Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S '10 GHOULISH & GRATIFYING WINES' HOTSHEET
Bandol Bargain & Vietti Timorasso
99-point Dessert Wine
Oregon Chardonnay & Tempranillo
99-point Dessert Wine
Oregon Chardonnay & Tempranillo
2021 GULFI CERASUOLO DI VITTORIA
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
Gulfi is a Sicilian producer that is currently making some of the most compelling Italian red wines that we think should be in your glass.
Vito Catania came to the area with a vision of making ancient-style, authentic wines using resources of today. Since purchasing 100 acres in 1996, Gulfi has succeeded in becoming one of Sicily's most charmed producers. 50% Nero D'Avola and 50% Frappatto, this fragrant, detonatining in the mouth red is full of vibrant, crunchy cherry fruit, smoke, pepper and underlying plum tones that follow through to a texture that tingles and fills the mouth without being tannic or heavy. Perfect for drinking over the next 3-5 years with fish and tomato dishes.
Vito Catania came to the area with a vision of making ancient-style, authentic wines using resources of today. Since purchasing 100 acres in 1996, Gulfi has succeeded in becoming one of Sicily's most charmed producers. 50% Nero D'Avola and 50% Frappatto, this fragrant, detonatining in the mouth red is full of vibrant, crunchy cherry fruit, smoke, pepper and underlying plum tones that follow through to a texture that tingles and fills the mouth without being tannic or heavy. Perfect for drinking over the next 3-5 years with fish and tomato dishes.
2022 HEIDI SCHROCK
WEISSBURGUNDER (Pinot Blanc)
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
WEISSBURGUNDER (Pinot Blanc)
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
The first question asked once you see the name of this engaging Austrian white wine will undoubtedly be: What the bloody-hell is Weissburgunder? Keine angst!! It is time to get over your fear of the German language because this is Pinot Blanc and a damn good one from a top Southern Austrian producer. Heide Schrock and now alongside her sons has been making prominent wines since 1983 and we are excited to offer them after quite a long absence.
This Austrian white is something very special and a wine that will pair superbly with the autumn seafood and mushroom bounty. Fine, lacy aromas reveal lots of clarity, character and minerality, seemingly giving off 'polished rocks under a gushing waterfall' aromas along with lemon and freshly cut red apple. Lovely depth and expansion are present but what gives the wine its life is its stimulating, charged and energetic aspects that are present from the illuminating start to the shimmering, very long finish. If you love white wines of purity and panache then you owe it to yourself to try this one!
This Austrian white is something very special and a wine that will pair superbly with the autumn seafood and mushroom bounty. Fine, lacy aromas reveal lots of clarity, character and minerality, seemingly giving off 'polished rocks under a gushing waterfall' aromas along with lemon and freshly cut red apple. Lovely depth and expansion are present but what gives the wine its life is its stimulating, charged and energetic aspects that are present from the illuminating start to the shimmering, very long finish. If you love white wines of purity and panache then you owe it to yourself to try this one!
2019 BASTIDE BLANCHE
BANDOL ROUGE
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
BANDOL ROUGE
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
We have stated that 2019 is a top vintage in the South of France, however, Bandol seems to have taken it further when it comes to delivering superb, soulful wine.
80% Mourvedre with Grenache, Syrah & Cinsault, think of a Mediterranean Barolo. A haunting and aromatic nose of smoked meat, rose petal and sea salt combine with a user-friendly palate of assorted ripe plums, spice and peppercorns. The wine possesses a very long finish even though its tannins are supple and fairly well rounded. Nevertheless, this fairly boisterous and rotund wine shines with such hearty red meat entrees as grilled lamb, sausages or beef kabobs. Drink over the next 10-12 years.
80% Mourvedre with Grenache, Syrah & Cinsault, think of a Mediterranean Barolo. A haunting and aromatic nose of smoked meat, rose petal and sea salt combine with a user-friendly palate of assorted ripe plums, spice and peppercorns. The wine possesses a very long finish even though its tannins are supple and fairly well rounded. Nevertheless, this fairly boisterous and rotund wine shines with such hearty red meat entrees as grilled lamb, sausages or beef kabobs. Drink over the next 10-12 years.
2022 GC CELLARS
'CONVIVIAL' TEMPRANILLO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
'CONVIVIAL' TEMPRANILLO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
For years, John Grochau has provided pleasurable wines that surprise and thrill the taster. I've long been a proponent of Northwest Tempranillo and Grochau's Convivial comes from Zenith Vineyard in Eola-Amity and Three Mile Vineyard from the Columbia Gorge. The results when blended are a spirited, fun version that greets and entices the palate.
The natural stanchness of Tempranillo fruit is massaged into a structure that seduces the palate, caressing the tongue with an almost velvet-like texture. The presence of coolness reveals itself with fresh-cut flowers, mineral, creamy marionberry permeate from the glass following to a savory texture and is chock full of earth and spice. Refined, scrumptious and delicious with dishes spiked with chorizo sausages as well as tomato based dishes.
The natural stanchness of Tempranillo fruit is massaged into a structure that seduces the palate, caressing the tongue with an almost velvet-like texture. The presence of coolness reveals itself with fresh-cut flowers, mineral, creamy marionberry permeate from the glass following to a savory texture and is chock full of earth and spice. Refined, scrumptious and delicious with dishes spiked with chorizo sausages as well as tomato based dishes.
2019 DOMAINE LA BERANGERAIE
CAHORS 'CUVEE MAURIN'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
CAHORS 'CUVEE MAURIN'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
A new estate for us, Domaine Berangeraie produces full-flavored wines that exemplify the region's nickmane, 'the black wines of France'. Organically grown, 100% Malbec, 50+ year old vines and grown in iron, limestone, clay soils.
Intensely dark in color, aged in concrete tank, this is deep opaque formidable juice. Wild scents of red and blue berries, pronounced limestone-mineral, sandalwood, exotic spice and fig pour from the glass and into the mouth where it is full and generous with an ever-so-slight nod to modernity. Even though there is a toe in this century, this is Cahors and the rich land here permeates the aromas and flavors and are a virtual throwback to another era. The finish is long, lasting, dry and palate staining. A whole lotta wine for 20 bucks, drink this wine now and over the next 5-7 years duck, rillettes, paté de campagne, steak with a slab of foie gras on top or blue cheese.
Intensely dark in color, aged in concrete tank, this is deep opaque formidable juice. Wild scents of red and blue berries, pronounced limestone-mineral, sandalwood, exotic spice and fig pour from the glass and into the mouth where it is full and generous with an ever-so-slight nod to modernity. Even though there is a toe in this century, this is Cahors and the rich land here permeates the aromas and flavors and are a virtual throwback to another era. The finish is long, lasting, dry and palate staining. A whole lotta wine for 20 bucks, drink this wine now and over the next 5-7 years duck, rillettes, paté de campagne, steak with a slab of foie gras on top or blue cheese.
2021 RADLEY & FITCH PINOTAGE
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
From South Africa's Paarl region, this is a different kind of red wine experience.
A generous pepper pot of a wine, plenty of wild strawberry, herbs, rose petal and mineral tones penetrate the nose and the assertive palate. Extensive, complex and flavorful, this wine pairs nicely with roasted meats, especially game and is a terrific weeknight red.
A generous pepper pot of a wine, plenty of wild strawberry, herbs, rose petal and mineral tones penetrate the nose and the assertive palate. Extensive, complex and flavorful, this wine pairs nicely with roasted meats, especially game and is a terrific weeknight red.
2020 REYNVAAN RED BLEND
'THE UNNAMED SERIES'
$34.99 BTL./$209.94 - SIX PACK
'THE UNNAMED SERIES'
$34.99 BTL./$209.94 - SIX PACK
Known for super high-end wines that are quite in-demand, the Walla Walla-based Reynvaan family makes a second set of wines that are irreverently named The Unnamed Series. In all honesty, given this estate's pedigree, the wines in this range are smoking values and will compete with many others in the area that fetch much higher prices.
A Left Bank Bordeaux inspired blend, this version refuses to go over the top and become a usual smoker-friendly, jammy Walla Walla red blend, there is quite a bit of sophistication and poise. Flowing aromas of cinnamon, baked cherry, allspice and mole carry nicely into a lavish texture with backbone that is true to its cabernet roots. Expressive dark flavors, cocoa dust that is typical of the best Washington Cabs with allspice and toffee undertones prevailing throughout the mouth. Finishes with nice pepper and spice tones that play off the fruit and stick around well after the wine is swallowed. Drink it now through 2034.
A Left Bank Bordeaux inspired blend, this version refuses to go over the top and become a usual smoker-friendly, jammy Walla Walla red blend, there is quite a bit of sophistication and poise. Flowing aromas of cinnamon, baked cherry, allspice and mole carry nicely into a lavish texture with backbone that is true to its cabernet roots. Expressive dark flavors, cocoa dust that is typical of the best Washington Cabs with allspice and toffee undertones prevailing throughout the mouth. Finishes with nice pepper and spice tones that play off the fruit and stick around well after the wine is swallowed. Drink it now through 2034.
2022 KELLEY FOX CHARDONNAY
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
A bit of a price reduction for this wine! Kelley Fox is one of Oregon’s very legit, artisanal producers. All of her wines are small production and stimulate the taster with many facets. The Willamette Chardonnay is from younger wines, all from the famed Freedom Hill Vineyard and aged in stainless steel tank.
Very pretty, restrained aromas of green apples, flowers, and engaging wet stone tones, the 2022 is dry, refreshingly relaxed, yet impeccably detailed and provocative in the mouth. No oak to interfere, just waves of stony flavors supported by a fine core of fruit. Drink it with fresh crab or grilled monkfish or grilled salmon; you will come back thanking us.
Very pretty, restrained aromas of green apples, flowers, and engaging wet stone tones, the 2022 is dry, refreshingly relaxed, yet impeccably detailed and provocative in the mouth. No oak to interfere, just waves of stony flavors supported by a fine core of fruit. Drink it with fresh crab or grilled monkfish or grilled salmon; you will come back thanking us.
2021 VIETTI TIMORASSO
$39.99 BTL./$239.94 - SIX PACK
$39.99 BTL./$239.94 - SIX PACK
Located at the border of Lombardy, Liguria and Emilia Romagna, the Timorasso grape thrived in this area of Piedmont from the Middle Ages up until Phyloxerra in the late 1800s when it fell out of use and replaced by red wines. In the 1980s, Walter Massa an Andrea Mutti started a reclamation project and saved the grape. Thirty-plus years later, we now have other producers like Vietti exploring this area.
Grown in virtually the same blue marl as Barolo, this thrill ride of an Italian white wine is aged in a combination of stainless steel, ceramic amphora and neutral wood without any malo-lactic fermentation. Scents of acacia, gerber daisies, nectarine, honey and mineral undertones gleam from the glass. Plenty of depth and material along with terrific brilliance and zest. Lots of persistence, this white can age quite well but at the moment, it is so tasty with strong flavors like fish in sauce, grilled prawns with hints of spice, pork tenderloin with a subtle dry rub, asparagus with a mustard dressing and I am very intrigued to see how it would go with salmon.
Grown in virtually the same blue marl as Barolo, this thrill ride of an Italian white wine is aged in a combination of stainless steel, ceramic amphora and neutral wood without any malo-lactic fermentation. Scents of acacia, gerber daisies, nectarine, honey and mineral undertones gleam from the glass. Plenty of depth and material along with terrific brilliance and zest. Lots of persistence, this white can age quite well but at the moment, it is so tasty with strong flavors like fish in sauce, grilled prawns with hints of spice, pork tenderloin with a subtle dry rub, asparagus with a mustard dressing and I am very intrigued to see how it would go with salmon.
2018 BELARGUS QUARTS-DE-CHAUME
'LES QUARTS' GRAND CRU
$159.99 - 375 ML BOTTLE
'LES QUARTS' GRAND CRU
$159.99 - 375 ML BOTTLE
99 Points - The Wine Advocate…Everyone and their siblings who loves and collects stickies should have this wine…The Loire Valley is known as the Garden of France, but it is also known for some of the world's greatest dessert wines. This estate's Quarts de Chaume is a French National Treasure and one could easily reference it as the Chateau d'Yquem of the Loire Valley. Commencing with vintage 2011, this miniscule area of Chaumes (74 acres in total!) was rewarded with Grand Cru designation.
'The Quarts-de-Chaume terroir—a sunny, south-facing hillside on schists, exposed to the morning mists of the Layon River and ventilated by constant winds—results in “a botrytis of rare concentration,” says Massonnat, as the 2018 Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru Liquoreux Les Quarts demonstrates impressively. Amber-orange colored, the nose is deep, intense and concentrated, very complex and elegant, with spicy and balsamic apricot notes, nougat and porcini aromas as well as flinty-mineral notes and associations of crispy ham hock. Round, smooth and sweet but with great finesse and elegance, this is a rich yet almost weightless and perfectly balanced liquoreux from the central Les Quarts plot of the QDC appellation that develops a vertical, highly stimulating and filigreed structure that leads to a long, crisp and frisky piquancy and salty finesse that makes this grand cru wine extremely digestible, even at this very early stage. Belargus’s 2018 Les Quarts pairs richness and sweetness with crystalline finesse and elegance in an unrivaled way. A fabulous, irresistible grand cru! 11% alcohol - 99 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE'.
'The Quarts-de-Chaume terroir—a sunny, south-facing hillside on schists, exposed to the morning mists of the Layon River and ventilated by constant winds—results in “a botrytis of rare concentration,” says Massonnat, as the 2018 Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru Liquoreux Les Quarts demonstrates impressively. Amber-orange colored, the nose is deep, intense and concentrated, very complex and elegant, with spicy and balsamic apricot notes, nougat and porcini aromas as well as flinty-mineral notes and associations of crispy ham hock. Round, smooth and sweet but with great finesse and elegance, this is a rich yet almost weightless and perfectly balanced liquoreux from the central Les Quarts plot of the QDC appellation that develops a vertical, highly stimulating and filigreed structure that leads to a long, crisp and frisky piquancy and salty finesse that makes this grand cru wine extremely digestible, even at this very early stage. Belargus’s 2018 Les Quarts pairs richness and sweetness with crystalline finesse and elegance in an unrivaled way. A fabulous, irresistible grand cru! 11% alcohol - 99 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE'.
