Hot Sheets

Hot Sheet of Exciting Wine Deals!

"OPEN ME UP, I'M KIND OF AWESOME" HOTSHEET

Cameron Pinot Noir, Chablis & Montalcino Specials + more




2010 COL D'ORCIA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
[reg. $27.99] SPECIAL PRICE - $19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


To kick off this week's Sheet, we are offering a special intro-deal on a wine from one of Brunello di Montalcino's apex producers. 2010 is a phenomenal vintage in Tuscany, very classic and towing the 100% Sangiovese line of fine fruit along with fine detail. Made from grapes within the Brunello di Montalcino zone, the 2010 Col D'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino's fragrant, savory aromas leap from the glass.

Packed with violet, red berry, sage, cedar 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 their tell-tale elegance, Italian tanginess and a nicely formed finish that is full of snap and extension. Great for 28, it has even more yum-factor at 20! Drink this giant-killer now-2018.



2010 LAVANTUREUX PETIT CHABLIS
[reg. $21.99] SPECIAL PRICE - $14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE


Something to show from my recent visit to France and a special price as well! Located in the village of Lignorelles in the northern portion of Chablis, Domaine Lavantureux was founded in 1979 and with the higher elevation than around the village of the Chablis, this is prime terroir for Petit Chablis and Lavantureux excels in this category. The difference between Petit Chablis and Chablis isn't its size but its soil, P-Chablis is grown in Portlandian soil versus Kimmeridgian.

2010 is a great vintage in this area and this wine is drinking extremely well. I enjoyed a bottle of this particular wine at lunch at restaurant Soleil D'Or just outside of the village of Chablis and it is pure as hell, more mineral than most, and quite a step above in quality. An underlay of floral and saline adds further complexity. Balances depth and nervosity and is very likable and easy to latch on to...at least for these 10 cases! Drink this excellent French Chardonnay now and with fresh crab, oysters or other fine fish dishes. I had mine with merlu (a white fish) cooked on its skin and served over a mousseline of green lentils from Le Puy and green peas, a mighty combination! Hurry, only 10 cases available!!!



2010 CALCU CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE


Over the last several years, many of you have all become with Calcu's delicious Chilean wines. The wonderful 2010 Cabernet delivers lots of bang for the buck! 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere and 5% Petite Verdot, this wine emits nothing but goodness.

Chock full of deep cassis and mocha tones along with underlying mineral, cedarbox and nutmeg all which carry over into the mouth. Full-flavored, quite extensive for a mere 13 bucks and nicely lingering. Drink now and over the next 2-3 years.



2006 DOMAINE LAFOND CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE "ROC-EPINE"
$44.99 BTL./$539.88 CASE


More and more, whenever we taste Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the 2006 vintage we are coming to realize that this is one of the sleeper vintages of recent memory and in fact is ranking up with 2001 and 2005 as best vintages of the decade from 2000 – 2009. Domaine Lafond is a Lirac and Tavel specialist but the crown jewel in their line-up is their limited-production Chateauneuf-du-Pape. From 8 acres and blended with 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, at just over 7 years old this wine is starting to come into its own.

Smoke, blackberry, grenadine and lavender all heighten the senses on the nose. In the mouth there is a fine core of secondary fruit, mixed with velvety tannins, earth, spice, and an engaging black olive note. Still ample grip to this library selection and no problem to age it for another 5-7 years, however with a good decanting, this wine is scrumptious with a roasted leg of lamb that has been jacked with the herbs and flavors of Provence.





COLLECTIBLE CAMERON PINOT NOIRS



Last call!! Word just came down, there's still a smattering of Cameron's collectible Pinot Noirs available so if you haven't been able to score some, take advantage

2011 CAMERON PINOT NOIR "ABBEY RIDGE"
$54.99 BTL./$659.88 CASE


It's quite rare to ever see this wine (and the following) offered on our hot sheets, mostly because it's sold quickly to long-time Cameron supporters. Abbey Ridge is one of the Dundee Hills region's "Grand Cru" sites And as evidenced by an 18 year vertical tasting of Abbey Ridge that I attended last year, the 36 year old vines combined with John Paul's and Bill Wayne's meticulous nature in allowing this wine to do its thing symbolizes that Abbey Ridge really requires patience. As with Clos Electrique below, only the best of the best of these vineyards makes it into these wines thus only 280 cases were made in 2011.

My notes from the Abbey Ridge vertical earlier this year: "This doesn't suck at all. Exciting nose. Kisses of dark chocolate but sneaky, undertones of strawberry/cherry. Very fleet-footed and full of sophistication. Tux in track shoes. Fine-tuned, primary red berry. Creamy, seductive entry, still very vertical in presence and holding everything in mid palate. Picks up expansion and teases as if it's going to fan out at the end. Mysterious and compelling, all keeping you tuned in to see what's next. A real teaser of a wine, but something VERY special is waiting to be unleashed. Probably will be at its pinnacle around the end of the decade and will continue much further."



2011 CAMERON PINOT NOIR "CLOS ELECTRIQUE"
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE


Like the Abbey Ridge vertical held by John Paul last year, he also held a retrospective tasting of Clos Electrique which was equally as compelling. Clos Electrique was planted in 1984 and always produces vastly different wines than Abbey Ridge. Both of these wines are consistently at the top of Oregon Pinot Noir hierarchy and are equally profound. Alas only 198 cases were produced.

My notes from last year's Clos Electrique vertical: "Primary and early days on the nose here. Excellent transparency even at this youthful stage. Classy rose, plum, rhubarb, herbs and cracked pepper although the fragrances are holding back and hiding but the stuffing here is mighty impressive. Silkiness and finesse lurk beneath the vibrant fruit in the mouth. Savory herbs arrive. Ample bright fruit glides, coats the palate then instantly turns inward, waves and says see you in at least 5 years. The finish is packed, very pinot and fine. A thoroughbred, this will undoubtedly gain even more expansion and will turn out to be special." If you are a fan of these wines, get in on them now, mostly because pricing on 2012 will go up and given the scarce quantities, they won't be on any of the hot sheets!





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