3/30/15 "HIT THE LIGHTS" HOTSHEET


THE CELLAR DOOR'S "HIT THE LIGHTS" HOTSHEET
New Owen Roe Cab, 2012 Oregon Pinots, Sancerre & more


2012 TORRE DEI BEATI MONTEPULCAINO D'ABRUZZO
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Montepulciano comes in all shapes and sizes ranging from the proverbial fruity pizza wine to something much more serious in nature such as this. Always one of our favorite producers, Torre Dei Beati wins yet again.

Drinking exquisitely, the 2012 is a generous red with opaque color and concentrated notes of black plum, ripe cherry, espresso bean, licorice and lavender. Meaty and exotic, maintaining a satisfying roundness and beautiful balance that fills the mouth with deep yet vibrant red earth tones. A fine choice for slow cooked meats, aged cheeses and substantial pasta dishes.

2012 J. CHRISTOPHER PINOT NOIR 'J.J'
$15.99 BTL./$191.88 CASE

Finding good Oregon Pinot Noir at this price is about as easy as finding a leper messiah televangelist at a Snoop Dogg concert, especially when it comes from one of our top-drawer producers. Perfect for the upcoming warmer months and for uncorking just about any time, Jay Somers really over-delivers with this one.

Alluring, forward and inviting aromas of plum combined with cranberry and smoked herbs. Luscious and engaging all points of the palate; this wine is all about the lovely fruit of 2012. The finish is deceptively long yet never becoming overdone and maintaining its fine Oregon detail. Yummy as hell. Drink this now, often and order it by the trunkload because you aren’t going to find another 16 dollar Oregon Pinot quite this good!

2012 J. CHRISTOPHER DUNDEE HILLS PINOT NOIR 'SANDRA ADELE'
$44.99 BTL./$539.88 CASE

On to the big show and with a wine from J. Christopher that will certainly go down as one of the apex offerings of the much talked about and almost in the rearview mirror 2012 vintage. Sandra Adele is named after Jay’s mother and is a blend of two profound old vine sites, Abbey Ridge and Charlie’s Vineyard, which is located next door to Cameron’s Clos Electrique.

The 2012 Sandra Adele is as expected, serious business. More akin to a Bolshoi ballerina than a UFC fighter, this pinot is sleek, stylish and possesses plenty of structure for aging. Still fairly youthful and unevolved, it still manages to captivate on the nose with scents of deep raspberry along with an undertow of red cherry, cedar, anise, and red earth. There is no shortage of depth of fruit on the palate; notes of red fruits play off the detailed earth and gentle kiss of oak and ride shotgun with the good backbone of the wine. While not undrinkable right now, this wine will definitely benefit from another 2-3 years in the cellar and then will drink beautifully through 2024+. Undoubtedly a Pinot for Pinot-philes, not pinot for cabernet lovers.

2012 PAUL PRIEUR SANCERRE
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE

This time of year, I often hear that someone has purchased a terrific piece of expensive Oregon Chinook salmon. After securing their loot, they come in wanting to pair something that is 10 bucks and will surely be drowned out by the quality of the fish. The point that I am trying to make is that you just plonked down a ton of cash for a special piece of fish, why then should you compromise on the wine.

There is something about having the pristineness of Sancerre to go along with salmon that is grilled on some form of plank for ultimate smoky quality. The Prieur family have been growers in this famed Loire region for 11 generations and are cerebral assassins when it comes to this area’s famed Sauvignon Blanc. The obstacle course of soils (caillote, which is light limestone, silex flint and terre blanche clay/limestone) that this estate owns produces a novella of Sancerre terroir and is not a wine that reveals answers to your questions, but rather one whose complexity keeps you asking questions! Above the norm, a virtual mosaic of aromas including mineral, iodine, brine, blossom, smoke, lemongrass and more mineral caress from the glass. In the mouth, this is lyrical Sancerre with prominent sophistication and never strays from its Sancerre sensibilities or paunchiness. The finish is classic, flinty, steely, soil driven and really hangs around making it a beautiful match with salmon but also will pair with haLibut cheeks in sauce or a high-class goat cheese. Spoil yourselves, we insist!

2013 GREGORY PEREZ BIERZO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Originally from Bordeaux, Gregory Perez came to Spain’s Bierzo region after becoming friends with the son of Vega Sicilia’s winemaker while attending the University of Bordeaux. Taking on a job at a prestigious estate in the area and forming one of the region’s most sought-after wines, Gregory began to rethink the usage of French oak for the Mencia grape in this region and in his own expressions, which he commenced to producing in 2007.

Lively, inviting tones of marionberry, pepper and soft roasted herbs, the essence of Bierzo’s terroir is on full display with this bursting and transparent red. All of the components seem to build as the wine opens in the glass and entice you to take a sip that is pristine, medium-bodied and instantaneously quaffable. More importantly, this wine also shows wonderful intensity from the use of old vine (30-60 years) fruit which all culminates in the succulent, minerally finish which expands nicely and wants you to take another sip. Enjoy this excellent, very individual Spanish red with sausages, Serrano ham or even a fish done in a tomato-based broth.

2013 LUCCHETTI VERDICCHIO
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE

The NCAA may sue us for this comment, but since Gonzaga once again proved itself to be the fraud that it usually is and we are now down to the final four, it is now time for the real "Marche Madness" to start! The region of Le Marches has is one of the darlings of the Italian wine world and provides sterling value with both reds and especially its exciting white wines. Mario Lucchetti and his son Paolo are widely regarded as specialists in the red Lacrima Morro d’Alba wines but they also own a scant 4.8 acres in the white wine producing Castelli dei Jesi region.

Pack up the VW Mushroom Van, slap on some stinkyass patchouli and do a sun dance because this delicious Verdicchio is downright groovy. Crisp, zesty and vividly flavored, this wine may well be described as Italian Muscadet. Teeming aromas of seashore, earth, hints of lemon-peel and smoke lead into a tense, bone-dry texture that is well delineated, firm and loaded with character and flavor. Steam some clams or mussels in white wine and go to town. Peace, love and vegetable rights man!

2010 KANONKOP KADETTE STELLENBOSCH RED BLEND
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

While the rest of the Southern Hemisphere's wine regions are relatively young, grapes have been grown in South Africa for over 160 years. Sadly, too many of the nation's fine wines are lumped into the Chilean "cheap overcropped wine that'll get you a buzz" category or the inevitably overblown expensive Barossa experience and then tend to be ignored.

41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Pinotage, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, this is a different kind of red wine experience. A full-bodied pepper pot of a wine, plenty of wild strawberry, herbs, rose petal and mineral tones penetrate the nose and the assertive palate. Extensive, complex and flavorful, this wine pairs nicely with roasted meats, especially game.

2011 DOMAINE DE L'AMEILLAUD COTES-DU-RHONE VILLAGES CAIRANNE
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

I just tasted this over the weekend and it is not only singing, it punches well above its weight class and price point. Domaine de L'Ameillaud is based in the Southern Rhone village of Cairanne and over the last decade, they have been consistent go-to wines that offer up insane quality for not much money.

Currently we see Cairanne wines running in the $20-$30 range yet this version at 15 does not take a back seat to most of them. Magnetic scents of roasted strawberry, lavender, rock dust and pronounced white pepper that are the essence of Provencal beauty entice from the moment it's poured. Supple, spicy and full-textured in the mouth with very smooth tannins, this is a blazing selection for drinking over the next 2-4 years and is a perfect pairing with a grilled pork chop.

2012 OWEN ROE CABERNET SAUVIGNON RED WILLOW '1973 BLOCK'
$65.99 BTL./$791.88 CASE

With scion material that was planted in 1973, not only is this some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon in the Yakima Valley, it is also some of the oldest in all of Washington and throughout its history, these hallowed grapes have been the source of some of the state's most memorable and age worthy wines. 2012 is a grand-level vintage, this wine is rich, deep and dense, and the unique terroir really shines.

For 2012, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with blackberry and cranberry fruit that is enhanced by complex tones of coffee, anise, smoke and violet; mysterious, debonair and In the mouth it is loaded, packed and stacked. Buxom, smooth and mouthcoating, but do not be misled, there is ample structure and backbone that is submerged beneath the swath of chewy fruit stating this wine will age impeccably. If you must open a bottle, run it through an aerator/decant an hour or so beforehand before serving. Best 2017 – 2028. Only 378 cases produced.