Hot Sheets

2011 OLIM BAUDA BARBERA D'ASTI
'LE ROCCHETTE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Having now known and been offering, buying and consuming Olim Bauda's Barbera wines since 2009, it is now quite a thrill to see brothers Dino & Gianni Bertolini receiving adulation for their wines both from wine-lovers and the pundits. Rocchette is from the eponymous-named vineyard in Isole d'Asti whose vines were planted in 1950 and instantaneously one can discover that this wine steps it up a level or six from most 20 buck Barbera D'Asti wines.

“The 2011 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Rocchette is a gorgeous, juicy wine to drink now and over the next few years. The 2011 stands out for its supple, gracious and totally inviting personality. Dark blackberries, flowers, violets and mint wrap around the vibrant, floral finish. The 2011 stands out for its persistence and fabulous sense of harmony. Drinking Window: 2013 – 2019 – 92 POINTS, ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS”

2008 QUINTA DO NOVAL
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE

Even though it's 80+ degrees and the sun is shining, for those of us who live in Portland, we know the imminent cold, raining sideways days and nights will arrive sooner than we'd like, so it's never too early to think about Port. Quinta do Noval is a very renowned Port Lodge and one who makes Ports that are among the most prestigious including their legendary vintage version called Nacional.

In 1958, this famed lodge was the first to introduce a Late Bottled Vintage Port. These days it is aged 4½ years in wood and comes from a single vineyard is is often regarded as an ‘approachable vintage port’. The 2008 LBV belies its subtle color and possesses ample character, depth and flavor. Very aromatic on the nose, filling your senses with wild berries, vanilla, a touch of walnuts and a serious presence of black licorice. Mouth filling, warm, inviting and leaving a pleasant, everlasting aftertaste long after the port is swallowed. Drink it with chocolate, a nice hunk of stilton, a cigar, or just by itself.

2013 COTO DE GOMARIZ
RIBEIRO BLANCO
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

2013 marks the 5th vintage that we have been working with this palate-seizing Spanish white wine from a producer who a few years ago was awarded Spain’s Best White Wine a few years back. One of the oldest wine regions in Spain, Eastern Galicia's Ribeiro region has been regaining prestige over the last decade. Located on the slopes of the Avia River valley, the vineyards of Coto de Gomariz were initially planted by Cisterian monks in the 10th century. With a mix of sand, clay and schist, dramatic steep vineyards, the wines express depth and minerality and Coto de Gomariz is certainly one of the area’s apex growers.

70% Treixadura, 15% Godello, 10% Albarino & 5% Loureira. Explosively aromatic with scintillating lemon and saline, sea-breeze scents combine with detailed mineral and anise that lurk beneath the surface. Flavorful, clean and very relaxed upon entry, but crescendos with impressive, bouncy pink grapefruit-like acidity that offsets the supple generosity that characterizes the front and middle-palate. Galicia is one of the world's greatest areas to eat seafood and this diverse wine is compatible with clams, crab, halibut, salmon, etc. If you love seafood, many bottles should be in order!

2013 MCMANIS PETITE SIRAH
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

Unpretentious and exactly what everyone should look for in a best buy California red. This offering always impresses every vintage that we taste it.

Cracked pepper, coriander, Thai-spice and flashy black raspberry fruit dominate the nose. Bold and nicely put together with lots of pepper and succulence in the mouth, this crowd-pleasing, toothsome red is perfect with ribs or chicken slathered with spicy, tangy barbecue sauce.

CHAMPAGNE AYALA BRUT MAJEUR
$44.99 BTL./$539.88 CASE

Owned by famed Champagne house Bollinger since 2005, one could refer to Ayala as a sibling house, however, the resulting bubblies differ in extreme fashion. Having been in exisitence since 1860, this Grandes Marques producer has gone through many periods of peaks and valleys but these days they are, as the French may say, en feu! Unlike Bollinger, Ayala utilizes less reserve wine in their blends (only up to 20%) as well as performing minimal dosage. These functions are meant to preserve the ultimate pristine quality of both the fruit and especially the minerality.

Brut Majeur is one of Ayala’s flagship cuvees. A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, this is a Champagne of significance, finesse and is absolutely pristine. Beautiful qualities of seductive, elevated, green apple, melon-marmalade fruit to shine on the nose. In the mouth, the bubbles are creamy and refined and show tightly focused breadth of flavor as well as having slow-building expansion and tense minerality. The finish is long, drawn out and calls you back for another glass! Great for a pre-dinner toast as well as for pairing with a shellfish platter.

2013 CASA SANTOS LIMA TINTO
'RESERVA DO MONTE'
$8.99 BTL./$107.88 CASE

Here we go again with another fun value from a fun wine region. Like their value-minded brethren from Argentina, Portugal is producing yummy wines that won't break the bank and will lead you to our favorite mantra, don't think, just drink!

Designated as Vinho Regional Lisboa, Reserva Do Monte is a new offering for us from a favorite producer who kills it with their wines that sell for under 10 bucks. Made with native varietals (Castelao, Trincadeira, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional), this red is hearty, ripe and full of spicy plum and herbs along with enticing scents of vanilla and nutmeg. Flirtatious, generous, juicy and flavorful, this wine is perfect for everyday sipping with everyday meals.

2012 BUCKLIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
'OLD HILL RANCH'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

Bucklin Estate is four siblings fortunate enough to make wine from grapes off their family ranch, which happens to be one of Sonoma Valley's oldest and most prestigious Zinfandel vineyards, Old Hill Ranch. Old Hill Ranch is a historic jewel and is thought to be the oldest vineyard in Sonoma. Founded by William McPherson Hill in 1851, Arden, Kate, William and Ted Bucklin's mother and stepfather, Anne and Otto Teller, purchased the vineyard in 1981 and sold grapes to Joel Peterson at Ravenswood Winery for their top tier vineyard designate Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel. Now making wines under their own label since 2000, Bucklin and Ravenswood are the sole producers of wine from the vineyard.

Old Hill Vineyard is famed for Zinfandel but there are other varietals planted and they thrive beautifully. The Cabernet Sauvignon for this site was planted in 1982 and up until 2004 was leased to BR Cohn. The yields here are very modest and in 2012 a mere 500 cases were produced. Large-scaled full Cabernet aromas of ripe blackberry, cigar, a kiss of mint and plenty of allspice and milk chocolate are echoed in the stacked and substantial texture that possesses plenty of spice. Slightly drier than a Napa Cab, it is true to the full-structured 2012 vintage. Dense and chewy from start to finish, there will be no problem in aging this wine for another 8-10 years. If you open one, we recommend decanting.

2012 EYRIE PINOT NOIR
'ORIGINAL VINES RESERVE'
$74.99 - LIMITED!

This is likely the last call for this collectible Oregon Pinot. So often is the case we are a nation of here and now. Opposite of this statement is Eyrie Vineyards. David Lett, who was widely regarded as the curmudgeonly grandfather of Oregon wine left a great legacy behind and his son Jason is carrying it on in reverent fashion. Ultimately, many folks want to drink these wines straight after release when they are commonly tighter than a tick, which is a pity because these wines ultimately unfold and become some of the classiest and purest of all of Oregon wines.

Eyrie's Reserve comes from the estate's Original Pinot Noir vines that planted in 1965. 2012 is a vintage that will provide sexy depth of fruit but this wine is certainly tightly wound and very youthful with plenty of red berry and red flowers. Extremely pure and gentle and there are terrific Dundee Hills scents that are awaiting to come out with time. Lots of breed and satisfying strawberry tones that are delineated and locked in. The material here is ultra-impressive and it is on the finish where this statement is fully realized. There is a swan beneath the surface; give it until 2019 then drink it through 2030 to obtain the maximum pleasure that is in this bottle. Lastly, if it’s all about numbers for you, this wine has 96 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.