Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'ALL ABOUT THE GLIDE' HOTSHEET
Fat BrunelloSpecial, Bubbles, Oregon Pinot for under 15 & more
CHAMPAGNE CHAPUY
BRUT TRADITION
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
BRUT TRADITION
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
A grower based in the Grand Cru village of Oger since 1952, Champagne Chapuy is now run by sisters Elodie and Aurore Chapuy whose family have been growers since 1952. The Brut Tradition One of the most excellent values that I have seen in Champagne in some time.
50% Chardonnay from the Cotes de Blancs blended with 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier from the southern slopes of Epernay, this is quite the tasty grower Champagne. Lovely aromas reveal the classy personality that this family puts forth not only in their wines but also in their demeanor. Excellent "pearly" perfume. Wheat pastry, yellow apple, very flattering and arms-open with its richness and friendliness. Ample cut and minerality from the Chardonnay, prominent length and sophistication, one really sees the attention to detail on this excellent gateway into Champagne Chapuy.
50% Chardonnay from the Cotes de Blancs blended with 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier from the southern slopes of Epernay, this is quite the tasty grower Champagne. Lovely aromas reveal the classy personality that this family puts forth not only in their wines but also in their demeanor. Excellent "pearly" perfume. Wheat pastry, yellow apple, very flattering and arms-open with its richness and friendliness. Ample cut and minerality from the Chardonnay, prominent length and sophistication, one really sees the attention to detail on this excellent gateway into Champagne Chapuy.
2011 CASTELGIOCODO
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
[reg. $79.99]
SPECIAL! $39.99 BTL./$239.94 - SIX PK.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
[reg. $79.99]
SPECIAL! $39.99 BTL./$239.94 - SIX PK.
Another deeply slashed price wine from Tuscany and this time from an epic Brunello producer. As we have stated, there is quite a bit of Brunello that isn’t 2010 stacked up around the world, hence there are some very good wines for excellent pricing to be had. Owned by Frescobaldi, Castelgiocondo’s record of accomplishment is excellent and these wines are formidable even at their regular pricing. 2011 is a warm, full and precocious vintage that will provide early Brunello experiences but in hands like these are wines that can easily develop up to 10-15 years from vintage date.
Exuberant, radiant and very attractive right out of the chute, this rich and heady wine, leaps from the glass with notes of plums, cherries, blackberries, tobacco, chocolate, and leather. Complex, layered and silky on the palate with richness of fruit, reflecting this warm Tuscan vintage. It would not be total blasphemy to open one now with a grilled t-bone steak or hearty Italian meal. Drink through 2024.
Exuberant, radiant and very attractive right out of the chute, this rich and heady wine, leaps from the glass with notes of plums, cherries, blackberries, tobacco, chocolate, and leather. Complex, layered and silky on the palate with richness of fruit, reflecting this warm Tuscan vintage. It would not be total blasphemy to open one now with a grilled t-bone steak or hearty Italian meal. Drink through 2024.
2014 PALA 'I FIORI' CANNONAU
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Off to the island of Sardinia we go! The Grenache grape, known as Cannonau on the island, was brought by the Kingdom of Aragon when they ruled the island in the Middle Ages and Renaissance era. The grape itself has always possessed a sort of nobility here, is decidedly individual, and shows its marked difference and uniqueness to its impressive island terroir.
The quite compelling 2014 Pala Cannonau is laden with aromas of Mediterranean garrigue spices, prominent notes of raspberry, plum/pepper, intriguing sea-salt and cinnamon that waft from the glass. After being enticed by the fine aromas, the texture intrigues even further with warm and engaging, interwoven cherry-pit/saline/minerally flavors that unfold into a voluptuous, tangy finish. Enjoy this sultry red with braised meat dishes or aged sheep's milk cheeses.
The quite compelling 2014 Pala Cannonau is laden with aromas of Mediterranean garrigue spices, prominent notes of raspberry, plum/pepper, intriguing sea-salt and cinnamon that waft from the glass. After being enticed by the fine aromas, the texture intrigues even further with warm and engaging, interwoven cherry-pit/saline/minerally flavors that unfold into a voluptuous, tangy finish. Enjoy this sultry red with braised meat dishes or aged sheep's milk cheeses.
2014 CHATEAU FONTANES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
I recently re-tasted this Southern French red and was thrilled so much that it was necessary to show it off to y’all one more time! Cyriaque Rozier is a renowned enologist and vineyard manager who is best known for his work at the acclaimed Languedoc estate, Chateau La Roque. Fontanes is his personal estate and one of the specialties here is this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard that was planted in 1970!!
Not a simple add-on to a portfolio, Cyriaque takes this varietal and this wine very seriously. How the hell he is able to maintain a price point such as this and sustainably farming the land is beyond us!! After tasting this, I lovingly referred to it as "Sudnapafrance". Very French and Mediterranean aspects with old vine cabernet cassis-like notes shining along with garrigue notes of mint, thyme and cracked pepper. Chewy, succulent, mouth filling and deceptively structured, this wine is a terrific everyday kind of Cab that can be had alone, paired with hearty stews or with grilled lamb chops.
Not a simple add-on to a portfolio, Cyriaque takes this varietal and this wine very seriously. How the hell he is able to maintain a price point such as this and sustainably farming the land is beyond us!! After tasting this, I lovingly referred to it as "Sudnapafrance". Very French and Mediterranean aspects with old vine cabernet cassis-like notes shining along with garrigue notes of mint, thyme and cracked pepper. Chewy, succulent, mouth filling and deceptively structured, this wine is a terrific everyday kind of Cab that can be had alone, paired with hearty stews or with grilled lamb chops.
2014 ROBINSON RESERVE
PINOT NOIR
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
PINOT NOIR
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
There is always a demand for under 15 Pinot Noirs but sadly most of them taste one step up from battery acid. Fortunately this isn’t the case with this perennial favorite!
Robinson Reserve is from a warmer site yet the 2014 never becomes a caricature wine. Drinking wonderfully now, buxom, ripe aromas teem with wild black cherry, earth and alluring herbs. Mouth-filling and dark-toned although supported very nicely by bright strawberry tones. The tannins are very supple and this is a 2014 that is certainly qualifies as an excellent every day Pinot. Plenty of length and detail, this wine can be enjoyed with friends but certainly carries over to the dinner table, too. Enjoy it through 2019.
Robinson Reserve is from a warmer site yet the 2014 never becomes a caricature wine. Drinking wonderfully now, buxom, ripe aromas teem with wild black cherry, earth and alluring herbs. Mouth-filling and dark-toned although supported very nicely by bright strawberry tones. The tannins are very supple and this is a 2014 that is certainly qualifies as an excellent every day Pinot. Plenty of length and detail, this wine can be enjoyed with friends but certainly carries over to the dinner table, too. Enjoy it through 2019.
2014 VERASOL TEMPRANILLO-GARNACHA
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
Hailing from Spain’s Navarra region, Verasol’s Tempranillo-Garnacha is lively and plucky. A full frontal, honest to the grapes, unoaked version offers that excellent bang for the buck. Red berries, baking herbs and brambly underbrush shine. In the mouth, it fills the mouth with no rough edges. Finishing with lively earth, blackberry and prominent white pepper tones, it is a lovely Wednesday burger wine or one to sip on for no good reason other than pleasure.
2015 CANORGUE LUBERON BLANC
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
In so many ways the Luberon region in Provence is about as ass-backwards as can be, however, in some cases, and certainly not necessarily all, the wines from this region can be quite good. It is here one must look at the northern sector of the region and then really focus on small growers who truly care about their land and the upbringing of their wines.
Chateau la Canorgue is a prodigal Provence producer who excels with red, rose as well as this enthralling white wine made from a combination of Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Vermentino. Detonating with character, this full-flavored, mouth-coating yet electric white offers beautiful fragrances of white peach, rose petal, ginger and gently placed acacia and anise-pepper tones. Lots of depth and richness, and an almost Lennon-McCartney kind of tension between fruit, terroir, acidity and spice. Incredibly intellectual and intense stuff that while young, takes off like a fighter jet on the finish and lasts, and lasts, and lasts. Drink this palate filling Chardonnay alternative over the next 3-4 years with an array of fleshier seafood dishes.
Chateau la Canorgue is a prodigal Provence producer who excels with red, rose as well as this enthralling white wine made from a combination of Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Vermentino. Detonating with character, this full-flavored, mouth-coating yet electric white offers beautiful fragrances of white peach, rose petal, ginger and gently placed acacia and anise-pepper tones. Lots of depth and richness, and an almost Lennon-McCartney kind of tension between fruit, terroir, acidity and spice. Incredibly intellectual and intense stuff that while young, takes off like a fighter jet on the finish and lasts, and lasts, and lasts. Drink this palate filling Chardonnay alternative over the next 3-4 years with an array of fleshier seafood dishes.
2013 DOWSETT GEWURZTRAMINER
'CELILO VINEYARD'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'CELILO VINEYARD'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
This is DRY Gewurztraminer! If anyone buys this and thinks that it's sweet, I'll take it back! Celilo is one of Washington's oldest and most important vineyard sites.
The Gewurztraminer that Chris Dowsett uses was planted in 1984 and is fermented in older barrels to bring about palate-staining texture. Unyielding rose, citron, grapefruit and underlying tropical tones vault from the glass. Building spice as it unfolds while in the mouth, this is all about texture. Thrusting and bursting, yet with loads of depth and persistence. Simply marvelous, it is going to make you hungry for Asian fare if you drink it alone and it is also a lip smacking pairing with chicken, salmon or pork dishes. One can opt for traditional preparations, but if you have a little bit of Chinese 5-spice, go ahead and add it to your recipe.
The Gewurztraminer that Chris Dowsett uses was planted in 1984 and is fermented in older barrels to bring about palate-staining texture. Unyielding rose, citron, grapefruit and underlying tropical tones vault from the glass. Building spice as it unfolds while in the mouth, this is all about texture. Thrusting and bursting, yet with loads of depth and persistence. Simply marvelous, it is going to make you hungry for Asian fare if you drink it alone and it is also a lip smacking pairing with chicken, salmon or pork dishes. One can opt for traditional preparations, but if you have a little bit of Chinese 5-spice, go ahead and add it to your recipe.
