The Win[e]ter Olympics Have Arrived at Amazing Grapes!

I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare this the first of it's kind in the wine biz! 

We've created and are hosting the Amazing Grapes Win[e]ter Olympics, now running from February 4th through March 25th. 

Nine countries and their wines are competing in our inaugural Wine Tasting Olympics. There will be a total of fifteen tasting events. 

Wines from three different countries will be featured at each event. Two wines from each country are poured – for a total of six wines. The wines will be tasted blind with each wine being awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals by our local customers.

At the end of the contest, the medal count will be totaled for each country. 

The scoring system:

·        Gold Medal = 5 points

·        Silver Medal = 3 points

·        Bronze Medal = 1 point

 

The first scheduled event features wines from Germany, Australia and the United States. I'll fill you in on what wines were tasted and how they scored after each event. 

 

Scheduled events and medal totals can be found on our website at www.amazinggrapes.com.

Michael and David 2007 The Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel

Robert Parker - 90 points!

A sinful blend indeed! This flagship Zinfandel was devised by the two Phillips brothers in their search for a blended Zin so captivating that no one could refuse. With consistency in mind, the brothers decided to blend the fruit of Lodi’s finest growers to fill the bottles of Michael & David’s new-fangled wine. In the end, Seven vineyards were chosen for their superiority. 

Now, how do you label a wine so unique in style? Looking to their past, the two Phillips brothers quickly related the Seven Sins from their Catholic school upbringing to the seven Old Vine Zinfandels blended in their wine.

Robert Parker writes: "The 2007 7 Deadly Zins is a knock-out bargain. Aged completely in American oak, it is loaded with berry fruit, pepper, spice, and earth characteristics. This rich, full-bodied, opulent, luscious Zinfandel can be drunk now and over the next several years" 

This wine lasted on our floor exactly 16 hours last time - so don't delay, Buy It Now!!

Barone Ricasoli 2006 Chianti Castello di Brolio - Pre-Arrival Offer

Voted #5 Wine of the Year for 2009 and 96 points by Wine Spectator magazine.

Wine Spectator writes: "Shows amazing aromas of blackberry, with hints of vanilla and flowers, along with black licorice and crushed berries. Full-bodied, with wonderfully caressing, ultra fine tannins. Very balanced and long. Best after 2011. 6,170 cases made."

If you are a fan of Chianti - seriously it doesn't get better than Castello di Brolio. I got turned on to this wine years ago and have been a fan ever since. Nice to see WS gets it too!

Don't miss out - Order It Today! Only $49.98!

Kendall Jackson 2007 Camelot Highlands

Robert Parker spotted this baby 93 points!

This was one of our best selling Chardonnays last year but supplies dried up rather quickly. Low and behold it's a new year and the winery decided to part with a few more cases. This stuff is high quality at a price that doesn't kill the pocketbook.

Parker writes: "The highest production comes from the 2007 Highland Estates Chardonnay Camelot Vineyard (3,700 cases), which exhibits abundant amounts of pineapple, honeysuckle, and peach along with hints of brioche and caramel. Its full-bodied, luscious finish exhibits a subtle note of oak. This Chardonnay should drink well for several years"
 
Don't miss it this time - Buy It Now!

Only $23.98 while it lasts.

FYI - our website it always current and has many offers like this available. Check it out!

Bosquet des Papes 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chante le Merle

Robert Parker - 95 points!

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes comes from extremely old vines (90-100 years of age), includes 100% whole clusters, and was aged in both neutral foudres and demi-muids. Exhibiting the deepest color as well as the greatest concentration of this quartet, it appears to be the finest example of this cuvee since the prodigious 1990.

Terrific notes of licorice, incense, seaweed wrappers, black raspberries, blackberries, and cherries are present in the incredibly complex aromatic display. Deep and full-bodied with lots of roasted herb and meat juice-like characteristics, this big, extravagantly rich, full-bodied wine possesses silky tannins as well as a finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. It should drink well for two decades.

One of the ancient families of Chateauneuf du Pape, the Boirons trace their origins and winemaking back to the mid-1800s. All of the following 2007s performed as well or slightly better than they did prior to bottling, always a good sign. It appears that only one wine will be offered in 2008.

Buy it now!

One of the Most Anticipated Wine Releases of the Year Arrives In Two Weeks - Spains Legendary 2007 Clio - Orders Now Being Taken While Supplies Last!

The 2007 "Clio" from one of Spain's legendary wineries Bodegas El Nido will be landing at our doorstep next week. This is one of the most anticipated wine releases of the year because Clio is one of the greatest wines produced in Spain (if not the world) and disappears from store shelves within days of our initial offering. Parker's review of the 2007 is not in print yet, but we can tell you, the wine is every bit as stunning as the recent 2006 and 2005 vintages. Made by world renowned Aussie winemaker Chris Ringland, Parker's notes on the stellar duo of 2005 and 2006 are as follows:

95 Points: The purple/black 2006 Clio is composed of 70% old vine Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 26 months in new oak. It offers up a super-sexy nose of underbrush, incense, lavender, blueberry muffin, and black currant. Voluptuous and creamy on the palate, this loaded, well-balanced wine is a total turn-on. For those who prefer their flavor in moderation, look elsewhere. Drink this pleasure-bent effort from 2011 to 2021.

95 Points: The 2005 Clio, composed of 70% old-vine Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, is opaque purple-colored with an enthralling bouquet of pain grille, spice box, violets, espresso, blueberry, and blackberry. Layered, opulent, and full-flavored, this thick wine has superb concentration and balance. It will evolve for 6-8 years and drink well through 2025.

Additional Parker Scores for Clio:
2002 - 93pts
2003 - 96pts
2004 - 97pts
2007 - ??? (This will surely be legendary given the quality of the vintage in Jumilla)


Order it now!

Tenuta Vitanza Tasting Event.

Tenuta Vitanza Winery Tasting

Thursday, December 10th, $15/person, 6-9pm

Come join us for an extraordinary evening with the wines from Tenuta Vitanza. We have a very special evening planned as the winemaker, Rosalba Andretta, and her husband Guido, the winery CEO, will be in store, not only sharing their wines with you, but their passion for wine making as well. As a part of this tasting we will be providing area specific Italian cheeses, hand-selected by Rosalba to accompany her wines. Rumor has it that Rosalba and Guido are bringing along a few “special wines” just for our evening together.

Come be a part of a unique and outstanding tasting with one of Tuscany’s brightest up and coming winemakers.

Wines:
Tenuta Vitanza ’07 Volare Toscana
Tenuta Vitanza ’06 Rosso di Montalicino
Tenuta Vitanza ’04 Quadrimendo [WS 93 Points]
Tenuta Vitanza ’01 Brunello Riserva [WS 93 Points]
Tenuta Vitanza ‘04 Brunello di Montalcino [WS 94 Points]