Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you're reading this from the High Country, please come by Saturday and try these lip-smacking wines, which we'll be pouring from our tasting bar:
2009 Crème de Lys (California, $16.99). Pretty straightforward Chardonnay with a touch of Malvasia Bianca and Pinot Blanc blended in, barrel-aged with full-on malolactic fermentation to give it rich creamy notes of baked apple, butterscotch, and crème brulee. A nice value. ( Knock off of La Crema Chardonnay)
2008 Kuentz-Bas Auxerrois (Alsace, $28.99). Wine Spectator 89 points: "Ripe flavors of apple and blood orange are balanced by dry, spicy acidity in this juicy white. There's a lightly chalky texture to this, and layers of anise, lemon curd and lanolin underneath. Delicious. Drink now through 2014." Only 200 cases of this wine were made - make sure you get yours!
2006 Bogle Vineyards "Phantom" (California, $ 20.99). A lush blend of Petite Sirah, old vines Zinfandel and a dollop of Mourvedre, this is one of our perennial best-sellers. From Wine Spectator (86 points): "Broadly appealing, showing fresh, ripe berry and black cherry flavors, with pepper, tar and sarsaparilla details. Rich and ripe, with a firm wall of tannins as a backbone."
2008 Tikal "Patriota" (Argentina, $19.99). Wine Advocate 92 points: "The 2008 Patriota is composed of 60% Bonarda and 40% Malbec aged in French (40% new) and American (seasoned) oak. Purple/black in color, it has a splendid bouquet of cigar box, Asian spices, lavender, black cherry, and plum. Full-bodied, dense, rich, and powerful, this loaded effort has gobs of flavor, succulence, and great length. Only hedonists need apply. Drink it over the next six years while it retains its fleshy character." Obviously, one of the best values we have. Fantastic wine.
Our $5 paid tasting wine for the benefit of the Avery County Humane Society is the mouth-coating 2006 Numanthia-Termes "Numanthia" (Toro, Spain, $71.99). Wine Advocate 94+ points: "It displays a brooding bouquet of wood smoke, Asian spices, violets, espresso, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, rich, powerful, and incipiently complex, it merits 5-7 years of additional bottle age and will offer prime drinking from 2015 to 2026."
