Rosso Wine Shop

Pork - Eight Ways

2012-02-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

Korean BBQ at Palsaik Samgyupsal; highly recommended. Pork Belly marinated and seasoned 8 different ways. All very different. All excellent. Very reasonably priced. Festive environment. What's not to like?

Check out the Jonathan Gold review [here].

Palsaik Samgyupsal
863 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 365-1750
Open daily, Noon-9pm

Los Angeles Daily News Picks

2012-02-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Rosso Wine Shop
3459 1/2 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA
Ph: 818-330-9130
rossowineshop.com

Jeff Zimmitti, owner

Red of the week

Chateau de Macard Bordeaux Superieur, 2009 ($12.99)

This French red has a taste of plum, blackberry and blueberry, with notes of sweet spice and tobacco. A blend of cabernet franc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, it is a perfect match for grilled steak or lamb chops.

White of the week

The House of Independent Producers Chardonnay, 2010 ($11.99)

This unoaked white from Columbia Valley in Washington is filled with bright citrus fruit and lemon notes. Fresh aromatics and a clean finish make this wine a perfect match for any grilled fish or a Nicoise salad.

Great values!

Get Yourself to Santa Barbara

2012-01-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

The wines of Santa Barbara are only getting better and better. The winemakers are figuring out the best sites for the right grapes and they are developing a deft hand on the production side of things. There are more interesting places to eat and the region itself is spectacular (much like most wine country).

This past trip we discovered some great new wines but we also cemented our opinion on some favorites. At the top of the heap, we very much enjoy Brewer-Clifton and Arcadian. Come the end of the day, those are the wines you will find in my personal cellar. They age nicely... well, for newish standards, meaning 10+ years. And they are some of the most balanced wines you will find. Graceful and fruitful but also brimming with acidity and structure.

Some other favorites from this visit include Samsara, Piedrasassi, Demetria, Bratcher and Ojai (not quite Santa Barbara but visited on this trip). Expect to see more of these wines in the shop soon.

By way of food, we highly recommend Brothers Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos and Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos. Both excellent quality.

Demetria Winery

2006 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir

Full of Life Flatbread

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! We graduated our fifth year at Rosso Wine Shop this past September and we are excited for the future. It is, and looks to be, a great time in the world of wine. Plenty of fantastic choices. And no shortage of good deals. If you look. And we do.

Here are some of our favorite non vintage Champagne picks (all from the Terry Thiese portfolio):

NV Chartogne-Taillet Brut Cuvée Ste. Anne $48.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut Cuvee St. Anne bristles with considerable energy for the year. It shows lovely balance in a fairly approachable style best suited to near-term drinking. The St. Anne is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, based on the 2007 vintage with 20% reserve wines from 2006 and 2005. In 2007 Chartogne was not happy with his Meunier, so it was left out of the blend. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged June 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.

NV L Aubry et Fils Brut $46.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut is a pretty, graceful wine layered with expressive red fruit, dried roses and sweet herbs. It shows plenty of the house’s understated finesse and personality. The finish is round, caressing and totally inviting. The NV Brut makes a great introduction to the wines of Aubry, one of Champagne’s most fascinating growers. The NV Brut is 25% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 45% Meunier and 5% other grapes. This version is 45% 2008 juice and 55% a solera reserve spanning vintages 1999-2007. Disgorged July 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.

NV Pierre Peters Brut Cuvée Réserve Grand Cru $59.99
(92 Points: Wine Advocate) The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvee de Reserve is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of Chardonnay in the Cote des Blancs. Pure, wiry and wonderfully expressive, the Cuvee de Reserve flows gracefully with layers of varietal fruit from start to finish. This shows superb clarity, depth and polish, particularly at the NV level. The current release is 65% 2007 and 35% reserve wines from a solera cuvee that contains 15 vintages. Roughly 2/3rds of the fruit comes from Mesnil, while the rest is from Cramant, Avize, Oger and Chouilly. This is Lot CBSAAI, disgorged: May, 2010 and bottled with 7 grams of dosage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016.

Favorite Restaurants of the Year

2011-12-28T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a short list of some of our favorite restaurants this year. Most are relatively casual but deliver in the quality department and, if you can, they are well worth the visit.

Animal
435 N. Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.animalrestaurant.com

Bashan
3459 N Verdugo Rd
Glendale, CA 91208
www.bashanrestaurant.com

Bouchon
235 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.bouchonbistro.com

Canele
3219 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
www.canele-la.com

Lazy Ox
241 S San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.lazyoxcanteen.com

Le Comptoir at Tiara Cafe
127 E 9th St
Los Angeles, CA 90079
www.lecomptoirla.com

Papilles
6221 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
www.papillesla.com

Providence
5955 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
www.providencela.com

Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90069
www.lucques.com

Spago
176 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.wolfgangpuck.com

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
www.thetastingkitchen.com

Le Comptoir at Tiara Cafe

2011-12-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Le Comptoir at the Tiara Cafe in downtown Los Angeles is quite an experience. Chef Gary Menes is a master at coaxing incredible flavors out of his uber-fresh ingredients. The setup is unique, there are 12 seats, counter-only service. But make no mistake, even though this sounds casual, the food is as fine as you can get.

I highly recommend you make reservations as soon as possible. The run should continue through February, according to Chef.

Le Comptoir at Tiara Cafe
127 E 9th St
Los Angeles, CA 90079
Email: lecomptoirla@gmail.com

Visit the site: www.lecomptoirla.com

Our menu

amuse
something amusing... (it was: crispy chicken skin and creamy blue cheese)

first course
cauliflower velouté, yogurt, apple mostarda

second course
sunny side-up egg, young lettuce, herbs, sorrel jus

third course
“veggie plate” musqué de provence squash, mustard frill, carrots, fennel, turnips, onion petals, warren pears, brussels sprouts

fourthe course
house made fettuccini, preserved black truffles

fifthe course
“pot roast”, chanterelle mushrooms, heirloom shelling beans, romano beans, young celery, smoked scallions, sultana-pistacchio relish, truffle froth

sixth course
j&j ranch grassfed beef ny “steak”, hearts of romaine, confit of barbara’s potatoes, baby leeks, parsley vinaigrette

seventh course
chocolate cake, cream cheese, orange, graham cracker


99 Leroy Savigny Les Beaune Les Galettes,	06 Dauvissat Chablis La Forest

Staff hard at work

Amuse bouche

Bubbles to start


98 Mont-Olivet, 01 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf

Incredible bread made from 17 year old starter

Veggie plate

Fettucine and truffle

"Pot roast"

Grass fed beef

Cheese course

5 Year Anniversary Party Snapshots

2011-11-27T11:01:00.001-08:00

Roasted suckling pig

Potato salad with red onion and pickle

Roasted corn

Fennel and citrus salad

Thanks to everyone for making our 5-year Anniversary party so much fun. Special thanks to Adam and Kermit Lynch Imports (the Maestracci and Leccia wines from Corsica are great). Thanks to Ned for the amazing roast pig (as usual). Thanks to Rick, Lake, Allison and Lisa for help making the food happen (awesome). And special thanks to Wes for the great photos (always amazing).

Local Butchers

2011-10-25T14:53:00.001-07:00

In our continuing effort to promote independent shops, here is our list of favorite local butchers.

These folks are dedicated to what they do and deserve our patronage.

Make the extra stop, and we assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Harvey's Guss Meat Co

949 S. Ogden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 937-4622
harveysgussmeat.com

McCall's Meat and Fish

2117 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-0674
mccallsmeatandfish.com

Alexander's Prime Meats

(Howie's Ranch Market)
6580 N. San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 286-8871
alexandersprimemeats.com

Taylor's Ol' Fashion Meats
14 E. Sierra Madre Blvd
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 355-8267

Huntington Meats and Sausage

(Los Angeles Farmers Market)
6333 W. 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-8577
huntingtonmeats.com

Marconda's Meat

(Los Angeles Farmers Market)
6333 W. 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 938-5131
marcondas.com

Lindy and Grundy

801 North Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 951-0804
lindyandgrundy.com

The Italian Deli Experience

2011-10-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

We enjoy supporting independently owned and operated businesses and we frequent the Italian delis in our neighborhood.

You will find better products and, often times, develop a real relationship with the shop to enrich your experience.

If you like the idea of that, here is the short list of our favorites.

Eagle Rock Italian Bakery

1726 Colorado Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
(323) 255-8224
eaglerockitalianbakery.com

Roma Italian Deli & Grocery

918 North Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 797-7748

Mario's Italian Deli & Market

740 East Broadway
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 242-4114
mariosdeli.com

Monte Carlo Italian Deli

3103 West Magnolia Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91505-3046
(818) 845-3517
montecarlodeli.com

5 Year Anniversary Party

2011-09-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

Join us

Saturday, October 15th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

to celebrate our 5-Year Anniversary with Corsican wine and a feast, that you might find on the island, of roasted suckling pig.

The Domaine Maestracci Wines
E Prove

The Blanc:
Made with 100% Rolle, as it's called in France, and Malvoisie de Corse, in parts of Corsica and Vermentino in Italy. Confused yet? Aromas of pear and lime with a fascinating smoky note. Soft, ripe fruit with a fresh feel in the mouth and a very tasty herb character.

The Rouge:
A blend of Nielluccio (the island’s clone of Sangiovese), Grenache, a more recent import, Syrah, another newer arrival, and Sciacarello, a native Corsican variety that may be the source of the island’s most distinct wine. A rustic but pleasing red that has bright notes of cherry fruit and a earthy finish.

$20 per person - for food and wine!

Wine and Corsica

Since the arrival of the Phoenicians around 570 B.C., Corsica has produced a lot of wine in steep, coastal terrain. Production increased after 1950 when the Pieds-Noirs, ethnically French emigrants fleeing unrest in Algeria, arrived to plant vineyards. Until recently most Corsican wine stayed on the island. We are lucky to now be able to enjoy these wines here in the States. Thanks in no small part to Kermit Lynch Imports.

kermitlynch.com

Adam Zuckert from Kermit Lynch will be behind the bar pouring, answering questions and will have some bonus Corsican wines to sample!

Bouchon BH, Fried Chicken Night

2011-09-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Every so often Bouchon Beverly Hills does their fried chicken on Monday night, ala Ad Hoc in Yountville. The menu is fried chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese and corn bread muffins with honey butter - all for $36 per person.

The food is served family style and their wine list has some nice choices for French country wine. We went with a Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) and Anjou Rouge (Cabernet Franc); both paired excellently with the rustic food.

Highly recommended!

Bouchon Bistro
235 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 271-9910
bouchonbistro.com

Small Business Manifesto

2011-08-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Exceedingly present on most people's minds these days is the economy. While I won't profess to be an expert in the field I do want to express my opinion about one of the potential solutions. We often hear that small business drives the economy, so let's examine that idea a little bit.

More businesses are likely to fall into the small business category. According to the SBA the standards for what qualify as a small business are generally, under 50 employees, and, other than certain farming industries, an annual revenue under $4 million. Why do I highlight these facts?; because it is helpful to point these parameters out. More businesses are small businesses. We are bombarded daily with advertising from big businesses, so we may have a skewed perspective, but come the end of the day, there are many more small businesses.

Possibly more important, the benefits of supporting small business are far and wide. Did you know that when you spend $100 in a local small business, roughly $70 of that amount stays in that local community? Do you like to support your neighborhood? Then supporting local business is a sure fire bet. In general, local business owners live in the neighborhood and spend their earnings in that same neighborhood, thus creating a chain of support for the local community.

Beyond the financial impact of supporting local business, the customer service aspects of small business far and away exceed that of big business. Have you ever tried to procure a simple document, like a 3 year old monthly statement, from one of our big banks? There are several layers of bureaucracy to go through and then it comes down to a contracted group, only affiliated with the big bank, to process the order. And you have no way to track this service. So if it does not happen on the first try, it is up to you to follow up multiple times. That same request at a small community bank and you are working with one employee, who you likely know by name.

Expand this to our field; wine merchant, and tangentially, food. Every wine person I know has some connection with food. I guarantee if you approach a local wine merchant with a food-related question you will get plenty of useful information. Besides the obvious affinity wine has for food, remember that merchants work extended hours and have to eat somewhere. So they have likely tried everything within a stone's throw of their business and have an opinion on it. Have you tried walking into a large chain wine store and asked an employee for the best bistro in the area?

The customer service aspect of small business can be overlooked sometimes but when you don't get good customer service somewhere, you notice. Small local business pay attention to details. They specialize. It wasn't that long ago that people shopped for their cheese at a cheese shop, or their meat from a butcher. We see these things coming back in fashion. Support them. You will get better products. You will get special attention and you will support your local economy, which in turn, will have an effect exponentially.

I wrote these five years ago when we opened and it still remains our credo.

What you can expect from a independent wine merchant, like Rosso Wine Shop:

1) We will say hello when you walk in the door.
2) We will do our best to understand your palate and price range and suggest accordingly.
3) Ask for a $20 Cabernet and we will find you a good Cabernet at that price, no up-selling.
4) We will contact you when we run into a wine we think you would love.
5) We will offer you limited production wines and special deals on closeout items we find.
6) If you end up with a problem bottle (i.e. corked or damaged) we will replace it.

Anyone else have opinions on this subject?

Sunday Supper at Lucques

2011-08-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

A great value for the quality, preparation and service.

sunday supper
www.lucques.com

august 14, 2011

1st

eggplant purée with burrata,

sweet peppers and shaved pecorino

2nd (choice of )
clams and chorizo with shell beans,
grilled toast and smoked tomato butter
or

harissa-grilled chicken with farro,

swiss chard, summer squash and charmoula

dessert

nectarine and blackberry galette

with crème fraîche and pistachios

$45 per person

Very flavorful food. Great textures. Well presented. Excellent service.

Off their list: 2010 Cassis Rosé

BYO: 2001 Clos Vougeot

Visit Wine Country

2011-08-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

It is always great fun to visit where grapes are grown and where wine is made. You often hear people in the business say "each wine has a story," and many times, that connection to "the story" makes for a more favorable view of the wine. Not a distortion, mind you, more of a better understanding of the elusive sense of place.

If you have any interest in learning more about the process, the climate, the reason for being, a trip to wine country will be enlightening. Just like we always say the most important thing about learning wine is to taste, we also believe understanding where the wine comes from leads to added insightfulness.

On a recent Napa trip we were able to try some new wines and re-taste some old favorites. These kinds of trips contribute greatly to your inner encyclopedia of wine tastes. We highly recommend a wine country visit, to any one, really.

Fisher Vineyards was our first stop. They are located on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain. The site is amazing. The wines are equally as beguiling. They are a very small production and all family owned and run, established in 1973.

www.fishervineyards.com

Next up was Failla Wines on the Silverado Trail in St Helena. Ehren Jordan, the wine maker, trained in Europe and has an affinity for Pinot Noir and Syrah, even though he is based in Napa. He sources fruit largely from top sites in Sonoma.

www.faillawines.com

Outpost Winery was another visit. Thomas Rivers Brown is likely one of the most sought-after wine makers currently. He picks and chooses his projects and crafts top quality wines. Outpost has amazing views on Howell Mountain. Great wines; Cabs, Zins, Petite Syrah and Grenache.

www.outpostwines.com

Another memorable stop was Karl Lawrence Winery, located on the bench floor, in St Helena. Mike Trujillo is the winemaker. We have worked with the wines at the store. Mostly Cabs and reserve Cabs. We were able to try some of the reserve wines, which in small production, are fantastic.

www.karllawrence.com

Corison Winery was a quick stop also. Kathy Corison crafts what I would call classic wines. They are balanced and show a real purity of fruit. Her style is what could be described as restrained, when compared to some of the real juicy wines that are dominating the market, but we like them a lot. Try to find some older vintages. You will be impressed.

www.corison.com

A good resource for Napa Valley is: www.napavalley.org

Bodegas Riojanas -- Older Rioja from Spain

2011-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

We recently attended a trade luncheon where we were able to "sample" a good number of Bodegas Riojanas wines, along with a few Rioja going back to 1978 and 1964. One word, incredible.

These two wines are as good as you can get for the price and quality of an older wine. Traditional Rioja can be amazing. And when you consider the sums fetched for older wine from Burgundy and Piemonte, or any other long-lived wine region, these are relative steals. These wines have style, finesse, vibrant fruit and all kinds of other-than-fruit qualities that make old wines special.

Bodegas Riojanas is an exceptional Rioja bodega making wines in a traditional style. The winery is most famous for their red wines, particularly their Viña Albina and Monte Real Gran Reservas.

2001 Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva $34.99
Monte Real is made from 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano grapes, all hand-harvested from vineyards in the village of Cenicero. 24-30 months ageing in Amerian oak barrels is followed by another three years ageing in bottle. This wine is smooth, supple and delicious. Filled with cherry and strawberry-like fruit with good spice and earthy qualities. A steal of a 10-year old wine.

1998 Riojanas Viña Albina Gran Reserva $43.99
(92 Points: International Wine Cellar) Medium red. Captivating aromas of redcurrant, candied cherry, rhubarb, vanilla bean, cured tobacco, cedar, mocha and dried flowers. An elegant, suave midweight with wonderfully sweet, mellow red fruit flavors and an array of exotic spice accents. The supple, persistent finish features lingering cherry and red berry flavors.

If you enjoy older wines, please try some before they go away, which will be fast!

In stock the week of July 12th 2011.
rossowineshop.com

Roccafiore: Special Event: June 24th

2011-06-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Tasting with Luca Baccarelli of Roccafiore
Roccafiore is a young wine-making company, from Umbria, which will soon become an icon in the Todi area thanks to its innovative, dynamic and original style. This is due to the bold choice to produce organically and choosing a famous winemaker from Alto Adige, Hartmann Donà, to consult.

The wines:
2010 Roccafiore Bianco Fiordaliso (Grechetto di Todi and Trebbiano Spoletino) 2009 Roccafiore Fiorfiore (100% Grechetto)
2008 Roccafiore Rosso Melograno (Sangiovese and Montepulciano)
2007 Roccafiore Rosso Roccafiore (100% Sangiovese; the best selection)
2007 Roccafiore Prova d’Autore (Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano)

The small bites: sopressata, ricotta salata and grilled sausage

The wines were fresh and pure. And we sold out of all 5 flavors. Good times.

Tuscan Feast

2011-06-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

We special ordered some Berkshire Pork from McCall's Meat and Fish in Los Feliz. We highly recommend them: McCalls

We took some shoulder and belly. We wrapped the butterflied shoulder around the belly and tied it off. It was marinated over night with garlic, sage, thyme, crushed fennel seeds and extra virgin olive oil.

Roasted on the grill over a bed of aromatics for 2.5 hours. Unbelievable flavor.

Paired with some exceptional wines: 2001 Brunello and a 1998 Ornellaia.

An excellent Sunday with good friends.

Supper Club 12

2011-06-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Menu
first.. local tuna nicoise, shaved egg, chared tomato, capers, arugula
second.. crispy braised slab bacon, spicy haricovert, apple-mint pistou
third.. whitefish, crispy olives, frisee, pickled beets, beurre blanc
fourth.. cobblered peaches, lavender, caramel, almonds

first..
local tuna nicoise, shaved egg, chared tomato, capers, arugula
2009 Eric Chevalier Muscadet Cotes De Grand Lieu, Loire

second..
crispy braised slab bacon, spicy haricovert, apple-mint pistou
2010 Corte Gardoni Bardolino, Veneto

third..
whitefish, crispy olives, frisee, pickled beets, beurre blanc
2009 Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvee Terroir, Loire

fourth..
cobblered peaches, lavender, caramel, almonds
Sommariva Prosecco di Conegliano Brut, Veneto

all photos courtesy of Wes Chilton
food by SaltButterPork
wines selected by Rosso Wine Shop

to receive the Supper Club invitations visit the Rosso Wine Shop site to sign up for the FREE e-list rossowineshop.com

Barolo-A String of Good Vintages

2011-05-17T09:52:00.001-07:00

Nebbiolo drinkers are in the middle of an embarrassment of riches. Over the last decade, Barolo and Barbaresco have experienced some of their best vintages, and some, in succession.

Just take out 2002 because of hail storms and 2003 because of abnormally hot conditions and you have an amazing string of top quality years. Most people will talk about 2001, 2004 and 2006 but 2000 has its merits for earlier drinking. 2005 is sandwiched between two great years so it will always be in the shadows, but it offers some nice drinking and good value. And now with 2007's starting to hit the market we have another fleshy, drinker-friendly vintage. Take advantage of our excellent spot in history.

We are happy to have a varied selection of Barolo in stock at the moment. Take a look at this short list and happy shopping.

Barolo In Stock

2004 Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne $44.99
(88+ Points: Wine Advocate)
2004 Mascarello Barolo Monprivato $119.99
(96 Points: Wine Advocate)
2005 Ettore Germano Barolo Serralunga $54.99
(89+ Points: Wine Advocate)
2005 Germano Angelo Barolo Vigna Rue $59.99
(94 Points: Wine Enthusiast)
2006 Asceri Barolo $29.99
2006 Revello Barolo La Morra $39.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate)
2006 Renato Corino Barolo $47.99
(92 Points: Wine Advocate)
2006 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Castelletto $52.99
(91+ Points: Wine Advocate)
2006 Seghesio Barolo La Villa $61.99
(93 Points: Wine Advocate)
2006 Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis $61.99
(91 Points: Wine Advocate)

Arcadian Winery

2011-05-09T14:34:00.001-07:00

When I first read about winemaker Joe Davis and his Arcadian Winery in the 90's what stood out to me was his epiphany wine, a Grand Cru Burgundy, Dujac Clos St Denis. This is a legendary wine that is both ethereal and highly sought-after.

I liked the fact that he emphasized the idea of wine with food and styling his wines accordingly. He picks a little earlier than most anyone else, which results in a wine that focuses more on elegance than brawn. This is not always in line with the majority of the wine-buying public but it does show his commitment.

We have always been a supporter of Joe's since his inception of Arcadian in 1996 and have bought his wines both personally and now for the last five years that Rosso Wine Shop has been open.

And we are happy to announce the following new releases are now in stock. You will notice that these are vintages that most producers have gone through. This is another benefit of enjoying Arcadian wines, that Joe is able to release his wines later than most, which means they are more integrated.

Please do yourself a favor and try one of these wines, or any Arcadian wine, you won't be disappointed.

2006 Arcadian Winery Dierberg Chardonnay $39.99

(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Bright gold. Fresh apple and pear aromas are deepened by notes of honey and smoky lees. Tightly wound citrus and orchard fruit flavors unfurl with aeration, giving way to deeper peach pit and melon character. Leaves zesty mineral and lemon pith qualities behind on the impressively long, focused and chewy finish. Showing a more serious side than the Sleepy Hollow and balanced to age.

2005 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills $27.99

(90 Points: International Wine Cellar) Light, bright red. Red berry, cherry and musky herb aromas are underscored by lively minerality. Light in body, offering spicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors firmed by dusty tannins. The tannins gain strength with air, but so does the fruit. Finishes with good grip and a suave, lingering cherry note.

2005 Arcadian Winery Gold Coast Pinot Noir $27.99
(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Vivid red. Spicy red berries, cherry and musky underbrush on the nose, with a suave floral quality adding interest. Tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show medium body and pack solid punch, with fine-grained tannins adding grip. Finishes sweet and silky, with excellent clarity and persistence.

2005 Arcadian Winery Syrah Stolpman $59.99

(94 Points: International Wine Cellar) Bright red. Lovely, floral-dominated scents suggest fresh red berries, kirsch and Asian spices, with sexy rose and magnolia adding complexity; seems to expand in the glass while maintaining focus. Silky and packed with sweet red fruit flavors, picking up floral pastille and bitter chocolate character with air. A very grown-up style of Syrah that finishes with superb clarity and persistence. This doesn't hit you upside the head, it hits you inside it.

2004 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard $69.99

(92 Points: International Wine Cellar) Deep red. Roasted cherry and plum on the nose, with a slow-building mineral quality adding energy. Sweet boysenberry and blueberry flavors are strikingly fresh, with supple tannins adding support. Very round, suave and luscious, with excellent finishing thrust. This won't let go of the palate.

Some of the wine pricing represents 15%-25% off suggested retail.

We love Rosé - 2010's On Their Way

2011-04-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

We love rosé. What is there not to like? Bone dry. Crisp. Refreshing. Flavors of bright fruits like strawberry, citrus and sometimes watermelon. Good acidity. And great pairings for all kinds of foods.

Try it with lighter grilled meats, steak or salmon tartar, Spring dishes, seafood, Thai food, you name it.

We have a preference to the French versions, so we focus almost exclusively on those. Over the next few months (April through June) all of our hand-picked selections will begin to arrive. In the end there will be about 7-8 choices made with a variety of different grapes. Please come in and start sampling.

Sign up for our FREE e-mail list at rossowineshop.com to find out when these arrive along with other new wines.

2010 Domaine Sainte Eugenie Rosé
Grapes: Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache
Region: Corbieres
Price: $10.99

2010 Mas des Bressades Rosé
Grapes: Grenache and Syrah
Region: Costières de Nîmes
Price: $11.99

2010 Domaine Corbilliers Touraine Rosé
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Loire Valley
Price: $14.99

2010 Chateau La Rame Rosé
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Region: Bordeaux
Price: $14.99

2010 Château Soucherie Rosé de Loire
Grapes: Grolleau, Gamay and Cabernet Franc
Region: Loire Valley
Price: $15.99

2010 Chateau Peyrassol Commanderie Rosé
Grapes: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre
Region: Provence
Price: $17.99

Supper Club 10

2011-03-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

Italian Family Style Menu

The set up

First Course
Antipasti of fresh made eggplant caponata and Sicilian-style pesto with almonds, tomato, mint and parsley served with crusty ciabatta bread
Paired with Barbolini Lambrusco "Lancillotto," Emilia-Romagna

Second Course
Shrimp done in the Sardinian-style
Poached shrimp with with fresh peas, tomato and saffron
Paired with 2008 Bisson Bianchetta Genovese, Liguria

Third Course
Southern-Italian style pasta with meat sauce
Slow-cooked tomato sauce with beef short ribs, salt pork and sausage served with a side of spicy banana pepper infused with garlic and oil
Paired with 2007 Musto Carmelitano Aglianico Pian Del Moro, Basilicata

Fourth Course
Crema all'amaretto dessert
Amaretto-infused cream with amaretti macaroons and a blood orange drizzle
Paired with 2009 Cascina Ca Rossa Birbet Brachetto, Piemonte

Family style in full effect

all photos courtesy of Wes Chilton
food by SaltButterPork
wines selected by Rosso Wine Shop

to receive the Supper Club invitations visit the Rosso Wine Shop site to sign up for the FREE e-list rossowineshop.com

The Old Ways

2011-03-14T16:15:00.001-07:00

I hosted a private tasting of one of the most respected and traditional producers of Barolo, Giacomo Borgogno.

We had a unique opportunity to taste this highly regarded producer, and the really special aspect of this tasting was that we were able to try older vintages. My supplier offered a rare opportunity to compile a vertical of Borgogno's Barolo Riserva from 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 from the winery's pristine cellar.

All of the vintages showed well. There was a remarkable consistency to the wines, though they all differed as vintage conditions dictated. Tasting a vertical of a single producer is one of the great arguments for buying a producer and not a vintage. Each vintage expressed itself differently and could be applied to different food settings.

The 1998 seemed the most "closed," but was expressive enough that one knew it could develop another 10-20 years flawlessly. The 1999 was fragrant and dense but also had the mark of a structured vintage. The 2000 stood out the most. It was open knit and ready to drink. And the 2001 seemed to have more of everything, including plenty of upside to cellaring. We enjoyed them all for different reasons.

The Borgogno Estate - the Borgogno family is one of the dynasties of Barolo and traces its origins in the wine trade back to 1761, making it perhaps the oldest house in the entire zone. The approach, until recently, has been, understandably, ultra conservative, at times resembling virtual immobility, but things seem to be loosening up in recent years and the Riserva wines are well worth looking for.

Here are the Wine Advocate reviews of the bottles we opened:

1998 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva
(93 Points: Wine Advocate) The 1998 Barolo Classico Riserva, in fact, is outstanding, very sizeable in its expression of the roses, resin, plums, and anisette of Nebbiolo and endowed with a powerhouse palate, very rich but round and velvety as well. The fruit, minerals, and classy tannins of the close, the sweetness and irresistible texture make this one of the essential wines of the 1998 vintage.

1999 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva
(92 Points: Wine Advocate) Light to medium translucent ruby in color. Very fragrant nose of roses, anise, eucalyptus, and tar, this mid-weight wine shows flavors of ripe red fruits and licorice on the palate and a delicate lingering finish. Classic and austere, this is an infant today.

2000 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva
(89+ Points: Wine Advocate) Medium ruby in color. Intense nose of spices, menthol and minerals. The medium-bodied 2000 Classico is dense on the palate, with plenty of red cherry fruit and excellent length in the house's austere style. This had been bottled only for about a month before I tasted it, and it remains shut down, but seems to offer outstanding potential. This bottle could merit a higher score after some time in bottle.

2001 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva
(91 Points: Wine Advocate) The 2001 Barolo Classico Riserva is sweet and open on the nose, with suggestions of very ripe black cherries, violets and tar. Medium in body, it nevertheless packs plenty of power, with outstanding length and elegant tannins on the fresh, inviting finish. It is a remarkably elegant and accessible wine for this estate even if it closed down somewhat in the glass.

My personal favorite was the 2001. An exquisite wine. Expect to see more Borgogno on the Rosso Wine Shop shelves soon...

The Virtues of Bottle Age

2011-03-08T14:58:00.001-08:00

You often hear people talk about older vintages but until you are able to experience them firsthand and multiple times I don't think you appreciate the amazement you can experience. Now I realize that when we talk about vintage wine most of you will think expensive Bordeaux or out of reach Burgundy or Barolo. But it doesn't have to be just that. Try some older wine from any where, and with a modest amount of years. There is a certain something about an aged wine. There is an integration that can only come with time. And if the components started with depth and balance they only get better.

We brought in some Ojai Syrah direct from the winery with 9 years of bottle age. The 2002 Syrahs were like drinking silk. A real treat. More recently we have brought in some 5-6 year old Napa Cabernet. And even they are in a much better place a few years after release. And yes, there have been some 15+ year Bordeaux and Burgundy that have been off the charts too. But all in all, the common thread is some bottle age.

I don't advocate buying cheaply and poorly made wines and waiting 10 years to drink them but my suggestion is to find a wine shop and proprietor that looks for older vintages and cares about what they do and you will find some gems. Or buy a wine fridge and start squirreling some decent wines away.

You will not be disappointed.

Supper Club 9

2011-02-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

Undergound Supper Club
Theme: Classic French Bistro

Sometimes you just want comfort food

first course
pate de campagne, frisee salad, lardons, crouton
2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Rosé, Costieres de Nimes

second course
seared whitefish, roasted fennel-onion confit, sauce meuneire, olives
2004 Henri Prudhon St. Aubin 1er Cru Les Castets, Burgundy

third course
coq au vin, caramelized aromatics, fingerling potatoes, red wine
2008 Domaine La Tour Penedesses Faugeres Montagne Noir, Languedoc-Rousillon

fourth course
pain perdue, vanilla chantilly, warm chocolate
2007 Grand Montmirail Muscat Beaumes de Venise, dessert wine

a great time

all photos courtesy of Wes Chilton
food by SaltButterPork
wines selected by Rosso Wine Shop

to receive the Supper Club invitations visit the Rosso Wine Shop site to sign up for the FREE e-list rossowineshop.com

Burgundy - The Holy Grail

2011-02-03T15:56:00.001-08:00

People say things like all roads in wine discovery lead to Burgundy (or Barolo for Italy)... and for good reason. The wines can be mythical. They can also be expensive. And they also demand some insight. When they deliver they are easily some of the most captivating wines in the world. We always advise to find a producer you like and then follow in most vintages. Don’t chase hyped vintages or scores. Decide for yourself. There are finally a smattering of good deals out there in the Burgundy wine world. We taste the bad stuff so you don’t have to. Here are a few recent arrivals that have passed the mustard. Folks like Allen Meadows of Burghound and Stephen Tanzer of International Wine Cellar (who are both respected in the critique of Burgundy) are both notoriously conservative in their scoring but have very reliable palates.

Release Price $30 - Our Price $22.99
2004 Henri Prudhon St. Aubin Blanc "Les Castets"
(87 Points: Burghound) A pretty and airy nose featuring spice hints, poached pear and lemon rind nuances introduces round, easy-to-like flavors that possess good mid-palate fat and a delicious finish. Solid if not exceptional quality and this will drink well early.

Release Price: $60 – Our Price: $29.99
2004 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Gevrey Chambertin
(86-88 Points: Burghound) A surprisingly ripe nose of earth, crushed berries and a touch of animale leads to round, rich and punchy flavors that don't possess the same degree of phenolic ripeness, particularly on the edgy finish. This may round out with additional time in barrel but my guess is that this will always display a bit of an edge.

Release Price $54 - Our Price $33.99
2003 Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne Montrachet Rouge 1er Cru "Clos St. Jean"
(89 Points: Burghound) Cassis, red plum and earth, all wrapped in subtle spice and mineral notes merge into remarkably fine, indeed almost delicate and dusty flavors that are complex, mouth coating and very fresh. In particular, the pungent minerality adds real lift to the finish. This is recommended.

Release Price $55 - Our Price $37.99
2004 Louis Boillot Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru "Les Cherbaudes"
(89-92 Points: Burghound) This too is unusually high-toned, refined, pure and elegant with old vine fruit intensity that is both concentrated and airy and highlights round, fresh, precise and textured middle weight flavors that are also quite dense, firm and persistent with an explosive quality on the finish. This is a seriously lovely wine that is impeccably well balanced.

Release Price $55 - Our Price $37.99
2003 Domaine Rollin Pernand Vergelesses Rouge 1er Cru "Ile des Vergelesses"
(89 Points: Burghound) Slightly deeper and riper notes of plum, violets and warm earth highlight round, rich and impressively precise and mineral-driven medium full flavors that are remarkably powerful for this cru. Despite the size and power, this remains impeccably well balanced though there is also a touch of warmth on the backend.

Release Price: $130 - Our Price $74.99
2006 Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair Corton Les Renardes
(90-92 Points: International Wine Cellar) Good full red. Reduced smoky, meaty nose. A step up in lift and juiciness from the Rognet, with a suave, fine-grained texture and enticing inner-mouth aromatic character. Offers a pleasing combination of supple texture and energy. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins. Showing very well considering that it was racked three days before my visit.

Why Wine Matters

2011-01-19T20:45:00.001-08:00

I do not want to get too philosophical in a blog but the reason wine matters is that is conjures up memories and it connects us with people, stories and events, and that can be very important.

Case in point: Cassic Blanc. This is a relatively obscure white wine from the south of France (next door to Bandol). I am oddly obsessed by it in a small way. There is not much of it imported into the states and almost nobody knows about it but when I worked at a record company in the 90's, one of my regular trips was to the south of France (specifically Cannes, Nice and Marseille). And during those trips I ate and paid attention to the local cuisine. This was a wine that I enjoyed with local dishes and a wine that struck a nerve with me. No real reason. There are plenty of other "superior" wines, for lack of a better word, but this wine stuck with me.

Several years ago I discovered that Neal Rosenthal imported one such Cassis Blanc to the States, and, needless to say I have been carrying this ever since. It holds a special place in my heart. And there might not be a "life-changing" moment behind it but I only have to think of it to bring me back to a moment in time.

And that leads me back to "why wine matters" - it connects us to something... a moment, a feeling, a place, and that gives us pause, and for some of us, that "matters."

The wine we will always carry at Rosso Wine Shop (unless the current vintage has run out):

2008 Domaine Du Bagnol Cassis Blanc
A blend of 50% Marsanne, 35% Clairette and 15% Ugni Blanc. This jewel of an estate, located on the French Riviera, is experiencing a renaissance in quality. This bold white wine from Cassis is quite remarkable. Crisp and bold at the same time. A perfect match with any seafood but particularly great with fish soup (bouillabaisse), the dish that is most famous from this region.

The Year Ahead - 2011

2011-01-12T11:06:00.001-08:00

I got to thinking about what I should focus on in the new year and here is what I came up with:

1) Continue to seek out good values. There are still plenty of amazing deals out there if one knows where to look and one tastes said deals.

2) We had such a great success with older vintage Bordeaux during the holidays that I will now be on a mission to find any older vintage wines that were impeccably stored and offer a nice value.

3) We will continue to primarily support wines of quality that are made in limited quantity.

4) We will grow our selections to between 500-600 choices now that we have the expanded space to do that.

5) We will continue to keep everyone in the loop if you sign up for our weekly email list here: rossowineshop.com

All the best in 2011!

Holiday Party Wine Picks

2010-12-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

Look, I taste hundreds of wines a year and there are some excellent wines out there, for sure. But there are some really bad wines, as well.

This holiday season, my advice, if you care about the stuff you are serving to your family and closest friends, go and support a small wine shop.

9 times out of 10, the owner is hand selecting the wines by tasting them first and weighing out whether or not they perform well at their respective pricepoints.

This is the best way to come across quality selections that you may not have considered. Yes, it is an extra stop. Yes, you may drive a mile out of your way but it will be worth it. Here are some of my favorites around $12 or less. They will surely please people that don't think about wine as well as those who are obsessed by it.

Have fun out there!

Giard Pays d'Auge Cru de Cambremer $9.99 France *small production apple cider
Vinho de Mesa Capote Velho $9.99 Portugal
2008 Bodegas Riotajo, Madrid $9.99 Spain
2007 La Nevera Garnacha, Navarra $9.99 Spain
2009 Domaine des Persenades Cotes de Gascogne Blanc $9.99 France
2007 Valevó Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $9.99 Italy
2008 Cantos Rodados Verdejo, Tierra de Castilla y Leon $9.99 Spain
Red Art Red Blend $9.99 California
2009 Domaine Ricard Touraine Blanc $11.99 France
2008 Chateau Ripaille Chasselas Vin de Savoie $11.99 France
2009 Domaine Collette Beaujolais-Villages $12.99 France
2007 Tolosa Cabernet Sauvignon $12.99 Paso Robles
2008 Poderi San Lazzaro Polesio $12.99 Italy
2008 Bodegas Luzon Luzon $8.99 Spain
2005 Tarantas Tempranillo $9.99 Spain
2009 Floresta Blanco $11.99 Spain
2009 Moulin de Gassac Guilheim Rouge $10.99 France
2005 Chateau Valcombe Cotes du Ventoux Rouge $11.99 France
2007 Domaine de Monpertuis Counoise $12.99 France
2007 Feudo Montoni Cataratto, Sicily $9.99 Italy
2009 Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc $12.99 France
2009 Luis Pato Branco $10.99 Portugal
2008 Leese Fitch Merlot $9.99 California

Respect -- Wine Respect

2010-12-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Felsina is one of those estates that commands respect from beginning wine aficionados to old-timer wine dudes. They manage to impress established wine critics as well as cutting edge new wine bloggers.

In short, it is hard to argue against the fact that they make exceptional wine, and have been doing so for years. It is best to be able to lay these down for a while, but please, if you have not tried any Felsina wines, do yourself a favor and remedy that. These wines are destined to be classics! (and are now in stock).

2006 Felsina Chianti Classico Rancia Riserva $44.99
(95 Points: Wine Advocate) The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a vibrant, focused wine that flows with the essence of dark fruit, minerals and flowers. The wine possesses gorgeous length and proportion, all of which is framed by powerful yet well-integrated tannins. Simply put, this is a superb Chianti that also happens to be one of the best relative values in fine, age worthy wine. The Rancia is made from vines planted on poor soils at 420 meters above sea level. In 2006, the Rancia spent 16 months in French oak, of which 60% was new.

2007 Felsina Fontalloro $52.99
(96 Points: International Wine Cellar) Good full red with a palish rim. Pure, superripe aromas of red cherry, violet, iodine and nutmeg. Superrich, highly concentrated and seamless, with densely packed flavors of raspberry, dark plum and marzipan. Finishes creamy-rich and explosively long, with a pretty violet note. This was so good I really had trouble letting the glass go. It's also the only time I can remember Fontalloro outclassing Rancia (of which I am a huge fan) by such a wide margin, something I had noticed even when tasting barrel samples of these two wines in the estate's cellar two years ago. I'd wait a good five years on this one, then enjoy it for another two decades. Proof positive that sangiovese is one of the world's great grape varieties.

2006 Felsina Fontalloro $112.99 1.5ML
(95 Points: Wine Spectator) Chocolate, blackberry and black cherry aromas lead to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a deep concentration of fruit. Powerfully rich and polished. Big and structured. A blockbuster Sangiovese. Best after 2012. 3,300 cases made.

Have Some Fun with It

2010-11-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

Most people say Pinot Noir is their go to wine for Thanksgiving. And while we agree Pinot Noir is definitely one of the more food-friendly wines, soft tannins, good fruit, medium weight, why not have some fun with it.

Here are a few picks that are in the same weight category (to use a boxing analogy) that we like a lot and would not only grace the Thanksgiving table well, but as we like to say, wouldn't break the bank.

2009 Terre Nere Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy $19.99
Nerello Mascalese at it’s finest. The purity and depth of the dark red fruit is remarkable, while the finesse in the tannins is commendable for a wine in this price range. Sweet tobacco, flowers and spices linger on the finish. Consider the Etna Rosso a poor man-s Burgundy or Barolo.

2005 Michel Guignier Morgan, Beaujolais, France $14.99
(90 Points: International Wine Cellar) Raspberry and red plum aromas are brightened by exotic notes of cinnamon and clove. Medium-bodied and velvety, with deep, sweet dark berry flavors and gentle acidity. Beaujolais with lush, round red and dark berry flavors and a liqueur-like cling to the finish.

2004 Weingut Bründlmayer St Laurent, Austria $24.99
St. Laurent is a traditional Austrian grape variety. These vines grow on an amphibolite primary rock soil in the 'Ried Ladner' vineyard. Although this is an elevated, cool vineyard, the early maturing grapes regularly achieve good ripeness. Cherry red in color. Spicy notes with red berry fruits; dry and refreshing fruit of red and black berries, cherries, and fresh herbs; elegant tannins leading to a clean and pleasing finish.

And, the ubiquitous, Pinot Noir pick!

2008 Pali Wine Co Pinot Noir Riviera, Sonoma, California $19.99
On the nose, a bright bouquet of plum, fresh raspberries, wild blackberries, coriander, lavender, iron and cinnamon. The palate is rich and full with black fruits intertwined with fresh raspberry, black pepper and wet stone that resonate in a fanning finish of sweet red currant and dark chocolate. This is 100% Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast AVA. 30% new French Oak; 9 months in barrel before release.

Don't Let the Wine Snobs Get to You

2010-11-08T17:37:00.001-08:00

Wine snobs say things like "Beaujolais Nouveau is not real wine" or "the Nouveau is just a marketing scam" but I say whether or not those are partially true, they miss the point of the experience entirely. Beaujolais Nouveau, simply put, is to celebrate the new vintage, get together with friends and have an excuse to drink and eat with gusto.

Thursday, November 18th - Beaujolais Nouveau: from 5:00pm until close

Each year, wine lovers wait with anticipation for the newest vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau. We invite you to participate in one of the world's yearly rituals.

Come celebrate the new vintage and enjoy some French-inspired bites; cheeses, pates, charcuterie, cornichon and crusty bread. We will open plenty of bottles of the Louis Tete 2010 Nouveau and offer a one-night-only 10% discount on all Nouveau purchases.

$10.00 per person for plenty of wine and small bites

Do Points Matter?

2010-10-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Probably not, but they are out there. Our tasting features three 91 point Spanish reds. It will be curious to see what everyone's opinion is. I like all of them for different reasons. They each have different personalities. The quality level is quite good for the pricing. Cudos to Rare Wine Co for curating some nice wines.

2008 Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya, Spain $12.99
(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Deep, smoky, seductively perfumed bouquet of dark berries, macerated cherries, licorice and Indian spices. Powerful blackberry and cassis flavors are surprisingly lively, with notes of black cardamom and candied violet adding complexity. A zesty note of cracked pepper adds snap to the long, spicy, subtly sweet finish.

2008 Jose Palacios Petalos del Bierzo, Spain $21.99
(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Inky ruby. Spicy red and dark berry aromas are complemented by notes of cherry pit, licorice, black tea and violet. Racy and focused, offering zesty cherry and red berry flavors and a firm mineral spine. Fleshes out with air and finishes on a sweet note of blackberry, with very good clarity and spicy persistence.

2007 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat, Spain $21.99
(91 Points: Wine Advocate) The 2007 Camins del Priorat is a blend of 60% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah aged for 3-4 months in barrique followed by tank and cask aging. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up a captivating nose of mineral, lavender, underbrush, and black cherry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has excellent concentration, plenty of sweet fruit, a forward personality, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish.

2006 Barolo

2010-10-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, some will insist that these are way too young to open now but I have also had some that have come back after a recent purchase going "ga ga" over them. Decide for yourself. These are the first of the 2006 vintage now in stock. Top notch Nebbiolo.

2006 Renato Corino Barolo $47.99
(92: Wine Advocate) Corino’s 2006 Barolo is simply beautiful. Blessed with fragrant, expressive aromatics, the wine emerges from the glass with superior density and richness for an entry-level wine. This shows truly exceptional elegance and purity, with a long, harmonious finish. The oak is beautifully balanced; what comes through most is the integrity of the fruit. The 2006 Barolo is made from parcels in Roncaglie, the lower slope of Conca and the fruit Corino was able to salvage from Arborina. This is a terrific effort in its category.

2006 Seghesio Barolo La Villa $61.99
(93: Wine Advocate) I was completely floored by Seghesio’s 2006 Barolo La Villa, easily the best vintage of this wine I have ever tasted. Dark plums, cherries, violets, minerals and spices emerge from this deceptively mid-weight Barolo. The wine gains muscle in the glass; yet retains elements of etherealness that are quite attractive. This looks to be a rare 2006 that is accessible relatively early. The wine’s balance, poise and sense of harmony are terrific. This is a great effort from Seghesio.

2006 Giuliano Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini $68.99
(94: Wine Advocate) A beguiling, deep bouquet melds seamlessly into dark cherries, menthol and spices as the 2006 Barolo Giachini flows onto the palate. This shows gorgeous detail and delineation, with additional layers of textural richness from the well-integrated French oak. A superbly elegant and beautifully crafted wine, the 2006 Barolo Giachini is a terrific effort from one of La Morra’s top sites.

Pacific Northwest Wines!

2010-09-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Some great Pacific Northwest picks just in this week. Great stuff from Oregon and Washington. Try some!

2009 Bethel Heights Pinot Gris $15.99 Oregon
Initial deep minerality gives way to aromas of tangerine, lime blossom, and lemon zest. The palate is defined by a firm core of acidity that runs through the wine, giving it structure and fantastic length. Flavors of apricot, white peach, and asian pear develop in the glass. Refreshing stuff.

2008 Sineann Pinot Noir Pheasant Valley $24.99 Oregon
Bright and refreshing with more of a red fruit character. Red berries and cherries seem initially lighter, then gain some heft towards the finish. Bits of graham and baking spice add complexity to the finish. Just around a bend of the Hood River from Able Vineyard sits another vineyard in what may be one of the best sites in the Hood River Valley - Pheasant Valley Valley Vineyard. Hagee farms it organically.

2007 Penner-Ash Syrah $27.99 Oregon
Dark black rich fruit flavors with hints of peppery spice. Dense ripe blackberry and plum on the palate, concentrated fruit riding on a core of smokey wood. A juicy mouthful of Syrah-goodness. Well-crafted and impressive.

2007 Sineann Merlot Hillside $29.99 Washington
Dark and concentrated. Crop sizes are kept small, 2.1 tons per acre, and it pays. These wines are dark, aromatic with chocolate overtones and complex, silky tannins. The older versions have aged beautifully. Merlot can make great wine and we aim to prove it.

2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $36.99 Oregon
(91 Points: Wine Spectator) Firm in texture, but lively, offering a cherry glow to the flavor profile against crisp tannins. Finishes with impressive persistence. Best from 2012 through 2016. 4,500 cases made.

visit our website for more info: rossowineshop.com

Indie 103 Wino Wednesday

2010-09-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 8th

More radio: in case you missed us on Indie 103.1 online last Wednesday, here is a link to the show. The wine theme was "Not letting go of Summer, and Summer wines."

I brought 09 Trajarinho Vinho Verde, 08 Mustilli Piedirosso and 08 Domaine du Noiré Chinon rouge.

Listen on BlipTV right here: indie1031Wino Wednesday

Supper Club 8

2010-09-02T15:23:00.001-07:00

The end of Summer means great tomatoes. This menu was inspired by our favorite "fruit," the tomato, in it's various forms. Fantastico! Thanks to everyone who was part of it.

The Tasting Room with Tom

2010-08-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just wrapped up a great radio set with Tom Leykis. He has got a very cool DIY radio wine thing going. He is calling his own shots and doing his own thing. He can be found at: http://www.tastingwithtom.com/

I took five of our current favorite wines. These are great value, old world wines that really represent what Rosso Wine Shop looks to do - find good quality, interesting, food-friendly wines that deliver better value than what they are priced at. I think we more than succeed with these 5 picks!

2009 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny, France ($14.99)
100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. Pale yellow. Lime zest and lemongrass on the nose, with touches of sage and mint adding complexity. Racy, focused citrus and underripe apple flavors show good clarity and pick up a sweeter tangerine quality with air. This easy-drinking wine finishes with good clarity and stony persistence.

2009 Domaine Amido Tavel Rosé, France ($14.99)
The only appellation in France that exclusively produces Rosé wine. This one is made with 65% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 10% Syrah and 5% Clairette. It is a richly colored rosé, with cherry, strawberry and a touch of almond flower flavors. Lots of freshness on the palate, and with enough body to match with a variety of foods.

2007 Barberani Polago, Umbria, Italy ($14.99)
Located in one of the oldest winemaking regions in Italy, the Barberani Winery is situated along the Tiber river, right above the road from Orvieto to Todi. Barberani's vineyards sit in the heart of the Umbrian hills, nestled among the olive groves and forests. This fresh wine is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Ruby red in color. Fruity and lightly herbaceous. Good body and pleasant aromas.

2007 Cascina Gilli Freisa d'Asti, Piemonte, Italy ($14.99)
100% Freisa d'Asti. Fresh and at the same time velvety, lovely raspberry notes predominate. Much softer and more structured than the usual Freisa, capable of aging for a few years. The skin is left on the grapes for 5-6 days, soaked in the must with frequent mixing to obtain a good extraction of color. Stored in steel barrels for one year to preserve the freshness of its fruit. Bottled after 12 months, it matures in the bottle for several months and can be kept for several years.

2007 Musto Carmelitano Aglianico del Vulture Pian Del Moro, Italy ($19.99)
100% Aglianico del Vulture. A single-vineyard red wine that combines all the power of Aglianico del Vulture with intense fruit and acidity that will keep it alive and fresh for years. Grown as lberelli (bush) and under the guyot method. The vines average 40-50 years old. Harvested by hand. Fermented in steel. Spends at least 12 months in French oak tonneaux and 2 months in bottle before release. Ruby-violet in color, the nose and palate perceive complex notes of raspberries, lavender, licorice, chalk and sweet spices.

Lighter reds for Summer

2010-07-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

For a real treat, chill one of these down a bit. These are some fun, outside-the-box picks for Summer faire. Good bright fruit, little or no tannic bite and some good spice.

2008 Mustilli Piedirosso S. Agata dei Goti
100% Piedirosso from Campania. This is a unique wine, a zesty light-bodied red with a clean, refreshing finish and good spice. Fermentation in stainless steel and kept in bottle for a year before release. Bright red in color. Red-fruit aromas enhanced by aromatics of lavender and thyme. Lively and dry on the palate with mild tannins and hints of dried fruits on the finish.

2007 Durin Ormeasco
A rare red wine from the Liguria region of Italy. Ormeasco is the local clone of Dolcetto. Light bodied, low tannins, and bright, red fruit. Perfect for a summer day and fritto misto or lighter seafood preparations.

2008 Punta Crena Cruvin Rosso
Made in the tiny town of Varigotti, Liguria. Not much red wine is made in this region and hardly any makes it to the U.S. The rare red grape in this wine is 100% Cruvino. Ruby red in color, with light red fruit strawberry on the nose. Flavors of robust forest berry and spice in the mouth. Soft, clean and long finish. We highly recommend this one!

Lazy Ox Canteen

2010-06-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

Great meal at Lazy Ox Canteen. Creative. Great quality. Casual environment but serious food.

Lazy Ox Canteen
241 South San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3808
(213) 626-5299

Highly recommended!

One of our go-to Arneis, the Roero, Val del Prete.

Great mussel dish. Order extra pain grille for the broth!

The last bottle of Luigi Giusti, 08 Rosé of Lacrima di Moro d'Alba.

Anchovy and piquillo peppers.

The star of the night, the 1990 Parusso Barolo. Amazingly fresh and vibrant. A real treat.

Super desserts with Brachetto and Beaumes de Venise.

The Most Interesting Man in the World

2010-06-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

His shirts never wrinkle.
He is left-handed. And right-handed.
He has been known to cure narcolepsy, just by walking into the room.
His organ donation card, also lists his beard.
He’s a lover, not a fighter, but he’s also a fighter, so don’t get any ideas.
Even if he forgets to put postage on his mail, it gets there.
The police often question him, just because they find him interesting.
He once punched a magician. That’s right. You heard me.
When he orders a salad, he gets the dressing right there on top of the salad, where it belongs…where there is no turning back.
On every continent in the world, there is a sandwich named after him.
He doesn’t believe in using oven mitts, nor potholders.
His cereal never gets soggy. It sits there, staying crispy, just for him.

He is The Most Interesting Man In The World.

Why not? It's some funy sh#t.

Lioco Wines!

2010-06-23T09:35:00.001-07:00

We have always been big fans of the Lioco wines (as we have been carrying them pretty much since we opened). They are made honestly. They are priced realistically. And most of all, they taste great. True to form these new releases, now in stock, represent some fantastic Summertime drinking.

2009 Lioco Chardonnay Sonoma County
A blend of four complimentary vineyards -- all of them sustainably farmed and hand harvested: Stuhlmuller, Ricci, Mazzera, and Valentine. No bulk juice used. Fermented in stainless steel (no oak) using a wild yeast. A naturally occurring malo finshed completed. Aged sur-lie with no battonage.
Price: $17.99

2007 Lioco Indica Mendocino County
The 07 Indica has less tannin and more satin than its 06 incarnation. The additions of some cold-climate Grenache and Mourvedre produced unexpected high tones in the wine. Now the entire orchestra is playing. Bouquet of morello cherries, red plums, and rhubarb, accented with hints of baking spice. Tastes of sour cherries, dried blueberries, and something wonderfully herbaceous.
Price: $17.99

2008 Lioco Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Vineyard sits in the Petaluma Wind Gap--a place renown for cold, old-born wind and fog. Clones 667 and 115 planted on a hillside in loamy Franciscan soil. Fermented open top using a wild yeast. Manual punchdowns. 20% whole cluster. Aged 11-months in neutral oak. Bottled without fining or filtration.
Price: $29.99

Ceviche

2010-06-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

My favorite Ceviche recipe:

3 Citrus Ceviche
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespns extra virgin olive oil
1/2 pound fresh sea bass cut into 1/4" pieces
1/2 pound bay scallops
1/2 pound medium shrimp, cut in 1/4" pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 small red onion, small dice
2 avocados, cut in 1/4" pieces
Salt and pepper

In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, ginger and olive oil. Add the sea bass, scallops and shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. The flesh of the seafood should be opaque. Add the cilantro and onion at the last minute and stir through. Then top with fresh avocado when ready to serve. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Open a cold rosé and report back.

Beirut: the band

2010-06-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool stuff. Great instrumentation.
Check them out here: http://www.beirutband.com/

Italian Sparklers

2010-06-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

Of course we love French sparklers but you have to admit Italy is coming on strong in the bubbles department. They are working with unique grapes and, in some cases, producing some incredibly good quality juice. The pricing is fair and if you are willing to look hard (that is mostly our job) you can find some fantastic stuff. Here are three of our favorites, in stock this week.

2008 Dama del Rovere Brenton Durello Brut, Veneto $18.99
A unique Venetian bubbly. Pure white fruit and wildflowers show in its perfume; the mouth is lined with lime zest and lemonade, with a suggestion of flint and spice. Very energetic on the palate; the finish lingers with notes of quince and gooseberry.

NV De Conciliis Selim, Campania $19.99
Crafted from Fiano and Aglianico, two grapes indigenous to Campania, this spumante is made in the charmat method. The yellow-green Selim itself has a refreshing nose of tropical and citrus fruits, peach and apple. Intense, unusual and beautifully balanced. Selim, spelled backwards, is Miles, for Miles Davis (Bruno De Concillis is a big fan).

2007 Murgo Brut Metodo Classico, Sicily $22.99
The Murgo Brut is made from the Nerello Mascalese red grape native to the mineral-rich soils of the volcano. This is an excellent, refreshing sparkler with good complexity and verve. Since 1981, Emanuele Scammacca, Barone del Murgo, helped by sons, Michele, Pietro, and Matteo, has been modernizing both the winery and the vineyards to improve the quality of his wines, which are now considered some of the foremost in the Etna area.

Summer is Almost Here

2010-06-06T09:56:00.001-07:00

Photo by Kyrsten Wetzel
In the photo Todd Goldsworthy (brother of Dr. Patricia Goldsworthy)
Duotone Treatment Jeff Zimmitti

Wines of Umbria

2010-06-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Umbria is a region of Central Italy, bordered by Tuscany to the west, the Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. This region is mostly hilly or mountainous. There are some real treasures for wines in the region but Umbria always seems to play in the shadows of Tuscany. We happen to really love the wines and here are some fantastic picks if you’d like to explore the region (all in stock).

2008 Palazzone Dubini Bianco, Umbria $6.99
Perfect picnic wine. Stainless steel fermentation creates a fresh, fruity wine with plenty of floral notes. Crisp acidity. Dry finish. Steal of a price. Blend of 50% Procanico, 20% Verdello, and Grechetto, Drupeggio and Malvasia round out the remaining 30%.

2006 Fratelli Pardi Montefalco Rosso, Umbria $12.99
Made with 70 % Sangiovese , 15% Sagrantino and 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet in color and chock full of red and black fruits with a backbone of soft, round tannins and pleasant acidity. Good stuff. Great price.

2007 Barberani Polago, Umbria $14.99
Barberani's vineyards sit in the heart of the Umbrian hills, nestled among the olive groves and forests. This fresh wine is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Ruby red in color. Fruity and lightly herbaceous. Good body and pleasant aromas.

2004 Terre de Trinci Sagrantino di Montefalco Ugolino, Umbria $56.99
(90 Points: Wine Spectator) Blackberry bush, with hints of tobacco and ferrous earth. Very floral. Full-bodied, with firm, vanilla- and mineral-coated tannins and a long, firm finish. Precise and focused on the palate. Best after 2009. 1,000 cases made.

2002 Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo, Umbria $57.99
The Rosso de Veo is special. The 2002 vintage over most of Italy was challenging. In order to craft the best possible wine (and most great winemakers will do this) Bea declassified their best fruit from their best sites, meticulously hand-sorted, and made an incredible wine. This is a blend of 70% Sagrantino, 15% Montepulciano and 15% Sangiovese. For almost half the normal price for his Sagrantino you can try one of the masters of winemaking.

2004 Paolo Bea Montefalco Rosso San Valentino, Umbria $65.99
Some say the Bea wines are the pinnacle of Umbrian wine. There are only 500 cases made of this wine and very little to go around in the States. The Montefalco Rosso is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and 15% Sagrantino, all from the San Valentino site situated on a high-altitude slope in Montefalco. This is a rich wine of deep purple-blue tint; it tastes of sweet fruit (plums and wild black cherry). It is slightly nutty as well with chicory and vanilla flavors. A complex, intense and expressive wine.

2009 French Rosé c'est Arrivé

2010-05-22T08:46:00.001-07:00

The new vintage of rosé is generally released right around the beginning of Spring. In April and May the shipments from Europe start to land. It is an exciting time. The wines are fresh. They pair well with all kinds of foods, and best of all, they are easy on the wallet. Each year we bring in a variety of rosé to give everyone a nice choice. This year we are focusing entirely on the French rosé because over years of drinking them, they are, for us, the best. Here are our four picks!

Region: Southwest Armagnac, Languedoc
Grapes: 40% Merlot, 40% Syrah and 20% Tannat
2009 Domaine du Tariquet Rosé $9.99 France
Made with a unique blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Syrah and 20% Tannat. Almost pomegranate-like in color this wine has an intense bouquet. Full-bodied and fresh on the palate with mild spicy notes and plenty of hints of raspberry and just-cut flowers. Finishing with a salty note.

Region: Corbieres
Grapes: 75% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache
2009 Domaine Sainte Eugenie Corbieres Rosé $10.99 France
The estate is located within the foothills of the Pyrénées along the Mediterranean coast. Made from 75% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache. A wonderful, bright Rosé displaying fresh raspberry notes with a slight touch of mineral and dried herbs with a dry finish.

Region: Costieres de Nimes
Grapes: 70% Cabernet Franc, 25% Syrah, 5% Grenache
2009 Jean-Francois Fayel Costieres de Nimes Rosé $11.99 France
This one is a blend of 70% Cabernet Franc (whole-berry crushed), 25% Syrah and 5% Grenache which has been bled from the tanks. It displays beautiful high-toned cherry notes and mineral. Focused, racy and bright acidity. All good.

Region: Touraine, Loire Valley
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
2009 Domaine Corbillieres Touraine Rosé $13.99 France
Made from 100% Pinot Noir. Hand-harvested. Naturally fermented. Elegant style. The result is a pale rose wine, slightly spicy, with a vague hint of pepper. It is a thirst-quenching wine to drink with summer meals, and can also be paired with exotic cuisine.

Chill one down. Sit outside. Take in the sun. Pop the cork.

Blind Tasting of Top Wines

2010-05-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Judgment in Paris took place in 1976. A wine merchant named Steven Spurrier created the event to draw attention to his store and wine academy. This event pitted some of the best French wines against some of the best of California. The wines were tasted blind by some of the better palate's of the day, including trade people and Sommeliers. The results sent shockwaves through the wine world as Stag's Leap Cabernet got the top nod for red and Chateau Montelena beat out some of the best French Burgundies for favorite white.

Most recently Steven Spurrier partnered with a independent importer who works with some top Chilean wines to attempt the same type of blind tasting. This time there would be a mix of Chilean, Californian, Italian and French wines to taste blind and evaluate.

The original tasting arranged in this fashion took place in Berlin, Germany in 2004. Once again the results were shocking to the wine world as the Chiliean wines performed well beyond expectation. This event became known as the Berlin Tasting and just recently a similar event was held in Los Angeles.

A collection 50+ wine people were invited to blind taste 10 top wines from the 2006 vintage. The results again were shocking. We evaluated these wines in a pristine setting. Arriving to the tasting room we were greeted by 10 pre-poured glasses, all numbered 1 through 10 and papers for notes. We were told to pick our top 3 wines out of the 10 to garner the final results.

Blind tastings are always highly educational. There are no label influence or prejudice, just what is in the glass.

The wines tasted: 2006 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, France 2006 Sassicaia, Italy 2006 Errazuriz Don Maximiano, Chile 2006 Stags Leap SLV, California 2006 Errazuriz La Cumbre, Chile 2006 Opus One, California 2006 Chateau Haut Brion, France 2006 Vinedo Chadwick, Chile 2006 Sena, Chile 2006 Errazuriz Kai, Chile

The top 3 wines chosen by me: 1) 2006 Stags Leap SLV, California 2) 2006 Chateau Haut Brion, France 3) 2006 Opus One, California *a very close 4th was 2006 Sassacaia

The top 3 wines chosen by the group: 1) 2006 Stags Leap SLV, California 2) 2006 Chateau Haut Brion, France 3) 2006 Opus One, California

The rest: 4) 2006 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, France 5) 2006 ErrazurizKai, Chile 6) 2006 Vinedo Chadwick, Chile 7) 2006 Sassicaia, Italy 8) 2006 Errazuriz La Cumbre, Chile 9) 2006 Sena, Chile 10) 2006 Errazuriz Don Maximiano, Chile

So again, as in 1976, the Stags Leap Cabernet took the top spot. And the much maligned Opus One (recently making a comeback of sorts) ended up as the third favorite of the entire group. The Haut Brion was a real pleasure as well, coming in at number two.

Moorish-Style Chickpea And Spinach Stew

2010-05-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

Make this dish. It rocks! Pair with old school Rioja.

Ingredients
9 ounces dried garbanzos (chickpeas) 
Pinch bicarbonate of soda 
6 garlic cloves, peeled and whole 
1/4 cup Spanish extra-virgin olive oil 
2 ounces white sliced bread, with the crusts removed 
2 tablespoons pimenton (Spanish sweet paprika) 
1 pinch Spanish saffron 
2 tablespoons Spanish sherry vinegar 
1/2 pound spinach, washed and cleaned 
1 teaspoon ground cumin 
Salt and white pepper to taste

Method
The day before you cook, soak the chickpeas in cold water with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas.

In a big saucepan, combine the chickpeas with 2 1/2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for two hours, until the chickpeas are tender. Every 10 minutes or so, add 1/2 cup of cold water to slow down the simmering. By the end, the water should have reduced so it is barely covering the chickpeas. Turn off the heat and let sit.

In a small saute pan over medium to low heat, brown the garlic in 1/4 cup of the olive oil. When the garlic is browned, after about 3 minutes, remove from the pan and set aside. Add the bread and brown on both sides, about one minute each side.

Remove the bread and set aside. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Add the pimenton and saffron to the saute pan, and the sherry vinegar immediately afterward to prevent the pimenton from burning.

In a mortar, smash the reserved garlic and the browned bread to make a very thick paste. Bring the chickpeas back to a low boil and add the spinach. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pimenton mixture along with the garlic and bread paste, to create a thick, stewy sauce. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately.

Jose Andres Tips
When the chickpeas are soft and cooked, only about one finger's depth of water should remain in the bottom of the pan. If there is more, remove some water from the pan before adding the rest of the ingredients. By the way, if you're in a rush and want to make a successful dish without cooking for two or three hours, you can use good quality chickpeas from a can or jar.

Good Times for Wine Buyers

2010-05-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Plenty of serious deals out there! If I were you I would stop by regularly to see what has turned up. Here are a few to get you going:

Suggested retail $20 -- New price $12.99
NV Collabrigo Brut Prosecco Rosé Ti Amo $12.99 Italy
A perfect Spring rosé sparkler made with 95% Prosecco and 5% Pinot Nero. Produced from 25-year-old vines in the region of Conegliano, Veneto. Bright pink color with orange shades. Ripe small fruit perfumed with cherries and rasperries as well as citrus. On the palate, round red fruit, a subtle mousse and a fresh finish. Pairs well with shellfish, oysters and various appetizers.

Suggested retail $18 -- New price $9.99
2004 Bodega Vinas Zamorans Los Zorros $9.99 Spain
(89 Points: International Wine Cellar) 100% Tempranillo. Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh red berries and flowers. Polished red and dark berry flavors are unencumbered by tannins, offering a seductively silky texture. Bright acids add energy to the juicy finish. A pretty amazing bargain here.

Suggested retail $20 -- New price $9.99
2001 Chateau Pesquie Quintessence Rouge $9.99 France
From the Cotes du Ventoux in the Southern Rhone. A blend of Grenache and Syrah. A great value with some bottle age, this wine is full of dark fruit qualities and soft tannins. Notes of blackberries and licorice fill the glass. This is a great bottle that is drinking well right now for a steal of a price (normally $20).

Suggested retail $22 -- New price $14.99
2007 Dorigo Ribolla Gialla, Friuli $14.99 Italy
Native to Friuli, Ribolla Gialla, is cultivated almost exclusively in the hillsides of the country (as far as Istria). Straw yellow in color. Floral notes in the nose, complemented by background notes of tropical fruit. The palate is savory with balanced acidity. Crisp texture and floral notes lead to a fresh, minerally finish.

Chez Panisse

2010-04-25T12:00:00.001-07:00

Chez Panisse, Berkeley

Classic.
Fresh.
Well executed.

Lunch

Baked Andante Dairy Goat cheese with garden lettuces $10

Wood over-roasted squid with cannellini beans, kale, rosemary, and toasted breadcrumbs $19

My wine pick:
2008 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé

Fantastic.

The kitchen in action between service.

Eric Kent Spring Releases

2010-04-20T11:44:00.001-07:00

We like them a lot. It is always a pleasure to support small production, high quality wine made by great people. In other words, the name of the game.

The first two Spring releases are in.

2008 Eric Kent Pinot Noir Russin River Valley
Retail: $35.99
The first “appellation” Pinot Noir from Eric Kent and a wonderful house wine that delivers loads of drinking pleasure. Light ruby in color, with aromas of bing cherry and pomegranate. Offering up notes of cherry, raspberry, plum, and cola. Medium bodied and fruit forward with gentle but present tannins. The final blend consists of 93% Windsor Oaks, 4% Cleary and 3% Stiling Vineyard.

2007 Eric Kent Syrah Dry Stack Vineyard
Retail: $39.99
2007 hearkens back to a cooler vintage like ‘05, but what a different wine! A clonal mix of 877, 174 and 470 – no Estrella River in this one – plus 1/3 whole-cluster fermentation and more time on the skins has made a wine with layers of complexity, wonderful depth, a medium to full body and great structure. Classy Syrah.

Carlisle Spring Releases

2010-04-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Carlisle Spring releases are in this week.

2008 Carlisle Winery Zinfandel Sonoma County $22.99
A blend of various old-vine vineyards such as Taylor in Dry Creek, Tin Cross in Alexander Valley, and Rossi in Sonoma Valley. A little Dry Creek Petite Sirah from Teldeschi Vineyard seemed to bring the components together, rounding out the palate nicely. Aged in French oak, 20% new, and based upon the success of our experiment last year, bottled completely in screw cap. Tasting Note: Medium-dark ruby-garnet. Red cherries, berry compote, and notes of bittersweet chocolate and brown spices greet the nose. Fresh and juicy on the palate with red and black berry fruits highlighted by hints of licorice, smoked meat, and earth. Finishes with great energy and thrust. Once again, an absolute steal for the price. 481 cases produced.

2008 Carlisle Winery Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley $33.99
Predominantly from Teldeschi Ranch (planted in 1885) and Mounts Ranch (planted in 1952), yields were generally in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 tons per acre. An 11% mix of petite sirah and carignane completed the palate, adding just the right amount of tannin and acidity. Aged in French oak, 23% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Tasting Note: Medium to medium-dark garnet-ruby. Classic Dry Creek zin aromas of red cherries, minerals, and dusty, red earth. Bright and lively in the mouth with plenty of cherry-laced fruit flowing into the persistent, sappy finish. Strikes a lovely balance between ripeness and freshness. 292 cases produced.

Small production. Artisan wine. Reliably great. Realistically priced.

The wines of Uccelliera

2010-04-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Wine Advocate says: The proprietor of the Uccelliera estate, Andrea Cortonesi, embodies the finest of the artisan tradition in Montalcino. Cortonesi’s wines have always been bold and exciting but with the newest vintages Cortonesi has arrived at a new level of elegance.

Wine Spectator says: ... a sweet little winery with about 16 acres of prime vineyards near some of the top vineyards in the region. Uccelliera, which in recent years has been making top wines, has some outstanding to great reds in the works. And if it's any indication for Montalcino as a whole, it means plenty of excellent Sangioveses in the future.

We say: we like ‘em. These three wines represent the very latest releases from Uccelliera. Some are in very limited supply.

2008 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino $29.99 Italy
2005 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino $59.99 Italy
2004 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva $141.99 Italy *very limited

Our best advice regarding wine buying in general is always, find a producer you like, and buy them in all vintages. You will discover that not only does the winemaker find a way to make the best wine possible under all conditions, but you will also experience the singular place where that wine comes. Uccelliera is one such producer to follow.

The charming estate is located in the Montalcino countryside just below the town of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, where the beautiful Sant’Antimo abbey is.

Taste Italian History - The Wines of Sella

2010-03-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

The wines of Stella were a real discovery. The Lessona and Bramaterra regions are some of the oldest wine-producing regions known in Italy, dating back to 1671.

The wines are based largely on Nebbiolo but also include small amounts of Croatina and Vespolina in some of the blends. The regions are a few hours north of the famed Barolo and Barbaresco regions but fans of Nebbiolo will love the unique expression.

There is not much of this wine made and a good chunk of it is allocated. We are happy to have some. And kudos to importer extraordinaire, Oliver McCrum for ferreting out these gems!

2005 Sella Bramaterra Piemonte $34.99
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) The 2005 Bramaterra is a joyous wine for its generous core of red fruit and finessed, silky tannins. This is an especially pure, elegant Bramaterra with gorgeous textural balance and a long, refreshing finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.

2003 Sella Lessona Riserva Omaggio A Quintino Sella $64.99
(91 Points: Wine Advocate) The 2003 Lessona Omaggio a Quintino Sella is an utterly beguiling wine. Bold, assertive aromatics lead to an expansive core of sweet perfumed fruit, with wild herb, mint, spice, mineral and French oak overtones that are layered into the wine. There is lovely clarity and precision here, along with a prominent vein of minerality that gives the wine its sense of proportion. This is a terrific effort from Sella. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023.

Siro Pacenti

2010-02-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Siro Pacenti wines hold a soft spot in our heart. We visited them in 2002 and had the pleasure of meeting Siro, who turned over the winemaking reigns to his son Giancarlo (starting in 1988). The wines are consistently some of the best in the region.

The Rosso di Montalcino represents their more approachable-when-young wine and given the nice deal we found on the 2006 (while some of the 07 Rosso’s have come and gone), this is a must have for any Tuscan wine-lover.

2006 Siro Pacenti Rosso di Montalcino
(90 Points: Wine Advocate) Pacenti’s 2006 Rosso di Montalcino is a sleek, lush wine loaded with soft-textured fruit that flows onto the palate with remarkable elegance and finesse. With air it gains weight and expansiveness in a gorgeous display of Rosso. As is often the case, Giancarlo Pacenti’s Rosso di Montalcino is among the finest wines of the region, although in this vintage he has more competition, which suggests producers are paying more attention to the quality of their Rossos. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011.

Price: $29.99 Italy

Supper Club 6

2010-02-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

first course whitefish crudo, preserved lemon, fried capers, onion pickles
paired with: NV Domaine J. Laurens Cremant de Limoux Brut

second course puree of smoked turnip, poached pear, sour crème fraiche
paired with: 2007 François Pinon Vouvray Tradition

third course sautéed wild mushroom, wooley thyme, crouton, shaved piave
paired with: 2008 Fenouillet Vin de Pays Vaucluse

fourth course cassoulet beans with braised slab bacon, duck leg and mirepoix
paired with: 2007 Eric Texier Cotes du Rhone Vaison-la-Romaine

Ever Tried an 11-year old Lagrein?

2010-01-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

Lagrein is a red wine grape variety native to the valleys of northern Italy in the Trentino-Alto Adige or Südtirol region. The vineyards are north of Bolzano, near the border with Austria. Supposedly a descendant of Teroldego, and related to Syrah and Pinot noir.

Now in stock!

1999 Hoffstatter Lagrein Steinraffler South Tyrol $29.99 Italy The Hofstätter Lagrein is a delicious, harmonious wine, ideal for enjoying on its own or with food. It ranks among the top wines in the winery’s range. Today the classic Lagrein area is generally considered to comprise the alluvial soils on the outskirts of South Tyrol’s main town, Bolzano, especially vineyards in the suburb of Gries. This wine has loads of personality. It is full of vibrant red fruit and crisp acidity. But it also possesses often-hard-to-describe quality of 11 years in bottle. What a treat at this price!

*A special wine and an unheard-of price -- suggested retail $54!

An Excellent Pair of Pinots

2010-01-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

Solid Pinot Noir at a good price is seemingly harder and harder to find. These two picks, however, more than deliver for their respective prices.

2008 Pali Wine Co Pinot Noir Riviera
Sonoma Coast -- $19.99

On the nose, a bright bouquet of plum, fresh raspberries, wild blackberries, coriander, lavender, iron and cinnamon. The palate is rich and full with black fruits intertwined with fresh raspberry, black pepper and wet stone that resonate in a fanning finish of sweet red currant and dark chocolate. This is 100% Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast AVA. 30% new French Oak; 9 months in barrel before release.

2007 Copain Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir Anderson Valley -- $29.99

All organically farmed Pinot Noir. The bright cherry, black tea and subtle spice aromas are pure and clean. Flavors mirror the aromas and are complimented with black cherry, pain grille and talc like tannins. The finish is long and lingering with bright acidity keeping the flavors focused. Delicious now, another year in the cellar will only help meld the flavors more and should drink well over the next 5-7 years.

Super Wine Values!

2010-01-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

There are tons of great value wines out there. As evidenced by the following picks. These are just 22 of the most recent picks that are under $20!

Come in and see for yourself.

2007 Valevó Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $9.99 Italy
2007 Cantina Corbera Isola d’Oro Nerello Mascalese, Sicily $9.99 Italy
2007 Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County $9.99 California
2008 Domaine de Gournier Viognier $10.99 France
2008 Bodegas Fenicio Fenicio Tempranillo, Alicante $10.99 Spain
2008 Bodegas Riotajo, Madrid $10.99 Spain
2008 Vevi Verdejo/Viura $12.99 Spain
2006 Amplio Cabernet Sauvignon $12.99 California
2008 Poderi San Lazzaro Polesio $12.99 Italy
2007 Andre Brunel Cotes du Rhone $12.99 France
NV Uvaggio Rosso Vecchio $12.99 California
2007 Bodegas Vina Valoria Rioja Blanco $13.99 Spain
2008 Adegas Benaza Godello, Monterrei $13.99 Spain
2008 Bodegas Ochoa Blanco Viura/Chardonnay, Navarra $13.99 Spain
2007 Ciacci Piccolomini Toscana Rosso $13.99 Italy
2008 Angeline Pinot Noir $14.99 California
2008 Layer Cake Malbec Mendoza $15.99 Argentina
2008 Mancini Vermentino di Gallura, Sardinia $15.99 Italy
2007 Eric Texier Cotes du Rhone Vaison-la-Romaine $17.99 France
2008 Celler Zaumau Priorat Tinto $19.99 Spain
2007 François Pinon Vouvray Tradition $19.99 France
2008 Pali Wine Co Pinot Noir Riviera, Sonoma Coast $19.99 California

Sicilian Wines from Mount Etna

2010-01-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend's wine tasting (January 8th and 9th) features three Sicilian wines grown in the volcanic soils of Mount Etna.

Check it!

2007 Benanti Bianco di Caselle, Sicily
Made from 100% Carricante grown as alberello (free standing bush). This indigenous vine is cultivated only on Etna. The grape is medium-sized with very pruinose skin and a green/yellow-ish color. The pulp is juicy and the taste is simple and sweet. Rich, fruity and an almost oxidized apple quality with great aromatics.

2007 Cantina Corbera Isola d’Oro Nerello Mascalese, Sicily
Cantina Corbera is a co-operative in western Sicily that produces wines of very good quality and excellent value. Medium-dark red; aroma and flavor of blackberries and plums, with a hint of smokiness. Very bright and fruit-forward in style, exactly what you want in an everyday red at this price.

2007 Graci Etna Rosso, Sicily
The relatively new Graci estate harvests from several high-altitude plots around Etna. Wines go only into large oak barrels, giving them a nice edge andgreat fruit clarity. This Nerello Mascalese leads with a subtle, arid earth scent, plus currant and cranberry. Rich and evocative with a dense, powerful mineral structure.

Only $10.00 per person to taste all three

Please note: we now have wines by the glass available at the bar, along with some select beer picks by the bottle, if the wine flight doesn’t work for you.

Farmer's Markets in Los Angeles

2009-12-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

We have just added a complete list of the Farmer's Markets in Los Angeles to our website.

Take a look: Farmer's Markets

Of course we regularly update our page for Corkage Fees throughout Los Angeles' restaurants as well.

That list can be found here: Corkage Fees

Enjoy! and Happy New Year!!

Classic Frank!

2009-12-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

Classic movie poster from Man with the Golden Arm, circa 1955. Directed by Otto Preminger and starring Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak.

Frankie Machine (Sinatra), expert card dealer, is recently released from prison. Frankie is determined to set his life in order -- and that means divesting himself of his drug habit. He dreams of becoming a jazz drummer, but his greedy wife wants him to continue his lucrative gambling activities.

Good stuff...

Happy Holidaze!

2009-12-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

This has been our best year yet at Rosso Wine Shop and we owe it all to you (and us busting our *bleep). We hope you and yours have a great holiday filled with great wine and great fun!

Jeff and Lisa

Rosso Open House December 9th

2009-12-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

Open House
Wednesday, December 9th
From 5:00pm-7:00pm

As a thank you to everyone who has supported us and a good excuse to get together and enjoy some bubbly, we are partnering with our closest neighbors for an Open House night. Rosso will provide bubbles and discounts, Bashan will provide some small bites and discounts, Bellies, Babies and Bosoms will offer discounts and treats and Studio One Skin Care will do the same. Stop by and stroll between all of our businesses to take advantage of the discounts, food and drinks!

Rosso Wine Shop: Complimentary bubbles; 10% off any purchase
Bashan: Complimentary small bites; 10% off dinner and free corkage
Bellies, Babies and Bosoms: 25% off your entire purchase
Studio One Skin Care: 25%-50% discount on selected items

Please note: All discounts and specials apply only during the Open House

Happy Holidays and hope to see you Wednesday.

Gotta Have the Bubbles!

2009-12-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

Check out some of our newest sparkling picks. Perfect for this month's upcoming festivities!

NV Allimant Laugner Cremant d'Alsace Rosé $19.99 France
Dry, Alsatian rosé bubbly for under $20. Made in the traditional Methode Champenoise from 100% Pinot Noir. Wonderful, refreshing strawberry fruit and a crisp, flowery tang. Great acidity and tonically good fruit with fine bubbles.

NV Ruelle-Pertois Blanc de Blanc 1er Cru $36.99 France
This is a small, family run champagne producer located in the town of Moussy. Their various vineyard parcels total just under 15 acres, from which just over 4,000 cases of champagne are made a year. Their Côtes de Blancs vineyards (comprising 50% of their holdings) are located in Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry, all considered 100% Grand Cru for Chardonnay. Great, elegant Champagne for a great price.

NV Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru Champagne $39.99 France
(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Pale, green-tinged color. Captivating nose combines lime blossom, minerals, coriander seed, green peppercorn and baking spices, along with suggestions of toffee and toasted nuts. Intensely flavored, concentrated and dense, with juicy acids lending brightness to this chewy wine. A rich midweight with excellent length on the aftertaste.

The new Carlisle releases are in!

2009-11-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Carlisle Winery

Twice a year we get some fantastic, highly allocated wine from producer-extraordinaire, Mike Officer. There is very little to go around and he has a rabid following. Here is what Robert Parker has said about him “... dedicated to serious winemaking from old vineyard sites...” and “... these are all big, but incredibly well-balanced, fresh wines. Officer is not afraid to push ripeness to the edge, but, remarkably, the wines are never over the top, revealing tremendous textures, aromatics, and ripeness. He has become one of the top three or four Zinfandel producers in northern California, and also demonstrates a sure hand with Syrah and some of the old field blends planted by Italian immigrants over a century ago.”

2007 Carlisle Winery Zinfandel Papera Ranch Russian River $39.99
(93 Points: International Wine Cellar) Glass-staining purple. A compelling bouquet of black raspberry, blueberry, sandalwood incense and potpourri is strikingly pure and expansive. Deep, energetic red and dark berry flavors manage to be both powerful and graceful, with silky tannins providing structure and back-end grip. I wouldn't hesitate to drink this sexy wine now but I'd bet it will reward another four or five years of patience.

2006 Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley Cardiac Hill $42.99
(94 Points: International Wine Cellar) Deep ruby. Captivating aromas of red- and blackcurrant, smoked meat, olive and minerals remind me of a serious Cote-Rotie. Rich black raspberry and cassis flavors are complicated by cracked pepper, olive and candied violet, with silky tannins lending support and focus. The floral qualities gain strength on the finish, which is strikingly focused and very long. For this wine's quality, the price is a steal.

If you have yet to try one, well, we got 'em.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2009!

2009-11-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

Thursday, November 19th!
From 5:00Pm to Close

Each year, wine lovers wait with anticipation for the latest vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau. We invite you to participate in one of the world's yearly rituals. Come celebrate the new vintage and enjoy some French-inspired bites.

$10.00 per person

Rosso Wine Shop
3459 1/2 N Verdugo Road
Glendale, CA 91208
P: (818) 330-9130

Supper Club (cinque)

2009-11-12T15:39:00.000-08:00

The theme: wines of Northeast Italy – Friuli and Veneto

Menu a la Michael Ruiz

Vini da Friuli e Veneto, buonissimo

The new set up

Thanks to everyone! Another great night.

Kosta Browne-- 'nuf said

2009-11-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

We get our allocation of the prized single vineyard Kosta Browne Pinot Noir the week of November 9th. The 2007 releases look to be "through the roof." First come first serve. Call if interested 818-330-9130.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Koplen Vineyard
96 Points: Wine Spectator
This has a wonderful purity of flavor, with rich, expansive layers of fruit, built around ripe plum, black cherry, wild berry, raspberry and blackberry, fanning out beautifully, with a long, lingering finish that keeps repeating the fruit themes. Drink now through 2014. 867 cases made.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Kanzler Vineyard
95 Points: Wine Spectator
Not as dense as previous vintages, but this wins extra points for its balance and delicacy, with complex mineral, fresh earth, boysenberry, wild berry and raspberry fruit that gains depth and richness without gaining weight. Drink now through 2015. 803 cases made.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Keefer Ranch
95 Points: Wine Spectator
Beautifully crafted, smooth and fleshy, with tightly focused plum, black cherry and raspberry fruit that's pure and delicious. Full-bodied, long and persistent. Drink now through 2014. 698 cases made.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Amber Ridge Vineyard
94 Points: Wine Spectator
Combines rich, ripe plum and blackberry fruit with firm sage, mineral and cedar notes. Full-bodied and deeply concentrated, ending with mineral and anise. Drink now through 2014. 727 cases made.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Garys' Vineyard
94 Points: Wine Spectator
Pure, ripe plum, blackberry, wild berry and raspberry fruit is complex and concentrated, well-structured and balanced. Ends with a long, spicy, minerally finish. Drink now through 2014. 436 cases made.

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella's Vineyard
93 Points: Wine Spectator
Intense, with subtle aromas that are more complex on the palate. Well-balanced, smooth, rich and layered, with dried currant, herb, spice and mineral notes, firming up on the finish, where the tannins are more evident. Drink now through 2012. 247 cases made.

Eric Kent Wine Cellars - The Best Yet!

2009-10-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

The newest releases from one of our favorites, Kent Humphrey, otherwise known as Eric Kent Wine Cellars. Believe me when I say that these two wines are the best I have tasted from him in the 3+ years we have been carrying the wines!

2007 Eric Kent Chardonnay Sonoma Coast $36.99
(91 Points: International Wine Cellar) Light, hazy gold. Pungent aromas of melon, peach skin and floral honey. Chewy pit fruit and honeydew flavors are complemented by a suave floral note and a hint of saffron. The finish is penetrating and long, leaving minerals and a gentle smoky note behind. This is showing less oomph but more precision than the Russian River Valley bottling today.

2007 Eric Kent Pinot Noir Stiling Vineyard Russian River $41.99
(92 Points: International Wine Cellar) Deep, vivid red. Cherry-cola and blackberry on the nose. Sexy floral and mineral qualities gain power with air and carry onto the palate, which offers potent bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors. The finish is impressively pure and supple, with the cherry note repeating. You could drink this now but I'd give it some cellar time.

Pig Party Photos!

2009-09-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Croatian BBQ and Wine from the Dalmatian Coast

2009-09-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Swine and Croatian Wine: Sept 26, 4:00-7:00pm
And celebrate our 3-Year Anniversary!

The wines

White: 2006 Bibich Debit Barrique, Croatia: An oak-aged version of Bibich's classic Debit (Debit is the grape variety).The aging regimen consists of 12 months in new American oak barrique prior to bottling. 12% alcohol. Clean, crisp pure fruit.

Red: 2007 Dingac Peljesac, Croatia: The village of Dingac, on the Adriatic Sea, makes Croatia’s most famous red wine, Plavac Mali. This is the original Zinfandel. You will get the dark berry quality of Zin but the more like the weight of a Dolcetto or Beaujolais.

Reserve Red: 2005 Dingac Postup, Croatia: The Postup vineyard on the Dalmatian coast has some old Plavac Mali vines planted. This bottling represents the best of those grapes with a little bit of bottle age.

The food

Spit-roasted suckling pig seasoned with sea salt and cracked pepper
Croatian-style potato salad with red onion, pickled cucumbers and extra virgin olive oil
Crusty bread (Saturday round rolls from Eagle Rock Bakery)

L'Aventure Rocks!

2009-08-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

A great recent discovery for us: L’Aventure Wines

Stephan Asseo has been a dedicated vigneron and artisan winemaker for nearly two decades. His unique style and level of quality garners acclaim and accolades from the European press, travel guides, the Wine Advocate and the Wine Spectator. In 1996, Stephan left France in search of a terroir where he could consistently achieve full maturity in his fruit and be unfettered as an innovator. Stephan’s “adventure” led him all over the world in search of a great wine field, until he finally “fell in love” with Paso Robles. He has become known for his renegade Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blends, like the Optimus and the Estate Cuvee.

Currently in stock

2006 Optimus $47.99 (92 Points: Wine Advocate)

2007 Estate Cuvee $86.99 (95 Points: Wine Advocate)

2007 Cote a Cote $86.99 (95 Points: Wine Advocate)

Try one, you won't regret it. They are fantastic wines!

Supper Club Four

2009-07-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

Menu
ginger ale tuna / watercress / creme fraiche / candied ginger
sweet corn puree / pistachio / goats cheese / bacon
short rib / spiced cabbage / okra / andouille-rice salad
peach tart / cardamon anglaise / chocolate froth

Domestic Rhone Blends
White - 2007 Adelaida Cellars Pavanne
Red - 2005 Terre Rouge Tete-a-Tete

Another great night of good food and wine with friends. Thanks to the chef and to all the attendees. Good times.

Next up... Pork-a-licious #6!

Clos Mimi and Tim Spear - July 24th

2009-07-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

Tasting at the Rosso Wine Bar from 5:00pm-8:00pm

Established in 1996 by Tim and Mimi Spear, Clos Mimi is a "très petite" winery located in Santa Maria, California. Clos Mimi is French for "Mimi's enclosed vineyard." Inspired by the greatest "monocépage" wines of Burgundy, Côte Rotie and Hermitage, Clos Mimi is committed to vineyard designated, one hundred percent Syrah farmed by small family growers in Paso Robles and Santa Ynez.

Tim is the "vigneron" for Clos Mimi. Thanks to his traditional convictions from a previous lifetime, Tim is "très religieux" in his pursuit of natural winegrowing. In 1988 Tim had the good fortune of interning alongside a young Jean-Louis Chave in California. Three years later while spending an entire day hiking the steep vineyards of Hermitage in Jean-Louis' royal company and tasting the unblended and highly spiritual 1990 Chave Hermitage from "barrique," Tim was smitten by Syrah.

Come enjoy this rare opportunity to taste and talk with the winemaker of Clos Mimi, Tim Spear, and experience the passion and dedication he puts into all of his wines.

Some amazing Syrah will be poured: 2006 Clos Mimi Petite Rousse, plus others like 2004 Mcginley Vineyard, 2004 Shell Creek Vineyard, 2003 Westerly Vineyard, 2003 Shell creek Vineyard and 2003 Hommage a Henri Bonneau.

Don't miss this one!

California Cabernet

2009-06-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am really starting to discover some great California wines. This is big news for me since I generally gravitate towards Italian and French wines.

Case in point: Two new Cabs I am very fond of (new arrivals):

2005 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $42.99
91 Points: Wine Advocate
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as sweet, tarry, black currant, chocolate, cedar, and wood smoke-like flavors, and decent acidity. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.One of Northern California’s most successful winemakers/consultants, David Ramey’s personal winery continues to go from strength to strength. Ramey has had the best of both worlds, working in Bordeaux for the Moueix family, and in California at Dominus, Chalk Hill, and Rudd Estate.

Now in stock! (but going fast).

2006 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $54.99
94 Points: Wine Advocate
The 4,400-case cuvee of 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (96% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is brilliant. It would probably be hard to find a Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality with this production level, all estate fruit, and such impeccable viticulture and winemaking. This wine reminded me of a great vintage of Pontet Canet in Pauillac, Bordeaux. The deep creme de cassis flavors intermixed with charcoal and lead pencil shavings soar from the glass. Its full body, stunning ripeness, sweet tannin, and substantial flavor authority make for a brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next two decades.

These are both full-throttle wines but with elegant textures and pure fruit. A real joy to drink.

Who Says California Wine Doesn't Age?

2009-06-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a friend who turned me onto a 1991 Dominus some months back, I proposed to our tasting group that I source a few 1991’s and we compare 18-year-old Napa Cabernet. As my inclinations are almost always old world (I will generally pull an Italian or French wine as my “go to” wine) this tasting might be the one to start to alter my thinking.

These wines were all amazing. They had some things in common from a profile perspective but they were all distinct and delicious. Not a corked or damaged wine in the bunch and a fantastic experience overall.

We tasted the wines blind and none were decanted. The group’s overwhelming favorite was the Insignia. But we decided this might not be fair because the Insignia had 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, so not a “true” Cabernet. My blind favorite was the Montelena (along with one other person).

This is the order they ended up being served blind.

1991 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Very good. Fleshy, easy fruit. Good aromatics. Dark red berries and earth.

1991 Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley
More complex than #1. Higher acid. Some good funk in the nose. Cherries. Mint. Forest floor.

1991 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Silky. Tar in the nose. Intense. Gobs of fruit on the palate.

1991 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley
Tomatoes and Twizzlers in the nose. Nice brightness. Rich. Good balance.

1991 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Dusty. Rich red fruit. Bright acidity and a little funk in the finish.

1991 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Red candied nose. Silky texture. Great balance of intensity and richness. Well done.

Go find some quality older California wines and see for yourself.

Supper Club #3

2009-06-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

June 17, 2009
Theme: South of France

Menu
rillettes de truite avec capres et creme fraiche
salade de jardin avec lardons et chevre
poulet et le citron braisés
baies et crème

Wines
Southern French wines from Costieres de Nimes and Minervois.

2008 Chateau de la Tuilerie Costieres de Nimes Blanc
Made with Grenache Blanc and Viognier. Aromatic nose with hints of grapefruit and exotic fruits along with with clean peach and floral notes. Well balanced and fruity.

2007 Domaine Pujol Minervois Cuvée Edouard
An elegantly styled Minervois made primarily from Syrah. Rich and deep with flavor and spice. Think dark berries and currents with some cracked pepper. Nicely balanced and possessing a long and pleasant finish.

2004 Brunello di Montalcino

2009-06-05T08:07:00.001-07:00

2004 Brunello di Montalcino
Over the next few weeks we will be receiving our 2004 Brunello selections. Here is what the Wine Spectator has said about the vintage: "You are going to like 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Do you remember the great 1997 and 2001, as well as the super 1999 Brunellos? Well, 2004 is along those lines of quality, but it is a different style. The vintage produced more perfumed, more refined Brunellos than other recent top vintages."

Needless to say, we are excited. The first arrival is the fantastic Pertimali (Sasetti).

92 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino $54.99 Coming in late-June
Aromas of blackberry, with a dried floral undertone. Full-bodied, with balanced and silky tannins and beautiful fruit and spices in the aftertaste. Best after 2010. 14,500 cases made.

94 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Argiano di Montalcino $64.99 Coming in late-June
Delivers raisins, blackberries and roses on the nose. Full-bodied, with a soft and silky tannin structure and a long and delicious finish. This is the best Brunello ever from here. Best from 2010 through 2016. 10,300 cases made.

93 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino $67.99 Coming in late-June
Very ripe and powerful, with ripe plum, fresh porcini and cinnamon. Full-bodied and powerful, with loads of fruit and powerful tannins. This has structure for the vintage. It's tight and closed right now. Best after 2010. 1,050 cases made.

93 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino $67.99 Coming in late-June
Blackberries and black cherries on the nose follow through to a full body, with soft and silky tannins. Long finish. Best after 2011. 4,585 cases made.

97 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino $68.99 SOLD OUT
Complex aromas of rose, blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with wonderfully velvety tannins and focused, juicy, rich fruit. Long and intense. The finish shows berry, tobacco, toasty oak, berry and chocolate. Goes on and on. One of the wines of the vintage. Best after 2011. 1,890 cases made.

93 points: Wine Spectator Insider
2004 Pertimali Sasetti Brunello di Montalcino $74.99 In stock
Candied plum notes, with hints of flowers and mushroom, follow through to a full-bodied palate, with very soft, juicy tannins and lightly grilled meat, berry and fresh shiitake mushroom flavors. A decadent style. Best from 2010 through 2015.

94 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino $83.99 Coming in July
Floral, with berry, plum and sandalwood aromas, as well as a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and vanilla, berry and plum flavors. This is dense, layered and balanced. Best after 2012. 3,000 cases made.

95 Points: Wine Spectator
2004 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino $88.99 Coming in July
Has a wonderful nose of roses, strawberries and sandalwood. Full-bodied with fine tannins and an aftertaste of berry, cedar and light coffee bean. Caresses every inch of your palate. Very fine, yet chewy. Needs time still. Best after 2010. 2,265 cases made.

2008 Rosé Selections

2009-05-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Our 2008 hand-picked selections (in stock)

2008 Chateau Saint-Pierre Cotes de Provence Rosé $14.99 France
A perfect Provencal rosé in the distinctive bottle. Bone dry, crisp and chock full of strawberry fruit. The 2008 version is a little fruitier than last year.

2008 Torre Quarto Rosato Guappo, Puglia $10.99 Italy
A blend of Nero di Troia, Primitivo, Sangiovese and Montepulciano. Invigoratingly dry and wonderfully juicy, this medium-bodied, spicy rosé is exactly the thing for Mediterranean cuisine and lazy and long summer days. Filled with abundant perfumes of wildflowers, cherries and smoke. On the palate it is alive with rich and bright red fruits, notes of strawberries and grapefruit zest.

2008 Chateau Petite Cassagne Costieres de Nimes Rosé $9.99 France
A blend of 60% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, and comes from tiny berries of 40+ year old vines. Fermented a short time on its skins, it retains an electric pink color, soaring aromatics, and fully dry palate.

2008 Domaine Sainte Eugenie Corbieres Rosé $10.99 France
The estate is located within the foothills of the Pyrénées along the Mediterranean coast. Made from 75% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache. A wonderful, bright Rosé displaying fresh raspberry notes with a slight touch of mineral and dried herbs with a dry finish.

2008 Domaine Corbillieres Touraine Rosé $12.99 France
Made from 100% Pinot Noir. Hand-harvested. Naturally fermentated. Elegant style. The result is a pale rose wine, slightly spicy, with a vague hint of pepper. It is a thirst-quenching wine to drink with summer meals, and can also be paired with exotic cuisine.

2008 Bargemome Cuvee Marina Rosé Provence $18.99 France
Labeled “Cuvee Marina,” Bargemome’s prestige bottlings are wines of great balance, complexity, and fnesse. This crisp, dry rosé offers strawberry/raspberry aromas on the nose, with great freshness on the palate. The added Syrah gives it more intensity and a piquant, peppery quality.

2008 Cuvee de Pena Rosado $9.99 Spain
A blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Garnacha. Offering up fresh aromas of strawberry and cherry with a touch of grapefruit. Dry on the palate, it has a silky texture and ends with a long crisp finish.

Supper Club #2

2009-05-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Picnic and Loire Valley wines

Another fantastic night of food and wine. Compliments to the chef.

Supper Club #1

2009-03-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Salt, butter, pork and Paolo Bea

menu... word

bottiglie

feng shui?

bar view

chef

early birds (plus Rick and Doug)

amuse of salted wild salmon, spiced cabbage, chive creme fraiche

big ben legge in italiano

photo of taking photo

action shot

puree of roasted celeriac, corriander oil, frothy pear butter

the Bea rap...

slo braised pork shoulder, kidney bean ragu, onion pickles, almond smoke

white
2007 Monastero Cistercensi Coenobium
Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Malvasia
and Grecchetto

red
2002 Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo
70% Sagrantino, 15% Montepulciano
and 15% Sangiovese

a nice night...