September 16th, 2015
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Beaucastel Arriving Soon; Ganevat Round 2 – New Releases; Karthauserhof – Elegant German Riesling; Felsina – Arriving This Week and Arriving Next Month; Domaine Faiveley; Austrian/German Magnums!
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Flash Sale!
Arriving Mid-October
Perrin & Fils Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “Looking at the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape, I was able to taste the individual components, with each showing fantastic depth and richness. The Mourvedre is the star of the show and had blockbuster levels of concentration and depth, with perfectly ripe tannin. While certainly not a Grenache year, even this variety showed well here, and it’s obvious that the multiple passes through the vineyard during harvest and then multiple sorts in the winery paid off. This should come together beautifully in bottle and be one of the vintage’s strongest efforts.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Inky ruby. Expressive aromas of cherry, black raspberry, licorice and smoky minerals, with a dark chocolate element building slowly. Then tightly wound and focused on the palate, offering intense flavors of dark berries, bitter cherry and candied flowers. Powerful but at the same time quite elegant, finishing with wonderful clarity and length and smooth tannins.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $80
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The Wines of Karthäuserhof
Quality, quality, quality!
The history of the Karthauserhof Estate dates back to the year 1335, when the Holy Roman Empire gifted the vineyards to Carthusian monks. When secularism hit under Napolean’s rule, the land was auctioned off in Paris and purchased by the family who owns it to this day.
The estate resides along the Ruwer River, a small tributary to the Mosel River. A mere 200 hectares lay under vine, making the Ruwer Valley among the smallest wine regions in all of Germany. The importer of Karthauserhof for the US describes the area quite poetically: “(the area) feels like a dense, old pine forest. Vineyards seem something of an afterthought. The Ruwer is wild, as much a home to horses and wild boars as it is to vines and vineyards. With so many forests, the valley has a unique shadow-dotted quality to it.”
Soils across the 19 hectares which Karthauserhof occupy consist of oxidized blue and gray slate. Under head winemaker Christian Vogt, the estate bottles a handful of distinct cuvees of various levels of ripeness; surprisingly enough, almost 70% of the estate’s production is of dry wines. Vogt worked under the incredibly esteemed Ludwig Breiling for many years, and Breiling continues to consult with Vogt.
In thumbing through the tasting notes from recent Karthauserhof vintages, one thing is clear: these are serious, empirically age-worthy wines. We’re excited to carry a wide array of the estate’s wines, as listed below.
“The Karthauserhof wines are wines for finesse-drinkers.” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 750ML ($359.95) $319 special, 7 six-packs available (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 23 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very clear, discreet and refined on the nose – where the 2013 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling GG displays fine stone and fruit aromas of lemons and green apples. Lean and vital but also intense, rich and juicy on the palate, this is a lovely pure, straightforward, piquant and very salty expression of the Karthäuserhofberg terroir and the 2013 vintage. This long-distance runner has more fruit
intensity than the Edition and reveals a very fine raciness and a complex finish with lingering lemon aromas.” WA
These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!
The next best price for the 750ML is $64.99
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Grosse Lage 2012 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This Wine is quite open and expressive at this early stage and explodes with juicy flavors of yellow peach, quince and some flowers on the palate. This offers everything one could expect from a juicy Spatlese. The fact that it does deliver the goods without too much richness (it has technically less than 60 g/l of residual sugar) makes it utterly delicious also at this ealrly stage. 2017-2032” MFW
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 1 bottle available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $40
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Schieferkristall Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2012 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 14 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “Schieferkristall refers to the Kabinett-styled wines at the Estate (the reference to Kabinett is pushed to the back label). A whiff of wild yeasts gives quickly way to a very attractive and floral bouquet of rose-water, grapefruit and mint. The round and fruity feel from the residual sugar (20 g/l) is nicely balanced by some zesty acidity and a pure and spicy feel in the long finish. This is a deliciously fresh and lively off-dry Riesling made with a small 9.5% of alchohol. 2014-2020”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
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Ganevat, Round 2
The Emperor Strikes Back
Across nearly 45 different cuvees, Jean-Francois Ganevat has earned renown across the wine world for his winemaking. Farming biodynamically, Ganevat utilizes very small amounts of sulfur and ages many of his white wines on the lees for terms ranging from two to twelve years. The wines are marked with incredibly buoyancy, precision, and elegance; they boast a real “Burgundian” sensibility, though these wines are most certainly “le vrai Jura.” We’re thrilled to have another shipment of Msr. Ganevat’s wines, slated to arrive next week.
Wine from Jean Francois Ganevat Arriving on September 22nd:
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay ‘Grusse en Billat’ 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1960 and composed of schist and marl.
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1902 and composed of gray marl.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Chardonnay Cotes du Jura Les Chamois du Paradis 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Joel Payne–Vinous 92 points “Subtle bouquet of orange rind and lime lifted by floral nuances. At once concentrated and elegant, with tangerine and lemon peel flavors dominating. Chalky acidity and a touch of ginger appear on the saline finish.” JP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Cuvee de Garde 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay ‘Cuvee Florine’2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1996 and composed of limestone.
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Grands Teppes Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 10 bottles available
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Grands Teppes Vieilles Vignes 2012 1.5L ($149.95) $136 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Joel Payne–Vinous 94 points “Restrained but quite pure on the nose, with aromas of apricot blossom, white peach and vanillin oak supported by an undercurrent of minerality that becomes more pronounced with aeration. On the palate, this invigorating Chardonnay is rich at only 13% alcohol but also impeccably balanced, with lemon and mandarin orange flavors dominating. The vines in the Grands Teppes were planted on marl and gravel in 1919 and 1902, providing this 2012 with its structured, pleasantly austere finish. A great effort!” JP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Poulsard Cuvee de l’Enfant Terrible 2013 750ML ($.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1959 and composed of white and gray marls.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Savagnin Les Vignes de Mon Pere 2004 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Joel Payne–Vinous 95 points “Seductive aromas of quince, hyacinth, oyster shell and sea breeze. Expansive as well as viscous, this 2004 Savagnin walks a tight line between Chablis and Sherry. Although it spent 11 years in small casks with no sulfur, it is still extremely youthful, revealing subtle tropical fruits and white flowers on a saline background. I followed Les Vignes de Mon Père (the vines of my father) over three days and was surprised that it remained so fresh.” JP
Jean Francois Ganevat Côtes du Jura Savagnin “Les Terrasses de Chalandigna” 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1977 and composed of clay and marl. Made in an oxidative style, wine remains sous voile for 48 months in demi-muid
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura ‘Cuvee Oregane’ 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Importer note: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Savagnin. Vineyard planted in 1973 and 1977 and composed of blue marl and white marl.
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV (2005) 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Importer note: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Aged in barrel for 8 years before bottling.
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Vin Jaune 2005 375ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, 6 half-bottles available
Importer note: Vineyard planted in 1948 and composed of blue marl.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99
Also Available From Ganevat:
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura ‘Grusse en Billat’ 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-93+ points “I tasted both lots that will become Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Grusses En Billat, from schistic but clay-rich soils situated on a high plateau and then from the steep slopes around it in the village of Grusse immediately east of Rotalier. The former portion displays pungent aromas and bright, mouthwatering, juicy palate persistence of salt-tinged tangerine and lemon with their pips; Chablis-like chicken and herb broth; and musky rose radish. There is a smoky, dusty, crushed stone overtone one also finds in Chablis, though the illusively mineral and musky aspects to the finish also put me in mind of a great, Grenache Gris-based Roussillon white, even though the present dense, sappy elixir boasts vibrant acidity. The steep slope lot from En Billat is almost single-mindedly chalky, stony, and smoky, but also a source of even more electro-charged acidity than its betrothed, as instantly demonstrated by an impromptu trial marriage in the glass that delivered positively shimmering persistence. This will be exciting to follow for at least a half dozen years.” DS
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Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “From vines planted in 1902, Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes is predictably far less exuberantly fruity than his younger vines “Marnes Bleus” bottling from the same site, but also denser and sappier. That said, plenty of tangerine, peach, and pineapple informs a palate whose subtly oily texture heightens the wine’s sense of richness, while the bitterness of pits along with overtly stony notes contribute counterpoint to a memorably luscious and lingering finish. (Ganevat’s are wines whose personalities are even harder to get out of your head than they are to get off your palate!) I’d anticipate this being best enjoyed within 3-4 years of bottling but emphasize that I thus far lack significant experience with the bottle evolution of Ganevat wines.” DS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Cuvee Julien 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 89-90 points “From what he calls a “pinot fin” selection planted not long after World War II, Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Pinot Noir Cuvee Julien – which I assessed from tank just before bottling – went into its conical wooden fermentor with its stems having been removed by hand and with scissors! “It’s not supposed to be structured grand vin,” he cautions, “but rather about minerality, droiture, and the finesse of Pinot.” Well, it certainly wouldn’t have fooled me even without that introduction! But if you approach this the way you might a really top-notch Sancerre Pinot from old vines (say, Gerard Boulay’s rose or Edmond Vatan’s “red”) it may seem faintly familiar, not to mention distinctively delicious. Fresh sour cherry, rose hip, hibiscus, and toasted almond inhabit the nose and palate of this delicate, infectiously juicy libation whose salinity, piquancy, and tart fruit skin tang make for a delightfully exhilarating as well as persistent finish…” DS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat ‘Sul Q’, Jura NV 375ML ($99.95) $66 special, 2 half-bottles available
Importer note “A ‘sélections des grains nobles’ of Savagnin though SGN is not officially recognized in the Jura. 250 grams RS.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
VinopolNote: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Barrel aged for 8 years before bottling.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45.99
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Felsina
Classic Chianti with class
Fattoria di Fèlsina, long considered among the finest Tuscan wine producers, owes much of its success to a familiar adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That is to say, over the past fifty years, the estate has continued to produce wines in a pure, traditional style without being tempted by international-style influences. As a result, Fèlsina has come to be known for one of the finest ranges of ageworthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings in all of Italy.
In 1966, Dominic Poggiali Fèlsina took a courageous leap and bought the estate at a time when Italian viticultore was struggling. He chose to invest in the quality of the wine and the expertise of a young team. In 1976, Giuseppe Mazzocolin married Poggiali’s daughter, Gloria Poggialli, in the chapel on the Felsina estate. From that day on, the role of the dedicated Latin and Greek school teacher quickly changed from educator to agricultural artisan.
Mazzocolin took the helm of the estate in the early ’80s. With the help of talented wine consultant Franco Bernabei, Giuseppe tried and tested new methods and vines and determined that the southern estate was a natural breeding ground for a unique, richer Sangiovese capable of producing more full-bodied wines that could retain the traditional elegance of the grape.
At Fèlsina it is widely recognized that the fame of Tuscan wines is based historically on the compelling character of wines produced from Sangiovese, and the estate continues to champion this great varietal using only old “massale” selections cultivated from cuttings from their top old vineyards. In addition to their distinct bottlings of Chianti Classico, Fèlsina also produces one of Italy’s top Vino di Tavola’s (or IGTs), called Fontalloro. First produced by Mazzocolin in 1983 along with the Rancia wine, Fontalloro is also Sangiovese-based, and the wine is sourced from old vines in top vineyards that straddle the border of Chianti : “Classico” and “Colli Senesi”. It is produced from vines that are in excess of fifty years of age, and aged in small French oak barrels for fifteen to eighteen months prior to bottling.
Arriving Friday, September 18th:
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “There are mushrooms on the nose of this Chianti Classico, but these soon give way to subtle, deep aromas of blackberry crumble with hints of mint and ivy. It soon fills up the mouth with beautifully dense fruit and fine tannins, nutty, woody undertones and long finish. Gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 89+ points “The 2012 Chianti Classico is a great introduction to the wines of Felsina. Deeply varietal and expressive to the core, the 2012 graces the palate with the essence of Sangiovese from the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone. Sweet tobacco, underbrush, menthol, licorice and black cherries flow through to the finish, but it is the wine’s sheer balance that impresses most of all. This is a gorgeous mid-weight Chianti Classico to drink over the next decade plus.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($349.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva is host to a beautiful mix of black mineral, fruit, dried mint and eucalyptus. The wine shows elegant evolution in the glass and backs it up with dry, polished tannins. This is a stunning effort available at a reasonable price. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. This is one of the nicest collections of new releases by Giuseppe Mazzocolin’s Felsina. At the edge of the Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi denominations, the estate counts 475 hectares, of which 61 are plan
ted with vineyard.” WA
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Classicists, on the other hand, will flip out over the 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva. Black cherry, plum, smoke and menthol notes all jump out of the glass. The 2010 is translucent yet also rich, powerful and impeccably balanced. Ideally readers should cellar the 2010 for at least a few years, but that is going to be difficult considering how beautiful the wine is today.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges from the glass with freshly cut roses, sweet red berries, licorice, spices and tar. This is a mid-weight, silky Rancia that impresses for its textural beauty and finesse. The Rancia emerges from a high-altitude site planted from 1958 through1982 with Sangiovese. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, but the oak is never noticeable, even when the wine is young. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” WA
Felsina Berardenga Vin Santo Chianti Classico 2005 375ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Made with Trebbiano, Malvasia and Sangiovese, the 2005 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico opens to a brilliant amber color and thick viscosity that hugs to the rim of the glass. Oak-driven tones of vanilla and caramel are immediately apparent, but quickly followed by candied fruit, butterscotch and orange peel. Clusters undergo a natural drying process on mats until February of the following year. The must is transferred to sealed oak casks containing the “mother,” or gelatinous remains from previous vintages.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Felsina Wines Arriving Late October:
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Maestro Raro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Fèlsina’s 2012 Maestro Raro (Cabernet Sauvignon) is a real head-turner, although it is also an infant and in need of considerable cellaring. A bold, dark wine, the 2012 is vivid in the glass, with remarkable detail for such a big wine and exceptional overall balance. The 2012 is sweeping and dramatic in style, with plenty of that year’s exotic fruit and opulence, along with plenty of sweet tobacco, rosemary, sage and cedar notes that add nuance. The 2012 needs time to fully meld together, but it is fabulous, even today.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Felsina Wines Available Here Now:
Felsina Berardenga Spumante Brut NV 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 27 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “This is an excellent new sparkling wine with lots of dough and apple character, plus hints of lime. Full to medium body, lovely texture and a long, beautiful finish. Made in conjunction with Cesare Ferrari and it shows. 24 months on yeast in bottle. A blend of sangiovese, chardonnay and pinot noir. About 4,000 bottles made. Drink now.” JS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni 95 + points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is cool, inward and reserved at this stage. Much less expressive than it was from barrel, today the 2010 appears to be in a closed phase. There is so much tension in the glass, though, and I can hardly wait to see where the 2010 goes over the coming years. A burst of mineral and floral infused fruit lingers on the polished, nuanced finish. Today, the 2010 seems to bring together the finesse of 2004 with the structure and power of the 2010. A pretty magical combination, if you ask me.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG
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Domaine Faiveley
2013 Pre-Arrivals
Established in 1825, Domaine Faiveley has holdings in many of the most esteemed Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. Headquartered in Nuits-St.-George, they are among the largest vineyard owners in Burgundy – the estate includes over 120 hectares of vineyards. Grand Cru holdings account for 12 hectares, and 27 hectares are across Premier Cru – not bad for an operation which began solely as negociants!
As long-time champions of their region, Georges Faiveley and Camille Rodier co-organized the “Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin” in 1934 as a means of promoting the top wines of Burgundy. In the years since, their efforts to present the uniqueness of sites ranging from Monthelie and Corton-Charlemagne to Batard, Meursault, and Echezeaux.
In late 2013, the Faiveley family made a surprise announcement that they had purchased 20 hectaures of vines from Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot in Gevrey-Chabertin. Under the leadership of Erwan Faiveley, the domaine’s stated goal has been to increase the family’s vineyard ownership in order to enjoy complete control of all aspects of winemaking across their entire range of cuvees.
The cellars at Domaine Faiveley recently underwent a complete renovation, with a renewed approach to winemaking beginning in 2007 (a change in barrel suppliers was chief among the changes). Harvest and pruning is performed in teams, with a meticulous focus on pruning and debudding. Beyond the wide selection of Faiveley wines we currently offer, the 2013 vintage will be arriving in October.
Domaine & Joseph Faiveley 2013 Wines Arriving in October:
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos Rochette Monopole Blanc 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “This is very powerful for a white from this appellation. Full body, excellent structure. Plenty on the finish. More like a premier cru Meursault. Worth finding. Drink now.” JS
Joseph Faiveley Meursault Blagny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “A big and solid Blagny with dried apple, pineapple and oyster shell character. Full body, pretty fruit. Lots of tension. Drink or hold.” JS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Puligny-Montrachet 2013 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright, pale yellow. Honey, anise and peat on the slightly exotic, smoky nose. Rich, tactile and ripe in the mouth, with strong acid spine to support the white peach, Meyer lemon, pear skin, iron and smoked meat flavors. This savory, generous grand cru is about much more than simply fruit. Finishes ripe, supple and long” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge 2013 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercurey ‘La Framboisiere’ 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 89 points “A refined and delicious wine with strawberry, blueberry and lemon character. Medium body, fine tannins and a clean finish. 15% new wood. Drink or hold.” JS
Joseph Faiveley La Piece Sous Le Bois, Blagny Premier Cru 2013
750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 90 points “Pretty firmness and spiciness with subtle fruit. Medium to full body, delicate tannins and a fresh finish. Made from 12 different micro-areas. Drink or hold.” JS
Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint-Georges 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Clos de L’Ecu Monopole, Beaune Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “A dense wine for the vintage with blackberry, cherry and spice character. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Drink in 2017.” JS
Domaine Faiveley Les Porets-Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “Pretty dark fruits such as blackberry and blueberry with hints of spice. Full body, tight center palate, and fine tannins. Better in a year or two, but very delicate, firm and delicious.” JS
Domaine Faiveley Aux Vignerondes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Aux Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “(vinified with 10% whole clusters): Bright red-ruby. Pure, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, blueberry, violet and crushed rock, plus a piquant hint of pepper. At once sappy and silky on the palate, showing a richer and more pliant texture than the preceding Côte de Beaune samples. Crushed dark berry flavors display excellent lift on the long, ripely tannic back end.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $116
Domaine Faiveley Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Deep red with ruby highlights. Less fruity and more chocolatey and spicy on the nose than the Chaignots, even a bit exotic. Supple, sweet and complex on the palate, showing very good concentration to its flavors of dark fruits and aromatic spices. The premier crus from Nuits-Saint-Georges are aging in 35% to 40% new barrels in 2013, with some of the premier crus from farther north getting as much as 55%.” ST
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Domaine Faiveley La Combe aux Moines, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Healthy bright red. Classic cool Gevrey aromas of black fruits, licorice, mint and game, with lovely floral lift. Tight and youthfully imploded–much less sweet and pliant than the Amoureuses that preceded it. This east/northeast-facing site was picked at the end, along with the Corton-Charlemagne. In a distinctly cool style, finishing with lovely primary perfume.” ST
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The next best price is $101.99
Domaine Faiveley Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “(just 12 hectoliters per hectare produced in 2013): Aromas of dark berries, smoke and earth, plus hints of leather and charcoal. Juicy, intense and sweet, offering terrific energy and concentration to its dark fruit and underbrush flavors. For a wine that Hervet says is normally tight and dry on the back end, this boasts lovely definition and lift.” ST
Joseph Faiveley Volnay-Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “(12.3% potential alcohol, chaptalized to 13%; just 15 hectoliters per hectare produced): Bright ruby-red. Ripe aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Juicy, pure and high-strung, showing a sappy sugar/acid balance to the flavors of dark fruits, spices and bitter chocolate. Excellent purity and lift here, and long on the aftertaste. I find plenty of primary fruit character today but also a touch of finishing dryness.” ST
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Joseph Faiveley Aux Beaux Bruns, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90-92 points “A completely different aromatic expression is present here with its spicy and perfumed nose of black raspberry, red cherry and plum. As one might reasonably expect there is a more refined mouth feel to the mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that display a hint of austerity on the balanced and lingering finish. Beaux Bruns is often a rather butch Chambolle and this example is consistent with that tendency.” BH
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Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “This has some concentration and ripeness with blueberry and blackberry. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a long finish. Extremely attractive. Drink or hold.” JS
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Deep, bright red. Brooding aromas of redcurrant, smoked meat and animal fur, plus a suggestion of wet match. Intensely flavored and surprisingly high-pitched; dominated today by its brisk acidity and underlying minerality. The very long, rising finish displays outstanding energy to support a graceful evolution in bottle.” ST
Joseph Faiveley Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright red-ruby. Slightly reduced but complex nose offers scents of redcurrant, iron, tobacco and red licorice. Juicy, sappy and youthfully imploded, offering seriously concentrated, slightly medicinal flavors of red fruits, iron and animal fur. Finishes with a firm tannic structure. Very sexy wine but hard to judge today.” ST
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Joseph Faiveley Les Charmes, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($179.95) $159 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “Extremely perfumed and fresh with hints of roses and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, very delicate and refined. Really beautiful. Drink or hold. All in finesse and glory” JS
Burghound 90-93 points “This is also quite perfumed and more elegant with its panoply of various red berries, violet, lilac and sandalwood hints. There is a finer mouth feel to the delicious medium weight flavors primarily thanks to the finer grain of the supporting tannins that shape the caressing, lacy and beautifully well-balanced finale. This beauty should drink well young but also amply reward mid-term cellaring.” BH
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Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “A complete and serious wine for the vintage with wonderful density of fruit and ultra-fine tannins. Full-bodied, muscular and very long. Better in 2018.” JS
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A generous dollop of moderately toasty oak mixes with the highly layered nose of black cherry, cassis, warm earth and an impressive array of sauvage and underbrush notes. There is excellent richness to the overtly powerful and muscular flavors that possess an imposing sense of scale that continues onto the textured and mouth coating finish. Like several of the wines in the range in 2013 this is a big but not really massive wine that retains a sense of proportion even though the underlying structure is quite firm. This will need plenty of patience however.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “A notably spicy and attractively floral-suffused nose features notes of plum, rose petal, violets and ripe red currants. There is a seductive texture to the openly rich and generously proportioned flavors that retain a lovely sense of vibrancy on the lightly mineral-inflected finish that delivers both fine depth and length. This is a relatively refined Ech thanks to the fine grain of the supporting tannins.” BH
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Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($299.95) $269 pre-arrival special
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! Here the reduction is sufficiently pronounced to flatten the fruit and render it hard to evaluate. There is superb intensity and minerality to the beautifully well-delineated middle weight flavors that also possess plenty of that lovely underlying tension on the balanced and impressively persistent finish. As the best example of Latricières always are this is a wonderful combination off finesse and focused power. Terrific.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-95 points “Reduction. There is outstanding richness to the beautifully textured, powerful, concentrated and energetic large-scaled flavors that terminate in a driving and explosively long finish where a touch of wood surfaces. This is a big but not inelegant Mazis with a subtle minerality that adds a touch of refinement to the very firm palate impression. Patience required yet this will be approachable young sooner than the Latricières.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($399.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-95 points “Deep red with ruby highlights. Knockout nose offers scents of dried red berries, flowers, licorice and game–“like a mix of Latricières and Mazis but with more elegance,” says Hervet. Wonderfully silky and seamless in the mouth, but with a youthful medicinal reserve to its sappy dark fruit and game flavors. The vibrant, extremely long finish features suave, fine-grained tannins and an element of vibrancy that leaves the taste buds quivering.” ST
Browse the 29 Faiveley wines we have in stock by visiting our web site: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Austrian and German
Large Format Bottles
Bigger = better!
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner 2010 1.5L ($149.95) $89 special, 3 magnums available
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd 2010 1.5L ($139.95) $119 special, 1 magnum available
Terry Theise notes: “Almost rugged and gnarly-that’s ’10 baby. Flowering fields aroma doesn’t specifically signal “Riesling,” but the stretchy sinewy palate scratches that very itch; it’s the sting of mint without the mint of mint.”
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The next best price is $137.99
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2012 1.5L ($249.95) $179 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “More reductive on the nose than the Himmelreich Auslese Gold Capsule, the 2012 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (AP #19 13) combines its deeper mineral character with a perfect expression of highly noble botrytis. The finish is piquant and firm and also more grippy and stringent due to the reductive style. The wine lacks the finesse and elegance of the Himmelreich at the moment, but is provided with the density and complexity for a long flight over the years.”RP
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese offers a noble sweet, very fine aroma of wet and flinty stones intertwined with grapefruit and lemon aromas. Lovely sweet and intense, but also delicate on the palate, this medium to full-flavored 7.5% alcohol wine reveals a great elegance and finesse and finishes with delicately juicy, grapefruit aromas. (I tasted AP number #15 14.)”RP
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Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Trocken 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $127 special, 6 magnums available
Robert Parker 93+ points “Selected twice (in the vineyard and at the winery to process only healthy grapes), 100% fuder-fermented and bottled in May 2014, the 2013 Dhroner Hofberg Riesling trocken has a very clear and precise nose displaying ripe peach and nectarine aromas intertwined with slate flavors. This leads to an impressively intense, filigreed and pure wine which develops power and finesse and does not have a single gram of fat. Sourced from 60-year-old and partly ungrafted vines this 12.4% natural alcohol cru is a full-bodied, elegant, precise and crystalline Riesling with an impressive purity and terroir expression. It has just begun its flight and could be even finer in half a year. “RP
Terry Theise notes: “This is the quasi-GG and of all these obstreperous ’13s it was the best behaved. In fact a lovely dry Riesling, herbal, juicy, malic and salty; long and clinging finish; amazing equipoise of ethereal delicacy and heavy density and grip. 94º Oechsle, rather little botrytis, cask-fermented and aged on the fine lees, and finely smoky; only 8.5g/l RS but extract concentration confers a kind of facsimile of “’sweetness.'”
Large Format Nikolaihof Wines Arriving in October:
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Hefeabzug Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2014 1.5L ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Hefeabzug Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes “Cherry blossom, anise, flint; zingy with dense minty mineral’ as with a lot of ‘14s it’s ostensibly light but curiously dense, jammed with flavor.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes “Refined vetiver aromas, sweet smoke and oleander – exceptionally beautiful! Even by these standards. The palate is ecstatic; sweetly taut, the exhalings of happy plants, the curious mystery of chlorophyll and waving meadows, the rippling of rabbit muscles, the smile of sinew as they take the stretch they needed. Sure I’m babbling, but this was the right thing to say because only one place on this earth can make a wine like this one.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Im Weingebirge opens clear and slightly flinty, though very discreet in its bright aromatic pip fruit and lemon flavors on the nose. However, its depth, freshness and mineral complexity is already indicated. On the palate this straight, crisp, light to medium-bodied Gruner is driven more by its origin than it is by the variety that gives a limey freshness to the wine which is pure, mineral and zesty. The finish of this authentic character is clear, straight and tension-filled. The aging potential excellent.”
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $76 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2014 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes “Draw-you-in aromas, like the famous salad-of-seventeen-leaves, herbs and flowers they serve in the restaurant. All of them perfect. The palate here emphasizes the mustards, with the ’14 snap and bounce and spice; a lacy wine like the veins and tracings on the bottom of a leaf.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2010 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Riesling Steiner Hund is a pure and cool, rather vegetal than fruity flavored Riesling with flinty notes along with aromas of fennel seeds and celery. Still very young, restrained and edgy on the palate, this full-bodied, very pure and mineral wine with its firm and long, tension-filled structure does not show any flesh or juiciness at the moment. However, I wouldn’t call it ascetic, just a little bit drying. This densely woven Riesling is much too rich and too electrifying in the mouth and too long and powerful in the finish to end up as a joyless wine. However, I suppose this promising, firmly structured long-distance runner will never get that round and juicy, but will remain a vital and scraggy (in a positive sense) wine for many years. I would keep it for another 7-10 years before I retaste it again.”
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2012 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Federspiel, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein offers a clear, ripe and well-concentrated bouquet of white stone-fruit aromas along with some nice terroir notes of herbs and stones. Medium-bodied, fresh and elegant on the palate, this Riesling is full of energy, mineral tension and vibrancy and demonstrates impressively, like great Mosel Rieslings do, that great dry wines do not need high alcohol levels to offer an intense, terroir-driven and stimulating taste. Still very young, this pure, piquant and firmly structured Federspiel reveals a good and piquant finish” WA
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2012 1.5L ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling, Wachau 1997 3L ($999.95) $799 pre-arrival special
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling, Wachau 1997 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling, Wachau 1997 750ML ($1199.95) $999 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Aged for 17 years in a domestic 3,500-liter cask before it was bottled in August 2014, the 1997 Riesling Vinothek is the best part of the regular 1997 Riesling Smaragd Im Weingebirge, which was bottled and marketed in late 1998. The aged Vinothek version offers a fascinatingly clear, bright, deep and multi-layered nose with iodine and ripe as well as intense white-fleshed fruit aromas. Full-bodied, full of finesse and elegant, this dry, transparent and mineral Riesling develops a great intensity, complexity and power on the palate, but never leaves its silky road of purity, finesse and transparency. There is a lot of Spiel and tension here, but the most exciting characteristic trait is the intense and very mineral, almost endless finish. How youthful this wine is! And its further aging potential is still terrific. The wine reminds me of certain sherries, white Riojas and Jura wines, although it is not less oxidative. But it spent a long time in cask and has the freshness, complexity and thrilling taste of those. It’s a great, unique and stimulating wine that was bottled with 12.8% of alcohol, 6 grams of residual sugar and 6.5 grams of acidity.”
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The next best price is $1,000
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Have a nice week!