Riddle's Wines by the Glass

Served in a Quarter Bottle Carafe

** Denotes our current "House Selections" - excellent wines at a very modest cost.
RED WINES
1) Chateau Labarthe, 2005 (Bordeaux Superieur, France)
Lush aroma of ripe blackberry and black currant with a " forest floor " earthiness and just a hint of oak barrel. The fruit flavors are concentrated and muscular, stretched out by wood tannins and a pleasant, tongue-tingling finish that echoes those fruit flavors long after the liquid itself is swallowed. Good stuff!
9.25/glass, 34.00/bottle

2) Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Black Label Claret, 2006 (California)
The Coppola Claret, as its British-derived name implies is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine created in the same style as classic Bordeaux. This blend of wine utilizes all five Bordeaux varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The Claret is supple and rich with smooth tannins, ripe berry flavors and seductive aromas. Your money's worth and more.
8.25/glass, 30.00/bottle

13) Cabernet Sauvignon, Jed Steele "Shooting Star", 2005 (Lake County, California)
This wine has aromas of dark fruits with some mint and cassis. Lots of good Cabernet flavor and a touch of oak to round things out. Create a classic pairing by having a glass with beef or lamb. Some people just make good wine. Jed Steele's one of them.
8.25/glass, 30.00/bottle

**3) GSM, Oxford Landing, 2005 (South Australia)
Named for the three grapes in its composition, Grenache 56%, Shiraz 33%, and Mourvedre 11%. The wine is a deep garnet color, and has a silky smooth mouthfeel. Strawberry and plum in the nose also come through on the tongue, along with subtle cocoa murmurs. The finish leaves you with a little spiciness and a smile.
6.00/glass, 22.00/bottle

15) Merlot, Kenwood "Yalupa", 2005 (California)
This reminds me of California Merlot from the days before they started making so many of them into gooey fruit bombs. Yes, it is loaded with smooth, easy-drinking red berry fruit and no, it does not have a big tannic bite - but the tasty fruit is crisp and perfectly balanced showing subtlety and finesse.
7.25/glass, 26.00/bottle

4) Pinot Noir, Castle Rock, 2006 (Mendocino County, California)
I'm not crazy about most Castle Rock wines; that's why they brown-bagged this one on me. Tasting "blind", I found engaging aromas with a complex mix of violet blossoms, thyme and dark earth. There is elegance in the fruit flavors, strawberry and raspberry leading, lovely soft tannins and an earthiness that belies the price. Surprised me! 7.25/glass, 26.00/bottle

9) Shiraz, rojo mojo, 2005 (La Mancha, Spain)
This is not the over-blown, fruit-bomb style so popular in Australian Shiraz. Oh, its got plenty of beautifully tasty, ripe raspberry and black currant expression, but it also has a little finesse and spicy sophistication. Aussie Shiraz reminds me of Jerry Lewis; this Spanish version is more Bob Newhart.
6.50/glass, 24.00/bottle

18) Zinfandel, Ridge "Three Valeys", 2005 (Sonoma County, California)
Ridge put Zin on the map, crafting killer vineyard designated wines since the early 1970's. This blend from nine Dry Creek, Alexander and Sonoma Valley vineyards falls just short of legally labeled Zinfandel at 74%, the rest mostly Petite Syrah. It's loaded with concentrated red fruit - berry, plum, cherry - limpid, layered, lip-smacking, spicy and peppery with silky smooth, well-behaved oak. Delicious.
9.00/glass, 33.00/bottle

21) Syrah, Volante Winery "Salomon Vineyard" 2003 (Sonoma Valley, California).
There's a large, blackberry-brambly aroma that shoots out of the glass on the wings of the alcohol in the wine. Blackberry fruit flavors will envelope your mouth in a classic Syrah assault with smooth tannins, peppery leather and a long finish, slow to dissipate. If you usually prefer white wine, well, you probably should stick with that and leave this bruiser for those who revel in the Big Reds.
7.00/glass, 25.00/bottle

BLUSH
22) Cabernet Sauvignon Rose, La Playa, 2007 (Colchagua Valley, Chile) Yes, it's the broad-shouldered Cabernet Sauvignon in bright pink drag - and it works! The fruit concentration you would expect in a good Cab, transposed from bass notes to treble - strawberry, red raspberry a& blushing peach, perfectly dry, with a crisp, firm, long, fruit-filled finish. Ah, summertime! 6.00/glass, 22.00/bottle

10) White Zinfandel, Sutter Home, (California)     6.00/glass

WHITE WINES
12) Chardonnay, Sonoma-Cutrer "Russian River Ranches", 2005 (Sonoma County, California
Sonoma Cutrer makes one of America's most popular restaurant wines, only Chardonnay, all from their own estate-grown grapes. With aromas of pineapple & lemon blossoms, it has marvelous citrus & tropical fruit flavors, a rich texture in the mouth and finishes with sweet apple & creamy vanilla oak.
8.95/glass, 34.00/bottle

6) Vina Esmeralda, Torres 2007 (Catalunya, Spain)
Moscatel(85%) and Gewürztraminer(15%) form the basis for Vi?a Esmeralda, which takes its name from the emerald color of the Mediterranean Sea. Fresh, crisp and elegant on the palate,with floral, fruity flavors and an aftertaste reminiscent of green apples. A perfect wine to sip while dining on our patio.
7.00/glass, 25.00/bottle

7) Riesling, Bloom, 2004 (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany)
What more could you ask from a Mosel Riesling? It's got that wonderful honeysuckle aroma, beautiful, blossoming lime-peach fruit, a ripe, round sweetness and a crisp, refreshing finish hinting of toasted almonds. Perfect for summer sipping.
7.25/glass, 26.00/bottle

**8) Torrontés, Don Rodolfo, 2006 (Cafayate Valley, Argentina)
Cafayate Valley is the home to but a handful of wineries, only 4% - but some of the very best - of Argentina's wines. Bursting with white peach, pineapple and pink grapefruit flavors, with aromas of rose petals and ripe honeydew, this phenomenal wine is dry and crisp- a perfect pair with seafood and salads.
6.00/glass, 22.00/bottle

5) Pinot Gris, Montinore Estate, 2005 (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Monitnore is known for their sustainable and biodynamic grape cultivation. Here we have wonderful citrus, pear and apple aromas, a hint a fresh sage or new mown hay. The flavors are all about juicy citrus fruit and roasted hazelnut with a crispness providing a perfect balance of spicy mineral in the finish. By the way, if you say will-a-METTE, you're tagged as an easterner. It's will-LAM-it, damn it!
7.25/glass, 26.00/bottle

19) Chateau Bonnet, 2005 (Entre-Deuz-Mers, Bordeaux, France)
I have been enjoying Chateau Bonnet for many years and this 2005 is the best ever. It smells like Sauvignon Blanc, which is the main ingredient, but has broader, mellower flavors than many others, notes of grassy grapefruit with a grace note of fresh dill as well as green bell pepper, pineapple and orange. It finishes with the crisp minerality that will make you a believer in white Bordeaux.
7.50/glass, 27.00/bottle

17) Chardonnay, Au Bon Climat, 2006 (Santa Barbara County, CA)
The much celebrated though still scruffy, long-haired "Mind Behind" the ABC winery, Jim Clendenen, has produced an intense, hugely opulent and creamy wine, loaded with elegant, bright, spicy fruit that nonetheless manages to dance on a pinhead with perfect balance, restraint and food-friendliness.
9.95/glass, 38.00/bottle

20) Picpoul de Pinet, St. Peyre, 2007 (France)
So live a little! Imagine you are vacationing in the French Riviera. You've never heard of the Picpoul grape, the little town of Pinet around which it grows or St. Peyre, the producer of this one. But all the locals and sun-bathing European tourists are drinking this uncommonly refreshing wine, tantalizing with pear, green apple & white peach aromas & flavors, a spicy, peppery note and perfectly crisp finish.
6.50/glass, 24.00/bottle

11) Sauvignon Blanc, Souvrain, 2006 (Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California)
Why is Sauvignon Blanc always an afterthought to Chardonnay? Just try this! It starts with a ringing lemon-lime, creamy, gooseberry aroma and is loaded with green apple, rich clover blossom and mineral flavors, strung as tight as a barbed wire fence. Enormously refreshing to drink and excellent with food.
7.50/glass, 27.00/bottle

SPARKLING WINES
**14) Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut (Spain)     6.00/glass

16) Asti Spumante, Martini & Rossi (Italy)     6.00/glass

23) Mumm Cuvee Napa "Brut Prestige"      9.25/glass

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