2006 Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany) $24.99

Their wines continue to garner top scores and yet their prices remain very sane, making these must-have incredible values. Proprietor Alessandro Landini had two wines featured in the top 100 from the Wine Spectator (2006 Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva and I Greppi Greppicante) and these aren’t even the highest scoring wines they offer. Not only are the current releases excellent but we tasted with Alessandro in Italy last month and are happy to report that upcoming releases will be even better.  Viticcio’s wines are tasty on release but seem balanced and deep enough to cellar beautifully for 10 years.

- Steve Rayman, B-21′s Director of Wine

2005 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri (South Australia) $54.99

Aussie wines get big props in the March Food and Wine magazine. Their favorite “Collector’s Value” was the 2005 St. Henri from Penfolds, the elegant alternative to big and big-bucks Grange. “With its layers of blueberry, licorice and dark chocolate, can develop for years in a cellar just as gracefully.” And they say a bargain at $65.

I certainly agree (as did the Wine Spectator’s Top 100) on St. Henri at B-21, it’s even more of a steal: $54.95. Your own Down Under storage deserves one — or several.

- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler

2004 Brancaia Chianti Classico ($19.99)

We weren’t surprised to see Brancaia near the lead of the Wine Spectator Top 100. Brancaia is one of sharpest wineries in Tuscany, with vines in Chianti Classico and in Maremma. However I expected it to be the big-bucks Il Blu or Ilatraia, glorious stuff. Yet the Spectator tapped Tre, a sangiovese bolstered with cabernet and merlot. Even better for our times. This is intense, with lots of berries and earlthy shades of coffee, and a wrapper of merlot velvet. It’s a rich bargain when you can get a 93-pointer for $19.99.

2007 Argiano NC Non Confunditor (Tuscany) - 19.99

“Argiano’s 2007 NC is a Tuscan blend that shows exciting power, with the inherent sweetness of the Merlot component acting as a bridge between the firm earthiness of the Sangiovese, the spicy blackcurrant of the Cabernet and the warm red fruit of the Syrah. The result is a generous, round red wine for early to mid-term drinking with aromas of currant and generous fruit flavors, which are versatile enough to develop more depth in the bottle. It is an excellent value and was chosen as one of the top 100 wines of the year by the Wine Spectator.” (90WS)

90 Points, Steve Rayman
February 2010

2006 Wolf Blass Gold Shiraz - On sale for $14.99 at B-21 (for a limited time)

We hear “Beringer Blass” so much now we forget the first name of the modern Australian genius is Wolf, as inWolfgang.  He landed Down Under more than 50 years ago, an East German sparkling winemaker who dreamed of making great reds. He blazed trails across Barossa in a green VW beetle consulting and preaching the new style of Australian wine we’ve come to love.  He bought his own vineyards in 1969 and when the first wave of Australians hit the US in the ‘80s, one of the best was eagle-crested Wolf Blass.  Oz shipments grew and grew; Wolf’s own label got bigger, too to join Mildarra, Beringer Wine Estates and ultimately oilcan Fosters.

As you can taste in the 2006 Gold Label Barossa Shiraz, Wolf Blass’s own brand just got better, big bold and smooth as back in the day.  This is classic Shiraz, big and broad, full of berries and plums spiced with smoke, licorice,  pepper and a touch of cocoa.  It’s a hefty 15.5% ABV yet you won’t taste the alcohol.  Tannins are invitingly soft.  Put the lamb shanks on now.

The 2006 ’s also deserves the ultimate Aussie compliment “It’s good value.” An understatement worthy of Croc Dundee himself.  Nowhere on the street or the internet is it a better deal than at B-21 if you can find this vintage at all.  At $13.99 a bottle this is a Shiraz that ought to fill several rows of your cellar.

“This exhibits generous blackberry and raspberry fruit at the core, shading the edges with pretty white pepper, cream and floral overtones that insinuate themselves beautifully as the finish goes on and on. Drink now through 2016.” 91 Points, Wine Spectator

Possibilmente

2004 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino ($57.99) - 95 Points by Wine Spectator & #15 on WS's Top 100 of 2009

Even before the scandalous allegations that some labels violated the Sangiovese-only rules, Montalcino was a fine appellation that attracted too much show-off cult status and camp-following hustlers.  And 2004 was a little dicey (Parker says 95 but inconsistent) and Brunello, like Burgundy, is expensive juice with rarely a cheap bet.

But 2004’s are mighty young to write off.  And the Times cutoff of $75 proves to me the high price of drinking in New York.

There are fine 2004s under $75, at least here in little old Tarpon.  Steve Rayman, our go-to on Italy, loves the 2004 from Frescobaldi’s CastelGiocondo ($57.99) and there’s more.  The world-beaters at Casanova di Neri make a fine Tenuta Nuova ($69.99).  Too high, you can name that Brunello tune sweetly for $40 to $60 from Ferrero, Argiano and Ciacci Piccolomini.  Actually just pronouncing “Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino” in one breath tastes mighty good.

That’s the key with Brunello, do the work to find a label and merchant you trust.  The rest have their own work to do until Brunello means as much as Barolo.

- Chris Sherman

#47 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2009: 2007 Orin Swift the Prisoner ($34.99)

Winemaker Dave Phinney has a knack for sourcing great fruit from great vineyards and combining them in a way that offers something unexpected and unique. The 2007 Prisoner from Napa Valley ($34.99) combines five grape varietals and is the third vintage of this wine to achieve Top 100 status (2003 and 2005 were the previous two). The core of this wine is Tofanelli Vineyard Zinfandel and Charbono. Tofanelli’s vineyards are organically farmed and of significant age and provide exceptional concentrated fruit. Quantities are quite limited of 2007 so this may be a bit of a last call. 

Wine Spectator scored the Prisoner 92 Points.  Have you tried it?  Tell us what you think.

Mathieu Perrin of Perrin & Fils

The parade of wine superstars never stops.  This week Matthieu Perrin of the new generation of Perrins took B-21 fanciers at Currents restaurant in Tarpon Springs on a grand three-course, three flight tour of the southern Rhone.  It’s the home country of Perrin & Fils and the grand Beaucastel.

For starters, the group wheeled their way through the simple Cotes of 2007, CdR ($9.99) then Cotes du Rhone Villages ($10.49), and the Perrin’s Nature ($10.49) a GSM which is certified organic as well as the family’s own biodynamic principles.  Best food match of the appetizers was just as earthy – bruschetta with mushrooms, thyme and goat cheese.

2007 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape ($79.99)

More exciting was the roast pork-fueled middle stage through the Perrin’s favorite villages, Vacqueyras and Gigondas (mine too) and the far northerly commune of Vinsobres.  Heckuva name for a place that is #89 on the Top 100.  It is a luscious blend of Syrah and Grenache, but I think the licorice and pepper of that latter show best.  Maybe the name scares people off, it’s still a bargain at $19.99.

The climax was Chateau Beaucastel CDP itself from the last two fabulous vintages (2006 and 2007).  Beaucastel follows the old 13-grape step because it works, making a well-structured wine that is richly complex in flavors.  More so in 2006, a voluptuously thick, dense wine, and at Currents a taste of the even more sumptuous 2007; best southern Rhone year in a decade.

From Italy to Tarpon Springs, Florida, Ferdinando Frescobaldi, President of Marchesi de Frescobaldi paid us a surprise visit this morning.  Mr. Frescobaldi spent time chatting about wine with B-21 Proprietor, Bob Sprentall, and B-21′s Italy Correspondent, Steve Rayman. He also took the time to sign all of the Frescobaldi wines on our shelves. Yes, even the 2004 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo which incidentally is #15 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009.  Other bottles he signed include the 2006 Frescobaldi Giramonte Super Tuscan ($99.99), 2006 Frescobaldi Mormoreto Toscana ($59.99) and the 2006 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva ($19.99).

The Frescobaldi family has a 700-year history as wine merchants and growers in Tuscany. Thirty generations have dedicated themselves to the production of great Tuscan wines, with over 1,000 hectares of estate vineyards and nine estates and an unwavering commitment to quality. As one would suspect a wide range of wines are available from an estate of this size. Nippozzano is one of my favorites, what is one of yours?

BTW – 1st come, 1st serve on the bottles he signed today!  To make sure you get the signed bottles, give us a call to order, or stop on by the store! (1-888-221-9463)

2005 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz ($54.99) - #24 on Wine Spectators Top 100 Wines of 2009

     Heads Up!  Many of the Top 100 Wines are here at B-21, and even more are arriving.  #24 just came in.

     For 50 years, Penfold’s has set the standard for Australian wine with more than Grange.  A second iconic wine, St. Henri, shapes Shiraz in a way that is stunningly different, and perhaps, more luscious and sexy.  This luxury red was long overshadowed and often just called Penfold’s Claret.  That didn’t do it justice; it’s not close to a bland 15-pound red in a Brit wine bar.

       The St. Henri style stands alone.  It is an exceptional Shiraz with a slender Cabernet-like backbone, matured in large old barrels for smooth silky, early drinking without a hint of oak. The grapes are the best from Barossa, Clare and McLaren Vale. Why not? 2005 was the best in a decade all over South Australia.  It’ll take many more years and dollars before you can taste Grange this good.  Only 1,000 cases came into the US but we’ve got it, and at $54.99 (ten bucks under the expected tab).