This blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot was a stunner. After befriending a very nice couple in the tasting room where I spend my days when I am not writing about wine I was regaled with a story of a wine that I had probably not heard of nor tasted that was worth seeking out.

Imagine my surprise when Daniel Florence, a nice young man who is a financial advisor for Waddell & Reed shows up a few days later with a bottle of this wine that he was so very proud to have discovered and rightly so.

It is absolutely the best wine I have tasted this year slightly edging out even some of the best samples during our recent trip to Spain. I was told by Daniel our friend Scott Behrens formerly of the “Wine Behrens”, which is now called Friendly Vine out in Forest Grove looked for this wine for a long time and it was very hard to get.

He recited some story about tracking it down at a retail store back east. After doing a little research it turns out the local distributor, Domaine Selections, still lists the wine in their book here in Portland.

After calling Domaine Selections, it turns out they were out of the 2003 Gala 2. I will say if you get a chance to try any vintage of this wine anywhere it would be worth checking out.  Luigi Bosca makes serious wines that should be cherished and admired. ~Marc Hinton

Rating: 96 | $30 | 14.5% ABV

Find this wine: Vinquire | WineZap.com