Tag Archives: red wine

Wine of the Day: San Fereolo ‘Dolcetto di Dogliani’ Superiore ’01/’05/’07 4-4-16

San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2001 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $49 special
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2005 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2007 750ML ($34.95) Buy Now: $28 special

How often can you witness the stages of a wine’s development in this manner? The ’01 was such a treat a few weeks ago, and the others sing in such nice harmony with it. This stuff is Dolcetto like you’ve never seen it. Piedmont which you’d never expected. Try them – I dare you! We don’t have much left, so I wanted to make sure it got into the right hands. – Tyler

Importer note: “The most important wine of the estate. The Dolcetto for the top wine is sourced from parcels found in prime positions as well as the oldest vines of the estate. The seven-year wait from harvest to release reflects the important of the San Fereolo to Nicoletta, who carefully tends the wine through its three years in large barrel before a 3-4 year hibernation in the bottle cellar. Our tasting of each vintage from 2001 to 2008 revealed a consistent vein of dense, warm fruit, which spoke of the Langhe source. Fresh mineral notes, mint, licorice and savory elements permeated each expression, while a lively freshness was alive in every wine, including the 14-year old 2001 vintage. As with the Austri, the 2007 is the current release, and we are pleased to be able to source multiple back vintages.”

Wine of the Day: Lopez de Heredia Tondonia 4-2-16

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva 2003 750ML ($47.95) Buy Now: $33 special
Case-12 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva 2003 750ML ($499.95) Buy Now: $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)

There’s a little jazz venue-meets-bottle shop on Portland’s east side that has two bottles of Lopez de Heredia from the 1940’s sitting on a shelf. While a friend was playing a recent show, I could barely resist temptation of yanking out the still-intact corks and seeing what message the wine bore from three quarters of a century ago. The labels are tattered, the bottle’s glass itself is lopsided, and the once-bright red wax seal has assumed a burnt sienna hue. I wonder when, if ever, these wines will see the light of day!

Every bottle I’ve had from Lopez de Heredia – LdH, as their devotees have dubbed them – bears some variation of this mystery. Their library releases make me wonder about what the weather in Spain was like that year, about what was going on in my own life at the time. I respect LdH because their mission seems unchanged since 1877; they resist temptation of trends and seldom disappoint. Above all – beyond the romance and the story, if one can divorce the two – the wines are powerful yet balanced, hugely expressive and a touch rustic. Soulful, suave, old world.

The 2003 Tondonia is 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, all from estate vineyards. Aged six years in barrel and racked twice, the wine presents blackcurrant and smoke in terms or aromas and delivers a brilliant mix of saddle leather, roasted herbs, ripe red fruit, and earth on the palate. The tannins are there – and aren’t shy – but the acid, brightness, and body all reconcile in a lively, balanced wine. Decant it, let it sit, tipple here and there, and enjoy over a nice meal. You wouldn’t be wrong to grab a case and drink one bottle per year until 2027… I don’t say that as a salesman, but rather a fellow drinker. Enjoy this one! -Tyler

Wine of the Day: Antoine Arena Grotte di Sole 3-28-16

Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Grotte di Sole Rouge, Corsica, France 2011 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $29 special

Antoine Arena manages such depth in his otherwise energetic, soulful wines. The 2011 Grotte di Sole is among the best possible examples, and we’re lucky to have it on offer. Sun-soaked fruit flirts with a leathery backdrop which never goes overboard; the gorgeous aromas of dark cherry and spice makes it very much a sip once, sniff twice sort of wine. This is an adventurous wine which will pleasantly surprise, though certainly fall within the register of anyone who loves the complexity of northern Rhone wines, the food-friendliness of Tuscan wines, and the persistence of Loire reds. I, for one, love it.

– Tyler

Wine of the Day: Philippe Pacalet Les Perrieres 3-27-16

Philippe Pacalet Les Perrieres, Beaune Premier Cru, Burgundy, France 2010 750ML ($99.95) Buy Now: $89 special

My jaw basically dropped upon first tasting this wine. I don’t spend as much time with Burgundy as I should, perhaps, but still know when I’m onto something good. The 2010 Perrieres is layered and suave in all the right ways. This one’s recipe includes goji berries with some cherry-tinged roundness, a touch of mint and sage, and a hint of bramble. The finish is unceasing, and I truly don’t know whether you’re better off drinking all of it you can get your hands on ASAP or monitoring its progress through cellaring. Just do what feels right with this guy. – Tyler

Wine of the Day: San Maurizio Saro Djablo 3-26-16

Feudo di San Maurizio Saro Djablo Valle d’Aosta, Italy 2010 750ML ($34.95) Buy Now: $28 special

I cannot get enough wine from Valle d’Aosta, and this wine is no exception. Fragrant and layered, it’s technically a multi-vintage blend of co-fermented varietals. The blend is surprisingly harmonious, considering it consists of Barbera, Freisa, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Gamay, Petit Rouge, Fumin, and Premetta.

The vines sit 3,000 feet above sea level in that northwestern corner of Italy I’ve long wanted to visit. In the glass, the wine is a bit of a feat. Sure, it’s neither the most precise nor wholly elegant. It’s terribly fun to drink, however, with lovely swirls of spice, berry fruit, and earth. Throw a log on the fire, pop the cork, and have fun with it – chill it, decant it, have some with a cool new recipe. Wine can be fun, don’t forget… Cheers! -Tyler