Hot Sheets

Hot Sheet of Exciting Wine Deals!

"CIRCLING THE FRINGE" HOTSHEET

Barolo Special, Scintillating Summer Whites, Malbec, Sonoma Cab, Chateauneuf & more




2009 MARIETTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON ALEXANDER VALLEY
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


Having been established as a “go-to” house in Sonoma since 1979, the Bilbro family have always been about delivering consistently fine wines that are meant to be enjoyed with food, friends and even cellared all for good prices. The have eschewed the mentality of making 16% alcohol, triple digit-priced trophy wines and we’re all the more fortunate for it. Conditions in 2009 provided Marietta with another winning Cabernet. Solely from Alexander Valley fruit, this wine totally exceeds its 20 dollar price tag.

Teeming with aromas of blueberry, cassis and mocha with no shortage of old-school California peppermint and anisette scents, those who love Cabernet will immediately be impressed. Entry on the palate is savory and fruit forward, with jammy flavors, good structure, acidity, and finely balanced tannins that drop a finish that’s poised, gentlemanly and really hangs around nicely. Gorgeous now with all of its good stuffing, this wine also can age another 6-8 years, too.



2009 TORBRECK GRENACHE-SHIRAZ-MOURVEDRE "JUVENILES"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


91 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE
Back in the day, Rhône-grape expert and Paris wine-bar owner Tim Johnston asked the mind behind Torbreck, Dave Powell to make a wine that he could feature at his Paris wine bar. Dave responded by making this cuvee and then christening it "Juveniles" after Tim’s joint in the 1st arrondisement.

60% Grenache, 20% Syrah & 20% Mataro (Mourvedre) and aged without oak, this sculpted, mouth-filling red offers a mighty expression of the warmth of these varietals. Exuberant red cherries and grenadine from the grenache are followed by tar and white pepper from the syrah as well as gentle kisses of blueberry and tea-smoke from the mataro. In the mouth, the wine is hearty and mouth-assaulting with a presence of red licorice, edible flowers and exotic spice. Very stylish, generous and smooth, this wine should be drunk over the next 5 years with smoked meats, perhaps a nice pot roast or a vegetarian pasta dish packed with eggplant, tomatoes and garlic.



2008 RENATO RATTI BAROLO MARCENASCO
[reg. $69.99] SPECIAL PRICE - $44.99 BTL./$539.88 CASE


Not only for just Barolo and Piedmont, the Ratti name is synonymous with history and quality for the entire Italian peninsula. Pietro Ratti’s late father Renato was a highly influential dude in setting standards for Barolo and at the time, controversially creating a map and initially setting up a hierarchy for single vineyards. Like his father, Pietro also maintains the same passion for history, and since taking over at a very young age, has done nothing but to elevate the family’s standing even further with such terrific Baroli.

The Marcenasco Barolo hails from La Morra in Barolo and there is always a certain kind of beauty to this wine. At this time it is quite wrapped up into itself but a sultry beast is lurking beneath with blaring signs of greatness; dense clay, asphalt, bitter chocolate and a deep core of red fruit. Wonderfully intense in the mouth with fine structure, this classy Barolo is marked by gorgeous mouthfilling flavors that carry over seamlessly from the nose. Give it until 2015 and then have fun through 2026. Enjoy with the usual suspects; anything mushroom or truffle/oil (if you must) laden and hearty fare.



2 SCINTILLATING SUMMER WHITES

2012 MORGADIO ALBARINO
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE


No ifs ands or butts, Albarino is THE perfect seafood wine! This thick-skinned grape thrives in the Northwestern Spanish region of Galicia, specifically Rias Baixas, and is regarded as Spain's most prized white varietal. Hailing from the sub-region of Condado de Tea, Adegas Morgadio has existed for only 20 years. Consistently, Morgadio receives high accolades from wine writers and deservedly so, their sandy, river-influenced terroir is special.

The secret at the estate is simple: low yielding, impeccably farmed fruit that is handled as little as possible. No intrusive oak, the results are an uncompromising pure wine with a complex array of flavors and scents of perfumed white peach, tangerine, subtle herbs, saline and mineral. Completely texture-driven, throw this explosively dry white down with crab, more crab, salmon, clams, halibut, etc. etc. etc. Drink now, drink often, drink lots!



2012 DOMAINE JACQUES ROUZE QUINCY
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE


Located about an hour west of Sancerre, outside the city of Bourges, Quincy (pronounced can-see) is a white wine made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc and Domaine Rouze is without a doubt, the appellation’s most important producer. Jaques Rouze is a large man who grumbles and mumbles when he speaks, making it a challenge to comprehend what he’s saying, especially if French isn’t your native tongue. His fierce and flavorful white wines however, are anything but difficult to understand.

The seriousness of this Sauvignon Blanc comes from Rouze’s mixture of sand, clay and gravel soils within his vineyards for this wine. The gravel allows for electricity, the sand for aromatics while the clay's density helps to bring everything together and to create a white wine of excellent typicité, focus and richness. Aromas of place swirl up from your glass with pronounced and vibrant mineral, flint and earth dominating. It is not until your second or third sip that you begin to feel the core of ripe, vibrant grapefruit, lemon drop and melon which joins up with the intense texture and quenching mouthfeel. The perfect marriage here is with simply prepared grilled fish or just a good quality goat cheese.



2011 STEFANO BERTI SANGIOVESE
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE


100% Sangiovese from the Emilia-Romagna region, these reds are always different than Sangio from Tuscany, Stefano Berti produces wines that are broad, beefy and full of integrity. Savory raspberry, sage and lurking violet and Italian spices in the background. Hearty with erupting Sangiovese flavors that fill the mouth nicely from start to finish. Easy to pair with a pasta Bolognese, but for the more adventurous spirit, try it with deep fried zucchini stuffed with anchovy and mozzarella.



2011 BODEGA LA AZUL MALBEC MENDOZA
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE


La Azul is a small producer in Argentina’s Uco Valley who puts out terrific wine from top to bottom. What is most impressive is that they are able to maintain such fair pricing, especially in a category where so much of the under-$12 crowd is manipulated and quite frankly, a bit of a snooze.

Grown at sites that seemingly merge into the sky at 4000 feet above sea level, this flavorful, deep Malbec is from vines that average 50 years in age. These aspects allow it to show off impressive depth, density and spine that is very uncommon in many wines at this price. Lush blackberry aromas combine with undercurrents of nutmeg and chocolate for a texture that is lavish, luscious and full of surprising grip. Extremely likable and way above the norm for an everyday drinker, enjoy it with a perfectly grilled steak doused with a classic chimichurri sauce.



2010 LEMELSON PINOT NOIR “STERMER VINEYARD”
$35.99 BTL./$431.88 CASE


Lemelson is one of Oregon’s producers who seems to never go off of their steady course and consistently put forth wines that show fine character. For me, the stand-out on their roster is their Stermer Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2010 follows suit to the high quality of the vintage. Stermer Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton appellation and has just over 30 acres planted to Pinot Noir and since my first introduction, I have always admired the aromatic restraint and harmony on this wine.

Peonies, roses, red earth, plenty of lavender along with possessing luminous red fruits on the nose, these features carry over to the texture which really works the palate and touches all points. A curvaceous seducer that will age very well - drink through 2021+.



2011 VIEUX DONJON CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$65.99 BTL./$791.88 CASE


In all honesty, greatness needn’t be hyped when it comes to Vieux Donjon’s Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines because they back it up. Consistently Lucien and now alongside daughter Claire, allow the vintages to tell their stories of what went down that particular year within the vineyard sites. The style here is always one of class and grace, make no mistake, these wines have ample depth, body and breed. Last week I tasted through a number of 2011 Chateauneufs and found many good ones, but it was this one that stuck its neck out, at least on that day.

Resounding aromas of lavender make you think that you are sitting on the veranda at a house in Provence waiting for the lamb to be done grilling so that you can uncork a bottle. Scents of thyme, red raspberry and undertones of smoked meat give this plenty of definition of origin. Full-bodied, but not a bruiser due to the climats and approach that the Michels utilize which is ultimately what gives it lovely refinement. Compact and rich flavors surround plenty of Asian spice and expand into a haunting and expanding finish. If served with the proper, hearty dish, this wine can be accessed now, but it’ll be at its best 2016 – 2024.



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