5/26/26 The Cellar Door's 'WINE CIRCUS' Wine Sheet
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'WINE CIRCUS' WINESHEET
8 wines including 92-point, under-12 Montepulciano
Red & White Burgundy
Values from Chianti, Washington, Cabernet Franc
Red & White Burgundy
Values from Chianti, Washington, Cabernet Franc
2023 LEBREUIL HAUTES-COTES-DE
BEAUNE 'MONT BATTOIS'
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
BEAUNE 'MONT BATTOIS'
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
A classic expression of French Pinot Noir from the 2023 vintage, this beauty offers immediate charm with enough structure to age well. Less torrid than 2022, it still has plenty of plushness and an almost lovable Black Lab character.
Mont-Battois, part of the Hautes-Cotes appellation, is a single vineyard at 350 meters above the southern Savigny Premiers Crus overlooking Beaune. More lifted and distinctive than a typical Bourgogne Rouge, it shows raspberry and black plum notes, supple tannins, and impressive depth and persistence. A terrific French Pinot Noir value, it drinks well now and should age for 6-8 years.
Mont-Battois, part of the Hautes-Cotes appellation, is a single vineyard at 350 meters above the southern Savigny Premiers Crus overlooking Beaune. More lifted and distinctive than a typical Bourgogne Rouge, it shows raspberry and black plum notes, supple tannins, and impressive depth and persistence. A terrific French Pinot Noir value, it drinks well now and should age for 6-8 years.
2023 FELSINA CHIANTI
COLLI SENESI
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
COLLI SENESI
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Colli Senesi covers the hills around Siena, and this wine offers a chance to enjoy Felsina estate Chianti as an everyday pour.
Traditionally made, it shows generous marionberry, cherry, Tuscan herbs, and subtle spice. On the palate it is dry and medium-bodied, with energy and surprising length. Anyone who enjoys value-driven everyday wines from Tuscany should not miss it.
Traditionally made, it shows generous marionberry, cherry, Tuscan herbs, and subtle spice. On the palate it is dry and medium-bodied, with energy and surprising length. Anyone who enjoys value-driven everyday wines from Tuscany should not miss it.
2024 BENEGAS CABERNET FRANC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Argentina offers a wide range of wine styles and price points. Bodegas Benegas, whose Finca Libertas site dates to the late 1800s, is best known in a Malbec-heavy landscape, so it is especially exciting to see other grapes perform so well here.
A pleasure to drink at this price, the 2024 Cabernet Franc opens with raspberry, sandalwood, cigar box, espresso, and sweet green herbs. On the palate, earthy notes complement the red fruit, building into a full, smooth, spice-driven finish. An excellent bottle for under $20.
A pleasure to drink at this price, the 2024 Cabernet Franc opens with raspberry, sandalwood, cigar box, espresso, and sweet green herbs. On the palate, earthy notes complement the red fruit, building into a full, smooth, spice-driven finish. An excellent bottle for under $20.
2023 GROS-TOLLOT MINERVOIS
'LES FONTANILLES'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
'LES FONTANILLES'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
A Languedoc benchmark, Minervois has gained fresh attention among wine enthusiasts for the quality now emerging from the appellation. In this broad region of varied price points and styles, Burgundy transplants Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot have played an important role in raising its profile.
This walled single-vineyard blend is 40% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 20% Cinsault, and 20% Syrah. It offers aromas of strawberry, black licorice, thyme, rosemary, smoked meat, and white pepper. The wine has strong concentration but also a cool, lifted freshness that keeps it from feeling heavy or boozy. Palate-filling and refined with excellent spine and a dark finish marked by mineral and earthy spice. Enjoy it over the next few years, especially with hearty stews or olive-based dishes.
This walled single-vineyard blend is 40% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 20% Cinsault, and 20% Syrah. It offers aromas of strawberry, black licorice, thyme, rosemary, smoked meat, and white pepper. The wine has strong concentration but also a cool, lifted freshness that keeps it from feeling heavy or boozy. Palate-filling and refined with excellent spine and a dark finish marked by mineral and earthy spice. Enjoy it over the next few years, especially with hearty stews or olive-based dishes.
2025 SOUTHERN RIGHT
SAUVIGNON BLANC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
SAUVIGNON BLANC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Southern Right is not a second label but a separate project from South African icon Anthony Hamilton-Russell. These wines sit outside his usual Pinot Noir and Chardonnay focus and clearly reflect their South African identity.
The 2025 Sauvignon is intended to express place rather than just varietal character. Gooseberry, sage, and ripe tangerine notes play against crisp minerality, white flowers, and pink grapefruit, building gradually in the glass. The palate is fleshy yet focused, finishing cleanly with bright citrus and subtle mineral spice. It is a lively way to start a meal and pairs especially well with pan-seared halibut, lemon chicken, or fresh goat cheese.
The 2025 Sauvignon is intended to express place rather than just varietal character. Gooseberry, sage, and ripe tangerine notes play against crisp minerality, white flowers, and pink grapefruit, building gradually in the glass. The palate is fleshy yet focused, finishing cleanly with bright citrus and subtle mineral spice. It is a lively way to start a meal and pairs especially well with pan-seared halibut, lemon chicken, or fresh goat cheese.
2023 GILBERT CELLARS
'LEFT BANK' COLUMBIA RED
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'LEFT BANK' COLUMBIA RED
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Made in Yakima, Gilbert Cellars continues to offer strong quality for the price. Sourced from several sites, this blend of four Bordeaux varieties is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.
It is hearty and full-flavored, with aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder, violet, and mixed herbs and spices. The palate is smooth, ripe, and detailed, with a lasting, composed finish. Drink over the next 4-6 years.
It is hearty and full-flavored, with aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder, violet, and mixed herbs and spices. The palate is smooth, ripe, and detailed, with a lasting, composed finish. Drink over the next 4-6 years.
2023 PILLOT CHASSAGNE
MONTRACHET 'LES CHENES'
$74.99 BTL./$449.94 - SIX PACK
MONTRACHET 'LES CHENES'
$74.99 BTL./$449.94 - SIX PACK
As noted above, the 2023 Burgundy vintage is precocious and approachable, and that includes the whites. Les Chenes is a vineyard where Laurent Pillot owns a substantial parcel, just below the Premier Cru Maltroie. It serves as the backbone of his village Chassagne-Montrachet, though he isolates a small portion for a single-vineyard bottling—perhaps a Deuxieme Cru in spirit.
The nose is a classic Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay profile, with lemon cake, baking spice, smoked rosemary, pronounced minerality, and hints of crème brûlée. The palate opens plush and generous, with a lightly powdery texture, then tightens around a bright spine of acidity that carries through the long finish.
The nose is a classic Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay profile, with lemon cake, baking spice, smoked rosemary, pronounced minerality, and hints of crème brûlée. The palate opens plush and generous, with a lightly powdery texture, then tightens around a bright spine of acidity that carries through the long finish.
2025 VALLE MARTELLO
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
92 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine…Hearty, fruity, spicy, and full of personality, this wine delivers far more character than many $12 Italian reds.
A generous, crowd-pleasing red that could easily become a go-to summer red. Its deep color leads into notes of black plum, ripe cherry, espresso, licorice, and lavender. The palate balanced with fleshy texture, vibrant earth tones, and a smooth, succulent feel. Savory on the back end, it is excellent with sausage pizza, meatballs, braised lamb and more.
A generous, crowd-pleasing red that could easily become a go-to summer red. Its deep color leads into notes of black plum, ripe cherry, espresso, licorice, and lavender. The palate balanced with fleshy texture, vibrant earth tones, and a smooth, succulent feel. Savory on the back end, it is excellent with sausage pizza, meatballs, braised lamb and more.
