Hot Sheets

One of the real masterpiece works at Cristom, one of Oregon's most prolific producers, is their Sommers Reserve and right now it is on a most outstanding special! Sourced primarily from Cristom's 4 estate vineyards (Jessie, Marjorie, Eileen & Louise) and then augmented with purchased or traded fruit from several other premier sites in the Willamette Valley this wine is treated with the same excellence as the estate's highly south-after single vineyard wines.

2011 is a marvelous vintage for this wine and is a Pinot that seemingly has no hairs out of place. Burgundy-inspired but Oregon through and through this poised Pinot delivers alluring, refined aromas of strawberry, sorrel, smoke, flowers and spices with an underlay of earth and red-hot candy pepper tones. Texturally, the wine is silky and incredibly balanced with beautiful transparency and exquisite finesse along with lacy depth and ultra-fine tannins. All of the spices that are on the nose are very present on the drawn-out finish that seems to go on for days. Not inaccessible at the moment but typical of a Cristom wine, this will cellar impeccably and will be best 2016 – 2023.

Many of our friends know of my usual disdain when it comes to Oregon Pinot Gris so when we feature one it has definitely passed the battery of tests to make it this far. In all seriousness Cristom is one of Oregon's most prolific producers and Steve Doerner has taken this grape which comes from one of their estate vineyards, the 5 acre Emilia, and has made it into something especially enticing.

Aged for 10 months in stainless steel tank, no intrusive oak is utilized for this wine. With its almost diamond-like aromas, this wine keeps inviting you back for more. Impeccable apple-spice fruit and a deft touch of mineral and mushroom permeate from the glass. The texture is creamy, but also seemingly very crystallized with serious cut and mouthwatering briskness. The finish is nakedly pure and drawn out. A magical match with fall salmon this is great way to enjoy the bounty of one of the home team's greats!

Whether you are talking with a grape grower in Piedmont or to a collector of the best wine of the region, one name that arouses across-the-board excitement is Bruno Giacosa. When it comes to Italian wine and Piedmont, Bruno Giacosa is a shaman! For those in the know, Giacosa's formidable reds from Barbaresco and Barolo are always the best of the best and are highly collectible but like just about any other producer in this region other wines like Barbera and Dolcetto are also produced. Giacosa's versions of these are also very remarkable and given the reputation and quality of the estate, can be impressive deals.

Purity abounds and from the first aroma to the super-long finish, this wine oozes class. Aromatically regal, the streamlined, graceful nose reveals lacy chocolate-covered cherry, sneaky mineral, and well-integrated spicy earth. On the palate, it's a seamless Barbera that is rich, mouth-crawling and impressively put together; especially on the finish that fans out nicely. A definite step-up from everyday Barbera, try with risotto or braised beef over the next 5-6 years.

From the first moment you smell this wine which is located in Northern Portugal's large Beiras region from schist-laden vineyards one sees why this nation is producing many exciting wines on all levels.

Made primarily from 80% Baga and 20% Touriga Nacional, both indigenous Portuguese grape varietals, this is an extremely well-made red that has a complex array of exotic flavors and a lush mouth-filling texture. Full and enticing, this red draws you into the glass with ocean inspired aromas of mineral saline, warm and rich cinnamon laced cherry, dark chocolate and roasted earth. Well-concentrated with blue, red and blackberry, Eastern spices and licorice elements all in beautiful harmony that carries over to a fine, vibrant finish that has subtle grip and wonderful polish. Have this well-made juice with full flavored Mediterranean inspired fare like marinated beef dishes with lots of garlic and spices, or even paella.

Forgeron is one of my favorite hidden gem Walla Walla-based producers and their Blacksmith line always delivers a hell of a lot of wine for not a ton of money. Forgeron owner/winemaker Marie Eve Gilla is French by birth but has been working extensively in Washington since the mid-90s and has quietly been making superb wines across the board. Marie-Eve is also married to Gilles Nicault, director of winemaking and viticulture at Long Shadows (Feather, Pirouette, Pedestal et. al).

The 2012 Blacksmith Cab is imminently likable, crowd-pleasing and something to drink on the early side while you wait for the top-tier Forgeron or other your Walla Walla wines to come of age. A sea of deliciousness with good substance and without getting silly with just a bunch of wood, this hearty Washington red delivers currants, blackberry, fine herbs and spices which dominate the nose while a prominent core of mouth-filling fruit pleases the palate. A perfect party Cab that will please a bunch of palates and accompany a plethora of varying cuisines.

Owned, operated and made by Le Marches stalwart Umani Ronchi, their Montipegano property's wines from the Abruzzo region should be in every Italian wine lover's glass.

Soulful, harmonious and chock full of bright, lively strawberry fruit. Mouth-filling, dry and delivering a combination of spice and earth, this engaging, food-friendly number will work with just about any tomato-based or spicy Italian-sausage dish.

The Cellar Door has been featuring the Minervois wines from Chateau D'Oupia for well over 10 years and we never tire of them or their incredibly high price/quality rapport.

This versatile Languedoc red is a blend of 60% Carignan, 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache and year after year just shows itself to be a true taste of Southern France. Black cherry, black pepper and wind-swept Mediterranean herbs this honest red is a perfect steak-frites, cassoulet or big bowl of soup comfort wine. Invite a bunch of friends over and enjoy this wine in immense quantities – what the hell are you waiting for?!?!?!

The Loire Valley is known as the Garden of France, but it is also known for some of the world's greatest and most long-lived sweet wines. Baumard's Quarts de Chaume is a French National Treasure and one could even go so far to refer to it as the Chateau d'Yquem of the region. Quarts-de-Chaume is a very small Grand Cru appellation that is a Baumard house specialty and for vintage 2009 the estate performed mightily! For once we agree with the Wine Spectator and the following is their 96 point review:

"Bold, lush and tropical in feel, with creamed papaya and mango notes seamlessly gliding together, while coconut, green plum, ginger, quince and white peach flavors fill in the background. Offers a succulent finish, but stays pure and steady thanks to perfectly embedded acidity. Best from 2015 through 2030."