#1 Rare ZINFANDEL

Zin-fanatics all think TURLEY is the #1 most collectible Zin in the world but for my money I prefer an even smaller “boutique” Zinfandel crafted by perhaps the most famous Bordeaux native currently residing in Napa: VINEYARD  29 “AIDA”  ZINFANDEL 2005.

Turley lovers will recall that this “Aida” vineyard was the original home of Turley’s highest rated Zins (consistently scoring R. Parker ‘Classic 95 – 96’) until Vineyard 29 snagged the rights to these tasty grapes a few years ago. Plus, don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to sample the only Zinfandel produced by rock star winemaker Philippe Melka (Bryant Family, Hundred Acre, etc.) recently named “Winemaker of the Year.”

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#1 Collector Zinfandel – VINEYARD 29

Many Zin lovers think Turley is the #1 collector Zin. I disagree for many reasons I won’t get into now but mainly because I think the finest, most impressive, age-worthy Zin year in year out is the single bottling from Vineyard 29’s “Aida” vineyard (formerly a Turley vineyard designate).

“(8/1/8) We pulled a 2003 vintage of this wine out of our cellar for a BBQ with some friends and were VERY, VERY impressed with the development. I was a big fan of this vintage upon release and can assure you it’s aged into a remarkable Zinfandel. I’m confident that fewer than 5% of serious wine collectors and less than 20% of wine lovers would even identify this wine as a Zin because it reminds me more of a perfectly aged Napa Cabernet. It was graceful with perfectly balanced fruit. A truly exciting experience to sample this wine aged to perfection. Note: personally, I rarely enjoy a Zinfandel more than 3 – 4 years after the vintage but this gem was still shining at age 5 and probably had at least another year or two of vibrant life in it. I rated this wine a solid 96 points!”

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Brown’s new Zin + Cabernet = WOW

The Wine Insiders “Outstanding 94″ points for this Napa Valley blend of 60%  Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Zinfandel

This is Brown’s finest bottling since their legendary 2002 Cabernet! Combining the best Napa Cabernet and Napa Zinfandel from their estate, they’ve created a sumptuous and decadent blend in the Brown Chaos Theory 2005 that will leave fans of the Prisoner begging for more. Just released, this is one amazing wine and it’s no surprise considering Brown has been one of the very top Zinfandel producers in California with a secret Cabernet that has wowed the lucky insiders who have managed to get their hands on some. The deft blending of their best lots clearly demonstrates that Brown is on top of their game right now.

Currently this wine is available for $49 (Click Here)

New Caymus really is “best yet!”

Last 6 vintages of this wine have been rated “Outstanding 92-93” points by the Wine Spectator. This new vintage hasn’t been released yet but we’ll sell out immediately once that big review is published.  Wine Spectator Magazine is already hyping the 2006 vintage as “best Cabernet in Napa since 1997” according to James Laube’s blog.

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 94” RATING: “Simply stated, we believe this is the BEST EVER Caymus Napa release! Thick, weighty texture that is oh so silky smooth then featuring rich flavors of ripe, dark plums and semi sweet cocoa then finishing with a deliciously savory hint of toasted caramel that lingers pleasantly for a full 30 seconds. Enjoy now after decanting ½ hour or anytime over the next 5 years, peaking around 2012 in our estimate.”

94 points TheWineInsiders.com

Currently this wine is available for $69.97 (Click Here)

South Africa’s Finest Cabernet!

A dead-ringer for a $50+ Napa Cab, the new Mischa Estate Cabernet 2003 is our #1 pick for International “best buy” Cabernet. Trust us here, this wine is seriously juicy, full bodied and delicious but available for a not too serious investment because it is sourced from South Africa where the US Dollar exchange rate is still strong – - particularly compared to the Euro. The Wine Spectator recently profiled the best wines of South Africa featuring “ripe fruit and fresh minerality… mix of Old and New World styles”. If you love a Cabernet bargain and you’ve never tasted a South African wine this is the ideal opportunity to sample a guaranteed thriller rated “Outstanding 94” points. Total production was a mere 250 cases.

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 94 POINTS: Deep dark berry perfumed nose of cedar and leather, which follows seamlessly onto the rich and creamy palate of intense dark fruits, currants, vanilla and layered with long chocolaty tannins. The finish goes on and on. This is one sexy Cabernet that will age well for 3 – 5 years, peaking around 2012 in our estimate!

94 points TheWineInsiders.com

Currently this wine is available for $29.50 (Click Here)