2005 Pey-Marin Pinot Noir

(Marin County)

$39.00 or $35.10 by the case

Although it's just south of Napa and Sonoma, people don't think of Marin County as wine country. Though it has only 175 acres of vineyards now, before Prohibition hundreds of acres of vines were spread over San Rafael, Larkspur and West Marin.  Bud break is earlier in Marin, but the growing season here is cooler than in all of California's better known growing regions.  This longer, milder growing season creates intensely flavored wines with good acidity and lower alcohols.  Jonathan and Susan Pey started their winery in 1999. All their wines are good but we think Pinot is what they will become known for. This Pinot comes from three vineyards in West Marin, hillside vineyards less than eight miles from the coast.  This is gorgeous, absolutely classic Pinot Noir, spicy with lush berry fruit and a long, elegant finish. Only 390 cases made.

MVM Wine Club Selection

2006 Domaine de la Taille

Aux Loups Montlouis

(Loire, France)

$22.00 or $19.80 by the case

A new star has emerged in the obscure Montlouis appellation.  Across the river from Vouvray, Jacky Blot is making incredible wines, both dry and sweet, from his estate's old vine Chenin Blanc.  Passionate about quality and willing to break with tradition to make the best wines possible, Blot's decision to barrel ferment was met with skepticism but the results speak for themselves.  This dry "Les Dix Arpents" cuvee is mindblowing stuff, rich and flashy yet beautifully balanced.  Aromas of apple and honeysuckle with a hint of peach.  Concentrated mineral-tinged flavors expand on the palate. Has the style, depth and polish of white Burgundy without the price.

MVM Wine Club Selection

2005 La Mozza Morellino

di Scansano I Perazzi

(Tuscany, Italy)

$15.00 or $13.50 by the case

La Mozza is a partnership of Lidia Bastianich and her son Joe (owners of several Italian restaurants in the U. S.) and celebrity chef Mario Batali.  In 2001 they purchased a 75 acre vineyard in the Maremma region of Tuscany.  Maremma is a rugged, hilly area, south of Siena and 10 miles from the sea.  Its warm climate tones down Sangiovese's high acidity and produces a richer, less austere wine.  Rules are not as restrictive in Morellino as in Chianti so La Mozza has the option of using many other grape varieties.  The blend in 2005 is 85% Sangiovese, 4% Syrah, 4% Alicante,

4 % Ciliegiolo and 3% Colorino.

Aromas of black fruits and vanilla.

Spicy flavors of black cherry, oak and raspberry with a long finish of licorice and cocoa.  Riper fruit and barrel aging combined with blending flexibility are helping this new estate fully realize the potential of this little known region of Tuscany.

MVM Wine Club Selection

2006 Chateau Ducasse

(Bordeaux, France)

$13.00 or $11.70 by the case

Wine guru Kermit Lynch has imported Ch. Ducasse for many years. He describes it as "that rarest of wines, an impeccable, inexpensive, chateau-bottled dry white."  Ducasse's vineyards are in Bordeaux's Sauternes appellation, but owner/winemaker Herve Dubourdieu considers the dessert wine from Ducasse mediocre. "There is no pride for me in it," he says.  But his old vine Semillon (most is over 55 years old)  produces an exceptional dry white. The blend is 60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and

5% Muscadelle.  The 2006 vintage yielded wonderfully ripe fruit. This unfiltered cuvee is all about purity, freshness and charm.  Aromatic and very mineral, its crisp, juicy flavors are floral with a hint of citrus and fresh herbs.

MVM Wine Club Selection

2006 Balletto Pinot Noir

(Russian River Valley)

$19./$17.10 by the case

We defy you to find a nicer

California Pinot under $20.  And Russian River fruit, no less! Classic

cherry, cranberry and cinnamon flavors. Balletto's 2005 vintage was a huge hit last fall and this is every bit as good. The words Pinot Noir and value rarely appear in the same sentence these days.  Here's the exception.