Wednesday, May 25th, 2016
Jump Start Sale; H. Boillot / Chapoutier / Gaja; This Just In: 100 Pointer – Casanova di Neri Tenuta di Nuova; Chateau Puech-Haut; Remelluri 2010 Reserva; Rosé Recap; Isole e Olena; Bedrock Heritage; Castello di Ama; Quimera; Elizabeth Chambers; Ameztoi Rose Re-Arrival
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Jump Start Sale
Newly Arrived!
Bodegas Marco Abella Mas Mallola, Priorat DOCa 2008 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Dry, schisty aromas of cherry and spice are reserved and elevated. This is a bright wine with juicy acidity and complexity. Flavors of baked berry fruits are minerally at the core, while the finish is smooth, mature and steady, with lasting purity. Drink through 2019.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points – (63% garnacha, 20% carinena, 11% cabernet sauvignon and 6% merlot; aged for 20 months in French oak): Deep ruby. Lively aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri, vanilla and pipe tobacco, with a hint of incense gaining strength with air. Fresh and lively on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a zesty blood orange note. Juicy, appealingly sweet and seamless, boasting very good energy and thrust to its smooth, gently tannic finish. (Sep 2014)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
The average price is $45
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H. Boillot / Chapoutier / Gaja
Magical Trio – Just Arrived!
Domaine Henri Boillot Clos du Roi, Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “The 2010 Beaune Clos du Roi is a huge wine bursting with dark cherries, plums, menthol and spices. Firm, yet silky tannins frame the intense, powerful finish. This is Boillot’s first plot to ripen.
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points Good deep red-ruby. Wilder on the nose than the Savigny, with black cherry and smoke aromas complicated by hints of dark chocolate and leather. Juicy and quite tight in the mouth, with the wine’s acidity a bit dominant in the early going. Cherry and mineral flavors emerge with air. Finishes distinctly saline and classically dry.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Les Granits Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Robert Parker 96 points “The brilliant 2011 St.-Joseph Les Granits Blanc offers up scents of caramelized citrus, orange blossoms and honeysuckle. It is full-bodied with loads of fruit, and as of now, the telltale minerality has not yet penetrated the lavish fruit notes.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $73
Gaja Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($219) $189 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Smack from the start, the 2010 Barbaresco shows full-on Gajissimo personality with irresistible opulence and intensity, magically contrasted against remarkable smoothness and finesse. Everyone wants to know his secret. The wine delivers seductively rich concentration and integrated oak that is offset by a delicate portfolio of chiseled mineral, dried berry fruit, Spanish cedar, crushed herb, anisette and blue flower. Fruit is sourced from 14 vineyards in Barbaresco. It already leaves a mark, but will reward those who wait. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.” WA
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Newly Arrived 100-Point Wine
Only 10 Bottles Remain!
Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a protagonist of the vintage. The fruit is deep and dark with rich levels of extract, intensity and flavor. It goes far beyond your standard cherry and blackberry to include plum cake, spice bread and bacon-wrapped prune. Nothing is obvious or monochromatic about this wine. Everything is nuanced and ethereal. Tenuta Nuova is also distinguished by the linear mineral notes that are characteristic of this single-vineyard site. In 2010, those traits are especially well-defined and pronounced. The tannins reach a level of suppleness that is almost impossible to find in the sometimes prickly and acidic Sangiovese grape. If there is one thing Giacomo Neri has mastered, it is harvesting at optimal ripeness: He knows his property and his vines better than most and it shows. Collectors will want to put this wine aside ten years or longer.” WA
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One Week Left!
Highlight New Arrival
Chateau Puech-Haut
Inspired Languedoc – @ $16.60 // $14.92
…..Another sensational offering from proprietor Gerard Bru:
Robert Parker: “With Bru’s top Reserve wine selling for nearly $100 a bottle, the Prestige cuvee is an outstanding value. Interestingly, Bru has had three of the greatest winemaking consultants on Planet Earth working for him, first Michel Rolland, followed by Claude Gros and now Philippe Cambie. A blend of 60-75-year-old vine Grenache (55%) and 40-year old Syrah (45%), all grown on limestone soils dominated by the famous large rocks (galets roules) also found in parts of Chateauneuf du Pape. The wine is aged in concrete tanks prior to being bottled unfiltered. Some of the vineyards are farmed organically and others biodynamically.”
Vinopolis Sale-abration- *Special Introductory Pricing
Until Midnight May 31st :
Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Prestige Rouge 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special*
Case-12 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Prestige Rouge 2013 750ML ($249.95) $179 pre-arrival special*
Wine Advocate 93 points – “The 2013 Coteaux du Languedoc Prestige (which was already in bottle at the time of this tasting) is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah aged all in concrete tank. Fresh, elegant and thrillingly pure, with first rate aromas of blackberry, fresh plum, licorice and ground herbs, it is decidedly sexy and forward, yet stays perfectly balanced, with juicy acidity and fine tannin on the finish. Easily one of the top estates in the Languedoc (if not southern France), Chateau Puech Haut lies just outside the village of Saint-Drezery and is owned and run by Gerard Bru, with consulting help from Philippe Cambie. They produce a number of cuvees, with their entry level efforts representing superb values, and their top cuvees being able to stand toe to toe with the greatest wines in the world.”
The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
*Special Pricing Until Midnight May 31st ;
Afterward, Price Goes to $18/btl and $189/case!
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Remelluri 2010 Reserva
Arriving This Fall
“I visited the historical property of Remelluri, an estate On the outskirts of the village of Labastida in Álava. It is the source of one of the first modern Rioja wines created by Jaime Rodríguez and his wife Amaya Hernandorena in 1968. The full name of the company is Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri, Farm of Our Lady of Remelluri, as it had been a small settlement created in the 10th century. They have the remaining of a wine lagar and a necropolis from those early years. The estate was later turned in to a monastical farm by Jerónimo monks in the fourteenth century. After some changes in ownership, the property was finally purchased by the Rodríguez family in 1967 when it had 20 hectares of vineyards. The land under vine today is 108 hectares, and the Rodríguez family, whose scion Telmo Rodríguez is now back at the helm after creating his own company, are behind one of the first château-style wines in Spain. I could see the changes by Telmo and the new team (winemaker Pablo Eguzkiza in back), but it’ still work in progress. The best is yet to come.” – Robertt Parker
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that represents the house style and also the biggest volume here with around 350,000 bottles produced is the 2010 Reserva which was cropped from an almost perfect growing season. A blend of the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and the whites Viura and Malvasía Riojana, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and oak vats then matured in French oak barrels for 17 months. The nose has earthy aromas and notes of ripe orange peel giving old-style character to the wine marked by very well-integrated oak and an obvious Rioja character. There are cherries, plums and spices with licorice and ink aromas. The day after, it has more strawberries with very good freshness, so the evolution in bottle should be good. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good acidity that ends with sweet fruit flavors and something earthy, very pleasant and easy to drink. It grows on you.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Rosé Recap
See the World Through Pink-Tinted Glasses
As the weather starts to heat up, we thought we’d keep you in the loop on our stock of rosé from around the globe – all currently in stock and ready for spring-summer fun! Check our website at vinopoliswineshop.com to see all rosés, including pre-arrivals and case deals!
Oregon
Love & Squalor Rosé of Gewurztraminer 2014 $16
Élevée ‘Three Martins’ Rosé of Pinot Noir $21.90
J. Christopher ‘Cristo Irresisto’ Rosé 2015 $14
Matello Rosé of Pinot Noir 2014 $16.60
California
Bebame Rosé 2015 $18
Loire Valley, France
Domaine de la Petite Mairie Bourgueil Rosé 2015 $18
Domaine de Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé 2014 $20.90, 91 JR
Chateau Soucherie Rosé de Loire 2015 $18
Chateau de l’Eperonniere Rosé de Loire 2015 $18
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rosé 2015 $28
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rosé 2015 (Magnum) $59
M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rosé 2015 $14
Reverdy Sancerre ‘Terre de Maimbray’ Rosé 2015 $21.90
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Chateau de Lascaux Rosé 2014 (Magnum) $16.60, 88 JR
Clos Canos Corbieres Rosé 2014 $11.90
Mas Cal Demoura ‘Qu’es Aquo’ Rosé 2015 $18
Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc Rosé 2015 $24
Chateau de Montfaucon ‘Les Gardettes’ Rosé 2015 $11.90
Provence, France
Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rosé 2015 $69
Chateau Pradeaux Rosé 2015 $18
Chateau Simone Palette Rosé 2014 $59
Peyrassol ‘Commanderie de Peyrassol’ Rosé 2015 $18
Peyrassol ‘Commanderie de Peyrassol’ Rosé 2015 (Magnum) $49
Clos Cibonne Cuvee Tradition Rosé 2014 $24
Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rosé 2014 $30.90
Chateau la Mascaronne ‘Quat’Saisons Rosé 2015 $18
Chateau Henri Bonnaud Sainte-Victoire Terre Promise Rosé 2014 $18
Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle ‘Coeur de Grain’ Rosé 2014 $33, 92 JR
Le Galantin Bandol Rosé 2015 $18
Simone Grandes Carmes De Simone Rosé 2014 $33
Chateau de Roquefort ‘Corail’ Rosé 2014 (Magnum) $29, 91 WE
Domaine de Triennes Rosé 2014 $11.90
Savoie/Beaujolais/Burgundy. France
Pierre Boniface ‘Les Rocailles’ Rosé 2015 $16.60
Chermette/Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rosé 2014 $14, 88 WA
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé 2015 $18
Sud-Ouest, France
Domaine Berangeraie Rosé 2015 – Cahors $11.90
Domaine des Cassagnoles Rosé 2015 – Gascony $11.90
Rhône Valley, France
Domaine de Fenouillet Cotes du Ventoux Rosé 2015 $14
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Cote du Rhone Rosé 2015 $14
Domaine Les Pallieres Au Petit Bonheur Gigondas Rosé 2014 $17
Chateau de Manissy Tavel ‘Cuvee des Lys’ Rosé 2014 $16
Domaine du Gour de Chaule ‘Amour de Rosé’ 2015 $24
Domaine Les Grands Bois ‘Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs’ Rosé 2015 $14
Domaine du Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rosé 2015 $18
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rosé 2015 $24
Spain
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 (Magnum) – Rioja $28, 88WA
Celler Pardas Sumoll Rosado 2015 – Catalonia $16
Italy
Castell’in Villa La Gazzara Rosato Toscana IGT 2015 – Tuscany $18
Germany
Seehof Pinot Noir Rosé 2015 – Rheinhessen $16
Wein-Erbhof Stein Rosé Trocken 2014 – Mosel $18
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Isole e Olena
Tuscan Treasures
Isole e Olena came to life in the 1950’s when two adjoining estates, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’ merged when purchased by the De Marchi family. The De Marchi’s had specific plans for their site and took the effort to plant specialized vineyards, while making major expansions in the cellar. Now in its fourth generation, Paola De Marchi has been the proprietor since 1976 of the now well established winery located just north of the village of Castellina, in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany.
Isole e Olena is considered a pioneer as far as bringing Bordeaux varieties to the historical region, as well as focusing on different whites, used to make beautiful Vin Santo in which Paola prides himself in and also excels. The history of the estate dates back to centuries ago, with the actual village of Olena originating as far back as the 12th Century. Its 45 hectares (about 111 acres) of vineyards are situated between 350-450 meters above sea level, and are planted primarily on galestro soil. Paola’s serious dedication and determination in changing both the name and quality of this estate has been extremely successful, and he has made the winery into what Galloni calls ‘a powerhouse’ in Tuscany.
Isole e Olena’s Cepparello is Paolo’s flagship wine that was introduced in 1980, a 100% Sangiovese wine which set the standard for the pure Sangiovese movement, prior to a change in DOC regulations that now allows for a single varietal Sangiovese. Cepparello is aged in French oak barrels, and has really developed finesse it rarely possessed in the original bottlings, due to more meticulous fermentation management in the cellar and the usage of a higher quality oak since 1993. When speaking of quality over the years it really all comes down to the dirt though, and the increasing age of the vineyards that create greater complexities with strong mineral components and intense flavor characteristics. Cepparello comes from the top selection of the estate’s best fruit from their vineyards in Barberino Val d’Elsa, located in the Northern part of Chianti Classico. It is a style that possesses ‘finesse over power’ and has the aging capability of over 20+ years.
Isole e Olena Wines Available Here Now
Isole e Olena Collezione De Marchi Chardonnay Toscana IGT 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer note “After many attempts at a white wine from Trebbiano and Malvasia, Paolo decided to use those grapes solely for Vin Santo and in 1987 made his first 100% Chardonnay. The vineyards are a mix of exposures from West, East and some North. Paolo likes to keep the heat accumulation down in the vineyard and extend hand time as long as possible. Harvest occurs in September. It’s fermented in stainless steel then sur-lie aged in French oak barrique, 1/3 new for 10 to 12 months depending on the vintage. Battonage for the first 6 months.”
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico brings together the fresh aromatics of a cool year along with lovely mid-palate pliancy. The flavors are bright, high-toned and decidedly leaning towards the red-fruit end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, herbs and anise grace the soft, aromatic finish. The overall impression is of lovely mid-palate juiciness, even if the technical stats suggest a lighter-bodied wine. That is why wine can never be measured by numbers alone.”
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2005 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 2 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Cepparello is striking. It possesses stunning depth and a darker profile of fruit than is typical. The 2005 was quite compact when first released, but what a difference a few years in bottle make. Today the 2005 has begun to blossom into a big, dramatic wine for the year. As was the case throughout most of Chianti Classico, 2005 was shaping up to be a great year until the rains arrived just before harvest. This is a fabulous effort on its own, but especially notable for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT 2007 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2007 Syrah Collezione De Marchi bursts from the glass with masses of dark red fruit, smoke and spices, all of which flow effortlessly from this exuberant, caressing wine. This is a first-class effort from start to finish. Expressive aromatics are woven throughout, adding to an impression of total finesse and harmony. Mint, flowers and raspberries linger on the caressing finish. This is a dazzling effort.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($89.95) $55 special (was $66), 36+ bottles available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 1.5L ($159.95) $119 special (was $133), 3 magnums available
Case-6 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($499.95) Now $299 (was $376), 1 six-pack available (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $73
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2012 Cepparello is magnificent. Radiant, pliant and super-expressive, the 2012 offers magnificent intensity, with silky tannins wrapped around a core of rich, dark-toned fruit. The intensity of the fruit suggests a warm vintage, but the structure is more medium in body and typical of a cooler year. Today, the 2012 gives the impression it will drink well pretty much upon release, but history has taught me Cepparello often shuts down in bottle. Either way, the 2012 is superb.” AG
Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione Privata Toscana IGT 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Syrah Collezione Privata jumps from the glass with expressive, pungent aromatics and waves of super-expressive dark red/black stone fruits. Mint, sage, tobacco, rosemary and plums all develop in the glass, adding further dimensions of complexity. An intensely floral, savory finish laced with lavender, violets, rose petals and spices rounds things out. At six years of age, the 2008 Syrah remains fresh, vibrant and impeccable in its purity. In particular, the interplay of dense fruit and cooler, varietal Syrah notes is compelling.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 9 bottles available
Case-6 Isole e Olena Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2008 750ML ($479.95) $419 special, 1 six-pack available (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “At the beginning of what promises to be a long drinking window, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi is stunning. Savory herbs, tar, licorice, cassis, graphite and melted road tar seduce the intellectual and hedonistic senses in a wine that has everything. A vibrant, powerful, structured wine underpinned by intense saline notes, the 2008 possesses remarkable finesse and fabulous overall balance. This is another fabulous wine from Paolo De Marchi.” AG
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is superb. Black cherry jam, crème de cassis, smoke, plums, menthol, licorice and violets form a stunning backdrop as the 2011 opens up in the glass. Sumptuous and layered yet also quite fresh (especially for the year), the 2011 possesses superb balance and exceptional finesse. The intensity of the fruit nearly buries the tannins, but they are there. My impression is that the 2011 will offer a long and wide window of pure drinking pleasure.” AG
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2003 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 28 half-bottles available
“High-toned nose, rich in dried fruit, marmalade and salted nut aromas. Utterly delicious; intense and crammed with flavour – raisins, figs, orange peel – but relatively light on its feet with cracking freshness.”–Decanter Magazine
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2004 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Deep amber-yellow. Sexy, kaleidoscopic nose combines exotic tropical fruits, chestnut honey, raisin, dried fig, caramel and a musky iodine note. Then sharply delineated and penetrating on the palate in spite of its honeyed sweetness, with superb acidity giving spine to the dried fruit and ripe citrus flavors. This wonderfully vibrant yet thick and rich Vin Santo coats the mouth on the long, smooth finish. Great stuff.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2005 375ML ($59.95) $47 special, 2 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2005 Vin Santo shows subtle signs of a warm vintage with candied orange peel, caramel, canned peach, honey and blanched almond. It spreads with thick intensity over the palate, offering sweetened, syrupy thickness. Cost; $55/375ml.” WA
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Orange peel, dried flowers, herbs, almonds, mint and sweet tobacco meld together in Isole e Olena’s 2005 Vin Santo. Delicate and lifted in style, the 2005 captures the essence of what can make Vin Santo compelling; namely a fabulous interplay between the oxidative notes the wine develops over the many years it spends in barrel, and the fresh, vibrant acidity conferred by white grapes.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2006 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 35 half-bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2006 Vin Santo is quite powerful and viscous in the glass, perhaps a bit more so than is the norm. An exotic mélange of dried fig, honey, sage, baking spices and sweet herbs are all thrust forward. This is one of the most intense Vin Santos I can remember tasting at Isole e Olena. The 220 grams of residual sugar are clearly felt in the wine’s heft, yet all the elements are in the right place.” AG
Isole e Olena Wine Arriving in September
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2006 750ML ($249.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2006 1.5L ($499.95) $389 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2006 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a controversial wine and for good reason. Proprietor Paolo De Marchi was initially opposed to the idea of introducing the Gran Selezione category above the Chianti Classico Riserva. But more than a year ago, the Institute of Masters of Wine held a special dinner in Florence and producers were invited to pour only Gran Selezione wines. Paolo had an amazing barrel of Sangiovese put aside for a commemorative wine to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a winemaker. He hoped to dedicate that wine as a special limited release. Because he also wanted to pour something of his at the Masters of Wine dinner, he declassified the wine and re-registered it as a Gran Selezione. This also explains why it is from an older vintage. Most of his peers inaugurated this new category with the 2010 vintage. Only 1,800 bottles were made (of which 500 are put aside for the family’s personal use) and the blend consists of Sangiovese with 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Syrah. “I love Chianti Classico and I love super Tuscans,” says Paolo De Marchi. “This wine is a crossover of the two.” The wine shows gorgeous ripeness with brooding dark fruit, depth and extreme balance. This is a wine that makes a statement upfront both in terms of the quality of the aromas and its overall integrity and persistency.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $206
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Elio Grasso Classico
2008 Barolo
Elio Grasso transformed his family’s estate vineyard holdings in to a winery in the late 1970s with the guidance of Aldo Contero. His son, Gianluca, has taken the helm at the winery and developed a new, modern-style reserve wine to compliment the more traditional releases. The family’s 18 hectares include holdings in the Ginestra and Gavarini vineyards. The Gavarini Chiniera and the Ginestra Casa Mate wines are made in a classic style from 27 year old vines. The wines are aging in large Slavonian oak barrels. Scoop up this stellar find – it is just entering its drinking wine and promises decades more of life ahead!
A Barolo; peer to the best, mostly @ double this cost:
Elio Grasso Gavarini Vigna Chiniera, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 25 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2008 Barolo Gavarini Vigna Chiniera is flat-out great. Sweet roses, spices, mint, flowers and red berries are some of the notes that emerge from this profound, utterly moving Barolo. The 2008 possesses dazzling inner perfume, endless layers of bright red fruit and stunning overall balance. Fine, silky tannins frame the extraordinarily elegant finish. This is a fabulous wine from Gianluca Grasso and his family. Chalky notes frame an energetic, brilliant finish sprinkled with shades of the 1989.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Hints of coffee and sandalwood mark this rich yet racy red, whose core flavors are cherry, strawberry and underbrush. There’s some muscle and density, firming up on the finish, with adequate sweet fruit for balance. Best from 2015 through 2030. 1,200 cases made.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94+ points “Good bright, deep red. Knockout nose offers pungent flinty minerality, white pepper, rose petal and spices; at once explosive and pure. Wonderfully intense, sappy and spicy on the palate, with a suave, fine-grained texture and great perfumed, floral delicacy. I might have picked this blind as a Chambolle cru. Less plush than the Ginestra Casa Mate but wonderfully tight and vibrant on the back end, in need of extended cellaring.”
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Bedrock Heritage
A Piece of Sonoma History
“Founded in 1854 by Generals William “Tecumseh” Sherman and General “Fightin’ Joe” Hooker, Bedrock Vineyard has grown grapes for over 150 years. Following the first epidemic of phylloxera in the mid-1880’s, the vineyard was replanted in 1888 by Senator George Hearst—a mining magnet, an early father of California, and the father of publisher William Randolph Hearst. It is from those 120 year old vines that the Bedrock Heirloom Wine is crafted.” – Winery notes.
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2013 Bedrock Heritage Wine is one of the most intriguing wines in the range. Smoke, cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes meld together in a powerful yet nuanced wines built on delineation and energy. Even with all of its intensity, the 2013 remains lifted, floral and light on its feet for such a big wine. This is by far the most polished and refined wine I have tasted from the Bedrock Vineyard, where the wines have often been much riper and bigger.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
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Castello di Ama
Chianti Classico Case Deals
Ama is a modern estate comprising 500 acres of land, 200 of which are vineyards. These vineyards are divided into five important parcels; San Lorenzo, Bellavista, La Casuccia, Bertinga and Montebuoni. In the 1970s, four families formed a partnership and purchased the property with the goal of producing world-class wines. Castello Di Ama is unique, employing its best Sangiovese to produce Chianti Classico, unlike many Tuscan producers who have chosen to blend their best Sangiovese into Vini da Tavola or Super Tuscans. The San Lorenzo is one of three Gran Selezione Chianti Classico wines from Castello di Ama. Gran Selezione is a new classification for Chianti Classico, representing the very pinnacle of wine production from the region.
Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($57.95) $41.90 special, 19 bottles available
Case-6 Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($259.95) $233 special, 3 half-cases available (that’s only $38.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($549.95) $432 special, 11 cases available (that’s only $36/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “This has a dusty character on the nose with soil, dried fruit and blueberry. Flowers too. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Tight and structured. Shows wonderful depth of fruit and beauty. Chewy. Better in 2016.” JS
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Achaval Ferrer Quimera
Mendoza by the Half-Case
The Quimera blend was first released in 2001. It is a unique vineyard selection wine that changes year to year based on the vintage and quality of the grapes. The goal of winemakers Santiago Achaval and Roberto Cipresso is to select grapes in the vineyard that offer dark, robust flavors with earthy and herbal notes. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and offers concentrated, robust notes of blackberries, purple flowers, chocolate and rosemary.
Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 6 six-packs available (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “There’s a minerality and intensity to this wine with limestone and salt. Full-bodied yet so refined. Sexy and beautiful. Mostly malbec with cabernet franc, merlot and a bit of petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous Media “(aged in French oak, 40% new, for 12 months; 50% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot): Dark red-ruby. Ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate. Dense and fine-grained, showing attractive spicy lift to its dark berry flavors. Ripe, harmonious acidity gives this wine a seamless quality. Classy juice.”
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Discounted in Extremis – Cut down in its Prime Arriving Friday!
Elizabeth Chambers Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir- Arriving Friday!
Elizabeth Chambers Cellar Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2011 750ML ($41.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Dried cherry, redcurrant and rhubarb on the nose, with hints of rose and allspice adding complexity. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering zesty redcurrant and cherry skin flavors and a suggestion of succulent herbs. The gently sweet finish features repeating spiciness, very good persistence and dusty tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.89
The average price is $39
And Re-Arriving Friday:
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 RE-arrival special
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbon to give it a light spritz. Fermented in stainless steel. Tasting Notes: Candied red fruits combine with a lime infused edge makes this a wildly intriguing rosé.”
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