Hot Sheets

2014 DOMAINE CHAPUIS
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Apex White Burgundy value returns!! 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. Chapuis is a small estate specializing in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay. This particular wine differs from the estate’s Macon-Mancey, and even though it can be labeled as such, the Domaine prefers to label this one as Bourgogne Chardonnay due to the differences in soils and exposures. Having more in common with higher-priced Rully or Montagny, this white does not see any new barrels.

Aged in 1-3 year old barrels, Bosc pear, lemon and cereal tones shine with underlying pure minerality on the nose. There is impressive charisma here. In the mouth, it seems to pirouette like a ballerina before it gains depth and zest with prominent powdery mandarin, stone and faint spice aspects arriving on the finish. Drink over the next 2-3 years with the usual suspects that go well with white burgundy, scallops, sole or chicken with mushrooms…This wine used to be a great deal for 19.99, due to the currency exchange working in our favor, this wine is now and unmitigated heist for 16.99. Only 20 cases available and given the popularity of it, past experience shows it sells out quickly!

2012 DOMAINE GALANTIN
BANDOL ROUGE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Bandol always seems to be a spendy proposition yet Domaine Galantin defies this logic and better yet, follows through with impeccable quality. Located in a prime area of the appellation, Plan du Castellet, the estate was founded in 1965. The Pascale family initially produced Rose wines then expanded over the years to include red and whites as well. Only 4000 cases produced in total and both the warmth of the sun and salt air from the Mediterranean influence the entire range.

95% Mourvedre & 5% Grenache, this is the epitome of neo-classical Bandol, one that is well formed with structure but rounded just enough so not to take the enamel off your teeth. Combining an aromatic nose of fresh leather and pipe tobacco with a user-friendly palate of assorted ripe plums, spice and peppercorns, this wine reveals its origins very well and follows through to a very long finish even though its tannins are smoothed out and fairly well rounded to make it accessible over the next 7-8 years. Nevertheless, this is a fairly boisterous and rotund wine requiring an equally full-on dish. Very enticing, it will truly shine with such hearty red meat entrees as grilled lamb, sausages or beef kabobs.

2013 SAINT CLAIR PINOT NOIR
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

The debate always rages on about who produces the best Pinot Noirs. It’s time for all of that to stop, can’t we all just get along?!?! Whether it’s Oregon, Burgundy, California, Australia or New Zealand, we must always grasp onto the great Pinot Noir regions of the world as there are so few.

From the Marlborough region, this succulent Pinot reveals a presence of smoke and allspice nicely wrapped around bold, spicy cherry/raspberry notes that open more and more as the wine is swirled in the glass. Cinnamon stick and black pepper add to the wine’s complexity. Well positioned, flavorful and showing off silky depth and concentration with nice spine and structure and a ripe finish that brings up notations of brown sugar sprinkled on raspberries. The back end of this wine seems to go on for days! Enjoy over the next 5-6 years.

2012 MASI MODELLO DELLE VENEZIE
$8.99 BTL./$107.88 CASE

A prototype for everyday drinking this is the type of quaffer that locals of Verona or Venice would drink at their neighborhood enoteca, osteria or trattoria.

Made with Refosco, Rabaso, Corvina and other local varietals (a Masi Blend!) this red is a vibrant, teeming with bing cherry, white pepper, savory herbs and pretty violet aromas. A mouthful of juicy redness with class that this noble Amarone producer is known for. Enjoy this lush red with hearty soups, grilled burgers and pasta dishes. Very versatile and food friendly and if you are having a party, you cannot beat the price and we guarantee that this will please a bunch of palates.

2012 WILLI BRUNDLMAYER ZWEIGELT
$19.99 LTR BOTTLE/$239.88 CASE

Generally regarded a top producer in Austria, Willi Brundlmayer makes meticulous, ethereal wines on all levels. Known for his prowess with Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, this producer also makes quite a splash with his red wines from native varietals.

100% of the Zweigelt grape (a cross between Blaufrankish and St-Laurent, a native varietal linked to Pinot Noir) and offering ample aromatic and flavor profile. Blazing and alive, medium weight aromas and flavors of raspberry, spiced earth, hints of anise and pepper; maybe acting like a hypothetical cross between an unoaked Barbera and Côtes-du-Rhône, especially on the smoky, savory finish. Clean and food-friendly, this will pair well with sausage or a piping hot bowl of pasta in a marinara sauce. Coming in a slightly larger 1 liter bottle, we encourage you to consume copious amounts.

2013 RIDGE ZINFANDEL
DRY CREEK 'EAST BENCH'
$29.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

It's no secret that we proudly fly our Ridge flag. One of our favorite new world producers, these wines continue to astound and amaze. Kudos to Paul Draper and the Ridge team for continuing their unending drive and passion with their influential Zins. East Bench is Ridge’s newest vineyard and since 2006 is one of only two of their wines that utilize 100% of any particular varietal and in this case it is solely Zinfandel.

Large-scaled but with all the regal traits this vineyard site delivers. Intense black raspberry, red plum, fig, cocoa, vanilla and ground pepper aromas follow through to a vinous texture that really goes! Grill up a steak slathered with a melange of ground peppercorns and have fun. Drink over the next decade.

2006 MUGA RIOJA GRAN RESERVA
'PRADO ENEA'
$65.99 BTL. - LIMITED

96 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE

2006 MUGA RIOJA GRAN RESERVA 'PRADO ENEA' $65.99 BTL. - LIMITED 96 POINTS - THE WINE ADVOCATE Simply put, the 2006 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a great wine. Always profound, this wine scales 20,000-foot peaks in seamless vintages like 2006. Not only is this one of Spain's greatest red wines, it is one of the world's greatest red wines. Over the past few years, we have revisited some of the great ‘Prado Eneas" having tasted the 1970, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1994, 2001 and 2004.

"The 2006 Prado Enea is a phenomenal bottle of traditional Rioja at its best. A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for a long time in oak and bottled before release. This is a practice quite common from yesteryear, but that is a true rarity today. The technical data provided talks about incredible parameters, 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.39, both extremely low for a warm vintage like 2006. The grapes are sourced from higher-altitude terraced plots where the climate is cooler and drier and the soils are rich in clay. This is a wine that is not automatically produced every year. The wine spends its elevage in oak containers of different size, origin and age for no less than three years. The nose is intoxicating with a superb mixture of tertiary and more primary aromas like old furniture, cloves, cracked pepper, incense and cigar ash plus cherries in liqueur (that Garnacha!). The palate is medium-bodied, with great freshness (Jorge Muga tells me the pH is stabilized with aging in barrel), acidity and balance, with a silky texture, ultra-fine tannins and great persistence and length. This wine feels younger than it is, and seems to be aging at a glacial pace. With the stuffing and balance it has this should make very old bones, and drink greatly throughout its life. Superb!...96 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE"