Friday Sips

Join Us for Friday Sips!

FRIDAY SIPS

January 10, 3:30 - 6:30

Come Taste White Burgundy, Cameron Pinot Noir & Rioja




2011 DOMAINE CHAPUIS BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE


Domaine Chapuis is a small estate based in the northern sector of Burgundy's Macon region, specifically the village of Mancey. Having been referred to this Domaine a couple of years ago, we are once again pleased to offer up the new vintage of what has become a terrific Cellar Door favorite in our rotation of White Burgundy wines that represent first-rate value.

Aged without the influence of new oak (only 1-3 year old barrels are used), this wine is for those who appreciate the purity and definition of origin that Chardonnay brings forth. Forthright scents of mineral combine with orange, pear and anise to lead into an overachieving texture that has plenty of range, depth and flavor. Plenty of cut on the back end and finishes extremely long for white Burg under 20 bucks. Try it with roasted chicken or a fish done with a nice sauce. We were able to score 25 cases (16 are left) and while it sounds like quite a bit, they will sell out as previous vintages done. Translation, if you like French Chardonnay at a good price, order yours now!



2009 OSTATU RIOJA CRIANZA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


Bodegas Ostatu is located in the epicenter of the Rioja Alavesa region in the town of Samaniego. Owned and operated by the Saenz de Samaniego family, prized vineyards which are protected by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains have become of the utmost importance. The philosophy of Ostatu's changed when Hubert de Bouard de Laforest of Chateau Angelus, an apex St-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A Chateau, saw the vineyard sites of the family and expressed an interest in collaborating on a special project. Given the vine age along with the overall essence of the estate’s fine terroir, and along with winemaking, great wines have quickly been established here and the prices are most excellent, too.

90% Tempranillo along with a 10% blend of Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha, the 2009 is absolutely smashing! Neo-classic with aromatic tones of prominent violet and blackberry that mesh nicely together with undercurrents of cocoa and Moroccan spices to form a Rioja that shows both flashiness and detail. Owning a sophisticated, rich, velvety texture that crawls throughout and coats the palate, it also picks up grip and structure on the deep middle and persistent finish that's stacked with fine material. Extremely lovable now, this exciting upscale Rioja without and upscale price will also develop and drink nicely through 2020.



2011 CAMERON PINOT NOIR "ARLEY'S LEAP"
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE


The last wine tasted of 2013 was on New Year's Eve morning when John Paul stopped by with his new Arley's Leap Pinot Noir. Safe to say year-end inventory took a back seat and quite a bit longer after tasting this mighty impressive version. John is ultra-proud of his 2011s and he should be, they are immaculate and certainly Burgundy-inspired. Always the last of the Cameron wines to be released, the Arley's Leap is from Abbey Ridge fruit, specifically a block of vines that are originally from clippings from the Clos Electrique vineyard that were planted on a hillside above the original vines in 1990.

Fluid, alluring, penetrating aromas of lavender, turned earth, cherry blossom and smoked meat follow through to a classic Cameron texture that is debonair and palate-coating without ever being chunky or heavy-handed. Older vine depth here allows for nice accessibility early on but as always the case with Cameron's top wines, the super-material on the drawn-out finish has buried structure and cut which will allow for another decade of aging and development. Once again, this is superlative juice from one of Oregon's masters.



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