Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'OSCAR BLUTH' HOTSHEET
Walter Scott & Woodward Canyon
Alvaro Palacios Priorat & Valpol Ripasso
Two Under-15 French Reds
Alvaro Palacios Priorat & Valpol Ripasso
Two Under-15 French Reds
2019 MICHELE CASTELLANI
VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
Rocking the Ripasso indeed! A new find for us are the wines from Michele Castellani and one of the standouts of the lineup is this very fine Valpolicella that is made using the Ripasso technique. Castellani’s Ripasso follows the original vision of the 1950s and 60s, which featured wines of breed and uniqueness that were the benchmarks of this process and region, not utilizing dried fruit to make outsized and overtly alcoholic wines that were prevalent in the 90s and 00s.
Deep with pure notes of ripe cherry, raspberry, violet, cocoa powder and roasted earth carry over to a texture with savory red fruits and fine grip lending structure and backbone. Finishing quite long and having ample dimension, this Valpolicella Ripasso will make everything from roasted pork to mushroom risotto or a gorgonzola cheese dance on your palate. Drink this delightful Ripasso over the next 6-8 years.
Deep with pure notes of ripe cherry, raspberry, violet, cocoa powder and roasted earth carry over to a texture with savory red fruits and fine grip lending structure and backbone. Finishing quite long and having ample dimension, this Valpolicella Ripasso will make everything from roasted pork to mushroom risotto or a gorgonzola cheese dance on your palate. Drink this delightful Ripasso over the next 6-8 years.
2021 FENOUILLET VENTOUX ROUGE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Siskel and Ebert had a rating system of Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down, but many years ago, I decided to expound on their system a step further. There are so many Rhone wines at this price neither that merit thumbs up nor thumbs down, because when we taste them and they are bad, I just give them the finger. However, no middle finger for this one from a producer more known for their Muscat wines than their sleeper/surprisingly good reds.
75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre from three villages on Mont-Ventoux (Barroux, Aubignan and St-Hippolyte) planted on a plethora of soils. Leading off with smoked rosemary giving way to lithe red cherry tones and pepper. Suave with nice trajectory and finesse from this cooler, classic vintage. Succulent and radiant on the finish, enjoy this Rhone with tomato-based vegetarian dishes or grilled chicken breast marinated in lemon and thyme.
75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre from three villages on Mont-Ventoux (Barroux, Aubignan and St-Hippolyte) planted on a plethora of soils. Leading off with smoked rosemary giving way to lithe red cherry tones and pepper. Suave with nice trajectory and finesse from this cooler, classic vintage. Succulent and radiant on the finish, enjoy this Rhone with tomato-based vegetarian dishes or grilled chicken breast marinated in lemon and thyme.
2022 WALTER SCOTT PINOT NOIR
'LA COMBE VERTE'
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
'LA COMBE VERTE'
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE
When it comes to this wine as well as its Chardonnay sibling, I often hesitate to call it merely Willamette Valley because of the quality of vineyards, farming and winemaking that goes into the production of them. They are serious business and have impeccable quality/price rapport.
Vintage 2022 marks a return (for this vintage at least) to being a majority of Eola-Amity fruit blended with the mighty Freedom Hill vineyard. Sensuous aromatics with an impressive core of poised fruit, engaging smoke and spice all that follows through to a silky texture that expands nicely and maintains vibrancy throughout. Lengthy and very promising, this seriously delectable and seamless Pinot is an unmitigated heist! Very enjoyable now but this will also easily age and develop for 8-10+ years.
Vintage 2022 marks a return (for this vintage at least) to being a majority of Eola-Amity fruit blended with the mighty Freedom Hill vineyard. Sensuous aromatics with an impressive core of poised fruit, engaging smoke and spice all that follows through to a silky texture that expands nicely and maintains vibrancy throughout. Lengthy and very promising, this seriously delectable and seamless Pinot is an unmitigated heist! Very enjoyable now but this will also easily age and develop for 8-10+ years.
2022 WALTER SCOTT PINOT NOIR
'CUVEE RUTH'
$45.99 BTL./$551.88 CASE
'CUVEE RUTH'
$45.99 BTL./$551.88 CASE
Cuvee Ruth is a Reserve Pinot Noir meant to span a very long bridge between this operation’s terrific Willamette Valley version and their very limited single vineyard wines will which arrive very soon (more on those in another email).
A selection of favorite barrels coming from top-level vineyards including Justice, Koosah, Temperance Hill, Sojeau, X-Novo, Bracken and Witness Tree, this wine is enticing from the get go. Certainly not a caricature, this is Pinot in its most beautiful form. Voluptuous, fragrant and seemingly androgynous with masculine and feminine aspects that are bursting, broad and possess ample perfume. An extra level of depth and complexity both aromatically and in flavor-profile give way to a finish that is lacy, sultry and quite persistent. The Cuvée Ruth is THIS good and if this is the case, we cannot wait to see the single vineyard wines! This superb Pinot has excellent appeal to it at this moment but given its deceptive backbone and dimension, it will easily age for 12-15 years.
A selection of favorite barrels coming from top-level vineyards including Justice, Koosah, Temperance Hill, Sojeau, X-Novo, Bracken and Witness Tree, this wine is enticing from the get go. Certainly not a caricature, this is Pinot in its most beautiful form. Voluptuous, fragrant and seemingly androgynous with masculine and feminine aspects that are bursting, broad and possess ample perfume. An extra level of depth and complexity both aromatically and in flavor-profile give way to a finish that is lacy, sultry and quite persistent. The Cuvée Ruth is THIS good and if this is the case, we cannot wait to see the single vineyard wines! This superb Pinot has excellent appeal to it at this moment but given its deceptive backbone and dimension, it will easily age for 12-15 years.
2020 FATTORIA GRIGNANO
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
It has been a minute since we offered a Chianti Rufina wine that does not come from the two best-known producers of the region, Frescobaldi and Selvapiana. Grignano's wine was another tasting revelation this past week. The Rufina section of Chianti is located about forty minutes east and slightly north of Florence and delivers wines that are very unlike those of the Classico zone. With the area's high elevation, the wines from Rufina tend towards more sturdiness, structure and vibrancy.
Grignano's Riserva is from a small two-hectare vineyard that supplies their finest Sangiovese. Exciting, gorgeous classic Chianti aromas of savory sage, red berry, leather, Tuscan spice and a kiss of red earth notes. Aged solely in large Slavonian botti, it maintains a pretty streak beneath the telltale depth and muscle that arrives with authority on the mid palate. A real hallmark of the region - think of it like a 5 o'clock shadow all heading to a finish that is inviting and prototypical Tuscan with lots of material and persistence. Shows brilliantly right now, but many past old experiences with this region's top wines have shown that these have a propensity to age for a decade or more. Given the pricing of the likes of the Riserva wines from top producers of this zone, this is a wonderful value for collectible Chianti. Drink through 2031+.
Grignano's Riserva is from a small two-hectare vineyard that supplies their finest Sangiovese. Exciting, gorgeous classic Chianti aromas of savory sage, red berry, leather, Tuscan spice and a kiss of red earth notes. Aged solely in large Slavonian botti, it maintains a pretty streak beneath the telltale depth and muscle that arrives with authority on the mid palate. A real hallmark of the region - think of it like a 5 o'clock shadow all heading to a finish that is inviting and prototypical Tuscan with lots of material and persistence. Shows brilliantly right now, but many past old experiences with this region's top wines have shown that these have a propensity to age for a decade or more. Given the pricing of the likes of the Riserva wines from top producers of this zone, this is a wonderful value for collectible Chianti. Drink through 2031+.
2021 CHATEAU PAJZOS
TOKAJI FURMINT (Dry White)
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
TOKAJI FURMINT (Dry White)
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Hungary's Tokaji region is famous for its dessert wines; however, many dry white wines also come from this famed region as well. In 1991, Chateau Pajzos was one of the first ‘private enterprise’ wineries founded by 12 wine lovers. Now owned by famed Pomerol producer Chateau Clinet, these wines are magical.
The best word to describe this bone-dry white wine is fervent. Hang on to your drawers as this wine takes you on a thrill ride with shocking briskness as it shows prominent lime, melon, chamomile and mineral. Lively, mouthwatering and refreshing, it shows very with shellfish or a plate of charcuterie.
The best word to describe this bone-dry white wine is fervent. Hang on to your drawers as this wine takes you on a thrill ride with shocking briskness as it shows prominent lime, melon, chamomile and mineral. Lively, mouthwatering and refreshing, it shows very with shellfish or a plate of charcuterie.
2019 ALVARO PALACIOS PRIORAT
'LES TERRASSES VELLES VINYES'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
'LES TERRASSES VELLES VINYES'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
Alvaro Palacios's Les Terrasses Priorat is one of the best values in this high-priced and Catalan wine region. Given who is behind the wine and at this price, it is a ridiculous bargain. Commencing in 2007, Alvaro culled the young vines out of this cuvee, created a cuvee called Camins, then added the Velles Vinyes (old vines) moniker to this superstar wine. This wine always has had good components, but these days, there is even more to love about this prolific Mediterranean red.
82% Grenache, 17% Carignan & 1% white grapes. From the first moment, this wine is wonderfully dramatic and sophisticated. Persistence and character with driving spicy, mulled cherry, grenadine, slate, wind-swept lavender and plenty of tangy red licorice aspects seemingly glow from the glass. So damn impressive, it carries over into a palate that is extroverted, ripe and mouth coating. These days, Alvaro has been constructing this wine to maintain poise over sheer power. Natural minerality shines from the slate soils and there is plenty of backbone and submerged grip. The back end seemingly lasts forever and is class from the get-go. Amazingly one can uncork a bottle but there is no doubt that this wine will easily age for 7-10 more years as well. If you need to be reassured with a score, The Wine Advocate scored it 94.
82% Grenache, 17% Carignan & 1% white grapes. From the first moment, this wine is wonderfully dramatic and sophisticated. Persistence and character with driving spicy, mulled cherry, grenadine, slate, wind-swept lavender and plenty of tangy red licorice aspects seemingly glow from the glass. So damn impressive, it carries over into a palate that is extroverted, ripe and mouth coating. These days, Alvaro has been constructing this wine to maintain poise over sheer power. Natural minerality shines from the slate soils and there is plenty of backbone and submerged grip. The back end seemingly lasts forever and is class from the get-go. Amazingly one can uncork a bottle but there is no doubt that this wine will easily age for 7-10 more years as well. If you need to be reassured with a score, The Wine Advocate scored it 94.
2020 CHATEAU LACAPELLE CAHORS
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Cahors is located in the Dordogne and the best way to describe this soulful offering is to say that it smells and tastes very French. Its characteristics are so French that one sniff may send you running for a pack of smokes, a baguette, some pâté and a white flag for purposes of surrender!
Lacapelle-Cabanac's Cahors combines noble, sturdy history with modern, fruity accessibility blended with 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot for smoothness and underlying suppleness. The nose is teeming with tones of black licorice, blackberry, hints of tar, and spices. Very drinkable now, especially with roasted duck, hearty stews, bleu cheese and pâté.
Lacapelle-Cabanac's Cahors combines noble, sturdy history with modern, fruity accessibility blended with 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot for smoothness and underlying suppleness. The nose is teeming with tones of black licorice, blackberry, hints of tar, and spices. Very drinkable now, especially with roasted duck, hearty stews, bleu cheese and pâté.
2019 WOODWARD CANYON
ESTATE RESERVE RED
$99.99 BTL. - VERY LIMITED
ESTATE RESERVE RED
$99.99 BTL. - VERY LIMITED
95 Points - Vinous...In the early 2000s, Rick Small of Woodward Canyon started producing this wine from his home vineyard and lately, one we feel is a crown jewel amongst the many other greats. This is one of Washington's truly special and extremely limited reds. If you love Woodward Canyon, this is a must have; but e-mail now, it will sell out quickly!
Led by Cabernet Franc and Merlot along with the other five Bordeaux varietals, this Saint-Emilion inspired blend possesses lyrical scents of roasted coffee, black raspberry, tobacco, dark chocolate and nutmeg sing from the glass. The penetration and multi-dimensional characteristics from the nose are also present in the mouth. Luxurious and not without cushion, this stuff is almost dangerous! Soothing and smoothly textured with building spice and a head-spinning core of blue fruit take the lead. The backbone is what ultimately carries the wine forward to longevity. While it is still a Walla Walla wine, this offering seemingly has one foot in St-Emilion. Quite inspiring! Drink 2026 - 2039+.
Led by Cabernet Franc and Merlot along with the other five Bordeaux varietals, this Saint-Emilion inspired blend possesses lyrical scents of roasted coffee, black raspberry, tobacco, dark chocolate and nutmeg sing from the glass. The penetration and multi-dimensional characteristics from the nose are also present in the mouth. Luxurious and not without cushion, this stuff is almost dangerous! Soothing and smoothly textured with building spice and a head-spinning core of blue fruit take the lead. The backbone is what ultimately carries the wine forward to longevity. While it is still a Walla Walla wine, this offering seemingly has one foot in St-Emilion. Quite inspiring! Drink 2026 - 2039+.
