Summer sippers are in season now

Hi folks - I rarely specify a particular “wine shoppe.” Most stores work very diligently to provide service and keep the wolves away from the door, so I decided early on to be neutral like Switzerland. This week, I’m breaking tradition somewhat to tout Bin 66 for their clever Rosé promotion. Definitely worth stopping by to see.

Many of the glitterati are heavily promoting Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT 2015 priced near to $80. Avoid for now. Suckling laid on a 97-98, and the price did a Wine Spectator. These folks make lovely Super Tuscans, and the 2015 Oreno shows great potential. Oreno rarely shows much price appreciation over time, i.e. the 2010, rated 96 by both Suckling and Tony Gallons, and 94 by me (although this is an excellent wine it is not a great price value), came on at $70 in June 2012, spiked to 83 in September, then dropped to an entry point at $77 in December. Currently for sale around $92. The McD drinking window was 2017-30. You make the decision on time value of money and proper storage. The 2015 will be slightly better wine for those who can wait. However, the track record here shows that sometime late fall will be the best price point to buy. Best buy for this label is the 2008. It came on at $79 and can be found for $90. Was rated 96 by RP, WS and Suckling. It is at its best right now. For those buying in this range, a 4-vintage case would be your best option, and 2008, ’10, ’12, ’15 are my choices. In the past, I recommended the Sette Ponti Crognolo 2012. Drink now. The Orma Bolgheri 2010 is three years into its window, and the Poggio al Lupo Maremma 2012, finish up.

2009 was a banner year for French Red Burgundy. You may be happy to know that two 98-point Burghound-recommended wines, Domaine Romanee Conti are on sale for a mere $1,399/750 ml bottle and Mugnier Musigny is “only” $1,799. Sorry, Charlie. Although I am sure these are delicious, I’m claiming unless you have an extremely discriminating palate, you would be hard pressed to note the difference between them and, let’s say, a 95-96-point Pousse d’Or Bonnes-Mares  or a Jadot Chambertin Clos de Beze at $299. All four do have a distinct profile due to terroir and winemaker skill. Since I have written of all the scandals attached to wine fraud, I think it is safe to say that much of the pricing, hype and hyperbole surrounding these wines is derived from longtime reputation, contrived scarcity and a large dose of BS.

If you want a great PN buy, try to find a case each of the following: Russian River Valley Lynmar Estate Quail Hill Vineyard 2012, 94 points McD, $60; and Woodenhead Buena Tierra E Block (RRV), $75, 96 McD, won everything at Cali State Fair in 2015. These two will be difficult to locate but you will get 24 extremely satisfying bottles for the price of one of the Burgundies. In your lifetime, you owe it to yourselves to sample one of those huge, expensive, highly rated reds that are properly aged. Think of it as sampling the best caviar. You may wonder what all the fuss is about.

Just realized I had left most of my fellow wine bibbers without an option. Sorry! How about a Brut Rosé Sparkler you may be able to buy at $155/case or $16/bottle that deserves an 88-point McD rating. I sampled Juvé y Camps Brut Rosé, a pinot noir Cava from Catalonia in Spain, at a tasting by Country Vintner at Big Fish. Barbara, Page, Connor and I had a fine time seeing longtime friends, acquaintances, and business associates, and sippin’ wine. Big Fish did a very fine job with the nosh as well. I was completely taken by Juvé y Camps as a summer sipper. You are well aware the McDs drink large quantities of sparklers. I sure hope several of the local shops picked up on this delicious wine. My notes read, “Very pink with lots of sweet strawberry fruit. Very Brut on the palate, with straightforward fruit character and bright, clean acidity.” Great buy.