Hot Sheets

2014 J. CHRISTOPHER
'J.J' PINOT NOIR
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

This is the definition of what the wine-loving world should desire, a delicious, under 20 Oregon Pinot Noir from one of our finest producers and from the heady 2014 vintage.

Alluring, forward and inviting aromas of plum combined with cranberry, roses, smoke, herbs and spices. Easy-going, luscious and engaging all points of the palate; this wine is all about the broad fruit of 2014. The finish is deceptively long yet never becoming overdone and maintaining its fine Oregon detail. Yummy as hell, drink this now, often and order it by the trunkload because you will be very hard-pressed to find another Oregon Pinot at this level quite this good.

2012 PAOLO PETRILLI 'AGRAMENTE'
C'ACCE MMITA DI LUCERA
$17.99 BTL./107.94 - SIX PACK

Paolo Petrilli is our favorite producer from Italy’s Puglia region and more of his ever popular and delicious Agramente is in the house. Forget your preconceived notions of Puglia wines, this one is from the northern reaches in the region of C’acce Mmita di Lucera based around the Nero di Troia grape and possesses both maritime and continental influences. Unlike the wines from Southern Puglia that are made from Primitivo and Negroamaro and are overtly jammy and alcoholic, this organically produced wine is always beautifully poised, complex and never sacrifices its flavor and dimension.

Broad stokes of smoked plums are present which come from Nero di Troia and Montepulciano grapes while cherry pit, fine herbs, mineral and vibrancy come from the addition of Sangiovese and Bombino. Seductively textured, this bountiful red spreads out beautifully on the palate, extends, and lingers in a most pleasant manner. Aged without the use of oak barrels, this wine is very diverse when it comes to pairing with food. Enjoy it with hearty fish slathered in tomatoes and capers, roasted lamb or a penne pasta done with sausage, fennel and tomatoes. One of our favorite things to pair it with is this simple but flavorful recipe from Marcella Hazan.

2013 BENMARCO MALBEC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Pedro Marchevsky is one of the most experienced vineyard managers and winemakers in Argentina. Along with his business partner Susanna Balbo, this formidable team delivers consistent, full-flavored wines that exemplify both strength and finesse. Ahhh there's that word that most Americans don't understand. The connotation that finesse means light, couldn't be further from the truth. Often in this business, you hear Americans use the word "smooth" to describe a wine. They are saying the same thing the rest of the world says when they talk of finesse.

Enough of semantics. BenMarco is simply very good Malbec! Classy and aromatic with a full nose of Indian spice and black raspberry, it speaks of Argentina. Handsome in the mouth with loads of depth, character, vibrancy from start to the long finish. What you get for $20 bills from Argentina will set you back $40 bills from California or Washington! Drink this delight over the next 5-6 years with steak.

2014 COTO DE GOMARIZ
RIBEIRO BLANCO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

2014 marks the 6th vintage that we have been working with this palate-seizing Spanish white wine from a producer who a few years ago was awarded Spain’s Best White Wine a few years back. One of the oldest wine regions in Spain, Eastern Galicia's Ribeiro region has been regaining prestige over the last decade. Located on the slopes of the Avia River valley, the vineyards of Coto de Gomariz were initially planted by Cisterian monks in the 10th century. With a mix of sand, clay and schist, dramatic steep vineyards, the wines express depth and minerality and Coto de Gomariz is certainly one of the area’s apex growers.

70% Treixadura, 15% Godello, 10% Albarino & 5% Loureira. Explosively aromatic with scintillating lemon and saline, sea-breeze scents combine with detailed mineral and anise that lurk beneath the surface. Flavorful, clean and very relaxed upon entry, but crescendos with impressive, bouncy pink grapefruit-like acidity that offsets the supple generosity that characterizes the front and middle-palate. Galicia is one of the world's greatest areas to eat seafood and this diverse wine is compatible with clams, crab, halibut, salmon, etc. If you love seafood, many bottles should be in order.

2015 CAPRILI 'ILEX' TOSCANA ROSSO
$9.99 BTL./$59.94 - SIX PACK

While more famous for their Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino wines, Caprili has rolled out a brand new, 100% Sangiovese that drinks well on a Thursday evening while watching television. Many of you all know the wines from Caprili and the value that they deliver but this wine is insane for 10 bucks and in keeping with the Bartolommei family’s credo, this wine is both full of character and flavor while retaining freshness and balance and will carry over to the table.

This Sangiovese has serious "chug" factor with vibrant aromas of juicy strawberry, game, sage, white flowers and blueberry move nicely into the round and friendly mouthfeel. This hearty red is the perfect accompaniment to pizza, meatloaf, and simple red-sauced pasta dishes or as Karen would say, have a few glasses while you are cooking the meal with a hunk of good cheese.

2008 GUY BOCARD MEURSAULT
'LE LIMOUSIN'
$59.99 - LIMITED

The best way to describe Guy Bocard is that he is an artist, one who is a maestro of Meursault. That is not to say that if he made Puligny-Montrachet or Chassagne-Montrachet that it wouldn’t be profound, it’s just that this guy embodies all of the grand qualities that are Meursault. Maybe the producer I would most equate his wines to would Jobard in the sense that they are long barrel aged and only new wood is utilized for the Premiers Crus. In this high-priced and highly prized world of White Burgundy, what Guy puts forth are impeccable values given the man’s Meursault pedigree and métier. Earlier this year when visiting France, Guy allowed us to raid the library and we took great advantage...if you love white Burgundy, you should, too!

Les Limozin is a lieu dit that needs to be considered for elevation to Premier Cru status in the near future. Situated in a very respectable neighborhood next to the Premier Cru of Les Charmes and just beneath the Premier Cru of Genevrieres, I always think of this wine as being a stretch limousine, especially given the name of the vineyard. Wines from this site are rather luxurious. Guy has four parcels with one being directly under Les Genevrieres that was planted in 1919; the others average 32 years in age. 2008 is a prominently excellent, great vintage in Burgundy for the white wines because they didn’t deal with the rain events that occurred as they are picked 2 weeks or so before the reds.

This vintage has an excellent combination of depth of fruit, acidity and focus of terroir and at age 8 are starting to hit their strides. Dense, full and extremely classy, some secondary aromas are creeping through. Smoked nuts, ripe Meyer lemon, marmalade tones that are very laid back. More oceanic scents arrive. Harmonious, generous, graceful and offering up a touch of butterscotch. The finish is saturated and really combines density and freshness. Pretty damn close to being Grand Vin! Now – 2023 and perhaps even longer.

2007 GUY BOCARD
MEURSAULT 'LES NARVAUX'
$59.99 - LIMITED

Like Limozin, Les Narvaux also needs to seriously be considered for elevation to Premier Cru because this wine often outshines them. One of the highest elevation vineyard sites in Meursault, I often equate the name with nerveaux or nervy because this wine always has lots of livewire tension. High elevation combined with virtual pure rock and planted in 1951, it takes on such a powerful presence when young then evolves into something that is complex, energetic and a corral of stony minerality. 2007 is a bit of a crazy year for white Burgundy. Always a vintage with structure and elevation, some wines never have taken form and some (like this one) have definitely filled in exquisitely. This is a vintage that when done in the correct hands and with intense vineyard work and focus in the winery, has produced wines that are going to live a hell of a long time.

Wow is this attractive and flirtatious right now. Impeccable middle-aged (but not crazy) Meursault nose. Still maintaining the peat and rocky character of this vineyard site but an almost apple-butter, spiced bread tone. More and more honey and quarry-like scents show up, ‘rocky viscosity’ if you will! Exquisitely formed, wiry and with a beautifully formed core. Spiny and spicy, very all together and flowing beautifully. Definitely secondary but still extremely fresh and carrying on and on as it warms and air hits the glass. Stunning right now and will drink well through 2024+.

2013 K VINTNERS SYRAH
'ROCK GARDEN' WALLA WALLA VALLEY
$59.99 - LIMITED

Like dogs and their owners, wines can often take on the personality of their vintners. Charles Smith of K Wines is a wild dude with plenty of attitude. Taking his cue from the likes of Cayuse, K Wines are full-throttled, loaded with personality, receive huge accolades and are always limited.

‘More Northern Rhone in style, with lots of red and black fruits, olive, peppered meats and sweet fruit, the 2013 Syrah Rock Garden is seamless, downright sexy and layered on the palate, with a voluptuous, yet classy and focused texture. Like all of the Rhone blends from this estate, it was fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged mostly in neutral barrels and puncheons. Give bottles a year or two and enjoy over the following decade. – 95 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE’

2013 K VINTNERS SYRAH
'KLEIN' WALLA WALLA VALLEY
$74.99 - LIMITED

2013 K VINTNERS SYRAH
'THE HIDDEN' NORTHRIDGE VINEYARD
WAHLUKE SLOPE
$69.99 - LIMITED