1/14/19 THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'NOTHING AS IT SEEMS' HOTSHEET


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'NOTHING AS IT SEEMS' HOTSHEET
Value Barbaresco, Cote-Rotie, Unoaked Chardonnay & more


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2014 GIUSEPPE NADA
BARBARESCO 'CASOT'
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE

After visiting Piedmont last May, one thing that opened my eyes, especially in Barbaresco, are the number of growers whose wines are on the upswing and may or may not have been brought in for one reason or another. One of the three main villages of Barbaresco, (along with Neive and Barbaresco) Treiso is now being recognized and its terroirs being shown by the many young producers in this area. Stereotypically, Barbaresco and Treiso are about elegance while Neive is power but that changes within the obstacle course of terroirs and these traits are often belied.

Young Enrico Nada is at the helm of this excellent property. In 1900, a deal was made for an orchard, vineyard and house on a very steep slope by one of Enrico’s ancestors. That turned out to be this particular site within the Casot Cru and purchased from a cat with the last name of Gaja. Casot’s steepness as well its clay and packed limestone soils bring forth and energetic, wiry and very fine Barbaresco. Scents of Morello cherry are followed by chalk, prominent mineral, mint and underlying floral tones. The palate is quite svelte and vertical with its depth showing as it moves towards the structured, quite lasting finish. A superb collectible value, this wine is quite young now. Hold on to it until 2021 and drink through 2027.



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2013 DESVIGNES MORGON
COTE-DE-PY 'JAVERNIERES'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

Not only one of Beaujolais’s most prolific producers, Domaine Desvignes is one of France’s wine treasures and their Morgon Cru wines are what is so righteous about the good that is currently occurring within Beaujolais. I uncorked a bottle of this wine over the weekend and was very impressed with how well it is starting to show at age five. There were lots of oohs and ahhs at the table as well as several epiphanies at just how well these wines age. We recently sold the 2017 of this wine and it is in need of cellar time, however this one is open for business, yet will continue to develop. Javernieres is a sub cru located on the lower portion of the Py hillside in Morgon. When it comes to Morgon and the sheer amounts of iron oxide in the soils of this cuvee, this takes on these aspects very well.

Who says top Gamay and Beaujolais won't age??? Monumental aromas that are very French possess pronounced minerality, perfume, olive, smoked meat and raspberry that sing from the glass. Very exquisite, this is virtual Grand cru Beaujolais with generosity and richness all while maintaining its poised and debonair traits. Layered and old-viney, but never becoming thick or over the top, it finishes with lovely pomegranate, graham, serious earthy and energetic stoniness and spiciness on the coating, detailed finish. Drink over the next 8-10 years with sausage & lentils, hearty mushroom dishes, venison, hearty stews and especially a steak au poivre.



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2017 GILBERT UNOAKED CHARDONNAY
COLUMBIA VALLEY
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

More and more we are witnessing somewhat of a revolution when it comes to New World Chardonnay. Many unoaked versions are popping up and Gilbert has followed along nicely with their version that comes from three sites in and around the Columbia Valley including the Wahluke Slope.

The best way to describe this wine is that it frolics! Fun and pleasing aromas of pear, lime and melon follow into a texture that possesses plenty of burst along with cushion and succulence. A flavorful offering that will pair nicely with grilled fish or vegetables.



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2017 ZORZAL MALBEC
'TERROIR UNICO'
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Zorzal is located at 4500 feet in the sub region of the Uco Valley called Gualtallary just outside of Tupungato. Being at this elevation, Zorzal is the highest winery in all of Mendoza. The high portion of chalk in the soil combined with the elevation gives their wines impressive energy that balances out the mighty depth of fruit.

No oak is utilized so it is permitted to strut its true Malbec qualities as well as its regional soil structures. Blackberry and plum-pit qualities surround secondary scents of licorice and coffee all which carry into a mouth filling texture that never gets ponderous or burdensome. A perfect wine to drink by the case, it will pair nicely with sauteed pork chops or even a good Bolognese sauce.



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2016 PRA SOAVE CLASSICO 'STAFORTE'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

It is always a challenge to say who is the best producer in any given growing region but these days, when it comes to Soave, I would have to say that the current titleholder is Pra. The Staforte is from the top of the Soave hill and from four excellent sites (Froscà, Froscarino, Ponsara and Val dell’Acqua). Aged on its lees in tank with batonnage for a minimum of 6 months and then for at least 12 more months in bottle.

Essence of the region, this spot-on interpretation of Soave is a mineral monster with kisses of honey, lemon and pineapple and seashore scents. In the mouth, it is suave and sophisticated with plenty of voltage. The minerality picks up in the driving, flavorful mid-palate and keeps on going to the livewire, brisk finish. A great autumnal white wine to drink with a vegetarian risotto spiked with chanterelles.



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2016 CHATEAU PEYRAT
GRAVES ROUGE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

After fifteen years of experience in Bordeaux, three guys set about to live their dream by taking over a Graves estate and making their marks. In 2014 along with some investors they landed in Cerons, finding a Chateau with vineyard planted on a bed of limestone and clay in the spiritual heart of the region.
This wine not only scores a touchdown, it does quite the dance after spiking the ball! A classy blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this wine is essence of what this region is all about as well as showing the prodigious quality of the 2016 vintage. Sculpted and prototype Graves this wine is has depth and is very cerebral. Red and black cherry with a formidable presence of pekoe, graphite and a touch of cinnamon it is dry, earth-tinged and classic Bordeaux meaning regal, refined and not thick and jammy. Quite deceptive on the finish as it lingers beautifully. Enjoy this excellent wine over the next 6-8 years with grilled duck, red meats or a nicely ripened Brie de Meaux.



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2015 RAMSAY PETITE SIRAH
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Ramsay Winery is proof that there are exceptional everyday drinkers being made in California…it's just too bad that for every delicious one such as this, we have to taste through literally a hundred versions of manipulated drek before we find such an offering.

Ramsay's Petite Sirah has quite a following and deservedly so, it is a delicious, mouthful of wine for 15 bucks. Scents of blackberry pie, leather, nutmeg and dark chocolate lead into a well-integrated texture that is juicy, generous and spicy; drink with roasted meats.



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2013 RENE ROSTAING
COTE-ROTIE 'AMPODIUM'
$79.99 - VERY LIMTED!

We rarely ever get the chance to offer the legendary Rene Rostaing’s brilliant Côte-Rôtie wines simply because there is very little wine produced. Rostaing has been a grower since 1971 acquiring small parcels of Cote Blonde and La Landonne. What put Rostaing squarely on the map was the retirement of his father-in-law Albert Gentaz Dervieux followed a few years later by Albert’s brother Marius, 2 of Cote-Rotie’s most important growers thus bringing his total to just over 20 acres. Rostaing is out to prove that Cote-Rotie is its own animal and should never aspire to be Hermitage or Barossa, just something super complex and comfortable in its own skin. These wines some of the world’s finest Syrah wines and exquisite for those who love to collect.

Formerly known as Classique and now named after the old Provencal name of Ampuis, vintage 2013 is, classic, prolific, cerebral, evasive and potentially very long-lived. Aromas of violet, plum, wet chalkboard, black olive and pronounced black pepper lead into a texture that is chewy and youthfully backward. Sensual deep fruit is present as is the wines impeccable, Grand Cru depth. Integrated subtle vanilla tones chime in at the end with herbs, more smoke, pepper and plenty of structure, depth and a graham-like minerality. This is a special occasion, wow wine needing several years in the cellar. Drink 2020 – 2030+.




FRIDAY SIPS

Seamless & Themeless

This Friday January 18 from 1:30 – 6:30

Drop by this Friday to sample four excellent wines with absolutely nothing in common except for their high standard of quality. Educational and very fun, our Seamless & Themeless Friday Tastings always provide an excelent chance to taste something that may or may not be outside your normal wine drinking repertoire

FEATURED WINES:

2016 Goodfellow Pinot Noir ‘Willamette Valley’
2013 Desvignes Morgon Cote-de-Py ‘Javernieres’
2016 Pra Soave Classico ‘Staforte’
2012/2015 Roda Rioja ‘Sela’