Hot Sheets

More than just your straight-ahead Montepulciano, this best buy number goes a bit further than most. For 2011, Mario Ercolini has fashioned a terrific, mouth-filling number that boasts an exciting, top-notch, soulful Montepulciano nose of purple tones (violets, plums, marionberry) to go along with smoked meat and licorice.

In the mouth it is a spice-bomb with killer depth, vibrancy and definition. Impressive follow-through with its earth/coffee-tinged finish, this is a yummy, yet serious-enough, versatile red to go with food. Magical with tomato-based dishes, smoked meats and especially lamb. Drink now, and for 11 bucks, drink lots!

The name Cabasse is from Italian, casa bassa, which means house under the village. Situated just beneath the picturesque, Provençal village of Seguret, Domaine de Cabasse's roots date back to the 14th century. Along with having a fine hotel and restaurant, superb wines also come from this 33 acre estate which possesses land in 3 southern Rhone villages. From the village of Sablet, this full-flavored Southern French red is wildly undervalued for its designation. One of about 20 Cotes-du-Rhone villages permitted to use its name for the appellation, Sablet is noted for its sandy soils and refined wines that provide plenty of impact.

Extroverted, savory lavender, violet, thyme and black cherry aromas lead into a texture that is poised, smooth and pleasurable. Lots of substance and finishing with classic peppery tones, especially on the seemingly weightless, fine finish. Wonderful with grilled pork chops or roasted halibut with a tomato/caper-based sauce.

A lovely Oregon producer that sports delicious wines made at their urban winery in Northwest Portland, Stewart and Athena Boedecker choose barrels to make their namesake cuvees. The 2010 Stewart is so indicative of this quickly-becoming-sterling vintage.

Elegance and suaveness rule the day with aromatic red cherry, crushed pepper, smoke, and elusive herbs and spices. On the palate, enticingly silky-rich flavors shine with just the right amount of chewy fruit and firmness to allow for aging as well. Following through with plenty of spice and expansion, it is quite revealing now, but its structure, depth and complexity will allow it to develop on through to its 10th birthday.

Lately it seems as though Alsace has become somewhat of a forgotten region within the wine realm. Still, always on our minds are the terrific, bone-dry Rieslings that come from this area. Kuentz-Bas is a long-time favorite and their electric 2010 is fabulous and yes, FULLY DRY!!

Understated perfume with lovely lime and nectarine qualities. Cracked rock mineral and almost powdery with its components, this is what dry Riesling is all about. Lovely substance up front but gains its firmness, mineral and frame in the middle and on the piercing and pleasure-driven finish. Lots of grapefruit and earth on the finish. A real smashing expression of Alsace to drink over the next 5 years with sole, cod, sushi or simply with bread and a young goat cheese.

An eleven buck wine from California and it is actually real wine and not some focus-group, marketing-driven piece of rubbish made by an egghead in a lab. Here we have a real Cab made by real people from real vineyards, real grapes and real barrels unlike the oak-chip stuff that leaves you with espresso-breath after drinking it.

Grayson’s 2011 California Cab is forward and chock full of bright cherry and raspberry fruit intermingle nicely with cedarbox and undercurrents of vanilla-bean. In the mouth it is engaging, lush and nicely balanced from start to finish. Uncompromised California in its style and one for any Cab lover to use for his or her every night tipple.

This is one of the best values in New World style Chardonnay. How's that for a bold statement! So you may be wondering by now what the hell is New World style Chardonnay? Simply stated, it’s the politically correct term for saying "a baseball bat and a pound of butter”.

Lots of tropical aromas and flavors of pineapple, melon, allspice and vanilla tones, those who covet that big, buttery style of a California Chardonnay should not hesitate to put this Chardonnay to the test.

Something we found languishing in a distributor’s inventory is one of the great Grand Cru Barolo wines from the famed producer, Vietti. Better yet, the price hasn’t changed and it is from the insanely great, classic and long-lived 2004 vintage. Lazzarito is a renowned site in Serralunga and is one of power and longevity. These aren’t wines for instant gratification and in a vintage like 2004, will require patience.

Today its fierce attack and grip are noticeably present but the core of depth and fruit is extremely provocative. Loads of persistence on the packed finish, give this one until 2019 to really unfold and then drink it through 2030 and beyond. Have a child that was born in 2004 and want something to open on their 21st birthday? This is your selection!

Need a score? This has 95 points from the conservative-reviewing International Wine Cellar!