5/21/18 THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'IN BLOOM' HOTSHEET
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'IN BLOOM' HOTSHEET
Old Vine Zinfandel, Montepulciano Gruner & more
2015 FONTSAINTE CORBIERES
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Domaine Fontsainte is a trailblazing estate when it comes to the large Languedoc region of Corbieres. This winery has been influential over the last 25+ years in bringing Corbieres into the forefront with clean, mouthfilling, soulful wines that respect the terroir.
The black label classic version is 60% Carignan, 30% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah from clay-limestone soil with plenty of gravel and large stones. Forward, substantial with room-filling aromas of ripe strawberry, anisette, garrigue and cocoa tones mingle with cracked pepper and roasted earth. This wine is round, concentrated and luscious in the mouth with tannins that are ripe and integrated. Everything shows off the fruit, which moves right into the lengthy expressive finish with pepper, earth and complexity. Ideal with mushroom quiche, grilled fish, roasted chicken, or braised pork loin.
The black label classic version is 60% Carignan, 30% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah from clay-limestone soil with plenty of gravel and large stones. Forward, substantial with room-filling aromas of ripe strawberry, anisette, garrigue and cocoa tones mingle with cracked pepper and roasted earth. This wine is round, concentrated and luscious in the mouth with tannins that are ripe and integrated. Everything shows off the fruit, which moves right into the lengthy expressive finish with pepper, earth and complexity. Ideal with mushroom quiche, grilled fish, roasted chicken, or braised pork loin.
2016 BEDROCK ZINFANDEL
'OLD VINES'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
'OLD VINES'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
The mind behind Bedrock Wine Company comes from excellent wine bloodlines; Morgan Twain-Peterson is the son of famed, influential Ravenswood Zinfandel maestro Joel Peterson. Morgan is devoted to maintaining California’s heritage vines and grapes and quickly, these wines have become some of California’s most exciting.
With an average age of 80 year old vines here as well as taking a cue from Ridge and adding in grapes like Carignan, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and others, this wine shows very impressive range. Roti, smoked raspberry, briar and subtle pepper tones are impressively penetrating. Ripe, suave, civilized and mouth filling, exactly what a good zin ought to be. The old vine density and spice spread out and follow through to the exhilarating and fine finish. While it cries out for good barbecued pork chops, it will also pair well with beef or smoked meats. These wines also have a propensity to age and this will easily develop for 7-10 years.
With an average age of 80 year old vines here as well as taking a cue from Ridge and adding in grapes like Carignan, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah and others, this wine shows very impressive range. Roti, smoked raspberry, briar and subtle pepper tones are impressively penetrating. Ripe, suave, civilized and mouth filling, exactly what a good zin ought to be. The old vine density and spice spread out and follow through to the exhilarating and fine finish. While it cries out for good barbecued pork chops, it will also pair well with beef or smoked meats. These wines also have a propensity to age and this will easily develop for 7-10 years.
2016 NIGL GRUNER VELTLINER 'FREIHEIT'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Gruner Veltliner is the wonder grape that goes with many foods that usually make wine taste weird. Martin Nigl produces extraordinarily transparent, mineral-drenched wines of mindboggling clarity that many wine lovers feel are among the absolute elite in Austria.
Gushing with mineral soaked lemon-lime, white peach aromas and flavors, the mineral intensity turns to a crisp and fresh mouth-feel that coats and cleanses the palate and simply doesn't quit. We adore white wines such as this and if you like fresh, intense and nervy wines, you will too. A superb effort to enjoy for these summery moments, try this delicious Gruner with everything from salad, artichokes, grilled asparagus to grilled salmon or even paella.
Gushing with mineral soaked lemon-lime, white peach aromas and flavors, the mineral intensity turns to a crisp and fresh mouth-feel that coats and cleanses the palate and simply doesn't quit. We adore white wines such as this and if you like fresh, intense and nervy wines, you will too. A superb effort to enjoy for these summery moments, try this delicious Gruner with everything from salad, artichokes, grilled asparagus to grilled salmon or even paella.
2015 LA VALENTINA
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
No folks, not everything we taste is good around here, and in fact most wines fall in the below average category and never make it on to the weekly musings. That is why when we find a great value like the 2015 La Valentina we are happy to tell the world.
This wine falls into the Italian country wine category. A category that we absolutely love, as often they have lots of character and are very food friendly. One of the perennial leaders of the area, this estate rocks on all levels. The gateway wine reveals lovely aromas of black pepper, blackberry, and tar. Textbook flavors of roasted earth, savory black fruit, and lots of pepper and gaining further Montepulciano momentum as it extends to a pleasing and giving finish. A great pizza or barbecue wine that will please a bunch of red wine palates.
This wine falls into the Italian country wine category. A category that we absolutely love, as often they have lots of character and are very food friendly. One of the perennial leaders of the area, this estate rocks on all levels. The gateway wine reveals lovely aromas of black pepper, blackberry, and tar. Textbook flavors of roasted earth, savory black fruit, and lots of pepper and gaining further Montepulciano momentum as it extends to a pleasing and giving finish. A great pizza or barbecue wine that will please a bunch of red wine palates.
2016 ANDREW WILL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
Andrew Will's Chris Camarda is a Washington legend who makes extremely age-worthy wines. A few years back, Chris created the "black label" wines that give a superb experience of what this cat has to offer for a fine price. And more and more as time has moved onward, the quality of these wines has soared into heights to where others would charge $15-20 more than what this one sells for.
From two outstanding Washington sites (Champoux & Two Blondes Vineyards) this forward, lacy-smooth Cab unfolds scrumptious notes of blackberry, cassis, graphite, underlying dusty cocoa and earth along with just a kiss of smoked nutmeg. Flavorful, driving, very persistent juice that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, is one of the best Washington Cabernet values out there. Lingering and sculpted, this is serious stuff that can be accessed but will develop over the next 12-15 years.
From two outstanding Washington sites (Champoux & Two Blondes Vineyards) this forward, lacy-smooth Cab unfolds scrumptious notes of blackberry, cassis, graphite, underlying dusty cocoa and earth along with just a kiss of smoked nutmeg. Flavorful, driving, very persistent juice that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, is one of the best Washington Cabernet values out there. Lingering and sculpted, this is serious stuff that can be accessed but will develop over the next 12-15 years.
FRIDAY SIPS
No Friday Sips Tasting this week, May 25. We'll resume June 1
SAVE THE DATE!
THE ANNUAL HAUT-RIAN DANCE PARTY
WITH SPECIAL GUEST MICHEL DIETRICH FROM CHATEAU HAUT-RIAN
THE ANNUAL HAUT-RIAN DANCE PARTY
WITH SPECIAL GUEST MICHEL DIETRICH FROM CHATEAU HAUT-RIAN
FRIDAY JUNE 8 from 3:30 - 6:30
Join us Friday June 8 from 3:30 – 6:30 for Michel's annual visit to Portland to launch the new releases. Always a fun party when our friends from Haut-Rian arrive, come and say bonjour as well as to taste a lineup of excellent new vintages.
FEATURED WINES:
2017 Chateau Haut Rian Bordeaux Blanc
2017 Chateau Haut Rian Bordeaux Rose
2015 Chateau Haut Rian Cotes-de-Bordeaux Rouge
2014 Chateau Haut Rian Cotes-de-Bordeaux Cuvee Prestige
