2009 Clearwater Creek Chardonnay Mendocino
2.1.2012
In the depths of northern Mendocino County is a patchwork of some of the most breathtaking vineyards the golden state can claim, and it’s here where our latest—and possibly greatest—Chardonnay was born.

The Alder Springs Vineyard is one of the leading sources of fine grapes for northern California’s most hallowed names. Patz & Hall. Behrens & Hitchcock. Arnot Roberts. Copain. And now our very own label, Clearwater Creek, joins this impressive list of insiders who know great terroir when they see it—and how important it is that this quality translates into great wine in the bottle.

Our Chardonnay is medium-bodied, silky on the tongue and fruity, with just the right balance of vanilla and spice, a delicious and pure white that glows with the inner beauty of a spring sunset off the Mendocino coast, with sea spray in the air and the cooling influence of pine trees a tingle at your neck. Pure, juicy and refreshing, a perfect complement to Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. continue reading >>

Filed under: new offer

2010 Nicodemi Terrana
1.31.2012
This wine will be a revelation for those of you who have yet to be converted to the glories of Montepulciano from Italy’s mountainous core. Terrana is pure Montepulciano, grown on the foggy hillsides in Abruzzo, the true home of this plush and sensual grape and one bottle that couldn’t be more exciting and enticing if it had a one-way ticket to Italy glued to the label. continue reading >>

Filed under: new offer

2007 Ronchi Barbaresco
1.30.2012
Winemaker Giancarlo Rocca has assembled a very special Barbaresco for us in 2007—a wine that with its plush concentration and elegant balance has to be one of the more remarkable wines to emerge from the Ronchi estate as long as we’ve known them.

What makes this Barbaresco so extraordinary is not only the perfect conditions of the 2007 vintage but Giancarlo’s savvy decision to age the wine entirely in older barrels—preserving the gorgeous, supple and fresh fruit of 2007 with a silky wrapper of tannins and spice. For us it’s the best that Giancarlo has ever made and is a textbook example of the beauty and grace that the best Barbaresco can achieve. continue reading >>

Filed under: staff recommendations

2010 Jean-Luc Dubois Burgundy
1.30.2012
There are few Burgundy lineups as moving, as ruggedly attractive and as pleasing as our selections from winemaker Jean-Luc Dubois.  The 2010 vintage here couldn’t be more complete—flavors are ripe and well-defined, acid is balanced and aromas wonderfully expressive and pure.

In 2010 Jean-Luc’s excellent vineyards are in full voice, delivering spice, energetic flavors and serious length—these bottles are always our top selections both for terroir expression and Burgundy value. continue reading >>

Filed under: producer profile

2009 Scilio Orpheus Etna
1.29.2012
Orpheus is Scilio's magnum opus, the best of the best—they craft this pure Nerello Mascalese wine only in the finest of vintages. Their 2008 was a landmark wine; their 2009 may be even better.  This special selection of older vines from the family’s highest vineyards – and 100% organic to boot -- shows the beauty and concentration of Nerello in its finest form, with intense and varied aromas, lots of juice and a silky finish that seems to last as long as the summer in Sicily. continue reading >>

Filed under: staff recommendations

2010 Courtault Chablis
1.29.2012
For us there is nothing more refreshing and stimulating than a chilled glass of Chablis, as when it is good, the beauty and precision of the region’s impeccable terroir can’t be beat.

The petite town of Ligornelles and the family domaine of Jean-Claude Courtault took us completely by surprise—and was exactly what we were looking for. His vision from the start was to craft Chablis that he loved to drink, Chablis for the family table and for everyday pleasure, wine that spoke of the vivacity and purity of the region.

At their core these are delicious, fresh and uncomplicated bottles of Chablis—perfect for casual lunches, aperitifs, and unforgettable with fresh seafood (fresh crab or oysters are ideal pairs). continue reading >>

Filed under: new offer

2010 Delarche white Burgundy
1.20.2012
Very small-batch, handmade from field to bottle and bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wines from the Delarche family in 2010 are a stunning portrait of each of their vineyards as well as a faithful example of the quality we’ve come to expect for the more than 20 years we’ve partnered with this family winery.

There is no winemaking “style” at Delarche—young winemaker Etienne Delarche learned well from his late father, Philippe, that letting the soil and vine do the talking is the surest route to elegance and fidelity to terroir. The 2010 vintage only emphasizes this clarity and transparency—pure white Burgundy with lift, grace and depth. continue reading >>

Filed under: staff recommendations

Our first selection from the delicious 2010 vintage in the southern Rhone!
1.2.2012

One of our favorite Stephen Tanzer quotes sums up all too well our personal feelings about the newly released 2010 vintage in the southern Rhône: “If I were a lab rat in a cage, I would suck this stuff out of a water bottle until I drowned.”

While Steve was sucking down 2007 Burgundy, we have done all we can to not collectively drink every single bottle of our very limited allocation of this seductive 2010 Cotes du Rhône from Domaine la Milliere, one of the first red blends from this beautiful vintage to reach our shores. To say it is too good is too simple—this is one of the more balanced and complete Rhône vintages certainly in the past 10 years, and one that gives us goose bumps as it is just so pleasurable to drink.

Full-bodied and balanced, chock-full of spice and exhilaratingly fresh, perfectly summer-ripe fruit—and alcohol levels thankfully more northern than southern—this 2010 is downright delicious and a stunning effort from one of the top estates in the southern Rhône. continue reading >>

Filed under: staff recommendations

Holiday Wine Samplers! Three great ways to celebrate the season
11.8.2011

Our Holiday Wine Samplers are back! Three great samplers from which to choose, for every taste and every budget. We sat down and selected the wines we most enjoyed this past year, and assembled this list into three, unique samplers that are both great gifts and a great way to stock the cellar!

Each sampler includes 12 bottles of wine -- red and white -- from our top producers and regions. What's especially exciting is that with each sampler, you save more than 50% off the regular retail price.

Our Celebration Sampler is the perfect gift for the budding wine lover, or a very easy and inexpensive way to stock your own cellar for the holidays. Just $99 for a 12-bottle case (regular price: $190.05)!

Our Grand Tour Sampler lets you travel the world with twelve perfect bottles of wine. A selection of our favorite bottles from the most breathtaking wine regions in the world! Just $199 for a 12-bottle case (regular price: $357.45)!

And our Connoisseur Sampler speaks for itself -- this 12-bottle case is for the wine lover who demands the best (or perhaps already has it all?) Our top producers' finest efforts from the most sought-after vineyards, each bottle a treasure for the cellar. Just $299 for the case (regular price: $596.35)!

Each sampler comes with a brief insert describing each wine and offering food pairings or critics' evaluations. Holiday shopping has never been easier! continue reading >>

Filed under: new offer

2010 Domaine des Braves Regnie (Beaujolais)
10.26.2011
In 2010 winemaker Paul Cinquin’s creation is an effortlessly graceful wine, with plush fruit and perfume and plenty of freshness in between—a more terroir-driven wine than 2009, but equally ripe and pleasing, with a delicious silky texture in the mouth and lots of spice. continue reading >>

Filed under: just arrived