5/12/26 The Cellar Door's 'WINE MUPPETS' Wine Sheet
THE CELLAR DOOR'S 'WINE MUPPETS' WINESHEET
8 wines including Cinque Terre White Wine
2024 Kelley Fox Pinot, WA Cab
Montepulciano & White Rhone
2024 Kelley Fox Pinot, WA Cab
Montepulciano & White Rhone
2020 BLACK SLATE PRIORAT
MAS ALTA 'LA VILELLA ALTA'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
MAS ALTA 'LA VILELLA ALTA'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
The Black Slate La Vilella Alta Priorat primarily Grenache with tiny amounts of Syrah, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Elevation and clay-limestone-schist soils are what bring about exuberance and finely tune this full-bodied offering.
Wonderfully dramatic and sophisticated, its persistence and character with spicy, mulled black cherry, grenadine, slate, wind-swept lavender and tangy licorice aspects glisten. The palate is very extroverted, layered and natural minerality shines from soils with submerged structure. The back end lasts forever, and the entire package is class from the get-go. Amazingly one can uncork a bottle but there is no doubt that this wine will easily age 5-6 years.
Wonderfully dramatic and sophisticated, its persistence and character with spicy, mulled black cherry, grenadine, slate, wind-swept lavender and tangy licorice aspects glisten. The palate is very extroverted, layered and natural minerality shines from soils with submerged structure. The back end lasts forever, and the entire package is class from the get-go. Amazingly one can uncork a bottle but there is no doubt that this wine will easily age 5-6 years.
2024 GUIGAL
COTES-DU-RHONE BLANC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
COTES-DU-RHONE BLANC
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE
This happy surprise from a Rhone legend as the same as finding a twenty in your pants pocket after pulling them from the dryer. More famous for the red version, this white Cotes-du-Rhone is going to make a whole lotta people investigate the whites.
Guigal succeeds where many Viognier-based whites fail, staying balanced to avoid becoming the equivalent of floral shampoo. 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc, aromas of honeysuckle, orange peel, pear, and mineral lead to a wine with finesse, delicacy, fruit and spice on the spirited finish. Try it with beet salad and goat cheese, shrimp scampi, or spaghetti primavera.
Guigal succeeds where many Viognier-based whites fail, staying balanced to avoid becoming the equivalent of floral shampoo. 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc, aromas of honeysuckle, orange peel, pear, and mineral lead to a wine with finesse, delicacy, fruit and spice on the spirited finish. Try it with beet salad and goat cheese, shrimp scampi, or spaghetti primavera.
2022 CHATEAU CEDRE
CAHORS 'HERITAGE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
CAHORS 'HERITAGE'
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
Cahors is known as the black wine of France but there are times I call it ‘le casse-couilles de vin Francais’ because its assorted styles. Some are treacherous and industrial; some try to be like Argentina with too much slickness and then there are wines like Cedre’s which are soulful expressions of terroir.
Scents of red and black licorice, violet, sandalwood and raspberry step to the palate with generosity and a clean, subtle modern twist, never straying from its Cahors roots with its earth-mother texture. Drink over the next 4-5 years with hearty beef stew, prime rib or grilled lamb sausages.
Scents of red and black licorice, violet, sandalwood and raspberry step to the palate with generosity and a clean, subtle modern twist, never straying from its Cahors roots with its earth-mother texture. Drink over the next 4-5 years with hearty beef stew, prime rib or grilled lamb sausages.
2023 ANA MARIA CUMSILLE
CARINENA 'LOMAS COLORADAS'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
CARINENA 'LOMAS COLORADAS'
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
Guilty pleasures come in many forms including music, food, literature and of course wine. When it comes to grapes, I have a mushy spot for good Carignan, but the last place I would ever think to find one is Southern Chile’s Itata region.
Ana Maria Cumsille, chief winemaker at Viña Carmen, one of Chile’s historic producers, fell in love with the cool-climate Itata region and began making wines under her own label. This single-vineyard Carignan comes from a site planted in 1980 at just under 1,000 feet of elevation. Aromas of white pepper, Asian spice, and ripe raspberry lead into a wine with impressive depth and generous fruit. The finish is long and lingering, inviting another pour. Pair this complex, appealing, medium-bodied red with grilled chicken or pork seasoned with fennel.
Ana Maria Cumsille, chief winemaker at Viña Carmen, one of Chile’s historic producers, fell in love with the cool-climate Itata region and began making wines under her own label. This single-vineyard Carignan comes from a site planted in 1980 at just under 1,000 feet of elevation. Aromas of white pepper, Asian spice, and ripe raspberry lead into a wine with impressive depth and generous fruit. The finish is long and lingering, inviting another pour. Pair this complex, appealing, medium-bodied red with grilled chicken or pork seasoned with fennel.
2024 VALLEVO MONTEPULCIANO
D'ABRUZZO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
D'ABRUZZO
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE
Fun, forward, fruit-driven unpretentious, Montepulciano is the consummate wine for any occasion. Ordering pizza? Drink Montepulciano. Celebrating sending the brats back to school after summer vacation? Drink Montepulciano (although some parents may prefer Champagne. If this is the case, call Bryan immediately!) Having a party?? Drink Montepulciano.
So now that you have the idea, plan to order your bottles of this lip-smacking central Italian red! Harmonious and chock full of bright, lively strawberry fruit it is dry and delivering a combination of spice and earth it makes for a perfect every evening Italian wine.
So now that you have the idea, plan to order your bottles of this lip-smacking central Italian red! Harmonious and chock full of bright, lively strawberry fruit it is dry and delivering a combination of spice and earth it makes for a perfect every evening Italian wine.
2024 TERRENZUOLA
CINQUE TERRE BIANCO
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
CINQUE TERRE BIANCO
$39.99 BTL./$479.88 CASE
Once you get past the hordes of tourists, there are small amounts of very fine white wine made in the area in the miniscule, 1973 established Cinque Terre DOC. Terenzuola’s terraced 2.43 acres in the appellation overlook the sea and are split into sixteen plots of land producing a mere two thousand bottles (that’s about 165 cases to you and me, Russ).
Made from Vermentino, along with two native grapes, Bosco and Albarola, this white wine is sizzling and fascinating. Decomposed sandstone combined with seaside proximity allow the vines to inhale the salty air like a Mediterranean bong. Persuasive notes of lemon blossom, star anise, saline, freesia and minerality fill the glass, your nose and the entire room. The tingling entry gives way to an elevated vinous texture, possessing buoyant crispness, dimension, balance and extension. A white wine vehicle for fish jacked with anise and Italian herbs. It also works brilliantly with green vegetables, kale, mushrooms, asparagus and more.
Made from Vermentino, along with two native grapes, Bosco and Albarola, this white wine is sizzling and fascinating. Decomposed sandstone combined with seaside proximity allow the vines to inhale the salty air like a Mediterranean bong. Persuasive notes of lemon blossom, star anise, saline, freesia and minerality fill the glass, your nose and the entire room. The tingling entry gives way to an elevated vinous texture, possessing buoyant crispness, dimension, balance and extension. A white wine vehicle for fish jacked with anise and Italian herbs. It also works brilliantly with green vegetables, kale, mushrooms, asparagus and more.
2024 KELLEY FOX
PINOT NOIR 'MIRABAI'
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
PINOT NOIR 'MIRABAI'
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
Another Pinot from the great 2024 vintage and one of Oregon’s illustrious, award-winning producers. Kelley is maintaining the price on this old vine entry blend Pinot Noir, and you are obliged to have it if you like her wines and fine Oregon Pinot.
All Dundee Hills from Weber, Stater and Durant Vineyards and Kelley articulates it oh so well…‘The Mirabai 2024 is a youthful, rich red with blue undertones and brilliant transparency. My first impression is a visually observable silkiness. The nose is full of abundant Hood strawberries and red raspberries with subtle warm spices. The 2024 is utterly fresh. As fresh as the cool, rain-air. The mouth becomes quite focused after the almost lush beginning but maintains its juiciness throughout. The extended, silky finish has beautiful tension and balance. This is a serious Mirabai, and in the past, I would have loved for any of my single vineyard Pinots to be as well-composed as this one is.’
All Dundee Hills from Weber, Stater and Durant Vineyards and Kelley articulates it oh so well…‘The Mirabai 2024 is a youthful, rich red with blue undertones and brilliant transparency. My first impression is a visually observable silkiness. The nose is full of abundant Hood strawberries and red raspberries with subtle warm spices. The 2024 is utterly fresh. As fresh as the cool, rain-air. The mouth becomes quite focused after the almost lush beginning but maintains its juiciness throughout. The extended, silky finish has beautiful tension and balance. This is a serious Mirabai, and in the past, I would have loved for any of my single vineyard Pinots to be as well-composed as this one is.’
2022 RASA 'OCCAM'S RAZOR'
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE
Not sure how Cabernet lovers missed this a few weeks ago, but we are running Walla Walla genius and high-end producer Rasa’s gateway Occam’s Razor Cabernet Sauvignon again.
Flavorful black plum and coriander are enveloped by chocolate/espresso nuances. Palate staining, there is an irresistible quality to this wine now, but don't drink it all up at once, because it will age nicely for 6-8 years.
Flavorful black plum and coriander are enveloped by chocolate/espresso nuances. Palate staining, there is an irresistible quality to this wine now, but don't drink it all up at once, because it will age nicely for 6-8 years.
