New Wine Releases March 2012

CALIFORNIA

CENTRAL COAST

Arroyo Grande Valley

Laetitia
2007 Brut Rosé; $28
13.5/20 — Composed of 68 per cent Chardonnay and 32 per cent Pinot Noir, this dry sparkling wine features floral aromas on the nose and strawberry, cherry and blueberry flavors in the mouth.

Monterey County

Francis Ford Coppola Winery
2010 Sofia Blanc de Blancs; $19 (750 ml) or $20 (4-187 ml cans)
13/20 — This off-dry sparkling wine composed of 86 per cent Pinot Blanc, 12 per cent Muscat and 2 per cent Riesling, features fresh fruit flavors of green apple, pear and pineapple.

J. Lohr Estates
2010 Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir; $17
13.5/20 — Featuring raspberry, cherry, vanilla and lilac aromas on the nose, it reveals soft tannins in the mouth that would pair well with smoked salmon or roast turkey.

Paso Robles

Justin Vineyards and Winery
2010 Sauvignon Blanc; $15
13/20 — Offering citrus and stone fruit aromas, this dry white wine displays lemon and peach flavors in the mouth and a crisp acidity.

Vampire Vineyards
2009 Chateau du Vampire Roussanne; $25
13.5/20 — The first Roussanne produced under the Chateau du Vampire label, this is a fruity and floral wine with a touch of sweetness.

Vina Robles
2008 Petite Sirah Jardine; $26
13.5/20 — This potent (15 per cent ABV), full-bodied red wine boasts blackberry, fig and spice aromas on the nose and rounded tannins in the mouth.

Santa Rita Hills

Sea Smoke
2008 Sea Spray Sparkling Wine; $80
15/20 — Made entirely from estate-grown Pinot Noir, this light and refreshing sparkler reveals violet, raspberry and ruby red grapefruit aromas that continue in the mouth, along with a hint of caramel.

CENTRAL VALLEY

Lodi

Cantara Cellars
2008 Barbera; $32
14.5/20 — This fruit-forward red wine boasts plum and blueberry flavors with hints of spice and oak on the finish.

NORTH COAST

Carneros

Gloria Ferrer
2008 Carneros Chardonnay; $18
13.5/20 — Offering pear, peach and honeysuckle aromas on the nose, this white wine reveals ripe apple flavors in the mouth and just enough oak on the finish.

Dry Creek Valley

Dashe Cellars
2010 Les Enfants Terribles Grenache; $24
14/20 — A light red wine, this young Grenache displays blackcurrant, black cherry and strawberry flavors and an earthy finish.

Wine Guerrilla
2009 Forchini Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel; $35
14.5/20 — Composed mainly of Old Vine Zinfandel with a small amount of Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet, this concentrated and robust red wine boasts bold flavors and firm tannins.

Lake County

Hawk and Horse Vineyards
2006 Latigo; $45 (375 ml)
13/20 — Made from Cabernet Sauvignon fortified with 142-proof Germain-Robin brandy, this Port-style wine features rich, round flavors of black cherry, black currants and damson plum with a hint of chocolaty caramel.

Line 39
2009 Petite Sirah; $10
13/20 — Full-bodied and complex, with food-friendly flavors, this dark-colored red offers good value for the money.

Napa Valley

Clif Family Winery
2008 "Kit's Killer Cab" Cabernet Sauvignon; $38
14/20 — From the makers of the Clif Bar comes this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, boasting bright red fruit flavors, a tart acidity and chewy tannins.

Cliff Lede Vineyards
2008 Lonely Wizard Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District; $90
15.5/20 — Blended with traditional Bordeaux varietals, this full-bodied Cab is rich in dark berry flavors that carry earthy notes and a hint of spice, leading to a smooth and elegant finish.

Hill Family Estate
2009 "Carly's Cuvee" Chardonnay; $27
13.5/20 — This Chardonnay comes from a selection of both hillside and valley vineyards to produce a complex wine that is soft on the palate.

Rock Wall
2009 Petite Sirah Gamble Ranch; $30
13.5/20 — At 15 per cent alcohol by volume, this is a robust Petite Sirah boasting rich dark berry and chocolate flavors.

Vineyard 29
2009 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon; $54
14/20 — Blended with traditional Bordeaux varietals, this robust Cabernet displays complex berry and earthy flavors that would benefit from further aging.

Russian River Valley

Biltmore Estate
2007 Blanc de Blancs Brut; $25
13/20 — This sparkling Chardonnay is light and crisp, displaying floral aromas and fresh fruit flavors with yeasty notes.

Iron Horse
2006 Russian Cuvée; $38
13.5/20 — Composed of 75 per cent Pinot Noir and 25 per cent Chardonnay, this dry sparkling wine offers vibrant orange and custard flavors that would pair well with rich foods like foie gras.

Sonoma Coast

Cobb Wines
2008 Diane Cobb: Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir; $78
15/20 — This low-production Pinot Noir boasts complex aromas of raspberry, plum, cola and lavender on the nose and firm tannins in the mouth.

MacRostie
2008 Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir; $40
14.5/20 — Featuring black cherry aromas on the nose, this rich red wine reveals boysenberry flavors in the mouth and a long, smooth finish.

Sonoma County

Foppiano Vineyards
2009 Lot 96 Petite Sirah; $13
14/20 — Blended with 10 per cent Carignane, 5.5 per cent Zinfandel and 4.5 per cent Grenache, this medium-bodied Petite Sirah is smooth and fruity, displaying damson plum, blueberry and cherry flavors.

Sonoma Mountain

La Follette
2010 Pinot Meunier Van Der Kamp Vineyard; $36
15/20 — More typically blended with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as a sparkling wine, this rare and delicate Pinot Meunier boasts pomegranate and cherry flavors, a tart acidity and light tannins.

Sonoma Valley

Envolve Winery
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon; $40
14.5/20 — Made by reality-TV heartthrob Ben Flajnik of ABC's "The Bachelor," this full-bodied red wine is thick and would benefit from further aging.

Eponymous
2009 Cabernet Franc; $48
15/20 — This bold red wine boasts black fruit flavors with a note of violet and rose petal and more earthy notes at the back of the palate.

Lasseter Family Winery
2008 Paysage; $40
14.5/20 — This Bordeaux-style red blend is full-bodied and fruity, making it an ideal complement to grilled meats and spicy stews.

SOUTH COAST

Temecula Valley

Wilson Creek
2009 Estate Late Harvest Chardonnay; $19 (375 ml)
13/20 — This sweet dessert wine displays delicious apricot, peach and pear flavors and a smooth, mouth-filling finish.

MULTIPLE AVAS

Bogle Vineyards
2009 Petite Sirah; $11
13/20 — Blended from grapes grown in Clarksburg and Lodi, this full-bodied and jammy red wine displays dark plum and blackberry flavors.

McManis Family Vineyards
2010 Merlot; $11
13.5/20 — This full-bodied red wine displays concentrated red fruit flavors with a hint of chocolate.

Turning Leaf
2009 California Chardonnay; $17 (3 L)
13/20 — This light and fruity white wine offers peach and pear flavors with a hint of oak on the finish.

MICHIGAN

OLD MISSION PENINSULA

2 Lads Winery
2009 Cabernet Franc Merlot; $25
13.5/20 — Composed of 70 per cent Cabernet Franc and 30 per cent Merlot, this red blend features black cherry and red plum flavors with a hint of vanilla on the finish.

NEW MEXICO

MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Gruet
NV Sauvage Blanc de Blancs; $17
13.5/20 — This dry sparkling wine displays crisp green apple and lemon flavors with soft mineral notes.

OREGON

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Arcachon Cellars
2008 Pinot Noir; $12
13/20 — Despite containing less than 13 per cent alcohol by volume, this Pinot Noir is rather thick in the mouth and reveals harsh tannins that could benefit from further aging.

Oak Knoll
2009 Pinot Gris; $14
13/20 — Somewhat on the sweet side, this aromatic white wine offers bright fruit flavors and a smooth finish.

Soter Vineyards
2006 Brut Rosé; $58
14.5/20 — This well-balanced sparkling rosé offers strawberry and mineral flavors with subtle floral notes.

WASHINGTON

COLUMBIA VALLEY

Buty Winery
2008 Columbia Rediviva; $50
14/20 — A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this full-bodied red wine boasts black fruit flavors and chewy tannins that hint at its ageability.

Domaine Ste. Michelle
Brut Rosé; $12
13/20 — This sparkling rosé is made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, giving it soft strawberry flavors and a crisp acidity.

NxNW (North by Northwest)
2010 Horse Heaven Hills Riesling; $12
13/20 — Featuring lovely banana, pineapple and floral aromas on the nose, this dry white wine offers further fruit flavors in the mouth complemented by a crisp minerality.

FRANCE

Chablis

Joseph Drouhin
2009 Chablis Premier Cru; $38
14/20 — This clean, crisp Chardonnay offers intense fruity aromas that continue on the palate.

Sancerre

Pascal Jolivet
2010 Sancerre Rosé; $19
13/20 — Made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, this light-bodied rosé offers fresh strawberry and cherry flavors.

GERMANY

Baden

Hooked!
2008 Pinot Noir; $12
14/20 — This light, medium-bodied red wine offers ripe red fruit flavors with a touch of smoke.

Rheinhessen

Gunderloch
2008 "Jean-Baptiste" Riesling Kabinett; $15
14/20 — This off-dry white Riesling is an excellent example of a Rhine wine, displaying luscious stone fruit flavors and strong mineral notes.

ITALY

Delle Venezie

Mochetto
2010 Rosato delle Venezie IGT; $17
13/20 — This pink Moscato is very sweet and low in alcohol content, offering fresh fruit flavors of peach and strawberry with a hint of rose blossom.

Friuli

Puiatti
2010 "Zuccole" Sauvignon IGT; $13
13.5/20 — Made by a former professional basketball player, this light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc would pair well with dishes like prosciutto and melon, oysters or pasta primavera.

Piedmont

Ricossa
2010 Moscato d'Asti DOCG; $15
13.5/20 — Offering pungent peach aromas, this sweet white wine displays warm honey flavors in the mouth that are balanced by a crisp acidity.

Veneto

Dom Bertiol
Prosecco DOC; $14
13/20 — This semi-dry sparkling wine features a floral bouquet and crisp fruit flavors.

Lamberti
Prosecco Veneto DOC; $13
13/20 — Refreshingly dry and crisp, this sparkling white wine displays delicate mineral notes and stone fruit flavors.

PORTUGAL

Alentejo

Monte Velho
2009 Red; $10
12.5/20 — A blend of Aragones, Trincadeira and Castelao grapes, this food-friendly red wine displays ripe red berry flavors and supple tannins.

SPAIN

Rioja

Covila
2004 Rioja Reserva; $25
14.5/20 — Made from Tempranillo grapes, this nicely-aged red wine boasts complex fruit flavors with hints of vanilla and smoke and soft tannins.

Marqués de Riscal
2006 Reserva Red; $16
14/20 — Composed of 90 per cent Tempranillo and 10 per cent Graciano and Mazuelo, this full-bodied red wine features aromas of black cherry, balsamic and hints of toast.

ARGENTINA

Mendoza

Alamos
2009 Selección Malbec; $20
13.5/20 — A robust red wine, this Malbec offers black currant, black cherry and blackberry flavors with peppery notes.

Redwood Creek
2009 Malbec; $8
12/20 — This red table wine offers black cherry, blueberry and blackberry flavors with hints of spice.

Santa Julia
Rosé NV; $13
13/20 — Bright pink in color, this sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir features lush red fruit flavors.

CHILE

Colchagua Valley

Casa Silva
2010 Pinot Noir Reserva; $12
13/20 — This medium-bodied red wine reveals red berry flavors and strong tannins that would benefit from further aging.

Limarí Valley

Viña Tabalí
2009 Reserva Especial Chardonnay; $17
13.5/20 — This full-bodied white wine offers fresh fruit flavors, mineral notes and a touch of oak on the finish.

NEW ZEALAND

Central Otago

Felton Road
2009 Pinot Noir Bannockburn; $45
15/20 — This delicate red wine features floral and spice aromas on the nose and reveals berry flavors and mineral notes in the mouth.

Hawkes Bay

Alpha Domus
2010 Barrique Fermented Chardonnay; $20
14/20 — Crisp and clean, this well-balanced white wine offers a fragrant bouquet of citrus and melon leading to mineral notes on the palate.

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