New At ABC Package

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New At ABC Package! Trader Joes Charles Shaw
Blend Two Buck Chuck 2.99750ml Chardonnay,
Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet
Sauvignon! 706-549-1686
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WINE NEWS
The past couple of months have been busy ones
here in the wine businesstrade shows and
tastings have yielded many new discoveries for
our shelves and were thrilled to tell you about
a few of them here. Were also excited to be
sharing them with you at tasting events around
town our February 1 Kermit Lynch tasting at East
West Bistro proved rewarding for devotees of
French wines, and we eagerly anticipate similar
results as we delve into the Italian selections
of Vinifera Imports at La Dolce Vita on March 6.
In case you havent been able to attend, dont
worry we are planning more events for the rest
of the year, including at least two wine dinners.
Be sure to check your email for any messages from
ABC as we will always furnish details of upcoming
events to our mailing list. And let your wine
loving friends know about our electronic
newsletter all they have to do is supply us with
their email address in order to join. So stop
by soon and take advantage of Athens biggest
selection of fine wine, beer and liquor theres
simply no place like this for variety.
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Spring is very nearly here and baseball is back
on the list of entertainment. Here at ABC weve
assembled a great new roster of fine wines for
the upcoming season. Come by and mix up a case or
two and see how they perform at your next event,
whether its a picnic at the park, a backyard
grill party or a fine dining affair. No matter
what the occasion, we can help you make the most
of your wine budget by bringing some real star
power to the plate. Lets play!
From SpainAn Outstanding Lineup
Vega Sindoa Tempranillo/Merlot 2005 Dark red.
Dense and smoky, with potent cherry and
blackberry aromas complemented by a note of
roasted coffee. Rich and structured for a wine
of this price, with a cherry flavor deepened by
tobacco. Finishes with solid tannins, a meaty
nuance and good sweetness and energy. Stephen
Tanzers Intl. Wine Cellar 87 pts. 7.99
Castell Remei Gotim Bru 2004 The 2004 Gotim Bru
is a blend of 60 Tempranillo, 20 Cabernet
Sauvignon, and 20 Merlot aged for 10 months in
French and American oak. Purple-colored, it
provides a fragrant nose of spice box, tobacco,
blueberry, and blackberry. Firmly structured,
medium to full-bodied, and layered, this ripe,
tasty wine should evolve for 2-3 years but who is
going to wait? It is an outstanding
value. Robert Parker 90 pts. 9.99
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Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Jumilla 2005 A
perennial Best Buy in this journal. Purple in
color, the wine offers up a nearly exotic nose
(perhaps due to wild yeast fermentation) of
earth, minerals, blueberries, and blackberries.
This medium to full-bodied effort possesses
layers of sweet, ripe fruit, and soft tannins yet
is surprisingly elegant. Drink this tasty wine
over the next 2-3 years. The Wine Advocate 90
pts. 11.99
Bodegas Juan Gil Juan Gil Jumilla 2004 A serious
effort, the 2004 Juan Gil is fashioned from
45-year-old Mourvedre vines and is aged for 12
months in American and French oak. This rich,
full-bodied, inky/purple-tinged cuvee exhibits
aromas of scorched earth, blueberries, licorice,
and pepper, a savory, layered texture, and
remarkable opulence for a Mourvedre. Drink it
over the next 3-4 years. Robert Parker 90 pts.
15.99
Descendientes de José Palacios Petalos Bierzo
2005. This estate was started in 1998 by Alvaro
Palacios. It has steep hillside vineyards and 60-
to 100-year-old vines planted in 100 Mencia, a
varietal indigenous to Bierzo, a cool-climate
D.O. The entry level 2005 Petalos del Bierzo sets
the bar high. Purple-colored, it has attractive
aromas of flowers, raspberries and chocolate. The
fruit is ripe, sweet, and supple in the mouth
offering excellent intensity as well as elegance.
Drink it over the next 4-6 years. The Wine
Advocate 90 pts 22.99
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From FranceA Triple Play
Château de la Greffiere Mâcon La Roche Vineuse
2005 This dry white Burgundy is balanced and
focused, with clean, fresh stone fruit flavors
and the mineral underpinning that marks
Chardoinnay grown on limestone soils. It is
medium-bodied with a terrific fruit/acid balance
and an elegance that belies its relatively modest
price tag. From importer Peter Weygandt.
Excellent Value 14.99
Hughes Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux du
Languedoc 2005 Heres a delightful change of pace
and a great bargain to boot. The grape variety is
Picpoul and the term Picpoul de Pinet is applied
to wines from a particular cru within the
surrounding Languedoc appellation. Literally
translating to lip stinger, Picpoul produces
wines known in France for their bright acidity,
minerality, and clean lemony flavor, which is
quite an accurate description for this example.
Its brisk, fresh character is ideal with
shellfish and light pasta dishes. It is also
terrific as an aperitif. Best Buy 9.99
Bieler Père Fils Rosé Sabine 2005 Full-bodied,
with plenty of wild berry and melon flavors.
Ripe, spicy finish with notes of mocha and cream.
Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. Wine Spectator 87
pts 9.99
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ItalyFielding Solid Values
Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2005 The 2005
Sangiovese IGT offers an amazing display of
strawberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with
floral, new saddle leather, and earth notes. Aged
in large wood foudres, it is a stunning example
of Sangiovese that should drink well for 2-3
years. This wine represents incredible value for
the money.  Robert Parker 90 pts. 10.99
Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco 2005 Ultrarich, with
layers of opulent, tropical fruit and light
mineral undertones. Full-bodied, with a long,
long finish. Wine Spectator 90 pts.
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Chile, Argentina and Australia Deliver Big Hits
From the Southern Hemisphere
Veramonte Chardonnay Casablanca Valley Chile
2005 Nicely focused pear, apple and mineral
flavors, with a clean, minerally finish. Fresh,
unadorned style. Drink now. Wine Spectator 88
pts. 8.99
Trumpeter Malbec Argentina 2005 Soft and round,
with creamy-textured raspberry and boysenberry
fruit flavors backed by sweet toast. A nice
mineral hint keeps it honest. Drink now. Wine
Spectator 88 pts. 10.99
Kilikanoon The Lackey Shiraz Australia
2005 Kilikanoon produces some of the worlds
finest value-priced, full-flavored, dry reds. The
2005 The Lacky (which is made exclusively for the
American importer) emphasizes the ripe, classic,
South Australian Shiraz grape aged in old oak and
bottled with no fining or filtration. Deep, rich,
full-bodied, and elegant, it reveals plenty of
berry fruit, pepper, chocolate, and new saddle
leather characteristics. Drink this spicy, earthy
effort over the next 2-3 years. Robert Parker 90
pts. 13.99
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Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley Australia
2005 Green gold. Pungent, floral and precise
nose offers strong scents of peach, pear and
orange sherbet. At once fleshy and sharply
focused, the orange and tangerine flavors
remaining vibrant and minerally through the
bracing finish. Stephen Tanzers International
Wine Cellar 90 pts. 16.99
Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Shotfire Australia 2005 The
2005 Shiraz Shotfire Ridge beefs up the oak and
fruit intensity in a full-bodied, chocolaty,
rich, ball buster styled Barossa Shiraz that
coats the palate, stains the teeth, and provides
an intense mouthful of wine. It should drink well
for 10-12 years. It is a remarkable
value. Robert Parker 92 pts. 20.99 
The Colonial Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Etranger
Australia 2004 Jonathan Maltus certainly knows
his Bordeaux varietals, as evidenced by the
impressive 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon lEtranger, a
dense ruby/purple-hued effort boasting plenty of
black currant, earth, and spice notes. Rich and
full-bodied, with sweet tannin, a voluptuous
mouthfeel, and a long finish, it should drink
well for 7-8 years. Robert Parker 90 pts. 29.99
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From CaliforniaA Couple of Steals
Guenoc Victorian Claret North Coast 2003 A true
meritage blend composed of the five primary
Bordeaux grape varieties, this wine could easily
hold its own against much more expensive blends
from California. It features a deep, opaque
ruby-red color with an inky core and superb notes
of crushed black cherries, black fruit, roasted
vanilla bean and hints of herbs. Expansive, with
layers of fruit and ripe tannins, it finishes
long and supple, with just a touch of licorice. A
fine choice for red meats and game. Excellent
Value 10.99
St. Francis Red Sonoma County 2003 We loved this
new offering from one of Californias most
consistent producers. It's a succulent blend of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and
Syrah. Full-bodied and packed with luscious, ripe
flavors and spicy aromas, it will make a perfect
match for grilled meats. But dont be too slow to
pick up a few bottlesour supplier has recently
made it an allocated item, which means demand is
increasing significantly. Get it while it
lasts! Excellent Value 12.99
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And FinallyA Walk-off Homerun from Germany
St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 2006 If
you missed the 05 bottling of this wine, heres
your chance to get acquainted with one of
Germanys top winemaking estates. Their vineyards
are situated on many of the finest slopes of the
Mosel and Saar Rivers and are planted exclusively
to Riesling. The slate soils in which the vines
grow give the wines delicate structure and
minerally character. This QBA certainly has those
attributes its a lovely, off-dry Riesling with
vivid floral aromas as well as notes of peach and
apricot. The palate abounds with fresh, clean
fruit flavors and finishes with the delicate
underpinning of minerality that distinguishes
Riesling from the best Mosel River vineyards. It
would be lovely with sweet, freshwater fish like
trout or bass. Outstanding Value 12.99