Wednesday, June 10th, 2015
Hartford Family Winery – Arriving Friday; New Arrivals; Isole e Olena; Bodegas Muga
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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
Whisk your wine through warmer weather!
Beginning now, for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
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Hartford Family Winery
Arriving Friday, June 12th
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Four Hearts Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2013 Chardonnay Four Hearts Vineyards is a classic Russian River Chardonnay built on texture and exuberance. Honey, almonds dried herbs and apricots all flesh out in a generous, deeply expressive Chardonnay. Most of this fruit comes from Tom Dehlinger.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2012 750ML ($69.95) $58 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “From a panoramic ridge top parcel west of the village of Occidental, the 2012 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard possesses great balance, a burgeoning complexity, good freshness and lots of honeyed tropical fruits intermixed with notions of wet gravel, spice and oak. With fabulous fruit, a full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish, it should drink well for 6-7 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $69
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Dina’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Opaque purple. Extremely fragrant, with red and dark berry aromas and suggestions of anise and fresh rose. Smells and tastes like a ripe pinot, with elegant raspberry and blackberry flavors and supple, seamless texture. Finishes smooth and long, with resonating spiciness and well-judged tannins. This is surprisingly delicious now but I’d let it age for at least a few years. As with the rest of these zins, from a vineyard that was planted over 100 years ago.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard, a site that is half head-pruned and half on a high wire trellising system, sees more new French oak (52%). A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a rich, full-bodied wine displaying lots of boysenberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit intermixed with hints of incense and Asian spice. Supple tannins and a big, pedal-to-the-metal, juicy, succulent style suggest it will drink well for 5-6 years.”RP
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $27.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Zinfandel Russian River Valley is an attractive, boisterous wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, raspberry, spice, and mint inform the juicy finish. The 2013 is gracious, inviting and pretty much impossible to resist.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Inky ruby. Bright cherry and black raspberry aromas are complemented by hints of dried rose, black tea and star anise. Lively cherry and dark berry flavors pick up spiciness with air, along with a touch of candied flowers. Shows good energy on the finish, which is armed by youthful, fine-grained tannins. This rich but energetic zin will work well with strongly seasoned foods.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
For a limited time, we are offering UPS Three Day Select for the price of UPS Ground for shipments that would normally travel four or more business days to their destination. This offer applies to orders shipped during the promo period.
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These 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.
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Mid-Week New Arrivals
CALIFORNIA
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($159.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery note “A blend of the unique characteristics from several phenomenal vineyards, creating a Cabernet Sauvignon with remarkable balance and consistency. Offering ripe flavors of black plum jam and black currant, this wine is a polished reflection of the excellent 2012 vintage. Hints of toast and a touch of baking spice support the fruit. We selected more than half of the Cabernet grapes for this wine from our own vineyards in Sonoma County, with the balance coming from our longstanding partner growers. The 2012 vintage was slightly warmer than the previous few years, resulting in ripe, dark fruit flavors in our Cabernet. A touch of Petite Sirah lends further dark fruit character and structure to the wine, while a hint of Merlot contributes to a plush mouthfeel.”
ITALY-TUSCANY
Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Sant’ Antimo, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
VinopolNote: Sangiovese and Colorino Toscano blend. Aged for 12-14 months in large barrels.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Importer note “La Palazzetta is a small family run winery, with 18 hectares of vineyards that are situated on the south-eastern edge of Montalcino in the tiny village of Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Cultivating his vineyards organically, Flavio Fanti is a traditionalist who somewhat straddles the fence. While only utilizing large Slovenian and French oak for his Brunello, he chooses to use various size barrique for his rosso in order to create a wine that is characteristic of Sangiovese Grosso, but incredibly approachable upon release.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “La Gerla’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is absolutely delicious. Dark red cherries, plums, mint, smoke, tobacco and licorice flesh out in a wine that offers notable depth, structure and power. The 2010 is medium in body and also quite polished, yet there is a level of inner sweetness and perfume that makes the wine incredibly appealing, even today. Ideally, though, readers should give the 2010 at least a few years in the cellar. The precise, delicate finish is a thing of beauty”
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Isole e Olena and Proprieta Sperino
“Proprietor Paolo De Marchi has left an indelible and highly personal stamp on Isole e Olena, and all of Chianti Classico for that matter… De Marchi stands apart from many of his colleagues for his vocal opinions and intense dedication to the vineyard above all else. Since taking over his family’s estate… De Marchi has transformed Isole e Olena into a powerhouse.” – Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate, June 2012)
Isole e Olena was created in the 1950s when the De Marchi family purchased and joined together two hilltop estates “Isole” and “Olena” in the Chianti region. The original Isole portion of the estate was founded in the 1700s as a farm growing a range of goods including grapes and olives. The 50 hectares of top-quality vineyards are on hillsides in Chianti, about 450 meters above sea level. The estate is led by oenologist Paolo de Marchi who took over in 1976. He introduced several French grape varietals including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. He uses the non-Tuscan varietals as a spice to add refinement and complexity to his wines without trying to overpower the Tuscan character of the wines.
In 1999, Paolo’s son Luca realized a long-time dream of his father and returned to the family’s historic estate of Proprieta Sperino in the village of Lessona. The region in the foothills of the Alps in Piedmont was covered in vineyards in the late 19th century. The wines, especially those produced from Sperino, were recognized as some of Italy’s longest-lived wines, showing youthful potential at even 40 years. The vineyards were mostly abandoned because they were so labor-intensive to work and the wines found little international recognition. Luca returned to vineyards taken back over by the forests and a long and labor-intensive task simply to reclaim the land. He sees the work as well worth the effort, given the excellent terroir of the region for Nebbiolo (known locally as Spanna). The revitalized estate’s first vintage was 2004.
Proprieta Sperino Wines Arriving Late June
Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Mineral, fresh and savoury.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Proprieta Sperino “Uvaggio” Coste della Sesia Rosso, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “A blend of Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina, this opens with a medley of aromas that include ripe berry, underbrush, truffle, menthol, leather and spice. The firm palate delivers crushed black cherry, game, grilled herb, ground pepper and a balsamic note. It still has youthfully assertive tannins that need to unwind and soften. Drink 2016–2026.” WE
Proprieta Sperino “Lessona,” Piedmont 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Sperino’s 2009 Lessona is drop-dead gorgeous. Sweet red berries, tobacco, menthol and licorice all flesh out in a juicy, soft Nebbiolo with no hard edges and plenty of supple, deeply expressive fruit. This is an unusually resonant, generous young Lessona built on balance and symmetry. I expect the 2009 will be even better in another few years, but it is already a drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $64
Proprieta Sperino “L’Franc [Bandit]” Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The noble terroir of Lessona gives a strong personality to this pure Cabernet Franc, extraordinary because of maturity of tannins, aromatic finesse and savoury minerality. Here there is an out of mind wine that breaks the appellation rules. The wine ages in French oak barriques, 50% new wood for 40 months.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $140
Isole e Olena Wines Available Here Now
Isole e Olena Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2008 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “At the beginning of what promises to be a long drinking window, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi is stunning. Savory herbs, tar, licorice, cassis, graphite and melted road tar seduce the intellectual and hedonistic senses in a wine that has everything. A vibrant, powerful, structured wine underpinned by intense saline notes, the 2008 possesses remarkable finesse and fabulous overall balance. This is another fabulous wine from Paolo De Marchi.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $75
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2005 1.5L ($179.95) $119 special, 6 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Cepparello is striking. It possesses stunning depth and a darker profile of fruit than is typical. The 2005 was quite compact when first released, but what a difference a few years in bottle make. Today the 2005 has begun to blossom into a big, dramatic wine for the year. As was the case throughout most of Chianti Classico, 2005 was shaping up to be a great year until the rains arrived just before harvest. This is a fabulous effort on its own, but especially notable for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.” AG
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($499.95) $376 special, 5 six-pack cases available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 1.5L ($159.95) $133 special, 11 magnums available
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.” AG
Isole e Olena Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi is magnificent. Violets, smoke, plums and cassis jump from the glass in a stunning wine. All I can say is the 2010 is incredible. Just bottled one month ago, the 2010 shows no hard edges, incredibly expressive aromatics and beautifully delineated fruit. The 2010 isn’t a huge wine, but rather one built on exceptional finesse and elegance. It is one of the great wines of what has turned out to be a great Tuscan vintage.” AG
Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT 2007 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2007 Syrah Collezione De Marchi bursts from the glass with masses of dark red fruit, smoke and spices, all of which flow effortlessly from this exuberant, caressing wine. This is a first-class effort from start to finish. Expressive aromatics are woven throughout, adding to an impression of total finesse and harmony. Mint, flowers and raspberries linger on the caressing finish. This is a dazzling effort.” AG
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2003 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ half-bottles available
“High-toned nose, rich in dried fruit, marmalade and salted nut aromas. Utterly delicious; intense and crammed with flavour – raisins, figs, orange peel – but relatively light on its feet with cracking freshness.”–Decanter Magazine
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2004 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Deep amber-yellow. Sexy, kaleidoscopic nose combines exotic tropical fruits, chestnut honey, raisin, dried fig, caramel and a musky iodine note. Then sharply delineated and penetrating on the palate in spite of its honeyed sweetness, with superb acidity giving spine to the dried fruit and ripe citrus flavors. This wonderfully vibrant yet thick and rich Vin Santo coats the mouth on the long, smooth finish. Great stuff.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2005 375ML ($59.95) $47 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2005 Vin Santo shows subtle signs of a warm vintage with candied orange peel, caramel, canned peach, honey and blanched almond. It spreads with thick intensity over the palate, offering sweetened, syrupy thickness. Cost; ($.95) $55/375ml.” WA
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Orange peel, dried flowers, herbs, almonds, mint and sweet tobacco meld together in Isole e Olena’s 2005 Vin Santo. Delicate and lifted in style, the 2005 captures the essence of what can make Vin Santo compelling; namely a fabulous interplay between the oxidative notes the wine develops over the many years it spends in barrel, and the fresh, vibrant acidity conferred by white grapes.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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You Say Rosé, I Say Rosado
Order Today, Arriving Tomorrow
Bodegas Muga
La Rioja is one of the few regions in the world where wine is made using only indigenous varieties. Bodegas Muga is one of the historic cellars of La Rioja, and was founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga and his wife Aurora Caño, who originated from a family with strong ties to the winemaking industry. Throughout the years of dedication and family tradition, Muga has continued to create wines born from both inspiration and authenticity.
The vineyards of Bodegas Muga are located on the foot of the Montes Obarenses within Rioja Alta, and planted up to 480 meters above sea level on clay-limestone soils. Their ideal location involves influences marked by Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean influences. This fortunate abundance of climates and different soils produce prolonged stages in the vine growth cycle and work harmoniously to create the perfect situation for grape growing. The plots are divided into small terroirs with different physical and chemical qualities between them, attributing to each terroir having individually defined personalities.
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Viura and Malvasia, are used to make their Rojos, Blancos and Rosados. Today we are featuring the Rosado, which is made from a blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo and Viura. A perfect way to bring in the beautiful summer weather, Rosado offers delicious stone fruit notes and great acidity, allowing the fruit to remain bright and clean. A perfect wine for BBQ foods, or Spanish influenced dishes, such as octopus salad, roasted peppers with goat cheese and seafood paella. Cheers!
Muga Rosado Arriving Thursday, June 11th
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “60% Garnacha, 30% Viura, 10% Tempranillo. Very light in colour, mainly pale salmon with orange glints and a bright sheen. On the nose the wine proves more mature than you might expect for the vintage. The acid fruit is less citrus in character and, in this vintage, ripe peach and pineapple aromas come through more strongly. Full, supple mouth-feel thanks to the time spent on fine lees, adding hints of baker’s shop aromas. The typical acidity of this wine is perfectly balanced to give an overall smooth taste. The aftertaste and retronasal phases are dominated by velvety smooth, yet fresh, sharp peach leaving a lovely final sensation which makes you want to try more.”
Bodegas Muga Wine Available Here Now
Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2005 Prado Enea Gran Reserva spends 36-months in oak, nine months in new oak after which it is racked into American oak that is ‘semi-new’ (i.e. a new barrel that is ‘broken in’ with a wine beforehand). It has an unashamedly opulent bouquet of primal, ripe, boysenberry, mulberry, dark chocolate and crushed violets that blossom with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with crisp acidity cutting through the pure blackberry and cassis fruit. It has wonderful focus and intensity, though the finish demonstrates convincing composure. This is an outstanding Gran Reserva whose silky texture will instantly win you over. Drink 2013-2030+” WA
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(70% tempranillo, 20% garnacha, 7% mazuelo and 3% graciano; aged for 24 months in French and American oak): Brilliant ruby. Black raspberry and smoky oak scents are lifted by enticing mineral and spicecake notes. Dense, supple and deep, with intense flavors of black raspberry, mocha and vanilla. Very full, velvety wine, finishing with smooth, ripe tannins and a vibrant red berry quality.” ST
Wine Advocate 91 points “So we moved on to the reds with the 2009 Reserva, a vintage where they harvested quite late and they compare to 2005, a powerful year. The blend is 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name here), 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from old terraced vineyards in the lowest part of the Oja valley where the river meets the Ebro. The grapes are fermented with their natural yeast in old oak wooden vats for 20 days with daily pumping-over and aged for two years in barrels, the first year in new ones, and the second year in used ones. The young nose is dominated by dark fruit aromas intermixed with notes of orange rind, licorice, Chinese ink and smoked peat. The palate shows some grainy tannins denoting a young but tender wine, with good intensity and acidity, ideal to have with food. ..Very Rioja. Drink 2014-2020.” WA
Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($499.95) $439 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $36.58/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Tight as a drum on the nose, this rambunctious Rioja is throbbing with blackberry, plum and floral aromas. Intense and staunch on the palate, with plum, raspberry, cherry, herb and chocolate flavors, this runs long on the finish, with power and acidity to spare. Hold until 2017, then drink through 2035. Cellar Selection.” WE
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(70% tempranillo, 20% garnacha, 7% mazuelo and 3% graciano; fermented in large oak vats and aged for 28 months in small French and American oak barrels of varying age): Inky purple. Flamboyant aromas of ripe berries, incense, potpourri, smoky oak and pungent minerals. Lush, fleshy and alluringly sweet, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that coat the palate. Smooth, seamless and impressively concentrated but also lively, with sneaky tannins giving shape to the long, spice-accented finish.” ST