Fall Favorites: Wines That Will Impress

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Evonne%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20La%20Cartuja%20Garnacha%2C%20Mazuelo%2C%20Cabernet%20%26amp%3B%20Syrah%20Blend%20%28Priorat%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2416%3Cbr%20%2F%3EI%20am%20loving%20this%20totally%20affordable%2C%20everyday%20Priorat%21%20Red%20fruit%20with%20a%20bit%20of%20minerality%20and%20balanced%20oak.%20It%20is%20super%20smooth%2C%20lush%20and%20delicious.%20It%26%238217%3Bs%20a%20perfect%20introduction%20to%20the%20Priorat%20region%2C%20which%20tends%20to%20blend%20indigenous%20Spanish%20grapes%20with%20traditional%20French%20varietals.

Noah%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Bodegas%20Ateca%20%E2%80%9CAtteca%E2%80%9D%2C%20Old%20Vines%20Garnacha%20%28Calatayud%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%20%2420%3Cbr%20%2F%3EThis%20insanely%20big%20Spanish%20Garnacha%20comes%20from%2085%20to%20125%20year%20old%20vines.%20It%20is%20dark%20purple%2C%20and%20inky%2C%20and%20on%20the%20palate%20it%20shows%20bold%20flavors%20of%20smoky%20plum%2C%20black%20berry%20fruit%2C%20cedar%2C%20lead%2C%20herbs%2C%20and%20spice.%20It%26%238217%3Bs%20a%209R%20on%20the%20UG%20weight%20scale%2C%20so%20this%20divine%20bottle%20is%20a%20perfect%20companion%20for%20the%20cold%20winter%20nights%20ahead.%20This%20is%20undoubtedly%20the%20best%20%2420%20bottle%20of%20Grenache%20on%20the%20market%21

TJ%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Sottimano%20Nebbiolo%20%28Langhe%29%20%20%26%238211%3B%20%2424%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESottimano%E2%80%99s%20Langhe%20Nebbiolo%20is%20a%20serious%20bang%20for%20your%20buck%20coming%20in%20at%20%2424%20and%20rocking%21%20This%20gem%20boasts%20red%20fruit%2C%20tobacco%20and%20vibrant%20mint%20and%20floral%20characteristics.%20It%20combines%20a%20smooth%20consistency%20with%20palate%20cleansing%20acidity%20and%20a%20finish%20that%20holds%20up%20to%20some%20of%20its%20more%20famous%20Piedmontese%20cousins%21%20%0A

Chelsea%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202008%20Azienda%20Agricola%20Sottimano%20%E2%80%9CPairolero%E2%80%9D%20Barbera%20D%E2%80%99Alba%20%28Piedmont%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2427%3Cbr%20%2F%3ESottimano%E2%80%99s%20Barbera%20is%20seriously%20the%20smoothest%20Barbera%20or%20even%20light%20bodied%20wine%20I%20have%20had%20in%20a%20very%20long%20while.%20This%20Barbera%20benefits%20from%20aging%2015-16%20months%20in%20French%20Oak%20and%20combines%20red%20and%20purple%20fruits%20with%20mouth%20pleasing%20acidity.

Mike%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202000%20Renaissance%20Cabernet%20Sauvignon%20%28Sierra%20Nevada%20Foothills%2C%20CA.%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2438%3Cbr%20%2F%3EThe%20terroir%20is%20the%20reason%20this%20wine%20rocks%20and%20also%20that%20it%E2%80%99s%20small%20production.%20I%20just%20had%20a%20bottle%20with%20a%20Thanksgiving-themed%20dinner%20and%20it%20was%20out%20of%20this%20world.%20The%20wine%20is%20released%20when%20the%20wine%20maker%20deems%20it%20ready.%20The%20current%20release%20is%20the%202000%20vintage%20and%20it%20drank%20unreal.%20I%20guarantee%20if%20aged%20a%20few%20more%20years%20its%20complexity%20would%20increase%21

Kaitlin%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202008%20Ghost%20Block%20Cabernet%20Sauvignon%20%28Oakville%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2462%3Cbr%20%2F%3EBalance%20is%20the%20name%20of%20this%20bottle%26%238217%3Bs%20game.%20%20With%20a%20nose%20of%20dried%20roses%20and%20cherry%20and%20a%20clove%20and%20chocolate%20finish%2C%20this%20Napa%20Cab%20won%26%238217%3Bt%20punch%20you%20in%20the%20face%2C%20but%20it%20will%20make%20you%20sit%20down%20and%20stay%20a%20while.%20%20And%20that%26%238217%3Bs%20just%20fine.

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Kaitlin%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Clos%20de%20la%20Vierge%20Gros%20Manseng%20%28Jurancon%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2420%3Cbr%20%2F%3EFloral%20and%20spice%20and%20everything%20nice%21%20This%20wine%20is%20100%25%20Gros%20Manseng%20and%20while%20you%20don%26%238217%3Bt%20know%20it%20yet%2C%20you%E2%80%99ll%20love%20this%20wine.%20%20%20Refreshing%20and%20dry%2C%20yet%20rich%20and%20deep%20in%20flavor%20%26%238211%3B%20there%26%238217%3Bs%20a%20little%20something%20here%20for%20every%20white%20wine%20drinker.

Chelsea%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Dalton%20Reserve%20%E2%80%9CWild%20Yeast%E2%80%9D%20Viognier%20%28Israel%29%20%28Kosher%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2425%3Cbr%20%2F%3EI%20never%20thought%20I%20would%20be%20digging%20an%20Israeli%20Viognier%2C%20but%20its%20rich%20lusciousness%20has%20won%20me%20over%20and%20is%20great%20for%20full-bodied%20white%20wine%20drinkers%20who%20want%20to%20try%20something%20different.%20With%20nuances%20of%20honey%20and%20stone%20fruits%2C%20the%20Dalton%20Wild%20Yeast%20Viognier%20Reserve%20is%20like%20sipping%20a%20dream%20that%20you%20never%20want%20to%20end.

Evonne%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Clos%20Blancheau%20Chardonnay%20%28Paso%20Robles%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%20%2440%20%3Cbr%20%2F%3EI%20am%20not%20typically%20a%20Chardonnay%20girl%2C%20but%20this%20is%20not%20your%20typical%20California%20Chardonnay.%20Drinking%20more%20like%20Chablis%20with%20crisp%20minerality%20and%20wet%20stone%2C%20along%20with%20green%20apple%20and%20lemon%2C%20Clos%20Blancheau%20is%20worth%20a%20try.%0D%0A

Mike%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%20NV%20Laherte%20Freres%20Champagne%20Brut%20Pinot%20Meunier%2C%20Chardonnay%20%26amp%3B%20Pinot%20Noir%20%26%238211%3B%20%2449%3Cbr%20%2F%3EThe%20thing%20I%20love%20most%20about%20this%20champagne%20is%20that%20it%20is%20made%20exceptional%20every%20year%20and%20drinks%20like%20it%20has%20been%20aged%20and%20picked%20to%20drink%20right%20now.%20The%20Brut%20tradition%20is%20a%20subtle%20blending%20of%20three%20Champagne%20varieties%20coming%20from%20the%20C%C3%B4teaux%20sud%20d%E2%80%99Epernay%2C%20Vall%C3%A9e%20de%20la%20Marne%20and%20C%C3%B4te%20des%20Blancs.%20A%20fine%20and%20complex%20blending%21

TJ%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202009%20Patz%20%26amp%3B%20Hall%20%E2%80%9CHyde%20Vinyard%E2%80%9D%20Chardonnay%20%28Carneros%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2462%3Cbr%20%2F%3EPatz%20%26amp%3B%20Hall%2C%20famous%20single%20vineyard%20producers%20of%20some%20of%20the%20finest%20California%20Chardonnays%20and%20Pinot%20Noirs%20strike%20again%20with%20%E2%80%9CHyde%20Vineyard%E2%80%9D%20which%20offers%20nuances%20of%20citrus%20and%20orange%20peel%20fusing%20with%20pineapple%2C%20cinnamon%20and%20clove.%20Great%20integrated%20acidity%20and%20layers%20of%20cedar%20and%20smoke%20make%20this%20wine%20as%20complex%20as%20it%20is%20lip%20pleasing%21

Noah%26%238217%3Bs%20Pick%3A%202007%20Hartford%20Court%20%26%238220%3BSeascape%20Vineyard%26%238221%3B%20Chardonnay%20%28Sonoma%20Coast%29%20%26%238211%3B%20%2470%20%3Cbr%20%2F%3EI%26%238217%3Bm%20not%20even%20a%20chardonnay%20drinker%2C%20but%20Seascape%20I%20would%20drink%20any%20night%2C%20or%20day%20for%20that%20matter.%20Though%20sourced%20from%20a%20single%20vineyard%2C%20stylistically%20this%20wine%20oozes%20Meursault%20influence.%20Orange%20blossom%20and%20citrus%20oil%20aromas%20give%20way%20to%20flavors%20of%20fresh%20lemon%2C%20tangerine%2C%20minerals%2C%20and%20spice%2C%20balanced%20harmoniously%20by%20French%20oak%20woodiness.%20The%20acidity%20is%20crisp%20and%20zippy%20and%20vibrant.%20This%20is%2C%20simply%20put%2C%20a%20chardonnay%20for%20the%20wine%20drinker%2C%20even%20if%20you%20think%20you%20don%26%238217%3Bt%20like%20chardonnay.

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