Hot Sheets
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'JAGGIN' AROUND' WINESHEET
8 wines...Saint-JosephSpecial
Barbera, Chinon, Sauvignon Blanc
Sparkling Rose
Barbera, Chinon, Sauvignon Blanc
Sparkling Rose
Chinon is known for its castle and its celebrated former resident, the 15th-century writer and clergyman François Rabelais. His line, “When I drink, I think; and when I think, I drink,” captures the spirit of this town of roughly 9,000, where food and wine are embraced with joyful abandon. Rodolphe Raffault ranks among Chinon’s finest producers, and this single-cru, 100% Cabernet Franc offers an authentic taste of France that is drinking beautifully now.
The generous 2020 vintage shows in aromas of wild strawberry, fennel, and licorice. Bright red raspberry fills the palate, balanced by savory herbs and spices. Firm structure, freshness, and dimension carry through the soulful finish.
The generous 2020 vintage shows in aromas of wild strawberry, fennel, and licorice. Bright red raspberry fills the palate, balanced by savory herbs and spices. Firm structure, freshness, and dimension carry through the soulful finish.
Sauvignon Blanc thrives in regions around the world, from Sancerre and Bordeaux to Napa, Friuli, Oregon, New Zealand, and, surprisingly, Germany’s Pfalz. Von Winning, one of the region’s leading producers, excels with grapes beyond Riesling, and its Sauvignon Blancs are remarkable.
The II cuvée delivers impressive character and suggests Friuli filtered through New World generosity and Teutonic precision, with vivid flavors of kiwi, lime, herbs, and Texas grapefruit over savory minerality. Concentrated yet balanced, it offers smoky complexity and a long, fresh, mouth-filling finish. Pair it with Pacific Northwest mussels or, thanks to its depth, salmon.
The II cuvée delivers impressive character and suggests Friuli filtered through New World generosity and Teutonic precision, with vivid flavors of kiwi, lime, herbs, and Texas grapefruit over savory minerality. Concentrated yet balanced, it offers smoky complexity and a long, fresh, mouth-filling finish. Pair it with Pacific Northwest mussels or, thanks to its depth, salmon.
This is a perfect Oregon bottle to share with out-of-town Thanksgiving guests. As with its Chardonnay sibling, calling it simply Willamette Valley understates the caliber of its vineyards, farming, and winemaking.
The wine offers sensuous aromas, poised fruit, and engaging smoke and spice. Its silky texture expands across the palate while remaining vibrant through the long finish. Serious, seamless, and delicious, this Pinot is an exceptional value. Enjoy it now or cellar it for eight years or more.
The wine offers sensuous aromas, poised fruit, and engaging smoke and spice. Its silky texture expands across the palate while remaining vibrant through the long finish. Serious, seamless, and delicious, this Pinot is an exceptional value. Enjoy it now or cellar it for eight years or more.
Haut-Rian’s single-parcel “Saint-Seurin” is the estate’s superb luxury cuvée. Grown on the limestone-rich Saint-Seurin slope in Rions, the wine gains depth, finesse, and aging potential from 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 months in oak.
Aromas of cassis, black plum, cedar, and sandalwood mingle with sage, North African spice, and anise. Broad and smooth on the palate, it shows impressive depth, structure, and firm Cabernet character. Complex, expressive, and built to evolve through 2032, it is already irresistible—especially with grilled ribeye topped with shallots slowly cooked in butter.
Aromas of cassis, black plum, cedar, and sandalwood mingle with sage, North African spice, and anise. Broad and smooth on the palate, it shows impressive depth, structure, and firm Cabernet character. Complex, expressive, and built to evolve through 2032, it is already irresistible—especially with grilled ribeye topped with shallots slowly cooked in butter.
Barbichi is a boutique, artisanal Barbaresco producer whose owner and winemaker, Natale Simonetta, learned from his friend and mentor, the legendary Bruno Giacosa. The estate follows a traditional approach, using extended fermentations and long aging in large barrels.
From the grand 2021 vintage and 70-year-old vines, this five-year-old Barbera is rocking. Aromas of violet, dried rose petal, dark chocolate, mushroom, anise, and smoked earth speak unmistakably of Piemonte. Rich red fruit coats the palate, followed by cardamom and savory minerality on a vibrant, persistent finish. Its signature complexity is just emerging and should continue to develop beautifully for another five to six years.
From the grand 2021 vintage and 70-year-old vines, this five-year-old Barbera is rocking. Aromas of violet, dried rose petal, dark chocolate, mushroom, anise, and smoked earth speak unmistakably of Piemonte. Rich red fruit coats the palate, followed by cardamom and savory minerality on a vibrant, persistent finish. Its signature complexity is just emerging and should continue to develop beautifully for another five to six years.
Raventós i Blanc is one of Spain’s most prestigious and pioneering sparkling-wine producers. The estate helped establish Conca del Riu Anoia, a potential new appellation created to distinguish small, quality-focused growers from industrial, volume-driven Cava producers.
This blend of 50% Xarel·lo, 30% Macabeo, 10% Parellada, and 10% Sumoll comes entirely from estate vineyards and ages for about 30 months before disgorgement. Its alluring pink color introduces aromas of strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and mineral. The palate is lively and cascading, with generous flavor that keeps building, offering a Catalan alternative of rosé Champagne without the price tag—and looks just as festive in the glass.
This blend of 50% Xarel·lo, 30% Macabeo, 10% Parellada, and 10% Sumoll comes entirely from estate vineyards and ages for about 30 months before disgorgement. Its alluring pink color introduces aromas of strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and mineral. The palate is lively and cascading, with generous flavor that keeps building, offering a Catalan alternative of rosé Champagne without the price tag—and looks just as festive in the glass.
From southeastern Spain and made primarily from Monastrell, this deeply colored, nearly opaque red signals serious intensity despite its modest $14 price.
Aromas of warm spice, new saddle leather, anise, blackberry, and blueberry rise from the glass. Rich, generous, and crowd-pleasing, it is an ideal bottle for fall and winter gatherings.
Aromas of warm spice, new saddle leather, anise, blackberry, and blueberry rise from the glass. Rich, generous, and crowd-pleasing, it is an ideal bottle for fall and winter gatherings.
[reg. $54.99]…Drive into the small village of Mauves and you’ll see a sign reading “Le Berceau de Saint-Joseph”—the cradle of Saint-Joseph. Although many villages provide excellent fruit for the appellation, Mauves stands apart for its depth and potential. Voge and Lionel Frasse produce exquisite, limited-production Saint-Joseph, and this single-site bottling comes from a steep parcel beside Chave’s vineyards.
Aromas of smoke, black cherry, and white pepper lead to a clean, silky palate layered with red fruit and high-toned freshness. The finish opens beautifully—Burgundian in feel, yet unmistakably Northern Rhône Syrah. Delicious and made for the table, it pairs naturally with duck, rabbit, venison, and more. Drink over the next decade.
Aromas of smoke, black cherry, and white pepper lead to a clean, silky palate layered with red fruit and high-toned freshness. The finish opens beautifully—Burgundian in feel, yet unmistakably Northern Rhône Syrah. Delicious and made for the table, it pairs naturally with duck, rabbit, venison, and more. Drink over the next decade.
