In This Newsletter:
Champagne Magnums Sale
Collector’s Corner: Biondi Santi
Tis the Season
For Many Reasons
To Drink Champagne!
Stock Up & Save On:
Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
Browse our selection of large format magnums on sale now and be the life of the party!
5% off any 2-4 in-stock Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
10% off any 5+ or more in-stock Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, November 24th at 9 am Pacific.
Champagne Magnums Sale
Collector’s Corner: Biondi Santi
Tis the Season
For Many Reasons
To Drink Champagne!
Stock Up & Save On:
Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
Browse our selection of large format magnums on sale now and be the life of the party!
5% off any 2-4 in-stock Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
10% off any 5+ or more in-stock Champagne Magnums & Large Formats
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, November 24th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer thirteen in-stock Champagne Magnum options on sale now, including:
This is the only listing in the USA today for the double-magnum!
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 3L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 2 double-magnums in stock now
100% Grand Cru Bouzy Pinot Noir!
Decanter 92 points “[Reviewed 2021] Incredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2026.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the double-magnum!
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 3L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 8 double-magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage. This disgorgement displays a medium intense golden color and a complex and refined bouquet of ripe and pureed apples and discreet chalky as well as brioche aromas. The palate is elegant, straight and fresh, very pure and salty on the finish. This is a challenging Brut Nature that needs to be aged for two or three years to gain complexity and finesse and to smooth its current edges. The finish is mineral, limestone and salty but also a bit drying at this moment.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This is a supremely poised and elegant Champagne. Lots of grapefruit, honeycomb, white tea, citron peel, white apricots and salted almonds here, yet it’s linear and racy, with tight bubbles and a cool yet intense and very long finish. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1968. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Le Dessus du Bois Marie’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This has a beautiful bouquet of pink grapefruit, almond croissants, frangipani flowers, nectarines and cherry stones. So fresh, silky and elegant on the palate, with a lovely interplay of just-ripe fruit, flowers and delicate pastry. It’s bone-dry, but very far from austere. 100% pinot meunier, from a vineyard planted in 1966. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Les Hautes Blanches Vignes’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Very creamy and focused Champagne with notes of cherry blossoms, jasmine, pink grapefruit, white peaches, fennel and brioche. It’s medium-bodied with a very fine and delicate mousse that dances across the palate. Bone dry with beautiful balance and length. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1969. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
New review!
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut NV (BASE 2018) 1.5L Displayed Price: $849, that’s $806.55 at 5% off and $764.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The NV Brut Reflet d’Antan (base 2018) is exquisite. Silky, aromatic and sublime, the Reflet d’Antan is all finesse. Silky contours caress the palate. Readers will find a Champagne of mind-blowing polish. Orchard fruit, citrus confit, spice, chamomile and a kiss of oak flesh out with time in the glass. Reflet d’Antan is one of the most unique wines in Champagne. The complexity gained through a two-level solera and lightly elevated (but not unpleasant) volatile acidity make for a vinous Champagne that exudes character from the first taste to the last. Today, Reflet d’Antan is a bit less oxidative in style than it once was, a reflection of the shift to slightly newer barrels with thick staves.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon’ Brut Rose Millésime 2012 1.5L Displayed Price: $469, that’s $445.55 at 5% off and $422.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Yohan Castaing-Wine Advocate 97 points “A blend of 45% Pinot Noir and 55% Chardonnay, the 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a real success, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries, rose, peony, orange blood and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and broad, it’s dense and deep with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a textural structure, concluding with a long, delicate, mouthwatering finish. This is one of the finest rosé I’ve tasted at this address. Kudos! Drink: 2024-2054.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvee Nicolas-Francois Billecart’ Millésime 2012 1.5L Displayed Price: $459, that’s $436.05 at 5% off and $413.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This complex Champagne has delicious aromas of waffle cones, vanilla beans, apricots and pastry with touches of white chocolate and salted caramel. It’s electric on the palate, which is creamy yet structured and focused, with a fine bead of bubbles and a zesty, tangy backbone of acidity. Long and tense finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay (all premier and grand cru), 10% of wines are vinified in oak casks. 10 years on lees. 3.8 g/L dosage. Disgorged in the second half of 2024. Drink or hold.”
Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $419, that’s $398.05 at 5% off and $377.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
The Wine Independent 96+ points “Velvety burnished gold in color with near imperceptible fine bubbles, the Grand Année 2015 is a 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay blend of 11 crus, 79% Grands Cru and 21% Premiers Crus, that is 100% barrel fermented, aged 7 years on lees and finished with an 8 grams per liter dosage. It opens toasty and rich with red forest fruit aromas accented by bruised apple, warm spice, Acacia honey, and a refreshing whiff of chalk. Plush and generous, the medium-bodied palate fills out with a seamless depth of orchard fruit concentration lifted by buoyant, finely spun acid energy and a satiny, pinpoint mousse.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Benoit Dehu La Rue des Noyers Brut NV (2016) 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 4 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Sparkling White) The NV (2016) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers, 100% Meunier, is bright, effusive and full of energy. In 2016, the Rue des Noyers is not as overt as it can be, but instead makes its case with energy and verve more than sheer power. I find it especially distinctive and elegant. Exotic dried flowers, ginger, apricot and spice linger. There is so much to like, and also so much to look forward to as the 2016 develops in the cellar. No dosage. Disgorged: May, 2021. (Drink between 2022-2030).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Diebolt-Vallois ‘Fleur de Passion’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008 1.5L Displayed Price: $799, that’s $759.05 at 5% off and $719.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Late disgorgement release by the winery in 2023.
Winery Note “Pure Chardonnay made from our oldest plots located in Cramant Grand Cru terroir. This Blanc de Blancs, 100% 2008 harvest, is vinified in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation nor filtration. This bottling in 2009 is prolonged by an ageing on lees during 13 years in our cellars… The Champagne Fleur de Passion is the jewel in the range from the house of Diebolt-Vallois. It is only made in the very best years. This wine is created entirely in barrel, following the major principles of the first wine Jacques Diebolt made together with his grandfather in 1953. Fleur de Passion is a precious and delicate champagne, it is complex, intense and long on the palate. 100% chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the double-magnum!
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 3L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 2 double-magnums in stock now
100% Grand Cru Bouzy Pinot Noir!
Decanter 92 points “[Reviewed 2021] Incredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2026.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the double-magnum!
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 3L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 8 double-magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage. This disgorgement displays a medium intense golden color and a complex and refined bouquet of ripe and pureed apples and discreet chalky as well as brioche aromas. The palate is elegant, straight and fresh, very pure and salty on the finish. This is a challenging Brut Nature that needs to be aged for two or three years to gain complexity and finesse and to smooth its current edges. The finish is mineral, limestone and salty but also a bit drying at this moment.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This is a supremely poised and elegant Champagne. Lots of grapefruit, honeycomb, white tea, citron peel, white apricots and salted almonds here, yet it’s linear and racy, with tight bubbles and a cool yet intense and very long finish. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1968. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Le Dessus du Bois Marie’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This has a beautiful bouquet of pink grapefruit, almond croissants, frangipani flowers, nectarines and cherry stones. So fresh, silky and elegant on the palate, with a lovely interplay of just-ripe fruit, flowers and delicate pastry. It’s bone-dry, but very far from austere. 100% pinot meunier, from a vineyard planted in 1966. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Les Hautes Blanches Vignes’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Very creamy and focused Champagne with notes of cherry blossoms, jasmine, pink grapefruit, white peaches, fennel and brioche. It’s medium-bodied with a very fine and delicate mousse that dances across the palate. Bone dry with beautiful balance and length. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1969. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
New review!
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut NV (BASE 2018) 1.5L Displayed Price: $849, that’s $806.55 at 5% off and $764.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The NV Brut Reflet d’Antan (base 2018) is exquisite. Silky, aromatic and sublime, the Reflet d’Antan is all finesse. Silky contours caress the palate. Readers will find a Champagne of mind-blowing polish. Orchard fruit, citrus confit, spice, chamomile and a kiss of oak flesh out with time in the glass. Reflet d’Antan is one of the most unique wines in Champagne. The complexity gained through a two-level solera and lightly elevated (but not unpleasant) volatile acidity make for a vinous Champagne that exudes character from the first taste to the last. Today, Reflet d’Antan is a bit less oxidative in style than it once was, a reflection of the shift to slightly newer barrels with thick staves.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon’ Brut Rose Millésime 2012 1.5L Displayed Price: $469, that’s $445.55 at 5% off and $422.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Yohan Castaing-Wine Advocate 97 points “A blend of 45% Pinot Noir and 55% Chardonnay, the 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a real success, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries, rose, peony, orange blood and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and broad, it’s dense and deep with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a textural structure, concluding with a long, delicate, mouthwatering finish. This is one of the finest rosé I’ve tasted at this address. Kudos! Drink: 2024-2054.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvee Nicolas-Francois Billecart’ Millésime 2012 1.5L Displayed Price: $459, that’s $436.05 at 5% off and $413.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This complex Champagne has delicious aromas of waffle cones, vanilla beans, apricots and pastry with touches of white chocolate and salted caramel. It’s electric on the palate, which is creamy yet structured and focused, with a fine bead of bubbles and a zesty, tangy backbone of acidity. Long and tense finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay (all premier and grand cru), 10% of wines are vinified in oak casks. 10 years on lees. 3.8 g/L dosage. Disgorged in the second half of 2024. Drink or hold.”
Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $419, that’s $398.05 at 5% off and $377.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
The Wine Independent 96+ points “Velvety burnished gold in color with near imperceptible fine bubbles, the Grand Année 2015 is a 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay blend of 11 crus, 79% Grands Cru and 21% Premiers Crus, that is 100% barrel fermented, aged 7 years on lees and finished with an 8 grams per liter dosage. It opens toasty and rich with red forest fruit aromas accented by bruised apple, warm spice, Acacia honey, and a refreshing whiff of chalk. Plush and generous, the medium-bodied palate fills out with a seamless depth of orchard fruit concentration lifted by buoyant, finely spun acid energy and a satiny, pinpoint mousse.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Benoit Dehu La Rue des Noyers Brut NV (2016) 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 4 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Sparkling White) The NV (2016) Cuvée La Rue des Noyers, 100% Meunier, is bright, effusive and full of energy. In 2016, the Rue des Noyers is not as overt as it can be, but instead makes its case with energy and verve more than sheer power. I find it especially distinctive and elegant. Exotic dried flowers, ginger, apricot and spice linger. There is so much to like, and also so much to look forward to as the 2016 develops in the cellar. No dosage. Disgorged: May, 2021. (Drink between 2022-2030).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Diebolt-Vallois ‘Fleur de Passion’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008 1.5L Displayed Price: $799, that’s $759.05 at 5% off and $719.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Late disgorgement release by the winery in 2023.
Winery Note “Pure Chardonnay made from our oldest plots located in Cramant Grand Cru terroir. This Blanc de Blancs, 100% 2008 harvest, is vinified in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation nor filtration. This bottling in 2009 is prolonged by an ageing on lees during 13 years in our cellars… The Champagne Fleur de Passion is the jewel in the range from the house of Diebolt-Vallois. It is only made in the very best years. This wine is created entirely in barrel, following the major principles of the first wine Jacques Diebolt made together with his grandfather in 1953. Fleur de Passion is a precious and delicate champagne, it is complex, intense and long on the palate. 100% chardonnay.”
Biondi-Santi is quite literally the crème de la crème when it comes to high end Brunello. This winery, and the individuals that bore it into existence were the founders of the region of Brunello di Montalcino, and through their approaching 200-year history have embodied the identity of quality, tradition, and longevity.
In Stock Now:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ml Was $419, Now $379, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Beautifully balanced, this opens with alluring scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and whiffs of chopped herb. Seamlessly combining ripe fruit and the firm’s trademark finesse, the bright elegantly structured palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and a hint of black tea framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It’s already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 202-2031.”
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ml Was $699, Now $619, 2 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 99 points “Wow, here is a vintage I’ve been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group. The prestigious 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva proves a mighty collector’s bottle that will undoubtedly gain in complexity and depth with careful bottle age. The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is layered and unfolds in the glass with incense baking spice ripe red cherry and cedar. It has more concentration and length through the mid-palate and offers an impeccable balance of structure ripeness and tension. It is expressive on the nose but it is even more impactful at this stage with its intensity through the palate with nearly electric energy of wild raspberry rose petal tea leaf and orange zest. Allow for cellaring another 3-4 years. Drink 2026-2046.”
In Stock Now:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ml Was $419, Now $379, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Beautifully balanced, this opens with alluring scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and whiffs of chopped herb. Seamlessly combining ripe fruit and the firm’s trademark finesse, the bright elegantly structured palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and a hint of black tea framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It’s already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 202-2031.”
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ml Was $699, Now $619, 2 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 99 points “Wow, here is a vintage I’ve been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group. The prestigious 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva proves a mighty collector’s bottle that will undoubtedly gain in complexity and depth with careful bottle age. The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is layered and unfolds in the glass with incense baking spice ripe red cherry and cedar. It has more concentration and length through the mid-palate and offers an impeccable balance of structure ripeness and tension. It is expressive on the nose but it is even more impactful at this stage with its intensity through the palate with nearly electric energy of wild raspberry rose petal tea leaf and orange zest. Allow for cellaring another 3-4 years. Drink 2026-2046.”
Shop our Autumn Savings and Close-Out sales now!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Six Picks Sale On:
Casa Emma’s 2019 Gran Selezione
Cavalli’s 2020 Tenuta degli Dei
Cordero di Montezemolo’s 2017 Enrico VI Barolo
Felsina’s 2018 Fontalloro
Le Pianelle’s 2016 Bramaterra
Produttori del Barbaresco’s 2019 Pora
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of the listed six Italian reds
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of the listed six Italian reds
Six Picks Sale ends Saturday, November 22nd at 9 am Pacific.
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Donnhoff’s Noble Dry Wines – Grosses Gewächs
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Donnhoff Grosses Gewächs
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock Donnhoff Grosses Gewächs
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Donnohff GG sale ends Monday, November 24th at 9 am Pacific.