Hot Sheets

2022 GRUHIER BOURGOGNE
EPENEUIL PINOT NOIR
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE

Given the exorbitant pricing of the Cote D'Or reds it is only natural that we continue to search for tasty Pinot Noirs from other areas of Burgundy. Where and what exactly is Epineuil? Well Francois, it is an appellation located about fourteen miles east of the village of Chablis and based around its namesake village. Dedicated to red and rose wine only, lately from good producers such as Domaine Gruhier, delicious Pinot Noir wines are emerging from these vineyards that have sizable portions of Kimmeridgian soil. This is the same soil type as Chablis, but these slopes somehow take to the Pinot Noir grape.

Twenty-five years ago, these wines struggled to ripen, but with advances in farming and winemaking, along with a bit of global warming, wines from this area offer delightful, succulent Pinot Noirs that express their own soils and origins. Aromatically pleasing, chock full of vibrancy and given the high quality of vintage 2022, penetrates very deeply. Laden with strawberries, peat, roses and hints of pepper, there is richness and grace abound. $30 for good Pinot Noir anywhere these days is cool, and this is worth having several bottles to enjoy! Serve with roasted chicken or beef stew. Drink through 2032.

KIENTZLER CREMANT D'ALSACE
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Cremant D’Alsace this good does not come around too often. Many versions are made by large industrial producers like Wolfberger, but bubbly is a crucial selection chez Kientzler.

Made with 100% Auxerrois, this fizz spends 18 months on its lees giving it much more complexity than virtually any other Cremant D’Alsace. Gushing, vibrant and loaded with refined green apple, melon, a touch of lime and mineral and overall, very alluring. In the mouth, mouth-filling bubbles provide an active, elevated and electric texture that caresses and refreshes all your taste senses. Simply slurpable, and excellent for drinking by itself, with hors d’oeuvres, or shellfish dishes.

2023 COLLI DI LAPIO
FIANO D'AVELLINO
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

From Avellino outside of Naples and the ancestral home of Tony Soprano's family, one sip of this intense white wine from the Fiano grape will cause you to mob up. If you like the viscous stylings of White Chateauneuf combined with the brisk acidity of the likes of Verdicchio or Albarino then you will love this perennial Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri winner.

Unlike the Provencal white on this week's musings where the fruit styles are on the crunchy spectrum, the fruits here are of the essence of the oils of their skins and flesh. Anjou pear, nectarine and grapefruit oil, freshly twisted orange rind, hints of spice and earthy tones. Palate-staining, lush flavors fill the mouth only to be upstaged by the mineral zinginess that instantly cleanses only leaving the fresh flavors behind for what seems like 10 minutes. Clelia Romano has beautiful terroir, and her Fiano is one of Italy's most prodigal white wines and is fairly priced. Drink over the next 7-10 years.

BEDROCK 'SHEBANG' RED BLEND
XVI CUVEE
SPECIAL - $13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Across the board Bedrock wines are fine values but their 'Whole Shebang' red blends are crazy delicious for every evening consumption.

A delightful taste of California. Zinfandel, Carignan, Mataro, Petite Sirah, Syrah and others, black raspberry, red earth, briar and no shortage of sweet/hot spices roar from the glass. Outgoing, fleshy and engaging with depth and charm as well as a lively peppery/nutmeg finish. If you like hearty red wines for not a lot of money, then you must have some. Drink with pizza (meat or sans meat), meat loaf or brisket.

2021 CHATEAU SAINTE-ANNE
COTES-DE-PROVENCE BLANC
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Ahhhh Provence - let us take a mid-winter field trip. I have been lobbying hard around here to take more field trips from work and recently turned in my parental consent forms to and now waiting for the approval process. In the meantime ,we have been trying to get in the mood by drinking this delicious white Provence wine from a fine Bandol producer.

Equal portions of Rolle and Ugni Blanc, the wine is an outstanding value. Lovely aromatics with notes of lemon and white flowers, and just a touch of lees notes. Exceptionally good intensity in the mouth, with flavors of peach, orange spice and refreshing acidity and marine tones on the extending finish. A magnet match for Mediterranean-inspired seafood and vegetable dishes.

2023 CELLER MARIA PAGES
EMPORDA TINTO
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

From Catalonia's Emporda region, a stone's throw from the French border on the Mediterranean, Celler Maria Pages is a producer who fashions super wines that put forth an abundance of bang for the buck.

60% Grenache 40% Tempranillo, this ingenious every-evening offering reveals warmth and terroir. Red cherry, smoked coffee, pepper and turned earth aromas follow through to savory, layered texture with deceptive assertiveness. Drink it now and often.

2022 FERRANDO CANAVESE ROSSO
'LA TORRAZZO'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

The region of Carema and sub region of Canavese are part of Piedmont situated far north of Barolo and Barbaresco on the border of the Valle D’Aosta about an hour north of Turin. Luigi Ferrando is the unmitigated leading producer of this region, producing legendary Nebbiolo wines from Carema.

The Ferrando Canavese Rosso is Nebbiolo-based with about 30% Barbera and a dollop of the local Neretta grape. Delectable scents of raspberry, mint, licorice and subtle smoke and herbs lead into a spirited texture that oozes tastiness and depth that is exactly why this producer is regarded as one of the finest in all of Piedmont. Wine with substance, dimension and owning a finish that takes off; there is a ton of goodness here for not a ridiculous amount of money. Enjoy this with beef/pork stuffed ravioli or a risotto done with cheese and mushrooms.

2019 NIEPOORT LATE BOTTLED
VINTAGE PORT
$29.99 BTL.

Niepoort is to Port what Jacquesson is to Champagne. They are both small houses in a world dominated by large competitors, yet they deliver outstanding wines that very few can match.

It is often noted that Niepoort's Late Bottled Vintage Port as being better than many producers' declared vintages and the most traditional of LBV Ports. Time and energy go into this port, but not much is ever made: only top-quality fruit is used and bottled in the fourth year. Niepoort’s LBVs can age well but rarely do because they are consumed quickly due to their congenial, top-notch character. Typical Niepoort, this has intense, black fruits on the nose and elegant raspberry character on the palate. Overflowing with grand texture, classic Port sweetness, ample freshness and enchantingly persistent it is the absolute perfect match with chocolate. HALF BOTTLES AVAILABLE - $16.99

2018 DEVONA CABERNET
SAUVIGNON 'CHAMPOUX VINEYARD'
$65.99 BTL./$395.94 - SIX PACK

Year in and year out, the consistency and sheer deliciousness of this Argentine wine never fails and the latest iteration is no exception. Mentioned in the 19th century Bonarda is Argentina's second most planted grape varietal. In 2008 it was discovered that the Bonarda in Argentina is not Bonarda Novarese, which is from Piedmont but Douce Noir, a grape also known as Charbono, and whose roots are from France's Savoie region. Still as it has evolved, it is now something very distinctively Argentine and still delicious!

Colonias las Liberas is made by famed Malbec practitioner Altos las Hormigas and savory, frontal red aromas and flavors present themselves straight away and entice you to want to drink it at any moment. Juicy and supple, it smoothly accompanies anything from pizza to empanadas to grilled meat or veggies.