Two Great Antinori Values in the May Sale
Decade Old, Undervalued Napa Greatness
Just Arrived: the Outstanding 2014 Produttori Riservas
New Top California Values from Wilson/Daniels
Kalin’s Idiosyncratic, Aged Pinot
Iconic Barbaresco: Gaja
First Offer: The Single Vineyard Wines of Terre Nerre
Bedrock’s Cult Rosé – Not Just for the Mailing List
Trending Wines
May Sale Recap
Two Great Antinori Values
In the May Sale
Arriving Friday, May 10th (But already in the May Sale!)
Rich, bright and absolutely fantastic for the price.
Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala ‘Bramito del Cervo’ Chardonnay Umbria IGT 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival May Sale Special
Case-6 Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala ‘Bramito del Cervo’ Chardonnay Umbria IGT 2016 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival May Sale Special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “Hints of spice and lime blossom accent rich notes of melon and dried peach in this bright, medium-bodied Chardonnay, underscored by a tang of minerality that lingers on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2022. 9,000 cases imported.”
The next best price is $19.99
The average listed price is $24
Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival May Sale Special
Case-6 Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($179.95) $119 pre-arrival May Sale Special (that’s only $19.83̄/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “This second wine shows such a great balance of round tannins and juicy, creamy and chocolate character. Full, flavorful and joyful. Salty and juicy. Savory and even meaty. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “This is absolutely one of the best value wines you will find in Italy and I suspect beyond. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Syrah. With more than one million bottles made, there should be no problem finding it at your nearest wine merchant. Once you do locate it, I enthusiastically recommend that you pick up a few cases. This vintage comes together with seamless intensity and smoothness. You get so much dark fruit flavor, paired with soft tannins, spice, smoke and dried blackberry. Il Bruciato pulls off its magic effortlessly. It doesn’t try to be anything other than it is: Delicious.”
The average listed price is $28
Decade Old, Undervalued Napa Greatness
Back Vintage Beringer Private Reserve
Beringer is one of the grand old names of California wine—a brand both ubiquitous and storied, though the later association is probably buried behind the avalanche of supermarket wines that Beringer has leant its name to. Rest assured, though, that in the higher reaches of the portfolio, the venerable estate is making some of the finest wines they’ve ever made.
Part of the reason for their success on the high end is the vast success of their lower tier wines—almost no winery in the world has as much money to throw at their prestige program as Beringer and the estate is committed to bringing back the glory days of the 70’s and 80’s, when the Private Reserve was one of the most sought after wines in all of Napa.
These are wines that anyone interested in the upper tier of Napa Cabernet should pay attention to—the wines are great and the prices are artificially depressed by the Beringer name. Even better? Significant quantities of library wines are being released now, so we have the opportunity to offer you ten year old Private Reserve at current release pricing—an exceptional value by any measure. The 2009 is drinking exceptionally well today but should age for another decade-plus, making it a perfect wine to load the cellar with.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($159.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is a beautifully balanced wine. Firm yet well-integrated tannins frame a core of dark red berries, flowers, mint, spices and licorice. The Reserve shows lovely inner perfume and mid-palate juiciness. It should drink well with a minimum of cellaring. The main vineyards in the 2009 are Home (37%), Lampyridae (23%), Vogt (14%), Chabot (11%) and Rancho del Oso (9%). Each lot was aged separately for about two years before the final blend was assembled.”
Stephen Tanzer 93+ points “(includes 2.5% petit verdot): Good full ruby. Pure but tight nose shows a medicinal reserve. Then tight and penetrating in the mouth, with noteworthy intensity to the blackberry and menthol flavors. Much less open and showy today than the Bancroft cabernet, revealing little in the way of easy sweetness. This seriously structured wine finishes with substantial firm tannins, excellent breadth and a suggestion of chocolatey richness, and should be long-lived. “A blend of the best of the best,” according to winemaker Laurie Hook, who added that she’s looking for “intensity, complexity, depth, persistence, elegance.”
The next best price is $110
The average listed price is $130
The Outstanding 2014 Produttori Riservas
Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else. We are pleased to present the 2014 Crus – a range already receiving rave reviews from Italian expert Antonio Galloni:
“Piedmont fans will want to be on the lookout for the 2014 Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco when they are released later this year. I can’t think of too many wines that offer this level of quality for what remain incredibly fair prices. Managing Director Aldo Vacca told me the 2014 harvest stretched from October 8 to 24, which is very late by present day standards. The 2014 Riservas are dark, potent and built for aging… In many years, this range includes one or two slight underperformers, but in 2014, the wines are superb across the board. Some will drink well earlier than others, of course, but this is one of the most consistently outstanding set of Riservas I can remember tasting here.” –Antonio Galloni
Consider yourself warned: These are HIGHLY limited in comparison to prior vintages (Rabaja 750’s are already sold out). Shop the complete list on our webstore now by clicking here!
Just Arrived:
New Top California Values
From Wilson/Daniels
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 121’ Chardonnay, Carneros 2017 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 121’ Chardonnay, Carneros 2017 750ML ($249.95) $185 special (that’s only $15.42/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Editor’s Choice. This is such a lovely white wine, priced attractively, which delivers a heady entry of honey and caramelized oak. Juicy acidity lifts bold flavors of lemon meringue, green apple and tangerine, finishing with a balanced weight and intrigue of nutmeg.”
RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 29’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 29’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
James Suckling 89 points “Rich and rather sweet with lots of black-plum character and some toasty oak. This full-bodied red is easy to enjoy, because it’s got a rather silky texture and doesn’t come off as heavy. Drink now.”
Kalin’s Idiosyncratic, Aged Pinot
In Stock Now:
Kalin Cellars Cuvee DD Sonoma Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley 2000 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
John Gilman 95+ points “My goodness, where has the time gone? Here is a pinot noir from Frances and Terry Leighton that actually has its roots in the twenty-first century! It happens to be from the Demostene Ranch, home to Kalin’s finest pinot bottlings since at least the 1978 vintage and it is flat out stunning. The deep, pure and beautifully developed bouquet offers up a complex constellation of red and black cherries, roasted gamebird, forest floor, beautiful spice tones (cinnamon, cardamom and cloves), woodsmoke, an exotic hint of eucalyptus and cedary oak. On the palate the wine is focused, complex and beautifully wide open and refined on the attack, with an excellent core of fruit, superb soil signature, still excellent, tangy acids, ripe tannins and a long, perfectly balanced and complex finish. This is still a relatively young wine on the palate (even at age nineteen!) and could do with a bit more time to relax in the cellar, but with decanting, it is awfully easy to drink today. It is still early days for this stunning bottle of pinot. This is one of the best vintages of the Cuvée DD I have ever tasted! 2019-2055+.”
The one complaint we might have with Gaja, as with most wines that are full-on collectible, is the pricing. We’ve been working hard to offer you some of the top wines in the lineup for some really incredible prices, though. These are excellent prices (in the case of the Costa Russi, the national best). If you’re a collector (or if you’re looking to try some of these wines for the first time) you should really pay attention to this offer. Also of note: these wines are directly from the winery, offered through a local distributor—not purchased from a private collection. Only three bottles of each are available and when they’re gone, so is the pricing.
In Stock Now:
Gaja Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($249.95) $189 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco is fabulous. In fact, this is one of the best Barbarescos I have tasted at Gaja in many years. Vibrant, perfumed and beautifully sculpted in the glass, the 2013 possesses tons of understated intensity. Sweet red cherry, mint, white pepper and anise are all lifted in the glass. The 2013 is an almost shockingly classic Barbaresco from Gaja. The translucent color, vibrant Nebbiolo fruit and austere but noble tannins represent a move towards a much more traditional style. For readers who can find it, the 2013 is simply a must-have wine.”
Gaja Costa Russi Langhe, Piedmont 2006 750ML ($499.95) $299 special
Vinous- Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Good full red. Reticent strawberry and plum aromas are complicated by a medicinal component. Rounder and sweeter than the normale, but also showing excellent inner-mouth lift for all its fullness. This very broad, fine-grained wine finishes with a juicy quality and excellent structure. In spite of its firm tannins, this makes the young ’07 come off as a bit drier by comparison.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2006 Langhe Costa Russi is a bit reticent at first, and two of the three bottles I tasted showed elements of reduction that eventually blew off. A gorgeous center of soft perfumed fruit lies behind the slightly unfocused bouquet. The wine reveals notable clarity and detail once it opens up in the glass, with dark cherries, flowers and minerals that linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.”
The Single Vineyard Wines of Terre Nerre
Marc de Grazia started the Terre Nere winery in 2002 from 30 hectares of vineyards divided in 10 parcels over four crus. The vines are between 50 to 100 years old except for 6 hectares of recently planted vines and several self-rooted plots over 130 years old that are famous for surviving phylloxera. The red wines are 100% Nerello Mascalese, a variety known for producing wines of great elegance and the whites are based on Carricante a grape that gives mineral, piercing wines. We’ve juyst
As for the individual wines…The soil in the Calderara Sottana cru is covered in large black volcanic pumice and is the stoniest cru. The wine offers floral, spice and leather aromas. The two vineyards composing the Guardiola cru stand at the highest elevation on Mount Etna, and are quite possibly the highest in Europe. It has poor soil composed of volcanic sand, basalt and ash. The vineyard is steeply terraced, necessitating manual labor and harvest. The wine is lean and elegant. Santo Spirito is adjacent to Guardiola but with black volcanic ash soil. The Etna Rosso Prephylloxera “La Vigna di Don Pepino” is named for the grape grower who worked the parcel for over 70 years. Grazia believes the vineyard survived and thrived only through Don Pepino’s meticulous care.
Arriving May 10th:
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera Rosso Etna, Sicily 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This seamless red effortlessly layers silky, sculpted tannins and lightly mouthwatering acidity with an array of ripe black cherry, graphite, ground cardamom, dried fig and sweet, lightly floral almond blossom notes. Long and lingering, with a racy hint of spicy mineral echoing on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 600 cases made, 250 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “This is Tenuta delle Terre Nere’s top-shelf expression (with only 6,000 bottles produced). The 2016 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera le Vigne di Don Peppino shows the power and the might of Etna viticulture with the delicate grace and elegance that identifies these unique wines. This expression is expansive and generous—but in an unexpected way. The palate is streamlined and focused, yet those fine nuances of wild berry, spice, ash and rose are wide-ranging and very long in persistence.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘San Lorenzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit meets tarry mineral and accents of licorice, spiced orange peel and herb in this chewy, medium-bodied red. The bold flavor and structure are deftly knit into a graceful and harmonious package, with the spice and mineral character lingering on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 750 cases made, 300 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is one of three Grande Terroir Ellittico wines (designated as such by the winery). This is a beautifully shaped expression of 98% Nerello Mascalese with 2% Nerello Cappuccio from ancient vines planted in soils made of compressed volcanic ash and light pumice stones. The bouquet offers mild primary fruit with lots of mineral intensity with wild herbs, rose hip and rosemary essence. The wine has the delicate nature of a Pinot Noir with the unmistakable flavor profile of the Southern Mediterranean. Dusty mineral notes and tannins make for a very dry finish. Some 10,000 bottles were made.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Beautifully fragrant, this exudes notes of lavender and thyme, with Turkish spice hints accenting the flavors of macerated cherry and raspberry fruit that swath the firm frame of dense, fine tannins. Tightly meshed and focused, with additional spice and herb notes on the long, minerally finish. A graceful stallion of a wine. Best from 2020 through 2030. 500 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “This wine is slightly savory and balsamic in character. The 2016 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro Delle Rose (98% Nerello Mascalese and 2% Nerello Cappuccio) opens to tangy notes of medicinal herb and eucalyptus essence with dark berry fruit, plum and black currant. Like the many other wines from this vintage, the wine is accessible and immediate, making it a good choice for those who can’t wait to pop the cork as well as those who do have the patience to wait (5 years or more). The mouthfeel is thin and compact. Some 7,000 bottles were made.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Beautifully fragrant, this exudes notes of lavender and thyme, with Turkish spice hints accenting the flavors of macerated cherry and raspberry fruit that swath the firm frame of dense, fine tannins. Tightly meshed and focused, with additional spice and herb notes on the long, minerally finish. A graceful stallion of a wine. Best from 2020 through 2030. 500 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “This wine is slightly savory and balsamic in character. The 2016 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro Delle Rose (98% Nerello Mascalese and 2% Nerello Cappuccio) opens to tangy notes of medicinal herb and eucalyptus essence with dark berry fruit, plum and black currant. Like the many other wines from this vintage, the wine is accessible and immediate, making it a good choice for those who can’t wait to pop the cork as well as those who do have the patience to wait (5 years or more). The mouthfeel is thin and compact. Some 7,000 bottles were made.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Etna Bianco Calderara Sottana is identified as Cuvée delle Vigne Niche on my technical sheet, although I do not see that single-vineyard designation identified on the bottle label. This is a beautiful white wine with lasting aromas of citrus, passion fruit and crushed mineral. This compact white wine hits the palate with sharp and linear focus. That tightness you get at this young stage should evolve and flesh out over the next 5 years of bottle aging. This wine is fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures and it completes malolactic fermentation before going into large oak casks for ten months. Some 9,000 bottles were made.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Aromatic hints of beeswax and chamomile accent the flavors of poached nectarine, green almond, kumquat and spice in this well-knit, medium-bodied white. Balanced, with a subtle juiciness throughout and a minerally finish. Drink now through 2027. 500 cases made, 175 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Compared to the Carricante from the Calderara Sottana cru, the 2017 Etna Bianco Santo Spirito (Cuvée delle Vigne Niche) is more mineral-driven in my opinion (by a small margin). Both wines were vinified and aged in the exact same way, so the very subtle differences you taste between the two are wholly territory-driven. The bouquet is crystalline and direct with briny sea aromas, summer peach and sun-dried lemon zest. Some 5,000 bottles were made.”
Bedrock’s Cult Rosé
Arriving Friday, May 10th:
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘Ode to Lulu’ Rose, Sonoma Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 93 points “Bright and intensely mineral infused the 2018 Bedrock Ode to Lulu proves again why it’s such a sought after wine with great flavor detail, zesty freshness and a lingering finish, this Rosé is complex and complete in a way that very few others can compete with. One of California’s great pink wines, Morgan Twain-Peterson’s Bedrock Wine Co. Ode to Lulu is a tribute to the great Mourvedre Rosé of the iconic Lucie ‘Lulu” Peyraud of Domaine Tempier, the legendary Bandol producer. The 2018 version of Bedrock’s Rosé is composed of 55% old vine Mataro (Mourvedre) and 45% old vine Grenache. Morgan says his Ode to Lulu is a love letter to the Bandol rosé we love so much and especially to the queen of Provence herself.…Layered and vibrant the 2018 shows off on the medium bodied palate with a mix of strawberry, grapefruit, sour cherry, rosewater and with a hint of dried herb, with all flavors revolving around it’s steely core and with a touch of stone and earth tones. The fruit really pops with a vivid clarity and makes this Bedrock Rosé great as a quaffable treat on a warm afternoon, but it is also serious stuff that revels in food pairings, and I for one think it goes sensationally with mussels in spicy broth, as well as BBQ and picnic fare. ”
Domaine Tempier Bandol, Provence 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special, arriving Friday May 10th
Case-12 Domaine Tempier Bandol, Provence 2016 750ML ($719.95) $499 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.58/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Importer Note “75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan from 40+ year old vines on clay and limestone soils. Destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts and then aged 18-20 months in large oak foudres.”
Limestone inflected Bierzo? Sign us up!
Raul Perez Ultreia de Paluezas, Bierzo 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, arriving Friday May 10th
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “One of the few vineyards in Bierzo where the soils have a significant content of limestone is San Juan de Paluezas, in a different valley looking into Las Médulas goldmines. They produce three barrels of the 2016 Ultreia de Paluezas from this vineyard. This year it had a shorter élevage, only around 12 months, as they saw it was ready and was racked out of the wood. Limestone soils always deliver dry, chalk-like tannins and a special tastiness that often translates in an almost salty feeling. It has more bones than flesh; it’s austere and should develop slowly in bottle. In fact, they are now releasing the 2015, as they feel it benefits from some more time in bottle. I like the austerity here. 850 bottles produced from a small plot with very low yields.”
Philippe Glavier La Grace d’Alphael Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Aromas of lemon oil, crushed chalk and oyster shell introduce the NV Grand Cru La Grâce d’Alphaël, a medium-bodied, bright and vibrant wine with a crisp core of fruit, tangy acids and a delicately chalky finish. It’s a racy, flavorful 100% Chardonnay bottling that was disgorged in October 2017.”
Gives Krug a run for the money at $50 less per bottle.
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($179.95) $115 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “Disgorged in May 2016, Vilmart’s 2009 Coeur de Cuvée is predictably superb, wafting from the glass with a lovely bouquet of lemon oil, verbena, dried white flowers, walnut oil and wet stones. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and fleshy but precise, with a voluminous mousse, incisive acids, superb concentration and more energy and tension than many examples of this vintage—no doubt amplified by Vilmart’s use of only the best press fraction for this bottling—concluding with a long, elegantly chalky finish. The blend is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. This is a wine that merits ardent pursuit.”
The average price is $151
Henri Prudhon & Fils Sur le Sentier du Clou Blanc, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Burghound 91 points “There is a whiff of the exotic present on the mandarin orange, white peach and hint of lychee-suffused aromas. There is a bit more volume, particularly on the mid-palate, to the medium-bodied flavors that possess a highly seductive texture on the markedly more complex and persistent finish. Good stuff.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Always a standout in Prudhon’s cellar, “Sur le Sentier du Clou” produces both white and red wine of great character. The Prudhons own a 0.4-hectare parcel of 35-year-old Chardonnay in this vineyard, which lies in the heart of the western flank of Saint-Aubin, completely surrounded by other premier crus.”
Scott Paul The Long Run Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Nysa Vineyard
Josh Raynolds 92 points “(12.9% alcohol; 20% new oak): Light, bright red. Sexy, high-pitched red berry and floral scents, with notes of star anise, underbrush and sassafras adding complexity. Offers intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, along with notes of rhubarb, candied flowers and orange zest. This lithe, focused, pure pinot finishes linear and very long, with echoing floral and spice notes. Pinot purists should definitely check this one out.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Previously labeled as Les Gourmandises, this is now The Long Run in honor of Scott Wright’s completing his first full-length marathon in 2011. It’s all Nysa vineyard fruit, graceful and delicate, scented with rose water and satin smooth. Cranberry and wild strawberry fruit accents lead into a mouthful of cherry soda, delicate but lingering.”
In Stock Now:
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 May Sale Special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a lovely, perfumy mix of savory, mint, tobacco, blood orange, cherry and bergamot notes, with finely beaded acidity and silky but ample structure. Long, mineral- and shiso leaf-infused finish. Best from 2020 through 2035.”JM
Wine Advocate 94 points “The flagship wine, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape, is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% other permitted varieties. It features delicate floral scents and ample cherry and licorice aromas. Somehow, it manages to be full-bodied and almost creamy in texture but without much weight, then it ends powerfully, with a flourish of rich Mexican chocolate on the long, silky finish. It should drink well for up to 20 years.”
The average listed price is $81
James Suckling 95 points “10 hectares of elevated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is an hommage to grenache with just a hatful of mourvèdre. Ripe raspberry and red plum pastry aromas. Super silky, plush and layered. Extremely impressive. Shows fluidity and balance, density and lightness. 50% stalks (crushed).”
The average listed price is $53
Wine Spectator 95 points “($48) Loads of chalky grip keeps this wrapped up tight, but the core of steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit is brimming with energy, while bay leaf, licorice root and charcoal notes chomp at the bit on the finish. Cellaring will rein this in. Best from 2021 through 2035. 700 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced from 30-year-old vines and aged in 20% new oak, the 2015 Cornas Empreintes features classic Cornas notes of crushed stone, bloody meat and red plums. It’s full-bodied, rich and packed with fruit and tannin but supple at the same time. It’s mouth-filling and round, then finishes long, dry and mouthwatering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “The 2015 Cornas Empreintes is unique in the lineup as it comes 30% from more limestone soils. It’s 75% destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s more elegant and focused than the opulent Premices and gives up lots of blackberry and cassis fruits, leather, crushed rock and pepper aromatics. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and pure, it needs short-term cellaring but is a brilliant wine that’s going to impress for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented dark fruit, violet and olive scents, along with suggestions of smoky bacon and cracked pepper. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed cassis, blueberry and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Rich yet energetic in style, showing excellent delineation and dark fruit thrust on a very long, smooth finish framed by velvety tannins.”
The next best price is $44.94
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers a ripe, dark profile, with a core of steeped blackberry and plum fruit that picks up bay, white pepper and iron accents through the finish. Shows solid depth and fruit for the vintage, displaying excellent energy. Best from 2018 through 2029. 1,500 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright violet. Vibrant and focused on the nose, displaying intense blue fruit, olive and cracked pepper scents and a hint of cola. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy boysenberry and cola flavors and a touch of allspice. Supple tannins build steadily on the clinging finish, which features rounded tannins and a hint of candied flowers. ”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Saint Joseph Les Coteaux looks as good from bottle as it did from tank last year. Richly concentrated and velvety, this medium to full-bodied beauty features savory notes of black olive, allspice and clove, backed by supple tannins and a long finish.”-JC
The average listed price is $26
Arriving May 10th:
#19 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($59.95) Was $39, Now $28 May Sale Special
Case-6 Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($319.95) Was $219, Now $159 May Sale Special (that’s only $26.50/magnum!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Black cherry, currant and floral notes are expressive and alluring, balanced by loamy earth, tobacco and mineral elements that add a savory quality. Firm, well-integrated tannins give support to the polished texture, while orange peel acidity fuels the fresh finish. Drink now through 2027.”
The next best price is $43.97