Hot Sheets

SUMMER PROSECCO!!! A new batch from our favorite artisan, value-minded Prosecco producer has just landed.

Alluring scents of wildflowers, pears, apples and gently placed mineral waft from the glass. The texture itself is worth the price of admission given its extra richness and depth that are both energetic, brisk, fruit driven and intense. Beautifully complex and while OK to go into a Bellini, it works even more exquisitely with light seafood dishes or as an aperativo either indoors or outdoors.

Foxglove is California Chardonnay specialists Jim and Bob Varner's best-buy oriented side project and not only are Foxglove offerings delicious wines, they are also very affordable, especially in the high-finance, stratospheric world of Cali-Cab.

This one has a dark purple hue that transforms into a bright cherry red when swirled. Aromas of black cherry, leather and a touch of spice box jump out of the glass. The smooth entry evolves into a lush, ripe, round mouth-feel filled with boysenberry, blackberry and earthy flavors that carry into a fine finish that reveals touches of mocha. All in all this an attractive, charming Cab that isn't one bit superfluous and that cab-lovers can confidently serve at any occasion.

Compelling, exhilarating, elusive and oh so delicious is this Dry Rose from one of the rarest appellations in the entire Loire Valley. Touraine Noble Joue boasts all of six producers and Rose is the specialty. Made from primarily Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and just a dollop of Pinot Gris, the aromas are fine, very French and reveal more and more as the wine unfolds in the glass.

Freshly cut herbs and flowers enhance the forward wild strawberry character, while the nerve and lightning of the Pinots Noir and Meunier invade, attack and occupy the palate. Tasty and detailed from start to finish, there is extraordinary burst and chalky tones that make this dry pink wine so distinctive. Perfect with a plate of clams, it also pairs nicely with grilled veggies.

Matello owner/winemaker Marcus Goodfellow always strives to make stylish Pinot Noirs that maintain detail and nuance. 2012 is no exception and having been working with his wines since their inception in vintage 2002, I thoroughly believe this wine is some of his finest work. The 2012 Hommage is one of the great values in Oregon Pinot Noir. From 4 excellent vineyard sources (Durant, Whistling Ridge, Bishop Creek & Hoffarth), this 2012 totally follows the patterns of the vintage's generosity and totally delivers the goods.

Sensuous, refined aromas of blackberry and strawberry, soft, slightly elusive herbs and spices and an underlay of earth and red-hot candy pepper tones build and build as the wine unfolds in the glass. Texturally, it's silky and seductive with clarity and exquisite finesse along with ultra-fine depth and tannins. All of the spices that are on the nose are very present on the drawn-out finish. This wine can be accessed now and will develop nicely through 2022.

Blended with Malvasia, Bical, Cerceal and Encruzado, this wine is akin to doing a cannonball into a cool pool!

Provocatively fragrant with bursting aromas of lemon, talc, gerber daisies, and sea-shells, it is wiry, nervy, very dry and with impressive flavor impact, movement and extension. A magical combination with grilled shrimp, this is one to guzzle by the case.

Corbieres is an expansive Languedoc growing region so one can imagine the variability of quality. While there is a plethora of mediocrity done here (fortunately we don't see much of it), there are also many tremendous values to be had and this is one of them.

50% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 25% Carignan, it's packed with smoke, black pepper, violets, southern French herbs and strawberry which lead into a luscious texture that shows plenty of freshness and style as well as a flavorful and persistent finish. At this price it can be consumed at just about any barbecue.

With all of our attention focusing on the growers of Champagne and our avoidance of houses like Moet who are busy sweetening up their Champagnes to compete with Prosecco here in the US, we often forget how much goodness that some of the grandes maisons can and do deliver.

Champagne Roederer makes a wide range of cuvees in all price ranges and is one of the historic houses of the region with history going back to 1765. Roederer is a large land holder in the area, and is able to produce around 80% of its grape requirements and the house's multi-vintage Brut Prémier is a perennial winner and, as usual, is on world-beating form!

This year's release is as seductively rich as it has ever been with sophisticated, pear-ginger-vanilla tinged fruit that is well into its creamy, full stage and just beginning to pick up its alluring biscuit quality along with impeccable brisk nervosity. A fantastic special price through price, this is one that will surely please any Champagne lover. Get it on this deal now.

We have been waiting for the arrival of the 2008 Palazzetta Brunello since the beginning of the year and it has now arrived. Palazzetta's Brunello is very traditionally styled (many of you have heard Flavio Fanti's story: no Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet planted anywhere near his land and adamantly - NO BARRIQUES, only large botti). The complexity of the top-notch 2008 vintage really shines through but more importantly, the village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate expresses itself mightily.

Not far from the renowned Ciacci Piccolomini D'Argona vineyards (A Cellar Door favorite), this luxurious wine shows red cherry, serious Tuscan herbs, rose, violet and gains more underbrush and sage as it unfolds. Sexy, lacy entry leads into more expansive flavors that spread out a bit like a great Grand Cru Burgundy would. Still plenty of youthful structure, this one can definitely cellar and become something even more special. We were commenting on the persistence 10 minutes after the wine was finished. Mamma Mia! Drink this stylish, profound Brunello 2016 – 2028+.