2010 La Croix Gratiot Picpoul de Pinet (Languedoc, France)
The owner and winemaker is young upstart Anaïs Ricome. Today she is solely responsible for all aspects of the winemaking at the domaine. The Ricome family has been farming the land around Pinet for generations. In 1982 Anaïs’ father, Yves, took over the family domaine. Their principal business was the cultivation of the famous southern French melons (similar to small, very sweet cantaloupes). However, they also own 30 hectares of vineyards. During the 1990s they refurbished the vineyards and replanted with new, better, grape varieties.  Anais joined the family business in 2006.  Known as the “Chablis of the South”, the wines of Picpoul de Pinet are crisp, bright and refreshing. The name Picpoul, literally translates as “Lip Stinger”, referring to the grape’s naturally bright acidity.  The nose is delicate with aromas of cantaloupe and freshly cut grass. In the mouth, citrus and mineral notes are balanced by soft melon and pear fruit flavors. With its clean bright fruit, Picpoul de Pinet is a textbook match for oysters, mussels, and just about any other type of shellfish you can imagine.

2010 Bassi Pignoletto (Reno, Italy)
The grapevine is typical of the area around Bologna, and it has been grown in the lands of the Sacerno estate for centuries. It acquires a very particular and appealing aroma. The grape magnificently adapts itself to late harvesting, favouring a high and constant quality in different vintages.  The Bassi Winery combines the traditional cool maceration with the modern soft pressing technique. The fermentation with temperature control and static and cool decanting makes it possible to obtain a wine that is complete, clear and extremely varietal.   The result is a wine of pale straw yellow color, aromas of fresh exotic fruits, peach, apricot and golden apple flowers.  It is a medium-bodied wine, with light acidity and a rich finish.

2009 Il Cuore Chardonnay (Mendocino, CA)
"The Heart" in Italian. The name is a tribute to the Italian immigrants who first planted the North Coast of California to vine in the late nineteenth century. The wines are produced from choice grapes grown in Mendocino County. The success of wine grapes here has long been attributed to complex soils, warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. A hallmark of the Il Cuore style is the gentle use of oak to allow the natural fruit qualities of the grapes to become the focal point of the wines.  Vineyards in this region invoke Chardonnays that are fresh with apple and pear flavors, complemented by floral nuances in the bouquet. This vintage blend includes five percent Viognier to enhance tropical fruit aromas and add flavor complexity on the palate. The fresh, graceful style of Il Cuore Chardonnay results from cold fermentation in small stainless steel vessels and small components of barrel fermentation in mostly neutral small oak cooperage.

2010 Domaine Aime Cabernet Franc (Minervois, France)
With the help of his family, Rémi Bonnet owns and makes the wine at Domaine Aimé. Located in Olonzac, in the heart of Minervois, the winery has been in the Bonnet family for generations. The domaine takes its name from Aimé Bonnet, Rémi’s grandfather. Aimé was born in 1899, and served in World War I. Upon his return, he took over the family vineyards, and built the foundations of the domaine that Rémi now owns.  While the winery is located in Olonzac, Domaine Aimé's 12 hectares of vines are situated in the northeast of Minervois in Cesseras. Minervois is an area of diverse geology which extends for about 37 miles between the towns of Narbonne and Carcassonne. The combination of hot days, cool nights, and low rainfall allows Rémi to produce rich, concentrated wines, without sacrificing balance and elegance.  The Cabernet Franc is a rich, silky wine, flush with dark cherry and cassis fruit flavors. Even though the color is deep and extracted, the tannins are soft and supple. Hints of delicate spice and coco add an exotic note to the finish. This is an exceedingly versatile wine that can accompany everything from rich, bold dishes, to more subtle and lighter fare

2009 Juan Benegas Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
This winery is still family owned and operated by the descendants of Don Tiburcio Benegas, dubbed the father of the wine industry in Argentina.  He was the first person to bring French vines to Argentina, and a pioneer in irrigation and the modern winemaking techniques responsible for the explosion of Bordeaux varietals like Malbec out of South America today.  Much of his original vineyards have been sold off since the late 1800s, but to companies uninterested in making quality wines- leaving the Finca Libertad and vines of over 100 years of age to produce the Benegas Family wines sold today.  The Juan Benegas Malbec shows youthful aromas of dark berries, licorice, smoke and meat. It’s nicely balanced and concentrated for a wine in its price range, displaying juicy delineated berry flavors complicated by a whiff of game.

2007 Tre Monti Petrignone Sangiovese Riserva (Imola, Italy)
The heart of the winery lies in the centre of the farm estate in Imola, where only estate-grown grapes are vinified. All of the vineyards are managed according the principles of sustainable viticulture, which mandates inter-row cover-cropping and the lowest possible use of chemicals. In addition, recent years have witnessed surprising gains as a result of considering the phases of the moon in relation to certain vineyard management practices (one of the doctrines in biodynamic agriculture), such as hedging, planting new new vines, and, in some cases, the harvest itself. The winemaking operations too, watched over painstakingly by the experienced and talented Vittorio Navacchia, are animated by a philosophy of minimal intervention.  The Petrignone is 100% Sangiovese, aged 6 months in 1- and 2-year-old, medium toast Allier barriques.  It expresses darker fruit, and a smoother, juicier finish than Chianti to the south.

2009 Altitud Garnacha Tintorera (Almansa, Spain)
The Garnacha Tintorera for this wine is harvested from the highest altitude vineyards (1100 meters or higher) of the Santa Quiteria Winery's holdings. These vineyards show exclusively chalky soils. The vineyards are dry-farmed and trained in the traditional, vaso, vase-like manner. Vines are between 20 and 50 years old.  The Altitud displays musky, herb-accented aromas of cherry, bitter chocolate and black tea, lifted by a subtle floral quality. Firm and focused in the mouth, with zesty, faintly bitter red fruit flavors and no excess fat. Finishes with lingering spiciness and dusty tannins.

2010 Nuevo Mundo Estate Carmenere (Maipo Valley, Chile)
 An unbeatable climate with warm, sunny summers and cold, wet winters that provide the ideal conditions for winegrowing, geographic isolation, diverse soil types, and phylloxera-free soils make Chile an organic paradise.
Winemakers Vina De Martino are a leader and pioneer in Chile’s organic production, and its property in Isla de Maipo in the Maipo Valley is the country’s largest organic plantation; with 12% of the national tota. The property’s 300 hectares of vineyards have been certified organic by the German company BCS Öko- Garantie GMBH since 2001, which makes De Martino one of the leaders in organic production.  “NUEVO MUNDO” is a line of wines produced under the strictest organic standards in Isla de Maipo. The property has the ideal conditions for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec, and Sauvignon Blanc.  The estate Carmenere is of concentrated inky color. Complexities on the nose suggest blackberries, minerals, prune and green pepper, with hints of spice, accompanied by a touch of sweetness from the oak. The palate is full, medium persistence and high acidity, which ensures a better shelf life for this variety and highlights the wine’s spicy and fruity character. Soft and round finish.

2010 Las Colinas del Ebro Garnacha Syrah (Terra Alta, Spain)
Las Colinas del Ebro are a new line of wines inspired by the high altitude vines near the river Ebro, one of the great rivers of Europe and a profound influence on the landscape and history of northern Spain.  This blend is made from 25 year old Syrah and 35 year old Garnacha fruit that was hand harvested. Each variety was fermented and aged separately. The wine is made from only free-run juice and both varietals saw a short time in French oak barrels to add complexity and soften the tannin structure prior to blending. Aromas of blackberry, cherry, sassafras and violet, with slow-building smokiness and a hint of musky underbrush. Pliant and deep in dark fruit flavors, with a firm mineral spine adding focus and structure. Finishes on a sweet dark fruit note, with very good persistence and an echoing smoky note.

2008 Il Cuore Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino, CA)
This vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot both grown in Mendocino County’s historic Redwood Valley. Cabernet offers black currant flavors and plenty of supple tannins. Merlot brings added structure, deep fruit flavors and floral scents to the Il Cuore blend. Barrel aging occurred in neutral 60 gallon oak cooperage allowing the wine to develop complexity yet not be dominated by aggressive oak flavors.  Il Cuore Cabernet is recommended with Mediterranean cuisine and classic Italian fare. Ideal wine and food pairings include lean grilled meats, rich fish such as salmon or tuna, red sauce pasta, aged cheeses, and dark chocolate.