Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'ROTUND' HOTSHEET
95 pt. Washington Red, French Chardonnay, Barbera, Cornas & more
2015 MAURO MOLINO
BARBERA D'ALBA
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
BARBERA D'ALBA
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
La Morra is the home for refined and sophisticated Barolo and the classy Barbera that is grown in the same soils smells and tastes of Piemonte. We fell in love with the Molino family's wines a couple of years ago and what first caught our attention was their impeccable quality coupled with some of the best prices of the region, prompting us to refer to their Baroli as the best values of Piemonte. Since 1978, Mauro Molino has produced wines that are neo-classical bringing together a great respect for the land and the history of this region with the best advances of modern technology.
Not a hair is out of place on this toothsome Barbera and it is La Morra to a "T" with its enticing aromatics and stylish flavors. Aged entirely in tank, this true to its varietal Barbera is melodic and drinking exquisitely right now. Strawberry and Italian plum scents permeate from the nose and follow through to a texture that is handsomely high-toned, fleshy, harmonious and silky-smooth. Nothing not to like with this one! Have it with risotto, root vegetables or pork dishes.
Not a hair is out of place on this toothsome Barbera and it is La Morra to a "T" with its enticing aromatics and stylish flavors. Aged entirely in tank, this true to its varietal Barbera is melodic and drinking exquisitely right now. Strawberry and Italian plum scents permeate from the nose and follow through to a texture that is handsomely high-toned, fleshy, harmonious and silky-smooth. Nothing not to like with this one! Have it with risotto, root vegetables or pork dishes.
2013 SEVEN OF HEARTS TRADITION
COLUMBIA VALLEY RED
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
COLUMBIA VALLEY RED
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
We have known for many years that Byron Dooley is an Oregon Pinot Noir badass but if you were ever to visit his tasting room, you would see that he works with grapes from both Oregon and Washington. Wine passion seemingly runs through this most excellent human being’s veins and whether the inspiration is Rhone, Madiran, Burgundy or Bordeaux like this offering, quality always comes to the forefront with his wines.
The 2013 Tradition is a classic Right Bank Bordeaux blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc hailing from Stonehenge and Hellsgate Vineyards from both sides of the Columbia River in the Columbia Valley, this flavorful wine exudes class. Lavish and undervalued, this blend not only has depth and fruit it also has a sneaky backbone for aging. Silky and mouth filling and one that with 33% new French oak, isn't a lumber fest. Layered, well-detailed flavors and aromas of cassis, blueberry, smoke, huckleberry and cocoa-powder reveal a lovely texture that fans out nicely from start to finish. Drink now through 2021. 273 cases produced.
The 2013 Tradition is a classic Right Bank Bordeaux blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc hailing from Stonehenge and Hellsgate Vineyards from both sides of the Columbia River in the Columbia Valley, this flavorful wine exudes class. Lavish and undervalued, this blend not only has depth and fruit it also has a sneaky backbone for aging. Silky and mouth filling and one that with 33% new French oak, isn't a lumber fest. Layered, well-detailed flavors and aromas of cassis, blueberry, smoke, huckleberry and cocoa-powder reveal a lovely texture that fans out nicely from start to finish. Drink now through 2021. 273 cases produced.
2011 GUERRERI GONZAGA
TERRE DI SAN LEONARDO ROSSO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
TERRE DI SAN LEONARDO ROSSO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot from the Dolomites in Alto Adige. The Guerreri Gonzaga family has been farming vineyards at their property since the 18th century but it wasn’t until 1978 when Carlo Guerreri Gonzaga had the vision to plant Bordeaux varietals. Success came in the 80s and by the early 90s, this estate was recognized as one of Italy’s finest and one that succeeds where so many others fail at using these particular grape selections.
The Terre di San Leonardo is the second wine here and the elevage is 80% in large Slavonian botti and 20% in French barrique. Brimming with alluring tones of blueberry, black cherry, and baking spices that seemingly swarm around subtle notes of cedar and thyme. In the mouth, this heavenly drink shows a bounty of expressive and layered flavors that are very classy, deceptively dense and refined all leading up to an allspice-laden finish that sticks around longer than it ever should for a wine at this price! Enjoy over the next 4-5 years with the usual suspects. Touché Tuscany!
The Terre di San Leonardo is the second wine here and the elevage is 80% in large Slavonian botti and 20% in French barrique. Brimming with alluring tones of blueberry, black cherry, and baking spices that seemingly swarm around subtle notes of cedar and thyme. In the mouth, this heavenly drink shows a bounty of expressive and layered flavors that are very classy, deceptively dense and refined all leading up to an allspice-laden finish that sticks around longer than it ever should for a wine at this price! Enjoy over the next 4-5 years with the usual suspects. Touché Tuscany!
2014 AUVIGUE MACON-SOLUTRE
'CUVEE NATURELLE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'CUVEE NATURELLE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
The Maconnais is perhaps Burgundy’s most exciting and emerging white wine region at this moment. Due to more estate made wines, the quality here has soared in not only Pouilly-Fuisse and St-Veran but especially in the villages of Macon – 20 bucks goes a long way here! Jean-Pierre and Michel Auvigue are the third generation of their family to produce wine in the Macon heartland and both of the guys believe in a holistic approach to winemaking, adapting to vintage conditions and chaperoning each of their climats.
As well as being a Pouilly-Fuisse village, the village of Solutre also has vineyards that are deemed as Macon-Solutre. Serious wines emerge from these incredibly rocky, limestone soils, which bring about impeccable energy. The Cuvee Naturelle is named as such because of the organic farming practices. Aged in stainless steel followed by four months in neutral barrels, this French Chardonnay sports an upscale nose of cereal, orange, lemon, blazing mineral and dusty rock that plays nicely with a gentle kiss of spice. In the mouth its nervosity, depth and detail are mighty impressive, the finish long, palate staining and tingling. Pure and fine enough to go with sophisticated seafood dishes, but deep enough to go with salmon or roasted chicken.
As well as being a Pouilly-Fuisse village, the village of Solutre also has vineyards that are deemed as Macon-Solutre. Serious wines emerge from these incredibly rocky, limestone soils, which bring about impeccable energy. The Cuvee Naturelle is named as such because of the organic farming practices. Aged in stainless steel followed by four months in neutral barrels, this French Chardonnay sports an upscale nose of cereal, orange, lemon, blazing mineral and dusty rock that plays nicely with a gentle kiss of spice. In the mouth its nervosity, depth and detail are mighty impressive, the finish long, palate staining and tingling. Pure and fine enough to go with sophisticated seafood dishes, but deep enough to go with salmon or roasted chicken.
2012 ACUSTIC CELLER
MONTSANT 'BRAO'
$29.99 BTL./$179.94 - SIX PACK
MONTSANT 'BRAO'
$29.99 BTL./$179.94 - SIX PACK
Acustic Celler is the project of the Cellar Door's excellent friend, the self-proclaimed #1 Super Catalan-Man Albert Jané. Brao, meaning courage, strength or valor in the Catalan language, is one of Albert’s top wines and its namesake is very appropriate for this wine. These are the oldest vines of the vineyard, 75-85 years old, and like the classic Montsant, the blend is 70% Carignan and 30% Grenache. The upscale components let you know this Montsant will give the snobby neighbors in Priorat a big run for the money. In fact, if this were a Priorat and of this magnitude, the price would be easily be tripled!
Creamy, crushed raspberry, plum, cinnamon, mineral and jasmine. More pipe-tobacco creeps as the wine breathes. Velvety, layered and possessing almost balsamic-like aspects followed by overflowing cracked pepper rolls with the fruit that carries impeccably from front to back. Very vinous and long on the finish. Simply put, this is meditative stuff! So much stuffing and smoothness here allow for nice early access but for best results drink this 2017 – 2025.
Creamy, crushed raspberry, plum, cinnamon, mineral and jasmine. More pipe-tobacco creeps as the wine breathes. Velvety, layered and possessing almost balsamic-like aspects followed by overflowing cracked pepper rolls with the fruit that carries impeccably from front to back. Very vinous and long on the finish. Simply put, this is meditative stuff! So much stuffing and smoothness here allow for nice early access but for best results drink this 2017 – 2025.
2015 LA VALENTINA PECORINO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
La Valentina is a superb Montepulciano d’Abruzzo producer and one that we have been working with for many years. Up until now, we have only ever featured their red wines because that was what was available to us. Last Friday morning I tasted their Pecorino and was duly impressed!
Pecorino, the grape, has nothing to do with Pecorino, the cheese. Prominent on the Adriatic Coast, La Valentina’s version of this dry wine could be referred to as Italian Muscadet given its mighty mineral and oceanic qualities. Combining ripe lemon with these notes adds for complexity. In the mouth, it is intense and gains laser-like persistence, herbs, and spice that carry over into the citrusy and thrusting finish. This wine is a rocks with mussels and will pair with numerous shellfish preparations.
Pecorino, the grape, has nothing to do with Pecorino, the cheese. Prominent on the Adriatic Coast, La Valentina’s version of this dry wine could be referred to as Italian Muscadet given its mighty mineral and oceanic qualities. Combining ripe lemon with these notes adds for complexity. In the mouth, it is intense and gains laser-like persistence, herbs, and spice that carry over into the citrusy and thrusting finish. This wine is a rocks with mussels and will pair with numerous shellfish preparations.
2013 VOGE CORNAS VIEILLES VIGNES
$74.99 BTL./$899.88 CASE
$74.99 BTL./$899.88 CASE
2009 through 2013 in the Northern Rhone Valley will all prove to be very fine vintages. Along with Clape, Domaine Voge is one of the two grand old producers within this small Syrah appellation that is finally getting recognition for its greatness and deservedly so, these are collectible wines which age impeccably. 2013 is a classic and powerfully stacked vintage and the wines will age for a long time. Chez Voge decided not to produce any of the Vieilles Fontaines cuvee due to quantity and it is all here in the magical Vieilles Vignes bottling. The following are my tasting notes from my visit to Voge back in May:
‘Rock star, Grand Cru nose. Frightfully youthful and takes aeration to obtain the aromas which penetrate very deeply. Haunting earth, granite and mineral. Plums and smoky, meaty aspects arrive followed by asphalt and more and more graham from the granitic soils. Tense, yet very attacking with underlying finesse that will emerge with time. Broad, confident Cornas that goes for an eternity and saturates the palate. Stacked, vertical and destined for unbridled greatness. Ultimately, this wine needs at least 5 years and if you have a child born in 2013, this will easily age to its 21st birthday and beyond. Great stuff! Drink 2021 – 2030+. - 96943.5 POINTS - ME’
‘Rock star, Grand Cru nose. Frightfully youthful and takes aeration to obtain the aromas which penetrate very deeply. Haunting earth, granite and mineral. Plums and smoky, meaty aspects arrive followed by asphalt and more and more graham from the granitic soils. Tense, yet very attacking with underlying finesse that will emerge with time. Broad, confident Cornas that goes for an eternity and saturates the palate. Stacked, vertical and destined for unbridled greatness. Ultimately, this wine needs at least 5 years and if you have a child born in 2013, this will easily age to its 21st birthday and beyond. Great stuff! Drink 2021 – 2030+. - 96943.5 POINTS - ME’
2012 ANDREW WILL CIEL DU CHEVAL
COLUMBIA VALLEY RED
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
95 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE
COLUMBIA VALLEY RED
$59.99 BTL./$719.88 CASE
95 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE
Back in 2002 Washington wine revolutionary Chris Camarda flipped the bird to the American practice of labeling his wines by the name of the grape, instead he opted to use the Bordeaux influence and labeled them by vineyard site and blending the grapes. He continues to do this to this day and many others have followed suit. Ciel du Cheval is a well-established, super-quality Red Mountain vineyard site that was planted in 1975 and has been quite prominent in the annals of Washington wine history.
‘Another killer wine from Chris, the 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is made from 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, all of which spent 18 months in 35% new French oak. It exhibits classic minerality and dried herbs to go with complex leather, lavender, currants and sweet black cherry fruit. This gives way to a full-bodied, big-boned and layered 2012 that has no shortage of tannin and a great mid-palate. From one of the top terroirs in Red Mountain and with roughly 900 cases produced, it’s one of those don’t miss wines, and even at the price, it’s still a great value. – 95 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
‘Another killer wine from Chris, the 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is made from 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, all of which spent 18 months in 35% new French oak. It exhibits classic minerality and dried herbs to go with complex leather, lavender, currants and sweet black cherry fruit. This gives way to a full-bodied, big-boned and layered 2012 that has no shortage of tannin and a great mid-palate. From one of the top terroirs in Red Mountain and with roughly 900 cases produced, it’s one of those don’t miss wines, and even at the price, it’s still a great value. – 95 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
