Luli is a unique partnership between Sara Floyd, a Master Sommelier, and the iconic Pisoni Family. Their wines are made with exceptional fruit grown in the Monterey County on the California Central Coast and from several top vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Although these regions are not nearly as prestigious as Napa or Sonoma, they do produce wines that are well balanced, with bright fruit flavors, modest use of oak, and crisp acidity. With bottle prices ranging from $11.99-$18.99, these wines are a tremendous value. Hurry and reserve your bottles, the Pinot Noir did quickly sell out.

2012 Luli ‘Central Coast’ Rose  ($11.99):  “…is a blend between Grenache and Pinot Noir. Light Salmon color…displays racy flavors of peach skin, spring flowers, pomegranate, and lemon blossom. The palate is vibrant and crisp with a strong sense of slate and minerality. This wine is very refreshing and finishes with bright acidity to confirm that it will pair with a wine array of foods.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

2012 Luli ‘Central Coast’ Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99):  “…emits a lively mix of passionfruit, gooseberry and light grassy notes. The aromatics are fresh and mouthwatering.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

2011 Luli ‘Santa Lucia Highlands’ Syrah ($15.99):  “Expressive and broad…notes of spiced plums, blackberry, cedar, baking spices and tea leaf…rich with round supple tannins and dense fruit that flow into a long, velvety finish.” Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

These are all nice picks for the up-coming barbecue season!

Will S., Beltramo’s Assistant Mangager

Immediately upon tasting his wines I was struck by the quality and readiness to drink of the wines right out of bottle while at the same time, it’s clear that they will improve with some time in cellar.  While all of the wines we tasted showed great merit we were ultimately able to bring two of them in.

The first of the pair is the 2010 Russian River Valley Syrah which displayed in the nose rich blackberry aromas and a slight smoky/salty component as well as a hint of wood spice imparted by the touch of new French oak, only 15% new.  On the palate the wine followed with lush dark berried fruit and well integrated tannins.  For $24.99 it’s easy to love. The second of the pair, the 2010 Judge Family Vineyard Syrah from the Bennett Valley, also in Sonoma County, was equally inspiring and very reminiscent of the Northern Rhone wines which it was inspired by.  The nose greets you with great lushness of red fruits and a touch of oak spice and black pepper while the palate is all elegance, fine grained tannins and that same rich fruit with a touch of espresso on the finish.   This wine scored an outstanding 93 points from the Wine Enthusiast and for only $34.99 is an absolute steal.  These are wines to be enjoyed on their own or with a variety of grilled meats, perfect for those summer barbeques.

Bill A., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

Basically, provenance is the history of how a wine has been shipped, handled and stored over the course of its life.  If you were shopping for a used car you might get a Carfax report that details the ownership history and any accident reports or insurance claims that might alert you to possible problems down the road.  Unfortunately there is no service that exists to enlighten consumers about the intimate details of a wine’s history.   Did it originate from someone whose wine cabinet’s A/C condenser stopped working while they were on vacation in the middle of summer?   Or maybe it spent a few days in a flooded basement after hurricane Sandy?  While I must believe that most folks in the business of selling older wines are diligent in their efforts to avoid these pitfalls, I also know that there is no greater disappointment than spending your hard earned money on a wine that drinks at less than its full potential.  It is for these reasons that Beltramo’s only sells wines acquired from reputable importers and domestic wholesalers or direct from the winery.  All of the older wines we keep in our Domestic library were either purchased upon release and stored in our temperature controlled cellar or have come directly from the producer as a special procurement.  There is no ‘caveat emptor’ at Beltramo’s.  We love wine as much as you do and we want your purchases to meet your highest expectations.

We recently had the opportunity to purchase some wines from Mayacamas Vineyards that have never left their cellar high atop Mount Veeder.  Provenance does not get any better than this and the prices are ludicrously low for a Cabernet of this quality.  These wines are simply outstanding and offer an unadulterated insight into why Mayacamas Vineyards is universally considered a Napa Valley legend.  Take a look at the fascinating history of the property by clicking here.

Along with these new acquisitions, I’ve also pulled a few gems from our library that have previously been unavailable for purchase.   Be advised that our supply of these wines is very limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone for good.  And if you need to have these wines shipped to you I would highly recommend using next day air or having us hold the wine until the weather is optimal.

1986 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $149.99

1995 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $139.99

2005 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – $69.99

1997 Shafer ‘Hillside Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $450.00

1996 Araujo ‘Eisele Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $250.00

1999 Bryant Family ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon – $375.00

2006 Alban Vineyards ‘Reva’ Syrah – $240.00

2002 Paloma ‘Spring Mountain’ Merlot – $79.99

–Mike Janeway, Domestic Wine Buyer

So the next time you have tickets to the UGC tasting, or Zap, or just find yourself at a winery where the genial host of the tasting room keeps bringing out bottles, here are four suggestions to make it more pleasure and less work.

1) Spit
No really, you really should use the spit buckets. If you’re swallowing from the first “taste” onward, how seriously are you evaluating anything much past wine number three? Even when you do spit, your palate will be sufficiently fatigued that you might want to be wary of how much you loved the next-to-last wine you tried. The only exception to this is Champagne – I still haven’t figured a way to gracefully expectorate bubbly.

2) Move
This applies particularly to tastings like Zap, where trying to follow tip #1 is hampered by someone planted in front of the spit bucket regaling the pourer with tales of their visit to the winery back in the early ‘90s. It still surprises me at trade tastings when people take root in front of a table, blocking access to the spit bucket(s) and the wine(s) being poured.

3) Ignore the numbers
Just because the tables are numbered, don’t feel obligated to do them “in order.” Quite often I’ve done tastings in “reverse” order, trying reds before whites, because the tables pouring reds were open while all the white tables were packed with attendees tasting by numbers.

4) Be brief
If you take notes, remember tip #2 – jot down your musings away from the table. And make them brief, most tastings are 2-3 hours so if you’re busy writing down all the flavor elements you find what percentage of the wines offered will you actually taste? A simple 1, 2, 3 stars is adequate – elaborate after the tasting closes down with a bite to eat and a palate-cleansing beer.

Keeping all this in mind, here are a few highlights, all for under $25, from our recent “work” tasting wines:

2012 Origine Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15.99)

2011 Textbook Napa Valley Chardonnay ($17.99)

2011 Ostertag Vieilles Vignes Sylvaner ($19.99)

2011 Cantina Altarocca “Arcosesto” ($14.99)

2010 Domaine Berthet Rayne Cairanne ($19.99)

2010 Abbona “Bricco Barone” Nebbiolo d’Alba ($24.99)

Matt S., Beltramo’s Assistant Manager

The theme for last night’s tasting at my house was Rhone varietal Rosé.  The first one up was the 2012 Triennes ($12.99), from France.  I’m usually not much of a label guy, but any wine that has leaping wild boar on it, is alright with me.

This Rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, and Merlot.  The color on the wine is a pale salmon, which leads me to believe that there was minimal skin contact.

This wine expresses aromas of early spring wild strawberries with a hint of spice.  The viscous mid-palate with a punctuated finish was very enjoyable.  This wine would be a great accompaniment to any backyard gathering or lighter fare now or throughout the summer.

Moving on to wine number two, was the Charles & Charles 2012 Rosé ($9.99).  The Charles & Charles project is a collaboration between Charles Smith and Charles Bieler of Three Thieves, Bieler Père et Fils, and Sombra Mezcal. The Charles & Charles portfolio includes a red blend and Rosé from Columbia Valley vineyards. The labels showcase the intent to provoke thought of the future while honoring the past.

The composition is 81% Syrah, 16% Mourvèdre, 2% Cinsualt, and 1% Grenache.  The color is noticeably a darker hue of pink. The aroma on this Rosé is less forward on the bright berry, but makes up for it with a little citrus blossom accent.  This wine displays another great viscous midpalate that lingers for a few seconds. The Charles & Charles Rosé would be able stand up to more flavorful dishes having a more robust mouth feel.

Stay tuned; as we are just on the cusp of more exciting Rosés arriving daily.

Chris M., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

Due in part to a much cooler spring and early summer, 2010 led to substantially lower grape yields.  This lower yield did provide very high quality fruit with lots of concentrated flavors and polished acidity creating wines that are elegant, balanced, and naturally food friendly. Here are a few of my recent favorites.

2010 Anam Cara ‘Nicholas Estate’ Pinot Noir ($28.99): The fruit is grown in the Chehalem Mountains, high atop the Willamette Valley .This flagship wine incorporates fruit from all five blocks of the estate vineyard and contains intense aromas of red berries, spice, and subtle oak. A finesse driven wine with soft tannins.

2010 Archery Summit ‘Premier Cuvee’ Pinot Noir ($39.99): 100% of the Pinot Noir grapes were sourced from 5 estate hillside vineyards crafting a wine that is elegant, yet complex. A floral bouquet of violets and roses and a tasty core of raspberries, cherries, and a touch of spice.

2010 Eyrie ‘Dundee Hill’ Pinot Noir ($32.99): The Eyrie vineyard and winery were founded in 1966 by David and Diana Lett, and they were the first to plant Pinot Noir vines in the Willamette Valley. Rooted by their philosophy that the vineyards and wines should have as little human interference as possible, the results are wines that can often rival some of the best French Burgundies.

2010 Trisaetum ‘Coast Range’ Pinot Noir ($52.99): Located on the Southwest corner of the Yamill-Carlton AVA, this wine expresses a slightly richer style for an Oregon Pinot Noir. Black cherry and blackberries are the core of this wine while being framed by soft licorice flavors and spices $52.99. 2010 Trisaetum ‘Ribbon Ridge’ Pinot Noir ($52.99): Stylistically different from the ‘Coast Range’ as this wine’s aromas are dominated by more holiday spice and tea components along with soft blueberry and cherry flavors.

Will S., Beltramo’s Assistant Manager

We have three interpretations of this variety at Beltramo’s that will win you over and grab your attention.

To understand this wine variety, it is important to first look to Spain, as this is where the variety is believed to have been growing since 500 BC.   The 2011 Castillo Del Baron Monastrell ($12.99) is a wonderful example of not only the quality of these wines but also the value. This wine displays vivid perfumed aromas of dark cherries and white pepper with a punctuation of acidity. At this price, it is a wine that may be enjoyed frequently with a wide array of food styles.

In France, Mourvèdre is grown in the Southern Rhone but more dominantly in the Provencal region of Bandol.  In Bandol, Mourvèdre is the main grape, but also has partnering varieties blended with it. Currently, we have the 2009 Tempier Bandol ($39.99), which displays a deep ruby color, aromas of dark fruit and intense smooth tannins.  After five or six years of aging, the wine will develop notes of leather, forest-floor and small red fruit.

A great example of a 100% Mourvèdre being produced in California is, 2010 Halcon Vineyards Esquisto Mourvèdre ($19.99) from Yorkville Highlands.  This vineyard is located at around 2500ft, in Mendocino County, on fractured shale, mica-schists and quartz rich rock depleted soils that resemble that of Côte-Rôtie.  This truly is a labor intensive vineyard site that entails de-leafing and dropping of fruit for this Mourvèdre to ripen.  Owner/Grower Paul Gorden states that only about one ton of fruit an acre was harvested in 2010 to make this wine. Starting out with focused minerality, followed by notes of blueberry and dark fruit, this Mourvèdre is definitely sure to spark conversation at your next gathering!

Chris M., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

The imagery displayed on the labeling is always refreshingly eye catching, bold and original which is mirrored in the wines themselves, leaving the taster with a lasting and unforgettable experience and clear identity of the Orin Swift philosophy.

Orin Swift wines currently on offer at Beltramo’s:

Saldo 2010 ($27.99)  is Orin Swift’s classic California Zinfandel offering.  Blended with 82% Zinfandel with the remaining balance consisting of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache, this wine is packed full of berry fruits with a pleasing finish of vanilla spice and dark chocolate.

Abstract 2010 ($28.99) blends fruit from the three major grape growing regions in California; Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. The end result is an opulent wine comprising stewed plum fruit and spiced blackberry with good acidity and a smooth finish.

If you’ve had a child born between 2007 and 2010 you are assured of finding high-quality, age-worthy wines from several regions to “put away” for 20+ years. Fortunately it has become very rare that I have to fall back on the old adage that year xxxx was great for people but so-so for wine. As a bonus, since it’s so hard for these new consumers to communicate their tastes in wine, parents should feel free to focus on their favorite regions and then decide if their offspring should start their wine experience at the mountaintop. Here are a few wines, including whites and Magnums, from recent vintages that would certainly be worthy of this tradition.

2007
J.L. Chave Hermitage Blanc ($175.00)
Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino “Altero” ($79.99)
Leonetti Reserve Cabernet ($149.99)
Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet ($99.99)
Cain Five ($89.99)
Heitz “Martha’s Vineyard” Cabernet ($179.99)
Warre’s Port ($69.99)
Fonseca ($79.99)
Quinta do Noval ($74.99)

2008
Philippe Colin Chevalier Montrachet ($199.99)
Vietti Barolo Rocche ($115.00)
Giacomo Conterno Barolo “Cascina Francia” ($149.99)
Altare Barolo “Arborina” ($99.99)
Keever Cabernet “Yountville” ($89.99)
Chateau Montelena “Estate” ($109.99)
Ridge Monte Bello 1.5 Liter ($295.00)
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou ($149.99)
Chateau Montrose ($125.00)

2009
Chevillon Nuits St Georges “Les Cailles” ($115.00)
Michel Gros Vosne Romanee “Clos des Reas” ($124.99)
Pierre Gelin Fixin ($34.99)
Joseph Voillot Pommard “Les Rugiens” 1.5 Liter ($199.99)
Forman Cabernet ($84.99)
Pride Cabernet “Estate” ($67.99)
Phelps “Insignia”( $159.00)
Far Niente Cabernet 1.5 Liter ($260.00)
Ridge Monte Bello 1.5 Liter ($299.99)
Taylor Fladgate ($84.99)
Fonseca ($84.99)

2010
Christian Moreau Chablis “Valmur” ($69.99)
William Fevre Chablis “Les Preuses” ($79.99)
Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne ($149.99)
Faiveley Mercurey “Clos des Myglands” ($32.99)
Lamarche Echezeaux ($149.99)
Gros Frere Echezeaux ($129.99)
Hirsch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir “San Andreas Fault” ($59.99)
Talley Pinot Noir “Rincon” ($54.99)

Matt S., Beltramo’s Assistant Manager

2011 La Malkerida – 100% Bobal – Spain – ($14.99)

This wine is produced from 70 to 80 year Bobal vines, located in the south east of Spain near Valencia. It is unoaked, which I think gives the wine a nice lift of fresh dark fruit aromatics and flavors.  It also has a weight somewhat similar to Pinot Noir, so it is versatile with a variety of dishes. Almost as interesting as the wine itself, is how it came to be.  It was produced as a result of a collaboration between Bruno Murciano, an award winning sommelier, and the oenologist, David Sampedro, based in Rioja Alavesa.  Bruno grew up in Valencia and was accustomed to Bobal from an early age.  This wine reflects his belief that Bobal has long been overlooked, hence the name, La Malkerida, which translates to “unloved.”   I suggest you give it a try, and I think you definitely won’t find it too hard to love.  Speaking of love, this will work nicely for that upcoming Valentine’s Day dinner, too!

2009 Stepping Stone - 100% Cabernet Franc – Napa Valley – ($29.99)

For those of you who are fans of Cabernet Franc, or simply would like to try it sometime, give this one a go!  Crafted by Cornerstone Cellars winemaker, Jeff Keene, this one is a real beauty displaying the varietal’s classic and intriguing combination of red and black fruit, slight herb and tobacco. The texture glides all the way through the lengthy finish. If you thought Cabernet Franc was reserved for the Right Bank of Bordeaux, or the Loire Valley, then I think this wine can convince you this varietal is quite at home here in California as well.  And, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth for the price.  Cook up a special dinner for this one!

Gary M., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant