Sparkling wines can be made anywhere in
the world and from any grape type, but
Veuve du Vernay Brut
Blanc de Blanc (France
Crisp
and fruity with a soft, balanced finish
Taittinger Brut La Française (France) $22 demi /$11 glass
Crisp and fruity with a soft, balanced finish
Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin Brut
Champagne (France) $68 /$36 demi
The Classic. Rich, dry, sophisticated, and
elegant.
Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut (France) $64/$32 demi
Hints of vanilla, honey, and citrus with a subtle finish.
Perrier-Jouet Brut Fleur
de Champagne Belle Epoque 1996 (France) $125/$65 demi
A
Dom Perignon 1998 (
Intensely flavored with
superb texture.
Krug Brut Grande Cuvee (
Profound depth and
complexity. A unique
Muscadet
Domaine de la Fruitière 2005 (
Hints
of green apples, lemon and minerals. Elegant and rich. Ideal for
shellfish
Chenin Blanc
Domaine du Viking, Vouvray
tendre 2002 (
Sauvignon Blanc is often tart and crisp and pairs beautifully with
oysters, little necks, and delicate seafood.
L’Aumonier 2006 (
Rutz Cellar
2002 (
Floral aromas but reminds the palate of
grapefruit and lime.
Kim Crawford 2006 (
Tropical fruits abound with
passion fruit, melon and fig coupled with subtle herbal characters. Rich and full.
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2005 (
Fresh and tightly wound; acidity is tempered by very
subtle residual sugar; very clean; alive, racy, youthful. A dry and elegant
wine, well balanced. The ultimate oyster wine.
Oyster Bay 2007 (New Zealand
Bright and
fresh, with distinctive, bright passion fruit, lemon, and grapefruit flavors that linger on a lively finish.
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc 2006 (Sonoma) $40
Ripe and fresh with fig, melon, and vanilla undertones.
Carmenet Reserve
2001 (
Hints of honeydew, citrus,
herbs, and honey.
Groth 2006 (
The cooler
Cakebread Cellars
2005 (
Fresh,
rich, vivacious with bright grapefruit, lime and melon flavors.
Flavors are buttery, creamy, nutty, and smoky. Pairs nicely
with poultry and meaty seafood such as swordfish and halibut.
Tunnel
of Elms 2005 (
An easy drinking table wine. This wine exhibits
bright citrus and tropical fruit aromas.
Kenwood
2006 (Sonoma
Pear & green apples balanced with toasted vanilla
and oak notes. Smooth and creamy finish.
Chateau Souverain 2005 (
Vibrant aromas of honeysuckle, pears, and tropical fruit. Luscious
on the palate.
Merryvale Starmont 2005 (
Flavors reminiscent of apple, peach and pear with a
round and silky finish.
Matanzas Creek
Winery 2005 (
Rich, intense and full
bodied, the ripe pear, spice, fig , honey flavors
& toasted oak.
Sonoma-Cutrer
“
Clean, crisp, & silky
smooth with delicate fruit and hints of oak.
Clos La Chance “Glittering Throated Emerald”
2005 (
The palate is
refreshing with flavors of crisp apple and citrus, balanced with great acidity.
Ferrari Carano 2005 (
Laced with tropical aromas of pineapple and
mango. Balanced with soft toasty oak.
Pine Ridge
Creamy aromas of citrus and orange blossom with
hints of lime peel and vanilla. The full-bodied mouthfeel
features sweet citrus, pear and lemon-lime. Rich and creamy
on the finish.
Cakebread Cellars
2005 (
Aromas of green apple and apricot. Slightly buttery with a
silky finish. A
classic beauty.
Olivier
Leflaive “les Narvaux”
Meursault 2000 (France) $72
Racy citrus fruit, subtle
butter and a core of mid-palate minerality are dominant in this medium-full
bodied wine. The finish is persistent, fresh and rather spicy.
Domaine Caillot “Les Tessons” Meursault 2002 (France,
Burgundy) $82
Rich, ripe, well-balanced,
and full-bodied. Reminiscent of lemon, honey, and pear
tart. Magnificent.
Far Niente 2005 (Napa
Aromas of melon, hazelnut, orange, spice and cinnamon are
complemented by a toasty aroma in the nose. The palate offers a full entry with
layers of fruit, fig, and citrus.
Pinot Gris, known as
Pinot Grigio in
Lagaria 2006 (Italy
Soft and delicate. Complex
flavors of fresh fruit and an almost sweet finish.
Ruffino Lumina 2006 (
Pale straw in color, this is a lively wine. Crisp and
full of fresh fruit.
Trimbach,
Reserve 2004 (
Soft and open with apple
and pear notes.
The Viognier varietal has been a rapidly
rising star over the past decade.
Remarkably difficult to grow, it is low in acidity and high in
character. Matches well with Thai fusion,
intensely flavored fish dishes, white meats, and fruits.
Renwood “Select
Series” 2005 (California/Lodi) $32 /$ 8 glass
Richly filled with ripe pears, lemon, peaches and apricot. A spicy and
lingering finish with hints of vanilla.
Pine
Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier 2005 (Napa) $28
This sweet blend features bright flavors of
melon, peach, grapefruit and lichee. It has a supple texture and a clean, crisp
finish. (80% Chenin Blanc/20% Viognier)
The Riesling varietal wines are delicate but
complex and are characterized by a spicy
but fruity flavor, a distinctive flowery bouquet, and a long finish. They pair particularly well with white meats, salmon, and lightly spicy
dishes.
Chateau Ste
Michelle 2006 (Washington) $32 /$8 glass
Green apple, melon and mineral flavors soft with a
soft and elegant finish.
Jean Baptiste Adam Reserve 2004 Riesling (
Ripe and intense. White peach, passion fruit, and pineapple flavors pick up a
mineral accent. This wine is perfect with any lobster dish.
The variety has high natural sugar and the wines are usually off-dry,
with a flamboyant bouquet of lychee. Its aromatic flavours make it suitable to
drink with Asian cuisine, wild game & salmon.
J.Hefrich Grand
Cru Steinholz 2001 (Alsace
World class wine of great flavor and complexity. Displays aromas of floral & mineral scents.
Ideal with lobster & scallops.
Now and Zen , Wasabi
White 2006 $28/ glass 7
Honeyed apricot and peony aromas. A silky entry leads to a
fruity-yet-dry medium body A delicious offering for
Asian cuisine
Joseph Phelps “Pastiche” 2003 (
Alsatian style
blend of six varieties brings floral, pear, and citrus to the palate. Excellent wine with seafood.
Domaine du Vieux
Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape 2005 (
Clear golden color with complex citrus and floral
aromas. Very full in the mouth. Good fruit and a long finish.
Conundrum 2005 (
Round and ripe with melon, orange rind, pear, and
floral notes. Citrus and vanilla shape the
intense finish.
Chateau Fombrauge 2004 (
41% sauvignon blanc, 33% Semillon , 21% sauvignon gris
& 5% muscatelle
Silver Medal in Paris Notes of vanilla, melted butter and white flowers on the
nose. Quite a "new
world" style on the palate, oak still pronounced but very good underlying
acidity and length, along with nutty flavors.
Renwood
Syrah “Select Series” 2003 (California/Amador) $24
Layers of strawberry, raspberry, and rose petals with
a slightly herbaceous character. Finish of soft and
round tannins lingers on the palate.
Chateau d’Aqueria 2004 (
Perfectly
dry, intensely fragrant and generously fruity. Perfect with
light viands and hearty fish.
Pinot Noir is difficult to grow; the grapes are thin-skinned, temperamental
and sensitive. The wines can exhibit an extensive range of flavors and styles,
from fruit-forward to earthy and dry. Particularly nice with
salmon, white meats, and game.
Rodney Strong
Estate vineyards 2005 (Russian River Valley
Supple in texture, with
rose petal and red fruit aromas, this lively, medium bodied wine is aged in
predominantly French oak, which adds a subtle, toasty vanilla character.
Joseph Carr 2006 (
Pure, expressive red
fruit flavors. Finishes with ripe, fine tannins and a subtle
persistence. Very elegant, reminds one of Volnay.
A true value for Pinot lovers
Domaine Carneros
Estate 2005 (Carneros, Napa
It is a delicate wine intensely aromatic with notes of
strawberries, cherries, orange peel combined with hints of clove, rose petals,
and black tea. Wonderful accompaniment to salmon and meat.
Louis Latour Beaune
Pinot Noir 2002 (
Sweet black cherry, cassis and vanilla aromas and flavors
saturate the palate in this seductive red. It’s ripe and dens,, yet fresh and vibrant, with a mineral component that adds
complexity and depth.
Calera 2005 (
Fresh and lively with a lingering blackberry
flavor.
Acacia 2005 (
Earthy blackberry and wild
berry core. Firm tannins. Wine Spectator 90 points.
Bright and crisp with red
berry and currant flavors. Nice tannins on the lively finish.
Lane
Tanner Julia’s Vineyard 2004 (
Dark cherries
and black raspberries run through the mouth with dried spice that hovers like a
cloud-thread of perfume. It is very deep and voluptuous with a haunting, smoky
quality that is from the grapes themselves.
Hartford Court Sonoma Coast
Complex aromas of ripe cherries, violets and cedar are followed by
flavors of perfectly ripe, black cherries and mixed red berries. Allspice and
coffee notes complement a long, multi-faceted finish.
David Brucé 2005 (
The vintage is a selection of superb Pinot Noir.
Ripe dark fruit, toasty vanilla & creamy caramel
notes with great tannins.
Merlot was initially intended for blending but has gained an
independent following over the past few years. Its soft tannins and hints of
black currants and cherry make it a great pairing with pork loin, filet mignon,
and also tuna.
Santa Rita Reserve
2005 (Chili) $32 /$8 glass
Typical aromas of plums with nuances of cherries. A medium bodied wine, soft and rounded.
Chateau D’Aiguilhe
1999 (
Dense purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet
bouquet of melted chocolate, blackberries, cassis, and cherries.