Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'MOLTO CALDO' WINESHEET
Alpine Rose, GSM, Collectible Barol
Freedom Hill Pinot Noir, 93 pt. Spanish Red
Bordeaux & Riesling under 20
Freedom Hill Pinot Noir, 93 pt. Spanish Red
Bordeaux & Riesling under 20
2022 J. PALACIOS BIERZO 'PETALOS'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
93 Points – The Wine Advocate…Alvaro and Riccardo Palacios’ s impact on Bierzo cannot be overemphasized. Twenty-five years ago, they resurrected and saved this region then succeeding in becoming one of Spain’s great growing areas.
Mostly Mencia from 40–90-year-old vines, ardent aromas build and build as this unique, perennial Cellar Door favorite unfolds in the glass. Seemingly inspired by St-Joseph meeting Southern Beaune crossed with a little Eastern Italy there are plenty of smoky coriander, perfumed red and black plum augmented by mineral and pristine cranberry-like freshness. Loaded with class and finely sculpted, this is the ultimate wine for Spain's national vegetable…PORK! Drink through 2030.
Mostly Mencia from 40–90-year-old vines, ardent aromas build and build as this unique, perennial Cellar Door favorite unfolds in the glass. Seemingly inspired by St-Joseph meeting Southern Beaune crossed with a little Eastern Italy there are plenty of smoky coriander, perfumed red and black plum augmented by mineral and pristine cranberry-like freshness. Loaded with class and finely sculpted, this is the ultimate wine for Spain's national vegetable…PORK! Drink through 2030.
2021 MALLEA GRENACHE BLANC
SANTA BARBARA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
SANTA BARBARA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
This (and the following) are the kinds of American wine that we have been longing to support, twenty buck wines that you will not feel guilty about opening on a weeknight or to bring to a nice dinner. From Santa Barbara and a collaboration of two stars in farming and winemaking, Erik Mallea and Justin Willett, this 100% Grenache Blanc is a cool customer.
Organically farmed, aged in steel tank, just under four hundred cases produced. Mineral laden with charming carambola, star anise and lime. Thrusting and vivid tones throughout liven up the natural depth of the wine. A superb choice for grilled tuna with tomato salsa, trout and a proper Caesar salad with anchovies.
Organically farmed, aged in steel tank, just under four hundred cases produced. Mineral laden with charming carambola, star anise and lime. Thrusting and vivid tones throughout liven up the natural depth of the wine. A superb choice for grilled tuna with tomato salsa, trout and a proper Caesar salad with anchovies.
2023 MALLEA G-S-M
SANTA BARBARA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
SANTA BARBARA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
The Mallea red wine sibling from four Santa Ynez Valley vineyard sites caught my attention because I am often presented with Washington and California versions that must retail at twice the price that are not this flavorsome.
44% percent Grenache, 42% Syrah (both whole cluster) & 14% Mourvedre (destemmed) and all about symmetry. Reminiscent of something from higher elevation Catalonia, smoke and grenadine attributes team with licorice, pepper and lavender leading into an exuberant, expansive flavors that follow into a wild-spice, long finish. Absolutely delightful now and will be the bomb with any summer barbecues. Make sure there is lots of meat around.
44% percent Grenache, 42% Syrah (both whole cluster) & 14% Mourvedre (destemmed) and all about symmetry. Reminiscent of something from higher elevation Catalonia, smoke and grenadine attributes team with licorice, pepper and lavender leading into an exuberant, expansive flavors that follow into a wild-spice, long finish. Absolutely delightful now and will be the bomb with any summer barbecues. Make sure there is lots of meat around.
2024 CARREL & SENGER ROSÉ
VIN DE SAVOIE 'JARDIN D'ALTITUDE'
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE
Carrel & Senger’s Savoie Rosé rocks but does not possess a heart of stone. In fact, beneath its seriousness, this flirtatious and flavorful pink wine is too easy to drink.
Made from mostly Gamay plus drop of Mondeuse it's vivacious, adventurous and shimmering with gushing strawberries along with a touch of herbs and flint. Following through to the mouth, this rose has teeth! The vivid, elevated and electric texture that coats and refreshes all your taste senses. Imminently slurpable and with no shortage of impact, it is joyful for drinking by itself with salads, or light seafood dishes.
Made from mostly Gamay plus drop of Mondeuse it's vivacious, adventurous and shimmering with gushing strawberries along with a touch of herbs and flint. Following through to the mouth, this rose has teeth! The vivid, elevated and electric texture that coats and refreshes all your taste senses. Imminently slurpable and with no shortage of impact, it is joyful for drinking by itself with salads, or light seafood dishes.
2023 FRITZ HAAG RIESLING
ESTATE FEINHERB
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
ESTATE FEINHERB
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
It all started when I met Oliver Haag and Markus Schulte at Wine Paris in February 2024. Mainly focusing on French wines, being a wine drinker and wine lover, I have long admired and consumed Fritz Haag wines for much of my career in the wine business. Move forward to this past April, I made my first ever trip to the Mosel and was overjoyed to meet and taste with these guys again….and to learn even more!
Feinherb is an unofficial classification, but it is quite trendy. Unlike the official term of halbtorcken (half dry), I like to think of this as three-quarters dry and very versatile. The Fritz Haag 2023 Feinherb is pure electricity in a glass! A blitzkrieg of nectarine, mandarin, wet chalkboard and subtle smoke follow through to an exhilarating, nervy, succulent finish that draws you back for glass after glass. Drink over the next decade with pork or chicken stir-fry, smoked salmon and white sausages.
Feinherb is an unofficial classification, but it is quite trendy. Unlike the official term of halbtorcken (half dry), I like to think of this as three-quarters dry and very versatile. The Fritz Haag 2023 Feinherb is pure electricity in a glass! A blitzkrieg of nectarine, mandarin, wet chalkboard and subtle smoke follow through to an exhilarating, nervy, succulent finish that draws you back for glass after glass. Drink over the next decade with pork or chicken stir-fry, smoked salmon and white sausages.
2023 CHATEAU CLAMENS
COMTE TOLOSAN ROUGE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
COMTE TOLOSAN ROUGE
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE
This will be one of the top eleven-dollar reds we will offer all year! Comte Tolosan is a country French region that encompasses a wide area of the Southwest of France, south of Bordeaux and just sitting above Madiran and the Pyrenees then stretching over to Toulouse. Chateau Clamens is a Fronton specialist, but they make delicious vin de soif within this Protege region.
Soil-driven with ripe blackberry scents make this vastly different from Bordeaux, Madiran or Cahors. The buoyancy of the vintage is evident with creamy berries, dark chocolate, sanguine and violet. Generous, fleshy and flavorful with the wildness of Negrette grape present on the sassy and assertive finish. French to its core, have this with anything that is bad for you…rillettes, confit, paté, etc.
Soil-driven with ripe blackberry scents make this vastly different from Bordeaux, Madiran or Cahors. The buoyancy of the vintage is evident with creamy berries, dark chocolate, sanguine and violet. Generous, fleshy and flavorful with the wildness of Negrette grape present on the sassy and assertive finish. French to its core, have this with anything that is bad for you…rillettes, confit, paté, etc.
2021 CHATEAU PEY-MARTIN
MEDOC ROUGE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
MEDOC ROUGE
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
Chateau Pey Martin is in the Northern part of the Medoc vineyard with the Gironde Estuary directly to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, warm vintages often allow this normally cool climate area to put forth exciting wines.
A prototype Bordeaux blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot & 15% Cabernet Franc, revealing scents of generous cassis and blueberry with finesseful scents of tobacco hints of cinnamon, fine herbs and after a few minutes of air, develops raspberry and blossom aspects. Mouth-filling, velvety and building complexity as it moves and seduces the palate, especially on the lingering, handsome finish. An upscale offering for not a lot of money, this wine will age nicely over the next 4-5 years.
A prototype Bordeaux blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot & 15% Cabernet Franc, revealing scents of generous cassis and blueberry with finesseful scents of tobacco hints of cinnamon, fine herbs and after a few minutes of air, develops raspberry and blossom aspects. Mouth-filling, velvety and building complexity as it moves and seduces the palate, especially on the lingering, handsome finish. An upscale offering for not a lot of money, this wine will age nicely over the next 4-5 years.
2021 DEVONA PINOT NOIR
FREEDOM HILL
$49.99 BTL./$299.94 - SIX PACK
FREEDOM HILL
$49.99 BTL./$299.94 - SIX PACK
John Abbot was the long-time winemaker at Abeja producing many impressive wines with great consistency over many vintages. After his departure, John and wife Molly set out to make their own expressions of not only Washington wines but they also produce damn fine Oregon Pinots as well.
Devona’s Freedom Hill is reflective of the wonderful 2021 vintage. Broad aromatics dominate this offering. Pronounced plum, blackberry, piecrust, and Asian spice, this wine penetrates very deeply and is not about being an oak bomb or a caricature of itself. For a sturdy wine, it is very nimble and alive. Well-structured on the finish with tones of caramel and earth. This is the final vintage that Devona made from Freedom Hill. Not inaccessible at age four but for best results drink 2027 – 2035.
Devona’s Freedom Hill is reflective of the wonderful 2021 vintage. Broad aromatics dominate this offering. Pronounced plum, blackberry, piecrust, and Asian spice, this wine penetrates very deeply and is not about being an oak bomb or a caricature of itself. For a sturdy wine, it is very nimble and alive. Well-structured on the finish with tones of caramel and earth. This is the final vintage that Devona made from Freedom Hill. Not inaccessible at age four but for best results drink 2027 – 2035.
2020 ELIO GRASSO BAROLO
GINESTRA 'CASA MATE'
$99.99 BTL./$599.94 - SIX PACK
GINESTRA 'CASA MATE'
$99.99 BTL./$599.94 - SIX PACK
Tucked away in the hills between Monforte d'Alba and Castiglione Faletto are the Cantina and vineyards of Elio Grasso. We have been ardent supporters of these wines for a while now, and it is extremely clear that Gianluca Grasso is without a doubt one of the superstars of Barolo. One of the two MGA Cru wines from Grasso, Casa Mate is power meeting silk. One might gasp at the price but stop and think about how this would be three times the price if it were Burgundy or Napa.
Solidly built, stacked and structured, this prodigal youngster from 65-year-old vines possesses full-on plum fruit combining mushroom with intense black licorice. Darker-toned building broadness, there is ample Barolo oomph to the texture. The finish is pure, assertive, but refined and extraordinarily long. An outstanding wine that with decanting, will show well with a substantial meal, but for best results, give it until end of 2027 and enjoy it through 2025.
Solidly built, stacked and structured, this prodigal youngster from 65-year-old vines possesses full-on plum fruit combining mushroom with intense black licorice. Darker-toned building broadness, there is ample Barolo oomph to the texture. The finish is pure, assertive, but refined and extraordinarily long. An outstanding wine that with decanting, will show well with a substantial meal, but for best results, give it until end of 2027 and enjoy it through 2025.
