With an eye to restaurant wine lists, our cellar reconnoiterer Jeffery Lindenmuth picks ideal new releases recently reviewed by Wine Spectator.
Note: Wine Spectator rates on a 100-point scale. 95—100: Classic, a great wine. 90—94: Out standing, superior style and character. 80—89: Good to very good, a wine with special qualities. Prices listed are average wholesale case prices.Best Buys
Château d'Aquéria Tavel 2006
Long before the current rosé revolution, there was Tavel. This estate, dating to 1595, offers a classic salmon-hued Provençal wine with seductive floral notes and intense red cherry and berry fruit throughout. Generous in body and acidity, the finish turns bone dry, with distinctive mineral and peppery flavors. 24,500 cases made.
Score: 88 Cost: $160 per case
Bogle Sauvignon Blanc California 2006
This crisp wine, sourced from the cool Monterey and Russian River Valley AVAs, shows great varietal character and breadth of flavor for the price. Aged entirely in stainless steel, the juicy fruit—zesty lime, green apple, and tropical flavors—pours freely across the palate with vibrant, refreshing acidity. 40,000 cases made.
Score: 86 Cost: $96 per case
Castle Rock Pinot Noir Mendocino County 2006
This characterful and food-friendly Pinot has an appealing 13.8 percent alcohol for summer. A cherry/raspberry palate follows classic red cherry and earth aromas tinged with floral highlights. Displays a lovely silken texture and considerable elegance through the long finish.
Score: 86 Cost: $120 per case
Highly Recommended
Leasingham Shiraz Clare Valley Bin 61 2004
From a region better known for Riesling, this Aussie Shiraz is typically fruit forward, with profuse cherry and blackberry flavors and aromas of tobacco and cedary spice. The tannins are soft and smooth on the palate, lending elegance and grace to the long finish.
Score: 90 Cost: $208 per case
Bodegas Naia Rueda 2006
The price of this Spanish white, made from Verdejo grapes, has been on a steady ascent, but with nice balance of creaminess and crisp acidity it still represents a great value in an appealingly fresh summer white. The bright flavors of guava and passion fruit are underscored by richer impressions of lemon curd, vanilla, and almond. 6,000 cases imported.
Score: 89 Cost: $145 per case
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape 2007
This South African standby is lean and green, with pea and bell pepper crunch that you can almost smell. The crisp clean flavor offers lime, green apple, and tart gooseberry fruit in combination with its vegetal snap and electric acidity. A nice alternative for fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. 10,000 cases imported.
Score: 89 Cost: $170 per case
Specials
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005
With a long future ahead, this wine is still reticent with its flavors as you peer into its dense dark fig, black cherry, and black currant fruit. Tightly woven with licorice, coffee, and tar, as well as iron and red meat, this wine is only beginning to show its full power and purity. Long and concentrated on the finish. 15,000 cases made.
Score: 96 Cost: $920 per case
Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Vertige 2005
This ageworthy Viognier from a young Rhône superstar is highly aromatic of melon and apple, quince and peach. The grape's generous, slightly oily body is pierced by a streak of stony mineral, and the richly layered palate reveals subtle spice and anise flavors. Dense, long, and well balanced. 250 cases made.
Score: 96 Cost: $1,200 per case
Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Graacher Himmelreich 2006
Replete with honey-slathered fruit—apple, peach, and nectarine—this richly layered wine incorporates white flowers, subtle spice, and slate into its fresh aroma. Despite its concentration and initial sweetness, it achieves a lacey and lithe texture exhibiting great balance and purity on the finish. 500 cases made.
Score: 95 Cost: $900 per case
