$16.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: Sometimes I think it would be easier to discover where Jimmy Hoffa is buried than to dig up information on some of the South American wines Drew has brought into Carpe Vino recently. This wine is a good example.

What we do know is the Domingo Hermanos (Domingo Brothers) have been making wine at very high altitudes (upwards of 7,200 feet) since 1977. They own five labels and five vineyards.

Bottom line is this is another tasty Malbec at a great price that is exceptionally food friendly. End of story.

Winery Tasting Notes: A blunt wine with a strong personality that presents a dark scarlet color with purple tonalities, bluish, with a colored tear of great definition. The nose is impressive with a mixture of complex aromas where next to the variety’s aroma the most salient aromas are vanilla, chocolate, red ripe fruits and some plum compote or jam. The Mouth appreciates a full-bodied wine with good structure with an ample finish. Due to its complexity, this wine will reach its full potential between 3 to 5 years after its elaboration.

$40 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: I made a trip to Walla Walla last summer, but this is one winery I missed. . .and that’s too bad. Cadaretta produces some beautiful wines, including this cab, which features Columbia Valley fruit from five different vineyards. The 2008 is a blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% merlot. The wine was aged in 45% new French oak for 19 months, and then rested in bottles for more than 15 months before being released. This stuff is ready to drink now!

Interesting tidbit: The winery is named after a schooner used in the 1920s and 30s for shipping lumber owned by the Middleton family. . .producers of this brand.

Winery Tasting Notes: “Deep red-ruby hue. Aromas of cherry, mountain berries, currants and dark chocolate truffle initially on the nose, opening to a broad spectrum of cherry, raspberry, dark plum, and red currant with hints of bay leaf. Supple texture, with harmonious, elegant and nicely integrated oak. Mineral notes fuse to the finish, with earthy flavors and silky tannins drawing towards a long and savory close.”

Blend: 89% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% merlot

$40 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: I made a trip to Walla Walla last summer, but this is one winery I missed. . .and that’s too bad. Cadaretta produces some beautiful wines, including this cab, which features Columbia Valley fruit from five different vineyards. The 2008 is a blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% merlot. The wine was aged in 45% new French oak for 19 months, and then rested in bottles for more than 15 months before being released. This stuff is ready to drink now!

Interesting tidbit: The winery is named after a schooner used in the 1920s and 30s for shipping lumber owned by the Middleton family. . .producers of this brand.

Winery Tasting Notes: “Deep red-ruby hue. Aromas of cherry, mountain berries, currants and dark chocolate truffle initially on the nose, opening to a broad spectrum of cherry, raspberry, dark plum, and red currant with hints of bay leaf. Supple texture, with harmonious, elegant and nicely integrated oak. Mineral notes fuse to the finish, with earthy flavors and silky tannins drawing towards a long and savory close.”

Blend: 89% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% merlot

$56 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Background from the winery: Switchback Ridge Wines are sourced exclusively from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. The property has been in the Peterson family since 1914 and encompasses nearly 100 acres located at the mouth of Dutch Henry Canyon. For over 75 years the property was primarily maintained as a farm and plum orchard, with vines intermingled amongst the trees. In 1990, the orchards were replanted to vineyard, where there are currently 18 acres of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petite sirah vines, in addition to a three acre 50+ year old petite sirah block that John Peterson helped plant as a child.

Winery Tasting Notes: “An adult Halloween candy bag! Loaded with blackberry, black cherry, espresso and mocha, with a sweet, massive mid-palate. Lush beyond belief! A Cabernet lover’s Merlot.” —Bob Foley

Wine Spectator Review, 94 Points: “Rich, layered and well-structured, with floral red currant aromas and complex flavors of black cherry, anise and toasty spice that lead to big but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2018.” —Tim Fish

Blend: 85% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon

$66 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: Rochioli is one of Sonoma’s most highly regarded producers of chardonnay. The winery is on property owned by the family since 1938, and three generations have devoted themselves to making great chardonnay, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. We’re fortunate to have access to this wine since most of what is produced is sold through the winery’s list.

This is 100% chardonnay, aged in 100% French oak (35% new) for one year. The vines range in age from 20 to 41 years.

Winery Tasting Notes: “A blend from three vineyard sites, this is a find example of the unique characteristics from our property and the Russian River Valley. Aromas of ripe apple, tropical fruit, hazelnut and a touch of spice combine with the rich apple flavors and crisp acidity.”

$17.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: This wine is produced by two very interesting young men, one a Master Sommelier, the other a classically-trained French chef who teamed up to launch a restaurant called “Frasca” in Boulder, CO . After meeting and working together at the French Laundry in Napa, the two struck out with their own venture with Frasca, inspired by a trip to Friuli, Italy, whose cuisine and wine forms the basic concept for the restaurant.

Bobby Stuckey, one of only 94 MSs in the country and Lachlan Mackinnin-Patterson, who trained in France and at the knee of Thomas Keller, have gone the next step and launched their own wine brand called Scarpetta. Thus far, their line consists of five wines, and this month we’re featuring the 2010 Pinot Grigio. All of the wines are made from fruit grown in three vineyards in the Friuli region.

Winery Tasting Notes: “Light straw color with hint of salmon. Aromas of white flowers, stone fruits such as apricot and peach, lavender, plus hints of minerality. On the palate, the wine is crisp and dry with medium-high acidity and tastes of stone fruits, honey, pear and minerals.” Recommended food pairings are prosciutto, sashimi, chicken, pork and fish dishes.

$16.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: Sometimes I think it would be easier to discover where Jimmy Hoffa is buried than to dig up information on some of the South American wines Drew has brought into Carpe Vino recently. This wine is a good example.

What we do know is the Domingo Hermanos (Domingo Brothers) have been making wine at very high altitudes (upwards of 7,200 feet) since 1977. They own five labels and five vineyards.

Bottom line is this is another tasty Malbec at a great price that is exceptionally food friendly. End of story.

Winery Tasting Notes: A blunt wine with a strong personality that presents a dark scarlet color with purple tonalities, bluish, with a colored tear of great definition. The nose is impressive with a mixture of complex aromas where next to the variety’s aroma the most salient aromas are vanilla, chocolate, red ripe fruits and some plum compote or jam. The Mouth appreciates a full-bodied wine with good structure with an ample finish. Due to its complexity, this wine will reach its full potential between 3 to 5 years after its elaboration.

$29.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: No wonder this is such a great sauvignon blanc. . .the winery owner, Brian Malk, is from a South African family tradition of grape growing started by his grandfather who owned vineyards in Franschhoek, just outside of Capetown. I had the good fortune to visit the region two years ago, and the white wines were marvelous. . .particularly the sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc.

Malk moved to the United States in 1997 and started planting in Stags Leap in 1998, and he makes only cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier featured on the label is the family pet, Griffin, who passed away recently.

Winery Tasting Notes: “Once again, the 2011 vintage produced a wine of beautiful aromatic character and elegant presence on the palate. White flowers, fresh peach, and ripe melon notes prevail on the nose, with underlying notes of light citrus and orange blossom. The taste is silky, yet weighty, framed perfectly with the classic Sauvignon Blanc crispness.”

$56 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Background from the winery: Switchback Ridge Wines are sourced exclusively from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. The property has been in the Peterson family since 1914 and encompasses nearly 100 acres located at the mouth of Dutch Henry Canyon. For over 75 years the property was primarily maintained as a farm and plum orchard, with vines intermingled amongst the trees. In 1990, the orchards were replanted to vineyard, where there are currently 18 acres of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petite sirah vines, in addition to a three acre 50+ year old petite sirah block that John Peterson helped plant as a child.

Winery Tasting Notes: “An adult Halloween candy bag! Loaded with blackberry, black cherry, espresso and mocha, with a sweet, massive mid-palate. Lush beyond belief! A Cabernet lover’s Merlot.” —Bob Foley

Wine Spectator Review, 94 Points: “Rich, layered and well-structured, with floral red currant aromas and complex flavors of black cherry, anise and toasty spice that lead to big but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2018.” —Tim Fish

Blend: 85% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon

$29.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Gary’s Notes: No wonder this is such a great sauvignon blanc. . .the winery owner, Brian Malk, is from a South African family tradition of grape growing started by his grandfather who owned vineyards in Franschhoek, just outside of Capetown. I had the good fortune to visit the region two years ago, and the white wines were marvelous. . .particularly the sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc.

Malk moved to the United States in 1997 and started planting in Stags Leap in 1998, and he makes only cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier featured on the label is the family pet, Griffin, who passed away recently.

Winery Tasting Notes: “Once again, the 2011 vintage produced a wine of beautiful aromatic character and elegant presence on the palate. White flowers, fresh peach, and ripe melon notes prevail on the nose, with underlying notes of light citrus and orange blossom. The taste is silky, yet weighty, framed perfectly with the classic Sauvignon Blanc crispness.”