Hot Sheets

Matt Kinne is probably the best Oregon Pinot producer that you've never heard of. Having made wine under his McKinlay label since the mid 80s, Shrewd Oregon Pinot lovers and aficionados know just how good these are. If you appreciate the likes of Cameron, Thomas or Evesham Wood, these are definitely for you! Red berry, violet, soft smoke, and elusive herbs and spices are the characteristics of the wine....In the mouth, it is very young and compacted, but underneath it's velvety, concentrated and long-legged without being jammy. Shows well early but this wine also has a tendency to age better than one might believe given its price point!

Helmut Dönnhoff is God!!! Noted in the New York Times article "Wine's Sweet Spot is a $20 Bill" by Eric Asimov as a top value: "Dönnhoff is one of the great Riesling producers. The estate riesling is a blend of grapes from several different sites and offers more than initially meets the eye. Poured directly from a chilled bottle, it seems gently pleasant and lightly sweet at first. But as the wine warms up, its elegant nature becomes apparent, and a richness and rocky minerality emerge."

A project from famed Napa vintner Ray Signorello and 3 of his childhood friends is the impeccably-formed, very fine indeed Edge Cabernet Sauvignon. Meant to offer bang for the buck, one taste and you'll quickly conclude that it undeniably does even more than that! Regal, upscale aromas that display both Napa terroir and warmth of fruit define this Cab's signature. Fragrances of blackberry, tobacco, hints of violet and vanilla integrate nicely carrying a texture that is supple, round and seemingly laced with powdered chocolate touched with spicy earth.

One of the real stalwarts in the Macon region, the Chardonnay-based (yes, this is the name of the village where the grape came from) Domaine Michel is one of the producers who led the charge to Viré-Clessé into attaining appellation status in 1998. Known for the Viré-Clessé, Domaine Michel also makes a more affordable and quite prolific Mâcon-Villages. The fruit for this white Burgundy hails from the villages of Chardonnay and Viré and shows mineral and detail alongside creamy mandarin and lime fruit. Impacting with a mouth-filling texture that seemingly soars throughout, loads of zesty freshness and lift bring everything together. This is amazing with fish done in a fine sauce or something based around mushrooms.

Forming a virtual horseshoe surrounding 3 sides of its more famous skyward neighbor, Priorat, Montsant is being led by numerous young producers like Josep Maria Vendrell Rived. Along with being a great fan of the seminal band, The Pixes, Josep Maria Vendrell Rived also happens to be one hell of a vigneron in this area. Montsant's soils are very different than those of Priorat. For this cuvee, the vines are grown in a calcareous/clay combination and the wine comprised of 80% Grenache & 20% Carignan. Teeming with white pepper and Asiatic spice along with broad black raspberry overtones, this broad and fantastically forward charmer shows tremendous presence of depth and fruit. The finish is extensive and drawn-out and makes you reach for the bottle again and again until it's time to uncork another. Enjoy with grilled chicken or pork dusted with a bit of fennel.

One of the iconic collectible Rioja wines, the stellar Muga estate has followed up their magnificent 2004 with a 2005 that is at least, if not even more its equal. "The 2005 Prado Enea Gran Reserva spends 36-months in oak, nine months in new oak after which it is racked into American oak that is "semi-new" (i.e. a new barrel that is "broken in" with a wine beforehand). It has an unashamedly opulent bouquet of primal, ripe, boysenberry, mulberry, dark chocolate and crushed violets that blossom with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with crisp acidity cutting through the pure blackberry and cassis fruit. It has wonderful focus and intensity, though the finish demonstrates convincing composure. This is an outstanding Gran Reserva whose silky texture will instantly win you over. Drink 2013-2030+. – 95 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE"

8 bucks goes a long, long way in this case! A producer in NE Italian region of Friuli's Latisania area and a hearty, mouth-filling, crowd-pleasing blend of 70% Refosco and 30% Cabernet Franc. Soulful, over-delivering strawberry, raspberry, pepper and tangy Italian earth. Smooth, succulent and quite hearty with depth and mouthwatering vibrancy and persistence. A lovely lasagna wine but will also pair well with hors d'oeuvres, sausages or fried chicken. A great mid-week wonder.

A blend of 80% Montepulciano & 20% Sangiovese, this lip-smacking red comes from just inland from the Adriatic Sea in the Central Italian region of Le Marches. Savory and tangy scents of raspberry, mineral, smoke, some hints of sage and licorice that surround it. An honest, red wine of pleasure with smooth fruit, spicy outer edges, and displaying succulence and earth. A red wine for seafood, especially a hearty fish stew that has been spiked with Pernod, Ricard, or some other anise base.

From the highly regarded Chianti producer San Felice. Ridiculously-priced and a wine that has effectively caused their other blended red from Maremma to go into hiding. Unlike the Tenuta Perolla, the Contrada comes from sites around Castelnuovo Berardenga and Siena. Crowd-pleasing, direct and with deceptive power. Alluring freshness behind the suppleness provides instant gratification from start to finish. A great Italian red that will appeal to many palates.