Hot Sheets

For years there certainly has been no shortage of acclaim for this Brunello producer and it is well deserved. This week we are offering their terrific Rosso di Montalcino at a special 20 buck price. This wine doesn't take a back seat to many other larger names, so if you have Montalcino cravings, order some now!

As always, 100% Sangiovese, this chewy, shapely, well-portioned smooth red offers an abundance of character. Erupting scents of ripe strawberries, balsamic, hints of raspberry, plenty of sage and scorched earth tones follow through to a juicy, generous, savory texture that is brimming with Tuscan and Italian flavors that are utterly spellbinding and drawn-out. Beautiful over the next 4-6 years with a bigass T-Bone dropped on the grill.

"Unquestionably the number one small estate of Orvieto" -Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar There are some people in wine regions who become iconic figures within their regions without ever bringing attention to themselves or their work. Palazzone, which began bottling in 1982, has never needed an outside consultants (although several are great friends) because Giovanni produces such amazingly delicious and impeccably detailed white wine on his own. 30 years ago, this cat was making Orvieto that transcended this area that while beautiful and heavily touristed, has often been known to produce innocuous and uninspiring wines.

Palazzone's wines are nothing like any Orvieto that you will taste! Made from a blend of the ever-popular, roll-off-of-your-tongue, native varietals of Procanico, Grechetto, Drupeggio, Verdello and Malvasia, this Orvieto always has something extra not normally found here. Prominent peach-pit and orange fruit collide with sea breeze scents, flint and ginger aromas which all come together and carry over to a texture that is palate-coating, tense and cleansing. The finish seemingly glides, then snaps back and echoes its terroir and fruit back for minutes after the wine is swallowed. If you are a grigio or bianco fan and want to be rocked by another distinctive Italian white, we highly recommend buying this stellar Orvieto by the case. Enjoy with Cioppino, fresh crab, goat cheeses and on its own. A resounding jackpot on Bryan's Cool Wine-o-Meter!

In the world of Washington wine, Novelty Hill has firmly established itself as one of the fine producers who consistently deliver fine value for their entire range of wines. 2010 is a vintage of balance and depth in Washington, one aided by a long growing season. Like Oregon 2010s, these are turning out to be tremendous wines that have some access now but will also bode very well for the future.

Laden with smoked plums and smoked rosemary aromas, this wine has instantly alluring aromatics. Intertwined nicely with ground black pepper and dark chocolate, all of these wonderful components carry over nicely into a texture that spreads out nicely on the palate and never goes out of balance. The finish is pure and nicely packed and showing no overly aggressive tones, just layered and lingering in a pleasant, fruit-forward manner. Drink over the next 6-8 years.

Just south of the Côte D'Or in the Burgundy region sits the quiet and bucolic growing region known as the Côte Chalonnais. Like Macon, this is an area that if one likes white Burgundy, tremendous value can be obtained. 2010 is a tremendous Burgundy vintage for both reds and whites and one of Montagny region's vanguard producers is Alain Roy who has been toiling in the area since the 70s making wines blended from his Premiers Crus sites.

A Chardonnay-purist's chardonnay, this wine exudes detail and terroir; refined, defined scents that exude place. Crushed rocks, lemon zest, peat and white flowers dominate the nose with a texture is very gentlemanly with lots of sophistication and intensity. Exciting from front to back delivering exuberance, body and expansion. A delicious drink now through 2017 and perfect with pan-seared halibut - toss some mushrooms in for good measure.

A tiny producer who literally makes wines in his garage in the small city of Ponferrada (the main town of the Bierzo region) this wine exudes Spanish party action! 100% Mencia, the red grape of Bierzo, and featuring enticing pomegranate, cherry-pit, sanguine and mineral aromas, this is a lovely Spanish red that is essential with pork – especially Jamon Serrano. A mouth-watering, gushing, clean, red that can be drunk now and over the next year or two.

I have been waiting to unleash this Bordeaux gem on y'all for quite a while and I figured now is the time. At some point on a Friday in the near future, we'll uncork it, too. Owned by Fauchey family since 1884, this Chateau turned out to be an eye-opener when it comes to Petite Chateaux in this large region.

Blueberry scents pleasantly surround herbs and dark chocolate with inviting and harmonious flavors. Chewy and possessing nice interaction between earth tones and fruit tones all which move into a finish that extends nicely with subtle spice. Perfect Bordeaux for drinking now and just about any time during the week.

An e-mail floated across my computer screen this morning notifying me of these two tremendous specials. Distributor wants to clean up some bin-ends and offered big incentive pricing on two wines from Grand Cru sites. To score these at $40, especially when we sold the new 2008s for close to $100 is awesome. Be fast, these are limited and won't last long!

Tucked away in the hills between Monforte d'Alba and Castiglione Faletto is the Cantina and vineyards of Elio Grasso. We've been ardent supporters of these wines for a while now, and it's extremely clear that Gianluca Grasso is without a doubt one of the young superstars of Barolo. Vigna Chiniera, located within Monforte D'Alba is a south facing vineyard that sits at 320-360 meters. Loosely packed, sandy soil with a limestone base that makes this wine very special. A frighteningly brilliant and complete wine of perfumy, sublime, sophistication, with plenty of depth and backbone. Undertones of licorice, balsam, lots of underbrush and earth give even more complexity along with length. At age 8, this is starting to unfold yet still has bags of life to it. Drink through 2023+.

Casa Matè is also within Monforte D'Alba and south facing at about 300 meters. The location is made immensely different due to the soils. This impacts the wines profoundly. Casa Matè's soil doesn't have sand, but loosely packed clay that supports the limestone base. This brings more roundness, power and structure to the wine along with the telltale richness from this sector of Barolo.

Solidly built, stacked and structured, this prodigal youngster possesses full-on plum fruit combining mushroom with intense black licorice. Darker-toned and building broadness, there is ample Barolo oomph to the texture. The finish is pure, assertive, but refined and very long. An outstanding wine that again with decanting, will show well with a substantial meal, but for best results, give it another year or two and enjoy it through 2025.