Page 39 - Blog

Who says you have to pay big bucks to get quality wine? Sure...there are PLENTY of bargain wines out there that don't deliver the goods and leave you downright disappointed. And there are also cheap wines on the market today that are just plain nasty and not fun to drink!

Here at Sokolin Wines, we go the extra mile to ensure quality, at EVERY price point. Whether it's $200/bottle or $20/bottle, you will get a great bottle of wine.

I just recently opened a bottle of the 2004 Celler de Cantonella Cervoles Tinto from Spain and was very happy! This wine scored 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and is sure to please at only $19.95/bottle. Ripe cassis aromas with a hint of vanilla oak give way to a silky, smooth, perfectly viscous mouth feel on the palette that goes great with braised meats and roasted vegetables.

Did I mention that this great 92 pt wine was ONLY $19.95/bottle?! Grab some today and enjoy!

Wine: 2006 Pahlmeyer Merlot
Region: California
Sokolin Price: $64.95/btl
Rating: 94 RP

Robert Parker said that "if you are not on Pahlmeyer's mailing list, there is little chance of securing these wines in the marketplace." 

Well...we've just got our hands on a classic wine made by the superstar Cali producer, Pahlmeyer, at a very LOW price!  The 2006 Pahlmeyer Merlot is a wine that you should NOT pass up.  The release price on this wine was around $80/bottle, and we're able to offer it to you for only $64.95/bottle!

At a small dinner party over the weekend, we served this wine with homemade Tuscan tomato soup and slices of fresh French bread drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with fresh grated parmesan.  The pairing was astonishing.  We always say "food was made for wine," and wine continually takes center stage

One of the best Shiraz that I've ever tasted gives old fashioned wine a new pizazz!

I love everything about the unique philosophy behind the Mollydooker label.
If you're looking for something a little bit outside the stuffy and traditional, look no further than the Sarah and Sparky Marquis's winery in Southern Australia, mate! These 'one of a kind' wine makers bring a whimsical feel to wine drinking that few other properties can provide. First, there's the naming of the wines- "The Boxer', 'Goosebumps', 'The Carnival of Love', and 'Gigglepot', (just to name a few). Just opening a bottle with a name like that makes you wonder must be inside!

I'll tell you what's inside from personal experience. I had some friends over for dinner (pork loin and roasted rosemary potatoes) and we popped (well- we unscrewed!) the 2005 The Boxer Shiraz. From the moment I tasted this luscious, velvety concoction, I was sold on Mollydookers for life. It was succulent and round, with dark ripe

As mentioned previously, 2007 has been a phenomenal vintage for both the Rhone and Languedoc Roussillon regions in general, and their wines containing a high percentage of Mourvedre in particular.  Consisting of 50% Mourvedre, with 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache, the 2007 Grande Cuvee by Domaine de l'Hortus from Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup demonstrates this perfectly for only $27.95.

Upon inhaling the initial bouquet of this wine, one is mentally transported to a wild berry patch.  This aromatic profile is soon followed with hints of flowers, camphor and bacon fat.  A touch of heat is apparent on the palate, but quickly is overcome by a cooling sensation most likely derived from both dark fruit flavors like blueberry, raspberry and black cherry, as well as hints of anise and fennel.  The wine comes across as pure and balanced as it glides over the tongue.

It is easy to see why Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it 92-93+ points and demonstrates

I've always enjoyed the phrase "an embarrassment of riches" especially when applied to wine.  I'm fairly certain the first time I saw it in reference to wine was within a review by Robert Parker (I added the "affordable" part).  I find it a very evocative statement and kind of funny.

And lately it is most apropos.  A slew of regions have been producing a plethora of what could be their finest wines.  What is so great about this recent trend is that the fine wines are not just produced at the high end.  From Bordeaux to Burgundy, in the Rhone valley, Tuscany, Piedmont, to California and Argentina great vintages and superb wines abound.  The vintages are so good that wines at every price level are just fantastic.

Several cases in point:

Rhone and the 2007 vintage: We've all seen the praise Parker has heaped upon the '07 Rhone vintage and from what I've tasted

With the Spring weather fast-approaching ( Yay! ) I thought I'd focus my blog this month on a favorite white that I've had recently. We did a charity tasting not too long ago & had 6 or 7 tables set up with 4 great wines on each.  All priced moderately & delicious were the common denominators.  One in particular seemed to strike a chord with me & some of the fellow attendees. It was a delicious Chablis from maybe one of the best vintages of the last 25 years.  What I soon learned about the 2008 vintage is that the wines have great minerality, concentration, acidity, balance; all key factors for a great Chablis.  I soon found myself refilling my glass several times with this amazing wine and, at one point, my good friend that was pouring just handed me the bottle!
 
To me this is Chablis at it's best & priced @ $29.95, it's right in my comfort zone.  Did I mention it received a huge score of 92 points from Mr. Conservative, Allen

Wine: 2004 Celler de Cantonella Cervoles Tinto
Region: Spain
Sokolin Price: $19.95/btl
Rating: 92 RP

In looking back over our article archive, we decided it was time to call your attention to a Spanish wine from one of their great vintages.  Spain is one of the largest wine producing countries, and lately, they've become known for turning out some remarkable bottles.  The 2004 vintage was one of its most important and celebrated vintages, and is just downright superb. 

The 2004 Celler de Cantonella Cervoles Tinto is an excellent example of how impressive the 2004 vintage is overall.  Full of smoke, tobacco, oak, and even a hint of bacon, it was incredibly smooth and silky.  Its unbelievable smoothness and approachability honestly surprised us and was completely unexpected.  That's the beauty of wine - it can often take you by surprise!  This wine is drinking so PERFECTLY

Weekends are the best time to enjoy wine, and after three days of a relentless wind storm battering Long Island, I was looking forward to enjoying a good bottle.  My brother's collection was looking good this weekend, but I'm always hesitant to pick something that is expensive or irreplaceable.  It was his turn to choose, and when he pulled out that bottle of 2004 Poggio Il Castellare Brunello, I was overjoyed. 

The 2004 Brunellos have been drinking extremely well, and I knew this was going to be a great bottle, but it wasn't great... It was AMAZING.  Not even the minor windstorm outside, which was hurling leaves, tree branches, and smart cars around the yard, could come close to disturbing the tranquility inside, once this beautiful, silky wine was popped open.  A wonderful aroma of black fruit seemed to stream out as if it were a genie that had floated out of a lamp that was just rubbed.  My only wish? was that this bottle had an endless amount of

Wine: 2007 Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Region: California
Sokolin Price: $29.95/btl
Rating: 91 ST

This past weekend, we invited a small group of friends over for dinner and served up a delicious dish of linguine with fresh New Zealand Cockles and clam juice accompanied by one of the most recent additions to our inventory, the 2007 Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast.  Producing some exceptional medium bodied and flavorful Chardonnays, Ramey has made quite a name for itself in the industry.   

A light yellowish-straw like color, the wine was buttery, not too over oaked and chock-full of citrus fruit, but amazingly, wasn't too sweet.  Its crisp refreshing flavor with just the right amount of acidity was quite welcoming, especially since the red pepper in our linguine dish was just a tad spicier than we would have liked.  This wine really cut the spice factor and is a perfect

France's Burgundy region is one of the most acclaimed wine producing regions and is a favorite among those wine aficionados with the most discerning and refined palates.  Serious wine collectors always end up in this region.  Extremely tiny and very, very limited productions result in many wines from this region being highly sought-after prizes.  Typically, the demand for high-end Burgundian wines far exceeds the supply that's out there for purchase.

It's always fun and interesting to taste a younger wine side-by-side with an older wine produced in the same exact area and appellation.  You can really gain some valuable insight as to how the younger wine will evolve and what it will taste like years from now.  We decided to experiment with this idea again and sampled two wines from the same appellation, Charmes Chambertin, but with different producers & vintages.