STAFF FAVORITES

DON'S PICKS

Porter Family Sandpiper Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley 2008

This delicious Meritage displays the juicy richness so often seen in the frost-concentrated 2008 Napa Cabs. The nose offers a forthcoming mix of cherry jam, pomegranate syrup, sweet vanilla and baking spice scents, along with a hint of peppercorn...More

L’Amante Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Howell Mountain 2009

Like so many ‘09 Howell Mountain Cabs, this wine is already extremely appealing. The nose is a deep, focused, beautifully ripened, yet elegant mix of rich mulberry and blueberry, with a citric boysenberry note and pretty vanilla rising above undercurrents of dried sage, laurel, tobacco and minerals. The sense of bright fruit is even more captivating on the palate and that keeps the flavors bright and in the forefront. More

Moone Tsai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast 2010

Famous Cabernet maker Philippe Melka produced less than 500 hundred cases of this lovely Chardonnay, which sports seductive aromas of spiced green apples, lemony citron, dried pineapple, vanilla cream, nutmeg & toasted nuts. More

Caraccioli Brut Cuvee Method Champenoise Santa Lucia  Highlands Sparkling Wine 2007 

The nose of this delightfully forthcoming Sparkler delivers a rich marriage of fresh green apple scents to notes of sweet biscuits and panettone, along with some mineral hints and subtle wisps of bottled cherry and wild strawberry. Wonderfully zesty flavors of Fuji apple. More

Malk Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2009

This fine Cabernet already puts forth an impressively evolved bouquet, as aromas of sweet blackberry, Cassis and a rich core of dark cherry are layered by savory notes of mocha, baking spices, date molasses and sweet tobacco. The wine is very rich on the palate, where the flavors shift into red current, red cherry... More

JOHN'S PICKS

Dragonette Sauvignon Blanc Grassini Vineyard Happy Canyon 2011

Taut, linear, and full of vibrant intensity, this expressive Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc beautifully conveys its vineyard source.  Tart green apple and white grapefruit lead the way supported by touches of pear and lemon/lime zest.  The assertive minerality..More

Lacuna Rhone Style Red (Syrah & Petite Sirah) CALIFORNIA 2010

This 58/42 blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah is reminiscent of a ripe-vintage Cote-Rotie.  On the nose, a dense core of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit is wrapped with accents of plum sauce, violets, smoked beef jerky, vanilla, black peppercorn, and mocha. More

Rocca Family Merlot Grigsby Vineyard Yountville 2009

Juicy, luscious, and immediately appealing, this Yountville Merlot jumps out of the glass with aromas of black plum, blueberry compote, violets, and baking spices.  On the palate the wine is just as generous and forthcoming, offering up an elegant, sweet/spicy combination of blueberry...More

BILLY'S BARGAIN PICK

Cazar Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2011
To speak of a bargain in terms of $21.95 may seem a bit odd in times of economic downturn, however, in the realm of California pinot noir, finding something this elegant and balanced at this price is normally impossible.  The scents of raw red cherry and bright pomegranate are accented...More

MIDORI'S PICK

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 2010

Wine Advocate: 93 POINTS 

Winemaker's Notes: "This Chardonnay exhibits a bright yellow hue, and tropical fruit and nutmeg spice on the nose. The core is highlighted by a mouth watering viscosity balanced with a tightening acidity...More

Fama Winery Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard Carneros 2009

This elegantly luscious bottling is fruity, spicy and appealingly oaky to the nose, where scents of Fuji apples, lemon zest, peaches and pears find harmony with equally pretty notes of vanilla and baking spices. More

YUKARI'S PICK

Boeschen Sauvignon Blanc Estate Napa Valley 2012

This is a knockout Sauvignon Blanc with gorgeous aromatics. The nose fans-out scents of sweet melons, kiwi, lemon cream pie,  passion fruit and a fruit compote of citrus and stone fruits in a juicy-rich and zesty display...More

Benovia Pinot Noir La Pommeraie Russian River Valley 2011

This is a flashy Pinot from start to finish. The aromas surge forth as a bright, vivid perfume of red plum, Boysenberry, red raspberry and dark cherry, over slightly more subtle notes of grain, tobacco and minerals. More