Midweek Vinopolis Addition 3-14-19

In Today’s Newsletter:

First Offer: 2016 Clos Erasmus + Laurel

The Pinnacle of Argentine Wine?

The Best Kept Secret in the Rhone?

The Beautiful Montsant Wines of Vinyes D’en Gabriel

Trending Wines

Selbach’s Understated Mastery

The Best Value in Mencia

Lewelling’s Bordeaux-Inspired, Culty Cabernet

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First Offer

2016 Clos Erasmus + Laurel

At National Best Pricing

Daphne Glorian, who was born in Switzerland, seems an unlikely figure to be a leading winemaker in Priorat.  However she fell in love with the region, moving there to help revive old vines and make the best wines she can and she’s now a rock star in the region on the level of Palacios and Barbier.

Clos Erasmus represents her finest wine and a truly spectacular example of what the region is capable of.  Rich, bold and powerful, the wines nonetheless display remarkable subtlety and grace, which is the calling card of her style.   She also produces a second wine, called Laurel, which displays all of the style and panache of the estate at a very approachable price tag. We’ve got a few of the new releases arriving in tomorrow and wanted to give you, our subscribers, the first chance to buy them.

Arriving Tomorrow:

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($219.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95-99 points
“I sampled a number of different barrels that will contribute to the blend of the 2016 Clos Erasmus, which should be bottled around May 2018, and I couldn’t help but to report on what promises to be a fresh and balanced year. I tasted Syrah and Garnacha from two vineyards (Escales and Socarrat) from new and second use Taransaud barrels that showed very young and precise, somewhat tender, with very precise flavors and velvety texture. There might be some 2,500 bottles of the 2016. But not all of the Syrah will make it into the blend, and there is also a 700-liter amphora I didn’t taste that will also be a component of the final blend (but usually not all 700 liters of it). In addition, I tasted some seven different components of the 2016 Laurel that also looked to be phenomenal!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $197

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $52
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The Pinnacle of Argentine Wine?

El Enemigo’s Studied, Powerful Reds

What if we told you that the longtime winemaker for Catena had his own project?  That he wanted to push the limits of what was possible for Argentine wine? That somehow, despite this, the wines remain under the radar and undervalued?  If you’re searching for the pinnacle of South American wine, look no further—these are the wines you need to be buying next.

Alejandro Vigil is the winemaker for El Enemigo, his winery named for the struggle against complacency, and was the winemaker at Catena for 17 years. He’s also one of the foremost experts on vineyard soils and as you’d expect, the vineyards used for sourcing the El Enemigo wines are some of the finest in Argentina, farmed for his specifications.  The terroir for these wines is nothing short of world class.

Winemaking talent and exceptional vineyards will take you to the top of the pyramid, but what really makes these wines special is the blending on the flagship bottlings.  Vigil’s partner in the project is Adrianna Catena, who has a PhD in history, and the focus of these wines is to work in the same sorts of blends as the immigrants to Argentina that planted these exceptional vineyards.  As a result, don’t expect all Malbec, all the time—these are more reminiscent of fine Bordeaux than the Argentine trophy wines we’re used to.

Across the range, these reds have immense power and concentration, but with an edge of minerality that keeps them rooted in the classical.  We’re continually impressed by how deftly balanced the oak usage is here (some Napa Cabernet producers could take note) and how lengthy the finishes are on these wines.  No matter which way you look at it, Vigil has established himself as the name to watch in Argentina and anyone interested in these wines should snap them up as fast as they can.

In Stock Now:

The wine that the estate is best known for, in a fantastic vintage.
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2012 El Gran Enemigo is a blend of some 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, quite a different blend from the 2011 vintage, but also all from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. The idea for this blend is to only use grapes from limestone soils, always a blend, while the single vineyard from Gualtallary is basically a varietal Cabernet Franc. 2012 was a little cooler than 2011, but there’s a lot more Malbec here, and there are less herbal aromas and more floral tones. There’s hardly any oak in these wines now; they are aged in used, well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels and then transferred to cement vats. It feels purer, more defined, aromatic and subtle. This is really superb, with incredible citric acidity that makes you salivate. It keeps changing in the glass, one minute giving more herbal notes, the following minute turning floral, spicier, growing in the glass and developing new nuances. This is an impressive, age-worthy blend, with the telltale chalky tannins and a supple finish. ”

Warmer and riper than the 2012, this is a blockbuster
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’, Mendoza, Argentina 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
James Suckling 95 points
“Very tight and beautiful wine with blackberry, blueberry and hints of tobacco, spice, and black tea. Full body, dense and powerful. Energy and intensity to this. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and malbec.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Put this up against almost any St. Emilion.
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’ Chacayes Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Tunuyan, Argentina 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
James Suckling 97 points
“This is crazy and deep with such an incredible depth of fruit and character. Full body, layered and dense. Yet energetic and vibrant. Focused and precise. Love. Drink in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“The nose…almost made me fall from my chair”
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’ Gualtallary Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Tupungato, Argentina 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 98+ points
“The nose of the 2012 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard almost made me fall from my chair. It is the expression of elegance and austerity coupled with strong minerality. It is mostly Cabernet Franc from a very chalky vineyard in Gualtallary at 1,430 meters altitude that fermented together with a small percentage of Malbec. In 2012 they fine tuned the élevage and fermentation, which was in rolling 500-liter barrels that were new in 2006 (so by then quite neutral), where the wine was kept for one more year and then transferred to 1,000-liter egg-shaped cement vats for one further year. This reminded me of my favorite Bordeaux, Lafleur, because of the elegance, the refinement of the tannins and length. It has citric, effervescent acidity that makes you salivate. Winemaker and Owner Alejandro Vigil has done a very strict selection of the soils in the field, and only kept the very center of the vineyard where the high density (12,000 plants per hectare) generates a lot of competition, because the plants from the borders have more space in the sides, which means in 2012 he could only fill 1,800 bottles. Awesome, and ultra fresh for a vintage like 2012. Bravo!”
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The Best Kept Secret in the Rhone?

Darnaud Delivers

Last year, Emanuel Darnaud’s wines were one of the best surprises. This small producer made spectacular Crozes-Hermitage wines, which were some of the best deals in red while they were in stock.  From top to bottom, the Darnaud wines over performed, with density, power and drinkability.  They are Syrah with soul and immediate appeal.

A passionate advocate for terroir-specific wines, Emmanuel Darnaud has been crafting robust reds from individual parcels in the northern Rhone since 2001. His six parcels are spread over 15 hectares, where the grapes are hand harvested. Each is vinified separately with differing oak aging and maturation practices depending upon the wine. No matter which bottling, though, he manages to bring the best of the site to the wine.

The 2016 versions are a worthy follow up to their breakthrough 2015’s.  From the low to the (relatively) high end, these are wines that over deliver at each price point.  Crozes often offers a good deal of value, but, as we found out last year, Darnaud is something unique.

In Stock Now:

Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 92 points
” A soft, fleshy, generous style, with dark tea, mulled blackberry and plum fruit and warmed anise notes. Offers a velvety feel through the finish. Will have lots of fans. Drink now through 2021. 257 cases made.”
Winery note “Nose: Delicate and subtle. Aromas of blackberry and licorice stick. An impression of wet stones.  Mouth: The entry shows a great freshness. The tannins are velvety and offer a voluminous and racy mid-palate. This wine offers great harmony and will need a few years to reveal its full potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $45
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Mise en Bouche, Rhone 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Grapelive 92 points
“One of the Northern Rhone’s best kept secrets and producer of some of finest values in the region, Domaine Emmanuel Darnaud crafts some excellent Syrah(s) from his tiny set of parcels in the Crozes-Hermitage area. He started his domaine in 2001 with just postage stamp (sized block) of vines but worked his way up to a more serious set of vineyards. [They are] all on the southern side of Crozes-Hermitage set on the zone’s glacial alluviums of mostly smooth pebbles. His painstaking work in the vineyard yields amazing results. How he can sell this beautiful and authentic wine at under $20 is one of the great and most pleasurable mysteries in the world of Syrah! The 2016 is utterly delicious with an earthy intensity that starts with porcini/truffle and gamey Crozes purity before opening to beautiful violets and blueberry notes. Darnaud’s Crozes Mise en Bouche is a fine example of time and place, yummy from start to finish adding bright peppery spice, a touch of anise, dried herbs and damson plum as well as mineral notes and a touch of kirsch. Lighter in frame than some, there’s no whimpiness, but rustic layers of classic Northern Rhone Syrah at its best. Fermented in concrete vats and rested in small barrels, this 100% Syrah, 100% de-stemmed cuvee [is one that] you’d never guess it had one third new oak such is the refinement and quality of fruit found here. This is a vintage to buy as much as you can. It drinks lovely now, and should easily go for a decade too! Search this one out; it’s a winner, and a no brainer for the price!”
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “The 2016 Crozes-Hermitage Mise En Bouche comes from the southern parts of the appellation and is aging in a mix of tank, used barrels and foudre. It offers terrific red and black fruits, spice, tapenade and peppery herb aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, moderate tannin and a great finish. It’s a hidden little gem in the vintage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chenes, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
“(made from destemmed fruit and raised in one-third new oak barriques and demi-muids) Deep bright-rimmed ruby. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, mocha and a hint of olive paste on the perfumed nose. Silky, sweet and open-knit, offering energetic blackberry, cola and vanilla flavors that are energized by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows the energy of the vintage and finishes long and silky, with even tannins building slowly and adding shape and subtle grip.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points
“(no stems; raised in a combination of one- to three-year-old barriques and demi-muids) Brilliant violet. Potent, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering vibrant bitter cherry, blueberry and star anise flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Finishes floral, sweet and impressively long, displaying repeating spiciness and well-knit tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
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The Most Exciting Spanish Wines We’ve Tasted?

The Beautiful Montsant Wines of Vinyes D’en Gabriel

Perhaps no winery epitomizes the promise of the new Montsant like Vinyes D’en Gabriel.  Farmed without chemicals, these vineyards (up to 150 years old!) contain a mix of Samsó (Carignan), Garnacha and Syrah and the resulting wines are all varied and distinctive.  From the low to the high end, these wines captivated us like few others we’ve tasted recently.
Montsant is a great undiscovered land for lovers of Spanish wines. Based in the mountains just southwest of Barcelona, the DO forms a ring around the more famous Priorat.  Despite its more famous neighbor and proximity to a major city, Montsant remains an area where aspiring vintners can still afford land studded with old vines—and that’s what makes it one of the hottest regions in the world of Spanish wine. Those old vines, combined with unique soils, produce wines that are singular in Spain and at prices that are imminently reasonable for their quality.

Although close to Priorat, Montsant’s soils are radically different—limestone and clay to Priorat’s shiste and slate.  As a result, the best wines of Montsant have a nearly Burgundian feel to them—the acidity and precision of flavors mirrors those legendary French wines born of similar soils.  This being Spain, though, there’s a warmth and generosity to the flavors that’s unmistakable.

We just purchased a bunch of wines from Vinyes D’en Gabriel, across their entire range.  The number of different wines we brought in should tell you how exemplary these are, especially for their prices.  We’d recommend ordering a varied selection of their wines to get a sense of the varying styles and profiles the wines can carry and go from there!

In Stock Now:

Vinyes D’en Gabriel Plan Elle Carignane, Montsant 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
VinopolNote
: 100% Samso (the Catalan word for Carignan). This is richer and denser than you’d expect from the grape, though it still has all of that trademark lift and brightness.  This is sourced from some of the oldest vines in the property, in a mix of clay, sandy and limestone soils and aged in a variety of barrel sizes before bottling.

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vinyes D’en Gabriel Garnatxa “Finesse,” Montsant 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote:
The “Finesse” and “Secret” bottlings are a fascinating pair.  Produced from two sides of the same high-elevation vineyard that is planted to 100% Garnatxa.  The “Finesse” comes from a section with limestone soils and is brighter, with a floral lift and delicacy that you’d associate with that terroir.  The “Secret” bottling comes from a section of the vineyard that is predominantly red (volcanic) clay and has more power, body and a gamey quality that’s unique.  Both are delicious and exceptional values.

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vinyes D’en Gabriel Garnatxa “Secret,” Montsant 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote
: The “Finesse” and “Secret” bottlings are a fascinating pair.  Produced from two sides of the same high-elevation vineyard that is planted to 100% Garnatxa.  The “Finesse” comes from a section with limestone soils and is brighter, with a floral lift and delicacy that you’d associate with that terroir.  The “Secret” bottling comes from a section of the vineyard that is predominantly red (volcanic) clay and has more power, body and a gamey quality that’s unique.  Both are delicious and exceptional values.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi Crianza, Montsant 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note
“50% Garnatxa from 80 year old vines, 50% Samso (Carignan) from 70 year old vines. L’Heravi Criança is a rich, deep cherry red with hints of violet at the rim. On the nose it is complex and refined, a blend of red fruit and wild flowers, surrounded by subtle spice and mineral notes that evoke the land from which it is produced. In the mouth it is approachable and elegant, with a good tannic structure giving it depth. The finish is long and freshly aromatic. It will continue to display its qualities over the next ten years and more.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vinyes d’en Gabriel Mans de Samso, Montsant 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Winery note
“Brilliant intense colour with shades of violet indicating long life, with an intense nose in which the montsant terroir predominates.  Presence of balsamic aromas from pine trees to honeycomb, touches of liquorice, mineral notes, aniseed with hints of fennel, cherry. In the mouth it is seductively moreish, full-bodied and well structured. The retronasal perception is of great aromatic complexity, with mineral notes alongside preserved fruit and fruits of the forest.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Winery note
“L’Heravi Joven is seductive, a rich cherry colour with hints of purple. It has a potent bouquet, with notes of red fruit, wild herbs and just a touch of sweet confectionery. In the mouth it is smooth and elegant, with intense flavours accompanied by freshness and nicely integrated tannins. It will continue to display its qualities over the next 3 years or so.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Trending Wines

You won’t find Cabernet this good from California at this price.
Casarena Owen’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Agrelo 2015 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Case-12 Casarena Owen’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Agrelo 2015 750ML ($359.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 94 points
“Tasted side by side with the 2014, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Owen’s Vineyard feels a lot fresher. This is an old, balanced, traditional vineyard that yields wines with very good depth and natural balance. There is perfect ripeness here and a notable absence of those green pepper aromas that often mask the personality of many Cabernets. These old vines yield very concentrated juice and it shows in the tannins and acidity, which show in perfect harmony. 30,000 bottles produced.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
As good as the Cab is, the Malbec is its equal.
Casarena Naoki’s Vineyard Malbec, Mendoza 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92 points
“I also tasted the 2014 Malbec Naoki’s Vineyard, from a slightly warmer and riper vintage, but they compensated it with an earlier harvest and achieved lower alcohol in the wine. This was the fourth productive year for the vines, which yielded more grapes, and they were able to produce some 30,000 bottles. The fourth crop from new vines usually yields very concentrated juice full of flavors and aromas, as it’s the first time the plant is able to produce enough grapes as the root system should be properly established and it feels like the plant has been waiting to express itself. It combines some herbal aromas with plenty of violets, very floral and aromatic. The palate revealed fine tannins and very good acidity and balance. The violets kept growing as the wine sat in the glass. Very showy. Quite impressive, especially for a warmer, riper year.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92 points “(from vines on a plateau above Agrelo on the eastern side of the valley; the amount of limestone in this soil is unusual for the area, which is not normally a prime place for Malbec): Bright red-ruby. Highly aromatic perfume of blackberry, violet and licorice, plus a touch of peppery wildness; I was reminded both of Pinot Noir and northern Rhône Syrah. Plush, savory, pungent wine with distinctive limestone energy giving the middle palate a light touch. Utterly fine-grained wine with terrific subtle flavor intensity and grip. Finishes with very smooth tannins and lovely rising floral length. A very complex, penetrating Malbec with lovely restrained sweetness.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lauer’s 2017s are epic wines.  Kern is the earliest drinking of the bunch.
Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.com 94 points
“Tropical and creamy, but it also shows a very firm core — Kern means core in German. This is another stunningly original wine from Peter Lauer. A lot of power at the finish. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Kern Fass 9 comes from old vines in a prime south-west-facing part of the original Ayler Kupp hill situated well into the side valley and was fermented down to almost fruity levels (40 g/l of residual sugar). It offers a delicately vibrant nose of candied grapefruit, cassis, lemon zest, ginger and fine herbs. The wine is beautifully focused and just fruity-styled on the palate and leaves a vibrant feel of zesty acidity and bitter lemon in the long and delicately tart finish. This is a beautiful expression of fully off-dry tasting Riesling in the making! 2022-2032.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Powerful, structured, undervalued.
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96+ points
“Cavallotto is on a roll with some very impressive new releases. The 2013 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a tremendous effort that has an edge on the excellent 2010 vintage in my view. The wine shows a beautifully exuberant but elegant bouquet with the ethereal and undertone fruit and spice aromas you get with Nebbiolo. Although the wine is never overdone, it does show silky persistence and a long finish that comes from the noble nature of the tannins and the wine’s textural finesse. Yet, it is playfully deceiving in a way because behind that polished grace, it delivers impressive depth and power.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is packed with sweet cherry, currant, floral and spice flavors. The vivid acidity drives the intensity, while dense tannins lend support. This will take some time to harmonize, but should be well worth the wait. Best from 2022 through 2040.”

Beautiful, delicate, dry Chenin.
Domaine de la Garreliere Chenin De La Colline, Touraine 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery Note
“100% Chenin Blanc. Age of vines: 25 – 30 years. Terroir: Aeolian sand on flint clay.  Hand harvest mid-October – Yield 30hl / ha. Whole grapes pressing (3 hours). Settling 12 h – 24 h, alcoholic fermentation (indigenous yeasts) for 3 weeks in concrete vats. Then the aging is in vats on fine lees. Fining with bentonite 20 gr / hl and the wine is filtered before bottling. ”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
“Off-season” rosé deals continue.
Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-12 Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($449.95) $299 special
Importer Note
“Cassis is not only an active port, but what Kermit calls “an earthly paradise.”  The vineyards of Clos Sainte Magdeleine are particularly stunning. They jut out on a private cape to meet majestic limestone cliffs, poised spectacularly above the sparkling, azure Mediterranean. With landscapes such as these, it is only fitting that writers and poets alike have found inspiration in Cassis. Only a handful of vignerons today are fortunate enough to produce A.O.C. Cassis, and the small quantities available are largely consumed locally with fresh fish—the best way to enjoy them.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Perpetually a top performer from the valley.
Colene Clemens Vineyards ‘Dopp Creek’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
VinopolNote
: After winning Wine Spectator Top 10 in 2015, the 2017 proves this bottling just gets better and better every vintage. A true value!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
One of the best CdPs for the price we’ve seen.
Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 95 point
s “Sourced from the lieu-dit of Les Bédines, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres is 95% Grenache, with the remainder being a mix of other permitted varieties. Like the other wines from Le Clos du Caillou, it shows great intensity and purity. Flowering garrigue accents black cherry fruit in this full-bodied, fresh, vibrant and intense wine, which ends with a burst of bright orange zest and waves of silky tannins.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Safres comes from more sandstone soils and is mostly Grenache. Spice strawberries, kirsch, dried herbs, flowers, and ample sandy, stony notes all emerge from this fleshy, medium to full-bodied, structured wine that has the classic weightless texture of the estate. This beauty has an exotic edge as well as a distinct salinity and is the finest version of this cuvée to date.”
James Suckling 94 points “Immense, seamless depth. Alluring, fresh, dark-plum, spice and chocolate aromas and flavors. The tannins are immaculately plush, long and even. Superb. From organically grown grapes. Drink in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Selbach’s Understated Mastery

Let’s get this out of the way now: Selbach-Oster makes wine every bit as good as the ‘name’ producers like Prum or Molitor, but because they aren’t quite as famous (and because Johannes Selbach isn’t a grand self-promoter) the wines are much less expensive than their peers.  They represent some of the best buying opportunities for German wine lovers in the Mosel today.

What makes the Selbach wines so special (and perhaps what makes them as underrated) is that they aren’t showy or extreme, especially when it comes to levels of residual sugar and, in the drier wines, with acidity as well.  This makes them incredibly useful at the table.  Sure they could leave more RS and they’d be more “opulent” and score higher points—but they don’t. As a result, you can drink the Spatlesen and Auslesen with the main course during meals; not just cheese or lightly sweet desserts.

The wines are from great vineyards and made by an incredibly talented winemaker.  They are useful at the table now, but will age (as long as you want) into even more interesting wines.  The prices are great. What more could you ask for?

A Selection of Selbach Wines, In Stock Now:

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($289.95) $249 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points
“Opening with nice reduction but precise and ripe fruit as well as crunchy slate aromas on the nose, the 2016 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty, well-structured and quite aristocratic (though a frivolous aristocrat), with a firm structure, lush fruit and a lovely lightness and buoyancy. Very stimulating and mouthwatering, but it’s far too young to appreciate the full complexity it will deliver in a couple of years. Salty, grippy and fruity—just a perfect Kabinett.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 91 points “Super-fresh and vibrant with a cool, mineral-herbal personality and a very clean, long finish. You could drink it any time during the next decade, but why wait?”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese (AP 07 17) offers a bright, fresh and slightly flinty bouquet with nice reduction. Lush, piquant and elegant on the palate, this is a light and mouth-filling Spätlese you’d probably like to take your bath in.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “The nose anticipates site-typical, mint-tinged honeydew melon, apple and dark cherry that then lusciously inform a silken, expansive palate. The combination of textural caress, looseness and sheer juiciness makes for infectious drinkability, and a sustained finish harbors stimulating hints of lime zest, wet stone and salt.”
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “This offers a beautifully delicate nose of pear, white peach, lemon, laurel and smoke. The wine is juicy and delicately tickly on the palate and leaves a nicely citrusy feel in the overall satisfyingly juicy and ripe finish. 2026-2041.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr “Rotlay” Riesling, Mosel 2011 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 91+ points
“Carob and toasted nuts inflect baked apple and vanilla on the nose of Selbachs’ block-picked 2011 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Rotlay, which comes to the palate expansive, creamy, and buoyant (at 8.5% alcohol), its apple joined by almost overripe Persian melon. Hints of pip and botrytis bitterness add interest, but there is not the subtle interaction of flavors or the layer of primary juiciness that rendered the corresponding Anrecht bottling so memorable, but instead a more dominantly honeyed, soothingly rich personality. This long-finishing beauty may well – as its author suggests – just need some time to reveal its multiple layers.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
That’s a difference of over $10 per bottle
The average listed price is $48
Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Grapelive 95+ points
“The brilliant and exotic Schmitt comes from the steep slate hill above the church, set back from the Mosel. There is great southern exposure here and it less affected by noble rot, a big plus in 2014.  It allowed this rich and lush wine to remain crystalline and focused. This is one of the great wines of the vintage! Johannes Selbach’s top wines are not Trocken/Grosses Gewachs, but are single block wines from Cru sites. They are also heavy weighted, dense and medium sweet, but it is not about the sugar: it is all about the terroir and overall balance. These are wines of hedonism, power, textural pleasure and vitality, especially the Schmitt in 2014. It explores the boundaries of perfection in a fantastically difficult vintage. The was a savage thinning of the crop and a tiny window to get the grapes in to make this masterpiece from the old vines at Zeltinger Schlossberg. It is truly amazing with all the problems and heartbreak endured here that a wine of this quality and gorgeous detail managed to happen at all. Somehow this block come through and made one of the most glorious Riesling wines of the year. The 2014 Schmitt by Selbach-Oster starts with a sweet perfume. This wine shows white roses, dripping jasmine, hints of gardenia and tropical essences that lead to a full bodied, Auslese weight palate with apricot, green apple, lime and mango fruits leading the way along with a mix of spicy mineral and flinty stones, briny sea shore notes, soft honey decadence, creamy verbena and sweet peach flesh. The finish carries over the core of fruit and richness, but there is a burst of dynamic acidity and vibrancy. This is not a flabby wine and you are left with a dreamy/haunting impression with lingering tangerine sorbet, crushed stone and wet steeliness. This is fabulous Riesling and one you’ll want in the cellar. This has 100 Point potential and it will also drink well young. It already has poise and elegance, but should last two or three decades! Don’t be afraid of its sugar levels, it drinks like a lavish Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne and is a spectacular wine from Selbach-Oster!”

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Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is bright, pure, very fine, floral and flinty on the nose. It is provided with perfectly ripe and concentrated, slate-flavored fruit aromas intermixed with lemon and grapefruit notes. This is a lush, piquant and elegant, filigreed and finessed Auslese. It has great finesse and provided with a lot of Spiel and salt. The finish is pure, piquant and salty, but also lush and generous. This is a very precise, straight and stimulating, highly digestible Auslese with a lot of energy, tension and aging potential. It is very clear and there is no hint of botrytis here.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045.”

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Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2016 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken has a lovely clear and flinty-scented white stone fruit aroma with refreshing slate notes. Clear, lush and intense on the palate, this is a light but pretty complex and remarkably well-defined Kabinett in the off-dry style. Very digestible and with stimulating grip and salinity. 10.5% alcohol.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “On the nose, this displays sea breeze and sweaty salinity, anticipating the savory mineral and animal aspects that follow on a buoyant palate brimming with juicy fresh apple. Tinglingly salty, stony notes and a faintly peppery impingement enliven a buoyant, mouthwatering, refreshing finish that just barely hints at sweetness. Once again, this is a model of its type, and I wish the Selbachs raised other such halbtrocken bottlings that combine levity with efficacious yet genuinely hidden residual sugar.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 91 points ” This has the imprint of the sun and shadow, the rain and hot slate stones of the Mosel vineyards in it. A delicate wine with inspiring freshness. Drink any time between now and 2030.”

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The next best price is $24.99
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr ‘R’ Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 12.5% alcohol 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr R Riesling Spätlese trocken was picked on October 20 — so almost one month later than the regular Spätlese — from 80+ year-old, ungrafted vines in and next to the Rotlay plot, with a higher percentage of well selected botrytis. The wine displays a ripe and intense fruit aroma intermixed with coolish stony and flinty, as well as herbal flavors on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and elegant, with a mouthful of concentrated Riesling fruit, a piquant acidity and minerality, this is an expressive and “big,” ripe yet pure and very terroir-driven Riesling of remarkable complexity and length that can go for up to 15 years.”

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We have over thirty different bottlings from Selbach-Oster in stock now!
You can view all of them on our web store by clicking here.

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The Best Value in Mencia

Bierzo is quickly becoming our go-to for value in medium-bodied Spanish wine.  The Palacios Petalos is a perpetual best seller and Raul Perez’s wines deliver enormous quality for the prices, as well—but we have a new entrant into the area, providing perhaps the best quality-to-price ratio of them all.

Casar de Burbia is guided by talented winemaker Isidro Fernandez, who aims to make wines that show true to the terroir of Bierzo while providing rich, plush textures and serious, age-worthy depths.  From what we’ve tasted, he manages to accomplish both, at exceptional pricing.  These aren’t shy wines, with lots of rich, black fruit and some bittersweet chocolate flavors.  These are wines that are serious and will leave an impression, but at prices that definitely won’t.

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An astounding value.
Casar de Burbia ‘Casar’ Tinto, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Casar de Burbia ‘Casar’ Tinto, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($219.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points
“Super-fresh blacks fruits and a hint of wild strawberry. Enormous freshness and brightness. The finish is almost crystalline in its purity. Bierzo takes off! Drink now.”

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A year older and a bit more profound than the Casar.
Casar de Burbia Hombros, Bierzo 2012 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Case-12 Casar de Burbia Hombros, Bierzo 2012 750ML ($299.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points
“Intense herbal liquer character and soy sauce on the nose. Medium-bodied with a very savory character and plenty of herbs. Crisp and quite mineral. Drink now.”

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Lewelling’s Bordeaux-Inspired, Culty Cabernet

Lewelling remains a cult classic—the tiny production and meager allocations mean that it’ll never go mainstream.  Nevertheless, it’s a Napa Cabernet that over delivers for the price point, whether at the “basic” level or for their fancier Wight vineyard offering.  Like most years, it’ll sell out nearly instantly and will remain ignored by the wine buying public until we get a small lot in next year and it sells out immediately as well. Needless to say, if you want some, jump on this now.

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Lewelling Vineyards Wight Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Robert Parker 93+ points
“Very Pauillac-like (as usual), the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight has a similar character, with loads of creme de cassis, smoke, licorice and graphite as well as a full-bodied texture, dense, rich fruit, impressive purity and ripe tannin. This is a beauty, but interestingly, it doesn’t show the dramatic difference in quality that it often does at such a young age, although that may well evolve. Give it several more years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades.”

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Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Robert Parker 92 points
“The inky purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon displays plenty of classic creme de cassis and lead pencil shavings along with some licorice, charcoal and vanilla notes. It is full-bodied and opulent, with good integration of sweet tannin and bright acids. This wine is still young but approachable, and certainly capable of evolving for 10-15+ years.”

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Thanks for reading!