Hot Sheets

It's amazing just how many good French Chardonnays are out there at this price level and perhaps the biggest surprise is that a few come from some truly amazing producers like Francois Carillon. A renowned Puligny-Montrachet producer, this cat's expertise extends through the entire range. From the grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet to this excellent Bourgogne Chardonnay, the performance levels of the entire range is fantastic.

Impressive, upscale aromas indicate that this wine is wearing virtual platform Puligny-Montrachet shoes. Not quite the ones Frenchy Fuqua wore back in the 70s with the goldfish in the see-through soles, which means that while it isn't the grands vins, many tendencies and influences of it are abound. White peach, mineral, rum-butter, orange and kaffir lime scents stand out and follow through to an exciting texture that is rich and is buffered by excellent citrus tones. The finish is electric with impressive viscosity and length. A total instant gratification wine this will be perfect for quite a bit of upscale seafood dishes or roasted chicken.

This blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese is a smooth, full-bodied cru made in an innovative ripasso style that borders on being baby Amarone. Since it includes Sangiovese, it loses its Valpolicella status but Allegrini could care less as they are more committed to making good Palazzo della Torre and not to be choked by regulations.

Dense and deep ruby red in color, the 2009 is loaded with luscious aromas of currant, blackberry and licorice, followed by hints of raisins and plums. Full-bodied and rich, with firm yet juicy tannins, it is a classic accompaniment to grilled or roasted meats and barbecued ribs. Year in and year out this wine is one of Italy's fine values. Lovers of big reds need to jump all over this one!

If we were to do our year-end list at only 10 months, our bubbly value producer of 2013 would easily be Bodega Cruzat. This relatively young estate is led by long-time Argentine winemaker Pedro Federico Rosell who has an insane passion for Champagne and at a late age, decided to create a winery to produce the best bubbles in South America. Suffice to say, he succeeded in rapid fashion! Having been hugely inspired by Bollinger, Roederer and the likes, this particular offering is aged on the lees for 5 years before being disgorged which gives it way more complexity than ever should be at this price.

Virtual brioche in a bottle, if you like a toasty sparkling wine, this is for you. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. Red apple wafts from the glass along with obvious overtones of biscuit and hazelnut; in the mouth it is inviting, regal, full of elevation and zest all with a finesseful, creamy mousse. The finish is very refined, classy and long. A fantastic sparkling wine that won't break the bank! Have it for toasting, guzzling, celebrating or with goat cheese or a flaky white fish in sauce.

Specializing in wines from Argentina, Vine Connections is an importer who brings many of our favorite family-owned estates from this country. One that I have known of but have never worked with in the past is Hermanos. The Domingo brothers and their estate are very much on the Argentine wine map these days. Offering stellar value wines from their super-high elevation vineyards (5300 – 7300 feet!) in the Calchaqui Valley of the Salta region north of Mendoza, I was quite impressed with this flavorful blend that I tasted earlier this week.

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and loaded with jammy blackberry aromas that combine with undercurrents of nutmeg and chocolate for a texture that is lavish, luscious and full of surprising grip. High elevation briskness brings it all together. Enjoy this wholesome, hearty red with a perfectly grilled steak.

A most-engaging value from Southern France, close to the Rhone and just in the foothills of the Ardeche, Mas D'Intras practices organic farming and puts forth excellent wines that distinctively taste and smell like France.

Inviting, engaging and very fresh from not utilizing any oak in the elevage of the wine. 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache. Peppery, spicy, old-school pomegranate and licorice qualities. Smooth, gently mouth-filling and extremely versatile. Perfect with ham, sausages or other grilled foods.

A few weeks back we did a Friday Sips tasting featuring Washington blends. Alas, and not intentionally, we didn't feature one of the top Washington producers who happens to excels in the art of blending. Spellbinder is typical of Trey Busch's style, powerful yet with velvety edges.

50% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 9% Syrah, and 2% Sangiovese. Aromas of red cherry and black cherry mesh well with well-placed oak scents of mocha and nutmeg. The texture here is mouth-coating and forward with minimal presence of tannin. Classic Washington dusty aspects come through as well as hints of dried herbs. The finish is packed with fruit and spice. Drink this now through 2017. Great to drink while you're waiting for your more treasured Washington wines to properly develop!

Over the years many of you have been able to experience the range of wines from the renowned Chateauneuf-du-Pape producer, Domaine de Beaurenard. The Coulon family has been producing wine in Chateauneuf-du-pape since 1695, so there is an abundance of experience! Boisrenard is the family's top Chateauneuf and is from 90-110 year old vines with the yields being kept to about 1 ton per acre!! This wine also receives huge accolades and the 2010 is no exception with a huge 97 point score from The Wine Spectator.

"Contains some exotic fruitblueberry paste, boysenberry and raspberry confiture, and pastis-soaked currantbut it's a brick house too, with Turkish coffee, bittersweet chocolate and lots of singed wood spice notes fanning out on the finish. A great spine allows the elements to echo through the finish without faltering. Best from 2015 through 2030. – 97 POINTS, THE WINE SPECTATOR"

Bryan has seen and tasted this wine several times since its infancy and feels that it may well be one of the finest Pinots that DDO has ever produced…and one of the wines of the stunning 2010 vintage! True to form of the vintage and producer, this wine is very ageworthy. Complex, aromatic, sexy Pinot aromas gently crawl from the glass.

Poised tones of lavender, smoked earth, herbs, red cherries deliver excellent purity. In the mouth it is a prodigal ballerina that will develop into something masterful with cellar-time. Ethereal, cerebral, and changing the questions just when you think you have all the answers. The spectacular material here brings sheer joy and persistence on the youthfully-packed finish that pleasantly lingers for minutes. If you're wanting to have a reluctant go at it now, you may want to think again, the 2010 version is going to disappear quickly so ultimately this Oregon beauty will be at its pinnacle from 2017 – 2026+.