Hot Sheets

2016 BRUSCO SANGIOVESE
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

The word brusco in Tuscan dialect translates into ‘a person or thing that is off the cuff and a bit rough but genuine through and through’. That is the ultimate description of this forward, flavorful everyday Sangiovese made by Tenuta Maiano, a lovely Chianti producer.

Aged in large tanks, this is a red wine with no shortage of honest, true-to-form Sangiovese character. Bing cherry, earth tones, violet, roasted sage and spice dominate this medium and easy red. Fresh and mouth tickling with red fruit flavors following into the mouth and leaving your palate cleansed but satisfied. Have it with spaghetti & meatballs as well as a plethora of other dishes.

2017 HAMILTON-RUSSELL CHARDONNAY
$37.99 BTL./$227.94 - SIX PACK

Hamilton Russell is not only one of South Africa’s best producers, they also happen to put forth one of the New World’s most prolific Chardonnays. Situated close to the sea in one of the southernmost growing regions (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley), Anthony Hamilton Russell took over from his father in 1991 produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are seriously prolific examples!

Standing on its own merits yet definitively inspired by white Burgundy, the 2017 Chardonnay displays beautiful aromas of lemon curd and passion fruit with hints of buttered toast and honey, intermingled with a ribbon of caramel. Creamy and rich, with flavors of lemon meringue and pineapple, the racy finish shows us great finesse with integrated brightness and a stony minerality. Harmonious and complex, this wine ages very well and can be enjoyed with many decadent seafood preparations for 10-12 years.

2015 CELLER CAL PLA PRIORAT
BLACK SLATE 'PORRERA'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

The Black Slate line of wines are cool and very affordable from one of Spain's great regions that's known more its luxury wines that sell well above 20 bucks. Of the various wineries featured in this lineup, my favorite is Cal Pla, based in the village of Porrera. This is home to Priorat’s finest Carignan and there is certainly a nice percentage here along with a healthy dose of Grenache. A tiny dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon is added in to bring forth nice structure.

Warm, minerally aromas of currant, cherry, tobacco, spice cake and flowers. Lush, pliant and intense with expressive flavors of red berries, dark chocolate and spices. Typical of Priorat, this has flamboyant palate presence with lots of give and allure but the slate soils allow for freshness and exuberance. Impressive structure and grip, but not the kind that is sadistic. This mouthful of wine goes down smoothly with brilliant focus and palate-staining length that soars. The perfect wine for a grilled leg of lamb. Drink over the next 6-8 years.

2015 ODFJELL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$11.99 BTL./$71.94 - SIX PACK

We do feel a bit like Robert Johnson at the crossroads with this one but, we have been known to sell our souls for far less than a delicious red-wine value. Dan Odfjell, whose Norwegian shipping business brought him into contact with Chile in the ‘60s and ‘70s, owns Odfjell Vineyards. Odfjell purchased property in the Maipo Valley in 1982, and eventually planted vines there in the early 1990s.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and perfect for everyday consumption, this number reveals ripe cassis, black currant, plum, and cocoa powder. Soft tannins, silky and a lasting, cedar-laden finish make this cab a perfect pairing with roasted rib of beef and grilled sirloin. Delicious now and over the next 2 years.

2016 STOLPMAN ESTATE SYRAH
'BULLARD CANYON'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

In the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country is the appellation of Ballard Canyon, which was decreed in 2013. This appellation was formed due to this area being a mixed climate, influenced by the coolness of Santa Ynez as well as the warmth of Happy Canyon. Exciting things are happening as this entire appellation encompasses a mere 7700 acres in comparison to 77,000 in Santa Ynez and only has 17 vineyards. This all allows for more focus of detail and has quietly become one of America’s most profound regions for Rhone grape varietals.

Stolpman has been around for over 20 years and possesses one of America’s rare terroirs based around limestone. This fabulous California Syrah has many intricacies and an abundance of pleasure even at a young stage. Santa Barbara with a Saint-Joseph shroud, sexy aromatics of perfumed raspberry, creme de mure, violet, black olive and intermittent notes of cracked pepper and licorice shine and never overtake the wine's fruit or terroir reflections. In the mouth, the flavors are absolutely stunning - lavish, yet very regal and real. Waves of structure build in the mid-palate and on the long, poised finish that is super refined. Very lovable now and will continue to form more complexity over the next decade.

2017 ANDREA FELICI VERDICCHIO
CASTELLI DEI JESI
$14.99 BTL./$89.94 - SIX PACK

When it comes right down to it, we absolutely adore Verdicchio. Therefore, when our friend Todd ‘Pancetta’ Bacon started expounding on his new arrival we knew the possibilities could be promising. That is until we tasted it this past Friday. Holy merda this is phenomenal Italian white wine!

Located up in the far hills of the Jesi area of Le Marches and not far from Matelica, my impression is that this is somewhere between Bisci and Bucci in style. Not a bad place to be considering the pedigree. Brilliant scents of lemon, almond, prolific mineral and salty, marine like aspects. Forward, vivacious and very toothsome, this unoaked wonder turns it up and goes to eleven indeed! Do you think we are excited about this?!?! Order some, grab a bunch of prawns and other seafood and find out!

2014 BAUMARD SAVENNIERES
'CLOS DU PAPILLON'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE

One of the great names of the Loire valley and France, the progressive Florent Baumard bottles everything under twist-top, does not use wood and prefers to keep his wines at reasonable alcohol levels for the dry wines. Undoubtedly, one of France's greatest dry white wines, Baumard's awe-inspiring Clos du Papillion bottling is a thesis of the glass. Think of it this way, yes, $40 is not inexpensive, but quality-wise if this were produced in Burgundy, Champagne or Chablis this single vineyard cuvee would easily be two, if not three times the price.

The 2014 is absolutely off the charts! Chamomile, quince and serious, serious minerality leap from the glass. More honeyed, Earl Grey tea tones start to arrive after a few minutes along with streamlined orange-zest, white anise and pepper. Incredibly complex, very dry, and with plenty of lift that slices through the concentrated and vinous fruit. The finish is persistent, penetrating, pure and palate-staining long with astonishing movement and length. We still were marveling at the mouth-watering finish 10 minutes after we finished the wine! If you must try one now, go for it, it has wonderful accessibility, especially with hearty seafood. Ultimately, this will be at its finest from 2021 – 2030.

2015 CHATEAU LA ROC FRONTON
'LA FOLLE NOIRE D'AMBAT'
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

The Frontonization of Portland is now underway and their isn’t anything you can do to stop it! 100% Negrette from the region of Fronton 20 miles north of Toulouse, this individual wine offers up aromas of wild blackberry, plum pit, leather and anise along with bursting flavors that are mouthfilling, clean and succulent. A very unique taste of France, enjoy this wine with anything bad for you like rillettes, smooth pate or soft cheeses.

2016 ARTERBERRY-MARESH
PINOT NOIR 'OLD VINES'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE

Great bloodlines indeed, what 35-year-old wunderkind Jim Maresh is doing with not only his family’s vineyard (Maresh) as well as some neighboring sites is nothing short of breathtaking. 2016 marks the first time that an Old Vines Pinot Noir has been offered. These are 40-ish year old vines and they are from two of Oregon’s top sites, Weber and Maresh Vineyards. Combine this with the greatness of 2016 and you have quite a perfect Pinot storm indeed.

Americans often have an eight-second sound bite mentality when it comes to many things and one of them being wine. Simply put, this wine needs to be placed in the cellar! The nose offers jasmine and red flower notes with underlying complex dark raspberry, ripe cherry, fresh turned earth, sage and cinnamon. Showing some impressive depth of flavor with classic, elegant richness and vertical texture, which are real themes of Jim's wines. The mid-palate is vinous with a cushion of fruit that joins the perfume on the finish and sneaks in with its seductive structure; however, it turns inward and youthful but with great material behind the curtain. Give this bottle about three or 4 years, then marvel & drink while it ages gracefully and develops effortlessly through 2030.

FRIDAY SIPS

Soave & The South of France

FEATURED WINES:

2015 Bastide Blanche Bandol Rouge
2016 Domaine de Marcoux Lirac 'Lorentine'
2017 Pra Soave Classico ‘Otto’
2016 Pra Soave Classico ‘Staforte’