The Chopping Block's Wine List

White Wine…

Loimer Gruner Veltliner "Lois," 2007, Kamptal, Austria Bin 5158 $12.75

We'd be hard pressed to find a better "summer sipper" than the Loimer Gruner Veltliner "Lois." The keywords here are crisp, dry, and refreshing, with characteristic lime, green apple and green veggie notes. A great intro to a hot grape varietal.

Con Class, 2007, Rueda, Spain Bin 4395 $11.95

Vintage to vintage, the "Con Class" Verdejo represents a silly, silly value. Fermented in stainless steel to retain the inherent freshness to this zesty grape, the wine smacks grapefruit, guava, and pineapple.

Mahi Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand Bin 7359 $20.50

A stellar effort, the Mahi Sauvignon is all about balance, structure, and finesse. Look for a stunning nose of gooseberry, grapefruit, and bell pepper, followed by delineated palate that rises well above the Kiwi SB fray.

La Yunta Torrontes, 2007, Mendoza, Argentina Bin 7086 $11.25

If you have yet to try the fruity and floral Torrontes grape, get going! La Yunta falls into the seriously perfumed category, with big aromas and flavors of lychee, star fruit, and orange rind, and yet the wine finishes dry.

Ca dei Frati "I Frati," 2006, Lombardia, Italy Bin 6903 $17.50

This is Ca dei Frati's flagship bottling, and it's beautiful inside and out. Comprised of the Lugana (Trebbiano) grape, it's dry, balanced, and delicate, with an enveloping kid-glove texture, and subtle white flower and almond notes.

Hedges "CMS" White, 2006, Columbia Valley, Washington Bin 8001 $12.95

Hedges "CMS" White is fresh and vibrant, effortlessly integrating the body and depth of Chardonnay, the spiced aromatics of Marsanne, and the structured minerality of Sauvignon Blanc. Both the red and the white in the "CMS" series consistently represent some of the best values on the wine market.

Pazo Senorans Albarino, 2006, Rias Baixas, Spain Bin 5437$27.50

What a heroic effort from Pazo de Senorans! The grape here is Albarino, which is the noble white grape of Spain. The wine is racy, streamlined, and downright aerodynamic; a great white to thrust upon those in the card-carrying, red wine camp.

De Falco Falanghina, 2005, Campania, Italy Bin 8002 $12.95

Are we too early yet for "Honk if you love Falanghina!" bumper stickers? Perhaps, but the revolution is not far off, considering wines such as De Falco's. Look for unctuous pear and stone fruit, on a dry, almondine and floral frame.

Chazelles Vire-Clesse Macon, 2006, Burgundy, France Bin 8003 $22.50

A stunning Burgundian Chardonnay that defines elegance, grace, and subtlety--attributes that are sometimes sorely lacking in the varietal's New World counterparts. If Chardonnay is your grape, Burgundy certainly wrote the book, and this Vire-Clesse is lovely stuff indeed.

Calera Chardonnay, 2006, Central Coast, California Bin 4980 $18.50

Calera's Rubenesque 2006 Chardonnay features aromas and flavors of yellow apple, fresh corn, and pear seamlessly integrated into a butter cream texture and framed by a finish of toasty, vanillin oak.

Tangent "Eccelstone," 2006, Central Coast, California Bin 6976 $21.25

Tangent is one of our new favorite California wineries, partially because of their emphasis on the greatness of white grapes. This is the definitive "kitchen sink blend" (if it's an aromatic white grape, it's in there!) sure to please drinkers of wines like Caymus Conundrum.

A to Z, Pinot Gris 2007, Willamette Valley, Oregon Bin 7313 $14.50

Classic Oregon Pinot Gris showcasing an endless bounty of stone fruits, honeysuckle, acacia and lime blossoms, with bright acidity and ripe, unctuous fruit. File this one under crazy good bang for the buck.

Navarro Gewurztraminer Estate, 2006, Anderson Valley, California Bin 6974 $25.95

A shining example of an oft-bungled varietal! Navarro's Estate Gewurztraminer is an exercise in subtlety—it has all the lychee, orange zest and lemon fruit Gewurz fans love, on a dry, pristine, and elegant palate.

Zilliken Estate Riesling "Butterfly," 2006, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany Bin 4409 $17.95

In the wine media, the wines of Hanno Zilliken were often compared to butterflies due to their ethereal and effortless style on the palate, and intricate, detailed structure. Off-dry, with peach and mineral notes and searing acidity. P.S. There is no better wine than German Riesling to pair with spicy Indian or Thai cuisine.

Francois Pinon Vouvray, 2006, Loire Valley, France Bin 4409 $17.95

Ah, the Vouv!! Quite possibly the most hedonistic expression of the Chenin Blanc grape, this one wins friends and influences people time after time. Look for honey, quince, and blanched almond notes with a stony minerality.

Red Wine…

Chateau Haut-Sarthes Rose, 2007, Bergerac, France Bin 4414 $8.95

Let us let you in on a secret: serious wine drinkers and foodies alike guzzle dry and endlessly charming Rose such as Haut-Sarthes' by the gallon each summer. Ask any Chopping Block staffer, they'll tell you when the Haut-Sarthes comes back into stock, summer is just around the corner! (This will sell out: buy by the truckload.)

Clos Salomon Givry 1er Cru, 2005, Burgundy, France Bin 8004 $35.95

If you have yet to "get" why Pinot Noir from Burgundy inspires such starry-eyed wonderment from even the most jaded wine critic, pick up a bottle of the Clos Salomon. Generous, smoky red cherry fruit, cinnamon spice, and an exotic, heady perfume of sandalwood and vanilla mark this Premier Cru stunner.

Maysara Pinot Noir "Jamsheed," 2005, McMinville, Oregon Bin 5364 $28.50

Look for dark aromas of smoky-coffee, cocoa powder, raspberries, and forest floor on this juicy effort from the Willamette Valley. Balanced acidity and fine-grained tannin mark the persistent, tangy, lengthy finish.

De Lozar Ribera del Duero, 2005, Spain Bin 8005 $12.25

A screaming deal for Ribera del Duero, vinified from 70-year-old Tempranillo vines. Great texture here, with some damp earth notes, integrated tannins, and smoky red currant/raspberry fruit. This one will surely win friends and influence people.

Paul Achs Zweigelt, 2006, Burgenland, Austria Bin 8006 $20.50

From one of the masters of the Zweigelt grape comes this beautifully crafted red, redolent of cherry and strawberry fruit, and ably supported by hints of spice, gravelly earth, and fine tannin. A great find for those seeking the new and different.

Magliano Morellino di Scansano "Heba," 2005, Tuscany, Italy Bin 6901 $18.95

Fans of the Sangiovese grape unite! Magliano's Morellino di Scansano (a local name for Sangiovese) is marked by bright, sour cherry fruit, heightened acidity, and a solid structure well beyond its price tag.

Giovanni Almondo Nebbiolo, 2004, Langhe, Italy Bin 8007 $14.50

Rarely can one utter "value" and "the Nebbiolo" grape in the same sentence, but Giovanni Almondo's Langhe Nebbiolo defies fiscal logic. A great starter kit to the grape that made Barolo and Barbaresco famous, with dusty tannin, high-toned acidity, and bright bing cherry fruit.

Chateau D'Oupia Minervois, 2006, Languedoc, France Bin 8008 $11.95

A fleshy, earthy blend of Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah, that's insanely delicious for the money. Perfect for steak au poivre, or other meaty, French-y delights, you don't need to be a Franc-o-phile to seriously consider this one for your house red.

Chateau Puynormand Montagne-Saint Emilion "Vieilles Vignes," 2005,
Bordeaux, France Bin 5404 $19.50

This gorgeous old vines Merlot from Bordeaux's right bank will make Miles from Sideways think twice before Merlot-bashing! Look for generous aromas and flavors of violets, ripe red cherry, vanilla and graphite, and pair with lamb to achieve nirvana.

Casa Silva Reserve Carmenere, 2006, Colchagua Valley, Chile Bin 6981 $11.50

Chile is banking on the Carmenere grape, and with good reason with wines such as the Casa Silva Reserva. Look for plump and concentrated blackberry/plum fruit, dried herb and spice notes sweetened in the middle by French oak.

Peter Lehmann Shiraz, 2004, Barossa Valley, Australia Bin 6960 $12.25

A stellar value from Peter Lehmann, whose litany of fine wines has the adulation of those "in the know." His 2004 Barossa boasts of dark fruits, cola, and black licorice, with a warm, caramelized finish of spun sugar.

Filipia Pato, 2005, Dao, Portugal Bin 7360 $17.95

Good gravy, this is sexy stuff. A blend of Port grapes from winemaker Filipa Pato, this one is all about texture—crushed purple velvet, to be exact. The nose is earthy and animale, with dark black fruit, cocoa powder, and notes of coffee bean. Ripe and creamy, but also gloriously restrained, you'll see why young winemakers such as Ms. Pato are creating quite a buzz for Portugal's dry, table reds.

Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon "Sharecropper's," 2006,
Columbia Valley, Washington Bin 5085 $22.50

Owen Roe's "Sharecropper's" label has been a huge hit and this dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon is a great successor to last year's version. Plush and forward with fresh berry notes, chocolate, and cedar, this concentrated gem tastes twice the price (and as such, sells out quickly--so get it while you can!).

Alvaro Palacios Priorat "Les Terrasses," 2005, Spain Bin 8009 $37.50

A sinful blend of bio-dynamically farmed Carinena, Garnacha, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that's long been a favorite of the wine cognoscenti. Full-flavored and complex, with black cherry, black currant, mocha and graphite notes, the 2005 "Les Terrasses" hits it way out of the park.

La Posta "Cocina Blend," 2006, Mendoza, Argentina Bin 6967 $14.95

Super extracted, lush, plush, black fruity goodness! A blend of the grapes making Mendoza famous: Malbec, Syrah, and Bonarda. If you like them BIG, this one's for you.