Friday Sips

To say that co-op and negociant mass produced Cotes-du-Rhone has superiority to grower Cotes-du-Rhone producers like Beaurenard is akin to handing Dennis Rodman the Nobel Peace Prize. Many of you are familiar with the prowess of this Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Rasteau rock star, Domaine de Beaurenard also excels with their Cotes-du-Rhone level wines as well. Not sappy or overblown, Beaurenard’s Cotes-du-Rhone is infinite beauty personified. 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah & 15% Cinsault, the Coulon brothers once again bring it with vintage 2011!!

Seductive, pure, soulful with almost a Burgundian-inspired underbelly, is offers brilliant raspberry tones which show after the wine is poured, then after 5-10 minutes in the glass impressive black licorice and lavender arrive. Graceful, mouth-filling, ethereal and upscale in the mouth with plenty of lacy, smooth characteristics on the pleasurable back end. Have this with chicken, slow-roasted lamb or grilled bratwurst.

Legendary. Influential. Guru. Quite honestly, there aren't enough hyperbolic words to describe both the wines of Muga and what this producer has meant to the quality and history of the Rioja wine region. Once again they deliver and their 2008 Reserva is drop-dead stunning.

Mocha-spiked dried strawberries lavishly waft from the glass with Moroccan spices; leather and roasted earth are along for the ride. Captivating, majestic, mouth-filling, very smooth and gaining complexity as it unfolds in the glass. Lots of movement throughout as well as a drawn-out, silky finish with slight peppery tones make this a compelling and collectible wine for under 30 bucks. Drink it over the next 10-15 years with roasted pork or lamb. If numbers reign over your wine-world, this wonderful Rioja has 91 points from The Wine Advocate.

In a region full of mavericks and renegades, Edi Keber is a small producer who seems to be on everyone's short list of favorites of obscure Italian white wines. This cat makes one wine and one wine only, think of it as a Grand Cru blend from his meticulously-farmed vineyards in the Collio region within Friuli. Only 5,000 cases of this killer white are produced and we are very fortunate to be able to offer it and at a great price to boot. Mostly Friulano and with dollops of Malvasia and Ribolla Gialla that are primarily fermented sans oak with the exception of 20% of the Friulano seeing 10 year old neutral tonneaux. Rich, yet blitzing, this white wine has the size of a defensive lineman but with the speed of a cornerback and all the cerebral qualities of a good quarterback. One sees the personality and ambassadorship that Edi Keber has for Friuli in this wine!

Multi-faceted mineral, peat, nectarine, orange and subtle herbs and spices emerge from the glass. The texture is virtual bombastic delicacy, touching all points of the palate, teeming with vivid electricity and a seemingly never-ending finish, this intriguing white is the epitome of an amusement park thrill-ride that sends the senses up and down and in many circles. One more thing, this wine ages beautifully, too. Drink over the next decade.