New Arrivals From the West Coast: St Supery, Gundlach Bundschu, Biale Black Chicken and More!; New Weygandt Wines from France; Guimaro’s Mencia Mastery; Fritz Haag: Brauneberg’s Best; Staff Pick in Brunello; Burlotto’s ‘Other’ Wines; Domaine de La Borde’s Gateway Juras; Gulfi’s Sicilian Restoration; Karthauserhof on Deep Sale
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Featured Arrival:
The 98pt Freemark Abbey Bosché
Arriving Friday:
Freemark Abbey ‘Bosche’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 98+ points “The famous Bosché Vineyard is a spot in Rutherford composed of gravelly, loamy soil and situated just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. A blend of 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.2% Merlot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard was aged 28 months in French oak. This vineyard has turned out many a classic wine capable of lasting 30-40 years, and this 2013 is one of the all-time great Bosché Cabernet Sauvignons. It offers an inky ruby/purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, black cherry, wood spice and barbecue notes, enormous body and richness, and a heady, full-bodied, long finish of 50+ seconds with moderately high tannins. This is a great classic from Napa, but not one for drinking over the near-term. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 50 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Arriving This Week: West Coast Classics
St. Supery: Napa Soil, French Soul
St Supery has always been known for two things: Elegant, classical wines and a prime vineyard in the heart of Rutherford. This combination has served them well for years and we’re excited to have a few of the wines coming in Friday at the best prices in the country. If you like Napa Cabs, you owe it to yourself to try the Rutherford Estate—located between Cakebread and Caymus in the heart of the Rutherford Bench. The Sauvignon Blanc is also delicious in a lush, riper style that would be a perfect porch wine this spring. Whichever you want, don’t delay—these wines won’t stick around long.
St. Supery Dollarhide Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The real star is St. Supéry’s 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Dollarhide Estate Vineyard. This has a creamier texture, with more tropical fruit, ripe melons, and some flowery notes. It is fleshy, medium-bodied, juicy and impressive. Drink it over the next several years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
St. Supery Dollarhide Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 89 points “It is 100% Sauvignon and does show subtle smokiness, ripe fig, delicate honeysuckle and caramelized citrus with a touch of grapefruit. The texture has a creaminess that is more reminiscent of Chardonnay. This medium-bodied, dry Sauvignon is excellent and best drunk over the next couple years..”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
St. Supery Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2012 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 St. Supery Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2012 750ML ($449.95) $369 pre-arrival special (that’s only $61.50/bottle!)
International Wine Report 93 points “Immediately opens with fantastic aromatics of freshly crushed cassis, black cherries, espresso, molasses, bell pepper, savory herbs and sweet spices. This is impressive for its generous supple texture and round polished tannins. The finish is layered with dark fruits, herbs and spices which leave a lasting impression. Overall, this is a delicious wine from a fantastic vintage, that will be accessible early on. A terrific effort from winemaker Michael Scholz.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“If You Can’t Say ‘Gundlach Bundschu’…”
Gundlach Bundschu has been a fixture in Sonoma for a while, and like many historic wineries, it can be easy to forget how good the wines are in favor of the new, hot thing. We’re getting their Sonoma Chardonnay and Cabernet in and the wines, especially for the prices (lowest in the country!) are fantastic. These are really excellent Sonoma wines at extremely useful prices.
Arriving Friday:
Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This producer continues to impress in quality and focus. Proving the point, this estate-grown white proffers inviting teases of jasmine and tropical-kissed peach and pear. Tangy acidity finds a complement of texture and body, delivering voluptuousness that remains elegant in the glass.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($44.95) $37.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2013 ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma shows juicy crème de cassis fruit, black licorice, nicely integrated toasty oak, an inky purple color and a medium to full-bodied delicious style. This is certainly a major sleeper of the vintage and one of the more attractively priced world-class Cabernet Sauvignons coming out of California’s North Coast in this miraculous vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Drink now-2030+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The Return of an Old Favorite:
Robert Biale’s Black Chicken Zinfandel
This is a wine with a cult following, to be sure. True to the namesake of the wine, it seems like we get a request for “Black Chicken” once every week or so (the name comes from prohibition-era wine sales from Biale to friends and family, who would ask to buy a ‘Black Chicken’). We’re excited to have it back in stock at the end of the week, at the lowest price on the West Coast.
Arriving Friday
Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
“Dark color, ripe aromatics and juicy acidity. The nose is full of vibrant black cherry, strawberries, crème fresh, dried flowers, brown and black spices and bread pudding. The entry is soft and weighty and gives way to supple round tannins.”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The Return of Resonance
The 2013 Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir was the inaugural release for Jacques Lardière and his team at Resonance. There was only one wine, the single vineyard bottling, made in 2013 and the wine is an unqualified success for the vintage. We are excited to get it back in and at the best price in the country!
Arriving Friday:
Resonance “Resonance Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Light and focused, showing distinctive subtlety. A layer of crinkly tannins underlies a pulsing core of mineral-accented cherry and red berry flavors, hinting at cinnamon as the finish lingers gently.” HS
Maison Louis Jadot’s first venture outside France since their inception in 1859
Made by famed Jadot Winemaker, Jacques Lardière
Dry-farmed vineyard with original rootstock farmed Biodynamically
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Outstanding Value French Wines From Weygandt
Peter Weygandt may not be as well known as someone like Kermit Lynch, but we think that he’s one of the most reliable importers for classic, well made wines from Europe. From landmark producers like Domaine Charvin, Vatan, FX Pichler and Dugat-Py to more under the radar winemakers like Marc Plouzeau or Domaine de la Borde, we find that everything he brings in is worth our time and attention.
This Friday, we’ll have two Southern French wines arriving that Weygandt brings in. The first, from L’Oustal Blanc, is a leader in Minervois—one of those wineries that transcend their appellation. The other, from Domaine Maravilhas, is about as fine a Cotes du Rhone as we can imagine. Both are criminally underpriced. Don’t sleep on these wines.
Arriving Friday:
Domaine de L’Oustal Blanc Naick Rouge, Languedoc-Roussillon 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Deep purple/ruby colored, the 2012 Naick Rouge offers a superb bouquet of sweet plum and dark fruits, licorice, tar and ground, peppery herbs. With air, more resinous herbs and truffle like qualities emerge, and this full-bodied effort has terrific character in its fruit loaded, complex, textured and balanced profile. Opening up with air, it shows the fruit forward nature of the vintage, yet backs it up with good underlying structure and depth. Enjoy this beauty anytime over the coming 5-7 years.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine des Maravilhas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Laudun Bessalena 2012 ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Deep ruby. Blackberry, cherry liqueur, garrigue and candied lavender on the deeply perfumed nose. Focused red and blue fruit flavors coat the palate, showing excellent clarity and bright mineral lift. The cherry and floral qualities come back strong on the impressively persistent finish, which is given shape and gentle grip by smooth, harmonious tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Mencia’s Peak Producer
A New Guimaro Arrival
Pedro Rodriguez is probably the foremost producer of Mencia in the world. His estate, Guimaro, in Ribeira Sacra produces wines that exemplify why wine geeks love the region. From steep slate vineyards, the wines are reminiscent of Burgundy in their balance, but with a distinct minerality and flavor profile that’s entirely Mencia. A must try and a great price for one of the most interesting wines from Spain.
Guimaro Finca Meixeman, Ribeira Sacra 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The Finca Meixemaìn bottling from Pedro Rodriìguez is produced from seventy-five year- old Mencìa vines, with the fruit foot-trodden and raised in old oak barrels. The 2014 vintage of this fine single vineyard wine is stunning, with great nascent complexity already in evidence on both the nose and palate. The beautiful bouquet offers up a wild and classy blend of mulberry, pomegranate, graphite, a bit of bonfire, a beautifully complex base of slate minerality, balsam bough and chicory. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and tangy, with a sappy core, great soil signature, suave tannins and outstanding focus and grip and beautiful balance on the very long and nascently complex finish. This is a beautiful example of Ribeira Sacra- deep, complex and still light on its feet, with simply gorgeous complexity. It is very easy to drink already, but it is still a puppy and will be far better five to ten years down the road, as the wine has enormous potential! 2017-2050+”
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This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado! Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25.
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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The Majestic Riesling of Fritz Haag
Fritz Haag is one of the greatest producers of Middle Mosel wines. The wines he makes, from dry to sweet are beloved both in his native land and beyond. There are many Haags in the town of Brauneberg, but the Fritz Haag estate is the most renown and the winery which commands the highest prices in the market (for good reason).
Because of high domestic demand, it can be hard to find in the US, but we’ve managed to secure a small allocation of these wines, including the incredibly hard to find Beernauslese, which is one of the finest dessert wines in the world. Rarer than Y’quem (and the 2015 is at least as good), it’s a treasure of German wine. We’re pleased to offer these rare beauties to you at prices that don’t correspond with how hard they were to acquire.
Arriving Friday:
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($279.95Z) $249 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel AP# 12, Mosel 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 97 points “Besides a possible auction lot, Weingut Fritz Haag produces in most vintages two different bottlings of Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese GK which carry the AP09 and AP12 (#12 on the label) whereby the AP12 is made from riper and creamier fruit with often a touch more botrytis. This 2015er Auslese GK #12 exhibits a BA styled aromatic profile with notes of honey, dried exotic fruits, tar, smoke, vanilla and baked apple. A gorgeously pure impact of botrytis made of oily notes of marzipan and nut paste come through on the palate. These are then superbly well balanced out by intense zesty fruits. The finish is hauntingly long and pure. All this adds to the “Auslese lange GK” character of this wine. But what a head-turner!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese AP #10, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 97 points “Weingut Fritz Haag usually produces two different bottlings of Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese which carry the AP06 and AP10 (#10 on the label) whereby the AP10 is made from riper and creamier fruit and may see some a limited amount of botrytis. This 2015er Auslese #10 starts off on the restrained side of life before developing a great smoky and flowery nose driven by gorgeous yellow peach and a touch of herbs in the background. Juicy honeyed flavors of fruits and whipped cream give great refinement to the palate and a sense of precision runs right through to the intense yet airily light finish. This classic Auslese made in the glorious pre-1971 style of the Feine Auslese (fine Auslese) only needs time to unfold its complexity. But the underlying material is simply quite breathtaking. What a great wine and one of the best regular Auslese we have ever tasted (and we did taste many!) from this historic Estate!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese displays a stunningly clear, precise and mineral, flinty-flavored bouquet with lemon oil flavors on pure stones. This is a weightless, bright and finesse-full Auslese that tastes as piquant and refreshing in its bright citrus flavors as a candied grapefruit. Absolutely beautiful and elegant, and so long, stimulatingly pure and salty. Great, great Riesling!”
Wine & Spirits 93 points -Top Mosel Estate In 2016- “While intense Auslese wines were a rarity in the cool, rain-plagued 2014 vintage, Haag’s Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese is an exception, a powerful Riesling that broadcasts its flavors with bell0like clarity, notes of flowers, honey, herbs and jasmine tea swept along on silky sweetness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
In Stock Now:
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling trocken GG displays a lovey, pure and refreshing stony bouquet with lemon and bright fruit flavors, as well as very delicate slate aromas. This is a beautiful dry Riesling of great finesse and elegance that is light but intense in its mineral complexity. Very pure, salty and provided with a lovely intensity. The wine is bottled with 13% alcohol, but you don’t taste it. Very promising.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett offers the lovely, clear and delicate slate aroma intermixed with smoky and herbal aromas, but also lovely stone fruit as well. Pure, salty and piquant on the palate, this is a nicely concentrated, round and fruity Riesling with lightness, intensity and finesse, as well as a long and persistent finish. This is great terroir Riesling with salt and minerals. Extremely stimulating. Great, great Mosel Riesling from the grand cru terroirs of Brauneberg!”
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La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino 2006
A Wine in its Prime, Right on Time
Staff Pick:
“The 2006 vintage for Brunello wasn’t a world beater, but it is just starting to show off the capabilities of well made wines from a year of little fanfare. I first had the La Poderina in 2010 – wound up, sort of a jumble of all the classic puzzle pieces. In the seven years since, the puzzle has been fitted together expertly. Wild blueberries, light powdery graphite, baking spices all fit together in a solid, yet elegant package. The wine carries seriousness without weight, including a nice lengthy finish. A great maturation of a great wine.” – Andy
La Poderina Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 750ML ($74.95) $49 special, 34 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points “Blueberries, flowers and raspberries. Love the nose, like so many others. Full body, with fine tannins and a silky textured finish. So much going on here.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Burlotto’s “Other” Wines: Beyond Barolo
Since we wrote about Burlotto a few weeks ago, we’ve definitely seen an uptick in interest for the wines.( We swear, the fact that Antonio Galloni gave some pretty impressive scores to the 2013 Baroli had nothing to do with it, either…) We’re glad that the winery is starting to appear on radars of wine lovers, but this week, we also wanted to highlight some of the wines they make that are not Barolo. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about Piedmont Cabernet here, these are native Piedmontese grape varieties done a the traditional style. Barbera is well known (as is Nebbiolo), but the Freisa might be the real wild card of the bunch—a grape which combines the profile of Nebbiolo with a touch of exoticism and rustic fruitiness. There are a few different wines arriving at the end of the month that we wanted to profile today—don’t let these “lesser” wines stay overshadowed by the Baroli.
Arriving March 31st:
G. B. Burlotto Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Producer notes: “Deep purple with a full bouquet of cherry fruits on the nose. This wine has good strength and character and is filled with juicy black fruits.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G. B. Burlotto Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: “Made from younger vines, this shows the trademark elegant Burlotto style, with pretty black cherry and red plum fruit on the palate and signature orange zest and floral overlays on the nose. Bright, zippy and delicious.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
G. B. Burlotto Langhe Freisa, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: “Freisa remains the lost red grape of Piedmont. Similar in some ways to Nebbiolo, it has the tannins and acidity of its cousin, but with richer fruit and a little bit of a wild side. Don’t expect anything too tame, but this is still Burlotto, so there’ll be an elegant edge.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
And we have a few bottles of Barolo in stock if you’re itching to get your hands on them, as well.
G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2012 Barolo is a gorgeous entry-level offering from Burlotto and a fabulous introduction to the house style. Lifted, precise and translucent, the 2012 is a pure joy to taste today. This mid-weight, refined Barolo is pure class. Sweet red berry, mint and spice nuances are laced into the super-expressive, inviting finish. Most of this fruit is sourced from Breri.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “What a joy it is to taste Burlotto’s 2011 Barolo Acclivi. The Acclivi occupies a very attractive middle ground in the Burlotto range. It is made from a handful of parcels, but is more structured and overtly tannic than the straight Barolo, but obviously does not convey the signature of a specific piece of dirt, as the Cannubi and Monvigliero do. A wine of contrasts, Acclivi is dark yet translucent, tannic and weightless. In other words, it is a wine that captures the full spectrum of complexity Nebbiolo is capable of. The warmth of the vintage has given the Accilvi a little more ripeness and volume than is typically the case, but all the elements are deftly balanced.” AG
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles available
Wine & Spirits 94 points “This wine combines the elegance and spice of Verduno’s Monvigliero cru with the darker color and more structured tannins that derive from vines growing on Rocche dell’Olmo’s clay-rch east-facing slopes. Fabio Alessandria harvest fruit from the steepest sections of those two vineyards to make Acclivi (which means ‘steep’), and he likens its tannins to ‘a tight-fitting dress.’ They seem more like a bustier, lifting the flavors of pomegranate, tamarind and orange peel in an upward direction, gathering power as they move to a long and spicy finish. Its lovely violet scents echo in flavors of black licorice that lend a dark velvet plushness to the wine.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Barolo Acclivi is another aromatically lifted, precise Barolo endowed with tons of pedigree. Stylistically, the Acclivi is the Burlotto Barolo that most resembles Monvigliero because it is made from a blend of declassified fruit from that site along with important contributions from Rocche dell’Olmo and Neirane. Deceptively medium in body, the Acclivi possesses striking mid-palate depth and substance, while maintaining its classic sense of poise. A host of bright red cherry, raspberry and floral notes punctuate the refreshing finish.”
Arriving in May:
G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo is one of the very best wines in its price range and class. Orange peel, bright red stone fruit, mint, licorice and star anise give the 2013 its exotic aromatic profile. The tannins are incisive and piercing, but also very fine grained. Best of all, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring while giving readers a terrific look at the vibrancy, energy and polish. There is so much to like here. Breri, which is a vineyard close to Monvigliero, is the core of the Barolo, while Rocco dell’ Olmo and Neirane round out the blend. The 2013 is as good or better than many vineyard designate Barolos in this vintage. Don’t miss it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Barolo Acclivi is another knockout from Burlotto. The Acclivi shows slightly red and purplish hued fruits, with lavender, mint, violet and spice that develop in the glass. The 2013 is naturally very tightly wound, but it offers superb freshness, along with a striking interplay of pliant fruit, lifted, floral-infused aromatics, and an acid/tannin profile that adds brightness throughout. Readers will have to be patient, but there is no rush. This is a fabulous Barolo in the making.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Domaine de la Borde:
New Reviews, Same Old Quality
Domaine de la Borde is one of our favorite Jura estates. The wines are made in a mix of sous voile and ouille (oxidized and not) styles, so they can be a great way to taste the grapes of the Jura without the winemaking technique as a filter. The wines made under veil are really excellent as well, with that classic Jura minerality. Vinous just published some new reviews which reminded us that we hadn’t highlighted these in a while:
Domaine de la Borde Arbois-Pupillin ‘Terre du Lias (Chardonnay), Jura ($27.95) $16 special, 23 bottles available
“The “Terre du Lias” Chardonnay from Pupillin. is grown on a steep 20-degree southwest facing slope of clay-limestone on gray marl. Entirely hand-harvested. Half destemmed, half whole-cluster. Fermentation without sulphites and only with indigenous yeasts in 600 liter barrels of 3 to 5 vintages-used. Aged in 600 liter barrels on the lees for 12 months”–Importer Notes
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Borde Arbois-Pupillin ‘Foudre a Canon’ Nature (Savignin), Jura 2014 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 29 bottles available
Joel Payne–Vinous 89-91 points “Decidedly smoky aroma of quince, roasted hazelnut and oyster shell. Subtly toasty but also features nutty aspects, acacia honey and an element of thickness that complement the pungent lemon rind and pip flavors. Complex and long, this Savagnin finishes with good vivacity.”
“The “Foudre à Canon” Savagnin, Nature ouille (topped up, no oxidation) from Arbois-Pupillin is grown on a steep 25-degree west facing slope at 350-450 meters altitude of gray and blue marls with “schistes cartons”. Entirely hand-harvested. Half destemmed, half whole-cluster. Fermentation without sulphites and only with indigenous yeasts in 1500 liter barrels. Aged in 1500 liter barrels on the lees for 12 months.”–Importer Notes
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Gulfi: We Waited 3000 Years for This.
A Sicilian Transformation.
Expression and extraction in harmony; Gulfi, has proven itself as an international star in the Sicilian wine scene. Known more for their single vineyard expressions of Nero d’Avola, the hidden gem is their Reseca, Nerello Mascalese grown on Mt. Etna. While winegrapes have been cultivated on Sicily for almost 3000 years, these wines are ready to take you into the current wine scene with ease.
So many beautiful wines are coming from Mt. Etna, and the Reseca is able to stand out in a very distinct way. Intensity in color and fruit come forward in a way that many other producers shy away from. The essence is still quite purely Etna, dried floral, mineral, brown spice and cherry aromas, silky tannins, and somehow still delicate in the end. Gulfi certainly turns up the power on these, but they are still pretty retrained when contrasted with the rest of the wines on offer.
Gulfi’s Nero d’Avola is typically extracted and rich, with subtle nuances reflecting the vineyard locations spread around the southeastern corner of the island. Variations in altitude and proximity to the sea influence the delicate aromatics, as ripeness is certainly not the issue. Salinity and sea breeze influences are present and add nuance to the ripe, roasty, smoky characteristics. These are great wines for those looking to add a little spice box variety to a collection that might be a little too concentrated in the new world and we’re excited to offer them to you today.
Gulfi Neromaccarj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2005 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 Points “Gulfi’s 2005 Neromàccarj is a dark, brooding wine that shows the darker side of Nero d’Avola in its wild cherries, plums, scorched earth, melted road tar, minerals and smoke. Despite the wine’s imposing structure, there is plenty of clarity and definition. This dramataic, large-scaled wine should continue to offer superb drinking over the next few years.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2009 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “Sweet aromas of toasted oak and baking spice emerge from the bouquet of the 2009 Nerosanlorè. This is a very elaborate red wine that shows the craft and the labor of the winemaker. The bouquet is thickly layered with aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry compote, tobacco and loads of spice derived from long oak aging. In addition, the wine offers ample tertiary aromas of licorice, resin and tar. This is a very attractive red that offers the full force and sunshine of Sicily in your glass. There is power and determination here with 14.5% alcohol.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 78 bottles available
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 4 magnums available
Ian D’agata–Vinous 95 Points “Fully saturated ruby. Pure, very deep aromas of black cherry, red plum, medicinal herbs and minerals. Rich, dense and suave, with complex flavors of saline red berries and dark plum complicated by repeating botanical herb and balsamic nuances. Finishes seamless an long. A wine of noteworthy purity, with an excellent balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins. This is Gulfi’s closest vineyard to the sea and almost always gives the estate’s most elegant, refined wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gulfi Reseca Rosso Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2006 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The 2006 Reseca is Nerello Mascalese from vineyards on Mount Etna. It is one of the darker, more overtly fruit driven wines I have tasted from the Etna. The finish turns a bit more delicate and ethereal, though. It will be interesting to see the direction Gulfi takes with this bottling in coming years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gulfi Reseca Rosso Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2007 750ml ($49.95) $39 special, 22 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 Points “Gulfi’s 2007 Reseca, from a vineyard on the Etna, is full of Nerello Mascalese personality. Sweet dried cherries, crushed flowers, licorice and spices waft from the glass. The tannins are understated yet beautiful and nicely integrated. The delicate style is pure Etna and therefore totally different from the Nero d’Avolas Gulfi makes in Pachino.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gulfi Reseca Rosso Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2008 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 26 bottles available
Wine Spectator “The ripe black cherry puree mixes with soft raisin, cocoa powder and loamy earth accents in this juicy, medium-bodied red. Light grip and a hint of black licorice drop shows on the finish. Nerello Mascalese.”
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Karthauserhof:
From the 13th to the 21st Century
Karthauserhof is a special and unique winery even in a region with an abundance of magical producers—the combination of unique, historical sites, own-rooted vines and visionary ownership has created an iconic producer whose wines bear attention year in and out.
The winery dates back to at least the 13th century and takes its name from the original use of the building and plantings as a Carthusian monastery. In the centuries since its establishment, Karthauserhof has become one of the two vanguard producers of the Ruwer valley, a small, colder tributary of the Mosel. With history like that, it would be easy for a winery to rest on its laurels, but the Tyrell family (owners of the winery) have been forward looking in both the farming (no pesticides are used in the vineyards) and in the winemaking (Karthauserhof was a one of the most prominent Mosel wineries to begin focusing on dry wines).
The resulting wines combine the power and complexity of old vineyards, often own-rooted, in great soils with a modern eye toward polish and raciness. The Ruwer tends to be cooler than the middle Mosel, so the wines are naturally bright, crunchy and mineral-driven no matter how dry or sweet they are. Our offering this week highlights these estate wines in a variety of styles and formats (including some incredibly rare magnums) over a trio of very successful vintages for the Mosel.
Dry (and functionally Dry) Wines:
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $24 special, 8 half-bottles available
Case-6 Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($359.95) $269 special , 6 six-packs available (that’s only $44.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very clear, discreet and refined on the nose – where the 2013 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling GG displays fine stone and fruit aromas of lemons and green apples. Lean and vital but also intense, rich and juicy on the palate, this is a lovely pure, straightforward, piquant and very salty expression of the Karthäuserhofberg terroir and the 2013 vintage. This long-distance runner has more fruit intensity than the Edition and reveals a very fine raciness and a complex finish with lingering lemon aromas.” WA
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The next best price is $64.99 for the 750ML
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Riesling Trocken Alte Reben (officially Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese trocken, AP #8) offers a deep and ripe, as well as very fine and elegant bouquet. Intense and mineral on the palate, this is a stunningly complex and persistent Riesling with power, structure, finesse and a lingering salinity and complexity. Good aging potential.”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: ” The 2014 Alte Reben Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is an outstanding example of the vintage. This excellent wine delivers a fine bouquet bread fruit, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, lovely smokiness, a fine base of slate minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, a fairly primary personality and superb length and balance on the young, but very promising finish.
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Weingut Karthauserhof ‘Ruwer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This delivers a clean feel of grapefruit, herbs, spices and fresh fruits. The wine is still on the sharp and reduced side on the palate and is best left alone until next year to give it a chance to flesh out and gain in aromatic zest and fruity presence. 2016-2018”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The basic estate Riesling Trocken from Karthäuserhof is really an excellent basic bottling from the 2014 vintage, as it offers up impressive focus and cut in its medium-bodied, dry and quite complex format. The lovely nose is still on the young side, but deep and pure, as it wafts from the glass in a mix of grapefruit, wild yeasts, lemongrass, petrol, slate and dried flowers. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and still fairly primary in personality, with an impressive core of fruit, excellent cut and grip for the vintage and a long, youthful and beautifully balanced finish. 2015-2035.”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Tyrells Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Already at this early stage, this gorgeously light wine (with only 11.5% of alcohol) delivers beautiful scents of cassis, white flowers and minerals on the nose and a superbly playful feel on the palate. The finish is long and deliciously tart. Despite the hint of fruits, this is still only at the beginning of its life and lovers of racy Riesling will really enjoy this most in a few years’ time. 2019-2029”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Schieferkristall Riesling Feinherb, Mosel 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 22 bottles available
“Reflecting a selection of lots that finished with more than 10 grams of residual sugar and under 10% alcohol, this delivers juicy white and redcurrant tinged with sage and marjoram, leading to a buoyant and refreshing finish of impressive sheer penetration. Its higher acidity vis-à-vis this collection’s dry wines is experienced as positive vivacity. It’s entirely possible that greater complexity will emerge with some time in bottle.”–David Schildknecht–Vinous Media
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Off-Dry to Sweet Wines:
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 35 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 4 magnums available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a very clear, bright and delicate Riesling of great finesse and lightness. Lovely juiciness. The acidity is rather smooth, respectively and perfectly integrated into the round and elegant texture. This Riesling is very clear, bright and light. with great finesse and lightness. Ruwer style. Bottled with 8% alcohol and 44 grams of residual sugar.”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The 2014 Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex and utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest and a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral and beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, dancing and youthful finish of excellent potential. A paradigm of its Prädikat level. 2015-2035+”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Fruchtig Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 20 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This Wine is quite open and expressive at this early stage and explodes with juicy flavors of yellow peach, quince and some flowers on the palate. This offers everything one could expect from a juicy Spatlese. The fact that it does deliver the goods without too much richness (it has technically less than 60 g/l of residual sugar) makes it utterly delicious also at this ealrly stage. 2017-2032” MFW
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Weingut Karthauserhof Fruchtig Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 24+ bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Fruchtig Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $69 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Spätlese (AP #9) offers a very clear and complex, mineral-scented bouquet of ripe white fruits. Juicy and piquant on the palate, with grip, raciness and the lean and crystalline Karthäuserhofberg character, this is a pretty complex and persistent Spätlese with grip and a prominent crispiness. It should be cellared for at least another 5-10 years. Very good aging potential.”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $24 special, 21 half-bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $79 special, 6 magnums available
John Gilman 94 points “I did not have a chance to taste the 2014 Auslese AP #12 on my trip last March and was very happy to have a chance to visit it prior to launching into the excellent vertical of Grosses Gewächs generously prepared by the estate. This is an absolutely superb bottle of young Auslese, wafting from the glass in a gently glazed blend of pear, white cherry, honeycomb, salty slate, orange zest and a pungent floral topnote redolent of cherry blossoms. On the palate the wine is fullish, racy and very long, with excellent focus and cut, excellent complexity and a long, vibrant and very poised finish. Classy juice. 2018-2050. 94.
Wine Advocate 89+ points “Deeply yellow in color, the 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Auslese (AP #12) displays an intense yet pretty clear and piquant, yellow-fleshed fruit and botrytis on the nose (pineapples). Sweet and concentrated on the palate, with a racy acidity (10.8 grams per liter of total acidity!) and bittersweet grapefruit flavors in the finish, this is a classic Ruwer Auslese. It is dense and pretty rich – the sugar free extract of 39.9 grams per liter – but neither too sweet (67 grams per liter of residual sugar) nor too opulent (8% alcohol). You can easily drink it, but shouldn’t do so before 2020. The aftertaste detects that the botrytis could have been selected even more carefully.”
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Vineyard selections of botrytis-affected grapes only delivered 500 liters of Auslese harvested with a comparatively low 94° Oechsle. This Auslese starts off with a beautifully complex nose of fresh fruits, with pineapple, star anise and spices providing depth to the experience. The wine is superbly playful on the palate, where mouth-watering acidity adds to the aromatic precision. A riper side comes through in the finish tough, with almond, saffron and honey giving the wine a definitive Auslese GK style. 2024-2044”
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