Maxwell Creek
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
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This was our largest selling
wine in August. Mills went thru a whole
pallet of Maxwell
Creek in one month! This is a great Cabernet produced for
Jonathan Newman by St. Supery Winery in Napa. This is the real deal, lots of bright,
upfront fruit, and not tannic at all.
This is an even better fall selection than it was a summer wine!
Regular Price
$19.99 Sale Price $16.99(Click the Label to be taken to our online Shopping Cart or Here.)
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Sonoma Acres Winery
2008 Russian River Pinot Noir
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Today's wine buyer
needs to be a "private detective"! We
need to search through all the hyperbole to find the hidden gems of wine country. Sonoma
Acres is just that kind of discovery.
Kenwood has, for years,
made great wines! Bob Stashak has been
their winemaker for nearly 35 years.
Kenwood has always had a second winery called Armstrong Ridge
Winery. It is an outlet for small
production winery only sale. Within that
group, from time to time, has been a release under different name of truly
wonderful individual batches at amazing prices.
Our California
buyer ran into Sonoma Acres on stake out while
in California
trying to find hidden gems for Mills.
This is stunning Pinot Noir, truly from the Russian River valley, that
actually sees ten months in small oak barrels!
Our only problem is that we will never be able to get enough.
Bob Stashak has a
winemaking philosophy that we totally agree with, "I want to bring out fruit
flavors harmoniously, without statement!"
He goes on to say "Wines should be complex with many layers of
character, but not overbearing!" Bob,
we couldn't agree more, and that's exactly what you did with Sonoma Acres Pinot Noir!
California Price $24.99
Mills
regular Price $17.99
Sale Price
$14.99(Click the Picture to be taken to our online Shopping Cart or Here)
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Gold Oak Hill
Chardonnay 2008
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This time you have to
do your own detective work. We have
agreed not to say ANYTHING about where this wine actually comes from. It is from a very prestigious Sonoma County
Winery that is fanatical about their large oak trees (hint) hence the name Gold Oak Hill.
The wine is a classic California Chardonnay. There is some oak and butter but not a
lot. What surprised us is the amount of
delicious upfront fruit it possesses. We
simply can't believe the price we got this for and are passing on the savings
to our customers.
California Price $19.99
Mills
Regular Price $13.99
Ridiculous
Sale Price $9.99
(Click the Label to be taken to our online Shopping Cart or here.)
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Bourgogne Rouge 2006
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Domaine René Leclerc from Gevrey-Chambertin
The always outspoken and iconoclastic René Leclerc - a true
character, flowing white mane and all - took over his half of the family
domaine in 1976. They have 29 acres in and around Gevrey-Chambertin, including the
sought after 1èr Crus Lavaut St. Jacques and Combe aux Moines, and Grand Cru
Griotte Chambertin that is drop-dead gorgeous. René's son François is now in
charge of vinification at the domaine, and if possible the wines are getting
even better. The vines average 50-80
years old. The wines are the epitome of grace and elegance, understated yet
very concentrated and pure. New oak is generally not in use here - 0% for 2005
and again in 2006.
- Scott Paul
We reprinted Mr. Paul's wine review as this estate has been at the vanguard of Burgundy Producers for the last 25 years. Unfortunately Mills never had a relationship with the "Leclerc family". However, Peter worked for their US importer for quite a while and now we are lucky to get some wines!
The Bourgogne Rouge 2006 is an excellent example of just how good Bourgogne Pinot Noir can be! This is a rich, lush Pinot Noir that is loaded with Terroir. Our $22.99 price seems to be one of the best around and when we compare this wine to Pinot Noirs at the same price from around the World, there really was no comparison.
Regular Pricing $29.99
Mills Special Sale Price $22.99
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Olivier Laflaive Sous le Chateau 2006
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 Olivier Leflaive is simply one of the top five
estate owners and wine makers of White Burgundy. Six cases of his St Romain got caught in the
crack at the local wholesaler. Mills
grabbed this super white burgundy and is offering it to you at what we think is
the lowest price in the Country
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Appellation
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: A.O.C. Communale
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Varietal
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: Chardonnay
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Color
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: White
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Situated behind Auxey-Duresses, you
can find side the vinyards of Saint Romain on the South South-East and North
North-East slopes, protected by impressive rockformations on the West and East.
Its like a hidden passagge. The levels go up to 450 meters in altitude with
soils of white marl and limestone.
The wines do posess lots of elegance
with a nice mineral caracter.
"A precise, mineral-driven white,
with lemon and spice notes adding complexity. This is ripe and balanced,
offering a sense of place and a fine introduction to white Burgundy."
-Wine Spectator, September 30,
2008 Score 88
Mills Regular Price
$31.99 Best price on Wine Searcher
$28.99
Special Mills Discount Price $25.59
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Domaine Vincent Dampt Chablis
France 2007
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For a couple of years we have been reading in English Wine
Magazines about a new talent in Chablis.
The rave reviews for Vincent Dampt have been quite interesting, but
alas, the wines have never been available in the USA. So, last week Richard Malcomson comes walking
into MILLS. We have known of Richard for
years as he lives in Beaune and is one of the most important Burgundy "hounds" shipping
to England. It just so happened that he had just sent a
pallet of Vincent Dampt to Virginia. Much of that pallet has now been diverted to Annapolis!
Mills Introductory Price $23.99
One Week Only Offer $18.99
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2007 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE IN ANNAPOLIS
OK, so for the umpteenth time we're reminding you how great
the 2007 Southern Rhones are. You are being bombarded with 2007 Rhone offerings.
Even the local Beer Bomber Super Market is trying to pawn off 07 Rhones.
On the other hand there is Mills. We just got a small "teaser" delivery of five
of the most famous Parkerized Chateauneuf du Papes! Most of our inventory is at our temperature
controlled warehouse in Baltimore (used to be an icecream plant!) The descriptions and reviews are listed
below.
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La Vieux Donjon
Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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The three component parts of the
2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, Syrah from the estate's holdings in Pialons, old vine
Grenache from sandy terroirs, and Mourvedre, are all brilliant, hence the
estimated rating of (94-96). The wine reveals a dense purple color along with a
gorgeous bouquet of camphor, licorice, graphite, sweet red and black fruits,
smoked meats, and a hint of charcoal. Full-bodied and pure with plenty of
Provencal garrigue and meaty characters, this superb, chewy red should turn out
to be their finest effort since the 1998 and 1990. It is a classic,
traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape to drink between 2013-2026.
Wine Advocate, October 2008
Score
94-96
Mills' Regular Price $69.99
Till
Haloween $55.99
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DomainePontifical Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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The 2007 certainly looks to be a
beauty. Deep plum/ruby to the edge, with a sweet kirsch liqueur-scented nose
intermixed with some sandy, loamy soil notes and a bit of pepper and spice,
this wine has impeccable purity, texture, and depth in a full-bodied, rather
traditionally made style. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
This is an under-the-radar estate run by the Laget-Royer family. I still have
magnums of the 1989 in my cellar that are aging beautifully, so they are
certainly capable of hitting some very high points in Chateauneuf du Pape.
Wine Advocate, October 2008. Score 90-92
Mills' Regular Price
$43.99 Till Haloween $34.99
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Domaine J.P. Lafond Roc Epine Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a
beauty, exhibiting plenty of crushed black cherry and black currant fruit
intermixed with licorice as well as hints of smoked herbs, lavender, and spice.
It is broad, showing lots of glycerin in a big, almost fruit-bomb style of
Chateauneuf du Pape that is full-bodied and gloriously hedonistic. It should
drink beautifully for a decade.
Fair prices and exuberant fruit make it easy for Domaine Lafond's wines to
attract fans. Whether it be their exquisite Tavel rose, their delicious Cotes
du Rhones, or their most ambitious wines, the Chateauneuf du Papes, all are
noteworthy efforts. These are wines best drunk in their flamboyant youth, and
in the case of the Chateauneuf du Papes, in their first decade.
Wine Advocate, October 2008. Score 90-92
Mills' Regular Price
$48.99 Till Haloween $38.99
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Domaine Bosquet des Papes
Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, which comes from 45- to
50-year-old vines and is a blend of 75% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and
the rest Vaccarese, Counoise, and Cinsault, is aged in foudres, tank, and
600-litre demi-muids. This wine displays beautiful black cherry and plum-like
fruit, with a gorgeous nose of nori (the seaweed wrappers used in sushi
restaurants) intermixed with pepper, lavender, and spice. Very Provencal and
full-bodied, with beautiful fruit purity and stunning density and personality,
it should drink well for 10-12 years.
This is one of the appellation's most consistent and brilliant producers of
Chateauneuf du Pape, with an impressive record of consistency and high quality
dating back well over the thirty years I have been tracking the wines of this
appellation. They have been adding new cuvees, starting in 1990 with their
Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes, and then their old vine Grenache cuvee, La
Gloire de Mon Grandpere. In 2007 they added a new cuvee from very old vines of
Grenache and Mourvedre on the plateau of Mont Redon called La Folie, which is
aged in 100% new oak foudres.
Wine Advocate, October 2008.
Score 90-92
Mills' Regular Price $47.99 Till Haloween
$38.99
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Cuvee du Vatican
Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
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The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is
softer and more evolved than I would have thought. It shows a rounded
personality with abundant quantities of sweet currants and black cherries. This
attractive, seductive, medium to full-bodied effort has freshness as well as a
vivid display of aromatics (no doubt due to the cool August and September
evenings).
Cuvee du Vatican's two cuvees of red wine include a traditional cuvee, which is
usually a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre and
Cinsault, aged in foudre (40%), tank (30%), and used small barrels (30%). The
more limited production luxury offering, the Reserve Sixtine (50% Grenache, 28%
Syrah, and 22% Mourvedre), is aged 70% in one, two, and three-year-old barrels
and 30% in tank. The fruit comes from their three major holdings in La Crau
(clay and rocky soils), the Rayas terroir (pure sand), and the Barbe d'Asne
(clay soils). Young Jean-Marc Diffonty, who has been doing a fabulous job here
for more than a decade, is clearly raising the quality of the wines to a new
level that clearly transcends the work his father did in the 1960s and 1970s.
Wine Advocate, October 2008. Score 89-91
Mills' Regular Price $42.99
Till
Haloween $34.99
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2009 Beaujolais Nouveau is almost Here
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All Day Thursday, November 19, two of Annapolis long time businesses unite to do a Beaujolais Nouveau Festival:
Mills Fine Wine and Spirits and Café Normandie
All day tastings at Mills featuring
what has been considered the very best Nouveau : Manoir du Carra. In the evening we will feature the same great
Nouveau with Café Normandie providing a very special Nouveau Meal.
Downtown Annapolis
is the place to be for Beaujolais
Nouveau.
Look to this spot for further details
in the coming days!
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Women's Tuesday
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Mills is delighted to announce a new and innovative program
just for women!
Every Tuesday from 2 to
5 PM MILLS will feature a "wine education tasting" designed by and for
women. Our specialists Cheryl Stephenson
and Barbara Schwabb will guide you thru these events! All the wines will be paired with goodies
and snacks from local businesses, and we will have guest specialists
from the food and wine industry in the up coming weeks.
Cheryl Stephenson has been at Lewnes Steak House for years
as one of their servers and also did a stint as a wine specialist for a
very important regional wine wholesaler.
Barb Schwaab has been a "foodie" for years. Working with some of Baltimore's finest bakeries! She is still one of the "specialists" working
with "The Wine Coach"
This is a great opportunity to pick up knowledge from a
perspective that nobody else in Annapolis
is taking seriously.
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Helpful Links
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Call Us
800 261 WINE (9469)
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