Friday Sips

About 2 months ago we offered this for 15 bucks, now it's 12 and ridiculously good for that number. Kalem's Down is a finely-priced Horse Heaven Hills single vineyard offering from John Albin. A few years ago this Chehalem Mountain-based stalwart expanded his focus beyond Oregon Pinot Noir and started working with Washington fruit. The Benches Vineyard is located about 1000 feet above where the Columbia makes the big bend and is owned and controlled by the folks at Long Shadows.

John's version for the fine 2012 vintage is a superb drink that offers dense forward scents of dark berries and mocha, is smooth and seductive in the mouth with even more dark berry, cassis, milk chocolate, and spice notes arriving on the sumptuous finish.

Undoubtedly one of France's treasures, Domaine Neveu crafts some of the most profound wines in Sancerre. Seamlessly integrating traditional methods and the best modern technique to bring out the very essence of the terroir, creating rich, elegant wines that have long been secrets of those in-the-know Sancerre fans.

4 different cuvees are produced chez Neveu, single parcels reflecting this famed area's diverse soils. Les Longues Fins is from a site that is laden with limestone. Tender, gossamer-like yet intense flavors and aromas are what define this delicious wine with white grapefruit, tangerine, chalk and mineral; pretty yet gushing fruit flavors are nicely reined in by the mineral nature which are a true gift of the earth. A zesty saline, shell-laden finish highlights this sophisticated demon of a wine which is a perfect choice for grilled salmon. One of the finest and most beautifully refined wines of Sancerre and proves that Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc but Sauvignon Blanc is NOT Sancerre!

The Grand Fricambault is Sancerre that is outspoken, confident and very well-spoken, the Richard Sherman of Sancerre and if you like ‘em minerally with lightning-like briskness, then 2013 Sancerres and especially this offering are for you!

The Grand Fricambault site is rich with silex soil (very hard, almost diamond-like rocks) vs. old sea-bed Kimmeridgean marl. Firmly focused, piercing scents which are more rock-dust, steel, smoke and gunflint instead of seashore aromas. Pink grapefruit tones ride alongside touches of lime and herbs pulling everything together to a fine, precise and steely finish of old vine penetration and length. This is a WOW white certain to enhance just about any sea-critter preparation.

If this Cab were made in Napa instead of the Santa Cruz Mountains, had a sexy name and an army of PR idiots it would easily sell for 3 times the price. The reality is that we are all the better because none of this is prevalent with this under-the-radar and over-delivering Cali Cab. From a historical as well as pleasure perspective, the Santa Cruz Mountain-situated Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays rank among the best in California. Their second label is Domaine Eden and like most second labels, there's incredible value to be had and 2010 is quite mighty for pretty much all of the Golden State.

Deep aromas and even deeper flavors it is chock full of cassis, blueberry and violet with spikes of cocoa and mint that seemingly swirl in the glass. The texture is buxom and creamy with lots of sensuality to it. A mineral underlay and deceptive structure will allow this wine to age, however, when you uncork a bottle, it will prove to be very irresistible! Drink it over the next decade. Cheers to Mount Eden for producing a wonderful Cabernet blend that is damn good and doesn't force you to take out a 2nd mortgage to drink a bottle.