Review Date: 1-23-2013

Several months ago, Clyde e-mailed me from Bordeaux that when this wine arrived that I needed to try it; I would absolutely love it. He was right. A chateau that I have never heard of in all of the years that I have been in this business, from a vintage that is consider good, but not great, this Gem sings delicious. It is complex, full, developed, and fully ready to drink. Rusty has told me that this Gem will definitely be one of our house reds for however long it is around. 12.5% ABV

Review Date: 1-23-2013

As many of you who know me, one of my favorite red wines next to Pinot Noir, is Cabernet Franc, the father of Cabernet Sauvignon, which I make each year as a single varietal. And, one of my favorite Cabernet Francs that each year are available in our stores, are the complex, full bodied, well-focused, 35 year old single vineyard Gems from Joel Taluau. This 2011 is unoaked, is the prime definition of what Cab Franc is all about, with notes of currants, spicy white pepper to cassis fruit qualities, that leads to a long, warm, structured finish. Rusty has informed me that this Gem will be one of our house reds for however long it is around.

Review Date: 1-23-2013

We have been importing this Gem for about twenty years, but not under this label. Most of you who have faithfully bought previous vintages of this wine would recognize it as Chateau Roquefort. Why Vignobles Jolivet change labels on us, Clyde is not clear about; in fact, I don’t think he really knows why. But, the 2011 is a bit richer, more viscous, and broad in relationship to the Saint-Jean-Des-Graves. This delicious Gem would pair nicely with such dishes as French onion soup, and Rizzo has told me this wine will be one of our house whites for the month. 12.5% ABV

Review Date: 12-26-2012

From my favorite Rioja producer, this stunning, complex, high-profiled “Reserva” offers all the elements that I look for in a great wine: an opulent bouquet, abundant structure and depth, exceptional mid-range, focus, a broad and powerful fruit presentation, and a finish that is satisfyingly long and warm. Medium deep ruby in color, the nose is loaded with an anise spiciness in concert with currant and cassis-like fruit characteristics, with undercurrents of game and mild toasty notes. All of these remarkable features carry over to its extraordinary set of flavors and overall presentation. This Gem will age easily for another ten to fifteen years, but you will find it difficult to keep your hands off of it for the near term once you taste it. Rusty has anointed this wonderful Gem as one of our house reds for however long it is around and has ordered me to buy cases of it for our cellar. 13.5% ABV

Review Date: 12-26-2012

Produced mostly from Tempranillo, this lovely, well-balanced, harmonious Rioja from the oldest bodega in that wine producing region provides a highly perfumed nose of cranberries and mulberries, with distinctive undertones of violets, cedar, citrus, and a dusty minerality. Medium-full in body, this complex Gem shows excellent integration of very fine, silky tannins with superb structure and depth of character. Its long, fleshy finish seems to last forever. This Gem, according to Rusty, will be one of our house reds for the month and for the next three to six years.13.5% ABV

Review Date: 12-26-2012

Joe Manekin has found for us some really amazingly complex, high-profiled wines at amazingly “dirt cheap” prices on his latest buying trips to Spain, Portugal, and South America. This Penedes Cabernet from Mas Codina is a prime example of what magnificent, economical productions Joe has been discovering. Noted mostly for their delightful Cava, this Cabernet Gem is deeply colored, shows a bright, flashy nose of blackberries, cloves, and anise fruit tones with a cigar-like to mocha under notes. These characteristics carry over nicely to a well-balanced, integrated palate impression with good complexity, excellent structure and a finish that refuses to surrender. Open this up for the dinner that you have prepared for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day after you have had a toast from the great Cava from Mas Codina. Rusty has informed me that this delicious Gem will be one of our house reds for the month. 14.0% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

Produced from several native, regional grapes and 10% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Noir on lees for two years, this may be one of the finest “cheap” (only in price), and most serious sparkling wines that we have available in the store. It is definitely one that should have been served at your big New Year’s Eve Party. Bright, distinctive aromas of apples and lime zest with wet river stone undertones are well defined in the nose, while in the mouth, it is refreshing, clean crisp, and mouthwatering, with a lovely viscous, long finish. This is a magnificent Gem that our Spanish Wine Buyer, Joe Manekin, discovered on his most recent wine trip to Spain several months ago, and that The Beaner has told me will be our house sparkler for the month. 12.0% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

This has to be one finest Rioja Blancos that I have ever tasted. Pronounced, distinctive aromas of dandelion to melon to white pepper notes will abound from your glass upon opening that leads to a rich, incredibly complex set of bright, fresh fruit flavors, which lingers in a long, fulfilling finish. This is an amazing white wine Gem at a ridiculously low price to which Rizzo has deemed as our house white for however long it is around. 12.0% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

Medium ruby in color, the nose offers subtle notes of black cherry to strawberry fruit. In the mouth, this well-balanced Pinot is straightforward and upfront with its fruit presentation, shows nice structure, and a bright, tasty finish. This Gem will be one of our house reds for the month according to Rusty. 13.8% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

Joe Manekin, our Spanish Wine Buyer, made an absolutely incredible wine producer discovery on his most recent wine buying trip to Spain with the Riojas from Senor de Lesmos. This 2006 Crianza has to be one of the most remarkable Riojas that I have ever tasted. Produced from hand-harvested estate fruit and fermented with its own native yeast, this high profiled, opulent ly aromatic Gem has a pure essence of fruit on the nose and across the palate. Rich, broad, viscous, remarkably complex, incredibly structured, well-integrated Gem offers tons of character and flavor with dried rose petal to spicy anise to white pepper qualities, and a finish that is full and complete. Rusty has told me that this Gem may be one of the most remarkable Riojas that we have ever experienced and we need to buy as many cases as we can afford. What’s the price??? Amazing! 13.0ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

And yet another wonderful wine from this estate. Absolutely delicious! Opulent aromas of mocha, plums, anise, cassis, unlit cigar, and blackberry characteristics abound in the nose . Broad, rich, viscous, creamy, complex, great mid-range, integrated, fleshy, and long. Rusty has also designated this Gem as one of our house reds for however long it is available 13.0% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

Yet, another Bordeaux property that I have never seen imported to the USA with all my vast years [don’t believe some my colleagues that I go back to the turn of the last century and way beyond in regards to this aspect] of wine retail. In great vintages as `09, you purchase wines as such, knowing that they will mature near-term and that you will be able to keep your hands off of the great wines from the Classified Growths, and Grand to Premier Crus that you have in your collection for later consumption on special occasions. Deep ruby in color, this lush, ripe, opulent Gem is loaded with cassis, currants and a not-over-the-top jammy tone. Broad and viscous, this beauty offers a deep, sweet fruit core of currants and blackberries, integrated tannins, and a warm, long, fairly complex finish. Rusty was jumping up and down over this Gem, and has anointed it our house red for the next five years. A great value! 14.0% ABV

Review Date: 12-4-2012

Produced for us by Chance Creek Vineyards from “Estate” fruit, this lovely, newly released SB, which has 10% Viognier blended in, offers pronounced aromas of casaba melon with back notes of white pepper , honeysuckle, and jasmine that carry through on the palate. In the mouth, this Gem is surprisingly rich and lush, yet well structured with a mouthwatering, fleshy finish. The Bean wants this non-oaked Gem to be one of our house whites for however long it is around. 13.5% ABV

Review Date: 11-7-2012

If you are searching for that perfect Pinot Noir gift for your wine collecting relative or friend, who will put it down to age for several more years, then this Gem is the puppy. Medium deep ruby in color, the nose offers up dried rose petal to strawberry to pomegranate aromatic notes with meaty and wet river stone mineral undertones. If you plan on consuming this lovely wine near-term, it really opens up nicely with decanting and a few hours of airing. Richly flavored, this viscous, well-defined Pinot is amazingly complex, shows tons of structure and depth, is well-integrated, and has a finish that refuses to go away. Rusty has informed me that this Gem will be our Pinot Noir for the holidays and beyond. 13.0% ABV

Review Date: 10-30-2012

Great Tuscan vintage, superb small producer, and an exceptional vineyard location equals a stunningly outstanding Gem that can only be classified as a “Baby Brunello.” Bright plumy to spicy anise aromas lead to a well-balanced, richly extracted, broad set of flavors with mocha and roasted coffee bean tones, showing excellent acid structure, integrated silky tannins, and a long, complex finish that refuses to quit. This Gem, according to Rusty, will be one of our house reds for however long it is available. It will be a wonderful holiday gift for those relatives that love great red wines. 14.5% ABV