Hot Sheets


THE CELLAR DOOR'S "ONE FISH, TWO FISH - RED FISH, BLUE FISH" HOTSHEET
92 point Barbera, Bordeaux Special, Under 12 buck values & more


2011 OLIM BAUDA BARBERA D'ASTI "ROCCHETTE"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

92 POINTS - VINOUS
Having now known and been offering, buying and consuming Olim Bauda's Barbera wines since 2009, it is now quite a thrill to see brothers Dino & Gianni Bertolini receiving adulation for their wines both from wine-lovers and the pundits. Rocchette is from the eponymous-named vineyard in Isole d'Asti whose vines were planted in 1950 and instantaneously one can discover that this wine steps it up a level or six from most 20 buck Barbera D'Asti wines.

“The 2011 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Le Rocchette is a gorgeous, juicy wine to drink now and over the next few years. The 2001 stands out for its supple, gracious and totally inviting personality. Dark blackberries, flowers, violets and mint wrap around the vibrant, floral finish. The 2011 stands out for its persistence and fabulous sense of harmony. Drinking Window: 2013 – 2019 – 92 POINTS, ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS MEDIA”

2012 MATELLO PINOT NOIR "HOMMAGE"
$25.99 BTL./$311.88 CASE

It blows my mind that there is still some of this spectacular 2012 Pinot Noir available! From 4 excellent vineyard sources (Durant, Whistling Ridge, Bishop Creek & Hoffarth), Matello’s 2012 Hommage Pinot Noir totally follows the patterns of the vintage's generosity and totally delivers the goods.

Sensuous, refined aromas of blackberry and strawberry, subtly elusive herbs and spices and an underlay of earth and red-hot candy pepper tones build and build as the wine unfolds in the glass. Texturally, it is silky and seductive with clarity and exquisite finesse along with ultra-fine depth and tannins. All of the spices that are on the nose are present on the drawn-out finish. This wine can be accessed now and will develop nicely through 2022.

2013 TRUCHARD ROUSSANNE "CARNEROS"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

When I met and tasted with one of my reps, I almost refused to sample this wine given my predilection of disliking Rhone grape varietals done in this area of California. Good thing I relented and tasted it because it is quite a terrific alternative to the tried and true done in this area when it comes to white wines.

Truchard’s Roussanne is a beauty of a white wine. Grown in northern reaches of the Carneros appellation, this exotic white is insanely aromatic with spirited scents of apricot, nectarine, chamomile and subtle mineral/ginger characteristics waft from the glass then follow through to a balanced, yet richly formed texture that bursts with lively fruit, anise and white pepper. Picks up lively dry citrus aspects on the long, driving finish; excellent material, very credible and true to the varietal that is famous for being in white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine should be consumed with scallops, lobster or a soft-ripened camembert. A red wine drinker's white wine.

2013 DOWSETT GEWURZTRAMINER "CELILO VINEYARD"
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Chris Dowsett is a Washington winemaker with an excellent record of accomplishment. Lately he has been forming the wines of Buty as well as formerly being the house winemaker at Artifex. Chris makes a small amount of wines under his Dowsett Family label and they are flat-out yummy, yet quite serious.

This is DRY Gewurztraminer!!! If anyone buys this and thinks that it's sweet, I'll take it back! Celilo is one of Washington's oldest and most important vineyard sites. The Gewurztraminer that Chris uses was planted in 1984 and is fermented in older barrels to bring about palate-staining texture. Unyielding rose, citron, grapefruit and underlying tropical tones vault from the glass. Building spice as it unfolds while in the mouth, this is all about texture. Thrusting and bursting, yet with loads of depth and persistence. Simply marvelous, it is going to make you hungry for Asian fare if you drink it alone and it is also a lip smacking pairing with chicken, salmon or pork dishes. One can opt for traditional preparations, but if you have a little bit of Chinese 5-spice, go ahead and add it to your recipe.

2010 CHATEAU MOULIN-RICHE ST-JULIEN
[reg. $75.00] SPECIAL PRICE - $53.99 BTL./647.88 CASE

Owned and operated by the Cuvelier family since 1920, Moulin-Riche was the de facto second wine of famed 2nd Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre for many years. In 2009 it became an independent Chateau and for good reason, this wine has been performing at classified growth levels for quite a while now.

Following suit to the great 2010 vintage in Bordeaux, this dense red shows everything that one should want in their favorite wines of this area. 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot. Velvety perfume with notes of blackberry, cassis, black pepper, iron, and mineral shimmer on the nose. Defined black fruits are perfectly intertwined in the mouth with lots of spice, well-integrated tannins, and a long, balanced finish. Even in its youth, this is just plain fun to drink, and a perfect wine for those that want a great Bordeaux experience that is at a nicely reduced price. Top-drawer juice that should be aged and/or consumed through 2023.

2012 QUINTA DA AVELEDA DUORO TINTO "CHARAMBA"
$7.99 BTL./$95.88 CASE

Quinta da Aveleda is primarily known as a white wine producer, however, they dabble a bit in red wines and their consultant is famed Bordeaux professor of enology and winemaker Denis Dubourdieu.

Utilizing Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional (same grapes for the famed sweet Port wines), hearty aromas of pronounced chocolate-covered strawberry co-exist handsomely with Moroccan spice, finely placed oak and sneaky minerality. Bountiful and very stylish flavors captivate the palate with an almost-Italian plum-like quality before advancing through to an arousing finish that brings it all home. Enjoy with this overachieving 8-dollar red with lamb, grilled sausage or a hearty stew.

2012 UMANI RONCHI ROSSO CONERO
$11.99 BTL./$143.88 CASE

Over the Apennines Mountains from Tuscany and in the hills above the Adriatic Sea in the Le Marches region comes this satisfyingly delicious red made from 100% Montepulciano.

This ever-popular native grape expresses itself and cooler climate influences much differently than the wines of Abruzzo. Morello cherry, spice and tinges of lavender and iron leap from the glass and carry over to a lush palate that also possesses abundant austerity of balance and freshness. Have with sausages or a nice pecorino cheese.

2006 CHANDON DE BRIAILLES CORTON CLOS DU ROI GRAND CRU
$134.99 - LIMITED

Chandon de Briailles is a small Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer located in the small village of Savigny-les-Beaune. This domaine is owned by de Nicolay family with Claude and her brother Francois being the the two people responsible for overseeing one of Burgundy's greatest and hottest Domaines. For a while, this domaine missed the mark, but since the early ‘90s they are back on track and rapidly becoming difficult to acquire. These wines are not for those who like their Pinot or Chardonnay big, fat, and oaky, rather these are very sensual wines combining elegance, splendid fruit, and incredible purity.

Corton Clos du Roi is the most powerful wine of the lineup and is one that always provides some of the most thrilling adventures in all of the Cotes-de-Beaune. From some of the steepest portions on the Corton hill and from vines planted in 1961 and 1985, the 2006 at age 8 is just starting to wake up from its initial slumber and become the wine that it has always promised to be. A dazzling effort this sultry Grand Cru is laden with exotic, perfumy scents of dark, ripe, black fruits and hints of wild, animalistic spiciness. Possessing extraordinary depth of flavor combined with a rich, vinous texture, powerful structure, and tremendously long finish, it is a wine of startling intensity that is starting to smooth out, gain secondary aromas and flavors yet still promises a long future of elegant enjoyment and development. Drink this apex Pinot through 2026.

Pages