August 26th Newsletter

Felsina Vin Santo di Chianti Classico 2004 375ml ($59.95) $39 jump start special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2004 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is fabulous. A reference point wine for the region, the 2004 captures the heart and intellect with its superb balance and pure pedigree. The style is moderately sweet and oxidative, in the best of the Vin Santo tradition. Savory herbs, dried flowers, leather and lightly burned sugar add complexity on the finish. Vin Santo? Felsina remains one of the 2-3 reference points, it’s as simple as that. As for the 2004, well, it is utterly majestic.”
 

USA
Antica Terra Erratica Rose 2011 ($59.95) $49 special limit 3 bottles please
Antica Terra Ceras Pinot Noir 2011 ($79.95) $69 special limit 3 bottles please
Antica Terra Botanica Pinot Noir 2011 ($89.95) $75 special limit 3 bottles please

Shea Cellars Homer Pinot Noir 2011 ($89.95) $75 special

ROCO Marsh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $41.90 special
ROCO Private Stash Pinot Noir 2011 ($79.95) $59 special

Brick House Pinot Noir Tonnelier 2011 ($49.95) $39 special
Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais 2011 ($59.95) $49 special
Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn’s  2011 ($69.95) $59 special

FRANCE
Paul Dethune Champagne Brut Grand Cru Ambonnay NV ($49.95) $36 special Vinopolpick
70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay; around 30% reserve wines in the blend. Rich and well balanced, a touch of nuttiness which works well here. A popular pick over at cellartracker too. Consumer reviews there averaging in @ 91-92 points. Tough to beat at $36. But you won’t find it elsewhere for $36.
 
Bernard Defaix Bourgogne Rouge 2010 ($19.95) $14 special
A re-arrival actually, and re-priced lower too. If you liked 2008 Burgundy, you’ll like what you get here for $14. Likewise, if 2009s were not necessarily your favorite- try one of these. Final 15 cases; has the guts to evolve over 5+ years or so.
 
Desvignes Morgon Les Javernieres 2011 ($31.95) $27 special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Brilliant ruby.  Hugely aromatic nose displays scents of smoky dark berries, potpourri and minerals.  Broad and chewy on the palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors and a touch of fruitcake. Richer than the straight Cote du Py bottling, finishing with impressive power, grip and spicy persistence.”
 
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape 2011 ($119.95) $99 special
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “I tasted the 2011 wine here in its four basic components, drawn from different foudres, followed by a sample of what Avril believes will be the final blend.  #1: 75% grenache, 15% syrah and 10% mourvedre;  intense, spice-accented red fruit aromas, with a sexy floral nuance and good back-end cut.  #2: 50% syrah, 45% grenache and 5% everything else; richer and more masculine, offering deep dark fruit flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate; more serious than the first component but less precise and graceful.  #3:  65% grenache and 35% syrah; graceful and silky in texture, offering vibrant red fruit and floral aromas and flavors.  Very fresh, in an intriguing, pinot-like way, with excellent cut and length.  #4:  65% grenache, 30% mourvedre and 5% syrah; emphatically spicy, with deep cherry and raspberry flavors and a hint of anise.  The spiciness builds with air and carries through impressively.  The final blend is bright ruby red with a heady bouquet of candied red fruits, potpourri and allspice, along with musky herb and mineral elements.  Sappy and precise, with vibrant black raspberry and cherry flavors given lift by zesty acidity.  Finishes clean and very long, with resonating floral and spice notes and harmonious tannins.”

Clos Sainte Magdelaine Cassis Blanc 2011 ($34.95) $28 special
Clos Sainte Magdelaine Cassis Blanc 2011 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Clos Sainte Magdelaine Cassis Rose 2012 ($34.95) $29 special
Clos Sainte Magdelaine Cassis Rose 2012 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Beautiful place, beautiful wines
 
ITALY
Vietti Roero Arneis 2012 ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery notes “Alcoholic fermentation occurs in stainless steel autoclave at lower temperature (10-12°C) to preserve some natural CO2 from the fermentation. Pale sunshine yellow color with fresh floral, citrus and melon aromas with hints of almonds. An unoaked, dry, medium bodied white wine with crisp acidity, the Arneis is well-balanced, elegant wine with good complexity and a lingering finish.”

Monteti Caburnio Toscana 2008 ($24.95) $21 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2008 Caburnio is one of the very best wines from Tuscany in its price range. Espresso, mocha, sweet grilled herbs and plums wrap around the palate in this deep, inviting wine. Hints of licorice, crushed flowers, tobacco and new leather add complexity on the striking, nuanced finish. Caburnio is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Alicante-Bouschet and 20% Merlot aged partly in oak and partly in steel. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.”
 
Quintarellii Secco Ca de Merlo Bianco 2012 ($44.95) $39 special
Quintarelli Primofiore 2009  ($59.95) $49 special
Quintarelli Rosso Ca del Merlo 2004 ($99.95) $79 special
Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico 2004 ($99.95) $79 special
Quintarelli Alzero 2004 (449.95) $399 special

SPAIN
Vina Zorzal Graciano Navarra 2010 ($14.95) $11.90 special
Josh Raynolds 89 points “Vivid ruby.  Bright, spice-accented aromas of cherry and redcurrant, with a deeper licorice note building with air.  Youthfully taut red fruit flavors show good depth and pick up spiciness with air.  Dusty tannins add grip and shape to the finish, which features notes of bitter cherry and cracked pepper.”
 
Vina Zorzal Garnacha Vina Vieja Navarra 2010 ($14.95) $8.80 special
Josh Raynolds 88 points “Bright purple.  Jammy black and blue fruits on the nose and in the mouth.  Open-knit and juicy, with good clarity and lift.  Not the last word in complexity but extremely easy to like.  Finishes with good clarity and subtle spiciness.”
 
Alvaro Palacios Vi de Vila Gratallops Priorat 2010 ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Dark ruby.  Aromas of cherry, cassis, cocoa, Asian spices and underbrush, lifted by a strong mineral quality.  Juicy, sappy and nicely concentrated, with very good density to its flavors of blackcurrant, bitter cherry and candied rose.  A lively, sexy wine that finishes with strong mineral bite and impressive length.”
 

 
 

 

Robert Parker “One of the superstars of Cornas is Domaine Alain Voge. In the top vintages, three cuvees are made, but in most years only two are produced, Vieilles Vignes and Les Chailles, from Voge’s 15 plus acres of Syrah planted on the decomposed granite slopes of Cornas. He also produces small quantities of St.-Joseph…. The real glories at Voge are his extraordinary offerings from Cornas. The three 2010 Cornas represent the pinnacle of Voge’s winemaking. They are the finest wines I have yet tasted from this estate (and I’ve been tasting their wines since the late seventies).”
 
Domaine Alain Voge Saint Joseph Les Vinsonnes 2010 ($39.95) $31.90 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rather bold, with roasted fig and warm boysenberry confiture liberally layered with charcoal, roasted mesquite, anise and ganache. Almost heady, but the grip is there, with a smoldering charcoal note that holds the finish together. Best from 2014 through 2022.”
 
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles 2010 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Robert Parker 95 points “The opaque purple-colored 2010 Cornas Les Chailles offers up scents of smoked game and charcoal, a full-bodied mouthfeel, supple tannins and pedal-to-the metal richness and density. Already drinkable, it has at least 15 years of aging potential.”
 
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes 2010 ($179.95) $149 special
Robert Parker 99 points “The 2010 Cornas Vieilles Vignes has off-the-charts richness as well as an extraordinarily precise nose of blackberry and blueberry jam intermixed with cassis, charcoal, lead pencil shavings, pen ink and acacia flowers. A wine of exceptional intensity with a multidimensional mouthfeel and a 55-second finish, this quintessential Cornas should drink well for 20-30 years.”

 

Betz Besoleil 2010 ($49.95) $41.90 B&B sale special arriving Friday
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(65% grenache, 18% mourvedre, 11% cinsault and 6% syrah):  Bright red.  Captivating nose offers strawberry, animal fur, garrigue, black and white pepper and flowers.  Wonderfully aromatic and smooth in the mouth, with excellent sappy lift to the raspberry and cherry flavors complicated by wild herbs and pepper.  Finishes structured and long, with suave, slowly building tannins.  Very Old World in style (and specifically southern French) but with distinctly Washington red fruit flavors.  This was the first year Bob Betz added cinsault to the blend, and that variety has certainly added another element of red fruit perfume.  (Incidentally, there no Clos du Chapitre in 2010.)”

 
Betz Syrah La Cote Rousse 2009 ($59.95) $41.90 B&B sale special here now
Rhone Report 95 points “Even inkier in color than the La Serenne, with more edgy aromas of smoked blackberries, dried beef, huge crushed rock like minerality, crushed flowers, and graphite, the 2009 Betz Family Syrah La Côte Rousse is full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and yet light on its feet, with a clean, elegant texture, integrated acidity, and beautifully focused finish. As with the La Serenne, this needs cellar time. Give bottles at least another 3-4 years in the cellar. I really don?t think it will hit maturity until after a decade or more.”
 

 

Betz Syrah La Cote Rousse 2010 ($59.95) $47 B&B sale special arriving Friday
Stephen Tanzer 93+ points “(from a warmer site than the La Serenne):  Bright red-ruby.  Black raspberry, flowers, minerals and spices on the nose, plus a hint of black walnut that reminded me of Hermitage.  Juicy on entry, then sinewy and penetrating in the middle, and clearly less pliant and sweet today than the La Serenne.  The dark fruit and bitter chocolate flavors are supported by obvious Red Mountain structure.  For all its power, the minerally, spicy, peppery finish displays very fine-grained tannins and lovely subtle persistence.  Actually a bit higher in pH than the La Serenne but this is likely to need at least as much time in the cellar–say five or six years.”
 

 
 
Betz Syrah La Sirenne 2009 ($59.95) $39 B&B sale special here now
Rhone Report 95 points “Wow, a brilliant showing by the 2009 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne and this is one stacked Syrah! All from Dick Boushey?s vineyard in Yakima Valley, this 100% Syrah has put on weight and flesh since the tasting last year and offers up thrilling aromas of blackberry liqueur, charred meats, ground pepper, mineral, and violets on the nose. This is followed by a full-bodied, dense, structured, and youthfully tight Syrah that needs another 3-4 years of bottle age to fully flesh out. It should start to hit the early stages of maturity around age 10. Impressive all around and Vin de Garde from Washington at its finest!…”
 

 

Betz Syrah La Sirenne 2010 ($59.95) $47 B&B sale special arriving Friday
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “(from Boushey Vineyard fruit):  Bright nose features musky black raspberry, smoke, minerals, chocolate and a whiff of tar.  Bright, delineated and intense, conveying terrific acidity for syrah.  Proprietor Betz describes 2010 as “a return to structure in syrah” and this wine is also extremely primary, with tarry minerality and a cracked pepper quality adding nuance.  Finishes with firm but suave tannins, excellent grip and terrific peppery lift.  In texture, this wine is midway between Cote-Rotie and Saint-Joseph, and wonderfully fresh.”

 
Betz Clos de Betz 2010 ($69.95) $50.90 B&B sale special here now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Diversely-sourced (its Merlot blended with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon) the Betz 2010 Clos de Betz emphasizes black pepper, pungently resinous herbs, and arbor vitae, characteristics I imagine are in part a reflection of its 7% of Petit Verdot, that grape being demonstrably (I’m tempted to say notoriously ) efficacious. Cassis, huckleberry, and walnut offer bitter-edged but sappy fruit satisfaction; a crushed stone undertone adds a sense of intrigue; and mineral salts savory saliva-inducement in a gripping, palate-staining finish. This ought to be worth following for at least the better part of a decade.” Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(58% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon and 7% petit verdot):  Bright, full red.  Spicy high notes to the aromas of raspberry, graphite, sandalwood and cocoa powder.  Juicy, perfumed and precise; not a fleshy style but elegant, vibrant and extremely young.  Today the wine’s mid-palate flavors and texture are still a bit suppressed by the bottling, but this long, firm-edged wine has the structure and inherent material to be outstanding.  In fact, I retasted the 2009 next to it, and while that wine was silkier and plusher, it is not likely to match the 2010 for complexity a few years down the road.”
 

Betz Pere de Famille 2010 ($79.95) $61.90 B&B sale special arriving Friday
Wine Advocate 95 points “Diversely-sourced, and blended with 8% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the Betz 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille leads with classic aromatic expressions of its star player: cedar box, juniper berry, arbor vitae, cassis, blackberry, and dark tobacco, all of which reprise on a luscious, savory palate underlain by ultra-fine tannin and possessed of vibratory energy. The sheer abundance of primary juiciness here – like the energetic ping to its enervating, reverberative finish – strikes me as especially typical of the best marriages of cepage and terroir, which happens to be precisely what Betz is wistfully referring to as “something that happens with Cabernet in Washington.” Something indeed! I would go easy on this for a few years and look forward to at least a decade of high performance.”

Gramercy Lagniappe Syrah 2010 ($59.95) $46 B&B special here now
Wine Advocate 95 points “More rich, full and voluptuous, while still not losing the house style, the 2010 Syrah Lagniappe is a knockout Syrah that easily matches the brilliant 2009. Perfumed, intense and complex, with Northern Rhone-like aromas of wild berry fruit, smoked bacon, lavender and black pepper, it flows onto the palate with a classically constructed, firm mouthfeel that carries vibrant acidity, beautiful richness and a great finish. A 100% Syrah from Red Willow, Minick and SJR vineyards that spent 23 months in 14% new French oak, it builds brilliantly in the glass and will thrill for 10-12 years. Drink now-2022″ Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Deep, bright ruby-red.  Black raspberry, black cherry and bitter chocolate on the nose.  Great freshness and clarity; superb fruit intensity and energy to its dark fruit and savory flavors.  Finishes saline, dry and long.  Very rich and savory syrah, one of the best–and richest–bottles of syrah I’ve tasted yet from Greg Harrington and one of the group’s favorites of the tasting.  Vinified with its stems.  At roughly 14% alcohol, this was the lowest-octane wine of the tasting.”
 

 

 

Ar.Pe.Pe 

Nebbiolos from Valtellina

Selene Chesler Proprietary Red Napa 2003 ($69.95) $16 flash sale special
Robert Parker 89 points “Klein’s proprietary red wine cuvee is named after her mother, and has an adorable picture of her as a young woman skiing. The 2003 Chesler boasts a deep ruby/purple hue along with notes of black currants, crushed rocks, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied with a chunky, supple-textured personality, this tasty proprietary red should drink well for 10-12 years.
Vinopolnotes- Selene is the personal label of Mia Klein, she of Araujo, Spottswoode, Viader, etc.; and this was a $70 wine upon release. True to Parker’s predictive power, it is drinking well now. And true to the nature of 2003s, it is ultra-ripe. We’d add some fig notes to Parker’s description.
 

Castelllo di Bossi Corbaia Toscana 2008 ($79.95) $49 flash sale special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Corbaia is striking in this vintage. A delicate, graceful bouquet gives the impression of femininity, until layers of fruit hit the palate with relentless energy and focus. The 2008 impresses for its balance and overall sense of harmony. The tannins are still huge at this stage, but I sense that as they melt away the wine’s true pedigree will begin to emerge. This is a great, great showing from Castello di Bossi. Corbaia is 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.”

 

Domaine de Pattes Loup Chablis 2011 ($34.95) $21.90 flash sale special arriving August 29
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2011 Chablis is gorgeous. Honey, almonds, dried pears and peach notes all flesh out in a rich, expansive wine loaded with class, pedigree and personality. This is a decidedly rich, large-scaled Chablis, especially at the village level, but there is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine’s big, broad-shouldered frame. The deeply textured, generous finish is nicely supported by veins of minerality that emerge over time.”
 

 

Von Hovel Riesling Kabinett  Schwarzhofberger 2012 ($34.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Everything seems infused in this wine as there is nothing loud or dominating. Superbly fresh scents of anise, gooseberry, white peach, lime, mint and grass give this wine an immediate elegant feel; nothing is out of place, too dominating or screaming. A remarkable feel of extract on the palate makes the wine appear almost lean in structure yet it retains a great playful side thanks to some intense zesty flavors of grapefruit. The finish is very long and pure. This is a wonderful Scharzhofberg bottling! 2017-2027”
 
Von Hovel Riesling Spatlese  Schwarzhofberger 2012 ($44.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “Even if the still subdued and restrained at the stage, this gorgeous Spatlese hints at all the telltale signs of a great Scharzhofberger. Fine notes of flowers, verbena and white peach lead to a most balanced, dynamic and fresh feel on the palate and a mouth-watering touch of tartness and grapefruit zest in the after-taste makes one magically come back for another sip. This is a great Spatlese in the making!2017-2032”

Karthauserhof Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Schieferkristall 2012 ($34.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “Schieferkristall refers to the Kabinett-styled wine 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 alcohol.2014-2020”
 
Karthauserhof Riesling Spatlese 2012 ($39.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
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) makes it utterly delicious also at this early stage. 2017-2032”

Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett Trocken Zeltinger 2012 ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Great wine, more like a dry Spatlese”
 
Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese Bernkasteler Badstube 2012 ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Full-bodied and rich, with minerals and lemony finish”
 
Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese Zeltinger Sonnenuhr 2012 ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Perfect balance, one of the Selbach-Oster 2012 highlights”
 
Selbach-Oster Riesling Auslese Zeltinger Sonnenuhr 2012 ($49.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Classic Mosel Auslese, very elegant”
 
Selbach-Oster Riesling Auslese Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2012 ($49.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Very fine, elegant and long finish.”
 
Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Mosel 2012  ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Ewald Moseler note “Exotic and outstanding, from best vineyard parcels, fermented in a new barrel, vanilla and rich fruit, still elegant with 13% alc., very limited”
 
 
 

Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Campolongo di Torbe 2001 ($149.95) $99 goodbye special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2001 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Campolongo di Torbe reveals notable complexity in its suggestions of leather, spices, plums, prunes and roasted coffee beans. As one might rightfully expect of a wine of this age, the fruit is no longer vibrant, yet the wine possesses terrific length and finessed tannins. This could almost be mistaken for a mature Burgundy.” Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This gorgeous wine exhibits beautiful sophistication and austere aromas of elegant spice, candied fruit, licorice and maple syrup. It has aged beautifully thus far and promises a bright future ahead. The mouthfeel is tight and polished with firm tannins and exceptional integrity of fruit”