Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'WE DO WRONG SO RIGHT' HOTSHEET
2010 Brunello Value, 90 pt. Rioja, Walla Walla Cab, Stellar Rhone, Dry Riesling & More
2012 COUROULU VACQUEYRAS
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
If the name Vacqueyras (pronounced vaa-kay-raas) intimidates you, don't allow it to happen and miss out on this terrific Southern Rhone offering. Upgraded from Cotes-du-Rhone Village status in 1990, this area is sometimes known as Chateauneuf’s little brother. Domaine Couroulu is one of the small and outstanding producers in the region and their premier Vacqueyras wine always delivers a big bang, especially at 20 bucks.
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, bold depth of aromas are present with perfectly placed scents of lavender, thyme, blackberry and pronounced rosemary. Very penetrating and a bit devilish, the texture is what makes this wine so worth it. Full-on palate coverage and with kirsch and wild spice flavors. Telltale Vacqueyras dimension here with its backbone and wind-blown components that all follow through to a brilliantly focused, generous finish that is laden with white pepper. Drink it through the end of 2022. Toss a fat steak on to the grill and have a go at a bottle.
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, bold depth of aromas are present with perfectly placed scents of lavender, thyme, blackberry and pronounced rosemary. Very penetrating and a bit devilish, the texture is what makes this wine so worth it. Full-on palate coverage and with kirsch and wild spice flavors. Telltale Vacqueyras dimension here with its backbone and wind-blown components that all follow through to a brilliantly focused, generous finish that is laden with white pepper. Drink it through the end of 2022. Toss a fat steak on to the grill and have a go at a bottle.
2012 DIEZ-CABALLERO
RIOJA CRIANZA
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
RIOJA CRIANZA
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
A Rioja producer whose wines are relatively new to us but have excellent pedigree indeed. It also doesn’t hurt that the wines have a following in Spain and have been rightfully praised for the price/quality rapport.
‘The 2012 Crianza is pure Tempranillo fermented in concrete vats and aged in French and American oak barrels for 15 months. It has a nose of smoky bacon and terse, ripe black fruit with spices and floral notes. The palate is fresh, supple and tasty with good tension, good acidity and balance. A great example of modern traditional (or traditional modern) Rioja. Very good value. – 90 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
‘The 2012 Crianza is pure Tempranillo fermented in concrete vats and aged in French and American oak barrels for 15 months. It has a nose of smoky bacon and terse, ripe black fruit with spices and floral notes. The palate is fresh, supple and tasty with good tension, good acidity and balance. A great example of modern traditional (or traditional modern) Rioja. Very good value. – 90 POINTS, THE WINE ADVOCATE’
2013 CROWLEY PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
Commencing with his first wine in vintage 2006, we instantly were able to grasp that Tyson Crowley was going to be a formidable force when it comes to fine Oregon Pinot Noir. Having worked at Cameron alongside the Mad Professor himself, John Paul, Tyson has been able to take those lessons and integrate them into his own work.
The 2013 Crowley is an achingly beautiful Pinot Noir value that has enticing and beautifully aromatic aromas of crushed black raspberry, violet and cinnamon that shine brightly from the glass. In the mouth, the wine is stylish and refined with an abundance of penetrating fruit along with sneaky structure. The finish is suave and understated with a hint of allspice and cocoa from oak. This gorgeous Pinot will pair wonderfully with veal chops and will drink and develop wonderfully through 2022.
The 2013 Crowley is an achingly beautiful Pinot Noir value that has enticing and beautifully aromatic aromas of crushed black raspberry, violet and cinnamon that shine brightly from the glass. In the mouth, the wine is stylish and refined with an abundance of penetrating fruit along with sneaky structure. The finish is suave and understated with a hint of allspice and cocoa from oak. This gorgeous Pinot will pair wonderfully with veal chops and will drink and develop wonderfully through 2022.
2014 ROBERT WEIL RIESLING
TROCKEN RHEINGAU
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
TROCKEN RHEINGAU
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
I will reiterate it once again from earlier this year. Explaining the virtues and intricacies of the noble Riesling grape is always one of the most frustrating aspects of my job. Riesling is a varietal that comes in all shapes and sizes and levels of sweetness. These range from some of the most ferociously dry and ageworthy versions to some of the sweetest and most sought-after dessert wines in the world and then all points in between.Take pause and notice this wine. Yes, it's Riesling, yes, it's from Germany, and yes, we have to shout about it out to the non-believers: YES, IT IS DRY!
Germany’s Rheingau region rested on its laurels for way too long, becoming known as a place virtually "Disnified" with tourists coming to see timber-lined houses and to taste wine at tasting room with folks wearing lederhosen pouring them, all while ignoring quality. While there is a renaissance occurring with a new generation of producers, Robert Weil, the unwavering king of high quality remains the same and continues to deliver ungodly great wines on all levels. The Trocken (dry) category of Riesling has become wildly popular because of its diversity. Like the sweet wines, Trocken is a blank slate for its terroir, but also goes with an abundance of food choices. This wine is a flat out blitzkrieg of character. Prominent lime on the nose along with some saline and subtle spice, too. Very varietal Riesling, quite pungent and tense. Bone-dry, virtual stony citrus that shimmers with the minerality, it has a racy lemon zest, flinty, finish that really goes. I’m sort of thinking halibut or mussels but this will also work very well with pork and especially the holiday big bird.
Germany’s Rheingau region rested on its laurels for way too long, becoming known as a place virtually "Disnified" with tourists coming to see timber-lined houses and to taste wine at tasting room with folks wearing lederhosen pouring them, all while ignoring quality. While there is a renaissance occurring with a new generation of producers, Robert Weil, the unwavering king of high quality remains the same and continues to deliver ungodly great wines on all levels. The Trocken (dry) category of Riesling has become wildly popular because of its diversity. Like the sweet wines, Trocken is a blank slate for its terroir, but also goes with an abundance of food choices. This wine is a flat out blitzkrieg of character. Prominent lime on the nose along with some saline and subtle spice, too. Very varietal Riesling, quite pungent and tense. Bone-dry, virtual stony citrus that shimmers with the minerality, it has a racy lemon zest, flinty, finish that really goes. I’m sort of thinking halibut or mussels but this will also work very well with pork and especially the holiday big bird.
2013 PASCAL MARTHOURET
SAINT-JOSEPH BLANC
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE
SAINT-JOSEPH BLANC
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE
Over the past three years we have been touting the wines from Pascal Marthouret, a former mechanic turned vignerons. Back at the end of May on my visit to France, Pascal was gracious enough to meet on a French holiday and show me his small but impressive operation. Pascal’s vineyards are comprised of almost half in St-Joseph; almost half in Vin de Pays varietal wines with a small bit of Condrieu in for good measure.
Saint Joseph, the patron saint of scorned husbands, more known for its red wines, however the appellation is planted to and produces about 10% of white wines. Pascal Marthouret’s offering is a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne and is one hell of a gem! Exciting fragrance, purity and detail of both varietal and the granitic soils. Ginger-spiked pear scents, shortbread, anise and mineral follow through to a texture that possesses richness combined with zestiness and a thought-provoking inner intensity that carries over to the palate sweeping finish. Bust out the butter and cream sauce for this full-flavored white wine. Drink over the next 5-7 years with fowl or fish done with intense preparations.
Saint Joseph, the patron saint of scorned husbands, more known for its red wines, however the appellation is planted to and produces about 10% of white wines. Pascal Marthouret’s offering is a blend of 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne and is one hell of a gem! Exciting fragrance, purity and detail of both varietal and the granitic soils. Ginger-spiked pear scents, shortbread, anise and mineral follow through to a texture that possesses richness combined with zestiness and a thought-provoking inner intensity that carries over to the palate sweeping finish. Bust out the butter and cream sauce for this full-flavored white wine. Drink over the next 5-7 years with fowl or fish done with intense preparations.
2013 AMAVI CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WALLA WALLA
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
WALLA WALLA
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
Amavi is a superb but relatively unknown Walla Walla operation. Jean-Francois Pellet, the winemaker at Pepperbridge wines, makes these formidable wines. Originally set out to be accessible and easy-going wines, Jean-Francois couldn't just make something such as this, hence the wines have insane complexity, depth and presence that is normally reserved for way more expensive offerings.
The 2013 is majestic Cab!! A big mouthful of Washington flavors and packed with copious and flirtatious cassis, coriander, cracked pepper, smoke and subtle tobacco scents all which follow into a generous, layered and extensive texture that really last. Very approachable now and will continue to drink and develop for 10-12 years.
The 2013 is majestic Cab!! A big mouthful of Washington flavors and packed with copious and flirtatious cassis, coriander, cracked pepper, smoke and subtle tobacco scents all which follow into a generous, layered and extensive texture that really last. Very approachable now and will continue to drink and develop for 10-12 years.
2010 LA PALAZZETTA
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
$37.99 BTL./$455.88 CASE
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
$37.99 BTL./$455.88 CASE
2010 Brunello di Montalcino wines have deservedly been receiving immense accolades and we are happy to introcude a Cellar Door fave that is destined to be one of the values of this awesome vintage. Palazzetta's Brunello is very traditionally styled (many of you have heard Flavio Fanti's story: no Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet planted anywhere near his land and adamantly - NO BARRIQUES, only large botti). The complexity of the top-notch 2010 vintage really shines through but more importantly, the village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate expresses itself mightily.
A definite throwback, this Brunello is built in the most traditional fashion. Combined with the usual house style along with the structure and perfection of 2010, is one that to be buried in the cellar. Extremely packed and showing dried flowers, licorice and lots of spice that surround full Tuscan traits that one expects from a traditional producer. Generous and well-defined, but very extensive and tight-knit all with impressive material that is tightly formed at this moment. Superb persistence, this one is built for the cellar and built to be drunk 2020 - 2032+.
A definite throwback, this Brunello is built in the most traditional fashion. Combined with the usual house style along with the structure and perfection of 2010, is one that to be buried in the cellar. Extremely packed and showing dried flowers, licorice and lots of spice that surround full Tuscan traits that one expects from a traditional producer. Generous and well-defined, but very extensive and tight-knit all with impressive material that is tightly formed at this moment. Superb persistence, this one is built for the cellar and built to be drunk 2020 - 2032+.
