1 | Wine | Page 19

"Lot 381 hails from the Eastern hills of Lodi; fresh with pure red and black fruit intensity. A ripe, thick texture marked with toasty oak richness. Stunning."

"The 2011 is a classic Malbec, but undoubtedly Layer Cake. Big, brooding, black fruit, then rich earth, truffles and dark cocoa are at the front. The Sea of Stones vineyard is at its core, always evident with the thread of minerality that the deep alluvial cobblestones lend. This wine is so elegant in the mouth with fresh-picked blackberries, simmering chocolate sauce on the stove, and somewhere someone's cooking bacon … so many layers, so little time. Drinking a bottle of this wine will certainly lead to, well, opening another. So get it fast and get a lot while you can. We can never make enough to satisfy everyone."

"It has a floral bouquet of wild strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and a touch of Hoi Sin that is well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, dry tannins on the entry that lend this Malbec a “classic” feel. It is very well-balanced and harmonious, with light strawberry, balsamic and pomegranate notes on the minerally finish. This is a superb Malbec."

"Red berries, cherry, redcurrants, violets, hints of tobacco."

"Light, crisp, and highly aromatic, the warmer climate Alexander Valley fruit gives this wine ripe peach, tangerine, and pineapple character, while the ocean cooled Russian River Valley fruit offers citrus, lemon grass, and slightly herbaceous qualities."

"Black currant, vanilla and dried Herbs de Provence. Lucious flavors of currant, blackberry, French vanilla, cocoa powder. This wine has firm tannins and a smoth, lingering finish."

"A combination of cherries, plums and blackberries with oak spice, chocolate and vanilla. This wine tastes as it smells. Rich notes of ripe red cherries and plums are complemented by dark chocolate and vanilla. Serve with - bbq pepper steak and a bunch of mates."