Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'OFF LEASH' HOTSHEET
3 Dry White Wines including a 95 point Chardonnay & Gavi
Hermitage, Valpolicella & 9-buck Red
Affordable Napa & Washington Cabs


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2021 SURRAU CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Apparently, Island Fever is a legitimate thing. Stories of how folks who live on islands can get a bit stir crazy and need to be like Gilligan and be rescued. I often think Sardinia is different; they just heal themselves via wine consumption. Surrau one of the super producers of Sardinia, this beloved red wine has fast become very popular at Cellar Door after Giandomenico Zedde's visit back in 2022.

Very Mediterranean, the quite compelling 2021 Surrau Cannonau is laden with aromas of garrigue spices, prominent notes of raspberry, plum/pepper, intriguing sea-salt and cinnamon that waft from the glass. After being enticed by the fine aromas, the texture intrigues even further with warm and engaging, interwoven cherry-pit/saline/minerally flavors that unfold into a voluptuous, tangy finish. Enjoy this sumptuous Italian island red with grilled sausages, eggplant, pork or lamb chops as well as aged sheep's milk cheeses.



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2021 HENDRY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
'HRW' NAPA VALLEY
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE

Hendry is a Napa Valley Cabernet and Zinfandel specialist famed for more their high-end offerings. The ranch itself goes back to 1859 with grapes arriving after 1939 and wine being the sole focus by 1992.

HRW is a series of wines intended for earlier consumption that have classic Napa traits. What is nice about this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is its location in the rolling hills just outside of the town of Napa that are influenced by the San Pablo Bay. Full aromas and flavors but still very civilized with refinement. This steal of a cabernet sauvignon shows its mettle as soon as the wine is poured into the glass. Flowing aromas of cinnamon, red cherry, allspice and molé. Expressive dark flavors along with a peppermint-patty character that is so typical of the fine Napa Cabs prevail throughout the mouth. Finishes with nice pepper and spice tones that play off the fruit and stick around well after the wine is swallowed. Napa Cabs this good at this price do not come around too often! Drink it now through 2030.



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2021 LYDIAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$24.99 BTL./$299.88 CASE

Even though this wine is classified into Avennia’s second label, this vastly undervalued Cabernet Sauvignon punches well above its weight class and can knock out quite a few that come in at a higher price. Founded in 2010 and led by winemaker Chris Peterson who spent seven years making the wines at famed DeLille Cellars, the line of Lydian Columbia Valley wines created by superb Washington producer Avennia represent excellent value. Inevitably, this fruit will wind up in the top Avennia Cab but for the moment, do enjoy this terrific steal.

Non-stop vanilla and cocoa notes wrapped around buxom black cherry, smoky oak, cola and creamy milk chocolate virtually glisten the instant the wine is poured into the glass. On the palate, there is lots of style here with nice flowing dense tones, excellent weight and the typical steadfast, mouth-crawling flavors that one comes to expect in these excellent wines. Layered, forward, accessible and perfect with a steak or short ribs. Drink through 2028. Have it alongside the HRW and see how the Columbia Valley stacks up against Napa.



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2021 SCHENK CHASSELAS
MONT-SUR ROLLE 'L'ALPAGE'
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE

Last year, white wines in this category that put the dagger into Rose sales. More and more people became less enamored with the poor quality/price rapport that Rose was delivering and wound up rediscovering white wines again. Too many pink wines that were once fifteen bucks became 22 in one vintage and there was a flood of bad, cheap pink wine. This perfect storm allowed for rediscovery of white wines and especially from lesser-known, exciting regions such as this one.

From the Mont-sur-Rolle sub region of Switzerland's Vaud appellation comes this aromatic Alpine white wine that will certainly have you yodeling after drinking. Smoke, mineral, melon, tangerine and spice aromas lead into a brisk, texture that has a silky influence underneath the broad fruit. Unoaked, very breezy yet having more than fine material from naturally low yields, this wine possesses depth and superb movement on the palate all carrying over to a lingering finish that is tingly and hinting at nice salinity. Serve with fresh mussels in curry, shrimp pasta, white fishes, asparagus salad and more.



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2022 SPERI VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Speri is an Amarone/Valpolicella producer who consistently churns out top-level wines. This estate refuses to make their Valpolicella taste like Amarone preferring balance, fruit and drinkability above alcohol and strength.

Notes of forest, violet and wild red berries that speak of the Veneto perfectly intermingle with the core of sultry fruit and exotic spice that comes from the ripasso technique. Completely dry with equilibrium coming from the high-toned fruit brings a level of liveliness to the mix making this an extremely food friendly and versatile bottle of red wine. Enjoy with braised and hearty meat dishes, burgers, nutty cheeses & anything with stewed or roasted veggies.



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2019 BODEGAS ISMAEL ARROYO
RIBERA DEL DUERO 'VALSOTILLO'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

With its prominent Mediterranean influence, the wines of the Ribera del Duero region are usually more powerful than their Rioja colleagues to the north. Bodegas Ismael Arroyo is a well-established estate with history and a fine record of accomplishment.

The real art of the winemaking casa Arroyo starts with dedication in the vineyard, where they farm head-pruned Tempranillo vines. The depth and intensity is seen in this wine from its deep opaque color to the long complex length. Rich with a barrage of deep aromas of black cherry, cinnamon, eucalyptus, strawberry jam and dusty hot earth. Lush and meaty with a long compact finish that is stuffed with fruit. This knockout can be drunk now yet will certainly develop through 2030+. Perfect for lamb chops or before you decide to run with the bulls.



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2022 OLIM BAUDA GAVI
'COMUNE DI GAVI'
$19.99 BTL./$119.94 - SIX PACK

There is Gavi and then there is Gavi made specifically from the commune of Gavi, the traditional area in Piedmont for the Cortese grape. Grown at 1000 feet in the Gavi region of Piemonte, this devastatingly delicious white wine is a righteous choice for many who appreciate and love brisk, pure and unoaked white wines.

2022 was a dry vintage in Piedmont so the citrusy fruit aspects ride up front with the mineral, saline and chalky character being great supporting players. Zippy, flavorful and a wine that coats and cleanses the entire palate. Open-knit and perfect for an aperitivo but even better with shellfish, green vegetables and salads with chicken or goat cheese. MAGNUMS AVAILABLE - $42.99



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2020 JMB SORREL HERMITAGE
'LES VIGNONS'
$69.99 BTL./$419.94 - SIX PACK

I really cannot remember the last time we offered a wine from the great Hermitage hill on one of our offerings. JMB Sorrel is from three brothers who make very traditionally-styled wines that possess ample grip and backbone for aging which is a hallmark of great Hermitage. These Syrah wines are for those who have a little bit of patience. Old vines (65+ years) are the key to these wines that are very scarce in production. The 2020 Rouge is a mere 4000 bottles, not cases!

100% Syrah aged in 4-5 year old barrels, this ebullient and embryonic red shows impressive penetration, backbone, structure, acid all surrounding a generous core of fruit that is waiting to emerge with cellar time. Smoked bacon, black raspberry, and rose followed by black olive, graham, ground black telicherry peppercorns and a salty, peaty note on the tail end. This wine truly could use 8-10 years from vintage date. One for the kids or grandkids or an event to celebrate from 2020. Drink 2028 - 2045+.



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2021 MARCHESI DI SALENTO
SALICE SALENTINO
$8.99 BTL./$107.88 CASE

A perennial Southern Italian favorite 10 buck value with the main appeal being the very high ‘yum' factor which is off the charts!

From Puglia, roasted aromas of cherry, leather, spice, tangy earth and licorice follow into a ripe, generous and plummy texture with telltale wild traits that marry up so well to classic tomato-based dishes like pizza or a meatball sub. This mouth-filling, everyday red will also work well with roasted meats encrusted with herbs and spices.



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2021 SANDHI CHARDONNAY
STA. RITA HILLS
$33.99 BTL. - LIMITED

Here is something that is not a novelty but perhaps a wave of the future, a Santa Barbara Chardonnay that isn’t a pineapple princess wrapped greased up in butter and forced to wear an evening gown of oak. Made by Sashi Moorman, this Chardonnay is coastal inspired and aged in ten months in older 500-liter puncheons followed by nine months in tank.

It is very important to free your mind of the normal notation of Cali-Chard. Sta. Rita Hills is a sub appellation within the larger Santa Ynez Valley. Piercing, steely, beautiful mineral dominates this offering along with a robe of lemon, sea breeze and apple tones. In the mouth, it is athletic with plenty of spine, which all carries over to a lifting mineral driven finish that extends nicely. Drink this 12.8 % alcohol offering with fresh trout, halibut or chicken. If scores are your thing, this has 95 points from Decanter Magazine.






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