Opera’s Midwinter Gala

California

Ramey ‘Hyde Vineyard’ – Chardonnay 2006                             list $64.99      Sale $57.99
The 2006 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard boasts great intensity along with huge tropical fruit notes interwoven with notions of spring flowers, orange marmalade, white peaches, and steely minerals. Its abundant fruit conceals any evidence of wood.  93 pts - Robert Parker

Ruston Family ‘Stagecoach’-Cabernet Sauvignon 2004            list $51.99    Sale $41.99
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach boasts the deepest ruby/purple color as well as a sweet nose of creme de cassis, blackberries, truffles, graphite, and flowers. This elegant but substantially flavored, full-bodied, beautifully pure, complex wine is a stunning effort.   92 pts - Robert Parker

Philip Togni - Cabernet Sauvignon        2004                           list $99.99      Sale $79.99
This sensational dense purple-colored effort boasts delicious blueberry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and olive-like notes. In the mouth, there is more creme de cassis as well as background toasty oak, structure, and tannin.   95 pts - Robert Parker

Cristom Vineyards ‘Jessie’ - Pinot Noir  2005                          list $49.99      Sale $39.99
The 2005 Pinot Noir “Jessie Vineyard” has a broad band of sweet fruit with serious depth and concentration. The fruit leans more to the dark side of the spectrum and there is a splendid aromatic array of pain grille, allspice, leather, black cherry, and blackberry. The tannin and acidity of the vintage are well concealed by a deep and rich core of dark fruits.   92 pts - Robert Parker

La Cadeau  ‘Cote Estate’ -  Pinot Noir 2006                              list $49.99      Sale $39.99
The 2006 Pinot Noir Cote Estate is dark ruby-colored with aromas of pain grille, spice box, black cherry, and black raspberry. It has a bit more structure than the preceding wines along with layers of fruit, darker flavors, and a pure, fruit-filled finish.  92 pts - Robert Parker

A ‘vertical’ of  Dunn  ‘Napa’  Cabernet Sauvignons    one of Napa’s best wineries
Dunn-Cab Sauv/Napa          1999                                                    list $56.99       Sale  $45.99
Dunn-Cab Sauv/Napa          2001                                                    list $59.99       Sale  $47.99
Dunn-Cab Sauv/Napa          2002                                                    list $63.99       Sale  $50.99
Dunn-Cab Sauv/Napa          2003                                                    list $63.99       Sale  $50.99
Dunn-Cab Sauv/Napa          2004                                                    list $65.99       Sale  $55.00

A ‘vertical’ of  Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignons       one of Somoma’s best wineries
Laurel Glen-Cab Sauv          1999                                                    list $59.99       Sale  $47.99
Laurel Glen-Cab Sauv          2000                                                    list $59.99       Sale  $42.99
Laurel Glen-Cab Sauv          2001                                                    list $69.99       Sale  $55.99
Laurel Glen-Cab Sauv          2002                                                    list $64.99       Sale  $51.99
Laurel Glen-Cab Sauv          2003                                                    list $59.99       Sale  $47.99

 

France

Ch Lascombes – Margaux   2004                                        list $69.99       Sale $59.99
Another brilliant effort from this estate, the 2004 exhibits a deep blue/purple hue along with a sweet perfume of blueberries, black raspberries, cherries, incense, smoke, and spring flowers. While opulent, underneath the full-bodied richness of fruit and depth is a structured wine.  93 pts - Robert Parker

Ch Pichon Lalande – Pauillac  2004                                  list $89.99       Sale $79.99
The 2004 Pichon Lalande is a strong effort for the vintage.  It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as scents of cocoa, espresso roast, black cherries, and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, and fleshy, this classic wine cuts a stylistic persona somewhere between the 1995 and 1996.  92 pts - Robert Parker

Ch Pavie Macquin – St Emilion  1998                               list $119.00     Sale  $99.00
Sumptuous aromas of  blackberries and cherries combine with smoke, licorice, vanillin, and truffles to create a compelling aromatic explosion. The wine is fabulously dense, full-bodied, and layered, with multiple dimensions, gorgeous purity, and superbly integrated acidity as well as tannin.  95 pts Parker

Ch Beau Sejour Becot – St Emilion 2005                           list $89.99       Sale $79.99
The 2005 Beau Sejour Becot confirms that this is the finest effort from this estate. It is an intense, full-bodied St.-Emilion revealing notes of espresso roast, chocolate, blackberries, licorice, and truffles. With sweet but noticeable tannins, good acidity, and a powerful, long finish, this textbook St.-Emilion cuts a swath between the modern school of winemaking and the traditionalists.  94 pts - Robert Parker

Givry  “1er Cru” - Clos Salomon  2005                             list $39.99       Sale $34.99
A ripe but presently reserved and almost discreet nose of red raspberry, pinot and blue plum fruit aromas  precede big, rich and notably powerful flavors that possess plenty of concentration and even a certain refinement on the balanced and impressively long finish. Outstanding!  Score: 91  Allen Meadows

Corton-Renardes  - Vincent Girardin  2005                      list 99.99         Sale $84.99
Rich, full, serious and utterly delicious flavors that possess the best depth of this trio of Cortons as there is really lovely balance and energy on the long finale.  Score: 91-94  Allen Meadows - The Burghound

Chateauneuf du Pape ‘Prestige’ – Roger Sabon 2005     list $57.99       Sale $44.99
The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige is a classic. Full-bodied, powerful, dense, with a complete personality, it exhibits terrific peppery, licorice-infused, black currant and kirsch-like fruit, a broad, savory, expansive mouthfeel, and a powerful, long finish with sweet but not very noticeable tannins.  93+  pts - Robert Parker.

Chateauneuf du Pape ‘Reserve’ – Pegau 2004                 list 79.99         Sale $64.99
One of the finest efforts of the vintage, the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Reservee has a big, sweet nose of kirsch liqueur, lavender, and roasted herbs intermixed with some licorice and spice. It is full-bodied, rich, deep, spicy, and dense with some tannins in the finish. A gorgeous effort for the vintage.  94+ pts.

A ‘vertical’ of  Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou                  one of Bordeaux’s best chateaux
Ch Ducru Beaucaillou-St Julien          1989                            list $165.00     Sale  $149.00
Ch Ducru Beaucaillou-St Julien          1995                            list $185.00     Sale  $166.00
Ch Ducru Beaucaillou-St Julien          1999                            list $99.99       Sale  $87.99
Ch Ducru Beaucaillou-St Julien          2000                            list $229.00     Sale  $199.00
Ch Ducru Beaucaillou-St Julien          2005                            list $299.00     Sale  $265.00

Italy

 

Barolo ‘Pajana’ - Clerico 2000                                           list $82.99       Sale  $69.99
The 2000 Barolo Pajana, dark in color and with an internationally-styled nose of cloves and incense to accompany the red currants and rose petals, is powerful and enveloping in flavor, intense and concentrated, and very firm on the finish.    92 pts – Robert Parker

 

Barolo ‘Via Nuova’ - L. Pira 1999                                       list $69.99       Sale  $ 59.99
1999 Barolo Via Nuova—Dark ruby. More austere and compact, the Via Nuova offers a lovely floral nose and suggestions of small red fruits, minerals and spices on a medium-bodied frame with excellent length if less depth than the Cannubi.  91 pts – Robert Parker

 

Barolo ‘Santo Stefano’ - Manzone 1997                           list $56.99       Sale  $48.99
The rich 1997 Barolo San Stefano Perno emerges from a vineyard on the lower slopes, where more sun exposure results in riper fruit. It offers aromas and flavors of road tar, rose water, minerals, and cherry liqueur. Medium-bodied, pure, stylish, and elegant.   89 pts – Robert Parker

 

Barbaresco ‘Faset’ - Ceretto 1997                                      list $69.99       Sale  $59.99   
The exotic 1997 Barbaresco Faset  possesses lots of glycerin, low acidity, and a forward, unreal, atypical lushness and opulence.  Already delicious and impossible to resist, this voluptuously-textured, dense, layered, fruit-driven offering is an undeniably compelling Barbaresco.   93 pts – Robert Parker

 

Barbaresco ‘Bric Balin’ - Moccagatta 1998                       list $52.99       Sale  $42.99
The aromatically compelling 1998 Barbaresco Balin exhibits aromas of new saddle leather intermixed with tobacco, cedar wood, black cherry liqueur, and smoke. Its dark ruby color also reveals some amber at the rim. Medium-bodied, soft, and well-balanced.  90 pts – Robert Parker

 

Chianti Classico ‘Reserva’ – Felsina 20004                     list $29.99       Sale  $26.99
The estate’s 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva shows the pedigree of this superb Tuscan vintage in its expansive, layered personality. The wine develops beautifully in the glass as tar, smoke, earthiness, underbrush, menthol, toasted oak and dark cherries emerge from its medium-bodied frame. This terrific Chianti should continue to drink well for another decade or so.  92 pts – Robert Parker

 

Brunello di Montalcino – Collosorbo  1999                      list $57.99       Sale  $51.99
The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino shows advanced notes of earthiness and tobacco on the nose along with a distinctly brooding personality in its backward layers of concentrated dark fruit and big, potent tannins.  91 pts – Robert Parker