8/1/22 The Cellar Door's 'PHANTASMAGORIC' HotSheet


THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'PHANTASMAGORIC' HOTSHEET
93 Point Italian Rose
Cabasse Red Rhone + Cool, Clean White Wines
Collectible Voge Cornas & Bergstrom Pinot


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2019 LA PALZZETTA
ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Flavio Fanti's wines from Montalcino are just like the man himself, they flow with Tuscan blood and heritage. A proud Tuscan, Flavio makes wines that fully indicate their Montalcino roots. Translation, no Cabernet, Merlot or Syrah nor a bunch of shiny French barrels utilized either.

The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino is as required, made from 100% Sangiovese and chock full of violet, red cherry, sage, chicory and dark chocolate aromas which follow over into a texture that is tangy, mouth-coating, nicely structured and packed with wonderful flavors of Italy from the engaging and alluring start all the way to the drawn-out, sumptuous finish. Enjoy this vastly undervalued Tuscan treasure over the next 4-6 years with hearty pastas, roasted pork loin or a T-bone or ribeye.



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2020 MENARD-GABORIT MUSCADET
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Established in 1734, Domaine Menard-Gaborit is one of the oldest in the Muscadet Sevre et Maine region, located mere minutes from the city of Nantes. The Melon grape thrives here and the wines reflect the coolness of the region as well as pair beautifully with the bounty of seafood coming from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, particularly oysters. Bone dry, the wines from this area have nothing to do or similarities to the Muscat grape…just pure, dry deliciousness.

From 45-year-old vines, confidently intense aromas of mineral, oyster shell, lemon and perfumed, powdery rock fill the glass of this focused, firm white. It does not get much fresher than this with bracing acidity in the mouth and tons of lemon and lime citrus fruits, mineral, saline and chalk. The ultimate seafood wine; drink it with oysters, mussels, crab, halibut, etc., etc.



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2021 CABASSE 'CUVEE GARNACHO'
COTES-DU-RHONE VILLAGES SEGURET
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

The name Cabasse is from Italian, casa bassa, which means house under the village. Situated just beneath the picturesque, Provençal village of Seguret, Domaine de Cabasse's roots date back to the 14th century and along with having a fine hotel and restaurant, superb wines also come from this 33-acre estate that owns land in 3 southern Rhone villages, Seguret, Sablet and Gigondas.

Notes from my visit to the Domaine in May. Cabasse literally sits at the border of the villages of Sablet and Seguret and this red is 75% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 8% Counoise, 7% Syrah aged 6-9 months in large barrels. Very classy and civilized with excellent balance. Strawberry, perfumed violet, abundant licorice. Lots of wild spices throughout. The texture is poised, tender and a throwback to Rhone wines of the 1980s with its finesse versus a big ball of jam. Lots of persistence and personality. More and more white pepper arrives. This pairs so well with Provençal cuisine like lamb as well as tomato-based fare. Also matches up nicely with North African flavors. Very easy to drink now but no problem for this wine 5-6 years as well.



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2018 BORGO DI COLLOREDO MALVASIA
TERRE DEGLE OSCI
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Here is an Italian white made from a monovarietal and an area that we do not see too often, Malvasia and Molise. Located between Puglia to the south and Abruzzo to the north, one often forgets that wine is produced from this small region. Brothers Enrico and Pasquale Di Giulio’s vineyards are scenically positioned on gentle terraces near the Adriatic Sea.

Unoaked, fragrant and full of flavor, this white conveys both the character of the grape as well as the clay/saline soils from where it is grown. Alluring aromas of nectarine, rose-petal, orange and spice rocket from the glass and come together in a texture that is dry, frisky and full of fun. The finish is loaded with electricity that absolutely screams for fried calamari, grilled vegetables, salt cod fritters and other seafood choices.



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2017 GILBERT CELLARS 'LEFT BANK'
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS RED
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Located in Yakima, the wines produced at Gilbert Cellars are solid contenders when it comes to price/quality rapport in the Washington red blend category.

Coming from a blend of three vineyard sites this assemblage of Bordeaux varietals is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot & 1% Carmenere. Hearty and full-flavored exhibiting black cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder, violet, and aromatic herbs and spices on the nose. Mouth-coating with ripe, but even-keeled smooth-textured fruit, earth and spicy oak tones all which carry to a finish that is lasting and very dignified; drink over the next 4-6 years.



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2021 PROPRIETA SPERINO
COSTA DELLA SESIA ROSE
$24.99 BTL. - VERY LIMITED

Famous for their epic Chianti and super Tuscan Sangiovese known as Ceparello, Paolo and Luca de Marchi bought land in Piedmont over a decade ago, specifically the area around the small city of Lessona and their excellence has continued in this area as well.

A lip-smacking blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Vespolina, it is a virtual summer pool party in a glass. Aromatically expressive, illuminating and glowing from the glass, there is an abundance of strawberry, mineral and savory fennel notes. The texture is intense, elevated, super-succulent and inviting from start to finish. Don't be deceived, this rose is very pleasurable, but also very complex. There is no doubt that this will drink well into next year, it is very alluring now and can be served with grilled chicken, pork or halibut now, or in late November (2022 or 2023) with the holiday turkey. If you need 'score assurance', Vinous scored it 93 points. Very Limited and it will sell out quickly!



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2019 CASTEGGIO BARBERA
$10.99 BTL./$131.88 CASE

Lombardy is not known much for Barbera. Other varietals take hold with sparkling wine also produced. For years, we have offered this best buy Barbera and it continues to provide lots of happiness.

The 2019 is so easy and friendly it is almost obscene. The perfect balance between richness and freshness with red plum, raspberry, violet, cocoa and earthy minerality. Soft and easy in the mouth, have this delicious Barbera with grilled sausage, four-cheese pizza or a plate of antipasti.



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2019 VOGE CORNAS 'LES CHAILLES'
$54.99 BTL./$329.94 - SIX PACK

The tiny Northern Rhone appellation of Cornas is in a golden age of collectible Syrah. Along with a fountain of youth that has asserted themselves, there are still the grand old maestros that continue to make top-drawer wines. Voge has been one of our go-to producers for collectible French Syrah, specifically Cornas.

Les Chailles is from four specific sites in Cornas, 40-year-old vines and planted on sandstone and granite soils. As expected, it is rather youthful now as Cornas should be. Stunning nose, smoked bacon, generous red and black plum. Gains mineral along with violet and rose petal. The texture is embryonic with muscle and detail; however, there is sexiness and allure waiting to come to the surface with cellar time. The finish is packed, long and laden with cracked pepper, smoke and hints of tapenade that really lingers nicely. Hold this wine until 2024 and enjoy it through 2035+.



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20d18 BERGSTROM PINOT NOIR
GREGORY RANCH
$64.99 BTL./$389.94 - SIX PACK

Always one of the more robust Pinot Noirs from Bergstrom, this Pinot shows detail, suaveness and spine very well for vintage 2018. Even given its predilection for wines from this site and this vintage to want to run towards being over the top, Josh Bergstrom and team always have a way of maintaining equilibrium and this is nothing short of brilliant.

Harmony is of the utmost to this wine with grip and structure lying beneath the beautiful core of plum, violet, nutmeg and marine aspects. Layered, very drawn-out and having impressive persistence, it follows suit to the vintage with some early accessible aspects; however, this wine is going to age extremely well. For best results hold on to it until end of 2023 and drink through 2033+.






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