The Sip Awards

SPIRITS TASTING EVENT - THE SIP AWARDS
Sun, May 22 at 1:00 PM, Newport Beach, CA  

Join us for our annual Spirits Tasting at Hyatt Newport Beach, CA. Taste and evaluate over 30+ spirits from all over the world while enjoying the beautiful Newport Beach venue.

In a blind tasting, do you think you have what it takes to spot your favorite alcohol brands?

*Categories include: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Whiskey, Scotch, Cognac, Bourbon, Liqueurs, Moonshine, Infused Spirits, Mixers, and many others.

Some of the exciting aspects of the event:

• Over 30+ beverage samples to evaluate in a blind tasting
  
• Learn how to effectively taste fine spirits from Professor Neat
  
• Appetizers and beverages will be served
  
• Many chances to win prizes and gifts throughout the event
  
• Social Media wall and contests
  
• DJ Mike Soltani and professional photographers
  
• A very fun and unique experience

*** 20% off of ticket prices with this code: HITIME20

For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit the below link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-tasting-sip-awards-tickets-24354345503

South Africa Food & Wine Safari: Success!

South Africa! Our wine and food "safari" earlier this month (Sat. May 14th) featuring Buitenverwachting, Excelsior, Morgenster & Raats, with authentic braai (bbq) from Perky's South African Food & Catering, was a huge success! Pictures from the event are located here: http://www.c3lt.com/Hi-Time/South-Africa-Wine-Food-Safari/

Nugan Estate: Awesome Australian Wines!

 by Tobin Sharp

Nugan Estate is a premium producer of estate grown wine based in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia.

It is part of the Nugan Group, which was founded in 1940 on fruit and vegetable packing and expanded in the 1970s into juice production – later becoming one of the largest exporters of niche juice products to Asia. In 1993 Nugan Group further diversified its operations planting vineyards and selling fruit under contract. From there, winemaking was a natural progression.

Today Nugan Estate owns 590 hectares of vineyards in Australia’s finest wine growing regions of Riverina, King Valley and McLaren Vale – making it the 18th largest vineyard holders in Australia. In addition, Nugan Estate sources premium quality grape from the renowned Coonawarra region.

Family operated by Michelle, Matthew and Tiffany Nugan, Nugan Estate is one of Australia’s Top 20 Wine Exporters and is complemented by a premium wine portfolio, extra virgin olive oil and the award winning Griffith restaurant, Michelin.

Matt Nugan visited our shop not too long ago on a promo tour and, lucky for us, brought his wines along for us to sample. Impressed would be an understatement when it comes to our reaction on the quality of his family wines and their more-than-fair (downright bargain!) pricing. Stunned? That might be it. The wines were fantastic, showcasing Aussie terroir and the amount of sunshine they get (Beautiful ripe fruit? Yes, please!). In American parlance, a clear home run-- in Aussie, an easy "sixer" (in cricket terms, of course!).

Nugan Estate 2012 Riverina "Drover's Hut" Chardonnay $14.95 [378098]
Easy-drinking, balanced, clean Chardonnay. The nose shows tropical fruits, orchard fruits, sweet brown spices and a touch of lemon grass. Great viscosity on the palate with flavors of more stone fruits, mango, white peach, lots of Fuji apple, and a touch of minerality in the finish. Enjoy with or without food-- pairs perfectly with sunny days and easy company.

ANTONIO GALLONI 90 POINTS - "Light yellow. Ripe nectarine, melon and tangerine on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. In a lush, open-knit style, with a jolt of bracing acidity adding lift and focus. Picks up a stony, almost Chablis-like hint of minerality on the finish, which lingers with very good tenacity and focus."
 

Nugan Estate 2013 Riverina "Stomper's" Cabernet Sauvignon $14.95 [381848]
Cherry fruit fills the nose as touches of olive tapenade, black licorice and ripe rapsberry fill in the gaps, all surmounted by a layer of mint and hint of tobacco-- enticing and fairly complex for this price niveau. The palate is lush and loaded with cherries and raspberries but not cloying. Savory touches of forest floor, spice box and black pepper add to the ripe red fruits. The finish is clean and uplifting as bracing acidity and brisk tannins keep it looking up. A great warm weather red, keep a few bottles of "Stomper's" handy when the grill comes out and the company arrives.

ANTONIO GALLONI 90 POINTS - "Brilliant ruby. Fresh, spice-tinged dark berries and cherry on the nose, with notes of floral oils and cured tobacco adding complexity. Bright cherry and blackcurrant flavors show good depth as well as vivacity, with a jolt of black pepper adding spicy bite. Finishes floral and gently sweet, leaving a hint of candied rose behind."

 

 Nugan Estate 2012 Coonawarra "Alcira Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon $21.98 [378428]
Eucalyptus and mint, two classic descriptors for the Aussie terroir, are clearly in the nose as hints of pencil lead and fennel are surmounted by dark red fruits, jammy raspberry and cassis: beautiful, rich and deep. The tannins in this "Alcira" Cab are fine and silky, uplifting broad flavors of dark cherries, cassis and cacao. A pinch of spice and earth lead to a long, smooth finish with, again, lasting deep, dark red fruits.

Nugan Estate 2012 Riverina "Scruffy's" Shiraz $14.95 [378497]
Concentrated raspberry and boysenberry fruit fill the nose, almost a jammy, fruit-leather version, as bits of red licorice, mint, cherry cola and herbal woodiness create a fine supporting cast of scents. In the mouth, fresh fruits reign, sweet berries, cherries and raspberries; light herbals, black tea and incense weave their way between the sweet fruit, adding depth and richness. Easy to quaff, perfectly delightful, great for Spring and Summer.

ANTONIO GALLONI 90 POINTS - "Dark purple. Spicy blackcurrant and cherry aromas are complemented by Asian spices and floral oils. Lively and precise on the palate, offering gently sweet, incisive dark fruit flavors and a hint of spicecake. Finishes on a gentle tannic note, with very good clarity and an echo of candied flowers."

Nugan Estate 2013 Alfredo "Second Pass" Shiraz $19.95 [381882]
The "Second Pass" Shiraz is sourced from the Nugan family’s premium vineyards in Australia. After fermentation, the wine was pressed onto the pomace and yeast lees of our premium “Alfredo” Dry Grape Shiraz adding to the wines’ intensity, á la the Ripasso style found in Italy's Valpolicella region. Thereafter, the wine was matured in French and American oak for 12 months resulting in a wine of concentration and quality.

Dark berries, mint leaf and herbal wood fills the nose as more scents reverberate: black licorice, strawberry tea, mixed brown spices, dark perfumed florals. Sweet fruit buoyed by lush tannins start on the palate with more layers growing with each sip: cherries and berries meet breakfast tea and violet petals, rhubarb, tobacco, dark chocolate and brown earth. Sweet, rich, complex. The tannins and excellent acidity keep it aloft and light on the palate even with all its richness of flavor. Great with grilled meats (from lamb to cow) and game, strong hard cheeses.

ANTONIO GALLONI 92 POINTS - "Inky purple. Heady, expansive aromas of dark fruit liqueur, potpourri and incense, with a hint of smoky minerality adding vivacity. Offers juicy, penetrating cherry and dark berry flavors and an exotic floral pastille quality that builds in the glass. Shows excellent clarity and thrust on the finish, with silky tannins coming in late."

Sake Adventures

by Veronica Castro

In consideration to any readers whose web browsers might not not translate the accent mark at the "e" spelled on Saké, from here on I will refer to this unique beverage as sake (without the accent mark). Ok! Let's move on!

First off, an announcement: If you are not already aware, our big Sake event is today (Wednesday, May 18th) at the Winebar from 6:00-8:00pm. Please make it if you can!

This is a highly-anticipated Sake tasting that we are having at Hi-Time, with 10 Sakes, ranging in tastes from dry as a Martini, to a sake tasting like you've just bit in to a slice of fresh cantaloupe, to the ethereal, to the best plum wine I've ever had. All of the Sakes are limited and highly regarded, so it is an honor to have these available to our customers.

If you want to gain a quick appreciation of the painstaking process of making Sake, check out the movie,"The Birth of Sake"(available on Netflix). Click here to view the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K2bIAikUg4


For some small-production Sakes, like some which we will be tasting, the workers live at the Sake brewery, away from their families for 6 months out of the year in spartan communal settings, tending to the Sake around the clock. There's a lot of personal sacrifice that goes into this craft which we rarely consider... it's fascinating. We will also taste two sakes from the brewery featured in the movie.

The tasting will cost $20 and will include snacks. Seating is first come, first served, no reservations required.

Here is the line-up of what we will be tasting. Boom!

Kokuryu Junmai "Kuzuryu" (Nine-Headed Dragon), Kokuryu Junmai Ginjo (Black Dragon), Kokuryu Junmai Daiginjo "Ryu" (Gold Dragon), Tamagawa "Kinsho" (Heart of Gold), Tedorigawa Junmai Daiginjo "Iki na Onna" (Lady Luck), Tedorigawa Nama Daiginjo "Kinka" (Gold Blossom), Koshi no Kanbai Ginjo "Tokusen" (Vanishing Point), Dewazakura Ginjo "Oka" (Cherry Bouquet), Dewazakura Ginjo "Izumi Judan" (Tenth Degree), Dewazakura Junmai Daiginjo "Ichiro" (Abbey Road), Kamoizumi "Umeshu" (Umelicious, plum wine).

This will be a great tasting and a lot of fun. Tassho Pearce from World Sake Imports will be pouring and presenting the Sakes. Hope to see you there!

Last week was a whirlwind of activity, as we had many producers and importers from Japan visiting in Southern California to show us the latest and greatest in the Sake world.

It was a huge honor and treat to hear Sake legends John Gauntner and Marcus Pakiser speak and get advice. John (pictured right) is the author of many books on Sake, and teaches a professional Sake course (see http://sake-world.com/for more information), and Marcus (left) is Director of Sake for Young’s Market Company. Marcus is a Sake ambassador. During their presentations, they made the message clear, that Sake is not just to pair with Sushi… it can be much more, and pair with just about any type of food. Grilled meats, pastas, you name it! Did you know that Sake is both Sulfite free and Gluten free? Yes, indeed!

We were also fortunate to meet Tetsuyasu Sato, President of Takasago Sake Brewery in Hokkaido (the northernmost prefecture in Japan, at right) who makes the limpid, beautiful, delicate Ginga Shizuku “Divine Droplets” Junmai Daiginjo.



“Divine Droplets” is made drop-by-drop or by "drip-press method" (Shizuku), using fermented sake rice in cloth bags, then hanging them in an igloo (of sorts) for fermentation. The sake is made with a minimal amount of pressure, keeping the sake with deep impact and with beautiful aromatics. This is the only sake in the world that is made in such a way. Above is a picture of the Ice Dome.

We move on to Miho Fujit, one of the few female Presidents of a Sake brewery (pictured below). Her brewery, Mioya Shuzo in Ishikawa prefecture, makes the Sake known as Yuho. The sake with the yellow label, “Rhythm of the Centuries” is brewed in the method called Yama-oroshi, a rhythmic pole-ramming technique used to mix the yeast starter for this Kimoto sake. It gives the sake complex, pronounced flavors. The sake is aged for approximately four years, which rounds out the edges of the sake’s flavor and creates overall smoothness, and intensity of flavor. This traditional method has been used at Mioya brewery for over a century. Miho suggests to drink this sake at room temperature in order to experience the full umami presence. She even advises to leave the sake open and unrefrigerated for days (or even weeks) during the time you consume it.

Did you know that (in most cases) an opened bottle of Sake which has been refrigerated can last weeks or even months? Yes, indeed!

This (pictured right) is Yuichiro Tanaka of Rihaku Shuzo in Shimane Prefecture. He is both President and Toji (Master Sake brewer) for Rihaku, and is holding a bottle of Wandering Poet, a sake which is both fruity and earthy. The Rihaku brewery is named in honor of Chinese poet, Li Po (which translates to Rihaku in Japanese), who had a fondness for Sake, and is known to have said, "I drink a bottle, and can write 100 poems.”















Did I mention this was a fun-filled, sake-filled week? Let's progress!
 Monday treated us to a special tasting held at the Sushi Institute of America, in Los Angeles. I was thrilled to learn that such a place even existed. Here, we had the chance to listen to the experienced Master of Sake, Toshio Ueno (pictured above left), as he presented us with a selection of ultra-premium Sakes. This was one of those rare opportunities to taste Sakes which many of us never saw, nor tasted.

We tasted Born Chogin (center bottle pictured to the right) was rich, but with many layers peeling off effortlessly. This particular sake, Toshio mentioned that he had only tasted once before. A humbling experience. It was impressive to say the least.

We also tasted Born Nihon no Tsubasa aged Junmai Daiginjo "Wing of Japan" (pictured left). "Wing of Japan" was quite complex, with both savory and mildly sweet flavors, something a wine-drinker might warm up to, with cherry and apple notes, changing to light vegetal flavors, and savory and back to fruit. It was a sake to spend the evening contemplating.

Do you like pears? As for myself, I love them-- and that was the major flavor I found present in the sake from Tatenokawa. This (the sake known as Tatenokawa 18, named in reference to it's rice polishing rate) was a richly textured sake and rounded on the palate, sake full of lychee, pineapple, banana and pear, finishing with a clean finish. Beautiful, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable. After the tasting, I noticed others also speaking of this sake. I mean, who doesn't like pear. Right?

Quick Sips: Chateau Vannieres with Eric Boisseaux

Eric Boisseaux of Chateau Vannieres in Bandol sharing his great wines with our French wine buyer Josh Hoover, including some with age from '88,'95, '01 and '09. The Rosé was delicious too. -Gary Faust

Italian Winemaker Alessandro Cellai Visits Hi-Time

by Gary Faust
 
It was quite an honor to welcome Italian winemaker, Alessandro Cellai to Hi Time Wine Cellars. He is quite versatile and talented, producing wine from two estates with two very different terroirs.

From Sicily, the Feudi del Pisciotto estate showcases some of the island’s native varietals as well as some “international varietals.” Cellai believes three indigenous grapes from Sicily show the character of the island and what is possible in this unique micro-climate. The Grillo, Nero d'Avola and Frappato are excellent examples of wine with true Sicilian character.

Feudi del Pisciotto includes what is probably the greatest intact example of a gravity-fed winery. Incredibly, this was used by the ancient Romans and Greeks who knew a thing or two about making wine. Photos of the interior of this historic building are amazing. Today, many winemakers are building gravity-fed winemaking facilities, an acknowledgement that the process is still very relevant and results in gentle and efficient handling of their grapes and wine.

The bottles of Feudi del Pisciotto have labels featuring the artwork of prominent Italian designers including Versace and Valentino. The artists agreed to allow use of their art as a portion of the sales go toward the renovation and restoration of historic Sicilian art and culture. In tasting through the lineup, we found the wines were expressive, delicious and surprisingly affordable. The designer series wines are shown on the right side of the photo included in this blog (at the top of the page).

We also tasted the Rocca Di Frassinello wines from the appellation of Maremma in Tuscany. Rocca Di Frassinello is a unique joint venture of two incredible producers coming together to craft wine in the rolling hills of Tuscany. The parties involved are Castellare di Castellina from Chianti and the legendary Bordeaux producer Lafite-Rothschild. Their Rocca di Frassinello project couples Castellare’s experience in growing Sangiovese with Lafite’s experience growing classic French varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Rocca Di Frassinello showcases a stunning winery, most of which is built underground. The modern looking facility contains the largest barrel room in the world. The impressive structure is often host to recitals and performances.

The character of the wine is different than many other expressions of Tuscany such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Nobile Di Montepulciano. These Super Tuscans feature Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. They are rich, full-bodied wines which give great pleasure!

The Poggio alla Guardia is an over-achiever, which was our Wine of the Month 2 last July. The 2012 is even better than the 2011 so we will be bringing it into the store in a big way. All the wines from this winery were full-bodied with rich, ripe fruit and smooth tannins.

What a treat it was to spend time with such a talented winemaker. Alessandro was very generous with his time and knowledge. His wines from two very different regions share one common trait- they’re fantastic!

Diplomático Rum

by Tobin Sharp

We had the opportunity to taste through Venezuela's Diplomático Rum lineup on Thursday, May 5th.  The Ambassador and Single Vintage 2002 were exquisite and the entire lineup was excellent; a rich, fairly sweet style of rum with excellent rounded viscosity, honeyed vanillins and varying degrees of depth and influence (depending on the type of barrels used for aging).  There is also much value to be found in the Añejo and Reserva Exclusiva bottlings and most surprising to me, as I hadn't tasted it before, was how great the Diplomático Blanco is.  This is a Blanco you can sip neat and enjoy with much more complexity that one would think could exist in a white rum-- it's aged six years and filtered 5 to 6 times to remove the color (but not the flavor!).

History:
Rum Diplomático was established in 1959 out of a partnership between Venezuela's best rum distilleries and Seagram's International and its Reserva Exclusiva formed part of their "Rare Rums of The Caribbean" collection.  After Seagram's sold the distilleries back to its Venezuela distillers and operators, Rum Diplomático continued to build on its past success.  In the 2000s, the line was extended to include an aged blanco, a two year añejo, an eight year reserva, along with, of course, the twelve year Reserva Exclusiva.  In the past ten years, Rum Diplomático has become the most awarded rum in the world, and its master distiller, Tito Cordero, is the only person to have wone "Master Blend of the Year" two time (2011, 2013) from London's Golden Rum Barrel Awards.  The Rum Diplomático distilleries were the first in Venezuela to be certified with ISO 14001 in recognition of its environmental initiatives.  In 2014, a Drinks International survey revealed the Rum Diplomático is the #1 Trendiest Rum in America's Hottest Bars.

Here's the lineup on our website: Diplomático

Añejo - aged 4 years, column still distillation process, with a Caribbean essence

Blanco - aged 6 years, white rum, filtered 5 to 6 times removing all color

Reserva - aged 8 years, batch distillation in small oak barrels

Reserva Exclusiva - aged 12 years, blend of copper pot still rums, 80% heavy rums and 20% light rums

Single Vintage 2002 - perfect blend from the year 2002, aged in American white oak barrels and finished in sherry casks, limited edition

Ambassador - aged minimum 12 years, 47% ABV, crafted from 100% heavy pot still rums

May Wine of the Month: Juliette 2015 Vin de Pays de Mediterranée Rosé

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Of course, we are talking about Dry French Rose season which is just starting; we loved this one so much, we made it our wine of the month. Juliette comes from the Provence region of Southern France, home of the most exquisite and traditional rose wines in the world (and you'll see many more in the next few months!). Produced at the maison of Domaine de La Sangliere, Juliette is a true expression of a traditional Provencal rose wine.

The Style - Juliette is refreshing and elegant, bone dry rose wine, with layers of lively fruit and a bright, smooth finish-just the way a true rose wine from Southern France should be.

Tasting Notes - Elegant and pretty, soft fruits resonate in the nose with layers of mixed melons, plantain, ripe peach and a touch of creme fraiche. The palate is hugely lush yet tempered with acidity. Minerally notes and stone fruits dance with light brown spices and a touch of sea salt/salt air-and the finish echoes with gently receding fruit flavors.

Pairing Notes - Juliette is also an exceptional food wine that pairs with so many different types of cuisines. While Juliette serves an excellent standalone aperitif wine, Juliette is a perfect pair for grilled fish, seafood, steamed fish, lobster, shellfish, bouillabaisse and other traditional Provencal cuisine.

$9.99 750ml [345444] Buy it here.

Chardonnay Symposium May 12-14

7th Annual International Chardonnay Symposium
May 12-14, 2016
 

Please join us at our annual global gathering of the world’s top Chardonnay producers at the 7th Annual International Chardonnay Symposium, hosted by the stunning coastal communities of Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Edna Valley wine region.
 
Our Symposium showcases the finest wines from the world’s most notable Chardonnay wine producing regions, like Chablis, Russian River, Australia, Napa Valley, Chile, South Africa and beyond. This year’s French Forum will have an expert-led exploration of France’s quintessential Chardonnay regions, such as Chablis Champagne, Montrachet, Pouilly-Fuissé, Languedoc-Roussillon and Meursault. Moderated by Master Sommelier Bob Bath, from the Culinary Institute of America, it includes Claude Rouquet from the Boisset Collection, Bruno Laclotte from Charton et Trebuchet, Bernard Retornez from Maison Louis Latour, Kyle Kaplan from Piper-Heidsieck, and Geoffroy de La Besnardière from Domaine de l’Arjolle.
 
The French Forum is but one of the many fascinating panel discussions. Others include: Wente Clone Comparative Tasting, What’s Oak Got to Do With It?,Pairing Chardonnay With Artisanal Cheeses, Taste the Difference: Exploring California’s Distinct Chardonnay Regions and Hone Your Chardonnay Blind-Tasting Skills. Other exceptional events include The Grand Tasting at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, Vintners’ Wine Tech Symposium, Sommelier Chardonnay Challenge, La Paulée Dinner & Vintners Awards Ceremony, and this year’s featured  Pét-Nat and Sparkling Wine & Oysters Gala.
 
As one of our preferred subscribers, we have extended our discount code “hitime2016" for you to receive 20% off your Symposium tickets. For more details on this event and to purchase your tickets, click here!
 
This is an exclusive event and we look forward to seeing you!

May 2016 Wine Bar

We have lots of great tastings this month at the wine bar... hope to see you here!

[click the calendar to see a larger version]

Quick Sips: Smooth Ambler Spirits

Patiently crafted Appalachian spirits.

With a combination of knowing palate, a legacy of patient, Appalachian know-how and the benefit of the finest, local ingredients, Smooth Ambler produces and procures some of the world's most refined spirits.  Located in the hills of West Virginia, they have at their disposal both the finest distillery equipment available and a blend of unique natural resources: clean mountain air, pure natural water and the ideal highland climate.  Everything they do is hands-on; from the milling of their carefully-selected local grain to the signing and labeling of each bottle.  Their single, old-fashioned goal is simply to bring their customers the best that they can of what's around them.  And to create a truly rare, special drink that those that imbibe of it will remember and treasure.

We tried five of their current lineup of spirits...

Revelation Rum
"A blend of two merchant-bottled Jamaican rums; one column-distilled in 1990, one pot-distilled in 1985, Revelation has been aged in secondary bourbon cooperage and is bottled without chill-filtration. Rich, smooth and complex but with a sipping-whiskey drinkability."  99 proof, very sippable, dry but lush in the mouthfeel, excellent rummy spice and vanilla flavors.  Definite Jamaican 'funk' flavor in this outstanding rum.

Yearling Bourbon Whiskey
"Our handmade, limited-release double-pot distilled bourbon comes from a unique mash of corn, wheat and barley.  Rich and remarkably smooth taste is assured with small cask aging in our own West Virginia rick house.  Naturally sweet with caramel and butterscotch aromas and subtle notes of grain, wood and tobacco."

Old Scout Straight Whiskey
"With a high rye content of 36%, this fine whiskey has exceptional taste and smoothness and thus needs only minimalist particle filtering.  A robust 99 proof, it's strong but deliciously drinkable like all of Smooth Ambler's offerings.  Bold, spicy-sweet flavors with subtle apple, cherry and tobacco aroma."

Old Scout 10
"This limited release is the fourth offering under the Old Scout Merchant Bottled Line.   Old Scout TEN is a low rye (21%) recipe that celebrates the finest qualities of properly mature bourbon-- smoothness, sweetness and character-- while providing a complex and lingering mid-palate range of nutty vanilla, honey and tobacco that many Bourbons promise but rarely deliver."

Greenbrier Gin
"Our exceptional premium-cut spirits lie at the heart of this subtle and flavorful gin.  Mass market "continuous stills" simply cannot match our combination of vapor-infused botanicals and painstaking small batch process.  Enchanting floral aromas from citrus peel and natural herbs without the harsh overtones of typical British-style "dry" gins.  Enchanting floral aromas from citrus peel and natural herbs without the harsh overtones of typical British-style "dry" gins."

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO

by Gary Faust

Patty Quick and I were fortunate to attend the world premiere tasting of the 2011 single vineyard “crus” of the great Barbaresco producer, Produttori del Barbaresco. Produttori is well known for their excellent and affordable Barbaresco, which is a blend of the fruit from their different vineyards. Over the years, they have garnered attention for their Crus, which are smaller in production and show considerable differences.

Produttori del Barbaresco was founded in 1958 by a priest in the village of Barbaresco who believed the only way the farmers could survive was by joining together. Initially, 19 farmers working small plots of land formed the cooperative. The group has now grown to 54 members and 250 acres of Nebbiolo vineyards in Barbaresco. Each member has full control of their vineyard and collectively they have raised the stature of the appellation.




Many years of working the land and making wine led them to appreciate differences inherent in each of the vineyards. They recognized differing soils, sun exposure and micro-climates produced wines with significant differences. Think of a large family with 9 children. There are definitely familial traits, but each has their own unique personality. This essentially is the concept of the single crus which Produttori began bottling in 1967. Since then, each has achieved DOCG status which is the highest recognition under Italian appellation law.

We learned that each farmer brings their harvest to town where the grapes are carefully inspected and the farmers are paid according to the quality of the grapes as opposed to the yield. This encourages the farmers to focus on quality, not quantity. Each bottle is numbered and the farmers who provided grapes for each cru are listed on their respective bottles. This is pretty cool and shows the importance given to the grapes themselves. It was a treat to try each of the wines and learn more about their differences.

It was great to taste through the lineup and discover the differences amongst the each of the crus. Honestly, they were all delicious and we are fortunate to have several of the bottlings available at the store. Below are some of our observations as well as reviews of the wines we brought into the store.

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2011 "PAJE" $49.98 #303196

"Paje" is a small vineyard located in a sloped amphitheater with limestone soils. The wines here are known for having a combination of pronounced tannins and finesse and elegance that come together with a bit of cellaring.

ANTONIO GALLONI; VINOUS 95 POINTS - "One of the highlights in this range, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is also one of the most classic of these 2011 Riservas. Beams of underlying acidity and minerality give the flavors considerable thrust and brightness. Sweet mentholated notes wrap around a core of plush, red-fleshed plum and pomegranate fruit, leading to a brisk, refreshing finish. What is left to say? The 2011 Pajè is absolutely gorgeous. It's as simple as that. Pajè is one of the cooler micro-climates the Produttori work with, and that was a help in 2011."

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2011 "ASILI" $49.98 #303192

Wines produced from “Asili” are prized for their elegance, charm and overall finesse. They are slightly lighter in color and express their terroir with great personality as they age. The sweet lifted fruit and silkiness of the wine make this really irresistible.

ANTONIO GALLONI; VINOUS 95 POINTS - "The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is one of the most refined wines in this range. Here the fruit shows more distinctly red-toned notes, with plenty of Asili creaminess, silkiness and overall texture, not to mention considerable density. There is plenty of Asili sexiness and radiance, but at the same time, there is also more tannin and overall brightness than I expected. Not that those things are bad. Far from it. I imagine the 2011 will reward readers with many years of exceptional drinking. This is one of the most polished wines in the range of 2011 Riservas. Then again, it's Asili."

Wines produced from “Asili” are prized for their elegance, charm and overall finesse. They are slightly lighter in color and express their terroir with great personality as they age. The sweet lifted fruit and silkiness of the wine make this really irresistible.

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2011 "OVELLO" $49.98 #303194

Ovello is the northernmost vineyard in the village of Barbaresco and is influenced by the nearby Tanaro River. The calcareous soils are rich in clay. The clay and cool microclimate imparts these wines with rich fruit, fresh aromas and flavors along with moderated tannins. Skilled vineyard work is the key here.

ANTONIO GALLONI; VINOUS 94+ POINTS - "The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello, from one of the coolest zones in Barbaresco, is superb. Here it is the wine's precision and energy - both hard to come by in 2011 - that really stand out. Pine, mint, chalk, bright red berries, blood orange and white pepper are some of the signatures in a brilliant, finely-cut Barbaresco that captures the best of both the vintage and this site. Don't miss it!"

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2011 "RABAJA" $49.98 #302432

The Rabajà vineyard lies at the conjunction of two main ridges that form the Barbaresco village. The combination of two soils and its warm southwest exposure give Rabajà its incredible complexity, darker fruit profile and richness.

ANTONIO GALLONI; VINOUS 95+ POINTS - "The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is quite backward today, with intense, salivating tannins that cut through the fruit. The trademark Rabajà balsamic flavor profile is there, with notable darkness and plenty of structure that add complexity to a core of crystalline fruit. Energetic and powerful, with searing tannin and exceptional balance, the Rabajà is going to require considerable patience. The only question is how much."

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO 2011 MONTEFICO $49.98 #303197
ANTONIO GALLONI; VINOUS 95 POINTS - "The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is another of the highlights in this range from the Produttori. Imagine the precision of Ovello, but with slightly darker fruit and more density and power through the middle. That's the Montefico. A regal, towering Barbaresco, the Montefico should provide thrilling drinking for the next several decades. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco add nuance on the powerful, structured finish."

Greek Winemaker To Visit Hi-Time April 28th

Next Thursday, April 28... Just in time for Greek Orthodox Easter, Hi-Time will host winemaker Apostolos Spiropoulos who will be present from 5-7 pm (the tasting runs from 4:30-8:30pm) to discuss his family's wines and organically farmed vineyards. $20. We will taste 6 wines-- come down & taste!

The Spiropoulos family has maintained close ties with vineyards and wine since 1860.
The family’s vineyards are located on the Ancient Mantinia plateau in the central Peloponnese at an altitude of 650 meters, and in the vicinity of Ancient Nemea.  Α total of over 86 acres of vineyards are cultivated with grapes ranging from Moschofilero, Agiorghitiko, Lagorthi and Merlot to Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Syrah.

Since 1993, cultivation in Domaine Spiropoulos vineyards has met the “Organic Farming” requirements of EU Law 2092/91, and since 1996 the grapes of Domaine Spiropoulos have been certified for organic cultivation by DIO, the authorized agency in Greece for certification of organic produce.

The target Is producing high-quality grapes and wines, and protecting the ecosystem and the environment.

For more on Domaine Spiropoulos, please visit their website:

http://www.domainspiropoulos.com/

Wine Bar This Week

 Hello!

Tonight (Wednesday, April 20th) we are tasting 7 Sakes with Liloa "Loa" Papa from Young's Market Co. for our monthly Sake Tasting.  It runs from 6-8 p.m. and costs $20.

Thursday, April 21st - Sangiovese
It's not only grown in Brunello and Chianti! While we may take a look at some wines from these famed areas, some other less famous examples may sneak in...
$30, 4:30-8:30 p.m.



Friday, April 22nd - Yalumba
With roots going back to 1849, South Australia's Yalumba is a great intro to Aussie wines, if you're unfamiliar, and a benchmark Barossa winery to the already-converted imbibers. Plus we'll have Yalumba’s travelling historian & story-teller, Jane Ferrari, joining us at the wine bar. She is known for her deep knowledge of Yalumba and sparkling wit. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23rd - Saint Cosme
This historic winery in Gigondas, in the southernRhône region of France, has roots dating back to the early 15th century and a stable of wines as rich as their history. $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Hospice du Rhone

Our California (Dan Williams) and French (Josh Hoover) wine buyers are up in Paso Robles this weekend at the Hospice du Rhone... Dan is offering up tidbits and photos on his Instagram which we are sharing here (and on our instagram).

Dan: Concrete fermenters at Epoch Estate in Paso Robles. This winery makes some of the best wines in the region. We just sampled the 2014 Zin out of tank...and it is AMAZING! Let @hospicedurhone begin!

Dan: Some old vines here in Paso Robles. Stoked to be here for the @hospicedurhone event! Over the next few days our French wine buyer @whooever and I will taste countless of Rhone-style wines (Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Chateauneuf du Pape, etc.) from around the world, and bring some real show stoppers back to our store.

 

We look forward to tasting the wines they discover!

South African Wine & Food Safari at Hi-Time

Authentic South African Wine & Braai (barbecue)
With Owners/Winemakers in Attendance

The Wine Estates That Will Be Here:

Buitenverwachting • Lars Maack (Owner)

Raats • Bruwer Raats  (Winemaker / Owner)

Excelsior  • Peter De Wet (Owner)

Morgenster • Judi Dyer (Managing Director) 

Saturday, May 14th

Reservations Required: 2 seatings •  4:30-6:30 or 7:00 – 9:00
Cost is $30.00

RSVP to Patty or Todd at Hi-Time: 800-331-3005
or Reserve your space online at hitimewine.net (links on the times above)

Braai provided by Perky's South African Food & Catering

Samoosas
A thin and crispy wrapped pastry with spicy ground beef filling
mixed with mint, green onions and coriander.

Boerewors
House made farmers sausage consisting of ground beef and pork
mixed with traditional spice from South Africa.

Lamb Chops
Lamb Chops grilled over a bed of mesquite wood charcoal
seasoned with South African spices.

Hi-Time Wine Cellars • 250 Ogle Street • Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • @mrhitime www.hitimewine.net

Wine Bar This Week

We are having a great class on Wednesday, April 13th, as Professor Todd Johnston hosts Cheese 101, a primer on wine and cheese pairing.  The class costs $20 and goes from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 14th: Domaine St. Préfert & Friends
Excellent high-scoring wines from Isabel Ferrando in Châteauneuf-du-Pape & other tasty French wines, all from H. Mercer Imports. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, April 15th: So You Think You Don't Like Euro Wines? & Trivia Night with KissKissBangsBangs!  
Don't like Euro Wines? We will taste eight "modern style" wines from Europe that just might change your mind.  Trivia portion starts at 7 p.m. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 16th: Rosé Champagne
More popular than ever, we will sample 9 Rosé Champagnes including faves from Billecart-
Salmon, Laurent-Perrier, Andre Clouet, Gosset and Larmandier-Bernier. $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Next Week:

Our monthly Sake Tasting is next Wednesday, April 20th, from 6-8 p.m., $20. Our guest host is Liloa "Loa" Papa from Young's Market Co. who will join our regular host and sake buyer Veronica Castro.

Thurs. 4/21: Sangiovese, $30
Fri. 4/22: Yalumba, $25
Sat. 4/23: Saint Cosme, $30 

Hi-Time Wine Cellars presents...

Tuscany Under The Stars
A Night of Tuscan Wines with Producers

At

The Pelican Courtyard
124 Tustin Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Wednesday, May 4th • 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Taste over 20 wines with six producers
Selvapiana • Badia a Coltibuono • Poliziano
Casanova di Neri • Aia Vecchia • Adami

Tray Passed Tuscan Bites
catered by Mark McDonald of Old Vine Café, Costa Mesa

Entertainment Provided by Haddy Music
$40 per person
Reservations Required By Phone (949.650.8463) or Online

For more info please go to hitimewine.net • Dress Code Business Casual

Wine Happenings

Burgundy
Gregory Patriat, winemaker for Boisset pouring some of his white and red wine from Burgundy. Reasonably priced, elegant wines. -Gary Faust

Wine Bar!
Ancient Peaks is a stunning property in Paso Robles. The owner and winemaker will be at our wine bar Thursday evening, April 7th,  pouring their wines, talking about their vineyards, and just having fun! Just $20, open 4:30-8:30 p.m. - Dan Williams

On Friday night (4/8), we will taste some newly released beauties from the Golden State! $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.


On Saturday (4/9) we are tasting the wines of Herman Story and Desparada-- with both winemakers in attendance!

Both wineries have made HUGE splashes over the years, crafting intense & complex reds & whites from Paso Robles & Santa Barbara County. Tonight we'll have both Russell & Valia, respective winemakers for Herman Story & Desparada, pouring new releases! $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Quick Sips: Mad March Hare Irish Poitin!

Hare of the dog? Almost--this Mad March Hare Irish Poitín missed St. Paddy's day but will do just fine this April! Smooth with a touch of sweetness & minerality, the Hare is distilled in traditional copper pot stills from locally sourced malted barley in Ireland. This is #OG moonshine and downright delicious.

The Awesome Current & Upcoming Napa Valley Wines

by Dan Williams

For me, February is the best time to visit Napa Valley. Sure, the weather would be better if I went it June, when it gets warm without being super hot... but you just can’t beat Napa in February. And why is that? Because the entire valley parties for 4 days straight for an event called Premiere Napa Valley!

Premiere Napa Valley is a trade-only auction where over 200 of the wineries in the Napa Valley gather together and auction off one-of-a-kind wines. These are wines that the wineries don’t normally produce, and these wines are crafted to be the best examples of the wineries’ capabilities. Quite often, they bottle just a few cases of their favorite barrel of Cabernet, from their favorite vineyard block, that typically goes into their reserve wine. They produce anywhere from 5 to 20 cases, and if a member of the trade, like Hi-Time, wins a particular winery’s auction lot, all of that wine would go to Hi-Time. So we’re talking about super micro-production wines that are simply stunning!

Another benefit of this auction is the fact that most of these wines are barrel samples. In this year’s case, the majority of the 200+ wines were from the 2014 vintage. So we get a chance to taste over 200 wines from producers up and down the valley. This gives us the ability to let YOU, our loyal customers, know if the vintage one or two years down the road is a vintage you avoid, or max out your cards for the next “vintage of a lifetime”! No, but seriously, don’t max out your cards... be responsible.

In addition to the auction, wineries get together and throw parties all week long. They have big spreads of food, and pour all of their current releases, as well as older vintages pulled from their libraries and barrel samples of upcoming vintages. Imagine spending several days tasting wines from some of the best producers in Napa Valley, such as Shafer, Ovid, Continuum, Pulido-Walker, Memento Mori, Far Niente. Yeah... now you know why February is my favorite time to go to Napa.

In regards to Cabernet Sauvignon, since Cab is king in Napa, here is my take on the current and upcoming vintages.

2012 – Delicious wines from a vintage that’s hard to pass up.

As I stated last year, there was no drastic news about this vintage. Mother nature played nice; there weren’t scorching hot spells just before harvest, no upcoming rains that rushed picking, no problems during the flowering and bloom in the spring to mess yields. There was no news. This meant that wineries could pick grapes when they wanted, when grapes were at optimum maturity, with optimum flavors.

The resulting 2012 Cabernets are complex wines with good aromatics, generous fruit profiles that seem to lean more along the red fruit spectrum (think cherries, raspberries, and currants), and integrated tannins. The majority of 2012s I have tasted are drinking very well right now, but should be able to cellar until an age of 10-20 years. They have put on more weight since last year, but I take that to mean that they may have more to show in the future. The only sad thing about the 2012s is that many of them are now sold out.

2013 – BUY THIS VINTAGE!!!

“During my Napa trip in February, I think the worst wine from the 2013 vintage I tasted was really, really good...that was the worst wine.” That’s what I wrote last year. Well this year, I tasted more from the 2013 vintage, and again nothing tasted less than really, really good!

I still feel that this is the greatest vintage of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon since I have been in the wine game, which was when the fantastic 1994s were being released. The 2013s represent everything you want in a Cabernet Sauvignon. They have opulent fruit (perhaps more along the black fruit spectrum like plums, black cherries, cassis) with wonderful aromatics, good structure in the way of fresh acidities and firm tannins, along with expansive and long-lasting finishes. Seriously... some of the finishes on these wines lasted well over a minute, with a few lasting 2-3 minutes... INCREDIBLE! This is a vintage that is going to be hard to top. I’m typically not fond when critics so loosely use the term “vintage of your lifetime”, but if I was going to use it... it might be for the 2013s.

2014 – This makes it 3 in a row...potentially.

2014 marks the 3rd vintage in a row where quality was high. Since last year, winemakers were beginning to speak proudly about their 2014 finished wines, and how they believed they were just as good as the 2012s. After tasting so many of them out of barrel, I feel that 2014 is another very good vintage. How good, though, is hard to tell. The wines were not shy on fruit, complexity, or nuance, but they are currently showing some hard tannins that overshadowed much of that the wines may have had to offer.

As of now, I feel this is a vintage that has the tannin of the 2006 vintage with the fruit of 2004. So, in essence, the real question here is going to be the tannins and how they integrate into the wines over the coming year. If they integrate, then this could, in fact, be just as good as 2012. Right now I’m calling the hierarchy of these vintages, starting with the best, as 2013, then 2012, followed by 2014.

Noteworthy Upcoming Releases

The majority of the Napa Valley Cabernets that coming out are from the glorious 2013 vintage. Below are some wines that should land in our store in the not too distant future. They are not listed in any particular order.

Memento Morii 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon – For the past few years, if this was not my number 1 wine of the trip, then it was still in the top 5! Adam, Adriel, Hayes, and winemaker Sam Kaplan are doing everything right, and everybody in the valley wants to drink this wine! They get fruit from some of the best vineyards in Napa, including Cabernet from a few of the Beckstoffer vineyards! Ripe, juicy black fruits with minerals and crème de cassis. This earned 97 points from Robert Parker.

Continuum 2013 Proprietary Red – This marks the first vintage for Tim Mondavi and his family where this wine is 100% estate grown, produced, and bottled. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon from their Pritchard Hill vineyard in the eastern mountains of the Napa Valley, this wine also has a good percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend. When this was the case in older Opus One and Mondavi Reserve Cabernets, those were the vintages that always aged the best. This earned 97 points from Antonio Galloni.  [ed. Carlo Mondavi stopped by our store last week to taste us (again!) on the 2013-- one of the top two or three wines Dan had on this trip]

Pine Ridge 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – This wine never ceases to amaze me. It retails at our store for $51.98/bottle, but this easily competes with other Cabernets that sell for $100/bottle… no joke! The forward mix of black and blue fruit are balanced by pronounced yet velvety tannins, making this a wine that drinks well on its own, but I always felt a rib eye steak was this wine’s soul mate!

Pulido-Walker 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard – Pulido-Walker has become one of the favorite wines our staff loves to sell, and after one taste you’ll know why! Mark Pulido, Donna Walker, and their winemaker Thomas Brown (who also makes Schrader and Rivers-Marie, among others), make this wine from the Panek Vineyard in St. Helena, a vineyard that is littered with rocks that help the vines' good water drainage, smaller berries, complex flavors, intense aromatics, and distinct texture. To me, this tasted like the quintessential Napa Valley Cabernet! This wine earned 96 points from Robert Parker.

Shafer 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select – One of the most revered Cabernet producers in Napa, and their 2012 Hillside Select from the Stags Leap District is my favorite wine they have produced since the prodigious 2002! Silky, plush red fruits mingle with crushed rocks, framboise, black cherries, plums, and hints of cocoa. I could drink the whole bottle by myself! This wine earned 98-100 points from Robert Parker.

Fontanella 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder – What more can we say about the Fontanella family that we haven’t already said! Jeff and Karen are two of the nicest people in the valley, and the wines they produce are knockouts! Sourced from the western mountains of the Napa area, Mt Veeder is known to produce grapes with intense flavors and nuance. Their 2012 Cabernet is just hitting our sales floor, and it is riddled with cherry, raspberry, plums, black currants, herbs, spice, velvety tannin, and hints of earth, vanilla, and a kiss of oak. The complexity for the money is envied by many, but since Jeff worked at ZD and Opus, you can see how he learned to get the best out of his grapes!