NewsletterChristmas, 2008
Christmas Sales WinesAMERICAN WINES2006 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay, Carneros, $23.99/ Sale $19.99: This nicely balanced Chardonnay has crisp flavors of green apple, lime and pineapple. Its fermentation begins in stainless steel but is finished in oak barrels which provides the wine rich notes of butterscotch and toast while retaining good acidity. This elegant sipper received 90 Points from the Wine Enthusiast. 2006 St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma, $15.99/Sale $13.99: A ripe Chardonnay, but not too ripe. Due to the malolactic fermentation, there is a creaminess that is balanced by the appropriate acidity. Bravo guys. 90 Points from the Wine Enthusiast. Sokol Blosser Evolution, Oregon, $16.99/Sale $13.99: A blend of various white grapes from Oregon, it’s a mellow wine with surprising complexity. Not quite bone dry. Good both as a solo sipper or alongside dishes with poultry the focus. 2006 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon, The Ranch, Napa Valley, $40.99/Sale $36.99: Three generations of Snowdens have been growing grapes on their ranch since 1962. For years, their grapes were sold to Stags Leap Winery, Silver Oak and Viader. Now all the grapes go into their own wines: two Bordeaux blends. This one is made to be consumed young… and it drinks remarkably well right now. The fruit is lush with a plump, fleshy mouthfeel. The winemaking duties are handled by Diana Snowden Seysses, the enologist at the famed Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, and superstar consultant David Ramey. Their talent shows in the beautiful style of this Cabernet. Wine Advocate 92 Points. 2005 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $33.99/Sale $29.99: Mount Veeder is almost always "money in the bank" with their Cabernets, which they have been making for 35 years. Care and mountainside vineyards seem to do the deal. There are dark fruits, cocoa, cedar and spice here, with a touch of sage. A value in classy California Cabernet. 2006 Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $14.99/Sale $13.49: Isn’t it amazing to find a Napa Valley Cabernet at such a pleasant price? It’s a not a blockbuster Napa model, needing aging, but a seductive young thing with enticing blueberry & blackberry flavors. 2006 Milbrandt Vineyards Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, $14.99/Sale $12.99: Butch and Jerry Milbrandt get it together here. This is a lusty Merlot with cassis, blueberries, toast and vanilla. There’s even a bit of mocha…not a mindless Merlot by any measure. 2005 Anne Amie Pinot Noir, Winemaker’s Selection, Willamette Valley, $33.99/ Sale $26.99: From sustainably farmed vineyards comes this elegant, refined Pinot at this remarkable price. This is our best "deal" in Pinot Noir. Notes of wild strawberries and allspice dominate the bouquet followed by cherry flavors layered over hints of new leather on the palate. It is rich but balanced with a lingering round finish. Beautiful! 2006 Rhea Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $19.99/Sale $16.99: A new Pinot Noir for us from Oregon that fits the bill of being good but not too expensive. Rhea has that balance between fruit and acidity that we love. For value, you can’t beat this Pinot. 2004 St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma, $19.99/Sale $16.99: The vines for this Zin are all 50-100 years old, head-trained (without trellising), and dry farmed (no irrigation). Many of the vineyards are a field blend with Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet planted among the Zinfandel. The result is exceptionally concentrated grapes that give us a wine with depth and rich flavors. This is all about ripe black cherry and boysenberry aromas and flavors with hints of licorice and toasty oak. A luscious old style Zin! FRENCH WINES2003 Chateau Prieure Lichine, Margaux, $54.99/$49.99: Already drinking very well, this 4th growth Bordeaux reveals an incredible aroma of cedar, spice box, black cherries and melted licorice. It is medium bodied with low acidity and abundant glycerin making it seductive and smooth. Hard to resist! 92Points from Wine Spectator, 90 Points from Robert Parker 2006 Chateau de Segries Lirac, Regularly $18.99/Sale $16.99: This is the big brother of the Chateau de Segries Cotes-du-Rhone that was our last red "Wine of the Month." It has all the loveable qualities of the Cotes-du-Rhone—beautiful berry nose and soft fruit on the tongue—but with more intensity and complexity. 2006 Adamas Bourgogne Pinot Noir, $28.99/Sale $25.99: We’ve never heard of these people before, but we are happy to know them now. This is like a fine Volnay or Chambolle-Musigny at half the price. Intriguing cherry aspects and much more. 2006 Domaine Bernard Moreau Chassagne-Montrachet, $59.99/ Sale $51.99: Great white Burgundy cannot be equaled by Chardonnay grown anywhere else in the world. It’s a matter of complexity and minerality from the vineyards in which the grapes are raised. This has all that with elegance and beautiful flavors too. Wow! 2006 Raphet Gevrey Chambertin, Les Champs Chenys, $64.99/Sale $57.99: Absolutely prototypical Gevrey, at a screaming price.The wine has power, finesse and depth. Cherries dominate the aromatics and flavors, but there is much more. We’ve had Gevreys twice the price that couldn’t joust with this guy. 2006 Dujac Fils & Pere Chambolle-Musigny, $89.99/Sale $79.99: Classic Chambolle, i.e., sexy, satiny. Jacque Seysses, the illustrious owner of Domaine Dujac, has turned the reins over to his son, Jeremy and his wife, Diana Snowden. Diana is the enologist, and while Jacque still weighs in on winemaking decisions, Jeremy has the final say. This wine shows that the "kids" are doing a great job. We drank the ‘05 in Beaune and it was beyond belief. 2004 Triennes St. Auguste, $17.99/Sale 14.99: Triennes is a collaboration of two of the most highly esteemed Burgundy producers, Jacque Seysses of Domaine Dujac and Hubert Villiane of Domaine de la Romanee Conti. Pretty good credentials!! And here they are making a blend of Cabernet and Syrah with a touch of Merlot in sunny Provence. Amazing! The grapes are grown in rocky soils and the resulting wine has dark fruit with an appealing smoothness. Definitely one to try. 2006 Chateau Pesquie Quintessence, Cote du Ventoux, $29.99/Sale $26.99: Those lovers of Pesquie’s regular bottling, Terrasses, are in for a cosmic treat. It’s made from older vines and employs new barrels in its curing. These add more complexity to that old, lusty Pesquie power we all crave. 2006 La Granacha Cotes-du-Rhone Villages, $15.99/Sale $13.49: One of the most idiosyncratic renderings of a Cotes-du-Rhone we have come upon lately. There are ineffable spice and dark fruit essences. How do they do it? We are mystified. 2006 Saint-Veran, Caves des Grandes Crus Blancs, $14.99/Sale $13.99: If you are a Pouilly-Fuisse lover, but shy away at their cost, this is your baby. It’s made next to the villages of Pouilly and Fuisse and tastes better than many with Pouilly-Fuisse on the label. This has been a huge hit at Coaltrain! 2006 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris, Calcaire, $ 37.99/Sale $32.99: When you wonder what "terroir" is, try this. It’s full of minerals. It’s off- dry and delightful. What we particularly like is its sleek body. Some Alsatian Pinot Gris can be a bit husky, but not this. It’s organic, too. 2006 Michel Langlois Coteaux Giennois, $19.99/Sale $17.99: If you like Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume, but not the prices, this one’s for you. Nice flinty, mineral Sauvignon Blanc flavors. By the way, the zone is right by Sancerre. Bring on the "boudin blanc" or goat cheeses. SPANISH WINES2007 Montenovo Godello, Valdeorras, $12.99/Sale $10.99: Well, if you thought Albarino was the end all of Spanish whites, wait ‘til you taste some of the Godellos coming from Albarino’s home province, Galicia. In contrast to Albarino’s coastal provenance, Godellos come from more inland, not far from the city of Ourense. Though they bear similarities to Albarino, they generally carry a little more smack and body. This is a good "intro" Godello because it shows you what the grape can do at an attractive price. Some of these wines can get pricey, but many are worth it. 2005 Mas Donis, Monsant, $12.99/Sale $10.99: Monsant is the wine zone in Catalunya that encircles Priorato, one of the most revered and costliest wine zones in the world. Due to their proximity, wines from the two zones share many similarities other than price. They are red, big boys with plenty of punch. Aromas of cracked pepper, licorice, blueberry, blackberry and oak lead into a full bodied palate. It could be the best vintage of Mas Donis we’ve had at Coaltrain. The Wine Advocate anointed this with 91 Points. 2006 Mas Alta Artigas, Priorato, $41.99/Sale $37.99: The real McCoy here: true Priorat—and at an attractive price. The fruit is bounteous like the Monsant above, but there is more here. There is a stony minerality that comes from the schistic soils of Priorato. And that is the reason these wines command such elevated prices. Have the Priorat experience here, without spending $100 a bottle. 2005 Condado de Haza, Ribera del Duero, $29.99/Sale $26.99: The brainchild of Alejandro Fernandez, who got the Ribera del Duero craze moving with his Pesquera winery. It’s a masculine red with red fruit from the Tempranillo grapes. "Perfecto" with "chuletas" (lamb chops) off the grill. 2005 Emilio Moro, Ribera del Duero, $33.99/Sale $29.99: Another beauty from the banks of the Duero river, east of Valladolid in north, central Spain. Whereas Fernandez above favors American oak barrels, Moro employs both American and French. This gives the wine finesse to match the boldness. 2006 Higueruella Almansa, $10.99/Sale $9.99: Higgy, as we fondly refer to this Spanish quaffer, is primarily Garnacha with a little Syrah and Cabernet blended in. It’s smooth and not overtly fruity, with rounded flavors and vanilla nuances. It’s a bargain! 2006 Quinta de la Rosa Passagem, Douro, $16.99/Sale $14.99: One of the best of the fleet of dry Portuguese wines floating down the Douro river. It’s a collaboration between the Bergvist family of Port fame and young and brilliant winemaker Jorge Moreira. So clean and perfectly made, with lovely aromatics, ripe fruits, and dollop of licorice. GERMAN WINES2007 Darting Durkheimer Hochbenn Riesling Kabinett, Pfalz, $18.99/Sale $16.99: The vintage of 2007 was absolutely stellar in Germany, as shown in this quaffer. The nose knocks you out. The perfectly equilibrated flavors (just off-dry) are hard to believe. Darting is a Teutonic master. 2007 Donnhoff Estate Riesling, Nahe, $22.99/Sale $20.99: Donnhoff is yet another Teutonic master and one of the most revered names in German wines. This wine, from the Nahe region, combines the freshness of a Mosel with the seriousness of a Rheingau wine. Utterly dazzling. 2007 Leitz Rudesheimer Klosterlay Auslese, Rheingau, 500 ml, $24.99/Sale $20.99: Boy, we have three of Germany’s finest winemakers in a row here. We’ve never tasted a wine from Josef Leitz that hasn’t sent us to the moon. He always seems to attain balance and complexity. Thus, though sweet, this has the perfect acidity to keep it lively…not cloying! SOUTH AMERICAN2005 Catena Alta Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina, $29.99/Sale $25.99: This is amazing, not just for its richness and precise balance, but for its ability to age. We had the 2002 in Mendoza last year that was showing absolutely no signs of getting too old. Catena has the secret for Argentine Chardonnays. 92 Points Wine Spectator 2005 Catena Alta Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, $49.99/Sale $39.99: We all know the Malbec grape can give us a dandy $12 wine. This wine shows you how great a Malbec can be. Its complexity is the key. 93 Points Wine Spectator 2006 Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile, $15.99/Sale $13.99: This is the 79th vintage of this wine which comes from a 152 year old winery; thus the name, "Antiguas Reservas." The wine is 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes off more as a stylish Bordeaux than an exuberant California Cab. ITALIAN WINES2005 Cantina de Castello Soave, $12.99/Sale $10.99: Here’s a nice, clean white sipper from right inside the walls of the beautiful village of Soave, east of Verona. Garganega is the dominant grape, giving you some fascinating flavors. No, this ain’t no insipid Bolla Soave. 2007 Tenuta Porte Fiano di Avellino, $19.99/Sale $16.99: You might call Fiano di Avellino the "white maiden" of Southern Italy. At its best, it is fresh and delicate. This one is blushingly at its best. 2004 Di Majo Norante Ramitello, $17.99/Sale $15.99: From the region of Molise in southeastern Italy comes this blend of Prugnolo (Sangiovese) and Aglianico. It’s rustic and oh, sooo Italian, with dark red fruits and overtones of leather, earth, tar, and spice. There is a touch of smoke and oak resulting in an incredibly delicious wine for the money. Selected as one of their Great Values from Italy, the Wine Advocate gave it 88 Points. 2006 Grimaldi Barbera d’Alba, $20.99/Sale $18.99: Here’s a Barbera that wakes you up. Its lushness is the thing. Part is aged in stainless steel and part in two or three year old Slovenian oak barrels. This provides the complexity. It’s the brainchild of a young winemaker named Ferucchio Grimaldi. 2004 Damilano Barolo, Lecinquevigne, $45.99/Sale $35.99: Imagine getting a Barolo for this reasonable price from the fabled 2004 vintage. Many are over $100 a bottle, some over $200. And this is a good Barolo with big cherry and earth flavors and no flaws. Snag while the limited supply lasts. By the way, you could probably age this another ten years. 2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo, Bricco Ambrogio, $84.99/Sale $59.99: Made by Enrico Scavino, son of Paolo. This is in a rich, modern style with ample extraction. It’s packed with sweet dark fruit and has nuances of white pepper and plum… totally different from the Damilano above. California Cab devotees might find this interesting. As you can see, we got a screaming deal on this Barolo! Wine Advocate 92 Points SOUTH AFRICAN2007 Jardin Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, $16.99/ Sale $14.99: The Jordan family owns this winery and named their winery Jordan, but that name was already trademarked in the U.S., so here the wines are labeled " Jardin." This Chard is aged in French oak barrels but instead of stirring the wine while it rests on the lees, they just roll the barrels. As they say, it’s shaken, not stirred. Anyway, the wine is beautiful. It is balanced and is not overoaked…more Burgundian in style than Californian. 2006 Bradgate Syrah, Stellenbosch, $10.99/Sale $9.49: Made by the aforementioned Jordan family, this old world style Syrah has a complex flavor spectrum of violets, sweet, ripe plums, pepper and bay leaf. It is aged in French oak which adds a spicy smokiness. Lots of complexity for a wine at this price! DOWN UNDER2006 Mitolo Jester Cabernet, McLaren Vale, $18.99/Sale $16.99: About 20% of the grapes for this Cab are dried on racks (a traditional Amarone technique) to concentrate the flavor. Yet there is no pruny or raisiny character to it. Instead, you get blueberry and cassis fruit with a fringe of cocoa and spice. To quote Robert Parker, "This stunning Cabernet may be one of the world’s best values in Cabernet Sauvignon." 2006 Cimicky Trumps Shiraz, Barossa Valley, $17.99/Sale $14.99: A medium-bodied, smooth-textured wine with plenty of ripe, spicy blueberry and black fruit flavors. There’s cedar and smoke along with fruit and vanillin oak in the bouquet. People love this wine! Robert Parker gave it 90 Points as did Steven Tanzer. 2008 Momo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $17.99/Sale $15.99: This is the second label of Seresin, our most beloved Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc of the moment. And boy is this good. These wines are not as assertively citric as the norm. This offers grace, not grapefruit. 2006 Rippon Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand, $ 47.99/Sale $41.99: With Pinot Noirs, even Burgundy, we are "show me" kinds of folks. Well, Rippon shows us here. This is absolutely gorgeous. It has expansive fruit and elegance. Everything is done by hand with natural winemaking techniques. It all adds up. 95 Points from the Wine Advocate. 91 Points from the International Wine Cellar.
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COALTRAIN
Wine & Spirits
330 W. Uintah
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719-475-9700