1/27/20 The Cellar Door's '24 & 8' Hotsheet
THE CELLAR DOOR'S '24 & 8' HOTSHEET
Barolo, Goodfellow & more
2016 FONTSAINTE CORBIERES
'RESERVE LA DEMOISELLE'
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
'RESERVE LA DEMOISELLE'
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
The price for this red is always excellent, and we will say that if you love big reds, Southern French wines and great values, you will be tres fou if you don’t take advantage of what we sometimes lovingly refer to as ‘The Chateauneuf-Du-Pape of Corbieres’.
Domaine de Fontsainte are Corbieres pioneers who are always reliable and put out fantastic wines for great prices including this reserve cuvee. 60% Carignan from 112 year old vines, 30% Grenache, 10% Mouvedre and is a heady, dense mouthful of red wine yet one that maintains its excellent energy. Instantly after it is poured into the glass, Mediterranean aromas of crushed red raspberry, wind-swept herbs, lavender and pepper along with gentle cocoa notes. A soulful wine indeed, but the palate truly is a harmonious ensemble of savory richness and elegance that follows through to the ample dry and vibrant finish. A Corbieres of impeccable quality, this can age nicely for 5-7 years as well. Enjoy it with a bean casserole with sausage, grilled steak or pork chops.
Domaine de Fontsainte are Corbieres pioneers who are always reliable and put out fantastic wines for great prices including this reserve cuvee. 60% Carignan from 112 year old vines, 30% Grenache, 10% Mouvedre and is a heady, dense mouthful of red wine yet one that maintains its excellent energy. Instantly after it is poured into the glass, Mediterranean aromas of crushed red raspberry, wind-swept herbs, lavender and pepper along with gentle cocoa notes. A soulful wine indeed, but the palate truly is a harmonious ensemble of savory richness and elegance that follows through to the ample dry and vibrant finish. A Corbieres of impeccable quality, this can age nicely for 5-7 years as well. Enjoy it with a bean casserole with sausage, grilled steak or pork chops.
2018 VILLA MEDORO
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE
Tre Bicchieri Award from Gambero Rosso. Excellence in Abruzzo, Federica Morricone took over this estate in 1996 at the age of 22 and rose up as one as the finest producers in this area, culminating in winning Gambero Rosso’s most promising new producer in 2007. Many accolades and awards have followed including Gambero Ross’s vaunted Tre Bicchieri Award that is usually reserved for much more expensive wines.
Nose filling and mouth filling! 100% of the Montepulciano grape, fragrant, forward aromas of flavors of strawberry, pepper and herbs carry over into a lively and texture that spreads out over the entire palate and finishes with echoes of savory spices and fleshy plum tones. Very food-friendly, enjoy it with a Sunday roast, pasta alla puttanesca or alla arrabiata sauce, which ever fits your mood.
Nose filling and mouth filling! 100% of the Montepulciano grape, fragrant, forward aromas of flavors of strawberry, pepper and herbs carry over into a lively and texture that spreads out over the entire palate and finishes with echoes of savory spices and fleshy plum tones. Very food-friendly, enjoy it with a Sunday roast, pasta alla puttanesca or alla arrabiata sauce, which ever fits your mood.
2017 PIUZE BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
COTES D'AUXERROIS
[reg. $35.99]
SPECIAL - $26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
COTES D'AUXERROIS
[reg. $35.99]
SPECIAL - $26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
One of the most exciting talents in the Chablis/Yonne region, this French-Canadian transplant is a micro-negociant who purchases grapes from very fine sources, old vineyards, and mightily obsessed with the terroir of Chablis and its environs.
Located not too far from Chablis and just outside the small city of Auxerre, the appellation of Bourgogne Cote D’Auxerre is very exciting. Having gained recognition from a few producers, Patrick Piuze set about on a maiden voyage into this area with the 2017 vintage. Being a mere 20 km from Chablis it would make sense that there are some Chablisienne sensibilities to the wine. 100% Chardonnay but definitely not a sloppy, goopy, oaky version; its richness comes from the estate's low-yielding, south-facing, prime vineyard sites that are dedicated to this offering. Scents of lime, anise, and yellow flowers pronounced mineral, saline and chalk follow through to a texture that has excellent movement and energy along with mouth-filling flavors and persistence that conjure up thoughts of white Burgs that are significantly more expensive. Drink this beauty with a flaky fish doused in a butter-laden sauce.
Located not too far from Chablis and just outside the small city of Auxerre, the appellation of Bourgogne Cote D’Auxerre is very exciting. Having gained recognition from a few producers, Patrick Piuze set about on a maiden voyage into this area with the 2017 vintage. Being a mere 20 km from Chablis it would make sense that there are some Chablisienne sensibilities to the wine. 100% Chardonnay but definitely not a sloppy, goopy, oaky version; its richness comes from the estate's low-yielding, south-facing, prime vineyard sites that are dedicated to this offering. Scents of lime, anise, and yellow flowers pronounced mineral, saline and chalk follow through to a texture that has excellent movement and energy along with mouth-filling flavors and persistence that conjure up thoughts of white Burgs that are significantly more expensive. Drink this beauty with a flaky fish doused in a butter-laden sauce.
2010 LA RIOJA ALTA RIOJA RESERVA
VINA ARDANZA 'SELECCION ESPECIAL'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
VINA ARDANZA 'SELECCION ESPECIAL'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
For only the fourth time ever, La Rioja Alta has labeled this Reserva as Seleccion Especial. Along with 1964, 1973 and 2001, the estate feels that there is something very special about this old-school Rioja and the 2010 vintage. After tasting it before the holiday rush, I really have to concur and agree with the Wine Advocate’s 95-point score:
‘2010 was a great vintage in Rioja in general and seems to be exceptional here, with a 2010 Viña Ardanza Selección Especial (what used to be Reserva Especial) that can challenge any of the recent vintages and hopefully can develop in bottle to reach the heights of years like 1973 or 1964. The wine is expressive, aromatic, very elegant and clean, with classical Rioja aromas of long aging in barrel and slow oxidation through the years in wood. The palate is polished and sleek but shows plenty of energy, with very fine, mostly resolved tannins and very good harmony and persistence. There is great complexity, and you could start smelling spice and smoke to move to earthy tones, hints of beef blood, cherries in liqueur, curry, diesel, old furniture and forest floor. A great Viña Ardanza! - 95 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE’. Very special indeed, drink through 2030.
‘2010 was a great vintage in Rioja in general and seems to be exceptional here, with a 2010 Viña Ardanza Selección Especial (what used to be Reserva Especial) that can challenge any of the recent vintages and hopefully can develop in bottle to reach the heights of years like 1973 or 1964. The wine is expressive, aromatic, very elegant and clean, with classical Rioja aromas of long aging in barrel and slow oxidation through the years in wood. The palate is polished and sleek but shows plenty of energy, with very fine, mostly resolved tannins and very good harmony and persistence. There is great complexity, and you could start smelling spice and smoke to move to earthy tones, hints of beef blood, cherries in liqueur, curry, diesel, old furniture and forest floor. A great Viña Ardanza! - 95 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE’. Very special indeed, drink through 2030.
2018 GOODFELLOW PINOT GRIS
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$15.99 BTL./$191.88 CASE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$15.99 BTL./$191.88 CASE
Coming in at 12.5% alcohol, this Gris is so electric that it will make you want groove your ass but good! Marcus Goodfellow's magical touch has appeared and his new 2018 is quasi-inspired by old-school Alsace and seemingly Alto Adige but never leaves its Oregon roots.
A bevy of fresh citrus flavors flow from the glass - tangerine, lime and lemongrass lead into a crisp, smoky palate that is at once mouth filling and quenching but also showing old vine richness all while maintaining poise and a dry personality. A fantastic way to begin the any evening with a cheese plate. Abundantly complex and will work splendidly with sole or halibut.
A bevy of fresh citrus flavors flow from the glass - tangerine, lime and lemongrass lead into a crisp, smoky palate that is at once mouth filling and quenching but also showing old vine richness all while maintaining poise and a dry personality. A fantastic way to begin the any evening with a cheese plate. Abundantly complex and will work splendidly with sole or halibut.
2017 GOODFELLOW PINOT NOIR
'TEMPERANCE HILL'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
'TEMPERANCE HILL'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE
It is very thrilling to see someone like Marcus Goodfellow working with fruit from such a famed and exciting vineyard site. Located in the Eola-Amity region, the Temperence Hill Vineyard is a cool climate site with poor soils that always produces superb wines, especially in long, drawn-out vintages like 2017.
Candied mushroom caps, ripe raspberry, freshly turned earth, cardamom and dried flowers echo from the glass and right on to the sumptuous and velvety palate. The tannins are fine and integrated with their structure; quite noticeable on the finish. If you are having some sort of lean meat or mushroom dish, it has accessibility but I would opt to give this wine a couple of years to come together and enjoy 2023 – 2030.
Candied mushroom caps, ripe raspberry, freshly turned earth, cardamom and dried flowers echo from the glass and right on to the sumptuous and velvety palate. The tannins are fine and integrated with their structure; quite noticeable on the finish. If you are having some sort of lean meat or mushroom dish, it has accessibility but I would opt to give this wine a couple of years to come together and enjoy 2023 – 2030.
2017 KIENTZLER RIESLING
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Lately it seems as though Alsace has become somewhat of a forgotten region within the wine realm mostly because how is one able to decipher whether the wine that you are about to uncork is dry or sweet? Still we proceed and be your guide because we believe in the best here and always on our minds are the terrific, bone-dry and food-friendly wines that come from this area. Ribeauville-based Domaine Kientzler is a long-time Cellar Door favorite and their electric 2017 Riesling is fabulous… and yes, FULLY DRY!
It is so cool to be able to get a Riesling that is bone dry and from a damn fine producer, too! Gorgeous aromatics of mineral, smoke, and lime blossom. Elegant and racy in the mouth with even more citrus fruit and mineral, the finish is long, clean, and simply delicious. A perfect wine with a wide variety of foods. I found an excellent piece of sashimi tuna and quickly seared it on both sides along with avocado; both drizzled with ginger-infused rice vinegar. It didn’t suck!
It is so cool to be able to get a Riesling that is bone dry and from a damn fine producer, too! Gorgeous aromatics of mineral, smoke, and lime blossom. Elegant and racy in the mouth with even more citrus fruit and mineral, the finish is long, clean, and simply delicious. A perfect wine with a wide variety of foods. I found an excellent piece of sashimi tuna and quickly seared it on both sides along with avocado; both drizzled with ginger-infused rice vinegar. It didn’t suck!
2018 RENACER MALBEC
'PUNTO FINAL'
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
'PUNTO FINAL'
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
Prototype Mendoza Malbec from a lovely producer who makes a wine that any crowd will enjoy.
Aromatic and luscious, this shows Malbec qualities as well as its regional soil structures. Blackberry and plum-pit qualities surround secondary scents of licorice and coffee all which carry into a mouth filling texture that never gets ponderous or burdensome. A perfect wine to drink by the case, it will pair nicely with sautéed chicken thighs or even a good Bolognese sauce.
Aromatic and luscious, this shows Malbec qualities as well as its regional soil structures. Blackberry and plum-pit qualities surround secondary scents of licorice and coffee all which carry into a mouth filling texture that never gets ponderous or burdensome. A perfect wine to drink by the case, it will pair nicely with sautéed chicken thighs or even a good Bolognese sauce.
2015 MASSOLINO BAROLO 'SERRALUNGA'
$47.99 BTL./$575.88 CASE
$47.99 BTL./$575.88 CASE
The name Massolino has been an important one within the Barolo village of Serralunga since they arrived in 1896. Since the 1990s, Franco and Roberto Massolino arrived and they have taken this estate to impressive levels with their entire range of wines that reveal the power, depth, ferocity and aging potential that is commonplace for Serralunga’s Barolo wines.
Traditionally styled, this is all about power-terroir. Classic Serralunga with cherry licorice, subtle balsam, flowers and pronounced ironstone. Broad and penetrating, this forceful, mouth-coating Barolo is not undrinkable, but could really use another two-3 years before really unfolding. Backbone and grip arrive on the finish with gentle herbs and licorice. If you are braising some beef, have a bottle now, but it will ultimately be at its finest from 2022 – 2029+.
Traditionally styled, this is all about power-terroir. Classic Serralunga with cherry licorice, subtle balsam, flowers and pronounced ironstone. Broad and penetrating, this forceful, mouth-coating Barolo is not undrinkable, but could really use another two-3 years before really unfolding. Backbone and grip arrive on the finish with gentle herbs and licorice. If you are braising some beef, have a bottle now, but it will ultimately be at its finest from 2022 – 2029+.
BRUNELLO FRIDAY SIPS
Canalicchio di Franco Pacenti with Special Guest Lorenzo Pacenti
This Friday, Jan. 31 from 3:30 – 6:00
$10.00 tasting fee
$10.00 tasting fee
A special Friday tasting with a perennial favorite and upper echelon producer from Montalcino. Drop by to meet and taste with Lorenzo Pacenti as we highlight wines from his vaunted Brunello di Montalcino estate.
FEATURED WINES:
2016 Canalicchio Rosso di Montalcino
2015 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino
2014 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino
2012 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Special Thursday Sips - February 6S
VIETTI wines with Special Guest Elena Penna Currado
Drop by from 4:00 - 6:00 on Thursday Feb. 6 to meet Elena Penna Currado (Luca's wife) as she will be on hand pouring and discussing a rocking range of Vietti wines.
