A Great Gift Wine!

With the holiday season fast approaching I felt I'd share a couple of screaming hot deals we have on wine right now, so you can scratch your wine lovers off the shopping list early this year.

The Big Red Wine Drinker

2006 Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains

Take home the wine that took down the French. In 2006 there was a re-enactment tasting to re-establish French dominance. The Americans had beaten the French back in 1976 in a blind tasting, but the French maintained their wines would outage the California wines. In the re-enactment the California wines destroyed the French wines, with the first French wine coming in at 5th place. The winner of this tasting was the 1971 Ridge Monte Bello.

2007 Delas Chateauneuf du Pape
Regular Price $45
Sale Price $30

This wine won't be around for long, and is certain to please any wine drinker. I personally took a case of this wine home for myself, now if I part with them as gifts is another thing alltogether. It scored 91 points from Winespectator and 92-94 points from Robert Parker Jr. Here is Mr. Parker's review:

"The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. It reveals a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a gorgeous nose of black fruits, spring flowers, licorice, incense, lavender, and grilled Provencal herbs. Dense, full-bodied, flamboyant, and chewy, with that terrific freshness and purity that characterize this great vintage in the south, it should drink well for 12-15+ years.

This great northern Rhone negociant, spearheaded by their brilliant oenologist and winemaker, Jacques Grange, has consistently made fabulous wines from the northern appellations, but only recently upgraded the quality of their southern Rhone selections. These are the finest southern Rhones they have made, and their Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit ranks alongside the offerings from Guigal and Chapoutier."

A wide range of K Vintners Syrahs

I hate to single out any specific wine, as they all received 90+ points in one publication or another, but here are a few of my favorites preceeded by RPJ's bio on K Vintners

"K Vintners is where the larger-than-life Charles Smith presides. He is an innovator, marketing genius, outspoken, you name it – but above all the man is a brilliant winemaker who knows where all the great fruit is hidden. In a region where blending is the rule of thumb, he is the ultimate terroirist. Each wine reflects the vineyard from which it was produced but there is also a house style which lets you know immediately who made the wine. While it’s way too soon to put K Vintners on the same level as a Domaine Leroy or Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, the experience you get tasting in the cellar is much the same as in those legendary wineries, brilliantly made wines reflecting the terroir but also a winemaking signature that makes it totally clear which winery made the wine."

K Vintners The Creator Cab/Syrah blend
K Vintners Royal City 100pt syrah from Wine Enthusiast's Paul Gregut
K Vintners Phil Lane Syrah 94pts WS

For The White Wine Drinker

Explore the Campanian Whites from Feudi
Here are a few offerings and their Wine Spectator Scores:

FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Greco di Tufo 2008 Score: 88 | $23
Aromas and flavors of fresh apples, green melons and lemons, with a tight mineral undertone. Medium-bodied, with a clean fruity palate and crisp finish. Drink now. 4,000 cases imported. —J.C.

FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Fiano di Avellino 2008 Score: 90 | $23
Aromas of orange blossom and freshly baked clay, together with ripe citrus fruits. Full-bodied, with intense fruit, turning to almost saline minerals on the finish. Drink now. 2,100 cases imported. —J.C.

Both of these wines sell for $20

For the Chardonnay Man or Woman

2006 Darioush Signature Chardonnay

"A well-executed mix of tight, focused pear, melon, spice and apricot flavors framed by light toasty, cedary oak, ending with a long, persistent finish that gains subtle flavor nuances. Drink now through 2011. 1,880 cases made. –JL" 91pts WS

2007 Ridge Santa Cruz Estates Chardonnay

Highly Recommended from Wine Spectator
"Combines richness with an elegant, delicate mouthfeel, showing deep layers of ripe fig and green pear, honeydew melon and smoky oak. Balanced, focused, pure and lingering. Drink now through 2013. 4,000 cases made. –JL" 93pts