1 | Wine | Page 287

"The 2010 “The Player” Merlot is full-bodied and velvety-smooth, and will pair beautifully with grilled or charred beef, lamb or poultry."

"A beautiful sleeper of the vintage, this is possibly the best wine I-ve ever tasted from this over-achieving estate near St.-Christoly-de-Medoc. A blend of 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, this wine normally sells for about $15 a bottle, making it an absolutely staggering value in the worldwide marketplace. The 2010 exhibits classic cedar wood, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, licorice and some balsam wood notes in a strong, medium to full-bodied, layered style with good opulence, purity and overall harmony. A real beauty, it should be drunk over the next 4-5 years." -Robert Parker

"Our 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark, rich full-bodied wine with great tannic structure and mouth-feel. It has a garnet color and a nose of ripe boysenberries, cherry liqueur, dark chocolate, sandalwood and a hint of roasting meat. On the palate, it is mouth-coating and incredibly rich in umami. It has a very long, savory finish with the slight grip of fine-grained tannins. Given proper cellaring, this wine should give drinking pleasure through 2030."

"Light, bright gold. Complex, highly fragrant aromas of peach pit, melon and orange peel, with musky floral and mineral qualities gaining strength with air. Lush and expansive on the palate, offering intense, well-defined citrus fruit and anise flavors lifted by chalky minerality. At once powerful and lithe, with excellent finishing clarity and a lingering note of bitter orange."

"This lightly sweet wine delivers intense berry, rose petal and herb aromas and flavors, and fresh, vivacious bubbles."