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

First is the 2011  ‘Arcosesto’ Orvieto Classico Superiore ($14.99).  Orvieto is an under-appreciated white wine from Italy.  This particular offering hails from Umbria, which lies on the eastern border of Tuscany.  Extremely low yields make for a vibrant wine packed with flavor.  The nose is crisp and clean with hints of honey and minerals.  That minerality carries into the taste which is punctuated with a bright acidity that wakes up the taste buds.  Hints of flowers and citrus are also there.  The wine has a viscous mouthfeel and can be served just below room temperature.  It will go well with fish dishes, but if you’re feeling adventurous try it with pork loin.  You’ll thank me.

Next up is the 2011 Borsao ‘Monte Oton’ Garnacha ($7.99).  This Spanish gem’s vineyards are located on the slopes of the extinct volcano, Moncayo.  The sun-drenched and arid climate makes for an opulent red wine that packs a punch.  This is an extremely fruit-forward red that will evoke the sensation for biting into a handful of fresh berries.  Think of this as Spain’s answer to Pinot Noir.  If you’re in the mood for a tuna panini, tapas, or seafood paella this is the perfect wine for you.

Last up is the 2010 Chateau Jalousie Bordeaux Superieur ($9.99).  Comprised of mostly Merlot, with a little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in, this is a powerhouse of a wine that begs for a juicy steak.  On the nose there is a rush of earth that gives way to ripe berries.  All the while there’s the subtle hint of nuttiness that pokes up.  The flavor is awash in minerality with hints of fruit and ash.  I was very surprised to find a Bordeaux for $10 that I liked.  This is a great entry wine to introduce you to the 2010 vintage which is rapidly gaining notoriety as being one of the best in recent memory.

So there you have it:  Three exceptional wines at exceptionally budget-friendly prices.  Being crowd-pleasers, they are perfect for gatherings and big events.  Happy times and happy drinking!  Cheers!

Rob R.,  Beltramo’s Wine Staff

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

We had the opportunity to meet young Markus Huber several weeks ago: it was a total pleasure. The Huber Family has been making wines since the 17^th century. Now in its 10th generation, the winery has established themselves as the leading producer of the region Traisental.

Many great wines of the world are grown on limestone rich soil, and the Traisental valley is the only wine producing region of lower Austria where this exact soil type can be found. The limestone soil here forms the base of the finest sites for growing wine. This unique soil formation is rich with precious minerals and helps to keep the water supply to the vines at an optimum level. It provides their 2011 Grüner Veltliner ($15.99) with an unmistakable spiciness, minerality and vivid clarity, and their 2011 Riesling “Terrassen” ($15.99) with almost painful intensity, wild perfume and precision.

After tasting through the rest of the lineup including some dazzling single vineyard wines, Markus poured a splash of his Hugo sparkling rose($14.99), an uncomplicated, refreshing blend of Zweigelt and Pinot Noir.

As the weather starts to warm, try these fresh vibrant wines, ideal as an aperitif or with grilled fish preparations.

Howard Padgett, Imported Wine Buyer 

2010 Du Cropio “Dom Giuva,” Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore, Calabria  -  $24.99

This intriguing red wine takes its name from the D.O.C. region of Ciro, and the town Ciro Marina literally sits on the coast of the Ionian Sea.  When the Greeks brought various grapes to southern Italy it was Gaglioppo that found its home in Calabria and is still the dominant grape there.  Interesting though, Gaglioppo may actually have descended from Sangiovese according to recent DNA tests, so there is a bit of controversy as to its Greek origins. Never the less, Giuseppe Ippolito, the proprietor of the Du Cropio estate has taken Gaglioppo wines to superb levels of quality. The vines sit on steep hillsides just inland from the ocean catching the stiff cooling breezes which help protect the grapes from the intense, sometimes torrid, summer heat.  The soil is poor, generally a mix of clay and limestone and, due to the steep slopes, the drainage is quite good. All these conditions contribute to producing small crops of highly concentrated fruit, the best of which is used for the wines labeled “Du Cropio.” This is not a simple wine and I suggest decanting for one or two hours to let the wine open up. The flavors are complex mix of crushed berries, licorice and minerals.   I definitely recommend this wine with grilled lamb or steak, lasagna, sausages and grilled vegetables with olive oil.

2011 Masseria Li Veli, Verdeca, Valle d’Itria, Puglia  -  $17.99

In 1999, the Falvo family,  of Avigonesi  fame in Tuscany, purchased and renovated an old property in Puglia, called Masseria Li Veli, located on the Salento plain.  In 2009, they began a project called ASKOS, the idea being to use ancient varietals for making new wines incorporating modern high standards of viticulture and winemaking.  The word, Askos, refers to a typical Greek earthenware jar for wine and olive oil and many are still found in the Salento region. You will see a photograph of one on the label for their 2011 bottling of the white grape named Verdeca, which I must say is a superb wine and highly suggest you don’t miss. This Verdeca is grown in the Valle D’Itria where the mineral and calcareous soil combined with a cool and windy microclimate have proven ideal for this unique grape.  The wine itself emanates exotic floral, citrus and tropical fruit with a plush texture and clean finish.  Have this with seafood, especially grilled with olive oil, roasted chicken with lemon or herbs, and certainly the oh so obvious of all, a Greek salad!

Gary 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

Francois Mitjavile, producer of St. Emilion’s famed Château Tertre Roteboeuf, upon seeing the beauty of the land and quality of the soils promptly purchased a 23 acre parcel of land in the Côtes de Bourg which he would come to call Roc De Cambes.  The vineyards lay on top of clay and limestone soils which feed the well aged vines, an average of 45 years old, which in turn produce the ripe and highly concentrated berries which eventually end up in the deft hands of Mr. Mitjavile and his staff.  Treating the Roc De Cambes vineyard as well as winemaking with the same care used at Tertre Roteboeuf, Mr. Mitjavile is able to coax the very best of what Côtes de Bourg can be.  These wines are a blend of predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with just a touch of Malbec.  The grapes are allowed ample hang time and picked only when ripe, even if that means waiting several weeks longer than the majority of the Côtes.  We currently have the 2009 Roc de Cambes for $64.99 – while exuberant and full of life now, it will benefit with a few years ageing.  However if you’re looking for the mature side of the Côtes de Bourg we have the more rustic and well evolved 2006 Roc de Cambes for $49.99.

Bill A., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant