WINE OF THE DAY!

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FOLIE A DEUX MENAGE A TROIS  2008 $ 7.95 Ménage à Trois red brings together three strange bedfellows: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. To add complexity and retain character, each variety was fermented separately, then blended together prior to bottling. On top we’ve got Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal candidate for the bottom layer of the trio. Our 2008 Ménage à Trois exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Forward, silky and soft, this delicious dalliance makes the perfect accompaniment for grilled meats or chicken.

THE WINE STOP TOP PICKS!

HALL  2006 $ 34.99 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 94 Our 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an orchestral mélange of hand-selected fruit from our Hardester, Napa River Ranch, Bergfeld and Sacrashe vineyards. Each distinctive terroir interweaves complementary components which culminate in a preeminent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a gestalt of balanced, rich, concentrated character. The inviting deep ruby color and rich aromatics of cassis, roasted espresso bean and dark ripe plum follow through with flavors of blackberry, crème cassis and hints of graphite that linger relentlessly. Rewarding now, this wine will continue to impress for 5-10 years. A rich, dense, concentrated style, this is full-bodied, focused and pure, with hints of mocha and black licorice rounding out the core currant, plum and black cherry flavors. Focused and persistent, with a long finish. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW
DUCKHORN  2007 $ 49.99 This Merlot offers a rich texture, ripe tannins and seamlessly integrated French oak. The bouquet displays lush layers of ripe plum and bright raspberry underscored by notes of sandalwood, walnut and spice. On the palate, polished flavors of red cherry and raspberry are accented by an enticing layer of graham cracker piecrust.
PARAISO  2008 (WAS $22) $ 19.99 The 2008 Estate Pinot Noir is a fine example of clonal diversity coming together in one wine. This wine is youthful and approachable, with a soft acidity and a juicy mid-palate with seemless transition. The focus is decidedly Burgundian, with flavors of cherry and raspberry.
BERNARDUS  2007 $ 16.99 THE WINE NEWS RATING: 92 This superb wine is the perfect expression of Monterey Chardonnay. Aromas are expressive of apple and pear with notes of crème brûlée. The palette is very rich with many layers of ripe tropical and citrus fruit flavors accented with toasty oak nuances which linger on a long, creamy finish. Gold hue. Forward aromas of sliced apple and butterscotch with a whiff of cinnamon. A rich, well-structured Chard offering baked apple and pineapple flavors. A lengthy finish with toasted oak, youthful acidity and expressive tropical fruit. -THE WINE NEWS REVIEW
VARNER BEE BLOCK  2007 $ 39.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 95 The incredible 2007 Chardonnay Bee Block is a tour de force in mountain Chardonnay. Honeysuckle, creme brulee, buttered citrus, white peach, and baked apple characteristics emerge from this full-bodied, intense effort. With great acidity as well as fabulous precision and purity, it can be enjoyed over the next 7-8 years. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW
A to Z  2008 $ 15.99 The 2008 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir reveals all of the depth, concentration and beauty of the 2008 vintage. Deeply colored with aromas of minerals, red and black cherries, and spice, the wine opens in the mouth with rich, red and blue fruits, dark spice and dusty tannins. Great ripe acidity and tannic structure bring balance to this classic, succulent, intense wine, perhaps the most beautiful Pinot Noir we have made.
OLABISI DOUBLE TOP SECRET VINEYARD  2007 $ 29.99 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 93 Luxurious and hedonistic with aromas of lemon, lime, candy apple, honey, butterscotch and toffee. The are rich, ripe and silky, with notes of ripe citrus, mango, and white peach that linger long on the palate. Delivers fresh, complex floral aromas, with baked apple, melon, fig and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, rich and layered, bold and focused, ending with a long, persistent finish. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW

JUST IN!

KISTLER LES NOISETIERS SONOMA MOUNTAIN  2008 $ 64.99 Green-tinged pale yellow. Complex aroma of tangerine, powdered stone and green citrus. Tightly wound and bracing throughout, dominated by its mineral side. Precise and intense with uncommon energy that lifts it from the glass. Penetrating finish coats the palette with flavors of lime and chalk in the tradition of great Chablis.
BERINGER PRIVATE RESERVE  2008 $ 29.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 94 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 92 A good portion of the 2007 blend is from Gamble Ranch, a vineyard that has consistently delivered such rich, ripe fruit flavors. There's a richness in this wine that is wonderfully balanced by a bright citrus note. A sweet oak note weaves together the many layers of aroma and flavor, carrying through to the finish. The 2008 Chardonnay Private Reserve continues the success Beringer has enjoyed with this program. Notes of brioche, hazelnut, marmalade, honeyed tropical fruits, buttered citrus, and a gentle touch of smoke are found in this full-bodied, concentrated wine with impressive purity, depth, and length. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW Big, ripe and complex, with full-bodied apple, melon, pear and citrus notes that gain depth and turn creamy in texture, picking up a dash of anise and cedar on the finish. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW
FAR NIENTE OAKVILLE  2007 $ 107.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 93 This wine offers intense aromas of blackberry and boysenberry along with licorice and perfume. A juicy and silky entry is followed by a velvety midpalate, rich with layers of ripe purple fruit and cassis. Well-integrated and melting tannins lead to a long and juicy finish. The finest Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted from Far Niente may be the 2007 Estate. Its dense purple color is accompanied by fragrant aromatics of creme de cassis, spice box, underbrush, and forest floor. Voluptuously-textured and full-bodied with superb purity and depth as well as a layered, complete finish, this terrific wine should be drinkable before the 2006, but age just as long 20-25+ years. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW
CHEHALEM 3 VINEYARD  2008 $ 23.99 A rich, dark, focused, and balanced Pinot Noir, this is a very nice introduction for 2008. Perfectly colored red-purple-black, this well-extracted wine carries gobs of fruit, good structure, and a nice, long finish. Exotic aromas and flavors of clove, cardamom, pepper spice, mineral, orange marmalade, green tea, and plum as well as herbal and brown forest-floor characters make this wine complex and always evolving. It is still tightly wound at release, with great acid and a moderate weight that will plump even more with age. We wish we were able to make more of this wine.
LARKMEAD  2007 $ 59.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 94 Deep ruby red-purple color. Unmistakable Larkmead aromatic profile of dusky cola, wild herbs, minerals and ripe dark fruit, with a complex, perfumed violet side note. The palate is immediately dark, rich and multi-layered with Larkmead menthol-mineral flavors, graphite, cedar and dusty cocoa powder notes. Concentrated dark fruit dominates as the palate expands but the wine remains lively, juicy and focused throughout. The tannins are long, youthful and satisfying and bring richness and length to the palate, which finishes with a whiff of pepper and aromatic thyme. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a great buy for a world-class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a dense purple color, notes of charcoal, creme de cassis, graphite, and forest floor, and a ripe, opulently fruity, rich, full-bodied style. Its endearing silkiness, multi-dimensions, and mature, sweet tannins suggest it has two decades of life ahead of it. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW
KLINKER BRICK FARRAH  2008 $ 16.99 With aromas of black cherry, cedar shavings with just a hint of tobacco, the 2008 Farrah Syrah is a smooth, beautifully balanced wine with dense layers of spiced plum. The texture is supple and silky and the finish, long and lingering.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

STAGS LEAP WINE CELLARS ARTEMIS  2006 $ 39.99 WINE ENTHUSIAST RATING: 90 Focused and complex, the wine opens with aromas and flavors of black fruit—blackberry, currant, and plum—that slowly give way to layers of nutmeg, rosemary, grilled game, and warm pie crust. This firmly structured and full-bodied wine gains depth and richness through the finish. Made almost exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a deeply colored, ripely rich young wine that shows masses of blackberries. There are supporting notes of pain grillé, anise, violets, anise and smoky oak, with a firm grounding of minerals. -WINE ENTHUSIAST REVIEW
BEAU VIGNE RESERVE  2007 $ 89.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 94 This Reserve has smooth pointed entry of black currant, black cherry, and creme de cassis, backed by tobacco leaf and cocoa notes. Offering a complex harmony of flavors and aromas. Nicely structures tannins lead to a full 60 second finish. More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW
FROGS LEAP  2007 $ 29.99 The 2007 Merlot opens with fresh cherry and currant aromas which are underscored with subtle notes of chocolate. Ripe flavors of cherry, cassis and plum are laced with hints of dried herbs and cigar box. The wine’s connection to its Rutherford appellation is reflected in the understated essence of earth and dust. Generous and plump, this wine’s lush texture is balanced with a delicate acidity that promises a long, memorable finish.
FAR NIENTE  2008 $ 44.99 Our newest Chardonnay release! Considered a classic, this wine is the rare combination of clean and elegant flavors that offers more richness and layering with age. The style and grace of this wine will reward you with the consistent high quality for which Far Niente is so well known.
FREEMARK ABBEY  2006 (WAS $35) $ 25.99 The appearance is opaque dark red with ruby hues. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon shows aromas of dark cherry, blackberry syrup, bruleed sugar and aromatic cedar. The integration of oak adds hints of walnut oil, cinnamon and clove. Powerful, yet elegantly balanced, the flavors of blueberry, black currant, mint, cedar, and full cherry-berry notes lead into a fleshy mid-palate, over a bed of resolved tannins. This wine is full-flavored from start to finish, with a very long lingering fruitfulness dusted with cocoa.
ELK COVE  2007 $ 21.99 WINES & SPIRITS RATING: 91 WINE ENTHUSIAST RATING: 91 All of Elk Cove's delicate Pinot Noir fruit undergoes the same meticulous vineyard management and gentle handling through our gravity flow system, thus achieving the elegance, texture and luscious quality that are the hallmarks of exquisite Pinot Noirs. From the early pioneering days to now, our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has remained the foundation of Elk Cove Vineyards. This Pinot Noir is blended from several select vineyard sites comprised of Pommard and Dijon plant material and shows the softest, most approachable drinking style Elk Cove makes. Richly ripe when first poured, this gathers focus with air. Its stalwart plum flavors develop a limpid clarity in the center, a pure fruit moment that gives way to a fleshy, savory finish. It has the savory layered notes to pair with coq au vin. -WINES & SPIRITS REVIEW This is a lovely bottle from a vineyard planted in 1974. It’s an almost-perfect mix of flower, fruit, and stone. It mixes the flavors elegantly into a wine that captures the elegance of the grape along with bright fruit, crisp acids, and just the right amount of herb. -WINE ENTHUSIAST REVIEW
GHOST BLOCK  2007 $ 59.99 Distinctive flavors of Ghost Block and Rock Cairn were heightened with the 2007 growing season. 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.
ZACA MESA SANTA YNEZ VALLEY  2006 $ 16.99 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 93 Our Syrah displays rich blackberry, cassis, espresso, mocha and our signature sage spice aromas and flavors. The silky finish lingers from the ripe tannins and smoky oak. This full-bodied wine should be enjoyed over the next ten years. Offering wonderful floral, grapey plum and wild berry aromas, this is rich, smooth and supple on the palate, with tiers of dark berry, mocha, mineral and spice flavors that glide along. Drink now through 2015. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW

HOT IMPORTS!

M. CHAPOUTIER COTES DU ROUSSILLON -VILLAGES LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT  2008 (NO.75) $ 12.99 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 90 Color is deep red garnet & on the nose black cherries. Mouth is well-structured with sweet meaty tannins.The wine had the heat and wildness of the Roussillon area. A muscular red, with concentrated flavors of dark cherry, plum, raspberry tart and grilled fig. The dense finish of dark chocolate is firm and focused, with smoky notes. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW
DOMAINE VINDEMIO AMADEUS  2007 $ 26.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 93 The compelling 2007 Cotes du Ventoux Amadeus is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah aged in cement tanks for six months. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of kirsch, raspberry liqueur, black fruits, roasted meats, and Provencal herbs. Deep and concentrated with good acids (due to this high elevation, cool climate area), and a sensational finish, this utterly profound wine is fairly priced given its high quality. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW
PIANCORNELLO RISERVA  2001 $ 84.99 WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 91 Enticing blackberry, floral and cedar. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins and loads of fruit. Massive wine. Chewy. Bit coarse but impressive. Very extracted. -WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW
DOMAINE DE VILLENEUVE "LES VIEILLES VIGNES" CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE  2007 $ 52.99 ROBERT PARKER RATING: 94 This estate did not offer their 2008 for tasting, but they have hit the bull’s eye with their brilliant 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Aged 80% in tank and 20% in old barrels, this blend of 70% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah, Cinsault, and the white grape Clairette is made from vines that average 65 years of age (some are over 100 years). This dense ruby/purple-hued offering smells like the essence of raspberry jam intermixed with boysenberries and blueberries. Exceptionally pure, with a layered mouthfeel and sweet tannin, this is undeniably the finest wine made by Proprietor Stanislas Wallut since he purchased Domaine de Villeneuve in 1992. The great oenologist Philippe Cambie consults at this biodynamically farmed property (over 75% of Cambie’s Chateauneuf du Pape clients are biodynamically farmed vineyards – an impressive statistic). This 2007, which was bottled unfiltered, should drink beautifully for 15-20 years. It is undeniably a big-time sleeper of the vintage. -ROBERT PARKER REVIEW