Hot Sheets

2013 COL D'ORCIA
ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Col D'Orcia has been an important and well-run Montalcino property for almost 40 years and is consistently regarded as one of the region's prolific producers on all levels. The Montalcino vintage of 2013 was very classic indeed, and much on the lines of 2004 or 2006.

Full-on fragrant savory aromas leap from the glass. Packed with violet, red berry, sage 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 density, Italian tanginess and a nicely formed finish that is full of snap and extension.

2013 BREZZA BARBERA D'ALBA SUPERIORE
$19.99 BTL./$119.94 - SIX PACK

From a Barolo maestro, the secret behind Enzo Brezza’s Barbera Superiore is that it is blended from two apex Barolo vineyards, Cannubi and Cannubi Muscatel. The pedigree on this traditionally styled wine is very formidable all while possessing class and depth.

Never straying from its varietal roots in the mouth, the nose reveals dark plum, dusty clay, classic Barolo-village aromatic floral, porcini, mineral and subtle licorice notes. More aromatically expressive as it unfolds in the glass, it entices you to do what nature tells one to do with Barbera, drink the damn thing! Oozing class on the palate, it is seamless Barbera. Savory, mouth crawling and impressively put together, especially on the finish that fans out nicely. A significant step-up from everyday Barbera, try with risotto or braised beef over the next several years.

2015 L'ECOLE NO. 41 CHENIN BLANC
COLUMBIA VALLEY OLD VINES
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Famed Walla Walla winery L'Ecole No. 41 has always had a penchant and love for Vouvray and since 1987 they have produced Chenin Blanc. L'Ecole's grapes for this small production wine come from the four sites, plented in 1978 and 1979.

With its old-vine presence, this wine is obscenely fragrant and flavorful - so much that it jacks your palate and pleasantly takes over! Scents of honeydew melon, mineral and hints of lanolin follow through to a meteoric texture that is cut like a diamond and yet has super-lemony viscosity, especially on the drawn-out follow-through. An amazing northwest white wine that will pair well with halibut or scallops dressed in a nice sauce.

2014 MAS D'INTRAS
COTEAUX L'ARDECHE 'HELVIENS'
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

A forward and delicious red wine from the temperate Coteaux De L'Ardeche, located between the Northern and Southern Rhone, about 20 km east of the river, this popular offering is like a cuddly Labrador retriever on a mission to aim to please and make you smile.

Mas D'Intras practices organic, natural farming and this favorite red blend is 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Inviting, engaging and very fresh from not utilizing any oak in the elevage of the wine, cherries, berries and white pepper from Grenache combine nicely with the lushness and "purple" aspects of the Syrah. Enjoy on a regular basis with charcuterie, ratatouille or a slab of ribs with tangy barbecue sauce.

2013 THREE WINE CO. OLD VINES
FIELD BLEND RED
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

Three Wine Company is the venture of famed Sonoma wine vet Matt Cline. If the name sounds familiar, it is because Matt was the winemaker at Cline Cellars and has taken his talents over to Contra Costa where he is making exquisite wines. The Old Vine Field Blend is an assemblage of 16% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 47% Carignan, 15% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet all from ancient vines.

This wine is sheer massive attack! Blitzing the olfactory senses with fresh blackberry, raspberry, baked pie, classic spice and roasted earth. There is also a hint of exotic dried herbs and spices adding complexity to this blanketing red. Mouth filling and long lasting on the palate, with great food-friendly restraint and balance, the ripe tannins frame the perfumed fruit perfectly, especially for a wine of this magnitude. This is a great red for grilled steak and hearty, slow-cooked tomato-based stews with olives and eggplant.

2012 BODEGAS RODA RIOJA 'SELA'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Bodegas Roda is a small estate that started in the late 80s and one where prestige and accolades arrived early on. Despite its youth as a winery, the vines used for these wines have an average age of over 50 years. Roda owns twelve separate parcels of land, which vary in exposure, elevation, and soil and meticulous farming, impeccable winemaking and major attention to detail is what makes this awesome Bodega not only thrive but have allowed it to become one of Spain’s finest.

Sela is Roda’s newest offering and is done from vines aging 15-30 years and is a blend of 96% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 1% Garnacha. The epitome of smoothness and very expressive of its origins , this wine offers up extroverted fragrances of cassis, violet, allspice, black licorice and a hint of mineral. Captivating, majestic, mouth-filling, very smooth and gaining complexity as it unfolds in the glass. Stretches out on the palate and carries over to a generous, drawn-out, silky finish with slight peppery tones. Better than many other producers’ Reserva wines, drink this terrific Rioja over the next 7-9 years with roasted pork or lamb.

2015 VALENTIN BIANCHI MALBEC MENDOZA
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

Argentina is awash with great value malbecs, however a good many of them seemingly taste the same. Valentin Bianci's is not the case. Smoked blackberry, tobacco, kisses of licorice and pepper follow through to a chewy, mouth-coating, spice driven texture that has good balance and freshness. Nicely done and perfect for a Wednesday Night Red experience!

FRIDAY SIPS

AMARONE/VALPOLICELLA WINES FROM TEDESCHI
Special Guest - Riccardo Tedeschi

FEATURED SELECTIONS:

2012 Tedeschi Amarone Classico
2013 Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico Superiore 'Maternigo'
2011 Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico Superiore 'Fabrisieria'
2014 Tedeschi Valpolicella Ripasso 'San Rocco'
2015 Tedeschi Valpolicella 'Lucchine'
2014 Tedeschi Soave Classico 'Monte Tenda'