2022 CAMERON 'GIOVANNI' PINOT BIANCO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

We are definitely convinced that Cameron’s John Paul must have been Italian in a past life, especially when one considers his great record of accomplishment over the last 40 years as well as 20+ years with the Friuli-inspired Giovanni and Giuliano white wines.

2022 is yet another success for Giovanni. This wine provides tantalizing pleasure, never gets cumbersome and best of all, and makes you want to finish the bottle! Made without the use of intrusive oak notes, the wine is loaded with piercing lemon and floral scents with hints of mineral underneath. Ample roundness coats the palate, but it is the blitzing aspects of both the Dundee soil, cool nights and Pinot Bianco varietal are what really allow this wine to shine. Complex and full of joy, this wine is perfect for those who want to serve a local wine with the impending Spring Chinook salmon arrival. Orders placed will arrive next week.

2021 JUILLOT BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
$26.99 - VERY LIMITED

Who says White Burgundy has to be north of fifty bucks? The Cote Chalonnais is located just south of the Cote D’Or and there are some excellent and very individual red and white Burgundy wines produced. Laurent Juillot is a Mercurey specialist but also happens to make a toothsome entry white Burgundy. Sadly this is quite limited (more Mercurey and Rully available but not at this price) and will probably sell through very quickly.

30-45 year old vines, half aged in small barrels and the other half in large foudre (neutral so it does not impart any oakiness to the wine). Suave and way above the norm for mere ‘Chardonnay’ in the mouth. Finesseful, but underlying powerful flavors show admirable volume and electricity then slamming it home with a persistent, driving, yet very poised finish. Excellent dimension and class. Drink over the next few years. Orders placed will arrive next week.

2019 VINUM CELLARS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 'THE INSIDER'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Napa based Vinum Cellars has been committed to offering fabulous California wines for extremely fair prices since 1997. This particular Cabernet comes from Paso Robles and delivers all the fullness and fruit that one expects in these wines.

The name "The Insider" comes from the confidentiality agreement Vinum Cellars had to sign in order to purchase the grapes from the vines of a well-known winery who makes top-drawer wines. Aged for 18 months in 2-year-old barrels, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon reveals cassis tones, which dominate with lots of depth and character. Telltale Paso cocoa powder is present on the lengthy finish makes the wine call out for something exotic from the grill. Not to worry if you do not have food, it is a fine glass of Cab for anytime consumption and will drink well for 7-8 years. Orders placed will arrive next week.

2018 LA VALENTINA MONTEPULCIANO
D'ABRUZZO RISERVA 'SPELT'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

In Italy there are Super-Tuscans, Super-Campania wines, hell there are even Super-Bianco blends so why can‘t there be Super-Abruzzi wines?? When it comes to Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, there are lovely, fruity 10-buck pizza wines however there are plenty of top-level offerings that come from specific plots and/or old vines and are well worth your attention if you love hearty Italian reds.

La Valentina does make an entry-level wine but they also make high quality wines from specific terroir sites in Abruzzo. Spelt is in our own newly named ‘Super Abruzzi' category since it has alluring power and complexity not found in their entry wine. Worth drinking just for the color, this dark red imposes confident aromas of big blackberry fruit, pepper, tar, and roasted meats, all which follow into a lush, tangy, ever-so-slightly rustic mouth feel that isn't overtly jammy or slick with polish and make-up. Long, very drawn-out, this is a perfect wine to pair with tomato-based dishes but it is even more impressive with lamb-based dishes. What the hell, combine tomatoes and lamb with some penne pasta and the Spelt Montepulciano - a miracle in the mouth is bound to occur! Drink over the next 5 years.

2022 LAFAGE COTES-DU-ROUSSILLON
'MIRAFLORS' ROSE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

We have all been craving more than just one day of filtered sunshine here in Oregon and lately I have heard many of you craving Rose. While I am unable to supply the orange orb in the sky, I have heard your shouts and can now offer you the first of our 2022 arrivals of Southern French Rose.

The cool nights of 2022 coupled with the even ripening has allowed for some smashing wines on all levels and we are excited to drink this, even if the sun isn’t out. Jean-Marc Lafage is highly respected for his entire range of Roussillon wines and the newly arrived Miraflors certainly pleases the senses. The usual suspects of Mourvedre, Grenache, etc. make up the blend and provide soulful and confident Mediterranean aromas. Good subtlety and finesse with aromas of strawberry, fennel, rosemary and a prominent "sea-smoke" note. Plenty of flavor, depth and detail all culminating with a lively, very spirited finish. This wine really screams for seafood, especially fish on the grill and dressed with nice olive oil and herbs.

2018 PERTIMALI MONTECUCCO ROSSO
'LA QUERCIOLINA'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

The Sassetti family's Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino would definitely be considered one of my "desert island" Tuscan wines, so when it came about that they were embarking on something new, an estate called Querciolina in the Montecucco region, there was an abundance of delirious clamor.

Montecucco is a relatively new DOC within the borders of Siena province that borders Montalcino with the official locale being in the Maremma. Sandy/clay soils bring forth an immediate attraction with dashing Sangiovese aromatics. Sage and violet-dominated scents with red plum aspects are followed by a savory texture that is nicely buffered by subtle and secondary roasted coffee aspects brining another level of complexity. Accessible now and over the next 4-5 years, this is a thought-provoking Tuscan wine with serious backbone and persistence for its price. Given the prices of the Sassetti family's Montalcino wines these days, it is so cool to catch a wine that gives you a thrilling experience for under 25-bucks.

2020 VILLARD SYRAH
'L'APPEL DES SEREINES'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

A value Syrah from a St-Joseph/Condrieu/Cote-Rotie stalwart, Franois Villard always puts as much energy and devotion to this Vin de Pays wine as he does with the previously mentioned offerings. Coming from non-classified sites in and around St-Joseph and Condrieu, this wine is an excellent entry and early drinking offering into the Northern Rhone and the range of Francois’s wines.

Very genuine and possessing a pepper-pot nose abundant with plum, raspberry and black olive. Generous with lifting fruit upon entry all unfurling into minerally vibrancy. A wonderfully versatile, spectacular value red to bring to friends’ homes over the warmer months, especially when you are not sure what they will be serving for dinner.

2021 GUIMARO RIBERA SACRA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

One of the most stunning landscapes in Spain is located in the Galician area of Ribeira Sacra (Sacred Banks). This region dates back to the Romans who excavated the many terraces still present today. The most important grapes are Godello, Albariño and Treixadura for white wines and Mencía, Brancellao and Merenzao for reds. Steep vineyards jut into the Sil River. Rocky slabs with little soil comprise these vineyards which are primarily planted with Mencia. The river here adds a vibrant, yet ripe freshness to this plot, cooling the vines during the heat of the day.

This 12% alcohol red is made up mainly of Mencia with less than 15% of a field blend of Brancellao, Caino, Marenzao plus others. Laced with lively, inviting tones of marionberry, pepper, prominent slate/mineral and soft roasted herbs. They all seem to build as the wine opens in the glass and entice you to take a sip, which is pristine, medium-bodied and forward. It also shows wonderful intensity from the use of low-yielding fruit, but is also very lively and brisk on the finish. Have with Spain’s national vegetable, pork.

2020 LOS MORROS CARMENERE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE

The Carmenere grape was originally planted in the Medoc in Bordeaux and is part of the Cabernet family. While virtually extinct there due to it being difficult to ripen in Bordeaux's conditions, it is alive and thriving in Chile.

Los Morros's version is an assertive charmer. Leather, spice, tealeaf, black licorice and black plum shine on the nose and follow through to a texture that is broad, polished and persistent; it is a tasty wine that is perfect for every-evening consumption.

2020 FERRAND CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE

The most fabulous Chateauneuf you have never heard of! And one that consistently scores 95 and above from many publications. Back in 2015 when on one of my many visits to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, one of my favorite visits was with Philippe Bravay at Domaine Ferrand. Located in the northern reaches of the appellation, this man goes about his business in a confident manner doing the wines the way he wants allowing for no set recipe and working with whatever the story that the vintage tells. 2020 is the most recent top notch Chateauneuf vintage and this wine always exceeds expectations and receives fabulous scores.

85% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre and 10% field blend of the other 13 permitted varietals of CDP, the 2020 reveals classy, sultry and very upscale aromas that persist and soar from the glass. The northern-Chateauneuf perfume is present, but the old vines penetrate with licorice, blackberry, tealeaf and smoked meat. Old-school mentality, this wine always reminds me of a psychopathic Beaucastel. More and more white pepper and cumin scents arrive as it sits in the glass. This wine is a debonair killer in the mouth; extremely old viney (100 year old vines) with some savage firm qualities that will resolve themselves with cellaring. The finish is densely packed with superb material and spice. If you desire to have a go at one early, do decant but this wine will be at its best from end of 2025 – 2037++.