Hot Sheets
The Cellar Door's 'EAT PI' HotSheet
Apex Sancerre & French Pinot Noir
Old Vine Oregon Pinot Gris
Beaucastel Chateauneuf, Vietti & more
Old Vine Oregon Pinot Gris
Beaucastel Chateauneuf, Vietti & more
2018 GRUHIER BOURGOGNE
EPINEUIL PINOT NOIR
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
EPINEUIL PINOT NOIR
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
Where and what exactly is Epineuil? Well Francois, it is an appellation located about 14 miles east of the village of Chablis and based around its namesake village. Dedicated to red and rose wine only, lately from good producers such as Domaine Gruhier, delicious Pinot Noir wines are emerging from these vineyards that have large portions of kimmeridgean soil. This is the same soil type as Chablis but these slopes somehow take to the Pinot Noir grape.
Dominique Gruhier may well be at the top of the ladder for this appellation. Combine excellent farming with good equipment, toss in a little global warming and we are seeing very intriguing and tasty Chablisienne Pinot Noirs emerging. All whole cluster fermentation, this Pinot possesses ample strawberry, hints of cinnamon, touches of floral undertones all colliding with impressive earthy minerality that hits both on the nose and stretches across the palate. Loads of energy, fine depth and nice posture expand from the fine start to the lingering, fine, mineral finish. An excellent choice to uncork now but one that will also age for another 7-8 years as well.
Dominique Gruhier may well be at the top of the ladder for this appellation. Combine excellent farming with good equipment, toss in a little global warming and we are seeing very intriguing and tasty Chablisienne Pinot Noirs emerging. All whole cluster fermentation, this Pinot possesses ample strawberry, hints of cinnamon, touches of floral undertones all colliding with impressive earthy minerality that hits both on the nose and stretches across the palate. Loads of energy, fine depth and nice posture expand from the fine start to the lingering, fine, mineral finish. An excellent choice to uncork now but one that will also age for another 7-8 years as well.
2020 VIETTI DOLCETTO D'ALBA
TRE VIGNE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
TRE VIGNE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
We don’t often think of Barolo/Barbera maestro Luca Currado as a Dolcetto dude, but it is just as Willie Wonka said, ‘you must never ever doubt what you are not really sure about’. Luca’s Tre Vigne Dolcetto is quite the secret darling of the Vietti cache and is taken every bit as seriously as all of the other wines in this iconic Barolo estate.
Warm, round, mouth-filling red that has an abundance of floral and spice aromas with red, black, blueberry and deep violet on the finish. There are very few wines made from the Dolcetto grape that have this much class and dimension. Enjoy this engaging, starry red with steak tartar, grilled veggies, younger cheeses and pasta courses.
Warm, round, mouth-filling red that has an abundance of floral and spice aromas with red, black, blueberry and deep violet on the finish. There are very few wines made from the Dolcetto grape that have this much class and dimension. Enjoy this engaging, starry red with steak tartar, grilled veggies, younger cheeses and pasta courses.
2019 RIDGECREST PINOT GRIS
OLD VINE 'ESTATE'
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE
OLD VINE 'ESTATE'
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE
After retiring from Chehalem, Harry Peterson-Nedry couldn’t stay put and along with his daughter and former Chehalem winemaker Wynne, they started a small but rather prolific operation based around their namesake Ridgecrest Vineyard and upper tier RR Label. Back in the day at Chehalem, Harry’s Pinot Gris wines always impressed me and we often featured them. There are a mere 2 acres of old vine Pinot Gris at Ridgecrest and they are celebrating the 35th harvest with this offering.
Planted in 1982, Ridgecrest Vineyard was the first to be planted in the now uber-famous Ribbon Ridge appellation; this Pinot Gris is influenced more by Alsace than Italy. A bold, broad and expressive Pinot Grigio that has full-on, classy aromas of melon, apple, mineral and spice. In the mouth, there is gorgeous crispness and refinement, but with gorgeous depth and breadth of flavor and balance that drive into a long, spice and mushroom-laden finish that is the hallmark of a grand Pinot Gris. The obvious match is grilled salmon, but it is versatile enough to drink with roasted chicken, spicy Thai shrimp dishes or scallops.
Planted in 1982, Ridgecrest Vineyard was the first to be planted in the now uber-famous Ribbon Ridge appellation; this Pinot Gris is influenced more by Alsace than Italy. A bold, broad and expressive Pinot Grigio that has full-on, classy aromas of melon, apple, mineral and spice. In the mouth, there is gorgeous crispness and refinement, but with gorgeous depth and breadth of flavor and balance that drive into a long, spice and mushroom-laden finish that is the hallmark of a grand Pinot Gris. The obvious match is grilled salmon, but it is versatile enough to drink with roasted chicken, spicy Thai shrimp dishes or scallops.
2019 LA POUSSIE SANCERRE
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
Along with names like Vatan, Cotat and Vacheron, Baron Patrick Ladoucette’s ‘La Poussie’ Sancerre is certainly in the top echelon. The La Poussie vineyard is unique, as it comprises all the soils of Sancerre in one steep amphitheater. These various plots on the slopes are all blended together and make an exquisite wine that is dreamy, complex and still 12.5% alcohol.
Aromas of place swirl up from your glass with pronounced and vibrant mineral, rock and chalk dominating at is it initially poured. It is not until your second or third sip that you begin to feel the core of generous, vibrant lemon drop and melon that joins the intense texture and quenching mouthfeel. Long, tingling and screaming for salmon, halibut, seabass or a pungent goat cheese. This is pretty limited juice and coupled with the fact that who it is from and the vintage, we recommend jumping on this fast, as we will take our personal stash of this special Sancerre off the top.
Aromas of place swirl up from your glass with pronounced and vibrant mineral, rock and chalk dominating at is it initially poured. It is not until your second or third sip that you begin to feel the core of generous, vibrant lemon drop and melon that joins the intense texture and quenching mouthfeel. Long, tingling and screaming for salmon, halibut, seabass or a pungent goat cheese. This is pretty limited juice and coupled with the fact that who it is from and the vintage, we recommend jumping on this fast, as we will take our personal stash of this special Sancerre off the top.
2016 PIANTATE LUNGHE
CONERO RISERVA 'ROSSINI'
$29.99 BTL./$179.94 - SIX PACK
CONERO RISERVA 'ROSSINI'
$29.99 BTL./$179.94 - SIX PACK
Somewhat of an ‘established newcomer, Piantate Lunghe has only been in existence since 2004. A partnership of three growers who once sold their grapes to Umani Ronchi before jumping out on their own and achieving big success, their formidable range of reds embodies the famed Conero region of Le Marches.
100% Montepulciano and a real expression of a top site of the Le Marches region, mushroom, ginger and cardamom-spice mingle with rich berry fruit, roasted earth and minerality. Piantate Lunghe’s Montepulciano vineyards are 2500 meters to the sea and 350 meters above the sea and these particular specifications are what keep the wine fresh and maintains the precise flavors of the grape. Meaty, hearty and formidable flavors come in waves and persist well after the wine is swallowed. Enjoy this ruggedly handsome red now and over the next 8-10 years with slow-cooked meats, aged cheeses and substantial pasta dishes. At 30-bucks this teeters at the top-end for Le Marches but to put it into perspective, if you were to go west across the Apennines into Tuscany or Umbria, you could expect to pay at least twice this price for this level of quality
100% Montepulciano and a real expression of a top site of the Le Marches region, mushroom, ginger and cardamom-spice mingle with rich berry fruit, roasted earth and minerality. Piantate Lunghe’s Montepulciano vineyards are 2500 meters to the sea and 350 meters above the sea and these particular specifications are what keep the wine fresh and maintains the precise flavors of the grape. Meaty, hearty and formidable flavors come in waves and persist well after the wine is swallowed. Enjoy this ruggedly handsome red now and over the next 8-10 years with slow-cooked meats, aged cheeses and substantial pasta dishes. At 30-bucks this teeters at the top-end for Le Marches but to put it into perspective, if you were to go west across the Apennines into Tuscany or Umbria, you could expect to pay at least twice this price for this level of quality
2020 ZOLO MALBEC MENDOZA
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE
Honest Mendoza Malbec from a lovely producer who makes a wine that any crowd will enjoy.
Aromatic and luscious, this shows 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 sautéed chicken thighs or even a good Bolognese sauce.
Aromatic and luscious, this shows 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 sautéed chicken thighs or even a good Bolognese sauce.
2020 REGALEALI SICILIA BIANCO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Last week I tasted a line-up of Italian wines that we could sell for under 15-dollars. Most of them were quite good Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco from Northern Italy however; they were trumped out by this Sicilian beauty from a longtime stalwart who continues to rock the island.
A blend of three native Sicilian grapes - Inzolia, Catarratto and Grecanico – this versatile, refreshing white wine is teeming with tangerine, lemon and mineral character on the nose and in the mouth. Lots of burst and movement, it is perfect fodder with an array of shellfish, especially steamed mussels jacked with Pernod or Ricard.
A blend of three native Sicilian grapes - Inzolia, Catarratto and Grecanico – this versatile, refreshing white wine is teeming with tangerine, lemon and mineral character on the nose and in the mouth. Lots of burst and movement, it is perfect fodder with an array of shellfish, especially steamed mussels jacked with Pernod or Ricard.
2019 CHATEAU DE BEAUCASTEL
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$99.99 BTL./$599.94 - SIX PACK
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$99.99 BTL./$599.94 - SIX PACK
96 Points – The Wine Spectator… One of the landmarks of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Chateau de Beaucastel has long been south after by collectors and wine lovers due to their unique style as well as being one of the region’s longest aging wines. These days the wines continue to astound and with 2019 coming upon us, this new release will surely gain in stature as it is built to age and will ultimately be in the annals of greatness that this estate has provided for decades.
‘This is pretty gorgeous, with a remarkably pure display of cassis, cherry puree and plum reduction flavors laced every so gently with threads of leather, alder and dried garrigue. The sleek iron spine is buried deeply on the finish, and there’s a lingering hint of warm stone as the fruit echoes through. Built to last. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah,Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. – 96 POINTS’. Hold on to this until 2025 or so and then enjoy its drinkability and complexity as it develops for another 2+ decades.
‘This is pretty gorgeous, with a remarkably pure display of cassis, cherry puree and plum reduction flavors laced every so gently with threads of leather, alder and dried garrigue. The sleek iron spine is buried deeply on the finish, and there’s a lingering hint of warm stone as the fruit echoes through. Built to last. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah,Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. – 96 POINTS’. Hold on to this until 2025 or so and then enjoy its drinkability and complexity as it develops for another 2+ decades.
2019 OBERON CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA COUNTY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
NAPA COUNTY
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE
Owned by Michael Mondavi, Oberon wines are terrific values that come from grapes throughout Napa County made by 45-year Napa wine veteran Tony Coltrin. After tasting this wine last week, I described it as a carnivorous Cab that is unapologetically California in its overall portrait.
Sculpted, ample aromas of blackberry, cassis, a hint of licorice, and cedarbox teem from the glass and carry over into a mouth feel that is packed full of even more cassis/mulberry fruit, cocoa, nicely placed spicy oak and good length in the mouth. Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Sculpted, ample aromas of blackberry, cassis, a hint of licorice, and cedarbox teem from the glass and carry over into a mouth feel that is packed full of even more cassis/mulberry fruit, cocoa, nicely placed spicy oak and good length in the mouth. Drink over the next 5-6 years.
