10/15/15
Wine Highlight; Loire, Sweet Loire; New Champagnes; Burgundy: Six 2006’s, Five 2005’s; Vietti; Case Pick; High Scores/Low Prices
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Wine of the Day!
Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari
The legendary Gaja estate was anointed by Wine Spectator as the maker of “perhaps the finest Italian wines ever made.” Across Barolo, Barbaresco, and Tuscany, the Gaja family have come to be known as among the most esteemed, highly-lauded, and reliable winemakers in the world. Their unique approach to winemaking hangs them in the balance of being both modernist and traditional, choosing simply what makes the best wine according to their standards.
The “Magari” cuvee is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc which has earned somewhat of a cult status. This Super-Tuscan is grown in pebbly soils from vineyards in the northern Maremma, aged in new and lightly used barrique for 18 months, and then spends a minimum of six months’ aging in-bottle. In the glass, the wine boasts a powerful blend of mocha, herbs, smoked earth, and dark red fruit, with explosive aromas a silky, persistent finish. Ideal accompaniment would be a fine cut of steak, served by way of a decanter in order to best experience the full scope of the wine.
Wine Advocate 94 points “Upped to a Bolgheri status (previously this wine was identified as a Toscana IGT), the 2012 Bolgheri Magari is simply delightful. This vintage shows extra heft and dimension that allows the wine to spread smoothly over the palate. Merlot is blended with Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and the taste profile in the 2012 vintage definitely favors the Merlot component. Soft cherry and dark berry segue to spice and moist tobacco. The structure of the two Cabernet varieties shows in the mouth where the wine is elegant and tight. It needs more time for bottle evolution.
Angelo Gaja’s Ca’Marcanda estate has hit its stride with this latest set of wines. His management of the 2011 heat is impressive, resulting in wines with power and finesse. Ca’Marcanda never seems to get the attention it deserves, and the wines are indeed pricy. Nonetheless, they are among the finest expressions on the Tuscan coast.” ML
James Sucking 93 points “Bright and firm with sliced-lemon, blueberry and almond character throughout. Full body, firm tannins and a clean finish. Clean and fresh. Better in 2016.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points”Rich and bursting with cedar, licorice, black currant and sandalwood aromas and flavors, this red is dense and chewy. Balanced and long, this begs for grilled steak or a roast. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022. ” WS
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Off-dry and Sweet Loire Valley Wines
Beyond the seduction of Sancerre and drinkability of Chinon, the Loire is home to some of the world’s most beloved sweet wines. Nestled within Vouvray are two of the greatest producers of such wines – Foreau and Huet. We’re happy to stock a wide variety of their wines, listed below.Off-dry and Sweet Loire Valley Wines Currently Available:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec 2014 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 34 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $40
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Starts with a tangy crème fraîche note before giving way to green almond, green tea, chamomile, powdered ginger and mineral notes. So precise it almost comes off as dry in feel, but the finish belies its late harvest with a showy candied citrus peel note. Drink now through 2025. 880 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $72
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 2005 375ML ($34.95) $26 special, 36+ half-bottles available
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Wine Advocate 92 points “Reflecting a combination of botrytis and sheer desiccation, the 2005 Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu smells of spiced apple and quince jelly, grapefruit zest, peony and buddleia, ethereal, honeyed secretions of botrytis and snuffed candle wick. Elegant, wafting and bright on the palate, this finishes with superb clarity and concentration, honeyed richness yet a restrained impression of sweetness (albeit at around 50 grams residual sugar) and offsetting hints of bitterness. Certainly it will in time (and then probably for well more than a decade) serve admirably with a wide array of cuisine but ought on no account be treated as “dessert wine.”
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Demi-Sec 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 15 bottles available
Importer note “Foreau does not produce a Demi-Sec every year. All depends on the level of ripeness at time of harvest. When a Demi-Sec is released by the domaine, it can carry somewhere between 8 and sometimes as much as 20 grams or so of residual sugar but, more often than not, a Foreau Demi-Sec will be at the 8 to 12 grams RS level. Obviously, each year develops from its own unique circumstances. As indicated in the general description above, Foreau NEVER chapitalizes to achieve the Demi-Sec level and malo-lactic fermentations are never permitted to occur. All still wines at Foreau are bottled during the spring season following the harvest.”
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2008 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The grapes for my 2008 Vouvray Moelleux were very rich, golden, even a bit rose-colored, but not botrytized,” says Foreau, who picked it between October 15th and 20th. Vine flower, chestnut honey, Bartlett pear, and spiced pink grapefruit marmalade are suggested on the intoxicating nose and on a palate whose standoff of high acidity and high residual sugar permits free reign to its luscious, oily, honeyed richness; its spiciness; as well as its sheer refreshment. Nor does the almost endless finish of this beauty, lack for a subtly mineral dimension of salt, crustacean savor, and chalk. It should be worth following for at least a quarter century..” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2009 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The golden yellow 2009 Vouvray Moelleux offers an awesome rich bouquet of a full basket of super ripe white and yellow-fleshed fruits with pure and mineral highlighted aromas as well as colored blossoms, yellow paprika, ginger, coriander, white pepper, toasted peanuts and speck. Bottled with 80 grams of residual sugar, this is a full-bodied, complex, and very elegant almost perfect moelleux à la Foreau, a really rich, ripe, sweet and perfectly balanced wine of great finesse and a persistent freshness due to the lingering salinity and piquancy. This great Moelleux is surely made from healthy berries and for all Chenin lovers and their following generations this is a must buy.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Straw yellow the 2010 Vouvray Moelleux offers a rather pure but rich nose with aromas of tuffeau, mushrooms, yellow-fleshed plums, honeydew melon, super ripe pears, cooked peaches, ripe and succulent mangos as well as hints of caramel, honey and new oak. On the full-bodied palate this is an extremely elegant and superbly balanced Chenin of great finesse, piquancy and precision with aromas of figs, cooked peaches and pears along with a lingering salinity. To those of you who love the incomparable nature of 2010 this is a wine you should buy.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux 2003 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Jaw-dropping fruit—guava, quince, mango and persimmon—is extremely concentrated and lushly layered. That’s followed by ginger, cream, green almond and smoke notes on a superlong finish, which has a nice bit of earthy grip as well.” WS
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux 2009 ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux ‘Goutte d’Or’ 2011 ($319.95) $269 special, 4 bottles available
VinopolNote: Foreau’s rare top bottlings. Only three vintages have ever been bottled (1947, 1990 and 2011). 230g/L RS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $279.99
Beyond these wines, we also stock dry wines from both producers in addition to a fantastic edit of other Loire Valley reds and whites. Stop by, give a call, or look online to find out more!
More Champagne!
Favorites by the bottle or by the case
Case-12 Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($449.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Importer’s note: “The N.V. Brut is 55% 2010 and 45% reserve wine, with 55% of the reserve coming from a solera containing all vintages from 1998 to 2009. The blend is 45% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 5% of the ancient varieties Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Fromenteau.”The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A. Margaine ‘Le Brut’ Premier Cru NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 A. Margaine ‘Le Brut’ Premier Cru NV 750ML ($479.95) $379 pre-arrival special
Importer’s note: “Violet and hyacinth aromas make you think of Riesling (as these wines often do), but the palate is all apples and Rainier cherries with a chalk-powder sprinkle; wonderfully silky and generous, refined and accurate. A virtual Blanc de Blancs; 90% Chardonnay to 10% Pinot Noir. 48% 2012, 24% 2011, balance 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005. 24 months sur latte.”
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Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut NV ($59.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut NV ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Pale green. High-pitched citrus fruit and floral scents, along with intense mineral and spice nuances. Dry and seamless on the palate, offering juicy lemon, tarragon and ginger flavors and a deeper suggestion of buttered toast. Finishes on a zesty minerally note, with lingering spiciness and strong persistence. This bottling is a blend of wines from 2011 (77%), 2010 (6%), 2009 (12%), 2007 (4%) and 2006 (1%).” JR
From the 2005 + 2006 vintages
In combing through our wide selection of red Burgundy, we came across a coincidence: we have five different cuvees from 2005 and six cuvees from 2006. Take a look below – there are some real gems to be found!2005 Red Burgundies In Stock:
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 93 points – Outstanding “Extremely primary yet multi-dimensional black fruit and earthy aromas introduce rich, full and massive flavors that are powerful, robust and muscled with so much mid-palate sap that the extremely firm tannic spine is almost, if not completely masked. However, as it always does, the tannins will come out with time and I expect that this will always have a certain chewy quality and will require more than a decade of time in bottle to really begin to round out. Wonderful potential but for the very patient.” BH
Domaine Jayer-Gilles Echezeaux du Dessus Grand Cru 750ML ($249) $219 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Good bright ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of black fruits, violet, spicy oak and minerals. Dense, sappy and strong, with a perfumed quality to its sharply delineated, very primary flavors. An Echezeaux with uncommon power and thrust. One of the most promising young wines I’ve ever tasted at this address.”
Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “A very subtle touch of wood frames a spicy red berry fruit nose that dissolves into rich, full, well-muscled and sweet flavors that possess a good deal more volume and while the mid-palate is supple and round, the finish has the firmness that one expects from a big Corton. There is much better balance here and this should age well.” BH
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Germain Domaine du Chateau de Chorey Les Teurons 2005 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Bright, full red. Sexy aromas of dark raspberry, leather, game, iron and spices. Suave on entry, then juicy and pure in the middle; this appears to be in the process of shutting down. An intensely flavored wine with a serious tannic spine and noteworthy finishing energy. All of these 2005s were destemmed but this comes across as quite spicy. I like this…” ST
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Domaine Michel Lafarge Bourgogne Pinot Noir 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88-89 points “In the realm of pure Pinot, the Lafarge 2005 Bourgogne also offers excellent value and unusual quality for its humble class, assisted in this instance, of course, by the character of the vintage. Concentrated, bright, bitter-edged black fruit aromas and flavors are accompanied by grilled meat and chalky minerality. This displays cut and clarity and an undeniable Volnay elegance in its mouth-watering finish.” DS
2006 Red Burgundies in Stock:
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2006 750ML ($159.95) $149 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points, Stephen Tanzer 91+ “A distinctly sauvage and somber dark berry fruit nose gives off notes of iron tinged warm earth, underbrush, crushed herbs and a hint of smoke followed by rich, full and moderately wooded full-bodied flavors that are notably powerful and supported by very firm tannins on the serious, long and backward finish. This too will require upward of two decades of cellar time so don’t buy this if you’re not prepared to be patient.” BH
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Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2006 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 5 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “A pretty and only moderately sauvage nose of crushed red berries, oak spice and warm earth gives way to reveal round, supple and slightly light flavors relative to what this wine usually possesses, all wrapped in a firm finish with grand cru finesse and elegance if not necessarily the power and depth. Still, this is most attractive.” BH
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Lucien Le Moine Les Saint Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Ripe strawberry and cherry along with charred, roasted meat scent the nose of the Le Moine 2006 Nuits St.-Georges Les St.-Georges. This is broad and rich, more pliable on the palate than the corresponding Les Cailles – though still full of fine-grained tannin – and with a mind-bending suggestion of things mineral: chalk, iodine, ineffable, ore-like impingements. But don’t imagine for a minute that this is merely cerebral stuff. On the contrary, the bright, energetic finish here will set your bodily juices flowing. I would give it 2-3 years and then expect another 8-10 of delightful profundity.” WA
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Maison Nicolas Potel Chambertin Grand Cru 2006 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Good medium red. Explosive, wild aromas of black raspberry and smoked meat. At once suave and powerful, with a compellingly layered texture and great depth to its flavors of black fruits, game, pepper and earth. Wonderfully thick, powerfully structured wine with great back-end breadth and persistence. A powerful expression of soil, and built for a long life in bottle. The finish shows an intriguing suggestion of black olive.”ST
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Domaine Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2006 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “This is a clear step up in aromatic purity and elegance, which is saying something as the Pruliers is gifted too in this regard with an elegant, pure and complex nose that is both seductive and complete while dissolving into serious yet extremely pretty medium-bodied flavors that also coat the mouth with extract, which confers a real sense of volume and focused muscle. Lovely and very long.”BH
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Domaine des Epeneaux Comte Armand Clos des Epeneaux Monopole 2006 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Fine Wine Review 93 “Benjamin Leroux manages to turn out consistently fine wines, no matter what challenges the vintage poses. The Pommard-Clos des Epeneaux has truffly dark fruit aromas. The wine is smooth and harmonious in the mouth with iodide, dark fruit and plenty of round tannins. I’d expect to wait 5-8 years before drinking and the wine should then hold quite well for 15-20 years.”
Burghound 92 points”In contrast to the reticence displayed from barrel, now that the ’06 is in bottle it is surprisingly open and expressive with a beautifully layered nose of raspberry, cherry and red pinot fruit nuanced by hints of spice, earth, minerals and a dried herb component that introduces intense, balanced and pure flavors that culminate in a serious, mouth coating and well-built finish where the tannins are solid but not rustic or aggressive. This will require the better part of a decade to arrive at its majority as the tannins are quite firm and despite the inviting openness of the nose, the finish is on the austere side at present. Comments: Outstanding. Drink: 2014+.” BH
The Lazzarito Barolo bottling
The Lazzarito bottling is sourced from a single Serralunga vineyard of the same name; vines here were planted roughly 40 years ago. Yields are low across these parcels, with calcareous clay soils underfoot. Grapes are gently pressed upon harvest, fermenting over 27 days in stainless steel tanks under closely monitored temperatures (between 86-90 ° F). The wine ages in French oak over 7 months and then in Slovenian oak casks for two years.
Vietti Lazzarito 2011 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is a landmark wine and one of the best expressions made region-wide in this challenging vintage. The bouquet is gorgeous thanks to the never-ending aromas of dark fruit, licorice and balsam herb that peel off the top. The Lazzarito vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba is characterized by thick soils and deep shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures. These are important factors that lead to quality fruit despite the summer heat.” ML
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is fabulous in this vintage. Rich, ample and structured, the 2011 is both opulent and savory in style. Iron, plums, dark red cherries, smoke, licorice and tobacco meld together in a remarkably harmonious young Serralunga Barolo. This is the first year the Vietti Lazzarito includes a second recently acquired parcel, which may be one of the factors that influences quality, but at the same time, the Lazzarito has been the most improved Barolo in the range. All the elements come together in the 2011, a wine that has it all. This is a great showing from the Lazzarito. Best of all, readers won’t have to wait forever to enjoy this beautiful, pedigreed Barolo.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $129.
Other Vietti Wines Currently In Stock:
Vietti Nebbiolo Perbacco Langhe 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 10 bottles available
Case-12 Vietti Nebbiolo Perbacco Langhe 2012 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, 1 case available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Vietti’s 2012 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is fabulous. Floral and lifted, the flavors are bright, focused and beautifully articulated throughout. Chalky notes support a sculpted, brilliant finish laced with hints orange peel, white pepper and crushed rocks.” AG
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 2 bottles available
“Starts out waxy, offering ripe lemon, honey, peach and mineral flavors. Shows good balance and freshness, with a lingering finish. Drink now. 6,000 cases made.”–Wine Spectator
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 9 bottles available
Vietti Barbaresco Masseria 2006 3L ($499.95) $399 special, 1 jeroboam available
Wine Advocate 93 points, Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Good deep red. Medicinal cherry and violet on the nose, with a hint of nuts. Sweet and fresh, with excellent inner-mouth energy and floral lift. But this also boasts an opulent texture, with the sweet tannins arriving late. I find this softer than the 2005 version, but again these tannins reminded me of a Barolo.”ST
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Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 11 bottles available
Winery notes: “Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.”
Vietti Brunate 2006 3L ($829.95) $629 special, 1 jeroboam available
Vietti Brunate 2006 1.5L ($395.95) $319 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Bravo! The Brunate cru has awarded Vietti with a stellar product: a wine that is unusually dark and plush with impressive intensity and crafted aromas of black fruit, spice, earth, licorice, balsam and gianduia chocolate-hazelnut spread. The soft, velvety texture is seductively delicious and the wine will age many long, glorious years.” WE
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good medium red. Perfumed aromas of camphor, brown spices and menthol. Silky-sweet and aromatic in the mouth, with lovely class and a light touch for a wine with such a plush texture-no doubt due to a mineral element that reminded me of Musigny. Very intensely flavored, suave Brunate with an impressive rising finish. A superb showing: this has the structure for a slow evolution in bottle but the complexity to give it considerable early appeal.”ST
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Vietti Brunate 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “From one of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, the 2009 Barolo Brunate lavishes on smoky, granite and mineral notes that make this wine absolutely irresistible. Even the drawing of a snail on the label seems to hammer home one obvious point: This wine is built for longer cellar aging. Its rich texture, velvety feel and firm structure are guarantees that it will become increasingly elegant and finessed with time. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030.” WA
Vietti Brunate 2011 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Brunate is a wine of enormous pedigree, although it does not fully reach the aspiring heights of the 2010 and 2009 vintages immediately before it. Those wines set the bar so high, you need to settle for this wine that is a masterpiece in its own right. It offers deep, dark intensity with generous tones of ripe fruit, blackberry and red currant. Background notes of rosemary, cherry cola and licorice add vitality and focus. There is a subtle touch of softness in the mouth that is followed by firm tannins.” ML
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “A dark, exotic Barolo, the 2011 Brunate boasts tons of density and volume. Black cherry, plum, spice, licorice, new leather and menthol are some of the many nuances that flesh out in the glass. Ultimately, though, the 2011 is largely defined by the texture and amplitude of the year. Brunate is often slow out of the gate, so I will not be surprised if that is the case here as well. Ideally, readers should plan on giving the 2011 at least a few years in bottle to fully come together.” AG
Vietti Castiglione 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Barolo Castiglione is Vietti’s proverbial bread-and-butter wine. It is made in larger volumes (the 2011 vintage saw 56,000 bottles produced) and it shows consistent quality that consumers have come to count on. Fruit is sourced from the greater Castiglione area. The nose is compact and impeccable with dark cherry and plum, backed by spice, licorice and anise seed. There’s even a playful touch of bitter chocolate on the close.” ML
Vietti Lazzarito 2006 1.5L ($399.95) $349 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2006 Barolo Lazzarito has begun to show the pedigree of this great Serralunga site now that Vietti has backed off the French oak, and the 2006 is nothing short of superb. A melange of dark, mineral-infused fruit flows from the glass as the large-scaled Lazzarito gradually shows off its class. Licorice, tar, smoke and earthiness add layers of complexity and nuance. The Lazzarito is still the Barolo that spends the longest number of months in French oak following the malolactic fermentation, but that period is down to several months from a full year the wine spent in small barrels up until 2001 or so. One day the Lazzarito may challenge the Rocche as Vietti’s signature Barolo, and that day may be closer than most people realize. This huge, imposing Barolo will require patience, but it is nothing short of superb. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.”WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vietti Lazzarito 2007 1.5L ($449.95) $349 special, 2 magnums available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2007 Barolo Lazzarito is a superb, plush wine loaded with dark fruit, flowers of all sorts, sweet menthol and minerals, all of which flow through to the long, powerful finish. The wine’s inner perfume emerges over time, adding even more nuance and subtlety to this big Barolo. The 2007 Lazzarito is far from an open, easygoing wine, in fact it needs time, and lots of it. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2042.”WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vietti Lazzarito 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Luca recently purchased more land in the Lazzarito cru. The 2009 Barolo Lazzarito delivers subdued notes of red rose and violet that build in intensity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Black fruit, plum, cassis, leather, tar and licorice soon follow suit. This wine is an absolute, drop-dead stunner. Its tannic crispness makes it feel lively and buoyant in the mouth. The wine shows heft and importance that become firmly etched in the mouth. Each time I went back to the glass, the wine told a new story. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.” WA
Vietti Ravera 2011 750ML ($149.95) S129 special, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2011 Barolo Ravera is once again the most vibrant and nuanced of the Vietti Barolos. Freshly cut flowers, crushed rocks, mint and bright red stone fruits are all shaped by a very classic sense of mineral-inflected drive that is such a Ravera signature. The 2011 is a more than worthy follow up to the epic 2010. It’s great to see this high-altitude district in Novello finally getting its due.” AG
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Barolo Ravera opens to a pretty garnet color and dark ruby luminosity. The wine delivers tight concentration and a fine texture that adheres closely to the palate. Blackberry, cassis, spice, leather and tobacco emerge from the glass. Barolo Ravera also offers an earthy tone of white truffle or porcino mushroom. Soft oak density and thick fruit extract give the wine beautiful, full-bodied appeal. Give it ten more years of cellar aging to lose the baby fat.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vietti Rocche di Castiglione 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2009 Barolo Rocche is a solid, unwavering expression that brings the intensity meter even higher. Sweet red fruit, licorice, leather and moist pipe tobacco are some of the many layers that peel back from the bouquet. The balance, structure and persistence of the wine are all superb. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2036” WA
Vietti Rocche di Castiglione 2011 750ML ($149.95) $129 special, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 95 points “Vietti’s 2011 Barolo Rocche is rich and sumptuous in this vintage, with gorgeous textural resonance. The classic Rocche signatures are present, but the 2011 has a bit more body than is often the case. Freshly cut flowers mint, sweet spices and rose petals form a hugely appeal fabric of flavors and textures. Voluptuous and racy in the glass yet with plenty of nuance and finesse, the 2011 Rocche captures the very best qualities of the year. All things considered, this is one of the more subtle wines of the year.” AG
Wine Advocate 94 points “Previously known as Barolo Rocche, the 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione now boasts the full name of its vineyard designate. It shows profound fruit intensity with dark layers of blackcurrant and exotic spice. The overall effect is enriched, opulent and velvety. A firm tannic backbone is paired to bright acidity to fuel the wine’s considerable persistence and its rich structured texture. The beauty of the wine will only improve in time.”
Vietti Cascinetta 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 3 bottles available
Winery notes: “Pale sunshine yellow color and slight frizzante, this Moscato d’Asti has intense aromas of peaches, rose petals and ginger. On the palate it is delicately sweet and sparkling with modest acidity, good balance, good complexity and a finish of fresh apricots.”
Southern Italian soul
Newly arrived in the shop are two phenomenal case and half-case deals on two Calabrian wines from Statti, who have occupied the same terroirs since the 17th century. Their operations include the production of olive oils alongside their native-varietal wines.
Native to the perennially underrated Calabria, the Gaglioppo grape is known for its rich, bold wines whose underlying tannic structure melds nicely with their full body. A study of the grape’s DNA in 2008 found that Gaglioppo is likely a cross between Sangiovese and a mysterious, yet-to-be discovered grape. Along with the better known Aglianico, it has been grown in Calabria for many centuries.
Case-12 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 6 cases available
Case-6 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 half-cases available
Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The Lamezia Rosso is a blend of 40% Gaglioppo, 40% Greco Nero, and 20% Nerello Cappuccio. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature with 10 days’ worth of skin maceration and stainless steel aging. The wine itself is medium-bodied, with cherries and spice on the nose. On the palate, it features dark berry fruit, fresh earthiness, and a touch of herbs.
Case-12 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 6 cases available
Case-6 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($99.95) $71.90 special, 6 half-cases available
Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Epic wines arriving soon
Pre-Arrivals Scheduled to Arrive Later this Month:
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Réservée is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12-15 years.” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino 2010 750ML ($219.95) $169 pre-arrival special
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
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine that shows uncompromising varietal pureness, albeit in a most concentrated and elaborate form. This is what great Sangiovese is all about. There’s so much happening on the nose and the wine brings you to cherry, spice, licorice, cured meat, pressed rose and grilled meat in equal measure. No one element overpowers the next. The mouthfeel is also tight and bright with the kind of fruit intensity that promises long cellar aging. This Brunello is only at the beginning of a long road ahead. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more it offers in terms of complexity and intensity. This is a true standout that can be enjoyed for up to 20 years ahead.” ML
Brunello do Montalcino from Il Poggione Currently in the Shop:
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2004 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is awesome. This finessed, regal Brunello flows onto the palate with seamless layers of perfumed fruit framed by silky, finessed tannins. The wine remains extremely primary at this stage, and its full range of aromas and flavors have yet to emerge, but the sheer pedigree of this Brunello is unmistakable. The elegant, refined finish lasts an eternity, and subtle notes of menthol, spices, licorice and leather add final notes of complexity. The estate’s 2004 Brunello is a wine to buy and bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Brunello is never inexpensive, but this is the real deal, and in relative terms, it is one of the world’s great values in fine, cellar worthy wine. Incredibly, there are 18,000+ cases of the 2004 Brunello, so it should be fairly easy to source in various markets. The Brunello is made from four vineyards ranging from 250 to 400 meters in altitude, all in Sant’Angelo in Colle. The wines from the various vineyards were aged separately in French oak casks prior to being assembled and bottled.” AG
“Wine should be so deleterious,
For tea and coffee leave us much more serious.”