October 2005: Tuscany
Choice of Tuscan wines. Palate calibration: Ruffino Chianti Classico, Villa Antinori Toscana and Terruzzi & Puthod Vernaccia di San Gimignano
September 2005: New Zealand
Your choice of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir. Palate calibration recommendations: Brancott (Montana) 2004 Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Kim Crawford 2004 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Villa Maria 2004 Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
August 2005: Rhone Varieties in the USofA
Your choice of U.S. Rhone-style wines. Palate calibration recommendations: Edmunds Saint-John "Rocks and Gravel," Tablas Creek "Cotes de Tablas Red" and Laurel Glen "REDS."
July 2005: French whites
Dry or off-dry French whites, with focus on Burgundy, Alsace, the Loire and the Rhône.
June 2005: German Riesling
2004 Dr. L Riesling ($9), 2004 Leitz Riesling "Dragonstone" ($13) and 2003 Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Riesling Kabinett ($15) or the German Riesling of your choice.
May 2005: Think pink
All dry rosé wines are fair game this month.
April 2005: Argentina!
Taster's choice! Bring your Argentine favorites
March 2005: Syrah, Shiraz, Sirah
Cline 2002 California Syrah ($13.99), Yalumba 2002 South Australia Shiraz ($10.99) and Bogle 2002 California Petite Sirah ($9.99)
February 2005: Rioja, plus
Faustino V 1998 Rioja Reserva ($16.99) and Osborne 2001 "Solaz" Vino de la Tierra de Castilla ($7.69)
January 2005: The South of France
Your choice of wines from the Rhone, Languedoc and Provence
November-December 2004: What's for Dessert?
Quinta do Noval "LB" Porto ($16.99), Graham's "Six Grapes" Porto ($22.39) and Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Muscat ($16.99)
October 2004: Zinfandel and Primitivo
Renwood 2002 "Sierra Series" Sierra Foothills Zinfandel ($10.99) and A-Mano 2002 Puglia Primitivo ($10.59)
August 2004: Spanish Garnacha
Viña Alarba 2002 Calatayud Old Vines Grenache ($8.99) and Borsao 2002 Campo de Borja ($7.99)
June 2004: Affordable Chardonnay
Louis Jadot 2002 Macon-Villages Chardonnay ($9.49) and Smoking Loon 2002 California Chardonnay ($8.99)
May 2004: Barbera
Bera 2002 Barbera d'Alba ($12.99), Cantine Sant'Agata 2001 "Baby Barb" Barbera d'Asti ($11.99) and Castelvero 2001 Piemonte Barbera ($9.99)
March 2004: Amazing grape: Carmenère
Santa Ema 2001 Rapel Valley Carmenère ($9.99), Casa Silva 2000 Colchagua Valley Carmenère ($6) and Carmen 2001 Rapel Valley Carmenère ($7)
January 2004: Viognier
J et F Lurton 2002 "Les Salices" Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc ($13.50) and R. H. Phillips 2001 "EXP" Dunnigan Hills Viognier ($9.99).
November-December 2003: Festive holiday wines
Michel Frères 1997 Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé Cuvée Brut ($15.59) and Noval "LB" Porto ($16.99).
October-November 2003: Support your local winery
No matter where in the world you live, we encourage you to seek out a local winery and pay them a visit this month.
September 2003: Loire reds
Charles Joguet 2000 "Cuvée Terroir" Chinon ($14.99) and Domaine de la Chanteleuserie 2000 "Cuvée Beauvais" Bourgueil ($12.99).
August 2003: White blends
Any blend of white grape varieties that you like. Suggested: Chateau Bonnet 2001 Entre-Deux-Mers ($9.99), Pine Ridge 2002 California Chenin Blanc-Viognier ($14.99), Pieropan 2001 Soave Classico ($11.99), La Vieille Ferme 1999 Cotes du Luberon Blanc ($7.59) and Leeuwin Estate 2001 Margaret River "Siblings" Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon ($12.99).
July 2003: Southern Italy
Any Southern Italian wine of your choice. Suggested for calibration: Taurino 1995 Notarpanaro ($14.49), Taurino Salice Salentino ($7.99), A-Mano Primitivo ($9.99) and Mastroberardino 2001 Greco di Tufo ($21.99).
June 2003: Pinotage
Pinotage of your choice. Recommended, if available: Kanonkop or Simonsig. Also to be reviewed: Fairview 2001 Coastal Region Pinotage ($10), Ashanti 1999 Paarl Pinotage ($16) and Kumala 2000 Western Cape Pinotage ($9.99)
May 2003: Detecting oak
Columbia Crest 2001 Columbia Valley Chardonnay ($8.99), Columbia Crest 2001 Columbia Valley "Grand Estates" Chardonnay ($11.99)
April 2003: Exploring Merlot
Columbia Crest 1999 Columbia Valley "Grand Estates" Merlot ($11.79), J. et F. Lurton 2000 "Les Salices" Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc($8.99)
March 2003: Vouvray
Foreau 2000 Vouvray Sec ($14.99)
February 2003: Chianti
Cecchi 2001 Chianti ($8.49), Gabbiano 2000 Chianti Classico ($11.99), Ruffino 2000 "Aziano" Chianti Classico ($14.49), Castello d'Albola 1998 Chianti Classico Riserva ($19.99)
January 2003: Sweet Muscat
Domaine de Durban 1999 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise ($19.99), Quady 2000 "Essensia" California Orange Muscat ($11.49/375 ml), Trevor Jones Barossa Old Muscat ($36.99/375 ml)
December 2002: Pinot Noir
Louis Jadot 1999 Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($15.99), Kings Ridge 2001 Oregon Pinot Noir ($13.99), Au Bon Climat 2001 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir ($17.99), Omaka Springs 2000 Marlborough Reserve Pinot Noir ($10.99)
November 2002: 2001 German Riesling
Graff 2001 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett ($10.49)
October 2002: Syrah
E. Guigal 2000 Crozes-Hermitage ($15.99), Qupé Central Coast Syrah ($14.99)
September 2002: Pinot Gris/Grigio
Zenato 2001 Pinot Grigio delle Venezie ($9.99), Cline 2000 Sonoma County Pinot Gris ($9.99)
August 2002: Zinfandel
Ravenswood 2000 Vintners Blend California Zinfandel ($11.69), Cline 2000 California Zinfandel ($9.99), Ridge California Coast Range ($16.99), Laurel Glen 2000 REDS ($7.99)
July 2002: Rosé wine
Open: Rosé of your choice
June 2002: Malbec
Altos Las Hormigas 2000 Mendoza Malbec ($8.99), Trapiche 2000 Mendoza Malbec ($6.99)
May 2002: Chardonnay
Louis Jadot 2000 Macon-Villages Chardonnay ($9.99), Penfolds 2001 Koonunga Hill South East Australia Chardonnay ($9.99), Savary 1998 Chablis ($17.99), Sonoma-Cutrer 2000 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay ($17.99)
April 2002: Rioja
Marqués de Cáceres 1998 Rioja ($12.99), Marqués de Riscal 1998 Rioja Reserva ($15.99)
March 2002: Alsace Riesling
Trimbach 1999 Alsace Riesling ($16.99)
February 2002: Australian "Port"
Hardys Whiskers Blake Tawny Port ($14.99)
January 2002: Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Concha y Toro "Casillero del Diablo" Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($8.99), Casa Lapostolle "Cuvee Alexandre" Rapel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99)
December 2001: Champagne
Champagne Pol Roger Brut ($29.99), Champagne Philipponat Brut ($29.99)
November 2001: Beaujolais-Villages
Louis Jadot 2000 Beaujolais-Villages ($7.99), Georges Duboeuf 2000 Beaujolais-Villages ($6.99)
October 2001: Australian Shiraz
Wyndham Estate "Bin 555" South Eastern Australia Shiraz ($8.99), Wynn's Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Shiraz ($13.99), Penfolds "Bin 128" Coonawarra Shiraz ($22.99)
September 2001: Alsace
Gentil Hugel
August 2001: Falesco "Vitiano" Umbria
Falesco "Vitiano" Umbria ($9.99)
July 2001: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Brancott 2000 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($9.99)
June 2001: Côtes-du-Rhône
Paul Jaboulet Ainé 1998 "Parallele '45'" Côtes-du-Rhône ($9.99)
