Chateau Claud La Chappelle 2007 Cotes de Castillon

ELLYN'S PICK
Every now and then, we discover a wine that is so underpriced, we feel the need to herald its arrival. Well, sound the trumpets, Ch Claud La Chappelle is here! Its home is Bordeaux' Cotes de Castillon, a sub-region rich in history and great-value red wine. Here, next door to St Emiilion, Merlot vines are predominant, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc playing supporting roles. The wines of this area are similar to Saint Emillion, but tend to be lighter, smoother and considerably less expensive.
This 2007 is a top value of the vintage, featuring dense flavors of smoky oak, leather and mint overlaid with dark berries and tongue-coating tannins. From the originator of the "garage movement", Jean Luc Thunevin, this is a must try for Bordeaux enthusiasts or lovers of rich red wines.

2007 Santa Ema Reserve Merlot

RICH'S PICK 

This is an absolutely amazing bottle of wine for an even more amazing price. Once you taste it, it's not hard to figure out how it got a 90 point rating from the Wine Advocate.

"The 2007 Merlot Reserve is a glass-coating opaque purple. The nose offers up coffee, mocha, and cherry leading to a wine with no hard edges and plenty of character. If all Merlots offered this much pleasure, Pinot Noir would never have become so popular."

Ch Ste Chappelle Soft Red

easy-drinking and refreshingly fruity; it’s delicious on its own or with picnic and other casual fare.

Permutation Pinot Noir

Ellyn's Pick

Victoria’s Yarra Valley is THE place for Australian Pinot Noir.  Here the cool climate allows Pinot to ripen slowly and evenly resulting in perfectly mature grapes.  Add all-star winemaker William Downie’s expertise,  and you end up with an elegant, smooth great value.   With its strawberry, smoky, slate aromas and gorgeous black cherry, herbs, spice and vanillin flavors, this will match well with chicken in red wine, salmon, tenderloin and pork dishes.

Strong Arms Shiraz

"Sweet-fruited vibrant nose of fragrant violets, plums, cherry and musk. The palate has rich blackberry, raspberry, licorice and tar. Finishes with a creamy, vanillin oak and slightly smoky character."

"Strong Arms is a McLaren Vale Shiraz, soft, easy-drinking and modest yet stylish. It is named after a work of art by a talented artist named Mel Kadel whose work captures the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of everyday life—in essence, why we drink wine"

Finca Antigua Garnacha

"This Garnacha has a high aromatic intensity with initial hints of mineral, violets and ripe red berries. There are notes of Indian ink and subtle nuances of new oak, tobacco and breadcrumbs. In the mouth, a silky attack, fresh with a velvety, full mouthfeel. "-winemakers notes

Prado Rey Roble

A blend of mostly Tempranillo, with hints of Cabernet and Merlot that spends a short time in oak, producing a wine that has great red fruit flavors, with hints of earth and spice. This is a great value wine from the Ribera Del Duero region

2008 Marquis Phillips Shiraz

d'Arenberg Stump Jump Shiraz

RICH'S PICK 

Like all the d’Arenberg wines, this wine displays an incredible elegance and balance. It has a slightly creamy mouth feel that is packed with bright, ripe bery flavors, hints of white pepper, and a minerality that comes out on the finish. It’s no wonder that it got 90 points from Wine Spectator and made #82 on the magazine’s top 100 wines of the year.

Saint Savin Bordeaux (Red and White)

RICH'S PICK 

I was very impressed with both of these wines, and I am sure that they will become a permanent fixture in our Bordeaux section. For both the experienced Bordeaux drinker looking for an everyday wine, or the novice who wants to discover the flavors of Bordeaux, Saint Savin delivers. The red offers smooth flavors of red and black fruit, while the white shows flavors of ripe melon and finishes with a refreshing acidity. These wine represent our continuing effort to bring our customers wines that over deliver in their quality.

Clockspring Zinfandel

This is an incredible Zinfandel, from the prime region of Amador Country, made with organically grown grapes.

"This one shows very ripe blackberry, cherry, tangerine, cola, and date flavors, and is dry. The tannins are intricate, with a jalapeno finish"-Wine Enthusiast

Santa Carolina Reserva Carmenere

RICH'S PICK

Carmenere is a grape that is on the cusp of seeing the same popularity as its cousin Malbec has in Argentina. This wine is full bodied and rich with bitter-sweet chocolate, dark berries, and a hint of bell pepper that finishes incredibly smooth. A perfect pairing with any sort of beef dish from elegant steaks to taco night.