The Cellar Shot
- Angelo Negro ‘Sette Anni’ Arneis 2015, Piedmont, Italy - From Roero, this wine opens with alluring aromas of yellow spring flower, stone fruit, dried herb and an inviting whiff of bread dough. Showing incredible freshness and energy, the savory palate delivers juicy white peach, apricot, lemon drop and flinty mineral before a hazelnut close. Delicious, smooth and still going strong. Remarkable
- Moccagatta Bric Balin Barbaresco 2019, Piedmont, Italy - Distinguished by lots of wild berry fruit and a spicy hint of crushed white pepper that gives lift and immediacy to the bouquet. The tannins are quite firm in this wine and require more time to soften with bottle age. It needs time but the quantity of material and polyphenolic components are truly top quality.
The Californian
- Luli Monte Linda Pinot Noir 2022, Santa Lucia Highlands - A joint venture between the Pisoni Family and Master Sommelier Sara Floyd. Dark and concentrated from a dry year; notes of raspberry, spiced plum, sage and rose petals; firm tannins and layered structure with a long finish.
- La Marea Cachudo 2023, San Antonio Valley - From the Pierce Ranch. Better known as Arinto, this Portuguese varietal displays aromas of butter, caramel, and orange blossom. Pink grapefruit and minerality on the plate. Expect a bit of beeswax with age!
- Stolpman ‘La Cuadrilla’ Red Blend 2022, Ballard Canyon - Stolpman’s Profit Sharing Project with the vineyard crew. Syrah and Grenache with a splash of Mourvedre. Medium bodied bright and silky; spicy and earthy fruit; higher acid and good tannic structure.
The Trust Fall
- Bott Frigyes Juhfark 2020, Juznoslovensk, Slovakia - From the southern slopes of the Mužsla Hills, this wine spent one week in the hamburger method (open vat fermented in three layers: foot trodden, whole clusters, and destemmed), and then aged 10 months on the lees in Hungarian oak. With little to no botrytis, this is more on the tea spectrum than fruit, zero oxidative notes, and more creamy in lieu of tannic grip. While not a skin contact wine in the general sense, if served chilled, let this one come up to cellar temperature.
- Iliana Malihin "Young Vines" Vidiano 2023, Crete, Greece - From the mountain village of Melambes in Rethymno, this cuvee comes from vineyards aged 5-15 years old in three vineyards in the region. Against the restrained charm of Vidiano from old vines, this wine shows expressive aromas, lively acidity and the character of the variety in full development already from the beginning of its life.
- Edaphos Trousseau 2022, Mendocino County, California - From the Alder Springs Vineyard by Ernest Vineyards this wine is light, violet-hued with aromas of cassis, cranberry-apple, orange blossom, black tea, on the nose. The flavors on the midpalate are juicy cranberry-pomegranate, pink grapefruit, intertwined with dried herbs, orange-blossom honey and a mouthwatering dry finish. Great example of a varietal originally grown in the Loire and Rhône regions in France
The Pop & Pour
- Pablo Fallabrino Tannat 2020, Atlantida, Uruguay - Layered with primary notes of blackberry, blueberry, and plum. The palate shows hints of crushed dry leaves and leather with a core of blackberry and firm tannins that lead to a long finish.
- Eugenia Rosé of Cinsault 2023, Lodi, California - Delicate salmon-copper hue, this wine displays subtle mineral and candied orange peel notes. On the palate, it bursts with fresh fruit flavors, underscored by lively citric acidity.
- Atance Cuvée No 1 Blanco 2022, Valencia, Spain - Floral aromas with tropical fruits, nicely balanced freshness with melon, apricot and pear. There is a prickly quality from the mineral acidity that makes this a fun pairing with a variety of dishes, from salty tapas to heartier pastas.