Hot Sheets

This past Friday I had the chance to revisit this wine from one of Brunello di Montalcino's apex producers and much to my surprise found out that it was back on this terrific special again!!

2010 is a phenomenal vintage in Tuscany, very classic and towing the 100% Sangiovese line of fine fruit along with fine detail. Made from grapes within the Brunello di Montalcino zone, the 2010 Col D'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino's fragrant, savory aromas leap from the glass. Packed with violet, red berry, sage, cedar and underbrush aromas, this wine emits its Sangiovese and Montalcino character. Typical of a Col D'Orcia wine, there is remarkable depth and personality in the mouth along with their tell-tale elegance, Italian tanginess and a nicely formed finish that is full of snap and extension. Great for 28, it has even more yum-factor at 20! Drink this giant-killer now-2018.

Another top-notch 20 buck Pinot from Ayres, but then what else is new?!?!? Brad McLeroy has been over-delivering with this cuvee for a decade now and the quality continues to soar.

For true Pinot Noir lovers, this wine will marvel and please any Pinot lover. Graceful and pure with fine aromas of red flowers, strawberries, herbs and spice, dominate the cerebral, perfumy nose. Stylish, lacey and velvety with a subtle backbone; the finish extends, seduces and never flows outside its borders. A true classic, this Oregon Pinot Noir pairs well with mushroom-based dishes, fowl, or grilled salmon for the next 3-5 years.

Corbičres is a huge area within Languedoc that is responsible for 46% of the wine output of the entire region. Divided up into 11 different "terroirs," this is a region where there is seemingly no middle ground; either outstanding, well-priced flavorful and detailed wines emerge from here or "attractively" priced, one-step-up-from-bug juice is produced. Thankfully Fontsainte falls into the former category. Always outstanding, Domaine de Fontsainte and the Loubacarié family are among the finest in the region. Given the quality of these wines, they are remarkably priced, too. Kilo for Kilo, this is one of the finest red wines produced in the South of France! Made with the same blend as their entry-level (60% Carignan, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah) black label, the difference in their top bottling is the age of the vines - the Carignan portion being from 105 year old vines!

Fontsaintes Demoiselles is a Corbičres that thinks it's a Chāteauneuf! Packed, deep Mediterranean aromas of sun-drenched plums, wind-swept lavender, undertones of dark chocolate, white pepper, strawberry and balsamic continually build in complexity. Soulful, layered and very real, Domaine Fonsainte's Demoiselles a compelling ensemble of savory richness and elegance that follows through to the ample dry and vibrant finish. A Corbičres of impeccable quality, we have tasted this when it's 10 years old and no problem for this to do the same thing with the 2012 - although it is mighty tempting now. One that is a hedonistic match for smoked or grilled pork in a tangy sauce. If I'm going to hell for eating and drinking this combination, then put me on the escalator down!

While there are no undiscovered wineries in the world, there are certain places that go unnoticed on the world scene. These are the wineries that are one major wine review away from being in the limelight. In Ribera del Duero, Spain the world has come to know the names of Pesquera, Pingus and Alion. These are very good producers, but there are countless numbers of other phenomenal producers throughout this large region that is widely regarded as Spain's chi-chi Tempranillo neighborhood. Sadly, greatness can come with a price, but fortunately for us there are still many fabulous values to be had and this up-and-coming estate is one of them.

Oscar Aragon's Cillar de Silos wines have been a revelation - they are not light and simplistic wines. Rather the robust nature of the fruit is massaged into a structure that seduces the palate, caressing the tongue with an almost velvety texture. The presence of the resulting coolness from the Northeastern Ribera del Duero terroir leads to wines of richness and fullness, with balance and freshness. 100% Tempranillo, Cillar de Silos's Crianza is an absolute steal at this price. Loaded with classic Ribera aromas of black raspberry, roasted nuts, pepper, smoke, and a touch of sweet spice, there is also great intensity of fruit in the mouth, with plenty of complex game and spice notes. Truth be told, it could still use another year or two in the bottle, but if you decant it, there is an excellent drink-me quality to it. Drink it over the next 10-12 years with prime rib or just about any other sophisticated beef dish.

1789 is the personal project of De Ponte winemaker Isabel Duarte who has an abundant track record including a long stint at Drouhin where she's from in Burgundy. Taking its name from the year of the French Revolution only 175 cases of this were produced and this is one of the most compelling Oregon Pinots that I have tasted this year!

Understated, very relaxed and with lovely aromatics build and build from the glass. Black fruit compote, rose petal, kisses of coffee, pepper and fine herbs round out the aromas. Touches of power lay beneath the rather refined surface. Cool, quite lavish and bringing out more cinnamon and red earth especially on the quite expansive finish. Drink over the next decade.

Part of Long Shadows, annually, this is one of the most sought-after cabs from Washington. Celebrated Napa Valley vintner, Randy Dunn, has built a reputation over four decades for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignons. After making wines at Caymus from 1975-1985, Randy established Dunn Vineyards on Howell Mountain where he continues to craft distinctive wines of high acclaim. Randy Dunn's Napa Valley Cabernets from Dunn Vineyards are made of the stuff collectors crave; the wines are rare, acclaimed and age-worthy. Those who know Randy's wines will likely find Feather, his first Cab outside of California in four decades of winemaking, different than his Napa cabs but to their taste. What's perhaps most notable about Feather is its showy style early-on, a reflection of Randy's appreciation for the Columbia Valley's more supple wines. Throughout the growing season, Randy flew his plane to Washington frequently, checking yields, tasting the grapes and seeking a dark complexion on the skins before making the call to pick.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Feather is a richly concentrated wine with ripe black cherry and mocha aromas. Toasty on entry, the wine's dark fruit flavors include an intense blackberry mid-palate highlighted by a lush, spicy finish. An age-worthy wine, yet approachable and elegant with a unique balance of tannins, acidity and richness. Drink through 2025+.