News from Henry's Wine Cellar

New Arrivals: Wine

Some ageworthy wines hit the shelves this week, sophisticated wines any collector will appreciate. Many of you enjoy reading what the critics think before adding a collectible wine to your cellar, so as always we have included tasting notes and a rating. However, with collectible wines the date of the review becomes significant. After all, the reviewer may talk about the wine needing more time -- but if that review is two years old, the wine may now be in its prime. Will some of these new arrivals find a home in your cellar?

IMPORTED

2007 Andezon Cotes du Rhone; Southern Rhone, France ($14.99)

WA 89 points: "A blend of 90% Syrah (40-year old vines) and 10% Grenache (60-year old vines), the tank-fermented and aged 2007 Cotes du Rhone exhibits sweet blackberry and cassis fruit interwoven with notions of spring flowers, licorice, and road tar. It possesses a lovely texture, crisp acids (a characteristic of this vintage), medium to full body, and a long, smooth finish. Drink it over the next 2-3 years." (WA #181, Feb. 2009)

2005 Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape "Girard"; Southern Rhone, France ($42.99)

WS 93 points: "Rock solid, with a great core of raspberry, blackberry and loganberry fruit, all supported by licorice, Turkish coffee, fruitcake and a hint of mesquite. The long finish pumps out a nice tarry intensity. Better poise on this than the chewier Cuv�e Imp�riale. Best from 2009 through 2025. 450 cases imported.." (April 30, 2008)

2004 Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape; Southern Rhone, France ($54.99)

ST 93 points: "Dark red. Explosively aromatic, assertive nose combines red and dark berries, exotic spices and a strong lavender note. Lush, creamy and sweet, but with good focus to the bright raspberry, blackberry and licorice flavors. Silky, focused and pure on the long, juicy finish. This very sexy wine will drink well young but is balanced to improve with cellaring." Jan/Feb 2007. WS 92 points: "Very pure and stylish, showing lots of red currant, licorice and fig flavors, backed by ample flesh, with wonderful balance and a long, mineral- and herb-tinged finish. Perfumy and elegant in the end. Should flesh out more with some cellaring. Drink now through 2021. 2,500 cases made." (May 15, 2007)

2004 Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape; Southern Rhone, France (1.5 Liter, $79.99)

WA 91 points: "The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape is an enormously sexy wine that is full-bodied, rich, generous, and quite ample by the standards of the vintage. Wonderful black cherry jam notes intermix with some smoke, herbs, and meatiness that jumps from the glass of this luscious wine that should drink beautifully for 8-10 years.

Under the inspired winemaking talent of Rhone oenologist Philippe Cambie in addition to proprietor Vincent Maurel, 2003 marked a breakthrough vintage for Clos Saint-Jean, and that has been followed by some of the finest wines of 2004. These wines still remain somewhat underpriced vis-a-vis their quality, and a real bargain is the regular cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape, normally a blend of 70-75% Grenache all aged in tank or large foudres and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault." (WA #169, Feb. 2007)

2007 Markus Molitor Riesling Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese; Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany ($34.99)

We dare you to taste -- even to just smell -- this wine and still claim a dislike for Riesling. This is simply exquisite. WS 94 points "Collectibles": "Plump and silky, this Riesling offers black currant, slate and peach flavors, with a hint of licorice. Fleshy and harmonious, turning more saline and stony on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2035. 600 cases made." (April 30, 2009)

2007 Jermann Chardonnay; Venezia-Giulia, Italy ($32.99)

WS 90 points: "Very fresh, with loads of apple pie, lemon and mineral character. Full and rich, with a slightly oily texture, but long and crisp. This is really delicious. Drink now." (Aug. 31, 2008)

2006 DeToren Z; Stellenbosch, South Africa ($32.99)

WS 88 points: "Supple, with good focus to the herb, black cherry, plum and tobacco notes, which all mingle well on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2009. 600 cases imported." (Dec. 31, 2008)

2006 Hope Shiraz "The Ripper"; Australia ($17.99)

The wine pours an Inky dark red with purple hues. Generous blackberry aromas are compliments by white and black pepper notes. The oak fermentation and maturation have enhanced the peppery and spicy character of the wine. On the palate this Shiraz offers huge berry fruit, spicy nutmeg and chocolate notes. The oak is well balanced with acidity leading to a long finish of persistent fruit with fine grained tannins. www.hopeestate.com.au

DOMESTIC

2006 Delectus Argentum; Napa Valley, California ($29.99)

The wine opens with warm spices, nutmeg and clove, and folds into black cherry with some dustiness and crushed rock elements. The palate is round with nice layers of earthiness, lemon rind and ripe plums. The wine is deeply concentrated, coats the mouth and finishes beautifully. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah. www.delectuswinery.com

2007 Four Vines Zinfandel "The Biker"; Paso Robles, California ($27.99)

"The Biker" came from the West Side of Paso Robles with a vengeance. Riding off the hills of Westside Paso from the Dusi and Preston Zin vineyards, where rocky, calcareous soils result in low yield vines, producing fruit of intense concentration. A splash of Mourvedre lends an extra kick inthe mid-palate. The Biker has blackberry, anise spice and vanilla on the nose. Rich, black fruit and spice, long in the mouth lingering to a silky vanilla oak finish. A massive and in-your-face Zin - taking no prisoners. Biker rocks! www.fourvines.com

2007 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvee; Willamette Valley, Oregon ($34.99)

Utilizing Old World winemaking techniques - whole clusters, native yeast fermentation, and gentle and minimal handling - Cristom handcrafts wines that are smooth, elegant and subtle. This wine, named after Mt. Jefferson in the Cascade Range, comes from a blend of 13 different vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, including fruit from our four estate vineyards. This wine has been produced by Cristom since 1994. www.cristomwines.com

2007 Cupcake Merlot; Central Coast, California ($13.99)

Cupcake Merlot is a full-bodied yet smooth merlot displaying supple tannins. This is a softer, silkier Merlot with a good balance of oak and fruit. It starts with flavors of red cherries that evolve into decadent flavors of cocoa and espresso mingles into a plush, silky mocha finish. This wine pairs well with pork tenderloin with a port-fig reduction sauce or a decadent chocolate molten cupcake. www.cupcakevineyard.com

WA = Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
WS = Wine Spectator
WE = Wine Enthusiast
ST = Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar