Herb's "Must Try" Wine Choices
Wines you've never heard of but should try!

RED WINES
2004 Four Vines Loco Tempranillo Blend
Winemaker's Comments: "Tempranillo from the "tres Cajones Vineyard" in Templeton is blended with Syrah and Granache.  Massive, massive wine. Big fruit, big structure, big balls...in fact, three. On the palate, big black fruit that seems to resonate with angst. Huge structure with rich tannins; long, long, long on the mouth; a rich oak finish."

2003 Corte alla Flora Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
"This wine is velvety and chewy, with licorice, berry and chocolate. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a long finish. An excellent wine from a new winery. Best after 2007. A steal at this price!"  Wine Spectator - 91Points!

2004 Feudi di San Gregoria Aglianico
This is an Italian ABC wine – Anything But Chianti.  Aglianico, grown north of Naples, is a grape that can be traced back to the early Romans. This example has an earthy, cherry fruit aroma with a smooth mouthfeel. It shows slightly meaty, cherry fruit flavors on the palate. The finish is very dry, slightly earthy, and quite lengthy with dried cherry flavors. This is an alternative Italian red that will pair well with food.

2003 Artesa Alexander Valley Tempranillo
The owners of this Sonoma winery are Spanish, so it’s not a surprise that they make a Tempranillo, Spain’s national red. This example has aromas of herbs and berries. It’s smooth on the palate with dark cherry fruit and spice and light vanilla notes.  This mid-palate is fairly bright with drier berry fruit. This is a very elegant wine and a New World example of an Old World varietal.

2004 Bokisch Garnacha
They used the Spanish name for Grenache because the vines come from cuttings in Rioja and Priorat.  Regardless, this is an excellent example of the varietal.  It has a rich aroma of raspberry fruit.  It’s smooth and lush on the palate with perfumed raspberry fruit.  The mid-palate is slightly creamy and it possesses a wonderful elegance.  The finish is very lengthy with creamy, red berry fruit.  If you’re looking for something different yet very good then try one of these.

2005 Le Bombarde Cannonau
Cannonau is indigenous to Sardinia and makes an interesting alternative to Chianti. It has an earthy, sour cherry aroma with cherry/berry flavors on the palate. You’ll also find a pleasant white pepper note throughout. This is a full-flavored offering with good body and perfect ripeness. The finish has balance tannins.

2003 Rosenblum Old Vine Mourvedre
Wow!  This is an excellent example of a “New World” Mourvedre. It has a dark fruit aroma with spice, vanilla, and ripe, dark berry fruit flavors on the palate. This wine has good body and tremendous depth of flavor. The finish sees ripe plumy fruit with more hints of vanilla. This is definitely a “try me” wine. 

Herb's "Must Try" WHITE WINES