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“Buried Cane wines are named after a time-honored Washington State practice used to protect grape vines from frigid winter temperatures. Low-growing vine canes (shoots) are buried under the soil, then unearthed after winter freezes pass. Buried Cane wines are named with terms common in woodcut printing.

Washington State wine country has warm sunny summers and cold frosty winters. One time-honored practice to protect grape vines from damaging cold is to bury low-growing vine canes. These buried canes can be unearthed after winter freezes pass, assuring a grape harvest in the following season.” - Winery Notes

Buried Cane Riesling 2009 Tasting Notes

The Buried Cane Riesling is 100% Riesling. It’s a ripe, off-dry wine with bright, yellow/ straw color, and effusive floral aromas of jasmine, lily and heather. Background notes are of starfruit and pineapple. On the palate the wine is expansive and rich, focused on intense mango and white peach flavors. The mouthwatering finish is long and finely-textured.

Buried Cane Cabernet 2008 Tasting Notes

The finished wine is dark ruby in color, and quite opaque. Red fruits and florals dominate the nose, complemented by raspberry, cherry, violet and rose, with scents of cedar and juniper in the background. One the palate, black cherry and a dark earthy minerality meld with cedar-accented bright fruit.  Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Syrah.

“Over the course of the centuries and throughout their family history the Quiot family, winemakers since 1748, have established wonderful properties which are constantly being enlarged.  The story begins in the Vaucluse, at Chateauneuf-du-Pape where Antoine Quiot acquired a few hectares of vines in 1748. Today, the Domaine du Vieux Lazaret comprises more than 100 hectares with some of the land located in the Côtes du Ventoux region. The 13th generation of the family currently work the estate.  Next, close to Aix en Provence at the foot of Mont Sainte Victoire, the Domaine Houchart came into the family in 1890. It was added to with the Domaine de Verlaque in 2002. Today, Florence and Jean-Baptiste are the fifth generation to work the estate.

Back to Chateauneuf-du-Pape where the Domaine Duclaux was established in the 1750s and has been worked by the Quiot family since 1987. The Duclaux family’s final descendant, Emmeline, passed away in 2001 and left the estate to Florence and Jean-Baptiste.  In 2000, the Quiot family diversified into wine selection, complimenting the range of wines from their own estates.  Finally, after looking to expand into the Rhône area for a long time, the Quiot family bought the Château du Trignon in 2006 and in 2008 enlarged it with 10 hectares of Vacqueyras grapes and 2 hectares of Beaumes de Venise grapes.” - Winery Notes

Domaine Houchart Rosé Côtes de Provence 2010 Tasting Notes

“This juicy rosé is salmon pink with aromas of strawberries and red currants. It is lively and fresh on the palate with citrus notes and plenty of fullness.” - Winemaker Notes

Blend: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

Domaine Houchart Rosé Côtes de Provence 2010 Pairings

Pair this wine with simple fruit tarts, salads, and Asian dishes.

“Rutherford Ranch favors substance over pretense. We don’t waste our resources on fancy wine centers or fanciful stories. We don’t need to. When it comes to making a good impression, we believe that the only thing that matters is the genuine quality and value of our Napa Valley wines. The entire family of Rutherford Ranch wines proudly bears the Napa Valley appellation. Across our full spectrum of wines, you may expect wine flavor profiles that are fresh and contemporary, yet rich and naturally fruit forward.  The winery and estate vineyards are certified 100% Organic and meet the strictest State and Federal guidelines for environmentally progressive winegrowing.” - Winery Notes

Rutherford Ranch Cabernet 2009 Reviews

“Lots of richness in this Cabernet. It shows the sunshiney ripeness of well-grown Napa fruit, bursting with flavors of blackberries, cherries and cassis. Easy to like, with some real complexity.” - 89, Wine Enthusiast

Rutherford Ranch Cabernet 2009 Tasting Notes

“A lovely ruby color with aromas of boysenberry and currant, vanilla and earthy hints of forest floor. A full-bodied wine with a rich tannins. Big, delicious flavors of boysenberry, toasty caramel and cranberry. Well-balanced, perfect to drink now or can age nicely for 4 to 5 years.” - Winemaker Notes

“The secret of sparkling wines is the blend, whether they are from Champagne or other regions of France. This is the winemaker’s art. It is the choices he makes that determines what is often referred to as the House style. The style of Charles de Fère is to voluntarily refuse territorial limits, building close partnership relations with growers so that we can select cuvées from northerly vineyards for their freshness and elegance, together with cuvées from southern vineyards for ripe fruit, body and smoothness. This bold approach adds finesse, structure, and a complex harmony of flavors that makes Charles de Fère what it is today.’” - Winery Notes

Charles de Fère Cuvée “Jean-Louis” Blanc de Blancs Brut Reviews

“Spry and alert, with crisp apple aromas and some baking spice for good measure. Equally crisp on the palate, where lime, green apple and pepper run the show. Moderate but extended in terms of feel and finish; tasty and snapy overall.” - 87, Wine Enthusiast

Charles de Fère Cuvée “Jean-Louis” Blanc de Blancs Brut Tasting Notes

Enticing pale gold color with especially elegant, fine bubbles.  The aromas are fresh and fruity in style.  Light and crispy to the taste, Cuvée Jean-Louis is full-bodied with a long finish.

Charles de Fère Cuvée “Jean-Louis” Blanc de Blancs Brut Pairings

Ideal as an aperitif.

“Edgebaston is synonymous with modern winemaking on South Africa’s Western Cape.  Originally from Scotland, the Finlayson family has for three generations made outstanding wines in Stellenbosch and has in recent years been instrumental in transforming the Cape wine industry from a dwindling domestic business to a thriving international venture receiving worldwide acclaim.   The father and son team of David and Walter Finlayson present impressive credentials.  Walter made wine at South Africa’s Blaauwklippen winery for more than 15 years where he twice received “Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year” awards in addition to a host of other prestigious awards.  While still at Blaauwklippen, Walter purchased the now renowned Glen Carlou farm in Paarl, which he and son David transformed into one of South Africa’s leading wineries.  Subsequently, Walter has become best known for producing South Africa’s wine of the year in 2005.

In addition to his award winning work at Glen Carlou, David Finlayson has honed his winemaking skills at a number of prestigious addresses.  David performed winemaking stints at Peter Lehmann, one of Australia’s iconic wineries, and world renowned Château Margaux before starting Edgebaston.  In 2003 Walter and David sold their shares in Glen Carlou (although Walter still serves as Glen Carlou’s Managing Director) and purchased what is now Edgebaston, a beautiful estate on the hills overlooking Stellenbosch, South Africa’s premier appellation and wine town.  From the beginning, critics have lauded Edgebaston for its quality, value and innovation, and we count the Finlaysons’ budding Edgebaston winery among our best finds of the year.” - Winery Notes

Edgebaston “Honey Pot” White Blend 2010 Reviews

This blend of 38% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Sémillon and 13% Viognier is ripe but balanced with brisk acidity and lively citrus flavors against the tropical fruit and melon backbone. Prickly grapefruit flavors dominate the mouthwatering finish.” - 87, Wine Enthusiast

Edgebaston “Honey Pot” White Blend 2010 Tasting Notes

“A floral, fresh wine with hints of asparagus, lanolin and honey on nose. Palate crisp and fresh entry with a smooth , honeyed finish. Lingers on the tongue. A delicate fruity wine that rewards with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus that carriesthrough beautifully on the palate.”  - Winery Notes 

Edgebaston “Honey Pot” White Blend 2010 Pairings

Great with slightly spicy dishes such as chicken korma, thai sweet and sour beef and chilli shrimp.

“Perched on the bench of the Mayacamas in the far northwest corner of the Rutherford appellation, the location of the Flora Springs Estate is enviable. In 1984, we set out to make the best wine possible by hand-selecting the highest quality lots from our estate vineyards. Using a blend of three Bordeaux varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet and Franc - we created Trilogy, one of the original Meritage wines.

Now a Napa Valley benchmark, Trilogy represents meticulous sustainable and organic farming practices, along with the evolution of a wine style created by the Komes and Garvey families. Over twenty years of Trilogy later, the goal remains the same - to handcraft the finest wine possible from the Flora Springs Estate.” - Winery Notes

Flora Springs “Trilogy” Red Blend 2008 Reviews

“Exhibits a beautiful deep ruby/purple color along with sweet blueberry, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with some floral notes, well-integrated oak and spice, medium to full body and silky tannins.  Already complex and delicious, this blend should continue to drink well for 10-15 years.” - 91, Wine Advocate

“A flashy, classy wine grown in the estate vineyard in the benchlands and hills above Rutherford. Shows lots of sweet, ripe cherry fruit and toasty oak, but enough of an acid-tannin structure to dry it out for balance. Should hold and develop over the next 6-8 years.” - 94, Wine Enthusiast

Flora Springs “Trilogy” Red Blend 2008 Tasting Notes

“It is hard for us to contain our excitement over the release of the 2008 Trilogy. It exhibits all of the classic Trilogy attributes with a lovely cassis and cherry bouquet as well as huge black fruit flavors that envelope the palate. However, the layers of flavor go beyond anything we have previously crafted and the mouth-feel is wonderfully lush and polished.”  - Winemaker Notes

Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot, 2.5% Malbec

“Ever since the beginning of the 20th century researchers have identified in Soave, the eastern part of the hilly area around Verona, a specific identity linked to the origin of the soil, predominantly volcanic, which differentiates it from the other historic areas of Bardolino and Valpolicella. The Soave Doc area is, as a matter of fact, the most significant one among all the other areas in Veneto Region, that produce wine of denomination of controlled origin.” - Winery Notes

Marcato Colli Scaligeri “I Prandi” Soave 2010 Tasting Notes

Medium straw yellow. Delicate and intense bouquet with a pleasant bitterish aftertaste.

Blend: 70% Garganega, 20% Trebbiano di Soave, 10% Chardonnay.

Marcato Colli Scaligeri “I Prandi” Soave 2010 Pairings

Entrees, hors d’oeuvre, fish and light dishes in general.