Jean Baptiste Picpoul de Pinet 2007

Jean Baptiste de Clock is descended from winemakers on both sides of his family tree, and the Font Mars property has been in his mother’s family for over 150 years. The property is situated in the terroir of Picpoul de Pinet, overlooking the Thau lagoon where the oysters and shellfish are cultivated, for which this wine is the perfect accompaniment.

The Font Mars coat of arms shows two dinosaurs, for there have been numerous findings of fossilised dinosaur eggs on the terrain. The de Clock family are proud of this heritage and keen to preserve it for future generations.

The AOC Coteaux du Languedoc: Picpoul de Pinet classification applies only to white wines. The white wine is made from a single Picpoul grape variety It is a varietal of many names including Folle Blanche (Loire Valley), Picapoll (Spain) as well as Piquepoul and Gros Meslier.There are Gris and Noir versions of the Picpoul but the white is the most famous.

The nose is delicately floral with nuances of lemon zest, white peach and mandarin. The wine is medium bodied with an herb and mineral edge that is fleshed out by ripe citrus flavors. There is much more complexity here than meets the eye. Wine lovers and cork dorks take note! This is impressive.

$13.99 per bottle

Principessa Gavia Gavi di Gavi 2006

Legend has it that back in the 6th century the Principessa Gavia, daughter of Clodimir King of the Franks, fell in love with a guard in her father’s court. The couple sought the King's permission to marry, but he refused to have his daughter wed out of her class and forbade them to see each other.

Desperately in love, the young couple eloped and fled to a distant part of the kingdom, settling in a village on the other side of the Alps. It was here one fateful evening, her groom, loosened by the local white wine, divulged their secret to the local innkeeper. The very same night word was sent to the King in exchange for a handsome reward.

They were captured and brought before the King to face their punishment. Queen of the Goths and Pope St. Hermistas interceded on their behalf and the King forgave her, blessing their union. As a wedding gift he bequeathed them the town which they had chosen to settle in and named both the town and wine Gavi in his daughter.

In 1979, John and Harry Mariani, owners of the U.S. importer, Banfi Vintners, acquired a mid-18th century winery in the town of Strevi and their Principessa Gavia estate lies a few kilometers away. This single vineyard is dedicated exclusively to the cultivation of the Cortese di Gavi grape. They say you can taste the love affair in every bottle. The wine is delicately aromatic with soft notes of citrus blossom and lime peel. The palate has gentle acidity and flinty mineral flavors that play off of the sweet lemon flavor.

$14.99 per bottle

Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Paso Robles 2006

Peachy Canyon is a family owned and operated winery in the currently hot Paso Robles region of the Central Coast in California. In 1988 Doug and Nancy Beckett saw their inaugural release with fruit purchased from none other than Benito Dusi. Now 20 years later with their son Josh as the winemaker, and son Jake taking control of the sales, the wines of Peachy Canyon are more dynamic than ever.

Each wine poses unique characteristics with distinguished qualities and is why the whole Peachy Canyon team works hard to pick only the best Paso Robles fruit while supporting the local growers. The Becketts work closely with twenty local growers, as well as from their own 100 acres of sustainable vineyards.

The result are wines with structure and elegance. Forget all about high alcohol, syrupy, jammy Zins; this is a different breed altogether.

The wine is a brilliant deep ruby color. Ripe aromas of black cherries, blackberries and raspberries are complemented by subtle vanilla notes. There are rich black currant flavors along with brambly, briary fruit and bright acidity that dances across your palate. This wine is begging to be brought out for dinner. Try it with roasted or grilled meats (perhaps even a turkey!).

$11.99 per bottle

Guenoc Victorian Claret North Coast 2006

Located 90 miles north of San Francisco and just over the hills from Calistoga and the Napa Valley, the Guenoc Valley sits at a high elevation in southern Lake County, ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet above sea level. The property was originally purchased by British theatre actress Lillie Langtry in the late 1800’s. She had proclaimed that her property would produce “the greatest claret in the country.” For 18 years she made wine here and then sold the property in 1906. Prohibition soon followed and the vineyards lay dormant for half of a century. Resurrected in 1962 under the name Langtry Estate and Vineyards, in 1981 Guenoc Valley became an AVA, making them the first single proprietor AVA in the U.S. This wine exemplifies all that Lillie had originally hoped for. It is a complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. Traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks, then settled in oak uprights, before final aging for 8 months in French and American oak barrels. The 2006 Victorian Claret is dark garnet in color, with cherry, plum, and red raspberry aromas. Hints of vanilla and caramel add to the complexity of the nose. The palate is lush and full of ripe wild berries with bruléed sabayon.

$13.99 per bottle