10/20/14 MAGIC WORD HOTSHEET

93 POINTS – WINE ENTHUSIAST
All Italian and Tuscan wine lovers should be absolutely demanding a Chianti such as this. The legendary Paolo de Marchi and his Isole E Olena property consistently make REAL Chianti wines, not knocked-up Napa Valley wannabes!

Year in and year out, the consistency of excellence that this wine delivers is unparalleled…hell, even the Wine Enthusiast is on board with a fat 93 point score! "Alluring aromas of blue flower, meat juices, woodland berries and spice jump out of the glass after pouring this luminous blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 5% Syrah. The juicy palate offers a core of dark cherry layered with savory black pepper, cinnamon and clove alongside assertive but elegant tannins. This already shows nice depth but hold a few more years for more complexity."- 93 POINTS – WINE ENTHUSIAST

It is always worth reiterating what is obvious, HAUT-RIAN NEVER GOES OUT OF SEASON AND HAUT-RIAN NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION!

When the Rain arrives, it is always a good time to uncork several bottles of the Rian - especially with freshly shucked oysters or mussels. 6 months on, our favorite white takes on new and exciting traits. At this moment, the 2013 is revealing mineral, peat, smoke and seashore scents that beautifully mingle with the famous lemony tones that this white wine is so known for. Brisk, flavorful and a fresh jaunt to the palate as well as being a damn fine pairing with shellfish!

Not many know that the famed Loire Valley white wine producer, Domaine Baumard, produces a delicious red. From the first moment that you put your nose to the glass, you can see that the beauty and breed and love that goes into of the making of Savennieres and Coteaux-Du-Layon is present in the production of this 100% Cabernet Franc. Originally created in the 1960s by Florent Baumard's father Jean for his own personal consumption, soon he found that he was unable to drink it all and started offering it to his friends and wine-loving clients.

The 2010 Anjou Rouge is one of the ultimate bistro wines, a delicious adventure and as the Baumards so succinctly state, a wine to love and to drink every day for good health. If you like ripe, supple, soft red wines, you may want to stay away from this one. Laden with red raspberry, warm granitic spice, red licorice and tinges of jasmine, this is absolutely dry, pure and red to the bone. Dark, haunting tones come as the wine opens and move into an illuminating, minerally finish. Enjoy this wine with roasted turkey or chicken but it will also pair well with charcuterie or a hearty stew.

There is something about good Chardonnay that isn't slammed with a bunch of oak!! As well as owning and making the esteemed wines at Evesham Wood, Erin Nuccio's original label known as Haden Fig thrives beautifully and definitively struts its differences from Evesham very well. Raised in half stainless steel and half-neutral barrel this Chardonnay packs a lot of material for not a ton of money.

Peach, sage, lime, mineral and anise careen from the glass and lead into a texture that is vinous yet attacking and dry. Loads of purity and breezy acidity from the loamy soils glimmer from start to the impressive finish that has plenty of echo and snap-back. A wine that keeps wanting you to pour another glass, then another, then another and so on until the bottle hits "E".

Twenty-Four dollars for Dolcetto?? Are you &%$#@ng crazy??!!??! In all truthfulness, they should have committed me years ago, but for another reason. Giving someone Vigna Tecc as their initial foray into the Dolcetto wines from the Piemontese village of Dogliani where the grape is renowned is pretty much live giving someone vintage Krug as their first Champagne. The best way I like to describe it is that it is luxury dolcetto on steroids!

To Italians, the name Einaudi is very special. This Domaine founded by Luigi Einaudi, Italy's first president is run today by his granddaughter Paola Einaudi. Barolo and Barbera wines are also produced here, but the heart of the operation is Dolcetto and the Vigna Tecc (pronounced tesh like John) is a selection of fruit that is from 70+ year old vines that are located at 400 meters above sea level. The color is as dark as Guinness Stout with a nose chock full of crushed blackberry, violet, mineral, cinnamon and smoke that come from its location rather than oak. Dense with rather stylish tannins and a formidable core of fruit. Serious stuff that possesses a finish that fans out in the mouth like a peacock's tail I recommend enjoying it over the next several years with hearty dishes. I promise, this is unlike any Dolcetto experience that you have ever had.

Quinta das Mais, and its co-owned properties, Quinta do Correio and Quinta dos Roques, lead this revolution with high quality wines and innovation in producing the first group of seriously regarded Portuguese varietals that have set the standard for all the rest of the producers and greatly reduced the reliance on often ill-matched field blends.

From Portugal's famous Dão region comes this modestly priced red made from native grapes. 80% Jaen (known as Mencia in Spain), 20% Touriga Nacional and chock full of strawberry, mocha, and vibrant cinnamon/spice, this flavorful red wine comes across as a hypothetical blend of Rhône, Southern Italy and Spain but never loses its Portuguese roots.

We just can't get enough of these killer deal, handcrafted Chateaux Bordeaux wines that are meant to be cellared, consumed and shared versus those that sell for well north of $100 and have seemingly become commodities that will never be drunk by those who purchase them.

A stalwart Chateau in the Lalande de Pomerol region that lies just north of the hallowed ground of Pomerol. 2009 is a glorious and very voluptuous Bordeaux vintage and this wine performs way above expectations. Deep and youthful flavors and aromas of violet, blackcurrant, sweet red pepper and a hearty meatiness that leads on to a rich, full-bodied palate with fine tannins and a cherry infused cocoa spice that lingers beautifully in the mouth. Chateau Sergant's Lalande de Pomerol is textbook right-bank juice with the finesse and grip of something more expensive. Drink now and over the next 7-9 years with a rack of lamb or roasted duck.

I featured this a few weeks back and after re-tasting, I really misunderestimated the wine's true potential! A sheer pleasure to drink, Byron Dooley's 2012 Willamette Valley is beautifully crafted and indicative of both the Valley and of the vintage.

Lofty scents of raspberry and strawberry fruit combine with shaved dark chocolate, red earth, ground pepper and an underlay of rose and thyme. On the palate, it is mouthfilling, yet possessing excellent movement and vibrancy, especially on the ample finish. For this vintage, this wine is very extroverted and accessible, but there is sneaky structure here to allow the wine to age nicely for 6-8 more years as well.

One of Napa Valley's most popular and exquisite properties, Pride Mountain Vineyards has been making top-drawer wines, especially their Cabernet & Merlot, for ages. With their estate vineyard, straddling both borders, 38% Napa and 62% Sonoma fruit went into the making of this stellar cab.

Solid layers of dark, juicy Cabernet fruit, classic blackberry and cherry, plus herbs, cedar, and black pepper spread over a sweet, jazzy core. A fine use of French oak adds spice, vanilla, cocoa and coriander. Luscious, chewy and billowy with deceptive grip, backbone and a finish that seems to last for an hour! While this Cab is irresistible now, past efforts suggest that it develops complexity with cellaring. Try one now, but stash some away for drinking in 10-15 years because you will not be disappointed!