Hot Sheets

A true to form Willamette Valley blend from one of Oregon's most fabulous and popular producers made from 6 different vineyards (Stermer, Johnson, Rocky Noel, Meyer, Chestnut Hill and Mount Richmond) spread out over 3 different appellations, this is an unabashed steal!!

Alluring glass-filling aromas laden with currant, violet and cinnamon notes along with a kiss of black pepper tones to add dimension provide pleasure from the moment the cork is pulled. The fragrances are enticing, but the palate is even more impressive! Full flavors that reflect the warm vintage crawl throughout the mouth, it is well-poised with fine persistence for an under 20 Pinot. Drink over the next 3-4 years.

A favorite and top-drawer Alto Adige producer that we haven't seen in a while and one that has a deft touch when it comes to Pinot Grigio, Hofstatter is one of the few privately-owned estates in this Northern Italian region which is known for well-run cooperatives.

Possessing ample aromatics, everything is in fine fettle and in total balance. Lots of shimmering rocky/cracked shell aspects with yellow apple, citrus and lemon lurk beneath the surface, this is the epitome of sexuality in Friuli Pinot Grigio. Excellent character, classic Hofstatter depth and dimension as well as picking up more perfume as it opens. Flavor wise this flows smoothly through the mouth all the way to the creamy/spice-laden finish which seemingly morphs into something steely and vividly clear and focused. Rich enough for salmon, crisp enough for scallops!!

It's been a number of years since we last featured Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon, mostly because we thought the style was becoming almost too tropical fruit-driven, explosive and quite honestly, boring. I tasted the 2013 last week and was quite pleased with its quality and character.

Well-crafted, regal and without the ruthless aggression NZ Sauvignon scents, this wine shows plenty of lime and nectarine notes with laced in mango and subtle herbs and mineral. These pretty and alluring scents lead into an uplifting, classy texture that shows refinement in both the mid-palate and finish, which has stunning length. Certainly not Sancerre and very true to its New Zealand roots, this wine will pair well with grilled ahi tuna dressed in a slightly exotic chutney.

About 10 years ago I first tasted these Languedoc wines at a Paris Bar-a-Vin called Juveniles and have admired them from a distance. The wines are now in Oregon and this Mediterranean red is quite delicious.

Bruno Lafon is from one of Burgundy's great Meursault families and producers, Domaine Comte Lafon. True to his roots, this cat is really all about terroir and his vineyards in Languedoc really speak through the wines. 90% Cinsault and 10% Grenache, there is a multitude of spices going on here. Undertones of licorice, strawberry and chestnut bring it together and allow it to follow on through to a succulent vibrant texture that shows nice extension and Mediterranean flavor. Drink this 12 dollar steal with burgers or pasta with marinara sauce.

Living in the shadow of Nebbiolo and Barbera, Dolcetto can often be forgotten, but when it comes from Dogliani, it is very special and is THE grape of this village, especially since the high-elevation vineyards bring boundless rewards in the bottle. The results and distinction of the quality have not gone unnoticed and commencing in was elevated to DOCG status (hence just Dogliani, no longer Dolcetto di Dogliani) for the best terroirs of the village.

A historic and renowned producer, Einaudi's 2011 is beautiful and authoratative at the same time. Licorice-laden and packed with gorgeous black cherry and mineral tones; voluminous, dry and very precise flavors with undertones of chocolate-covered plums move entrancingly on the layered, palate-staining finish. This is a wily best buy that anyone who is savvy about Italian red wine will undoubtedly purchase!

From the world's thrift store for under 10 buck red wine values, this Portuguese wine from the Alentejo region is a flavorful bend from native grapes (Trincadeira, Aragonês, Alicante, Bouschet and Castelão) that is so enjoyable for a mid-week bottle.

As you would expect from a southern Portuguese wine lots of dark berry tones are out front with hints of tar, chocolate and pepper. Juicy and ripe in the mouth with hints of coffee, earth, and pepper on the finish, this fun red is perfect for aged cheeses and backyard potluck parties.

In a way, this week's musings almost feel like Throwback Thursdays because we are featuring wines that either haven't been around in a while or are things that have reemerged from slumbers. This wine is neither, except for the fact that high-end Aussie wines have fallen off the face of the earth when it comes to their popularity. Roman Bratasiuk of Clarendon Hills is a legendary producer located 25 miles outside of Adelaide in the Clarendon section of the McLaren Vale region. While known more for Grenache and Syrah, Roman produces mighty fine expressions of Cabenet Sauvignon that will rival the best of the new world.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines planted in 1945, this wine is unapologetically Aussie in its profile. At age 9 this wine is really singing! Deep, complex and full-on aromas of cedarbox, saturated cassis, engaging vanilla-bean and up-front spearmint and anise are seemingly never ending. In the mouth, this wine clings to the palate, is creamy and structured at the same time. Large-scaled but not out of position at any point, to catch this quality, complexity and persistence in Napa, one would expect to pay 2-3 times the price. This killer Cab is entering its window and will continue to drink and develop for at least another decade.

One of the Napa Valley's long-time, old-school names, Freemark Abbey has had a long history and recently they've been putting forth Cabs that are some of California's most under the radar. While not as complex as the Clarendon listed above, this wine has excellent pedigree and is a very pleasing for 30 bucks.

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and the rest being Cabernet Franc and Malbec, telltale Napa aromas of ripe bing cherry, underbrush, espresso, smoky oak are followed by a lush, full texture of character depth and expansion. Excellent structure and vibrancy dominate the big finish and reveal that this wine will age nicely. Drink through 2021+.