Well tradeshow season is over. This year because of the law change allowing Sunday sales, some of the distributors decided to skip the Sunday shows and do it during the week. The last show of the season was 10/28 and with the impending Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the region I didn’t know what to expect. Seemed like the usual suspects were there although since the economy has improved it seems like the higher end wines are no longer being shown.
Gerard Bertrand
We carried one of their wines in the store (not poured), which I thought was very good but this batch seemed a little lackluster.
2010 Cremant de Limoux Brut Limoux – 88 points
2010 Crement de Limoux Brut Rose Limoux – 88 points
2010 Corbieres Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre – 87 points
2008 Grand Terrior Tautavel Syrah/Grenache/Carignan Cotes du Rousillon – 88 points
2008 Minervois Syrah/Carignan – 87 points
2008 Banyuls Dessert Wine – 89 points
Piccini
Had some decent Brunello’s and a really nice Super Tuscan for the money!
2006 Brunello de Montalcino – 88 points
2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva – 91 points
2004 Sasso al Poggio, Tuscany – 90 points
2009 Luce della Vite Lucente Tuscany – 90 points. Only had the entry level wine this year, which was disappointing, but the wine is decent for the money.
2005 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Les Petits Chateauneuf-du-Pape – 92 points. Some of the best wines at this show were Rhone wines. This was lovely and mature.
2009 Domaine du Pegau Cuvee Reservee Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge – 95 points. A very compelling wine with wave after wave of flavors. Extraordinary finish.
NV Jean Laurent Brut Rose Champagne – 92 points
Whitehall Lane
Love their Merlot (we still have the 07 in stock and it is excellent) but they also make several other solid wines.
2011 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc – 89 points. Very nice wine. Light and refreshing.
2008 Napa Valley Merlot – 89 points
2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 91 points
2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – 93 points. There cabs both shine here.
2010 Fattoria del Cerro Chianti Colli Senesi – 87 points
2007 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino – 89 points
2007 Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne – 89 points
E.Guigal
Impressive year in and year out for there broad range of wines that scale from expensive to great values.
2009 Condrieu Viognier – 90 points
2009 Cotes du Rhone Rouge – 88 points
2009 Gigondas – 91 points
2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Red – 91 points
2009 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc – 90 points
Chappellet
The cornerstone of Pritchard Hill in Napa Valley. Make some outstanding Cabs as well as some value wines, by Pritchard Hill standards anyways.
2010 Napa Valley Chardonnay – 90 points
2009 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – 90 points
2008 Pritchard Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauignon Napa Valley – 93 points
2010 Cervantes Napa Valley – 90 points
Schloss Vollrads
This is one of the oldest wineries in the world, dating back over 800 hundred years. They are still turning out excellent wines as displayed here.
2011 Riesling QbA Rheingau – 90 points
2010 Riesling Spatlese Rheigau – 91 points
2011 Markus Molitor Riesling QbA – 90 points
Justin Winery
Justin has really stepped their game up the last few years since the Paso Robles wine scene has exploded. To me, there best wines are their blends.
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles – 89 points
2009 Isosceles Paso Robles – 93 points
Landmark
A lot of people write off Landmark but they make some interesting wine from a variety of great vineyards. They kind of fly under the radar in that respect.
2010 Overlook Chardonnay Sonoma County – 88 points
2009 Grand Detour Pinot Noir Sonoma County – 90 points
San Guiseppe
2004 Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany – 91 points
2008 Amarone Classico Valpolicella – 89 points
Dr. Thanisch
One of Oxford Liquor’s favorite Riesling, these provide year in and year out enjoyment.
2009 Riesling Classic Mosel – 88 points
2011 Riesling Bernkastler Badstube Kabinett Mosel – 90 points
2008 Riesling Spatlese Trocken Mosel – 90 points. Very nice dry Riesling with fine acidity.
Robert Mondavi
I try Mondavi wines every show and every time I do I walk away disappointed, except for the Cabs. I just don’t believe the Fume Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot entry level wines are good values for what you are getting. The cabs though, consistently remain high quality, although the Napa Valley bottling is creeping up in price.
2009 Fume Blanc Napa Valley – 87 points
2010 Chardonnay Napa Valley – 88 points
2010 Pinot Noir Carneros – 89 points. Better than some of the other years I have had.
2009 Merlot Napa Valley – 88 points
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – 90 points
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley – 93 points
Terra Valentine
2008 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – 90 points
2007 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Yverdon Vineyard – 91 points
2007 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Wurtele Vineyard – 92 points
David Bruce
2010 Petite Syrah Select Califonia – 88 points
2010 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 88 points
Iron Horse
2007 Wedding Cuvee Sonoma County – 89 points
2007 Classic Vintage Brut Russian River Valley – 89 points
2008 Domaine Henri Clerc & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Burgundy – 91 points
2009 Paul Autard Chateauveuf-du-Pape La Cote Ronde – 91 points
2009 Chateau Jonqueyres Bordeaux – 89 points
2010 Chateau La Grange de Grenet Bordeaux – 85 points
Dow 10 Year Tawny Port – 91 points
Graham’s 20 Year Tawny Port – 93 points
Blandy’s Rainwater Madeira – 89 points
Quinta do Portal
Ruby Port – 90 points
Tawny Port – 90 points
10 Year Tawny Port – 91 points
20 Year Tawny Port – 91 points
40 Year Tawny Port – 93 points
