In This Newsletter:
Azelia & Paitin Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Sake
On Sale Now from Piedmont:
Azelia & Paitin
Stock Up & Save!
Azelia & Paitin Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Sake
On Sale Now from Piedmont:
Azelia & Paitin
Stock Up & Save!
Azelia – Barolo
Founded in 1920 by Cavalier Lorenzo Scavino, Azelia boasts sixteen hectares of old-vines in the picturesque Castiglione Falletto. Today, fourth-generation winemaker Luigi Scavino (interestingly, he’s the cousin of Enrico Scavino of Paolo Scavino) is joined by his wife, Lorella, and son, Lorenzo. They employ a combination of modern and traditional techniques to capture the essence of their land. Temperature-control is used during the spontaneous fermentation, while large oak barriques and casks hold the maturing wines.
The Bricco Fiasco is from the steep hill in Castiglione Falletto that he shares with his cousin. Vines average 65 years in age, and after aging in smaller oak barrels, the wine offers floral notes with ripe tannins. Margheria in Serralunga has vines averaging 50 years. The wine is aged for just over two years in large oak casks. In the glass, you can expect rich black fruit and spice notes with a backbone of earth. San Rocco is also a rich, lush wine, redolent in fruit, spice, and black licorice. The 55-year-old vines grow in clay and calcareous soils.
Paitin – Barbareso
The wines of Paitin are solid, deep, and built to last in your cellar – echoing the family’s tie to their home and spectacular holdings within the Serraboella cru. With Dante Scaglione of Bruno Giacosa fame serving as the Paitin’s family’s enologist, the incredible estate vineyards yield some of the greatest wines in all of Piedmont.
The winemaking here is all traditional (with just a brief flirtation with modern techniques in the 90’s). The wines undergo gentle pump over and cap submersion during the weeks-long maceration. The wines then undergo an extended aging in neutral barrels and botti from Slavonia and Austria for up to three years.
The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. Take a bottle or two for a spin tonight!
Founded in 1920 by Cavalier Lorenzo Scavino, Azelia boasts sixteen hectares of old-vines in the picturesque Castiglione Falletto. Today, fourth-generation winemaker Luigi Scavino (interestingly, he’s the cousin of Enrico Scavino of Paolo Scavino) is joined by his wife, Lorella, and son, Lorenzo. They employ a combination of modern and traditional techniques to capture the essence of their land. Temperature-control is used during the spontaneous fermentation, while large oak barriques and casks hold the maturing wines.
The Bricco Fiasco is from the steep hill in Castiglione Falletto that he shares with his cousin. Vines average 65 years in age, and after aging in smaller oak barrels, the wine offers floral notes with ripe tannins. Margheria in Serralunga has vines averaging 50 years. The wine is aged for just over two years in large oak casks. In the glass, you can expect rich black fruit and spice notes with a backbone of earth. San Rocco is also a rich, lush wine, redolent in fruit, spice, and black licorice. The 55-year-old vines grow in clay and calcareous soils.
Paitin – Barbareso
The wines of Paitin are solid, deep, and built to last in your cellar – echoing the family’s tie to their home and spectacular holdings within the Serraboella cru. With Dante Scaglione of Bruno Giacosa fame serving as the Paitin’s family’s enologist, the incredible estate vineyards yield some of the greatest wines in all of Piedmont.
The winemaking here is all traditional (with just a brief flirtation with modern techniques in the 90’s). The wines undergo gentle pump over and cap submersion during the weeks-long maceration. The wines then undergo an extended aging in neutral barrels and botti from Slavonia and Austria for up to three years.
The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. Take a bottle or two for a spin tonight!
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Azelia & Paitin
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Azelia & Paitin
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, May 10th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Azelia & Paitin
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, May 10th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer nine in-stock Azelia & Paitin options on sale now, including:
Azelia di Luigi Scavino Bricco Fiasco, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2017 Barolo Bricco Fiasco is bright and effusive from the very first taste. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, orange peel, spice and mint all grace this nervy, mid-weight Barolo. Medium in body and translucent, the 2017 has quite a bit to offer. It is an especially savory, linear Barolo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Azelia di Luigi Scavino Margheria, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Barolo Margheria is gorgeous. Open, perfumed aromatics are immediately alluring. On the palate, the 2017 is a dark, mysterious wine, with layers of flavor that continue to develop over time. Dark cherry, blood orange, spice, leather, iron and scorched earth add striking layers of nuance. The tannins are potent – we are in Serralunga after all – but the 2017 has so much to offer. It’s a gorgeous Barolo to enjoy over the next two decades, maybe more.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Azelia di Luigi Scavino ‘San Rocco’, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Barolo San Rocco is powerful and tightly wound. All of its energy is focused inward today. There is terrific brightness and focus to the red berry fruit, but the 2017 is not in a mood to show much today. Readers will have to be patient. I am encourage by the wine’s solid feel and pure power.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $83
The next best price is $83
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Basarin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Paitin 2018 Barbaresco Basarin, which spends two years in large oak barrels, pours to a lean appearance and a dark ruby hue. The wine is subtle and fine, prizing the delicate and ethereal nuances of the grape, with dried cherry, crushed flowers, campfire ash and iron ore. Crushed white pepper also appears. The Basarin cru in Neive is one of the most beautiful in the appellation, located on a hill that rises high enough to enjoy the surrounding panorama of tightly planted vineyards. The tannins are especially polished in this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori Paitin is intense and powerful in its expression of dark fruit, spices, earthiness and tar. Made in a pure, bold style, it is one of the more closed, shut down 2004 Barbarescos and will require at least a few years in bottle before revealing its truest potential.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The family that owns the Paitin estate lost its patriarch, Secondo Pasquero Elia, as this wine was being readied for release, and he would have been proud of the way this turned out. The 2018 Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin is glossy and polished with a super fine and delicate quality of fruit. It just glides over the palate as if it were on skates. That beautiful forward momentum is driven by light cassis, dried cherry, iron skillet, candied orange peel and crushed flowers. The finish is exceptionally smooth and elegant. Complimenti.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $57.50, that’s $54.63 at 5% off and $51.75 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Alluring aromas and flavors of cherry, raspberry, leafy underbrush, tar, iron and hay mark this luscious red, which is fresh and firm at once, with a chalky, minerally essence on the long finish. Best from 2026 through 2042. 974 cases made.”
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’ Vecchie Vigne, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne is marvelous. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, smoke, ash and tar are just some of the notes that emerge from this big yet beautifully articulated Vecchie Vigne. The 2004 shows superb class and fabulous overall balance. As always this is a fairly large-scaled Barbaresco, but all of the elements meld together beautifully. A long, sensual finish rounds things out in style. With air the 2004 is approachable today, but it clearly has the stuffing and freshness to drink well to age 25, perhaps beyond. The Vecchie Vigne captures the essence of this great Piedmontese vintage in spades. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’ Vecchie Vigne Riserva, Barbaresco DOCG 2008 750ml Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The blackest of cherries, spices, incense, tar and scorched earth are some of the many nuances that emerge from the 2008 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne. This dark, brooding Barbaresco is all about power. The 2008 impresses for its fabulous balance and pure length. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more refined. It is a striking Barbaresco to drink now and over the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. The 2008 was aged in 25-hectoliter cask and bottled in June 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shop our nine Azelia & Paitin selections now!
Nerd Alert!
Sake
Check out our in-stock selection of sake. We offer several examples of this classic Japanese beverage.
Sake is produced from milled rice that is then fermented with yeasts and fungi (known as kōji). The level of polish of the kernels can indicate quality, as it strips away the bran, fat, and proteins that would mar the sake.
Kōji plays a role in everything from soy sauce to miso production. Its fungi convert starch and other carbohydrates into fermentable sugars the yeast can break down. Water is also added, oftentimes from mountain runoff or underground springs.
Browse our picks below!
In Stock Now:
Harada Gengetsu Muroka Junmai Ginjo Sake 720ml $46.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Brewed using Yamada Nishiki (Koji) & Seito no Shizuku (Kake) rice polished 55% and K1801 yeast. Unfiltered. THE CHARACTER: Overall: Powerful, rich & structured. Aromas: Honeycrisp apples and layered umami. Mouthfeel: Fresh & crisp. Tasting Notes: Aromas of fresh green apple and crisp fruit is followed by smooth flavors of honeyed red crisp apple flavor with layers of umami flavors. The clean and crisp finish with a hint of fruitiness. Pairings: Thai & Indian curries.”
Sake is produced from milled rice that is then fermented with yeasts and fungi (known as kōji). The level of polish of the kernels can indicate quality, as it strips away the bran, fat, and proteins that would mar the sake.
Kōji plays a role in everything from soy sauce to miso production. Its fungi convert starch and other carbohydrates into fermentable sugars the yeast can break down. Water is also added, oftentimes from mountain runoff or underground springs.
Browse our picks below!
In Stock Now:
Harada Gengetsu Muroka Junmai Ginjo Sake 720ml $46.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Brewed using Yamada Nishiki (Koji) & Seito no Shizuku (Kake) rice polished 55% and K1801 yeast. Unfiltered. THE CHARACTER: Overall: Powerful, rich & structured. Aromas: Honeycrisp apples and layered umami. Mouthfeel: Fresh & crisp. Tasting Notes: Aromas of fresh green apple and crisp fruit is followed by smooth flavors of honeyed red crisp apple flavor with layers of umami flavors. The clean and crisp finish with a hint of fruitiness. Pairings: Thai & Indian curries.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Imayo Tsukasa ‘Black’ Extra Dry Junmai Sake 720ml $39 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Sharp, smooth sake with easy drinkability. The cool, all-black bottle makes it stand out. Rice Polishing Ratio: 65%. Alc.by Vol: 16%”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Koshitsukano Hirai Junmai Sake 720ml $26 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer Tasting Note “HIRAI Junmai Sake is clean, crisp, dry, and elegant. Named for the swans that migrate to the local lake, HIRAI is an ideal sake for those who are new to sake but appreciate a quality hand-crafted style. Local ingredients include wild yeast that the brewery propagates itself and very soft water from the on-site well. The savory aroma of freshly cooked rice with hints of tropical fruit leads to a balanced mouthfeel and a clean and crisp finish. The brewery was established in 1781 in the Niigata prefecture on the west coast of Japan. The purity of HIRAI Junmai Sake is a reflection of freshly fallen snow covering beautiful Niigata villages.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Maboroshi ‘Kurobako’ Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Sake 720ml $169 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer Note “This is an undiluted (genshu) Junmai Daiginjo brewed with top class Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture, its home ground. Yamada Nishiki rice does not break even if polished to a high degree. After steaming, the rice has a high water content and is very elastic, so that it can produce outstanding koji. Especially when the koji-making process takes longer than 50 hours and is carried out for a long time at high temperatures, Yamada Nishiki shows its strength. When the 3rd generation president and brewmaster of the Nakao family discovered an apple yeast, for making sake after experimenting with 2,000 sources of yeast, it was this product that he made. It was served at the Imperial Palace for the Emperor’s New Year’s celebration for three years and received a gold medal at the Japanese National Sake Competition. It is soft and billowing, yet powerful and full.”
Sekai Itto ‘Minakata’ Extra Dry Junmai Sake 720ml $33 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “This is a classic dry style Junmai sake with restrained fruit balanced with a light nutty and umami earthiness. An easy-drinking sake with a crisp and bone-dry finish, perfect with seafood.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shimizu-No-Mai Pure Snow Junmai Nigori Sake 720ml $21.90 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Elegant sweetness and well-balanced acidity have a soft taste. Putting a piece of fruits on cold pure snow turns into fancy cocktail easily. You can enjoy the mild palatable taste and clear aftertaste.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kinmon Sekaitaka Tengu no Doburoku ‘Mountain Warrior’ Nigori Sake 720ml $27 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “A full-bodied unrefined sake that retains the rice Umami with a rich sweetness. You can enjoy the good old plain Umami of Japanese Sake and its authentic taste.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Bandol
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bandol
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bandol
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Bandol sale ends Friday, May 9th at 9 am Pacific.