Region: Waipara

Type: Still Wine

Color: Red

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2007

"What a lovely expression of Pinot Noir from New Zealand's Mountford estate. Elegant and smooth, this New World Pinot carries the taste of Santa Rosa plums and sweet Asian spices. The scent jumps right out of the glass — sandalwood, and something leafy and delicate. Rich and full-bodied. What it goes with: Roast chicken or leg of lamb".

Los Angeles Times "Wine of the Week", 5/12/11.

Region: Lombardy

Type: Still Wine

Color: Red

Varietal: Other Red Wines

Vintage: 2007

"This is an elegant expression of Nebbiolo (here called Chiavennasca) from one ofItaly'ssmallest appellations in the mountains near the Swiss border. Valtellina has several sub-zones, the best known of which is the wonderfully named "Inferno."

Giuseppe Rainoldi's 2007 Valtellina Superiore "Inferno" Riserva is definitely a keeper. Though these wines age well, this one is drinking beautifully right now, so why wait? The bouquet of flowers, cherries and leaves seduces right away, but it's the flavor and texture that stand out most — silky, with finely honed tannins and the pure taste of Nebbiolo grown high up near the Alps.

Region: Piedmont, Italy.

Style: Elegant, medium-bodied.

What it goes with: Chicken sauté, grilled lamb chops, risotto."

Los Angeles Times, "Wine of the Week", May 19, 2012

Robert Parker Score: 90

Region: Rioja

Type: Still Wine

Color: White

Varietal: Other White Wines

Vintage: 2008

"Looking for an alternative to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc? Lately, some interesting whites are coming out of Rioja, and Allende's Rioja blanca is one of them. A blend of Viura and Malvasia aged in French oak, the 2008 is a rich, almost oily wine, with an extravagant scent, from this relatively new estate. It's made in a more modern style than the oxidized whites of the past, crisper and more lively. Drink it with seafood tapas, paella, chicken with rice or any white meat.

Region: Rioja, Spain

Style: Rich and fragrant

What it goes with: Seafood tapas, paella, chicken".

Los Angeles Times, "Wine of the Week", 9/12/11

WineSpectator Review:
Baked apple, butterscotch and cinnamon notes show oak influence in this broad white. This is generous, with a soft, sweet appeal. Drink now.

Parker Review:
Finca Allendes 2008 Blanco is a blend of 70% Viura and 30% Malvasia sourced from vineyards planted between 1955 and 1960. It was barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months in new French oak. Buttered popcorn, melon, citrus, and baking spices inform the nose of this savory, smooth-textured, well-balanced white. It has the acid structure and fruit to evolve for 1-2 years and is likely to deliver enjoyment through 2018.

Wine Spectator Score: 92

Robert Parker Score: 93

Other Scores: 90

Region: Tuscany

Type: Still Wine

Color: Red

Varietal: Other Red Wines

Vintage: 2008

"When a special bottle of red is on the agenda, you can't go wrong with this ripe, sinewy Tuscan from the Montepeloso estate. A blend of Montepulciano with Sangiovese, Marselan and a touch of Alicante Bouschet, "Eneo" has a voluptuous bouquet and tastes of cherries, earth and sweet spices. Complex and elegant, the 2008 will stand out at any dinner party, a beautiful example of Tuscan winemaking from Fabio Chiarelotto.

What it goes with: Break it out for a porchetta or pork roast, for stinco (braised veal shank) or a hefty bistecca."

Los Angeles Times, "Wine of the Week", 3/09/12

WineSpectator Review:
Deep with blackberry and black currant flavors, this red is intense and concentrated, yet bright acidity lends elegance. The wood is integrated, and this is balanced overall, with grip and fine length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Marselan and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2012 through 2020.

Parker Review:
The 2008 Eneo literally sparkles on the palate with vibrant red fruit, freshly cut flowers and spices. It shows remarkable tension and delineation all the way through to the resonant finish. This is a striking wine in every way. Floral notes reappear on the finish, along with iron, smoke and ferrous notes, all of which add considerable complexity. This is a dazzling effort from proprietor Fabio Chiarellotto. It is composed of 40% Montepulciano, 35% Sangiovese, 15% Marselan and 10% Alicante Bouschet. Anticipated maturity 2014-2022.

Other Reviews:
A wine with hints of new wood, spices, and berries, that follow through to a full body, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. Plenty of subtle fruit and vanilla notes. Better after 2012. James Suckling

Region: Umbria

Type: Still Wine

Color: White

Varietal: Other White Wines

Vintage: 2009

"The white grape Grechetto has a long history in Umbria in central Italy. It's an essential part of the blend for the region's best-known white, Orvieto. But winemakers in Todi, a medieval hill town near Perugia, use the native grape on its own to make Grechetto di Todi. One of the best is made by the Roccafiore estate. Fiorfiore, as it's called, is pale gold with a scent of tropical fruit and flowers. The 2009 is rich and round, but with a nice snap of acidity. It stands out for its elegance.

When you want something more than a simple white wine but don't want to break the bank, this could be it. Serve the 2009 Roccafiore Fiorfiore with antipasti, vegetable or seafood pasta dishes, or a simple roast chicken.

Region: Umbria, Italy

Style: Elegant and complex.

What it goes with: antipasti, pasta dishes, roast chicken, white meats."

Los Angeles Times "Wine of the Week", 9/01/11

Other Reviews:
Grapes are harvested in the first ten days of September and carefully selected before being gently pressed. The precious musts are left to ferment in steel vats with controlled temperatures for a few weeks before being transferred to large Slavonian oak barrels for about 12 months. The final stages of maturation take place in bottles, producing a full, pale yellow wine, smelling of pineapple, golden apple, small yellow flowers and with very delicate sweet spice notes. This incredibly elegant and complex wine tastes warm and soft. It is best served three or four years after the grapes were harvested.

Region: Piedmont

Type: Still Wine

Color: White

Varietal: Other White Wines

Vintage: 2010

"Arneis was a grape that was practically extinct when Alfredo Currado of Vietti and Bruno Giacosa brought it back from obscurity in the early '70s. Theirs are still benchmark examples, but I also like very much the Arneis from Giovanni Almondo.

On one of these lovely spring evenings, this 2010 Arneis makes a perfect aperitif. It's light and refreshing, perfumed with white peaches. And yet there's an underlying minerality that gives it some weight. Never one-dimensional, Almondo's 2010 "Vigne Sparse" Arneis is one of the best I've tasted. It's dangerous to open a bottle too soon, though: It may not quite make it to the table.

Region: Piedmont, Italy.

Style: Light and refreshing.

What it goes with: Grilled shrimp, fish tacos, seafood pasta and paella, Asian food."

LA Times "Wine of the Week", 4/21/12

Robert Parker Score: 93

Score: 93

Region: Rias Baixas

Type: Still Wine

Color: White

Varietal: Albarino

Vintage: 2010

"Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain is renowned for its seafood, which is some of the best on the planet. And what wine is an ideal match with shellfish and crustaceans? Why, Albariño, which comes from that same corner of Spain.

Pazo de Senorañs consistently makes one of the best Albariños in Spain, but in 2010 — a great vintage in Rias Baixas — the estate, which dates back to the 16th century, made a truly great one.

Aged sur lie, the 2010 is wonderfully complex, with hints of apple, lemon and flowers. It has the deep minerality and bracing acidity that pairs so well with seafood.

Drink it with oysters, clams or mussels. It's great with sushi too. And that thick tuna steak you're thinking of grilling? Bring it on."

Los Angeles Times "Wine of the Week", 3/01/12

Parker Review:
The 2010 Albarino was aged in small stainless steel vats sur lie with batonnage for 4 months. Jasmine, mineral, lemon zest, and other citrus notes inform the nose of this multi-dimensional, already complex white. On the palate tropical flavors emerge adding to the wines pleasure quotient. Drink this superb effort over the next 3-4 years.

Robert Parker Score: 90

Tanzer Score: 91

Region: Champagne

Type: Sparkling Wine

Color: White

Varietal: Champagne

Vintage: NV

"The bubbles just keep coming in Philipponnat's "Royale Réserve." Note the words "non dosé," or no dosage. This refers to the syrup of Champagne, sugar and sometimes spirits that usually is added after the first fermentation. That's why this version is so dry and crisp. Yet it's also supple and lush, a truly elegant sip. Great with food, this Champagne bears noticing".

Los Angeles Times "Wines of the Week", December 30, 2010

Parker Review:
The N.D. Non Dose Royale Reserve is a big, yet bone-dry, Champagne that boasts tons of precision in a pure, crystalline expression of flowers, apricots and pastry. Not for the timid, the Pinot-dominated Non Dose Royale Reserve offers substantial power and heft that makes it a great choice at the dinner table.

Tanzer Review:
Bright gold with a steady stream of tiny bubbles. Pear, blood orange, herbs and smoky minerals on the nose. Racy, finely etched citrus flavors gain flesh and depth with air, picking up bitter pear skin and smoky lees character. Repeats the pear note on the finish, which also features suave honeysuckle and chamomile qualities. For a zero-dosage Champagne this is surprisingly ample and powerful.