Marof Zeleni Silvanec 2007,  Slovenia – 100% Sylvaner – “The Marof 2007 Zelini Silvanec is typically Sylvaner in its emphasis on flavors in the vegetable realm – raw potato, radish, green tomato – along with herbal inflections and an uncanny overall impression of “stone soup.” It manages to avoid the frequent pitfall with this variety, offer refreshment and definition rather than fattiness, and finishes with salinity, pungency, and crispness. Play around with it at table over the next 6-9 months and you’ll discover a wine with uncanny versatility.” – WA 87 points

Josef Schmid Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten 2007, Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – “The Schmid bottling of diverse origins known as 2007 Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten displays saline and alkaline mineral suggestions from the nose on, allied to lime, honeydew melon, and musky, narcissus-like floral perfume. A radish-like bite impinges on the lush melon and lime palate, and a deep note of beet root helps remind one of the grape variety in question. Less pungent than the Pfarrweingarten, this superb value boasts impressive concentration and persistence, and should be worth following for at least 3-4 years.” – WA 90 points

Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly  Pierreux 2007, Beaujolias, France – 100% Gamay – “The 2007 Brouilly Pierreux smells mouth-wateringly of tart blueberry and blackberry with a smoky, crushed-stone overtone. Intensely concentrated berries and smoked meat inform a dense, slightly grainy-textured palate, and the penetrating finish is palpably suffused with fruit skin and crushed stone. Give this another six months in the bottle and then enjoy over the subsequent 18-24 months.” – WA 90 points

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Cuvee Maurin, Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – “The 2005 Cahors Cuvee Maurin (vinified in tank) represents the middle of their line-up. The effects of labor-intensive viticulture and gentle winemaking appear to be making themselves felt here, as neither fancy techniques nor barrels have proven necessary to making a complete, complex, and convincing statement. Ripe cassis and elderberry fill the nose and mouth, and juicy and expansive palate impression is supported by fine-grained tannins, and the finish delivers the real goods: deep bitterness-tinged black fruits, humus, black pepper, and iodine. The juxtaposition of generous, refreshing juiciness and a dark-hued, almost somber set of flavors is fascinating. Enjoy this now with grilled meats and let it step into other culinary roles with another 2-3 years in the bottle.” – WA 89 points

L’Oustal Blanc K8, Minervois, France – 100% Carignan – “A new release however is their K8. To the fruit of centenarian Carignan vines on which this cuvee is always based has been added a little old vines Cinsault, which does nothing to lift its official status above that of Vin de Table, but offers a prime display of varietal synergy while surpassing the quality of its predecessors in this numbered “K” series. A nose of kirsch distillate and fresh blackberries leads to a juicy, silken-textured palate where marzipan, vanilla, cherry pit, rosemary and mint join in. Here is a wonderful example of how to achieve formidable ripeness of flavor without superficial sweetness and a liqueur-like richness of texture while preserving fluidity, verve, and sheer refreshment. The exhilarating finish harbors distinctly, if ineffably, mineral traces as well. Enjoy this terrific value (priced as it is solely on account of the stupidity of appellation laws!) over the next 2-3 years.” – WA 90 points

Monte La Sarda Garnacha 2007, Bajo Aragon, Spain – 100% Garnacha (Grenache) – “The Garnacha is probably one of the eldest varietals grown in Spain. You may find it in many regions but the results of growing it in Bajo Aragon Are truly astonishing. We have used only old vines that are more than 45 years of age to make this wine. Some have survived over a century in these harsh lands of extreme sun and cool nights. The vines are mainly from the Peluda strain, local for the area around the Sardas (rocky hills) of Bajo Aragon, about 125 miles west of Barcelona on the eastern outskirts of Zaragoza. Yield is between just 1 and 1 1/2 tons to the acre, and this wine was bottled without filtration to preserve all of its unique aromas and flavors.”

Markowitsch Pinot Noir 2006, Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Pinot Noir – “For the Gault Millau Austrian edition each of the top growers in Austria was rated.  In a class by himself with a rating of 18 out of 20 is Gerhard Markowitsch.  Sixteen other growers were placed in the second category of 17 out of 20.   For red wines, Markowitsch is in a class by himself amongst Austrian producers.  His vineyards, in  Carnuntum are ideally situated on a slope approximately equi-distant from the Danube River on one side and the Neusiedlersee on the other.  He is equally famous for his rare cuvees of Pinot Noir, Rosenberg blend, and his ultimate Cuvee, labeled simply M  as he is for his value cuvees, Rubin Carnuntum and Carnuntum Cuvee.  The latter two are built around the varietal Zweigelt which is the workhorse and the best red wine varietal of Austria depending on soil, climate and yields. One of the greatest but not yet well known producers in Austria, and we hope to change that.”