Hot Sheets

A few years back Owen Roe's David O'Reilly created Corvidae, a line of wines that represent stunning quality/price rapport and after hosting an in-depth roster tasting last week here at The Cellar Door, it is safe to say the quality of these wines is still fantastic.

The name Corvidae is Latin for a family of birds, which includes crows, ravens, magpies and others. In the spirit of keeping to a philosophy of wines of place, David O'Reilly chose this name in regards to the species of birds that are around his vineyards in Yakima. Enough of the story and on to this delicious Cabernet Franc. Strong suggestions of deep raspberry with a rim of violet tones play off a potpourri of spices offering touches of licorice, toffee, and earth. In the mouth the warmth, yet balance of 2012 provides a long-lasting and full taste of sensations that are characteristically Cab Franc, a pleasant degree of structure and a well-rounded, warm finish. Have this wine over the next 2-3 years with things like roasted pork loin or herb-crusted leg of lamb.

One of the old-school Napa Valley producers, over time Stony Hill has achieved mythical, legendary status with their long-lived wines, especially their Chardonnay which they pioneered back in the 50s. Eschewing the stereotypical California boat plank and a pound of butter, Stony Hill uses neutral barrels ranging from 5 to 25 years old and purposely avoids malolactic fermentation. Quite honestly, these wines are ferocious when young but give them 5 years like this one and they become marvelous. I have had 15-18 year old versions of these wines and it is remarkable at how they pick up richness and even more depth all while maintaining civilized alcohol levels (this one is 13%).

The ever elegant and pure 2008 chardonnay offers an incredibly complex set of aromas from spring blossoms, to candied mushroom caps, white pineapple, melon, citrus and overt rocky aromas. Purity is a characteristic of this chardonnay and the finish is fine with a long burst of refreshing minerality and unbelievably persistent. Excuse me while I kiss the sky ‘cause this is a romantic bottle that just unfolds layer upon layer of luscious restraint. At age 6 this is starting to unfold now and will continue to develop and drink exquisitely for a good 12-15 more years.

Byron Dooley is a long-time friend who just happens to make killer wines under his Seven of Hearts label. Luminous Hills is Byron's Estate Vineyard located within Yamhill-Carlton. Having consumed a bottle last week, I was utterly thrilled and promptly knew that you all need to have a go at this wine back because even at an early stage, it is kickass!

Plum-pepper tones; lots of youthful flamboyance, but good depth for a young vineyard; nicely detailed with impressive complexity given the vine's age. Red tones and thoughtfully placed oak tones are woven in nicely, but the finish is electric and very drawn-out, quite purple and very floral. Given the depth, complexity and length of this wine, one can see that Byron's estate site is a major player in the Yamhill-Carlton district. The 2012 isn't inaccessible with decanting so don't feel as though you are committing a crime if you uncork one but do note that it will age impeccably for 10-12+ years.

One of the underdog standouts of Muscadet, Michel Delhommeau's Domaine is situated in the "grand cru" sector of the Sevre et Maine area of this region located mere minutes outside the city of Nantes. Here is a man who absolutely loves his vines and produces gifted white wines that won't break the bank. Awarded the Muscadet Producers' Golden Pipette Award in 2010 (the first winner from his village of Monnieres since 1957), this unassuming farmer is doing everything right with his terrific terroir.

Cuvee Harmonie is a blend of 3 different parcels consisting of volcanic gabbro (black volcanic rock), limestone and gneiss (a rock which resembles schist a little in appearance, and which is formed by the action of metamorphic processes on either sedimentary or igneous material) soils. The 2013 smells like rock, Laphroaig-like peat, seashore, saline and lime. Cool as hell – twenty-times as engaging! Brisk, sweeping, classically dry, tangy mineral quality. A step up in range from many others at this level along with a superior finish that's akin to being shot out of a cannon into a cool pool, this wine is so imminently likable. A match made in heaven with oysters, although this wine has enough depth and energy to go with scallops or halibut dressed in a beurre blanc as well. Drink over the next 5 years.

Are you in search of a wine to divert your attention to the ever-repetitive campaign ads that are continuously on the TV right now? Many of us have decided that we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore! We're just gonna get loaded and hit the damn mute button! In order to assist your viewing and drinking pleasure, we are recommending this lovely Rioja from a fine organic producer who has been out of our area for a while. Unoaked and packed with clean, pure Tempranillo, strawberry aromas with hints of earth and smoke. Dark and soft-textured with plenty of juicy, mouth-watering notes throughout. A great red for fish.

A nice uptick from the previous Joven entry, Biurko's Crianza is aged for 12 months in barrel, which adds another compelling aspect. It also doesn't hurt that it's from the stalwart 2010 vintage. Explosive, aromatic black raspberry, cocoa powder and violet work with savory scents of thyme & sage along with a layer of stealth minerality. A superb core of fruit drives this wine on the palate and boosted even further by sultry, smooth flavors that crawl through the mouth. The finish is polished, regal and gracefully rich, all quite uncommon for a 14-buck wine.

Sometimes letting folks in on secrets is a good thing, but there are moments when it backfires on you. Take for instance, the automobile. In the early part of the twentieth century, the world should have never let the Italians in on the secret of the car and driving. Don't think I'm a hater, but have you ever experienced driving in Naples? Now when it comes to wine regions the Italians hold many great secrets and the Aglianico grape of Campania is one of them. This is where I become a congratulator!

Honest, soulful and dressed up nicely without losing its natural beauty, this hearty red reveals wild berry aromas that are finely enhanced by undertones of tea-leaf, sanguine and chocolate licorice. Bold and firm, this wine is a great introduction to the racy Aglianico grape. Immediately it lets one know that it is a wine for food, not for cocktail-style sipping. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years with sausage-mushroom pizza, slow-roasted lamb or a spicy-tomato pasta dish.

Just the other day I was presented with a glossy catalog for a new lineup of wines from California. In this ever-so-shiny marketing tool there were pictures of beautiful people ramping around a fire at the beach, mountain climbing and the like. What has this to do with good wine you ask? Absolutely nothing! Just when our souls were shriveling up and I could feel my passion for vino seeping out of my ears, I pulled the cork on this stellar Chateauneuf and the sheer deliciousness of what ensued shocked me back into reality.

Gorgeous and traditionally made, this full-throttle red possesses class and smoothness to buffer out the beast within. Overflowing aromas of strawberry, red licorice, herbes des provence, grenadine and plum-pepper sit up nicely in the glass and lead into a voluptuous, dry, structured and sinister texture. Lots of density and expansion now, but everything is packed in a compact ball today. Put this baby in the cellar for 2-3 years, and then drink it over the decade that follows. We have 2 cases to sell. have at it y'all!

If we had spray paint, we would do as they did in London in the 60s and paint "Clapton is God" on things. In this case, we would probably spray paint the Duomo in Florence in huge letters, COSTANTI IS GOD!!"

6th generation, Andrea Costanti is one of the ambassadors of this great Tuscan appellation. With one taste of Andrea's wine, it is clear that he is rooted in great local traditions. In a vintage like 2008, this highly sought-after estate delivers wines that age for an extremely long time. The 2008 Costanti is not a darkly colored wine, but one that reveals complex, alluring scents of dark cherry, raspberry, violet powder, lavender, rosemary, sage and licorice. This beautiful expression of Sangiovese Grosso displays youthful exuberance of cocoa, ripe tannins and rich berries following from the nose, with an underlying meatiness. An incredibly balanced elixir that seduces the palate with richness and concentration of flavor yet calls you back with its elegance, finesse and ungodly long finish. There is engaging sexiness to this wine that lurks beneath the compact, structured surface that really requires cellar time to unfold. Hold on to this one until 2018 and drink it through 2030 and beyond. Perfect for anyone who has a 2008 occasion to celebrate!