BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Maryhill 2009 Proprietor’s Reserve Cab-
91 ernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley). The
reserve takes the tight focus and black fruit flavors of
the regular Cab and ramps them up a notch or two.
Deeper, denser and darker, with flavors of cassis and
licorice wrapped into the tannic, earthy depths of the
finish. This has great power. —P.G.
abv: 13.8% Price: $30
91
Sorelle Per Sempre 2010 Un-Oaked Sustainable
Farming Chardonnay (Central
Coast). Unbelievable that there’s no oak on this Chardonnay.
It’s so rich and creamy in vanilla, tangerine,
peach and apricot flavors, you won’t miss that hit of buttered
toast. The acidity is marvelous. Editors’ Choice.
—S.H.
abv: 13.6% Price: $16
Talley 2010 Estate Bottled Chardonnay
91 (Arroyo Grande Valley). Talley produces
some of the best Chardonnays on the Central Coast. Although
this isn’t one of their single-vineyard bottlings,
it’s a splendid wine, dry, crisp and silky. It shows complex
citrus, vanilla and mineral flavors, and should pair
with lobster, shrimp and scallops. —S.H.
abv: 14.4% Price: $26
90
Balletto 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian
River Valley). Thank goodness this rosé
is bone dry for a change, when so many California
blushes are sugary sweet. It also shows a bite of acidity
and tannins. The flavors range from mineral and rose
petal to cherry and herb tea. Editors’ Choice. —S.H.
abv: 13.8% Price: $18
90
Buehler 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
(St. Helena). Nice, classic black currant
and cedar flavors in this dry young wine, with some firm
minerality. The tannin structure is evident in the form
of a tough astringency. Give it 6–8 years in the cellar.
Cellar Selection. —S.H.
abv: 14.7% Price: $36
90
Ceuso 2008 Rosso (Sicilia). This blend of
Nero d’Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
offers aromas of dark fruit, espresso bean, leather, tobacco
and savory spice. It’s a bold, structured wine, with
firm tannins and a bitter chocolate aftertaste. Vias Imports.
—M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $40
90
Domaine Saint-Aix 2011 Aix Rosé (Coteaux
d’Aix-en-Provence). This tastes light
and fruity. Its great swathe of acidity cuts through the
orange and red fruit flavors, lending crispness and a
fresh finish. American Northwest Distributors Inc.
Editors’ Choice. —R.V.
abv: 13% Price: $19
90 Efeste- 2009 Ceidleigh Syrah (Red Mountain).
Pronounced Kay-lee, this is the most
tannic of the Syrahs from Efeste - . Forward black fruit
flavors are wreathed in smoke, and there is plenty of
supporting acidity. This finishes with a burst of cherry.
Cellar Selection. —P.G.
abv: 14.9% Price: $38
90
Hanzell 2010 Sebella Chardonnay (Sonoma
Valley). Dry and rich, with bracing acids
and minerals, this has complex pineapple, pear and
buttercream flavors. It’s lovely to drink now. —S.H.
abv: 14.2% Price: $36
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