2007 Monarchia Winery Gruner Vetliner $12.99

Clear in color with a solid nose of sugar cookies. Quality is not that great. It seemed like a wine that was pushed into becoming a wine.

Tasted 4/29/09

2005 JT Cellars Chardonnay Alexander Valley $11.99

Light to dark straw in color. Nose of honey and yellow cake and a palate of light honey and high acidity. Wine is kind of trying to be something, but not sure what it is. Finish is flat like a wall and has a strange aftertaste of paint.

Tasted 4/29/09

2007 Calea Nero d'Avola $11.99

Another great wine from Calea. Parker's lackey gave it 88 points. I'd go with that. The wine is blackberry in color with rich red fruit notes. Light notes of coffee and soft wet flowers. Tannins were a bit rough at first but then it settled out. Pretty good balance and acidity. Wine has a smooth finish with light notes of cedar at the end. Good damn wine.

Tasted 4/29/09

2007 Bernard Baudry Chinon "Les Granges" $19.99

Not only is this wine organic & biodynamic, it's really good shit! Pretty dark in color, almost brick to rich red. The nose is something to die for. Rich earth notes with more dirt than a shovel can handle. Has lots of red fruit with dried herbs and spices. The tannins and acidity were medium bodied, but were very elegant. This Cabernet Franc based beauty was a sure joy to taste. Finish was pretty smooth.

Tasted 4/29/09

1994 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay, Cuvée W Livermore Valley $39.00

Wine was darker than straw in color, almost pee-like color to it. Rich lemons on the nose and high acidity on the palate. Wine might have been falling downhill a bit. Towards the end it seemed a bit shallow and hollow. Not really my style for a chardonnay.

Tasted 4/29/09

Calea Inzolia $11.99

The Calea Inzolia was clear with a Sauvignon Blanc nose, hints of lemon grass and a touch of minerals. On the palate and finish it had a pretty mellowness to it. Soft and round with light hints of tropical fruit. Wet rock was added toward the end for a nice soft finish. No picture.

Tasted 4/29/09

2008 Vega Sindoa White Wine $8.99

Great little blend of 75% Viura & 25% Chardonnay. Clear in color with just a hint of straw. Very crisp with a nice helping of lemon-grass and light straw. Sea salt with a nice soft finish. There were also hints of hazelnuts and almonds were followed down.

Tasted 4/29/09

2008 Vega Sindoa Rosé $8.99

The 2008 Vega Sindoa Rosé is a great little Garnacha rosé! Bright strawberry in color with a the nose to match and a touch of strawberry cotton-candy to follow. The finish has a tad of sea salt and a light acidic bite that makes it sip at the end. Great little afternoon quaffer.

Tasted 4/29/09

2007 Agua de Piedra Gran Reserva Malbec $9.99

100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5%

This is one of the best Malbec's I have had in the last five years! From my importer Monsieur Touton, this wine might not be coming back in. The rumor is that it will be discontinued by them, which means I need to find out who will be importing the shit!

Wine is deep red in color with a dark red rim. This wine was made to age! Rich plum and black fruit on the nose with hints of chocolate and spices. It may even be a hint of the spice chai.

On the palate there is some very silk tannins but also some nice rich fruit with silk-soft tannins. I will have to secure myself a few cases. Wine can age for at least 5 years but taste great now if decanted. Good shit!

Tasted 4/25/09

2008 Finca Flichman Malbec $8.99

100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Ageing: 3 months in French Oak
Alcohol: 13%

If you are looking for a fruit-driven Malbec, look no further! Deep red in color, but it has a nice soft red rim. Nose of blue berries and soft oak, hints of vanilla and light spices finish the nose. On the palate there are lots of blue or black fruit with a slight spice or hint of pepper on the finish. Good for a Sunday BBQ or just sitting around having a pizza.

Tasted 4/25/09

2008 Urban Uco Torrantes $7.99

Region: Cafayate, Argentina
100% Torrontes
Harvest: Hand-Picked!
100% Stainless Steel
Alcohol: 13.5%

Wow, this is a great Torrontés! Very light almost a hint of green in color. What a nose! Soft white fruit of a light lychee and citrus. On the palate the fruit, ripe green apple and light pineapple show through the medium plus acidity. Finish is very smooth and lingers on for about 15 seconds. This is a great wine for the summer or a nice grilled meat or fish.

Tasted 4/25/09

2008 Finca Flichman Chardonnay $8.99

Region: Mendoza, Argentina
100% Chardonnay
3 months oak ageing
Alcohol: 13%

Pretty nice little Chardonnay for the price. Has a light green tint to it with a very light butter nose with hints of light white fruit. On the palate it seems to rest softly and goes away with a nice clean finish.

Tasted 4/25/09

2007 Franciscan Chardonnay $13.99

The 2007 Chardonnay is not what I thought it should be. Piss yellow with a huge amount of butter on the nose. Someone decided to pull the old malolactic fermentation route on this one. Very high acidity with a shit load of oak. Actually this chardonnay really taste like shit!

Tasted 4/11/09

2005 Franciscan Merlot $22.99

The Franciscan Merlot from 05 has a deep red color with a light but bright ruby rim. Loads of dried herbs like sage and oregano on the nose with just a hint of tar. Pretty high acidity with high tannins. The finish is rough around the edges like they were trying to rush it to the bottle. Again, not really impressed with this winery.

Tasted 4/11/09

2005 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon $28.99

The 05 Franciscan Cabernet is one that is almost blood red in color. Has a nose of spices, light metallic notes with hints of blueberry. Medium dry on the palate, hard as iron tannins with a really odd iodine finish. Wine seemed pretty hot and had a lot of oak. Strange since it is only 13.5% alcohol. Not really one of my favorites.

Tasted on 4/11/09

2007 Peter Mertes Riesling Kabinett $8.99

100% Riesling
Region: Mosel
Alcohol: 9%

This is a great little Riesling from Peter Mertes. Nice and clear to the eyes, with some swell mineral notes and a hint of lime peel. On the palate there is some good white fruit such as light white peach, hints of grapefruit with nice medium finish. This wine is great for those early summer blues or with some spicy Thai chicken. For $9 bucks your getting one hell of a Riesling.

Tasted 4/18/09

2007 Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling, $10.99

100% Riesling
Region: Mosel
Alcohol: 8.5%

This is one great little Qba! Slight spritz of minerals on the nose with a nice helping of white peach. Wine is clear with tiny little bubbles, the Don Ho kind! On the palate, this wines is crisp with a nice bit of rips fruits. Will go great with spicy foods or by itself.

Wine Spectator gave it 89 points

Tasted 4/18/09

2007 Urban Riesling $11.99

This is a great little Riesling from Nik. Weis, the winemaker from St. Urbans-Hof. This is his own selection of Riesling in which I am in love with, and after the tasting I had on Saturday, most of my customers are as well.

Light mineral notes with hints of fresh rain with a light sulphur note. This is a good thing. On the palate, wow! Fresh and crisp on the palate with a nice lingering notes of light white fruit.

This would be a great wine for some spicey Thia dish or just sitting on the back porch with some friends. I tasted this with Nik when he visited NY and it was just bottled. It was amazing then and it still now.

2007 Nelms Road Merlot $24.00

80% Merlot
10% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Syrah
3% Barbera
3% Dolcetto

Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 2600+ cases 750ml

Wine Enthusiast gave this beauty 89 point, I thinks its worth more like 92 points! The region on the bottle says "Washington State" and for good reason. With over six different vineyards pushed into this bottle, it is a miracle they came out with such a beautiful blend. This is the reason why they do what they do!

A massive amount of berry fruit like, strawberry starburst and cherry snow cone flavor, this is a great little juice factory. Smooth tannins and great acidity, this is one for the Friday night meatloaf or a nice big pasta with a good red sauce. I love this wine!

Tasted 4/7/09 Skurnik Wines

2006 Woodward Canyon Columbia Valley Merlot $39.00

81% Merlot
15% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Syrah

Alcohol: 14.6%
Production: 623 cases 750ml

Wine Enthusiast gave this Merlot 94 point. Pretty damn nice score if you ask me! This wines was more like taking a sniff from a right bank Bordeaux! Talk about pencil shavings! WOW. Almost black cherry in color, with hints of rich berry and lead. On the mouth this wine was luscious and deep. Tannins and acidity are where they should be. I'd crack it open now with a nice side of beef or wait.

Tasted 4/7/09 Skurnik Wines

2007 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon $24.00

78% Cabernet Sauvignon
8% Cabernet Franc
8% Syrah
6% Merlot

Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 5,521 cases

Wine Enthusiast gave her 89 points. I think I agree with the points they gave it. Pretty dark in color with hints of pepper and spice on the nose. As for the palate, it was a pretty serious wine that had lots of different layers of fruit. Hints of chocolate and espresso, but not enough to make a mocha out of it. Nice big finish with the tannins and acidity falling into place. I've always liked this wine.

Tasted 4/7/09 Skurnik Wines

2006 Woodward Canyon, Artist Series, Cabernet Sauvignon $45.00

86% Cabernet Sauvignon
13% Syrah
1% Merlot

Alcohol: 14.5%

The 2006 Artist Series from Woodward Canyon has less of a blend of grapes and more of a blend of different vineyards. Grapes comes from Champoux, Dubrul, Sagemoor, Charbonneau and Woodward Canyon Estate. With less than 2500 cases of 750ml made, this will sure be a wine to get and hold onto for future drinking.

Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast both gave the 2006 Artist Series 91 points. There are even 375ml and 1.5L's made for this series. The wine has a light chocolate nose with hints of coffee. Wine is pretty dark in color, meaning that it could stain a nice counter top. Rich red fruit on the palate with pretty soft silky tannins. There was a light minty-ness on the end as the finish slowly drifted away for around 45 seconds. WOW! Everything I have come to love from the Artist Series.

Tasted 4/7/09 Skurnik Wines

2006 Woodward Canyon, Columbia Valley, Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon $72.50

97% Cabernet Sauvignon
3% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 15.2%

Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 94 points and will be published in their May 2009 edition. With the grapes coming from Sagemoor and Champoux vineyards with the 3% Petit Verdot estate fruit. This is a wine that needs to either lay down for a 5 years or be opened up and let breathe for many hours.

Wine is what I like to call a, "Fully Belly Sit Down." This wine is more like a left-bank Bordeaux than a Washington wine. Deep red in color, almost black really. Very rich on the nose of black and red fruit with hints of black cherry and ink. On the palate this beast is full-bodied with huge notes of cassis, rich earth tones, and solid oak. Tannins are pretty big yet very balanced. The finish was as large as the nose, and palate but soft with firm tannins and acidity.

I would not mind picking up a case of this and letting it sit for a few years before I crack them open. I first need to make some room in the cellar.

Tasted 4/7/09 Skurnik Wines