The Wine Gift Shop

Red Wine by Bonny Doon from Central Coast, California. A little bit of a stylistic departure for Bonny Doon. Since I have been hanging out with Patrick Ducournau, I have learned the mantra: I will fear no tannin. Cigare has always been fruit-driven (in the Australian parlance) and usually has had the soft, plush texture of the upholstery one finds in a vintage Citro?n. We have upped the ante and given the wine a little more grip, more conjones, if you will. I think that in doing so, we have enchanced this Cigares ability to age. Varietal composition: 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 27% Mourvedre, 2% Viognier, 2% Cinsault and 2% Carignane.

Red Wine by Tablas Creek from Central Coast, California. Like most wines of the Southern Rhone, the Tablas Creek Vineyard Cotes de Tablas is a blend of varietals, featuring the fruitiness of Grenache balanced by the spice and structure of Syrah, with meaty, earthy notes from Mourvedre and Counoise. The 2005 Cotes de Tablas has an intensely Grenache nose of rare steak, pepper and blueberry. It is juicy and rich in the mouth, with ripe tannins and a finish laced with licorice. Food pairings: Grilled steaks, pastas with meat sauces, rich beef stews, spicy sausages