Wine + Argentina Wines + 2005

Planted by the Warren Winiarski family in 1970, SLV achieved international fame when three year old vines from the 1973 harvest produced a wine that shocked the wine world by triumphing over some of France's greatest wines in a 1976 blind tasting known as the Judgment of Paris Today, this history-making vineyard continues to yield wines of multi-layered complexity, structure, and spicy intensity Located in the heart of what is now the Stags Leap District, SLV soils are made up, in part, of volcanic earth which contributes fire-like qualities of great structure, concentration, and spicy intensity The vineyard has undergone a gradual, decade-long replanting program This year's blend includes fruit from the young vines of Block 3A and 3B, planted in 2001 The lots vinified from these youthful vines are already showing classic SLV structure and rich cassis flavors The blend also includes fruit from 1A and 2A Planted in the early 1990's, they are now in their peak growing years The final contribution to the blend comes from Block 4 with vines over thirty-five years old, the last remaining block from the original planting which continues to produce fruit of extraordinary character In its youth, this wine rewards those who let it sit in the glass and open up before discovering its generous character At first, it presents dark fruit and floral aromas, then an earthy hint of rosemary and black truffle Similar flavors unfold, including dark cherry, blueberry and plum that join with cocoa powder and spiced vanilla This mouthfilling wine builds in richness and density through its long, smooth finish Try it with a dry-aged porterhouse steak, grilled game, or a wild mushroom tart Wine California Still Wine

A delicate perfume of lemon, pear, and honeysuckle introduce this wine's sophisticated charm while subtle notes of pineapple, tangerine, and lemongrass weave their way through the glass On first taste, flavors of passion fruit and mandarin orange are tinged by flinty mineral tones and refreshing acidity Serve this wine on a sunny day with Hog Island Oysters or a spinach salad with warm pancetta, toasted walnuts, and goat cheese topped with light citrus vinigrette BRV, our estate vineyard bordering the Napa River in the Oak Knoll District, contributes more than 25% of the fruit to this blend In these fertile soils, we control vigor through proper crop loading, trellising, and canopy management to coax out the fruity and floral characteristics of the varietal while limiting its more aggressive herb and grass elements to delicate top notes BRV is planted in part with Sauvignon Musque, a clonal variant originally from Bordeaux, prized for its intense floral and tropical fruit flavors It accounts for over a quarter of the blend Then, we balance the round fruit flavors of BRV with the more structured mineral and citrus character of the grapes from Terrence Wilsons Rancho Chimiles Vineyard in Wooden Valley We continue to build complexity with the addition of Semillon, known for its honey, fig, and melon character Our winemaking team preserves the wines sleek varietal character by tank fermenting more than a third of the grapes, while sur lies aging (leaving the wine in contact with the spent yeast) in fourth- and fifth-fill French oak and regular battonage (stirring the lees) smooth out any edges and give the wine an appealing texture Wine CALIFORNIA STILL WINE

Planted by the Warren Winiarski family in 1970, SLV achieved international fame when three year old vines from the 1973 harvest produced a wine that shocked the wine world by triumphing over some of France's greatest wines in a 1976 blind tasting known as the Judgment of Paris Today, this history-making vineyard continues to yield wines of multi-layered complexity, structure, and spicy intensity Located in the heart of what is now the Stags Leap District, SLV soils are made up, in part, of volcanic earth which contributes fire-like qualities of great structure, concentration, and spicy intensity The vineyard has undergone a gradual, decade-long replanting program This year's blend includes fruit from the young vines of Block 3A and 3B, planted in 2001 The lots vinified from these youthful vines are already showing classic SLV structure and rich cassis flavors The blend also includes fruit from 1A and 2A Planted in the early 1990's, they are now in their peak growing years The final contribution to the blend comes from Block 4 with vines over thirty-five years old, the last remaining block from the original planting which continues to produce fruit of extraordinary character In its youth, this wine rewards those who let it sit in the glass and open up before discovering its generous character At first, it presents dark fruit and floral aromas, then an earthy hint of rosemary and black truffle Similar flavors unfold, including dark cherry, blueberry and plum that join with cocoa powder and spiced vanilla This mouthfilling wine builds in richness and density through its long, smooth finish Try it with a dry-aged porterhouse steak, grilled game, or a wild mushroom tart Wine California Still Wine

The FAY vineyard is the land where the story of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars began back in 1969 when Warren Winiarski tasted Nathan Fay's 1968 homemade Cabernet Warren knew, instantly, that he had found what he was searching for-classic elements of fruit and structure, suppleness and balance It was a style that Warren refers to as an iron fist in a velvet glove' As luck would have it, an adjoining prune orchard was for sale The Winiarski's purchased the land and planted a vineyard-now known as SLV - and soon after, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was born In 1986, Nathan offered to sell his vineyard to the Winiarski family In his honor, the vineyard was named FAY By the time we acquired the vineyard, many of the vines were nearly a quarter-century old and nearing the end of their best growing years We embarked on an ambitious replanting program, experimenting with rootstocks, row orientation, and trellising to attain optimal expression of the terroir Our replanting efforts are now fully realized and all vineyard blocks are in production Vineyard blocks on the eastern slope, closest to the Palisades, contribute structural components derived from the volcanic soils there, while the more aromatic components come from the vineyard blocks on the western alluvial upland When blended together, we achieve the classic expression of an iron fist in a velvet glove There is plenty to love about this stylish wine, starting with generous aromas of violets, blackberry, nutmeg, and black licorice reminiscent of Good n Plenty' candy The aromas are followed by an alluring mix of dark fruit flavors that envelop the palate with accent notes of chocolate and vanilla The 2005 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and silky, with a richness and persistence all the way through the slightly smoky oak finish Enjoy this expressive wine with Moroccan spiced lamb or duck with Port-cherry sauce Wine CALIFORNIA STILL WINE

Planted by the Warren Winiarski family in 1970, SLV achieved international fame when three year old vines from the 1973 harvest produced a wine that shocked the wine world by triumphing over some of France's greatest wines in a 1976 blind tasting known as the Judgment of Paris Today, this history-making vineyard continues to yield wines of multi-layered complexity, structure, and spicy intensity Located in the heart of what is now the Stags Leap District, SLV soils are made up, in part, of volcanic earth which contributes fire-like qualities of great structure, concentration, and spicy intensity The vineyard has undergone a gradual, decade-long replanting program This year's blend includes fruit from the young vines of Block 3A and 3B, planted in 2001 The lots vinified from these youthful vines are already showing classic SLV structure and rich cassis flavors The blend also includes fruit from 1A and 2A Planted in the early 1990's, they are now in their peak growing years The final contribution to the blend comes from Block 4 with vines over thirty-five years old, the last remaining block from the original planting which continues to produce fruit of extraordinary character In its youth, this wine rewards those who let it sit in the glass and open up before discovering its generous character At first, it presents dark fruit and floral aromas, then an earthy hint of rosemary and black truffle Similar flavors unfold, including dark cherry, blueberry and plum that join with cocoa powder and spiced vanilla This mouthfilling wine builds in richness and density through its long, smooth finish Try it with a dry-aged porterhouse steak, grilled game, or a wild mushroom tart Wine California Still Wine

The FAY vineyard is the land where the story of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars began back in 1969 when Warren Winiarski tasted Nathan Fay's 1968 homemade Cabernet Warren knew, instantly, that he had found what he was searching for-classic elements of fruit and structure, suppleness and balance It was a style that Warren refers to as an iron fist in a velvet glove' As luck would have it, an adjoining prune orchard was for sale The Winiarski's purchased the land and planted a vineyard-now known as SLV - and soon after, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was born In 1986, Nathan offered to sell his vineyard to the Winiarski family In his honor, the vineyard was named FAY By the time we acquired the vineyard, many of the vines were nearly a quarter-century old and nearing the end of their best growing years We embarked on an ambitious replanting program, experimenting with rootstocks, row orientation, and trellising to attain optimal expression of the terroir Our replanting efforts are now fully realized and all vineyard blocks are in production Vineyard blocks on the eastern slope, closest to the Palisades, contribute structural components derived from the volcanic soils there, while the more aromatic components come from the vineyard blocks on the western alluvial upland When blended together, we achieve the classic expression of an iron fist in a velvet glove There is plenty to love about this stylish wine, starting with generous aromas of violets, blackberry, nutmeg, and black licorice reminiscent of Good n Plenty' candy The aromas are followed by an alluring mix of dark fruit flavors that envelop the palate with accent notes of chocolate and vanilla The 2005 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and silky, with a richness and persistence all the way through the slightly smoky oak finish Enjoy this expressive wine with Moroccan spiced lamb or duck with Port-cherry sauce Wine California Still Wine

CASK 23, made only in exceptional vintages, is usually a blend of the most distinctive fruit from our SLV and FAY estate vineyards The story of CASK 23 began during the harvest of 1974 Back then, winery founder Warren Winiarski enlisted the help of celebrated winemakerAndre Tchelistcheff As they tasted through various lots of new wines from that year, they noticed a distinct character in a lot from the center of Block 4, a character they described as crushed violets' It was so appealing that they decided to age this wine separately in a wooden cask, number 23 The wine was still so deliciously distinct after further aging in barrel, Warren decided to bottle it separately and give it a special name-CASK 23 A classic example of tremendous power and great finesse The wine presents a symphony of aromas from sweet black fruit to cigar box, from savory spices of clove, allspice and licorice to dried herbs and flowers, even a touch of minerality This complexity carries over to the palate with flavors that are reminiscent of spiced chutney The bold flavors are wrapped in a blanket of supple tannins and persist through an extraordinarily long finish It's a wine sure to enhance any dining experience Savor it alongside venison chops with blackberry compote, bacon-wrapped quail, or a selection of aged artisan cheeses Wine California Still Wine

The FAY vineyard is the land where the story of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars began back in 1969 when Warren Winiarski tasted Nathan Fay's 1968 homemade Cabernet Warren knew, instantly, that he had found what he was searching for-classic elements of fruit and structure, suppleness and balance It was a style that Warren refers to as an iron fist in a velvet glove' As luck would have it, an adjoining prune orchard was for sale The Winiarski's purchased the land and planted a vineyard-now known as SLV - and soon after, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was born In 1986, Nathan offered to sell his vineyard to the Winiarski family In his honor, the vineyard was named FAY By the time we acquired the vineyard, many of the vines were nearly a quarter-century old and nearing the end of their best growing years We embarked on an ambitious replanting program, experimenting with rootstocks, row orientation, and trellising to attain optimal expression of the terroir Our replanting efforts are now fully realized and all vineyard blocks are in production Vineyard blocks on the eastern slope, closest to the Palisades, contribute structural components derived from the volcanic soils there, while the more aromatic components come from the vineyard blocks on the western alluvial upland When blended together, we achieve the classic expression of an iron fist in a velvet glove There is plenty to love about this stylish wine, starting with generous aromas of violets, blackberry, nutmeg, and black licorice reminiscent of Good n Plenty' candy The aromas are followed by an alluring mix of dark fruit flavors that envelop the palate with accent notes of chocolate and vanilla The 2005 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and silky, with a richness and persistence all the way through the slightly smoky oak finish Enjoy this expressive wine with Moroccan spiced lamb or duck with Port-cherry sauce Wine California Still Wine

Our Napa Valley collection of wines are crafted with the same approach to winemaking as our limited- production estate wines, resulting in wines of supple power and elegance In fact, fruit from our estate vineyards makes a significant contribution to our Napa Valley Merlot Then, to complement our estate fruit's distinctive qualities of flavor and structure, we turn to independent growers whose vineyards meet our rigorous farming standards Over 55% of this blend is composed of estate fruit We get much of this fruit from our ARCADIA VINEYARD, which contributes structure as well as a core of red berry and plum characters with elements of spice Then we layer in fruit from BRV, our estate vineyard in the Oak Knoll District, providing rounder, brighter fruit notes and a tobacco leaf character To augment the supple character of the Merlot, we added a small but important percent of Cabernet Sauvignon to build weight and intensity Fifteen months in French oak barrels brings all the elements together for an approachable, yet refined wine Wine California Still Wine

Half Bottle The heart of the ARTEMIS blend is composed of fruit from our estate vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from ARCADIA VINEYARD gives the wine tannin and structural support FAY contributes a generous perfume, while the wine's complexity and concentration benefit from a small but significant addition of SLV fruit Then, to complement our estate fruit's distinctive qualities of flavor and structure, we turn to independent Napa Valley growers whose vineyards meet our rigorous farming standards Wine CALIFORNIA STILL WINE

Marani is a sacred place for every Georgian. It is the place where the grape harvest is gathered, pressed and crushed in oak barrels and traditional clay jugs (quevri), and where, eventually, grape juice is transformed into the blessed liquid, Georgian Wine.

There is "plenty" to love about this stylish wine, starting with generous aromas of violets, blackberry, nutmeg, and black licorice reminiscent of “Good ‘n Plenty” candy. The aromas are followed by an alluring mix of dark fruit flavors that envelop the palate with accent notes of chocolate and vanilla. The 2005 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and silky, with a richness and persistence all the way through the slightly smoky oak finish. Enjoy this expressive wine with Moroccan spiced lamb or duck with Port-cherry sauce.

STEAK HOUSE (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) and FISH HOUSE (100% Chardonnay) make the art of pairing food with wine a no brainer You drink Cabernet with steak and Chardonnay with fish Its that simple Un-filtered and un-fined, these wines are honest, tasty and real Wine Washington Still Wine

CASK 23, made only in exceptional vintages, is usually a blend of the most distinctive fruit from our SLV and FAY estate vineyards The story of CASK 23 began during the harvest of 1974 Back then, winery founder Warren Winiarski enlisted the help of celebrated winemakerAndre Tchelistcheff As they tasted through various lots of new wines from that year, they noticed a distinct character in a lot from the center of Block 4, a character they described as crushed violets' It was so appealing that they decided to age this wine separately in a wooden cask, number 23 The wine was still so deliciously distinct after further aging in barrel, Warren decided to bottle it separately and give it a special name-CASK 23 A classic example of tremendous power and great finesse The wine presents a symphony of aromas from sweet black fruit to cigar box, from savory spices of clove, allspice and licorice to dried herbs and flowers, even a touch of minerality This complexity carries over to the palate with flavors that are reminiscent of spiced chutney The bold flavors are wrapped in a blanket of supple tannins and persist through an extraordinarily long finish It's a wine sure to enhance any dining experience Savor it alongside venison chops with blackberry compote, bacon-wrapped quail, or a selection of aged artisan cheeses Wine California Still Wine

Tightly wound, this is intense yet balanced, with rich, spicy, peppery, beefy dried currant and berry fruit that has a rustic and meaty edge, adding to its complexity and dimension. Drink now through 2012. 378 cases made. JL Wine Spectator. A Syrah wine from California in USA. 2005 Copain Wines Syrah Thompson Vineyard 750ml

Good deep red-ruby; this seemed to gain in color in the glass. Much less open on the nose than the 2004, hinting at currant, minerals, graphite and nutty oak. Densely packed and rather powerful, with blacker fruit flavors than the 2004. This finishes... Stephen Tanzer. A Proprietary Blend wine from Washington in USA. 2005 Quilceda Creek Red Wine 750ml

Tight and a bit earthy, with a leathery streak that runs through the mix of cherry and wild berry, ending on a dry, earthy note. Drink now. 200 cases made. Wine Spectator. A Pinot Noir wine from California in USA. 2005 Loring Wine Co Pinot Noir Hungry like the Llama 750ml

A classic example of tremendous power and great finesse. wine presents a symphony of aromas from sweet black fruit to cigar box, from savory spices of clove, allspice and licorice to dried herbs and flowers, even a touch of minerality. This complexity carries over to palate with flavors that are reminiscent of spiced chutney. bold flavors are wrapped in a blanket of supple tannins and persist through an extraordinarily long finish. It's a wine sure to enhance any dining experience. Savor it alongside venison chops with blackberry compote, bacon-wrapped quail, or a selection of aged artisan cheeses. Connoisseurs' Guide rating: 90.

CASK 23, made only in exceptional vintages, is usually a blend of the most distinctive fruit from our SLV and FAY estate vineyards The story of CASK 23 began during the harvest of 1974 Back then, winery founder Warren Winiarski enlisted the help of celebrated winemakerAndre Tchelistcheff As they tasted through various lots of new wines from that year, they noticed a distinct character in a lot from the center of Block 4, a character they described as crushed violets' It was so appealing that they decided to age this wine separately in a wooden cask, number 23 The wine was still so deliciously distinct after further aging in barrel, Warren decided to bottle it separately and give it a special name-CASK 23 A classic example of tremendous power and great finesse The wine presents a symphony of aromas from sweet black fruit to cigar box, from savory spices of clove, allspice and licorice to dried herbs and flowers, even a touch of minerality This complexity carries over to the palate with flavors that are reminiscent of spiced chutney The bold flavors are wrapped in a blanket of supple tannins and persist through an extraordinarily long finish It's a wine sure to enhance any dining experience Savor it alongside venison chops with blackberry compote, bacon-wrapped quail, or a selection of aged artisan cheeses Wine California Still Wine

A great discovery this spicy Spanish red scored 90 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and it's easy to see why. It's bursting with ripe fruit and zesty flavors from the unique Mencìa grape variety. Bierzo in NW Spain is an old wine region that's ge

Grand Cru red Burgundy from the Louis Latour estate vineyards. 100% Pinot Noir. This particular wine is only produced in years when the Pinot Noir grapes reach perfect maturity. The wine derives from the following holdings: Les Bressandes Les Chaumes Le

Venison, lamb and beef Wine Australian Still Wine

Cardinale is more than one wine-it is several wines, wines from disparate places along the Mayacamas and Vaca mountains that surround Napa Valley Every bottle reveals the artistic sensibility of the winemaker, each vineyard lot fused into a seamless blend in which you can sense the constituent parts, but still taste them as one wine Our philosophy is guided by the pursuit of grape selectivity in the vineyard, gentle handling and the ability to accommodate the different winemaking needs of each vintage Wine California Still Wine

This is a very dark ruby wineblack at the center and dark purple at the rim Pleasantaccessibl e aromas offer the standard profile for New World Merlot: juicy black cherriesdark chocolate and a whiff of vanilla Ripe and fruit-forwardthe first taste follows the noseluscious and almost softbut it gains structure from freshmouth- watering acidity and gentle but perceptible tannins Pairs well with a wide range of meats and cheesesit was a fine match with char-grilled Cornish hensRobin Garrs Wine Lovers Page Wine CALIFORNIA STILL WINE

With Cabernet of this quality, winemaking team believes in taking a minimalist approach to winemaking. Vinifying fruit from each vineyard separately, Ed and Laurie used tailored pump-over techniques for optimal extraction, and then aged wines in hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of new French Nevers oak. They then aged lots separately for just under two years before selecting blend – one of exceptional depth, complexity and elegance. final blend has aromas of Bing cherries, cocoa, cedar, allspice and mint. Generous cherry, blackberry and plum flavors are complemented by velvety tannins, resulting in a superbly long and elegant finish. The Wine Advocate rating: 92.

A rich display of aromas including Bing cherries, prunes, violets and sandalwood. On palate wine is very well structured with mature tannins and elegant notes of forest fruit, dark chocolate and a dash of nutmeg, followed by a very long and expressive finish. Located in a high elevation region within heart of Ribera del Duero, Comenge winery was founded in 1998 by one of foremost experts on Spanish wine and Spanish grape varieties. Miguel Comenge's goal was to make a well-balanced, delicious wine from Ribera del Duero without excessive tannin structure of many wines in region. Each vintage is made with strictest selection measures and attention to quality, from budding of vines down to bottling of wine. Wine Spectator rating: 87.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a strong perfumed bouquet of blackberries, mulberries, cedar, roses and minerals. palate is silky and sweet with inviting dark berry preserve flavors, gentle tannins and a very smooth finish. 15 months maturation in French and American oak barrels has added further complexity to wine. Although drinking delighfully now, this wine will reward careful cellaring until year 2012. International Wine Cellar rating: 90.

Defined by altitude, Orange is one of Australia's highest and coolest wine regions starting at 600 meters above sea level. name Climbing is an active reference to high altitude of Climbing's vineyard and their continual quest for greater achievement. vines are low yield, providing intense flavors and even berry ripening. Winemaker Philip Shaw describes this wine as having good intense color, rich vibrant fruit and a touch of oak with intense plum fruit dominating. What I like about this wine is that under plum, some white pepper flavors are emerging, very typical of Orange region. Climbing 2005 Shiraz will evolve well with up to 10 years cellaring. James Halliday rating: 90.

This blend of 55% Grenache, 33% Shiraz and 12% Mourvedre is simply delicious. Dean Hewitson has yet again crafted a intensely flavored and elegant wine, appropriately named after his daughter Harriet, better known as Miss Harry. Wonderful aromas of ripe cherry and plum jump out of glass. On palate is filled with sweet ripe red fruits, with hints of spice and mocha adding to its charm. Beautifully balanced and long of finish. A great wine with years of enjoyment ahead. International Wine Cellar rating: 90.

Appearance: Deep ruby red intensity with crimson accents Aroma: Complex and layered with black plum and currants, vanilla, sage, and peppercorn, and sweet notes of toasty oak. Flavors: Round, full-bodied palate with vibrant dark cherry fruit, sweet herbs and silky mouthfeel. Very supple and elegant, finely knit tannins highlight bold fruit and sweet tobacco notes, giving a velvety finish. 90 Points Pale garnet hue. Complex scents of wild cherry, vanilla and chocolate with a hint of dust and sweet tobacco. Full, refined tannins and ripe flavors of raspberry and wild cherry. Hints of vanilla and white chocolate in raspberry-spiked close. Wine News The Wine News rating: 90.

As a winegrower, I am interested primarily in growing best possible fruit I can to achieve world-class wines. To that end, Arcadian is highly selective in barrels that make final cut for our vineyard- designated wines. We are also concerned that high cost of farming to small yields is matched by high quality of wines we release. This way of thinking has provided us with an opportunity to create a village wine that is offered at a price that will appeal to many. This second release of Santa Rita Hills, selected from two of our grand cru vineyards, is result of this strict approval of barrels into vineyard- designated program. cuvee is comprised of 15 barrels from Fiddlestix Vineyard and one barrel of Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir. International Wine Cellar rating: 90.

Deep ruby in color, aromas of dried lavender, green olive and savory characters expose a hint of red fruit. Intense flavors of fresh red currants, black plum and cedar are supported by fine-grained tannins, suggesting this wine will age gracefully. savory characters of 2005 Unfiltered Merlot would complement beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, or more robust meats like buffalo or venison. The Wine Advocate rating: 91.

Blend: 77% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah Because of Zinfandel's unusually firm structure, very little Petite Sirah was included in blend. As in most years, 120-year-old Carignane was an elegant, vibrant addition. This outstanding vintage aged fourteen months in air-dried American oak. Rich primary fruit gives wine immediate appeal; it will develop greater complexity over the next ten years. International Wine Cellar rating: 93.

Wine Collectors and connoisseurs alike have much to celebrate with the release of the 21st vintage of Marilyn Merlot As always, the wine is released on Marilyns birth date - June 1st - and the 2005 vintage will prove to be memorable, not only because it marks a coming of age for the Napa Valley icon, but also because it exemplifies the outstanding qualities of the 2005 vintage For more than two decades, the annual release of Marilyn Merlot has been an event much anticipated by legions of its fansEvery vintage sells out in just a few months, notes Bob Holder, President and one of the owners of Marilyn Wines We have seen celebrity wines come and go, but there is only one Marilyn Wine CALIFORNIA STILL WINE

fragrances exhibit considerable complexity, opening to dark fruit such as plum and black currant, then enriched by a pungent spiciness that betrays cinnamon and clove. attack offers dense, impressive pulp, and fine-grained tannins that marry beautifully with its alcohol; result is a solidly-built, but not heavy or extractive, wine with a seamless, long-lingering finish. A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 10% others (Malvasia nera, Colorino, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Spectator rating: 90.

length of 2005 growing season allowed for development of ripe fruit character. Fresh crisp apple, lemon chiffon and juicy pineapple all come to mind. Suggestions of warm brioche and hazelnut lead way to a pleasing palate bursting with ripe apple, key lime and plump apricot. 2005 Blanc de Blancs finishes with refreshing acidity and a quenching palate. While this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an aperitif, it is also perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams. The Wine News rating: 90.

Color: Medium red with a deep hue Aroma: Shows strong vanillin and chocolate characters with a touch of spice Palate: mid palate has good weight and softness and soft berry characters carry through to finish. Deliberately light on tannins or oak, wine shows lovely balance and bright fruit flavors. Food pairings: Tomato-based pasta sauces, roast lamb, venison Attractive palate; clear, cool-grown but supple fruit with spice, licorice, pepper and blackberry flavours all intermingling. -James Halliday James Halliday rating: 93.

This wine comes from two brothers, Alex, a wine importer, and Erik, a tattoo artist, who wanted to pay homage, in a non-serious way, to their late mother who suffered from cancer They decided to label and bottle their own wine and donate the proceeds to a good cause With their combined talents and effort, they created Big Tattoo Red For every bottle sold, 50 cents is being donated to the Arlington, Virginia Hospice and a breast cancer research foundation in the name of Liliana S Bartholomaus Introduced in the Winter of 2002, donations from Big Tattoo Red will surpass $75,000 by the end of the year This blend packs a powerhouse of fruit Aromas of ripe berry fruit and plums set the stage for an explosion of fruit in the mouth with flavors of blackberries, black cherries, and cocoa that all come together on the rich and lingering, finish Wine Chilean Still Wine

Brilliant, rich ruby red. Spicy nose with floral notes and wild berry nuances. Spice continues in mouth, nicely complemented by a dense, soft fabric of youthful tannins; excellent structure and superb overall character. Wine Spectator rating: 91.