Steals and Deals!

I have made it my mission in the world of wine to find those hidden gems that cost less than $20 and offer more to the drinker than some higher end styles. These wines, in my opinion, show the true extent of a winemaker’s talents and also the quality of the vineyards themselves.

The Rivetto Nebbiolo D’Alba ($15/750ml) is indeed a diamond in the rough. The Nebbiolo grape is used in the neighboring regions of Barolo and Barbaresco for making very prestigious wines that sell from $50 to several hundreds of dollars. The Rivetto offers a more new world approach to the Nebbiolo grape by making a more fruit driven, concentrated style typically not seen in Italian wines. From France, I offer you a wonderful taste of the original Malbec. The Clos La Coutale Cahors ($17/750ml) is divinely made with 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot its subtle aromas of plums and earth followed by flavors of plum, black currants and a hint of dark chocolate. A wonderful alternative to Chardonnay the Nessa Albarino ($15/750ml) is a racy, refreshing full-bodied white wine from the Rias Baixas region located in northern Spain, just north of the Portuguese border and is considered to be the perfect matches with seafood.

A tremendous value from Argentina the Llama Old Vine Malbec ($13/750ml) is 100% organically grown and produced from fifty-year-old Malbec vines. This Malbec offers deep concentrated flavors of plum and chocolate with a hint of tobacco summed up by a bold tannic finish. The Michael David Petite Petit ($18/750ml) which is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot and delivers a wonderful bouquet consisting of rich blackberries and dark chocolate that leads into a chewy palate of blackberry pie and huckleberries with hints of dark chocolate and is a nice alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. After a few heavy reds I like to cleanse my palate crisp refreshing white that breathes new life into my taste buds. Perfect for this is the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier ($12/750ml) which maintains a bright, crisp acidity coupled with luscious pear and melon flavors that captures the youthful exuberance of this 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% Viognier blend. These wines are meant to stimulate the most experienced drinker, as well as, entice newcomers with flavors that excite at price that is affordable. Enjoy!

Downslope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

I do love my beer and wine but there are those occasions when a tall pour of whiskey, served neat, is in order and this is one recent additions to my cabinet. Locally made the Downslope distillery is located just up the road on Arapahoe Rd. and Jordan Rd. This particular whiskey is more accurately described as a Irish style whiskey since they mainly use malted barley with a fraction of rye used to adding spice. giving a more unique flavor. The whiskey is aged in used small medium toast casks to add some sweet vanilla and honey notes. The flavor of rye is the first thing you notice on the palate and it lingers all the way through to the finish with the sweetness from the malted barley coming through in the mid-palate balancing the rye. Overall this is a great whiskey to sip on after a long day's work.

Price: $31.99/750ml

Rating: 89 points!

Odell Brewing Company Deconstruction Golden Ale

I sat down with a few friends the other night and enjoyed this tasty treat along with Jamaican jerk burgers and some killer beer brats, what a great night. This Golden Ale is created by blending the final recipe with its own barrel aged pilot beers fermented with wild yeast. They use neutral oak, bourbon barrels and wine barrels to give each pilot brew an unique flavor from the contributing oak barrel. Tons of spice with some subtle fruity notes. It pours a golden honey color with amber highlights. Right after you pour it the nose is overwhelmed by the bourbon barrel but as it settles you pick up vanilla and baking spice. The palate followed suit with your initial taste be dominated by bourbon and heat but as it mellows you you get some lovely citrus and red fruit flavors from the wine barrel. This beer overall was extremely complex and I swear the flavors changed with every sip.

Price: $14.99/750ml bottle

Rating: 91 points!

2008 Clos La Coutale Cahors

Malbec wines have really increased in popularity over the past five years mainly due to the explosion of wine production in South American countries, such as Argentina where Malbec is widely produced. Since Malbec has become so popular, I thought it would be nice to introduce the origin of Malbec. Cahors is a AOC located in South Western France, where vines have been cultivated since 50 B.C. by the Ancient Romans. The dominant grape produced here is, of course, Malbec and the wines produced from this region were known as the "black wine of Lot" during the Middle Ages. This particular Cahors is 80% Malbec blended with 20% Merlot and offers a great reddish plum color. The palate is elegant with red and dark fruit flavors with a touch of spice. This wine is better drunk young but also has the aging potential of 10-20 years and goes well with red meats, duck and robust cheeses.

Rating: 92 points!

Price: $16.49 750ml

Great Divide 16th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

I sat down last night with some great company and decided to crack open this tasty beer to accompany my amazing plate of Mexican food. Talk about heaven! Based on Great Divide's famous Denver Pale Ale this copper colored beer embodies everything that Great Divide does best. The nose was loaded with floral notes followed by citrus, pine and vanilla. The palate was well balanced with malty sweetness hitting you in the beginning followed by the earthy bitterness from the English and American hops that start to show through in the mid palate but really comes together in the finish. The oak is noticeable but not the defining character of this beer due to the use of French and American oak which rounds out the edges and just adds a touch of vanilla. Overall I thought this beer was great, virtually the same beer as last year's but with a more refined touch.

Rating: 94 points!

Price: $7.99 22 oz. Bomber

2006 T-Vine Cellars "T" Red Blend

This fantastic Napa Valley red blend was just recently released from restaurant only hold and is now available to retail customers. I just tried it the other day and I was surprised by the depth and complexity of this low production wine. This blend is an unique combination of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Frediani vineyard and Primativo (the Italian name for Zinfandel) from the Nicholini Vineyard. Great ruby purple color with aromas of lilac, mint and red berries that leap out of the glass. The palate was came off as bold and fruity in the beginning but really starts to mellow in the mid palate where you pick up floral notes and a touch of spice that really helps balance out all of the heavy fruit. The finish has velvety tannins and a touch of plum.

Price: $59.99 reg. price Heritage In Store Special $29.99

Rating: 93 points!

Deschutes "Hop in the Dark" Cascadian Dark Ale

We just received the new release of the Bond Street Series from Deschutes Brewery last week, and you know I had to take one home and try it the second I laid my eyes upon this tasty treat. This beer is great combination of roasted malts and intense hops. Pours an extremely dark chocolate brown with a slight bit a maroon showing up on the edges with a thin light tan head. The aromas scream IPA with intense citrus notes like grapefruit and fresh sliced oranges. You do pick up slight notes of roasted malts on the nose but it is tough to get through all the citrus. At first sip I really noticed the hops but as time progressed and the beer warmed the sweet and toasty flavors grain began to come through and actually becomes extremely well balanced. Overall this is a great beer for IPA lovers or anybody that wants to try something new.

Rating: 91 points!

Price: $4.99 /22oz. Bomber