In Today’s Newsletter:
Weekend Subscriber Special
2016 Produttori Barbaresco – Now Under $40 Bottle!
Fantastic Fondreche: Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
Trending Estate
Newly Arrived Wines from Paolo Bea
Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Specials
Clos de la Chapelle & 2017/18 Jaboulet Mix and Match
New John Gilman Reviews
For A Variety of Vinopolis Favorites
Top Wines from Valle d’Aosta
First Offer:
New Wines from Champagne Marguet
Trending Wines
Collector’s Corner
Pommery’s Tete de Cuvees
Subscriber Special
2016 Produttori Barbaresco
Now Under $40 Bottle!
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 15th at 6pm PT
Fantastic Fondreche
Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
Weekend Subscriber Special
2016 Produttori Barbaresco – Now Under $40 Bottle!
Fantastic Fondreche: Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
Trending Estate
Newly Arrived Wines from Paolo Bea
Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Specials
Clos de la Chapelle & 2017/18 Jaboulet Mix and Match
New John Gilman Reviews
For A Variety of Vinopolis Favorites
Top Wines from Valle d’Aosta
First Offer:
New Wines from Champagne Marguet
Trending Wines
Collector’s Corner
Pommery’s Tete de Cuvees
Subscriber Special
2016 Produttori Barbaresco
Now Under $40 Bottle!
The Produttori del Barbaresco’s “Barbaresco” (ie: Normale/Torre) bottling is one of the most important wines in the Piedmont. Perhaps no other wine is as representative of a single place as the Produttori’s Barbaresco. In a great vintage like 2016 (or ’13/’10/etc) it’s also one of the singularly best values out there. This is a wine that’s classically built and traditionally vinified, from exceptional fruit sources. We’re making it an even better deal—knocking the price down from $45 to $39/bottle, at least until Sunday night.
2016 is one of the best ever vintages in Barbaresco, combining elegance, beautiful aromatics and just enough power and richness to keep the wines absolutely compelling. Everything we’ve tasted from the year suggests these are going to go down as absolute legends—even at this price point. In fact, entry level Barolo and Barbaresco from great vintages have produced some of our favorite drinking experiences 10-15 years from the vintage. These wines deliver in unexpectedly great ways and at $39/btl, you’ve got no excuse but to stock up.
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 15th at 6pm PT
In Stock Now:
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $45, Now $39 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”
2016 is one of the best ever vintages in Barbaresco, combining elegance, beautiful aromatics and just enough power and richness to keep the wines absolutely compelling. Everything we’ve tasted from the year suggests these are going to go down as absolute legends—even at this price point. In fact, entry level Barolo and Barbaresco from great vintages have produced some of our favorite drinking experiences 10-15 years from the vintage. These wines deliver in unexpectedly great ways and at $39/btl, you’ve got no excuse but to stock up.
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 15th at 6pm PT
In Stock Now:
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $45, Now $39 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 15th at 6pm PT
Fantastic Fondreche
Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
When you read the words “Southern Rhone” you probably think of Chateauneuf du Pape: rocky fields or hills that are warm and produce big, rich wines. What if we told you there was an unexplored area of the Rhone which looked different but also produced powerful wines which were undervalued because of their home turf?
The Ventoux is a massive swath of the Rhone, east of the river and on the other side of the Dentelles from Gigondas. It sits between the heart of the Southern Rhone and Provence, and the wines have that wild, slightly untamed character that you often find in wines from the mountainous regions of Provence. Furthermore, Ventoux is attracting some top-tier talent because of the affordability of its vineyard land. Old vines on interesting soils are still available here, so young, driven winemakers are increasingly leaving Chateauneuf and Gigondas to striking out on their own in Ventoux. A prime example? The incredible, powerful wines of Domaine de Fondreche.
If you love big, powerful red wines and you’ve never had the top wines of Domaine de Fondreche, you need to rectify that situation soon. These are some of the gutsiest, most expressive wines in the Rhone, with incredible critical praise and a price tag that’s equivalent to mid-tier CdP. From their mostly Syrah “Divergente,” which puts a lot of $80 Hermitage to shame, to their “Il Etait Une Fois,” a Chateauneuf destroyer, their wines represent excellent values and compelling drinking experiences. Because of the obscurity of Ventoux, these aren’t as expensive as they probably should be, despite a multitude of scores in the high 90’s for their wines (case in point, 97 and 95 for the pair today).
Arriving Friday, March 20th:
Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($419.95) $333 pre-arrival special (that’s only $55.50/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Less immediately showy and approachable than the 2016 Persia, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is tight and focused, deserving of a couple of years in the cellar. Smoke, black olive and plum notes dominate this full-bodied wine, picking up hints of espresso on the long, tannic finish.-JC”
The Ventoux is a massive swath of the Rhone, east of the river and on the other side of the Dentelles from Gigondas. It sits between the heart of the Southern Rhone and Provence, and the wines have that wild, slightly untamed character that you often find in wines from the mountainous regions of Provence. Furthermore, Ventoux is attracting some top-tier talent because of the affordability of its vineyard land. Old vines on interesting soils are still available here, so young, driven winemakers are increasingly leaving Chateauneuf and Gigondas to striking out on their own in Ventoux. A prime example? The incredible, powerful wines of Domaine de Fondreche.
If you love big, powerful red wines and you’ve never had the top wines of Domaine de Fondreche, you need to rectify that situation soon. These are some of the gutsiest, most expressive wines in the Rhone, with incredible critical praise and a price tag that’s equivalent to mid-tier CdP. From their mostly Syrah “Divergente,” which puts a lot of $80 Hermitage to shame, to their “Il Etait Une Fois,” a Chateauneuf destroyer, their wines represent excellent values and compelling drinking experiences. Because of the obscurity of Ventoux, these aren’t as expensive as they probably should be, despite a multitude of scores in the high 90’s for their wines (case in point, 97 and 95 for the pair today).
Arriving Friday, March 20th:
Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($419.95) $333 pre-arrival special (that’s only $55.50/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Less immediately showy and approachable than the 2016 Persia, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is tight and focused, deserving of a couple of years in the cellar. Smoke, black olive and plum notes dominate this full-bodied wine, picking up hints of espresso on the long, tannic finish.-JC”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Il Etait une Fois, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The flagship is the 2016 Ventoux Il Etais Une Fois, which is mostly Grenache with tiny amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre brought up all in foudre. Violets, red and black fruits, spice, and dried earth/limestone minerality all give way to an elegant, medium to full-bodied Grenache that gains depth, freshness, and purity with time in the glass. It has fine, building tannin, a seamless texture, and a great, beautiful finish. Over the previous few years, the quality of this cuvée has soared, and this is one of the finest to date.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming in at the top end of the range I projected for it last year, the stunning 2016 Ventoux Il Etait Une Fois is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. It’s a voluptuous, full-bodied mix of black cherries and subtle spice notes, all carried by a seamless, plush, creamy-textured palate through a long, concentrated finish. Wow.-JC”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Trending Estate
Newly Arrived Wines from Paolo Bea
Newly Arrived Wines from Paolo Bea
Paolo Bea is an iconic producer—a virtual one-winery symbol of Umbrian wine and it’s potential. No one in the region produces wines as profound, interesting and delicious as the ‘first family’ of Umbrian wine.
Newly Arrived
Arboreus is a miracle of farming—old vines trained up trees. When you taste the wine you realize it’s worth all the effort.
Paolo Bea Arboreus Bianco, Umbria IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer Note “One of the early success stories in the modern-day revival of skin-macerated white wines, Bea’s beloved “Arboreus” originates from exceedingly old Trebbiano vines (up to 150 years of age) in the village of Spoleto, halfway between Bea’s home village of Montefalco and nearby Trevi. A striking instance of non-standard training, these ancient vines wrap themselves around the trunks and branches of trees (hence the wine’s name), growing and ripening high above the ground. Bea picks the fruit quite ripe and conducts an extended skin maceration (in the case of the 2014, 25 days), after which he leaves the wine on its gross lees for the better part of a year—a technique that nourishes the wine and ensures its ultimate expressive depth, but one which requires total confidence in the quality of one’s raw materials. Standing as the only wine Giampiero produced in the arduous, downy-mildew-affected 2013 vintage, this version is a particularly nimble, mineral-driven rendition of “Arboreus,” with notes of quinine, citrus zest, and fresh almonds atop a particularly lithe and delicate frame. The wine certainly does not lack for power, but its overall impression is less juicily tannic than in more typical vintages—and, at the end of the day, it’s a wine only Giampiero Bea could produce. User’s note: “Arboreus” must be served no cooler than cellar temperature to appreciate its full spectrum of aromas and flavors.”
Newly Arrived
Arboreus is a miracle of farming—old vines trained up trees. When you taste the wine you realize it’s worth all the effort.
Paolo Bea Arboreus Bianco, Umbria IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer Note “One of the early success stories in the modern-day revival of skin-macerated white wines, Bea’s beloved “Arboreus” originates from exceedingly old Trebbiano vines (up to 150 years of age) in the village of Spoleto, halfway between Bea’s home village of Montefalco and nearby Trevi. A striking instance of non-standard training, these ancient vines wrap themselves around the trunks and branches of trees (hence the wine’s name), growing and ripening high above the ground. Bea picks the fruit quite ripe and conducts an extended skin maceration (in the case of the 2014, 25 days), after which he leaves the wine on its gross lees for the better part of a year—a technique that nourishes the wine and ensures its ultimate expressive depth, but one which requires total confidence in the quality of one’s raw materials. Standing as the only wine Giampiero produced in the arduous, downy-mildew-affected 2013 vintage, this version is a particularly nimble, mineral-driven rendition of “Arboreus,” with notes of quinine, citrus zest, and fresh almonds atop a particularly lithe and delicate frame. The wine certainly does not lack for power, but its overall impression is less juicily tannic than in more typical vintages—and, at the end of the day, it’s a wine only Giampiero Bea could produce. User’s note: “Arboreus” must be served no cooler than cellar temperature to appreciate its full spectrum of aromas and flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is a new skin-contact wine from Bea—racier and more mineral than the stellar Arboreus above.
Paolo Bea ‘Lapideus’ Bianco, Umbria IGT 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer Note “Giampiero acquired a parcel of 80-year-old Trebbiano Spoletino in the town of Pigge di Trevi several years back, and 2016 marks just the third vintage of this exciting new addition to the Bea lineup. Arising from a cooler microclimate than the “Arboreus” above, “Lapideus” spent a month on it skins after pressing, followed by over 200 additional days on the gross lees—a similar vinification to “Arboreus,” yet one that yielded markedly different results. “Lapideus” has a leaner, racier carriage than the broad-shouldered “Arboreus,” with a more precise sense of acidity; it emphasizes drive over density, and its underlying salinity is not a far cry from the spellbinding wines we import from Paolo Vodopivec in the Carso—incidentally, a dear friend of Giampiero and a fellow ViniVeri administrator. A subtle note of honeyed sweetness at the wine’s core speaks of its warm-climate origins, and Bea’s propensity for wildness reveals itself in a fascinating but ephemeral cheese-rind whisper in its aromatics. Only 745 bottles were produced, the vast majority of which are destined for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Perhaps the wine that launched the orange-wine revolution in the US. So easy to love.
Paolo Bea Santa Chiara Bianco, Umbria IGT 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “The second of Bea’s two early and highly influential skin-macerated white wines, “Santa Chiara” hails from the fabled Pagliarocru, and combines roughly equal proportions of five varieties: Garganega, Grechetto, Malvasia, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. Everything ferments together, without any additions or temperature regulation, in stainless steel, and the wine is given several years of settling before being bottled without fining or filtration. The rich, forward 2017 spent 28 days on its skins, and was bottled in May 2019 after 20 months of aging. Compared to the relatively racy 2013 “Arboreus” and the typically chiseled 2016 “Lapideus,” this vintage of “Santa Chiara” swaggers out of the bottle with macerated peaches, brassy spice notes, a liberal dash of white pepper, and candied citrus. Despite its somewhat explosive and brash personality, it possesses terrific drive and a focused, tannin-derived sense of architecture.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The wine that defines Bea—a single vineyard Sagrantino with incredible power and complexity.
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Importer Note “Bea produces perhaps his most renowned wine from pure Sagrantino grown on the prized hilltop site of Pagliaro, situated at 1300 feet above sea level in Montefalco proper. Following the example of the “Rosso de Veo” above, this 2015 is absolutely jaw-dropping in its intensity and presence. Bea’s wines at their best offer a panoply of spices so intoxicating, so far-reaching, and so evocative, as to nearly defy belief. The only wines that approach Bea’s in that regard are perhaps the most un-sculpted Syrah-based wines of the Northern Rhône, but even those feel as if they have governors on their accelerators in comparison to top vintages of “Pagliaro.” Similarly large in scale to the “Rosso de Veo,” this actually presents with greater precision and nuance, its overall attack more subtle but ultimately no less impactful—direct evidence of a great terroir translated with consummate skill.”
This offers a peek into Bea’s magic with Sagrantino
Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo, Umbria IGT 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Importer Note “Since the 2005 vintage, Bea’s “Rosso de Veo” (“Veo” is the way the family’s name is pronounced in the old Umbrian dialect) is pure Sagrantino sourced from younger vines around the property and from parcels that do not quite make Giampiero’s rigorous cut for “Pagliaro,” “Pipparello,” and “Cerrete.” This 2015 is Mike Tyson in his prime: potent, assertive, brazen, and making no concessions to polite society. Monstrous in its tannins, it nonetheless presents them in such a multifaceted way as to almost transcend their viselike grip; the tannins themselves have layers, offering classic sandalwood spice on one level, mineral-saturated depth-charge stoniness on another, and—most thrillingly—a direct, naked evocation of crunching into dripping-ripe berries. Four years of élévage did nothing to blunt this astonishing wine’s unmitigated expression of freshly plucked grapes, and this is a monumental “Rosso de Veo” that should live for a very, very long time.”
The ’14 vintage of this wine is unusual—and one of the most delicious at this stage we’ve seen.
Paolo Bea San Valentino Rosso, Umbria IGT 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Importer Note “The 2014 version of Bea’s beloved “San Valentino” is a bit of an outlier. Given the difficulties of the 2014 growing season—the second in a row in which downy mildew exerted enormous pressure—Giampiero was only able to produce a single red wine, constituting the scant viable bunches from his entire range of vineyard holdings. Composed of 40% Sagrantino, 40% Sangiovese, and 20% Montepulciano, the 2014 “San Valentino” offers a classic Bea nose of subtle balsamic notes, brooding spices, and boisterous black fruits, yet it possesses a less massive structure than usual. Calling a Bea red “elegant” is a stretch, and in fact does a slight disservice to the exuberant wildness that is one of Giampero’s wines’ calling cards, but this version of “San Valentino” is indeed fairly light on its feet without exactly being polite. Like its tough-vintage counterpart “Arboreus” above, this 2014 is both somewhat atypical for its category yet unmistakably Bea at its core, and longtime fans of the estate will revel in its idiosyncratic nature as well as its pure deliciousness.”
Don’t Forget Our Other Subscriber Specials
Clos de la Chapelle
We’ve written extensively on how great we think the Clos de la Chapelle wines are. The domaine has acquired one of the most exceptional collections of vineyards in the Cote de Beaune, with holdings in any number of truly top-class sites. These are wines that are built for the serious Burgundy drinker but are currently undervalued relative to their peers in Volnay.
To make the value proposition even better for you, we’re offering you serious discounts on a vertical of their Pommard Premier Cru “Chanlins” as well as their stunning 2013 Corton Rognet Grand Cru. Until we close for business on Friday, these are the lowest prices in the country on some incredible, ageworthy Burgundies. Don’t let this deal pass you by.
Head to the list of Clos de la Chapelle wines on sale in our online store.
To make the value proposition even better for you, we’re offering you serious discounts on a vertical of their Pommard Premier Cru “Chanlins” as well as their stunning 2013 Corton Rognet Grand Cru. Until we close for business on Friday, these are the lowest prices in the country on some incredible, ageworthy Burgundies. Don’t let this deal pass you by.
Head to the list of Clos de la Chapelle wines on sale in our online store.
Jaboulet Mix and Match
Buy Six or More 2017/18 Jaboulet Wines – Save 5%
Buy Six or More 2017/18 Jaboulet Wines – Save 5%
Jaboulet makes some of the most noteworthy northern Rhone wines out there—especially from in and around Hermitage. Both 2017 (arriving later this month) and 2018 (this summer) look to be incredible successes for the northern Rhone, with Jaboulet one of the standout producers. These are wines to stock up on and savor.
We’re making these deals even better by offering an exclusive discount to our subscribers. Buy any mix of six or more bottles of 2017 or 2018 Jaboulet wines from this offer, and we will give you a 5% discount.
Subscriber-Only Discount Will Not Appear Online
We will manually adjust pricing before finalizing your order
Mix Six or More 5% Discount Ends Sunday, March 15th at 6 PM Pacific
Head to our webstore to see the full list of Jaboulet wines arriving soon and pick out your mixed six-or-more 2017’s and ’18’s
New John Gilman Reviews
For A Variety of Vinopolis Favorites
In Stock Now:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 13 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The fruit for the Dundee Hills bottling of chardonnay from Marcus Goodfellow all hails from the Durant Vineyard. The wine is excellent aromatically, wafting from the glass in a complex and slightly reductive blend of pear, apple, almond, iodine, a good base of soil and a well done framing of new oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and youthfully closed, with a good core of fruit, lovely soil signature, zesty acids and fine balance on the long and vibrant finish. This is perfectly drinkable today, if one decants it a bit and unlocks the reduction, but it is built to age and will be an even better dink with some bottle age. 2020-2035. 90+.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Oregon 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The Goodfellow chardonnay bottling labeled as Durant Vineyard hails from two blocks of vines in the vineyard, planted in 1993 and 1998. The 2017 version comes in at a very civilized 13.2 percent octane and again, is a bit reductive out of the blocks, but with swirling, reveals a fine bouquet of pear, golden delicious apple, hazelnut, a touch of iodine, lovely soil tones, white flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and quite elegant in profile, with a lovely core of fruit, good transparency and bounce, bright acids and a long, balanced and complex finish. This is really lovely juice. 2022-2035+. 92.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Oregon 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The Whistling Ridge Vineyard lies in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. It was first planted in 1990 (with these chardonnay vines going in the ground in 1995) and has a southeasterly exposition and sits high up on its ridge top, with cooling breezes coming in every afternoon and evening. The 2017 Richard’s Cuvée bottling reflects this cooler microclimate, coming in at 12.5 percent octane and offering up a lovely and quite floral bouquet of white peach, pear, fresh almond, lovely soil tones, white lilies and a touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and very elegant in profile, with fine soil signature, a good core of fruit, bright acids and fine focus and grip on the long and complex finish. This is lovely. 2020-2040. 92+.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Oregon 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 5 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The 2016 Richard’s Chardonnay bottling from Goodfellow Family Cellars is just starting to blossom and shows off a fine aromatic blend of pear, apple, almond, a fine base of soil, dried flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and a touch less open today than the Durant Vineyard bottling from 2016, but with a fine core, a lovely girdle of acidity and impressive length and grip on the still fairly youthful finish. I would opt for still tucking this away in the cellar for a couple more years and let it fully blossom, as it will be lovely in due course. 2022-2035. 92.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 13 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The fruit for the Dundee Hills bottling of chardonnay from Marcus Goodfellow all hails from the Durant Vineyard. The wine is excellent aromatically, wafting from the glass in a complex and slightly reductive blend of pear, apple, almond, iodine, a good base of soil and a well done framing of new oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and youthfully closed, with a good core of fruit, lovely soil signature, zesty acids and fine balance on the long and vibrant finish. This is perfectly drinkable today, if one decants it a bit and unlocks the reduction, but it is built to age and will be an even better dink with some bottle age. 2020-2035. 90+.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Oregon 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The Goodfellow chardonnay bottling labeled as Durant Vineyard hails from two blocks of vines in the vineyard, planted in 1993 and 1998. The 2017 version comes in at a very civilized 13.2 percent octane and again, is a bit reductive out of the blocks, but with swirling, reveals a fine bouquet of pear, golden delicious apple, hazelnut, a touch of iodine, lovely soil tones, white flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and quite elegant in profile, with a lovely core of fruit, good transparency and bounce, bright acids and a long, balanced and complex finish. This is really lovely juice. 2022-2035+. 92.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Oregon 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The Whistling Ridge Vineyard lies in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. It was first planted in 1990 (with these chardonnay vines going in the ground in 1995) and has a southeasterly exposition and sits high up on its ridge top, with cooling breezes coming in every afternoon and evening. The 2017 Richard’s Cuvée bottling reflects this cooler microclimate, coming in at 12.5 percent octane and offering up a lovely and quite floral bouquet of white peach, pear, fresh almond, lovely soil tones, white lilies and a touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and very elegant in profile, with fine soil signature, a good core of fruit, bright acids and fine focus and grip on the long and complex finish. This is lovely. 2020-2040. 92+.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Oregon 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 5 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The 2016 Richard’s Chardonnay bottling from Goodfellow Family Cellars is just starting to blossom and shows off a fine aromatic blend of pear, apple, almond, a fine base of soil, dried flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and a touch less open today than the Durant Vineyard bottling from 2016, but with a fine core, a lovely girdle of acidity and impressive length and grip on the still fairly youthful finish. I would opt for still tucking this away in the cellar for a couple more years and let it fully blossom, as it will be lovely in due course. 2022-2035. 92.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Syrah Reserve, Yamhill-Carlton 2015 750ML ($47.95) $36 special, 18 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Laura Lorenzo Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos do Pobo’, Galicia 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 4 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “Laura Lorenzo’s Azos De Pobo is made from a field blend from an extremely old vineyard (somewhere from eighty to one hundred and twenty years of age- no one is quite sure when it was planted!) and composed of a blend of probably fifty percent Gran Negro and Garnacha Tintorera, and the other half a mix of Mencía, Mouraton, Merenzao and whatever else might have been available in the first quarter of the twentieth century in Ribeira Sacra. The grapes are destemmed and foot-trodden, barrel-fermented and raised in old Burgundy casks for eleven months prior to bottling. The 2017 version comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane and offers up a beautifully complex nose of cassis, smoked meats, wild fennel, espresso, complex soil tones, lovely botanicals (that will get autumnal like Burgundy with bottle age) and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully transparent in personality, with a lovely core of fruit, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and superb focus and grip on the long and very complex finish. This is a superb wine that combines great, traditional country rusticity in its cépages with the most refined winemaking sensibilities. 2025-2055. 93.”
Laura Lorenzo Daterra Viticultores Camino de la Frontera Tinto, Arribes 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.90 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2017 Camino De La Frontera from Daterra Viticultores is one of Laura Lorenzo’s top single vineyard bottlings. It is an old vineyard that is planted primarily to Mencía, but with other grapes included in the field blend traditional in Ribeira Sacra back in the old days. With the drought and heat here in 2017, the wine has crept up in octane a bit from the 2016 version, but still comes in at only thirteen percent. The wine is more black fruity in personality this year, offering up a complex and classic bouquet of cassis, pomegranate, graphite, dark soil tones, espresso, a touch of tree bark and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and beautifully solid at the core, with excellent soil signature, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and excellent focus and grip on the long, complex and very classy finish. This needs a few years in the cellar to allow its tannins to soften up a bit on the backend, but the wine is impeccably balanced and will not take all that long to start to drink with generosity. A very classy bottle of (mostly) Mencía! 2025-2055. 93.”
Raul Perez Ultreia La Claudina Godello, Bierzo 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “As I have noted before, the Ultreia “La Claudina” Blanco from Raúl Pérez is composed entirely of Godello, with the wine fermented and raised in a single fifteen hundred liter foudre and Señor Pérez allows a flor to develop on the top surface of the wine in the style of Sherry. He allows the wine to age under its flor for one to two years and then bottles it unfined and unfiltered. The 2016 version is deep and complex on the nose, offering up scents of lemon, a bit of musk melon, salty soil tones, citrus peel and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is b-ight, full-bodied, complex and shows just a whisper of nutty influence from its flor, with excellent mid-palate depth, zesty acids and fine focus and “grip on the long and vibrant finish. This is a uniquely-styled and beautifully made wine. 2020-2030. 92.
John Gilman 93 points “Laura Lorenzo’s Azos De Pobo is made from a field blend from an extremely old vineyard (somewhere from eighty to one hundred and twenty years of age- no one is quite sure when it was planted!) and composed of a blend of probably fifty percent Gran Negro and Garnacha Tintorera, and the other half a mix of Mencía, Mouraton, Merenzao and whatever else might have been available in the first quarter of the twentieth century in Ribeira Sacra. The grapes are destemmed and foot-trodden, barrel-fermented and raised in old Burgundy casks for eleven months prior to bottling. The 2017 version comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane and offers up a beautifully complex nose of cassis, smoked meats, wild fennel, espresso, complex soil tones, lovely botanicals (that will get autumnal like Burgundy with bottle age) and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully transparent in personality, with a lovely core of fruit, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and superb focus and grip on the long and very complex finish. This is a superb wine that combines great, traditional country rusticity in its cépages with the most refined winemaking sensibilities. 2025-2055. 93.”
Laura Lorenzo Daterra Viticultores Camino de la Frontera Tinto, Arribes 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.90 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2017 Camino De La Frontera from Daterra Viticultores is one of Laura Lorenzo’s top single vineyard bottlings. It is an old vineyard that is planted primarily to Mencía, but with other grapes included in the field blend traditional in Ribeira Sacra back in the old days. With the drought and heat here in 2017, the wine has crept up in octane a bit from the 2016 version, but still comes in at only thirteen percent. The wine is more black fruity in personality this year, offering up a complex and classic bouquet of cassis, pomegranate, graphite, dark soil tones, espresso, a touch of tree bark and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and beautifully solid at the core, with excellent soil signature, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and excellent focus and grip on the long, complex and very classy finish. This needs a few years in the cellar to allow its tannins to soften up a bit on the backend, but the wine is impeccably balanced and will not take all that long to start to drink with generosity. A very classy bottle of (mostly) Mencía! 2025-2055. 93.”
Raul Perez Ultreia La Claudina Godello, Bierzo 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “As I have noted before, the Ultreia “La Claudina” Blanco from Raúl Pérez is composed entirely of Godello, with the wine fermented and raised in a single fifteen hundred liter foudre and Señor Pérez allows a flor to develop on the top surface of the wine in the style of Sherry. He allows the wine to age under its flor for one to two years and then bottles it unfined and unfiltered. The 2016 version is deep and complex on the nose, offering up scents of lemon, a bit of musk melon, salty soil tones, citrus peel and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is b-ight, full-bodied, complex and shows just a whisper of nutty influence from its flor, with excellent mid-palate depth, zesty acids and fine focus and “grip on the long and vibrant finish. This is a uniquely-styled and beautifully made wine. 2020-2030. 92.
Top Wines from Valle d’Aosta
Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, on the border of France and Switzerland, is perhaps the best wine region that most drinkers have never heard of. Best known for incredible skiing and its iconic mountains (Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, etc…), it also produces incredible wines in both red and white—all of which remain overlooked and undervalued, as a result.
Feudo di San Maurizio is one of the best handful of producers, making wines that capture the essence of the region. We’ve finally secured tiny amounts of their excellent 2018’s (24 bottles of each wine) and get to present them to you today. The two reds will surprise you with their depth and complexity, despite their stainless steel upbringing and the Petite Arvine reminds us that the grape is one of the best white varieties in Italy.
Across the board, these deliver precision and elegance coupled with beautiful aromatics and surprising intensity. We love the reds for spring and summer—they deliver the weight of Pinot Noir with a different-enough set of flavors to make things interesting. The white, too, seems perfectly suited to spring produce, with a bit of weight but fresh and delicate flavors.
In Stock Now
San Maurizio Mayolet, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Delicately floral and sweet spice nuances complement bright raspberry and red currant aromas and flavors, complicated by hints of white pepper, nutmeg, coriander and cumin. Juicy, dense, long and pure, with a remarkably fresh, very spicy and saline finish and notes of lavender and peony. This light-boded wine is at once juicy, spicy and bright. Planted at 700–1,000 meters above sea level, the vintage characteristics play a huge role in what Vallet’s Mayolet wine will taste like each year; this has 12.5% alcohol…Not surprisingly, given the variety’s extremely compact bunches (which makes Mayolet a pain to work with and hence many producers are abandoning it, a big mistake given the quality of the wines), the grapes are picked in three different tries or passes in the vineyard. Aged in stainless steel only.”
Feudo di San Maurizio is one of the best handful of producers, making wines that capture the essence of the region. We’ve finally secured tiny amounts of their excellent 2018’s (24 bottles of each wine) and get to present them to you today. The two reds will surprise you with their depth and complexity, despite their stainless steel upbringing and the Petite Arvine reminds us that the grape is one of the best white varieties in Italy.
Across the board, these deliver precision and elegance coupled with beautiful aromatics and surprising intensity. We love the reds for spring and summer—they deliver the weight of Pinot Noir with a different-enough set of flavors to make things interesting. The white, too, seems perfectly suited to spring produce, with a bit of weight but fresh and delicate flavors.
In Stock Now
San Maurizio Mayolet, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Delicately floral and sweet spice nuances complement bright raspberry and red currant aromas and flavors, complicated by hints of white pepper, nutmeg, coriander and cumin. Juicy, dense, long and pure, with a remarkably fresh, very spicy and saline finish and notes of lavender and peony. This light-boded wine is at once juicy, spicy and bright. Planted at 700–1,000 meters above sea level, the vintage characteristics play a huge role in what Vallet’s Mayolet wine will taste like each year; this has 12.5% alcohol…Not surprisingly, given the variety’s extremely compact bunches (which makes Mayolet a pain to work with and hence many producers are abandoning it, a big mistake given the quality of the wines), the grapes are picked in three different tries or passes in the vineyard. Aged in stainless steel only.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Feudo di San Maurizio Cornalin, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Deep red. Rich, luscious flavors of red cherry, Oriental spices, black tea and black cherry. Tactile, sweet and long, featuring youthfully chewy but noble tannins that provide backbone. Finishes very long and smooth, with a perfumed note of lavender. 13.5% alcohol. Only stainless steel.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Feudo di San Maurizio Petite Arvine Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90 points “Luminous straw-green. Apple, nectarine and white peach complicated by white flowers. Clean, fresh flavors similar to the minty aromas have a tactile, delicately chewy mouthfeel (despite the absence of any skin contact here). Finishes very long, juicy and clean, with a minty nuance and a hint of residual sugar (purposely left so as to emphasize the aromatic molecules of a semi-aromatic variety). About 5,000 bottles a year.”
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First Offer:
New Wines from Champagne Marguet
New Wines from Champagne Marguet
“Benoît Marguet is a fast-rising star in the Montage de Reims if not in the entire Champagne region…” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Benoit Marguet is one of the hottest names in Champagne. A young grower who is one of the leading voices for organic and biodynamic farming (in a region that’s not exactly known for progressive attitudes towards agriculture), his single-parcel wines have attracted attention of Michelin starred restaurants across Europe. These are wines that are rich across the palate yet incredibly mineral and precise in their flavors.
We’ve been able to secure small quantities (twenty four bottles, each) of three of his most prized wines—the superlative Sapience as well as the compelling Crayeres and Avize & Cramant bottlings. Across the board, these are some of the most exciting wines coming out of Champagne and we’re excited to offer them to you.
Arriving ETA Early May:
Marguet Pere & Fils Avize & Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Peter Liem note “[Writing on the 2011 release] This comes from two chardonnay vineyards, both farmed organically: Les Chantereines in Avize and Les Fourches du Levant in Cramant. It combines breadth and finesse in the inimitable style of the northern Côte des Blancs, with a pinpoint texture and a racy, elongated structure.”
Benoit Marguet is one of the hottest names in Champagne. A young grower who is one of the leading voices for organic and biodynamic farming (in a region that’s not exactly known for progressive attitudes towards agriculture), his single-parcel wines have attracted attention of Michelin starred restaurants across Europe. These are wines that are rich across the palate yet incredibly mineral and precise in their flavors.
We’ve been able to secure small quantities (twenty four bottles, each) of three of his most prized wines—the superlative Sapience as well as the compelling Crayeres and Avize & Cramant bottlings. Across the board, these are some of the most exciting wines coming out of Champagne and we’re excited to offer them to you.
Arriving ETA Early May:
Marguet Pere & Fils Avize & Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Peter Liem note “[Writing on the 2011 release] This comes from two chardonnay vineyards, both farmed organically: Les Chantereines in Avize and Les Fourches du Levant in Cramant. It combines breadth and finesse in the inimitable style of the northern Côte des Blancs, with a pinpoint texture and a racy, elongated structure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Marguet Pere & Fils ‘Les Crayeres’ Ambonnay Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $95 pre-arrival special
Peter Liem note “The Lieux-Dits collection is designed to highlight Marguet’s most distinctive parcels in Ambonnay: the first release was the outstanding 2008 Les Crayères, a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay from a prized parcel of massale-selected vines on Ambonnay’s mid-slope, planted in 1970.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Marguet Pere & Fils ‘Sapience’ Premier Cru Extra-Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($269.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “A blend of 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, the golden-yellow 2009 Premier Cru Brut Nature displays a clear, deep and well-concentrated bouquet of ripe and spicy fruits with a touch of lemon juice and oak. Pure, fresh and fruity on the palate (sweet cherries, red berries and citrus fruits), this is a very elegant, perfectly round, complex, well-balanced though tightly structured and vibrantly mineral cuvée with a long, clear, pure and salty finish. This is remarkably finessed. Unfortunately, I tasted the 2009 three weeks after the 2007 and the 2008 rather than tasting all three side by side, but qualitatively, it’s much closer to the 2008 than to the 2007 and is doubtlessly an impressive Brut Nature. Sapience is the name of Marguet’s prestige cuvée that is produced every single year. Marguet calls it “a new expression of Champagne.” It is a Premier Cru Brut Nature whose grapes are sourced in old, organic or biodynamically farmed vineyards from three well-known champagne growers in Cumières (Georges Laval), Trépail (David Léclapart) and Bouzy (Benoît Lahaye), who all work the soil with horses or tractors and protect the vines with herbal infusions and essential oils. The resulting millésimes (I had 2007, 2008 and 2009 plus the 2006 Oenothéque) are pure and quiet (or subtle) beauties that taste unique in texture and flavors but will benefit significantly from further bottle aging. In their youth, they are full of energy and vitality but not too good to lose control or patience—which is true for all of the wines from Marguet. Keep them (at least) for three or more years after the disgorgement, and you will get the best of them.”
James Suckling 93 points “Very complete, multifaceted style with strong, pastry-like lees influence and grilled cashew nuts, as well as a lightly peppery, spicy edge. Yellow-plum and subtly toasty brown-mushroom and grilled-hazelnut finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Peter Liem “Since 2006, Marguet has been working with Hervé Jestin, the former chef de cave of Duval-Leroy who is now a consultant to many wine estates around Europe. Marguet has gradually integrated Jestin’s homeopathic and biodynamic practices into his own winemaking, and the two of them have collaborated to create a special, naturally grown champagne that encapsulates and expresses Jestin’s philosophies. The first vintage of this super-cuvée was 2006, released in 2013, and the production was divided: half of it was sold under the Jestin label, with the other half under the label Sapience, which Marguet has indicated is a separate brand from the Marguet label.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $189.99
The average listed price is $267
The next best price is $189.99
The average listed price is $267
Trending Wines
A fantastic bottle of Napa Cab that easily competes with $150+ bottles
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($1,079.95) $849 special (that’s only $70.75/bottle!)
#91 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2019
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers is the best wine I have tasted from Diana Snowden-Seysses. Rich, explosive and savory, the 2016 dazzles with intensity in all of its dimensions. Graphite, smoke, savory herbs and spice notes wrap around a core of dark fruit in a vertical, towering Cabernet Sauvignon that captures all the vintage has to offer.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers a tasty core of plum and blackberry fruit, backed by lively anise and apple wood notes. Restrained overall, with an alluring freshness and a subtle charcoal hint lingering deftly at the end. Drink now through 2032. 639 cases made.”
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($1,079.95) $849 special (that’s only $70.75/bottle!)
#91 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2019
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers is the best wine I have tasted from Diana Snowden-Seysses. Rich, explosive and savory, the 2016 dazzles with intensity in all of its dimensions. Graphite, smoke, savory herbs and spice notes wrap around a core of dark fruit in a vertical, towering Cabernet Sauvignon that captures all the vintage has to offer.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers a tasty core of plum and blackberry fruit, backed by lively anise and apple wood notes. Restrained overall, with an alluring freshness and a subtle charcoal hint lingering deftly at the end. Drink now through 2032. 639 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
We’re down to our last few cases of one of the best deals in big Cali reds.
Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($59.95) $24 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($599.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “This is a big and rich wine with lots of dried berry and chocolate character. Full body, layered and rich. Very long and flavorful. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Syrah Benoist Ranch has notes of preserved plums, blueberry pie and black forest cake with hints of Indian spices, violets and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the structure on the mouth is seamless and fine, defining the berry preserves flavors and finishing long and perfumed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
GG season is here—and this stunner from Kunstler is brilliant.
Weingut Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2016 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 98 points ” All ripe yellow fruit, but without the slightest hint of exaggeration. Great concentration, combined with power and brilliance. Gigantic finish that doesn’t want to stop, but somehow it remains totally refined. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “This Hochheim “GG” seems always to show best in cooler years, when its savory generosity isn’t overbearing. Like now! A first impression of cask is quickly overwhelmed by a seductive palate, a savory malty wine, maple and candy-cap mushrooms; mineral embedded in the sweetest doughiest swoon of charm and loveliness.”
Weingut Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2016 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 98 points ” All ripe yellow fruit, but without the slightest hint of exaggeration. Great concentration, combined with power and brilliance. Gigantic finish that doesn’t want to stop, but somehow it remains totally refined. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “This Hochheim “GG” seems always to show best in cooler years, when its savory generosity isn’t overbearing. Like now! A first impression of cask is quickly overwhelmed by a seductive palate, a savory malty wine, maple and candy-cap mushrooms; mineral embedded in the sweetest doughiest swoon of charm and loveliness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Looking for well made Barolo under $30? It’s a short list, so start here.
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
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A super classic example of Barbera from a Piedmont master.
G. B. Burlotto Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Fresh and savory, this opens with aromas of dark berry, ground cooking spice and whiff of chopped herb. The vibrant palate doles out juicy black cherry, clove, star anise and blood orange accompanied by racy acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Pizza night, pasta night, trapped in the house/working from home—this wine handles it all.
Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello Di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
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”
Chablis is what we want in the springtime. Schaller is a producer to keep an eye on.
Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller Vau de Vey, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus blossom, Meyer lemon and wheat toast, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey is medium to full-bodied, pretty and precise, with a fragrant core of fruit, racy acids and a saline, delicately wood-inflected finish.”
Collector’s Corner
Pommery’s Tete de Cuvees
Pommery’s Tete de Cuvees
Pommery is one of the best kept secrets in top Champagne—at least in the US. In France and in the UK they’re (rightly) held in top regard, especially for their Tete du Cuvee “Cuvee Louise” bottlings. We’re secured excellent prices on the Nature and Rosé editions, both from the ’04 vintage and happily present them now. These are wines that are delicious now and have the stuffing to go another decade if you’re patient now. Mature Champagne is one of the treats of the wine world, giving delight to anyone who manages to partake in its yeasty, creamy glory. We’re always on the hunt for top examples with bottle age and this pair of wines is a perfect set.
Arriving Friday, March 20th:
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($1199.95) $849 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “A creamy and refined 2004 with a very reserved and tight palate of ultra fine tannins that lend the wine beautiful creaminess and finesse. Subtly floral, offering lightly cooked apples and lemons. Flavorful, yet always hiding behind the fine bubbles. Drink now.”
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2004 750ML ($1799.95) $1,199 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “The is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”
Arriving Friday, March 20th:
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($1199.95) $849 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “A creamy and refined 2004 with a very reserved and tight palate of ultra fine tannins that lend the wine beautiful creaminess and finesse. Subtly floral, offering lightly cooked apples and lemons. Flavorful, yet always hiding behind the fine bubbles. Drink now.”
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2004 750ML ($1799.95) $1,199 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “The is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $388
The next best price is $388
Thanks for reading!