Hot Sheets

In an ancient growing region like Priorat there are many upstarts who came in on the wake that was created by the big three (Palacios, Clos Mogador & Clos Erasmus) in 1989. The Agnes de Cervera estate was created in 2003 and the wines became instant hits in restaurants and shops in Spain. 5 different Priorat wines are produced here but it is the Petite Agnes that really hits it out of the park for under 20 bucks.

85% Grenache & 15% Carignan this full red fills the glass with aromas of blackberry, sandalwood, slate, pepper and earth lead into a texture that is generous, flashy and extremely likable. The finish is heady and ripe, but with everything in fine balance and with plenty of vivaciousness. Very delicious stuff now and over the next 3-5 years especially with grilled pork chops.

It has seemed like an eternity but a new vintage of Sangiovese from one of our absolute favorite Italian producers has finally landed. The wines that Cristina Geminiani, the owner/winemaker/vineyard goddess of Fattoria Zerbina, produce could not be further from this mass-production wine world. Cristina studied at the University of Bordeaux and took over running the winery from her grandparents in 1987. Since she arrived, Cristina has been blazing the Romagna trail with extremely high quality reds and her mind-blowing desert wine, Scacco Matto, which is fashioned like the greats of Sauternes.

The Ceregio is a delicious bottle of wine that possesses an over-flowing sense of red cherry fruit with an alluring mingle of earth and spice on the backend. The 2012 vintage was a typical and quite fine one for the region that has enabled the flavors of Romagna to shine. On top of that, this Sangiovese is raised without the use of oak, which allows the rich minerality, pure cherry, decadent cocoa, black licorice, and sage qualities to play off each other, take center stage and create a wonderful mouthfeel that is both filling and uplifting at the same time. Ceregio is an extremely versatile red that if someone of Zerbina's stature made it 90 minutes to the south in Tuscany, it would be $20+. A delicious match with grilled salmon, meat-sauced pasta dishes, antipasti and pizza.

Criss Cross is a project spearheaded by Argentine wine specialist Vino del Sol and Lange Twins winery using old vine fruit from Lodi and making delicious California value reds. The 2012 Zinfandel doesn't overstate the name old vines because these gnarly old things are 80+ years old!

From the moment this red is poured, the 2012 Criss Cross refuses to disappoint with its full and extroverted personality. Aromas of exotic Indian spice, perfume, dark chocolate and pure berry jam spill from the glass. What is most impressive is this is wine is not just about being large; there is fine equilibrium to allow it to be very food friendly. Will easily pair with everything from roasted chicken, ribs or a plate of cheese, meats and fruit. If you love flavorful, personable reds, great zinfandel or just want something to spice it up a little, buy this one by the case.

Austria is not Germany and Germany is not Austria, the wines that come from these two countries are very different. For starters, the most important distinction to make is that most Austrian whites are dry. Although there are high quality and beautiful Rieslings made in both countries, Gruner Veltliner is an expertise of the Austrians.

Schloss Gobelsberg's gateway Gruner is one of the wines that I often reach for when showing the merits and telltale nuances of the grape. Symmetrical, sleek, athletic and energetic with mineral soaked lime and peach-pit aromas and flavors, the mineral intensity turns to a crisp and fresh mouthfeel that instantly coats and cleanses the entire palate. Try this delicious Gruner with everything from salad, artichokes, blanched asparagus and grilled prawns all the way to pork chops with a fruit preparation.

Mike Tyson loves Maori-influenced facial tattoos, U2 loves Grammies, most NFL wide receivers love themselves and Bryan absolutely loves the great Italian red wines from Elisabetta Foradori. I got one word for you, "Teroldego". No, I'm not promoting Teroldego as the next hot grape varietal, but I will tell you a little bit about this grape, and why you are missing out if you have never tasted this varietal from Foradori. This is the classic red grape of the Trentino area, and specifically an area called Rotaliano. It characteristics are its brilliant color, sanguine-like minerality, plum fruit and suppleness in the mouth. Italian lovers, people who like elegant wines with plenty of fruit and character, you are just going to have to trust us on this one.

Dominated by deep, dark, hearty aromas of blueberry, dark raspberry, cocoa, roasted coffee, and violets, the complexity of aromas leads into a full red with great lift in the mouth from the limestone and granite that deposited over centuries in the vineyard by the Noce River. Fine and elegant with a dose of creamy blueberry that fills the mid-palate and grows on the detailed and focused finish. One of our favorite choices to go with classic lasagna with Béchamel sauce, it will also scream with a risotto jacked with a bunch of fresh mushrooms. Wonderful now and will continue to develop over the next 4 to 7 years.

OK, yinz (Pittsburgh-ese for the southern expression of y'all or the Brooklyn/New Jersey expression of youze) all forgot about this wine when we featured it back in March but since it's so good I decided that we should feature it again!!

Hey Kids, this is Cabernet Franc!! What we really have here is Cabernet Franc with sass & soul! When poured in the glass, the hue of purple is stunningly gorgeous and equally gorgeous are the wine's aromas. One of the fine estates from an appellation that is not widely known in America, Saumur, Domaine Filliatreau makes exquisitely detailed and pure expressions of Loire Valley Cabernet Franc. Eschewing the use of oak, these neo-classical wines always possess soaring fruit, deep color and plenty of intensity without any make-up or lipstick. Very revealing scents of black raspberry, sandalwood, pronounced stony aspects, jasmine and pepper roll from the glass. More spice aromas come on as it opens and we recommend using a Riedel Pinot Noir glass while enjoying. Ardent and fruit-driven with plenty of soulful, mineral tones which bring brightness to the sumptuous finish. Have this wine with anything lamb, a chicken drumstick, duck, or (no joke) carnitas. This is total pleasure wine and one that Parisians go bonkers over, especially given its insanely low price. Wines like this are the reason that I love France so much.

Lyle, Washington-based COR Cellars is adeptly run by young Luke Bradford. Having worked in Tuscany and Sicily and then as an assistant at Syncline Cellars, Luke realized Washington's potential for greatness and planted vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills as well as purchasing fruit from top HHH, Gorge and Wahluke Slope sources. The Momentum Red is one of the core wines (or should we say COR wines) here!

Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, this blend possesses an old world mentality without ever sacrificing the warmth and virtue of the Horse Heaven Hills region. Red earth, cassis, tobacco, spice, kisses of blue fruit and violet waft from the glass and carry over to a texture that is broad and chock full of spiced earth to counter and add complexity to the gorgeous fruit. Brisk tones hold everything together and shine on the smooth and persistent finish. Drink this delicious Washington red over the next 2-4 years with pan-seared rib-eye steak, duck or grilled chicken.

One of the great wine families of Italy, the Boscainis are true ambassadors of the Veneto. They acquired their first vineyards in the 18th century and those sites have remained in the family for six generations. When we think of the great producers of the world, we always try to quantify their achievements so that we can best understand their vision. This concept is not that simple with the Boscaini family because they are truly rooted in tradition, but are continually pushing the envelope to better this great region with their love of the Veneto as the driving force of each accomplishment. When Sandro Boscaini took over the company, he built upon and added to the great inventive spirit of his family. Sandro is a true visionary who takes the heart of tradition and blends it with the soul of invention, the end results are some of the most delicious and interesting wine of the world.

The 2009 Masi Amarone is a bottle liquid thunder! An absolute killer, it is full-on, oozing with dried blackberry, tar, almond, raisin, spice and tealeaf. In the mouth, this is dense, full-throttle, very rich and extremely structured. Finely woven bright tones creep through to add complexity. The finish is very youthful and snuggly wrapped but smooth and not having a hair out of place. The potential for greatness is enormous! Hold on tightly, fasten your seatbelts, this is going to be a thrill ride. Drink it through 2024+.

Pauillac is perhaps the most sought-after and most luxurious region within all of Bordeaux. The home of many classified growths including three of the First Growths, there are very few Chateaux that are non-classified, and those that are can and do perform at spectacular levels. Located in the heart of Pauillac and nestled among many famous 1st and 2nd growth estates, Chateau Fonbadet was part of Château Latour in the middle ages and is one of a handful of the non-classified Pauillacs left in the appellation due to many being gobbled up by more dominant forces in the area.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% blend of Petit Verdot & Malbec from vines that average 50 years of age. The epitome of power meeting finesse, the 2010 Fonbadet reveals full-on aromas with penetrating depth and personality. Blackberry, cherry, violet, gravel and prominent earth/cedarbox scents prevail. In the mouth its very concentrated, layered, yet youthfully streamlined and needing cellar time to unveil its best form. Packed, persistent and impressive, this wine will age beautifully through 2025.