A great thanksgiving feast is only made better with some great wine.  This week we’ll be looking at some of our favorites that we recommend for your dinner table.  We’ll have wines that pair well with the main course and with the desserts.  

Jules Bertier Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, Premiere Cuvee, France, N.V. ~ $12.99
Family-owned since 1859, this French sparkler is 100% Chardonnay and has a light golden color and ample bouquet with just a hint of toastiness.  What a great way to start a Holiday meal or pour throughout.  Excellent as an aperitif, with entrees or with dessert.

Bougrier Vouvray, Loire Valley, France, 2007 ~ $12.99
Made of 100% Chenin Blanc.  One of the Loire Valley’s best known wines, this Vouvray is a light straw yellow color.  Medium bodied with aromas of fresh apples and pears.  Well balanced with good acidity.  A crisp and gorgeous finish.

Avery Lane Gewurztraminer, Columbia Valley, WA, 2007 ~ $9.99
Made of 100% Gewurztraminer, the Avery Lane Gewurzt has wonderful aromas of peach, ginger and honeysuckle.  The palate leads to a creamy mouth feel with notes of spice.  This is a great food wine.  

Terra Andina Reserve Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, Chile, 2006 ~ $12.99
Made of 100% Pinot Noir, this pinot noir is fermented in stainless steel and is then aged for about 10 months in French oak.  Seductive aromas of black cherry, raspberry, rose petals and violets.  Full-bodied and rich with a soft and velvety texture.  Perfect for your Holiday meal.

Azabache Garnacha, Rioja, Spain, 2005 ~ $11.99
Made of 100% Garnacha (known as Grenache in France), the Azabache Garnacha is done in all stainless steel.  Violet-red in color with glints of purple.  Aromas of melon and tangerine.  A very clean wine with a long finish.  

Casteggio Moscato, Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy, Italy, 2007 ~ $11.99
Made from 100% Moscato.  Intense straw-yellow in color with a fresh and fragrant nose.   A little sweet with a slight frizzante (sparkle).  Very floral on the nose, Moscatos are famous for tastes of peaches, orange zest and stone fruits.  A very clean finish.  Pair with your pumpkin pie or other Holiday desserts.

This week we’ll look at some other great examples of organic and biodynamic wines.  These wines are grown sustainably without herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.   

Perlage Certified Organic Prosecco Frizzante $15.99
Perlage has combined the excellence of Italian winemaking traditions with modern oenological techniques and since 1981, they have exclusively used organic agricultural techniques to create unmistakably stunning wines. Hugely popular in Germany and, of course, Italy, Prosecco has been surprisingly slow to catch on here. It’s dry, easy-drinking, but grapey, friendly and fizzy and fun!

Pircas Negras Torrontes $9.99
This wine is made from organically grown grapes from La Riojana in Argentina. It is a Fair Trade White Wine - noted for its superbly concentrated aromatic fruit, sublte floral tones, crisp acidity and long finish. Best served chilled - ideal with Thai dishes.  Brimming with orange blossom, melon, and tropical fruit on the nose, it offers a beautiful balance of fruit and acid.

Menguante Biodynamically Grown Garnacha $9.99
Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo is a family-owned estate, founded in 1760, emphasizing the use of indigenous varietals and biodynamic farming. The unoaked 2005 Menguante Garnacha produced from 80-year-old vines is purple in color and exhibits a fragrant nose of kirsch and blueberry. Medium-bodied, this wine is packed with ripe fruit and layers of flavor all the way through to the finish.  Wine Advocate - 90 points

Nuevo Mundo Maipo Valley Organically Vegan Cabernet/Malbec $14.99 
Made with organic grapes, this 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Malbec blend is deep red in color with sumptuous blackberry fruit and subtle nuances of oak. It creates a finished product that is nicely balanced between notes of fruit, spice and earth. On the nose, blackberry and boysenberry fruits are met by smoke and spice.  Wine Spectator – 88 points.

Badger Mountain Washington Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $15.99
Forward blackberry and black currant aromas are complimented by wood spice and toast. Flavors of currant, blackberry, and black cherry are framed by toasty vanilla and spice, with a hint of black pepper. The finish is focused, with a lingering balance of oak and dark fruit. The blend consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rivercrest Vineyard in the lower Columbia Valley, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from Arete` on the Wahluke Slope, 10% Merlot from their Estate Vineyard, and 5% Syrah, also from the Estate.

I don’t know if they are passionate about Halloween in Argentina or not, but I do know that they have great passion for wine.  In just Mendoza, Argentina there are over 800 wineries.  Argentina is the largest producer of wine in South American and is the 5th largest producer in the world.  Their currency experienced some devaluation in early 2000s that continues to allow Argentina wines to be great values.  We’ll look at four Argentina wines this week that are great wines at great prices.
Urban Uco Torrentes 2007 ~ $9.99
Reserved aromas of gooseberry and banana.  Flavors of pear and straberry, leading to a surging finish of banana, honey, and mint.  It’s not sweet by a long shot, but it has a fantastic play of flavors! 100% Torrontes
La Posta Bonarda Estela Armando Vineyard ~ $16.99
Intense ruby color with bright aromas of fresh red & black raspberries and subtle smoky oak notes. The flavor of freshly-crushed raspberries is echoed on the palate, along with notes of white pepper, dark chocolate, and atouch sandalwood and mint on the finish.   It will pair wellwith just about any foods with which you would drink Zinfandel or other fruit-driven reds. 100% Bonarda
 

This week we will look at wines from “The Other Guys” produced by Don Sebastiani and Sons.  Don is no stranger to politics either; he was a California Assemblyman for three terms.   They released “The Other Guys” portfolio in 2005 which consists of appellation specific varietals and unique brands, often of limited availability.  They received the 2005 Wine Star Award  for “American Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine. 

Clarksburg White Knight Viognier 2006
The Clarksburg Viognier is golden straw in color with a blast in the nose of fresh stone fruits; nectarine, orange blossom, and lemon meringue. Concentrated tropical flavors cover your mouth upon first sip; mango, breadfruit, orange pound cake, Tahitian vanilla, lemon curd, and white peach with a long lingering finish. This wine is extremely versatile.

Hey Mambo California Sultry Red 2006
The 2006 vintage is a blend of Barbera, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Alicante Bouchet grapes. The color of garnet-dyed satin, this wine opens with aromas reminiscent of an old-fashioned five and dime: chocolate granache, red raspberries, cloves and sweet leather. Enticing scents are satisfied by indulging flavors. Blackberry cobbler, holiday plum sauce, espresso, and decadent chocolate.

Plungerhead Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2005
With deep garnet color, the nose reminds us of caramelized oak, chocolate covered strawberries, and savory subtle sage. The mouthfeel is soft but the flavors are vibrant with notes of cassis, vanilla rum, pecan pie, and black cherries with a warm, lingering finish. The Dry Creek Zin would be great with pecan crusted salmon with mushroom risotto, or with a dessert of dark chocolate crème caramel.

Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
The color of dark rubies, this Cabernet presents itself with a nose of bourbon-soaked cherries, chocolate, and cedar, complemented by flavors of red currants, blackberry cobbler, and subtle notes of walnuts, wild game, and rich French oak. This would be an excellent Cabernet for grilled lemon-peppercorn New York steaks alongside white-cheddar potato gratin.

With the stock market being down over 20% this year, there are many stocks that are great values if you are a long term investor.  Just like there are value priced stocks, there are some great value priced wines that you may not have tried before.  This week we’ve got our top ten wines for tougher economic times.  Don’t be fooled by their price, these wines really deliver.

1. Ercavio Blanco Airen, Spain $11.99      
Blended with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc, this white wine is dry, fresh, and crisp. Reminiscent of the kiwi style of Sauvignon Blanc, try the Ercavio Blanco as an aperitif or with your favorite grilled seafood

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2. Tavignano Verdicchio, Italy $12.99
It offers gorgeous textural richness in its perfumed peaches, apricots and mint. It strikes a lovely balance between ripeness and elegance, with notable purity and a long, clean finish. Great value according to the Wine Advocate.

3. Edmunds St. John Pinot Grigio, California $9.99
Pale color. Nose that carries both blossom and stone, and some white fruit ranging among melon, grapefruit and Comice pear. Firm and juicy in the mouth with marvelous stony texture and racy acidity. Only 400 cases produced 

4. Holy Cow Chardonnay, Washington $12.99
Transparent straw color with glints of gold. Fresh, delicate apple scent, juicy and gently fruity. Simple and fresh, crisp Granny Smith apples, fully dry and properly acidic. Characteristic un-oaked (or lightly oaked) Chardonnay. Brilliant with grilled fish.

5. Bodegas Castano Monastrell, Spain $9.99
This cuvée from Castaño is made from 100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre). It is released young and is meant to be an easy drinking, everyday wine. The resulting wine has a bright, fresh raspberry bouquet with dense, textured, cherry flavors on the palate. This wine is a great match to hearty dishes including beef, game, and strong cheeses.

6. Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda, Argentina $8.99
Bonarda is ink red-black, almost opaque, with a nose of blackberries, cassis and spice. Full-bodied with firm tannins, it offers rich flavors of blackberry, black currant, chocolate and spice. It is unoaked and unfiltered.

7. Holy Cow Merlot, Washington $12.99
100% Merlot- It’s almost more Old World in style than new, breathing ripe cherry aromas with good, earthy undertones and a solid core of lip-smacking acidity and smooth tannins. That’s my kind of dinner red, and at just a buck or two over $10, it’s mighty hard not to like. Their website describes it as smooth as velvet and tasty as @#@%! 

8. Ercavio Rosso Tempranillo, Spain $11.99 
Made from 100% Cencibel, the local name for Tempranillo.  This full-bodied effort has gobs of ripe fruit, a firm structure, and a 40-second finish, not a bad value. Although this well-made wine will surely evolve for 2-3 years, who will have the patience? This is one to purchase by the case.  Great with your favorite grilled steak!        

9. Rabbit Ridge Bunny Cuvee, California $12.99
This is a very dark reddish-purple wine. A burst of ripe berry fruit and a whiff of vanilla leap out of the glass. Big and ripe in flavor, a mouth full of berries mirror the nose. A big but balanced California red in the older style, this is an honest wine with real character. A wild blend of varied red grapes, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc with about 40% Petite Sirah.

10. Altos Las Hormigas Malbec, Argentina $11.99
A prime contender for the top value in Malbec. Purple-colored, it has an excellent nose of violets, spice box, blueberry, and black cherry. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a creamy texture, layers of flavor, excellent balance, and a long, fruit-driven finish. Although this outstanding Malbec may well evolve for 1-2 years, there is no reason to defer gratification. It is a fantastic value.

Wine also benefits from tough times.  It’s not the grapes that grow like weeds that create great wines, but the grapes that are stressed, hanging onto unique, craggy, rocky soil that produces amazing wine.  These stressed grapes have the right amount of sugar and also contain the essence of the land, the terroir.  Terroir is the combination of site, soil and weather that lends to the complexity of wine.  Great terroir cannot be duplicated since you cannot duplicate great land, location or weather.

The Stags Leap District in Napa, California was the first AVA designated based on its terroir.  We’ll be tasting wines this week from Nine North that is located in the Stags Leap District.  Nine North has put together a unique portfolio of handcrafted wines and we’ll taste some of their excellent wines this week. 

Hulabaloo Napa Valley Zinfandel 2005 ~ 21.99
The 2005 Hullabaloo displays a classic briery, jammy nose with further aromas of spice and pepper as it unfolds. Flavors of sweet black currant and raspberry dominate the palate showcasing powerful ripeness, impressive textures and well-integrated oak. 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah

Parcel 41 Merlot 2005 ~ 19.99
This complex Merlot has aromas of dark cherry, choco- late and plum. Its? rich, ripe and concentrated flavors showcase layers of blackberry, currant and mocha with very smooth tannins that lead to a medium-long finish. 100% Merlot.

Thousand Foot Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 ~ 23.99
The name for our new Thousand Foot Pinot Noir was derived from growing the grapes at higher elevations (above the fog line) where the grapes spend more time in extended sunlight. This results in a wine that is rich and full of vibrant raspberry and plush cherry flavors. Aged in French Oak Barrels (20% new). 100% Pinot Noir.

Rock & Vine Three Ranches Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ~ 19.99
Rock & Vine is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Merlot (13%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%). The fruit was selected from three ranches located in: Lake County (79%), Mendocino (13%) and Napa Valley (8%) that showcases why the North Coast is the leader in California for growing Bordeaux varieties. 

Most people see Labor Day as the symbolic end of summer.  With the weather we’ve been having recently it certainly does not feel like summer is over.  It’s a good thing that wine isn’t like wearing white; you can continue to enjoy your favorite wines like Chardonnay after Labor Day.  Chardonnay is great to serve at summer parties, but it’s also something I like to continue to drink throughout the year.

This week I’ve got a variety of California Chardonnay for you to try.  These wines showcase the diversity of tastes and flavors that can be drawn from the same varietal depending on location, age and wine making process.   When tasting these wines, note the complexity of the taste and strength of oak flavors based on the fermenting and ageing processes used.

Some of our August Briggs selections:Sonoma Valley ‘Monte Rosso Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $ 62.99
Lake County Petite Sirah 2005 $ 41.99
Napa Valley ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel 2006 $ 37.99
Carneros ‘Leveroni Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2007 $ 37.99

This week I’d like you to try some wines from Ventisquero that come from Chile’s Central Region where it’s in the 40’s right now.  The vineyard’s name “Ventisquero” is Spanish for glacier and takes its name from the hanging glaciers in the nearby Andes Mountains.  The mountains help to moderate the temperature to provide a climate conducive to growing a wide variety of grapes.

2006 Ventisquero ‘Queulat’ Sauvignon Blanc ~ 16.99

Complex and elegant, a mix of fruity aromas specially citrus and tropical, like grapefruit, cherimoya, pineapple, white peach, with certain mineral notes, fresh herbs and green tea.  Elegant and well-balanced structure of creamy and smooth body maintains the freshness, the fruit and vivacity that linger in the mouth.

2007 Ventisquero Reserva Pinot Noir  ~ 12.99

Deep ruby red color, with the aroma of ripe red fruits, such as cherries and strawberries, syruped figs, dry plums, comfits, almonds and flowers that mingle with soft notes of vanilla, coffee, tobacco and toffee.  Soft and delicate in the mouth, with round and elegant tannins and an ending of amaretto, almond and coffee notes.

2005 Ventisquero Reserva Cabernet  ~ 12.99

Intense and deep red color and a pleasant fruit aroma, which together with notes of wood resulting from aging in barrels, produces a very elegant reserve wine.  On the palate its softness and body make it ideal to accompany red meats and overripe cheeses.

2003 Ventisquero ‘Grey’ Carmernere ~ 29.99

Deep ruby red wine with aromas of black fruit such as blackberries, mixed in with notes of black pepper, traces of vanilla and a delicate smoky tang. It is a well-structured wine with smooth and velvety tannins, ideal for exotic food, meat on the grill, ripe cheeses and strong fish.

Another place that I can become complacent is in the wine I drink.  I love my Bordeaux, and its always easy to break out some Cabernet, Chardonnay or Sangiovese.  The wines I want to highlight this week are definitely “habit breakers.”   Each wine this week is a different varietal and I hope you find at least one to add to your list to keep your palate excited with the taste of new and different wines.   You might even find that you love one of these.

Torricino Greco di Tufo, DOCG, Campania, 2007 ~ 19.99