On the show, Carmen and I talked about super specials from the Circle Liquor Store rack, white wines from the Piedmont region of Italy, and a couple of big California Cabs only Chet Malloy can find at such a low price.
From the Special Deals Rack
Silver Totem – Cabernet Sauvignon grapes sourced from the premier Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Columbia Valley, Washington. Silver Totem is made by the Pacific Rim Company owned by the family that owns Banfi. They use a new technology for machine harvesting to pick only ripe fruit and not to bruise it.
Full-bodied, but not as ripe and jammy as some California Cabs. Ripe berries, violet, and mint on the nose. Flavors of black currants, blackberry, mocha, and spice. Soft tannic finish.
Educated Guess from Roots Run Deep Winery. A Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot and Malbec. Grapes sourced from some of Napa’s best vineyards. Consistently lauded for being a top-selling Napa Cabernet under $50. Rich and ripe with flavors of black currant and blackberry, hints of chocolate and tobacco. Toasty oak and silky tannins in a long, lingering finish.
The winemakers philosophy is that the decision-making involved in producing a great wine is a series of educated guesses. I explore this point in the chapter of my book called The Virtual Winery.
Out – Take – Pinot Noir from Out-Take Wine Company. Winemaker Joe Wagner, is a 5th generation winemaker, CEO of Copper Cane Wines, son of Caymus founder Chuck Wagner, and mostly known as the owner and winemaker of famed of Belle Glos wines. Layers of dark cherry, forest floor, and subtle spice all wrapped in a serious tannic structure built for aging.
Further illustrating the importance of decision-making, bad winemaking mistakes are often made in the last 2 -3 weeks before bottling. Wagner is buying these almost completed wines directly from wineries at a low cost and putting his finishing touches on them and bringing them to market at an affordable price.
Wagner also founded Meiomi, a Pinot Noir brand intended for a wider audience and sold it to Constellation Brands for an astonishing $315 million dollars in 2015.
White Wines from Piedmont Area
We talked about reds from Piedmont such as Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera. Now for notable whites including Cortese di Gavi and Moscato.
Cortese is the grape variety, Gavi is the appellation (DOCG). Not to be outdone by Barolo and Barbaresco, the king and queen of Piedmont, Gavi is referred to as the “white monarch” of Piedmont wines.
Pio Cesare Cortese di Gavi – Pio Cesare is a five-generation family winery founded by Cesare Pio in 1881. Tasting notes: Floral, pear, and citrus aromas with peach, lime, almond on the palate. Light-bodied with tangy acidity. Pair with the signature dish, ravioli alla Genovese or ravioli al tocco (sauce made from pork simmered low and slow.)
Masera Gavi from the Stefano Massone Winery. Masera is a specific designation, likely a vineyard name. Massone’s hand-crafted wines from 15 estate vineyards are often ranked among the best white wines of Piedmont. Lightly floral and delicate on the nose with scents of fruit and mineral water. Light-bodied with silky texture. Subtle flavors of crisp apple, lemon curd, and minerals. Bright and refreshing.
Bricco Quaglia Moscato D’Asti from La Spinetta – Moscato is a lightly sparkling, sweet wine. Circle Liquors has more than sixty types of Moscato ranging in price from $7 to $20. The budget-friendly ones tend to be the mass-produced varieties from companies like Barefoot and Crane Lake. At the higher end you’ll find quality wines from Piedmont like this one from La Spinetta. Lightly fizzy with small delicate bubbles. Floral and citrusy on the nose with flavors of mandarin orange, lime, and minerals. The sweetness is balanced by bright acidity.
Big California Cabs only Chet Malloy Can Find at this Price
Nichols Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – Pedigreed winemaker Britt Nichols who has worked with renowned wineries such as Jordan, Melka, and Peter Michael brings us a high-quality wine at a good value. He specializes in Cabernet and has sourced the grapes for the 2023 vintage from a seven-acre St. Helena site. Concentrated nose of blackcurrant, graphite, bell pepper, and violet with flavors of blackberry, cassis, cocoa and mint. Balanced and complex, young to drink now with the tannins being worthy of bottle aging.
Fiancetto Gravelly Loam Cabernet Sauvignon – From Napa Valley. Winemaker Ry Richards, also with an impressive resume, uses his Napa insider skills to buy superior quality grapes at incredible deals. As the name suggests, this cuvee is from two well drained vineyards in the cooler, southern part of the Napa Valley floor. The soil is loaded with pebbles and gravel which lends a mineral aspect to the wine. Aromas of berries, green bell pepper, herbs, and baking spice. Full-bodied and silky with juicy black fruit, anise, and black pepper on the palate. Lively mid-palate tart acidity. Complex and layered with a long finish. Also young to drink now however pairing with cheese and quiche softened the firm tannins.
For more information listen to the Tony Mart Presents radio show streaming anytime on the WPG website. Carmen Marotta and I talk about these wines on the 8/29/2025 episode.
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