In This Newsletter:
Featured New New Arrival:
Ulysses
Hundred Suns – Willamette Valley Star
Springtime Saké:
Drink Pink:
Rose Champagne for Mother’s Day
Producer Spotlight:
Feudo Montoni
Hirtzberg:
Austrian Treasure
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Featured New New Arrival:
Ulysses
Ulysses
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” – Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ulysses
You’ve heard of Dominus and their multi-award winning Cabernet, but did you know that there’s a sister label just as storied? Ulysses is another single vineyard owned by Christian Moueix located in Oakville at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Just like her sister, the Ulysses vineyard is organically farmed with no irrigation (No small feat given the rising temperatures as a result of climate change) and given as much pampering in the cellar as Dominus.
Primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon with a sprinkling of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the resulting wine from 2018 has been called “Dark enough to write a letter with” by some reviewers. We’ve secured an allotment of various formats, but as you can expect quantities are in short supply given the restrictive growing conditions. The vintage was described as “Picture Perfect” with no heat spikes and cooler evenings that hadn’t been seen in years. Even fire season seemed to wait until harvest was complete, making this an especially kismet vintage
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 375ML ($99.95) $79 special, 9 half bottles in stock now
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 1.5L ($399.95) $319 special, 1 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix’s Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unqiue blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns – Willamette Valley Star
Grant Coulter is one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising stars. The former managing winemaker at Beaux Frères (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as Flâneur’s Head Winemaker, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns. Anyone who loves the Beaux Frères or Flâneur wines needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing.
Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Equally as compelling as their Willamette Valley bottlings are their bold reds from the Columbia Gorge and The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Famed for their juxtaposition of aromatic lift and minerality against ripe fruit character, it’s easy to see why Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah share the throne for most cultivated varietal.
Hundred suns wines in stock now:
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “Golden straw with a hint of pale green at the edges, this wine has aromas of Meyer lemons, vanilla bean, and wet stone. Succulent flavors sail across brilliant networks of acidity and fine grain textures that keep your mouth watering for more. Winemaking: The 2020 vintage was a warm and consistent growing season. Our collection of vineyards was picked with an uncanny balance of acidity and flavor. The resulting grapes were immediately whole cluster pressed, and only the juice from the middle cut of the press cycle was selected and sent into stainless steel tanks to rest. Three to five days later native yeast fermentation took hold. The wines were then moved into a collection of 15% new and 85% seasoned French oak barrels where they were gently stirred once a week during primary fermentation. They remained on the lees until bottling. The composition of the three vineyards was blended into tanks after 11 months and bottled unfiltered in August of 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Syrah, Columbia Gorge, Oregon 2019 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Winery note “Reminiscent of wines from the northern Rhone in its complexity and structure. Initial aromas of flint and molasses give way to Asian plum, espresso, and hoisin. Vineyard: 2019 was a long growing season with moderate but dry days and cool nights blowing from the vast Columbia River. We were lucky to secure 1.5 tons of mixed clone Syrah from the Three Sleeps Vineyard located in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge AVA. This windswept vineyard located outside the town of Mosier consists of silty clay soils over basalt rocks formed from eons of floods, glacial movement, and volcanic activity. Planted in 2002 by Patrick Reuter and Leigh Bartholomew, it is farmed organically. Winemaking: 100% whole bunches were placed in an open-top fermenter and a 500 liter amphora and allowed to ferment untouched for ten days. Then, we foot stomped the clusters to release the dark juice from inside. After three days of maceracion the grapes were pressed to stainless steel where they finished primary fermentation. The wines were aged in a combination of terracotta and seasoned French oak. After 10 months they were racked to all neutral oak and left to age for an additional seven months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, The Rocks District, Oregon 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Winery note “Explosive blue fruit mingles with dried herbs and red bell pepper. This abundance of fruit is balanced by the earthy Syrah, which makes this wine a delicious and complex wine to be consumed now and over the next five years. Vineyard: Sourced from the famed River Rock Vineyard located in the The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Oregon. These soils (or lack thereof), called the Freewater Series, are eroded basalt cobbles and pebbles from the Blue Mountains. The rocks, sand, and silt were laid down in layer upon layer forming an alluvial fan on the flat Walla Walla valley floor. These dynamic soils require the vines to push roots deep between the rocks to find nutrients while the warmth absorbed by the rocks helps ripen our Cabernet. Winemaking: A Pinot Noir winemaker’s rendition of noble Cabernet (with a little Syrah). These grapes were hand-harvested and brought back to our winery in McMinnville where they were fully destemmed into a single one ton open top fermenter. After three days the native yeast took off. We gently pumped-over the juice twice daily and after ten days the fermentation was completed. Pressed to Neutral French oak and 450 liter amphora the wine rested, unmoved, for one year and was gently racked into a bottling tank. The resulting co-fermentation was bottled unfined and unfiltered.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Syrah, The Rocks District, Oregon 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Winery note “Aromas of blueberries open to black olives, licorice, creme brulee, and sage. The flavors are pure, with a hint of bittersweet chocolate and bacon fat. Winemaking: As with all of our Rhone wines the grapes were placed 100% whole bunch in tank. Gentle foot crushing in the beginning released some of the juice from the thick, leathery skins. The tank was dosed with a native yeast pied de cuve and allowed to sit untouched for 10 days. After this time the fermenter was opened and foot-stomped for two days then pressed off the skins and stems. The dark juice was placed in a combination of terracotta amphora and neutral French oak, where it rested for 10 months. The wine was moved to tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered in August of 2021. Vineyard: Sourced from vineyards located in the smallest sub-AVA in Oregon, The Rocks District of Milton Freewater. This soil (or lack thereof), called the Freewater Series is formed from eroded basalt cobbles and pebbles from the Blue Mountains. The rocks, sand, and silt were laid down in layers upon layers of an alluvial fan on the flat Walla Walla valley floor. These dynamic soils require the vine to push roots deep between the rocks to find nutrients while the warmth absorbed by the rocks helps ripen our Syrah.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We now carry Saké! Our offering encapsulates a range of styles from some of the most lauded production regions of Japan. For those unfamiliar with Saké let us provide some context. Fundamentally different in production and classification than the wines that we carry, Saké is produced from milled rice that is then fermented with yeasts and fungi (known as kōji). This process leads to higher levels of residual sugar on average, with lactic acid providing movement on the palate and lessening the perception of sweetness. The higher alcohol content of 16-20% also creates a dryer perception, making the majority of Saké taste off-dry.
Kōji is ubiquitous in East Asian food production and plays a role in everything from soy sauce to miso production due to the fungi’s ability to convert starch and other carbohydrates into sugars. Because rice doesn’t contain juice like winegrapes water is also added, oftentimes from mountain runoff or underground spring water. The primary variables that lend to the difference of flavors, aromas and sugar range from the constitution of the water used, yeast cultivar, rice varietal and most importantly: the polishing ratio or amount of milling that occurs prior to fermentation.
Saké in stock now:
Ozeki Taruzake Sake Japan 300ML ($13.95) $10.90 special,
Cedar aged
Vinpol Note: “Founded in 1711 Ozeki roughly translates to “Master” in Japan’s national sport: Sumō and is the highest rank one can achieve without regularly competing. Based in Hyogo Prefecture the house’s biggest asset is their access to the regions legendary mineral water, called miyamizu. A type of hard water containing a variety of minerals it’s one of the most prized in sake brewing for the additional flavors that are imparted due to the aforementioned mineral content. The flavors of the saké are taken to the next level with élevage in Yoshino cedar barrels (A Traditional medium dating back centuries when sake was sold by the cask).The resulting sake is highly mineral driven with notes of woodsy spice though not as aromatically dominant as incense cedar that many associate with the cultivar. Additional characteristics include lemon pith and honeydew melon with a fuller body and off dry level of sweetness.”
Kōji is ubiquitous in East Asian food production and plays a role in everything from soy sauce to miso production due to the fungi’s ability to convert starch and other carbohydrates into sugars. Because rice doesn’t contain juice like winegrapes water is also added, oftentimes from mountain runoff or underground spring water. The primary variables that lend to the difference of flavors, aromas and sugar range from the constitution of the water used, yeast cultivar, rice varietal and most importantly: the polishing ratio or amount of milling that occurs prior to fermentation.
Saké in stock now:
Ozeki Taruzake Sake Japan 300ML ($13.95) $10.90 special,
Cedar aged
Vinpol Note: “Founded in 1711 Ozeki roughly translates to “Master” in Japan’s national sport: Sumō and is the highest rank one can achieve without regularly competing. Based in Hyogo Prefecture the house’s biggest asset is their access to the regions legendary mineral water, called miyamizu. A type of hard water containing a variety of minerals it’s one of the most prized in sake brewing for the additional flavors that are imparted due to the aforementioned mineral content. The flavors of the saké are taken to the next level with élevage in Yoshino cedar barrels (A Traditional medium dating back centuries when sake was sold by the cask).The resulting sake is highly mineral driven with notes of woodsy spice though not as aromatically dominant as incense cedar that many associate with the cultivar. Additional characteristics include lemon pith and honeydew melon with a fuller body and off dry level of sweetness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ama No To ‘Heaven’s Door’ Tokubetsu Junmai Sake Japan 720ML ($39.95) $33 special, Vinpol Note: “Ama No To is A “Grower Saké” (Made by the farmers who grew the rice since the brewery’s founding in 1917) from Akita Prefecture, one of the most northerly areas of the Japanese Mainland. Translating to “Heaven’s Door” the name and magatama on the label is derived from Shinto scriptures regarding Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess and patron of rice cultivation. Tasting notes include dried chamomile, Arabian Jasmine, cloves, golden apple and white miso with an off dry level of sweetness and light body.”
Akishika Omachi Yamahai Nama Genshu Sake Japan 720ML ($54.95) $44 special,
Region: Osaka. Rice Variety: Omachi. Type: Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu. Ingredients: rice, water, koji. Brewing: Yamahai slow ferment, unpasteurized, undiluted, unfiltered. Serving Temperature: lightly chilled to lightly warmed.
Vinpol Note: “One of the few Biodynamic growers of Saké rice in the world, the house specializes in Heritage varietals, primarily Omachi (Of which most modern varietals descend from). Founded in 1886 and based in Osaka Prefecture, the brewery is considered a cult producer within Japan. Eschewing any additives or post-industrial practices the idea is to present a highly traditional sake as seen in centuries past. Slow fermented to dryness and bottled without any pasteurization, dilution or filtration the resulting Saké is earthy, weighty and loaded with umami with additional tasting notes of huángchá tea, grapefruit rind, and lily flower.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Drink Pink:
Rose Champagne for Mother’s Day
Champagne is ubiquitous with celebration, and what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day and springtime in general than with rose champagne. Usually made from adding a small amount of Pinot Noir that’s been fermented as a red wine, the resulting wine combines the mineral freshness of Champagne with the legendary aromatics and red-fruited character of Pinot Noir.
The Grand Cru village of Aÿ is famous for the structured and elegant Champagne sourced from her vineyards. Home to some of the biggest names in the Industry including Grand Marques Gosset and Bollinger, the village is famous for it’s structured Pinot Noir. Blessed with some of the highest percentages of limestone chalk outside of the Cotes de Blancs it’s been said that “The bubbles of Aÿ radiate happiness”. Gatinois is one of the best examples of this, with their family making champagne for over 12 generations and counting. As with the tradition of Champagne, the house started off by selling their tonnage to the Grand Marques (In their case Bollinger).
Jose Dhondt is a tiny producer in the Cote des Blancs village of Oger with some holdings in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. He rubs shoulders with other growers such as Pierre Gimonnet (who also produces a lovely Oger bottling at almost twice the price) and Pierre Peters (in Le Mesnil). His champagnes are beautifully resonant with the village’s world famous chalk, while still delivering a fruit salad of character that keeps the end result from being too austere.
Waris-Larmandier is a tiny estate founded in 1989. You’ll be forgiven for not having heard of it. It encompasses just over five hectares (all 32+ year old vines) and most of its understated production is snapped up in France and the UK. But the family is in good company, with close familial ties to Larmandier-Bernier, Pierre Gimonnet, and Guy Larmandier. Based in Avize, they tend vines in several Cote des Blanc villages as well as tiny parcels of Pinot Noir and Meunier in the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Bar, and the Aube. The base wines are aged in neutral barrels with liqueur de tirage and dosage made exclusively from estate vines, if added at all. Officially certified biodynamic just last year, these are structured wines bottled at a lower pressure to best showcase Chardonnay’s skill at conveying terroir.
Avize is one of the smallest villages in the Côte des Blancs. One of the original Grand Cru villages, it plays a role in some of the most recognizable Champagnes: Dom Perignon, Heidsieck’s Blanc des Millenaires, Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame, Selosse, and Agrapart. The wines are deeply influenced by the chalky soils and clay of the region, expressing a core of minerality.
Rose Champagne Selections in stock now:
A. Margaine Brut Rose Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Fall 2021 Release!
Wine Spectator 93 points “Racy acidity and a chalky underpinning define this vivid rosé Champagne, a framework deftly meshed with a gutsy core of wild cherry and raspberry fruit and accents of lemon thyme, licorice, graphite and candied kumquat. It’s harmonious and a pleasure to sip, but should pair well with food, even game or red meat. Disgorged January 2021. Drink now through 2025. 491 cases made. –AN”
[Disgorgement date may vary]
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gatinois Ay Grand Cru Brut Rose Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 6 bottles in stock now
70% 2015 vintage
John Gilman 92 points “[Review is for previous release, provided for reference.] The Gatinois non-vintage Brut Rosé currently in the market is its customary blend of ninety percent pinot noir and ten percent chardonnay, with all of the fruit hailing from the village of Aÿ. It is from the base year of 2014, with all of the vins clairs having undergone malolactic and the still red wine added to the bottling hailing from sixty year-old vines in Aÿ (after a full year of barrel aging for the red wine). It was aged sur latte for three years prior to disgorgement and finished with a dosage of six grams per liter. The wine offers up an outstanding bouquet of cherries, rhubarb, gentle spice tones, wheat toast, chalky soil tones and a bit of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and rock solid at the core, with lovely mineral drive, elegant mousse and fine length and grip on the complex and very nicely balanced finish. This is first class Aÿ Rosé! 2020-2035+.”
Peter Liem note “All Gatinois wines are labeled grand cru, as they are all pure Aÿ fruit, and while pinot noir is naturally predominant, all of the wines include a small proportion of chardonnay, anywhere between five and 20 percent. These are bold, hearty wines, with a mouthfilling depth of flavor, and due to the ripe pinot noir fruit, the wines always have a little color. “It’s a full-bodied style, with a lot of flavors and a lot of aroma,” said Pierre Cheval, the first time I ever visited him. “They’re wines for gastronomy, not for sitting around the swimming pool.” They serve as an excellent reference point for Aÿ, demonstrating a remarkable sense of place. The Gatinois range begins with the Tradition, blended from three vintages and released after three years of aging; a portion of the Tradition is held back for an additional year on the lees and released as the Réserve. The rosé is also based on a non-vintage blend, but it contains a higher content of pinot noir.”
Winery note “Intense hue with salmon-coloured highlights. Our Grand Cru Brut Rosé displays the characteristic elegant style of Gatinois Champagnes. The nose and palate offer up a subtle bouquet of red fruit (strawberries, blackberries, cherries) and a dash of spice which evolves into lingering notes of morello cherries on the rich finish. The dosage remains discreet at 6g/l. A pleasurable champagne, a champagne with heart, characterised by elegance and warmth, ideal for an impromptu aperitif with friends and perfect for gift giving. It is also excellent with food, try it paired with seared Atlantic salmon, pink on the bones, or with desserts such as a red fruit gaspacho.”
Jose Dhondt Rose de Saignee Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “[Reviewed 2021] An understated version, with a waft of pretty cherry blossom and spice notes on the nose drawing you into the glass, where a backbone of chiseled acidity is aligned with flavors of ripe red apple and raspberry fruit, pickled ginger and an underpinning of chalky mineral. Fine and vibrant in texture, this expands slowly, so give it time. Disgorged January 2021. Drink now through 2025. 200 cases made, 70 cases imported. –AN”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut Rose Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Spring 2022 Release!
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is pretty and elegant, while showing a bit of a lighter hand relative to the other wines in the range. Then again, this is a Chardonnay-based Rosé, so that makes sense. Bright floral, blood orange and red berry fruit all open in the glass. Medium in body and taut, with striking energy, the Rosé is exquisitely beautiful and so delicious. I loved it. Disgorged: November, 2019.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A pure note of macerated cherry is backed by a firm acidity in this lively rosé Champagne, while a subtle, smoky underpinning and hints of pink grapefruit peel and grated ginger ride the creamy bead. Disgorged December 2019. Drink now through 2023.”
[Disgorgement date may vary]
Waris-Larmandier ‘L’Istant de Passion’ Brut Rose Champagne NV ($89.95) $75 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Fall 2021 Release!
Importer note “L’Instant de Passions Rosé is sourced from the estate’s biodynamically farmed, old-vine chardonnay plots in the Grand Cru villages of Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs and pinot noir from the Côte des Bar. The Waris-Larmandier family utilizes natural and regenerative agricultural practices—L’Instant de Passions Rosé is a certified organic and biodynamic Champagne. The Waris-Larmandier style is terroir-focused, understated, structured, and ultra-elegant. L’Instant de Passions Rosé is a very limited, complex œil de perdrix rosé with mellow, earthy mushroom nuances, melting into strawberries, pink grapefruit, saline notes, and baking spices. The harmonious palate has a savory, smooth and creamy texture and a long, elegant and supple finish. A rosé that can be enjoyed before a meal but also has the tension to pair beautifully with food.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Producer Spotlight:
Feudo Montoni
Feudo Montoni
Feudo Montoni is an outlier in the world of Sicilian wine. Nestled on a high elevation site on Mt. Cammarata this features a dramatically cooler season than others in production, contributing to some of the most layered and nuanced iterations of Nero d’Avola. The high elevation and high proportion of volcanic sand make the site inhospitable for the Phylloxera louse, with the vines being over 120 years old and planted on their original rootstock. Their other holdings and winery are based in the village of Cammarata, widely considered the breadbasket of the country with a wide range of agricultural products under their spade.
Vrucara features incredible depth at play with high tannins and acid that hollows the palate with a long finish of rosemary and Mexican chocolate. It’s rare to find a wine this multidimensional and storied for less than $100, let alone under $50. Highly ageworthy and will reward decanting or extensive cellaring. From the first pour there are exuberant aromas of oregano, anise, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and blackberries intermingled with a lingering copal resin and myrrh element that fills the glass. Full of verve, and whipsawing fruit character that begins in black raspberries before a metamorphosis into spiced Italian plums and espresso.
In addition to the Vrucara offering Feudo Montoni also makes a passito wine made from Nero D’Avola and Perricone. In this style of wine the grapes are laid out on straw mats to dry in the Sicilian Sun, concentrating their sugars and tannins before a slow barrel fermentation. The use of exclusively red grapes balances out the sugars as a result of the tannin inclusion, not unlike how ports can taste dry in spite of having residual sugar.
Feudo Montoni Wines in stock now:
Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT Sicily 2015 ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Tasted from magnum, the 2015 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Vrucara is a dark and penetrating wine with a chiseled and pungent side that delivers dried cherry and blackberry preserves. There is a point of ripeness, maybe even jammy cherry with lots of inky dark fruit. I knocked off a point or two compared to the previous edition because I am less a fan of that ripeness. You get cherry liqueur or cherry syrup sweetness on the close. However, this remains one of the benchmark bottles for Sicily’s banner grape Nero d’Avola.“
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93+ points “Good full ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of red/dark berries, plum, smoke, coriander and herbs. Juicy, taut and precise, with musky notes that extend onto the long, very smooth back end.”
Vrucara features incredible depth at play with high tannins and acid that hollows the palate with a long finish of rosemary and Mexican chocolate. It’s rare to find a wine this multidimensional and storied for less than $100, let alone under $50. Highly ageworthy and will reward decanting or extensive cellaring. From the first pour there are exuberant aromas of oregano, anise, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and blackberries intermingled with a lingering copal resin and myrrh element that fills the glass. Full of verve, and whipsawing fruit character that begins in black raspberries before a metamorphosis into spiced Italian plums and espresso.
In addition to the Vrucara offering Feudo Montoni also makes a passito wine made from Nero D’Avola and Perricone. In this style of wine the grapes are laid out on straw mats to dry in the Sicilian Sun, concentrating their sugars and tannins before a slow barrel fermentation. The use of exclusively red grapes balances out the sugars as a result of the tannin inclusion, not unlike how ports can taste dry in spite of having residual sugar.
Feudo Montoni Wines in stock now:
Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT Sicily 2015 ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Tasted from magnum, the 2015 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Vrucara is a dark and penetrating wine with a chiseled and pungent side that delivers dried cherry and blackberry preserves. There is a point of ripeness, maybe even jammy cherry with lots of inky dark fruit. I knocked off a point or two compared to the previous edition because I am less a fan of that ripeness. You get cherry liqueur or cherry syrup sweetness on the close. However, this remains one of the benchmark bottles for Sicily’s banner grape Nero d’Avola.“
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93+ points “Good full ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of red/dark berries, plum, smoke, coriander and herbs. Juicy, taut and precise, with musky notes that extend onto the long, very smooth back end.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Feudo Montoni Passito Rosso Sicilia IGT Sicily NV 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 17 half-bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata-Vinous 94 points “Bright deep red with an orange rim. The nose really opens with aeration to offer sweet red plum, dehydrated red cherry, cinnamon and raisins. Then similar flavors to the aromas lifted by juicy, harmonious acidity. Finishes very long and suave with saline nuances and repeating notes of raisins. Lovely, light on its feet dessert wine that seems less sweet than it really is thanks to its piercing acidity. One of the best sweet wines I have tasted so far this year. This is a blend of air-dried Nero d’Avola and Perricone aged in wood barrels for seven months and then twelve months in bottle prior to going on sale.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hirtzberg:
Austrian Treasure
Austrian Treasure
Did you know that Central Europe was one of the first regions in Europe that saw widespread viticulture? Archeological evidence shows that the Smaragd was making wine as early as the 9th century with the arrival of the Roman Empire. Much like the Languedoc in France and Campania in Italy you can still see the stone terraces that were built by the Romans to prevent erosion. Hirtzberger has dedicated themselves to restoring and maintaining these sites, as the vast majority are abandoned due to the extensive labor required to farm them.
Despite of this storied history and, as well as being the birthplace of Biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. With the strictest production laws in the world, Austrian wines are required to show no oak influence and reach a minimum alcohol level depending on their classification. These laws were drafted by a consortium of producers not unlike the VDP in Germany.
The Vinea Wachau as its known recognizes three quality levels and can include Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Hirtzberger produces wines across all quality levels recognized by law entirely from their terraced vineyards. With the minimum slope of 33 degrees and going as high as 90, the vines are quite literally clinging to the rocks. These precipitous conditions create a level of mineral expression paired with phenolic ripeness in a way that is wholly unique. These juxtaposing characteristics make them perfect for a variety of cuisines, with vegetable courses being the traditional pairing.
Hirtzberger wines in stock now:
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Pluris Grauburgunder Smaragd Wachau 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Ried Pluris Grauburgunder Smaragd comes from deep and clayey soil and shows a clear and coolish, fine and elegant bouquet. Picked on September 17, this is a delicate, very elegant, lush and salty Pinot Gris with remarkable purity, elegance and finesse. It’s an aromatic and crystalline cool-climate version of the grape variety. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
Despite of this storied history and, as well as being the birthplace of Biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. With the strictest production laws in the world, Austrian wines are required to show no oak influence and reach a minimum alcohol level depending on their classification. These laws were drafted by a consortium of producers not unlike the VDP in Germany.
The Vinea Wachau as its known recognizes three quality levels and can include Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Hirtzberger produces wines across all quality levels recognized by law entirely from their terraced vineyards. With the minimum slope of 33 degrees and going as high as 90, the vines are quite literally clinging to the rocks. These precipitous conditions create a level of mineral expression paired with phenolic ripeness in a way that is wholly unique. These juxtaposing characteristics make them perfect for a variety of cuisines, with vegetable courses being the traditional pairing.
Hirtzberger wines in stock now:
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Pluris Grauburgunder Smaragd Wachau 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Ried Pluris Grauburgunder Smaragd comes from deep and clayey soil and shows a clear and coolish, fine and elegant bouquet. Picked on September 17, this is a delicate, very elegant, lush and salty Pinot Gris with remarkable purity, elegance and finesse. It’s an aromatic and crystalline cool-climate version of the grape variety. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Wosendorfer Kirchweg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Wachau 2018 ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Ried Kirchweg Wösendorfer Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is clear, deep, intense and slightly crystalline and flinty on the elegant nose. Full-bodied and sweetish on the palate but fresh and elegant, with fine mineral grip, this is a charming Veltliner with a refined and elegant, aromatic and nicely grippy finish. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
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Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Rotes Tor Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Wachau 2018 ($39.95) $29 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Assembling the fruit from several vineyards that were picked in the first half of October, the 2018 Spitz Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Rotes Tor offers a clear, ripe and elegant nose of tropical fruits intermixed with elegant and flinty terroir notes. Ripe and piquant on the crystalline and salty palate, this is an elegant and already pretty complex Veltliner with an aromatic and refreshing, elegant finish with good grip. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Rotes Tor Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Wachau 2018 ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points “The nose here has a very restrained and rocky feel with such intense aromas of ripe citrus fruit, pepper and pears. The palate is dry, sheer and linear with good, fresh acidity drive and a smoothly rendered finish. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Rotes Tor is entirely based on the fruit from Spitz (the vineyards below the red gate) and opens with a deep, precise and flinty bouquet that shows a coolish-mineral and darker-toned character with rather discreet fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a lush and mouth-filling, very fine and elegant Grüner with a long, intense and refreshing crystalline and salty finish. Excellent grip. From pure, weathered gneiss soils. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
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Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Spitzer Donaugarten Gruner Veltliner Steinfeder Wachau 2018 ($29.95) $24 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate“Hirtzberger’s 2018 Spitz Grüner Veltliner Steinfeder was picked between October 17 and 19 and opens with a ripe and elegant, fruit-intense and charming nose with delicate crystalline aromas. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a mouth-filling and refreshing Grüner bottled with 11.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.” –
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Setzberg Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2018 ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “From the Spitzer Graben, and thus picked pretty late on October 21, the 2018 Ried Setzberg Riesling Smaragd is intense and concentrated but coolish and spicy on the elegant and promising nose that represents the weathered gneiss soils and its coolish terroir perfectly. Precise ripe apricot aromas on the nose lead to an elegant fine and balanced, almost silky-textured, full-bodied palate, with lush and ripe but precise and elegant fruit and a long and intense, well-structured and salty finish. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Steinterrassen Riesling Federspiel Wachau 2018 ($41.95) $36 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “From the fruit grown in terraced single vineyards and predominantly from younger vines, the 2018 Riesling Federspiel Steinterrassen is still somewhat untamed and reductive but very clear on the nose that reminds me of the Rieslings from Tim Fröhlich (Weingt Schäfer-Fröhlich, Nahe). Flinty, fresh, very precise and refined, this is a remarkably fine and elegant Riesling with intense and elegant, really refined and piquant apricot fruit. Excellent! Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Ried Steinporz Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2018 ($79.95) $59 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Tangerine and peach unite on the nose in a quite disarming fashion. The palate comes in with more peachy juiciness and adds overtones of ripe passion fruit with both its tartness and tropicality. A lovely seam of vivid, zesty freshness cuts through the generous, abundant and juicy fruit, always with exotic highlights, always with zesty aromas. This has life and drive, energy and brio. Enjoy 2025–2045. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
Decanter 95 points “Franz Hirtzberger is the most esteemed grower in Spitz, and his wines can be surprisingly voluptuous. Often Singerriedl is the source of his top Riesling, but in 2018, I prefer the Steinporz, which grows on weathered gneiss soils. The stone-fruits nose is rich and opulent without being blowsy. Creamy, very ripe, it’s a touch broad but that ripeness is cut by a stony minerality. Resplendent fruit, fine depth and impressive length. Drinking Window 2020 – 2035.”
Stuart Pigott 94 points “So much going on here from the outset, the nose suggesting mango pastries, papaya dessert and then fresher sensations of gin and tonic and jasmine. Full-bodied, very intense and oily, but linear and vertical at the same time. The acidity crafts a wiry shape, amidst powerful tropical notes. Drink now.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Picked on September 24, so a month earlier than in 2017, the 2018 Ried Steinporz Riesling Smaragd is intensely aromatic and spicy on the concentrated nose that is reminiscent of apricot chutney. Round and lush on the mouth-filling palate, this is an intense and juicy, very charming and generous but still elegant and refined Riesling with a long and complex, tightly woven and spicy-flavored finish. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!