The Vinfolio motto of Fine Wine, Finer Service runs deep considering our company has six dedicated Wine Specialists working to make sure your account is fully serviced. Just because we’re an on-line retailer doesn’t mean we can’t give our clients the same personal service as a traditional brick n’ mortar operation.
We offer a myriad of services for the enthusiast and collector alike, but the most enjoyable part of my day at the office is offering personal recommendations for my clients. The bottom line is that we all want to share our top picks with others who share our passions about wine. For the client, getting recommendations from a wine professional is a great way to expand the palate without being held to a reviewer’s rating system. Having the opportunity to taste allows me to make more informed decisions on what my clients will enjoy, rather than relying on another reviewer’s score.
Much of my Bay Area wine career has been spent making recommendations in a restaurant setting, or managing boutique wine stores. Just like everyone on the Vinfolio Wine Team, I encourage clients to reach out for recommendations based on budget, palate preference or gift-giving parameters. I like being able to personally take my clients on a palate tour of the world, offering many wines they hadn’t considered or even known existed. Global treasures are being imported at record levels, so think outside of the box! Bring on your requests for a mixed sampler and I’ll make sure that you come away with a satisfying experience. Once you try the wines, give feedback so I can better understand your palate preferences. My personal gratification is always reinforced when clients share with me their own impressions of the wines.
Below is a mixed case or six-pack sampler to please both the neophyte and connoisseur. These selections will perform well at a dinner or cocktail party, or provide a great go-to option at home throughout the year and down the road.
Pierre Moncuit Blanc de Blancs Cuvee Pierre Moncuit-Delos, Champagne, France NV ($32.95)
Move over Veuve Yellow Label! This small family run operation knows Chardonnay! The estate and holdings are in Le Mesnil sur-Oger which is the most revered village in all of Cotes de Blancs. Do you need a bubbly in the same fold as Salon and Krug, but need to stay in budget? Well, Moncuit is waiting for your love!
2006 Fratelli Pra, Soave Classico Superiore “Vigneto Monte Grande”, Veneto, Italy ($25.00)
I just tasted this at the Gambero Rosso Road Show in San Francisco. This single vineyard Soave is a far cry from your Grandma’s Bolla of the 1970s! The 2006 is a flat-out crowd pleaser, guaranteed!
2006 Pascal Cotat Sancerre Chavignol “Mont Damnes”, Loire Valley, France ($34.95)
The Holly Grail of Sauvignon can be found in Chavignol, specifically the Mont Damnes parcel. A truly benchmark French category that’s a little bit of sunshine in the glass with bright citrus-flint infusion on the nose, followed by high beam lime zest, sea salt and a tinge of raw almonds on the mid-palate. Got Chevre?
2004 Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos- San Roman, Toro, Spain ($49.00)
Tempranillo Supreme! Highly-regarded winemaker Mariano Garcia’s (formerly of Vega Sicilia) new Toro project really shines with the stellar 2004 vintage. Bush-trained 100% Tempranillo vines (70-year-old average) are kept to extremely low yields, which transfers into the glass with concentrated black n’ blue notes. Decant in its youth for aeration purposes. This darling needs at least a couple years to mellow out!
2004 Cantina Terlano Lagrein Porphyr Riserva, Alto Adige, Italy ($39.00)
Lagrein is native to Alto Adige, and it’s safe to say you won’t find it outside the Dolomiti. Cantina Terlano is a cooperative of long-established growers founded in 1893. Experience goes a long way, which is especially clear with the “Porphyr” single vineyard effort. Lagrein is always meat,y without the sappy fruit you find with many “New World” reds. Silkened blackberry fruit is laced with bitter dark chocolate and mineral notes.
2004 Domaine du Caillou Chateauneuf du Pape "Les Quartz", Southern Rhone, France ($69.00)
This effort is one of my favorite Chateauneufs. Here’s a great pick for someone who leans more toward a California style. But don’t be fooled, this effort is truly French; the old-vine Grenache sings with white pepper, followed on the palate by dark berry fruit, Kirschwasser encased in a cloak of mouthwatering minerality.
