Review Date: 3-22-2013

If you ever get the opportunity to visit the magnificent double-walled 'medieval' citadel of Carcassonne in Languedoc-Roussillon, with many battlements dating back to the fifth century (but largely restored in the nineteenth), you will appreciate the long, historic struggle of man to erect a civilizing fortress of monumentally enduring proportions. Fortunately the gracious grape has survived and thrived in the region even longer, most likely first brought to the area by Roman soldiers. Domaine Girard, in the little-known AOC Malepère, currently produces wines that bridge the stylistic attributes of elegant Bordeaux and robust Languedoc, delivering fleshy, full-bodied, hand-harvested fruit made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel to preserve the pure varietal character, this supple, generous red will complement most traditional dishes from herb-scented lamb to a hearty beef casserole.

Review Date: 3-22-2013

Our discerning staff can invariably spot a great bargain when it hits them in the sweet spot of price and palate, and this lovely Sauvignon Blanc made by the Fournier family in the small village of Verdigny in the Sancerre region is an invigorating, lively, citrus-laden and ferociously thirst-quenching value if ever there was one.

Review Date: 3-22-2013

This wine is an invitation to linger and luxuriate in the odalisque opulence of Merlot, and given Keenan's amazing ability to caress and coax every velvety nuance from both its well-exposed Spring Mountain estate vines and lush, attractive Carneros fruit, you would do well to lay down a few bottles in your cellar for enjoyment over the next decade. Easily one of the finest domestic Merlots tasted this year, it exhibits expansive notes of ripe blackberries, dark cocoa, espresso bean and cassis.

Review Date: 2-19-2013

Fortunately. because of its elevation and close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the ultra-velvety fruit invested in this copious, fleshy wine wasn't adversely affected by the severe, damaging frosts that ran riot over vineyards planted in lower-lying regions. Exuding a confiture-like intensity of bold blackberry pie flavors and deep, savory spice enhanced by nine months in 35% new French oak, this full-bodied, polished Pinot is a superbly satisfying achievement from an excellent estate.

Review Date: 12-31-2012

Superb aged Gran Reserva, especially from the much-heralded 2001 vintage, is hard to find, and the Legarda exhibits the textbook definition of a midlife without crisis. Beautiful wild strawberries, dried cherries, orange peel, tobacco, dust and leather emanate from this excellent Rioja. Ideal pairings would include roasted lamb shanks or a Morrocan chicken tagine.

Review Date: 12-31-2012

Credit given where it is earned, and Barber Cellars continues to fashion superlative, challenging red blends from select sites throughout northern California. This bottle is infused with captivating, distinctive flavors of blackberry, red currants, espresso, dried leaves, and savory pomegranate, delivering wonderful complexity with graceful acidity. Try it with your favorite lasagna dish, you will be richly rewarded.

Review Date: 11-30-2012

Fresh confession: I can't get enough of wines from the Loire, both reds and whites are uncommonly phenomenal in their magnanimous, minerally complexity of flavor profiles, demonstrating a range and diversity probably unparalleled throughout the gracious mother of wine countries known as France. Hyperbole aside, the singular laser beam of mineralized fruit that rises from the glass of this lovely Cabernet Franc left me breathless. Maybe it's the superb selection of perfectly-ripe, old-vine, spicy black fruit fermented in an ancient tuffeau tank, a masterstroke of skill, finesse and power. Drink it. Or hold. Then drink it.

Review Date: 11-30-2012

As the southernmost wine-growing area in France, the sun-drenched Côtes du Roussillon has been cultivating wines since the 7th century BC, so they probably have gotten the vine thing down by now. Apart from the opulently seductive Vin Doux Naturels for which the region is largely renowned, there are an abundance of delicious, deftly-made, easy-drinking wines that demand only to be opened and enjoyed for their supple freshness and appealing fruit. Rounded and soft, with well-enveloped tannins that do not inhibit the delightful flavors of dark cherry and warm spice, this pleasure-driven red wine is a perfect complement to any Mediterranean cuisine.

Review Date: 11-30-2012

Hello folks! Check out the great price— this delightful Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake and Mendocino counties is, without thought or hesitation, a no-brainer. Of course those with no brains might not adequately enjoy it, but for the rest of us, this works just fine. Bright red-packed fruit, a bit of briar, texture and toasty vanilla to complement the medium-weight tannins, Bonterra does it again! What do you expect from an organically-farmed winery that owes its name to the 'good earth'?

Review Date: 11-30-2012

Sangiovese expresses its penchant for drama in the diversity of roles played out in the warm, limestone-laden, sandy terroir of Tuscany, and no performance is more memorable than that of the wines of Montalcino, where the superbly-defined, expressive baritone of Brunello rules supreme. Fortunately, for those who would prefer not to wait a decade or more, there is usually an abundance of delicious Rosso di Montalcino to go around, ready to decant and enjoy today. Claudia Ferrero produces a riper, inviting style in her slightly toastier vineyards, well-suited to those who appreciate full-bodied domestic reds. Full of vibrant, lushly-extracted black plummy fruit and wild berries enlivened by good acidity and earthier loamy flavors of fresh espresso, this wine sings like a tenor in the glass, finishing with a lovely flourish.

Review Date: 11-30-2012

Did you know department: The name 'Tempranillo' comes from the Spanish 'temprano', defined as early, since this esteemed Iberian variety tends to ripen as much as two weeks before Garnacha or Graciano. And in the spirit of now, this elegant 2007 Riserva, having bided its time for a full 24 months in both American and French oak plus another two years in bottle, is impatiently ready to open and share tonight with a slow-cooked leg of lamb and roasted vegetables. Aromatic purity defined by bright red cherry, balsamic spice and oak-imbued vanilla, with a textured palate of ripe raspberry, red plum, licorice and nuanced tobacco. Well-integrated on the impressively dry, pleasant finish. Keep a few cases around for the holidays and beyond, because even if drinking beautifully now, this wine still has plenty of time to evolve. Strongly recommended.

Review Date: 11-30-2012

This elegant, balanced, bargain Cabernet Sauvignon from Bodegas Eguren just vanished in all of our stores for good reason, but we're expecting to receive another shipment soon to grace your festive holiday table. An enticing aroma of delicate roasted herbs, savory blackcurrant and tobacco-tinged fruit leads to a polished palate with surprising depth and complexity. This tasty, defined red might explain why Spain still remains the greatest source for high-quality, value-priced wines in the world.

Review Date: 10-30-2012

As Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant (1698), Berry Bros. and Rudd should know a thing or three about the traditional making of gin. Their No. 3 English Dry Gin is an unabashedly pure blending of fruits and spices selected and distilled in traditional copper pots in Schiedam, Holland. Made from Italian Juniper, Spanish oranges and grapefruit peel, with added spices including angelica root, Moroccan coriander and cardamon pods, this exquisitely crafted yet assertive gin remains, with its distinctively aromatic nose and prolonged finish, a highly-recommended personal favorite. The ideal suitor for a dry Martini or classic Gin and Tonic.

Review Date: 9-30-2012

I really can't get enough of this lovely, quintessential Portuguese rosé, perhaps the purest expression of this indigenous teinturier, or red-fleshed, variety that I've tasted. More red than rosé in its scaffold of penetrating dark raspberry and cherry flavors, braced by the signature piercing acidity of this very traditional style of wine so loved by the Portuguese people. An acquired taste for some, I would suggest you open a bottle, relax on your deck on a warm autumn day, and treat yourself to an utterly thirst-quenching experience.

Review Date: 8-31-2012

This 100% Garnacha was harvested during a fairly dry season that promised smaller, more intense berries than usual, fermented at very low temperatures to preserve the striking, savory flavors of the fruit. And this wine is really about revealing pure, intense Garnacha fruit, not overly ripe or minerally, with lush and expressive dark plums on the nose followed by a generous, silky palate. Value-priced, this one should fly off our shelves.