Hot Sheets

THE CELLAR DOOR'S "START CHOPPING" HOTSHEET
Zin, Brick House Pinot, Brunello, Cool Cotes-du-Rhone and more

2009 PETERSON ZINFANDEL "DRY CREEK"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

One of the unsung heroes of Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley, Peterson has been producing stalwart, stout and full-flavored Zins for 25 years. The 2009, from 7 different sites, gives off enticing aromatics of crushed strawberry, black pepper, and a hint of milk chocolate. In the mouth this is as delicious as Zin gets, with a cornucopia of raspberry and blackberry fruit. Big in nature, but there is incredible balance and restraint to it. Zinfandel can age, and this one will do fine for 5-7 years, but how can you resist all that gorgeous fruit right now!!! A great steak wine, drink now through 2016.

2 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNES FROM PRODIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF AND CORNAS PRODUCERS

2010 DOMAINE CHARVIN CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE "LE POUTET"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

One of the real treasures of the Southern Rhône Valley, big-league Châteauneuf-du-Pape superstar Laurent Charvin's Côtes-du-Rhône is always outstanding. The blend is 80% Grenache and a 20% mix of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Vaccarèse from 16 hectares of vines which are just outside the border of Châteauneuf and "only" entitled to Côtes-du-Rhône status. Don't be fooled, however, there is way more here than the stereotype Côtes-du-Rhône that one plucks off of the grocery store shelf.

Old vines are utilized and the wine really shows depth along with Charvin's signature smoothness and class. Poised and precise; stacked but never fat, vintage 2010's seamless aspects are marked all over this wine. Upscale fragrances of hot-rock, lavender, fennel and raspberry Structured and very provençal; seemingly fragrant in the mouth as well as lengthy, cerebral and ethereal. Drink over the next 6-9 years. If you're your budget won't allow for you to have a go at Charvin's high-end Châteauneuf, the Côtes-du-Rhône Poutet is well worth having!! Also, this is the first time that we are offering this wine broadly since 2006 and given its following and pedigree it will sell out.

2009 DOMAINE VOGE CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE "LES PEYROUSSES"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Not your ordinary Côtes-du-Rhône but one from the Northern Rhône Valley's great Cornas masters. Made from 100% Syrah, this fascinating, refined and aromatic specimen is made with declassified Cornas fruit along with some from plots in and south of St-Peray. Very indicative of French Syrah from this area, aromatic violet, cracked pepper, red plum, subtle tapenade and pronounced woodsmoke are all very present on the nose. In the mouth, this deceptively structured wine can best be described as "purple". Stylishly-textured, vibrant, plenty of depth and extension. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years with game, perhaps a Vietnamese beef dish, roasted chicken/mushrooms or a pan-seared steak slathered in peppercorns.

2011 ABBAZIA DI NOVACELLA SAUVIGNON BLANC
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Here's something you'd never see in America mainly because the Jesus Crispies would freak out. Abbazia di Novacella is an actual monastery that actually produces their own wine from their own vines and incredibly they are a wonderful source in Northern Italy's Alto Adige region for scintillating wines. Reds and whites are produced and grown and viticultural experience extends back 800+ years. The 2011 Sauvignon comes from vines situated at about 1200 feet above sea-level and packed with mineral-rich soils. Gooseberry, subtle tropical fruit, prominent mineral and fine sage scents careen from the glass and flow through to a texture that is amply concentrated while maintaining vigorous freshness and mineral liveliness. Toss back this fabulicious white wine with pan-seared seafood like scallops or green vegetables such as asparagus or fried zucchini.

2008 DOMAINE BAUMARD SAVENNIERES
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE
92 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE

One of the great names of the Loire valley and France, the progressive Florent Baumard bottles everything under twist-top, doesn't use wood and prefers to keep his wines at reasonable alcohol levels for the dry wines. Freshness and acidity are of the utmost importance. Bryan had a 7 hour visit to Domaine Baumard back in March and after numerous bottles at lunch, Florent stated about the grand region of Savennieres "I hate it! The Chenin never does what it is supposed to, if I were married to it, I'd ask for a divorce…but I cannot find the correct lawyer!" Funny as he is, the wines here are very serious and sublime.

The 2008 Savennieres is actually a single cru known as "Clos St-Yves". Tactile, dry and charismatic…spiced tea, stony mineral and with shades of lemon/chamomile aspects. Combines intensity of precision and cut with stellar, high-pitched fruit, excellent expansion and character throughout…the finish is sterling, crystalline and minerally….and very long! Very much a vehicle for fleshy fish dishes (ate perch in a beurre blanc sauce at lunch) with sauce or for a ripe, aged goat cheese. One last thing – this wine ages well. Drink through 2019.

2009 QUATTROMANI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO
$8.49 BTL./$101.88 CASE

Fun, forward and unpretentious and from the Abruzzo region on the Adriatic Coast, Quattromani's Montepulciano is the consummate wine for just about any occasion.

*Ordering in pizza? Drink Quattromani.
*Celebrating sending the brats off to school?? Drink Quattromani (although some parents may prefer Champagne. If this is the case, call Bryan immediately)!
*Having an end-of-summer party?? Drink Quattromani.

So now that you have the idea, make a plan to order many bottles of this hearty, playful, fun, fruit-driven red that is simply lip-smacking good. Only $3.50 more than a Subway 5-dollar foot-long sub and most importantly, it'll get you drunk.

2007 LA PALAZZETTA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
$45.99 BTL./$551.88 CASE

Palazzetta's Brunello is very traditionally styled (many of you have heard Flavio Fanti's story: no Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet planted anywhere near his land and adamantly - NO BARRIQUES). The complexity of the apex 2007 vintage really shines through as well as the top Brunello village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate. Not far from the renowned Ciacci Piccolomini D'Argona vineyards (A Cellar Door favorite), this luxurious wine shows red cherry, serious Tuscan herbs, rose, violet and gains more sotto bosco as it unfolds. Sexy, lacy entry leads into more expansive flavors that spread out a bit like a great Grand Cru Burgundy would. Still plenty of youthful structure, this one can definitely cellar and become something even more special. We were commenting on the finish 5 minutes after the wine was finished. Mamma Mia! Drink this stylish, profound Brunello 2016 – 2031+.

2010 BRICK HOUSE PINOT NOIR "BOULDER BLOCK"
$41.99 BTL./$503.88 CASE

One of the originators of Oregon's organic viticulture movement, former CBS Middle East correspondent and Oregon native Doug Tunnell planted his Ribbon Ridge area vineyard site in 1990. Converting over to biodynamic farming, limiting production and being all about the vineyard site, the small production is always sought-after by Oregon wine lovers. Boulder Block is a single hillside of volcanic rock of Brick House's vineyard and is a Pinot Noir that is the proverbial velvet hammer. Even in the lavish and seductive 2010 vintage, this wine maintains its underlying power and has the potential to age extremely well. A spirited pinot noir nose of plum, violet, mulled spice, earth and pepper with undertones of licorice and mushroom providing instant complexity and clarity. In the mouth, its texture has generosity and power with underlying grace and complexity, especially on the persistent back end. It is here that one finds the wine's real backbone and lets you know that time in the cellar will be required. Hold on to this bottle of awesomeness until 2015 and drink through 2025.