Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'GOSPEL OF THE GRAPE' HOTSHEET
Leonetti Cab, Sicilian Sampler of Olive Oil, Wine & Bubbly, Cotes-du-Rhone, 20 buck Oregon Pinot, Dry White & Bordeaux & more


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2012 PESQUIER COTES-DU-RHONE
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE

More fun from my recent trip to the Rhone and none other than a perennial Cellar Door favorite that proves you’re never alone while drinking a Cotes-du-Rhone. Truth be told this is Cotes-du-Rhone and a hell of a lot more! Made by a top Gigondas producer and coming solely from the village of Sablet, vintage 2012 for this wine is quite prodigious!

A healthy dose of Mourvedre (20%) into the blend makes this a bit more larger-scaled than most CDRs at this price. Black raspberry fruit shines along with smoked meat, wild herbs and spices as well as undertones of cherry-pit, white pepper and fennel. Luscious, mouth-filling and packing lots of expansion, this full-flavored red gains lift and vivacity on the sneaky and above the norm finish. This fabulous French red seemingly was made for just about anything one might want to toss on to the grill.



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2012 LEONETTI CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WALLA WALLA
$119.99 - VERY LIMITED!!

2012 is undoubtedly one of Washington’s most profound vintages ever and Leonetti has performed at their usual lofty level! Definitely a long ager, this will be one of their finest! Excruciatingly limited amounts available. Have at it before it sells out!!




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MURGO-MANIA SICILIAN SAMPLER
Bottle each of red wine, olive oil & bubbly from an outstanding Etna producer $49.00...all are available separately or by the case, too




2012 MURGO ETNA ROSSO

Sicily, and particularly the wines from Mt. Etna, are very fashionable with wine geeks. It is time to turn you all on to something way outside the typical Italian wine frame and this wine is it! 85% Nerello Mascalese and 15% Mantellato. Cool, high elevation tones of black pepper, clove, red berry and smoke lead into a fresh, engaging, yet mouth-filling and dry texture that entices one to enjoy and elaborate over its merits even further. Try it with white meats or heartier fish dishes laced with tomatoes. ($13.00)


2014 MURGO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Not only is Murgo a terrific sparkling wine & white wine producer, they also do a terrific, very silky Olive Oil. It is actually cool to be able to feature an Italian oil because most of Europe’s oil producing regions were decimated by weather and the olive fruit fly in 2014. This resulted in many Tuscan and Umbrian producers opting not to produce oil and those who were able to sufficiently raised prices by 50-75% and it is safe to say at 16 bucks that this is a spectacular deal.

Murgo's olives are grown on the southern slopes of Mt. Etna in Eastern Sicily and the trees are grown on distinctive chalky, stony soil. Mild winters and hot summers allow for an elegant, fruity oil that is from 100% Nocellara dell'Etna olives. Picked by hand and bottled unfiltered, its appearance is in a natural, slightly cloudy form…its flavors are of fresh fruity green olives, almond and fresh herbs….a wonderful compliment to any Mediterranean seafood dish…and good bread. Like the limited quantities of their superb wines, only a little over 3000 six packs are produced so we are truly blessed to be able to offer it in Portland! ($16.00 - 500 ML BOTTLE)


2009 MURGO BRUT CLASSICO

Right now, the entire island of Sicily exploding with producers, but the question remains, where is the pinnacle region? Easy answer, it's Etna. Referred to as a Mediterranean Burgundy, it is a cool-climate growing region, which runs through the valleys and hills from the sea to Mt. Etna, and signs of impeccable quality are abound. Murgo is a family owned operation who specializes in sparkling wines as well as well as fabulous reds and whites. A few years back, I got extremely excited by the sparkling wines last year and was primed to work with them but a convoluted distribution system and high prices got in the way. That is until now!

100% of the native Nerello Mascalese grape, aromas of white flowers, lemon-lime, shortbread and gentle spice teem from the glass leading into a crisp clean palate with ripe tangerine, subtle toastiness, wet stone and white chocolate. Excellent with pan-seared Halibut, prawns, hors d'oeuvres and toasting. It is hard to believe the new and improved price of this outstanding bottle of fizz and we if you love bubbles as we do, we cannot encourage you enough to try a bottle of this exemplary jumping grape! ($20.00)




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2012 ROCK WALL WINE COMPANY
'ROCKHOUND RED'
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

A new venture started up by a famous California Zinfandel family. The name Rosenblum will be very familiar to those who have followed California wine and particularly Zinfandel as Kent is one of the influences on what we know of the grape today. After selling the Rosenblum label, he and his winemaker daughter Shauna started Rock Wall Wine Company where Kent is CEO and Shauna taking all of the knowledge and genealogy handed down to her from her papa, and are making smashing wines that merit your undivided attention.

Rockhound Red is designed to be a changing blend every year. 2012 is a quirky blend of 59% Zinfandel & 41% Tempranillo that works in harmony surprisingly very well. Chock full of extroverted deep black and red berry, peppery tones, and pronounced chocolate covered plum, the palate delights with savory, luscious and spicy flavors added to a well-integrated full fruit personality that flows gracefully to the succulent, judicious finish. Drink now with burgers, pork chops and more.



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2013 CASTELL SILVANER TROCKEN FRANKEN
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Silvaner, generally regarded as the Franken region's most distinctive variety, accounts for about 80% of this region’s production. Relatively unknown to me, last week was the first time that I experienced a wine from this particular producer, however, I have offered wines from this unheralded German region. Unlike what many folks think of when it comes to wines from this country, this wine is 100% bone dry.

An ultra-vivid white wine value, tightly focused, spicy, smoky floral tones with overriding brilliant limestone character and lemon zest go off like fireworks from the glass. Intensity is all over the place from old vines but piercing brightness shines with laser-beam precision and chimes throughout the whole experience. Firm and limestone driven on the superb finish. Grab your terroir turban because this is one beyond detailed! Diverse and food-friendly!



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2010 PICQUE-CAILLOU
PESSAC-LEOGNAN ROUGE
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE

Pessac-Leognan is an appellation within the Graves region that is reserved for the top estates and best terroirs. In existence since 1780, Château Picque Caillou is located in a very respectable neighborhood situated in close proximity to two famed Graves Chateaux, Haut-Brion and Pape-Clement.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and a worthy, if not greater, successor to the vaunted 2009! An intense ruby red that is best described as elegantly persuasive. Fine spice, cassis and blackberry shine against a backdrop of licorice and violet. The palate is exquisitely balanced, concentrated, yet still youthful and rambunctious. Ripe berries and briary tones kick in on the entry and give way to alluring chocolate and tobacco tones that spread out on the finish and follow through with pepper and cinnamon. There is good appeal and charm to this wine now, but is one that will drink and develop through 2024+.



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2012 COEUR DE TERRE PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

McMinnville based Coeur de Terre is one of Oregon’s best-kept secrets. This estate has been quietly making delicious Pinot Noirs on all levels and their 2012s across the board are quite appealing.

The 2012 Willamette Valley is based around 50-60% of Coeur de Terre’s estate vineyards and really reveals the dark-toned, sexy side of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Laced with plum-pepper, red berry, anise and fine herbs that waft from the glass, this wine is lush, forward, creamy and shows lovely persistence and length. Very drinkable now but will develop nicely over the next 3-5 years, too.



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