2021 CIECK CANAVESE ROSSO
'TUCC-UN' (Barbera Blend)
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Created in 1996, the Canavese DOC in Piedmont encompasses a wide range of grapes and wines. Although the white grape Erbaluce is well known, leading producers also make excellent red blends such as this one. Cieck’s Barbera-based Tucc-Un is one of its three Canavese Rossi, blended with Freisa and the local Neretto di San Giorgio.

Sultry aromas of plum and sandalwood carry an undercurrent of cardamom-like spice. The palate is medium-bodied, with the local grapes adding intrigue and Barbera contributing spice and tang. Intellectual yet soulful, it is exemplary with roasted or grilled meats.

2021 BASTIDE BLANCHE
BANDOL ROUGE
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

Alongside Bandol leaders such as Pradeaux, Gros Nore and Pibarnon, the Bronzo brothers of Bastide Blanche produce some of the appellation’s most compelling wines. Their perennial-favorite rosé is well known, but the estate’s reds are even more impressive.

To borrow from the Replacements, “Give Me One More Dose of Thunder!” This vibrant 2021 is a must for Southern French wine enthusiasts, with youthful aromas of herbes de Provence, black truffle, leather, spice, strawberry and wild purple flowers. Athletic yet hedonistic, it is approachable now but structured enough to reward cellaring. Best from late 2027 through 2035.

2025 ALTOS DE TORONA
ALBARIÑO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Based in O Rosal, in the southern reaches of Rías Baixas in Galicia, Altos de Torona is new to us, and its Albariño offers exceptional value.

Terraced vineyards above the Miño River, proximity to the Atlantic, sandy granite soils, and cool ocean breezes give this fine white a vivid saline minerality. Mineral slathered, it gains depth in the glass as floral notes mingle with nectarine, lemongrass, and sea spray. Energetic yet elegant, it has impressive depth, character, and a detailed, lingering finish. Pair it with clams, mussels, salmon, halibut, cod, sea urchin—almost anything that swims.

2023 JANUIK COLUMBIA VALLEY
RED BLEND
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Washington wine pioneer Mike Januik helped establish the state on the world wine map, from his tenure as Wine Director at Chateau Ste-Michelle to today.

The Columbia Red is a standout value with its broad blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 10% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 4% Mourvedre and 1% Malbec. Layered aromas and flavors of black cherry, smoke, licorice, cassis and violet meet integrated oak. Graceful and rich, it gains structure, acidity and grip on the second taste, with a surprisingly saturated, long finish for the price.

2024 MAXIMIN GRUNHAUSER
RIESLING TROCKEN 'SCHLOSS'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

Pay attention to this bottle: Maximin Grünhaus is one of the Ruwer’s—and Germany’s—most important producers, and this wine, formerly labeled simply “Trocken” and “Monopol,” does not disappoint. Yes, it is Riesling. Yes, it is German. And for the skeptics: YES, IT IS DRY!

Aromatic and expansive on the palate, it vividly expresses the Ruwer’s slate soils. Livewire, luminous, succulent, and stony, it finishes with brilliant energy—grooving on the dance floor while staying cool as a cucumber. A natural match for turkey, it also pairs beautifully with seared albacore tuna marinated in ginger, soy, and garlic, or with spicy Thai dishes.

2021 PASTERNOSTER 'SYNTHESI'
AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Subliminal sensuality from Southern Italy: bold and brazen, this red delivers far more than a kiss on the cheek. Made from 100% Aglianico in Basilicata, it comes from the Vulture area, often considered the variety’s finest source—though Campania would surely disagree.

Generous and eloquent, it offers aromas and flavors of licorice, tea leaf, violet, and red earth, all with inimitable attitude. Enjoy it with a Sunday meat sauce, eggplant Parmesan, or pork chops alla Napoli with tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, and green olives.

2021 ANGELO NEGRO
BARBARESCO 'BASARIN'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE

Because Angelo Negro’s core wines and home base are in Roero, its small-production Barbaresco and Barolo are often overlooked—a benefit to consumers, given their quality-to-price ratio. Basarin, a cru in Neive that straddles Barbaresco and Treiso, seems to carry the DNA of all three Barbaresco villages. The monumental 2021 Piedmont vintage makes finding a single-cru wine for under forty dollars feel like pulling off a robbery.

Aged in traditional large barrels, it opens with roses, tar, subtle spice, and earth. As expected, especially in a vintage like this, the palate is generous, with chewy, expressive fruit, firm structure, and excellent definition that tightens on the finish. It offers exceptional length, depth, grip, dimension, and layering for the price—hallmarks of a great vintage. Though youthful, a devoted Nebbiolo disciple could try one now; for best results, cellar it until late 2027 and drink through 2035.

2022 SUCCES VINICOLA CONCA DE
BARBERA 'CUCA DE LLUM'
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

Conca de Barberà has nothing to do with the Barbera grape—or conking someone over the head with a bottle. Located in central Catalonia, this diverse growing region spans flat and gently rolling land that rises to 600 meters, creating a range of terroirs and a diverse selection of grapes.

Made from 100% Trepat, the wine layers boysenberry, blueberry, and raspberry with notes of thyme and anise. The palate is crowd-pleasing, lush, and complex, with muscular structure and mineral edges. Its iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove character broadens through a savory, persistent finish.

2024 TURLEY
ZINFANDEL 'JUVENILE'
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Sourced from 27 vineyards and the gateway into Turley’s fifty different labels, the Juvenile Zinfandel is unapologetic in its full-throttle approach.

A terrific value indeed, this is classic Turley Zin exhibiting a brilliant ruby color and aromas of plum, jam, herbs, allspice and pepper with a hint of warm vanilla. Broad blackberry and dried plum fruit in its cinnamon and sneaky, cherry-influenced aromas, this fairly full-bodied bottling’s dense flavors pick up engaging hints of caramel, dark chocolate and toffee along the way. Drink over the next few years in partnership with short ribs in a tangy sauce, pulled pork and marinated, Asian-inspired flank steak.

2019 STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN
ZINFANDEL MAYACAMAS RANGE
SPECIAL - $34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

[reg. $44.99]...The historic Storybook Mountain estate was established in 1976 with the vineyards themselves going back to the 1880s. At 88-years-young, Jerry Seps is still making the wines and farming the vines.

Over the years Cabernet has become the ruling force in Napa and Storybook is one of the last holdouts with Zinfandel taking precedence. Napa Zin is almost extinct, and this style and wine is vastly different than Sonoma. Always a late releaser, 2019 is a fierce effort. Turned earth, peppermint patty, sage, red plum and undertones of cracked pepper shine on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is formidable with superb depth and grip that build on the long and precise finish. Very fascinating now. Enjoy it with stews and braised meat dishes over the next 8-10 years.

2025 LA VERRIERE BORDEAUX
SAUVIGNON BLANC
$14.99 BTL./$89.94 - SIX PACK

At the eastern edge of Bordeaux, where Castillon meets Duras in the Dordogne/Lot region, Alain Bessette is known as a standout vigneron. A regular honoree among the “Talents of Bordeaux Supérieur,” a select group of top appellation winemakers, he continues to earn awards and critical praise for his wines.

In this secluded area, many growers pick early, but Alain waits a bit longer, steering clear of the lean, sharp, green notes the region can produce. His confident Sauvignon Blanc shows crisp lime, guava, melon, and gentle herbal notes, with no oak and a bright, spicy edge. It starts brisk and clean, expands on the palate, then narrows into a pure varietal finish. On a visit a few years ago, Alain and his wife, Dolores, served it with calamari and herb-grilled shrimp from the plancha—a terrific match. Is it a rival to our Haut Rian Blanc? Not exactly; it offers a different expression. Enjoy this mouthwatering white now, and often.

2023 BEDROCK 'SONOMA'
SAUVIGNON BLANC
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Bedrock’s individual Sauvignon Blanc comes from some fabulous vineyards laden with rocks and cobblestone from just outside the town of Sonoma.

Aged in barrel without becoming an oak festival from hell, this wine uses neutral 320-liter barrels to deliver both depth and energy. The region’s diurnal shifts are central to its character. Blood orange and mandarin mingle with rose, lime, mango, and subtle spice. There is no grassy edge here; instead, it offers personality, drive, layered complexity, and easy drinkability. Pair it with seared scallops and spring peas, halibut or cod with spicy salsa, or a goat cheese salad.

2019 CHATEAU LAROSE-TRIMOULET
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
$27.99 BTL./$335.88 CASE

Stylish Saint-Émilion Château Larose Trimoulet sits just one mile north of the famed medieval village, near Grand Cru Classé Château Dassault.

From another excellent vintage, the 2019 is beginning to shine at age seven. It offers layers of Christmas spice, dark fruit, truffle, sweet earth, peppermint patty, and fine herbs, with outstanding complexity. The succulent palate shows excellent poise, smoothness, and finesse through a broad finish. Nearing its pinnacle, it will drink beautifully through its fifteenth birthday.

2022 CA LA BIONDA VALPOLICELLA
CLASSICO SUPERIORE 'CASALVEGRI'
$29.99 BTL./$359.88 CASE

The Veneto’s most famous wine is Amarone but given their immensity and expense, I really believe the future is single vineyard Valpolicella wines. This wine from the single vineyard Casalvegri is on the lines of Tedeschi’s Fabriseria or Maternigo and while Ca La Bionda makes top-drawer Amarone, they choose to only use the grapes from this site for this non-ripasso wine.

70% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella & Molinara from grapes that aren’t dried. Mind-blowing, classic Veneto amare scents along with cherry pit, tea leaf and touches of anise follow through to a contemplative, well-balanced texture that's savory and engagingly elusive due to aging 18 months in large, traditional 3000-liter Slavonian casks. Long and drawn out, this wine is quite the match with polenta that's been coated with a lamb stew, roasted duck or risotto Milanese with or without porcini mushrooms. Drink through 2034.

2023 COTEAU MORGON
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

“It is not difficult to believe, but it is difficult to see with one's eyes what is right in front of one's eyes.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Beaujolais’s grassroots renaissance has been building for years. Wine should complement food and bring pleasure—not whack you over the head, especially as hangovers worsen with age. Jonathan Pey’s approachable Morgon has become our go-to house Beaujolais. Aromas of crème de framboise, smoked violet, anise, strawberry, and cinnamon rise from the glass. Vibrant and expressive, it delivers cascading flavors, a long, spicy finish, and supple fruit that coats the palate. Pair it with roast chicken and mushrooms, grilled fish, or Indian and Moroccan dishes.

2023 ZERBINA SANGIOVESE
ROMAGNA 'POGGIO VICCHIO
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast Magazine… Cristina Geminiani delivers another award-winning wine from her Romagna vineyards.

Sourced from a single plot within the distinguished Marzeno site, this pure Sangiovese highlights tangy berries, red flowers, fennel, and sage. Its suede-like structure combines terrific complexity and vibrancy with depth, character, and persistence, establishing it as a standout in Zerbina’s superb range. Pair it with classic Italian dishes featuring grilled pork or beef; it is especially compelling with penne Bolognese or lasagna.

2024 PATRICIA GREEN PINOT NOIR
FREEDOM HILL
$34.99 BTL./$419.88 CASE

This wine brings together the essential elements of outstanding Oregon Pinot Noir: a legendary producer, an iconic vineyard, and an exceptional vintage. The late Patty Green and her business partner and co-winemaker, Jim Anderson, produced exquisite wines from the estate’s founding in 2000.

After Patty’s passing in 2017, Jim continued her legacy and the estate’s superb quality. Aromas of wild strawberry, saffron, violet, and rose petal rise from the glass. The wine lands softly on the palate, then expands with impressive breadth and fine texture. Accessible now, it also has the long finish, structure, and grip to age beautifully for another 10–15 years. A genuine value from one of Oregon’s finest producers.

2021 CARLONE CROATINA
COLLINE NOVARESE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Davide Carlone’s Northern Piedmont vineyards lie in Boca, roughly halfway between Barolo and Barbaresco and the Swiss border. The region grows not only Nebbiolo but also Croatina. Carlone’s version comes from a majority of vines aged 80 to more than 100 years and ranks among the finest I have tasted.

Luminous and vivid, it evokes the neon glow outside an Amsterdam “tart” shop. Warm and sultry, it bursts with strawberry and licorice. Light on its feet yet satisfyingly hearty, it remains flavorful from the first sip through the savory, succulent finish. This groovy wine is a fantastic voyage shaped by old vines and the earth.

2021 JEROME CALMES
MINERVOIS 'LES VIALAS'
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

We at The Cellar Door are not role models. Like Sir Charles Barkley, we are often the antiheroes of the wine world, fiercely independent in our search for exceptional values from around the globe. Some call us less than user-friendly or cuddly—usually wine marketers, the industry’s natural adversaries. In truth, we can be quite cuddly, especially when presenting an open, accessible best buy like this wine from Languedoc’s Minervois region.

A blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Carignan, it is deceptively complex, with aromas of smoke, wild berries, spice, licorice, and ground black pepper. The palate is long and smooth, supported by fine tannins. Enjoy it with lamb, cassoulet, pork chops coated in olive oil and herbs, or pork braised with tomatoes.

2024 FICHET BOURGOGNE
COTE D'OR BLANC VIEILLES VIGNES
$46.99 BTL./$281.94 - SIX PACK

Jean-Philippe Fichet’s Old Vine Bourgogne Blanc Côte d’Or is without doubt a Mini-Meursault. From two plots: Les Pellands, just across from Meursault Charmes, and Les Millerandes, on the edge of Meursault village, with vines ranging from forty to eighty years old.

Lemon, almond, and pure mineral notes combine with subtle cereal and spice. It offers impressive depth and briskness, with the cushion and breadth of Meursault clearly present. Though accessible right out of the gate, it often shows beautifully six to ten years from vintage, especially in a focused, great white wine year like 2024. Pair it with sautéed scallops in beurre blanc, roasted chicken, or fresh crab.

2022 LOS MORROS CARMENERE
CENTRAL VALLEY
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE

Carmenere was first planted in Bordeaux’s Médoc. Because it ripens poorly in Bordeaux’s climate, the grape is now virtually extinct there but thrives in Chile.

Los Morros’s version is an assertive charmer, with aromas of leather, spice, tea leaf, black licorice, and black plum. Those notes carry onto a broad, polished, persistent palate, making this full-flavored wine an ideal everyday choice.