, black raspberry and cassis. – 92 Pts RP

Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone 2011     ($10.99 During Tasting)

• Lynch has been a renowned importer of French wines for more than 30 years, offering great values such as this blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mouvedre with pleasant flavors of black plum and oak.

See you all this weekend!

Okay, it’s a stretch, but go a few rounds with me this weekend starting with a Talbott Kali Hart (sounds like ‘hurt,’ get it?) Chardonnay and a Talbot Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir (when you get knocked out you get sleepy and everything is noir!)

An Uppercut Napa cabernet sauvignon is self-explanatory but the Antucura’s Malbec sounds like ‘left hook’ to me. A Mollydooker “The Boxer” Shiraz fits right in followed by a Foxglove (yes, glove) Zinfandel.

Am I punch-drunk? Sure, from a solid card of wines. Please join me this weekend. –

Bill Callahan

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, March 7th, 2014  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, March 8th, 2014  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

Featuring a “Boxing-Themed Tasting”

This weekends selections: $15.00

Talbott Kali Chardonnay 2012   ($16.99 During Tasting)

• Aromas of fresh pear and melon. This wine’s balance of richness and energy makes it highly flexible with food and easy to drink by itself. – 89 Points Tanzer

Talbott Logan Pinot Noir 2012    ($21.99 During Tasting)

• Know for their Chardonnays, this Monterey winery has been coming on in recent years with quality Pinot Noirs like this tasty offering.

Uppercut Napa Cabernet Sauvignon  2010     ($16.99 During Tasting)

• The perfect match for a sizzling steak. Well-structured tannins give this wine the backbone to stand up to boldly flavored foods, as well as a plush texture.

Antucura Malbec 2012     ($14.99 During Tasting)

• Springy berry character, generous bodied, a moderate-alcohol style wine with lively freshness. Smooth tannins lead the ­finish to the bright fruit tastes.

Foxglove Paso Robles Zinfandel 2012     ($13.99 During Tasting)

• Deep ruby red, on the nose this wine exhibits lifted notes of dark cherry, plum and expresso bean. In the mouth ample flavors of cassis, cinnamon and nutmeg dominate. – 91 Points Tanzer

Mollydooker “The Boxer” Shiraz 2012     ($25.99 During Tasting)

•  ”Deep garnet-purple in color, The Boxer Shiraz opens with tons of intense chocolate, vanilla and spice intermingling with an aromatic core of ripe and berry preserves. Very big, full and rich.” – 89 Points Robert Parker
  

See you all this weekend!