B-21 Wine Staff Selections

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2006 Ca'Bolani Pinot Grigio (Friuli - Italy)

"Italy’s best Pinot Grigios originate in the far northeast of the country in Friuli where the fruit is more concentrated and aromatic than most others because of the cool hilly conditions. Appealingly full-flavored and very well-balanced with a bouquet perfumed with fragrant acacia flowers, melon and subtle spice. Quite lush and smooth textured, the flavors were persistent with a hint of minerality and crisp, refreshing sweet lemon acidity. The most complete pinot grigio I've tasted in years!" Mark Stitt, 90 POINTS!

9.99

Steve Rayman
Steve's Top Ten Wines

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2004 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Black Label (Italy)

“I found this to be the most stunning value at B-21’s recent Italian Grand Tasting. I know that’s big talk but Fonterutoli is arguably making the finest wines in the Chianti district and certainly 2004 is a vintage like no other in memory. This wine is ripe with elements of blueberry, raspberry and bitter chocolate. It is vibrant and lively on the palate begging to be served with food but no slouch on it’s own either. It can dazzle in a blind tasting. The finish is long and pure. Multi-case purchases make sense here as you’ll want to stock enough to last a few years. Who knows if we’ll see another vintage like 2004 in this life time.” Steve Rayman, 93 POINTS!

19.99

Summer Martin

Summer's Top Ten Wines

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2005 Rocca di Montemassi Sassabruna (Tuscany - Italy)

“Since our Italian Tasting in February I have become more and more intrigued by wines from Italy. A new found favorite of mine is the Rocca di Montemassi Sassabruna from Tuscany. It is a youthful mix of Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot with a spicy mix of plum and black fruits with chocolate and licorice accents. It is full-bodied and plush and velvety in texture. Its a perfect match to traditional Italian dishes, and I will be enjoying it with ravioli stuffed with spicy meat in a homemade marinara sauce. Yum-o!” Summer Martin, 90 POINTS!

19.99

Shannon Sprentall
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2005 Green Lion Merlot (Napa - California)

“I was initially attracted to Green Lion’s magical label a la The Chronicles of Narnia meets Grateful Dead nostalgia inspired theme. This classic Merlot character will make the grateful palate salivate as it exhibits lush raspberry, succulent strawberry and slightly sour cherries. Douglas Danielak’s and Chris Ringland’s Merlot is well structured and balanced. Lion is versatile enough to enjoy with any light chicken dish and definitely holds its value with a hearty steak. If you’re not a Merlot fan I would say the label alone is worth collecting. This will go fast so get it while it’s hot at $14.99.” Shannon Sprentall, 90 POINTS!

14.99

Rhett Beiletti

Rhett's Top Ten Wines

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2004 Encierra Vineyard Reserve (Chile)

“Perhaps as a condition of my occupation-- we taste so many wines that it could be the equivalent of ADHD of the palate-- I rarely drink the same wine twice within a month’s time. But Encierra Vineyard Reserve recently made me acutely aware both of that premise and my wanting to disprove it as well. Comprised of 64% cab s, 15% syrah, 13% carmenere and then a little bit extra merlot and petit verdot, EVR delivers both nuance and pleasure. Cassis and Currant type fruit flavors are aromatically and immediately expressive of Cab on the palate. The mid-palate of the wine is where the complexities begin to weave together a puzzle that is postively scrumptious. In fact so much so that I’d already had a second bottle within a few weeks time and found myself wanting to drink the wine again. Simply extraordinary to me that I would even consider such.” Rhett Beiletti, 91+ POINTS!

19.99

Bob Sprentall

Bob's Top Ten Wines

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2004 M. Magnien Morey Saint Denis Pinot Noir (Burgundy)

“Last week staff and friends tasted through vestiges of the 2004 red Burgundy stocks. How surprised we were to see the hierarchically lesser wine on the table be the hit! The village of Morey St. Denis is home to Domaine Michel Magnien who has solid vineyard holding there. As are many 2004’s, the wines primary fruit aromas have become secondary and aromatically much more interesting now than the 2005’s are. Further, the 2004’s were not super-hyped and priced with the anemic dollar; his wine is selling for a song in the world of 2005 Burgundy prices, or for great Pinot Noir from anywhere.” Bob Sprentall, 91 POINTS!

29.99

Julie Oakes

Julie's Top Ten Wines

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2006 Evil Cabernet Sauvignon (South Australia)

“If you haven’t already heard Evil is a new wine from R winery, a partnership between renowned winemaker Chris Ringland and importer Dan Philips. Evil Cab is a big, fruit-forward, well balanced wine. Made from 100% Cabernet that is grown on vines 10 to 30 years old, from some of South Australia’s best regions : 38% McLaren Vale, 37% Barossa, 25% Pyrenees. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and aromas of cassis, coffee and vanilla. Flavors of plums, berries, roasted coffee with a hint of cocoa and tobacco on the spicy finish. With a very California style it competes with wines that sell for twice the price. Evil is a temptation. Definitely a great value. The fun label is a bonus. Enjoy over the next 6-8 years.” Julie Oakes, 90 POINTS!

9.99 (8.99 by the case!)

Chris Armstrong

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2005 Cristom Pinot Noir Jefferson (Willamette - Oregon)

“Taking stance in the Old-School camp, this bottling offers intriguing attributes throughout its consumption. The Cuvee seductively draws you in with only the effort of displaying an array of red fruits that are not so robust and ripe they are to be ogled like so many of its domestic counterparts. The slight earth nuances cohesively lead into a very well defined light to medium palpable experience that is in flux with slightly darker fruits that lace its furtive tannic core. I feel this wine provides one with great value as it dictates a special occasion upon any date of consumption. Drink now through the next 3-5 years.” Chris Armstrong, 91 POINTS!

29.99