Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'MESSING WITH TIME' HOTSHEET
Ridge Zin, 9 buck Cabernet Franc, Profound Trimbach wines, Oregon 2012s, Italian values & Rose & more


2012 LAROQUE CABERNET FRANC
CITE DE CARCASSONE
$8.99 BTL./$107.88 CASE

Rub your eyes, do a double take and then file this delicious red wine from vineyards that look at the walled city of Carcassone in Languedoc in the go-figure file of excellent wine values once you taste it. I know that I did as much. For some reason this 100% Cabernet Franc really takes hold in this unlikely terroir and is a good barometer of both the grape and the south/southwest of France.

Aged for 6 months in 60% stainless steel and 40% small, neutral oak casks, this lip-smacking 9-buck red wine features the raspberry and turned earth aspects of the varietal but also reveals aromatic anise and thyme tones which represent the garrigue of the area. On the palate, it has vibrancy with pleasing mid-palate presence and a succulent finish that is an abundance of pleasure for 9 bucks.

2013 SOTTIMANO DOLCETTO D'ALBA
'BRIC DEL SALTO'
$12.99 BTL./$155.88 CASE

A perfect, versatile sipper that will go with just about anything that you serve, Andrea Sottimano's Dolcetto is from three vineyard sites within the Barbaresco village of Nieve.

Offering up insane scents that offers direct, mouth filling qualities of deep blueberry, cranberry and subtle minerality. Loads of gorgeous, dry-berry fruit in the mouth give way to a finesseful characteristic that is indicative of Barbaresco-area Dolcetto. Drink this superb red now and often with smoked meat, sausage or any simple pasta dish.

2011 AMBRA CARMIGNANO
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Carmignano is located northwest of the city of Florence. A relatively small region that is home to wines that typically feature Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon it is also one of the DOCGs in the region. Contrary to popular belief, Super Tuscans and Bolgheri aren't classified as top-rated DOCG status, only DOC. Carmignano was the first area in Tuscany that was permitted to include Cabernet Sauvignon as part of the blend, so one could say that this region is the real home of the Super Tuscan. Today’s regulations require a minimum of 10% Cab or Cab Franc and up to 50% permitted grapes to go along with the Sangiovese base.

Home to serious red wines that deliver a lot of bang for the buck, the historic property of Ambra, along with Capezzana and Piaggia are generally regarded as the finest growers in the region. 75% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Canaiolo and 5% indigenous varietals, the sum of all of the parts sauvignon adds backbone to the ripe red fruits and suave characteristics of Sangiovese. Forward notes of red licorice whip, bright cherry, violet and dusty earth. Ripe red fruits follow on the palate and are intermixed with bittersweet dark chocolate leading to a refined and fresh finish. This wine is made for pasta pomodoro with braised meat or aged cheese. 2011 is a ripe, full, supple crowd-pleasing vintage for Central and Northern Tuscany and this wine should be consumed through 2019.

2012 RIDGE THREE VALLEY ZINFANDEL BLEND
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE

Getting to be close to last call on this delicious Zin-based blend from one of California’s most important producers. In the "People's Republic Of Zinfandel", Paul Draper would definitely be considered as the party chairman as well as its chief revolutionary. Over 40 years of experience with Zin and others, Draper and Ridge are California iconoclasts whose wines have never missed a beat and have inspired many others. The Three Valley Zin Blend is jump off point for any Ridge wine experience and lately this wine has seriously gone above and beyond its workhorse status.

79% Zinfandel, 12% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 4% Mataro, 1% Alicante Bouschet from Sonoma's Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River Valleys comprise this blend which was created in 2001. Zin always determines the blend and the 2012 has no shortage of bravado. Medium-dark purple color with intensely forward blackberry and strawberry compote aromas. Faint hints of bramble, pronounced white pepper and spice lend a generous, full-flavored attack right from the get go. One of the trademarks of a big Ridge wine is how they are able to maintain balance and this one does just that, never becoming burdensome from its initial entry all the way through to the spice-laden, drawn-out finish. Drink over the next 4-5 years.

2012 MATELLO FOOL'S JOURNEY
SYRAH VIOGNIER
$22.99 BTL./$275.88 CASE

To say that Oregon Pinot Noir hotshot Marcus Goodfellow is killing it would be a big understatement. From his Pinots to his whites and now this smashing, Northern Rhone-inspired blend everything that comes from this cellar seemingly is over the moon in top quality/price rapport.

I’ve known Marcus for 20 years and The Cellar Door has been long time friends with him and many years ago we all shared a hell of a lot of top-level French wines from the Northern Rhone, particularly those if Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage as well as a few from Côte-Rôtie masters like Gentaz and Gerin. 90% Syrah & 10% Viognier. No, this isn't rose, it's traditional to blend a bit of Viognier in as they would do in Côte-Rôtie for aromatics, acidity and lift. Deux Vert Vineyard is in the Yamhill-Carlton District and planted in 1994 and 1995, these Syrah and Viognier vines and grapes have proven what many of us have long thought, Syrah can thrive well in the Willamette Valley. The warmth of 2012 is present but no hairs are out of place with this wine. Aged in neutral barrels, Marcus is absolutely going for varietal strength as well as being a great vehicle for the sedimentary, sandstone-driven soils.

Aromatic, tantalizing scents of violet, roasted earth, cranberry, white pepper and hints of asphalt. Keep smelling and you will definitely feel as though you've been to two continents! Finesseful, layered flavors that expand and fill the mouth. Brisk red-tinged notes show in the middle, but the wine extends beautifully and shows off a sultry, sensual finish at the end with its silkiness. Treat this as you would any noble Syrah wine from France, have with venison, pheasant or a filet of beef slathered in peppercorns. Drink over the next 7-8 years.

2012 MATELLO PINOT NOIR 'SOURIS'
$37.99 BTL./$455.88 CASE

Under the Matello label, Souris is the top Pinot Noir, however with the creation of Goodfellow Family Cellars label for the big, single vineyard wines, 2012 will be the farewell appearance for this stunning Pinot Noir. What a way to go out, though! The vineyard blend for this wine is Durant, Whistling Ridge and Deux Vert Vineyards with an average vine age of 20 years. A nod to the likes of Cristom and great Burgundian producers like Dujac, 60% of this cuvee is from non-destemmed fruit and then aged in 500 and 228 liter barrels; 30% new.

The 2012s from Goodfellow and Matello are quite magical and all orate compelling stories. Even in a youthful stage, Souris possesses profound scents with underlying perfume that in time will stand above all other components in this wine. Violets, black cherry, fine earth and pepper with red licorice and Indian spices unfold as it sits in the glass. Superb, ethereal concentration; sculpted and not sweet, fat or over-thought at all. Nice depth and penetration, but plenty of backbone shows up on the drawn-out, luxurious, deep finish. I’d recommend putting this top-drawer Pinot down until early 2018 and then drinking it through 2026+.

2014 OLIVARES ALTOS DE LA HOYA
JUMILLA ROSE
$9.99 BTL./$119.88 CASE

For over a decade, we have been touting this Murcia-based Spanish estate’s super value red and many of you have loved it immensely. Seeing the sun and a freakish 80-degree April Day inspiration through Rose has shown up and for the first time we are presenting the Altos de la Hoya Jumilla Rose.

Made from 70% Monastrell and 30% Syrah this lip-smacking delicious dry pink wine is all about the berries. Well, there also happens to be some minerality and aromatic herbs. Crunchy, mouthwatering, gushing flavors really take hold and make you want to drain the bottle. Drink it now and throughout the summer.

2004 TRIMBACH PINOT GRIS
'RESERVE PERSONELLE'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE - LIMITED!

The adulation for Trimbach’s wines from Alsace is much deserved, top to bottom the wines range from the very solid and high performing on up to the Reserve Personelle level such as this, true benchmarks of Alsace…and don’t even get me started on the prolific and renowned Clos St-Hune! Since 1626 this Ribeauville-based estate has been producing wine and throughout my (and Karen’s) long stints in the wine business, these are must haves when it comes to some of France’s greatest white wines.

One of the big statements that Trimbach has always made is that they want to have their wines distinguished as DRY and great fodder for gastronomic delights. The Reserve Personelle Pinot Gris is a large step up from the regular Reserve bottling. When Alsace’s Grand Cru system was put into place in 1983, Trimbach was one of the estates to ignore it and continue with their own top bottlings mostly because the system became political allowing virtually every village to have its own Grand Cru vineyard site regardless of terroir. Even though it hails from the Osterberg Vineyard in Ribeauville, there is no mention of Grand Cru but let it be known, this wine will devastate many pretenders who label their wines as Grand Cru. 10 years old and really starting to strut its stuff, the 2004 Reserve Personelle is off the rails with its complexity. Very stony scents combined with lanolin, mushroom, coriander, rose and on and on. Rich but very nervy with ample spice and very expansive on the palate with terrific austerity and minerally grip showing up on the saturated, luxurious finish. This wine needs substantial fare. Delicious now and will continue drinking for another decade, drink it with grilled Chinook salmon, lobster, chicken in a mushroom sauce or foie gras.

2004 TRIMBACH GEWURZTRAMINER
'SEIGNEURS DE RIBEAUPIERRE'
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE - LIMITED!

This is the finest DRY Gewürztraminer in the entire world and I will stake my name on it, especially as it has age on it like this particular selection that is of the utmost, supreme Grand Cru quality and so beloved by so many French wine lovers.

Multi-dimensional aromas of rose, lemon oil, smoke, dried peach, serious mineral and perfumed spice. Blazing-dry and powerful in the mouth with brilliant clarity, focus and palate coverage. Nicely integrated spice and loaded with zest and mighty extension and concentration without ever attaining one bit of sweetness of cloying aspects, only freshness even after 10 years. A Gewurztraminer benchmark, do not miss an opportunity to get some of this beauty. Drink now and over the next 8-10 years with smoked fish, halibut dressed with sauce, Asian-inspired pork dishes and soft, ripe cheeses like the obvious Muenster or Pont L’Eveque.

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