2022 BEDROCK SYRAH
[REG. $35.99]
SPECIAL - $26.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Committed to Syrah, Morgan Peterson (son of Ravenswood founder and Zin icon Joel Peterson) and his business/winemaking partner/consigliere Chris Cottrell make serious Syrah as well as epic Zins and heirloom old vine reds. This offering comes from a blend of Santa Barbara, Sonoma and other sites, embracing the entirety of the California total package.

There is a certain fullness to this offering, but it never goes off the reservation to becoming thick, ooey and gooey. Cool black raspberry tones shine with freshly ground black pepper, smoked bacon, subtle licorice and cranberry add to the overall dimension. Upon entry, this Syrah expands over the entire palate revealing abundance and airiness with good backbone and very silky tannins. Persistent and really going above and beyond for its price. Enjoy over the next decade with lamb barbacoa, braised short ribs, game meats like elk or venison and well-aged goat cheeses.

2022 PIROLETTE SAINT-AMOUR
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Autumn has resoundingly arrived and that signals that it is Beaujolais time. Around here, we say hell no to Nouveau and are big proponents of superb Cru Beaujolais and this is one that rocks hard for twenty bucks. If you ever find yourself in the Cru Beaujolais village of Saint-Amour and in the vineyards and you listen closely you may well hear the ghost of Barry White crooning over 'love, wine and soul'.

2022 is a high quality and tasty vintage for the entire region. Immediately, this Gamay vaults from the glass with scents of red and black plum, boosted peppercorn as it opens, dark chocolate and a last-minute arrival of violet and peonies. The texture shows lovely intensity along with superb depth from the old vines and nicely supported by the minerality and natural lift that this site delivers. Enjoy this stunner over the next 5-6 years, have it with roasted chicken/turkey, chanterelle pasta with cream, grilled pork tenderloin and even Pad Thai.

2022 TIBERIO
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

94 Points - Vinous...One of my favorite Montepulciano wines and one of Abruzzo's apex producers, it is almost impossible to believe that this is the gateway wine to their range. Then again, the range of vines are from 22 years old to 62 years...and the terroir is some of the finest on the entire Adriatic Coast.

Deep Purple flavors and aromas without Ritchie Blackmore or ‘Smoke on The Water' this wine exudes violets, plums, marionberry to go along with smoked earth and licorice. In the mouth, it is a spice-bomb with killer depth, vibrancy and definition with superb length on the earth/coffee-tinged finish. One of the most versatile red wines to go with food, it is magical with tomato-based dishes, smoked meats and especially lamb. Only five cases available.

2019 LA HORRA 'CORIMBO'
RIBERA DEL DUERO
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE

La Horra is Rioja icon Bodegas Roda's terrific Ribera del Duero. Made from 100% Tempranillo, this wine is voluminous and overflowing with deep fruit that is what this area is about yet maintains all the class and suaveness that Roda is about.

Exuding Spanish sophistication at its finest, the 2019 is stuffed with flavor and aromas of black plum, raspberry, fresh-cut roses, vanilla and cedarbox. The texture is ripe and caresses all the senses with fine structure and zestiness brought about from the area’s cool nights; it is also long, stacked and palate-coating. Truly undervalued at 30-bucks, roast some pork laced with paprika and go to town. Drink now through 2031.

2022 BRANDBORG RIESLING
ELKTON UMPQUA VALLEY
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

In 2002, Terry Brandborg chose a site in the Umpqua Valley outside of Elkton due to its high elevation and cool temperatures, which immediately delivered wonderful wines of distinction. In 2013, Elkton received its own AVA because this northern zone of the Umpqua proved itself to make wines that highlight a special terroir. The 2022 shown to me last week proved to be one of the finest Oregon white wines that I have tasted this year.

Situated at a mere twenty-five miles from the ocean, the very cool climate Elkton region is where many grapes thrive, but Riesling truly excels. This very dry example comes two adjacent sites, both planted in 1983, is not only complex but also occupies the palate. Dazzling, electrifying, loads of succulence and stoniness with brilliant and blazing tones, this wine grooves its ass out on the dance floor and is cool as a cucumber. Generous depth and intricacy, fully dry, this wine is a gift from the almost forty-year-old vines. Always a wonderful match with sausages, it also can be paired with seared albacore tuna marinated in ginger, soy and garlic, spicy Thai specialties and the upcoming holiday turkey.

2022 DR. KONSTANTIN FRANK
RIESLING FINGER LAKES
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Immigrating from Ukraine in 1951, Dr. Konstantin Frank is without a doubt one of America’s most important wine figures. Having established his vineyard in 1958, this dry Riesling has been in production since 1962 and continues to utilize a portion of the grapes from the original plantings.

One of the most thrilling wines that I sampled last week, this bone-dry Riesling possesses a very pretty nose of lime, peach, mint and a suggestion of ginger. The ginger and citrus carry through to the mouth, with an elegance and beauty that is hard to describe. Do not call us and ask which you should get this or previously mentioned Brandborg because the answer is simple, get both because they are both very dry and vastly different. Drink now-2030+.

2022 PRA VALPOLICELLA
'MORANDINO'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

A Soave specialist who also makes beautiful Valpolicella and Amarone wines, Pra’s reds maintain integrity, class and succulence and are a tad lower in alcohol and made in a style to go directly to the table.

Wonderfully balanced, the 2022 Pra Valpolicella is vivacious with aromas of blackberry, bing cherry, almond and dark chocolate. Lusciously textured but buoyant from entry to the impressive finish, fine balance throughout never allows it to be oversized or heavy. Truckloads of fruit define the texture, with notes of espresso bean, exotic spice and chocolate covered berries and earth all coming out on the finish. A great twenty-dollar Valpolicella that will impress and work so well with any Italian dinner.

2022 VIOLIN WINES PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

Amity-based Violin Wines has long been Oregon's next big thing/best kept secret and yet it is almost unthinkable that Will Hamilton has been producing wines under this label for a decade. One of the nicest people in the wine business, it is nice to see his wines receiving accolades and this Pinot Noir shines brightly. Aside from the five percent of fruit from First Man Vineyard in the Tualatin Hills AVA, the remainder comes from several top-drawer sites in Eola-Amity including Sojeau, Koosah and X-Omni.

A hell of a good deal, violet, plum, lavender, red licorice, kisses of tarragon and cinnamon follow through to a sultry texture with deceptive depth, poise and material. Like any superb Pinot Noir, this wine fans out nicely on the palate, extends beautifully, and sticks around. Very lovable now and can age nicely over the next 8-10 years...92 Points - Vinous

2020 CHATEAU PARAZA
MINERVOIS 'CUVEE SPECIAL'
[REG. $15.99]
SPECIAL - $10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE

Chateau Paraza's Best Buy Minervois is comprised of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre and is 100% yummy.

Exuberant with mountains of personality. Bouncy red and black fruit, peppery spice, roasted earth and garrigue. Plenteous fruit in the mouth but with a fun, full and mouthfeel that makes it a spirited eleven-dollar red to have around the house for everything from grilled lamb chop lollipops to grilled tuna, burgers, pizza, etc.

2022 INKARRI MALBEC MENDOZA
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Contrary to popular myth, there has been a culture of wine in Argentina for about 150 years, but it has only been in the last thirty that it has become internationally known.

Inkarri’s organic wines are farmed with enthusiastic respect for the land that they come from. The 2022 is prototype Malbec highlighted by juicy, vibrant and layered aspects of black cherry fruit, mocha scents as well as vanilla and cedar-box. A hearty red that fills the mouth nicely and shows smoothness and instant gratification for not a bunch of money.

2021 DOMAINE GARON
COTE-ROTIE 'SYBARINE'
$59.99 BTL./$359.94 - SIX PACK

The wines of Cote-Rotie are complex, cerebral and very elusive. Wine enthusiasts mistakenly think that these wines are large beasts. Even though they are from the Rhone, they have little in common with Chateauneuf-du-Pape tending to lean towards the stylings of Chambolle or Chambertin. Poise, sensuality and smoothness rule the day at this very formidable cellar. The wines age tremendously, too.

The Garon family have been coming on strong lately with the quality of their wines. This offering comes from two different parcels in the Cote Blonde section of this prestigious appellation, this wine reveals insane Syrah-driven aromatics. Lacy but saturated scents of mineral, black olive tapenade freshly ground pepper, anise, prominent mineral and creosote tones. 2021 is a classically formed vintage and this wine has sap, snap and appeal with the escalating aspects building and covering the palate. Better in a year or two but it is not infanticide to uncork a bottle. Drink through 2033+.