With an eye to restaurant wine lists, our cellar reconnoiterer Jeffery Lindenmuth picks ideal new releases recently reviewed by Wine Spectator.
Note: Wine Spectator rates on a 100-point scale. 95—100: Classic, a great wine. 90—94: Out standing, superior style and character. 80—89: Good to very good, a wine with special qualities. Prices listed are average wholesale case prices.Best Buys
The Magnificent Wine Company House Wine White Columbia Valley 2006
This Washington State blend of Chardonnay and Muscat Canelli fills the house wine bill with great value and succulent fruit-filled flavor that balances citrus, apple, pear, and tropical fruit. A generous white, with full body and a long finish. 20,000 cases made.
Score: 89 Cost: $97 per case
Terredora Falanghina Irpinia 2006
From Campania, this traditional grape variety yields a full-bodied white loaded with seductive fruit, spice, and aromas of citrus and apple. Flavors of baked apple laced with nutmeg and cinnamon flow through the mid-palate, while the fine acidity provides great balance and a crisp medium-long finish. 8,000 cases made.
Score: 88 Cost: $150 per case
Zenato Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2005
This dark red wine from the north of Italy offers rustic appeal with its wild berry, smoky fruit, and dark chocolate aromas while also serving up enough ripe fruit to satisfy New World fans. The fine tannins and supple texture combine with toasty, smoky oak flavors to make an ideal partner for grilled meat dishes. 12,500 cases made.
Score: 86 Cost: $128 per case
Highly Recommended
Staete Landt Pinot Noir Marlborough 2006
This single-vineyard Pinot is proving to be a consistent performer. Ripe fruit aromas are laced with spice and floral notes, while on the palate red and black fruit suggest plum pudding underscored by nuances of cedary oak, herb, and mineral. Richly layered and complex, it finishes with supple, ripe tannins. 1,800 cases made.
Score: 91 Cost: $320 per case
Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2007
This is the epitome of New Zealand–vivacious, zippy, and tangy with tart fruit flavors. Aromas of gooseberry, pink grapefruit, and fresh-cut grass follow through on the palate, bolstered by bold citrus flavors, bright acidity, and a mineral edge. Shows great intensity and zest throughout the long finish. 55,000 cases imported.
Score: 90 Cost: $156 per case
Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa 2005
A friendly and approachable Cabernet with gentle tannins that allow it to excel alone or with food. Black cherry, black currant, and chocolate aromas follow through ripe and rich on the palate, with a dash of peppery spice and sweet vanilla. The mouthfeel is nicely rounded and soft throughout the lingering finish. 8,000 cases imported.
Score: 90 Cost: $160 per case
Specials
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2003
Headlines regarding the Italian investigation of Brunello, which is to be made only from Sangiovese grapes, have whetted consumers' appetites for this wine's rich earthiness, with its mushroom and black plum flavors. The bold fruit is joined on the palate by spice and silky tannins. 2,800 cases made.
Score: 95 Cost: $1,300 per case
Viña Montes Folly Santa Cruz 2005
This dense Chilean Syrah doesn't sacrifice balance for power, weaving a supple tapestry of dark fruit—fig, black plum, and currants. The rich fruit aromas swirl with licorice, chocolate, and hints of smoky meat, and the palate shows plenty of structure and endurance, with the mocha and vanilla oak nuances nicely integrated. 2,500 cases made.
Score: 94 Cost: $680 per case
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Special Selection 2005
Offering ripe fruit aplenty, this Cab has depth, with aromas of spice, herb, and earth. It's full-bodied and generous with black fruit, showing structure yet exhibiting elegance, balance, and style that make it both drinkable in the near term and cellar worthy. 11,550 cases made.
Score: 94 Cost: $1,600 per case
