Chosen exclusively with Spring in mind, each of these 12 wines is a great value and a perfect complement to the welcome warmth of the season. Picnic anyone?!
Tradition reigns supreme at this famed Loire estate. The grapes are, of course, handpicked and fermented in stainless-steel. The wines are then aged in larger, neutral oak. The ‘Picasses’ spends 2 to 3 years in oak, and is usually released about 4 years after the vintage.
Zesty, lush and packed with citrus notes, this Australian Chardonnay displays subtle toasty oak on the nose. The palate shows stone fruits. It's medium bodied, complex, but very refreshing. The oak is beautifully integrated and gives a lovely richness without being overpowering. The high elevation and cool climate of the Adelaide Hills gives the wine a certain Burgundian edginess. On the palate, the wine is intense, yet beautifully balanced. An array of fruit characters (peach, pear, melon) mingle with the mineral and earthy notes. A very complete wine that will improve with time in the bottle - but don’t hold back. Enjoy now and over the next few years.
[90 pts Wine Spectator] Pear, pine and anise flavors are focused and clean in this firm white. Mineral-tinged acidity provides real backbone, with citrus and floral notes lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2011. 1,500 cases imported.
[91 pts Robert Parker] The 2006 Atteca is 100% Garnacha old-vines ranging from 80-120 years. Dark ruby-colored, it delivers an alluring bouquet of Asian spices, wild black cherry, and blueberry. Layered and sweetly-fruited, the wine is nicely balanced and lengthy. It has enough stuffing to evolve for 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now. It is a superb value. Bodegas Ateca is a new partnership between the Gil family of Jumilla and importer Jorge Ordonez.
While the 2005 has not yet been rated, we believe it is every bit as fantastic as the 2004 vintage. On the 2004 vintage: “The most....Grand Cru Burgundian-like was the 2004 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Guardiola. Its silky tannins were accompanied by a beautifully sweet bouquet of flowers, red and black fruits, earth, and subtle smoke. Lacy, rich, and light on its feet, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years.” [91 pts +, Robert Parker, Hedonist’s Gazette, Feb 2006, Wine Advocate]
Single vineyard grapes sourced from the Collio region of Friuli producing a delicious golden color wine with complex flavors and a subtle creamy texture. Hints of minerals dance on the palate along with a nice acid-fruit balance and long finish.
Rich aromas of asian pear, tropical fruits, hints of orange rind. Supple entry, citrus giving way to stone fruits with a powerful core of minerality. Firm acidity provides balance and a crisp, dry finish.
Anderson Valley Pinot is hugely expressive. The 2006 vintage offers delicate notes of blueberry and aromatic tea leaves, subtle hints of cocoa and rose petals. Bright acidity and red cherries create a lush juicy entry, leading to a broad, sturdy finish.
Wonderful aromas of citrus fruits, peach and green apple balanced by racy acidity intermixed with mineral and flint stone flavors. Light bodied with a round texture and a nice finish.
Le Potazzine's Rosso di Montalcino has quickly become a must-have wine for Montalcino lovers (the first year of production was 1998); a warm, elegant Sangiovese with red fruits, cherry, and tobacco on the nose, charming yet with serious substance beneath the deceptively fresh surface. The wine will continue to age well for at least 4-5 years.
[86% Semillon, 14% Sauvignon Blanc] Picked late in the season when this varietal's unique character is fully developed, the wine is barrel fermented to dryness and aged on the lees up to six months. Barrel fermentation with a limited amount of new tight-grained French oak, results in a full-bodied rich texture with rich honey fruit, citrus and fresh fig flavors.
[91 pts Stephen Tanzer] From a cool spot in a warm area, according to winemaker Ehren Jordan. Bright, deep ruby-red. Sappy black raspberry, smoked meat, black pepper and hints of chocolate and graphite on the complex nose. Dense and ripe but quite primary and backward today, with intriguing pepper and meaty nuances and a distinctly dry character. Already hints at the complexity to come but this rather Rhone-like wine will need at least a couple years of bottle aging.
Englewood Wine Merchants is a fine wine retailer/merchant based in Northern New Jersey, five miles from New York City serving the tri-state area. We have a unique selection of fine wines from California, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Oregon, to name just a few, as well as premium spirits. We offer case and mixed case discounts on wine. We offer custom corporate and business gifts as well as a monthly wine club. We deliver and ship in the United States. Unlike other wine stores, we have tasted every selection in our wine store to ensure only the best quality wines.
