News from Heights Chateau4/8/15

NEW WHITES

D’Amico 2013 Seiano Bianco @ $9.99

From vineyards in Lazio, between Rome and Florence, a blend of Grechetto and Sauvignon Blanc, with cents of white flowers, pineapple, and grapefruit that give way to fresh lemon and grilled herbs on the well-balanced palate

Gibault 2013 Sauvignon Blanc @ $10.99

From the Loire Valley, a Sauvignon Blanc that is exceptionally clean and pure, with distinct flavors of gooseberry, grapefruit and thyme and a hint of grassiness on the back end

 (new vintage) Hugl 2014 Gruner Veltliner @ $12.99 (Liter)

From a young family-owned winery located in the northeast of Austria, a fruity, full-bodied Gruner that reflects the distinctive character of the region

Charles Smith 2013 Eve Chardonnay @ $13.99

From vineyards planted on steep cliffs above Washington’s Columbia River, a Chardonnay with a medium-bodied cool-climate Chardonnay with citrus blossom, mineral, and hints of lime

Mauritson 2013 Sauvignon Blanc @ $14.99

A Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc that is bright and fresh, clean and smooth with perfectly balanced acidity

Roveglia 2013 Lugana @ $14.99

Made from grapes grown along the southern shores of Lake Garda in the Veneto, a Lugana with a fruity accent with a dry, subtle finish and a delicate refined bouquet

St. Pauls 2013 Pinot Bianco Plotzner @ $14.99

Produced by one of the most prestigious coops in the South Tyrol, a Pinot Bianco with great refinement and complexity, flavors of apple, peach and apricot, good acidity and  minerality

 (new vintage) Gobbelsburg 2014 Gruner Veltliner Kamptal @ $15.99

a Gruner that is polished and precise, light and dry with abundant mineral and citrus notes

(new vintage) Anne Amie 2013 Muller Thurgau @ $15.99

crisp, fresh, and dry, a charming example of this varietal at its best

(new vintage) A to Z 2013 Chardonnay @ $15.99

Shows all the power of the 2013 vintage yet retains the bright steely edge that cool climate Oregon Chardonnay is known for

Anne Amie 2014 Pinot Gris @ $16.99

An elegant expression of this varietal from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, balanced and crisp, with a palate of Asian pear, Meyer lemon, and rose petals

Recanati 2013 Sauvignon Blanc @ $16.99

Produced from grapes sourced from vineyards in northern Israel’s coastal plains region, full-bodied and lively, with flavors of tropical fruits

(new vintage) Dalton 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay @ $16.99

From Israel but reminiscent of a good Chablis, with a steely flavor profile that finishes with notes of melon and apricot, Kosher

Adegas Arousa 2013 Pazo de Boucina Albarino @ $16.99

From the heart of the Salnes Valley in the Rias Baixas region of Spain, fresh, delicate and elegant with alluring white flower aromas

Domaine Turenne 2014 Cotes de Provence “Antoine” @ $16.99

A blend of Rolle and Petite Clairette du Var from Provence, fresh and bright with aromas of flowers and fresh almonds

Recanati 2013 Chardonnay @ $17.99

Made from grapes sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Israel’s Kerem Ben-Zimra district, creamy, complex and harmonious with a long smooth finish, Kosher

Portier 2012 Quincy @ $17.99

An outstanding expression of Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley made by a seventh-generation winemaker, elegant, well balanced, bursting with intense aromatics of spring florals and citrus fruits

Foucher Lebrun 2013 Sancerre Le Mont @ $19.99

Produced by a small negociant firm focused on the Loire Valley, made from lots of wine that the partners have purchased from several parcels of grapes in the villages of Sancerre, Chavignol and Amigny, a Sauvignon Blanc that is deep, full-bodied, complex and pure at the core, with lovely backend energy, excellent focus and grip and a long, outstanding finish

Vauroux 2012 Chablis @ $19.99

Aromatic with clean mineral notes and hints of citrus medium-bodied on the palate with crisp, appley acidity and tight, pure fruit flavors

(new vintage) Tani 2013 Vermentino @ $22.99

from a small family winery in Sardinia, a full, rich Vermentino with flavor notes of tropical fruit with mineral nuances

Collovray & Terrier 2012 St. Veran @ $24.99

succulent, aromatic unoaked Chardonnay, full of ripe mango and white peach flavors, well-balanced with juicy citrus fruit and a lovely long finish

Clos Floridene 2011 Bordeaux @ $32.99

One of the most individual wines in Bordeaux, a roughly 60/40 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with great class and complexity and a fine mineral backbone to guarantee longevity

Desertaux-Ferrand 2013 Cotes de Nuits Villages @ $33.99

A balanced blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, with wood spice, structure, and impressive length

Belle Pente 2010 Chardonnay @ $35.99

From Oregon’s Willamette Valley, barrel-fermented but with only modest use of new oak, quite Burgundian in style, with a brilliant crisp minerality and a lilting freshness

NEW REDS

(new vintage) Oracle 2014 Pinotage @ $9.99

delicate aromas of plum laced with wood-spice and vanilla and hints of chocolate that contribute to a mouth-filling complexity and leave a distinctive berried aftertaste

Eli Montero 2014 Malbec @$9.99

An impressive Argentinian Malbec, with an attractive ruby red color and intense varietal aromas, round and soft on the palate, Kosher

Reserve de la Dame a L’Oiseau 2013 Cotes du Rhone @ $9.99

From a coop in the southern Rhone, a roughly 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah done entirely in stainless steel, warm and rich with intense fruit, medium-bodied with soft tannins

Flecha de los Andes 2013 Aguaribay Malbec @ $10.99

Produced at Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s Argentine property, a silky Malbec with round soft tannins and an elegant finish

Chateau Nicot 2010 Bordeaux @ $11.99

Plummy and concentrated, A supple, seductive wine boasting a solid core of ripe fruit and curlicues of smoke that elevate it to well above intriguing

St. Pauls 2013 Missianer Schiava @ $11.99

Produced by one of the most prestigious coops in the South Tyrol, a succulent and fruity red offering uncomplicated drinkability

Yemanueva 2012 Tempranillo @ $11.99

An organic Tempranillo with an intense nose of cherries and blackberries, intense and fleshy on the palate with an elegant aftertaste

Font du Vent 2011 Cote du Rhone Promesses @ $13.99

From a property on the western side of the Rhone, across the river from Chateauneuf, mostly Grenache with some Syrah and a bit of Mourvedre blended in, with lovely red fruits and notes of crushed black pepper

Chateau Coulon 2013 Corbieres @ $13.99

From one of the first winemakers to produce organic wine in the Languedoc, a blend of Syrah, Carignane, Mourvedre and Grenache, powerful and concentrated with a long finish

Charles Smith 2013 Velvet Devil Merlot @ $13.99

Mostly Columbia Valley Merlot with a little Malbec, Cab, and Syrah blended in, with aromas of dark cherries, cedar and tobacco, super-smooth

Pasqua 2012 Passimento @ $14.99

made in the amarone style from dried grapes, a blend of Merlot, Corvina and Croatina, intensely aromatic with hints of spices, balanced and velvety on the palate with a soft round finish

La Casa 2012 Cabernet Gran Reserva @ $14.99

From Chile, with layers of dark cherry fruit, chewy tannins, complemented by vanilla and hints of mocha

Mourchon 2012 Cotes du Rhone @ $15.99

A 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah from 40-year-old vines aged all in concrete, with vibrant black raspberry, toasted spice, licorice and hints of violets to go with a medium-bodied, supple and seamless profile on the palate

Robinieres 2012 Ormaneau du Maure Bourgueil @ $16.99

100% Cabernet Franc from an outstanding Loire producer, full and rich, with complex nuances of wild berries and smoke, soft tannins

Revelry 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon @ $16.99

From Washington’s Columbia Valley, a rich full-bodied red loaded with dark fruit, spices and oak

Muruve 2010 Toro @ $16.99

From central Spain, firm but approachable, with flavors of loamy, rooty black fruits, chocolate and coffee that finish long

Guidobono 2013 Langhe Nebbiolo @ $16.99

A gem from the Piedmont, with a palate of approachable, upfront dark blackberry and cherry fruit is followed by flavors of leather, tar and earthy spice and gentle pleasing tannins

Trerose 2013 Salterio Rosso di Montalcino @ $17.99

Primarily Sangiovese with small amounts of other grapes blended in, ample and pleasant on the nose with rich flavors of cherries and red berries

La Berangeraie 2011 Cahors  Cuvee Maurin @ $17.99

A hand-made artisanal Malbec, aged in concrete, with a good balance of tannin, acidity and complexity

Baracchi 2012 O’Lillo Toscano Rosso @ $17.99

A blend of equal parts of Merrlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet and Syrah, traditional in its complexity, roundness, and elegance, yet modern in its intense fruitiness, accessibility and soft tannins

Thomas Coyne 2007 Syrah @ $17.99

Made by a specialist in Rhone varietals in California’s Livermore Valley, a big Syrah with blackberry flavors and earthy notes

Pendulum 2012 Red Blend @ $18.99

From Precept Wine, the Northwest’s largest family-owned wine company, mostly Cab and Merlot with some Malbec and Syrah blended in sourced from vineyards in the Columbia Valley, loaded with cranberry, cherry and plum flavors with a rich mouthfeel that keeps the interest high

(back) Poggio del Gorleri 2012 Peinetti @ $18.99

From western Liguria, 100% Ormeasco (a clone of Dolcetto), brightly colored, with an intense, perfumed bouquet and sweet tannins, and the bitter mote characteristic of the varietal

Educated Guess 2012 Merlot @ $18.99

The latest effort from the Roots Run Deep winery in Napa, made from grapes from top vineyards in Yountville and Oak Knoll, with flavors of dark plum, wild berries, cassis and chocolate are well integrated with French oak

La Croix Mouton 2012 Bordeaux @ $19.99

From a chateau that has been described as “a serious candidate for one of the best Bordeaux wine value producers today,” mostly Merlot with a bit of Cab Franc blended in, forward, sweet and oaky and a real steal at this price

Anne Amie 2013 Cuvee A Pinot Noir @ $19.99

From Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a Pinot that is fresh, lively, and immediately approachable, finishing with long, smooth salivating acidity

Educated Guess 2012 Pinot Noir @ $20.99

From Napa’s Roots Run Deep winery, a Pinot with plenty of lush ripe fruit to balance out the acidity that Carneros is known for

Alvaro Palacios 2013 Camins del Priorat @ $22.99

A blend of Garnacha, Samso, Cabernet and Syrah from the Priorat region of Spain, full-bodied with rich, deeply concentrated black fruit flavors, dark spices on the finish with some anise

(new vintage) Manenti 2013 Cerasuolo di Vittoria @ $23.99

A 50/50 blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato from Sicily, an elegant wine with fresh acidity, fine fruit notes, a transparent aromatic profile, strong minerality and great length

Valdinera 2009 Nebbiolo @ $24.99

A classic Piedmont red with some of the smoky notes of Barolo as well as the fresh red berry flavors of simpler Alba wines

Recanati 2011 Reserve Cabernet @ $25.99

From Israel’s sixth largest winery, located in the Upper Galilee region, an intense and generous Cab with lingering flavors of forest berries, black plum and vanilla with the aromas of Mediterranean herbs, such as thyme and rosemary, Kosher

(new vintage) Turley 2013 Juvenile Zinfandel @ $25.99

a berry-packed Zin, slightly floral on the nose, with flavors of sweet spices and a tinge of minerals on the finish

 (new vintage) Owen Roe 2012 Abbot’s Table @ $26.99

A blend of grapes from Washington’s Yakima Valley that changes from year to year, in 2013 comprising Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Blaufrankish, Malbec and Merlot, rich and structured, with a palate brimming with blueberries, white pepper, and black tea

Ridge 2012 Zinfandel Paso Robles @ $32.99

100% Zinfandel from the Benito Dusi Ranch vineyard planted in 1922, with lively acidity, fruit-covered tannins, and a sweet oak finish

Desertaux-Ferrand 2012 Cotes de Nuits Les Perrieres @ $34.99

A smooth, berry-infused Pinot Noir characterized by power, openness, and energy

 (new vintage) One 2011 Cabernet @ $34.99

A single-vineyard Cab made with organically-grown grapes, smooth and silky, with tobacco and cedar notes that complement the plum and dark cherry fruit, only 402 cases made

Tour Sieujean 2009 Pauillac @ $39.99

A 70/30 blend of Cab and Merlot, medium-bodied with balanced acidity and a very long finish

Ridge 2012 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel @ $40.99

Mostly Zinfandel from the old Pagani vineyard in Sonoma, multi-layered, mineral, earthy, with coated tannins, firm acidity, and a moderately long finish

Belle Pente 2012 Pinot Noir “Belle Pente” @ $41.99

From Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a single-vineyard Pinot that falls to the darker side of the spectrum, with ripe blackberry and wild dark cherry notes, smooth and silky with a long, lingering finish

Stevenson-Barrie 2009 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill @ $41.99

The personal label of Michael Stevenson, winemaker for Panther Creek, a Pinot full of rich red fruit, opening with sweet cherries and expanding to show spicy currants and blackberries on the finish, accented by earth, violets, and mint

Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre 2011 St. Julien @ $47.99

The second wine of Chateau Leoville Poyferre, made from the fruit of the estate’s younger vines and mirroring the style of its big brother, very much an example of a flashy, modern St. Julien, with a palate that is dense and opulent

L’Arrivet Haut-Brion 2006 Pessac-Leognan @ $47.99

A Graves with a complex, concentrated, smoky bouquet with notes of black fruit, cedar, and tobacco, very soft on the palate with an abundance of velvety tannins and a long finish

Frank Family 2011 Cabernet @ $56.99

A Napa Cab that is fruit-forward with intense cassis, plum and blackberry flavors balanced with notes of tobacco, spice, and a solid structure for length on the palate, finishing with a touch of dark chocolate

NEW ROSES

(new vintage) VRAC 2014 Rose @ $9.99

A blend of Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault from Provence, light and dry, fruity and fresh

Chais St. Laurent 2014 Chinon @ $11.99

From the Loire Valley and made from Cabernet Franc, fresh and lively with an elegant nose of red berries, violets and herbs

Brack Mountain L’Oliveto 2013 Rose of Pinot Noir @ $11.99

100% Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, with aromas of raspberry and a richly textured palate

Valcombe 2014 “Epicure” Rose @ $13.99

Mostly Grenache with some Cinsault, Carignan and Clairette blended in, with a pretty floral bouquet and a crisply dry finish

Shinn Estate 2014 Rose @ $14.99

A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Long Island’s north fork, slightly more robust and fuller in body than most roses, with flowers and strawberries on the nose

La Manarine 2014 Cotes du Rhone @ $14.99

A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, crisp and well balanced with lively acidity

Wolffer Estate 2014 Rose @ $16.99

From Long Island’s south fork, In this vintage a six-grape blend that has round, ripe fruit flavors accented by fresh citrus and mineral

(new vintage) Birichino 2014 Vin Gris @ $17.99

Grenache-based from California, crisp, fragrant, bone-dry, stylistically similar to a Bandol rose

VieVite 2014 Rose @ $19.99

Classic Provence, elegant and versatile, offering a crisp precision of fruit-forward aromas and a well-rounded finish on the palate

Clos Cibonne 2013 Tibouren Rose @ $28.99

Made almost entirely from a rare Provencale grape called Tibouren and aged under a thin layer of yeast for a year, a fresh and vibrant wine with fruit tones and saline notes

ALSO NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Bisson 2013 Glera @$16.99

A lightly sparkling wine, bone-dry, bottled early to maintain its freshness

Amaro Tosolini @ $29.99

the product of blending 15 different types of alpine, maritime herbs and spices( from the Venetian lagoon, full-bodied, rich, round and aromatic with a sweet orange aftertaste

Breuckelen “Glorious” Gin @ $35.99

Based on organic New York State wheat, a gin with great depth of character, clean and vibrant on the nose, fresh and balanced on the palate

Breuckelen 77 Local Rye & Corn Whiskey @ $45.99

Made from 85% rye, 15% corn and aged in new American oak barrels, offering a great balance between rye’s black pepper bite and corn's caramel sweetness

Shinn Estate Julius Driver Alambic Brandy @ $58.99

Named for owner/distiller David Page’s grandfather and made from estate-grown Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling grapes, rich and complex with aromas of rose petals