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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Featured Importer

Importer Dan Kravitz of Hand Picked Selections
“Kravitz still has a knack for finding good wines at great prices” –
Robert Parker, Parker on Wine, BusinessWeek.

2007 Ninet de Pena Viognier....$11.99
It is almost impossible to find a great Viognier for under $20, and to find one from France--forget about it. Coindrieu which made the grape famous in France all sell for $50 plus now. Ninet de Pena's 100% Viognier is the only one that is delicious and affordable. Period. At $12 you get an extremely exotic nose of fruits including pineapple, apricot and mango. It is fresh and lively served by itself or try it with seafood. It also makes a great Sushi wine.


2008 Villa des Anges Cabernet Sauvignon....$9.99
"Villa des Anges 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is as remarkable and improbable a wine value as I have tasted in years. Jacqueline Menard de Ginestous (whose estate is officially named Espitalet des Anges) and oenologist Jeff Carrel have done the seemingly impossible – even forgetting the price – by crafting a full-bodied, subtly oily-textured, palpably dense, lip-smacking, not vegetal, yet not sweet Cabernet in the Languedoc. What’s more, there are 15,000 cases of it! Juniper, huckleberry, mint, rosemary, black walnut, dark chocolate, and green olive are prominent in the nose and on the palate, leading to a considerable finish. One-third went through malo-lactic transformation in older barrels, and the rest (including 15% Merlot) was left in tank. The lovely, distinctive label with its maroon angel’s head might remind some wine lovers of 18th century tombstones, but the message in the bottle is anything but macabre....you’ll want some of this just to stump other wine snobs in blind tastings."
Rated 89/100 The Wine Advocate



2006 Chateau Massamier "Expression" Carignan....$16.99

Chateau Massamier is located near the famous walled city of Carcassonne (known for the famous regional dish Cassoulet). Many of you are familiar with one of our favorite everyday reds Massamier Cuvee Olivier. The "Expression" line is the reserve line from this great producer. The "Expression de Carignan" uses the oldest lots of Carignan on
the estate many are 60+ years old. What do these old vines do for the wine? They produce lower yields and a more complex and concentrated wine. This wine will go great with grilled meats and of course it is perfect with Cassoulet and other hearty stews.


2005 Vinas de Vila Fundacion....$7.99

"The emphasis here is squarely on value. Tinto Fundación, Vila's flagship blend of Bonarda, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, is truly among the world's
best wine values, and perfectly embodies the HPS ethos of QUALITY, CHARACTER & VALUE." -- Dan Kravitz, importer

NV Pierre Boniface Brut de Savoie Les Rocailles....$17.99
A blend of 60% Jacquère, 20% Chardonnay and 20% Altesse. Alright, so you have only heard of 1 of the 3 grapes, it does not matter--what does matter is how delicous this sparkling wine tastes! "A knock-out value, reminiscent of an Italian Prosecco, is the non-vintage Brut de Savoie. It is an elegant, medium-bodied, frothy, sparkling white possessing yeasty notes intermixed with hints of citrus and wheat thins. Fruity, light, an d refreshing, it is an easy-going sparkler to enjoy as an aperitif."
-- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate



2007 Jacqueson Rully 1er Cru Pucelles Blanc...$29.99

Importer, Dan Kravitz, says that Jacqueson is his favorite wine in his portfolio. He has more Jacqueson in his own personal cellar than any other wine. His reason is quality, quality, and value. $30 Value? Yes, when you are talking about Burgundy and this Rully Pucelles is a 1er Cru.


"Tasting Notes: A wine of great richness, balance, and complexity, with vibrant fruit and light honey and floral aromas in perfect balance with prominent oak character. Big and round on the palate, with a lingering finish. Serve With: Excellent with poultry, richly sauced fish preparations, and dishes featuring savory cheeses (goat cheese tart, for example)." -- Dan Kravitz, importer





2007 Jacqueson Rully Chaponnieres Rouge...$29.99
"Tasting Notes:
Ripe, red cherry character, with delicate oak and sous-bois aromas. Well-structured, with intense fruit and firm tannins on the palate. Serve With: Excellent with rich cheeses and hearty baked dishes such as roast chicken with cream sauce and shepherd's pie." -- Dan Kravitz, importer


2008 Les Valles Macobeo/Chardonnay....$9.99

This wine comes from the Spanish Appellation of Carinena and is a blend of 80% Macabeo and 20% Chardonnay. We are always on the look out for new and exciting wines and this one really struck a cord with all of our wine buyers. A great white wine blend for an amazing price.
"Tasting Notes:
Macabeo, which is widely planted in northern Spain, brings citrus character and a smooth texture, with the Chardonnay providing tropical fruit and a mouth watering acidity. Serve With: Excellent with salads, appetizers and other lighter fare, and delicately flavored seafood like sole and tilapia."-- Dan Kravitz, importer



2008 Travis Chardonnay Unfiltered....$15.99

This continues to be one of our most popular "unoaked" Chardonnays. 2008 is at least the 5th vintage we have been a fan of this wine. Travis is produced from Monterey fruit and is the pure expression of Chardonnay at its finest. It is a bright, lively, fresh wine with NO oak and it is bottled unfiltered. All of this translates into a fantastic value that easily works at the dinner table. It can match with an ubelievable variety of food. Most California Chardonnays are not food friendly. This is wine resembles a white Burgundy, but sells for a quarter of the price.



2004 Laurence Feraud Gigondas...$21.99

One of my favorite visits in France was to Domaine du Pegau and tasting with Laurence herself.
"In addition to running the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Domaine du Pegau with her father Paul, Laurence Féraud manages a successful negociant wine business under the "Sélection Laurence Féraud" label" -- Dan Kravitz

"Compact for now, showing a solid layer of blackberry fruit, with tar, hot stone and mineral notes and a gutsy finish. Should stretch out a bit with cellaring. Drink now through 2009. 250 cases imported.
–JM"
Rated 90/100 The Wine Spectator


2007 Domaine Cabirau "Le Bonte des Amis".....$26.99

"Vinified under the watchful eye of the proprietors of Domaine de L’Edre (the “friends” referred to in its name), Kravitz’s old vines Grenache 2007 La Bonte des Amis is far more serious wine. Here, ripe, pure sweet black raspberry and strawberry fruit is tinged with orange zest, mint, and resin, and underlain by rich roasted meat, chestnut, and dark chocolate. Hints of white pepper and crushed stone add interest to the finish, where in addition a lovely sense of lift and refreshment emerges for all of the liqueur- and jam-like sweetness of fruit that underlies this wine. Jacques Castany of L’Edre points out that the picking date is critical for Grenache in Maury as it begins to lose its freshness almost as soon as it’s reached expressive ripeness. The date seems to have been judged perfectly this time around. How it might age is a fascinating topic to discuss with the project’s partners. I suspect it might well reward six or more years of cellaring."

-- Rated 92/100 The Wine Advocate


2007 Domaine Cabirau Serge and Tony...$14.99

"Domaine Cabirau designates the small, new property in Maury purchased by importer Dan Kravitz. Named for the gentlemen who oversee his vines and vinification, the 2007 Grenache Serge & Tony is raised in tank from the fruit of 20 year old vines, and had only been bottled shortly before I tasted it. An exuberant nose of ripe black raspberry is mingled with mint and smoked meat. What this (by local standards) young vines cuvee lacks in complexity, it makes up for in sheer, mouth-filling generosity of fruit, and a lip-smacking finish."
-- The Wine Advocate

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