Winehound Hot Picks

UNDERCOVER
2008 PINOT NOIR
BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD SANTA MARIA VALLEY...$24.99
Wine buyer's notes:
“Our first-ever, exclusive-to-the Winehound bottling of Pinot Noir may have a playful, nearly idiotic label (I know, I designed it), but it’s deadly serious and seductive on the palate: the Bien Nacido Vineyard fruit flaunts plushness and opulence with wave after wave of plum and black cherry, aided and abetted by an assortment of side-thrills, like cocoa, cola and brown spice notes.  Succulent and persistent are apt buzzwords to describe this private label, and if the fake nose and glasses brings a smile to your face, we’re delighted…just wait’ll you taste the wine.”

UNDERCOVER
2006 SYRAH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY...$17.99
Wine buyer's notes:
“The 2006 Syrah was made for us by Blair Fox and Fess Parker Winery, and wow, is it a smoky, hedonistic, full-bodied, lush crowd-pleaser! You’ll encounter exuberant notes of cured meats, roasted herbs, black pepper and blackberry fruit, and with four years of barrel and bottle aging, you’d have to be Indiana Jones to find any trace of a hard edge in this supple wonder.  Enjoy it with a grilled ribeye topped with black peppercorn sauce for a stunning carnivorous experience.”

MARGERUM 2009
SAUVIGNON BLANC
SYBARITE...$19.99
Wine buyer's notes:
“Made mostly from the warmer climate vineyards of Happy Canyon in the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the ‘09 Sybarite is ripe, almost peachy/apricot-like, and shows the hedonistic style that winemaker Doug Margerum was shooting for.  Lees stirring and a small percentage of barrel fermentation elongates and rounds out the palate feel, and this would be ideal paired with crab cakes and a side of mango salsa.”