New Arrival Special Feature; Wine Spectator Top 10 Wines; Evesham Wood; Marcel Deiss & Alsace-at-Large; Italian Case Deals; Clouet Good-Buy
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New Week – New Arrivals
OREGON
Vincent Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “In 2014 we produced a small amount of Chardonnay from Johan Vineyard, certified biodynamic site just outside the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in a cool part of the western Willamette Valley.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vincent Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “Starting in 2014, our Pinot blanc comes from an unnamed vineyard outside of Newberg, OR, farmed by the Vineyard Brothers, three hardworking brothers and their crew that look after a few very high quality sites around the northern Willamette Valley.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vincent Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $19.99
Vincent Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($27.95) $27 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vincent Armstrong Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Armstrong vineyard is a new site on Lewis Rogers Lane in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. It is owned by Doug and Michele Ackerman. We source a mix of clones of Pinot noir, including 115, 667, and Pommard. The soils in Ribbon Ridge are Willakenzie series, old seafloor that’s sandy and drains exceptionally well. Armstrong is the base of our Armstrong Vineyard bottling as well as our Ribbon Ridge and Willamette Valley bottlings.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Slow Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: This is a special cuvee crafted by Grochau Cellars in support of Slow Food Portland. The wine is a blend of single barrels submitted by eleven WV wineries including Ayres, Evesham Wood, J Christopher, Cameron and Westrey. The wine is bright, fresh, and balanced, showing aromas of cherries and anise.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Vivid red. High-pitched aromas of fresh red berries, tea rose and white pepper, with a zesty mineral note gaining power with aeration. Tangy and sharply focused on the palate, offering vibrant redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors with a touch of blood orange. Closes taut and long, with fine-grained tannins adding grip.” JR
J. Christopher Lia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Winery note “Lia’s Vineyard is in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, just up the hill from the Olenik vineyard, but has a completely different style. Sourced from a block of mature vines of Wadensvil clone grown in volcanic soil. Engaging aroma of pure and delicate red fruits with an interesting hint of pine. It is fine and juicy on the palate with very subtle tannins and a finish that is long and supremely elegant. 73 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J. Christopher ‘Sandra Adele’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Winery note “The J. Christopher Sandra Adele Pinot Noir is a cuvée named for Jay’s mother, Sandy. It is a blend of wines from two outstanding vineyards in the Dundee Hills AVA: Abbey Ridge and Charlie’s Vineyard. Simply gorgeous, this is both dark and bright in the aroma, intense and delicate on the palate. As is typical of this cuvée, it combines an earthy depth with an ethereal, floral lightness. It is delicate and fine, with the firm juicy acidity of the vintage, and a long, captivating finish. 110 cases produced”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
CALIFORNIA
Pharaoh Moans Westside Syrah, Paso Robles 2012 750ML ($99.95) $71.90 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The brilliant 2012 PharaoMoans is a blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Grenache that was aged in 80% new French oak barrels prior to bottling. A big, rich and fleshy Paso red, it knocks it out of the park with its chocolaty dark fruits, pepper, olive and charred meat-like aromas and flavors. This isn’t for those craving delicacy, yet it stays clean and classy, with full-bodied richness, thrilling amounts of texture and a seamless, focused finish. There’s not a track record here with regards to aging, yet this should be better in another year and have at least a decade of prime drinking.” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $96
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non-Dose Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($69.95) $57 special
(Non-Dose) Winery note “No blending for this single-cru Champagne: Chardonnays only, coming from the vineyard plots of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets situated mid-slope in Vertus, facing south-east. One terroir only and one vintage only.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Nature (Zero Dosage) NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Yes, it’s dry, very dry. However, this well-made wine with its steely texture and tight character just needs some bottle age to give it the richness that is missing at the moment. It would be good with food now; give it at least a year in bottle after purchase to be even better.” WE
Nicolas Maillart Champagne Brut Premier Cru Platine Degorgement Tardif NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine Servin Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Case-12 Domaine Servin Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($349.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-93 points “(from particularly healthy, high-quality fruit in 2014, noted Marc Cameron): Pale yellow with green reflections. Subtly complex aromas of lime leaf, minerals and peppermint. Then rich, round and generous in the mouth, offering salty flavors of lime, white flowers and crushed stone. This seriously broad dry wine is strong in dusty extract. A step up in length from the foregoing premier crus, finishing dry and classic, with no austerity.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Roulot Auxey-Duresses Blanc 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 2 bottles available
VinopolNote: Chardonnay from 60 year old vines planted in clay and limestone.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.99
Domaine Roulot Monthelie Rouge 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
VinopolNote: Vines were planted in the late 1980s in clay and limestone soils.
Domaine Roulot Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru Rouge 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 6 bottles available
VinopolNote: From 30-40 year old vines planted in clay and limestone.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $87
Alain Hudelot-Noellat Bourgogne Rouge 2008 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
“A very fruity, fresh and attractive nose of red berries that is in keeping with the largely fruit-driven character of the pretty and supple flavors that possess reasonably good depth and more refined tannins than are typically found at this level.”—Burghound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Alain Hudelot-Noellat Bourgogne Rouge 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
“Outstanding Top value. A very fresh and expressive nose of red and black pinot fruit is nuanced by a discreet earthiness that continues onto the fleshy, delicious and surprisingly fine flavors that are really quite lovely for this level. Worth strong consideration and this could be enjoyed almost immediately.”–Burghound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($279.95) $199 special
Burghound 94 points “A markedly floral nose exhibits a broad array of spice and red and dark berry fruit aromas that include plum, cassis and earth. There is excellent detail and plenty of punch to the mineral-inflected flavors that are shaped by ultra-refined tannins on the balanced and gorgeously persistent finish that is firm and serious but not really especially austere. This is seriously good with a lovely sense of harmony plus the perfect balance suggests that this will mature over a very long time.”
Antonio Galloni 93-96 points “Savory herbs, mint, sweet black stone fruits and lavender are some of the many notes that take shape in the 2012 Clos des Lambrays. Deep and resonant, yet also medium in body, the 2012 impresses for its length and exceptional overall balance. The 100% whole clusters are very nicely integrated. Hints of rose petal and violet add striking perfume on the finish. Thierry Brouin did 5-6 punch downs a day to start, then left the wine on the skins for a total of two weeks. Simply put, the 2012 is shaping up to be magnificent.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $235
FRANCE-BEAUJOLAIS
Domaine Dupre Beaujolais Terre Noire Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Winery note “A wine of conviviality and simplicity: supple, light, and showing red fruit notes. A savory and racy wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie 2013 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Bright violet. Heady, mineral-tinged black raspberry and violet aromas show very good clarity and a hint of star anise. In the mouth, juicy, palate-staining dark berry flavors take a brighter turn to raspberry with aeration. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse, finishing sappy, gently sweet and long, with just a hint of dusty tannins.”
FRANCE-RHONE
Domaine les Aphillanthes Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Easily one of the top Cotes du Rhones in the vintage, the spectacular 2012 Cotes du Rhone Village Vieilles Vignes, which is a blend of 100% old vine Grenache, aged half in barrel and half in tank, sports off the hook aromas and flavors (garrigue, strawberry, spice), full-bodied richness and a seamless, silky textured that has to be tasted to be believed. Getting more than one “Wow” in my notes, this is one barrel sample I can’t wait to taste from bottle. It should be ready to go on release and evolve gracefully for 7-8 years.” WA
Domaine Les Grands Bois Rasteau Cuvee Marc 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A very inviting warmed blueberry aroma gives way to fleshy blueberry paste, boysenberry preserves and black licorice flavors. This is velvety overall, but with admirable definition and length. Drink now through 2019.” WS
Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Coming from the sandy, clay soils of the La Louisianne lieu-dit, the 2012 Gigondas Louisiane is made from 80% Grenache and 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah and Cinsault that was vinified in concrete tank and aged 12 months in older foudre. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, ripe and textured, it gives up terrific kirsch, blackberry, toasted spice and cured meat-like aromas and flavors. Of the three Gigondas releases, this was my favorite in 2012, but all of these releases are superb.”
Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a gorgeous effort that’s made from 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that comes from three terroirs, the Louisianne, La Moutte and the Souteyrades lieux-dits, all of which are located on the lower plateau near the estate. It offers impressive kirsch, blackberry, toasted spice and licorice to go with a medium to full-bodied, sexy, supple and hard to resist style on the palate. Readers need to buy this by the case and drink it over the coming decade.”
FRANCE-LOIRE
M. Plouzeau Clos de Maulevrier Touraine ‘Ante Phylloxera’ Franc de Pied 2012 750ML ($51.95) $45 special
Winery note “[Translated] Here is a quite amazing wine. It comes from an enclosed 40 acres of one of the most exceptional vineyards that survived the phylloxera attack in 1860. The vines are therefore not grafted and remain one of the last testimonies of what wine once was. Here the tractor is no place and every intervention in the vineyard is done manually. The wine is vinified according to very traditional methods, which brings a unique pleasure in the mouth. We find it very fresh and subtle aromas. Only about 1300 bottles are produced yearly.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-JURA
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1902 and composed of gray marl.
FRANCE-LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
Domaine Gauby Les Calcinaires Blanc, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2011 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “An entrancing combination of narcissus and freesia-like floral perfume with alkaline mineral intimations in the nose of Gaubys’ 2011 Cotes du Roussillon Blanc Les Calcinaire leads to a palate impression firmer and with marginally less expansive inner-mouth appeal than that of the corresponding 2012; but beautiful depth of pear and citrus fruit; a fascinating muskiness; and a straight, penetratingly persistent finish with invigorating tang of pear skin and lime rind as well as bite of radish, all render this exuberantly juicy, buoyant and invigorating cuvee a winner that will compliment a wide range of cuisine through at least 2015.”
L’Oustal Blanc Naick Rouge, Languedoc-Roussillon 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 L’Oustal Blanc Naick Rouge, Languedoc-Roussillon 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
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!
ITALY-TUSCANY
Podere Capaccia Chianti Classico DOCG 2010 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 88 points “Pine, sage, licorice, leather and dried cherry notes open up in La Gerla’s 2013 Rosso di Montalcino. This is an especially savory, lifted Rosso with lovely aromatic nuance, while the primary fruit is pushed to the back. Firm but nicely integrated tannins suggest this mid-weight Rosso will drink well for at least a handful of years.” AG
Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri 2013 750ML ($29.95) $18 special
Case-6 Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri 2013 750ML ($199.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The wine offers red earth nuances with pressed violet, terra-cotta, leather and tobacco. Il Bruciato makes a smooth and silky entry to the palate and imparts more luscious fruit flavors along the way. This wine was first produced in 2002.” ML
Marchesi Antinori Badia a Passignano, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2009 750Ml ($59.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The estate’s 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Badia a Passignano bursts from the glass with expressive dark cherries, plums, flowers and cloves. The Badia a Passignano is a bit brighter and more focused than the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, largely because it is 100% Sangiovese. Hints of tobacco, leather and cedar add further nuances on the soft, resonant finish. Over the last few years, the Badia a Passignano has been one of the most improved wines in the Antinori range.”
Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “I am absolutely enthusiastic about Sassetti Livio Pertimali’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Breathe deep into the glass and this wine awards you a beautiful sensorial experience that brings you immediately to varietal tones of pressed cherry, dried blackberry, spice and tobacco. The most compelling notes however are those polished mineral tones of crushed granite and pencil shaving that add sharpness and focus. This is not a timid Brunello and you can taste the sheer power and the quality of the fruit on hand. The mouthfeel is polished and smooth with fine and exact textural richness. Bravo!” ML
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Benevelli Piero Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: 24-36 hour cold maceration, aged in stainless steel for 5-6 months and in bottle for 3 months before release.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2011 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2011 3L ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Marked by ripe cherry, strawberry, floral and tar flavors, this red is graceful and detailed, with the fruit intensity persisting on the finish. This is well-integrated, and just needs time for the tannins to soften. Excellent length. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
SPAIN
Torre Oria Brut Cava, Valencia NV 1.5L ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: We’ll let Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator, formerly of the Oregonian, do the talking: “So what makes Torre Oria Brut nonvintage a standout, something worthy of a (rare) recommendation? For starters, this sparkling wine is composed entirely of the macabeo grape variety. I can’t recall another 100 percent macabeo sparkling wine. What results, at least in this particular wine, is something unusually delicious. Sporting a lemon yellow hue, this sparkler delivers real flavor. The “brut” designation is accurate: there’s no significant sweetness here, although plenty of fruitiness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for a magnum!
GERMANY
Weingut Keller Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2014 Hubacker Grosses Gewächs is also brilliantly refined this year, as the inherent elegance of the vintage in the Hügelland has dovetailed beautifully with the style of this wine. This bottling can often be a touch more “broad-shouldered” out of the blocks than the other Grosses Gewächs in the Keller portfolio, but not this year, as it shares the same great elegance of the entire range. The outstanding bouquet really shows its yellow limestone signature, as it delivers scents of apple, tangerine, gentle notes of petrol, wild yeasts, orange peel, lovely smokiness and a gorgeously complex base of limestone minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and complex, with a fine core, vibrant acids and excellent focus and grip on the long, zesty and utterly seamless finish. A glorious Hubacker to celebrate its 225th anniversary! 2022-2060.” JG
Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2014 GG from the Kirchspiel is a great wine in the making, but I would want to allow this perfectly balanced and youthful wine to rest comfortably in the cellar for at least the next seven years before I start to drink it, as it has a ton to offer behind its suave, but serious structural elements. The stunning nose offers up a constellation of grapefruit, a touch of tart orange, wild yeasts, dried flowers, lime zest and a refined base of stony limestone minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very pure and tightly-knit, with outstanding mid-palate depth, great cut and focus, impeccable balance and a very long, elegant and laser-like finish. At 12.5 percent alcohol, this is a touch lower in octane than many other recent top vintages, but this has just added to its refinement. A beautiful vintage of Kirchspiel. 2022-2060.” JG
Weingut Keller Frauenberg Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) Grosses Gewachs 2011 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is 50% more at $119!
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Arriving Friday, November 20th
Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The biggest, most rich, mineral-laced and massive wine in the portfolio, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines gives up lots of currants, charcoal, smoke earth and chocolate to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, structured and backward profile. This has lots of oak, lots of tannin, and lots of potential, but it should only be purchased by patient consumers. Give it 5-7 years and enjoy bottles over the following two decades. This is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot, mostly from the crème de la crème Champoux Vineyard, which spent 21 months in 100% new French oak. It’s up with the top wines of the vintage and readers looking for a classic, serious and age-worthy Bordeaux blend from Washington need look no further.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $94.12
Caves Louis de Grenelle Cremant de Loire Platine Brut NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
“A plump sparkler, with a light kiss of brioche around the pear and green apple flavors. A white ginger hint shows on the friendly finish. Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.”–Wine Spectator
Fongoli Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Umbria 2009 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
“Aromas of blue flower, spicy plum, leather, game and cellar floor lead the nose. The aromas carry over to the robust palate, along with mature blackberry, clove and licorice, while hearty tannins provide support. This has a rustic charm.”–Wine Enthusiast
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Saarstein Pinot Blanc, Mosel 2013 750ML ($21.95 )$18 pre-arrival special
“The early picked 2013 Pinot Blanc offers a Saar-typical clarity and spicy/fresh slate aromas along with pears and just ripe apples on the nose. Medium-bodied, lean and elegant, with green-apple-skin flavors on the palate, this is a rather small and short Pinot Blanc, but it still has Saar character.”–Wine Advocate
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Wine Spectator Has Spoken!
Top Ten Wines Now On Sale
Arriving Tomorrow:
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($99.95) $78 pre-arrival special
#4 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines Of 2015; Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine that shows uncompromising varietal pureness, albeit in a most concentrated and elaborate form. This is what great Sangiovese is all about. There’s so much happening on the nose and the wine brings you to cherry, spice, licorice, cured meat, pressed rose and grilled meat in equal measure. No one element overpowers the next. The mouthfeel is also tight and bright with the kind of fruit intensity that promises long cellar aging. This Brunello is only at the beginning of a long road ahead. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more it offers in terms of complexity and intensity. This is a true standout that can be enjoyed for up to 20 years ahead.” ML
95 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR “Rich, with excellent density, ripe cherry and plum fruit, and a well-integrated structure. Licorice, earth and tobacco notes add depth while this cruises to a long, tobacco- and mineral-tinged finish. Shows balance and grip. Best from 2018 through 2033.”
Arriving in January 2016:
Clos Fourtet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator–#9 2015 Top 100; 94 points –“Gorgeous, with a pure, unadorned violet aroma giving way to very ripe and stylish plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit. Offers a suave mouthfeel, with anise and tobacco hints filling the background. A finely stitched chalk note extends the finish. Not shy on depth, and sneakily long.”
Robert Parker 95 points “Having just had the 2003 and 2005 from my cellar, I can attest to the magnificent turnaround in quality this famous estate on the eastern side of St.-Emilion has achieved. All of it is attributable to its dynamic proprietor, Philippe Cuvelier. The 2012 Clos Fourtet (usually 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) has beautiful blackberry and blueberry fruit and an inky purple color. With flawless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning richness, this is impressive and certainly one of the vintage’s top wines. It should evolve beautifully for 15-20 years, and be drinkable in 3-4. Yields were a modest 32 hectoliters per hectare with the alcohol at 14%.” RP
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Russ Raney founded Evesham Wood Winery in 1986. He studied wine in Germany before eventually moving to Portland to find an ideal US site for Burgundian and Alsatian-style wines. He is now enjoying semi-retirement while importing southern French wines from Clos Canos and Chateau de Cabriac, among others. Erin Nuccio took over as wine-maker and owner after working several years with Russ while also developing his Haden Fig label. Erin’s aim is to continue in the style of minimal intervention at optimal (not over-) ripeness and reduced yields to allow vineyards to express themselves.
The estate vineyard, Le Puits Sec, is planted on an east facing slope overlooking the Willamette River. It has iron-rich soils and is planted to several varieties. While the Evesham Wood wines tend toward elegance and the Haden Fig wines towards more fruit-forward notes, both are expressive examples of their (all dry-farmed) vineyards.
Evesham Wood Wines Available Here Now:
Evesham Wood Cuvee J Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($49.95) $42.95 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Mahonia Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Marcel Deiss + Alsace-at-Large
At the Summit of Mountain Wine
Alsace is isolated from the rest of France to the west by the Vosges mountain range and separated from Germany to the east by the Rhine River. Mountain-side vineyards typically contain sandstone and granite, while the plains are composed of clay, limestone and marlstone. The best sites are along the foothills and are south-west or south-east facing to receive the most sun.
White wine predominates in Alsace due to the cooler climate. Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat are the most common single varietal wines produced. In Alsace, single varietal wines are labeled by grape variety. But varietal blends have a historic presence, and some of the vignerons are rebirthing these as the truest reflection of the best vineyards. There are three AOC appellations: Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru and Cremant d’Alsace (sparkling wines). The Alsace AOC was established in 1962. The Grand Cru regions were defined in 1975 and are made up of 51 vineyards. Yields, vineyard management, ripeness levels and taste are restricted.
Alsatian wines, like their German counterparts, can range from completely dry to sweet. Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) are the two late harvest (sweet) designations. Gewurstraminer and Pinot Gris are the most common grapes used for these wines. They give notes of fig, apricots, warm spices and honey. VT wines are made from grapes harvested several weeks after the regular harvest. The grapes are allowed to raisin on the vine, concentrating sugars.
Bergheim, a small village in the center of Alsace, is home to Domaine Marcel Deiss. The Domaine was established in 1947, but the family had a history of grape-growing and winemaking in the region since the mid-18th century. Today it is overseen by Jean-Michel Deiss and the wine-maker is Marie-Hélène Cristofaro. They own 67 acres of vineyards on the foothills of 9 communes near Bergheim and produce 10,000 cases of wine a year.
Deiss is considered a rebel wine maker for the region. He focuses on terrior over specific grape varieties. He practices a methodology known as complantation. Complantation is the ancient method of planting a great diversity of vines at great density. His vines are planted at over 4,000 per acre. They are stressed to the point where they yield half the volume of wine per plant than is average for the region.
The roots of these vines must compete for water and nutrients, which forces them to grow deeper. Deiss believes these deep roots overcome the variation among vintages to truly reflect the terroir. Phylloxera, wars and the modern practice of planting popular international varieties has narrowed down grape varieties and and their various clones to a bare fraction of what was once present. To overcome this, Deiss has trumpeted field blends that he harvests and vinifies together. While one grape variety would only be one expression of the vineyard, the multiple varieties are able to come together to form an fuller picture of the terrior.
His vineyards have been biodynamic since 2003 and have been organic for decades. The wines are treated with the same respect for their integrity. The hand-harvested grapes are crushed gently and slowly. The wines are fermented slowly in closed wooden vats using only indigenous yeasts. The wines are aged on the lees for extended periods of time. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Deiss is revolutionary in that he bucks the tradition of single varietal wine to make terroir-driven wines from a blend of grapes even in Grand Cru sites. Doing such was not allowed under AOC laws until 2005.
Domaine Deiss produces three distinct styles of wine. The “Les Vins de Fruits” are wines meant to emphasize the grape varietal. These are labelled by varietal and may list a vineyard. The “Les Vins de Temps” wines emphasize the vintage and include their VT and SGN selections. The “Les Vins de Terroir” wines only list the vineyard and are meant to reflect the terrior of the location. Domaine Deiss has over 200 distinct vineyard sites. The Burg vineyard, featured below, is composed of Keuper marl and limestone. It has a southern exposure and yields in the Domaine’s words: “a powerful, complex and structured wine.”
Wines By Marcel Deiss Available Now:
Domaine Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim, Alsace Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Like its 2011 counterpart, the Deiss 2010 Altenberg de Bergheim is strikingly floral, but tends toward bitter-sweet and elusive perfume of iris and lily-of-the-valley. The influence of quinine and black tea as well as a welcome suggestion of fresh peach and citrus juiciness serve as more effective counterpoint and push-back to the wine’s prominent sweetness than is the case with the 2011. A gorgeous sense of openness and levity prevails here, with quince and nut pastes subtly complimenting the prominent impression of liquid floral perfume on a silken and expansive palate, leading to a prodigious finish at once caressing as well as stimulating in its dynamic interaction of flower, fruit, and mouthwatering mineral salts…” WA
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Striking, high-toned aromas of maraschino, pistachio and mirabelle distillate in the Deiss 2010 Grasberg put me in mind of previous renditions from this site and field-blend that favors Riesling, Pinot Gris and Traminer variants. Tingling pineapple informs its firm yet lusciously juicy palate, leading to a long, supportively sweet finish featuring the invigorating interaction of chalk, white pepper, orange and lemon zests, and nut extracts with peach and pineapple. Look for this beauty to perform impressively through at least 2025.” WA
Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(pinot gris and muscat) Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Riesling 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 29 bottles available
Ian D’agata — Vinous 89 points “Bright straw with a gold tinge. Peach, tea and spice on the forward nose. Rich, ripe and suave, with lovely tropical fruit flavors that persist nicely at the back, with a touch of alcoholic heat becoming apparent with aeration. The grapes for this wine are sourced from three main areas: Saint Hippolyte (on soils rich in granite and clay that yield wines with less acidity), Bergheim (slightly bigger, richer wines), and a few small plots between Riquewihr and Béblenheim. Mathieu Deiss told me that “when I first came to work at the estate, I thought why not join these grapes together rather than make single bottlings of each? It’s not as if we don’t have enough single-site wines, and besides, I didn’t think our clients were die-hard fans of the Saint Hippolyte or Bergheim wines themselves.””
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg, Alsace Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Fresh peach and citrus lusciously inform the Deiss 2010 Schoenenbourg, whose creamy texture and honeyed richness, are matched by vivacious juiciness. White pepper, chalk, quinine, and shimmering mineral matter offer invigoration and counterpoint in a sustained and dynamically complex finish. The sweetness here is supportive without remotely getting the upper hand, so that I can well imagine over the 20-25 years during which this beauty will deserve to be admired, its versatility at table will vary inversely with a diminishing sense of sweetness.” WA
Domaine Marcel Deiss Pinot Gris 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Ian D’agata — Vinous 90 points “Straw-yellow with gold highlights. Bright tropical fruit aromas complicated by strawberry and honeyed almond paste. Juicy and focused, showing a lovely sugar/acid balance and outstanding length to the red berry and orchard fruit flavors. Finishes vibrant and clean.”
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer 2012 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 4 bottles available
Ian D’Agata — Vinous “Dark golden yellow. Ripe but fresh, focused aromas and flavors of tropical fruits, sweet spices and vanilla. Not the last word in complexity but plump and juicy, offering plenty of early appeal. Finishes suave and long, with welcome floral lift. Made from grapes grown near Bergheim on calcaire soils and in Saint Hippolyte on granite and clay.”
A Red Wine Available from M. Deiss:
Domaine Marcel Deiss Burlenberg 2009 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright ruby-red. Red cherry, raspberry syrup and fresh herbs on the perfumed nose. Creamy and tactile in the mouth, with pure, rich flavors of ripe red berries and cherry supported by fine-grained tannins. Turns slightly tighter, even a bit austere, on the very long finish, which features lingering smoke and iron notes. (Deiss told me he finds a taste of blood in this wine.) All this very impressive, mostly pinot noir red wine needs is a little time.” ID
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Other Great Alsatian Wines Available Here Now:
Albert Boxler Riesling Brand, Alsace Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 3 bottles available
Vinopolnote: From 40 year old vines planted on granite soils; grapes are harvested by hand, fermented on native yeasts without fining; vinified in foudre.
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 3 bottles available
Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 1 bottle available
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Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Fronholz 2012 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-green. Captivating aromas and flavors fresh apple, pear compote and smoke. Juicy and rather sweet, but with lively acidity giving it a light touch. This long wine was aged for 15 months in new oak” ID
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Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright pale yellow. Ripe but vibrant aromas of white peach and jasmine. Silky on entry, then round and ripe in the mid-palate, energized by lovely lemony cut. The sweet spice, resin and strawberry flavors show a tactile texture and an almost meaty quality and leave the taste buds vibrating. Displays the lift and verve of this vintage in spades. A great Fronholz.” ID
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Ostertag’s 2011 Riesling Muenchberg mingles fresh, very ripe apple and pear with candied grapefruit and kumquat rinds, caramelized parsnip, caraway, and fresh ginger, all wreathed in peat-like and charred smokiness, and putting me in mind of a Riesling dosed with Gewurztraminer. There is an uncanny combination of body and high glycerol with brightness here, leading to a finish of exuberant juiciness, zesty cut, interactive complexity and formidable sheer grip. I would anticipate this meriting return visits though at least 2025.” WA
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 92 points “Gold-tinged straw. Deep, very pure nose hints at white peach, minerals and flowers. A noticeable step up in depth and complexity over the preceding Riesling samples, boasting impressive flavor intensity for such a refined wine. Finishes multilayered, deep and long. This should prove to be especially ageworthy. The Muenchberg features especially complex soil made up of a blend of sandstone and volcanic elements. According to Ostertag, this is an ideal amalgamation. “Wines made only on sandstone can be a little obvious, and those on volcanic soils a little austere,” he told me, “so the combination of the two usually makes for some really amazing wines.”” ID
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Rouge ‘E 2013 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 6 bottles available
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2010 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
Importer note: Fronholz vineyard. Vines average 40+ years old, soil is White Sand, Quartz, Clay, Marl
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Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2012 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 12 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous 90 points “Good medium red. Musky soil tones and raspberry on the nose. Supple, spicy and sweet, with sound underlying acidity contributing to much-needed lift to the somewhat syrupy red berry and red cherry flavors. Finishes bright and long. This is a really outstanding Alsace Pinot Noir, fresh and crisp despite its obvious ripeness of fruit. The yield was just 30 hectoliters per hectare, according to Ostertag.” ID
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The next best price is $52.20
Domaine Dirler-Cade Sylvaner Cuvee Vieilles Vignes 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 11 bottles available
Winery notes: “Originally from pieces of land on the Saering and Kessler Grand Cru (Heisse Wanne), this flavourful wine is full-bodied, unctuous and a deep mineral nature. A benchmark in terms of grape variety – 1.9 g/l of residual sugar – sun canopy crusted with nuts and croutons.”
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Jean Sipp Riesling Vieilles Vignes 2008 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 7 bottles available
Winery note “A Riesling already showing a very open nose with lemony hues. The intensity of the aromas is prolonged on the palate, which is revealed with a fine acidity, balanced and persistent, with a rich finish.”
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Case Specials
“Made in Italy”
While France may host a multitude of distinct terroirs, Italy, by far, is home to numerously more distinctive indigenous grape varieties:
Nerello Mascalese is a dark-skinned varietal which takes its name from the Mascali plain between the Sicilian coast and Mount Etna. Often blended with Nerello Cappuccio, many of the vines planted are 100-150 years old, predating phylloxera. Together, the varietals make hugely fragrant, mineral-laden and layered wines. Nero d’Avola and Frappato are both Sicilian as well, making much softer and elegant wines than the Nerellos. The wines are typically medium to full-bodied, with cherry and blackberry fruit, nice acidity, and citrus-based, floral aromas. Gaglioppo is native to southern Italy, producing bold and full-bodied wines with tannic structure; the grape is thought to have a close genetic relationship with Sangiovese. Lastly, Ribolla Gialla is a white grape popular in Fruili which makes floral, high-acid wines which pair wonderfully with fish and pasta dishes of the region.
Italian Case Deals Currently Being Featured:
I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 31 bottles available
Case-6 I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso 2013 ($129.95) $99 special, 8 half-cases available
Wine Advocate 90+ points “I Custodi’s entry-level red is the beautiful 2013 Etna Rosso Pistus with fruit sourced from various points on the north side of the volcano. The blend is a traditional cut of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio and the wine sees no oak aging. I loved the vibrant freshness and fruity concentration of this wine. It opens to a luminous dark ruby color and an ambitious bouquet with bramble, spice, wild fruit, licorice and dark mineral. There is little fruit as most of the bouquet is occupied by ethereal volcanic tones. Stylistically speaking, this wine shows austerity and a masculine approach with tight, firm tannins. Pistus is a stubborn, but ultimately charming Etna Rosso.” ML
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Also Available from I Custodi:
I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna Aetneus Etna Rosso 2008 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The top-shelf red is the 2008 Etna Rosso Aetneus that pays homage to this mighty Sicilian volcano with fruit from pre-phylloxera, 150-year-old vines. I tasted this same vintage last year and assigned the wine a score with a question mark because the bouquet appeared muted and muddled. Whatever problem I encountered last year happily did not reappear during this tasting. This is a strong and physical wine with sharp aromas of wild berry, forest floor, wild mushroom and sweet violets. It shows distinct mineral linearity that reinforces the wine’s overall elegance and immediacy. The fruit used here is mostly Nerello Mascalese and there are smaller percentages of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante (or Grenache).” WA
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Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 half-cases available
Case-12 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 6 cases available
Winery note: “100% Gaglioppo; the respect of the original and typical fruit produces a wine of a rare elegance and pleasantness. The right witness of a land hidden into its own richness.”
Each are these deals are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!
Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($99.95) $71.90 special, 6 half-cases available
Case-12 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special,, 6 cases available
Winery note: “Gaglioppo 40% Greco Nero 40% Nerello cappuccio 20%; Deep, young, brilliant colours. Typical taste and smell characteristics in a wine whose vinification process introduces the cultural versatility of such a precious terroir.”
The case and half-case are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!
Feudo di Santa Tresa ‘Purato’ Nero d’Avola Terre Siciliane IGT 2013 750ML ($14.95) $9.90 special, 26 bottles available
Case-12 Feudo di Santa Tresa ‘Purato’ Nero d’Avola Terre Siciliane IGT 2013 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 7 cases available
Wine Enthusiast : “Made from organically farmed fruit, this easygoing Nero d’Avola offers juicy blackberry and sour cherry lightly framed by a white pepper accent. It’s simple but well-made, with bright acidity. Pair it with summer salads or pizza.”
Feudo di Santa Tresa Frappato Sicilia IGT 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “Made from organically-grown (Frappato) grapes, this savory, light-bodied wine opens with fruity aromas of crushed red berries. The bright palate doles out juicy strawberry and sour cherry, lightly accented by notes of white pepper and mineral. Chill it for 20 minutes before serving for a refreshing summer red.” WE
Tenuta Luisa Ribolla Gialla 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 11 bottles available
Case-6 Tenuta Luisa Ribolla Gialla 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 half-cases available
Case-12 Tenuta Luisa Ribolla Gialla 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 3 cases available
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “(100% Ribolla Gialla) Enticing aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle and citrus blossom lead the nose on this polished wine. The sleek palate delivers juicy pear, crisp apple and nectarine zest. It’s fresh and balanced, with bright acidity.” WE
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Perhaps not so esoteric, these classically Italian wines are also available currently as case deals!
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva is host to a beautiful mix of black mineral, fruit, dried mint and eucalyptus. The wine shows elegant evolution in the glass and backs it up with dry, polished tannins. This is a stunning effort available at a reasonable price. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. This is one of the nicest collections of new releases by Giuseppe Mazzocolin’s Felsina. At the edge of the Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi denominations, the estate counts 475 hectares, of which 61 are planted with vineyard.” WA
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Classicists, on the other hand, will flip out over the 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva. Black cherry, plum, smoke and menthol notes all jump out of the glass. The 2010 is translucent yet also rich, powerful and impeccably balanced. Ideally readers should cellar the 2010 for at least a few years, but that is going to be difficult considering how beautiful the wine is today.” AG
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 2 cases available
Antonio Galloni 89+ points “The 2012 Chianti Classico is a great introduction to the wines of Felsina. Deeply varietal and expressive to the core, the 2012 graces the palate with the essence of Sangiovese from the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone. Sweet tobacco, underbrush, menthol, licorice and black cherries flow through to the finish, but it is the wine’s sheer balance that impresses most of all. This is a gorgeous mid-weight Chianti Classico to drink over the next decade plus.” AG
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $399 special, 9 cases available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AG
Case-6 Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico DOCG 2010 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 3 half-cases available
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright red. Flinty red cherry and smoky underbrush on the refined nose. Classically dry and firm, this midweight Chianti delivers plenty of pure sangiovese flavor (licorice, flint, red cherry) and seems slightly more accessible to me than past versions of this wine, which usually started out life tough as nails but evolved beautifully and showed rare ageworthiness. Chianti Classico does not get any better or any more traditional than this.” ID
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Time to Say Good Buy
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.” AG
VinopolNote: This is the final release of this cuvee from Andre Clouet
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The next best price is $73.66
The average price is $94