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New Wine Releases November 2011

New wine releases from around the world


NORTH AMERICA

UNITED STATES

CALIFORNIA

CENTRAL COAST

MommyJuice
White Wine; $10
13/20Bursting with tropical fruit aromas, this fruit-forward Chardonnay is designed for drinking on its own.


Paso Robles

Vampire Vineyards
Dracula Syrah; $18
13/20This spicy red wine offers black cherry and dark chocolate flavors with silky tannins.


Eberle Winery
2009 Barbera; $26
14/20This food-friendly wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins, ripe red fruit flavors and a touch of spice.


Santa Cruz Mountains

Clos LaChance
2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay; $22
13.5/20The flavors of this white wine are pretty, with racy acidity yet luscious tropical fruits and a touch of tart apple and pear.


Clos LaChance
2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir; $32
13.5/20This earthy red wine offers strawberry flavors and soft tannins on the palate with hints of vanilla and cinnamon on the finish.


Santa Rita Hills

Sea Smoke
2009 'Southing' Pinot Noir; $52
15/20From black cherry, rose and violet on the nose to fine tannins and minerality on the palate, this red wine is ready to drink now, but would benefit from aging.


NORTH COAST

Alexander Valley

Herzog Wine Cellars
2008 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; $38
13.5/20This aromatic, spicy red wine would pair well with grass-fed skirt steak, roast lamb shank or spaghetti bolognaise.


Louis M. Martini
2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; $35
14/20A classic American Cab, this bold red wine offers blackberry flavors up front with more earthy notes toward the middle and back of the palate.


Carneros

Ceja Vineyards
2008 Carneros Pinot Noir; $40
14/20Fresh fruit flavors dominate on the palate, including red currant, plum and cherry, backed by an earthy herbal note and caramel on the finish.


Garnet
2010 Carneros Pinot Noir; $20
13/20This young red wine offers aromas of strawberry, violet, rose and vanilla with hints of coffee and oak.


Dry Creek Valley

Dashe Cellars
2009 Florence Vineyard Zinfandel; $32
14.5/20This complex red wine offers flavors of raspberry, cherry, chocolate and spice with earthy notes and silky tannins.


Et Cetera
2009 Sauvignon Blanc; $14
12.5/20Bursting with floral and tropical fruit aromas, this fruit-forward wine offers lemon and grapefruit flavors with a hint of oak.


Mendocino County

Weinstock Cellar Select
2010 Alicante Bouschet; $20
13.5/20This red wine made from a lesser-known grape offers a tannic structure balanced by bright, tart cranberry and pomegranate acidity.


Napa Valley

Hill Family Estate
2010 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc; $22
14/20This aromatic white wine offers peach, gooseberry, melon and lime on the nose and juicy stone fruit flavors in the mouth.


Laguna Canyon Winery
2009 Napa Oakville Chardonnay; $28
14/20Tropical fruit aromas and partial malolactic fermentation make this a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with a dense mouthfeel and buttery finish.


Mount Veeder Winery
2006 Reserve Napa Valley Red Wine; $80
15/20Composed principally of Cabernet Sauvignon (86 per cent), this full-bodied red wine is complex and multi-layered with a long finish.


Robert Mondavi Winery
2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; $28
13.5/20This bold, big-bodied red wine offers a fragrant bouquet of blueberry, blackberry, spice and oak with moderate acidity on the palate.


Red Hills Lake County

Obsidian Ridge
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon; $28
13/20This high-altitude estate wine offers intense blackberry and plum aromas with hints of coffee, cinnamon and clove.


Russian River Valley

J Vineyards
2009 Pinot Noir; $35
14.5/20This complex red wine offers cherry and strawberry flavors along with hints of caramel, cinnamon and spice.


Thomas George Estates
2009 Starr Ridge Chardonnay; $38
14/20This estate wine offers aromas of citrus with hints of cinnamon and almond on the nose and flavors of agave and persimmon on the palate.


Sonoma Coast

MacRostie
2009 Chardonnay; $25
14.5/20From aromas of pear and honeydew to flavors of apple and pineapple, this smooth white wine can be well enjoyed on its own.


Sonoma County

Ferrari-Carano
2010 Fumé Blanc; $15
14/20This crisp white wine boasts a complex palate of citrus and tropical fruit flavors, including grapefruit, mango and guava.


MULTIPLE AVAs

Conundrum
2010 California White Table Wine; $22
14/20A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Viognier and Semillon sourced from Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Tulare counties, this white wine is sweet and slightly effervescent.


Dancing Bull
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon; $12
13/20A robust, full-bodied wine, this Cabernet offers ripe plum, cherry and black currant flavors with hints of clove and chocolate.


Korbel
NV Sweet Rosé; $13
12.5/20A blend of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Syrah, Gamay and Chenin Blanc grapes, this sparkling rosé is perfect for those who like their wine sweet.


Matchbook
2007 Tinto Rey; $17
13.5/20A blend of 44 per cent Tempranillo, 36 per cent Syrah, 13 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Graciano and Petite Sirah, this barrel-aged red wine is spicy and rich.


Meiomi
2010 Pinot Noir; $22
13.5/20Blended from grapes sourced in Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Monterey counties, this broad and balanced red wine reveals successive layers of cherry, vanilla and oak.


Redwood Creek
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon; $8
12.5/20This medium-bodied red wine offers dark fruit aromas followed by layers of spice, mocha and vanilla on the palate.


GEORGIA

Chateau Elan
Muscadine; $11
13/20Made from Georgia's indigenous Muscadine grapes, this pure Muscadine wine is sweet and foxy.

NEW YORK

FINGER LAKES

Shaw Vineyard
2007 Dry Riesling; $20
13/20This pleasantly dry and well-balanced white wine offers flavors of ripe peach and tropical fruit.

NORTH CAROLINA

Biltmore Reserve
2010 Chardonnay; $15
13/20Made from estate-grown grapes, this oaky Chardonnay offers aromas of lemon, pear and apple.

TEXAS

HIGH PLAINS

Messina Hof
2010 Sophia Marie Rosé; $14
12.5/20Composed entirely of estate-grown, hand-picked Lenoir grapes, this sweet and slightly effervescent rosé is young and fruity.


VIRGINIA

Kluge Estate
2008 SP Rose; $35
14/20Composed mostly of Chardonnay grapes with the addition of five per cent Pinot Noir, this light and fruity sparkler offers aromas of raspberry and rose.

WASHINGTON

WALLA WALLA VALLEY

Buty Winery
2009 64% Merlot & 36% Cabernet Franc; $40
14.5/20This rich red wine, which offers aromas of marionberry and violet on the nose, is drinkable now, but will improve with aging.

EUROPE

AUSTRIA

Wachau

Zantho
2008 Burgenland St. Laurent; $14
13.5/20Made from St. Laurent grapes, this complex red wine offers sour cherry and blackberry flavors on the palate with firm tannins and good acidity.


FRANCE

Bordeaux

Château de Lagarde
2009 Bordeaux Blanc; $13
13.5/20Composed of 60 per cent Sauvignon Blanc and 40 per cent Semillon, this dry white wine is certified organic.


Burgundy

Georges Duboeuf
2011 Beaujolais Nouveau; $10
13/20Made from hand-harvested Gamay grapes, this light red wine offers aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry on the nose and silky smooth tannins on the palate.


Georges Duboeuf
2011 Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau; $11
13.5/20This young red wine made from Gamay grapes offers cherry and peach aromas with floral notes and a smooth finish.


Gascony

Colombelle
2010 Blanc Sec; $10
12/20A blend of 80 per cent Colombard and 20 per cent Sauvignon and Ugni Blanc, this dry white wine offers a fruity bouquet and citrus, peach, pineapple and almond flavors.


Pays d'Oc

Yellow Jersey
2007 Pinot Noir; $11
13/20Packaged in a recyclable plastic bottle, this well-balanced red wine offers blackcurrant on the nose and soft tannins on the palate.


ITALY

Piedmont

Rizzi
2005 Boito Barbaresco DOCG; $50
14/20Made from a selection of the best grapes harvested from Rizzi's Boito vineyard, this red wine offers a bouquet of roses and wildflowers on the nose with just a hint of red fruit and spice.


Rizzi
2009 Chardonnay Langhe DOC; $18
12.5/20With a good balance of acidity and structure, this dry white wine boasts an aromatic bouquet of tropical fruit with notes of banana and vanilla.


SPAIN

Penedès

Albet i Noya
Cava Brut Reserva; $22
13.5/20Composed of Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo and Chardonnay grapes, this dry sparkling wine offers nutty and buttery flavors.


Rioja

Muga
2007 Crianza; $30
14/20A blend of 70 per cent Tempranillo, 20 per cent Garnacha and 10 per cent Mazuelo y Graciano grapes, this balanced red wine offers intense red fruit aromas.

Rueda

Cantarranas
2009 Rueda; $10
13/20Composed of 75 per cent Verdejo and 25 per cent Viura grapes, this crisp white wine would pair well with grilled tilapia or Caesar salad.

SOUTH AMERICA

ARGENTINA

Mendoza


Bodega Elena de Mendoza
2010 Red Blend; $11
12.5/20Composed of 65 per cent Malbec, 18 per cent Syrah and 17 per cent Bonarda, this rich and fruity red wine would pair well with steaks and meaty pasta dishes.


Argento
2009 Malbec; $13
13.5/20This food-friendly red wine offers ripe plum and blackberry flavors with a touch of dark chocolate and vanilla.


Santa Julia
2010 Viognier; $10
12.5/20Not true to type, this Viognier offers tropical fruit and floral aromas on the nose with a touch of orange on the palate.


Uco Valley

DiamAndes de Uco
2010 Chardonnay; $20
13/20Fresh and full-bodied, this Chardonnay offers tropical fruit and citrus aromas on the nose.

CHILE

Limarí Valley


Viña Tabalí
2010 Sauvignon Blanc; $12
13.5/20This acidic white wine is fruity on the nose with grapefruit and mineral notes on the palate.

AUSTRALASIA

NEW ZEALAND

Marlborough

Manu
2010 Sauvignon Blanc; $12
13/20This fruit-forward white wine offers gooseberry and passionfruit flavors on the palate with a hint of herb.

More New Releases

wine.com

PBH102611
(Updated: 07/26/12 BH)


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