From the Winemaker

Made in the Santa Barbara countryside, Sexual Chocolate is a true California wine, blending old vine Zinfandel from Napa's Howell Mountain with warm climate Santa Barbra Syrah. The Zinfandel presents a rich, warm feel that could be confused with biting into a chocolate covered cherry, while the Syrah adds a smooth, deep and refined finish. Sexual Chocolate pairs well with late nights, friends, and a second bottle of Sexual Chocolate.

This bottle originated from a bootlegging operation my buddies and I had in college. We started making wine knowing it would be used for late night drinking, and that the French are annoying.  It took some time, but we finally perfected our blend and came up with this full bodied red that pairs well with Wednesday nights and pizza. We use grapes from all over California so we recommend this be drank immediately and shared with girls.

Evolution  Says...

The name makes you blush, the label makes you chuckle, and the liquid inside makes you go, "Wow!" I think the name and label lower our expectations. This bad boy of wine has heart.

From the Winemaker

Tasting Note
Green-yellow in colour, the nose is complex with a bouquet of exotic fruits and honey. Powerful, rich and long in the mouth this is a wine with beautiful harmony. Tasted November 2010.

Vinification
Gravity-fed presses, stainless steel vats and temperature-controlled fermentation with 100% malolactic fermentation

Description
Maison Louis Latour is one of the most innovative producers in Burgundy whilst maintaining its traditional image. With a view to expanding the business in 1979, the valley of the Ardèche river with its clay and limestone-based soils was chosen as the ideal location to produce a top-quality Chardonnay wine.

Evolution Says...

A traditional French Chardonnay that pairs beautifully with cream sauces, light fish, and salads served during a warm summer evening.

From the Winemaker

A combination of ripe fruit and soft tannins result in a richly textured Carmenere.

From the Winemaker

The 2009 vintage shows aromas of bright grapefruit, fresh pears, honeysuckle and orange blossoms. Enjoy bright green apple, honeydew melon and lemon citrus flavors with a touch of meringue. You may also notice a slight spritz to the wine upon opening. This small amount of effervescence helps the aromas fill the glass with less swirling required. The 2009 displays a tremendous balance. It is sweet enough to brighten the fruit, acidic enough to support the typical German creamy texture and rich enough to shop the depth of flavors. Bex is best described as a "Tweener" or an off-dry style-neither too sweet nor too dry. Enjoy as a perfect aperitif, summer sipper, accompaniment to light or spicy cuisine or as a finale.

From the Winemaker

Tropical aromas of freshly-cut pineapple and ripe pear. A soft entry of well-balanced fruit and oak persists all the way to a pleasing finish of honeydew melon and crème brûlée.

This wine's natural acidity complements tangy, spicy foods and will offset the richness of creamier dishes. Enjoy with Asian chicken salad, grilled tuna with melted anchovy butter and lemon, or a creamy pasta dish with Portobello mushrooms.

From the Winemaker

Minerality is prominent on the nose, with background notes of peach and grapefruit. The palate brings a lovely combination of rock, citrus peel, white peach, and mint. This is medium-bodied, palate-coating Riesling that conveys richness and only the faintest whisper of sweetness. At just 12.4 alcohol, the acids shine, keeping things bright and refreshing, and the lingering finish is all about the rocks.

From the Winemaker

Classic Merlot aromas of dark cherries, cedar, pipe tobacco. Anise, stone and cherry blossoms. Yeah, believe it! Naughty and nice, a true Velvet Devil. —Charles Smith 

From the Winemaker

Grown in our family-owned Santa Barbara County vineyards, the grapes for this Pinot Noir were carefully tended and hand harvested at the peak of their flavor. This Pinot Noir exhibits strawberry, raspberry, and cola aromas. The palate is elegant with bold ripe strawberry flavors, lively acidity, and silky tannins.

Critical Commentary

Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Charming aromas of strawberries, cranberries, balsam, red hard candy and spice fading some over time in the glass. Light, even dilute, with cherries featured. Hints of strawberries, vanillin and sandalwood add interest. Alcohol peaks out on the finish. An easy drinker that has enough charm to hold your attention. Decent (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 Pinot File

Evolution Says . . .

Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir is a great middle of the road Pinot representing a lot of the great traits you expect from a Pinot. This is a great wine to add to your library to have as a solid pinot to pair with roasted chicken, salmon, and casserole dishes - really - try this with a great mac and cheese or turkey tetrazzini.

From the Winemaker

Brilliant straw yellow colour with a green tint. Fruity (apples, peaches), forward varietal aroma with elegant mineral notes. Quite pronounced, clean, grapey flavour.Dry, medium-bodied on the palate with a crisp and well balanced aftertaste and good length.When properly cellared, this wine may be kept for at least 2 – 3 years.

From the Winemaker

A wine full of charm: bright ruby colour and a nose rich with aromas of red fruit (raspberry, red currants, wild strawberry). On the palate, the wine is pleasant, fruity and refreshing, with light tannins and great elegance.

Vintage

The 2009 wines confirmed their reputation for perfection. Clear ruby red colour. Their beautiful character of small red and black fruits, coupled with a very attractive, rich mouth, makes them perfect to drink now.

Here's a wine to impress your guests with but still keeping well within your budget.  The 2010 Shoofly Shiraz is the latest in a line of highly rated vintages.  This isn't a flash in the pan, it is the real deal.   

From the Winemaker

On the nose, the 2010 Shiraz shows earthy gravel, spicy licorice and dense dark mulberries, while the sweet upfront berry fruit presented on tasting gives way to complex cedar, earth and spice notes, wrapping up with ample structure and grip. The vibrant, juicy fruit runs the length of the palate and lingers with a "have another glass" finish.

Critical Commentary

90 Points - Wine Spectator
“Polished and supple, this is brimming with redberry, black cherry and delicate spice flavors, all coursing through the expressive finish.”

From the Winemaker

Using broad-shouldered single-varietal, this wine pays tribute to a city and a people: Dynamic and elegant; industrious and refined. This wine was inspired by those who do and create; a testament to what mankind is capable of.

"Make no little plans: they have no magic to stire men's blood." - Daniel Burnham, 1893

The Loop, an homage to where it all began; where two wayward souls met, decided to stay, and began to hatch plans.  And, it could only have happened in Chicago…  This is our tribute and our starting point.  Please join us in our quest to take wine back to the people.

Here’s what you’re drinking:

From California's Central Coast (Paso Robles) we bring you this delicious gem.  A Cabernet Sauvignon, concentrated with a full body and bold structure. Crushed red berries and cassis on the nose,  layered with hints of vanilla and sandalwood. On the palate, lush flavors of ripe red berries, blueberries, and cassis give way to hints of cigar box and spice that carry through the mid-palate.  The finish is juicy with slightly toasty notes and cocoa powder tannins.  This Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels.

Critical Commentary

Evolution Says...

Can we be frank? It is a wine named after one of the single most important areas of Chicago.  This is a wine made by Chicagoans in California.  Don't mistake this for a novelty wine.  It is a well-crafted tribute to one of the greatest cities in the world. Try this versatile wine by itself, the traditional steak, or to really round out the experience, a Chicago-style deep dish mushroom and sausage pizza. 

abv 13%

From the Winemaker:

Inky purple. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red berries, anise, mocha and pungent fresh flowers. Supple and sweet on entry, then more structured in the middle, offering deep, mineral-accented dried strawberry and cherry liqueur flavors. Takes a spicy turn on the long, sappy finish, which echoes the pure red berry qualities. 

Evolution Says...

The 2008 Veraton earned 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and the full pedigree of this wine if filled with 90+ vintages with the 2009 soon to follow.  Have no fear about bringing out the wrong wine when you have a few bottles of the Veraton in your collection. Sure to impress, sure to please, and sure to make everyone know you know your wine.  

From the Winemaker:

Full bodied wine with a dark purple colour. Intense fruit flavours with soft ripe tannins give this wine maturation potential of up to 15-20 years.

Critical Commentary:

"Dense impenetrable black, big and soft approachable tannins with fruit appearing in the mid-palate, a refreshing food friendly acidity and an after taste that just lingers. This is going to be a stunner." Peter F. May - The Pinotage Club

Evolution Says...

The 2010 Kanonkop Pinotage was made from grapes grown on 56 year old bush vines and aged in French oak. This is the type of wine you buy by the case and drink a bottle every other year to appreciate how it will develop over time.   Pair this with your most robust spicey dishes, this wine is as strong and vibrant as the land it comes from.

From the Winemaker

California's Anderson Valley stands as on of the most beautiful winegrowing regions anywhere on earth, a dramatic landscape marked by steep hillsides, ancient groves and fog-laden mornings. We were compelled to cultivate Pinot Noir here, and have been inspired by the results, for our vineyards high over the valley yield wines laden with vivid, dark fruit, silky textural elements and a pronounced mineral streak.

Herein lies the expression of our field of dream - Champ de Reves.

Characteristic aromas/flavors: Blueberry, red earth, and nutmeg spice with hints of violet, toffee and oolong tea.

Structure: Silky and generous entry, slate-like minerality, and muscular tannin on the Finish - a testament to high altitude winegrowing.

Critical Commentary

"The debut Pinot, the 2010 Champ de Rêves, is an excellent beginning. As I learned over the weekend, the 2010 vintage is one to watch carefully as a big, rich, but not over-ripe year with plenty of supporting acidity. Since 2009 was also above average, the Anderson Valley Pinot folks now have two consecutive vintages to help them and everyone else forget about the smoke-plagued 2008 Pinots." - Connoisseurs Guide to California Wines

Evolution Says...

The 2010 Champ de Reves Pinot Noir captivated me with the first sip. When it comes to pinot noir, a great one can turn your day around and Champ de Reves is more than capable of taking any lackluster moment and making it astounding. Pinot lovers will sweep this bottle off its feet, dance the night away with it, and marry it in a charming little chapel somewhere in Mexico where they will devote their lives to this charming, lovely and incredibly generous wine.

From the Winemaker

Classic Pinotage aromas of spicy mulberries, plum pudding and cherries, supported by smoky bacon nuances. Juicy and accessible with soft palate and delicious fruit concentration.

This cheerfully unwooded wine can be served with a generous slice of pizza or a barbeque, ideal for a "braai". Perfect with almost any happy casual occasion!

Critical Commentary

87 Points Wine Spectator
"Rich and polished, with dark plum, anise and black currant fruit that's liberally toasted but lively enough through the finish. Drink now. 6,000 cases imported."

87 Points The Wine Advocate
"The 2010 Petit Pinotage has a simple ripe black currant and cassis-scented nose that is simple but joyful. The palate is ripe, rounded with good definition: ripe black joyful fruits with good freshness on the finish. Just add barbecue. Drink now."

alcohol by volume: 14.0%

From the Winemaker

A blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah this wine is very fresh with forward, full-bodied plum, tobacco and herb notes. All of the Domaine de Couron wines are made by the husband wife team of Jean Luc and Marie - a family owned and worked vineyard and winery in Southern France.

Evolution Says...

We adore this Grenache/Syrah blend.  The quality of this wine could be attributed to the care of a family run vineyard or to the overall skill of the winemakers involved. The truth probably lies somewhere between those two.  This delightful French wine pairs perfectly with those farmhouse traditional entrees like roasted game hen, rabbit, and caussoulet. 

From the Winemaker

This Cabernet Sauvignon is rich, ripe and focused with juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, cocoa and hints of mint all tied together with a creamy french vanilla middle and a finish that in a word is... lingering. Educated Guess fills all the requirements that a serious cabernet lover is looking for, while remaining fun, approachable, and food friendly!

Why "Educated Guess?" Have you ever found yourself in a wine shop or restaurant perusing the wines and wondering... how do I choose the best wine for the money? You may admire a label, recognise a name, or recall a great review... in essence you're making an "Educated Guess."  This is exactly what goes on in the vineyards and wineries around the world.  When should we pick the grapes? Should we barrel age in French Oak? Will our customers like the package? We use our knowledge, intuition, and years of experience to make the best possible decisions; however, at the end of the day, it still remains an "Educated Guess." At Roots Run Deep Winery we have done the Guesswork for you. This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the richest, ripest, and the most complex Cabernet you can buy for the money.  So don't settle for less, buy "Educated Guess!"

Evolution Says...

If you are going to take a guess, make it a bright bold one. Timid guesses aren't fun, don't create memories, and leave little to brag about when you are right. Roots Run Deep Winery's Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon is the bold Californian Cab that creates fun, memories and is something to brag about.  Don't be timid!

One of the best drinking Chilean red blends of the year, the Urban Maule is the wine for everyday to turn Tuesday pizza night into something more than a night at the end of a hectic day.   

From the Winemaker

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, and 5% Carignan - the story of the wine is in the numbers.

Critical Commentary

87 Points - Wine Spectator
"Solid, with medium-weight damson plum, raspberry and red licorice notes. There's a slightly raisined edge, but this stays fresh and focused enough on the vanilla-tinged finish."

From the Winemaker

With its beautiful opaque garnet color this Syrah produces an abundance of bold aromas including blackberry, plum, black cherry and baking spices combined with vanilla, white pepper and roasted meats. Full flavors of blackberry, blueberry and chocolate uniquely mingle with cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of toasty oak.  

We are pleased that you have chosen our wine. Since 1989 our family owned and operated winery has produced wines of superior quality and value. This handcrafted wine represents the best of what Santa Barbara County Syrah has to offer. Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, spice and toast commingle on the palate with light mint and herbal notes. Please come visit us at our winery in Los Olivos.

Critical Commentary

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"Run, don’t walk, to get this wine. It’s wildly good for the price, offering powerful yet controlled black cherry, tea, bacon and black pepper flavors that are wrapped into smooth tannins. Editors Choice" 

From the Winemaker

Dark violet in color. Floral notes and spice on the nose with intense blackberry aromas lead to exceptional levels of concentrated fruit and complexity with flavors of cassis, ripe red cherries, hints of black pepper, mocha and persistent vanilla. Smooth, round tannins highlight the creamy texture and lengthy finish.

The velvety texture and deep flavor of teh small juicy berries of Malbec grapes age distinctively influenced by the environment in which they are grown. Our Uco Valley vineyards, high in the Andes foothills of Mendoza, enjoy the perfect combination of elements for growing this unique varietal. Intense sunlight, cool temperatures and dry conditions allow the fruit to slowly mature until handpicked for optimal flavor.  The result is High Note's brilliant violet color accompanied by rich blackberry and black cherry aromas and tastes.

Evolution Says...

Some wines make you crave sitting along a canal enjoying a light salad while other wines, like the High Note Malbec, make you crave smoked meats and breathtaking vistas. Experience the expanse of the Andes from your backyard as you enjoy this Malbec wine.

From the Winemaker

This Pinot Noir has a deep garnet color with ripe cherry and strawberry rhubarb, backed with earthy tones and subtle clove spice. Simply put, it has the Pinot Noir perfume backed with earthy spice. On the palate the wine is a full bodied Pinot with finesse. It is very Burgundian in style in its reserved use of oak, yet it is sappy on the palate with rich, sweet cherry and soft tannins. This is a serious Pinot Noir which drinks better than most wines at twice the price.

This wine pairs well with tuna seared rare with couscous and broccoli rabe. Try it with Peking Duck and spinach or double cut pork chops glazed in a peppercorn balsamic reduction served along side haricot verts or brussel sprouts and a garlic and breadcrumb stuffed heirloom tomato.

From the Winemaker

Significantly, the individual icons of each label reflect the labours, inventive thinking and aspirations of all at Yalumba.  This Vermentino depicts the Ligurian bee, both of which are perfectly suited to the South Australian environment. Tireless creatures that have been exalted for the quality of their honey, bees 'dance' to communicate with the hive, a ritual replicated by our team at Yalumba.  A lemon sherbet mouthful best drunk fresh, zesty and youthful.

A pale green straw in colour, the Yalumba Y Series Vermentino 2011 has prominent aromas of jasmine and white nectarine, complemented by lashes of cumquat and sandalwood. The palate is fleshy and almost salty with grapefruit acidity and a textured finish, making this a very refreshing wine. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Critical Commentary

86 Points - Robert Parker
 "The 2011 The Y Series Vermentino gives lemon peel, lemon grass and fresh pear notes with a hint of white pepper. Light to medium bodied, dry with decent concentration and lively acid, it has a medium to long, citrusy finish. Drinking now, it should remain good through 2013." Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, eRobertParker.com #199 (USA), February 2012

88 points - Wine Spectator
"This bright, vibrant Vermentino catapults its lemon, quince and fresh almond flavors on a frame of racy acidity and tight intensity. Drink now through 2013." Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator (USA), 29 February 2012

87 points - "Buzzing with lime pith, loquat and salty, minerally acidity, this is a simple, leesy white for crab."

Wine & Spirits (USA), February 2012

From the Winemaker

Ritual was created as an elegant, yet approachable interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc. Only the finest estate-grown fruit from vineyard blocks known to produce intense fruit flavors and higher acidity are chosen for this wine. The resulting wine is medium-bodied, featuring a rounder, more textural mouth feel with balanced acidity. Intense flavors of ripe tropical fruit mingle with hints of citrus in structured complexity from 5 months of French oak aging. The experience ends with a long, smooth finish.

Critical Commentary

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"Veramonte's first high-end Ritual Sauvignon is a big success. The nose is mellow, refined and minerally as opposed to pungent and feline. The feel is fresh, clean as a razor, and easygoing, with lime, nectarine and passion fruit flavors. Long and lightly green on the classy finish."

From the Winemaker

Nose: resinous cedar, blueberry, cherry and black pepper notes Palate: firm tannins, medium mouth feel, good food pairing wine, Finish: fruity and short. Overall: this wine was a gift from friends. I have seen it online ranging anywhere from $23 -$30. Overall the wine is a nice, meal-friendly cab. It should be paired with food. It will complement beef and hearty soups and stews. As a vegetarian, I had it with cheeses, hearty minnestrone and a fantastic salad. Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon boasts aromas of dark fruit, espresso, violet and spice. Smooth blackberry, black cherry and cocoa flavors expand across the palate, revealing nuances of caramel and toffee from new oak barrels. This broad-shouldered Cabernet Sauvignon draws you in with its expressive nose. The deep flavors—structured with firm, approachable tannins and lively midpalate acidity—stand up to the bold flavors of grilled rib-eye steaks and braised short ribs. Its multilayered personality is unmistakably Napa Valley Cab.