In This Newsletter:
Arnaud Lambert
Trending Rhone
Nerd Alert Featurette: Brick House
Multitude of Magnums: German
Arnaud Lambert:
Super Trendy Chenin Blanc
Arnaud Lambert Domaine de Saint-Just Cremant de Loire ‘1948 Yves Lambert’ 2020 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: 100 Percent Chenin Blanc from 70-year-old vines grown in clay and limestone. The winemaking practice is ‘method traditional,’ and was aged in oak barrels with 32 months of aging on lees, with zero dosage. Drink now or age for 4-8 years. Compliments seafood platters or a charcuterie board.
Arnaud Lambert ‘Les Parcelles’ Chenin Blanc 2023 750ml $20.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Becky Wasserman Importer Note “Size: Between 3.0-5.0 ha (7.41-12.35 ac) depending on the vintage. Variety: Chenin Blanc. Vine Age: Planted in 2017, 2019, and before depending on the vineyard. Terroir: From parcels in Brézé, Montsoreau and Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg, multiple soil types over chalky limestone bedrocks. Viticulture: Organic. Vinification: Pressed with whole clusters, fermented with a cultured yeast from the vineyards, 2-3-week fermentation and aging for 6-7 months in steel tanks, spontaneous and partial malolactic conversion (0-30%), SO2 added after malolactic conversion and before bottling (50-70 ppm total), filtered, stored in bottles for 3 months before release. Denoted as a “Vin de France” because in 2021, due to the frost damage, some organic purchased grapes went into the cuvée. They have maintained this designation to allow for flexibility in case future frost or climatic events affect their own grape production.”
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Blanc Clos de Midi 2023 750ml $23.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Size: 8.0 ha (19.76 ac). Variety: Chenin Blanc. Vine Age: Planted between 1985 and 2017. Terroir: From Brézé, south and east-facing, 70 cm deep silty-sandy-clay topsoil on softer Turonian limestone rock. Viticulture: Organic (certified), average yields of 45 hL/ha. Vinification: Pressed with whole clusters, fermented with a cultured yeast from the vineyard, 2-3-week fermentation and aging for 9 months, 70% in steel tank and 30% in concrete eggs, spontaneous and partial malolactic conversion (0-30%), SO2 added after malolactic conversion and before bottling (50-70 ppm total), filtered, stored in bottles for 3-9 months before release.”
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Blanc Clos David 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The wine starts out aromatically expressing the magic that limestone seems to impart to its wines. Pure and striking fruits, like sweet lime, meyer lemon with lemon curd, exotic spice and flint dart out of the glass and into the nose. If you can manage to keep it in the glass for a couple of hours of slow observation and drinking, the wine will take you on a rollercoaster of highs that seem only to climber higher with every passing minute. Acidity? More than you can imagine but somehow it presents itself gently on the finish after a somewhat overwhelming initial attack from the first sip.”
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Rouge Clos Tue-Loup 2021 750ml $34 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Clos du Tue-Loup lands squarely in the ethereal department of Cabernet Franc, and while there are many examples of this grape that try to make up for their lack of noble terroir, Arnaud works to let Brézé do most of the speaking for the wine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Shop our entire range of Loire Valley wines!
#Trending
Rhone Edition
Domaine Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les 7 de Pignan’ 2020 750ml $89 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 points “A new cuvée, there is a single foudre of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Les 7 de Pignan, a pure Grenache named for the seven small vineyard parcels it emerges from, all on sandy soils in and around Pignan. It showcases the filigreed, floral side of Grenache on sand, with delicate notes of rose petals and resinous herbs, plus raspberries and strawberries. Full-bodied, it’s silky in texture and almost airy in feel, with a lingering, elegant finish.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 2020 750ml $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-96 points “Inky ruby. Smoke- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits, violet, licorice and an olive nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Stains the palate with intense cherry, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that are sharpened by a spicy touch of cracked pepper. Youthfully chewy tannins frame an impressively long, penetrating finish that leaves candied dark berry and floral pastille notes behind. These are still young days for this wine but, as usual, it already screams ‘Hermitage’.”
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes 2019 750ml $44.50 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Iron, peppered game, smoked black and blue fruits, and new leather notes emerge from the 2019 Cornas Empreintes, and it’s medium to full-bodied and wonderfully balanced, with ripe tannins and one hell of a great finish. It’s another pure, balanced, fruit-loaded beauty from this estate that has tons of character. This cuvée comes from hillside parcels (a mix of granite and limestone) and 30-year-old vines. It was 75% destemmed and spent a year in 20% new barrels.”
Domaine Garon ‘La Part des Vivants’, Cotes du Rhone 2022 750ml $19 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Producer Note “Selection of Cotes Du Rhone mainly based on Syrah. Partly aged in oak barrels. Sunshine and generosity in the glass.”
Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2017 750ml $189 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.”
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Les Cotes’ 2020 750ml $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “My favorite in the lineup (although these are all brilliant) is the 2020 Vinsobres Rouanne Et Les Crottes, which comes from the middle of the hillside vineyard and more clay and iron soils. Lots of darker, almost blue fruits, violets, smoked herbs, and iron nuances define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and offers a beautiful mix of both richness and elegance.”
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019 750ml $54.50 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Modern and stylish, offering an engaging mix of raspberry puree, warm baking spices and red licorice, with vanilla highlights. A beam of iron minerality brings shape and balance to this version, while invigorating acidity and tannins drive the energy. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035. —J.M.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The Louisiane and Souteyrades single vineyard wines were not bottled in the 2021 vintage, but instead the fruit went into this bottling.
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 93-95 points “Vivid ruby. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes candied red fruits, smoky minerals and lavender; a spicy nuance builds as the wine opens up. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, juicy raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors show good heft, seamless texture and real energy. It finishes spicy and impressively long, with sneaky tannins adding a final grip. This is shaping up to be a highly impressive entry-level bottling, which is not surprising given that this is the only Gigondas that will be bottled this year, so all the juice from the Louisiane and Souteyrades is going into this wine. Get it, lots of it, if you can. Raised in neutral, 50 hectoliter oak foudres.”
Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Imperiale 2021 750ml $59.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 97 points “The stunning 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale comes from old vines in two sandy parcels—one in Pied Long and one in la Crau. Exotic aromas of orange zest, Campari-like spice and exquisitely ripe cherries appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky and creamy in texture yet airy and vibrant, with a long, zesty finish. It’s a definite candidate for wine of the vintage, alongside its Mourvèdre-based stablemate, La Part des Anges.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shop our complete selection of red and white Rhone wines now!
Nerd Alert!
Brick House
Multitude of Magnums
German Edition
Arnaud Lambert
Trending Rhone
Nerd Alert Featurette: Brick House
Multitude of Magnums: German
Arnaud Lambert:
Super Trendy Chenin Blanc
It’s no easy task to be one of the most important producers in the coveted Saumur wines regions of Brézé and Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg, but Arnaud Lambert makes it look easy. While the famous and infamously expensive Clos Rougeard’s cult classic blanc comes from Brézé, Lambert offers us access to this special place without the $150+ entry fee.
Brézé is geologically diverse, but characterized by the airy limestone that dots the finest vineyards in this part of the Loire. The wines, therefore, have a mineral-edge and delicate tone to them that’s unique.
By contrast, Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg has more clay in the topsoil, which produces wines of more overt power and structure. Both the reds and whites here seem to have an earthiness and weight about them that sets them apart from their Brézé neighbors.
No matter which bottling you pick, the wines are standouts. Lambert is a master at letting the terroir shine through. The whites have elegance, texture and poise, while the reds offer that classic combination of Saumur weight and polish.
So, don’t assume the quality means you’ll have to mortgage the house to explore the whole range. These are as famous for their quality as much as their value.
In Stock Now from Arnaud Lambert:
Arnaud Lambert Cremant de Loire Blanc NV 750ml $21.90 special, 14 bottles in stock now
50% Chardonnay / 50% Chenin blanc
Importer Note “Vine Age: Planted in 1990. Terroir: From the Clos of the Chāteau, 60 cm deep silt and clay sand soil on a soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 24 months.”
Brézé is geologically diverse, but characterized by the airy limestone that dots the finest vineyards in this part of the Loire. The wines, therefore, have a mineral-edge and delicate tone to them that’s unique.
By contrast, Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg has more clay in the topsoil, which produces wines of more overt power and structure. Both the reds and whites here seem to have an earthiness and weight about them that sets them apart from their Brézé neighbors.
No matter which bottling you pick, the wines are standouts. Lambert is a master at letting the terroir shine through. The whites have elegance, texture and poise, while the reds offer that classic combination of Saumur weight and polish.
So, don’t assume the quality means you’ll have to mortgage the house to explore the whole range. These are as famous for their quality as much as their value.
In Stock Now from Arnaud Lambert:
Arnaud Lambert Cremant de Loire Blanc NV 750ml $21.90 special, 14 bottles in stock now
50% Chardonnay / 50% Chenin blanc
Importer Note “Vine Age: Planted in 1990. Terroir: From the Clos of the Chāteau, 60 cm deep silt and clay sand soil on a soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation. Aged for 24 months.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arnaud Lambert Domaine de Saint-Just Cremant de Loire ‘1948 Yves Lambert’ 2020 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: 100 Percent Chenin Blanc from 70-year-old vines grown in clay and limestone. The winemaking practice is ‘method traditional,’ and was aged in oak barrels with 32 months of aging on lees, with zero dosage. Drink now or age for 4-8 years. Compliments seafood platters or a charcuterie board.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arnaud Lambert ‘Les Parcelles’ Chenin Blanc 2023 750ml $20.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Becky Wasserman Importer Note “Size: Between 3.0-5.0 ha (7.41-12.35 ac) depending on the vintage. Variety: Chenin Blanc. Vine Age: Planted in 2017, 2019, and before depending on the vineyard. Terroir: From parcels in Brézé, Montsoreau and Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg, multiple soil types over chalky limestone bedrocks. Viticulture: Organic. Vinification: Pressed with whole clusters, fermented with a cultured yeast from the vineyards, 2-3-week fermentation and aging for 6-7 months in steel tanks, spontaneous and partial malolactic conversion (0-30%), SO2 added after malolactic conversion and before bottling (50-70 ppm total), filtered, stored in bottles for 3 months before release. Denoted as a “Vin de France” because in 2021, due to the frost damage, some organic purchased grapes went into the cuvée. They have maintained this designation to allow for flexibility in case future frost or climatic events affect their own grape production.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Blanc Clos de Midi 2023 750ml $23.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Size: 8.0 ha (19.76 ac). Variety: Chenin Blanc. Vine Age: Planted between 1985 and 2017. Terroir: From Brézé, south and east-facing, 70 cm deep silty-sandy-clay topsoil on softer Turonian limestone rock. Viticulture: Organic (certified), average yields of 45 hL/ha. Vinification: Pressed with whole clusters, fermented with a cultured yeast from the vineyard, 2-3-week fermentation and aging for 9 months, 70% in steel tank and 30% in concrete eggs, spontaneous and partial malolactic conversion (0-30%), SO2 added after malolactic conversion and before bottling (50-70 ppm total), filtered, stored in bottles for 3-9 months before release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Blanc Clos David 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The wine starts out aromatically expressing the magic that limestone seems to impart to its wines. Pure and striking fruits, like sweet lime, meyer lemon with lemon curd, exotic spice and flint dart out of the glass and into the nose. If you can manage to keep it in the glass for a couple of hours of slow observation and drinking, the wine will take you on a rollercoaster of highs that seem only to climber higher with every passing minute. Acidity? More than you can imagine but somehow it presents itself gently on the finish after a somewhat overwhelming initial attack from the first sip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arnaud Lambert Brézé Saumur Rouge Clos Tue-Loup 2021 750ml $34 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Clos du Tue-Loup lands squarely in the ethereal department of Cabernet Franc, and while there are many examples of this grape that try to make up for their lack of noble terroir, Arnaud works to let Brézé do most of the speaking for the wine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Shop our entire range of Loire Valley wines!
#Trending
Rhone Edition
Domaine Benjamin et David Duclaux Condrieu Les Caillets 2019 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “I loved the 2019 Condrieu Les Caillets. A real beauty, this supple, sexy Condrieu has classic yellow and citrus fruits, lots of honey and flower notes, medium to full body, and a great finish. It brings lots of fruit yet stays fresh, silky, and clean, and is just a joy to drink. It’s geared for the dinner table and should be enjoyed over the coming 2-3 years.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “I loved the 2019 Condrieu Les Caillets. A real beauty, this supple, sexy Condrieu has classic yellow and citrus fruits, lots of honey and flower notes, medium to full body, and a great finish. It brings lots of fruit yet stays fresh, silky, and clean, and is just a joy to drink. It’s geared for the dinner table and should be enjoyed over the coming 2-3 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les 7 de Pignan’ 2020 750ml $89 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 points “A new cuvée, there is a single foudre of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Les 7 de Pignan, a pure Grenache named for the seven small vineyard parcels it emerges from, all on sandy soils in and around Pignan. It showcases the filigreed, floral side of Grenache on sand, with delicate notes of rose petals and resinous herbs, plus raspberries and strawberries. Full-bodied, it’s silky in texture and almost airy in feel, with a lingering, elegant finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 2020 750ml $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-96 points “Inky ruby. Smoke- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits, violet, licorice and an olive nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Stains the palate with intense cherry, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that are sharpened by a spicy touch of cracked pepper. Youthfully chewy tannins frame an impressively long, penetrating finish that leaves candied dark berry and floral pastille notes behind. These are still young days for this wine but, as usual, it already screams ‘Hermitage’.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes 2019 750ml $44.50 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Iron, peppered game, smoked black and blue fruits, and new leather notes emerge from the 2019 Cornas Empreintes, and it’s medium to full-bodied and wonderfully balanced, with ripe tannins and one hell of a great finish. It’s another pure, balanced, fruit-loaded beauty from this estate that has tons of character. This cuvée comes from hillside parcels (a mix of granite and limestone) and 30-year-old vines. It was 75% destemmed and spent a year in 20% new barrels.”
Domaine Garon ‘La Part des Vivants’, Cotes du Rhone 2022 750ml $19 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Producer Note “Selection of Cotes Du Rhone mainly based on Syrah. Partly aged in oak barrels. Sunshine and generosity in the glass.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2017 750ml $189 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Les Cotes’ 2020 750ml $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “My favorite in the lineup (although these are all brilliant) is the 2020 Vinsobres Rouanne Et Les Crottes, which comes from the middle of the hillside vineyard and more clay and iron soils. Lots of darker, almost blue fruits, violets, smoked herbs, and iron nuances define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and offers a beautiful mix of both richness and elegance.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2019 750ml $54.50 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Modern and stylish, offering an engaging mix of raspberry puree, warm baking spices and red licorice, with vanilla highlights. A beam of iron minerality brings shape and balance to this version, while invigorating acidity and tannins drive the energy. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035. —J.M.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The Louisiane and Souteyrades single vineyard wines were not bottled in the 2021 vintage, but instead the fruit went into this bottling.
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 93-95 points “Vivid ruby. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes candied red fruits, smoky minerals and lavender; a spicy nuance builds as the wine opens up. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, juicy raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors show good heft, seamless texture and real energy. It finishes spicy and impressively long, with sneaky tannins adding a final grip. This is shaping up to be a highly impressive entry-level bottling, which is not surprising given that this is the only Gigondas that will be bottled this year, so all the juice from the Louisiane and Souteyrades is going into this wine. Get it, lots of it, if you can. Raised in neutral, 50 hectoliter oak foudres.”
Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Imperiale 2021 750ml $59.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 97 points “The stunning 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale comes from old vines in two sandy parcels—one in Pied Long and one in la Crau. Exotic aromas of orange zest, Campari-like spice and exquisitely ripe cherries appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky and creamy in texture yet airy and vibrant, with a long, zesty finish. It’s a definite candidate for wine of the vintage, alongside its Mourvèdre-based stablemate, La Part des Anges.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shop our complete selection of red and white Rhone wines now!
Nerd Alert!
Brick House
Doug Tunnell founded Brick House in the early 90s and quickly shot to the top echelons of quality Oregon winemaking. Originally a CBS reporter who traveled the world, he was inspired to buy vineyard land in the Ribbon Ridge when he heard Domaine Drouhin had made a similar investment. Friends Steve Doerner of Cristom and Michael Etzel of Beaux Freres / Sequitur advised him from the start.
Tunnell strove to certify the vineyard as biodynamic, which he accomplished in 2005, making him a leader in the Valley. The wines are thoughtfully handled (and raised with the accompaniment of classical music played in the cellar) with partial whole-cluster fermentation and a light touch of new oak. The results are deeply moving and age worthy.
“…these are very refined and natural wines with minimal intervention, not surfeit with fruit, but surfeit with personality, freshness and nuance… Brick House comes recommended, but hey, I’ve said that before.” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
In Stock Now:
Brick House Vineyards Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “2023 was a truly exceptional vintage. From the finish of fermentation to bottling day almost a year later our Brick House Pinot Noir offered freshness and verve, tempered by a rich presence on the palate thanks to a warm, largely dry ripening season. The 2023 Ribbon Ridge bottling comes from vines planted in 2015.”
Brick House Vineyards Select Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $41.90 special, 2 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the 2023 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 93 points “This 2022 Select is fresh and lively in the glass with loads of charm, character and a delicate earthiness, it shows off a vibrant array of black cherry, cranberry, wild berry, plum and tart red currant fruits, plus a light dusting of spices, sandalwood, mineral tones, crushed flowers, loamy underbrush, a touch of toasty vanilla, snappy herbs and blood orange tea. This vintage is silken and has fine grained ripe tannins that melt into this pretty medium bodied Pinot Noir, sourced from all organic grapes coming from the Ribbon Ridge’s ancient Willakenzie soils.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $59 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “Sweetly spiced, the 2022 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais opens with an intoxicating bouquet of cedar spice box, incense, clove and black cherry. This is juicy in character, silky-smooth and complex, with vividly ripe red berry fruits and rosy inner florals accelerated by brilliant acidity. It finishes with admirable length, subtly tannic yet focused, leaving a tart cranberry concentration and a flourish of minerality that keeps the mouth watering for more. Fantastic.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Evelyn’s’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “A best barrel selection, the 2022 Pinot Noir Evelyn’s is a reflective red hue and offers up notes of rosemary, black raspberries, cherries, dark stones, and pressed flowers. It has a refined and polished feel, with a seamless texture, ripe, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity, and a lovely flourish of iron-rich salty earth. Long on the palate, it’s a pleasure to taste now, and it’s going to age gracefully over the next 15 or so years. 175 cases were produced.”
Tunnell strove to certify the vineyard as biodynamic, which he accomplished in 2005, making him a leader in the Valley. The wines are thoughtfully handled (and raised with the accompaniment of classical music played in the cellar) with partial whole-cluster fermentation and a light touch of new oak. The results are deeply moving and age worthy.
“…these are very refined and natural wines with minimal intervention, not surfeit with fruit, but surfeit with personality, freshness and nuance… Brick House comes recommended, but hey, I’ve said that before.” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
In Stock Now:
Brick House Vineyards Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “2023 was a truly exceptional vintage. From the finish of fermentation to bottling day almost a year later our Brick House Pinot Noir offered freshness and verve, tempered by a rich presence on the palate thanks to a warm, largely dry ripening season. The 2023 Ribbon Ridge bottling comes from vines planted in 2015.”
Brick House Vineyards Select Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $41.90 special, 2 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the 2023 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 93 points “This 2022 Select is fresh and lively in the glass with loads of charm, character and a delicate earthiness, it shows off a vibrant array of black cherry, cranberry, wild berry, plum and tart red currant fruits, plus a light dusting of spices, sandalwood, mineral tones, crushed flowers, loamy underbrush, a touch of toasty vanilla, snappy herbs and blood orange tea. This vintage is silken and has fine grained ripe tannins that melt into this pretty medium bodied Pinot Noir, sourced from all organic grapes coming from the Ribbon Ridge’s ancient Willakenzie soils.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $59 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “Sweetly spiced, the 2022 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais opens with an intoxicating bouquet of cedar spice box, incense, clove and black cherry. This is juicy in character, silky-smooth and complex, with vividly ripe red berry fruits and rosy inner florals accelerated by brilliant acidity. It finishes with admirable length, subtly tannic yet focused, leaving a tart cranberry concentration and a flourish of minerality that keeps the mouth watering for more. Fantastic.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Evelyn’s’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “A best barrel selection, the 2022 Pinot Noir Evelyn’s is a reflective red hue and offers up notes of rosemary, black raspberries, cherries, dark stones, and pressed flowers. It has a refined and polished feel, with a seamless texture, ripe, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity, and a lovely flourish of iron-rich salty earth. Long on the palate, it’s a pleasure to taste now, and it’s going to age gracefully over the next 15 or so years. 175 cases were produced.”
Multitude of Magnums
German Edition
Shop our fun and fabulous German large formats and take your wine drinking experience all the way up to six-liters!
In Stock Now:
Weingut Donnhoff Riesling Trocken 2023 1.5L $75 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “Fantastic brilliance and a wealth of delicate stone-fruit and citrus aromas, also floral notes! Barely medium-bodied, but with all the attributes that make a dry Nahe riesling a thing of beauty to behold. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2023 1.5L $179 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2023 3L $389 special, 1 double-magnum in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 96-98 points “The 2022 Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Felsentürmchen Grosses Gewächs is from a steep site of volcanic origin with porphyry and melaphyr. A touch of yeastiness still plays on the shy, tentative nose. The palate comes in with stony saltiness, a tingling sense of juicy lemon intensifying the salty impression even more. Great concentration aligns with lightness and energetic linearity. The bright acidity has a serene luminosity and ripe yet crystal clear smoothness that seems to stretch away into eternity, lighting the way, gliding along, dynamic, optimistic, promising and full of light. (Bone-dry)”
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 1.5L $199 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Very attractive nose of peach and spice with just a touch of exotic fruits. Rich and ripe with a touch of mid-palate creaminess as it rolls gently over you, the power very understated. Delicate slatey minerality at the long silky finish. Drink from release.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2023 1.5L $175 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett opens with substantial depth and a brilliant bouquet of wet slate. The fruit is intense but not dominating, thanks to the flintiness and savoriness of the Himmelreich terroir. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, dense and complex Kabinett with ripe, elegant and juicy fruit intertwined with very fine phenols and an ethereal slate thread that gives this Kabinett an enormous length and animation. This will be a superb gastronomic wine after a decade of bottle age, although the 2023 already drinks beautifully today. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in August 2024 from AP 2 24.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spätlese 2023 1.5L $99 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “When worlds collide. The tension between the cool, dark side (think Darth Vader) and the enormous brightness of the stone fruit (think Luke Skywalker) makes this astonishing riesling Spatlese extremely compelling. The most beautiful pineapple and grapefruit aromas. Fabulous freshness at the stunningly straight and pure finish. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Wasenhaus Spatburgunder Mohlin, Baden 2022 1.5L $279 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Vom Boden Importer Note “The Wasenhaus Möhlin is grown from a very shallow and poor limestone clay parcel of the Ehrenstetter Ölberg, positioned below the Kanzel with a more southeastern exposure. Thus the site is quite a bit hotter and more exposed to the sun than the Kanzel; the wine is among the most powerful, most lavish and expansive of the Wasenhaus Pinot Noirs. Perhaps this is the most complete of the Pinots? The Möhlin is mainly German clones with different ages and origins and some French selection massale; due to the steepness here the site is worked completely by hand. Fermented 60% with whole clusters, with a bit of carbonic fermentation and then transferred to an open-vat for a classic fermentation with minimal punchdowns. The wine was aged in mainly used French oak barrels for about 16 months.”
In Stock Now:
Weingut Donnhoff Riesling Trocken 2023 1.5L $75 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “Fantastic brilliance and a wealth of delicate stone-fruit and citrus aromas, also floral notes! Barely medium-bodied, but with all the attributes that make a dry Nahe riesling a thing of beauty to behold. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2023 1.5L $179 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2023 3L $389 special, 1 double-magnum in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 96-98 points “The 2022 Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Felsentürmchen Grosses Gewächs is from a steep site of volcanic origin with porphyry and melaphyr. A touch of yeastiness still plays on the shy, tentative nose. The palate comes in with stony saltiness, a tingling sense of juicy lemon intensifying the salty impression even more. Great concentration aligns with lightness and energetic linearity. The bright acidity has a serene luminosity and ripe yet crystal clear smoothness that seems to stretch away into eternity, lighting the way, gliding along, dynamic, optimistic, promising and full of light. (Bone-dry)”
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 1.5L $199 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Very attractive nose of peach and spice with just a touch of exotic fruits. Rich and ripe with a touch of mid-palate creaminess as it rolls gently over you, the power very understated. Delicate slatey minerality at the long silky finish. Drink from release.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2023 1.5L $175 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett opens with substantial depth and a brilliant bouquet of wet slate. The fruit is intense but not dominating, thanks to the flintiness and savoriness of the Himmelreich terroir. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, dense and complex Kabinett with ripe, elegant and juicy fruit intertwined with very fine phenols and an ethereal slate thread that gives this Kabinett an enormous length and animation. This will be a superb gastronomic wine after a decade of bottle age, although the 2023 already drinks beautifully today. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in August 2024 from AP 2 24.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spätlese 2023 1.5L $99 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “When worlds collide. The tension between the cool, dark side (think Darth Vader) and the enormous brightness of the stone fruit (think Luke Skywalker) makes this astonishing riesling Spatlese extremely compelling. The most beautiful pineapple and grapefruit aromas. Fabulous freshness at the stunningly straight and pure finish. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Wasenhaus Spatburgunder Mohlin, Baden 2022 1.5L $279 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Vom Boden Importer Note “The Wasenhaus Möhlin is grown from a very shallow and poor limestone clay parcel of the Ehrenstetter Ölberg, positioned below the Kanzel with a more southeastern exposure. Thus the site is quite a bit hotter and more exposed to the sun than the Kanzel; the wine is among the most powerful, most lavish and expansive of the Wasenhaus Pinot Noirs. Perhaps this is the most complete of the Pinots? The Möhlin is mainly German clones with different ages and origins and some French selection massale; due to the steepness here the site is worked completely by hand. Fermented 60% with whole clusters, with a bit of carbonic fermentation and then transferred to an open-vat for a classic fermentation with minimal punchdowns. The wine was aged in mainly used French oak barrels for about 16 months.”
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Gerard Boulay sale ends Friday, June 6th at 9 am Pacific. Eyrie & Westrey sale ends Saturday, June 7th at 9 am Pacific.