Hot Sheets

Known within the wine biz but not so well known with wine consumers Beaux Freres limited production, under 30 buck Pinot Noir called Les Cousins. The beautiful thing about this particular wine is that it is a barrel selection of all estate fruit rather than purchased stuff. 2011 provided a mere 300 cases and while this wine is not the stature of their big estate or Willamette Valley bottling, it is a nice Beaux Freres experience nonetheless.

Blackberry cobbler aromas dominate with building undercurrents of jasmine, anise, hints of pepper and red earth. Focused flavors, very vivid and showing cool, airy aspects which carry over into a silky, finely-tuned finish. Great for drinking over the next 4-5 years.

One that I have been impatiently waiting to arrive, this is one of the most impressive Southern Italian white wines that I have had in a long time! Angelo Muto owns a mere 10 acres in the Avellino zone of Campania, about an hour east of Naples, and makes only one wine, this Greco di Tufo. A multiple-time Tre Bicchieri Award winner from Gambero Rosso, I tasted this for the first time last week and considered doing a backflip over its impeccable character and quality.

Greco is the oldest grape varietal of the Avellino area in Southern Italy. Originally imported from the Greek region of Thessaly some 2500 years ago. Regarded as one of Italy's finest white wine grapes, Greco, especially from the Tufo has gained renown for its refined, complex characteristics and Angelo's version happens to be one beautiful beast. The first words out of my mouth when smelling this from the glass are unsuitable for this e-mail ;-). The transparency of the vineyard’s exposed limestone soil is immediately evident with jaunting, energetic minerality. Peach, meyer lemon, honeysuckle, thyme and saline seep up from the glass and excite the olfactory senses. Brilliant clarity and briskness surround a sultry, silky texture that seemingly covers the entire palate. Coats, cleanses, cuts back and then scores!! Oceanic flavors arrive on the finish that's poised and seemingly everlasting. Grand Cru Greco!?!?! I see a bowl of piping hot pasta with clams, scallops and calamari dressed in olive oil and lemon in our future...

For only the 3rd time ever, La Rioja Alta has labeled this Reserva as Reserva Especial. Along with 1964 and 1973, the estate feels that there is something very special about this old-school Rioja and the 2001 vintage…and after tasting it about 7 months ago, I really have to concur! Always a devout traditional wine and producer, La Rioja Alta exceeded expectations in this monumental vintage. Incredibly undervalued, the current release is 2001, and is an absolutely brilliant wine.

Here the color is amber-ruby and the wine is more akin to a fine Barolo or Burgundy than a full-on cab or plush merlot. Insane complexity and finesseful aromas of dry-rub spices, melted cherry, sweet tobacco, mineral, vanilla-bean and red licorice. Sensuously textured with lovely ripeness and cushion, this wine crawls, teases and pleases throughout the mouth all the way to the long, ethereal brilliant, high-toned finish. Stunning now and will easily age another 10-15 years as well. Our supplier scored a bit more of this amazing, old-school Rioja so we’re offering it again for those who may have missed it or for those who want some more. Serve it with a slow-roasted leg of lamb or pork tenderloin, it is a match made in heaven. If you need scores for reassurance, 94 points from The Wine Advocate.

*MAGNUMS AVAILABLE - $75.00
*HALF BOTTLES AVAILABLE - $19.99

Known for its great value, Gascogny, in the hands of a really good winemaker like Gilles Baumann, can drop excellent wines with bargain prices. Baumann's Cassagnoles is entirely estate grown and bottled. Ugni Blanc, Gros Manseng & Colombard, the 2011 is simply ravishing and perfect slamming.

Blazing, enticing clean scents of lime, smoke, mineral and blossoms. Obscenely fresh, crisp and bursting in the mouth. Bright, lively, thirst-quenching and dry from front to back. At this price, we encourage you to open a bottle or six. Drink with shrimp, veggies or by itself

For the longest time we have only seen the white wines from Domaine des Cassagnoles available in our area. For the first time we are offering up one of their flavorful red wines. Have you ever gone shopping for groceries while not knowing what you want to eat and many times you come home with a box of Twinkies. This concept is very similar to shopping for inexpensive merlot without a good compass. You get it home, pull the cork and have it open into a puree of okra-stuffed green peppers with a healthy dose of misplaced oak. This wine breaks the mold. If you have had this grower's wonderful white wines, you will surely love his Merlot!

Indicative of its Gascogne roots, it shows off luscious scents of blueberry, kirsch, mineral and smoke that lead into a plush, generous and very likeable texture that finishes way above the norm for its price level. Serve slightly cool (about cellar temperature) with roasted or grilled chicken.

Cristina Geminiani, who is one of Italy's finest producers, makes wines that are some of the country's true unearthed treasures. Located in Emilia-Romagna, specifically Romagna, between Bologna and the coast, on the "opposite" side of the Apennines, the influence of the Adriatic Sea plays more of a role, and hence her expressions of Sangiovese are very different their Tuscan neighbors. The 2007 Torre di Ceperano Sangiovese is from specially clones planted at high density, this wine shows a pretty and sophisticated quality that has knockout depth.

Nicely intertwined with luscious blackberry, sage, some vanilla/coffee notes, and hints of licorice with a texture that is about as smooth and soulful. Polished, generous and having everything just in its right place, then finishing up with long flavors that call you back for another taste! Drink through 2018.

Pour this wine and play stump the jock with your favorite person who fancies himself or herself a wine expert…have them guess the grapes on this fun, lower alcohol red wine! One of only 10 producers in the Cangas region in Asturias located between Galicia to the west and Cantabria to the east, Monasterio De Corias's 6 Octavos is a blend of Carrasquin, Verdejo Negro, Albarin Negro and Mencía aged without any intrusive oak and 12.5° alcohol.

Intriguing, breezy stony, spicy-earthy tones are nicely enhanced by perfumed cherry blossoms and saline aspects. Bright, succulent and wiry, this cool wine possesses no shortage of depth, personality or accentuation. A red to pair with fish or some sort of charcuterie.

Chateau Montelena is one of the old guard California wines that still excites and thrills. Not their three-digit-plus Estate bottling, the Napa Cab possesses plenty of "it" factor and still remains a relative bargain given the strength of the Napa dollar these days.

"A big, mouth filling wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, shows the personality of the vintage in its intense fruit. There is plenty of underlying structure in this deep, resonant Cabernet Sauvignon. Mint, flowers and sweet red berries are some of the nuances that are woven into the finish. This is far from an easygoing Napa Cabernet. Although delicious today, it should drink well for a number of years. Another year or so in bottle should help the elements come together even more fully. The 2010 is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. - 92 points - The Wine Advocate"