Santaella | Wines by the glass

25 Wines by the Glass

OCTOBER 2012

Santaella © Wines by the Glass – Rev Oct. 2012

This wine has a subtle, pale gold color with fine, persistent bubbles. It is delicate, with aromas of peach, white flowers, vanilla pod, and brioche on the nose and flavors of fresh fruit and honey on the palate. Excellent as an aperitif or with foods such as seafood and white meat

Grapes: 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier

critical acclaim: "A round, generous style, offering peach, candied lemon and honey flavors on a creamy texture. Its mousse is refined, and this turns drier on the long finish. Drink now through 2011.“

91 Points Wine Spectator

91 Points Wine Enthusiast

Taittinger Brut

Fine bubbles which rise slowly, persistent mousse. Straw-colored. A nose of ripe pear with some touches of cut hay. Full fruit, but clean in the mouth. All wines from the best sites in the department of the Marne, from more than twenty top vineyards in Champagne.

Grapes: 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay.

critical acclaim: “The NV Brut Reserve is a beautiful wine graced with layers of exquisite, mineral laced citrus, pears and white peaches. I suppose this could use a little more length through the mid-palate, but it is nevertheless a strikingly beautiful, pure wine at this price point.”

89 Points The Wine Advocate

91 Points Wine Enthusiast

91 Points International Wine Cellar

Billecart-Salmon Brut Res.


Intense cherry-pink in color with extremely fine, persistent pinpoint bubbles rising in delicate strands to the surface of the wine. Its classic, aromatic Pinot fragrance of red raspberries and strawberries is offset by elegant, subtle floral and earth nuances. On the palate, the ripe, full berry flavors are vibrant yet refined, delicately balanced by a fresh acidity which carries into a crisp, refreshing finish of persistent length.

critical acclaim: “It shows lovely length and focus in an understated style that is quite appealing. There is tons of depth to the fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it also has enough body to pair beautifully with a wide range of foods. This is a great version of the house’s Rose.”



Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose

Nectar Impérial (Demi-Sec) is a champagne to please the senses. The assemblage is built around the structure of the Pinot Noir : supple and smooth. Nectar Impérial is both a refined and sophisticated wine whose richness turns into sensuality. Lively and generous Nectar Impérial distinguishes itself by its tropical fruitiness, its richness on the palate and its crisp finish, that instantly surprise and delight.

Food Pairings: With foie gras, blue cheese, peach based desserts, dried fruits and mixed nuts.

critical acclaim: "Lightly sweet, with ripe apple, honey and candied citrus peel flavors. It's round and accessible, with a fresh finish. For fans of the style. Drink now.“


Moët Nectar Imperial


Specially crafted blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Schramsberg's select cool-climate vineyards in Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coastal areas of Northern California. The finished Brut Rosé exhibits fresh, elegant and toasty aromas that lead into lively and delicious fruit flavors on the palate.

critical acclaim: "Even better, the Non-Vintage Mirabelle Brut Rose (58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir) exhibits a light to medium pink color as well as abundant aromas of kir, medium body, good vibrancy and a crisp, zesty, dry finish. These cuvees are meant to be drunk upon release as there is no point in aging them.“


90-93 Points Wine Spectator

Schramsberg Brut Rosé

Brilliant straw yellow with fine, persistent perlage, fruity aromas of peach, apple, pear and citrus fruit, the palate gracefully balances zingy acidity and a subtle hint of sweetness, richness and silky-smooth texture.

critical acclaim: "The Non-vintage Prosecco di Conegliano is a creamy, perfumed wine with good definition in its aromas and flavors, and excellent overall balance.”


Canella Prosecco


Bollini Pinot Grigio is styled to show intense varietal aromas with an especially fragrant bouquet and elegant, delicately focused white fruit flavors. The texture is crisp and clean in the mouth, with superb acid balance. An excellent aperitif white wine and a great choice for parties because it matches beautifully with a wide range of appetizers, especially fried calamari, oysters, clams and crab.

critical acclaim: “The 2010 Pinot Grigio impresses for its textural elegance and finesse, both of which are unusual for a wine at this price point. Pears, flowers and spices are some of the notes that linger on the finish. This is a terrific value .”


Bollini Pinot Grigio

Intense, bright and clean yellow with golden hues. Deep appealing macerated fruit (apricot, pineapple and passion fruit) with a wrapping background of balsamic notes. Powerful and fruity with good persistence and aromatic finish.

critical acclaim: “The 2010 Mar de Frades Albarino is considerably more expressive. Mineral, acacia, lemon zest, and nutmeg inform the nose of this ripe, mouth-filling, nicely proportioned effort. Concentrated and lengthy, it will deliver pleasure over the next 3-4 years. “


Mar de Frades Albariño


Ferrari-Carano's 2011 Fumé Blanc has aromas of lime, kiwi, citrus, melon and a touch of grass complemented by flavors of grapefruit, lemon and lime with a mango and guava finish. Cool, stainless steel tank fermentation gives this wine a crisp freshness while the subtle oak character from barrel aging adds complexity and depth. Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine Style: Light & Crisp

critical acclaim: “The 2009 Fume Blanc offers aromas and flavors of flinty grapefruit and orange rind intermixed with a hint of honey. This exuberant, crisp, medium-bodied, fruity, extroverted white is a total hedonistic turn-on. Enjoy it over the next year.”



Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc

A stunning and unique white wine. The wine is made from 100% Verdejo. Complex and flavorful, with intense concentration and excellent extract. Barrel fermentation gives the wine a spicy, honeyed characteristic that pairs well with the fresh qualities of the Verdejo grape. Dry white wine.

critical acclaim: “The 2009 Belondrade was 100% barrel-fermented as its light gold color and toasty aromas suggest. On the palate the oak is nicely integrated with the wine’s minerality and spicy peach and apricot flavors. This intense, concentrated wine should be consumed over the next 2-3 years in order to capture its fruit.”

“In my opinion, this is one of the two greatest dry whites being made in Spain.” -Robert Parker


Belondrade y Lurton


The wine shows floral, apple and citrus aromas and flavors, with mineral notes; a classic expression of Chardonnay from this appellation.

Wine Style: Light & Crisp

critical acclaim: “Rich and round, sporting peach and apricot aromas and flavors. Focused by a note of citrus, this leaves a mouthwatering impression. Drink now. 55,000 cases made. “


Louis Jadot Macon-Villages

The 2009 Fogdog Chardonnay boasts an abundance of flintiness and aromas of apple, pear, almonds, citrus and stone fruits. This wine is full-bodied, yet elegant and restrained, with a core of acidity and minerality that is balanced by warm flavors of pear tart and almond crisp along with notes of lemon and tangerine zest.

Wine Style: Fruity & Smooth

critical acclaim: "Meyer lemon and roasted hazelnut scents start this briskly balanced Chardonnay off on the right foot, and its fairly deep yet still youthfully nascent fruit stays in frame from first to last even as the wine tightens up towards the finish. Oak adds its bit of richness to the proceedings but is never the wine's focus”

93 Points Connoisseurs' Guide


FogDog Chardonnay


Whispering Angel is a blend of Grenache, Rolle, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes. Strikingly pale pink in color, the aromas are fresh and fruity. On the palate, it is bone dry through the finish. The name really suits the delicate nature of this wine.

critical acclaim: "This elegant wine displays a sense of power behind the delicate flavors of dried cherry, licorice, cream and spice. Finishes with notes of dried mango and hints of sage honey.“



Oak dominates the bouquet and flavors of this Bourgogne Blanc produced by the esteemed estate of Madame Bize-Leroy. But it's very fine and well selected oak that has integrated nicely into the fruit and mineral qualities of the Chardonnay. Medium deep gold. Powerfully aromatic nose of brown butter and minerals. Good acidity and length. Fully mature but not ready to drop off the edge, even at 15 years of age.

critical acclaim: “Broad and spicy, this is ready to go. Floral, apple, beeswax and lime flavors are embedded in the rich texture, and this is long and persistent on the aftertaste. Drink now through 2016.”


Whispering Angel Rose Leroy Bourgogne Blanc


Delightful bright aromas of pomegranate, sandalwood, juicy cherry and bramble waft from this energetic and flavorful 2009 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir. Deep flavors, firm tannins, wonderful fruit and a nice tartness make for a rich, lingering finish.

Wine Style: Smooth & Supple

critical acclaim: "The 2009 Pinot Noir bursts from the glass with expressive red fruit, flowers, spices and mint. It shows lovely mid-palate juiciness and an elegant, polished finish. At $24 a bottle, it may very well be the single finest value in American Pinot Noir. I was hardly surprised to learn Emirates chose to serve this wine in their business class cabin last year. This is a dazzling wine from start to finish.“


Calera Pinot Noir

This brilliantly ruby tinted wine has classic aromas of cherries, red currants and raspberries with more subtle hints of baking spice and vanilla layered in. On the palate, it exhibits lithe fruitiness and lingering cherry and berry flavors. The wine shows extraordinary balance and finesse with fine grained tannins that provide a nice framework to the silky mid-palate.

Wine Style: Light & Fruity

critical acclaim: “Light and tangy, with raspberry and white pepper notes mingling with floral character on the vivid finish, polished smooth. “

“Savory, ripe, and tasty, it is an easy-to-understand, crowd-pleaser of a Pinot that delivers plenty of cherry and raspberry fruit.”



Benton Lane Pinot Noir

Bodegas Roda is one of the quality leaders in Rioja. They have embarked on a couple of new projects, the first being the production of an entry-level Rioja named Sela. The second new Roda project is the development of two wines from Ribera del Duero made from 100% Tempranillo. Both 2009s were barrel samples but impressive nevertheless.

critical acclaim: “The 2009 Sela is made in an obviously lighter, more forward style than the Reservas. It is a spicy, savory, nicely balanced wine for drinking over the next 5-6 years.”


Sela (Roda) – Rioja

2009 is a great year for this varietal. The purity of aromas and flavors is focused and alive – this is unmistakably Merlot. Predominantly I find delicious red fruit with a core of lush black fruit – red cherry, red plum, spice and berry with hints of eucalyptus, earth and smoke. There's lots of flesh here held together in a structure of fine, ripe tannins.

Wine Style: Big & Bold

critical acclaim: “Elegant and focused, with black cherry and toasty oak aromas that lead to supple red currant, spice and herb notes. Finishes with firm but ripe tannins. Drink now through 2016.”


Shafer Merlot


Louis Jadot's Vosne-Romanée introduces a complex and densely fruited nose of crushed red berries, blackcurrant liqueur, violets, nuanced by game notes. The concentration on the palate is impressive, supported by lush fruitiness and savoury, mouth-coating flavours. A terrific wine and a textbook Vosne. 100% Pinot Noir.

Wine Style: Med-Full Bodied, Dry

critical acclaim: The Jadot 2005 Vosne-Romanee exhibits an alluring nose of black cherry, humus, cumin and ginger. Quite deeply-fruited, creamy and mouth-filling on the palate, with subtly gamy notes emerging, it finishes with refined tannins, sweet dark cherry, a medicinal herbal concentration, and continued hints of spice. 88-90 Points The Wine Advocate

Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanée

Cherry red color covered with clear violets around the rim. The nose is very intense and complex. Red fruits of raspberry and strawberry, black ones of blackcurrant, mulberry and blackberry. Elegant fine oak, subtly toasted with notes of black licorice. Fleshy with sweet tannins that give volume, and with a long aftertaste.

Wine Style: Earthy & Spicy

critical acclaim: "The 2009 Hito is 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) aged for 8 months in large French oak. It sports the rich fruit of the great 2009 vintage along with enticing aromas of cedar, mineral, tapenade, violets, and blackberry jam. Savory, ripe, and balanced in the mouth, it is an excellent value for drinking over the next 5-6 years. "


Hito (Cepa21) RdelD


In color, deep purple-red, with a full nose of ripe red fruit and soft floral tones, which are accompanied by delicate notes of vanilla and tobacco from the oak. Round in the mouth, with a good character and remarkable structure and tannins that are soft, giving the wine great complexity and a memorable finish.

Wine Style: Rich with Full Body

critical acclaim: Pulenta Estate’s 2010 La Flor Malbec (100%) spent 6 months in French oak. It offers up an inviting nose of cedar, spice box, lavender, earthy minerals, and black cherry. This sets the stage for a savory, ripe, layered offering that over-delivers in a big way. Drink this outstanding value over the next 3-4 years.

90 Points The Wine Spectator

Pulenta La Flor Malbec

With intense fruit and well-integrated oak, this wine is a powerful expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of black plums and cherry pie are elevated by layers of spice cake and caramelized vanilla. Boysenberry jam introduces the palate, supported by black fruit and swirls of rich cocoa. Barrel influence is evident in the complex structure and toasty spices that accompany the dark chocolaty tannins into a long, lively finish. This wine makes a fine accompaniment to braised short ribs or pasta carbonara.


critical acclaim: Smooth, refined and sophisticated, with ripe currant, blackberry, touches of mocha and cedar, and ending with fleshy, fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2020.


Sterling Cabernet Sauv.


Intense Tempranillo character is apparent in an elegant and pure wine only lightly influenced by the oak. Intensively fruity on the palate with a lingering, slightly dusty finish that promises excellent development in the bottle. Aged 15 months in primarily American oak.


critical acclaim: "Youthful purple. Primary, pungent aromas of black and blue fruits, vanilla, fresh flowers and licorice, with slow-mounting spiciness. Broad, palate-coating cassis and boysenberry flavors are framed and lifted by tangy acidity. Showing very well right now but has the depth to age."


Condado de Haza RdelD

Dark red-black in color with intense aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and currants interwoven with burnt toast and tar. Additional layers on the nose of rich spice with added hints of vanilla and maple. There are background notes of pencil lead as well. On the palate flavors of sweet ripe raspberries come through and the wine has smooth tannins and creamy weight with an impeccable balance and a long finish.


critical acclaim: "SG 07 Cabernet Sauvignon has gotten even better since I tasted it last year (rated 87). Still young and well-balanced Tightly-knit with lots of tannin but also copious quantities of black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with notions of spice box, oak and earth”


Sequoia Grove Cab. Sauv.


A full-bodied wine of intense red fruit flavor and elegantly supple texture supported by ripe, silky tannins. The Merlot in the blend is expressed in sweet black fruit with overall aromas of ripe, concentrated berries offset by restrained spicy oak notes.


critical acclaim: "The 2010 Guidalberto comes across as cool and inward in this vintage. Most recent Guidalbertos have been delicious upon release, but this is a wine that will need another year or two before it starts opening up. There is plenty of energy and vitality in the glass, but readers will need to be patient. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice and a hint of tobacco are layered into the firm, structured finish. In 2010 the blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. “


"Purple-tinged ruby-red. Primary aromas of cassis, ripe black cherry, licorice and ink, with a welcome violet note adding freshness; much darker and riper than the Le Difese. Smooth, dense and full, with impressively concentrated dark fruit flavors lifted by harmonious acidity. Finishes with a trace of heat and a repeating blackberry note. Another very serious Guidalberto, though this strikes me as being a good deal riper and bigger than some more perfumed, refined versions of years past. Still, insiders know that this is a sure-bet restaurant choice as it's usually as good as, but much less expensive than, some of the Tuscan Coast's big names."


Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto


219 Calle Canals

Santurce Farmer’s Market

San Juan, PR 00907

For reservations please visit: www.santaellapr.com

References: eRobertParker.com, WineSpectator.com, wine.com

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