Hot Sheets

92 POINTS - VINOUS
We absolutely just love, love LOVE offering this perennial Super-Tuscan red wine value!!

Located in San Gimignano, Falchini is a known as a top Vernaccia producer. What is a bit of a secret is that they also happen to produce one of the finest red wine values in all of Tuscany. 95% Sangiovese and smoothed out with 5% Merlot, this wine is a wonderfully-formed, invitingly layered number that reveals black cherry, chocolate-mint, sage and anise which follow into a generous, mouth-filling texture that has considerable dimension and depth. Submerged structure also is a fine indicator that this wine can and will age for a few years, too. Gorgeous to guzzle now, but given experience from previous vintages, it will also age for 6-7 years. Enjoy with a grilled T-Bone or a Penne done with a Bolognese sauce. In addition, if scores add to the excitement, this has 92 points from Antonio Galloni's Vinous and they list it for $25!

Imagine Bryan shipwrecked on an island where the only thing that he could drink was Oregon Pinot Noir. Between conversations with the coconuts and lizards on the island, the wines from Oregon that he would choose would be from Cristom. Steve Doerner is the most cerebral winemaker in Oregon, and with his vast experience with Pinot Noir, it is no wonder that his wines are some of our perennial favorites!

Exciting as usual, the 2012 Mt-Jeff is still quite approachable and very typical of a Cristom wine, which is always based around aromatics and beauty. Red berry, violet, soft smoke, and elusive herbs and spices are the characteristics of the wine. In the mouth, it is very young and provocative, but what is underneath is velvety, concentrated and long without being jam. A layered and extremely fine 2012, this excellent Pinot can be accessed or aged. Drink through 2020. Many folks like to pound their chests and proclaim who is the best producer in a given region. Here in Oregon, one would have to include the wines of Cristom as challengers to the mythical title. Steve Doerner is one of America's most influential tacticians of Pinot Noir, and year in and year out, his creations are ones that lovers of this varietal flock to as reference points.

Often the calling card of a fine Northern Italian winery can be their inexpensive Pinot Grigio even if their forte happens to be world class Amarone. It is for this reason, we feel, that the Zenato family takes this delicious white very seriously from the vineyard to the winery. They take nothing for granted, are meticulous at every stage of the process and that shows in this white. Round pear and ripe citrus fruit rule the day in the fleshy, crisp and incredibly refreshing mouthfeel. Zenato's Grigio makes for a wonderful aperitivo and pairs beautifully with anything from the sea.

It's a real tell-tale sign when a region is struggling to sell higher-end wines when we see a prolific producer such as Vall Llach with cut prices. Whether it's economical or whether it is a correction, either way this is a hell of a Spanish wine for 23 bucks!

Embruix, meaning "bewitched" in Catalan, is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 20% Carinena, 20% Syrah, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Creamy, crushed raspberry, plum, cinnamon, mineral and jasmine. More pipe-tobacco creeps as the wine breathes. Velvety, layered, very rich with impressive cracked pepper to go along with the fruit that carries impeccably from front to back. Drink this delicious entry-level offering over the next 8-10 years.

Castillon Cotes-de-Bordeaux is a vast winemaking region that neighbors St-Emilion. Given the size of the area, not all wines made here are created equally; however, the Fauchey family has consistently delivered impressive wines for not a whole lot of money.

Crowd-pleasing, very engaging, forward and classy stuff. Luscious aromas of blue fruits, tobacco, earth and subtle vanilla give way to smooth flavors that seduce the palate and then extend to a vibrant, very pleasurable finish. A nice everyday glass of Bordeaux it will pair well with a number of dishes including slow roasted beef or even fried chicken.

Chateau Montelena is one of the old guard California wines that still excites and thrills. Not their three-digit-plus Estate bottling, the Napa Cab possesses plenty of "it" factor and still remains a relative bargain given the strength of the Napa dollar these days.

Intense, yet sophisticated aromas of plum, raspberries, peppermint, violet, cocoa, nutmeg and cedar-box this bold Cab us rich and comes at you in waves. There is plenty of structure here for aging, but the tannins seem to be gobbled up nicely by the sublime fruit. Finishes with authority, but also becomes smooth with flavors stick around for a hell of a long time. Drink this wonderful expression of the Napa Valley through 2021+.