2025 CHÂTEAU DE ROQUEFORT
BLANC 'PETIT SALÉ'
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE

From one of our favorite Southern French rosé producers comes this white wine from an ideal site in Provence. Château de Roquefort sits between the Massif de Sainte-Baume and the sea, with vineyards on plateaus around 400 meters.

11.5% alcohol. Made primarily from Clairette Blanche with portions of Vermentino and Ugni Blanc, it is the kind of wine I would call “al dente” if wine could be described that way. Ethereal notes of salty nectarine, lemon, herbs, sea smoke, and stone carry into a palate-gripping texture. Bright and driven through the uplifting finish, it is excellent with goat cheese, grilled chicken, seafood spring rolls, or vegetarian dishes centered on zucchini or pesto.

2023 LE PARADOU GRENACHE
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Le Paradou is a project from the Chaudière family, who make some of the Ventoux area’s most respected wines at Château Pesquié. Brothers Alexandre and Frédéric have created a series of outstanding values, including this 100% Grenache sourced from sites along France’s Mediterranean rim.

Strawberry, grenadine, red licorice, and white pepper make it forward, vibrant, and true to its Southern French roots. It delivers plenty of character and flavor for the price. Drink it now and often, especially with grilled chicken, fish, vegetables, and other casual fare. Also, enjoying it during this week’s full moon may also help ward off vampires and werewolves.

2025 CARL LOEWEN RIESLING
'MAXIMIN KLOSTERLAY' TROCKEN
$44.99 BTL./269.94 - SIX PACK

German wine labels can be daunting, but we’re here to help. In the southern Mosel village of Leiwen, Carl Loewen dates to 1803, when a Paris agent purchased vineyards and buildings from the Maximin order during a Napoleonic secularization auction. The sale included the steep, 65% Maximiner Klosterlay vineyard and Christopher Loewen’s ancestors later acquired land in this Premier Cru (Erste Lage) site.

A profound young dry Riesling, this wine wins you over instantly. From its steep blue-slate site, it shows delicacy, focus, energy, and diamond-like precision, with wet chalk, creamy lemon, and a mineral, bone-dry finish. Wiry and long, it pairs well with sausage, pork, halibut, or mussels and should age beautifully. Drink now through 2040.

2023 COR CELLARS CABERNET
FRANC COLUMBIA VALLEY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Luke Bradford skillfully runs COR Cellars in Lyle, Washington. After time in Tuscany, Sicily, and Syncline Cellars, he saw Washington’s potential, sourcing from top Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Gorge, and Wahluke Slope sites.

This ambrosial wine layers velvety dark plum, raspberry, herbs, spice, and chocolate-covered raspberry, balancing decadence with brisk focus. Pair with braised short ribs in tangy sauce.

2021 JC SOMERS PINOT NOIR
'NOUVELLE LUNE' DUNDEE HILLS
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

I’ve known Jay and Ronda Somers for thirty years, though their energy makes it hard to see them as Oregon wine elders. After J. Christopher, Jay returned to small-winery roots with JC Somers. Nouvelle Lune, or “new moon,” comes from Dundee Hills’ Abbey Ridge, La Colina, and Nicolas Family vineyards.

It is quintessential Dundee Hills: aromatic and detailed, with violet, plum, jasmine, and lavender; silky, mouth-coating texture; a tightening finish; impressive length; and decade-long potential.

2025 MAURO MOLINO
BARBERA D'ALBA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Since 1978, the Molino family has produced wines of poise, personality, and vivid aromatic and flavor impact—hallmarks of Barolo’s picturesque village of La Morra. This toothsome Barbera is impeccably put together and true to its origins, with enticing aromatics and stylish flavors.

Aged entirely in tank, it is a varietally honest Barbera. Strawberry and Italian plum aromas rise from the glass and continue to the high-toned, fleshy, harmonious, and silky-smooth palate. There is nothing not to like here. Enjoy it with risotto, root vegetables, or pork dishes.

2025 MAURO MOLINO BAROLO
SPECIAL - $46.99 BTL./$563.88 CASE

[reg. $59.99]...95 Points - The Wine Advocate. Following Molino’s superb Barbera is their highly regarded 2021 Barolo. Aged in neutral 2,500- and 5,200-liter casks, it comes from two La Morra sites and one in Perno, an emerging area of Monforte.

Intensely aromatic, this Barolo from the outstanding 2021 vintage opens with perfumed rose petal, strawberry, and licorice. Though currently folded in on itself, a sensuous depth lurks beneath, showing signs of greatness through notes of asphalt, dark Belgian chocolate, and a deep core of red fruit. The palate is wonderfully intense, finely structured, and elegantly classic, with mouth-filling flavors that carry seamlessly from the nose. Best from late 2027 through 2037.

2023 PILLOT CHASSAGNE
MONTRACHET 'LES CHENES'
$74.99 BTL./$449.94 - SIX PACK

Les Chênes is a vineyard where Pillot owns a substantial parcel just below Premier Cru Maltroie. It forms the backbone of his village Chassagne-Montrachet, though he sets aside a small portion for this single-vineyard bottling—perhaps a Deuxième Cru in spirit.

The nose shows a classic Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay profile: lemon cake, baking spice, smoked rosemary, pronounced minerality, and hints of crème brûlée. The palate opens plush and generous, with a lightly powdery texture, then tightens around bright acidity that carries through the long finish.

2024 UGOLINO ROSSO PICENO
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE

A blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano, this lively red comes from just a few kilometers inland from Italy’s Adriatic coast in Le Marche.

Savory, saucy aromas of raspberry, mineral, smoke, sage, and licorice lead the way. This is not a wine to confuse with Brunello or Barolo; it is joyful, smooth-fruited, gently spicy, and nicely balanced, with good length. It works well with pasta or meat dishes, but it is especially suited to bolder seafood—and served slightly chilled.

2023 TRE MONTI 'PETRIGNONE'
SANGIOVESE RISERVA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna differs greatly from its Tuscan counterparts. Often heartier and wilder, these wines remain undervalued and underappreciated beyond the region. As many of you know, Zerbina and Cristina Geminiani helped put the area on the map, and producers such as Tre Monti have followed with terrific wines. This Riserva is a steal at twenty bucks.

Luscious blackberry, sage, vanilla-coffee notes, and hints of licorice are nicely woven together in a texture that feels smooth and soulful. Polished and generous, with everything in balance, it finishes long and inviting, especially alongside penne Bolognese.

2025 PEPIERE MUSCADET 'PEPIE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Bryan loved to swim. After a dip, his mom would often say, “Your hair’s slick! Yinz jagoffs were swimmin’ dahn in dat damn river again. If ya don’t drahn, next time I’m gonna beat your ass.” Contrary to popular belief, Pittsburgh is no longer the smoky, sooty city it once was; the mighty Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio rivers are now very clean. So what do Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers have to do with this wine? Read on.

Rivers often shape wine regions, frequently forming the valley floor beneath surrounding vineyards. The Loire, France’s longest river and often described as Western Europe’s last wild river, is no exception. Among the region's vineyards are those near Nantes, home to Muscadet. This Cellar Door favorite is blazing dry and mineral-driven, with all the flint, steel, oyster shell, and lemongrass Muscadet should deliver. Its focused, surprisingly intense texture is bracing, vibrant, and very dry. Oysters, steamed clams, and this Muscadet make a perfect match—but remember to wait at least an hour before swimming after eating.

2024 DURIN PIGATO
RIVIERA LIGURE DI PONTE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Grown only on Liguria’s steep slopes and thought to be related to Vermentino, Pigato is the prince of Ligurian white grapes.

Persistent oceanic aromas mingle with Italian herbs, white peach, and subtle blood orange. The wine stretches across the palate with natural depth, while clean, crisp acidity adds zest and pleasure. It is a perfect match for seafood, especially pesto-based pastas.

2023 CHATEAU JARONS BORDEAUX
CABERNET FRANC
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

Raspberry Beret without the secondhand store, this is the twelve-dollar Cabernet Franc Bordeaux of your dreams.

Aged in tank and terracotta amphorae, it bursts with raspberry and plum, trailed by pekoe tea and savory earth. Generous and expansive for the price, it finishes plush, long, and abundant, with wild spice and a strawberries-and-cream flourish. Drink this crowd-pleaser with rib-eye or hanger steak, mushroom soup, lentil soup, gyros, burgers, or soft-ripened Camembert.

2022 BODEGAS ASTER
RIBERA DEL DUERO RISERVA
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Aster is the Ribera del Duero estate of Rioja icon La Rioja Alta. While Rioja is cooler and more Atlantic-influenced, Ribera del Duero—southwest of La Rioja, between Rioja and Madrid—leans decidedly Mediterranean.

Made from 100% Tempranillo, the 2022 Reserva radiates Spanish sophistication. Full-bodied and richly flavored, it offers aromas of black plum, raspberry, fresh-cut roses, vanilla, and cedar box. Ripe and velvety, it finishes long and luxurious. Roast pork seasoned with paprika and enjoy. Drink now through 2034.

2025 KUMUSHA CHENIN BLANC
$15.99 BTL./$191.88 CASE

From a go-to South African producer, Kumusha’s Chenin Blanc is completely dry, with notes of gun smoke, lanolin, quince, and red apple. Dense fruit and mineral flavors spread across the palate, while a balanced, focused structure drives a wiry, lingering finish. Try it with halibut in sauce, lighter chicken dishes, or pad Thai.

2022 TURLEY ESTATE CABERNET
SAUVIGNON 'ST. HELENA'
$54.99 BTL./$329.94 - 6 PK

[reg. $74.99]…Best known for Zinfandel, Turley also produces an excellent estate Cabernet from St. Helena. Like the rest of the lineup, this wine favors Napa power over subtlety.

This confidently colossal Cabernet delivers layers of dark, juicy fruit—blackberry, currant, and cherry—alongside roasted herbs, cedar, black pepper, tobacco, and berry depth. Big and powerful, it still offers enough penetrating fruit for early gratification. Enjoy over the next fifteen years with a thick, dry-aged New York steak or an herb-crusted rack of lamb.

2023 CHAMPAGNE BILLECART
SALMON EXTRA BRUT 'LE RESERVE'
$59.99 BTL./$359.94 - 6 PK

After more than 200 years of Champagne production, change can feel uncomfortable—but here it is exhilarating. In 2019, L’Equipe Billecart set out to improve its flagship Champagne, formerly Brut Réserve. The house shifted from Brut to Extra-Brut for a drier profile and clearer terroir expression, extended aging by 20 months to a total of 50 months for greater depth, incorporated 15 vintages of reserve wine for complexity, and increased the portion of barrel-aged wines for added richness and density.

In the glass, it shows pale straw tones, fine bubbles, and a persistent mousse with a luminous sheen. The nose is airy and precise, offering bright natural fruit that opens into floral nuances and subtle biscuit notes. The palate is delicate yet vinous, with concentrated flavors of apple, crisp pear, citrus, and light roasted accents, finishing long, fresh, and mineral.

2023 CROUS SAINT-MARTIN
GIGONDAS 'LES ESPALIERS'
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

We just highlighted this Chateauneuf-based producer’s delightful Cotes-du-Rhone and this past Friday, their award-winning Gigondas came across my desk.

80% Grenache, with 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre. This Gigondas opens with a fragrant mix of herbes de Provence, white pepper, red plum, blackberry, black raspberry, lavender, smoke, and grenadine. Suave and sultry, it remains structured, deep, and detailed, with generosity, persistence, and backbone. The Provençal palate is ample yet buoyant, showing smooth, savory fruit, a touch of white pepper, and a long, polished finish. Pair it with braised dishes such as lamb shanks in tomato sauce, daube de boeuf, pork loin roasted with olive oil, thyme, and rosemary, classic Hungarian goulash, or duck and for something different, try a piece of spicy chocolate.