Sexiest Wines of Summer Tasting
@ Bin 604 Wine Sellers

1. Pacific Echo Brut NV, Anderson Valley $17.99
Veuve Clicquot’s California winery produces sparkling wine in a Champagne style. The wine is crisp and dry and possesses persistent tiny bubbles, and a wheat thin, yeasty aromatic profile.

2. Dr. Konstantin Frank Johannisberg Riesling 2002, Finger Lakes, NY $13.99
This is the star winery of New York’s Finger Lakes district. It was here that the late Dr. Frank demonstrated that Vinifera grapes could successfully be grown in the northeast. This off-dry, medium-bodied Riesling is in the style of a Rheingau Kabinett.

3. Chatelain Pouilly Fumé, Loire Valley 2002 $16.99
Crisp, citrusy Sauvignons from the Loire Valley make for great summer time drinking. Pouilly is the next door neighbor to Sancerre but because it lacks its cachet, it tends to offer greater value. I’ve never been able to tell the difference between Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre in blind tastings.

4. Melville Chardonnay 2002, Santa Rita Hills, CA $26.99
Melville is one of the rising stars of California’s Central Coast (in the vicinity of Santa Barbara). They make wine in a no-holds-barred style not for the faint of heart. The wine offers layers of buttered toast and tropical fruit flavors in a full-bodied format.

5. Chateau des Segries Tavel Rosé 2003 $9.99
2003 was the year of record heat in southern France and in Tavel the result was great ripeness and big flavors in the Rosé wines for which the region is famous. Segriés’ Grenache-based version is a great match for grilled foods.

6. Domaine Faillenc Sainte Marie "Cepage Syrah" Corbieres Rosé 2003 $15.99
This southern France Rosé, also from 2003, has a different flavor profile than Segrié because it is 100% Syrah. It’s a slightly racier but more focused wine that would drink well as an aperitif as well as with grilled foods.

7. J. Cacheux Bourgogne Rouge 2002 $20.99
Sexy Pinot Noir from a superb, small producer in the village of Vosne-Romanée. 2002 is the best red Burgundy vintage since 1990.

8. Ridge "Ponzo Vineyard" Zinfandel 2002, Russian River Valley $26.99
This is a new vineyard designation for Ridge (who started the whole game in 1970). 2002 is a superb vintage for Zinfandel and this effort shows layers of fruit and flavor.

9. Robert Biale "Black Chicken" Zinfandel 2002, Napa Valley $44.99
Biale is Zinfandel’s new superstar and “Black Chicken” is the winery’s flagship. This is a full-bodied, thick, spicy Zin that should be consumed sitting down.

10. Lengs & Cooter "The Victor" Shiraz/Grenache 2002, Clare Valley $19.99
This blend from Clare Valley has beautiful aromatics, is light on its feet despite its size, and has lots of spicy flavor to accompany barbecue and burgers.

11. Barton Vale "The Changeling" Shiraz 2001, Eden Valley $44.99
This robust Shiraz from the super 2001 vintage has smoke and grilled meat flavors (especially sausage) in abundance.

12.Saracco Moscato d'Asti 2003 $18.99
The perfect hot weather quaffer because it is light, fizzy, low in alcohol, and very refreshing.