Hot Sheets
"WORKING TITLE" HOTSHEET - Delicious White Burgundy, Oregon Pinot, 91 point, 10 buck Spanish Red, Chianti & more
2010 BODEGAS OLIVARES JUMILLA
“ALTOS DE LA HOYA”
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
“ALTOS DE LA HOYA”
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
Olivares does it again!! One of our all-time favorite Spanish value reds is back and with yet another big accolade from the miserly-scoring International Wine Cellar. “"Glass-staining purple. Powerful dark berry preserve aromas, with pungent floral and herbal qualities adding complexity. Alluringly sweet in the mouth, with deep blackberry and candied cherry flavors showing impressive intensity and power. The lingering, lucid finish features broad, velvety tannins. Displays wonderful pliancy and focus, and has the depth to age. – 91 POINTS – INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR”
2010 DOMAINE DE LA CADETTE BOURGOGNE VEZELAY BLANC
“LA CHÂTELAINE”
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE
“LA CHÂTELAINE”
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE
Coming from just outside of the beautiful village of Vezelay in the Morvan area of Burgundy is a producer who has the cojones to estate bottle his production and farm his vines organically, especially given that it’s an area of Burgundy that is known more for “bulk wines.” Jean Montanet produces just 8500 cases based over 5 different cuvees and what emerges from these cellars is simply magical. Oh yeah, it also doesn’t hurt that this guy’s best friend and consultant is none other than one of the kings of Chablis, Bernard Raveneau.
Even though this relatively obscure region sits only an hour south of Chablis, the wines and soils are completely different in aromatic profile, personality and texture. 100% Chardonnay but definitely not a sloppy, goopy, oaky one; absolutely no oak at all, its richness comes from the estate’s low-yielding, south-facing, prime vineyard sites that are dedicated to this offering. Scents of lime, anise, yellow flowers pronounced mineral, saline and chalk follow through to a texture that has excellent movement and energy along with mouth-filling flavors and persistence that conjure up thoughts of white Burgs that are significantly more expensive. Drink this beauty with a flaky fish doused in a butter-laden sauce.
Even though this relatively obscure region sits only an hour south of Chablis, the wines and soils are completely different in aromatic profile, personality and texture. 100% Chardonnay but definitely not a sloppy, goopy, oaky one; absolutely no oak at all, its richness comes from the estate’s low-yielding, south-facing, prime vineyard sites that are dedicated to this offering. Scents of lime, anise, yellow flowers pronounced mineral, saline and chalk follow through to a texture that has excellent movement and energy along with mouth-filling flavors and persistence that conjure up thoughts of white Burgs that are significantly more expensive. Drink this beauty with a flaky fish doused in a butter-laden sauce.
2009 SAN VINCENTI CHIANTI CLASSICO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
San Vincenti is the product of Roberto Pucci, an entrepreneur from the town of Prato, who devoted his entire resources to renovating this beautiful estate. Perched at 450 meters in the hills in Gaiole, San Vincenti maintains a mere 6 hectares of Sangiovese vines from which Pucci fashions muscular, expressive Chianti which flaunts sexy fruit and minerality. The generosity and underlying power of 2009 are formidable in this fine-buy Chianti Classico. Hearty black cherry, underbrush and savory spices flow from the glass and follow through to a mouth-filling texture that possesses depth and personality that never give way to being flamboyant or overdone. Plenty of character and spine, this wine is an excellent accompaniment to just about any Italian-inspired meal.
2009 FORADORI TERELDEGO ROTLIANO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Teroldego isn't a grape variety that exactly rolls off of the tongue, however in the Southern stretches of the Northern Italian Trentino region outside the town of Mezzolombardo, it is considered the noble red varietal and Elisabetta Foradori has made this esoteric grape a superstar! The 50+ year old vines shine through intensely when you initially smell the wine. Dark scents of plum, roasted coffee, fresh herbs and subtle vanilla lead into a full, yet clean and terroir-driven texture that shows plenty of personality and dimension. The finish is well-defined with hints of earth and red licorice which will really set off the tanginess of a Pecorino Toscano cheese. It is also one of our favorite choices to go with lasagna. You owe it to yourself to have a go at this wonderfully esoteric Italian red. Drink now through 2019.
2010 CHÂTEAU DE LA LIQUIÈRE FAUGÈRES
“VIEILLES VIGNES”
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
“VIEILLES VIGNES”
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Château la Liquière is one of the longest established and most significant estates, not only in Faugères but in the entire Languedoc region. It was all started two generations ago by the Vidal family, and remains in family ownership to this day. In the vineyard is Bernard Vidal, the son of the original proprietors, whereas in the winery is fully qualified oenologist Sophie Vidal, his daughter. The estate is now planted up with sixty hectares of vineyards, mostly a red, stony schist rich in iron, or grey schist, perfect terroir for both red and white varieties. This is a family that will tell you that the vineyard is the superstar and what goes into the bottle is a direct reflection. In the winery, Sophie totally has an “it” quality, producing wines of stupendous quality that if they were in a more famed region such as Côte-Rôtie or Châteauneuf-du-Pape, their smooth, silky, complex aspects would cause them to be considerably more expensive than what is being presented from the humble Faugères appellation.
The specialty of the house, old vines really means something here. 45% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from vines averaging 50 years. Prominent schist soils, this wine is quite different than the offering below. A lovely combination of strawberry, balsamic, violet and Thai spices lead into a texture that is hearty, soulful, layered and well-nuanced. The follow-through on this (and all of the Liquière wines) is magnificent and really heads and shoulders above most in the entire Languedoc region. A great pairing with lamb, cassoulet or grilled filet of beef. Drink over the next 6-8 years.
The specialty of the house, old vines really means something here. 45% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from vines averaging 50 years. Prominent schist soils, this wine is quite different than the offering below. A lovely combination of strawberry, balsamic, violet and Thai spices lead into a texture that is hearty, soulful, layered and well-nuanced. The follow-through on this (and all of the Liquière wines) is magnificent and really heads and shoulders above most in the entire Languedoc region. A great pairing with lamb, cassoulet or grilled filet of beef. Drink over the next 6-8 years.
2010 CHÂTEAU DE LA LIQUIERE FAUGÈRES
“NOS RACINES”
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
“NOS RACINES”
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Nos Racines, meaning “our roots” is a special cuvee of the Liquiere estate and one of which less than 300 cases are produced. Oregon is one of the lucky few places in the US to receive this magnificent wine. 95% Carignan from 2 parcels of vines planted in 1900 and 5% Grenache both from schist soils at 350 meters. With soils not unlike those of Côte-Rôtie and climate like that of Provence, this wine is an absolute magical offering. Firm, well-structured and with ample wild spice along with plum, blackberry, pepper and wild herbs. Concentrated, deep, yet possessing an abundance of freshness and red tones from the soils all which allow it to come together nicely and reveal poise and lots of vinous aspects on the seemingly never-ending finish. This is an absolute superstar wine for a mere 20 bucks. Drink it with braised lamb shanks or soft ripened cheese like Brillat-Savarin or Livarot over the next decade.
2010 TENDRIL WINE CELLARS PINOT NOIR
$46.99 BTL./$563.88 CASE
$46.99 BTL./$563.88 CASE
Now in his 3rd vintage, Tony Rynders (formerly of Domaine Serene for around a decade) is now making his own statement with his own Tendril Cellars wines. We have been impressed with 2008 and 2009 but having just tasted his new 2010, we are really seeing this guy’s prowess with Pinot Noir. Lavender, red cherry, refined spiciness waft from the glass. Sensuous, well-crafted and alluring aromatics tease and only want to reveal what is out there today but believe me, more material and notations are lurking beneath the surface and with time, will bloom and unleash themselves. Plum, violet and licorice creep through. Stupendously complex on nose and in the mouth. Lots of depth and detail but firmly packed right now. Exquisite complexity and dimension is present, especially on the peppery, very drawn-out finish. This is definitely a 2010 that NEEDS to go into the cellar to really show its true being. Drink this prodigious Pinot Noir from 2015 – 2024.
FRIDAY SIPS
This Friday, November 9, 3:30-6:30
2010 Oregon Pinot Noirs from J. Christopher – Discover the different terroirs of 3 Oregon appellations. Drop by to taste!
2010 J. Christopher Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
2010 J. Christopher Eola-Amity Pinot Noir “Lumiere”
2010 J. Christopher Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir “Nuages”
WEDNESDAY WEB-SITE BLAST
TURKEY WINE SELECTIONS PART 1
It will be here sooner than we know it and we’ll be presenting the first wave of some of our favorite “Tryptophan-Busting” wines to go with the big bird