Friday Sips

For over a decade now we have had amazing success selling the ever-delicious Haut-Rian Bordeaux Blanc. In fact, we have taken to calling it “Cellar Door Water” because we drink so much of it for sustenance alone! Over the past couple of years the biggest eye-opener for us is just how awesome Michel Dietrich’s red wines have become and this dude absolutely killed it in the grand 2010 vintage!

Sensual blueberry scents shine along with a backdrop of mocha, jasmine, lilac and excellent purity and earth tones. Stylish, mouth-filling, very smoothly-textured that flows very nicely with depth and vibrancy to the over-delivering, complex finish. Not only does this wine have a big pleasure factor, it has more dimension than ever should be in a 12 dollar wine. A versatile red wine to enjoy with so many dishes and we highly encourage you to add it to your everyday drinking repertoire.

On Bordeaux’s Right Bank (Pomerol, St-Emilion, Cotes-de-Bordeaux) vintage 2010 has even surpassed the grandness of 2009. Michel Dietrich feels this is his finest work in his entire career in Bordeaux which spans back to 1988.

From 35-30 year old vines, this is a darker and deeply-colored wine with a presence of cassis, Italian plum and vanilla along with undertones of sage, North African spice and anise. Layered and with good impact in the mouth, Loads of depth but plenty of spine and firm Cabernet character from the healthy dose that’s within this wine. Broad-scaled yet very smooth finish that spreads out very nicely. Ample character and aging potential although this is pretty damn irresistible at the moment! Michel opened up a 2002 in 2011 and he makes even better wines now. Get the picture on how well these can age for not much money?

If there is one under $20 Rose that is a MUST try, this is the one!! Hot on the heels of last year's success comes the newly released, extremely alluring, 2012 CDR Rosé from one of our favorite Chateauneuf producers, Domaine de Beaurenard.

Energetic elegance, lithe fragrances reveal agile tones of cherry pit, lime, mineral, and a likable combination of hawthorn and fennel. Plenty of depth and body along with breezy, provencal snap in the mouth this is essence of citrus that's been "cuisinarted" with the crunchy bits around the pit of a red plum. Sterling persistence, this illuminating rosé will work with friends but also smokes with white fish like halibut or sea bass that's been doused with good olive oil an spiked with garlic and fennel.

93 POINTS – THE WINE SPECTATOR
Super St-Joseph from one of the most influential addresses in Cornas. When Alain Voge took on Alberic Mazoyeres as a partner, Alberic brought along a little over 2 acres of St-Joseph from the classic portion of the appellation, one parcel in Mauves and the other in Glun, 2 of the original 6 St-Joseph villages.

Aged in entirely in small French barriques, but none new, this is a sultry bottle of ageworthy Saint-Jo! A masculine nose with dominating protein tones along with smoked plum, black olive, freshly ground pepper and violet which all become more regal as the wine unfolds in the glass. Tightly packed right now in the mouth, but plenty of finesseful fruit and well-rounded tannins provide structure and backbone. The finish is poised, mouthwatering, very granitic-spice-driven along with plenty of material, persistence and promise. Truly the essence of French Syrah, drink this through 2022+.