Atticus John Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is not a new wine for us. We’ve had it for two years and three vintages, the current of which is the landmark 2007 vintage in Napa Valley. Despite it not having a huge promotional machine behind it like many other Napa Cabernets, it has been one our best selling wines since we brought it in. Just about everybody who has ever tried it has become hooked. And we mean HOOKED! Running out of it is simply not an option if we want to keep our many loyal customers happy.

Who was Atticus John?  According to the legend told by many Napa farmers, he was a recluse who lived in the valley around the turn of the 20th century. He had several dozen large dogs and lived his whole life off of what the bountiful Napa soil had to offer.  The story sounded so genuine and appropriate, they named the wine after him.

What is Atticus John? The source is a very well known high end Cabernet producer near St Helena. We have a guess as to who it is, and if we are correct then you are getting a $60 bottle for about one third of that. Almost 32 barrels were blended with no fining, no filtration and one final racking to bottle. It is labeled as;”Atticus John Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley” because the producer had more wine than the current economy could support at the higher prices they normally command. It is incredibly rich, with flavors of dark fruits and spice.

One taste and you will know why it’s been such a success story.

Say what you will about the French, but one undeniable fact is that their farmers know their grapes, and they know how to make wine. Wine making is an art which they began in France in the 6th century BC, and they’ve been perfecting it ever since. Last week a French blend wowed us so much, we couldn’t help but to make it a featured wine on our site, and we wanted to share our impressions of it with those we know appreciate their wine.

Domaine La Croix d’Arton makes a right-bank-style bordeaux which exemplifies everything this region does well. The nose is exactly what you would expect from it’s lively red colour; warm and inviting with the spice of the Syrah clearly evident. On the palate, we discovered a fresh and complex roundness not typical of Old World wines.

Also atypical, and really what surprised us the most, was the price. As a result we are pleased to offer this bordeaux for under $11. Old World wines usually beg for an edible accompaniment, but we think this wine is so ripe, it can very well be enjoyed on it’s own.

Cheers!

If you are a sports fan there are no better conversations to have than one’s that debate “who’s the best”.

The most hotly debated is probably who is the best baseball player of all time? Hard to argue with Babe Ruth’s numbers, and the guy won 100 games as a pitcher to boot! But Joe Dimaggio played every aspect of the game like no other. Yet Willie Mays combined power and speed better than anyone. Then there’s Mantle, Gehrig, Clemente….on and on it goes.

Boxing goes at it on two levels. Who was the best fighter of all time in a given weight class like Heavyweight? Ali? Marciano? Louis? The second argument crosses weight levels as well as generations. Who was the best fighter “pound for pound”? Sugar Ray Leonard is often given this crown, while some historians point to Henry Armstrong. He held three World Titles at the same time in three different weight classes!

It’s that second question about The Sweet Science that leads us to……Pinot Noir.

Norton Ridge Russian River Pinot Noir might be the best Pinot Noir we sell “pound for pound”. You can’t get a terrific bottle for less, with D. Bosler and Jelu coming to mind. And there are certainly wines that offer levels of complexity that surpass Norton. But for (price) Norton Ridge is absolutely untouchable. For $10 more it’s still very, very tough to beat.

We recently opened up a bottle for an in-store tasting and sold 8 cases in three hours. We are fairly certain that everyone that tried it bought at least one bottle, with most people buying between two and six!

Gorgeous, lush cherry fruit with the perfect balance of spice and acidity make this wine a classic rendition of Russian River Pinot Noir. It is unquestionably a steal at this price!

Castello Monaci "Liante" Salice Salentino DOC 2007

Let us start an open discussion of a wine we have become a big fan of. The wine is Castello Monaci “Liante” Salice Salentino DOC 2007.  We invite everyone to post their experiences with this wine. Please feel free to provide your own critique by placing a message in the comments area of the blog, this will help others select the perfect wine for their occasion.  We will preview your comments and moderate them, once we do that we will approve a comment and it will show on the website.

Producer Background: Located near the bucolic town of Salice Salentino in Puglia, the “heel” of “Italy’s boot” which is an idyllic spot situated between the Adriatic and Tirrenean seas, is the new property of Castello Monaci. The eponymous castle is nestled amid groves of centuries old olive trees, and a long road slices straight through the estate’s 150 hectares of vineyards, forming what Monaci terms a meridian, an imaginary line which is the highest point in the sky reached by the sun.

With such a bounty of sunlight flooding the land, Castello Monaci is disegnati dal sole (‘crafted by the sun’).

• Wine Type: Dry Red
• Grape Type: 80% Negroamaro, 20% Malvasia Nera di Lecce.
• Country: Italy
• Region: Puglia

Vinification:

Liante (“Wind of the Levant”) is the icy wind of winter and the hot one of summer, which gusts fiercely through most of the Adriatic, particularly Puglia. The liante is a symbol for a land that breathes.

Vineyard trellising at Monaci is a combination of Alberello Pugliese and spurred cordon systems on deep and dry, limestone, clay and siliceous soils. Resembling a small tree, the Alberello is optimal for achieving vine maturity while shielding the grapes from excessive sun. The spurred cordon insures small yields to maximize concentration and flavor of the grapes. The average yield is a low 4.4 tons per hectare, around the 2 tons per acre that is typically farmed to produce high quality wines.

The grapes are hand harvested at dawn and fermented separately because they ripen at various intervals. In early September, Negroamaro ripens first, while the Malvasia Nera takes another two weeks. There’s a controlled-temperature fermentation in stainless steel tank, with 10-12 days maceration and daily pumping over. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine is blended and approximately half is aged in French barriques and the rest is aged in steel.

Tasting Notes: With intense, complex aromas of wild cherry conserve, dried plums, chocolate and vanilla, the wine shows powerful, ripe dark fruit and spices on the palate, with a pleasant finish. The wine is a great match with spicy foods like Fra Diavolo sauce.

Food Match: roasts, red meat, pasta in meat sauce, Hard cheeses, grilled meats, beef.

Folie A Deux Menage A Trois Red 2007

This week we would like to open a discussion on Folie A Deux Menage A Trois Red 2007.  If you are new to You Talk Wine, which we are sure you are because we have just launched our website, we invite everyone to tell us your experiences with this wine.  Please feel free to provide your own critique by placing a message in the comments area of the blog, this will help others select the perfect wine for their occasion.  We will preview your comments and moderate them, once we do that we will approve a comment and it will show on the website.

• WINE INFORMATION: (from producer)
• Composition: Zinfandel, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon
• Oak Aging: French & American
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• T.A.: .60/100ml
• pH: 3.55
• Release Date: June 2008

WINEMAKER NOTES

Our 2007 Ménage à Trois exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Forward, silky and soft, this delicious dalliance makes the perfect accompaniment for grilled meats or chicken.

So what do you think? Let us know if you have tried this wine, give us your 2 cents.

If you are interested in purchasing this wine please visit this wine in our online wine store.

Welcome to the We Speak Wine “You Talk Wine”.  We would like to select a wine each week and create a discussion group.  We will encourage everyone to give their feedback on the chosen wine, especially if they have tried it.  This is a great chance to let others know what you think of a wine, and can help others select the right wine for their occasion.