Hot Sheets

When was the last time that you could say that you scored a bottle of Andrew Will wine for such a price!! A Washington legend who makes extremely age-worthy wines, Chris Camarda created the black label Columbia Valley series a few years back and these give a superb experience of what this cat has to offer for a fine price. No, they won't live as long as the single vineyard blends but they are perfect 7-10 year wines to drink while you wait for the big wines.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 3 clones off of Andrew Will's own Two Blondes vineyard, this well-structured, layered Cab from the exciting 2012 vintage unfolds already complex notes of blackberry, cassis, graphite, underlying dusty cocoa and earth along with just a kiss of smoked nutmeg. Flavorful, driving, rich and very persistent, pound for pound and dollar for dollar, this may well be the best Washington Cabernet value out there. Long and very sculpted, this is serious stuff that many other producers would get $50 for!! Drink this knockout through 2018.

"A joint venture between Eric Solomon and proprietor Nuria Altes, this is an unreal value made from 100% Grenache from vines planted nearly 100 years ago. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a flowery perfume revealing aromas of forest floor, underbrush, sweet black cherries, raspberries and strawberries. Medium-bodied, ethereal as well as sublime, this finesse-styled Grenache possesses a delicacy that is difficult to believe for such intensity. Consume it over the next 3-4 years." – 91 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE

While the red Grenache is outstanding, the white Grenache may be even better!! Located at the southern end of Catalonia at just under 1500 feet, the high elevation and prevailing Mediterranean breezes aid in maintaining the freshness and piquancy that is sometimes not associated with this varietal.

Exquisitely floral with undertones of ginger, lemon-lime and anise aromas immediately entice. In the mouth it bursts and with an abundance of old vines also delivers terrific flavor impact without the use of any intrusive oak. Enjoy this delicious number over the next year or so with grilled shrimp, fried (or baked) calamari or hors d'oeuvres.

5 generations in and led by the always gentlemanly Riccardo Tedeschi, over the last decade this estate has vaulted into the Veneto top-echelon along with the likes of Masi, Tommaso Bussola and others. Known as Amarone and Valpolicella specialists, the 2010 Capitel Dei Nicalo Valpolicella is not your grandpa's light and fruity, 3-in-the-afternoon version, this is serious business! The grapes are dried for about a month and this is what brings more body and complexity to the wine.

Exotic and full scents of dried strawberry, smoked meat, some herbs and spices and subtle earth notes lead into a mouth-filling texture that has ripeness and warmth, but is completely dry and versatile with numerous hearty dishes, especially gnocchi.

By now Rioja aficionados know the brilliance of Muga, one of the leading producers of Spain's most famed growing region. This modern-traditionalist makes wines in both styles and this offering is firmly in the traditional camp.

Possessing a fabulous nose that will certainly make you pause and take notice, this precise, detailed, very poised Rioja delivers up scents of mocha, red cherry, prominent savory/sweet herbs. In the mouth, its classic old-school techniques penetrate deeply and show nice movement. Dry texture that is very silky; dusty, oaky cocoa tones with a drawn-out, minerally, rather sultry finish. This wine has nice accessibility now but will easily age 8-10 years if not more.

Right now, old vine Chablis is a top candidate for "Best White Wine Value In The World". Given the prices of what Meursault, Puligny & Chassagne Montrachet are going for, these wines are a steal. Vintage 2010 is a great one for Chablis and in the best hands it has quite a lot going for it. This is one to drink while you wait on the Premiers and Grands Crus!

From 50-70 year old vines, there is more fruit and depth here to go along with all of the minerality. Pronounced aromas of gunsmoke, tangerine and Asian pear showing themselves in the form of alluring perfume. With complexity and a mouth-teasing texture this wine screams of terroir with flavors of saline, quince and sweet snap peas that swirl into a long complete finish. Even though oysters and Chablis are a classic match, this wine will prove too powerful. Have it with sole, scallops and/or/with mushrooms! Drink through 2017.

Right away I knew my day was going to get better when Too Pancetta buzzed to say that he'd be stopping by with Giacosa Arneis. Whether you're talking to a grower in Piemonte, or a collector of the best wine from the region, one name that arouses across-the-board excitement is Bruno Giacosa. When it comes to Italian wine and Piemonte, Bruno Giacosa is a shaman! For those in the know, Giacosa's formidable reds from Barbaresco and Barolo are among the best of the best and highly collectible. His Arneis is one of the benchmarks from the region.

On first sniff this tempting white wine showed lemon pastry, lychee, honey, and some faint hints of flowers and bananas. Quite smooth, easygoing and agreeably luscious on the palate, think Grandma's lemon meringue pie without the extreme the acidity. Light minerality plays off the bright tones. It's a spendy Arneis, but one that can stand alone at the top of the hill in quality.

Don't say you haven't been warned! If you want to wait for a score to come out for one of Oregon's most popular producers and vineyard sites go ahead and do so at your own accord because it will be long-gone by the time it hits the press. Unless you've been off the grid and living sans electricity in the outback you have certainly been hearing the hype over the 2012 Oregon vintage. What isn't hype is the smaller than normal production levels which will make these full-flavored wines quite scarce and sought-after.

The nose on the 2012 is telltale Shea and loaded up with plum, licorice, red earth, mineral and prominent jasmine scents. Oak is present, but nicely integrated. A rich, yet smooth entry gives way to succulence and plenty of warmth. Big, but not thick and very primary, the wine tightens up on the back end and extends into a persistent, dark finish that pleasantly hangs around. Another winner from Josh Bergstrom and big kudos for producing a masterful wine and resisting the urge to go crazy price-wise. Drink through 2023 and beyond.

Special Guest Martina Molino will be pouring and discussing 4 wines from her family estate in the Barolo village of La Morra