9/22/25 The Cellar Door's 'CRUNCHY BITS' Wine Sheet

2023 COUTEAU MORGON
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

The fall equinox has arrived and so has delicious Cru Beaujolais and this from Jonathan Pey has become a house favorite Gamay.

2023 reveals luminous presence of crème de framboise, smoked violet, anise and undertones of strawberry and cinnamon-stick enliven the glass. Resoundingly vivacious, this gem is a total eruption of flavors that cascade through the mouth. Finishes lengthy and full of spice but fills in beautifully with sultry fruit that coats the palate as it goes down. The classic pairing is roasted chicken with mushrooms, but it can also pair well with Indian cuisine as well, even spicy vindaloo.

2024 BLEDSOE-McDANIELS
CHENIN BLANC
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Drew Bledsoe and winemaker/co-owner Josh McDaniels purchased Mimi Casteel’s Hope Well Vineyard in 2019 and renamed it Coulee Estate, and they have continued the legacy of this varietal by continuing to make a Chenin from the original quarter acre initially planted on the site.

Richness and crispness define this tasty Eola-Amity white. Fully dry, this wine permeates gunsmoke, lanolin, quince and pronounced red apple tones. Ample, intense flavors with a swath of dense fruit and mineral that touches the entire palate. A balanced number that really turns on the jets with a resolute, long finish. This impressive offering is a must try with salmon, fried chicken or calamari and goat cheese.

2024 WALTER SCOTT
PINOT NOIR 'COMBE VERTE'
$29.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

For almost two decades Walter Scott has proven themselves to be one of Oregon’s finest producers. Rooted in the Eola-Amity Hills, Combe Verte is their well-above-the-normal Willamette Valley cuvee with fruit from Sequitur and Freedom Hill Vineyards added in.

The hype of the Oregon 2024 vintage is very real, but this promises to be a vintage to age very well. The wine is still youthful and typical of a Walter Scott wine based around aromatics, finesse and beauty. Red berry, violet, soft smoke, and elusive herbs and spices are the characteristics of the wine. In the mouth, it is noticeably young and packed in, but what is underneath is velvety, concentrated and long without being jam. The finish is ethereal, packed and lengthy. Decant if you want to enjoy now but it will be at its best from 2027 – 2036+.

2021 FOXGLOVE ZINFANDEL
PASO ROBLES
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

Foxglove is California Chardonnay specialists Jim and Bob Varner's best-buy oriented side project and not only are these delicious wines, but they are also very affordable.

Succulent dark raspberry, blueberry, herbs and spice without being ponderous. Warm and full bodied on the palate with a vibrant finish. A whole heap of Zin for under twenty dollars.

2023 DECUGNANO DEI BARBI
ORVIETO 'FRAMMENTO'
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Italians use different hand gestures when they are speaking and when it comes to Orvieto, variances occur. For lighter and easy to understand versions, their gestures are used at a minimum. The bad ones receive middle fingers and/or the under the chin, upside-down hand wave, you can figure out what they mean ;-). For Decugnano dei Barbi’s wines it is open arms, hands in the air, etc. etc….any gesture of excitement will do.

Mineral and marine scents dominate with unoaked shimmering purity. Lime, white blossoms and an undertow of nectarine arrive. Very crisp and prominent stony character hits the tongue and engages the senses all the way to the zesty, mouth-watering finish. Beautiful with prawns or mussels…or for a great glass of white wine on its own.

2022 GLAETZER 'CARNUNTUM'
BLAUFRANKISCH
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Located about halfway between Vienna and the border of Slovakia, the Carnuntum region of Austria is planted with 55% red grapes. Walter Glatzer eschews the use of nuking his Blaufrankisch with a bunch of oak; hence this wine may be served with or without a chill.

Bursting, medium-bodied and promiscuous with a dark garnet, almost black color. A nucleus of spicy white and black pepper over purple fruit, briar and floral scents . Additional fresh, juicy red plum and sour cherry notes back up the fully dry, yet mouthwatering finish. Enjoy with smoked sausage, baked pasta-gratin dishes, otherwise known as macaroni and cheese!

2021 CIGLIUTI BARBARESCO
'VIA ERTE'
$49.99 BTL./$299.94 - 6 PACK

95 Points – The Wine Spectator…Sometimes Barbaresco is wrongly stereotyped as being lighter than Barolo. Well, let me tell you that I can give you wines from Barbaresco that will bully Barolo and show you wines from Barolo that are very refined and sultry.

The Cigliuti sisters’ holdings are in very sturdy areas in the Barbaresco region in the village of Neive. 2021 is a great vintage. This wine for fifty dollars is quite a value for a single cru Barbaresco. Via Erte is from a Cru known as Bricco di Neive. Refined and sophisticated with roses, mushroom and steely-mineral aromas. Rich with nice depth and length and yet holding a presence of structure and wiry, sculpted character. Even though this wine shows a prettiness that is very engaging to smell, its imposing underbelly and compact, focused, long finish will make for an engaging wine in the future. Decant if you want to drink one early but it will ultimately be at its pinnacle 2028 – 2039.

2021 DOMAINE VETRICCERIE
'ILE DE BEAUTE' CORSE ROUGE
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE

From Corsica, this tasty value red made with Nielluccio (linked to Sangiovese via Genoa) and Sciacarello (native to Corsica) will make you want to catch island fever.

Tangy licorice, red currants, brine, spice and sage scents. Rhythmic, forward, savory flavors hypothetically combine influences of mainland Italy sprinkled in with traits of Sicily then finishing with a sultry kiss of southern Rhone aspects. Drinks extremely well now and is a genuinely enjoyable way to enhance grilled chicken.