In This Newsletter:
New Arrivals
Grapelive Wine of the Day
German Wine Sale Continues
Rosé Sale Underway
Collector’s Corner
New Arrivals
A Gran Selezione Indeed
Italy
Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ml $245 special, 6 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 99 points “This wine has earned its spot in a world of pantheons that is grande vini Italiani. The Castello di Ama 2018 L’Apparita is one of the world’s greatest Merlots, and this slightly cooler growing season delivers on all the promise and pedigree that we should expect of this collectors’ favorite. L’Apparita opens to an inky dark and blackish appearance, and the bouquet slowly reveals black fruit, ripe cherry, dark spice, smoke and barbecue rub. The wine’s texture and finish, which is so velvety and rich, so supple and soft, is what will ultimately win you over. Indeed, this wine excels especially in terms of the elegance and fullness of the mouthfeel.”
James Suckling 98 points “Hard dark-chocolate aromas with blackberries and blue fruit. Pure and gorgeous. Full-bodied with gorgeous, polished tannins that are intense and powerful, yet ever so precise and together. It’s so curated and real with a great finish. One of the best merlots from Ama in a long time. Drink after 2024 and onwards.”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “One of the rare instances where Merlot excels in Tuscany, this gorgeous wine opens with enticing aromas of dark-skinned berry, new leather, camphor and dark spice. Continuing where the nose left off, the elegant, delicious palate delivers cassis, ripe blackberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside the barest note of truffle. It’s a world-class wine with breeding, extreme finesse and great depth. It’s impeccably balanced, with a backbone of velvety tannins and fresh acidity.”
Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2018 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles in stock
Vinous 98 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista marries Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera, a combination that works so well. The Bellavista is a powerful, vertical wine endowed with explosive and tremendous energy. Like all the top wines, it needs the better part of a decade to show all it’s got. Gravel, smoke, leather, licorice and scorched earth. “
James Suckling 97 points “This is a very deep and serious Chianti Classico with bark, dark-mushroom and blackberry aromas that follow through to a full body with very polished and integrated tannins that are long and classy. A sophisticated and glorious wine. Drink in 2024 and onwards, but already very pretty.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich, intense red, displaying black cherry, blackberry, menthol, iron and graphite flavors, this is polished and expressive, yet with beefy tannins lining the chalky finish. All the components are there—this just needs time. Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera.”
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2018 750ml $239 special, 6 bottles in stock
Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is fabulous. A heady, opulent wine, the 2018 possesses tremendous energy to match its explosive personality. The plush fruit and soft, silky curves are pure Casuccia. The 2018 needs at least a handful of years in bottle, as it is a wine that only truly blossoms with time. “
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is packed with succulent blackberry, black cherry, plum, tar, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, aligned with a base of burly tannins. Fresh and vigorous, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, mineral and wild herbs. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
James Suckling 95 points “A very polished and refined bottle with creamy, velvety tannins that are poised and fine. Medium-bodied with a lovely center palate and a flavorful finish. A little tight at the end. “
France
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles in stock
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2021 1.5L $89 special, 3 bottles in stock
Importer notes “Abrand new wine in the Lapierre lineup, “Le Beaujolais” is a selection of declassified Morgon along with fruit from granitic parcels just outside the cru boundaries. Like the domaine’s legendary Morgon, it is whole-cluster fermented with native yeasts and bottled unfiltered with very little sulfur. While it represents a more easygoing and immediate expression of Gamay meant for earlier ¬¬drinking, do not mistake it for a petit vin of little consequence: it has easily enough depth and class to fool you into thinking you are drinking a much fancier and more expensive cru Beaujolais. A sort of mini-Morgon, “Le Beaujolais” is sweetly perfumed of ripe cherries and turned earth, backed by a vibrant freshness and silky, caressing tannins. Best of all, it exhibits the pleasure factor we expect from every bottle bearing the Lapierre label.”
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Mont de Milieu, Chablis Premier Cru 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ml $41.90 special, 36 bottles in stock
Spain
Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 93 points “The regional red 2020 Pétalos comes from 90 hectares of vineyards, mainly from Corullón and Villafranca del Bierzo and the districts of Viariz, Hornija, Valtuille de Abajo and Otero. It mixes expositions, altitudes and soils and wants to paint a picture of Bierzo in the warm 2020 vintage. They reckon it’s 92% Mencía with 5% other red grapes (Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne and Negreda) and 3% whites (Valenciana, Jerez and Godello) with an average yield of 26 hectoliters per hectare. The grapes were picked from August 28th to September 24th and fermented partly destemmed in stainless steel and oak vats with indigenous yeasts for 43 days with a slow malolactic fermentation that lasted two months. The wine matured in barrel for around eight months (malolactic was fast, and the wines were put in barrel early) and was bottled unclarified, unfiltered and non-stabilized with cold. It has good ripeness with 14% alcohol (their upper limit) and moderate acidity at 4.6 grams (of tartaric acid). It’s a little more fruit-driven, a vintage of sun, jovial and juicy, approachable and round with very fine, slightly powdery tannins. The fruit is darker than in the 2019. This is still young, and, as it happens with even the most approachable wines from the region, it should be even better in a couple of years. I tasted it again in mid-December, and the wine is showing better and better; time in bottle has done it some good, and the wine has settled and is getting more balanced. I don’t feel the sun now; it’s harmonious and more serious, juicy and tasty. A little better than anticipated.”
Grapelive Wine of the Day
German Wine Sale Continues
Rosé Sale Underway
Collector’s Corner
New Arrivals
A Gran Selezione Indeed
Italy
Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ml $245 special, 6 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 99 points “This wine has earned its spot in a world of pantheons that is grande vini Italiani. The Castello di Ama 2018 L’Apparita is one of the world’s greatest Merlots, and this slightly cooler growing season delivers on all the promise and pedigree that we should expect of this collectors’ favorite. L’Apparita opens to an inky dark and blackish appearance, and the bouquet slowly reveals black fruit, ripe cherry, dark spice, smoke and barbecue rub. The wine’s texture and finish, which is so velvety and rich, so supple and soft, is what will ultimately win you over. Indeed, this wine excels especially in terms of the elegance and fullness of the mouthfeel.”
James Suckling 98 points “Hard dark-chocolate aromas with blackberries and blue fruit. Pure and gorgeous. Full-bodied with gorgeous, polished tannins that are intense and powerful, yet ever so precise and together. It’s so curated and real with a great finish. One of the best merlots from Ama in a long time. Drink after 2024 and onwards.”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “One of the rare instances where Merlot excels in Tuscany, this gorgeous wine opens with enticing aromas of dark-skinned berry, new leather, camphor and dark spice. Continuing where the nose left off, the elegant, delicious palate delivers cassis, ripe blackberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside the barest note of truffle. It’s a world-class wine with breeding, extreme finesse and great depth. It’s impeccably balanced, with a backbone of velvety tannins and fresh acidity.”
Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2018 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles in stock
Vinous 98 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Bellavista marries Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera, a combination that works so well. The Bellavista is a powerful, vertical wine endowed with explosive and tremendous energy. Like all the top wines, it needs the better part of a decade to show all it’s got. Gravel, smoke, leather, licorice and scorched earth. “
James Suckling 97 points “This is a very deep and serious Chianti Classico with bark, dark-mushroom and blackberry aromas that follow through to a full body with very polished and integrated tannins that are long and classy. A sophisticated and glorious wine. Drink in 2024 and onwards, but already very pretty.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich, intense red, displaying black cherry, blackberry, menthol, iron and graphite flavors, this is polished and expressive, yet with beefy tannins lining the chalky finish. All the components are there—this just needs time. Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera.”
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2018 750ml $239 special, 6 bottles in stock
Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is fabulous. A heady, opulent wine, the 2018 possesses tremendous energy to match its explosive personality. The plush fruit and soft, silky curves are pure Casuccia. The 2018 needs at least a handful of years in bottle, as it is a wine that only truly blossoms with time. “
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is packed with succulent blackberry, black cherry, plum, tar, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, aligned with a base of burly tannins. Fresh and vigorous, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, mineral and wild herbs. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
James Suckling 95 points “A very polished and refined bottle with creamy, velvety tannins that are poised and fine. Medium-bodied with a lovely center palate and a flavorful finish. A little tight at the end. “
Fattoria di Luiano ‘Ottantuno’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ml $49 special, 29 bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 95 points “Heady aromas of kirsch, black cherry, violet, tar and iron signal this firm, dense red. Creates fine tension between the ripe, sweet fruit and bitter, savory elements, finding balance as this plays out on the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2038. 400 cases made.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Heady aromas of kirsch, black cherry, violet, tar and iron signal this firm, dense red. Creates fine tension between the ripe, sweet fruit and bitter, savory elements, finding balance as this plays out on the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2038. 400 cases made.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles in stock
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2021 1.5L $89 special, 3 bottles in stock
Importer notes “Abrand new wine in the Lapierre lineup, “Le Beaujolais” is a selection of declassified Morgon along with fruit from granitic parcels just outside the cru boundaries. Like the domaine’s legendary Morgon, it is whole-cluster fermented with native yeasts and bottled unfiltered with very little sulfur. While it represents a more easygoing and immediate expression of Gamay meant for earlier ¬¬drinking, do not mistake it for a petit vin of little consequence: it has easily enough depth and class to fool you into thinking you are drinking a much fancier and more expensive cru Beaujolais. A sort of mini-Morgon, “Le Beaujolais” is sweetly perfumed of ripe cherries and turned earth, backed by a vibrant freshness and silky, caressing tannins. Best of all, it exhibits the pleasure factor we expect from every bottle bearing the Lapierre label.”
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Mont de Milieu, Chablis Premier Cru 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ml $41.90 special, 36 bottles in stock
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 93 points “The regional red 2020 Pétalos comes from 90 hectares of vineyards, mainly from Corullón and Villafranca del Bierzo and the districts of Viariz, Hornija, Valtuille de Abajo and Otero. It mixes expositions, altitudes and soils and wants to paint a picture of Bierzo in the warm 2020 vintage. They reckon it’s 92% Mencía with 5% other red grapes (Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne and Negreda) and 3% whites (Valenciana, Jerez and Godello) with an average yield of 26 hectoliters per hectare. The grapes were picked from August 28th to September 24th and fermented partly destemmed in stainless steel and oak vats with indigenous yeasts for 43 days with a slow malolactic fermentation that lasted two months. The wine matured in barrel for around eight months (malolactic was fast, and the wines were put in barrel early) and was bottled unclarified, unfiltered and non-stabilized with cold. It has good ripeness with 14% alcohol (their upper limit) and moderate acidity at 4.6 grams (of tartaric acid). It’s a little more fruit-driven, a vintage of sun, jovial and juicy, approachable and round with very fine, slightly powdery tannins. The fruit is darker than in the 2019. This is still young, and, as it happens with even the most approachable wines from the region, it should be even better in a couple of years. I tasted it again in mid-December, and the wine is showing better and better; time in bottle has done it some good, and the wine has settled and is getting more balanced. I don’t feel the sun now; it’s harmonious and more serious, juicy and tasty. A little better than anticipated.”
Grapelive Wine of the day
Earlier this month the 2019 Daterra Viticultores Casas de Enriba was named Grapelive’s wine of the day.
“One of my favorite producers, Laura Lorenzo in Galicia, is continuing to put out brilliant and nuanced wines from the Ribeira Sacra, Val do Bibei and Valdorras regions and impossibly steep and remote vines, mostly Mencia, for her reds, as found in this Casas de Enriba Vino Tinto, as well as whites made of Godello and Palomino, all naturally pure and transparent in style with fresh acidity and unique charms. This ruby and garnet hued 2019 is bright and tangy with sharp red fruits, cherry, wild plum, dusty/spicy raspberry and tart strawberry leading the way on the light and lively palate that is accented by briar, woodsy earthiness, mineral tones, blood orange, peony florals and snappy herbs. The Casas de Enriba is, as I noted before, more like a Cru Beaujolais in presence, reminding me of Clos de la Roilette Fleurie a lot, but distinctly cool climate Mencia and terroir driven, it is a wine that is highly quaffable and more generous when enjoyed with a meal. Lorenzo’s winemaking for this one included a partially de-stemming of the grapes and it was fermented using wild yeasts in used 500L French oak barrels, with a short period of skin maceration and light extraction, for less tannin impact, as well as to highlight vibrancy here. The wine was then matured in the same neutral, well seasoned barrels for just under a year and after which it was bottled without fining or filtration, again to promote its vitality, as this 2019 version, which came in at just 12% natural alcohol, shows in raw clarity.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Casas de Enriba’, Galicia 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 21 bottles in stock
Importer note “100% Mencia from Laura’s own 20-25-year-old vines in Valdeorras, planted on granitic soils at an elevation of 550 meters. The grapes were partially destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to 4000L French oak barrels to rest for 10 months.”
How about trying the whole range? Here are more options from the same producer.
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’, Galicia 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 27 bottles in stock
John Gilman 93 points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.”
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n!?”
“One of my favorite producers, Laura Lorenzo in Galicia, is continuing to put out brilliant and nuanced wines from the Ribeira Sacra, Val do Bibei and Valdorras regions and impossibly steep and remote vines, mostly Mencia, for her reds, as found in this Casas de Enriba Vino Tinto, as well as whites made of Godello and Palomino, all naturally pure and transparent in style with fresh acidity and unique charms. This ruby and garnet hued 2019 is bright and tangy with sharp red fruits, cherry, wild plum, dusty/spicy raspberry and tart strawberry leading the way on the light and lively palate that is accented by briar, woodsy earthiness, mineral tones, blood orange, peony florals and snappy herbs. The Casas de Enriba is, as I noted before, more like a Cru Beaujolais in presence, reminding me of Clos de la Roilette Fleurie a lot, but distinctly cool climate Mencia and terroir driven, it is a wine that is highly quaffable and more generous when enjoyed with a meal. Lorenzo’s winemaking for this one included a partially de-stemming of the grapes and it was fermented using wild yeasts in used 500L French oak barrels, with a short period of skin maceration and light extraction, for less tannin impact, as well as to highlight vibrancy here. The wine was then matured in the same neutral, well seasoned barrels for just under a year and after which it was bottled without fining or filtration, again to promote its vitality, as this 2019 version, which came in at just 12% natural alcohol, shows in raw clarity.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Casas de Enriba’, Galicia 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 21 bottles in stock
Importer note “100% Mencia from Laura’s own 20-25-year-old vines in Valdeorras, planted on granitic soils at an elevation of 550 meters. The grapes were partially destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to 4000L French oak barrels to rest for 10 months.”
How about trying the whole range? Here are more options from the same producer.
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’, Galicia 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 27 bottles in stock
John Gilman 93 points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.”
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n!?”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos da Vila’, Galicia 2019 750ml $33 special, 23 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 91 points “Coming from the region of Manzaneda, the red 2019 Azos da Vila is dark and a little cloudy, earthy and with some rusticity. It was produced with grapes from ancient vineyards planted with Mencía, Mouratón and Merenzao that can represent 70% of the volume and then some Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro and Palomino. There is a volatile whiff here and some notes of apple skin intermixed with notes of herbs and acid berries. It has a contained 12.5% alcohol and fine tannins. 51,84 bottles produced.”
Importer note “Field blend of Mouraton, Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, Gran Negro, and other local varieties from 80-120-year-old vines on granitic soils near Manzaneda in the Val do Bibei. Grapes partially destemmed (50%), macerate for 15 days, and fermented with wild yeasts in an old, open-top French oak barrel. Raised for 11 months in used 225L & 500L chestnut and French oak barrels.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’, Galicia 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 10 bottles in stock
Importer note “100% Mencia from a south-facing parcel of 50-year-old vines planted on granitic, sandy soils at an elevation of 350-400 meters in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. The grapes were destemmed and partially crushed then fermented in a used 4000L French oak foudre. The wine then rested for 11 months in the same foudre.”
German Wine Sale
We’re having a huge sale on German wines throughout the entire month of January.
Sale Begins at 4pm on Monday, January 2nd
Sale Ends at 6pm on Tuesday, January 31st
5% off 6-11 bottles and/or large formats of German wines.
10% off 12 or more bottles and/or large formats of German wines.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or to case discounts.
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Buying a case-6 unlocks an additional 5% discount on 1-5 additional bottles of German wine purchased. Buying a case-12 unlocks an additional 10% discount on all additional bottles of German wine purchased.
This sale applies to ALL German wines. That’s over 500 wines and thousands of bottles discounted! Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock
James Suckling 92 points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.”
Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates. (This year’s village-level Busch Kabinett seemed oddly out-of-sorts on the sole occasion – side by side with this Marienburg – that I was able to taste it, so I have left it un-reviewed.)”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows yeasty notes at first, with accents of jasmine and hops, followed by electric acidity that fuels the green apple, lemon and nectarine flavors. Balanced and beautiful in terms of texture, exhibiting substance. Smoky details emerge on the well-defined finish. Best from 2021 through 2033. 550 cases made, 60 cases imported.”
Sale Begins at 4pm on Monday, January 2nd
Sale Ends at 6pm on Tuesday, January 31st
5% off 6-11 bottles and/or large formats of German wines.
10% off 12 or more bottles and/or large formats of German wines.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or to case discounts.
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Buying a case-6 unlocks an additional 5% discount on 1-5 additional bottles of German wine purchased. Buying a case-12 unlocks an additional 10% discount on all additional bottles of German wine purchased.
This sale applies to ALL German wines. That’s over 500 wines and thousands of bottles discounted! Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock
James Suckling 92 points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.”
Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates. (This year’s village-level Busch Kabinett seemed oddly out-of-sorts on the sole occasion – side by side with this Marienburg – that I was able to taste it, so I have left it un-reviewed.)”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows yeasty notes at first, with accents of jasmine and hops, followed by electric acidity that fuels the green apple, lemon and nectarine flavors. Balanced and beautiful in terms of texture, exhibiting substance. Smoky details emerge on the well-defined finish. Best from 2021 through 2033. 550 cases made, 60 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock
John Gilman 94 points “The 2018 Felsenberg GG is also absolutely outstanding this year. The bouquet is impressively expressive at this early stage, soaring from the glass in a blaze of pear, tart orange, a beautiful base of slate minerality, wild yeasts, a touch of fleur de sel and a potpourri of floral scents in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and seamless, with outstanding mid-palate depth, powerful mineral drive and great cut and grip on the long, perfectly balanced and youthful finish. This will be show stopping juice in the fullness of time. 2028-2070. 94.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Bottled in July, just two days before I tasted the 2018 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling trocken –GG– for the first time, the nose was ripe and generous but fine and flinty-mineral. Lush and salty-piquant, this is a full-bodied, rich and powerful yet vital Riesling with lots of body but also tension, purity and grip. Tasted again in August 2019.”
Vinous 93 points “Huckleberry, crushed coriander seed and zesty lemon on the nose anticipate the piquancy, pungency and citricity that dominate on a firm, full, glossy palate. Stony and alkaline notes tug in an austere direction, though the gripping, penetrating finish conveys ample refreshing juiciness as well as an uncanny sense of energy. “Whatever might be your favorite from among these vintage 2018 Grosse Gewächse,” remarked Dönnhoff, “you can recognize the [taste of the] site, and that’s the goal.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2018 750ml $79 special, 27 bottles in stock
John Gilman 96 points “The 2018 Juffer-Sonnenuhr Goldkapsel Auslese is even a hair better this year, as it shows just a touch more exotic creaminess on the attack, simply stunning backend mineral drive and great acids for the vintage. The bouquet is celestial in its blend of lime, mirabelle, pear, a lovely foundation of slate, honeycomb, just a whisper of mossiness and notes of lilacs and violets in the upper register. On the palate the wine is fullish, pure, focused and impeccably balanced, with superb acids and grip, laser-like focus and a very, very long and complex finish. This wine just dances across the palate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937 Reserv’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ml $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Grapelive 94-96 points “The 2018 barrel sample of Kruger-Rumpf’s Abtei 1937 was stunningly gorgeous with brilliant details, ripe extract density, vivid mineral tones and vibrant acidity showing a purity and vitality of youth, but with the complexity and length of its old vine material. Georg Rumpf has crafted a Trocken beauty here with layers of delicacy and substance. This juice is on par with almost any GG, making it an incredible value already. Be sure to book your allocation of this ultra-limited bottling from Terry These and importer Skurnik Wines. You will not be disappointed, I know I will be hustling to get some myself. The regular Abtei offering is one of my new favorite Nahe Rieslings and while I love all the latest Kruger-Rumpf wines, especially from the Grosse Lage: Münsterer Dautenpflänzer, Münsterer im Pitterberg and Dorsheimer Burgberg, as well as exotic Rumpf’s Scheurebe plus their off dry Kabinett, Feinherb and wonderfully balanced Spatlese(s) I have become obsessed with the Bingerbrücker Abtei im Ruppertsberg vineyard and wines. This ’18 starts with subtle aromatic charm with orange blossom, rosewater, flinty stones, salt lick and quinces before thrilling the palate with energy and white peach, tangerine, lime intensity, verbena, mint tea and tart green apple. This light/medium dry Riesling is brisk and racy, at first but gains depth and builds with air in the glass adding some leesy texture, it is totally thrilling and will only get better with bottle age. Terry Theise adds that, Kuger-Rumpf’s vineyards are farmed sustainably; bees are kept nearby to facilitate pollination and aid in overall bio-diversity. Periodically sheep are allowed to roam the vines helping to control underbrush. All vineyards are hand harvested to ensure that only optimally ripe grapes are selected. Stefan believed that “you can’t improve wine in the cellar, only make it worse…” and Georg has continued his cellar work with this philosophy in mind, which to me shows in wines like this fantastic Abtei.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Reminder that this offer is ending soon! Take advantage of this deal before it ends January 31st.
Rosé Sale Underway
We have the best rosé selection around! Why wait for spring?
We’re having a huge sale on Rosé throughout the entire month of February.
Sale Begins at 4pm on Friday, January 20th
Sale Ends at 6pm on Tuesday, February 28th
5% off 6-11 bottles and/or large format rosés.
10% off 12 or more bottles and/or large formats of rosés.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or to case discounts.
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Buying a case-6 unlocks an additional 5% discount on 1-5 additional bottles of rosé purchased. Buying a case-12 unlocks an additional 10% discount on all additional bottles of rosé purchased.
This sale applies to ALL rosé wines. That’s over 85 wines and thousands of bottles discounted! Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rose, Cote de Nuits 2021 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Vinous 91 points “Vivid orange-pink. Fresh red berries, candied rose and a dusty mineral nuance on the fragrant nose. Gently chewy and tightly wound on entry, then more fleshy in the mid-palate, displaying juicy cherry and tangerine flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The floral note repeats on a long, focused finish that leaves a refreshingly bitter suggestion of cherry pit behind.”
We’re having a huge sale on Rosé throughout the entire month of February.
Sale Begins at 4pm on Friday, January 20th
Sale Ends at 6pm on Tuesday, February 28th
5% off 6-11 bottles and/or large format rosés.
10% off 12 or more bottles and/or large formats of rosés.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or to case discounts.
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Buying a case-6 unlocks an additional 5% discount on 1-5 additional bottles of rosé purchased. Buying a case-12 unlocks an additional 10% discount on all additional bottles of rosé purchased.
This sale applies to ALL rosé wines. That’s over 85 wines and thousands of bottles discounted! Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rose, Cote de Nuits 2021 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Vinous 91 points “Vivid orange-pink. Fresh red berries, candied rose and a dusty mineral nuance on the fragrant nose. Gently chewy and tightly wound on entry, then more fleshy in the mid-palate, displaying juicy cherry and tangerine flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The floral note repeats on a long, focused finish that leaves a refreshingly bitter suggestion of cherry pit behind.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Cistercien Rose, Niederosterreich 2021 750ml $18 special, 35 bottles in stock
Winery note “Rosé on the estate is not seen as a secondary product to red wine. So we are not doing ‘saignée’ in order to concentrate the reds, but we are working our vineyards in order to get the perfect Gobelsburg Rosé–style, which is somehow closer to a white wine than towards a red wine style. We are seeking a nice and elegant aroma, fresh and lean texture and a acidity for pure drinking pleasure.”
Chateau Les Mesclances Cotes de Provence Cuvee Romane Rose 2020 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles in stock
Wine Advocate “The 2020 Cotes de Provence Rose Romane is a blend of 42% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 18% Syrah. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, it’s a predictable pale salmon-hued wine, with vibrant notes of lime zest, alpine strawberries and hints of peach and melon. Medium-bodied, it’s crisp, clean and impeccably made, with a lasting finish. For the price, it’s a solid value.”
Winery note ““Romane” Côtes de Provence Rosé From 20 year-old vines at the base of the hill overlooking the estate, the Romane is made up of 70% Grenache, along with Cinsault and Mourvedre, the latter of which provides a point of amertume (a fresh, bitter note) and a salinity that quickly draws one back to the wine. The Grenache spends a few hours macerating with the skins, providing an extra layer of depth and structure to this classic wine.”
Chateau Soucherie Rose de Loire Cuvee L’Astree, Loire 2021 750ml $26 special, 34 bottles in stock
Rosenthal Wine Merchant importer note “This dry, mineral-driven Rosé is produced from Grolleau (70%) and Gamay (30%). The vines are planted to clay, sandstone and schist soils. The wine is a product of the direct press method of vinification and the elevage is in cuve with bottling occurring usually in April of the spring following harvest. We purchase approximately 7800 bottles for the US market.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rose, Beaujolais 2020 750ml $16.60 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Vinous 90 points “Translucent orange-pink. Lively and sharply focused on the nose, presenting ripe red berry and floral scents and a hint of botanical herbs. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering bitter cherry, red currant and candied rose flavors that firm up and become spicier with air. Closes long and silky, with resonating floral and spice notes and strong cling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhône 2021 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Wine Advocate 89 points “The medium salmon-hued 2021 Gigondas Rose features scents of pink grapefruit, guava and melon. A blend of 50% Cinsault, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache, it’s medium-bodied, with a lovely, silky texture and a long finish that echoes of crushed stone and paraffin.”
Importer note “From the lieu dit “La Moutte” this tiny production rosé is from mostly 45 year old Cinsault planted in 1970, and 10-15 year old Mourvèdre and Syrah. Cold maceration for 6 hours in the press and slow pneumatic pressing. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with occasional lees stirring. 70% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. Soil: Red sandy clay soil with broken round stones (cailloux). Organic.”
Collector’s Corner
Opus One, Napa Valley 2019 750ml $349 special, 1 bottle in stock
Antonio Gallonoi 97 points “The 2019 Opus One is a dense, beautifully layered wine, but it is also quite restrained. That should serve it well in time. Tasted next to the 2018, the 2019 possesses a bit more textural nuance and body, yet it has all the classicism that is such an Opus One signature. Bright floral accents linger on the sublime finish.”
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Opus One leaps from the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, Morello cherries, mulberries and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of licorice, wilted roses, Sichuan pepper and iron ore. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with juicy black, blue and red fruits, framed by velvety tannins and background freshness, finishing on a compelling earthy/mineral note. Tasted as a barrel sample, this is a truly magnificent Opus One in the making!”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “Similarly ruby/purple-hued, the 2019 Opus One is cut from the same cloth as the 2018 yet has a touch more baby fat and opulence, at least as this stage. Beautiful black raspberry, cassis, toasted spice, lead pencil, and subtle oak all make an appearance, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a rounded, layered mouthfeel, impressive tannins, and a great finish. I don’t think it has the same precision as the 2018, but it brings another level of hedonism. It’s another beautiful wine from this team. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot.”
Antonio Gallonoi 97 points “The 2019 Opus One is a dense, beautifully layered wine, but it is also quite restrained. That should serve it well in time. Tasted next to the 2018, the 2019 possesses a bit more textural nuance and body, yet it has all the classicism that is such an Opus One signature. Bright floral accents linger on the sublime finish.”
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Opus One leaps from the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, Morello cherries, mulberries and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of licorice, wilted roses, Sichuan pepper and iron ore. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with juicy black, blue and red fruits, framed by velvety tannins and background freshness, finishing on a compelling earthy/mineral note. Tasted as a barrel sample, this is a truly magnificent Opus One in the making!”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “Similarly ruby/purple-hued, the 2019 Opus One is cut from the same cloth as the 2018 yet has a touch more baby fat and opulence, at least as this stage. Beautiful black raspberry, cassis, toasted spice, lead pencil, and subtle oak all make an appearance, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a rounded, layered mouthfeel, impressive tannins, and a great finish. I don’t think it has the same precision as the 2018, but it brings another level of hedonism. It’s another beautiful wine from this team. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1937 750ml $799 special, 1 bottle in stock
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1937 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 156 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is surprisingly fresh and surprisingly elegant for its age. It demonstrates its age when it finishes with power, showing remarkable grip and length, plus all those old Tawny flavors you want, the molasses, baked caramel. There’s a touch of brandy lurking here and there. While this has far more power and complexity than the 1967 this issue, it does lack that wine’s elegance and balance. The hard edge here is pretty hard, even if that intensity is sometimes very admirable. (I suspect it will show better if you come back in three days after opening it. They do change a little after pulling that cork, just a little, after that first rush.) At times, though, that hard edge makes it less attractive. The texture is smooth and unctuous. Overall, this is a fine experience in a blockbuster style. In some ways, I liked it no more than the 1967, though, perhaps less. To be sure, they are very differently styled as this, of course, emphasizes its power and that extra bit of complexity. Don’t drink this too warm—that can make all the difference.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Bottled in 2008, this extraordinary wine is still concentrated. It is also smooth, a velvet texture of richness bordering on opulence. The flavor of wood is there, but more important are the old-time fudge and toffee flavors, rounded with sweet sultanas and edged with acidity.”
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.