Hot Sheets

Hot Sheet of Exciting Wine Deals!

THE CELLAR DOOR'S "COME HEAVY OR DON'T COME AT ALL" HOTSHEET

DESCRIPTION_1

96 Point Rioja Special, Andrew Will Cab Value, Chianti, Rose, Minervois & more




2010 CHATEAU D’OUPIA MINERVOIS
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE


The late Andre Iche would certainly have to be known as a Minervois Maestro and fortunately his family is keeping up his tireless and brilliant work maintaining the superb quality that has always been present at this fine estate. The ideal bistro wine, this is delicious with steak frites, hearty stews or pretty much any grilled fare. The makeup here is 60% Carignan (from vineyards up to 100 years old), 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache and like the rest of France in 2010, results in the entire Languedoc were magnificent.

Hearty, soulful Southern French scents of lavender-dust and thyme along with black pepper and black cherry follow into a texture that possesses generosity with freshness from front to back and finishing with broad wild-spice. A perfect bistro or outdoor party red wine, order some bottles or cases and invite some friends over!



2007 IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


From Panzano in the northern sector of the Chianti Classico zone, Il Molino di Grace is one of Chianti’s hidden treasures and values. Alas, these wines are now being discovered, but their appeal still is amazing, especially because they have so much drink-worthy appeal and can age well, too.

2007 is a great Tuscan vintage and this one has taken full advantage of the splendor with subdued aromas of pomegranate, bing cherry, anisette, dried violets, roasted meat, mineral and camphor. If you are looking for a big dumb Napa valley-inspired oak bomb with big chewy and drying tannins, back away from our Il Molino di Grace, this is traditional and very poised Chianti that is a perfect blend of red cherry fruit and secondary notes bringing complexity and making this perfect for the table right now. The structure is fine but substantial and will allow for aging for another 4-5 years. Have with slow braised or roasted meats over rich tomato-sauced pasta dishes.



2011 ANDREW WILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE


Andrew Will’s Chris Camarda is a Washington legend who makes extremely age-worthy wines. A few years back, Chris created the “black label” wines that give a superb experience of what this cat has to offer for a fine price. No, they won't live as long as the single vineyard blends but they are perfect 7-10 year wines to drink while you wait for the big wines.

From 3 outstanding Washington sites (Ciel du Cheval, Champoux & Two Blondes) this forward, lacy-smooth Cab unfolds scrumptious notes of blackberry, cassis, graphite, underlying dusty cocoa and earth along with just a kiss of smoked nutmeg. Flavorful, driving, very persistent juice that pound for pound and dollar for dollar, is one of the best Washington Cabernet values out there. Lingering and sculpted, this is serious stuff that many other producers would get $40 for!! Drink this knockout through 2019.



2012 MAESTRACCI CORSE CALVI ROSE “E PROVE”
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


Importer Kermit Lynch doesn't play around when it comes to being the king of Corsican wine importers, he has several top-level estates and some of our favorites are the innovative wines from Maestracci. Michel Raoust runs this Domaine located on the western coast of Corsica and this big-hearted rose is perfect for those who wish to escape the mundane of simple summer Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, ET. Al.

Made from 50% Niellucciu (Sangiovese) & 50% Sciaccarellu this pink wine is a snotload of scent! Captivating aromas of flowers, currant, citrus and seashells provide lots of dance from the glass, but also show impressive depth and intensity. Peppy and vivacious yet with palate-staining qualities along with inconspicuous ginger-spice tones that are woven-in nicely and extend to the suave, stand-up finish. This is absolutely sexy juice for the adventurous wine drinker who is willing to uncork their minds and palates. Exquisite with swordfish or albacore tuna.



2011 HERMANOS MALBEC-TANNAT
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE


From Argentina’s La Salta region north of Mendoza and specifically the Valle de Cafayte, this intriguing blend provided lots of full-flavored fun for not a ton of money. Even though Malbec’s New World spiritual home is Argentina and Tannat also being present in South America, both of these grapes’ lineage goes back to SW France. Grown at almost 7000 feet, the usual ripe qualities of this nation’s wines are very present but an abundance of freshness also permeates throughout. Made from 70% Malbec, 30% Tannat, it also has a 90 point score from The Wine Advocate: “It has a dense, saturnine bouquet with blackberry and gravel notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, supple blackberry and bilberry notes with a rounded, harmonious finish. This is very fine and well-crafted."



2012 JEAN-PAUL PICARD MENETOU-SALON BLANC
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE


While we make no denials that we adore Sancerre’s wines, neighboring regions like Menetou-Salon, Quincy and Reuilly have also risen to the forefront with exquisite Sauvignon Blancs that represent their Loire terroirs so succinctly.

A true-blue Sancerrois, Jean-Paul Picard is based in the village of Bue and produces very underrated Sancerre wines. Also represented in his portfolio are holdings within the region of Menetou-Salon. The soils here are packed with Kimmeridgian limestone-clay which prevails throughout Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume and Chablis and the fossilized crustaceans within the dirt are what provide the wines with their individual quality.

A bit more citrus/grapefruit driven than the Domaine’s Sancerre Blanc, this mercurial Sauvignon reveals loads of burst. Plenty of flinty, rocky qualities, it’s the penetrating fruit that shines on this persuasively explosive offering. Succulent from the moment it is tasted, plenty of zesty features call one back for more. Vibrant and piercing enough for shellfish dishes but enough weight to handle white fishes in sauce.



2001 LA RIOJA ALTA RIOJA GRAN RESERVA “904”
[reg. $75.99] SPECIAL PRICE - $53.99 BTL./$647.88 CASE


La Rioja Alta is a devout, ultra-traditional producer and we have been anticipating the release of their 2001 Gran Reserva for almost 3 years now. Much has been bantered about over this wine, and deservedly so; combined with a great vintage with an outstanding producer and you have excitement on the level of a new U2 release. Oh yeah, this also has a fat 96 point score, too!!

“Dark ruby-colored with a garnet rim, it displays a lovely nose of Asian spices, incense, tobacco, balsamic, and blackberry. On the palate it has exceptional depth, layers of spicy black fruit, excellent ripeness, and an elegant personality. Upon release it should continue to evolve for another 5-6 years and drink well through 2040. – 96 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE”



Pages