Martignetti Companies

NUMANTHIA TERMANTHIA 6/CS 2007

2007
Wine Spectator: 93

This alluring red packs a lot of flavor into a plush texture, with boysenberry, floral, cinnamon, licorice and smoke notes. Firm, fresh and balanced, with a long, focused finish. Drink now through 2017. 500 cases imported. –TM

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RESERVA

Wine Enthusiast: 87

"Simple, nice and not trying too hard; this basic brut is graced with nice apple and citrus aromas..."

KENDALL JACKSON MERLOT VR 2009

2009
The Wine Advocate: 89

Another clear upgrade in quality is the 2007 Vintner’s Reserve Merlot. This is even stronger than the 2006, which was an upgrade over earlier efforts. Elegant mocha and berry fruit intermixed with some herbs, coffee, and spice make for a delicious, round wine that is actually a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Sonoma. Drink it over the next 2-4 years.

PENFOLDS SHIRAZ/CAB KOONUNGA

Wine Spectator: 86

This silky red is appealing for its pretty plum and berry flavors, picking up a chocolate note on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 184,000 cases imported. –HS

G FERRER BLANC NOIR

Wine Enthusiast: 91

More full-bodied than the winery's brut, this Pinot Noir based bubbly also is richer. It's just beautiful in raspberries and strawberries, with brighter touches of lime, and although the wine has a honeyed sweetness, its zesty acidity makes it finish dry.

ELYSSIA PINOT NOIR BRUT

Wine Enthusiast: 87

"Aromas of cherry and leather come with burnt earth and smoke, but overall the nose is inviting..."

ZACA MESA VIOGNIER 2009

2009
International Wine Cellar: 87

"Bright yellow-gold. Classic peachy, spicy, floral viognier aromas. Then sweet, creamy and expansive, with a velvety texture and lush pit fruit flavors. Spreads out impressively and really stains the palate on the aftertaste, which show a touch of warmth. Bright acidity and a kiss of white pepper give this rich wine welcome cut and energy."

G FERRER SONOMA BRUT

Wine Enthusiast: 90

"A wonderfully drinkable sparkling wine that appeals immediately for its balanced texture and rich flavors."

KENDALL JACKSON MERLOT GRAND RES 2008

2008
The Wine Advocate: 89

The 2007 Grand Reserve Merlot, also from Sonoma, is a slightly bigger wine with similar character but more density and more fruit.

PHELPS INSIGNIA 2006

2006
The Wine Advocate: 95

The 2006 Insignia is a superb effort in this vintage. Another 30+ year wine, it boasts a dense plum/purple color as well as abundant notes of licorice, black currants, charcoal, black olives, and graphite. Full-bodied, pure, and rich with moderately high tannins, it represents a California version of a Bordeaux from Pauillac or St. Julien.

ZACA MESA Z 3 GSM 2006

2006
Wine Enthusiast: 91

"A very good wine, delicious and soft, although it shows a certain one-dimensionality.  But what a delicious dimension that is.  Floods the mouth with blackberry, cherry and raspberry tart, milk chocolate, red licorice, spicy bacon and smoky sandalwood flavors.  Easy to like, a lot, although it shows some heat toward the finish."

RAVENSWOOD VINTNERS ZIN

International Wine Cellar: 89

Opaque ruby. Complex scents of black raspberry, cherry skin and smoky Indian spices. Juicy red and dark berry flavors are sweetened by licorice pastille and cola qualities and show virtually no tannins. A silky-sweet zinfandel with attractive spice and floral notes lingering on the finish.

KENDALL JACKSON P NOIR VR 2010

2010
The Wine Advocate: 88

A real breakthrough is the 2008 Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir. Entirely from Jackson Estate vineyards, this wine is loaded with rhubarb, wild strawberry, cherry, and berry fruit in a medium-bodied, very Pinot Noir-tasting style. Dark ruby-colored with good freshness and liveliness, there are just under 100,000 cases of this Pinot Noir, meant to be drunk in its first 2-3 years of life.

SEGURA VIUDAS RESERVA HEREDAD

Wine Enthusiast: 89

"Very solid and sturdy, with aromas of apple, lemon-lime, soda cracker and mineral..."

PHELPS INSIGNIA 2006

2006
International Wine Cellar: 90

Fresher on the nose than the Napa bottling, offering cassis, bitter chocolate and roasted herbs. Then very ripe and dense but suave, showing good energy and a slightly clenched middle palate. The tannins are serios and granular, but here there's plenty of supporting mid-palate material. This may well merit a highter score three or four years down the road.

G FERRER SONOMA BRUT

Wine Spectator: 88

"This bubbly bursts with fresh apple and citrus fruit and lively, spicy lemon, tart pear and anise flavors."

BOGLE RIESLING 2011

2011
Wine Spectator: 85

Apple, peach and citrus peel notes stray into a fuller-bodied, slightly sweet-tasting territory, but a pleasing twang of acidity keeps the flavors in check. Drink now. 22,000 cases made. —MaryAnn Worobiec

BOGLE ZIN OLD VINE 2009

2009
Wine Spectator: 87

Soft and juicy, with easygoing cherry, sassafras and caramel notes. Drink now. 150,000 cases made. –TF

THOMAS HYLAND SHIRAZ 2010

2010
Wine Spectator: 88

Firm in texture, but refined, striking a balance between the fruit¿mainly plum and cherry¿and the savory elements, including mineral and star anise. Drink now through 2020. 30,000 cases imported. –HS

JABOULET-PERRIN COTE ROTIE 2007

2007
Wine Spectator: 92

“Dark and alluring, with inviting crushed black currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit that’s liberally laced with mouthwatering black tea, incense and maduro tobacco notes. The long finish has nice grip. Big and mouthfilling, especially for the vintage. Drink now through 2018.”

PHELPS INSIGNIA 2006

2006
Wine Spectator: 94

Teasing with its floral, spicy cherry, wild berry and currant aromas, this is full-bodied, firm and structured, tight and focused, offering glimpses of what lies ahead with its complex mix of flavors and tightly wound tannins. Yet its finesse and refinement are apparent on the finish. Needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot. Best for 2011 through 2018.

ROSEMOUNT SHIRAZ

Wine Spectator: 87

A refreshing style, playing its ripe blackberry and licorice flavors on a medium frame. The finish lingers. Drink now. 325,000 cases imported. –HS

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RISERVA

Wine Enthusiast: 87

"Simple, nice and not trying too hard; this basic brut is graced with nice apple and citrus aromas..."

FREIXENET CORDON NEGRO ROSADO

Wine Spectator: 87

"For a Rosado cava, this offers nice fruit, balance and complexity..."

GLORIOSO RIOJA CRIANZA 2006

2006
Wine Spectator: 87

This juicy red offers cherry, tobacco and savory notes over light, firm tannins, fresh and focused, with good acidity to keep it all lively. Drink now through 2011. 20,000 cases made. –TM

LAURENT MIQUEL SYRAH GRENACHE 2009

2009
Wine Spectator: 87

Dark plum, currant and pemmican flavors dominate this ripe, full-bodied red. Pepper and smoke mark the sinewy finish. Drink now.

LA VIEILLE FERME ROSE

Wine Spectator: 87

Dark cherry in color, with tasty cherry, ripe strawberry and mineral notes that all weave through the fresh finish. Lively and tasty. Drink now. 42,000 cases made. –JM

MARCAL BRUT RESERVA 2007

2007
The Wine Advocate: 87

The 2007 Brut Reserva is a blend of Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Chardonnay aged 15-24 months on the lees. It reveals an expressive nose of biscuit, white fruits, and mineral leading to a dry, crisp, medium-weight elegant Cava that will provide pleasure over the next 12-18 months.

CAMPANTE VINA REBOREDA 2009

2009
International Wine Cellar: 88

Pale peach skin color. Musky pear and pit fruit aromas complicated by a hint of herbs. Juicy but a bit loose-knit, offering bitter fruit skin and herbal flavors and a late jolt of lemon zest. This wine's mix of richness and energy should make it very flexible at the table. (Bonafide Wine Estates, Seattle WA)

JABOULET-PERRIN ERMITAGE 6/CS 2007

2007
Wine Review Online: 92

"This wine is easily the best of the first crop of releases from Maison Nicolas Perrin, a self-described 'boutique negotiant' that is a cooperative venture between the Perrin family (famous for Chateau de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape) and Nicolas Jaboulet. It shows serious richness and concentration, with impressive structural balance between ripe softness and tannic grip. What is most impressive, however, is the complexity of the aromas and flavors, which show lovely fruit notes recalling dark berries and cherries that are accented with notes of smoked meat, woodsmoke, sauteed mushrooms and spices. Already delicious with food, this will become considerably more complex if you can keep your hands off of it for another three or four years — which won't be easy after your first taste of it." - Michael Franz