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As my peeps promised you in our newsletter, here is my wine buying
list for the holidays. This list is specifically geared to the PLCB
wine shops in Pennsylvania, and all these wines are priced well
below retail.

Hope to see you in the New Year!

Keith

p.s. 
Beth will kill me if I don't mention it: our gift certificates make
a great holiday gift. http://www.vinology.com/wine-gifts.php

*Top Picks for Under $10
Hedges 2007 CMS, Columbia Valley 
Fresh lime and pear on the palate with just a hint of honey and
flint. Easy and fun but nicely structured.

Kris 2006 Merlot, Alto Adige 
Dark and smokey fruit in a lighter style red. One of most balanced
wines in this price range I have tasted recently. 

*Top Picks for $10*
Nepenthe  2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide.
Bright grapefruit and apples on a bright fresh framework and just a
touch of freshly mown grass on the nose. Its a great example of a
cool weather Australian white.


Wildberry 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Western Australia
Classic nose of black olive and cedar, a surprisingly complex
structure considering the price, but some very straightforward and
easy fruit. 

*Top Picks for Under $15*
Manga del Brujo 2007 Red, Cataluyd
Mostly old vine Grenache, this is loaded with rich fruit, cream,
and a hint of iron and soy. Aromas of smoke and lavender seal the
deal on this rich but complicated beauty.

Coufran 2003 Haut Medoc 
One of the best values right now. Ripe and rich black fruits on the
palate finish into eucalyptus and  vanilla bean. On the nose,
hibiscus flowers.

*Top Picks for $15*
Luna 2007 Sangiovese, Napa 
Year in year out, this is one of the best cal-ital wines made.
Brilliant cranberry and leather notes balance out on a ripe
framework, a touch of nutmeg and potpourri on the finish.

Columbia Crest 2005 Merlot Reserve, Columbia Valley
Lacking the austere edge of most Columbia Valley Merlot, this
bottle throttles high and drinks like no expense was spared. There
is a difference between luxury and quality, but this one belongs in
both camps.

*Top Picks for Under $20*
Gundlach Bundschu 2005 Pinot Noir, Sonoma
At this price point, this is a favorite Pinot of everyone at the
school. Lovely and charming, its exactly what a Pinot should be,
and nothing else.

Bacio Divino 2006 Pazzo, Napa
I was surprised when I saw this in the PLCB system for under $20. I
always have a bottle of two in my cellar, and I always pay around
$30 a bottle... gladly. A Sangiovese that is true to its Tuscan
heritage balanced with a  earthy roundness that could only hearken
from Napa.

*And one Splurge*
Lail 2005 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon. At $30, this is the finest
Napa Cabernet you will find under $50. Beautiful, complex and
surprisingly delicate, this wine offers up layers of  black and red
fruits, cardamon, toast, and cedar.