Wine of the Day: Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva 2007 6-21-16

Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2007 750ML ($379.95) Buy Now: $249 special

Unico2007If Spain had an aristocracy of wines, Vega Sicilia would be king. (Pingus you could call a usurper to that throne.) Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, the estate’s various owners have made singular wine ever since. In fact, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines, not even the greats of La Rioja. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown in Vega Sicilia’s 500-acre limestone-soil vineyard include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, though eighty percent of the vines are Tempranillo. As a result, Vega Sicilia doesn’t taste like other Tempranillo-based wines from Spain.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2014 6-21-16

Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($17.95) Buy Now: $11.90 special

emilmoroSometimes summer isn’t hot enough – or it’s too hot – and I need a burst of wine from a place known for summer heat (and winter freeze). In such cases, I head for a Ribera del Duero. The 2014 Emilio Moro Finca Resalso fits the bill, for just over ten bucks. Made entirely from young Tempranillo vines planted in Emilio Moro’s original vineyard, this wine warms the palate while refreshing the spirit. Four months in American and French oak lends backbone and sweet smokiness to this fruit-forward tinto. The tannins are smooth and round, as is the finish. Try it with paella, grilled veggies, or anything barbecued.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 6-20-16

Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($299.95) Buy Now: $236 special

muga2011Imagine you are sitting in the hot Spanish sierra, eating handfuls of cherries with ripe, tart and sweet frutas del bosque (berries) from a satchel that smells of spicy leather, with hints of fresh-rolled tobacco on your fingertips. A breeze carries floral notes under your nose, and suddenly you realize that you’re not in the hills at all, or even in Spain. You’re sniffing a glass of 2011 Muga Reserva, and when you take a sip its fruit-forward character unfolds alongside rounded tannins, warming the mouth and begging for a bite of cochinillo (suckling pig, a Riojan specialty) and for another sip of this classic-yet-modern Rioja red.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Vincent Paris Cornas ‘La Geynale’ 2014 6-19-16

parisgeynalecornas14Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 special

Native to Cornas, Vincent Paris has been making wine since 1997. If it counts for anything, he’s got good neighbors looking after him – Auguste Clape and Thierry Allemand are both next door. Once Vincent’s uncle Robert-Michel – an esteemed grower – retired from winemaking, a bidding war ensued for his land which included the likes of Chave. Robert-Michel preferred to keep things in the family, selling to Vincent for below market value. Through hard work in the field and cellar alike, the ensuing years have proven Robert-Michel’s gesture to be as worthwhile as it was wise.

“La Geynale” is fermented with 100% whole cluster and aged 18 months in old oak.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Cameron ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir 2014 6-18-16

Cameron Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $24 special

cameron dundeeWith each release from Cameron,  don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone? Each time the wine comes into the shop, five-or-so cases high, I wonder how soon until our shelves need replenishing. The point being, this stuff sells – with good reason, too! We’ve secured another stash, but that’s not to suggest this little guy will be around forever…

The Dundee Hills cuvee is declassified Abbey Ridge + Clos Electrique selections from younger vines; the body is light but not flighty body, with rambunctious cherry and raspberry fruit leading into an herbal and measured finish. It’s probably the most precise and elegant release from Cameron in 2014, and warrants a drinker who occupies the space between decadent and disciplined – that is, to say, I suggest you buy ten or twelve bottles and drink a few now and a few later.… Read the rest