Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL' HOTSHEET
Washington Cab Franc, Beautiful BordeauxValue, 95 pt Barolo Special, Sauvignon Blanc & more


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2016 TEDESCHI VALPOLICELLA
SUPERIORE 'CAPITEL NICALO'
$16.99 BTL./$101.94 - SIX PACK

It is almost impossible to maintain partiality when it comes to the Amarone and Valpolicella wines from Riki Tedeschi. Across the board, these wines go one or two steps beyond their quality categories and are excellent values. Tedeschi’s Nicalo cuvee is serious business! The technique for the production of this wine is known as Appassimento and grapes for this offering are dried for about a month, then aged for 18 months in large Slovenian botti and this is what brings more body and complexity to the wine.

Dried cherry tones that seems as though they have been infused with exotic herbs and spices play off mint and amaro tones. In the mouth, there is good force with full fruit that runs very deep. Flavors of cherry that come from just around the pit are highly present and are very textbook. The finish planes out and is quite sophisticated for 20 bucks. A perfect winter wine to drink now over the next 6-8 years with an array of pastas, braised meats or cheese.



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2012 FOURCAS-BORIE
LISTRAC-MEDOC
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE

Chateau Fourcas-Borie was created when Bruno Borie (owner of 2nd Growth Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou) purchased Fourcas-Dumont in late 2008. The property originated from the union of the estates of Clos du Fourcas and Moulin du Bourg, which are among the oldest vineyards of the village located on the north end of Listrac-Medoc. When I last visited Bordeaux in 2017, there was a grand tasting of the Union of Grands Crus and perhaps the most impressive surprise was just how good wines from both the Listrac and Moulis have become due to upgrades in farming, winemaking and especially from classified growth producers buying land.

As I have mentioned countless times, 2012 is a sneaky brilliant vintage. In fact, if it were the decade of the 90s, it would be included in the finest. Alas, given that it is surrounded by 2009, 2010, 2014, 15, and 16, it is somewhat of a forgotten gem. That’s all the better for real Bordeaux lovers like us because the prices are outstanding. A classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in almost equal portions. Cassis-driven scents around blueberry, coffee, gravelly scents and fine herbs. Flavorful, creamy and very silky with underlying firmness and grip for aging. Becomes rather and masculine on the drawn-out and structured finish. Drinkable now with decanting about an 30-45 minutes before serving. Will age nicely for another decade, too.



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2017 AUBUISIERES VOUVRAY
'CUVEE DE SILEX'
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

Any white wine lover will tell you that Chenin Blanc is one of the most food-friendly grape varietals out there and when it is grown in the benchmark region Vouvray, it can be something quite magical and live forever! Take a gander at a geographical map of this area and it will begin to clue you in as to why the best whites that are grown here are complex buggers. Aubuisieres Vouvray named for an outcropping of Silex soil, which is responsible for the minerality, complexity and freshness in this white. While the noble Chenin maintains the perfect core of fleshy fruit especially in a vintage like 2017, which was very good for most of the Loire Valley’s white wines. This is one of our favorite examples of Chenin Blanc and if you consider yourself a gourmand, get with the program and get your palate to ride on the soul train.

Bernard Fouquet of Domaine Aubuisieres is a part of the group of aces that we are seeing come out of Vouvray. What we have experienced over the past 15+ years from this Domaine leaves us believing that this man really gets Chenin Blanc. Dominated by a deep sense of terroir with waves of stony minerality that beautifully rein in the fleshy pear, lemon-lime and floral aromas. The mouthfeel here is round, caressing and fleshed out but there is a focus and an insane vibrancy that comes from a perfect level of ripe acidity, a reflection of the vintage. Full of complex and luscious flavors, this is a great value and re-immersion to an excellent region. Enjoy this sec tender version over the next 8 years with salmon, grilled whole trout, fresh albacore tuna or just about any hearty marinated fish. It will stand up to roasted poultry and great with a plate of cheese too.



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2017 MONJARDIN GARNACHA
$8.99 BTL./$107.88 CASE

We are all for gravy and dressing when it is needed but when something is good quality all on its own, why dress it up; if you got it flaunt it and this bareassed Grenache has it - broad mouth filling fruit and excellent freshness.

Located on the other side of the hills from Rioja, Navarra is one of the most exciting winemaking regions of Spain for thrifty red wines. Brambly, warm and fantastically forward this bold charmer shows tremendous presence of depth and fruit. The finish is extensive for a wine at this price. Enjoy with grilled chicken or pork dusted with a bit of fennel.



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2015 DU CROPIO CALABRIA ROSSO
'SERRA SANGUIGNA'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

A few years back we tapped into the main vein of this Calabria-based Southern Italian producer. We have featured a number of their very traditional, hearty, offerings. All of their wines are extremely good but it's the Serra Sanguigna that gives me devious thoughts of boarding a plane and heading off to take the oath to join the ‘ndrangheta (Calabria's mafia).

Serra Sanguigna is a small hillside located in the northern sector of the somewhat obscure but excellent Ciro region. Composed of 70% Gaglioppo (Calabira's most important varietal, think of warm-climate Nebbiolo) along with 15% Malvasia Nera and 15% Greco Nero, this robust red offers up savory scents of plum, tobacco, saline, anise, sage and plenty of peppercorn and a sneaky undertone of pekoe that creeps in on the tail end. Mouth coating, impressive earth and spice throughout as well as plenty of vibrancy and lift. Drawn out, very soulful and Italian in flavor, this wine will pair well with spicy tomato-based dishes, especially a penne pasta done with an arrabiata sauce.



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2014 CHINOOK CABERNET FRANC
YAKIMA VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Kay Simon and Clay Mackey and their Chinook Wines estate are one of the most unknown, old school Washington icons who have continually put forth excellent wine from Yakima fruit since 1983. One of the treasures in their portfolio is their Cabernet Franc cuvee, which has been made for many years. The 2014 comes from Boushey Vineyard as well as the Chinook Estate site and is so honest to both Washington as well as the grape varietal itself.

From the moment it is uncorked, this wine rocks cassis, tea-smoke, raspberry, clove and cinnamon scents that follow into a texture that offers palate presence and pure rusticity. Excellent depth, body and length belie its modest price point. Drink this delicious, superbly priced Reserve Cab Franc over the next 4-6 years with grilled burgers, grilled pork or grilled eggplant for those who don't partake in carnivorous delights.



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2018 MORGENSTER SAUVIGNON BLANC
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Recent history has shown that South Africa has been quite successful with Sauvignon Blanc. In the 90s, Estates like Thelema and Mulderbosch waved the flag of this varietal's potential and others soon followed. Morgenster is an estate with a long history followed by a lengthy period of dormancy. This project headed up by Piemontese Giulio Bertrand has been very impressive and their Sauvignon delivers the goods quite well.

A toothsome Sauvignon indeed, subtle notes of gooseberry, lychee, peach, tangerine and lilies. In the mouth, the ripeness is kept in balance with crisp acidity and finely formed herb tones. A great way to get your palate jumping at the beginning of your meal and will take you to a first course of squash soup or a salad with fresh goat cheese.



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2014 PAOLO SCAVINO
BAROLO MONVIGLIERO
[reg. $79.99] SPECIAL - $65.99 BTL./$395.94 - SIX PACK

A Grand Cru from Verduno village first produced by Scavino in the 2007 vintage. The Northern most commune in Barolo, this vineyard has a very special microclimate: warm during the day and cold at night thanks to the cooling breezes coming off the Tanaro River. Always elegant and focused with great tension.

‘Floral and fragrant, this boasts enticing scents of blue flower, wild berry, dark spice and crushed herb. The polished vibrant palate delivers red cherry compote, cranberry, star anise and a hint of orange zest offset by elegant fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced, while an almost salty mineral note lingers on the close. Drink 2021–2028. – 95 PTS - WINE ENTHUSIAST




FRIDAY SIPS

Crozes-Hermitage

This Friday January 25 from 1:30 – 6:30

Something very special this Friday and something that we haven’t featured before - a full-fledged tasting of superb offerings from the Northern Rhone’s Crozes Hermitage region, located in villages and vineyards around the famed Hermitage hill. Come and get your French Syrah fix this Friday!

FEATURED WINES:

2016 Albert Belle Crozes-Hermitage ‘La Pierrelles’
2015 Albert Belle Crozes-Hermitage ‘Cuvee Louis Belle’
2016 Graillot Crozes-Hermitage
2016 Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage ‘Mis En Bouche’






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