Winewire, November 28, 2008

2007 Bodegas Campos Reales Tempranillo La Mancha  Red Wine; Tempranillo; Other Spain; $8.50

88 Points from Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2005 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Terrasses  Red Wine; Rhone Blend; Rhone; $15.50

92 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2006 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese  White Wine; Riesling; Mosel-Saar-Ruwer; $27.00

95 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2003 Domaine Le Murmurium Cotes du Ventoux Opera  Red Wine; Rhone Blend; Rhone; $15.50

91-93 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2004 Bodegas Lan Rioja Reserva  Red Wine; Tempranillo; Rioja; $18.50

90 Points SMART BUY from Wine Spectator

Venture in this Saturday, November 29th, from 1-5pm, for a taste of Holiday Gift Wines. As the gift-giving season approaches, it's time to start thinking about what to get everyone on your list, from your brother to your boss. We know holiday shopping is not easy, so let us help. This week we'll feature five wines that would make perfect little presents for all of your hard to please friends and relatives. We even think you'll find something to wow your Aunt Tillie's sweet tooth, or to impress that Francophile neighbor of yours.

2007 Domaine de la Louvetrie/Joseph Landron Muscadet Sevre et Maine Hermine d'Or  White Wine; other white varietal; Loire; $14.50

90 Points from Wine Enthusiast Melon de Bourgogne, aka Muscadet, grapes were originally planted by the Dutch in the far western region of the Loire Valley near the Atlantic coast. This Muscadet is a fabulous example of the crisp, lean and yet muscular style of wine that is perfect as an aperitif or for pairing with seafood, especially mussels and oysters. It is an outstanding "vade mecum" for all the social gatherings you'll be attending this holiday season.

2007 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Vigne Blanche  White Wine; Sauvignon Blanc; Loire; $28.00

92 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Around the hilltop town of Sancerre on the banks of the Upper Loire river, Sauvignon Blanc is harvested for the production of some of the most distinctive wines in the world. Here the cool, continental climate enables grapes to ripen slowly, allowing a multitude of flavors to emerge. In particular, this wine from Monsieur Bourgeois is redolent of citrus and orchard fruit with fine hints of nettles. Taste it and you will immediately be hit with Sauvignon Blanc's racy acidity which pleasantly softens over a long and flavorful finish.

2007 Jean-Marie Burgaud Morgon Cote de Py  Red Wine; Gamay; Burgundy; $17.50

91 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate In 1395, Phillip the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy and son of King John of France, officially proclaimed the Gamay grape to be harmful to humans and made it unlawful to plant it in Burgundy's Cote d'Or. Lucky for us, its cultivation continued farther south in Beaujolais. Beaujolais often gets a bad rap for being watered-down and flavorless. However, Cru Beajolais is a different story and it can sometimes rival its aristocratic neighbor, Pinot Noir, in taste. This red made from Gamay harvested near the village of Morgon is deeply colored and densely packed with fruit. This wine is a treat for anyone with an affinity for well-made, small production, French reds that exude style and class.

2006 Easton Zinfandel Amador  Red Wine; Zinfandel; Other California; $17.50

90 Points BEST BUY from Wine Enthusiast You should consider this California Zin if you have friends who like pungent, full-bodied, chewy reds. The grapes used to make this wine were grown on vines with roots that dig deeply into the volcanic "Terre Rouge" soil at the base of the Sierra Mountains. Wines like this were originally produced to quench the thirst of thousands of gold miners who arrived in California looking to make their fortunes. Perhaps you know someone adventurous and ambitious who may be impressed by the style and quality of this bold California red.

NV R. L. Buller & Son Premium Fine Muscat (half bottle)  White Wine; Muscat; Australia; $18.50

96 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "Stickies" as they're often called in Australia, are some of the sweetest wines on the planet. In fact, they're so sweet they may be the only wines that pair well with ice cream! Everyone has a relative for whom it is impossible to find a wine sweet enough. This may be the same person who makes you cringe every time she unscrews the cap off a bottle of Boone's Farm, or Harvey's Bristol Cream. Make them stop! Give them this!

This week Chef Jody Adams brings us . . . nothing! That's right, NOTHING! We've asked the indefatigable chef to postpone her next recipe a week, because you need to go out. After many grueling hours of Thanksgiving day preparations, whether it be turkey basting or long hours of travel, you deserve a night on the town. So, reward yourself for the survival of another successful holiday and go out to eat! Don't worry, there will be plenty more to cook up in the coming weeks. To make a reservation at Rialto, please call 617.661.5050 or visit www.rialto-restaurant.com. You can purchase copies of Chef Adams' cookbook directly from her website.

We'll never be satisfied. We are always on the lookout for the next great find. We scour various wine publications and talk to wineries, importers and suppliers for leads - and then the really hard work begins: we taste wines with ratings of 85 to 100, selecting only the best for the honor of a place on our shelves - and ultimately in your glass.

2006 Marquee Artisan Wines Chardonnay Classic Victoria  White Wine; Chardonnay; Victoria; $12.50

*** Back In Stock *** 89 Points from Wine Spectator

2007 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc California  White Wine; Sauvignon Blanc; Other California; $12.50

*** Back In Stock *** 88 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Vina MontGras Carmenere Reserve  Red Wine; Carmenere; Chile; $14.00

90 Points BEST BUY from Wine Enthusiast

2007 Domaine de la Louvetrie/Joseph Landron Muscadet Sevre et Maine Hermine d'Or  White Wine; other white varietal; Loire; $14.50

90 Points from Wine Enthusiast

2007 Neil Ellis Wines The Left Bank South Africa  Red Wine; other red varietal; South Africa; $15.50

90 Points BEST BUY from Wine Enthusiast

2007 Chateau de St. Cosme Cotes du Rhone  Red Wine; Rhone Blend; Rhone; $16.50

90 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Saracco Moscato d'Asti  Sparkling; Muscat; Piedmont; $16.50

2007 Saracco Moscato d'Asti (half bottle)  Sparkling; Muscat; Piedmont; $10.50

90 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2006 Perrin & Fils Vinsobres Les Cornuds  Red Wine; Rhone Blend; Rhone; $18.50

91 Points SMART BUY from Wine Spectator

2006 Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Phoenix Coonawarra  Red Wine; Cabernet Sauvignon; Australia; $21.00

91 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2005 Novelty Hill Merlot Columbia Valley  Red Wine; Merlot; Columbia Valley; $22.00

90 Points from Wine Enthusiast

2006 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noir JV Estate Dundee Hills  Red Wine; Pinot Noir; Willamette Valley; $27.00

90 Points from Wine Spectator

NV Schramsberg Vineyards Mirabelle Brut Rose North Coast  Sparkling; Pinot Noir; Napa; $28.00

93 Points SMART BUY from Wine Spectator