Page 45 - Blog

This time of year, everyone is shopping for the perfect holiday wine, be it for their holiday parties, office parties, or for the wine lover in their life.  However, as the year comes to an end, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle that surrounds us.  If you are not quite sure what wines to pick up for the holidays, we can give you quick suggestions that will make your shopping experience fun and speedy.  All of our suggestions are wines that we would be more than happy and even fortunate to serve or give for the holidays. 

Below are a handful of wines that will also make a great accompaniment to your holiday meal.  They include some of our favorites that we've served numerous times and are all wines that you can still buy, receive in time for the holidays and either pour for your guests, or give as gifts. 

2006 Sette Ponti Oreno - 96 points WS - $62.99 /

Last Spring we had the opportunity to scoop up some half bottles of 2008 Muller Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Auslese.  Rated 97 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, we figured it would be a great wine to have in stock for the Winter Holidays.  That time is now upon us and we were right!

After a tasting the other night, we noticed the beauty of this wine is its complexity and versatility.  As an Auslese, it's primarily thought of as a sweet aka desert wine?and it can be.  Enjoyed after a meal on its own or with some strong cheese.  But like Sauternes, many craved a pairing with foie gras as a first course.  The amazing thing was that the wine though full and expansive on the palate, seamlessly glided over the tongue and as a table wine could pair easily with pork, veal or lamb curries, duck à l'orange, and even rich dishes with monkfish or crab.

Just remember not to serve the wine too cold or you may not be able to experience

Well, here we are at the end of 2010.  It's hard to believe that we are almost one week away from ringing in the New Year.  It's time to celebrate!  If you haven't had a chance to pick up some champagne for your New Year's festivities, you still have some time.  Welcoming in the New Year is just not the same without your favorite bottle of bubbly in hand.  And so, we are recommending a few champagne staples for your parties, including some classics and a few others that you may not be familiar with, but are equally delicious.  All come from amazing champagne houses.  Celebrate in style this December 31st with any of the selections below.

2002 Moet Chandon Dom Perignon - 96 points RP - $169 btl
Everyone knows and loves this champagne, and for good reason.  It is one of the finest champagnes produced in all of Champagne, France.  Because Dom Perignon is only

"Sassicaia's best kept secret" was the title for this offer when we first released it a couple months ago.  Judging from the phone calls & many responses I received
 
I realized that until they read our offer, my customers weren't aware of the San Guido Guidalberto.  Being that we just checked this wine in stock & I recently tried a bottle, I thought a full article was needed on this little gem.
 
Here are the facts: 

• Guidalberto is the second wine to what many people consider the first growth of Italy, Sassacaia
• A blend of 60% Cabernet & 40% Merlot and is produced from hand selected grapes
• Depending on the vintage, about 20% of declassified Sassicaia finds its way into the Guidalberto.
• Release price is around $50 - We have the lowest price online @ $29.99
• Sassicaia usually trades for $150 and takes years before it's ready to drink / Guidalberto drinks now and is priced

I am often asked by clients if I have had a particular wine that they are considering buying and if I liked it.  And while I am fortunate enough to get to try most of the wines that we carry there are times when I haven't tried one just yet.  So, first, I will point out that the wine in question is from a particular vintage (year) and region (place).  Then, I will recommend a wine from the same vintage and region which will typically share similar taste profiles and characteristics.  Therein lies an easy "Secret" in how to choose a wine.

It's easy to become overwhelmed when buying wine.  I can say with the utmost confidence that every wine we sell is excellent. I know this because each one is tasted by our expert tasting panel.  But if you've had a particular wine that you enjoyed in the past from a particular region and vintage, it's so easy to find another great wine by applying the "Secret".

Wine: 2007 Dominus Napanook
Region: California
Sokolin Price: $44.99
Rating: 91 RP

Happy New Year to our readers!  Even though a new year has arrived, we'll once again be sticking to our firmly planted roots.  The heart and soul of our business model for the past 76 years has been selling highly rated wines from acclaimed producers of Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Italy, Spain and newly emerging viticultural areas.  There are thousands of wines on the market, and we do our homework and sift through the masses to find the best ones.    

On the first business day of the New Year, Sokolin brought 2007 Dominus to our Collectors' Corner subscribers.  This wine happens to be highly sought-after since it comes from one of the finest producers in California and from one of the finest vintages ever to come out of the state.  Christian Moueix, the owner of the

Due to an increasingly over populated planet, and over one hundred years of irresponsible growth and pollution, we are finally starting to return our attention and actions to a more natural and 'organic' way of life, moving forward to a step back in time if you will. From electric cars and the banning of plastic shopping bags, to the availability of 100% certified organic breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables and even coffee and chocolate, there is thankfully a strong and present movement in the right direction. 

In the wine world, vines have been cultivated 'organically' since day one, long before the term 'organic' in its present definition, existed.  Historically, that was the only way to farm.  For the last 15 years or so the words 'organic' and 'biodynamic' and now 'sustainable,' have been increasingly more present on wine labels and in winery descriptions.   Here in Europe and across the globe, organic wine fairs, tastings and conventions are popping

In Piedmont, the Rivetti's La Spinetta wines have been synonymous with superlative, indigenous, varietal wines, beginning with their '78 single vineyard Moscato release through to today with Barbera, as well as Nebbiolo in both Barbaresco and Barolo.  Often while visiting Tuscany, Giorgio Rivetti wondered why many producers opted to rip up old vines of Sangiovese, plant new Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, and fashion wines for a more global palate.

In 2001, La Spinetta expanded into Tuscany with the goal of creating wonderful expressions of indigenous varietals, much like they do up north.  With the 2006 vintage they have done just that.

2006 Casanova della Spinetta Il Gentile di Casanova gets it's name from the Sangiovese clone Prugnolo Gentile, used primarily in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.  This intense ruby red wine, with it's bouquet of wild flowers and ripe cherries, is full bodied with refined tannins that carry some minerality, tobacco and a spice on

Last night, we were among the privileged few who get to do a full vertical tasting of seven vintages of Waterstone Cabernet with owner Brent Shortridge.  Waterstone is a wine we love so much here at Sokolin both for its high quality (made from grapes sourced from undisclosed top "Cult" properties in Napa) and for its low, low price. What an experience!  Each vintage was unmistakably Waterstone, but so different in the nuances on the nose and on the palate.  Interestingly, different staffers had different favorites. This tasting meant a lot to everyone here as we were the first retailer to launch the debut vintage of 2001 back in 2003.

2001
The nose of this wine and the expression of fruit is so powerful it would be easy to mistake for a back-vintage Bordeaux.  Soft layers of cassis and strawberries dominate the nose up front and a subtle hint of eucalyptus and oak finish off nose. 

As the Sokolin team has been tasting through some of our gems, we've noticed something.  The 2003 vintage in Bordeaux is surprisingly fruit forward, plush and drinking great already. 

We just popped a bottle of the 2003 Monbousquet to see where this Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is in its evolution and drinkability.  Wow!  We were all surprised at the depth and power that came from this extremely reasonably priced "monster" from the 03 vintage.  Weighing in at ONLY $59.99/bottle, this concentrated red has elegance, finesse and incredible length.  It also has 93 points from Robert Parker and is a phenomenal deal.

Dark fruits, smoke, hints of vanilla and earth - with an underlying vein of baking spices and amazing acidity to bring it all together.  This wine has another decade ahead of it, but is drinking wonderfully right now...No