Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S UNCORKED & UNHINGED HOTSHEET
94 pt. Port Value, Cult Oregon Pinots, Ridge Cabernet, Rare Riesling & more


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2015 MCKINLAY PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

One will never find McKinlay wines listed in The Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate or any other wine media publication. The reclusive Matt Kinne refuses to submit samples. Those in the know and who like the stylings of Cameron, Evesham Wood, Thomas or Eyrie, real Burgundian-influenced Oregon Pinot, know the prowess of this cat.

McKinlay wines are Pinots for Pinot lovers, very sexy, elegant and aromatic. This wine follows the velvet rule of pinot noir perfectly. Red berry, violet, soft smoke, and elusive herbs and spices are the characteristics of the wine. Given that Matt has placed a bunch of declassified fruit from his Special Selection and Ladd Hill cuvees into this wine it makes sense that there is ample dimension. In the mouth, it shows some deceptive backbone, but shining through it all is a texture that is velvety, concentrated and long-legged without being jammy. As always, this wine is beautiful to drink from day one but it also has a tendency to age better than one might believe given its price point! Drink this best buy Oregon pinot now through 2020.



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2014 MCKINLAY PINOT NOIR
SPECIAL SELECTION
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

The Special Selection bottling combines attributes from different sites to achieve the goal of concentration, complexity, length and balance. Perfumed aromas of red berries, spice and roses with a hint of licorice lead to layers of lush red fruit and underbrush on the palate. Fine tannins frame and extend the rich flavors that are a bit packed in right now but poised for sexy greatness. Having been producing wine and the special Selection since the mid-80s, McKinlay Pinots are always a great expression of where they are grown and are some of the most sought after, especially since it isn't produced every vintage, 2014 is the only the second since 2008 and only about 100 cases emerged, but what a killer wine it is!! I have been working with these wines for 20 years now and their propensity to age is remarkable. Example is the recent library release of 1998 that we featured and consumed followed by a horizontal of top-notch 1999s and this one ran away from the competition. Drink the heat-defying 2014 through 2030.



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2015 HOFGUT FALKENSTEIN RIESLING
KABINETT ‘KRETTNACHER EUCHARIUSBERG’
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Wanna know the under-$30 wine on this week's sheet that will live the longest? You have found it! Quite a mouthful to say and quite a mouthful of wine, Hofgut Falkenstein is a stalwart specialist in the Saar region, just off of the Mosel and produces wines with great intensity and and detail and we are one of the fortunate areas in the US to receive their scarce wines.

Preserving the quality of the Saar is something Falkenstein strives and succeeds very well, thank you. The prominent lime and steeliness of the region always come to the forefront with the wines. Wonderfully pure aromas of mineral, lime, nectarine and white flowers lead into a gorgeous mouthfeel packed with serious electricity but buffered nicely by its core of depth. Barely a slight perception of sweetness, as it is incredibly well balanced, Enjoy this delicious and incredibly complex wine now through 2026.



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2014 NEIL ELLIS LEFT BANK RED BLEND
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Coming into existence in the early ‘80s, Neil Ellis and his wines are some of South Africa’s pioneering expressions. Blended wines are a true specialty here and this estate has vineyards spread out over three appellations. Now led by winemaker Warren Ellis, these wines continue to be some of the essence of the Southern Hemisphere and this selection is a fabulous value.

Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz and Merlot along for the ride, it is aged in only 10% new French oak with the remainder being used barrels to maintain this areas fine terroir. Complex blackberry, tobacco, cassis and with an underlay of chocolate, mineral and cinnamon. Nicely layered entry, followed by poise and lift which calls one back for more. Generous and balanced throughout, drink this over-performing Cab blend through 2021; serve it with spicy meat dishes, grilled beef or soft cheeses at the end of a dinner.



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2012 MUSTO CARMELITANO
AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE ‘SERRA DEL PRETE’
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Grown in Basilicata, Italy's wine region equivalent to West Virginia, this Aglianico was quite a pleasant surprise when sampled last week. Honest, soulful and dressed up nicely without losing its natural beauty, this hearty red reveals wild berry aromas that are finely enhanced by undertones of tealeaf, sanguine and chocolate licorice. Bold and firm, at age 5, this wine is starting to defy the usual kick in the teeth aspects of this region’s expressions of Aglianico. It still lets one know that it is a wine for food, not for cocktail-style sipping. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years with sausage-mushroom pizza, slow-roasted lamb or a spicy-tomato pasta dish.



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2016 TRIENNES VIOGNIER
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Triennes is the Southern French project of Burgundian icons, namely Domaine Dujac and DRC. From just outside of the city of Marseilles and fermented in 100% in steel tanks, this Viognier presents itself in a classic and aromatic form but maintains restraint and never becomes a flower patch.

Apricot, honeysuckle and honey aromas, it has both body and intensity, combined with a beautiful balance between richness, acidity and minerality. While we would all love to drink Condrieu for our everyday Viognier, it also starts at about three times the price so let’s simply say that the Triennes is pretty damn spectacular for $13.99.



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2016 BODEGAS PABLO CARINENA TINTO
TEMPRANILLO 'MENGUANTE'
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE

Funny enough (and only in Spain) is that this red wine value comes from Carinena region of Spain and features none of the namesake grape; instead it is 100% Tempranillo from old vines. Smoky and lively, the fruit-forward nose reveals blueberry and mocha upon opening. Accessible, luscious and forward in the mouth with strawberry notations, stylish tannins and a lively, fresh, fruit-driven finish which makes it one of the ultimate weeknight reds.



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2014 RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
$59.99 - LIMITED!

Formerly known as Santa Cruz Mountains Red, the name of this stylistically distinct wine was changed to Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, stressing the varietal and the vineyard as its source. The vineyard source in question is Monte Bello and grapes for this wine consistently produce wines that are more polished, forward and accessible, basically it lives up to its moniker of "Baby Bello".

2014 is a classic Ridge Cab, it is chock full of cassis, blueberry and violet with spikes of cocoa that seemingly swirl in the glass. The texture is buxom and creamy with lots of sensuality to it. A mineral underlay and deceptive structure will allow this wine to age, however, when you uncork a bottle, it will prove to be very irresistible! Drink it over the next 14-16 years. Cheers to Ridge for producing a wonderful Cabernet that is this damn good and while not inexpensive, doesn't force you to take out a 2nd mortgage to drink a bottle.



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2009 QUINTA DO NOVAL 'SINGLE QUINTA'
LATE-BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT
$23.99 BTL./239.88 CASE

Late Bottled Vintage port means that the wine has already been aged for you. This has been in cask for six years vs. two for a typical vintage port. It is then held in bottle before release, so since it has been aged and unlike vintage Port, is one that you do not have to drink the entire bottle in one sitting. A legendary port lodge who is famous for their four digit priced Nacional Vintage Port; Quinta Do Noval was the first to introduce a Late Bottled Vintage Port back in 1958.

‘The 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port "Unfiltered" was bottled in 2015 with 91 grams per liter of residual sugar and comes with a long cork, perfect for aging. It is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and 10% Tinto Cão. I might argue that for LBV, 2009 is even better than 2011. The normally restrained Ports just seemed to get some extra oomph. A tremendously fine LBV, this is rich, yet balanced with superb concentration and intensity of flavor. It is an LBV that helps demonstrate how fine the traditionally-styled LBVs can be. It is impressive in flavor intensity, aromatics, texture, structure and that lingering finish. Some five days later, it was in equally fine shape and still touching all of those bases well. Drink it now, if you wish, but it can certainly improve over the next decade or so. It will also hold for several decades. That's what a fine, traditional LBV does in a fine vintage. – 94 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE’




FRIDAY SIPS

Fun & Flavorful French Wines

This Friday Febuary 2 from 1:30 – 6:30

Several new arrivals from France have landed and we’ll be opening some this Friday. Included will be Languedoc, White Burgundy, Loire and a special 10-year old Bordeaux from a Saint-Emilion specialist.

FEATURED SELECTIONS:

2008 Chateau Peyrou Cote-De-Castillon Bordeaux Rouge
2015 Chateau Du Hureau Saumur-Champigny ‘Tuffe’
2016 Mas des Brousses ‘Chasseur des Brousses’ Rouge (Languedoc)
2016 Feuillarde Saint-Veran ‘Cuvee Tradition’






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