Hot Sheets

Karen & Bryan have been known to mindlessly slurp down a bottle or twelve of good white wine on a hot summer day. Leonildo "Nino" Pieropan is among the finest producers of white wine in all of Italy as well as being the most important when it comes to modern-day Soave. Last week I had the chance to meet his son and current winemaker, Dario Pieropan and taste through new releases including the most excellent and amazingly priced entry version.

With the upcoming warm weather this week, it is appropriate to mention that the new 2013 is a beautiful summer wine (although we like to drink it all year long) with hints of wet stone, lemon-zest and prominent mineral on the nose. In the mouth there is excellent intensity without compromising its vibrancy. Lots more citrus fruits come through and carry through to a long finish with an impressive burst of energy that makes you keep coming back for another glass. At this great price, one can afford to have this stocked up in the refrigerator, you know we will!!

Back in February while visiting the Coulon brothers at Domaine de Beaurenard in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, there was a flurry of e-mail exchanges with their local importer during the usual marathon tasting. One wine that I tasted during these happenings was this Reserve bottling of Rasteau. I have been tasted on this wine on my visits to the estate for over 10 years but hadn't offered out broadly. This year the timing was right because while tasting the 2011 and being knocked over, I told Beaurenard's agent to toss on some cases to the container. Well, this mighty wine has now arrived and if you're a Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-Pape lover, you must have some of this, and we're the only place in town that you can get it from!

Beaurenard's Rasteau vineyards are from one hillside in Rasteau on 9 separate terraces. The Argiles Bleues comes from selected spots in the middle of the slope where there is an abundance of blue clay (hence the name) in addition to limestone. Very, very old vines really drive this full-flavored velvet monster. Penetrating, concentrated but in the typical suave, well-honed Beaurenard style. Harmonious fruit pairs with energetic nervosity that screams out this impeccable vineyard site. Lots of depth, power, underlying coolness and zing are present and quite authoritative. Flowing black cherry, chocolate, ginger, coriander and a mélange of peppercorn are present from start to finish. Layered, extremely long and not inaccessible at the moment and can be loved through 2025 especially with hearty, grilled fare.

Originally Quinta Do Crasto made its bones as a Port house, but it has been their dry red wines that have brought them into prominence and their line-up is always on everyone's short list for "Portugal's Finest Reds."

2011 is highly-regarded as a pinnacle vintage in this area of Portugal and this chewy red is a top-notch value that is sure to please many palates. Hearty aromas of chocolate-covered strawberries from the Tinta Roriz grape (Tempranillo) co-exist handsomely with Moroccan spice, finely placed oak and sneaky minerality. Bountiful and very stylish flavors captivate the palate with an almost-Italian plum-like quality before advancing through to the arousing finish that brings it all home. Enjoy with lamb, grilled sausage or a hearty stew.

Another warm-weather white wine value, the Alta Vista Torrontes is chock full of enticing aromatics of fresh nectarine, blood orange, white flowers and spiced pear. Not unlike Viognier combined with Sauvignon, Torrontes is almost aromatic on the palate with a fleshy core of fruit-driven flavors. A mouth full of many different ripe fruit characteristics, it is quite the charmer that finishes crisp, focused and is a fantastic match with smoked fish, goat cheeses and Asian preps with shellfish. Order this spring/summer white by the trunkload!

Ridge has been making Zin from Benito Dusi's Ranch in Paso Robles since 1967 from vines that were planted in 1924. Not only do the old vines make this wine special, limestone soils bring about energy and complexity to go along with the mighty core of fruit.

100% Zinfandel and loaded with large-scaled, rich, round plum and black cherry notes. Briar, smoke and Asian spice back up the full fruit. Impacting, ripe and generous flavors coat the palate then finish with lots of power, depth and vibrancy. This wine leaves an unmistakable impression that will enable one to release up any pent up hedonism that may be lurking below the surface! Drink through 2022+.

Ringbolt winemaker Peter Gambetta is a Cabernet Sauvignon specialist, already well regarded for his brilliant efforts in Coonawarra, being responsible for the outstanding Yalumba Menzies and Cigar Cabernets. He has also been working at forging a reputation in Australia's other classic Cabernet producing region, Margaret River in Western Australia.

Tell-tale Western Australian scents of ripe brambly blackberry, marionberry, cassis, violet, dark chocolate, spearmint and dusty earth waft and build as the wine unfolds in the glass. Voluptuous round and full in the mouth with vanilla laden berries dominating a fine and ripe structure this stellar bottle of cabernet is packed with charm and appeal and will continue on over the next 3-5 years.

About a month ago we offered a Barbera from this producer. This time we are offering up a 10 year old Barolo but it is well worth reiterating the story of the producer. As part owner of the famed Barolo producer Bartolo Mascarello, Alessandro Fantino made the wines and tended the vineyards for 20 years before selling his portion off to Maria-Theresa Mascarello in 1998 to focus on his family's estate. Along with his brother Gian Natale, the brothers make wines from the Bussia area of Monforte D'Alba that are extremely indicative of their home in Piedmont.

Recently having switched importers the Fantino brothers' former US importer had some back vintages that the current importer took on and we are the ultimate beneficiaries because they are priced well (look for a 2001 in another upcoming offering). 2004 is a stacked, packed, thrill-ride of a great vintage and is one that still has an awesome future in front of it, especially from producers such as this who possess great vineyard sites. Even at age 10, the 2004 is still muscle-bound and sculpted, but now is starting to reveal haunting, dark aromas, prominent black licorice and is teeming with earth and depth. Intensely structured and very much dances to the long-lived 2004 dance vibe; this wine is still another year or two away from truly hitting its window of drinkability. If you want to test-drive a bottle now, decant it an hour or so beforehand and have it with a slow-roasted meat dish spiked with mushrooms, otherwise hold on to this kickass Barolo until 2016 and enjoy it through 2029 and beyond.