White Cottage Ranch

White Cottage Ranch wines deliver that perfect touch … from the wine’s full body and balanced flavors to the way the labels are torn around the edges and hand-applied for a beautiful and sophisticated appearance. Taste the White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and Sauvignon Blanc 2009 tonight, Friday, June 25, from 6-9pm at MHW.

White Cottage Ranch is an organic, biodynamic estate located on the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.

White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.99

Powerful, rich and spicy with a fruit-forward body of ripe berry and black cherry, this is a California Cab lover’s dream. It is exceptionally smooth with a long finish – perfect to pair with a steak on your grill or a nice burger.

White Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $18.99

The high elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet above sea level and the rugged winters reap rich, full flavors in Sauvignon Blanc with a distinct minerality from the soil, which mingles with light flavors of tropical fruit and green pepper. Crisp and refreshing, this well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc needs to top your list of wines to taste this summer season.

Man O’ War

On the coastal hillsides and high cliffs of Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, the Man O’ War family-owned estate has grown grapes since 1993, making beautiful wines of excellent flavor components. Today 6-9pm, we will taste the Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Syrah 2008 and Merlot-Cabernet Sauvginon-Cabernet Franc-Malbec 2008.

Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grown high on the hilltops of the Man O’ War Station, this is a classic cool climate Sauvignon Blanc: very aromatic, juicy and fresh. It undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks and is topped with a touch of natural sugar to balance the tannins. Experience notes of lemongrass and fresh herbs with tropical guave notes, leading into a palate of vibrant acidity and slight sweetness with a spicy finish.

Man O’ War Syrah 2008
This Syrah is earthy with flavors of wild game, pepper and black olives, meeting a floral nose of blueberry and spice. The finish delivers dark-chocolate and espresso – dark and lingering. Allow the wine to open up in the bottle and in your glass – the complex flavor profile will surprise you.

Man O’ War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008
The make-up: 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand’s Waiheke Island combines florals, dark berry fruits, asphalt and tar for an ideal full-bodied red blend. Each grape was hand-harvested and kept separately in the winery to achieve its best qualities like the softness and fragrance of Merlot and Malbec, the savour and cassis of Cabernet Franc and the structure and power of Cabernet Sauvignon. After 11 months of aging on lees, it was blended and bottled for your drinking pleasure.

*Remember you can purchase wines in-store, over the phone or online at MurrayHillWines.com for free delivery within a 15-block radius in NYC or for shipping nationwide! Just follow the above links or search "Man O' War" on MurrayHillWines.com.

Bordeaux in a Box and a Languedoc Cabernet

Tonight, Thursday, June 10, from 6-9pm, taste two delicious Bordeaux wines straight from the box (one white and one rosé) and also an excellent cabernet sauvignon from South West France.

Wine in a Box: the equivalent of four regular wine bottles fits into a vacuum-sealed bag inside a nice wooden box (the wood is grown in Bordeaux) with a spout – perfect for parties or to keep in your fridge for your daily fix.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). A bright pink hue, this rosé is an easy-drinker with flavors of strawberries and herbs. It’s the perfect drink for a summer night gathering. Or keep a box on hand for yourself – it preserves practically forever with its air-tight seal.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Blanc "Cuvée Soleil d'Or" is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Aromas of pineapple and apricot lead you to a rich, medium-bodied wine with a generous finish.

Domaine La Croix Belle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Languedoc is fire truck red with intense aromas of black fruits and spices. Well-structured and balanced, it is ready for drinking now but can also be kept for several years.

Craving Bibich Debit

Bibich Debit 2008 from Northern Dalmatia in Croatia never looked so tempting ...
Order your own bottle at: http://www.murrayhillwines.com/searchresults.aspx?mode=2

Argentine Sun

Argentina’s desert-like climate produces tiny grapes packed with intense flavor. Taste three wines: a Chardonnay-Viognier blend, a Malbec-Syrah blend, and a Cabernet Sauvignon tonight from 6 to 9pm at MHW.

XumeK Zonda Chardonnay-Viognier 2009

XumeK means “Sun” in the language of the Huarpe people, which is a fitting name for this consistently hot region. The rich and soft Chardonnay and Viognier grapes grow in the Zonda Valley at the foot of the Andes Mountians in Southern San Juan, Argentina. The valley gets its name from a constant dry wind referred to as the Zonda. This wine is very different and intriguing—an excellent mellow and round blend with florals and soft fruits.

XumeK Reserve Malbec-Syrah 2006

This Malbec-Syrah blend reaps black cherry, dark pepper, chocolate, sweet oak and game. When people request an excellent Argentine Malbec, we always point them in this direction, because the syrah adds just the right touch of deep berry flavor and bold tannins. Steve Tanzer, publisher of Wine Cellar, rated this XumeK at 88 points. Pesticide-free and low in sulfites, it is aged for 12 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, then 12 months in the bottle.

Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Grown in Mendoza on 33-year-old vines in rich, sandy soil, this vibrantly violet Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon smells like a spice box with dark fruits like black currant and blackberry. In 1973, inspired by Napa Valley, Sigifredo Alonso became the first winemaker in Argentina to plant single varietal vineyards (a total of 130 hectares). Last year, his wines were finally released to the public to the excitement of wine critics and drinkers worldwide.

We Are OCD

Sip on some complex wines from Marlborough at tonight’s free wine tasting from 6 to 9pm. Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir pack a medley of flavors from fruits to herbs and minerals, making for an interesting and deliciously fun experience. Read on, and join us tonight …

Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc 2009

New Zealand sauvignon blancs are known for bright tropical fruits. OCD Sauvignon Blanc delivers that and so much more. The nose smells a little grassy and fresh. The palate offers that expected and delightful taste of passion fruit. Surprisingly you can taste a bit of blackcurrant fruits as well, and then OCD tops it off with a definite hint of sage and a lemon zest. This wine is awesome with pan seared fish. When we cook fish at home, we like to pick the best quality fish at our neighborhood Wild Edibles on 3rd Ave. just a half block away from Murray Hill Wines.

Otto’s Constant Dream Pinot Noir 2008

Sautee some chorizo in a pan to eat with this raspberry-cherry-plum-flavored pinot noir with toasty oak. Vegetarians will love it with sautéed mushrooms. The wine’s other interesting flavors like thyme and rosemary come out even more with the right food pairings.

Take home these Marlborough wines tonight and share them with family and friends!