In Today’s Newsletter:
James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade
Winery-Cellar Released 2008 Screaming Eagle
New Reviews for JJ Prum’s 2017’s
Two Great Rioja Values
Staff Pick – A Rosé for Carnitas Soup (and Other Things)
Big Red Deals from Southern Spain
A Follow Up to Our Fastest-Selling Chianti
#Trending
Collector’s Corner – Back Vintage La Tâche
James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade
2017 Almaviva
Winery-Cellar Released 2008 Screaming Eagle
New Reviews for JJ Prum’s 2017’s
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Site-typical scents of lime, Bing cherry, honeysuckle, mint and wintergreen anticipate the combination of luscious fruit, cooling herbacity, alluring inner-mouth perfume and zesty, bright citricity that emerge on a glossy, buoyant palate and an impressively sustained finish.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 11 half-bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “The nose on a just-opened bottle was shrouded in yeasty and faintly stinky fermentative aromas, though beneath those emerged anticipations of what awaits on a glossy, creamy palate: quince and white peach preserves laced with grapefruit and lemon. A bottle that had been open for six days, while it harbored a reductive hint of pork rind, was effusively fruity from the first whiff, and full of freshness. The ultra-buoyant finish deftly combines richness with brightness and transparency to stony underpinnings.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2017 375ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 96 points “Quince preserves and marzipan are laced with mint and honeysuckle on the effusive nose and the luscious, seductively silken palate of this ultra-buoyant and impeccably balanced “gold capsule” Auslese. As with quite a few of the Prüm 2017s, there is a welcome influx of brightly juicy fresh citrus – here suggesting both white and pink grapefruit – that renders the finish, for all of its richness, vibrant and downright refreshing. What’s more, there is a transparency to smoky, stony and saline nuances such as one seldom witnesses in a Riesling from fruit this ripe. And there isn’t one bit of superficial sweetness. (There is no Lange Goldkapsel Graacher Himmelreich Auslese this vintage – perhaps one reason why this Goldkapsel bottling is so sensational – but there is material that will eventually be released as Beerenauslese, or perhaps even as TBA.)”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 5 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Pineapple and grapefruit on the nose – while partly shrouded by yeastiness and fermentative residues – anticipate the brightness and tang with which this wine buoyantly and invigoratingly hits the polished palate. Inner-mouth lily-of-the-valley perfume and a hint of black currant (not unusual for this site) add appeal en route to a vibrant, lusciously lingering, stone-lined finish. What a classic Prüm Kabinett!”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 4 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “An effusive nose of pineapple, pink grapefruit and cassis wreathed in honeysuckle prepares one for the tang, brightness and inner-mouth perfume delivered on a glossy, subtly creamy, buoyant palate. The stimulatingly sustained finish is at once luscious, bright and transparent to stony underpinnings.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 half- bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 95 points “Scents of pear and quince suggest a fresh as well as jellied aspect, mingled with mint, fennel and anise. The creamy palate delivers a corresponding combination of freshness and cooling green herbacity as well as bright grapefruit and lime citricity that is remarkable for a wine at once richly confitured in flavors and slicked with honeyed traces of botrytis. As if the aforementioned complex and harmonious juxtaposition were not striking enough, this beauty’s vibrant, soaring finish adds stimulating cress-like nips to its already diverse herbal arsenal.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 5 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Seldom have I observed such a striking difference between a youthful Prüm Kabinett from Graacher Himmelreich and one from Wehlener Sonnenuhr as in this vintage. Heady honeysuckle and gardenia are accompanied on the nose by very ripe pear and Persian melon, anticipating the inner-mouth perfume and lush fruit that deploy on a glossy, buoyant palate. Pear seed piquancy serves for welcome counterpoint on a finish that is luscious, rounded and highly imposing, if lacking the brightness or energy conveyed at this stage by the corresponding Graacher. But give it at least a little time.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel (AP #10) 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Ripe pear, apple and honeydew melon are headily garlanded in honeysuckle, lily-of-the-valley and mint. The palate impression is lusciously fruity and subtly creamy, presenting an airy combination of alcoholic levity with floral perfume. The buoyant, bell-clear, seductively lingering finish is soothing, but features a welcome light tingle of fresh, zesty lemon.”
Two Great Rioja Values
Big Red Deals from Southern Spain
Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez 93+ points “There is a big jump in depth, complexity and nuance between the Monastrell and the 2017 Vino de Finca, which is a blend of Monastrell with almost 25% Garnacha. This comes from four plots that were selected from what was previously used for the entry-level Monastrell; they aim was to find a wine with more finesse and elegance but with the inherent power of the zone. This is only the third vintage for this cuvée, and it feels quite established and different from the rest of the range; it has less varietal character and is more about the place, getting closer to the single-vineyard bottlings where they do not search for fruit character. The idea here is to ferment at temperatures that are quite so low and to stabilize the wine in oak barrels for a long-ish time (12 months in 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter oak foudres). They are wines of sun and limestone. This is a good reflection of it with a perfumed and floral note on the finish (elegance!) that is quite remarkable. 31,000 bottles produced in 2017. It was bottled in November 2018.”
Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Monastrell has some 12% Garnacha, and in 2018, it will probably have almost 20% Garnacha; at that point, they will remove the Monastrell name from the label and sell the wine as Casa Castillo, with no varietal mentioned. They have decided that the blend of Monastrell with Garnacha makes sense, so they’s been increasing the percentage of Garnacha in their vineyards and reducing the Syrah, a variety they think makes less sense on their property. This has notes of fresh fruit with a spicy touch and is quite pure, not reflecting heat at all. The palate is juicy, vibrant and tasty, with super fine tannins and a spicy finish. A blend of 20-something plots, this wine reflects the general character of the estate. It has 15% alcohol, reflecting the natural conditions, but with an incredible balance that makes the alcohol feel perfectly integrated. A true bargain in its finest vintage to date. They produced around 186,000 bottles of this wine. The same blend is bottled throughout the year. What I tasted was bottled in January 2019.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “Another smoking value brought in by Eric Solomon, the 2017 Monastrell (there’s 12% Grenache) is a rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured effort that offers a Bandol-like character in its blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, and chocolate aromas and flavors. Aged 10-12 months all in larger foudre, it a ripe, sexy, balanced effort that knocks it out of the park on the value scale. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.”
This is sneakily one of the best New World Pinot Noirs out there—but being from Chile, it’s a steal.
Montsecano Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the best vintages of the grand vin here has to be the eponymous 2016 Montsecano, produced 100% with Pinot Noir from the zone of Las Dichas in Casablanca. The vines were planted in 2006 on red clay and granite soils and, as all the wines here, sees no oak whatsoever; it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was kept in egg-shaped cement vats until bottling in February 2017. This is simply delicious. This is not a Burgundy Pinot Noir, there is always a touch of rusticity here, an earthy touch. This is a pure Pinot Noir; it slowly opens up in the glass to an intoxicating mixture of wild flowers and herbs, with that rustic touch. The palate has very fine-grained tannins, tasty and long. I think this captures the intensity of the people that work here. 8,000 bottles produced.”
This wine is drinking better at the moment than many higher scoring bottles. Just delicious.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
The best value we’ve seen in Malbec under $30. Old vines, pure and bold.
Luca Malbec, Uco Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
#42 – Top Cellar Selections in 2018 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Selection. Pure berry and cassis aromas are concentrated and show no holes. This Uco Valley Malbec feels pure, direct and linear, albeit with slightly scratchy tannins that should dissipate in due time. Blackberry and dry spice flavors finish full and grabby, with muscularity. Drink through 2028.”
Crisp and tasty, it’s a perfect wine with salad or fish.
Michele Chiarlo Rovereto, Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “This vineyard site has dark marlstone soils, which are rare here. Most of the rest of the appellation sees white soils instead. The 2018 Gavi del Comune Gavi Rovereto opens to fragrant aromas of citrus, anise, crushed rock and even a tangy touch of spring onion. The bouquet of this wine is full and generous, with candied orange skin and preserved lemon, ending with a dusty mineral signature that is characteristic of the Rovereto vineyard site. You can no longer write “Gavi di Gavi” on the label. Now it must read “Gavi del Comune di Gavi.””
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Aromas of ripe yellow stone fruit and Spanish broom mingle with a smoky note. Reflecting the nose, the linear, elegant palate offers yellow peach, citrus and flinty mineral alongside vibrant acidity.”
La Tâche needs little in the way of introduction. One of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s crown jewels, it’s a wine that rivals Romanée-Conti for the best wine in Burgundy in any given year. We’ve secured an immaculately stored bottle of the 2012 (an excellent year), arriving later this week. Neal Martin described it as being “blessed with one of those aromatic profiles that stops you in your tracks, in some ways stops time itself”—in other words, La Tâche from an excellent vintage. First come, first served, one bottle available.
Arriving ETA Friday:
Only one bottle available.
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($4999.95) $3999 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “A wine of almost raw, animal power, the 2012 La Tâche possesses stunning depth and intensity. Savory, floral and red citrus notes are pushed forward in an unusually virile, imposing La Tâche. Readers will have to be patient here, which will not surprise anyone familiar with the vintage. Still, I am taken aback by the wine’s embryonic youthfulness.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2012 La Tâche was picked September 25 and 27 at 21 hectoliters per hectare. It is blessed with one of those aromatic profiles that stops you in your tracks, in some ways stops time itself. There is an intensity and drive here, a mixture of red and black fruit, autumn leaves and wet limestone and later, roof tiles on a hot July afternoon. The palate is medium-bodied and nigh perfectly balanced. The tannins are filigree, the fruit extremely pure with an intense mineralité on the finish. There is an effortless quality about this La Tâche and yet is just clams up on the finish, does not quite deliver that knockout blow that so many other vintages have given. Perhaps it is saving it for later? Readers should note that there is just 1,113 cases produced rather than the usual 1,870.”
James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade
Winery-Cellar Released 2008 Screaming Eagle
New Reviews for JJ Prum’s 2017’s
Two Great Rioja Values
Staff Pick – A Rosé for Carnitas Soup (and Other Things)
Big Red Deals from Southern Spain
A Follow Up to Our Fastest-Selling Chianti
#Trending
Collector’s Corner – Back Vintage La Tâche
James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade
2017 Almaviva
James Suckling recently published his “wine of the decade”—the single bottling that impressed him most over the course of the last ten years. His choice? The profoundly powerful 2017 Almaviva Puente Alto—a perfect wine made under the auspices of Mouton Rothschild and Concha y Toro.
The winery has been one of the best in the world over the course of the decade, earning two perfect scores, and Suckling notes that “”For the last 10 years, vintage after vintage, Almaviva vineyard has been quietly, consistently establishing a track record as one of the greatest wine producers in Chile, if not all of the world.”
The 2017 is the best vintage they’ve made—a powerful Cabernet based blend that resembles the First Growth Bordeaux that inspired it. This is a wine that’s going to become a legend—the ’85 Heitz Martha’s or 1982 Mouton of Chilean wine. In summarizing the bottling, James suckling declared that “Almaviva set a new bar for Chilean wines with nuanced, rigorously blended vintages that marry classic Bordeaux expertise with New World vitality.” All that’s left is for you to secure some while you can.
Arriving ETA Summer:
Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2017 750ML ($1,079.95) $849 pre-arrival special (that’s only $141.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 100 points “The estate, which is a joint venture between Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Concha y Toro, has been striving for perfection since its launch in 1998. And, with the Almaviva Puente Alto 2017, they’ve achieved it…. The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It’s structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. Don’t touch this until 2025.”
The winery has been one of the best in the world over the course of the decade, earning two perfect scores, and Suckling notes that “”For the last 10 years, vintage after vintage, Almaviva vineyard has been quietly, consistently establishing a track record as one of the greatest wine producers in Chile, if not all of the world.”
The 2017 is the best vintage they’ve made—a powerful Cabernet based blend that resembles the First Growth Bordeaux that inspired it. This is a wine that’s going to become a legend—the ’85 Heitz Martha’s or 1982 Mouton of Chilean wine. In summarizing the bottling, James suckling declared that “Almaviva set a new bar for Chilean wines with nuanced, rigorously blended vintages that marry classic Bordeaux expertise with New World vitality.” All that’s left is for you to secure some while you can.
Arriving ETA Summer:
Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2017 750ML ($1,079.95) $849 pre-arrival special (that’s only $141.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 100 points “The estate, which is a joint venture between Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Concha y Toro, has been striving for perfection since its launch in 1998. And, with the Almaviva Puente Alto 2017, they’ve achieved it…. The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It’s structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. Don’t touch this until 2025.”
Winery-Cellar Released 2008 Screaming Eagle
We’re offering a very rare, winery cellared release of 2008 Screaming Eagle. This three pack (in OWC) is not second-hand, not third-hand, not fourth-hand, but winery direct—straight from their cellars to our hands. This is an opportunity that we haven’t seen before and collectors should take note.
This release is born of the 2017 vintage—a year where Screaming Eagle only bottled a tiny amount of their production (and all in magnum). To have something to offer to mailing list customers, they’ve opened up their cellars to bring us this rare treasure. This isn’t something they’ve done before and we’d be surprised if it happens again anytime soon—this isn’t something the winery was planning on before 2017,
Screaming Eagle needs little introduction. They’re the most sought after, collectible producer in California and their wines are preciously hard to come by. We get tiny quantities every year and the wines disappear quickly. The wine is first come, first served, available on our website right now (or you can call/email, but web orders can be placed while the shop isn’t open).
Arriving ETA Mid-March:
Only three bottles available (OWC available for multiple-bottle purchases only)
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2008 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,499 pre-arrival special
Winery-cellared release. Released March 2020.
James Suckling 97 points “This has a wonderful balance to it. It shows intense aromas of flowers and dark fruits with hints of incense and sandalwood. Changes all the time. Then goes to currants and flowers. Full and firm with a wonderful core of silky tannins that are polished and beautiful. Dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and dark fruit. Solid and firm. You could easy drink this but it has structure for aging as well. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Caberent Franc and 5% Merlot.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The estate’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with considerable richness and pure depth. The spring frosts lowered yields noticeably resulting in a wine that is a bit darker and heavier than is the norm. The rest of the vintage was on the warmer side, which gave the wine much of its ripeness and body. Mocha, espresso, licorice and sweet spices all wrap around the palate. Next to the other wines in this tasting, the 2008 is a bit burly. The mind-bending finesse of the best vintages is missing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.”
This release is born of the 2017 vintage—a year where Screaming Eagle only bottled a tiny amount of their production (and all in magnum). To have something to offer to mailing list customers, they’ve opened up their cellars to bring us this rare treasure. This isn’t something they’ve done before and we’d be surprised if it happens again anytime soon—this isn’t something the winery was planning on before 2017,
Screaming Eagle needs little introduction. They’re the most sought after, collectible producer in California and their wines are preciously hard to come by. We get tiny quantities every year and the wines disappear quickly. The wine is first come, first served, available on our website right now (or you can call/email, but web orders can be placed while the shop isn’t open).
Arriving ETA Mid-March:
Only three bottles available (OWC available for multiple-bottle purchases only)
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2008 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,499 pre-arrival special
Winery-cellared release. Released March 2020.
James Suckling 97 points “This has a wonderful balance to it. It shows intense aromas of flowers and dark fruits with hints of incense and sandalwood. Changes all the time. Then goes to currants and flowers. Full and firm with a wonderful core of silky tannins that are polished and beautiful. Dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and dark fruit. Solid and firm. You could easy drink this but it has structure for aging as well. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Caberent Franc and 5% Merlot.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The estate’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with considerable richness and pure depth. The spring frosts lowered yields noticeably resulting in a wine that is a bit darker and heavier than is the norm. The rest of the vintage was on the warmer side, which gave the wine much of its ripeness and body. Mocha, espresso, licorice and sweet spices all wrap around the palate. Next to the other wines in this tasting, the 2008 is a bit burly. The mind-bending finesse of the best vintages is missing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Reviews for JJ Prum’s 2017’s
“I realize that the Prüms consider it heresy to drink their wines young, and I recognize from long experience how much they benefit from time in bottle. Nevertheless, to award scores well into the 90s for wines that I found hard to leave behind in the glass and then to suggest that one shouldn’t enjoy them already (after all, I certainly did!) strikes me as incongruous, if not downright ludicrous. Generally, only in those instances – and there are nearly always some in any new Prüm collection – where yeasty and fermentative aromas significantly shrouded a wine do I indicate that one should wait a bit before popping even the first cork. And apropos of that reductive “Mosel stink” associated with this address, it is a phenomenon I have struggled over the years (recently with considerable input from Katharina Prüm and the gurus of Geisenheim) to understand, but I can definitely report that instances are nowadays not only capricious but also much rarer than they were a decade or more ago – aspects of this phenomenon that only compound its inscrutability.” – David Schildknecht, Vinous
In Stock Now:
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “A nose reminiscent of Erdener Treppchen offers sassafras, mint and quince. An influx of fresh grapefruit and lime serves for zest and brightness, and a nip of fresh ginger lends further invigoration on an otherwise glossy, honeyed and coolingly green-herb-infused palate. The buoyant finish, its sweetness impeccably balanced, deliciously marries richness with vibrancy and refreshment.”
In Stock Now:
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “A nose reminiscent of Erdener Treppchen offers sassafras, mint and quince. An influx of fresh grapefruit and lime serves for zest and brightness, and a nip of fresh ginger lends further invigoration on an otherwise glossy, honeyed and coolingly green-herb-infused palate. The buoyant finish, its sweetness impeccably balanced, deliciously marries richness with vibrancy and refreshment.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Site-typical scents of lime, Bing cherry, honeysuckle, mint and wintergreen anticipate the combination of luscious fruit, cooling herbacity, alluring inner-mouth perfume and zesty, bright citricity that emerge on a glossy, buoyant palate and an impressively sustained finish.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 11 half-bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “The nose on a just-opened bottle was shrouded in yeasty and faintly stinky fermentative aromas, though beneath those emerged anticipations of what awaits on a glossy, creamy palate: quince and white peach preserves laced with grapefruit and lemon. A bottle that had been open for six days, while it harbored a reductive hint of pork rind, was effusively fruity from the first whiff, and full of freshness. The ultra-buoyant finish deftly combines richness with brightness and transparency to stony underpinnings.”
This is the lowest listed price for a half bottle on the West Coast today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2017 375ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 96 points “Quince preserves and marzipan are laced with mint and honeysuckle on the effusive nose and the luscious, seductively silken palate of this ultra-buoyant and impeccably balanced “gold capsule” Auslese. As with quite a few of the Prüm 2017s, there is a welcome influx of brightly juicy fresh citrus – here suggesting both white and pink grapefruit – that renders the finish, for all of its richness, vibrant and downright refreshing. What’s more, there is a transparency to smoky, stony and saline nuances such as one seldom witnesses in a Riesling from fruit this ripe. And there isn’t one bit of superficial sweetness. (There is no Lange Goldkapsel Graacher Himmelreich Auslese this vintage – perhaps one reason why this Goldkapsel bottling is so sensational – but there is material that will eventually be released as Beerenauslese, or perhaps even as TBA.)”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 5 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Pineapple and grapefruit on the nose – while partly shrouded by yeastiness and fermentative residues – anticipate the brightness and tang with which this wine buoyantly and invigoratingly hits the polished palate. Inner-mouth lily-of-the-valley perfume and a hint of black currant (not unusual for this site) add appeal en route to a vibrant, lusciously lingering, stone-lined finish. What a classic Prüm Kabinett!”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 4 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “An effusive nose of pineapple, pink grapefruit and cassis wreathed in honeysuckle prepares one for the tang, brightness and inner-mouth perfume delivered on a glossy, subtly creamy, buoyant palate. The stimulatingly sustained finish is at once luscious, bright and transparent to stony underpinnings.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 half- bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 95 points “Scents of pear and quince suggest a fresh as well as jellied aspect, mingled with mint, fennel and anise. The creamy palate delivers a corresponding combination of freshness and cooling green herbacity as well as bright grapefruit and lime citricity that is remarkable for a wine at once richly confitured in flavors and slicked with honeyed traces of botrytis. As if the aforementioned complex and harmonious juxtaposition were not striking enough, this beauty’s vibrant, soaring finish adds stimulating cress-like nips to its already diverse herbal arsenal.”
This is the lowest listed price for a half bottle on the West Coast today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 5 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Seldom have I observed such a striking difference between a youthful Prüm Kabinett from Graacher Himmelreich and one from Wehlener Sonnenuhr as in this vintage. Heady honeysuckle and gardenia are accompanied on the nose by very ripe pear and Persian melon, anticipating the inner-mouth perfume and lush fruit that deploy on a glossy, buoyant palate. Pear seed piquancy serves for welcome counterpoint on a finish that is luscious, rounded and highly imposing, if lacking the brightness or energy conveyed at this stage by the corresponding Graacher. But give it at least a little time.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel (AP #10) 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Ripe pear, apple and honeydew melon are headily garlanded in honeysuckle, lily-of-the-valley and mint. The palate impression is lusciously fruity and subtly creamy, presenting an airy combination of alcoholic levity with floral perfume. The buoyant, bell-clear, seductively lingering finish is soothing, but features a welcome light tingle of fresh, zesty lemon.”
Two Great Rioja Values
Marques Murrieta is one of the great pillars of classical Rioja—a titan of the region that’s responsible for some of the greatest wines ever produced in Spain. They resemble a more polished, powerful version of Lopez de Heredia, in some ways, sharing an ageworthiness but offering up a distinctly more fruit driven profile in youth. We’ve got their fantastic 2015 Reserva back in stock now—a wine that’s stellar in most vintages but especially so in 2015. This is a wine that you can pour with gusto now or easily age for a decade.
In Stock Now:
Marques de Murrieta Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Marques de Murrieta Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($299.95) $235 special (that’s only $19.58/bottle—the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The red blend 2015 Rioja Reserva is 80% Tempranillo with 12% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha, a little more Graciano and Mazuelo, something logical in ripe and warm years like 2015. It’s produced with grapes from a diversity of the 30 different plots within the estate, to represent the character of if. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for 18 months. It’s spicy and somewhat balsamic, with some dusty tannins. It’s a ripe and powerful vintage that only suffers next to the 2016 I tasted next to it when there’s a jump in precision and finesse.-LG”
The Wine Spectator Top 100 list always seems to have a number of excellent value wines that are highlighted for high honors. The 2012 Caceres Reserva was one such wine—and it sold out when we had it in the shop, on two different occasions. Luckily we’ve secured more of it in magnums, which just arrived. These are perfect for when you want something red, robust and with plenty of it to go around. It’s back in stock and you’re not going to beat this price—inexpensive enough to stock up on and pour it all year.
#19 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($59.95) $28 special, 20+ magnums in stock now
Case-6 Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($319.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/magnum!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Black cherry, currant and floral notes are expressive and alluring, balanced by loamy earth, tobacco and mineral elements that add a savory quality. Firm, well-integrated tannins give support to the polished texture, while orange peel acidity fuels the fresh finish. Drink now through 2027.”
In Stock Now:
Marques de Murrieta Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Marques de Murrieta Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($299.95) $235 special (that’s only $19.58/bottle—the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The red blend 2015 Rioja Reserva is 80% Tempranillo with 12% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha, a little more Graciano and Mazuelo, something logical in ripe and warm years like 2015. It’s produced with grapes from a diversity of the 30 different plots within the estate, to represent the character of if. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for 18 months. It’s spicy and somewhat balsamic, with some dusty tannins. It’s a ripe and powerful vintage that only suffers next to the 2016 I tasted next to it when there’s a jump in precision and finesse.-LG”
The Wine Spectator Top 100 list always seems to have a number of excellent value wines that are highlighted for high honors. The 2012 Caceres Reserva was one such wine—and it sold out when we had it in the shop, on two different occasions. Luckily we’ve secured more of it in magnums, which just arrived. These are perfect for when you want something red, robust and with plenty of it to go around. It’s back in stock and you’re not going to beat this price—inexpensive enough to stock up on and pour it all year.
#19 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($59.95) $28 special, 20+ magnums in stock now
Case-6 Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 1.5L ($319.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/magnum!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Black cherry, currant and floral notes are expressive and alluring, balanced by loamy earth, tobacco and mineral elements that add a savory quality. Firm, well-integrated tannins give support to the polished texture, while orange peel acidity fuels the fresh finish. Drink now through 2027.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Staff Pick
A Rosé for Carnitas Soup (and Other Things)
A Rosé for Carnitas Soup (and Other Things)
Andy:
Having worked in various restaurants with access to some incredible cellars over the years, I sometimes find myself wanting the perfect wine for a dish that seems to defy a perfect pairing. One of the Rick Bayless shops, XOCO, serves a carnitas and dumpling soup that might be one of my favorite dinners in Chicago. Finding myself with some leftover carnitas, I decided to replicate the bowl for some mid-winter warming up. Ordinarily the soup asks for a nice cold pilsner, but I wanted to find the right wine. I ran through red, white, and settled on pink; the 2018 Janasse CDR Rose. The fruit is like the best early Hood Strawberries with a dash of citrus. The acidity slices through the richness of the broth but then the salt, lime and cilantro turn the fruit up to 11. The harmony is very nice and the pair reminds you that somewhere, the sun is shining.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “A fruity and generous rosé, with strawberry and clay aromas, which perfectly matches with barbecues. Drink within the next two years.”
Having worked in various restaurants with access to some incredible cellars over the years, I sometimes find myself wanting the perfect wine for a dish that seems to defy a perfect pairing. One of the Rick Bayless shops, XOCO, serves a carnitas and dumpling soup that might be one of my favorite dinners in Chicago. Finding myself with some leftover carnitas, I decided to replicate the bowl for some mid-winter warming up. Ordinarily the soup asks for a nice cold pilsner, but I wanted to find the right wine. I ran through red, white, and settled on pink; the 2018 Janasse CDR Rose. The fruit is like the best early Hood Strawberries with a dash of citrus. The acidity slices through the richness of the broth but then the salt, lime and cilantro turn the fruit up to 11. The harmony is very nice and the pair reminds you that somewhere, the sun is shining.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “A fruity and generous rosé, with strawberry and clay aromas, which perfectly matches with barbecues. Drink within the next two years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Big Red Deals from Southern Spain
Southern Spain, with its warm climate and limestone-heavy soils, is a perfect place to make big, rich, red wines. Even better, the cost of production in that part of Iberia is quite low—warm, breezy days mean that the vines are easy to farm and the winemaking is straightforward and un-made-up. That translates into wines that have big, rich fruit, lots of personality, and approachable price tags. In other words: a winning combination. We have a new favorite arriving on Friday, but don’t sleep on the Casa Castillo wines already in stock now.
Arriving Friday:
Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Solanera used to wear the ultimate Spanglish label, which said “Viñas Viejas of Monastrell” even if it was always a blend (in this vintage, the blend includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Garnacha Tintorera). The revamped 2015 has a completely different label that only keeps the “viñas viejas” moniker. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Another project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, the 2015 Solanera Vinas Viejas is fresh and lively, with ripe, sexy notes of blueberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with more subtle notes of violets, graphite and white pepper. Possessing full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and gorgeous purity of fruit, it’s another terrific vintage for this cuvée that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-4 years. The blend is 2014 is 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Garnacha, all aged 10 months in 80% French and 20% American oak.”
Arriving Friday:
Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Solanera used to wear the ultimate Spanglish label, which said “Viñas Viejas of Monastrell” even if it was always a blend (in this vintage, the blend includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Garnacha Tintorera). The revamped 2015 has a completely different label that only keeps the “viñas viejas” moniker. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Another project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, the 2015 Solanera Vinas Viejas is fresh and lively, with ripe, sexy notes of blueberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with more subtle notes of violets, graphite and white pepper. Possessing full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and gorgeous purity of fruit, it’s another terrific vintage for this cuvée that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-4 years. The blend is 2014 is 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Garnacha, all aged 10 months in 80% French and 20% American oak.”
Other Southern Spanish Values In Stock Now:
Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez 93+ points “There is a big jump in depth, complexity and nuance between the Monastrell and the 2017 Vino de Finca, which is a blend of Monastrell with almost 25% Garnacha. This comes from four plots that were selected from what was previously used for the entry-level Monastrell; they aim was to find a wine with more finesse and elegance but with the inherent power of the zone. This is only the third vintage for this cuvée, and it feels quite established and different from the rest of the range; it has less varietal character and is more about the place, getting closer to the single-vineyard bottlings where they do not search for fruit character. The idea here is to ferment at temperatures that are quite so low and to stabilize the wine in oak barrels for a long-ish time (12 months in 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter oak foudres). They are wines of sun and limestone. This is a good reflection of it with a perfumed and floral note on the finish (elegance!) that is quite remarkable. 31,000 bottles produced in 2017. It was bottled in November 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Monastrell has some 12% Garnacha, and in 2018, it will probably have almost 20% Garnacha; at that point, they will remove the Monastrell name from the label and sell the wine as Casa Castillo, with no varietal mentioned. They have decided that the blend of Monastrell with Garnacha makes sense, so they’s been increasing the percentage of Garnacha in their vineyards and reducing the Syrah, a variety they think makes less sense on their property. This has notes of fresh fruit with a spicy touch and is quite pure, not reflecting heat at all. The palate is juicy, vibrant and tasty, with super fine tannins and a spicy finish. A blend of 20-something plots, this wine reflects the general character of the estate. It has 15% alcohol, reflecting the natural conditions, but with an incredible balance that makes the alcohol feel perfectly integrated. A true bargain in its finest vintage to date. They produced around 186,000 bottles of this wine. The same blend is bottled throughout the year. What I tasted was bottled in January 2019.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “Another smoking value brought in by Eric Solomon, the 2017 Monastrell (there’s 12% Grenache) is a rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured effort that offers a Bandol-like character in its blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, and chocolate aromas and flavors. Aged 10-12 months all in larger foudre, it a ripe, sexy, balanced effort that knocks it out of the park on the value scale. Drink it over the coming 3-4 years.”
A Follow Up to Our Fastest-Selling Chianti
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been selling Castello di Monsanto’s Chianti like hotcakes—and for good reason. It’s an impeccably made, classically styled Chianti that over delivers for the price. As a follow up, we’re offering you their entry level Super-Tuscan blend. For under $15/btl by the case, this is a brilliant wine to stock up on for Tuesday night drinking. This is a wine that lives up to the esteem of the house at an even lower price point—quite the value, indeed!
Arriving Friday:
Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14.08/bottle —the lowest listed price on the West Coast!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bursts with ripe cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, driven by lively acidity and an elegant frame. Balanced, yet firmly supported by dense tannins. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese.-BS”
In Stock Now:
Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Shows raspberries, pepper and black olives. Medium to full body, round tannins and a fresh, crisp finish. Linear and bright. Classic style. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich and supple, laced with black currant, black cherry, violet and earth notes. Vibrant, firming up as the fruit-stained aftertaste lingers. Best from 2020 through 2033. 6,000 cases made, 300 cases imported.”
Arriving Friday:
Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14.08/bottle —the lowest listed price on the West Coast!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bursts with ripe cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, driven by lively acidity and an elegant frame. Balanced, yet firmly supported by dense tannins. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese.-BS”
In Stock Now:
Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Shows raspberries, pepper and black olives. Medium to full body, round tannins and a fresh, crisp finish. Linear and bright. Classic style. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich and supple, laced with black currant, black cherry, violet and earth notes. Vibrant, firming up as the fruit-stained aftertaste lingers. Best from 2020 through 2033. 6,000 cases made, 300 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Trending
This delivers cult-Cabernet quality at normal Napa pricing.
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
One of the most impressive dry Rieslings made in the last few years.
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($449.95) $333 special, 2 cases in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 98 points “Stand back for the arrival of a giant! Super-fresh nectarine, vanilla and Thai-basil aromas that don’t leave you in any doubt that this is a very remarkable dry riesling. Then the tidal wave of minerality comes through at the finish and sweeps everything away. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Extremely elegant and precisely crafted, with notes of star anise and lavender framing the core of crunchy pear and blood orange flavors. The acidity is appreciable, fueling the flavors and spice accents. Savory mineral details linger on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.”
Terry Theise note “A eucalyptus angularity and a chile-thread bite-not heat, as it only has 13% abv, but simply expressiveness. It’s rather a wild ride, not (at least now) ‘elegant’ but splashy and energetic; not quite ‘mineral’ but rocky, a clamber up a rocky chute in a bearclaw scratch landscape. It’s a departure for this wine, which has always been more comme il faut.”
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
One of the most impressive dry Rieslings made in the last few years.
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($449.95) $333 special, 2 cases in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 98 points “Stand back for the arrival of a giant! Super-fresh nectarine, vanilla and Thai-basil aromas that don’t leave you in any doubt that this is a very remarkable dry riesling. Then the tidal wave of minerality comes through at the finish and sweeps everything away. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Extremely elegant and precisely crafted, with notes of star anise and lavender framing the core of crunchy pear and blood orange flavors. The acidity is appreciable, fueling the flavors and spice accents. Savory mineral details linger on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.”
Terry Theise note “A eucalyptus angularity and a chile-thread bite-not heat, as it only has 13% abv, but simply expressiveness. It’s rather a wild ride, not (at least now) ‘elegant’ but splashy and energetic; not quite ‘mineral’ but rocky, a clamber up a rocky chute in a bearclaw scratch landscape. It’s a departure for this wine, which has always been more comme il faut.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is sneakily one of the best New World Pinot Noirs out there—but being from Chile, it’s a steal.
Montsecano Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the best vintages of the grand vin here has to be the eponymous 2016 Montsecano, produced 100% with Pinot Noir from the zone of Las Dichas in Casablanca. The vines were planted in 2006 on red clay and granite soils and, as all the wines here, sees no oak whatsoever; it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was kept in egg-shaped cement vats until bottling in February 2017. This is simply delicious. This is not a Burgundy Pinot Noir, there is always a touch of rusticity here, an earthy touch. This is a pure Pinot Noir; it slowly opens up in the glass to an intoxicating mixture of wild flowers and herbs, with that rustic touch. The palate has very fine-grained tannins, tasty and long. I think this captures the intensity of the people that work here. 8,000 bottles produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This wine is drinking better at the moment than many higher scoring bottles. Just delicious.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The best value we’ve seen in Malbec under $30. Old vines, pure and bold.
Luca Malbec, Uco Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
#42 – Top Cellar Selections in 2018 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Selection. Pure berry and cassis aromas are concentrated and show no holes. This Uco Valley Malbec feels pure, direct and linear, albeit with slightly scratchy tannins that should dissipate in due time. Blackberry and dry spice flavors finish full and grabby, with muscularity. Drink through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Crisp and tasty, it’s a perfect wine with salad or fish.
Michele Chiarlo Rovereto, Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “This vineyard site has dark marlstone soils, which are rare here. Most of the rest of the appellation sees white soils instead. The 2018 Gavi del Comune Gavi Rovereto opens to fragrant aromas of citrus, anise, crushed rock and even a tangy touch of spring onion. The bouquet of this wine is full and generous, with candied orange skin and preserved lemon, ending with a dusty mineral signature that is characteristic of the Rovereto vineyard site. You can no longer write “Gavi di Gavi” on the label. Now it must read “Gavi del Comune di Gavi.””
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Aromas of ripe yellow stone fruit and Spanish broom mingle with a smoky note. Reflecting the nose, the linear, elegant palate offers yellow peach, citrus and flinty mineral alongside vibrant acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner:
Back Vintage La Tâche
Back Vintage La Tâche
La Tâche needs little in the way of introduction. One of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s crown jewels, it’s a wine that rivals Romanée-Conti for the best wine in Burgundy in any given year. We’ve secured an immaculately stored bottle of the 2012 (an excellent year), arriving later this week. Neal Martin described it as being “blessed with one of those aromatic profiles that stops you in your tracks, in some ways stops time itself”—in other words, La Tâche from an excellent vintage. First come, first served, one bottle available.
Arriving ETA Friday:
Only one bottle available.
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($4999.95) $3999 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “A wine of almost raw, animal power, the 2012 La Tâche possesses stunning depth and intensity. Savory, floral and red citrus notes are pushed forward in an unusually virile, imposing La Tâche. Readers will have to be patient here, which will not surprise anyone familiar with the vintage. Still, I am taken aback by the wine’s embryonic youthfulness.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2012 La Tâche was picked September 25 and 27 at 21 hectoliters per hectare. It is blessed with one of those aromatic profiles that stops you in your tracks, in some ways stops time itself. There is an intensity and drive here, a mixture of red and black fruit, autumn leaves and wet limestone and later, roof tiles on a hot July afternoon. The palate is medium-bodied and nigh perfectly balanced. The tannins are filigree, the fruit extremely pure with an intense mineralité on the finish. There is an effortless quality about this La Tâche and yet is just clams up on the finish, does not quite deliver that knockout blow that so many other vintages have given. Perhaps it is saving it for later? Readers should note that there is just 1,113 cases produced rather than the usual 1,870.”
Thanks for reading!