Hot Sheets

2010 LA RIOJA ALTA RIOJA RESERVA
'VINA ALBERDI'
[reg. $32.99]
SPECIAL - $23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Non-compromising. This is what makes Rioja icon La Rioja Alta so unique and special. It is amazing just how many wonderful wines this estate produces from top to bottom. The fact is that they make wine for themselves, never straying from their passion for the great tradition of Rioja or simply please critics.

Vina Alberdi is the essence of classic blending of vineyards and then aging for two years in barrel. Mellow aromas of mineral, savory roasted spice, graphite and herbs add to the fine strawberry, cherry and earth on the nose. This truly elegant and seamless, old-school Rioja is finesseful with a serious core of lovely ripe but dry red fruit flavors, the finish is long with soft tannins adding backbone and structure. Given that 2010 is a stupendous vintage, it has potential to continue to develop for at least another decade but even at this stage of the game; it has such elegant complexity that it wouldn't be a crime to open one with a rack of lamb, roasted rabbit or aged cheeses.

2012 DOMAINE SERGENT MADIRAN
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

If you like big reds and France then this is your choice! Domaine Sergent is a family owned Domaine that is adeptly operated by sisters Brigitte & Corinne Dousseau. Made with 100% of the native Tannat grape, this wine is fully destemmed and elevated in barrels, one-third being new.

Two years in a row having tasted this wine my notes have been consistent but I liked my initial two word description when tasting this on a rainy morning at a hotel in Paris, ‘benevolent power’. Savory and singular with dense aromas highlighted by mint, black licorice, tar, sandalwood and freshly ground espresso play nicely off blackberry fruit. Vinous, structured yet vinous and maintaining a very personable quality along with its dark side. Higher notes arrive on the long, gripping, very lingering finish. Drink this dark red wine through 2023. A prototype wine to match with cassoulet but it also pairs well with duck, grilled lamb skewers, strong cheeses, pate or a roasted porchetta.

2016 JAQUES ROUZE QUINCY
'VIGNES D'ANTAN'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Located about an hour west of Sancerre, outside the city of Bourges, Quincy (pronounced can-see) is a white wine made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc and Domaine Rouze is without a doubt, the appellation's most important producer and his fierce and flavorful white wines however, are anything but difficult to understand.

Vignes d’Antan, meaning vines of yesteryear are from a little over 8-acre parcel of vines planted between 1920 and 1940. Since we were first introduced to this wine in 2006, we have consistently referred to it as The Sancerre Slayer, especially since many are now selling for north of $25 and this wine will smash so many of them. While Mother Nature decided to repossess many of the grapes for 2016 vintage early on, what remained on the vine proceeded to grow well and deliver sheer magnificence for this region. Probably even better than the 2014, this kicks serious ass once again and unfolds with mandarin, gooseberry, fine herbs and prominent, piercing smoke and powdery rock aromas. In the mouth, the old vines deliver depth and penetration while the minerality brings about spine-tingling nervosity and dimension. Moreover, did I mention the finish, yes; it seemingly goes for what seems an eternity. A beautiful match with grilled salmon or scallops, this wine also will cellar beautifully.

2015 CATALDI MADONNA
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 'MALANDRINO'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

One of the fabled producers of Italy, Luigi Cataldi Madonna has been instrumental with the Montepulciano grape as well as to lift this area away from being mere trattoria wines into something more expressive and fine. Over the last decade, the trend in Italy is to return to being a traditional producer. In a desire to display their fine terroir even further, Cataldi Madonna changed their Montepulciano program drastically by eliminating the use of oak and moving solely to cement tanks for aging. The results have taken this wine into the stratosphere, receiving vaunted Tre Bicchieri Awards from Gambero Rosso as well as the 2015 receiving 91 points from Vinous:

‘Deep red-ruby. Perfumed, inviting nose combines cassis, black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and an extremely intense note of violet. Wonderfully juicy and fine-grained, offering a lively texture and almost aromatic set of floral and dark fruit flavors. Finishes very long, with a delicate herbal element and outstanding savory lift. This is a truly outstanding entry-level Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, so I’ll be generous in my scoring. Lots of wine for the money: very well done! – 91 POINTS VINOUS’.

2014 GRAMERCY CELLARS SYRAH
'LOWER EAST'
[reg. $29.99]
SPECIAL - $22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE

Lower East is a tribute to Walla Walla being in Lower East Washington and Gramercy Cellar and Rhone varietal stalwart Greg Harrington making his bones at Gramercy Tavern in New York. 2014 is a spectacularly structured and full vintage in Washington, but Gramcery wines are always in-check and very much in balance.

Exciting plum-pepper scents combine with smoked bacon, violet and underlying herbs and exotic spices roll from the glass and follow through to a texture that while deep and penetrating, carries terrific balance and smoky tones throughout. Long and lasting on the finish. We cannot say that about the supply, though! Given the accolades and clamor to obtain these wines along with the special price, this perennially popular Gramercy Cellars offering will disappear quickly. Drink over the next 6-8 years.

2016 PASCAL AUFRANC CHENAS
'VIEILLES VIGNES DE 1939'
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

If someone tells us that there are no good Gamay or Beaujolais wines, we're gonna have a fight…and I choose the weapons!

Pascal Aufranc is one of the fine producers of Cru Beajolais, and his Chenas is from a vineyard planted in 1939. Deeper, denser, almost opaque, it's not what most folks are used to seeing from this genre in a world where George Duboeuf is ubiquitous. A neighbor of Moulin-a-Vent, Chenas is one of the fullest yet smoothly structured and aromatic ‘crus.' Vintage 2016 of the Aufranc Chenas gives us the texture of a Burgundy with the flavors and smells of ripe Gamay (plums and red melons) with streaks of minerality that can stand up to hearty fare like a pan seared steak with a mushroom reduction sauce yet it is silky enough to pair with roasted turkey, chicken or ham.

1.) 2015 WALTER SCOTT PINOT NOIR
‘CLOS DES OISEAUX’
$109.99 MAG – 2 available

2.) 2015 WALTER SCOTT PINOT NOIR
‘DUBAY’
$109.99 MAG – 2 available

3.) 2015 WALTER SCOTT PINOT NOIR
‘SOJOURNER’
$109.99 MAG – 2 available

4.) 2014 PERRUSSET MACON-FARGES
$34.99 MAG – 4 available

5.) 2015 MONTEVERTINE PIAN DEL CIAMPOLO
TOSCANA ROSSO
$75.99 MAG – 2 available

6.) 2016 CLOS DE LA ROILETTE
FLEURIE ‘CUVEE TARDIVE’
$59.99 MAG – 1 available

7.) 2012 PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO
BARBARESCO
$65.99 MAG – 4 available

8.) CHAMPAGNE GOSSET BRUT
‘GRANDE RESERVE’
$122.99 MAG

9.) 2015 RIDGE ZINFANDEL
‘LYTTON SPRINGS’
$85.99 MAG – 9 available

10.) 2013 FATTORIA DI PETROIO
CHIANTI CLASSICO RESERVA
$65.99 MAG – 2+ available

[Top drawer Riserva and perfect for uncorking at an Italian dinner]

11.) 2010 PERTIMALI LIVIO SASSETTI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
$164.99 MAG – 1 available

12.) 2012 ELIO GRASSO
BAROLO ‘CASA MATE’
$159.99 - 2 available

FRIDAY SIPS

Holiday Cheer Friday Sips

FEATURED WINES:

2014 St-Jean du Barroux Ventoux ‘La Source’
2010 La Rioja Alta Rioja Reserva ‘Vina Alberdi’
2016 Jacques Rouze Quincy ‘Vignes D’Antan’
2014 Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso