Hot Sheets

2013 BOCARD BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE

Virtual Meursault! That is what a good friend of ours calls it. He is actually right because the man who does this wine is an authentic Meursault Maniac! So, when was the last time you had Meursault for 20 bucks? Trust us; you will have it here because all of the vineyard sites are located within the borders of the village of Meursault.

A visit to Guy Bocard is akin to going to Meursault School with the lesson one receives on the minute differences between the sites and terroirs within this famous village. We are in love with the best of the white Burgundies for the 2008 vintage. An electric pillow, Guy Bocard has once again brought forth another overachiever. Lemon, almond, pure mineral qualities with underlying grain and spice tones. Impressive depth and briskness, the Meursault cushion and expanse is present in all forms. While this wine is always accessible right out of the chute, we often find that it is even more glorious with an extra year's age on it as it has now. Have it with sautéed scallops in a beurre blanc sauce, roasted chicken or fresh crab.

2010 MARQUES DE MURRIETA
RIOJA RESERVA
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE

‘The blend for the 2010 Rioja Reserva varies depending on the growing season. In the warm and ripe 2009 it was 93% Tempranillo, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Graciano and 1% Garnacha Tinta, always from their own vineyards and hand-harvested between October 2 and 23. Maria the winemaker thinks the Garnacha does not add much to their blend. The grapes fermented separately in stainless-steel vats and the wine aged for 21 months in American oak barrels. There is gob-smacking precision and elegance here. It's a pure wine with no oak that is super harmonious, floral and fragrant. I simply fell in love with the nose. Now onto the palate. The entry is really fluid, and then it explodes in your mouth, filling it along a thread of fine acidity making it long and tasty. It has the same astonishing purity and harmony, focus and precision found in the nose. This has to be the best Reserva from Murrieta in recent times. Bravo! – 93 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’

2012 MARCHESI DI GRESY DOLCETTO D'ALBA
'MONTE ARIBALDO'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Marchesi di Gresy's Dolcetto comes from the Barbaresco village of Treiso and is sourced from the high elevation, south-facing Monte Aribaldo hill. Due to the excellent site, over the years Bryan has often referred to this wine as Dolcetto-plus. Di Gresy's 2012 Dolcetto is so soulfully-smooth-good that it probably has both Isaac Hayes and Barry White swooning with envy from the heavens. Direct, enticing qualities of ripe blueberry, cranberry and subtle minerality virtually beam from the glass. Loads of gorgeous, dry-berry fruit in the mouth give way to a finesseful characteristic that is indicative of Barbaresco-area Dolcetto. Drink this superb red with smoked meat, sausage, salami or hearty pasta dishes.

2014 CAMERON SAIGNEE ROSE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

We know John Paul of Cameron certainly has a bit of a crazy streak in him but fortunately for all of us it is the good kind of crazy. Saignee Rose done in this style was once popular in Burgundy but as time has passed and land becoming more and more valuable, it is now something that outside of Marsannay we never get the chance to see or experience. That is unless you are in Oregon’s Dundee Hills.

2014 is the latest vintage for Cameron’s Saignee Rose of Pinot Noir. Saignee, meaning bled, comes from Pinot Noir juice that is run off, then put into neutral oak barrels followed by elevation there for 15+ months before bottling. This is not a porch type of Rose, it is one that cries for food and must be treated as seriously as one of Cameron’s top red or white wines. The bouquet is prominently flavored with strawberry fruit, spice, broom, apricot and grapefruit. The mouthfeel is rich and sumptuous picking up electricity as it stretches across the palate. A glorious Rose that is both intriguing and delicious, forming an outstanding alliance with scallops, salmon marinated with fresh dill, plus sweet and sour pork.

2013 CARPE DIEM NAPA VALLEY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

It is uncommon to obtain top-notch Napa Valley cab made by an excellent source for a price such as this, so if you love Napa and California Cab we are highly encouraging you to give this one a go. It's all about performance and in this price category this wine is way undervalued. Where else can one score a wine that is vinified by the folks at Dominus? Think about that next time you trip over your shoelaces to grab a $50+ dollar bottle of Trendy-Thingy Double Reserve Cab!

Version 2013 is a bit more robust and muscular than usual but this doesn't deter from the fact that it is exquisitely crafted. Bordeaux-inspired earth and finesse without ever sacrificing the Napa Valley warmth and deep fruit, there is a plethora of cassis, blackberry and cedar to go along with undertones of vanilla, graphite and tobacco. Lots of texture here along with generous mulled spice and red earth. Picks up more backbone as it slides to the handsomely poised finish. A steal of a Napa Valley Cab that will drink and develop through 2023.

2014-PATIENT-COTTAT SAUVIGNON BLANC
'LE GRAND CAILLOU'
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE

From an ace Sancerre producer, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc is as stated, big stones, and a great alternative to many $20-$25 versions. A combination of Sauvignon grapes that hail from the village of Verdigny in the Sancerre district, along with some sources from just outside the zone, Patient-Cottat's delicious Sauvignon delivers a hell of a lot of bang for the buck! If you love Sancerre as much as we do, you will be totally convinced by this offering's insatiable nose! Exciting chalky/seashore aromas conjoin with underlying perfumy lemon and grapefruit. Livewire, elevated, ethereal and very mouth-watering, this radiantly focused white is perfect fodder with oysters, mussels or shrimp, but is the bomb with chevre.

2014 PORCUPINE RIDGE SYRAH
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE

A friendly and savory Syrah from South Africa that is sure to appease a crowd of diverse palates. Not too heavy and not too light, it possesses all of the trappings of scrumptious Syrah with scents of blackberry, violet, woodsmoke and cracked pepper. In the mouth, it is supple and mouthfilling all while letting you know that it is much more distinguished than most Shiraz/Syrah wines that are in the overflowing ten-buck category. If you love drinkable Syrah and a good deal, load up ‘cause this one merits buying by the trunkload!

2013 ROSTAING COTE-ROTIE 'AMPODIUM'
$79.99 BTL.

From the simple guzzling Syrah above we go to straight to the moon be featuring one of the world’s greatest!! We rarely ever get the chance to offer the legendary Rene Rostaing’s brilliant Côte-Rôtie wines simply because there is very little wine produced. Rostaing has been a grower since 1971 acquiring small parcels of Cote Blonde and La Landonne. What put Rostaing squarely on the map was the retirement of his father-in-law Albert Gentaz Dervieux followed a few years later by Albert’s brother Marius, 2 of Cote-Rotie’s most important growers thus bringing his total to just over 20 acres. Rostaing is out to prove that Cote-Rotie is its own animal and should never aspire to be Hermitage or Barossa, just something super complex and comfortable in its own skin. These wines some of the world’s finest Syrah wines and exquisite for those who love to collect.

Formerly known as Classique and now named after the old Provencal name of Ampuis, vintage 2013 is, classic, prolific, cerebral, evasive and potentially very long-lived. Aromas of violet, plum, wet chalkboard, black olive and pronounced black pepper lead into a texture that is chewy and youthfully backward. Sensual deep fruit is present as is the wines impeccable, Grand Cru depth. Integrated subtle vanilla tones chime in at the end with herbs, more smoke, pepper and plenty of structure, depth and a graham-like minerality. This is a special occasion, wow wine needing several years in the cellar. Drink 2020 – 2030+.

There is also a small smattering of 2013 single vineyard Cote Blonde and La Landonne available. Inquire!