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4 smokin' 2012 Oregon Pinots, 4 fine under 15 buck values & 1 seriously delicious Cotes-du-Rhone




2012 ORATOIRE ST-MARTIN COTES-DU-RHONE
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE


Back in 2003 while visiting this Domaine with two other colleagues and being hosted by François Alary, the three of us were virtually throwing elbows, generally cursing in two languages and acting up with excitement. Francois was laughing right along and referred to us Les Trois Stoo-gez. Seriously, we understood and had passion for what these guys do and the doors really opened up, actually blew off of their hinges, with Francois showing us older vintages to prove the aging mettle of their outstanding wines. Looking back on 16 years through the annals of our musings, I've been most fortunate and proud to share these wines with Cellar Door friends for the entire time I've been hunting and pecking on the keyboard.

Unlike the small production, spendier Cru Cuvees, the Oratoire Cotes-du-Rhone has no Mourvedre in the blend, instead it's 80% Grenache & 20% Syrah. From the estate's foothill vineyards in Cairanne, this wine is cropped at the same level that a Premier Cru Burgundy would be and comes from 30+ year old vines. Vintage 2012 is a big one and brings forth pronounced exotic spice, sandalwood, lavender, smoke, Italian plum and pepper on the nose followed by a substantial texture that is dry, pure, concentrated and red. The finish is firm, palate-staining, revealing plenty of hot-rock aspects. Rhone wines have always been important to me here at The Cellar Door before and beyond, and this producer merits attention from any lover of Châteauneuf, Gigondas, etc. If you want to know more about the single cuvees, their quality and pricing, shoot me an e-mail, they are available. For many years this wine has been Cotes-du-Rhone with much more. Thankfully, some good things just never change. Drink over the next 3-5 years.




FOUR 2012 OREGON PINOT NOIRS

2012 MCKINLAY PINOT NOIR "SPECIAL SELECTION"
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE – VERY LIMITED!


You 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. Oregon Agriculture has been passed down to Matt Kinne from his great-grandfather who was dry farming cherries, nuts, apples and prunes in the Eola Hills in the early 1900s. Matt produces three miniscule lot pinot noirs that are each their own uniquely-honest and finesseful expressions of the varietal.

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, 2012 is the first since the 2008 and 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 2012 from 2018 through 2028



2012 MCKINLAY PINOT NOIR "LADD HILL"
$37.50 BTL./$450.00 CASE – VERY LIMITED


Ladd Hill is a single vineyard that Matt works with and one that was planted in 1976. The same philosophy holds true in this wine as the Special Selection, only made in top vintages and must really reflect the old vines and site. 2012 is one of those.

The nose offers jasmine and red flower notes with underlying complex dark raspberry, ripe cherry, fresh turned earth, sage and cinnamon. Showing some impressive depth of flavor with classic, elegant richness and incredible texture & supple mouthfeel, which are real themes of Matt's wines. The mid-palate is supple and round with a cushion of fruit that joins the perfume on the finish and sneaks in with its seductive structure; a bit inward and youthful at the moment but with great material behind the curtain. Give this bottle about 3 or 4 years, then marvel & drink while it ages gracefully and develops effortlessly through 2028.



2012 EVESHAM WOOD PINOT NOIR "EOLA-AMITY"
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE


Five-Star Oregon Pinot stalwart Evesham Wood's Eola-Amity cuvee is an appellation-specific wine that bridges the gap between the Willamette Valley offering and the single vineyard wines that come later in the year.

Delivering graceful aromas and flavors that conjure up harmonious notes of strawberry and cocoa-dust, texturally this offering is concentrated and persistent with plenty of dark tones up front which fan out into a vivid, suave and rich finish. Top-notch, obsessive farming and winemaking at its pinnacle, this wine shows admirable approachability now and will drink nicely through the end of the decade. Given the price hikes we've been seeing for this vintage of small quantity, this wine is a steal for its price level.



2012 BEAUX FRERES PINOT NOIR "ESTATE BEAUX FRERES VINEYARD"
$79.99 BTL./$479.94 – SIX PACK CASE


One of Oregon's most profound and compelling producers and they hit it big with their full-on 2012!! If you want the top-level of Oregon you won't want to wait for reviews, live many others, this will be gone by the time they are published. The following is from Beaux Freres: "Our original estate vineyard was planted by Mike and Jackie Etzel from 1987-1991. This 23 acre vineyard is planted on tight spacing of one by two meters. It is pruned in the Burgundian style called Guyot and trained on a vertical trellis system. An average vine age of 22 years puts this vineyard in the prime of its life. Originally Mike farmed it conventionally but about 11 years ago started experimenting with nonconventional farming methods and now our entire property is being farmed using biodynamic principles. As always this wine is 100% from our estate vineyard. It was originally planted to Pommard & Wadenswil clones on their own roots.

The color is deep, dense ruby/purple. The nose begins with a classic display of forest floor, spice and flowery ripe black raspberries and blue fruits. This wine has a vague resemblance to a Richebourg from Burgundy. Full-bodied, with perfect harmony among all its components - tannin, acidity, alcohol, wood and extract. This compelling wine will age for 15+ years and rank with the 1994 and 2002 vintages."







4 SELECTIONS FOR UNDER $15

2012 TENUTA SANT' ANTONIO "SCAIA" ROSSO
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE


A happy wine from the Veneto region that instantly brought a smile to our faces. From a fine Amarone and Valpolicella producer, Sant' Antonio has made a cleanly-made, fresh, fun wine that is made from 100% Corvina, the main grape that goes into the blends of Amarone and Valpolicella. Full of cherry-pit, dark chocolate and vibrant herbs, it is fun, mouth-filling and goes down very easy. One taste and you'll find out why we ask, "what's the hell's not to like about this red??!!"



2013 CELLER PARDAS PENEDES BLANC "RUPESTRIS"
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE


Celler Pardas is a young operation in the Upper Penedes region located south of Barcelona. Founded in 1996 by Ramon Perera and Jordi Arnan, these guys are farming their 60+ acres on hillside terraces, making absolute authentic, organic wines that deliver ample quality and character for fair prices. Having been introduced to these wines last year and enjoying the 2012 version of this compelling white wine, the 2013 rocked my world when I recently drank a bottle (and then got into a second)!

The difference between 2012 and the new 2013 seems to be an addition of the Macabeo grape in addition to the featured native varietals of Xarel.lo, Xarel.lo Vermell and Malvasia de Sitges. More aromatic complexity, this wine is still quite a blazer. Aromas of lime, melon, rosemary and seashore scents carry over into a mouthwatering texture that is dry, brisk and full of tension and fine depth. Enjoy this delightful white wine with smoked salmon, snapper or steamed clams.



2012 ANDRE KIENTZLER SYLVANER
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE


Lately it seems as though Alsace has become somewhat of a forgotten region within the wine realm mostly because how is one able to decipher whether the wine that you are about to uncork is dry or sweet?? Still we proceed and be your guide because we believe in the best here and always on our minds are the terrific, bone-dry and food-friendly wines that come from this area. Ribeauville-based Domaine Kientzler is a long-time Cellar Door favorite and their electric 2012 Sylvaner is fabulous and yes, FULLY DRY!!

The Sylvaner grape has its origins in Austria but little is left there. Where it is at its most prominent is in Germany's Franken region as well as in Alsace, these wines can be very delicious as well as delivering quite a bit of bang for the buck. Kientzler's 2012 is a deft, fragrant wine with noticeable nerve, vibrancy and a pleasantly delicate, clean, fresh finish with pronounced lemon and spices. A wine that fills the mouth and then sweeps the palate clean, it is a perfect match for sushi.



2011 THOMAS HENRY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE


Made by Meadowcroft Winery in Sonoma, the Thomas Henry wines are designed to deliver terrific everyday appeal for not much money. This is often easier said than done in California, especially given the value of land and the price of grapes. This 2011 is quite a tasty number that will appease any Cab fan on a Wednesday evening. Impactful and mouth-filling with ripe cassis, black currant, plum, and cocoa powder. Soft tannins, silky and long fruit laden finish make this cab a perfect pairing with roasted rib of beef and grilled sirloin. Delicious now and over the next 2 years.



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