Hot Sheets

2015 OLIM BAUDA BARBERA D'ASTI
'LE ROCCHETTE'
$19.99 BTL./$119.94 - SIX PACK

Introduced to Tenuta Olim Bauda's wines a few years ago, I instantly loved them and visited the estate back in 2010. Safe to say meeting with brothers Dino & Gianni Bertolini and experiencing the family's wines it was a most educational way to learn more about the Asti region. The estate itself is located in Incisa Scapaccino with the vines for this award-winning Barbera coming from the village of Nizza Monferrato. These areas make up the spiritual heart of the Asti region of Piedmont and are from the eponymous-named vineyard in Isole d'Asti whose vines were planted in 1950.

Vinous driving nose of hearty Italian plum, mineral, gentle kisses of smoke and underlying cherry pit character. Big-boned with its fruit and velvety texture yet full of elegance and suaveness. A luminous presence of vividness follows through to a drawn-out lavish finish that displays hints of milk chocolate, coffee and plenty of fullness while maintaining poise and freshness. Very lingering, this wine is a steal for 20 bucks.

2015 OLIM BAUDA NIZZA
$31.99 BTL./$191.94 - SIX PACK

Starting with the 2014 vintage, the area of Nizza has become its own appellation. Still made with 100% Barbera, Nizza’s regulations are very focused indeed. Only from 18 specific villages, Grape: 100% Barbera. Maximum yield: 49 hl/ha. Minimum alcohol: 13% (13.5%, if it is a single vineyard). Minimum barrel aging: 6 months (or 12 months for wine labelled 'Riserva'). Minimum total aging: 18 months (or 30 months for wine labelled 'Riserva'). The best news of all is after the success that Olim Bauda had with their 2014 version; we are pleased to unleash the powerful yet smoothly fashioned, profound 2015!

Deep, alluring and integrated all while showing typical Asti red-earth traits along with sheer intensity of the fruit that comes from a combination of old vines and superior terroir-laden sites. Ardent and symphonic, Olim Bauda’s Nizza runs the gamut of complexity from blackberry fruit and rose petal to subtle chocolate and mineral tones. The finish is super-long, touches all points of the palate and threatens to break just about any stopwatch. Ultra-sexy now and will continue to develop and drink well through 2026, enjoy it with hearty meat dishes or risotto. If scores are your thing, this has 93 points from The Wine Spectator.

MAGNUMS - $69.99...THREE LITERS - $159.99

2014 CHATEAU PEY-MARTIN MEDOC
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

It is amazing at just how delicious this wine is showing after another year in the bottle. Chateau Pey-Martin is in the Northern part of the Medoc vineyard. The Gironde Estuary lies to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west. This geographical location; surrounded by water, protects the wines and moderates the climat. The soil is a mix of gravel and clayey limestone and the resulting wine is the epitome of a fine Bordeaux blend.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc with the Cab Sauv showing off immediately with very engaging aspects of cassis and blackberry. Underlying mineral and plum with just a kiss of oak. Lush entry, some marine aspects, finesse and smoothed out. A perfect bistro Bordeaux that pairs well with duck, lamb or beef. A real steal at fifteen bucks. Think about that when you reach for some overoaked and underwined version from up north.

2018 CAMERON GIULIANO
DUNDEE HILLS BIANCO
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

As usual, there are limited amounts of the electrifying Cameron Giuliano available. A very exciting classic Northern Italian-influenced blend of 5 different white grape varieties (Predominantly Friulano fermented in amphorae, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Auxerrois and Moscato), this is scintillating white wine and year in and year out, one of Oregon's finest.

Upon smelling, it is difficult not to believe that it would be from NE Italy and not the Dundee Hills. Soaring scents of tangerine, white flowers and enhanced by forthright minerality. This seamless beauty coats your mouth with flavors kept in perfect balance by briskness and minerality derived from Dundee Hills vines planted in basalt-driven soils. This wine screams for seafood, in particular simple preparations of crab, shrimp, and even halibut. Nothing brings a bit of sunshine quite like a little Cameron Giuliano.

2016 CALERA CHARDONNAY
CENTRAL COAST
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Over the last few years, Calera's Cenral Coast Chardonnay has received our unsanctioned 20-buck Cali-Chardonnay of the Year award. In 2017, Calera was sold and we are awaiting to see just what will happen. This wine was made by the old regime and quite delicious indeed.

Josh Jensen is one of America's influential producers putting forth wines that are inspired by his love of Burgundy and this selection is always a great steal. Emitting smoothness and class from the get-go with honeyed-citrus scents, pear, mineral and well placed and woven-in spices from a thoughtful use of oak, the wine is creamy and deep in the mouth. Flavorful with good bounce, extremely balanced and zippy with a follow-through that's engaging, lingering and one to make you want to have another sip to see what the next dimension in this laid-back and ethereal Chardonnay has to offer.

2017 J. PORTUGA RAMOS ALENTEJANA
TINTO 'VILA SANTA LOIOS'
$8.49 BTL./$101.88 CASE

Originally garnering a reputation as a consultant for other properties in the 80s and 90s, Joao Portugal Ramos set about doing his own wines in the warm-climate Alentejano region, a large growing area east of Lisbon and stretching to the Spanish border.

A killer value, the 2017 Loios is tasty, hearty and very user friendly. Aged solely in stainless steel tanks, made from three native varietals (35% Aragones, 35% Trincadeira and 30% Castelao) exquisite scents of blueberry, licorice and savory balsamic tones roll from the glass. On the palate it is engaging, shows nice warmth and fleshy characteristics with nice spicy-earth on the back end.

2016 DOMAINE COURBISSAC MINERVOIS
'LES TRAVERSES'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Languedoc is one of the few remaining "sleeping giants" in the wine world. In the past and even still, this part of the South of France was known for producing large volumes of low quality wine. Today, thanks to the efforts of many talented young winemakers, the region is producing excellent wines, discovering apex terroirs that have always been here but have never properly been utilized. Beloved Minervois has taken on newfound popularity with wine geeks due to its rising qualities in the bottle.

Made from almost equal portions of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, even though this wine utilizes the same grapes, it is very different from its Rhone brethren. Offering up ambrosial scents of strawberry, black licorice, some plum and smoked meat with depth but cooler, elevated freshness so never to be cloying or boozy. Penetrating and elaborate in the mouth with layers of flavor and refinement, excellent body in the middle and back with an uncommonly long, dark finish that is decidedly marked with cracked black pepper notations. Enjoy this superb French wine over the next few years, especially with hearty stews, perhaps laced with olives.

2009 FALCHINI CAMPORA
$37.50 BTL./$225.00 - SIX PACK

The story here is quite crazy. Back in the 70s before many of famous names in Tuscany became superstars there were, and still are, old friendships that turned into collaborations. Riccardo Falchini became quite a Vernaccia di San Gimignano producer and wanted to do reds. His friend Giacomo Tachis, yes, the same dude behind names like Antinori and Sassicaia advised him quite well and his love of Bordeaux came about on his land in this area. Now Riccardo’s son Michael is in charge and there are times that he opens up the library and offers older versions. Last year we featured the 1998 and this year we are playing a game called ‘decades’ as we are offering this ten year old wine, followed by the twenty year old just below.

2009 is a very successful but warm Tuscan vintage. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, this wine is evidence of what the conditions brought as well as the superb terroir of Falchini’s Camporaiolo vineyard. Packed with full fruit and Italian nuances, blackcurrant, hints of allspice, balsamico, dried violet, and bold plum are at the forefront. Dense and expansive with plenty of dimension, this wine builds towards a deep finish that is lifting, redolent of Cabernet and best yet, very Italian. Perfect with a grilled T-bone steak or hearty meat-laden pappardelle pasta dish. Drink over the next 4-6+ years.

1999 FALCHINI CAMPORA
$44.99 BTL./$269.94 - SIX PACK

Last year many of you experienced the excellent 1998 Campora and we were thrilled that the 1999 is being offered now. 1998 and 2009 are lovely vintages but for Tuscany, in general 1999 is epic. A powerful vintage early on, these wines needed some time to unfurl and develop their ultimate personalities but now at age 20 the best are singing in five-octave range.

For this wine, I recommend a slow decant for the wine to slowly open. Unlike the bold fruitiness of the 2009, the 1999 is showing more secondary and tertiary aspects with its aromas and flavors. Red earth, dried violet, sage, nutmeg, mineral, kisses of dried cherry and tobacco and even more eventually roll from the glass. As it sits, it changes its personality and becomes even more compelling. The texture is stylishly smooth but there is plenty of supporting acidity and grip. The finish is earth and herb tinged with plenty of remaining ripeness. Perfect to drink now but definitely with your legs under the table. Try it with a Sunday roast or a nicely aged Pecorino cheese from Tuscany.

FRIDAY SIPS

Tuscan Wines

FEATURED WINES:

2009 Falchini Campora
2018 Prelius Vermentino
2016 Rocca di Frassinello ‘Poggio all Guardia’ Rosso