In This Newsletter:
Inspired Champagne
Molitor for the Masses
Grape of the Week: Petite Sirah
Multitude of Magnums
Inspired Champagne
Best loved for their pink Champagnes, Billecart-Salmon also crafts superb blancs. Vinified 100% in oak and blended from all three main Champagne varieties, this is bold, rich, and buttery.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “With 40% of older reserve wines in the blend, this Champagne was fermented in wood. Its aroma brings out toastiness, while on the palate, the richness of the wine suggests maturity. It is a finely balanced wine, ready to drink now.”
2018 was a sunny vintage that produced evocative and mineral Champagnes. We’ve adored Diebolt-Vallois for years for their excellent value. In a top notch vintage such as this, it becomes a must-buy.
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé 2018 750ml $59 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “All from the northern Côte (Cuis and Chouilly), this is a vintage cuvée that reflects the year’s easy charms and open stance. Creamy with white peach and nougat and bright with grapefruit peel and oyster shell. It’s snappy rather than structured or tense, tuned deliciously for mid-term drinking yet still offering the smooth, age-complexed texture expected at this level.”
Fruit-forward yet dry, this Champagne is utterly charming. Pair with fresh fruit and whipped cream or a tangy goat cheese and you’ll come running back for more.
Elise Dechannes ‘Essentielle’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2021 750ml $69 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “100% Pinot Noir. Nose: Citrus fruits, lemon and orange zest; refreshing and hydrating. Mouth: A delicate initial mouthfeel with great presence; light, tangy and pure. A soft, enveloping finish.”
Dehu is famous for his Pinot Meunier, yet the minerality and pose of his Pinot Noir is eye-popping. This bone-dry Champagne captures all the craft and class of one of the greatest wine makers in Champagne.
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV (2019) 750ml $159 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L’Orme, Dehu’s 100% Pinot Noir, is quite the extrovert in this vintage. A rush of red-toned fruit, spice, crushed flowers, mint and tangerine peel makes a strong opening statement. Bold and effusive, the 2019 is long on personality. Time in the glass brings out the wilder, gamier side of Pinot Noir to round things out. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
H. Billiot Fils represents one of the most under-appreciated growers in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay. Her wines capture the vinosity of the village with delicacy and finesse. The vintage wine blends together Pinot Noir with a healthy addition of Chardonnay. The grapes are grown on limestone, clay, and chalk soils. Well-balanced and poised, this 2012 is in its prime drinking window.
H. Billiot Fils Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 2012 750ml $99 special, 7 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Disgorged in July 2017, the 2012 Brut Millésimé Ambonnay Grand Cru is excellent, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of honeyed orchard fruit, gingerbread, smoky peach and subtle spices. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, pure and racy, with a broad, delicately textural attack, a deep and youthfully tight-knit core and a bright spine of acidity, displaying a frothy mousse and a long, focused finish. While the wine is already drinking well, it appears to possess considerable potential to improve further in the cellar.”
José Michel might just be Champagne’s most underrated winemaker. With a QPR off the charts, this is delicate yet refined and refreshing.
José Michel & Fils Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 750ml $59.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Blanc de Blancs is produced in the best vintages. It is made from a small plot of Chardonnay grown in the village of Saint Agnan on the left bank of the Marne. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then matured both in tank “sur lie” and in ‘demi-muids’. After the secondary fermentation it rests ‘sur lattes’ for at least 5 years allowing the Chardonnay qualities to broaden and mature. Dosage is 5 grams. It is a wine of impeccable character, showing both nobility and restraint. It is worthy of cellaring for at least two years after disgorgement.”
Beloved in Europe yet flying under-the-radar in the USA, the Grand Marque Champagne house of Lanson crafts tense and exquist wines that can age for decades. This Clos Lanson is a Burgundy lover’s Champagne, vinous and complex with loads of character, charm, and terroir.
Lanson ‘Clos Lanson’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009 750ml $199 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux this year from the 1ha-walled Chardonnay vineyard in the centre of Reims. A gorgeous toasted buttery nose filled with hazelnuts, lemon rind, orange skin and acaia – all subtly combined but giving complexity and nuance. Instantly salivating on the palate, unctuous yet so delicate in terms of power and heaviness. Generous with a velvet sensation to the bubbles and a slightly chalky finish. Bright and lifted – a joyous combination of citrus – lemon and orange acidity, honeysuckle flowers and stone fruits, balanced by a touch of bitterness and a hint of salty minerality. Such complexity and overall enjoyment to be found here – utterly charming and confident at the same time. The flavours totally envelop the mouth yet the overall expression is finessed and elegant. Drink now (in a wine glass) to savour the fresh zestiness or cellar for decades. A limited production of 7,000 bottles. Aged 12 years on the lees. Disgorged May 2022. 3g/l dosage. The cooler 2008 vintage will be released after this.”
Brisk and vibrant, Mouzon-Leroux’s “L’Atavique” is a vinous Champagne with bright acidity and plenty of tension. Its lifted acidity would make a lovely contrast to oysters. So, is it a date?
Mouzon-Leroux L’Atavique Grand Cru Brut NV 750ml $64.50 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Blend of all 65 parcels planted in the three sections (valleys) of Verzy; the easternmost has chalk very close to surface, in the middle valley chalk is 1 meter deep, and the westernmost valley is clay dominant. Uniquely strong presence of silex throughout the village. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay.”
This small estate crafts unique and layered Champagnes. Working sustainably with dozens of parcels across Côte des Blancs vineyards, they vinify parcel-by-parcel to best capture the outstanding Grand Cru terroir and the profundity of the old vines.
Pertois-Lebrun Derrière Le Mont Aigu No. 15 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV 750ml $89 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Derrière Le Mont Aigu No. 15 Grand Cru was picked from more than 50 years old vines in the eponymous mid-slope parcel in Chouilly, 82% of base wines were fermented in stainless steel, 18% in barrel. An initial note of dried chamomile flowers is followed by subtle maple syrup spiciness on the lemony, buttery nose. The palate comes in with a surprisingly soft, smooth mousse that underlines the bright freshness of this essentially chalky, slender wine. Evidently, very good decisions were made for the tricky and often overripe 2015 vintage. Here we have admirable freshness despite the looser structure. Saltiness defines the bright finish. Dosage is 2gr/L. (Drink between 2023-2033).”
Founded in 1687 and passed down from generation to generation ever since, Tarlant is a household name in Epernay. The family works traditionally with gentle pressing and the use of oak. With a preference for non-dosage Champagnes, their wines are classically pure and somehow always in perfect balance.
Tarlant ‘Le Triumvirat’ Brut Nature Millésimé 2009 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “58% Chardonnay/42% Pinot Noir. Most vintages, the Tarlants make a unique, usually multi-parcel wine as a snapshot of that particular vintage’s personality. This blend came from three plots–L’Enclume, Crayons and Sablés–hence the “Triumvirat” moniker. 2009 was according to Benoît Tarlant “a very solar year, of richness and power”. All of the vines are organically farmed and harvested by hand, with the clusters very slowly and gently pressed. The juice ferments spontaneously with native yeasts in Burgundy barrels; the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. Triumvirat was bottled in 2010,disgorged in 2023 and received zero dosage.”
Shop our entire collection of 134 in-stock Champagne options!
Molitor for the Masses
Dry Kabinetts
With so, SO many in-stock bottlings available from Markus Molitor in our shop, we’re featuring one of the easiest to love styles: bone-dry Kabinetts. These wines are light and elegant without skimping on flavor making them perfect for springtime meals with seasonal veggies and grilled fish or chicken salads. Pop a bottle tonight for an explosive good time!
Exclusive & In Stock Now:
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2018er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett (White Capsule) offers a delicate nose of vineyard peach, tangerine, smoke, almond cream, and spices. The wine is nicely dynamic and fresh on the creamy and juicy palate and leaves a superbly light and elegant feel in the fully dry finish. 2022-2033”
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml $26 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Graacher Domprobst Kabinett (White Capsule) is deep, elegant and flinty on the perfectly ripe and typically Graach-fruity nose with its lush and ripe stone-fruit aromas. Water matters in a dry year such as 2019, and the Domprobst has lots of it. Dense, piquant and mouth-filling on the palate, the wine reveals an edgy slate structure that will soften with bottle age. I recommend cellaring the wine for at least another year. The finish is vibrantly fresh and salty yet still tannic. 10.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2018 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very fresh lemon-balm and blossom nose with no hint of the opulence of the vintage. Excellent balance of bright lemon and white-peach fruit with silky acidity and a whisker of unfermented grape sweetness that smoothes the touch of tannin. Drink or hold.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml $28 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (White Capsule) is highly refined and almost floral in its precisely slatey and flinty finesse that integrates very fine Riesling aromas. Everything seems to be in a young style for this wine that is pure, structured and dry, with a lovely mix of tannins, crystalline slate acidity and lingering salinity. This is not really fragile like, say, a Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr; instead, it’s filigreed and has strong bones. Fine tannins structure the fresh and lemony yet rich finish. A serious terroir wine with just 10.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021.”
Grape of the Week:
Petite Sirah
Shop our in-stock Petite Sirah varietal wines and blends!
Multitude of Magnums
Six Sick Italian Picks In Stock Now
Inspired Champagne
Molitor for the Masses
Grape of the Week: Petite Sirah
Multitude of Magnums
Inspired Champagne
Check out these staff-pick Champagnes, in-stock now:
Beaux Regards is the most precise Champagne in the Bérêche portfolio. Sourced from two old-vine plots in their home village, this is intensely mineral, chalky, and profound.
Bérêche et Fils Les Beaux Regards Blanc de Blancs 2020 750ml $124.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2020 Extra-Brut Beaux Regards (100% Chardonnay) is bright, floral and lifted. Chalky soils in Ludes planted with 60-year-old vines yield a Champagne of exquisite finesse and nuance. White flowers, mint, crushed rocks, white pepper, chalk and slate are all beautifully delineated in this understated, sculpted Chardonnay from Bérêche.”
Bérêche et Fils Les Beaux Regards Blanc de Blancs 2020 750ml $124.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2020 Extra-Brut Beaux Regards (100% Chardonnay) is bright, floral and lifted. Chalky soils in Ludes planted with 60-year-old vines yield a Champagne of exquisite finesse and nuance. White flowers, mint, crushed rocks, white pepper, chalk and slate are all beautifully delineated in this understated, sculpted Chardonnay from Bérêche.”
Best loved for their pink Champagnes, Billecart-Salmon also crafts superb blancs. Vinified 100% in oak and blended from all three main Champagne varieties, this is bold, rich, and buttery.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “With 40% of older reserve wines in the blend, this Champagne was fermented in wood. Its aroma brings out toastiness, while on the palate, the richness of the wine suggests maturity. It is a finely balanced wine, ready to drink now.”
2018 was a sunny vintage that produced evocative and mineral Champagnes. We’ve adored Diebolt-Vallois for years for their excellent value. In a top notch vintage such as this, it becomes a must-buy.
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé 2018 750ml $59 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “All from the northern Côte (Cuis and Chouilly), this is a vintage cuvée that reflects the year’s easy charms and open stance. Creamy with white peach and nougat and bright with grapefruit peel and oyster shell. It’s snappy rather than structured or tense, tuned deliciously for mid-term drinking yet still offering the smooth, age-complexed texture expected at this level.”
Fruit-forward yet dry, this Champagne is utterly charming. Pair with fresh fruit and whipped cream or a tangy goat cheese and you’ll come running back for more.
Elise Dechannes ‘Essentielle’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2021 750ml $69 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “100% Pinot Noir. Nose: Citrus fruits, lemon and orange zest; refreshing and hydrating. Mouth: A delicate initial mouthfeel with great presence; light, tangy and pure. A soft, enveloping finish.”
Dehu is famous for his Pinot Meunier, yet the minerality and pose of his Pinot Noir is eye-popping. This bone-dry Champagne captures all the craft and class of one of the greatest wine makers in Champagne.
Benoit Dehu Cuvee de L’Orme Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV (2019) 750ml $159 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L’Orme, Dehu’s 100% Pinot Noir, is quite the extrovert in this vintage. A rush of red-toned fruit, spice, crushed flowers, mint and tangerine peel makes a strong opening statement. Bold and effusive, the 2019 is long on personality. Time in the glass brings out the wilder, gamier side of Pinot Noir to round things out. Disgorged: January 25, 2024.”
H. Billiot Fils represents one of the most under-appreciated growers in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay. Her wines capture the vinosity of the village with delicacy and finesse. The vintage wine blends together Pinot Noir with a healthy addition of Chardonnay. The grapes are grown on limestone, clay, and chalk soils. Well-balanced and poised, this 2012 is in its prime drinking window.
H. Billiot Fils Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 2012 750ml $99 special, 7 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Disgorged in July 2017, the 2012 Brut Millésimé Ambonnay Grand Cru is excellent, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of honeyed orchard fruit, gingerbread, smoky peach and subtle spices. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, pure and racy, with a broad, delicately textural attack, a deep and youthfully tight-knit core and a bright spine of acidity, displaying a frothy mousse and a long, focused finish. While the wine is already drinking well, it appears to possess considerable potential to improve further in the cellar.”
José Michel might just be Champagne’s most underrated winemaker. With a QPR off the charts, this is delicate yet refined and refreshing.
José Michel & Fils Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 750ml $59.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Blanc de Blancs is produced in the best vintages. It is made from a small plot of Chardonnay grown in the village of Saint Agnan on the left bank of the Marne. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then matured both in tank “sur lie” and in ‘demi-muids’. After the secondary fermentation it rests ‘sur lattes’ for at least 5 years allowing the Chardonnay qualities to broaden and mature. Dosage is 5 grams. It is a wine of impeccable character, showing both nobility and restraint. It is worthy of cellaring for at least two years after disgorgement.”
Beloved in Europe yet flying under-the-radar in the USA, the Grand Marque Champagne house of Lanson crafts tense and exquist wines that can age for decades. This Clos Lanson is a Burgundy lover’s Champagne, vinous and complex with loads of character, charm, and terroir.
Lanson ‘Clos Lanson’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009 750ml $199 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux this year from the 1ha-walled Chardonnay vineyard in the centre of Reims. A gorgeous toasted buttery nose filled with hazelnuts, lemon rind, orange skin and acaia – all subtly combined but giving complexity and nuance. Instantly salivating on the palate, unctuous yet so delicate in terms of power and heaviness. Generous with a velvet sensation to the bubbles and a slightly chalky finish. Bright and lifted – a joyous combination of citrus – lemon and orange acidity, honeysuckle flowers and stone fruits, balanced by a touch of bitterness and a hint of salty minerality. Such complexity and overall enjoyment to be found here – utterly charming and confident at the same time. The flavours totally envelop the mouth yet the overall expression is finessed and elegant. Drink now (in a wine glass) to savour the fresh zestiness or cellar for decades. A limited production of 7,000 bottles. Aged 12 years on the lees. Disgorged May 2022. 3g/l dosage. The cooler 2008 vintage will be released after this.”
Brisk and vibrant, Mouzon-Leroux’s “L’Atavique” is a vinous Champagne with bright acidity and plenty of tension. Its lifted acidity would make a lovely contrast to oysters. So, is it a date?
Mouzon-Leroux L’Atavique Grand Cru Brut NV 750ml $64.50 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Blend of all 65 parcels planted in the three sections (valleys) of Verzy; the easternmost has chalk very close to surface, in the middle valley chalk is 1 meter deep, and the westernmost valley is clay dominant. Uniquely strong presence of silex throughout the village. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay.”
This small estate crafts unique and layered Champagnes. Working sustainably with dozens of parcels across Côte des Blancs vineyards, they vinify parcel-by-parcel to best capture the outstanding Grand Cru terroir and the profundity of the old vines.
Pertois-Lebrun Derrière Le Mont Aigu No. 15 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV 750ml $89 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Derrière Le Mont Aigu No. 15 Grand Cru was picked from more than 50 years old vines in the eponymous mid-slope parcel in Chouilly, 82% of base wines were fermented in stainless steel, 18% in barrel. An initial note of dried chamomile flowers is followed by subtle maple syrup spiciness on the lemony, buttery nose. The palate comes in with a surprisingly soft, smooth mousse that underlines the bright freshness of this essentially chalky, slender wine. Evidently, very good decisions were made for the tricky and often overripe 2015 vintage. Here we have admirable freshness despite the looser structure. Saltiness defines the bright finish. Dosage is 2gr/L. (Drink between 2023-2033).”
Founded in 1687 and passed down from generation to generation ever since, Tarlant is a household name in Epernay. The family works traditionally with gentle pressing and the use of oak. With a preference for non-dosage Champagnes, their wines are classically pure and somehow always in perfect balance.
Tarlant ‘Le Triumvirat’ Brut Nature Millésimé 2009 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “58% Chardonnay/42% Pinot Noir. Most vintages, the Tarlants make a unique, usually multi-parcel wine as a snapshot of that particular vintage’s personality. This blend came from three plots–L’Enclume, Crayons and Sablés–hence the “Triumvirat” moniker. 2009 was according to Benoît Tarlant “a very solar year, of richness and power”. All of the vines are organically farmed and harvested by hand, with the clusters very slowly and gently pressed. The juice ferments spontaneously with native yeasts in Burgundy barrels; the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. Triumvirat was bottled in 2010,disgorged in 2023 and received zero dosage.”
Shop our entire collection of 134 in-stock Champagne options!
Molitor for the Masses
Dry Kabinetts
With so, SO many in-stock bottlings available from Markus Molitor in our shop, we’re featuring one of the easiest to love styles: bone-dry Kabinetts. These wines are light and elegant without skimping on flavor making them perfect for springtime meals with seasonal veggies and grilled fish or chicken salads. Pop a bottle tonight for an explosive good time!
Exclusive & In Stock Now:
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2018er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett (White Capsule) offers a delicate nose of vineyard peach, tangerine, smoke, almond cream, and spices. The wine is nicely dynamic and fresh on the creamy and juicy palate and leaves a superbly light and elegant feel in the fully dry finish. 2022-2033”
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml $26 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Graacher Domprobst Kabinett (White Capsule) is deep, elegant and flinty on the perfectly ripe and typically Graach-fruity nose with its lush and ripe stone-fruit aromas. Water matters in a dry year such as 2019, and the Domprobst has lots of it. Dense, piquant and mouth-filling on the palate, the wine reveals an edgy slate structure that will soften with bottle age. I recommend cellaring the wine for at least another year. The finish is vibrantly fresh and salty yet still tannic. 10.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2018 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very fresh lemon-balm and blossom nose with no hint of the opulence of the vintage. Excellent balance of bright lemon and white-peach fruit with silky acidity and a whisker of unfermented grape sweetness that smoothes the touch of tannin. Drink or hold.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml $28 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (White Capsule) is highly refined and almost floral in its precisely slatey and flinty finesse that integrates very fine Riesling aromas. Everything seems to be in a young style for this wine that is pure, structured and dry, with a lovely mix of tannins, crystalline slate acidity and lingering salinity. This is not really fragile like, say, a Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr; instead, it’s filigreed and has strong bones. Fine tannins structure the fresh and lemony yet rich finish. A serious terroir wine with just 10.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021.”
Grape of the Week:
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah is a deeply colored, intense variety that offers up wines with rich tannins and acidity. Discovered in 1880 by Dr. Francois Durif in the Rhone (outside of the Americans, the grape is named ‘Durif’ in his honor), this grape was later revealed to be a cross between an obscure French variety, Peloursin, and Syrah – no surprise, given it was already known as Petit Sirah. Ridge crafts on of the most beloved varietal wines from the grape, which is typically blended. Their expression, coming from 115-year-old vines in their estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley, is deeply concentrated and impactful. A phenomenal wine, this will cellar well for many years to come.
In Stock Now:
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2020 750ml $45 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Owen Bargreen 94 points “The 2020 ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah is a fantastic wine made in a tough vintage. The wine is loaded with concentrated huckleberry, black tea, blackberry cobbler and Turkish coffee flavors the combine with a fantastic mineral backbone and firm tannins. A slumbering giant right now, this needs a few more years of bottle aging to be fully awoken but the potential is there. Drink 2025-2035.”
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “The Ridge Petite Syrah from 115-year-old, gnarly, bush-trained vines at the Lytton Springs estate. Farmed organically and with a deference to the site’s tremendous history. The tannins are undeniable in this variety, known for its prominent structure, but Ridge manages to coax elegance from this burly big grape. That said, it is a wine meant to be drunk in time and is likely best after 2030. Big violet aromatics, boysenberries and dashes of white pepper leap forward. The palate shows a depth of fruit, a black peppery character aided by the tannins, with black tea, ripe, juicy fig flesh and notes of tart early-season blackberries finishing long and fresh.”
In Stock Now:
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2020 750ml $45 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Owen Bargreen 94 points “The 2020 ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah is a fantastic wine made in a tough vintage. The wine is loaded with concentrated huckleberry, black tea, blackberry cobbler and Turkish coffee flavors the combine with a fantastic mineral backbone and firm tannins. A slumbering giant right now, this needs a few more years of bottle aging to be fully awoken but the potential is there. Drink 2025-2035.”
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “The Ridge Petite Syrah from 115-year-old, gnarly, bush-trained vines at the Lytton Springs estate. Farmed organically and with a deference to the site’s tremendous history. The tannins are undeniable in this variety, known for its prominent structure, but Ridge manages to coax elegance from this burly big grape. That said, it is a wine meant to be drunk in time and is likely best after 2030. Big violet aromatics, boysenberries and dashes of white pepper leap forward. The palate shows a depth of fruit, a black peppery character aided by the tannins, with black tea, ripe, juicy fig flesh and notes of tart early-season blackberries finishing long and fresh.”
Shop our in-stock Petite Sirah varietal wines and blends!
Multitude of Magnums
Six Sick Italian Picks In Stock Now
Benanti Serra della Contessa ‘Particella No. 587’ Etna Rosso Riserva, Sicily 2016 1.5L $249 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 Riserva is dark and savory in the glass, grumbling up with notes of crushed rocks and ash that evolve further to reveal musky black currants, hints of licorice and dried violets. This is velvety-smooth, yet not weighty in feel. Instead, the 2016 seems to glide effortlessly across the palate, yet what it leaves behind is a saturation of primary fruit and mineral tones, as well as silky tannins that penetrate deeply. The Serra della Contessa finishes structured yet long and unexpectedly fresh, with balsam herbs and a touch of salted licorice that slowly fades. This Etna Rosso is a powerhouse, but it is in need of cellaring to reveal all of its charms.”
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2018 1.5L $128 special, 7 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “To my palate, the 2018 vintage sometimes feels a little too ripe or baked. I was reminded of those characteristics when tasting the Fèlsina 2018 Fontalloro. There is plenty of dark fruit at its core, but this wine also reveals dry tones of jarred oregano, grilled Mediterranean herb, crushed aspirin and graham cracker. The mouthfeel is pleasantly lean and silky, and perhaps the wine delivers more in terms of length than it does weight or texture. A little more bottle age should help flesh out and soften these results.”
Foradori ‘Fuoripista’ Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 1.5L $119 special, 4 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “…So much caramelized-orange aroma, plus pomegranate, oolong tea and rose-petal character. Bone-dry and incredibly lively, this makes you feel glad to be alive! From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L $169 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the bigger productions (with 17,744 bottles) in the Produttori del Barbaresco’s portfolio is the 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello. All of the Riservas in this vintage are characterized by especially exuberant and bold aromas, and this bottle is a prime example. Cassis, wild cherry, tobacco, rusty nail and licorice build intensity. The wine is tapered and silky in texture, but it also offers a good amount of power (and 15% alcohol) to carry it through the aging process.”
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Now $159 special, 14 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L $159 special, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 Riserva is dark and savory in the glass, grumbling up with notes of crushed rocks and ash that evolve further to reveal musky black currants, hints of licorice and dried violets. This is velvety-smooth, yet not weighty in feel. Instead, the 2016 seems to glide effortlessly across the palate, yet what it leaves behind is a saturation of primary fruit and mineral tones, as well as silky tannins that penetrate deeply. The Serra della Contessa finishes structured yet long and unexpectedly fresh, with balsam herbs and a touch of salted licorice that slowly fades. This Etna Rosso is a powerhouse, but it is in need of cellaring to reveal all of its charms.”
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2018 1.5L $128 special, 7 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “To my palate, the 2018 vintage sometimes feels a little too ripe or baked. I was reminded of those characteristics when tasting the Fèlsina 2018 Fontalloro. There is plenty of dark fruit at its core, but this wine also reveals dry tones of jarred oregano, grilled Mediterranean herb, crushed aspirin and graham cracker. The mouthfeel is pleasantly lean and silky, and perhaps the wine delivers more in terms of length than it does weight or texture. A little more bottle age should help flesh out and soften these results.”
Foradori ‘Fuoripista’ Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 1.5L $119 special, 4 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “…So much caramelized-orange aroma, plus pomegranate, oolong tea and rose-petal character. Bone-dry and incredibly lively, this makes you feel glad to be alive! From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L $169 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the bigger productions (with 17,744 bottles) in the Produttori del Barbaresco’s portfolio is the 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello. All of the Riservas in this vintage are characterized by especially exuberant and bold aromas, and this bottle is a prime example. Cassis, wild cherry, tobacco, rusty nail and licorice build intensity. The wine is tapered and silky in texture, but it also offers a good amount of power (and 15% alcohol) to carry it through the aging process.”
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Now $159 special, 14 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L $159 special, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”
Don’t miss our sales going on now:
Sequitur
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Sequitur
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Sequitur
Donnhoff
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
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Sequitur sale ends Friday, May 30th at 9 am Pacific. Donnhoff sale ends Saturday, May 31st at 9 am Pacific.