text:
The Second Glass Annual Wine Guide - 2010
200+ wines to impress your date, pair with pasta, make your boss love you, throw a raging party and more!
n THE SECOND GLASS n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n 09 09-10 @ 200 + WINES to: TE IM PR ES S YO UR DA PA IR W ITH PASTA LOVE YO U M AK E YO UR BO SS PA RT Y & MOR E! TH ROW A RAG IN G secondglass.com @ @ @ @ @ @ n n n n n n HUDSON VALLEY WINE COUNTRY HUDSON VALLEY WINE COUNTRY.ORG www.hudsonvalleywinecountry.org LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Buying wine can be incredibly confusing. That's why we put our heads together with Boston's top restaurant wine directors and store wine buyers to give you this list of over 200 kickass wines for every occasion imaginable. From gift wine, to date wine to straight up ballin' wine, we've got you covered! To keep it simple, we organize the guide by country and offer a brief intro and overview. First you'll see the "Old World," which is comprised of the old school, European wine guzzling countries. Then we hit up the "New World" countries that haven't made wine since the beginning of civilization but are now churning out some pretty awesome stuff. Within each country we list the wines by price, starting with the most affordable. You get the lowdown on each wine and handy icons (see right) to make pairing a cinch. At your fingertips, find fantastic wine for beach drinking, gift giving, steak munching or date wooing. Our goal is to empower you with information so you can drink more wine! WINE CATEGORIES impress = gift wine = winter warmer = cocktail wine = summer | beach = new years | celebration = panty remover = party wine = barbeque = asian food = pizza | tomato sauce = thanksgiving = dessert wine = fish | oyster = ham = steak | meat = lamb | game = poultry = Tyler Balliet Founder, Editor The Second Glass unique | unusual = organic = kosher = vegan = THE SECOND GLASS STAFF Morgan First . . . . . . Marketing Director Tyler Balliet . . . . . . . Founder, Editor Kate Pluhar . . . . . . . . Sales Director Kyle Wright . . . . . Editorial Assistant Laura Duffy . . . . . Editorial Assistant Holly Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . Designer Ashley Lashgari . . Marketing Assistant Martina Balestra . . . . . . Web Assistant Ryan Rose Weaver . . . . . . Copy Editor | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 3 See our ad in Reaching 2.3 Million Readers! Reaching over 50,000 buyers on- and off-premise trade TABLE OF CONTENTS Wine Category Key . . . . . . 3 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . 6 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Spain | Portugal . . . . . . . . . 18 Germany | Austria . . . . . . 24 California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 South America . . . . . . . . . 37 Australia | N. Zealand . . . . 41 Everything Else . . . . . . . . . 43 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 WINE & SPIRITS the biggest HUNTINGTON wine shop in Back Bay! SUPER SATURDAY SAVINGS: Spend $50-99 and get 10% off Spend $100 or over and take 15% off (Saturday 9-4, Sunday 12-4) 250 wines $10 and under any 6 bottles of wine are 20% off 6 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide HUNTINGTON WINE & SPIRITS (617) 536-0164 Across from the YMCA � 301 Huntington Ave. (just minutes away on the green line) CONTRIBUTORS These Boston Winos are constantly on the look out for the latest, greatest and tastiest wine for the best price. John Hafferty, Owner & Buyer, Bin Ends | www.binendswine.com No one can hunt down a deal like Hafferty. Get a killer bottle at his store where bargain-basement pricing and ever present wine sampling assures you'll go home happy. Matt Reiser, Wine Director, Upstairs on the Square | upstairsonthesquare.com Matt has carefully crafted a list of small-production bottles, focused on sustainability and overall kickassness. A fantastic bottle of wine is always on its way when Reiser is in the house. Howie Rubin, Buyer, Bauer Wine and Spirits | www.bauerwines.com The legend of the Back Bay, Howie's got you covered from Brewski to Barolo, Shiraz to Sherry. If it's out there, Howie will find it. Jeff Golden, Buyer, downTown wine and spirits downtownwineandspirits.com Chas Boynton, Wine Steward, Dante | www.restaurantdante.com A lover of all things obscure but delicious, Chas helped build the wine list at both Restaurant Dante in Cambridge and Il Casale in Belmont, MA. He's the wine-buying, tie-sporting, Johnny-Bootlegger sipping, boozehound extraordinaire. This man is always two steps ahead of the wine industry and the shelves of his store show it. Louis Kreiger, Buyer, Wine Gallery | www.wine-gallery.com This dog lover will entertain you with colorful anecdotes as he skillfully directs you to the perfect bottle of wine. His store rocks the "wine jukebox," so you can try up to 30 wines before you buy. Alex DeWinter, Wine Director, Grill 23 | www.grill23.com Rocking a wine list of over 1,000 different bottles, Alex is an acclaimed Wine Director with a slew of awards. But, in the end, he just wants you to pair steak with the most badass wine at his disposal. bauerwines.com Order Online or Phone it In. We Deliver! (617)-262-0363 330 Newbury St Boston, MA Great Selection of: FREE DELIVERY *minimum purchase required Wines from around the world, many priced below $15 Belgian, German and American Craft Beers Bourbons & Single Malt Scotches Artisinal Spirits in the Boston area!* Become a fan on Facebook People love us on FR C F R A NE E C AN Overview: France produces some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the planet. However, its famous, high-end wines only represent a small percentage of the country's overall wine production. When deciphering the often-cryptic labels on French wine bottles, it's good to know a few key facts. First, the French name each wine after the region in which it is produced, instead of the grapes used to make the wine. Second, each region has its own specific "wine laws" that dictate which grapes wineries are allowed to grow, and how their wines must be made. This ensures that all wines from the same region have a similar taste. So, wines from Bordeaux are made with a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, while wines from Burgundy are entirely made from Pinot Noir, if red, or Chardonnay, if white. PARIS loire valley champagne alsace burgundy LOIRE RH�NE bordeaux rh�ne languedocroussillon provence How to Buy: Even within the famous regions like Bordeaux or Burgundy, there are hidden gems from lesser known sub-regions. Off-the-beaten path places like Cotes du Rhone, the Loire Valley and Languedoc have recently emerged as areas that are cranking out high-quality, affordable wines, so you'll find the best values here. Major Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah 2007 Domaine Brunet Pinot Noir Languedoc-Roussillon, France | $11 Amazingly affordable French Pinot, from a little-known region that cranks out lots of great wines. Drink this stuff on a weeknight with mac and cheese. 2007 Jean Dumont Chinon Chinon, Loire Valley, France | $12 Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, wines from Chinon are what the French drink while watching American sci-fi reruns on weeknights. One-up them by renting Amelie and popping a bottle stateside. re d red re d Chablis, Burgundy, France | $12 w hit e 2007 Simonnet-Febvre Saint Bris A bit of an oddball, this is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Burgundy region (which usually only produces Chardonnay). Throw off your wino friends for only a few bucks. GOOD. 2007 Domaine des Terres Falmet Cinsault Vin de Pays d'Oc Languedoc-Roussillon, France | $12 Another grape you don't see very often, this Cinsault has light tannins and pairs perfectly with turkey dinner. This wine + cranberry sauce = a big hell yeah. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 7 FRANCE N/V Domaine de Martinolles Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux Languedoc-Roussillon, France | $13 Made the same way as Champagne but without the price tag, this is a very elegant bottle of bubbly you can bust out for all occasions, with notes of crisp apple. sparkling 2005 Marc Kreydenweiss Perri�res Costi�res-de-N�mes, C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $15 red white red white whi te A biodynamic blend from the Rhone Valley, this wine has some spice and dark cherry fruit. Perfect for a date with any cute, eco-conscious hippie. 2007 Chateau Trignon C�tes du Rh�ne red C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $12 The Rh�ne has received its fair share of press and attention over the last few years, but it remains a source of totally badass wine on the cheap. This wine is composed of the region's major red grapes: Grenache, Syrah and Mourv�dre. Juicier than Merlot, Grenache makes up 75% of this wine and, in general, offers up very smooth, slightly spicy and very easy to sip wines. Drink liberally with BBQ, pizza or burgers. 2007 Domaine Renaud M�con-Villages M�con-Villages, Burgundy, France | $15 This unoaked, crisp, Burgundian Chardonnay boasts great apple and pear flavors that make this easy to slip past most ABC ("anything but Chardonnay") drinkers without any problems. 2004 Chateau Greysac Cru Bourgeois M�doc, Bordeaux, France | $15 A typical blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Left Bank. This is a great way to get your Bordeaux on without spending a fortune. 2007 Hugel et Fils Gentil Alsace, France | $13 white 2007 Domaine Gaultier Vouvray Loire Valley, France | $15 If your drinking buddy prefers sweet wine but you like dry, this wine is the perfect compromise. This off-dry Chenin Blanc is great with food or on its own. A traditional blend of all the major white grapes of Alsace, this is a cool white wine that can hold its own at a cocktail party or alongside Pad Thai takeout. 2007 Chateau La Gineste Cahor, France | $14 Strong acidity and mild fruit make this "original" Malbec very different from its Argentinian cousin. This is a prime candidate for Turkey Day. 2006 Gisselbrecht Gewurztraminer Alsace, France | $15 Difficult to pronounce (ga-VERTZ-trah-meener) but easy to love, this semi-sweet wine rocks a ton of tropical fruit. Drink with spicy Indian food, turkey or all things Szechuan. 8 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide r ed secondglass.com | FRANCE 2007 Maison Moillard Bourgogne Rouge Burgundy, France | $15 A legit, real-deal Pinot Noir from Burgundy for less than twenty bucks? Let's do it! Light in color with subtle fruit flavors, this wine is too good to pass up. red red Burgundy, France | $18 This winery is also the importer, which cuts out the middle man and makes this bottle a steal compared to wines of equal quality. This one has great cherry and strawberry flavors with light Burgundian funk. 2005 Albert Bichot Pinot Noir Bordeaux, France | $15 If you're going to drink ros� all year round (and why shouldn't you?) this is the ros� you need. Dark red in color with bright fruit flavors, this comes from a top Bordeaux producer but is priced for the common man. 2007 Ros� des Tourelles de Longueville S�vre et Maine Sur Lie white Tourmaline Muscadet de Loire Valley, France | $16 If you love shellfish, you need to know about this grape. Simple and affordable, Muscadet wines are made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape. They're grown in the southwestern part of France near the Atlantic Ocean. Light, crisp with a zippy acidity, these wines often taste like a delicious, alcoholic version of the ocean. This one is particularly tasty with olive and mineral flavors. Drink liberally with large quantities of Island Creek Oysters. 2006 Domaine de la ros� red N/V St. Cosme Little James' Basket Press C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $15 From the top quality Rh�ne producer Saint Cosme, comes a simple little wine that continues to kick ass year after year. Deep, rich, structured fruit flavors. 2007 Trimbach Pinot Blanc Alsace, France | $15 This quintessential Pinot Blanc is made by one of the oldest and most reputable families in Alsace. Crisp flavors of citrus fruit and bright acidity pair perfectly with poolside hotties. wh it e r ed w hi te 2004 Domaine la Croix Belle St. Chinian Languedoc-Roussillon, France | $18 A unique, small- production Frenchie for less than $20. This blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan is loaded with flavors of plum and dark cherry. 2008 Chateau Graville-Lacoste Graves Blanc Graves, Bordeaux, France | $18 White Bordeaux is way underrated. This is a grassy, mineral-laden blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon that leads with sharp but not overpowering acidity. w hit e 2006 Trimbach Reserve Pinot Gris Alsace, France | $18 This wine is to sushi as James Bond is to Pussy Galore. It's medium in body but pulls a balanced acidity. Plus, it says `Reserve,' so it makes good as a gift. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 9 FRANCE C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $20 Imported by wine legend Kermit Lynch, this biodynamic wine is well-structured, with earthy and sweet flavors. This is an old-school wine that pairs well with classic meat dishes. 2006 Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil Cuv�e L�a Felsch 2005 Chateau Clos Bourbon C�tes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France | $23 Bordeaux wines can get pricy fast, so look to the less-famous regions for a better value. This one has a very classic taste, with smooth tannins and a nice finish. red red white white r ed whi te C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $20 A blend of Grenache and Syrah from 30 year old vines, this wine has very deep tannins that will let it age for a number of years. It's also still good today, with red fruit flavors. 2007 Domaine de Jaume Altitude 420 2005 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Loire Valley, France | $25 One word: yum! We love this sweet, acidic wine. Pair it with foods like white meats, custards or yams. Also use it for dessert pairings like fruit tarts. red BORDEAUX Located in southwestern France, this massive region is home to over 10,000 individual wine producers. Very strict "wine laws" dictate which grapes are grown and how the wine is made. All red wines are a blend of numerous grapes, but the label rarely indicates this. Wines made on the "Left Bank," or west side of the river, are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon-based. Wines on the "Right Bank," or east side, are mostly made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Petit Verdot and sometimes Malbec are added for character and structure. Its crisp white wines are made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. 2007 Calvet Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc Bordeaux, France | $12 Super clean with crisp minerality is how Bordeaux whites roll. This is great on a hot summer day with an array of shellfish. 2007 Chateau Saint Germain Bordeaux, France | $12 Dry with smooth flavors of blackberry and cherry, this quintessential Bordeaux has a light, earthiness to it. Great with lamb and beef, this wine is priced right for everyday sipping. 2008 Philippe Raimbault Sancerre Loire Valley, France | $22 Summer isn't summer and oysters aren't oysters without Sancerre. Sure, this Loire Valley Sauv Blanc has gotten expensive in the last few years, but there will never be a replacement for this crisp white. whi te 2005 Lamblin et Fils Chablis Beauroy 1er Cru Beauroy Chablis, Burgundy, France | $28 This is a fantastic Chablis for your money. This Chardonnay from one of Burgundy's most famous regions has rocky, chalky, lemony flavors that blow away similar wines. 10 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide secondglass.com | FRANCE 2005 Domaine Caillot Les Herbeux Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy, France | $30 From just outside the Merseault region, this wine has many of the same traits only without the name or the pricetag. Another fabulous French Chardonnay for the money. sparkling NV Jo�l Falmet Brut Tradition Champagne, France | $42 Don't be fooled by bright colored labels and fancy marketing. This wine is made and sold by the grape growers which keeps the price down and quality sky high. white NV Duval-Leroy Champagne, France | $30 This Champagne is the real deal, a smooth and creamy bubbly with apple and pear flavors. Always keep a bottle in the fridge because you never know who might be spending the night. sparkling 2005 Ch�teau d'Aiguilhe C�tes de Castillon C�tes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France | $45 A truly stellar wine from a lesser known region. These days you'd be a fool to buy expensive wines from famous producers. Stick to the little guys who are making great wines outside the hype. red sparkling sparkling sparkling 2006 Alain Burguet Les Pince Vin Bourgogne Rouge Burgundy, France | $34 A young, bright wine that tastes good right now. It makes a great gift because it looks fancy, and pretty much everybody likes Pinot. red NV Jean Lallement et Fils Reserve Brut Champagne, France | $68 If you're going to splurge, splurge on this. The maker of this "grower" Champagne paid exceptional attention to detail. Flavors of apple, hops, and brown butter. 2005 Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste Sauternes (375 ml) Sauternes, Bordeaux, France | $35 dessert 2000 Ayala Blanc de Blanc Champagne, France | $72 Vintage Champagne (opposed to non-vintage) comes from only one year's harvest. It's tricky to produce, but when done right, like this one, it's amazing and can age for years. Nectar directly from the gods, this sticky, sweet but very complex wine rocks flavors of baked apple and apricot. Drink with dessert to seal the deal. Ch�teauneuf-du-Pape, C�tes du Rh�ne, France | $40 An affordable entry point into the world of Chateauneuf, this biodynamic wine has grace and style, power and elegance. If you give this wine as a gift you better hope they share. 2006 Domaine de l'Harmas Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1997 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Champagne, France | $300 Don't get your wine tips from rappers. Salon is what the REAL ballers drink! If you can afford it, drink this with a special someone and your socks (along with other articles of clothing) will be knocked right off! re d THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 11 FRANCE N Y o i ce s l n Wi e p t i r i d , l ro B O o k , www.casillerodeldiablo.com diablo chile ad wine legend � 0 2 e obsession for Casillero del Diablo is still alive. It all started more than 100 years ago, when Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, founder of the winery, reserved for himself an exclusive batch of the best wines they produced. And, to keep strangers away from this special private reserve, he spread the rumor that the devil lived in that place. Hence the name: Casillero del Diablo or Cellar of the Devil. I TA LY lombardy veneto piedmont tuscany Overview: There's a lot more to Italy than Pinot Grigio and Chianti. Hundreds of different kinds of grapes are grown in every corner of the countryside, making Italy an incredibly diverse winemaking nation. Italy produces reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines for nearly every occasion, budget and palate. In the north, Piedmont produces top quality reds and Veneto rocks the bubbly. Moving south, Tuscany is where Sangiovese gets its fame and Umbria is filled with great everyday wines. Southern Italy and the islands are starting to export more wines: look for the Nero d'Avola from Sicily. How to Buy: The high-end wines of Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello make fantastic gifts for avid winos. The quality of these wines is up there with the best France has to offer, but they cost less and they can sit in a cellar forever without losing their taste. And since most Italian wines are made for food, they're great for picking up on your way to a dinner party. As a general rule, Barbera and Dolcetto are great with tomato sauce, and Vermentino, Soave and Trebbiano work well with cheese or fish. So just jump in and start exploring! ROME SARDINIA abruzzo puglia SICILY Major Grapes: Sangiovese, Nebbiola, Nero d'Avola, Pinot Griggio, Vermentino, Trebbiano 2006 Kyos Nero d'Avola Sicily, Italy | $10 From the island of Sicily comes a light, fun and fruity red that won't cost you a fortune. Great for parties, BBQs, or just sipping while watching TV on a Tuesday night. ca lab ria 2007 Rosso Pesce Tuscany, Italy | $10 As the name suggests, this is a red wine that's good with fish. It's light, cheap, and easy to drink but rocks a little bit of spiciness. Think tuna, salmon or raging house party. red re d re d 2008 Si Soave 2007 Guidobono Nebbiolo Langhe, Italy | $12 A diamond in the rough, this comes from the same region and is made with the same grape as the �ber expensive Barolo, but costs a fraction of the price. Soave, Italy | $10 Wines from Soave fell out of fashion for a few decades but they're coming back. Medium-bodied with bold fruit and a crisp acidity, this wine is as good with fish as on its own. Plus, the unique bottle is a conversation starter. w hi te THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 13 ITALY TA K EOU T BLUE JEANS secondglass.com | ITALY NV Tenuta Santom� Prosecco Veneto, Italy | $12 Light, crisp citrus flavors make this Italian bubbly awesome for before or after dinner drinking. Bust out a few bottles while kicking it with friends to get the party started. 2006 Erik Banti Carato Tuscany, Italy | $13 Made with mostly Sangiovese, this wine is smooth and very easy to drink. Makes a great everyday dinner wine with light fruit and tannins. It can go with most foods. sparkling NV Mionetto IL Prosecco Veneto, Italy | $12 Yep, that's right: they use a bottle cap instead of a cork that provides easy access to maximized partying. This is a great Prosecco for the money. red dessert 2007 Michele Chiarlo "Nivole" Moscato d'Asti (375 ML) Piedmont, Italy | $14 This fizzy Italian sweetie is low in alcohol, which makes it perfect for sipping after dinner or on hot days. This wine + white chocolate = never sleeping alone. Ever. NV Nino Franco "Rustico" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Veneto, Italy | $17 Champagne ain't cheap, so why cheap shell out the big bucks if you don't have to? Prosecco, on the otherhand, is made and priced at everyday drinking levels but often lacks the extra flavor and pizazz that New Years Eve, Valentine's Day or even wedding wines require. That's where the Nino Franco comes in. Flavors of mineral, citrus, apples and pears come out of this sufficiently bubbly wine. Drink liberally with shrimp, sushi or directly out of the bottle, rockstar style. white white sparkling sparkling sparkling 2008 Zenato Pinot Grigio Veneto, Italy | $14 Light, zesty, citrus freshness make this wine a fantastic summer day drinking contender. Whether on a boat, at the beach, or kickin' it on the stoop, make sure multiple bottles are on hand. 2005 Casalone Cortese Piedmont, Italy | $15 Medium in body, crisp flavors and a floral nose round out this Italian white. Fish, chicken or even pizza with white sauce work well. Piedmont, Italy | $13 A big, juicy wine for the money. Wash down pizza, pasta, simple cuts of beef or pretty much anything with tomato sauce. Definitely make sure you're drinking this with some kind of food. 2006 Reverdito Michele Barbera d'Alba NV Zardetto Prosecco Brut Veneto, Italy | $15 Another great bottle of Prosecco that goes well with food. Seafood like shrimp cocktail are its best friend but also try it with fried scallops or fettuccini. re d THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 15 ITALY ITALY | secondglass.com 2004 Terre di Gioia M�ller Thurgau Trentino, Italy | $16 Attention: this is a cool grape. M�ller Thurgau is the big man on campus in Germany and Northern Italy. Medium-to-full bodied with a floral nose and bright fruit, this wine is turkey's new BFF. white 2006 Donnafugata Sedara Nero d'Avola Sicily, Italy | $20 red white white white r ed Strong and bold, this Nero has more muscle than other wines from the same region. The bright fruit flavors and almost intense acidity are a perfect match for tomato sauce. 2005 Masi Campofiorin Ripasso Rosso del Veronese IGT Veneto, Italy | $18 Masi uniquely makes this wine with semidried grapes, which gives it a deep, raisin-y flavor. It's a silky smooth wine that'll melt in your mouth. 2008 Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio `La Novella' Nebbiolo Chardonnay Lombardy, Italy | $22 A bit of an oddball, this is a white wine made from the popular Nebbiolo grape, which is typically used in red wines. Impress wino friends with this tasty, light Chardonnay-like white. red 2008 Elio Perrone Bigaro Brachetto Piedmont, Italy | $20 Chocolate's best friend, this is a sultry, sparkling, sweet red dessert wine. That's right: combine all the things girls love and spike it with alcohol. dessert 2006 Figini Gavi di Gavi Piedmont, Italy | $25 A great summer white with apricot and peach flavors. Drink by the glass on a patio or with shrimp fettuccini alfredo, crab or even oysters. 2006 Colle Dei Venti Barbera d'Asti Piedmont, Italy | $20 red 2007 Mesa Vermentino di Sardegna Giunco Sardinia, Italy | $25 A lean, clean and brisk white wine that you can order at fancy dinners or just sip during late summer nights. Pair with grilled seafood or shellfish. Jammy red fruit flavors abound in this dry, full-bodied Italian red. Class up pizza night or bust it out with higher end Italian food. NV Rosa Regale Brachetto Piedmont, Italy | $20 sparkling 2005 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva Tuscany, Italy | $25 A quality bottle of Chianti with rich, deep purple color, very firm tannins and great aromas of cherry. Drink now or give to your wino friends for aging. Valentine's Day in a bottle. Buy some dark chocolate, pour into Champagne flutes and sip this lightly alcoholic wine with your sweetie and, voil�! your clothes fall off. 16 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide PIEDMONT If you know very little about Italian wine, this is a great place to start. Located in Northwest Italy, this region cranks out a wide range of wines. Barolo and Barbaresco are the heavyhitters, starting around $40, but these big, chewy reds made from the Nebbiolo grape can be aged for decades. Barbera d'Asti is their more affordable little brother; it can still hold up to heavy dishes of beef and veal but works with simpler foods like pasta. Dolcetto is a medium to light red that's perfect with pizza. Piedmont also produces sparkling (spumante in Italian) dessert wines like Brachetto, made from red grapes, and Moscato, made from white. THISBarbera d'Asti BEST ONE DA Piedmont, Italy | $15 Velvety with well-balanced acidity, this wine rocks flavors of cherry and raspberry. Great for drinking on a weeknight night with pasta or pizza. red red red re d w hit e 2008 Cascina Bruni 2005 Beni di Batasiolo Barbaresco Piedmont, Italy | $40 A classic, kick-you-in-the-stones Barbaresco, this is a wine with rich red berry flavors and hints of oak and mushroom. Drink with meat dishes like osso bucco or age for a few years. 2003 Bressan Pinot Grigio Veneto, Italy | $27 Yeah, it's a $27 Pinot Grigio but we promise it's worth every penny! Hugely floral with light stone and citrus flavors. Be careful opening this bottle, it'll disappear before you know it. white 2001 Villa Erbice Valpolicella Classico Superiore Valpolicella, Italy | $40 Rich, deep and sensuous flavors of raisin and dark fruit envelope all your senses when tasting this wine. A "baby Amarone," this wine is a steal for the price. 2005 Poderi Aldo Conterno Masante Langhe Dolcetto Piedmont, Italy | $28 red 2005 Tenuta di Trinoro Passopisciaro Sicily, Italy | $50 Light, Pinot Noir-like wine with delicate, almost feminine notes of strawberry, cherry and blackberry. The high acidity makes it perfect for fatty, grilled meats. This winemaker creates unholy wines, but most of them cost a crap ton of money. Rich, deep and truly powerful, this is one of the finest examples of premium Dolcetto produced by anyone, anywhere. 2006 Mario Schiopetto Tocai Friulano Collio w hit e 2005 Testamatta Bugia Tuscany, Italy | $67 The fruit for this late-season harvested beauty comes from the tiny island of Giglio, off the coast of Tuscany. Light and fresh with honey and melon flavors, impress the crap out of white wine lovers. Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy | $39 Winemaker Mario Schiopetto and his three children are hell bent on making their winery the best in the region. This white is more interesting than Chardonnay with creamy but clean flavors. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 17 ITALY RT U G A L PA I N | P O S r�as baixas rioja vinho verde douro DUERO priorato ribera del duero rueda MADRID d�o la mancha valencia LISBON alentejo Overview: Growers in this part of the world have been making wine for over three thousand years. However, the region didn't gain international attention until recent economic support from the European Union helped the industry to modernize its winery practices. Spanish wine is a modern twist on longstanding tradition with many wineries blending inter international favorites, like Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet with indigenous grapes like Verdejo and Tempranillo. Colorful packaging rounds out the deal and the result is incredibly delicious wine with labels anyone can understand. Portugal, not far behind, uses exclusively indigenous grapes that you've probably never heard of, but have been upgrading their equipment and practices. The result is some truly amazing and afford affordable wine. How to Buy: It's hard to go wrong when buying wine from the big regions like Rioja, Priorat and Ribera del Duero. Lesser known regions like Jumilla, Yecla, and Rueda are cranking out spectacular wine for less than $15. When it comes to Portugal, it's usually foolproof. Most Portuguese table wine (not Port) that comes into the US is tasty, if not stellar. Don't be fooled by the low price tag, grab a few bottles and give `em a shot! jerez Major Grapes: Empranillo, Grenache, Monastrell, Verdejo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional 2009 Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Vinho Verde, Portugal | $6 Vinho Verde is like the lemonade of wine: simple, refreshing, and cheap as hell! Low in alcohol, you could probably put a bottle down by yourself. Drink liberally and often in the summer. w hi te other 2006 Barbadillo Palomino Fina Andalucia, Spain | $10 Light and crisp, it's not quite Sherry but it is what you want to be drinking on a hot summer day. Made by a Sherry house, it's a dry table wine that's perfect with nuts and cheese. 2008 Adega de Mon��o Fuzelo Vinho Verde Vinho Verde, Portugal | $8 Slightly fizzy and affordable enough to purchase by the case, keep this on hand while munching summery fish dishes. It's got a zip of green apple and lemon. w hit e red Calatayud, Spain | $10 A big hit on the summer BBQ circuit, this wine is filled with juicy fruit like blackberry and plum. Tannins are non-existent in one of the best reds for the money. 2007 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha 18 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide 2007 Bodegas Borsao Monte Oton Garnacha Campo de Borja, Spain | $10 Imported by Spanish badass Jorge Ordo�ez, this 100% Garnacha rocks a whole lotta fruit. An unbelievable value for the money, this dry red will keep you warm and happy all winter. red red red red white re d 2008 Irreverente Beiras, Portugal | $14 A blend of traditional Portuguese red grapes, this ruby-colored wine is bold with strong flavors of blackberry, cherry and spice. Pair with lots and lots of meat! 2007 Dona Ermelinda Tinto Palmela, Portugal | $10 Prescription for a great summer: grill meat, drink this wine and repeat as necessary. This easy to drink red has a lot of fruit, a touch of smokiness and a fair amount pepper. Coster del Segre, Spain | $14 2006 Castell del Remei Gotim Bru Dark and rich with smooth tannins, this is a blend of mostly Tempranillo grapes with some Merlot and Cabernet to round things out. This is a whole lot of wine for the money. red 2008 Espelt Corali Rosado Empord�, Spain | $11 Made from Garnacha, this is a rich and powerful ros� with bright acidity and great flavors or citrus and strawberry. Drink when the sun is shining. ros� 2007 Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell Jumilla, Spain | $14 If you like Cabernet, you're going to love this wine. Made from "old vine" Monastrell, these grapes soak up the sun and create a big, fat, juicy monster of a red. Beef! NV Poema Brut Cava Spain | $11 Meant as "everyday Champagne," this Cava is absolutely delicious. Creamy with flavors of lemon and citrus round out this bubbly that's cheap enough to drink three times a week. sparkling 2007 Casa de la Ermita Viognier Jumilla Jumilla, Spain | $14 Bright and bold, apple flavors emanate from this crisp white. You can drink this with anything from grilled chicken to fish sticks. Rueda, Spain | $12 w hi te 2008 Sitios Con Class Verdejo Navara, Spain | $15 2003 Alate Cosecha Tempranillo It's always important to have a few kosher wines in your back pocket because you never know when someone is going to show up with gefilte fish. Firm tannins and good fruit flavor. If you like Sauvignon Blanc, you're going to love Verdejo. A crisp and aromatic white from central Spain, drink solo or rock it with cheese. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 19 SPAIN PORTUGAL NOW OPEN Come by and see our new store! HUNDREDS OF WINES TO CHOOSE FROM CASE DISCOUNTS LARGE SELECTION OF CRAFT BEERS FULL SELECTION OF LIQUOR Conveniently located in the South End at the corner of Mass Ave and Washington St 1750-1752 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118 (617) 867-8600 www.cruboston.com secondglass.com | SPAIN | PORTUGAL Montilla-Moriles, Spain | $16 sherry 2004 Alvear Fino en Rama Rioja, Spain | $18 2004 Bodegas Lan Rioja Reserva A bit of an oddball, this is a vintage Sherry. For an inexpensive sherry, this takes an inordinante amount of work to pull off every year. Drink with oysters as it smells like mushrooms and sea air. Super classic in style from one of the best vintages on record. Silky smooth in texture with subtle fruit flavors. Be careful buying this wine as a gift; it may never make it to the recipient. 2008 Bodegas Martin Codax Albarino Rias Baixas, Spain | $17 It seems like this wine gets better every year. Super crisp with mineral and tangy citrus flavors, this wine is made for the beach and all things seafood. Drink outside on a hot day. white red port port PORT WINE Port is made differently from most other wines: during the fermentation process, before all the sugar in the grape juice has been converted to alcohol, winemakers spike their batch with brandy (distilled wine), which kills the yeast and significantly raises the alcohol content. The result is a fortified, sweet wine with a high percentage of alcohol, which is then aged to give it its notoriously deep, rich and complex flavors. Tawny Port spend 10, 20, 30 or 40 years in large wood tanks with multiple vintages before being bottled, while Vintage or Late Bottled Vintage Port spend a few years in small oak barrels and can age for decades in the bottle. 2006 Dona Maria Tinto Alentejo, Portugal | $18 Portugal's rising star, the Alentejo region is cranking out killer bottles of red. This one has bold berry flavors and a medium body that goes well with lamb or beef. THIS ONE DA BEST red 2008 Bodegas Pazo de Barrantes Albari�o Rias Biaxas, Spain | $18 Crisp yet creamy, this is a great expression of the Albari�o grape. Drink with fish and chips, clam chowder or right out of the bottle while eating fried clams in a parking lot on Cape Cod. white Warre's OTIMA 10 Year Old Tawny Port Douro, Portugal | $20 Sweet and syrupy with caramel, fig and nut flavors. The 500ml size makes it perfect for office holiday handouts or small party after-dinner consumption. 2007 Telmo Rodr�guez Dehesa Gago Ribera del Duero, Spain | $18 This is the meanest, awesomest, cherriest Toro wine for under $20. Nothing else can compete! re d J.W. Burmester Porto 10 Year Old Tawny Douro, Portugal | $36 Flavors of raisins and other dried fruit envelop your taste buds in a wave of thick, syrupy goodness. Drink with cheeses after a good meal. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 21 SPAIN PORTUGAL NV 1 + 1 = 3 Cava Brut Pened�s, Spain | $16 sparkling Priorat, Spain | $25 2006 Ard�vol Anjoli Cava is Spain's everyday Champagne. This means it's cheap yet crazy delicious. This is a somewhat expensive bottle but your money is well spent. To start with, it's got a kitschy label, always a "plus" at parties. The flavors are well-developed and it has plenty of bubbles, so it won't go flat. Grab a few bottles for New Years Eve, drink before dinner or just keep a bottle in the fridge to celebrate the little victories in life. There's a lot of concentrated fruit in this powerful red wine yet, it's not over the top. Mulling spices, berries and a firm structure make this wine a great choice for heavy meats. red red red port 2006 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses Priorat, Spain | $35 An epic wine from Priorat, Spain's new hub for fine wine. Concentrated berry flavors and a strong structure make this complex wine perfect for impressing the pants off dinner dates. 2006 Quinta dos Roques Touriga Nacional Dao, Portugal | $20 What Cabernet is to Napa, Touriga Nacional is to Portugal. It's a big, super dry and tannic grape. Rarely seen unblended, this wine has deep fruit flavors and firm structure. red 2004 Odysseus Vino Tinto Priorat, Spain | $45 A masculine and upright wine from vines with over 50 years of age. For the price, this is a killer bottle of Priorat that could use a few years in your "cellar" (ours is under the sink). 2006 Gramona Grand Cuv�e Cava Pened�s, Spain | $20 This is vintage Cava from Spain's top producer, who holds their wines to the highest quality levels. Creamy textures and gorgeous citrus fruit flavors round out a wine that can easily go head-tohead with Champagne. sparkling Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny Douro, Portugal | $73 Ramos Pinto makes really beautiful Tawny Port wines and this is one of our favorites. A touch of fresh fruit peeks out, but otherwise this wine is all honey and cream. 2005 Descendientes de Jos� Palacios "P�talos" Bierzo, Spain | $24 Flavors of smoke, mineral and ripe berries reach out and grab you. This sexy smooth wine will help keep you warm in the winter and be your best friend when you fire up the BBQ in the spring. 2004 Vega Sicilia Alion Ribera del Duero, Spain | $80 Go big or go home with a wine from one of Spain's top wine producers. This inky, full-bodied, fruit-filled wine is perfect for the person who has everything or any avid wino. r ed SPAIN PORTUGAL 22 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide re d � Sparkling Wine Contains Real 24 Karat Gold Flakes Makes Any Occasion Special... GOLDSPARKLER.COM View more of our great brands at ZENZENWINESUSA.COM 6 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide STRIA ANY | AU GERM Overview: BERLIN ahr nahe pfalz mosel-saar-ruwer rheingau rheinhessen franken baden weinviertel neusiedlersee s�dburgenland s�d-oststeiermark Often overlooked as a major winemaking country, Germany produces wines with an incredible depth of flavor, especially for the money. Rieslings dominate the German market and are categorized and labeled based on the order the grapes were harvested and the subsequent level of ripeness. QbA (Qualit�tswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete) is the first designation above table wine and also the driest. QmP (Qualit�tswein mit Pr�dikat) is a step up in quality from QbA and is sub-categorized based on harvest order: Kabinett are the first grapes to be picked after QbA and produce dry wines; second are Sp�tlese, or "late harvest" grapes; Auslese, or "select harvest," produce dessert style sweet wines; and Eiswein are frozen on the vine to concentrate the grapes' sugar content and are essentially dessert themselves. Got it? Austrian categorization is just as confusing but all you need to remember is Gr�ner Veltliner (pronounced: GREW-ner Felt-LEE-ner) is fun to say and a party in your mouth. THIS ONE DA BEST w hi te 24 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide w hit e RH IN E VIENNA it? Trocken refers to dry wine, so look for this word if your answer is "not very." Otherwise a good trick is to look at the alcohol level. Typically, anything under 9% is going to be pretty sweet, while wines higher in alcohol will be on the dryer side. How to Buy: How sweet do you want Major Grapes: Riesling, Gew�rztraminer, Zweigelt, Gr�ner Veltliner 2008 Weingut Huber Hugo Gr�ner Veltliner Lower Austria, Austria | $12 A simple but addictive wine, the `Huber Hugo' is soft, luscious and refreshing... just like the hot little spring fling or holiday hook-up you'll be drinking this with. 2008 Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling Germany | $10 Bright, fruity flavors coupled with acidic sweetness make this wine perfect for warm days. The 2008 Dr. Loosen Dr. L. Riesling is an invigorating white with only a kiss of sweetness. Low alcohol content (8% vs. the typical 12%14% of most white wines) makes this refreshing wine perfect for daytime drinking. Produced in the Mosel Valley of Germany, this is a real-deal Riesling from a quality producer that won't empty out your wallet or get you wasted in the afternoon. 2008 St. Antonius Kreuznacher Kronenberg Riesling Auslese Nahe, Germany | $13 A very solid Auslese for the money, it falls on the sweeter side with flavors of apple, pear and peach. Pop this puppy after dinner or drink it in the shade on a hot, sunny day. 2008 S.A. Prum Essence Riesling Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany | $14 A simple but tasty full-bodied QbA, this wine has light citrus flavors and great aromas. If you're looking for a solid, everyday Riesling, look no further. white 2007 Berger Gr�ner Veltliner (1L) Nieder�sterreich, Austria | $13 Since this super sipper comes in a 1-liter bottle, it's even less expensive than it looks. Light, crisp and refreshing this might as well be Austria's version of lemonade. It rocks flavors of grapefruit and wet stone with a strong but not overpowering acidity. Gr�ner goes down so easy on hot summer nights, you'll be screaming its fun-to-say name on your walk home. Drink liberally with tomato salads, corn on the cob and seafood dishes. 2005 August Kesseler Qba Estate Riesling Rheingau, Germany | $18 Fantastic aromas of fruit and mediumto-full body give you plenty of reason to pour glass after glass of this kickin' QbA. white 2007 M�nchhof Estate Riesling Mosel, Germany | $18 Mineral, apple and a touch of honey grace this slightly sweeter than the status quo Riesling. Bring to outdoor parties or drink it right out of the bottle at the beach. white white sparkling Pfalz, Germany | $20 2008 Dr. B�rklin-Wolf Estate Riesling Juicy flavors of melon rock this biodynamic summer sipper. Drink it with goat cheese salad or keep your wine glass full while you run the BBQ at your next picnic. 2006 Steininger Zweigelt Kamptal, Austria | $18 In 1922, Fritz Zweigelt developed a hybrid red supergrape to withstand the harsh climate of Austria. �ber dark in color, this is juicy with firm tannins and just a little spicy. NV Peter Brum Goldsparkler Germany | $21 Any true baller needs to keep one of these in their fridge at all times. It's got 24kt gold confetti floating around in it! Come on, people, do you need a better reason? red 2008 Punkt Genau Sparkling Gr�ner Veltliner Austria | $20 What's more fun than Gr�ner Veltliner? Sparkling Gr�ner Veltliner! Soft flavors of apple and pear emanate from this light Austrian sparkler. Don't be scared off by the screw cap. sparkling 2006 Steininger Grand Gr� Gr�ner Veltliner Kamptal, Austria | $26 The best Gr�ners are harvested very late in the season. Straw-colored with flavors of peach and pear, this full-bodied wine has a ton of depth and character. Drink with high-end seafood. whi te THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 25 GERMANY AUSTRIA CALIFORN IA mendocino sonoma napa SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO monterey CE NT RA OA LC ST Overview: Known for its diversity and innovation, California is the size of most European countries and boasts several diverse wine growing regions. Cali's wine industry was nearly snuffed out during Prohibition, but a rag-tag crew of winemakers revived it dur during the 1960s and `70s and went on to earn the world's grudging approval. Zinfandel has long been California's hometown hero, but wineries are experimenting with everything from Sangiovese to Tempranillo, Vermantino to Roussanne; name a grape, and someone in California is trying to grow it. This Wild West attitude is what put California on the map, and will continue to push the region to produce better and better wines. based on big names, fancy labels and cult status will usually get you a mediocre, over overpriced wine. Look for established wineries from newer regions like Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, or Sonoma County. Check out wineries that buy leftover grapes from top Napa Valley vineyards and turn them into affordable-yet-kickass wines. Ignore vintages, which are less important since the weather is fairly consistent. And keep a lookout for environmentally-friendly, socially-conscious wineries producing organic and biody biodynamic varietals. How to Buy: Avoid the hype. Buying paso robles santa barbara LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO Major Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel 2008 Forefront Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, California | $13 A new project from the folks at Pine Ridge winery, they hold the Forefront wines to their same, high quality standards. A great Sauv Blanc for the money. w hi te white wh ite 2006 Oberon Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, California | $15 At the beach, your swimsuit-clad amigos will be stoked when you bust out multiple bottles of this tangy, lemon-inflected white wine. 2008 Firestone Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley, California | $14 Crisp, refreshing and affordable, this is a Cali Sauv Blanc you can bust out at parties over the holidays or just sitting on your neighborhood stoop. wh ite 2007 Fleur de California Chardonnay North Coast, California | $15 California Chard gets a bad rap for being over-oaked and buttery. This is not one of the offenders. This wine has bright fruit and a crisp acidity. 26 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide 2007 Taft Street Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, California | $15 Pear and citrus flavors and a light touch of oak make this Chard a great food wine. From fish to poultry, appetizers to late night sipping, it's got you covered. white white red red r ed whi te 2008 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, California | $18 Liquid summer. You can just taste the fresh ripe peaches and clean fruit. Drink with friends in the sun (or when dreaming about the sun). 2006 Topanga "Khroma" Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, California | $16 An awesome Cabernet for the money, this one is big and bold, with flavors of chocolate and berries. Bust it out for a casual steak dinner, BBQ or burgers on a weeknight. red 2006 Clos la Chance `Ruby Throated' Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, California | $19 The Hummingbird series of wines from Clos la Chance can do no wrong. Deep, rich and complex, this is a whole lotta Cabernet for your money. 2007 Fleur de California Pinot Noir Central Coast Central Coast, California | $16 This affordable Pinot has great fruit flavors that pair well with Thanksgiving, grilled salmon or just sipping on its own. red 2006 Balletto Russian River Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, California | $19 Jammy and alluring flavors of cherry and raspberry just beg you to pour another glass. Sure to impress your date, pair with grilled pork and you won't go home alone. 2007 Poppy Pinot Noir Monterey County, California | $16 Good, inexpensive Pinot is hard to find, so stock up on the Poppy. Great for everyday drinking, bringing to parties or quaffing in the sun. red 2006 MacRostie Pinot Noir Carneros, California | $20 Located just a few steps south of Napa Valley, this lesser known region doesn't fetch the big prices of its neighbors, but produces very good wines, including this Pinot. 2006 7 Deadly Zins Lodi, California | $18 The badass name is followed by some rear end kickin' Zinfandel. You'll be the life of the next BBQ or party when you roll up with this big, bold and juicy wine. 2008 Scholium Project Verdelho `Naucratis' Lost Slough Vineyards Central Valley, California | $20 Verdelho is a little known Portuguese grape traditionally used to make Madeira wine, one of the country's specialties. Its medium to full body and lemon flavors make this a great wine to pair with spicy food. re d THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 27 CALIFORNIA 2008 Freemark Abbey Viognier It's floral, aromatic and rocks a lot of body, making this a white wine for red wine drinkers. Good with spicy Asian food, a mid-summer sipper or even a turkey dinner. 2007 Manifesto! Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast, California | $20 Porch sitting, steak grilling, chocolate cake munching�this big and juicy wine can handle it. Can you? red PASO ROBLES Napa Valley, California | $20 white Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is a land where renegade ruffians collide with fine wine. Though it was little more than a dusty cowboy town a few decades ago, this region is now home to over 180 wineries. Paso Robles is most famous for its plump, juicy and strong Zinfandels from the likes of Peachy Canyon, Four Vines and Turley Vineyards. Paso has also become an epicenter for Rh�ne grapes like Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne thanks to Chateau de Beaucastel, a Chateauneufdu-Pape powerhouse that set up shop here in 1989 under the Tablas Creek label and brought its high quality grapevines from France, kicking off a new revolution in the region. 2006 Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Paso Robles, California | $12 Peachy Canyon is a Paso Robles institution, and this wine benefits from a kickass vintage. It's juicy on the surface, but boasts a surprising amount of depth and complexity for the price point. red re d sparkling 2007 Palmina Dolcetto Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara, California | $20 A dark-hued wine with bright and vibrant fruit, this bottle is made with a grape typically not grown outside of Italy. Drink with lots and lots of pizza! red 2007 Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling Potter Valley, California | $24 From this century old winery comes a dry Riesling with a crisp acidity. The apple and melon flavors are great for poolside sipping or apr�s-ski guzzling. white 2007 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Jardine Paso Robles, California | $30 While not for the faint of heart, this decadently juicy wine will woo you like an experienced lover with its blackberry, cedar and spicy flavors. Get ready. 2007 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir Sonoma Valley, California | $24 Juicy and full of fruit, this Pinot Noir has Turkey Day written all over it. It'll go great with the bird and stand up to all the fixins, including cranberry sauce. re d 2005 Domaine Carneros Brut Cuv�e Carneros, California | $25 Owned and operated by the same folks as Tattinger (of Champagne fame), this bubbly is made the exact same way as Champagne. Bready and yeasty, it's a great alternative to the French stuff. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 29 CALIFORNIA 2007 Kenneth Volk Malvasia Bianca Monterey County, California | $25 This grape originally hails from the Portuguese island of Madeira, but is now grown all over the world. This Cali version is full bodied and highly aromatic � this is a wine dork's wine. white red sparkling 2005 Hall Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley, California | $34 Drink this luscious plum- and cherryinflected wine with pizza, pork or burgers. It also makes a great gift wine--if you don't drink it yourself first. 2008 Arger-Martucci Iliad Napa Valley, California | $25 Made from a blend of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat grapes, this is a very floral and aromatic wine, with a sweetness that makes it spicy Asian food's best friend. white 2002 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuv�e Carneros, California | $35 A California bubbly with some age on it means you'll get crisp apple, citrus and yeasty flavors. Celebrate in style and drink with oysters, lobster or sushi. 2007 Dry Creek Vineyards Dry Chenin Blanc Clarksburg, California | $14 white 2007 Hirsch Vineyard Bohan Dillon "Family Blend" Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, California | $35 It doesn't get better than an affordable wine from a big-name Pinot producer. Notes of cherry, strawberry and spice emanate from this sun soaked California wine. This winery has been making a dry Chenin Blanc since 1972. Badass Chenin Blanc producer Domaine Baumard, located in France's Loire Valley, was the original inspiration for this wine and you can taste it. Aromas of peach and citrus are followed by gorgeous flavors of tropical fruit with a strong, but not overpowering acidity. The ship on the label and the refreshing flavors make this your go-to "drink seaside" wine. Drink liberally with oysters, crab, and lobster. red white whi te 1994 Kalin Cellars Cuv�e LD Sonoma Chardonnay Sonoma County, California | $35 Kalin Cellars doesn't release their wines until they deem them ready, and in this Chardonnay's case, that's 15 years after harvest. Dark gold in color, this wine is an experience. 2006 Westerly Vineyards Merlot Santa Ynez Valley, California | $27 Merlot is not a four letter word! Smoother and silkier than Cabernet, this grape has brighter, riper fruit with the same level of complexity. re d 2007 Rombauer Chardonnay Carneros, California | $36 This is a big, rich, bold, conversationstarting wine. If your date loves California Chard, there's no way you're going home alone. Seal the deal and order oysters followed by lobster with this one. 30 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide secondglass.com | CALIFORNIA 2007 Eric Kent Stiling Vineyard Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, California | $40 Each year, a different original painting becomes the inspiration for the label of this small-production Pinot, which makes these bottles great gifts. There is also great wine inside! 2006 Barnett Vineyards Spring Mt. Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain, California | $65 A true "mountain wine," this wine is made from grapes grown at altitudes between 400 ft all the way up to 2200 ft. The result is a rich wine with blackcurrant and pepper flavors. red red red 2005 Cedar Knoll Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California | $45 Founded in the 1800s, this winery halted production during Prohibition and sat unused for 80 years. Now Palmaz Vineyards, which makes a $120 Cab, uses the label for a fantastic wine with an interesting history. 2000 Cain Concept Library Edition Napa Valley, California | $70 This winery held back the bulk of this vintage, and just released it. This is a great way to get a top-quality, mostly Cabernet-based wine with some age on it. Buy it as a gift--for yourself. You're worth it! red 2004 Arger-Martucci Odyssey Napa Valley, California | $50 A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc, this wine is an excellent gift for any wine lover. Save it for a few years, or pop the cork now with a good steak. 2005 Clos du Val Merlot Napa Valley, California | $20 red 2003 Nicolette Christopher Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California | $52 Recipe for the perfect date: buy two fine steaks, light candles, put on the Marvin Gaye and pour this wine until there is no need for clothing. This stuff is absolutely amazing! French-born winemaker Bernard Portet searched the globe for the perfect site for a world-class winery. In 1972, he settled in what is now the Stag's Leap District of Napa Valley. His winery, which still flies the French flag, makes a traditional Bordeauxstyle wine with California-grown fruit, resulting in a wine with rich flavors of plum and blackberry and a silky finish. This is California Merlot the way it's meant to taste. Drink liberally with short ribs, burgers or anything else you can toss on the grill. r ed red 2006 Palazzo Cabernet Franc Napa Valley, California | $65 This Cab Franc has been billed as the California version of a Right Bank-style Bordeaux wine. Its serious aging ability combined with optimum steak pair-ablity makes it the perfect gift for any wino. 2008 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills, California | $70 One of the top Chardonnay producers in California, this is a wine with crisp acidity and a whole lotta flavor. No buttery Chard here--think closer to Burgundy. w hit e r ed THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 31 CALIFORNIA Yelp.com Rating - 4.5 Stars "What a Hidden Gem!!" - Susan N. Cambridge "We Recommend" - The Daily Candy Boston "We're Seduced!!" - Stuff@Night 6/03/08 www.drinksareonme.net "I've seen the future of wine retail, & it's name is Bin Ends!" - Dale Cruse Sunday - Monday 12PM-6PM Tuesday - Saturday 10AM-8PM 781-817-1212 236 Wood Road in Braintree visit SECONDGLASS.COM for more details! Visit us online at binendswine.com Sign up for our famous email offers! " " Discover what people are saying about Bin Ends! DJ & MORE! PHOTOBOOTH, FOOD P IRING A S, CRASH COURS ES, FROM AROUND THE WORLD, 250 WINES APRIL 16 & 17 2010 SAVE the DATE! D O L' THE GOO US OF A BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS SHIN WA OLY MPI A GTO N y valle bia olum c martha's vineyard Overview: Not including California, there are over 3,000 wineries in this country, with at least one in every single state. From Alabama to Alaska, there are new wineries popping up every year, with growers determined to make the best wine possible within their unique region. Washington and Oregon are leading the charge by creating world class wines, but New York isn't far behind. Newcomers like New Mexico, Virginia and Michigan are also pumping out prime bottles. There are even top quality producers in Massachusetts making wine so good you'll think it comes from the well-known vineyards of France. How to Buy: Oregon has found its happy place, and that is growing all kinds of Pinot. From Pinot Gris to Pinot Blanc to its most popular, Pinot Noir, this state nails them all. The Columbia River Valley in eastern Washington is known for Cabernet, Merlot and Riesling, and they're bringing young French winemakers in to help develop the region. When traveling the US, drop in to a local wine shop and see what's available from local vineyards. Not only will you be surprised by the quality of the wine but you'll be helping the regional economy and encouraging more domestic production of interesting wines. Support your local wineries! Major Grapes: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay SAL willa EM e va lley ORE GO N mett northern central RIO GRAN DE SANTA FE southeast southern NEW MEXICO NV Farnum Hill Semi-Dry Cider New Hampshire | $10 This is authentic Normandy-style sparkling apple cider, with complex flavors and an alcohol content low enough for regular and consistent day drinking. You won't regret trying it. other 2006 Gordon Brothers Kamiak Cellar Select Cabernet-Merlot Columbia Valley, Washington | $12 These guys continue to crank out one of the best Cab-Merlot blends for the money. Get this wine before all those Bordeaux buyers find out and the price doubles. r ed wh it e 2008 Hogue Cellars Gewurztraminer Columbia Valley, Washington | $11 A lightly sweet wine with some spice to it. This Gew�rztraminer has a sharper acidity than its European counterparts, which cuts down on sweetness, making it perfect for pairing with food or just sipping. wh ite Massachusetts | $13 2007 Travessia Vidal Blanc This wine is made in downtown New Bedford, MA, with grapes grown in the Eastern part of the state. Its crisp, refreshing taste and decent body make this a great all-around white. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 33 USA 2007 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc Dundee Hills, Oregon | $13 White grapes that do well in Alsace tend to do well in Oregon, and this Pinot Blanc is no exception. Mineral flavors dominate with some light pear. Absolutely delicious. white white white red r ed re d 2008 Charles Smith Wines Kung Fu Girl Riesling Columbia Valley, Washington | $15 From the mouth of Charles Smith himself: "It's just booze � drink it!" Strong apple and pear flavors make this dry Riesling go down all too easy. Pairs well with spring rolls, sashimi, and cute girls. NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs New Mexico | $14 sparkling 2008 Torii Mor Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, Oregon | $16 Another great Pinot Gris from the Northwest. Flavors of ripe pear and aromas of honeysuckle will keep you drinking this wine well into the evening. Yes, they make wine in New Mexico and yes, it's really frickin' good. The winery was founded in 1987 by Gilbert Gruet, who had been making wine in Champagne, France since the 1950s. After a trip to the Southwest, he decided to take a stab at an American sparkler. The family follows the very stict M�thode Champenoise guidelines to create some truly impressive wines. The Blanc de Noir, made mostly from Pinot Noir grapes, is creamy with a bright acidity. One of the best bottles of bubbles for the money. 2008 O'Reilly's Pinot Noir Oregon | $17 Oregon produces a lot of Pinot Noir, and this guide lists quite a few. However, this is definitely a stellar bottle for the money. It's the second label of the innovative and creative Owen Roe. 2008 Montinore Estate Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, Oregon | $13 Year after year, this winery produces fabulous wine. They have recently converted to biodynamic farming and this wine, in particular, stands out with a balanced acidity and great fruit flavors. wh it e 2008 Broadley Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon | $20 A great lighter Pinot for a fair price, contribute a few bottles to the Turkey Day feast and you just might get out of doing the dishes. 2008 Wine by Joe Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, Oregon | $14 Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape but different styles. Oregon produces the former: a medium bodied, fruit-forward wine with strong acidity. It's turkey's best friend. wh it e 2006 Hedges Family Estate Three Vineyards Red Mountain, Washington | $20 A blend of Cabernet and Merlot from a family-run winery. If their label read "Napa Valley" this bottle would be three times more expensive. A great red for the money. 34 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide secondglass.com | USA 2008 Long Shadows Poet's Leap Riesling Columbia Valley, Washington | $22 Crisp with flavors of apple and aromas of flowers, this slightly sweet Riesling is great for sipping with Thanksgiving dinner, scallops or even light pork dishes. white red red red re d r ed 2007 Dominio IV Tempranillo Syrah Blend Technicolor Bat Willamette Valley, Oregon | $32 Bringing a little bit of Spain to the Norhtwest, this mostly Tempranillo wine is made from biodynamic grapes. It's a big, fleshy fruit filled wine that commands copious amounts of lightly seared beef. 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling Washington | $25 Dr. Loosen Estates, from Germany, helped to make this delicious little Washington State sweetie. Orange, lime and a lot of crisp mineral flavors will help to get your sweetie in the sack. white 2006 Anne Amie Winemaker's Selection Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon | $35 One of the best all around Pinots for the money, it rocks nice berry fruit flavors and a little bit of that Oregon funk! Keep a bottle on hand for last minute dinner party invites. 2003 Westport Rivers Brut Cuv�e RJR Massachusetts | $26 If we didn't know any better, we'd think this wine came from France. But in fact, 100% estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Massachusetts go into this amazingly good East Coast sparkler. sparkling 2005 Reininger Merlot Walla Walla Valley, Washington | $36 Forget what you thought about Merlot, this is the way it's supposed to be. Blackberry with a touch of chocolate, bust this out to class up a pizza date or rock it with steak. 2008 Owen Roe Sinister Hand Columbia Valley, Washington | $28 These guys produce some of the most innovative and delicious wines in the Northwest. A blend of Grenache and Syrah this is an incredibly dark and fruit-laden wine with an eerie label. 2006 Spring Valley Vineyard "Uriah" Walla Walla, Washington | $50 Why spend the big bucks on a Napa Valley blend when you can go to Washington and get the same quality for half the price? red 2007 Dobbes Pinot Noir Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley, Oregon | $28 Step up your Pinot game without going too crazy. Light and bright fruit flavors make this a wine you can always bust out for classy sipping. r ed 2006 Belle Vall�e Grand Cuv�e Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon | $56 A tiny, super-boutique winery in the Willamette Valley. It's definitely a big, burly Oregon Pinot but there's a little more sexiness to this one, more than justifying the price. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 35 USA Baffled by bottle after bottle in your favorite wine shop? Visit thesecondglass.com to sign-up for our Wine of the Weekend e-mail blast. TEXT 'SG' to WINES (94637) OR VISIT THESECONDGLASS.com! Each week, we'll send you our pick for an affordable sipping option, good enough for Saturday, Sunday or any day of the week! We'll even let you know what local stores carry it and fill you in on local events, so you won't be thirsty for long. ICA SO. AMER salta catamarca la rioja san juan SANTIAGO ARGENTIN A cordoba BUENOS AIRES Overview: A penchant to consume Flintstone-sized slabs of meat led Chile and Argentina to produce copious amounts of big, fat, juicy reds to drink with them. They hit the jackpot, realizing the long-forgotten French grapes - Malbec, Carmenere, and Tannat - would thrive in a dry, mountainous environment. South American wineries GUAY brought in top winemakers, imported stellar URU grapes and spared no expense on technology san jose to create world-class wines. Due to the canelones nearly perfect climate, few if any pesticides are needed so many wineries can farm DEO MONTEVI sustainably if not, organically. How to Buy: Argentina is famous for Malbec and Chile is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon. While prices are increasing, these wines are still a good value and seem to get better every year. Look for the rising stars such as the floral, white Torrontes from Argentina, and Pinot Noir and Carmenere from Chile. The real underdog is Uruguay, which is gaining attention for Tannat, a long-forgotten red grape. Major Grapes: Malbec, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat. maipo curico maule itata bio bio mendoza la pampa rio negro CHILE 2007 Montes `Classic Series' Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley, Chile | $9 "Holy crap!" That's what we shouted after tasting this concentrated, fruit-laden Cabernet. Whether you're downing steak, burgers or mushrooms, your meal will probably cost more than this amazing wine. r ed re d r ed 2008 Altos Las Hormigas Bonarda Colonia las Liebres Mendoza, Argentina | $9 Italian immigrants brought Bonarda to Argentina over a century ago. It's less fashionable than it used to be, but still makes for a cool, earthy, inky wine with some grit to it. 2008 Gouguenheim Malbec Mendoza, Argentina | $9 A quality, juicy, fruit-forward Malbec for less than $10? Check. This is your everyday sipper, your quintessential BBQ guzzler and your party wine all in one. 2007 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley, Chile | $11 From the "cellar of the devil" comes good quality Cabernet for the money. It has good flavors of cherry fruit and is perfect for everyday drinking or backyard BBQs. re d THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 37 SOUTH AMERICA CARMENERE Originally, this was one of the six allowed red grapes grown in the Bordeaux region of France. It was used sparingly because it was difficult to grow in the damp and chilly environment. The grape first made its way to South America during the mid 1800s, but was quickly confused with Merlot. Because it thrived in this drier climate and seemed to be immune to the pests that decimated France's Merlot grapes in the late 1800s, vintners all over Chile inadvertently grew it alongside Merlot and bottled it as such for most of the 20th century. It wasn't until a scientist ran DNA tests on the grape in 1994 that Chile realized it was actually making some pretty damn good Carm�n�re. THISCentral Valley, Chile | $10 ONE DA BEST red red red re d re d 2006 Terra Andina Carmenere This wine is big and bold with a lot of fruit but maintains the earthy, grittiness that is characteristic of Carmenere. Dark fruit and red pepper flavors make this bottle too good to pass up. 2006 Falernia Carmenere Syrah Reserva Elqui Valley, Chile | $13 Made from 60% Carmenere and 40% Syrah, this wine brings intoxicating aromas of tobacco and chocolate that lead to knock-your-socks-off bold red berry flavors. 2008 Dona Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza, Argentina | $12 Argentina grows a plethora of different grapes and this Sauvignon Blanc stands as a nice, cool contrast to its well-known, heavy Malbecs. Refresh your palate and put some fish on the parilla with this one. white 2006 Vistalba Corte C Malbec Mendoza, Argentina | $13 Another great choice in the Malbec field. Bust out your BBQ, get the largest chunk of meat you can find, grill it, and wash it down with this wine. 2008 Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc Rapel Valley, Chile | $12 Chile has been doing a kickass job of growing Sauvignon Blanc. It's rounder and less acidic than its French counterparts, but not heavily oaked like most Sauvignon Blancs from California. w hi te 2007 Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, Argentina | $13 While not known for their Cabernet as much as Chile, the growers on the Argentine side of the Andes can produce a killer bottle. This bottle has earthy flavors of dark fruit. 2008 Yellow+Blue Malbec San Juan Province, Argentina | $12 A solid, tasty Malbec from an organic vineyard that's shipped in an eco-friendly Tetra Pak, making it more efficient to ship and recycle. Yellow plus blue equals green. Get it? re d 2007 Bodega Colom� Amalaya Malbec Blend Salta, Argentina | $13 From the folks at Hess Collection comes a well balanced blend of Malbec, Cabernet, Syrah and Tannat. Throw in the fact that they use biodynamic farming practices and you've got a winner! 38 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide secondglass.com | SOUTH AMERICA TORRONTES No one knows how or when the Torrontes grape came to Argentina, but recent DNA evidence suggests it's closely related to the white grapes of Eastern Europe. Regardless of this grape's mysterious history, it has become Argentina's rising star. Torrontes grapes characteristically make for fruity, fresh, aromatic wines that fall somewhere between a dry Riesling and a Sauvignon Blanc. Drink liberally with grilled fish, oysters, or cheese plates, or just sip it outside on its own on a beautiful summer day. white white red 2009 Jelu Torrontes San Juan Province, Argentina | $9 Flavors of white peach, honeydew and lychee collide on your palate in this crisp and tasty white. Great with summer salads, tomatoes and seafood dishes. Andean North West, Argentina | $16 When you smell this wine, you think it's going to be sweet because of the peach, watermelon and apple aromas. Surprise! It's a very dry, crisp and refeshing wine and one of our personal favorites. 2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes 2007 Errazuriz `Wild Ferment' Chardonnay Casablanca Valley, Chile | $17 A rich and creamy Chardonnay with a crisp freshness. Only the yeast growing on the grapes is used during fermentation. Drink with lobster or scallops and cream sauce. white 2006 Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Reserve Colchagua Valley, Chile | $24 You don't often see a Chilean Cab Franc. It's a little burlier and certainly riper than others but damn it's delicious. Bring this to a wino's house and you'll earn some street cred. 2008 Catena Chardonnay Mendoza, Argentina | $17 A quality Chardonnay from the land of Malbec, this is a creamy wine with crisp apple and pear flavors. Replace your typical Cali Chard with this more affordable version. white 2005 Bodegas Carrau AMAT Chapeu, Uruguay | $43 red 2007 Carlos Basso Malbec Reserve Mendoza, Argentina | $18 Bold and bordering on intense with deeply concentrated fruit, this is a kickin' Malbec for when you want to take things up a notch. Drink with a lightly seared choice cut of beef. First it was Malbec in Argentina, then Carmenere in Chile, but the next big success story out of South America is going to be Tannat in Uruguay. This heavily tannic but fruit-laden grape is making some truly remarkable wines and Bodegas Carrau is leading the charge. Complex and chewy wine with ripe red fruit aromas, this wine begs for slabs of red meat. It's hard to find a wine this good for the price. Get `em now because the prices are going nowhere but up! re d THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 39 SOUTH AMERICA ZEALAND A L IA | N . AUSTR THIS ONE DA BEST WESTERN AUSTRALIA NORTHER N TERRITORY QUEENSL SO. AUS TRA AND LIA barossa valley mclaren va le adelaide NEW SO. WALES hunter valley riverina Overview: In recent years, Australian wine producers have flooded the US market with cheap bottles of Shiraz decorated with everything from jumping marsupials to flightless birds. This is unfortunate, becuase it paints the land "Down Under" as a juicy, fruity one-hit wonder, when nothing could be further from the truth. The Aussies have been making wine for hundreds of years and are currently experimenting with grapes like Riesling, Verdelho, Tempranillo and Sangiovese. New Zealand, not far behind the Aussies, is consistently adding to its repertoire of super crisp, grapefruitladen Sauvignon Blancs, and the Kiwis are also throwing Pinot Noir and even Cabernet into the mix. How to Buy: Pick your Aussie Shiraz with care, because there are a lot of mediocre bottles out there. Wineries with a strong track record, like Penfolds, D'Arenberg, Torbreck and Yalumba are always safe choices. Experiment with the newer wineries using unique grapes. Groove on New Zealand's high quality, yet affordable Sauvignon Blancs and expand your palate by digging the cool climate Pinot Noirs and tasty Cabernet Sauvignons. gippsland victoria NE ota W ma ZEA rlbo LAN gh D on nels kes haway b rou go Major Grapes: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir. 2008 3 Brooms Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand | $15 This wine takes "crisp and refreshing" to the next level. Drink copious amounts with dozens of fresh oysters and you'll feel like you died and went to heaven. w hi te r ed 2007 R Wines Strong Arm Shiraz McLaren Vale, Australia | $12 This is an inky and robust Shiraz that's made for smoked ribs, burgers or other grilled goodies. The wine comes with various kitschy labels, making it a great gift. red 2009 Sileni Estates Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand | $13 If you like those classic grapefruit and grassy flavors from New Zealand Sauv Blancs, you might want to make this your new go-to. A great everyday wine for the cash. w hi te 2005 Razor's Edge Shiraz Mclaren Vale, Australia | $15 A high-octane, kick-you-in-the-ass Aussie Shiraz, nicely priced in the "everyday" category. It's peppery, juicy and a little chocolaty. Just the way it should be. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 41 AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA | NEW ZEALAND | secondglass.com 2007 Angove's Red Belly Black Shiraz South Australia, Australia | $15 Perfect for pasta, grilled burgers or plasticcup afternoons on the patio, this serious drinkin' wine ain't no pansy. Keep a few bottles on hand for those impromptu Tuesday hangouts. red red red red sparkling 2008 Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia | $20 Taking it up a notch! This is a Shiraz you can drink everyday, but one you can also bust out for nice occasions. Its flavors are classy, yet remain big, fat and juicy. 2007 David Hook The Gorge Viognier Hunter Valley, Australia | $16 Aussie Viognier is hip stuff with a very floral nose of apricot and peach blossoms. The medium-to-full body makes it a great pairing with Asian food or summer BBQ. white 2007 Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra, Australia | $20 Earthy flavors and strong tannins stand out with this well-balanced, mildly smoky wine. Bring this in tow and your Cabernet loving friends will love you! 2008 Plantagenet Omrah Unoaked Chardonnay Western Australia, Australia | $16 Australian producers are now branching out from Shiraz: they're now making lots of interesting and tasty whites. This crisp Chardonnay is a great example, with round flavors of melon and citrus. white 2008 Momo Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand | $20 Earthy flavors and strong tannins make this well-balanced, mildly smoky wine stand out. Bring this to a party and your Cabernet loving friends will love you! 2005 Loan Semillon Barossa Valley, Australia | $17 This intense, full-bodied white comes from a certified organic winery in the Barossa Valley. The strong fruit on this dry wine helps it to pair well with food. white N/V Taltarni Brut Ros� "Tache" Sparkling Wine Victoria, Australia | $20 Made from classic Champagne grapes (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), this pink bottle of bubbly is not only fun, but also delicious, with hints of strawberries and peach. NV Emeri Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Australia | $18 This Aussie sparker nips at your tongue with a fresh acidity and goes down almost too easy. Summer sipping with oysters? Yep! But you can drink this one anytime. sparkling 2007 Tohu Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand | $26 This Pinot's got da funk! It busts that earthy, mushroomy flavor that the grape is known for in Burgundy, with a great balance of acidity with cherry and cranberry flavors. red AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND 42 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide EVERYTHING ELSE Overview: In nearly every corner of the planet, people are growing grapes and making wine. From Ethiopia to China, South Africa to Mexico, wine is being produced everywhere. In this section we've pulled wines from regions you might expect and others that might surprise you. Don't underestimate the power of a new "up and coming" wine region. It wasn't too long ago that people were saying Napa Valley was a horrible place for grapes. On Our Radar: China has been busy planting a variety of grapes; we've heard good things about Mexican wine; Texas has a thriving wine industry; Indian wine is slowly becoming better and better; and Brazil is about to be the next major South American region. Keep your eyes peeled for the growing numer of offbeat bottles that are slowly appearing in wine stores and restaurants. 2007 MAN Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon South Africa | $9 Spicy and ripe, this is a pretty kickass wine for less than $10. Fire up the BBQ and grill large slabs of meat while sipping on endless glasses. red red other 2007 Brampton Shiraz South Africa | $15 It's amazing how South Africa can crank out wines this good for so little money. Dry with raspberry and strawberry flavors, this is a wine to enjoy while hitting the BBQ or staying warm under a blanket. Tozai Snow Maiden Nigori (300ml) Kyoto Prefecture, Japan | $10 Nigori sake is unfiltered and appears cloudy and milky but has bright flavors of banana, fruit and rice. This dry sake is best served cold with spicy food, Korean barbecue or spareribs. other Sak�2Me Japan | $15 /4-pack This is the classiest, most delicious "wine cooler" we've ever tasted. Slightly sweet with light alcohol, this wine goes perfectly with beaches and bikinis (on or off). 2007 Quattro-Mani Toh-kai Brda, Primorski, Slovenia | $13 Rich with flavors of honey and melon, this affordable, medium-bodied white is way too easy to drink. Think: a picnic of takeout Asian food while watching the sunset. wh ite w hi te 2009 Seven Sisters Vivian Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape, South Africa | $16 One of our all-time favorite Sauv Blancs, this grassy, crisp and mineral-laden wine goes well with raw vegetables, shellfish or a sunny day. THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 43 EVERYTHING ELSE EVERYTHING ELSE | secondglass.com 2008 Hamilton Russell Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc Walker Bay, South Africa | $17 South Africa's version of a French Sancerre, this wine has strong mineral and chalk flavors. Drink with shellfish next to the ocean or just dreaming of it. white white red red white dessert 2008 Domaine Clos des Rocher Pinot Gris Luxembourg | $21 Sandwiched between France and Germany, Luxembourg makes wines very similar to Alsace. Lean, clean and brisk, give this wine a whirl and test your friends' geography knowledge. 2006 M'Hudi Pinotage Stellenbosch, South Africa | $17 Juicy, smoky and spicy, Pinotage is made for massive BBQs with a stockpile of red meats. South Africa's hometown hero, give this grape a try. 2003 Carmel Zarit Cabernet Sauvignon Israel | $27 Believe it or not, Israel produces some pretty good wine. This one is kosher (but most aren't) with mature, dark fruit flavors. This wine is too good for only holiday drinking. red 2003 Kavaklidere �k�zg�z� d'Elazig Ankara, Turkey | $18 Turkish reds are a lot like southern Greek wines: identifiably Mediterranean. This is very aromatic with lots of chewy tannins. Drink when a large piece of roasted meat is in play. red 2005 Mediterra Winery Mirambelo Peza, Crete, Greece | $30 From the island of Crete, this is made with the Kotsifali and Mandilaria grapes. Very tobacco-y, but the really intense red fruit pushes through. Requires a large piece of meat. Kanbara Bride of the Fox Junmai Ginjo (300ml) Niigata Prefecture, Japan | $18 Crisp and light, this traditional sake with a cute name explodes with flavors of nuts and ripe honeydew. Drink cold with seared tuna or avocado salad. other 1998 Chateau Musar Blanc Bekaa Valley, Lebanon | $34 You can still find bottles of this old white floating around. Lebanese wine is cool and definitely gaining in popularity. Expand your horizons and give this one a shot. 2008 Domaine Sigalas Asirtiko /Athiri Santorini, Greece | $18 Greek wine kicks ass! While somewhat difficult to track down, these are really cool wines and worth the effort. Drink this crisp white with Mediterranean-style seafood dishes. whi te 2003 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Red Label 5 Puttonyos Hungary | $50 Mega-sweet and strong acidity make this wine liquid gold in your glass. $50 for a half-bottle is expensive, but this is one wine that is worth it. Dessert, dessert, dessert! EVERYTHING ELSE 44 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide index Impress 2003 Kavaklidere �k�zg�z� d'Elazig - $18 pg 44 2007 Telmo Rodr�guez Dehesa Gago - $18 pg 21 NV Rosa Regale Brachetto - $20 pg 16 2005 Clos du Val Merlot - $20 pg 31 2008 Domaine Clos des Rocher Pinot Gris - $21 pg 44 2006 Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Reserve - $24 pg 39 2006 Steininger Grand Gr� Gr�ner Veltliner - $26 pg 25 2003 Bressan Pinot Grigio - $27 pg 17 2005 Lamblin et Fils Chablis Beauroy 1er Cru Beauroy - $28 pg 10 2006 Alain Burguet Les Pince Vin Bourgogne Rouge - $34 pg 11 2006 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses - $35 pg 22 1994 Kalin Cellars Cuv�e LD Sonoma Chardonnay - $35 pg 30 2005 Reininger Merlot - $36 pg 35 J.W. Burmester Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - $36 pg 21 2006 Domaine de l'Harmas Chateauneuf-du-Pape - $40 pg 11 2005 Beni di Batasiolo Barbaresco - $40 pg 17 2005 Bodegas Carrau AMAT - $43 pg 39 2004 Odysseus Vino Tinto - $45 pg 22 2005 Ch�teau d'Aiguilhe C�tes de Castillon - $45 pg 11 2005 Cedar Knoll Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - $45 pg 31 2004 Arger-Martucci Odyssey - $50 pg 31 2003 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Red Label 5 Puttonyos - $50 pg 44 2006 Spring Valley Vineyard "Uriah" - $50 pg 35 2006 Belle Vall�e Grand Cuv�e Pinot Noir - $56 pg 35 2006 Palazzo Cabernet Franc - $65 pg 31 2006 Barnett Vineyards Spring Mt. Cabernet Sauvignon - $65 pg 31 2005 Testamatta Bugia - $67 pg 17 2000 Cain Concept Library Edition - $70 pg 31 2000 Ayala Blanc de Blanc - $72 pg 11 Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny - $73 pg 22 2004 Vega Sicilia Alion - $80 pg 22 1997 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger - $300 pg 11 2008 Dr. B�rklin-Wolf Estate Riesling - $20 pg 25 2008 Long Shadows Poet's Leap Riesling - $22 pg 35 2007 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir - $24 pg 29 2007 Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling - $24 pg 29 2005 Poderi Aldo Conterno Masante Langhe Dolcetto - $28 pg 17 2006 Anne Amie Winemaker's Selection Pinot Noir - $35 pg 35 New Year/Celebration NV Farnum Hill Semi-Dry Cider - $10 pg 33 NV Poema Brut Cava - $11 pg 19 NV Tenuta Santom� Prosecco - $12 pg 15 NV Mionetto IL Prosecco - $12 pg 15 N/V Domaine de Martinolles Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux - $13 pg 8 NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs - $14 pg 34 NV Zardetto Prosecco Brut - $15 pg 15 NV 1 + 1 = 3 Cava Brut - $16 pg 22 NV Nino Franco "Rustico" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene - $17 pg 15 NV Emeri Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc - $18 pg 42 2008 Punkt Genau Sparkling Gr�ner Veltliner - $20 pg 25 2006 Gramona Grand Cuv�e Cava - $20 pg 22 N/V Taltarni Brut Ros� "Tache" Sparkling Wine - $20 pg 42 NV Peter Brum Goldsparkler - $21 pg 25 2005 Domaine Carneros Brut Cuv�e - $25 pg 29 2003 Westport Rivers Brut Cuv�e RJR - $26 pg 35 NV Duval-Leroy - $30 pg 11 2002 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuv�e - $35 pg 30 2006 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses - $35 pg 22 NV Jo�l Falmet Brut Tradition - $42 pg 11 NV Jean Lallement et Fils Reserve Brut - $68 pg 11 Panty Remover 2008 Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling - $10 pg 24 Tozai Snow Maiden Nigori (300ml) - $10 pg 43 2008 Weingut Huber Hugo Gr�ner Veltliner - $12 pg 24 2007 Quattro-Mani Toh-kai - $13 pg 43 2008 Michele Chiarlo "Nivole" Moscato d'Asti (375 ml) - $14 pg 15 Sak�2Me - $15 pg 43 2008 Charles Smith Wines Kung Fu Girl Riesling - $15 pg 34 2008 3 Brooms Sauvignon Blanc - $15 pg 41 2005 Masi Campofiorin Ripasso Rosso del Veronese IGT - $18 pg 16 2006 Balletto Russian River Pinot Noir - $19 pg 27 2008 Elio Perrone Bigaro Brachetto - $20 pg 16 NV Rosa Regale Brachetto - $20 pg 16 Warre's OTIMA 10 Year Old Tawny Port - $20 pg 21 2008 Philippe Raimbault Sancerre - $22 pg 10 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling - $25 pg 35 2007 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Jardine - $30 pg 29 NV Duval-Leroy - $30 pg 11 2005 Chateau RoumieuLacoste Sauternes (375 ml) - $35 pg 11 2007 Rombauer Chardonnay - $36 pg 30 2005 Tenuta di Trinoro Passopisciaro - $50 pg 17 2003 Nicolette Christopher Cabernet Sauvignon - $52 pg 31 1997 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger - $300 pg 11 Turkey Wine 2007 Domaine des Terres Falmet Cinsault Vin de Pays d'Oc - $12 pg 7 2008 Yellow+Blue Malbec - $12 pg 38 2006 Falernia Carmenere Syrah Reserva - $13 pg 38 2007 Chateau La Gineste - $14 pg 8 2008 Wine by Joe Pinot Gris - $14 pg 34 2007 Casa de la Ermita Viognier Jumilla - $14 pg 19 2007 Fleur de California Chardonnay - $15 pg 26 2003 Alate Cosecha Tempranillo - $15 pg 19 2006 Gisselbrecht Gewurztraminer - $15 pg 8 2007 Fleur de California Pinor Noir Central Coast - $16 pg 27 2007 Poppy Pinot Noir - $16 pg 27 2004 Terre di Gioia M�ller Thurgau - $16 pg 16 2008 Catena Chardonnay - $17 pg 39 2007 Errazuriz `Wild Ferment' Chardonnay - $17 pg 39 2008 Freemark Abbey Viognier - $20 pg 29 2006 Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil Cuv�e L�a Felsch - $20 pg 10 THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide | 45 index Dessert Wine 2008 St. Antonius Kreuznacher Kronenberg Riesling Auslese - $13 pg 24 2008 Michele Chiarlo "Nivole" Moscato d'Asti (375 ml) - $14 pg 15 Warre's OTIMA 10 Year Old Tawny Port - $20 pg 21 NV Rosa Regale Brachetto - $20 pg 16 2008 Elio Perrone Bigaro Brachetto - $20 pg 16 2005 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon - $25 pg 10 2005 Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste Sauternes (375 ml) - $35 pg 11 J.W. Burmester Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - $36 pg 21 2003 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Red Label 5 Puttonyos - $50 pg 44 Ramos Pinto 20 Year Old Tawny - $73 pg 22 2006 Castell del Remei Gotim Bru - $14 pg 19 2008 Cascina Bruni Barbera d'Asti - $15 pg 17 2006 7 Deadly Zins - $18 pg 27 2006 Dona Maria Tinto - $18 pg 21 2006 Clos la Chance `Ruby Throated' Cabernet Sauvignon - $19 pg 27 2006 Donnafugata Sedara Nero d'Avola - $20 pg 16 2007 Manifesto! Cabernet Sauvignon - $20 pg 29 2003 Colle Dei Venti Barbera d'Asti - $20 pg 16 2007 Domaine de Jaume Altitude 420 - $20 pg 10 2006 Quinta dos Roques Touriga Nacional - $20 pg 22 2005 Descendientes de Jos� Palacios "P�talos" - $24 pg 22 2008 Owen Roe Sinister Hand - $28 pg 35 2007 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Jardine - $30 pg 29 2007 Dominio IV Tempranillo Syrah Blend Technicolor Bat - $32 pg 35 2005 Hall Vineyards Merlot - $34 pg 30 2001 Villa Erbice Valpolicella Classico Superiore - $40 pg 17 Kosher 2003 Alate Cosecha Tempranillo - $15 pg 19 2003 Carmel Zarit Cabernet Sauvignon - $27 pg 44 Organic or Biodynamic 2008 Montinore Estate Vineyards Pinot Gris - $13 pg 34 2007 Bodega Colom� Amalaya Malbec Blend - $13 pg 38 N/V St. Cosme Little James' Basket Press - $15 pg 9 2005 Marc Kreydenweiss Perri�res - $15 pg 8 2005 Loan Semillon - $17 pg 42 2005 Albert Bichot Pinot Noir - $18 pg 9 2008 Dr. B�rklin-Wolf Estate Riesling - $20 pg 25 2006 Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil Cuv�e L�a Felsch - $20 pg 10 2005 Domaine Caillot Les Herbeux Bourgogne Blanc - $30 pg 11 2007 Dominio IV Tempranillo Syrah Blend Technicolor Bat - $32 pg 35 2006 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses - $35 pg 22 2006 Domaine de l'Harmas Chateauneuf-du-Pape - $40 pg 11 Party Wine 2009 Casal Garcia Vinho Verde - $6 pg 18 2008 Gouguenheim Malbec - $9 pg 37 2008 Altos Las Hormigas Bonarda Colonia las Liebres - $9 pg 37 2007 Bodegas Borsao Monte Oton Garnacha - $10 pg 19 2008 Si Soave - $10 pg 13 2007 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha - $10 pg 18 2007 Rosso Pesce - $10 pg 13 2006 Terra Andina Carmenere - $10 pg 38 2008 Hogue Cellars Gewurztraminer - $11 pg 33 2008 Espelt Corali Rosado - $11 pg 19 2007 Domaine Brunet Pinot Noir - $11 pg 7 NV Mionetto IL Prosecco - $12 pg 15 2008 Yellow+Blue Malbec - $12 pg 38 2008 Weingut Huber Hugo Gr�ner Veltliner - $12 pg 24 2006 Peachy Canyon Incredible Red - $12 pg 29 2007 Calvet Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc - $12 pg 10 N/V Domaine de Martinolles Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux - $13 pg 8 2006 Erik Banti Carato - $13 pg 15 2007 Berger Gr�ner Veltliner (1L) - $13 pg 25 2007 Quattro-Mani Toh-kai - $13 pg 43 2008 Zenato Pinot Grigio - $14 pg 15 Sak�2Me - $15 pg 43 2007 Angove's Red Belly Black Shiraz - $15 pg 42 2007 M�nchhof Estate Riesling - $15 pg 25 2006 Oberon Sauvignon Blanc - $15 pg 26 2007 Brampton Shiraz - $15 pg 43 NV Peter Brum Goldsparkler - $21 pg 25 Unique 2007 Simonnet-Febvre Saint Bris - $12 pg 7 2007 Travessia Vidal Blanc - $13 pg 33 2007 Chateau La Gineste - $14 pg 8 2004 Alvear Fino en Rama - $16 pg 21 2004 Terre di Gioia M�ller Thurgau - $16 pg 16 2003 Kavaklidere �k�zg�z� d'Elazi? - $18 pg 44 2007 Palmina Dolcetto Santa Barbara County - $20 pg 29 2008 Domaine Clos des Rocher Pinot Gris - $21 pg 44 2008 Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio `La Novella' Nebbiolo Blanc/ Chardonnay - $22 pg 16 2006 Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard Reserve - $24 pg 39 1998 Chateau Musar Blanc - $34 pg 44 1994 Kalin Cellars Cuv�e LD Sonoma Chardonnay - $35 pg 30 Winter Warmer 2006 Barbadillo Palomino Fina - $10 pg 18 2007 Dona Ermelinda Tinto - $10 pg 19 2007 Guidobono Nebbiolo - $12 pg 13 2007 Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon - $13 pg 38 2006 Falernia Carmenere Syrah Reserva - $13 pg 38 2006 Vistalba Corte C Malbec - $13 pg 38 2006 Reverdito Michele Barbera d'Alba - $13 pg 15 2008 Irreverente - $14 pg 19 Pizza/ Tomato 2007 MAN Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon - $9 pg 43 2006 Terra Andina Carmenere - $10 pg 38 2007 Bodegas Borsao Monte Oton Garnacha - $10 pg 19 2006 Peachy Canyon Incredible Red - $12 pg 29 2007 Chateau Trignon C�tes du Rh�ne - $12 pg 8 2006 Gordon Brothers Kamiak Cellar Select Cabernet-Merlot - $12 pg 33 2007 Domaine des Terres Falmet Cinsault Vin de Pays d'Oc - $12 pg 7 46 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide 2006 Reverdito Michele Barbera d'Alba - $13 pg 15 2005 Marc Kreydenweiss Perri�res - $15 pg 8 2008 Cascina Bruni Barbera d'Asti - $15 pg 17 2003 Alate Cosecha Tempranillo - $15 pg 19 N/V St. Cosme Little James' Basket Press - $15 pg 9 2007 Maison Moillard Bourgogne Rouge - $15 pg 9 2007 David Hook The Gorge Viognier - $16 pg 42 2006 Topanga "Khroma" Cabernet Sauvignon - $16 pg 27 2005 Albert Bichot Pinot Noir - $18 pg 9 2004 Domaine la Croix Belle St. Chinian - $18 pg 9 2005 Masi Campofiorin Ripasso Rosso del Veronese IGT - $18 pg 16 2006 Steininger Zweigelt - $18 pg 25 2006 Dona Maria Tinto - $18 pg 21 2003 Colle Dei Venti Barbera d'Asti - $20 pg 16 2006 Donnafugata Sedara Nero d'Avola - $20 pg 16 2007 Palmina Dolcetto Santa Barbara County - $20 pg 29 2005 Chateau Clos Bourbon - $23 pg 10 2005 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva - $25 pg 16 2005 Poderi Aldo Conterno Masante Langhe Dolcetto - $28 pg 17 2005 Hall Vineyards Merlot - $34 pg 30 2005 Reininger Merlot - $36 pg 35 2005 Tenuta di Trinoro Passopisciaro - $50 pg 17 2007 Hugel et Fils Gentil - $13 pg 8 2007 Quattro-Mani Toh-kai - $13 pg 43 2007 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc - $13 pg 34 2008 Montinore Estate Vineyards Pinot Gris - $13 pg 34 2008 St. Antonius Kreuznacher Kronenberg Riesling Auslese - $13 pg 24 2007 Domaine Gaultier Vouvray - $15 pg 8 2006 Gisselbrecht Gewurztraminer - $15 pg 8 2007 Trimbach Pinot Blanc - $15 pg 9 NV Zardetto Prosecco Brut - $15 pg 15 2008 Charles Smith Wines Kung Fu Girl Riesling - $15 pg 34 2008 Torii Mor Pinot Gris - $16 pg 34 2005 Loan Semillon - $17 pg 42 Kanbara Bride of the Fox Junmai Ginjo (300ml) - $18 pg 44 2008 Scholium Project Verdelho `Naucratis' Lost Slough Vineyards - $20 pg 27 2008 Freemark Abbey Viognier - $20 pg 29 2008 Dr. B�rklin-Wolf Estate Riesling - $20 pg 25 2008 Arger-Martucci Iliad - $25 pg 30 2006 Figini Gavi di Gavi - $25 pg 16 2007 Kenneth Volk Malvasia Bianca - $25 pg 30 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling - $25 pg 35 2005 Chateau Roumieu-Lacoste Sauternes (375 ml) - $35 pg 11 Asian Food 2009 Jelu Torrontes - $9 pg 39 Tozai Snow Maiden Nigori (300ml) - $10 pg 43 2008 Weingut Huber Hugo Gr�ner Veltliner - $12 pg 24 cabotcheese.coop 6 | THE SECOND GLASS annual wine guide