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

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]

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."

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!

Italy: Terredora di Paolo

by Gary Faust

The wines of Campania are not always on the radar for wine drinkers, but they should be. Wines from this region are distinctive and the best examples focus on varietals indigenous to the area. Great examples can be found in the wines of Terredora di Paolo. They have become a staple at Hi-Time and demonstrate the heights which wines from Southern Italy can achieve. No discussion of wines from Campania is complete without recognizing the important contributions of the Mastroberardino family.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Daniela Mastroberardino to discuss and enjoy the wines of Terredora di Paolo. Chatting over a leisurely lunch, Daniela said Terredora di Paolo focused on rediscovering and restoring Campania’s ancient and native varietals such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco and Piedrosso. These varietals are key players that have brought about Campania’s wine renaissance and have inspired a qualitative revolution.

Campania is a beautiful region in southern Italy known for its famous cities of Naples and Sorrento, as well as the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. Nestled inland, the Mastroberardino family’s vineyards have taken these wonderful indigenous grapes and elevated them into wine worthy of seeking out.

The wines exhibit a distinctive personality due to the unique microclimate. The climate is Mediterranean along the coast, but becomes more continental in the interior, especially in the hilly and mountainous area as the altitude increases. The days are sunny, which aids in ripening the grapes while the cool nights help maintain acidity. The altitude, volcanic soil and climate yields wines that are intense yet elegant with complex bouquets.

As we progressed through lunch, it became apparent that the wines of Terredora di Paolo are distinctive, food friendly wines. They definitely paired well with the cuisine of Cucina Enoteca. If you have not dined at their Fashion Island or Irvine Spectrum restaurant, you owe it to yourself to do so. The food is fantastic and very flavorful.

The Fiano di Avellino Campo Re is a white wine that is so versatile, going beautifully with the burrata and prosciutto as well as the grilled octopus. Located on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius near Naples, the vineyard name “Campo Re” means royal vineyard and it’s arguably the most famous single site in Campania for the famed DOCGs of Taurasi and Fiano di Avellino. The Campo Re is a complex and compelling wine.

Next we tried wines made with the Aglianico grape. Aglianico is the primary grape of Southern Italy’s most famous wine region, Taurasi, and hails from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius outside of Naples. Sometimes referred to as the “Barolo of the South,” it is the latest ripening grape variety in Italy and often shows significant structure. Terredora’s Taurasi are great wines with impressive stature and ageability. These wines display a fantastic spicy and smoky volcanic minerality.

The Aglianico Campania IGT proved to be a delicious accompaniment to the meat-based dishes which were served. This is an accessible, crowd-pleasing version of Aglianico, which is not over-extracted and is made to be approachable upon release. It has a terrific sense of place and you really know you are drinking wine from the South of Italy.

The short rib with cremini mushrooms over pappardelle pasta was fantastic with the 2010 Taurasi. This also went well with other bold dishes such as the chef’s ragu over creamy mascarpone polenta and the lamb brasato. This wine could be considered the big brother of the previous wine, showcasing more power, breadth and depth.

The Lacryma Christi is a lesser known wine endowed with power and character. Made of 100% Piedrosso, ancient legend has it that God cried as he found a corner of heaven stolen by Lucifer. His tears fell near the Gulf of Naples and the vines that make comprise Lacryma Christi appeared. This wine had good structure and complexity and also paired well with the meat dishes we enjoyed at Cucina Enoteca.

Daniela Mastroberardino’s passion and commitment are evident and she is a great ambassador for Campania and Southern Italy as a whole. That passion is clearly reflected in the delicious wines she and her family craft. These wines are distinctive, worth seeking out and should definitely be on your radar.

 

TERREDORA 2011 FIANO DI AVELINO "CAMPO RE" $31.95 [302655]
This special single vineyard bottling shows creamy lemon-chiffon fruit with acacia and a mellow citrusy edge, like mandarin orange and bergamot. Elements of honey, nutmeg spice and toasty oak lend this Fiano a depth that reminds us of a fine white Burgundy. There is also plenty of volcanic minerality laced throughout the mid-palate sure to please the terroir hunters and purists.

TERREDORA 2012 AGLIANICO $12.95 [301006]
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "A full-bodied red with dried-plum and berry aromas and flavors. Full body, velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Read More...A Taurasi with balance and suppleness. Shows the soul of Campania. Drink now."

TERREDORA DIPAOLO 2010 TAURASI $26.98 [303406]
Intense ruby in color with garnet reflections. The nose is complex with aromas of black cherry, violet, spice, tar, tobacco and mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and round with velvety tannins. Black cherry, plum, spice and smoky minerality linger on the long, flavorful finish. This wine will age well and is approachable with decanting.

TERREDORA 2011 LACRYMA CHRISTI ROSSO 100% PIEDROSSO $18.95 [302369]
 100% Piedrosso and planted from ancient vines planted into the sides of dormant volcano Vesuvio it is aged 8 months in French barrels. It has a dark ruby color with a very ripe berry, cherry and liquorice aromas and flavors. Rounded with loads of spicy black pepper character, medium-full bodied with chewy tannins and a long finish. Great pairings would be spicy roast dishes of roast meats, pork, lamb and cheeses.

Carlo Mondavi, Continuum, visits Hi-Time

Big thanks to Carlo Mondavi for stopping by the cellar and tasting us on the soon-to-be-released (next week!) 2013 Continuum... Our California wine buyer Dan Williams says this release was '...hands down one of the best two or three wines I tasted on my recent Napa trip." As he was there for the Premiere Napa Valley auction, he was tasting top shelf wines only. And today? An easy two thumbs up. Don't miss this wine!

Quick Sips: Produttori Del Barbaresco

by Gary Faust

Gary, alongside our Italian wine buyer Patty Quick, had a chance to try some excellent Italian wines: "Tasting the 2011 single vineyard crus from Produttori Del Barbaresco. All wines Vinified in the same manner, but each has its own personality due to soil, aspect, etc."

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We had some specials on Irish whiskey this month (March 2016)-- to check our current list of prices, please follow this link.

Wednesday Wine Workshop March 16th: California Rhone Rangers!

Up for some adventure, some excitement?!?
Wednesday Wine Workshop, Wed. March 16th
California's Rhone Rangers with Dan Williams!

  
What's the difference in flavor and body between Syrah and Petite Sirah? Why is Viognier
the Chardonnay drinker's alternative? Why is Grenache an alternative to Pinot Noir?
Our California Wine Buyer (the guy on the bike!) is going to talk about Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and more during this class! He'll focus on wines from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara for this tasting, and since these are some of his favorite varietals, you can bet that he'll pour some fantastic wines! 7-8:30pm, $20.

French Wine - New Releases!

Freshies!  New wines in the French wine category...click on the photograph to get a 'close-up' view.  We will be telling you more about some of these shortly or look for them on our website... cheers!

William Fevre Winemaker at Hi-Time

by Gary Faust

Didier Seguier, winemaker for William Fevre, stopped by Hi-Time Wine Cellars today with Gina Schwan. Quote of the day from Didier,"I want to make Chablis, not Chardonnay." From top to bottom, the wines were clean with brilliant acidity and minerality.

Our Fevre offerings at hitimewine.net.

Winemaker Mark Fincham from Maison Marchand-Tawse Visits Hi-Time

Winemaker Mark Fincham from Marchand-Tawse, no stranger to the Hi-Time wine bar, was back again as we tasted through their Burgundy lineup, seen here with our own Gary Faust.  We had a nice crowd here last night (Thursday, 3/3) but that's not a surprise as it's a. Burgundy and b. Marchand-Tawse (always a crowd favorite).  Keep up with our wine bar schedule here.  Cheers!  -Tobin Sharp

Wine of the Month 2: A Fantastic Sicilian Red

Vivera Terre Siciliane Terra dei Sogni 2012 $16.95 [301144]
by Tobin Sharp

"Corleone. My Corleone, green vineyards and hot sun. There is no other place in the world with this beauty. A beauty somehow misunderstood and hidden, that my husband and I want to express through the wine we make, in an embrace that can tell a different story of Sicily, through the language of its flavor and its smells." -Armida Vivera

Terra dei Sogni is a young wine, fresh and natural, a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from a vineyard of clay in Corleone, wedded to the mineral and fruity Nerello Cappuccio variety from Martinella, on the Etna. Terra dei Sogni is the land from which the wine is born: dreamt, grown and made to excite emotions and enchantment.

We knew when we tasted it that it was a clear winner for the Wine of the Month 2 slot. The nose was sexy, sultry and sweet with shades of berries and plums, smoky mineral and grilled bacon, incense, charcuterie and dark florals. The palate is lush with a viscous mouthfeel and tons of fruit flavors, echoing the nose: sweet berries, red plums, sun-dried cherries. Vivid minerality and a touch of red licorice are uplifted by brisk acidity and subtle tannins. Lovely in Springtime, perfect for Summer.

WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS: "Finely balanced, this medium- to full-bodied red integrates supple tannins, with a lovely range of ripe black currant and mulberry fruit, accented by tarry mineral, grilled herb, licorice drop and mocha hints that linger on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Nerello Cappuccio. Drink now through 2025. 2,667 cases made."

A 96 Point No-brainer from Some of the Oldest Vines in the World!

CIRILLO GRENACHE 

by Gary Faust

Wow, those are gnarly, old Grenache vines! We are excited to introduce our newest discovery, Cirillo wines, which are appearing for the first time in the country. This new discovery perfectly illustrates the benefit and joy of being an independent retailer. Being able to taste unique, small production wines and bring them into the store to share with our customers is something we really love to do. Of course, we wouldn’t bring them in if we didn’t think they tasted great. In this case, the old vine Grenache yields wines of uncommon elegance and grace, displaying an almost Pinot-like ethereal quality.

The Cirillo family are custodians of what it is believed to be the oldest continuously producing Grenache and Semillon vineyards in the world. Planted in 1848, these vines are not only a part of the Barossa history, but Australia’s winemaking heritage. That is a long time ago! To put it into perspective, the California Gold Rush, when the precious metal was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, took place the same year these vines were planted. The Cirillo’s winemaking heritage spans back over 9 generations to the Southern Italian province of Calabria.

The vineyard sits on what was an old inland lake over 100 Million years ago. The soil is deep silt sand over limestone and clay. This combination of free-draining topsoil and water-holding subsoil has sustained the 7 acres of grenache.

The gnarled and wizened basket pruned bush Grenache vines stand up to 6 feet high and nearly 6 feet wide. For these vines to survive at this age, they need constant attention through-out the year. Owner and Winemaker Marco Cirillo spends every spare moment training, pruning and nurturing each vine through its fragile life. The result is fruit with incredible intensity and old vine richness not often seen.

During primary fermentation the wine is hand tended 2 to 4 times per day. Once the ferment is complete it is carefully transferred into an 800kg basket press which will then allow intimate control of the tannin, fruit and overall structure of the wine. It is then stored in seasoned 60% French and 40% American oak hogsheads for up to 24 months.

Most of the grapes from these ancient vines are sold to the great Australian producer, Torbreck, leaving only a small portion for Cirillo to craft into these wines. These wines produced from gnarled and wizened trunks are something to be treasured and enjoyed.


CIRILLO 2014 THE VINCENT GRENACHE $29.98 [381616]
Medium ruby in color. Red fruits, Eucalypt and mint, grilled herbs and cedar aromas greet the nose. Medium –bodied with nice acidity, the wine is fresh with flavors of forest berry fruit, leather, sweet tobacco, clove. There is no drop off in flavor from beginning to end. Easy to like with a long finish.

JAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS - "From 80-year-old vines this has a very attractive nose with plenty of wild raspberry perfume and a hint of some darker purple fruits, lightly herbal, really pure and assertive. The palate has a beautifully complete and silky texture with a long and sustained core of fine yet strong tannin; great depth and detail, finishes strong, fresh and on point."
  

 CIRILLO 2010 1850 GRENACHE $74.98 [381827]
Medium ruby fading to a garnet edge. The nose is very complex with dusty cherry, strawberry, vanilla, sassafras, sweet tobacco, and savory meaty notes. On the palate this wine is medium-bodied with silky tannins and a Pinot-like ethereal quality. There is a subtle intensity to the currant and cherry flavors, olive and vanilla. Again the savory notions of umami and meaty notes are fantastic. The finish is very long. This a wine to ponder and enjoy the nuanced filled deliciousness.

Hi-Time Invades San Pedro!

by Tobin Sharp

What?!? Hi-Time invades San Pedro? Well, not really.  But I was up there on Saturday night (Feb. 27th) to take part in an annual activity for me. Many moons ago I worked at a Boy Scout camp on Santa Catalina Island, Camp Emerald Bay; each year, our alumni group (Emerald Bay Association) puts on a charity wine tasting in order to provide funds for Boy Scouts who otherwise would not be able to attend our camp due to financial hardship.  The camp has been operating on Catalina since 1925 (with a break for a few years during World War II when it was used by the Navy) and I spent my summers from 1984-1994 there.  As I now work in the wine biz, it was natural for me to help with the 'wine' part of the wine tasting (which I have been glad to do each year).

This year we are very fortunate in that the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club invited us to use their facility to host the tasting.  We met last Saturday to help select the wines we would taste for our upcoming (April 30th) event.  The club itself is gorgeous and appointed beautifully; we had the chance to meet some of the club board members (who tasted with us) who were down-to-earth, gracious and interested in what we do at camp.  We look forward to returning there in April.

Relatively inexpensive and offering much "bang for the buck" in terms of quality, we selected five of the 12 I brought (though I was very happy in that there wasn't a "stinker" [or corked wine] in the bunch):
Gerard Bertrand 2013 Reserve Chardonnay
Riff 2014 Pinot Grigio
Valentina 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Entresuelos 2012 Tempranillo
Delas Esprit 2013 Côtes du Rhône.

Claudio Fenocchio Visits Hi-Time

"Claudio Fenocchio and his fantastic wines with Italian wine buyer, Patty Quick. The 2011 Bussia Barolo is deep, approachable and in stock at HT. The '13 Langhe Freisa and '13 Barbera Superiore will be in next week."
-Gary Faust

From Burgundy to Star Wars...

Gary Faust has this report: "Thanks to Troy and Atherton crew. Great to meet Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and taste his wines. His wife, Caroline poured her inaugural release and she seems to have the Midas touch as well."

Praise for Colin-Morey:

“Colin has been on a roll and these are definitely wines to follow”
– Allen Meadows, Burghound, July 2007

“The quality of Colin-Morey's white Burgundy remains high—and there's more of it to go around”
– Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, 6/18/07

"What he produces on his own account is pure, elegant and precise. He is a name to watch."
– Clive Coates, The Wines of Burgundy, 2008 

###

A few months ago we started working with Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs for our trivia night needs and the reception at the wine bar has been fantastic!  On Friday night (2/26) we had a Star Wars-themed trivia contest with a full bar-- pictured are the winners: congrats!  Keep an eye on our wine bar page to see when the next event is.

Quick Sips: The Eighty Six Company

Joe Brooke from The 86 Co. stopped by today bringing their lineup of excellent spirits: Aylesbury Duck Vodka, Fords Gin, Caña Brava Rums and Tequila Cabeza. I have seen these spirits here in the shop but this was my first time trying them today-- very impressed.  Across-the-board a stellar lineup; great taste, provenance, packaging; really, the whole nine yards.  I expect that these will all wind up in one of my booze cupboards at home in the near future. -Tobin Sharp

Michele & Giacomo Satta at Onotria Restaurant 2.25.16

Our own Gary Faust was at Onotria with Michele and Giacomo Satta (pictured) on Thursday, February 25. Wines of elegance and balance from Bolgheri, Italy, soon to be available at Hi-Time.

Featured wines:
"Costa di Giulia" 2014 (65% Vermentino, 35% Sauv Blanc)
Bolgheri Rosso 2013 (30% Cab Sauv, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 10% Teroldego)
"Piastraia" 2011 (25% Merlot, 25% Cab Sauv, 25% Syrah, 25% Sangiovese)
"Il Cavaliere" 2008 (100% Sangiovese)
"I Castagni" (70% Cab Sauv, 20% Syrah, 10% Teroldego)
The lineup was stellar and Gary's standouts for the
night were the Bolgheri Rosso and "Il Cavaliere".




Menu:
1st. White Tiger Shrimp in Oregano Garlic EVOO over Cannellini Beans
2nd. Carpaccio of Bresaola with Pecorino Tartufato, Arugula, EVOO
3rd. Orichette Pasta oven baked with Buffalo Mozzarella and Pacchino Tomato Sauce
4th. Tagliata of Beef Florentine Style accompanied by Truffled Mashed Potatoes, Drizzled with Agliata
5th. Pecorino Sationato, Aged Pecorino Cheese and Roasted Almonds

Super Tuscan Sale on a 92 Point Wine!

by Gary Faust

This is a smokin’ deal from Baracchi, the fantastic Tuscan producer we first brought into the store two years ago.  Baracchi makes wines that are just plain delicious and this wine definitely fits that bill.  Even better, the distributor is making room for the new vintage and was motivated to move this wine.  This wine is easily one of the best deals in the store right now and we are thrilled to offer it at a huge discount.  Ardito is one of Baracchi’s upscale bottlings and it really shows in this wine’s complexity.
 
This is a stunning blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah.  It comes together beautifully and tastes like a hypothetical marriage of California Cabernet and Syrah from the Northern Rhone.  Like any great marriage, the sum is greater than the parts.  The Ardito combines the generous fruit and structure Cabernet is known for with the meaty savoriness one often finds in Syrah.

 

Deep ruby with purple highlights and staining of the tears.  On the nose, violet florals are followed by notes of currants, blackberries, vanilla, earth and meat.  On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied with moderate, ripe tannins.  The flavors speak of the grapes themselves showcasing crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry and anise from the Cabernet and that special meaty savoriness and slight spice that Syrah can bring.  This wine is bold, delicious and ready to drink.  It begs for a nice steak, but also drinks so very well on its own.

BARACCHI 2010 ARDITO SUPER TUSCAN

JAMES SUCKLING 92 POINTS -“Aromas of almonds, orange, and blackberries. Full body, with velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. A little chewy with slightly dried tannins but will soften with a year or two of bottle age. Delicious already. A blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Try in 2015.”

SALE $29.95 Reg. Price $54.95 750ml [301763] Click HERE to purchase