New Wine Releases November 2015

CALIFORNIA

NORTH COAST

Napa Valley

Educated Guess
2012 Carneros Pinot Noir; $25
14/20 — This handcrafted 100 percent Pinot Noir is made with hand-harvested fruit. It has a deep plum color presenting rich flavors of strawberry, cherry and cola.

Forward Kidd
2012 Napa valley Red Wine; $40
14.5/20 — Sourced from multiple vineyards throughout Napa Valley, grapes were chosen to create a red blend with great balance and expression. This fruit forward red blend has notes of cherry, blueberry and raspberry with hints of cedar and baking spices for a fresh, balanced finish.

Russian River Valley

Iron Horse Vineyards
2010 Classic Vintage Brut; $42
14/20 —Iron Horse's classic blend of 69 percent Pinot Noir and 31 percent Chardonnay produces a rich sparkling wine with a creamy mouthfeel. Aromas of apple continue on the palate, accented by flavors of orange and hazelnut.

Paso Robles

Eberle Winery
2012 Côtes-du-Rôbles Blanc; $24
14.5/20 — This white blend of 57 percent Grenache blanc, 39 percent Roussanne and 4 percent Viognier offers aromas of orange blossom and cardamom. It fills the palate with pear, lemon and honey, leaving a refreshing and crisp finish.

Tablas Creek Vineyard
2013 Patelin de Tablas; $20
13.5/20 — A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise, this red wine incorporates several Rhône varietals grown in Tablas Creek's Paso Robles vineyards. It has flavors of dark fruit, mineral and spice with a fresh acidity.

Sonoma Coast

Cline Family Cellars
2014 Cashmere; $14
14/20 — This rich red blend is 53 percent Mourvedre, 25 percent Syrah and 22 percent Grenach. With rich berry flavors and firm tannins, this wine is a great accompaniment to grilled salmon or pork roast.

Domaine Laurier
Brut Méthode Champenoise; $12
14/20 — Using the traditional méthode champenoise, which requires a secondary fermentation process in the bottle, results in a lush sparkling wine with warm aromas of baked bread. The Chardonnay grapes offer deep fruit flavors, leaving a rich finish with crisp acidity.

CENTRAL COAST

Monterey County

Francis Ford Coppola Winery
2013 Director's Cut Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel; $22
13.5/20 —Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's craft Zinfandel is blended with Petite Sirah, adding structure and complexity with a full body and flavors of blackberry, cherry and oak.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery
2013 Diamond Collection Claret Cabernet Sauvignon; $21
14/20 — The Claret Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, presenting a full, rich wine. Aromas of raspberry, plum, tobacco and oak lead to flavors of cherry, vanilla and clove.

Arroyo Grande Valley

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
2013 La Coupelle Pinot Noir; $60
15/20 — Sourced solely from Laetitia's La Coupelle vineyard, this Pinot Noir offers aromas of cherry, tobacco and violets. What follows is a rich palate of blackberry, caramel oak and white pepper.

Santa Barbara County

Archium Cellars
2013 Haven; $42
15/20 — This 100 percent Grenache presents a deep, dark red color that offers aromas of berry and oak. Aging in 100 percent French oak gives this wine full flavor with good tannin structure.

Château Élan Winery
2014 American Chardonnay Reserve; $23
13/20 — Sourced from grapes grown in Northern California, this Chardonnay has a bright gold color and fruity aromas of apple, lemon and coconut.




WASHINGTON

Columbia Valley

Columbia Winery
2012 Columbia Valley Petit Verdot; $35
13.5/20 — Presenting a deep purple color and aromas of licorice, plum and blackberry, this Petit Verdot pairs deliciously with game meats.

Victoria

Taltarni
T Series Brut NV; $17
13/20 —Crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this Brut is made in the traditional méthode champenoise. It has a pale yellow color and bright fruit aromas that lead to apalge of citrus, melon, peach and strawberry flavors.

ITALY

Piedmont

Vigneti Massa
2013 Sentieri; $19
13.5/20 — This 100 percent Barbera is hand harvested in Walter Massa's Piedmont vineyards. Dark fruit aromas continue on the palate with high acidity presenting a bright fruit flavor.

Abruzzo

Fantini
Farnese Sangiovese; $11
13/20 — This medium-bodied wine, rich red in color, offers intense fruit flavors and deep tannins.

Lombardy

Enrico Gatti
Franciacorta Brut DOCG; $22
13.5/20 —This brut is composed of 85 percent Chardonnay and 15 percent Pinot Noir. Vinified in stainless steel, it features a refined sugar cane yeast that gives this crisp sparkler a creamy almond flavor.

Venneto

Jeio
Prosecco DOCG Spumante Brut; $17
12/20 —This 100 percent Glera is a straw yellow color and presents an aroma of apple and apricot. It has a soft palate with lingering fruity flavors.

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