2007 Rochioli Pinot Noir

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/10080.html

Brand: Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Russian River Valley
Category: California
Size: 750 ml

Price: $64.99

2009 November Wine Club Premiere Selection

Few California wineries can boast three generations of stewardship, but that’s just what Rochioli brings to the table. Established by Joe Rochioli Sr. in 1938, the 161 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley have since been passed to his son and Joe Jr. and grandson Tom. There’s a relatively limited amount of their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to go around (about 10,000 in total per year), but a small amount ends up on our shelves to share with our customers.
The 2007 vintage was an amazing year for the Russian River Valley, wherein the overall estate wines showed complexity that would rival most vintages single-vineyard bottlings. This one in particular is on the fuller-bodied side for Pinot Noir. It scored 91 points from the Wine Spectator, which noted “Vibrant, spicy aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and fresh rose. Lithe red berry flavors are impressively precise and tangy, offering very good focus and slow mounting sweetness. Finishes on a deeper cherry note, with excellent clarity and length.” While those bright tangy berry flavors are still fresh, you’ll want to drink this one now, while you wait for the Champy Clos de Vougeot to mature to perfection.

Food Pairing: Pan-roasted salmon with blood orange zest and reduction

Reviews

Robert Parker 88-90 Points

The 2007 Pinot Noir Estate displays delicious plum, raspberry and black cherry notes, with hints of earth and roasted herbs. The wine is medium to full-bodied, already delicious, and should drink nicely for 7-8 years.

International Wine Cellar 91 Points

Full red. Vibrant, spicy aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and fresh rose. Lithe red berry flavors are impressively precise and tangy, offering very good focus and slow-mounting sweetness. Finishes on a deeper cherry note, with excellent clarity and length.

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/10080.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2005 Champy Clos Vougeot

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/france/11187.html

Brand: Maison Champy
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Cote de Nuits
Category: France
Size: 750 ml

Price: $69.99
Reg: $119.99

2009 November Wine Club Premiere Selection

I’m always hesitant to speak in absolutes, but according to my records, Champy is THE oldest maison in Burgundy. And it’s not easy to be the oldest in Burgundy. Founded in 1720 and sold a number of times in its now nearly three-century history, the winemaking is now overseen by enologist Dmitri Bazas. Bazas is so particular in his winemaking that he insists on choosing the ageing barrels even for the wine that the maison chooses to buy from other growers.
As old as the winery is, you may be surprised to learn that their house style is rather modern in comparison to other Burgundy houses. Lots of new oak expresses itself upon initial release, which ages nicely into exotic spice accents after a few years of cellaring. (As one critic wrote, think “sandalwood and cardamom:” two of my absolute favorite scents to smell in...well..anything!
Our French buyer managed to procure just a few cases of this Grand Cru.

Food Pairing: Grilled or roasted quail

Reviews

Wine Spectator 94 Points

Deep yet polished, this is full of red berry, and black-berry and cherry fruit and accented by spicy oak. Its appeal is the concentration of sweet fruit and supple texture. The vibrant structure gives this life as it glides to a long conclusion. Best from 2015 through 2035. 75 cases made.–BS

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/france/11187.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2007 Brewer Clifton Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/09905.html

Brand: Brewer Clifton Wines
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Sta Rita Hills
Category: California
Size: 750 ml

Price: $35.99
Reg: $44.99

2009 September Wine Club Cellar Selection

I actually surprised myself by choosing two Santa Barbara County Pinot Noirs for November's Cellar Selections. Don't get me wrong; I'm a big fan of wines from this region, but with the proliferation of Pinot producers in Sonoma and Oregon, the odds were in favor of the latter two. But these two Santa Barbara/Santa Rita Pinots impressed me too much, in the end they just had to go out to our Club. Brewer-Clifton has been focusing on the best site-selection for Pinot Noirs since their first production in 1996. Though only jest over a decade old, the winery already has a reputation for being special and rather hard to find (with total production topping out between 7,000 and 8,000 cases a year.) This year we managed to get our hands on a few extra cases four our best customers, and are pleased to offer a wine from the stellar 2007 vintage that's full of beautiful notes of dark raspberry and cherry, rose petal and blood orange. Enjoy.

Food Pairings: Pork loin with cherry reduction

Reviews

Robert Parker 93 Points

A fabulous introduction, the generic cuvee, the 2007 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills (just over 1,000 cases produced), possesses a deep plum/ruby hue as well as gorgeously sweet, sexy, plum, cherry, forest floor, and spring flower notes. Sensual and medium to full-bodied with great fruit, good acidity, and an incredible Burgundian-like character that suggests something from Morey-St.-Denis or further north, it should drink well for 7-8 years.

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/09905.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2007 Samsara Pinot Noir Santa Barbara

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/10702.html

Brand: Samsara Wines
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Santa Barbara County
Category: California
Size: 750 ml

Price: $29.99
Reg: $39.99

2009 September Wine Club Cellar Selection

“We don’t make wine, we grow it.” This is the mantra of Chad and Mary Melville, creators of Samsara Pinot Noir and Syrah in Santa Barbara County. Samsara is a Sanskrit word for the eternal cycle of life, and it’s this natural cycle that Chad and Mary aim to be mindful of as they guide their wine along from vine to barrel to bottle. They believe most of the work must be done in the vineyard, and that once the grapes reach the winery, they’ve got to let the juice do its own thing. Part of their “hands-off” approach includes using native yeasts and whole-cluster fermentations. “Stems help to absorb the overt fruitiness of the wines. To us, many California wines are simply about fruit and lack the complexity that we hope to impart.” Making Pinot Noir in the comparably warm Santa Barbara County, that’s particularly important for creating balanced, flamboyantly ripe yet also smoothly spicy wines like this one. Yet don’t think that their hands-off approach means they’re not paying attention; these adept winemakers.

Food pairing: Roast turkey w/ wild mushroom gravy

Recipe: Wild Mushroom Gravy
Serves: 6-8
Wine Pairing: 2007 Samsara Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, or any other good Pinot Noir

Have a little fun choosing an assortment of wild mushrooms from your local specialty food store to go in this gravy. The sauce can be spooned over pieces of a whole roasted turkey after carving, or you can sauté a few turkey breast fillets to go with the gravy for a smaller meal.

6-8 servings of whole-roasted turkey or pan-roasted turkey breast
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter
32 oz (2 lbs.) assorted wild mushrooms (Cremini, Porcini, Shiitake, Bluefoot, Chanterelle, and/or Morel)
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups turkey or chicken broth
8 Tbsp Pinot Noir
1/2 cup tarragon and/or sage, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

-In a large saucepan or skillet, melt butter on medium heat. Add shallots and mushrooms, stir to blend. Cover and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender, about five to seven minutes.
-Stir in broth, sherry or wine, and half of the herbs. Turn the heat to high and allow the sauce to bubble and thicken, about five minutes. When the sauce has reached the desired consistency (should coat the back of a spoon), remove from heat,. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over turkey, sprinkle the remaining herbs over the top, and serve.

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/10702.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2007 GF Going Forward Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/11064.html

Brand: GF Going Forward
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma Coast
Category: California
Size: 750 ml

Price: $22.99
Reg: $29.99

2009 September Wine Club Reserve Selection

This is a rather exciting project for us here at Gary’s: the inaugural release of our own private label under the GF line called Going Forward. While some private labels out there have gotten a bad wrap (sometimes rightly so, for using rather uninspiring bulk juice), we wanted to do something a little different: a private label project in which over delivering on quality is the main
focus, and partnerships with some very high-end winery groups make it all possible. For the Going Forward line, we plan to create a “house style” from the same producer and vineyards year after year, lending a stylistic consistency that’s top-notch. And our inaugural release of 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir hit the nail right on the head.
Having our Pinot Noir made on the dramatically cool western reaches of the extreme Sonoma Coast is demanding and difficult, but leads to a wine that’s amazingly easy to drink and well worth the trouble!
Full, ripe red cherry on the nose, with a well-structured palate full of cherry, forest and black tea, and balanced acidity.

Food Pairing: Tea-poached duck with beets

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/11064.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2008 Robert Foley Pinot Blanc

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/08833.html

Brand: Robert Foley Vineyards
Style: White Wine
Varietal: Pinot Blanc
Region: Napa Valley
Category: California
Size: 750 ml

Price: $24.99

2009 November Wine Club Reserve Selection

The Pinot Blanc grape is actually a genetic point mutation of Pinot Noir, wherein one cane of the vine will produce white fruit while all the rest produces the usual red. Somewhere along the line a few winemakers decided they liked this particular mutation, probably for the crisp acidity and light apple and melon flavors, and began growing and bottling it on its own. Bob Foley is no stranger to unconventional grapes, as Wine Club veterans may know, so while everyone else in the Napa Valley grows Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay for their white wine, Bob is happy to make his one and only white bottling this refreshing Pinot Blanc. You could say his inspiration comes from Germany or Alsace, but I have a feeling it comes more from a desire to drink something light, crisp and smooth as he listens to rock ballads.

Food pairing: Leek omelet or country pork pâté

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/california/08833.html


Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2008 Over The Edge Pinot Noir

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/11330.html

Brand: Escarpment Vineyards
Style: Red Wine
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Martinborough
Category: New Zealand
Size: 750 ml

Price: $12.99
Reg: $16.99

2009 November Wine Club Vintner Selection

I spend a lot of time explaining to customers why a good Pinot Noir under $20 is so hard to find; the grapes are fickle, expensive, and hard to grow, the wine has to be treated with such care every step of the way, etc., etc. So it comes as a bit of a surprise to me, even kind of blows my theory out of the water in some respects, when a good Pinot comes along for about $13. Sign of the times, I suppose, and I’ll be the last one to object! Over the Edge is a Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir that displays all the “varietally correct” characteristics of ripe cherry and raspberry fruit, just a hint of earth, and a balance between juiciness and fresh acidity, but what’s really special about it is the bright, sweet-fruited flavor. If you’re not committed to putting American wines on the table for Thanksgiving, this would make a great pairing for your turkey, cranberry sauce, and roasted vegetables.

Food pairing: Roasted parsnips and fennel


http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/11330.html


Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store

2008 Snowline Pinot Gris

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/oregon/10594.html

Brand: Snowline
Style: White Wine
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Region: Oregon
Category: Oregon
Size: 750 ml

Price: $11.99
Reg: $16.99

2009 November Wine Club Vintner Selection

The Pacific Northwest had the geological potential to end up a harsh and arid environment where little could thrive. But a few big rivers running off of the snowy Cascade Mountains, coupled with cool coastal breezes, make this landscape just hospitable enough for the cool-climate-loving Pinot Gris grape. You may know it better as Pinot Grigio (it’s Italian cousin), but this wine, when made in Oregon, takes on a vibrant and refreshing character of floral and tropical white fruits. Coming from a family of skiers, I have a feeling this bottle will become a mainstay throughout the winter season, accompanying many a white pizza, warm goat cheese salad, and roast chicken after a day on the slopes.

Food pairing: White pizza with garlic, basil and ricotta

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/oregon/10594.html

Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Madison | Bernardsville | Wayne
1308 Route 23 North • Wayne, NJ 07470 • 973-633-3900
E-mail: info@garyswine.com • Toll Free: 1-888-99-GARYS
http://www.GarysWine.com • Buy Wine Online • NJ Wine Store