Staff Favorites - Alexandre Brisoux

Review Date: 6-19-2013

La Posta has been an excellent source for single vineyard Malbecs over the years. This bottling shows all the dark cherry and plum fruit you expect in a Malbec, with the added acidity and vibrancy only shown by the best versions of this grape variety. Bring on the BBQ!

Review Date: 6-19-2013

This is a delicious, darkly fruited, highly mineral wine from steep granitic and slate vineyards in Valdeorras. I love this wine for its combination of freshness and structure. It's a perfectly balanced red for any sort of grilled food you want to throw at it!

Review Date: 6-18-2013

This ia a lovely example of aged Rioja from a good vintage that is drinking absolutely perfectly right now. It shows excellent integration and a range of complexity that you rarely encounter in the under $20 category. Mixed berries mingle with earth spice and notes of vanilla and savory herbs. Framed by fine tannins and supported by balanced acidity, this really over-delivers in elegance for the price.

Review Date: 6-18-2013

I've consumed enough of this wine already, it's high time to write a review. How awesome is it that we have not just one but two Direct Import Txakolis? (this and its delicious rose counterpart) From a very cool site, the 2012 Amats is a perfect example of Txakoli - very dry, crisp, and with razor-like acidity. It's zippy and fresh, with tangy green apple and citrus aromas and flavors accented by saline notes and hints of green herbs, not to mention incredible mineral drive from start to finish. So refreshing and easy to drink - excellent with fresh oysters or other fruits of the sea. I love the naturally low alcohol, too!

Review Date: 6-18-2013

Made from Hundurribi Belza (a dark-skinned grape used in Txakoli production), this is one of my favorite roses in the store this season. I love its distinctive nose, with delicate dark berry fruit and mineral aromas that remind me of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. It is fruity yet very crisp on the palate, perfect for enjoying with a variety of foods, from fresh seafood to grilled sausages to paella. Organically farmed and made with minimal intervention.

Review Date: 6-18-2013

I know many of you went nuts over the previous 2011 Napa Chardonnay that we had, with its rich, creamy, fat style with tons of oak and a full malolactic presentation, this beauty has richness, depth, and better structure, and exhibits better balance and more upfront fruit characteristics. Opulent aromas of spicy cinnamon apple to tropical fruit tones with hints of a creamy, vanilla note, this wonderful wine offers gorgeous rich fruit flavors with excellent acid structure and depth of flavor. This Gem will be, according to Rusty, one of our house whites for however long it is around. 14.5% ABV

Review Date: 6-14-2013

From the cool 2011 vintage, Benziger delivers us a nicely delineated, organically grown and biodynamically made fruit-driven Chardonnay for a song. Aromas of fresh citrus and stone fruit greet the nose, with nutty undertones. The palate is creamy and round, with bright acidity. Top Value!

Review Date: 6-14-2013

Crisp, clean, and refreshing with subtle floral and hay notes, this delightful quaffer from local Sonoma family winemakers hits all the marks for a light, dry style. It definitely drinks above its price point. Try it with a fresh veggie and goat cheese salad, or grilled shrimp tacos. Benziger makes wine in accordance with biodynamic principles, and work with organic growers in order to meet their strict guidelines for the fruit that goes into their appellation wines.

Review Date: 6-14-2013

If you haven’t tried Pinot Noirs from New Zealand yet, the 2009 Fromm “Brancott” Pinot Noir will get you hooked! This wine is bursting with spice, along with luscious cherry and plum fruits. A velvety mouthfeel makes it tempting to drink this wine now, but the acid and structure will allow this wine to get even better with age. The depth and complexity of this wine can easily be compared to Pinot Noirs twice its price from California.

Review Date: 6-14-2013

Kalinda Chardonnay…. When I put my nose in the glass, I said to myself wow this is expensive Chardonnay like one of my favorite Ca. Chards Ramey! Just a hint of tropical California fruit, but the wine is super fresh and shining with good acidity; a touch in the burgundian style. I was thrilled when I found out it was the new Kalinda! If you like the big fat/buttery style of Chardonnay, this wine is not for you!

Review Date: 6-14-2013

Hello Summertime Chardonnay! The 2012 Kalinda Carneros Chardonnay is so delicious and a steal at this price! In fact, I intend on putting this in a blind taste test against more expensive Chardonnays and I know it will be a contender. This wine has gorgeous subtle notes of creamy lemon, green apple, honeysuckle and white flowers. The bright acidity and minerality brings structure and balance. This wine is a great example of a Chardonnay that shows some pretty California fruit with Burgundian structure and acidity.

Review Date: 6-14-2013

Soft oak and vanillin on the nose, bright acidity and minerality on the palate. This wine really goes "The Distance".

Review Date: 6-14-2013

The newest edition of our anxiously anticipated Kalinda Chardonnay is here! After tasting thru literally hundreds of samples we picked a drop-dead winner, the 2012 Kalinda Carneros Chardonnay is perhaps my favorite Kalinda Chardonnay of all-time. We’ve made richer Chardonnays in the past and fruitier Chardonnays and unoaked Chardonnays but the 2012 Kalinda Carneros Chardonnay has it all. The nose starts off with a burst of lemon-crème, sugarloaf, white flower and green fig notes. The palate is beautiful mix of green apples, tropical fruit, honey, hazelnuts and a touch of oak. The wine has fantastic acidity which gives the wine great lift and verve and the structure of a fine white Burgundy. If you’re looking for your summertime Chardonnay that you can enjoy as a weekday sipper or something slightly better for your weekend entertaining then look no further, the 2012 Kalinda Carneros Chardonnay is for you.

Review Date: 6-14-2013

This wine is such an amazing deal that it makes me feel like one of those guys selling some product on a late night infomercial. A great wine for $30, an amazing wine for $16.99 (old price)... but wait! It gets even better! The new price for this wine is so unbelievably good that we've been asked not to publish it. This is a flat-out delicious Zinfandel that has gone from a nice single-vineyard Zinfandel where might buy a bottle or two, to a case-worthy purchase that has just become your newest summer time house red. If you’re a fan of zinfandel and have enjoyed wines from Rosenblum in the past then this is a must-buy wine! Great balance and depth, this wine displays deep red fruit, spice notes and a rich, long finish that is quintessentially Zinfandel.

Review Date: 6-13-2013

If you love Brut Rose Champagnes as much as I do, then you HAVE to try this one from Fleury! With notes of elegant strawberry, vanilla and spice, all wrapped up with balanced acidity. To sweeten the deal, Fleury is a direct import, so this elegant Champagne is a great value!