Staff Favorites - Doug Burress

Review Date: 5-8-2013

Loir Valley comes to New Zealand? Although a bit riper and more generous in body, the PVV "Howell" vineyard Cabernet Franc shows notes of iron, sweet beets, dark red fruits, and a hint of bell pepper that is classic to many a Loir Valley Cabernet Franc. On the palate there is good structure with supporting acidity and very good length. Tradition meets the modern world.

Review Date: 5-8-2013

Fun, with lot's of crispy raspberry, peaches and currants. Just delicious to enjoy on a hot day.

Review Date: 5-8-2013

The "Calvert" vineyard Pinot from PVV shows a bit more deeper fruit profile and broader shoulders typical of the Bannockburn sub-region in Central Otago compared to the Cowley in Marlborough. There's a lovely bouquet of smokey dark plum, Asian spice, flat cola,a hint if anise and dried tangerine peel. On the palate the wine is seamless in its balance with juicey acidity, velvety supple tannis and a dusting of coco powder. Everything come together in perfect order with a long persistent and complex finish. Gorgeous.

Review Date: 5-8-2013

The Cowley Pinot from PVV "sings" with black cherry, raspberry, clove, cedar, sandlewood, dried orange peel, earth, forest floor and a light meaty note.On the palate the wine is deftly balanced with ripe fine tannins and a fine length. If you haven't had the Pinot Noirs from Pyramid Valley Vineyards, this is a great introduction to their style.

Review Date: 5-8-2013

The 2009 Tatomer “Kick-On Ranch” Santa Barbara County Riesling convinved me this guy knows his Riesling. With pure lime, peach and stone fruits, bracing acidity, and fine mineral framing, this is high caliber stuff that will complement a variety of dishes.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

This lower pressure Champagne, coming from the single vineyard Chetillons is another astounding deal from Launois. The soft creamy feel of the mousse and the long lingering palate feel showing sweetcake and creamy apple richness mid-palate flows to a long lingering finish (another Grand Cru at this price!) ..... what's not to like?

Review Date: 5-7-2013

There's not a lot more to say about this one, it a no-brainer! Grand Cru Champagne of this quality at this price is just not to be missed.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

At some point last year I was sitting at my desk thinking about some of the wines I’ve had from what I believe to be truly great wineries in the fine state of California. One of these great wineries that kept popping into my head was York Creek. The saddest part is that I hadn’t carried the wine for a couple of years due to lack of distribution. So I picked up the phone and made a call, long story short James Beard Award winner, beer icon, owner of York Creek Vineyards and an all around great man Fritz Maytag was at my desk a couple of weeks later showing me the lineup from his estate high upon Spring Mountain. From that meeting a fruitful business relationship developed which began with us selling almost 300 cases of the highly touted 2007 Estate Cabernet, followed by the possibly even more popular 2004 Estate Cabernet that flew out the doors during the Holidays of 2012. Well we’ve gone back to the well once again and found another true gem at a completely ridiculous price. We recently tasted every vintage, minus the 1998 which they did not make, between 1994 and 1999 of the Estate Meritage. What we found was amazing, all of the wines were wonderful in their own vintage specific way but we really loved the 1999 vintage. I feel like this vintage is really at its apex right now and is a wonderful example of an old wine with plenty of freshness and life. Sure there are some secondary notes of tobacco, sandalwood and mint in the nose and of course the tannins here are polished to a fine patina but this is insanely drinkable and full of fresh red fruits and a deep set forest driven spice that only Spring Mountain can deliver. Add that all up, plus you get a wine that is almost 15 years old, for $24.99 and this maybe the bargain of the year.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

Lots of Bourbon-cask style action going on with this Miltonduff. Wood spice, burnt sugar, lots of round fruit with vanilla overtones. Then there's a rather herbacous note on the finish that adds an earthy character on the back end. This is just delicious. I know it's from Miltonduff, a distillery whose whisky mostly goes into Chivas blended goods, but if you're not interested in big names or collectable bottles you're getting mature, 18 year old, full proof hooch that tastes great for a great price. That's all we can ask for anymore, right?

Review Date: 5-7-2013

For anyone who is still nursing that last sip of the 1992 Bladnoch we bottled back in 2011, have no fear of finishing that final gulp. We've got you totally covered. Imperial is an old Allied Distillers distillery that was closed in 1998. It was purchased in 2005 by Pernod Ricard, but never reopened. In 2013 the buildings were demolished and plans to build a new "Imperial" distillery on the same site were announced. What we've got in this bottle is some of the last juice from the original facility. This whisky is all sweet fruit, vanilla, jelly beans, and wood oils. Lots of unsherried roundness going on. Delicious, fun, and easy to drink. Perhaps a bit too easy.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

This represents a terrific value in a mature California Cabernet. If you are a fan of the modern fruit bomb style, skip this one. But, if like me, you love more classic , focused Cabernets, with a bit of earthiness, and elegant texture and mature aromas, then this is your cup of wine, so to speak. I reccomend it with a nice grilled steak on the barbecue, or a smokey Portabello mushroom with olive oil and pepper, if you are of the vegetarian bent. The combination will richly reward you for a modest sum.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

Quite possibly one of the most perfect wines being offered. A wine that had been allowed to develop and age for fourteen years, that has incredible balance, fruit, acidity, well integrated tannins, and a finish that goes on and on. Fine cherries with single origin cocoa powder, and a touch of spice.

Review Date: 5-7-2013

Finca Decero is a relatively new project, but one that has already earned some glowing press, including the aforementioned review from Neal Martin as well as some praise from Jancis Robinson. This cab is both polished and fruity, yet balanced and true to the grape variety as well. A subtle, appealing leafy note weaves its way between layers of red and dark cherry fruit, baking spices and well integrated oak. While this may seem like cliché at this point for top quality cab producers outside of Napa, it bears repeating here: you will not find a Cab nearly as good as the Finca Decero at this price in Napa!

Review Date: 5-6-2013

The Clayvin shows great depth and concentration with a bouquet of dark plum, black cherry, earth ,mineral a hint of mocha and baking spices. On the palate there is a cloak of fine ripe tannins that drape the core of fruit with good structure that will reward cellar time.Very impressive.

Review Date: 5-6-2013

The 2008 Three Rings Shiraz has a bouquet that offers notes of briary black raspberry, dark Cherry, bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee and earth. On the palate, darker fruits emerge that while rich and ripe are supported by good acidity and framed by soft silky tannins.There is a hint of cool mint in the ample finish. This is one for your mixed grill selections this summer and a fine value.