In This Newsletter:
Volpaia Citto Super Sale:
Ends Wednesday @ 10 AM Pacific
Featured New Arrival:
Envinate
New Week – New Arrivals
A Devilishly Good Bargain from Faust
Hundred Suns
Steinmetz
A Devilishly Good Bargain from Faust
Hundred Suns
Steinmetz
Volpaia Citto Super Sale
Ends Wednesday @ 10 AM Pacific
Ends Wednesday @ 10 AM Pacific
Mouton Rothchild has its Mouton Cadet,
Cheval Blanc has its Petit Cheval,
Castello di Volpaia has its Citto,
And you can have Citto on super sale!
Cheval Blanc has its Petit Cheval,
Castello di Volpaia has its Citto,
And you can have Citto on super sale!
In the super-Tuscan mode with a Sangiovese-Cabernet composition, but with a lighter and brighter nature achieved by vinification entirely in stainless steel tanks. Cherry flavors dominate in this spring and summer pleaser. Consider chilling when you need to beat the heat!Castello di Volpaia Citto Rosso Toscana IGT 2017 750ML ($19.95) Was $14, Now $11.90 super special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Volpaia Citto Rosso Toscana IGT 2017 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $127 super special (that’s only $10.58/bottle!)
Importer Note “In the tradition of Bordeaux Châteaux — Mouton Rothchild has its Mouton Cadet, Cheval Blanc has its Petit Cheval — Castello di Volpaia has its Citto. Mostly Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were destemmed and crushed, then fermented in stainless-steel vats for 10 days at 26 C to 30 C (80 F to 86 F). After eight days, the juice was drained off the skins. This generous, silky wine displays ripe fruit aromas with intense cherry and red berry flavors on the palate.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Featured New Arrival:
Envinate
Envinate is a small group of winemaking friends (Alfonso Torrente, José Ángel Martínez, Laura Ramos, and Roberto Santana) that seek to highlight the individual terroirs of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra. The friends produce wines of purity with low-intervention winemaking and vineyard management using ancient vineyards.
Envinate wines are highly sought after as authentic expressions of their terroirs and forerunners of the “New Spanish” wine movement. To quote wine writer Megan Krigbaum of Punch Magazine, “While winemaking driven by these ideals [of old-school and low-intervention management in the vineyard and winery] is commonplace in many parts of Italy and France—where the natural wine movement is manifest—Spain has been slower to adopt a less-is-more aesthetic over the ‘Big Flavor’ (i.e. ripe, excessively oaked) wines that came to define its wine culture. Envinate, for many buyers, is today’s best representation of the alternative. The wines have an undeniable transparency.” These wines have found fans among professional reviewers, too, such as Luis Gutiérrez of the Wine Advocate. He has heaped well-deserved praise on prior vintages for their complexity, value, and potential, but these 2020s may be the finest collection to date. If you’re not familiar with the winery or wines from the Canary Islands more broadly, let’s get you up to speed fast:
Despite being warm, tropical islands, the Canaries are home to several wine-growing regions, particularly along the foggy cliffs and slopes that line the Atlantic Ocean along the northern coastline on the main island, Tenerefe. Roberto Santana takes the lead for Envinate here, having consulted with Suertes del Marques and having extensive knowledge of the ancient vines, terroir, and local varieties. The Orotava Valley wines, Palo Blanco and Migan, represent a cool region along the northern slope of the Teide volcano. Here the Listan Blanco (white, also known as Palomino) and Listan Negro (red) vines are trained in the traditional “cordon trenzado” style of braiding the vines along the rows.
The Ribeira Sacra wine on offer today, the Lousas Viñas de Aldea, is the “village” wine composed of ancient native vines of mostly Mencía co-planted with other varietals. The vines are a minimum of 60-years-old and grown on steep slate slopes between 400-600 meters in elevation. This is an excellent example of what this profound and profoundly Spanish grape can do. Much like Terre Nere’s work with their indigenous Sicilian grapes, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, Envinate’s Mencía can give international superstar grapes like Syrah and Pinot Noir a run for their money.
These are fascinating, age-worthy expressions of “New Spain” wines that are not to be missed.
If you would like to purchase any of the Envinate wines, we strongly suggest you place your order through our web store. Email orders are not processed during the hours we are closed.
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Viñas de Aldea, Galicia 2020 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Viñas de Aldea, Galicia 2020 1.5L ($119.95) $88 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2020 Lousas Viñas de Aldea is slightly higher in alcohol and has less freshness than the 2019. It was a very early harvest (September 2nd to 14th), and they kept 20% of the wine in concrete and the rest in oak barrels and 2,000-liter oak foudres for 11 months. The grapes were very small, so the ratio of juice to skin was different from 2019. The wines from 2020 had less maceration and more stems; they have more bones but are still fluid, with some dusty tannins. 22,500 bottles and 400 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2021.”
Envinate wines are highly sought after as authentic expressions of their terroirs and forerunners of the “New Spanish” wine movement. To quote wine writer Megan Krigbaum of Punch Magazine, “While winemaking driven by these ideals [of old-school and low-intervention management in the vineyard and winery] is commonplace in many parts of Italy and France—where the natural wine movement is manifest—Spain has been slower to adopt a less-is-more aesthetic over the ‘Big Flavor’ (i.e. ripe, excessively oaked) wines that came to define its wine culture. Envinate, for many buyers, is today’s best representation of the alternative. The wines have an undeniable transparency.” These wines have found fans among professional reviewers, too, such as Luis Gutiérrez of the Wine Advocate. He has heaped well-deserved praise on prior vintages for their complexity, value, and potential, but these 2020s may be the finest collection to date. If you’re not familiar with the winery or wines from the Canary Islands more broadly, let’s get you up to speed fast:
Despite being warm, tropical islands, the Canaries are home to several wine-growing regions, particularly along the foggy cliffs and slopes that line the Atlantic Ocean along the northern coastline on the main island, Tenerefe. Roberto Santana takes the lead for Envinate here, having consulted with Suertes del Marques and having extensive knowledge of the ancient vines, terroir, and local varieties. The Orotava Valley wines, Palo Blanco and Migan, represent a cool region along the northern slope of the Teide volcano. Here the Listan Blanco (white, also known as Palomino) and Listan Negro (red) vines are trained in the traditional “cordon trenzado” style of braiding the vines along the rows.
The Ribeira Sacra wine on offer today, the Lousas Viñas de Aldea, is the “village” wine composed of ancient native vines of mostly Mencía co-planted with other varietals. The vines are a minimum of 60-years-old and grown on steep slate slopes between 400-600 meters in elevation. This is an excellent example of what this profound and profoundly Spanish grape can do. Much like Terre Nere’s work with their indigenous Sicilian grapes, Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, Envinate’s Mencía can give international superstar grapes like Syrah and Pinot Noir a run for their money.
These are fascinating, age-worthy expressions of “New Spain” wines that are not to be missed.
If you would like to purchase any of the Envinate wines, we strongly suggest you place your order through our web store. Email orders are not processed during the hours we are closed.
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Viñas de Aldea, Galicia 2020 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles in stock nowEnvinate ‘Lousas’ Viñas de Aldea, Galicia 2020 1.5L ($119.95) $88 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2020 Lousas Viñas de Aldea is slightly higher in alcohol and has less freshness than the 2019. It was a very early harvest (September 2nd to 14th), and they kept 20% of the wine in concrete and the rest in oak barrels and 2,000-liter oak foudres for 11 months. The grapes were very small, so the ratio of juice to skin was different from 2019. The wines from 2020 had less maceration and more stems; they have more bones but are still fluid, with some dusty tannins. 22,500 bottles and 400 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Envinate La Santa de Úrsula, Tenerife, Canary Islands 2020 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “There is a new red from the north of Tenerife, the 2020 La Santa de Úrsula, a field blend of Negramoll and Listán Negro trained in a parral bajo way (similar to a gobelet). It’s produced with grapes from the village of Santa Úrsula in the zone known as Tacoronte-Acentejo, but it’s sold without appellation of origin. They had the chance to start working with three centenary plots from La Corujera, one at 350 meters above sea level and the other two at 600 meters. The area is something like Taganana but further away from the sea and with more rain, more like La Orotava. So, the wines are something in between, perhaps closer to the ones from Taganana, a little wild, herbal and floral, but Tacoronte-Acentejo has red soils. 2020 was very dry (half of the normal rain), and they started harvesting extremely early, the 11th of August. The wine is approximately 50% Listán Negro, 48% Negramoll and 2% white Listán Blanco fermented differently by plot with some full clusters (50% to 75%) in plastic bins and concrete vats, with 20% of the wine in carbonic maceration, which was the tradition in Tacoronte-Acentejo. This is a zone with high potential and with enough vineyards, unlike in Taganana. The wine matured in neutral 228-liter oak barrels for eight months. This is a superb debut. 5,500 bottles and 100 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto Vinos Atlanticos Tinto, Canary Islands 2020 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto Vinos Atlanticos Tinto, Canary Islands 2020 1.5L ($129.95) $119 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Migan is a red from La Orotava and was produced with Listán Negro grapes from the village of La Perdoma, whose ancient name was Migan. It comes from four plots—Montijo (40% of the grapes), Tío Luis (30%), La Habanera (20%) and Las Suertes (10%)—on red volcanic soils and at different altitudes, between 350 and 600 meters above sea level, where altitude defines the character of the plot. In 2020, they didn’t use the San Antonio vineyard that was used in previous vintages; it has been replaced by Montijo. 2020 was an early harvest, and the grapes fermented by plot, always with indigenous yeasts, and 70% of the wine matured in neutral 500- and 600-liter oak barrels, while the wine from Tío Luis matured in concrete. The change in vineyards (they abandoned the one with more clay at lower altitude and increased in higher altitude and with less clay) has given the wine an extra kick. These wines reward time in bottle, and they need at least one year. Right now, this feels a little closed and tight, but it has great freshness and finer tannins and, in the long run, should make a better wine than the 2019. 11,500 bottles and 300 magnums were produced. It was bottled in December 2021.”
Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The red 2019 Benje was produced mostly with Listán Prieto with some Listán Blanco (4%) and Tintilla (2%) from different old vineyards in Santiago del Teide in the south of Tenerife at altitudes ranging between 900 and 1,000 meters, where sandy soils are covered by volcanic ash from the eruption of the Chinyero Vulcano in 1909. 2019 was extremely dry, and they had to reduce yields to avoid the blocking of the vines, so they only got 50% of a normal crop. The wine fermented by plot with indigenous yeasts and spontaneous malolactic and matured with fine lees in well-seasoned and neutral 228-liter oak barrels for eight months. They didn’t use any added sulfur during the vinification or upbringing. It’s light to medium-bodied with 12% alcohol. It’s a textbook example: precise, expressive and characterful with the fruit, the peppercorn, the gunpowder and very tasty flavors with fine-grained tannins. 15,000 bottles and 150 magnums were produced. It was bottled in July 2020.”
Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2020 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “I also tasted the red varietal Listán Prieto (a.k.a. País, Criolla Chica, Mission) 2020 Benje Tinto from a similarly dry and warm vintage as 2019, vinified and aged in the same way with indigenous yeasts and matured in neutral oak barrels for eight months. It feels a little closed (reductive?) but with a great palate. It feels like these 2020s have very fine tannins and velvety textures. Give it a little bit of time, but this will be as good as the 2019. 20,000 bottles and 200 magnums were produced. It was bottled in June 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Envinate ‘Palo Blanco’, Canary Islands 2020 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 98 points “I was blown away by a magnum of the white 2020 Palo Blanco I drank a few days before I tasted it again with its creators. Palo Blanco is the name of a zone in the village of Los Realejos in Tenerife, one of the finest locations for Listán Blanco (Palomino). In 2020 they used the grapes from five plots (they started with only one and 6,600 bottles in 2016), which means they have been able to increase volumes and, thankfully, also quality! The new plot is at 850 meters, so the grapes bring more freshness. These are always the last grapes they pick in Tenerife, even in an early harvest like 2020. The destemmed grapes were pressed and the juice let to settle for 12 to 24 hours and then fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete without temperature control. Sixty-five percent of the wine matured in 2,500-liter oak foudres and the rest in neutral 350-liter barrels with lees. There is a smoky and spicy, flinty touch and a vibrant palate with a spark of acidity that makes the wine very long and tasty. This now plays in the major league. 2020 saw the earliest harvest ever for this wine. 11,000 bottles and 200 magnums were filled in December 2021.”
Love Envinate? Don’t miss their co-lab with Alvear!
Alvear’s Palacio Quemado:
Spanish Excellence
Alvear’s Palacio Quemado:
Spanish Excellence
The Alvear family has stayed busy throughout their centuries in business, with their Sherries out of Montilla-Morales being some of the best examples of their regions output. On the eve of the new millennium the Alvear clan decided to expand outside of the Sherry triangle and establish a new winery in the Extremadura, a Spanish desert region famous for its agricultural output.
Planting indigenous clones of Tempranillo and Garnacha with other warm-climate varietals like Syrah and Petit Verdot, the idea was to best exemplify the terroir of Extramadura. Envinate was tapped to lead the winemaking and viticulture programs. Their imprint is clearly evident in the finished products, with no pesticides or synthetic inputs used in the vineyard and minimal intervention being practiced in the cellar. Don’t skip on the dry white wine made from over 50-year-old, bush-trained Pedro Ximenez vines that was aged under flor for a brief eight-month stint, Tres Miradas Vino de Pueblo.
In Stock Now from Palacio Quemado:
Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowCase-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2018 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark garnet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven red and blue fruit, potpourri and incense scents show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining raspberry, boysenberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors deepen steadily through the back half. Manages to come off powerful as well as lithe and shows no rough edges. Finishes smooth and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit, mineral and floral notes.”
VinopolNote: 90% Trincadeira, 10% Garnacha.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Opaque magenta. Red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering spice-accented raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a musky hint of licorice. Finishes long and juicy, with repeating florality and gentle tannins adding final grip.”
VinopolNote: A vineyard blend of the rich and dark Port grapes Trincadeira Prieta and Touriga Nacional in addition to Garnacha and Syrah
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2016 750ML ($359.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep, shimmering ruby. A pungent, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh cherry, boysenberry and exotic spices, along with a suave floral overtone. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of baking spices. The impressively long, sweet, floral-tinged finish is shaped by fine-grained tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s vibrant fruit.”
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The elegant, floral and perfumed 2016 Los Acilates reflected a cooler year with a longer growing season, which resulted in higher yields that achieved perfect ripeness. The aromas and flavors are precise and pure, and there is a sense of harmony that I like very much. The spectrum of aromas is about red fruit and flowers with just a pinch of spices. The palate is very elegant, with fine-grained tannins and a dry, chalky texture that I often associate with limestone soils. Delicious! 7,000 bottles produced.”
VinopolNote: Trincadeira Prieta & Touriga Nacional.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($324.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
VinopolNote: White, dry wine made from 100% Pedro Ximénez.
Importer note “The Tres Miradas project is the latest collaboration between Bodegas Alvear & Envinate. It represents a goal of the Alvear family and Envinate to express the terroir that has been historically known as the Sierra de Montilla, with a winemaking approach that focuses more on the vineyard and less on the ageing process in the cellar. The Tres Miradas Vino de Pueblo, classified as a village wine in the Burgundian classification, is a selection of grapes a variety of plots that are directly pressed without maceration and fermented in tinajas, traditional concrete amphora of 4800L. With Tres Miradas, they followed the Burgundian classification by producing one village wine, and three single vineyards or ‘crus.'”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Shop our complete collection Spanish wines, whether rare & precious, cheap & cheerful, red or white, on our webstore now!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Winemakers will be talking about what could have been in the 2020 vintage for years to come. You can get a glimpse at the perfection of the vintage with this bottling from Tyson Crowley. The fruit is all harvested from the Four Winds Vineyard, a high elevation site that was spared the devastation of the wildfire smoke so common in other parts of the Willamette Valley.
Crowley Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Lemon-lime aromatics burst from the glass, laced with a touch of floral wood. Quenching salinity on the palate stretches long, eventually giving way to chalk and balanced acidity.”
Winemakers will be talking about what could have been in the 2020 vintage for years to come. You can get a glimpse at the perfection of the vintage with this bottling from Tyson Crowley. The fruit is all harvested from the Four Winds Vineyard, a high elevation site that was spared the devastation of the wildfire smoke so common in other parts of the Willamette Valley.
Crowley Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowWinery note “Lemon-lime aromatics burst from the glass, laced with a touch of floral wood. Quenching salinity on the palate stretches long, eventually giving way to chalk and balanced acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jay and Ronda’s new project, JC Somers, brings you that impeccable quality and ridiculous value that you’ve come to expect from the former owners and winemakers of J. Christopher.
JC Somers “Joie De Chien” Tukwilla Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills 2021 750ML ($19.95) $18 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Joie De Chien is the fun side of the J.C. Somers Vintner collection of wines. This Pinot Blanc was sourced from the Tukwilla Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA. Light and delicious it is perfect for enjoying with friends and family. Cheers from our dogs to you and yours. J.C. Somers is the collaboration of veteran Willamette Valley vintner Jay Christopher Somers and his longtime partner and wife Ronda Newell-Somers. The new moon signifies a new phase in our winemaking adventure. We’re getting back to our roots producing small quantities of focused, elegant and terroir-driven wines from the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
JC Somers Whole Lotta Rosé, Garnier Vineyard, Oregon 2021 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Whole Lotta Rose is blended mostly from Grenache and a little Syrah sourced from the Garnier Vineyard located on the Oregon side of the Columbia River near the town of Mosier. Made is the classic Provencal style this wine is light, dry, delicate and delicious. The 2021 is very pale and is maybe the most refined Rosé I have made. Alcohol 13.50%.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
California
#9 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year in 2021
Salvestrin Winery Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Bright and fresh, with lots of red currant, plum and black cherry fruit notes driving along nicely, while a subtle tug of iron runs underneath. Late floral and warm earth flashes on the finish add more range and contrast. Focused, detailed and really well built. To be released October 2021. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,260 cases made. — JM”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it strides confidently out of the glass with notions of crushed black and red currants, ripe blackberries and black raspberries plus hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, tilled soil and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy black and red berries, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with loads of minerals and an herbal lift.”
France – Beaujolais
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 18 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Lapierre’s 2020 Morgon offers up aromas of plummy fruit and raspberries mingled with hints of petals and spices. Medium-bodied, satiny and enveloping, its succulent core of fruit is framed by melting tannins and mouthwatering acids. This thirst-quenching, fruit-driven Morgon is one of the purest, most precise young wines I’ve tasted from this address in recent years.”
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon “N”, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Sans soufre version of the above, this is incredibly rare in the USA since Kermit Lynch only recently began importing it.
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon Roche du Py ‘Cuvee Camille’, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Anne-Sophie Dubois, a Champenois native with her training in Volnay, is making some of the most perfumed and elegant wines of Fleurie off of her 20-acre hilltop vineyard. While she makes a ‘young vine’ semi-carbonic wine (Les Cocottes – delicious in its own right), her two wines of note are the Alchemiste and Les Labourons. The wines come from 40 and 60+ year old parcels, respectively. Alchemiste is fully destemmed fruit, macerated for approximately 3 weeks with native yeasts, then aged for 13 months in both cement tanks and some larger, oak casks. Les Labourons, formerly known as Clepsydre, marks the transition to fully organic (mostly biodynamic) practices in her vineyard. This wine is comprised of the best fruit from the oldest parcel of vines on the estate. The vinification is the same, though the wine is aged completely in neutral barrels rather than partially in tank. Anne-Sophie says that the wine shows more concentration and depth due to the age of the vines and the truly beautiful fruit that is available. While both will age nicely, the Labourons can lay down for 10+ years.
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2020 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Importer note “From southwest facing vineyards in Fleurie AOC. Soils are highly granitic. Dark berried fruits, tempered by mineral and black tea nuances. Seamless and very elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Labourons, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Labourons, Beaujolais 2020 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Importer note “Formerly known as `Clepsydre`, now re-named and carrying the name of its Lieu Dit starting with the 2017 vintage. Whereas previously the wine was a selection of the oldest fruit, Anne-Sophie has decided to take the selection one step farther and make it a selection of the best fruit from the old vine parcel. Les Labourons is the name of the lieu dit in Fleurie. In 2017, after recieving her organic certification, she wanted to rename the wine and have a new label drawn to showcase the new chapter in her winemaking. Despite the label and name change, Anne Sophie’s approach to vinification is the same as vintages past. It is 100% destemmed and aged for around 13 months in 228L neutral oak barrels.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Other
“… I’d unquestionably put the domaine up with the crème de la crème of the appellation today.” –Jeb Dunnuck, Nov 2021
Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2019 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowJeb Dunnuck 94 points “I loved the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape from this brilliant team, and it should be snatched up by readers looking for a classic, impeccably made Châteauneuf du Pape to drink over the coming decade or more. Ripe black cherries, blackberries, Provençal garrigue, pepper, and Southern France street market-like nuances all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Don’t miss it. The blend is 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre.”
James Suckling 94 points “I love the nose of very ripe red and black fruit with hints of bitter chocolate and many spices. Rich, concentrated and complex, this is very impressive Chateauneuf with very sweet fruit, balanced by stacks of fine tannin. Long, powdery, dry finish with some real complexity. A blend of grenache, mourvedre and syrah. Drink or hold.”
Domaine Riere Cadene “Le Garbinet” Rouge, Côtes du Roussillon 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Plot selection of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. The vines are grown on the rolled pebbles of the Têt Valley located to the west of the town of Perpignan. The soil is composed of granite and quartz pebbles, on a substrate of marine and alluvial sediments. The grapes are harvested in part by hand, in part by machine, and destemmed. Both varieties are vinified separately in concrete vats for 6 months. Maceration with the must for 15 days, gentle extraction and selection on the free run wines. Light filtration, no fining. 14% alcohol. Aromas of red fruits, blackberry and spices. On the palate, round and supple with silky tannins and freshness. Drink up to 5 years after release. Certified organic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18.99
A Champagne-method sparkler using old-vine Beaujolais grapes. This has a gentle softness on the palate due to the touch of residual sugar. Drink with fresh fruit or soft cheeses!
Domaine Franck Besson “Dentelle” Blanc de Noirs Methode Traditionnelle NV 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock nowWinemaker’s note “My estate is located near the town of Jullié at the foothill of the Cru Juliénas and on the terroir of Beaujolais-Villages. We pick grapes manually in small cases of 45 kgs. Since 2010, the estate is on organic conversion in order to be coherent with our work in the vines and in the cellar. Revolted by the bad image affecting the appellation Beaujolais-Villages, I decided to innovate and produce Rosé and Blanc de Noir sparkling wines in order to prove the potential of the Gamay grapes on our granitic slopes. Elaborated with the traditional method, as they do in Champagne, my sparkling wines are aged 12 months on wooden racks in the estate in order to get the fineness of a great Champagne!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.99
An incredible value in biodynamic wine that drinks like a baby Gigondas!
Chateau de la Liquiere Tutti Frutti Rouge VDF 2020 750ML ($15.95) $12.75 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Cuvee vinified each year at Chateau de la Liquiere by cofermenting five grapes from the estate (organic certified): 20% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Carignan. Grown organically on schist soils, high elevation in Faugeres, Languedoc. Owned by the family Vidal-Dumoulin for several generations.”
Italy – Alto Adige
“Surprising as it may seem, Italy’s best white wine producer may be a co-operative. Certainly no producer in the country makes longer-lived white wines than the Cantina Terlano.” –Ian D’Agata, Vinous
Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan ‘Cuvee Terlaner’ Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Representing excellent value, this release of about a quarter-million bottles is not at all what you would expect from a production of this scale. A blend of 60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, this vintage is the latest in a storied line that has been in production since 1893. The Pinot Bianco is grown at high altitudes, while the other two grapes come from lower elevations. The 2020 Alto Adige Terlaner Cuvée is smooth and is a veritable sounding board of stone fruit aromas, plus honey and some raw ginger or turmeric. You might serve it with a plate of smoked salmon.”
Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 750ML ($24.95) $22.50 special, 12 bottles in stock nowMonica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “This is lovely in its streamlined purity and simplicity. The entry-level 2020 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Tradition is redolent of citrus, crushed stone and tangy grapefruit. Fresh and lively, this Pinot Bianco shows lots of life and energy. It’s very pretty. Drink it young with a buttery linguine and shrimp scampi.”
James Suckling 92 points “A very striking pinot bianco that combines concentration and elegance with stony minerality. Hints of exotic fruit, flowers and spices make this a fascinating expression of this still underrated grape. Drink or hold.”
Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2020 Alto Adige Pinot Grigio Tradition is luminous and bright with finely tuned aromatic intensity. The bouquet reveals citrus, white peach and crisp apple. This is a zesty and crisp white to pair with specialty finger foods or vegetable tempura. I just love this freshness and the tonic, energetic quality displayed in this well-priced production.”
Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan ‘Vorberg’ Riserva Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2019 vintage. 2018 vintage provided for reference.
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “If I were stranded on a deserted island with just one bottle of wine of my choosing, it very well might be Cantina Terlano’s Vorberg. The 2018 Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is a case study in creaminess and texture, although the bouquet holds back just a tad, with a bit of stone fruit. That subtle shyness is a known characteristic of the grape. The wine is as steady and clear-minded as one of those high-wire daredevils, navigating a tightrope between two Dolomite mountain peaks. This expression is salty and firm and with so much energy, and yet it is also relaxed with a touch of softness to the finish. Thankfully, an ample 55,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Spain – Rioja
CVNE CUNE ‘Imperial’ Reserva Tinto, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 35 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely floral and attractive with crushed lavender, rosemary and violets to the blue fruit. Full body. Tight and integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Shows depth and structure. One of the best from here in a long time. Drink in 2021, but already attention grabbing.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep, brilliant ruby. Cherry, cassis, vanilla and incense on the expansive nose, where a zesty mineral note adds vibrancy. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering sweet dark berry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors along with hints of mocha and spicecake. Rich and ample in style but shows superb energy as well. Finishes sweet, seamless and extremely long, with lingering florality and polished, fully integrated tannins.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Plum and berry aromas are peppery and complex prior to a nicely layered palate with balancing acidity and depth. Dry oak lends notes of vanilla and cocoa powder to a flavor profile loaded with plum and berry fruit. A steady finish with vanilla oak notes holds onto juicy acidity that should allow this reserva from a fine year to show well through at least 2030. -Michael Schachner”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Considered the younger sibling to Quintessa’s legendary Cabernet blend, Faust is a cult wine in its own right. In spite of being a secondary bottling the Faust offers earlier enjoyment while still having the stuffing for long term cellaring. Biodynamically farmed to boot this is an essential Napa Cabernet for all levels of collector at an everyman price point Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 75OML ($54.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “Very attractive aromas of blackcurrants, black olives and dark leather with some cedar. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a refined, polished finish. Shows finesse and focus. Grows on the palate. Really delicious now, but will improve with age. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Distinctive, with sweet bay leaf, sassafras and a sanguine note all taking the lead, while a core of gently mulled red currant and blackberry fruit follows. Shows a nice herbaceous/brambly energy through the finish. Drink now through 2028. 40,000 cases made.”
Check out our full selection of California Cabernet available now both in-store and online!
Hundred Suns
Arriving Thursday, April 28th
What’s our most anticipated Oregon winery? Answer: Hundred Suns.
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Golden straw with a hint of pale green at the edges, this wine has aromas of Meyer lemons, vanilla bean, and wet stone. Succulent flavors sail across brilliant networks of acidity and fine grain textures that keep your mouth watering for more. Winemaking: The 2020 vintage was a warm and consistent growing season. Our collection of vineyards was picked with an uncanny balance of acidity and flavor. The resulting grapes were immediately whole cluster pressed, and only the juice from the middle cut of the press cycle was selected and sent into stainless steel tanks to rest. Three to five days later native yeast fermentation took hold. The wines were then moved into a collection of 15% new and 85% seasoned French oak barrels where they were gently stirred once a week during primary fermentation. They remained on the lees until bottling. The composition of the three vineyards was blended into tanks after 11 months and bottled unfiltered in August of 2021.”
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Golden straw with a hint of pale green at the edges, this wine has aromas of Meyer lemons, vanilla bean, and wet stone. Succulent flavors sail across brilliant networks of acidity and fine grain textures that keep your mouth watering for more. Winemaking: The 2020 vintage was a warm and consistent growing season. Our collection of vineyards was picked with an uncanny balance of acidity and flavor. The resulting grapes were immediately whole cluster pressed, and only the juice from the middle cut of the press cycle was selected and sent into stainless steel tanks to rest. Three to five days later native yeast fermentation took hold. The wines were then moved into a collection of 15% new and 85% seasoned French oak barrels where they were gently stirred once a week during primary fermentation. They remained on the lees until bottling. The composition of the three vineyards was blended into tanks after 11 months and bottled unfiltered in August of 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Syrah, Columbia Gorge, Oregon 2019 750ML ($49.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Reminiscent of wines from the northern Rhone in its complexity and structure. Initial aromas of flint and molasses give way to Asian plum, espresso, and hoisin. Vineyard: 2019 was a long growing season with moderate but dry days and cool nights blowing from the vast Columbia River. We were lucky to secure 1.5 tons of mixed clone Syrah from the Three Sleeps Vineyard located in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge AVA. This windswept vineyard located outside the town of Mosier consists of silty clay soils over basalt rocks formed from eons of floods, glacial movement, and volcanic activity. Planted in 2002 by Patrick Reuter and Leigh Bartholomew, it is farmed organically. Winemaking: 100% whole bunches were placed in an open-top fermenter and a 500 liter amphora and allowed to ferment untouched for ten days. Then, we foot stomped the clusters to release the dark juice from inside. After three days of maceracion the grapes were pressed to stainless steel where they finished primary fermentation. The wines were aged in a combination of terracotta and seasoned French oak. After 10 months they were racked to all neutral oak and left to age for an additional seven months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, The Rocks District, Oregon 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 pre-arrival specialWinery note “Explosive blue fruit mingles with dried herbs and red bell pepper. This abundance of fruit is balanced by the earthy Syrah, which makes this wine a delicious and complex wine to be consumed now and over the next five years. Vineyard: Sourced from the famed River Rock Vineyard located in the The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Oregon. These soils (or lack thereof), called the Freewater Series, are eroded basalt cobbles and pebbles from the Blue Mountains. The rocks, sand, and silt were laid down in layer upon layer forming an alluvial fan on the flat Walla Walla valley floor. These dynamic soils require the vines to push roots deep between the rocks to find nutrients while the warmth absorbed by the rocks helps ripen our Cabernet. Winemaking: A Pinot Noir winemaker’s rendition of noble Cabernet (with a little Syrah). These grapes were hand-harvested and brought back to our winery in McMinnville where they were fully destemmed into a single one ton open top fermenter. After three days the native yeast took off. We gently pumped-over the juice twice daily and after ten days the fermentation was completed. Pressed to Neutral French oak and 450 liter amphora the wine rested, unmoved, for one year and was gently racked into a bottling tank. The resulting co-fermentation was bottled unfined and unfiltered.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Syrah, The Rocks District, Oregon 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Aromas of blueberries open to black olives, licorice, creme brulee, and sage. The flavors are pure, with a hint of bittersweet chocolate and bacon fat. Winemaking: As with all of our Rhone wines the grapes were placed 100% whole bunch in tank. Gentle foot crushing in the beginning released some of the juice from the thick, leathery skins. The tank was dosed with a native yeast pied de cuve and allowed to sit untouched for 10 days. After this time the fermenter was opened and foot-stomped for two days then pressed off the skins and stems. The dark juice was placed in a combination of terracotta amphora and neutral French oak, where it rested for 10 months. The wine was moved to tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered in August of 2021. Vineyard: Sourced from vineyards located in the smallest sub-AVA in Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton Freewater. This soil (or lack thereof), called the Freewater Series is formed from eroded basalt cobbles and pebbles from the Blue Mountains. The rocks, sand, and silt were laid down in layers upon layers of an alluvial fan on the flat Walla Walla valley floor. These dynamic soils require the vine to push roots deep between the rocks to find nutrients while the warmth absorbed by the rocks helps ripen our Syrah.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
199 Oregon wines in stock,
199 Oregon wines,
take one down,
pass it around,
and pick up a case next time you’re in town.
(Thank you, folks, we’re here all week!)
Steinmetz
Fifth-generation winemaker Stefan Steinmetz and quite possibly the only black woman working in wine in the Mosel, Sammie Steinmetz, have released one of the finest vintages to date from their historic estate. Their wines are from incredibly steep terrain along the banks of the Mosel on vines grown without fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides. The environmentally-friendly mindset is carried into the winery, where the wines are fermented with naturally occurring yeasts and without additives or animal proteins (often found in fining agents). Brauneberger Juffer is easily the most famous vineyard they work with, and one of the best vineyards in the Middle Mosel, known for centuries for its incredible wines from its slate and sandy soils. Across the estate, the vineyard parcels they work with are impressively steep and difficult to farm. (Be sure to check out the winery’s gorgeous and informative vineyard map.) The dedication shows in the glass, resulting in concentrated and breathtaking wines.
“If you’ve never heard of a winery called Gunther Steinmetz, we suggest you look it up… Senior Editor Stuart Pigott first met Stefan Steinmetz, 42, of the Günther Steinmetz estate in Brauneberg/Mosel just over a decade ago and his wines were already very good then with a distinctive style. But he said that nothing prepared him for the recent tastings of the Steinmetz 2019s. He was blown away by the quality.” –James Suckling
Arriving in June:
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Wintricher Geierslay ‘GW’ Riesling, Mosel 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 97 points “This is an amazing dry Mosel with breathtakingly intense minerality and herbal freshness that makes the flavors so vibrant and finely etched. That it’s only medium-bodied makes it even more delightful. Cascading stone fruit and minerals at the super long finish. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Wintricher Ohligsberg ‘GW’ Riesling, Mosel 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 97 points “A very striking dry riesling with a wonderfully ripe mini-banana note, but also an intense smoky quality. Full body and enormous concentration, the super-vibrant acidity illuminating all its facets like a spotlight on a huge diamond. Very long, silky finish that makes this Mosel masterpiece delicious right now. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule, Mosel 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 98 points “What an amazing nose with devastating, peachy intensity and an overtone of saffron. Staggering concentration and colossal acidity give this incredible Mosel Auslese great tension. Patience will be rewarded by this highly structured, enormously complex wine that might live a century! Only a hint of grape sweetness. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.”
“If you’ve never heard of a winery called Gunther Steinmetz, we suggest you look it up… Senior Editor Stuart Pigott first met Stefan Steinmetz, 42, of the Günther Steinmetz estate in Brauneberg/Mosel just over a decade ago and his wines were already very good then with a distinctive style. But he said that nothing prepared him for the recent tastings of the Steinmetz 2019s. He was blown away by the quality.” –James Suckling
Arriving in June:
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Wintricher Geierslay ‘GW’ Riesling, Mosel 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 97 points “This is an amazing dry Mosel with breathtakingly intense minerality and herbal freshness that makes the flavors so vibrant and finely etched. That it’s only medium-bodied makes it even more delightful. Cascading stone fruit and minerals at the super long finish. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Wintricher Ohligsberg ‘GW’ Riesling, Mosel 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 97 points “A very striking dry riesling with a wonderfully ripe mini-banana note, but also an intense smoky quality. Full body and enormous concentration, the super-vibrant acidity illuminating all its facets like a spotlight on a huge diamond. Very long, silky finish that makes this Mosel masterpiece delicious right now. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule, Mosel 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 98 points “What an amazing nose with devastating, peachy intensity and an overtone of saffron. Staggering concentration and colossal acidity give this incredible Mosel Auslese great tension. Patience will be rewarded by this highly structured, enormously complex wine that might live a century! Only a hint of grape sweetness. Drinkable now, but better from 2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Gunther Steinmetz Wintricher Geierslay Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule, Mosel 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 98 points “Totally seductive nose with all manner of exotic fruits but primarily pineapple and papaya. Mind-blowing concentration and mineral brilliance on the palate. Just keeps pumping the exotic fruit out at the very long, super fresh finish. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2019er Wintricher Geierslay Riesling Auslese GK was made from slightly botrytized fruit harvested at 116° Oechsle, and was fermented down to fully noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a stunning nose of ginger, elderflower, melon, minerals, and smoky smoke. The wine proves already remarkably open on the palate, where passion fruit zest mingles with minerals and apricot-infused cream. It leaves a great feel of tension and depth in the long and focused finish. The aftertaste is all about raciness and apricot cream. This gorgeous noble-sweet wine proves already quite enjoyable now, but it will only reveal its true colors in a decade, once the nuances will have a chance to emerge. 2029-2059.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
What rhymes with “we have 453 different in-stock German Rieslings”?
Yeah, I don’t know either. But you can shop ’em here.
Thank you!